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elkid
Member
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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 Posted: 06/28/04 - 19:40 Post subject: Double Trouble 15K WITH PIX!
Short of it: thank god I'm in fantastic shape. Equal parts run, hike, and obstacle course in the woods. At its widest point, the trail was 5' wide; at its narrowest, barely enough room for both of my feet.  I'd say 80% of this was on super skinny rock- and root-riddled trail. Had to really focus to stay alive, but man, what an experience.
And now on to our regularly scheduled report ...
I found this race a few months back and signed up just because of the crazy ass write-up. The race director is a unique character, and funny as hell. Glad when kobyj said he was coming to do it, as I so rarely get to race with people. Up at 630 to pack for race and wedding after it. 715 hit Dunkin' Donuts for traditional prerace breakfast, on the road at 730. Arrive at French Creek State Park in the middle of nowhere (I'm not kidding; this was farmland central, in Morgantown) at 9 and get my packet. Ms. Ultra Urban is completely out of her element. Thoughts of "Oh my god, I'm going to die today" are flowing. Quickly find kobyj who is one of the nicest, sweetest, most polite young men I've ever met. Oh my god I sound like my mom. Talked his ear off prerace and then he went to the 30K pack, me to the 15K because I'm sane. He quickly got pulled out with other non-locals and lucky for him, he started in the front of the race. He didn't get stuck in the bottleneck I did. Ron the Rambling Lunatic Race Director had a shouting contest between the two groups and we were off. My goals: 1) to not die in the woods (hence why I wore brightly colored clothing), 2) sub 2:30, 3) to not get hurt like I always do on trails.
What I remember most about this race? How much crowded it was for the first half mile, and how much I had to concentrate. Very difficult for me, with severe ADHD and all. Within 3 minutes I saw a girl on the ground, bawling her eyes out, with her leg at a rather interesting angle. Not a normal one, but very interesting. I saw a few people trip on tree roots and bang their heads, arms, etc. on trees. One guy slipped on a rock and fell off the trail. Fun all the way around! I fell once and have a bad bruise on my left wrist to prove it, and was covered in dirt on my entire left side as well. Of course, I tripped DOWNHILL.  Slightly rolled left ankle, really rolled right (which made me limp in heels at my friend's wedding that night  ). Many scratches from the surrounding jungle-like foliage.
This race was a total body workout. Arms up to avoid foliage and thorns. Arms out to the side to provide much-needed balance. Twisting and turning to stay on my feet, working my abs. Luckily I'm quick on my feet, for the first couple miles were tree root and rock formations. We crossed streams on teeny tiny not-altogether-sturdy-or-solid planks. We jumped logs, or in some cases, groups of logs. The obstacle course took some wind out of my sails, but I kept going. Due to the whole "don't want to die in the woods" thing. The rock mine fields, of which there were several, were the worst. There was a mile uphill climb (which I hiked) that sucked. I rarely got passed, however. Never felt like death.
At many points it was difficult to figure out where I was going, as people were far ahead of me or far behind me. Yet another race I run completely by myself.  When I hiked, it was treacherous. Some of the downhills were, too, especially with all the rocks. But when I ran ... I felt like a cheetah. At one point I cruised on a foot wide section and just felt fluid and alive. Didn't matter that I don't like nature: I only looked at my feet and occasionally glanced up to make sure I was still going the right way by finding orange tape tied to trees.
At the last water station I was in desperate need of salt. When I saw pretzels on the table, I DOVE at them. The guy behind screamed, "Lady! Take what you want but don't hurt me!" He then winked and smiled. I continued on. In the final .3 I managed to catch the only 2 non-30Kers that passed me during the run after the initial crowding. They were not pleased, but I didn't care. I smoked 'em on the asphalt all the way to the cruelly placed uphill finish line. Was glad to finish, and screamed "HOT DAMN, THAT WAS THE SICKEST RACE EVAH!" Ron laughed and said he'd see me next year.
Time: 2:09:34. Weird splits for a weird race (mile markers in parens): 15:29 (1.1), 20:32 (2.6), 4:52 (3.0), 22:22 (4.3), 16:22 (5.6), 27:34 (7.6), 16:46 (9.0), 5:38 (.3). A blistering fast 13:56 pace (yet sadly, not my slowest 15K - that was last year's Boilermaker). Did manage to hurt myself, but I didn't die in the woods. A fun, challenging SICK race, and according to kobyj, quite the difficult trail race. And he oughta know. So all things considered, a good day. Chatted with fellow racers, kobyj, and Ron. Showered, watched kobyj win 2nd in his age group (and 8th overall  ) for the 30K. Then left for friend's wedding in Allentown. Though I got lost in the park on the way out and then got stuck in a 6 car turnpike pile-up and missed my friend's wedding ceremony. He ribbed me all night at the reception where I sat with former cow-orkers who didn't even recognize me, I've changed so much physically in the last 3 years. 
PICTURES! (yes, noley, you may comment once again on my shapely arms: and now, my peeling tan!) Look closely. Behind the first and the third you can see the cruel uphill finish.
me (another lovely self portrait):
kobyj:
us postrace:
us post kid shower cleanup (I sorely needed a hairdryer here ):
The Fast One scoring his award:
Next up: running with RunsLikeAGirl at the world famous Utica Boilermaker, IN COSTUME! But whatever shall the costume be???
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to you for even attempting that one girl. Great job! Nice pics too, thanks for sharing them. 
