Heritage Race Report!!!

RUN 13.1 miles in trail in about 2:49 with LA

Birthday race!!! I realized this was my first since 2016 Kansas. 2017 hip. 2018 heart. 2019 other hip. 2020 pandemic. 2021 ankle. 2022 run!!

And that's how time passes for me. Injury to injury. And how I've lost so miss how time, lost to just being lost.

We had a super light training schedule pre week. Almost a zero taper. Come Saturday night, I was was still calm and wondering if I wanted the camelbak or not. I nomd half of a chocolate power bar before throwing it away.

That's gotta change. Declutter them!

Sunday morning, LA says he's kinda keyed up but I'm still flat calm. Too calm? It was a pretty morning. Small race of only 100 cap, 77 in the half. I'm looking at other runners and thinking they look so fit and so ready. I feel out of shape.

That's gotta change too.

The race start is so chill - temp and atmosphere. I love this about small races. LA takes off ahead of me, and people are slowly passing me and I feel a bit of rising apprehension. Can I do this? Can I keep calm? Can I manage to hold my pace, this pace that already feels fast but every one is passing me?!?

We do a half ish mile loop to spread the runners out before we hit the single track. And soon I'm fearful of keeping up. Fearful of falling off. Fearful.

I turn my left ankle and it burns a little while. I'm fearful of injury.

That's gotta change as well.

But soon enough, leaves roots colors meadows skies and more takes over. I relax. There's no pressure to keep up and LA slows a bit. He waited for me each time, and now roles reversed a bit.

And then I'm feeling it - the trail, the single track, hairpins and switchbacks, the edge - both of the trail and of my emotion. I feel that feeling I had before. Sections of trail remind me of other races. I'm talking to LA out it, pulling him along as he slows with knee pain.

We end with a good pace, worn out and warm and happy. I'm feeling great, although less than great to think of the clif blocs, granola bars etc I nibbled on the trail and post race. No monster! But less than ideal choices.

That too, gotta change.

One stupidity to add- LA had a medal, I didn't. Everyone else did, was it a finisher thing? I kinda half asked at the table and was given a half answer (ask and you shall receive). I chastised myself for not stepping up to ask, for wanting a cheap goodie when I'm trying to Declutter, and for eating another half of a granola bar while chastising myself.

Once home after a restaurant stop for LA in Saline, I made veggie eggs. LA slept while I painted. I loved it. I felt great , and none of the soreness and pains expected. We took the next few days off running for his knee. But I'm excited to do this again, and with him!!!