The Finish!

What an amazing experience. We raised $1000.00 for the Women of the Congo. There was delicious food, drumming, and women singing when I crossed the finish line. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I started the race after letting everyone, all 6 of the other 30-milers, go ahead of me. I wanted to take it really slow the first few miles. I ended up talking to Lisa, the organizer, for about 30 minutes. My heart rate was a low 120. I kept to my plan of walking if my heart rate got up to 140 for the first 15 miles. In hindsight...this may have been a little conservative. At the 17 mile turn-around I couldn't take the sluggish pace any longer. For the next hour I ran hard. Too hard, but it felt so good. With the trails so overgrown with ferns and other foliage crowding the trail I felt like I was running 6 minute miles. The truth is probably closer to 9:30's...MAYBE 9 minute miles. I finally came to my senses at the next aid station. I grabbed a salted potato chunk, filled my camelback, and set off at an average pace. That was mile 21, I had nine more miles to go. I felt good. At five to go my feet started really hurting. My glutes were also talking to me. I thought about finally putting the ipod on, but couldn't really be bothered with all the movement and adjusting. Then I realized if I ran faster my feet seemed to be on the ground for less amount of time. So during the downhills especially I ran fast. At mile 4 Brett came to meet me and pace me in. When I walked he tried to jog next to me. I wasn't having it. I told him he had to walk too if he was going to stay with me. I think at that point my mood dropped a bit with the climb to Pittock Mansion. At 2 miles left to go Brett took off for the finish. My speed slowed considerably!

At mile 1.5 I stopped to put my skirt back on. The task was daunting- actually lifting my legs, bending at the knees, AND bending at the waist. It seemed, and felt far more advanced a move than I should be executing at this point. I had taken the skirt off at mile 9 because it was falling off as I ran- I should have bought the medium. Anyway, I wanted to put it back on for the finish because I could hear the music and drums and it sounded like a party so I wanted to look nice. Carol Lee was waiting at the finish! It was sunny,I got a massage and had great pasta salad. :]

Finishing felt good. It's the farthest I've ever run. I look forward to the McKenzie River Trail Run and hope to improve on my time of 5:34 significantly. The ice bath afterwards wasn't so bad either. After about five minutes everything goes numb. Thanks to Stacey for the hint of staying dressed, with hat and sipping tea to pass the time!! Thank you again everyone for your support and donations to a great cause.