This year was extra special because the race landed on my 38th birthday. My wife, kids, parents, and sister-in-law all came out to cheer me on. It ended up being a very fun day... eventually.
The race started out good. I was feeling good, running well, and I even hooked up with someone from Fresno at the very beginning of the race. If there's one thing I've learned from ultra running, it's that most good things can head south pretty fast.
To make a long story short, the pizza I had the night before was not agreeing with me. I was stuck in a section of the event where there was no porta potty for quite a few miles, and the down hill parts of the course the I should have been speeding down were a total nightmare.
Finally, after a few miles of clinching, I came upon an aid station with a porta potty... and it was AWESOME!!!
After a long pit stop I was back on the road. I was really trying to get my head back into the race, but for some reason it just wasn't happening. I struggled with that "why are yo doing this" head game that often happens when running these things. I have enough experience doing these types of events that I know these moments will come and go, the feeling just felt like it wasn't going to leave. I felt like this from about mile 15 to about mile 30ish.
Mile 30ish was my turning point. I was finally able to get back into the race. While crossing a road during a race a couple other runners and I were joking around and one of the runners asked "Aren't you from Fresno?" It turned out that I had helped her at the running store I work at (Fleet Feet Sports Fresno) about a month ago.
We started talking more and she told me that this was going to be he first 50 mile race. We ended up running together for a few miles and talked a lot, and this totally turned my shitty mood around. It's amazing how just talking to someone on the trail can turn a bad run into a good one. After a few miles of running we agreed to run the rest of the race together and help each other out.
By the end of the race Sheri and I had became pretty good running friends.
I ended up having a really good time, like always, at AR50 this year. I didn't hit the finishing time I was planning on, but I made a new friend along the way. Sheri and I run hill repeats at the park every Tuesday morning and hit the San Joaquin River Trail when we both are free.
One of the things I enjoy the most about ultra marathons is the people I meet and the friendships I've made along the way.
until next time....
KEEP RUNNING!!!!
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