Fenton run and volunteer

RUN: 56 mins and 6.2 miles

This run was remarkable for so many things. First off, it felt terribly easy and smooth and fast and ZOOM! Even though the pace wasn't crazy fast, it just seemed like that next gear was right there if I wanted it. But I'm tapering, leave that gear alone.

Second, oh so gorgeous! I started at 6am in the near-dark. It was just light enough out to see without the headlamp or even streetlamps. The waning moon was a silver crescent in the southern sky. No wind. A few clouds that highlighted red, then orange, then brilliant white as the sun rose. The only noise was the signing bugs and frogs in the trees lining the trail. At times I could hear the nearby river flowing, freshly filled with last night's rain. Blown leaves and tree bits were scattered on the trail.

The only other noises were my footfalls, my heartbeat, my breathing. The whisper of rain. :)

After the run (and a "bath" in the facility) it was off to Flatlanders to volunteer. My buddy DC was running and I've never seen one of these races before. A few weeks ago, I'd have said I could "never" do one of these races. Never say never, another rule, and now I think I could try one!

The course was 1.4 miles around a park, so we saw our runners every 10-20 mins. Usually in a race we see them a few times, here was saw them 14-25 times! Each time you could gauge the runner's attitude--steady, waning, loving it, sweating it, fading, fighting--and each one was inspiring. The support every few minutes, the fight in the runners (especially the 12 hr runners, damn that's gotta be tough) inspired me. Last night before bed I was looking for more races like that.

And hearing my fellow SLUGS talk about how many of these runners will do the 6hr today then the Heartland Mary tomorrow--yikes!--but so cool! Could I do that?

Also talked to a SLUG about preparing for a long race (for him Poto 150!). He said learn to run on tired legs. Run 6-7 days a week, two a days, back to backs, get used to it. I was looking for advice on Syllamo. Great advice!

One more--got thinking again about my peaks and valleys of racing. I need a name for it, this pathology of depression post-race. I envy the people who can just roll it from race to race. DH says it's my mentality, how I'm wired. But I don't see that as a "never" can. I just see it as the next challenge.

Which brings me to the next rule (these need a name too).
--Never say never. Never limit yourself with "I could never...". Instead, start with "I wonder if I could..." and be open to the idea. Then work your way up to "I can and I will...".