Miwok 100k... Pacing Audrey

I don't remember exactly how it came about, but sometime in the earlier part of this year I was talking to my friend Audrey about a race she had coming up.  She was planning on running the Miwok 100k, and she was determined to cross the finish line.

Audrey had ran the Miwok 100k in 2015 and 2016, but because of reasons that I don't 100% remember right now, she was unable to make it to the finish line.

After talking to Audrey about her upcoming return to Miwok, I couldn't help but want to lend her any help that she might want and need.

I know Audrey through the running community here in Fresno.  We've ran a few events together, talked here and there, I've helped her when she's shopped at Fleet Feet, and we've always had a good friendly relationship with each other.  She's a very caring person who loves running, and was very focused about her upcoming run at the Miwok 100k.

One night Audrey, her husband Kenny, and I got dinner together.  We talked about training, the physical part of taking on a 100k, and more importantly... the mental part.

Over the weeks leading up to the event I really wanted to go on some training runs with Audrey, but because of my work schedule we could not find time to get together.  I made it a point to keep in contact with Audrey while she was training.  I was more concerned about how she was feeling mentally than I was concerned about ow she was doing physically.  I've had a coupe DNF's (did not finish) in my time, and I know how mentally draining it can be.  Going in to a race that has gotten the best of you, for whatever reason, is very difficult.

I told Audrey that I wanted to do whatever I could do to help her, and I knew that one of the ways I could help her was by offering to pace her in the later miles of the race.

It was awesome running with Audrey.  She was really tired by the time I got to run with her, but she was in good spirits.  I ran with her from mile 50ish to the finish.  She listened to just about everything I told her.  I would hand her a Gu and she would ask "why do I need to take this...what is it going to do for me?"  Sometimes I would give her some technical sounding b.s., and sometime I would just laugh and tell her, "Don't ask questions, just take it."

As we got closer and closer to the finish, Audrey was running faster and faster.  The more miles we covered, the stronger shes was running.  It was amazing to witness how determined she was to finish.  This was going to be the year that she finally finished Miwok!!!

I remember telling her "You got this!!! This is your time buddy!!!"

Being there to cross the finish line with her was very emotional.  I know how much it meant to her to finish this race, and you could feel her excitement as was approached the finish line.  After 2 years of not being able to finish this event, this was finally her time to cross the finish line.

Audrey put a lot of time and effort to get ready for this race, and all her hard work paid off.  I was very happy to see her accomplish her goal, and I was happy to play a small roll in helping her accomplish that goal.


until next time...

KEEP RUNNING!!!!