Shoot the Moon Accomplished!

http://www.umtr.net

The UMTR annual Banquet is held in November every year. This is their annual meeting along with the celebration recognizing the various Trail Series achievements. This was the culmination of my season of racing and being recognized for completing all 17 trail races in the series. I went expecting to receive this award along with earning the Overall Women's for the series. This was earned as a result of running in so many races (they only count 8 races, but going to all races I often came in first as no one else in the group was running that race). I am definitely a back of the pack runner and in a large field of competitors will often come in almost last place.What I did not expect was to receive the Trail Runner of the Year award. This I do not feel I deserved any more than many of the other members.

Being presented the "Shoot the Moon" plaque made by Julio

Really Cool plaque including all the races I ran in order to earn it.

This award came with a check by a very generous sponsor, Bill Pomeranke Realty

Being presented with the Trail Runner of the Year Cowbell

Awesome Cowbell award

Plaques were made by Larry

Was actually feeling rather embarrassed at this point. Guess I don't deal with attention so well.

 

Icebox480

This was the final race of 2014 and I considered this to be a "bonus" race as it was not part of the Upper Midwest Trail Runners Trail Series. This was the second year running this event. 8 hours of running on Whitetail Ridge Bike Trail in River Falls, MN. I have a love/hate relationship with this trail. The course was expanded this year to a 7 mile loop from the 10K loop of last year. This is maintained by a off road bike club and they have done an excellent job both creating and maintaining the single track trail.

My goal for the day? Run a new to me distance of 35 miles without pain. Last years race involved several loops of outside knee pain and I was not very happy when I was done. Last year's goal had been 50k and I completed that but with much pain. So with 7 mile loops my goal was to be able to start that 5th loop by the 2 pm cutoff time.

Refueling at the Break the Stigma Aid Station

With Julio, founder of Break the Stigma Project

Photo Credit: Todd Rowe, I believe this was at the main aid station

The first three loops felt great. The fourth loop however was where I hit my wall without recognizing that it was happening. When I ran past the Break the Stigma aid station at about 4 miles into the loop I was questioning my sanity and why in the world I thought I liked to run long distances. I was so mired in these thoughts that I did not recognize that I was hitting the wall. As I ran past Julio and the other volunteers all I could say was that I was no longer having fun! I had huge doubts as to whether I could manage a 5th loop and at that point I did not even want to.

I came into the first aid station around 1:40 or so. I had plenty of time to refuel and head back out. I questioned the race director should I go? What if I did not make it to the finish line by the 8 hour cutoff? Would any of that loop be counted. I was told no. None of that loop would be counted. Now what? After wasting time trying to decide I finally thought, "what do I have to lose". Even if I don't make it I will still know that I completed the distance just not in the allotted time. I threw caution to the wind and headed out on loop #5.

I obviously broke through the wall because all of a sudden running did not feel so bad anymore and I started having fun again. (well as much fun as you can from miles 28-35!). I was actually running faster and I started to close the gap with another gal that I had been behind for awhile. This was a runner that I had also been running near at last years race.

I believe I caught up with her about two miles out from the finish and we decided to run each other in. I was running behind her and after the race was finished I wondered to myself if I should have asked to pass her. I just might have run slightly faster were I in front. I finished the 35 miles under the cutoff. My time on the Garmin was 7:52:01. (You can see my Garmin info HERE) I had achieved my goal of a new distance beyond the 50k. 35 miles and done in less than 8 hours!