Rocky Gap 50k
I spent all day in the cold rain running, and had a great time! Rocky Gap 50k was a really fun course with fall colors, great people and eventually... lots of mud.
My highlight was seeing my family after every loop and getting to run into the finish with my kids. This is the first time we have actually been able to do that! They usually don't come to these races because they are loooong days with nothing for them to do but wait. But this was a loops course so I saw them every 5 or 6 miles and they put their rain suits and smiles on and braved the weather right with me. One other time they tried to bike across the line with me but it was 2 years ago and they were very uncoordinated and kept falling and it was a hilarious disaster.
Part of my job today was to try some new food to sustain me for the 50 miler attempt. And I did, and found myself heaving for 2 miles so... I know what not to eat again! An important experiment, but it put me in a calorie deficit. It was a day for practice and practicing problem solving so I slowed down, waited until I could eat again and then kept going.
Another problem solving practice came when I rounded a bend to find a runner down on the trail. He had a super bad calf cramp and couldn't move. I gave him all my Nuun, a hand up, some nutrition and some tips to tackle the last mile without re cramping. Soon he was moving again and made it to the finish line!
With my nutrition experiment gone south I was STARVING when I finished and my husband knew I needed the largest French fries we could find as soon as possible š
. Another plus to the whole family coming: the ride home I kicked my feet up and ate fries!
Oh yeah, and I got 3rd in my age group!