Waterfall Glen 10-Mile Extreme

My orders from Coach, at the beginning of this season, was to do three races. This was number 2. I had heard about it from my Ironman friend, Fred, who knew the race director and said the course was a little tough.

Well, he was right. There were plenty of little hills to wear you down, along with the beating of the hot sun, with not much relief (as in shade). They only served water on the coarse, so I was well-packed.

My plan, per Coach, was to do a run:walk at 4:1 for the first 7 miles at a talking pace, and then take off, no walking and pushing it hard. I did just that. It was tough!! I was sweating like crazy and popping salt tablets and enduralytes every hour.

The hardest part was the last 1/2 mile, which was run right by the finish line and they had already started giving out awards by the time I hit that spot!! It was such a small course that we had to go out in waves and I was the last wave, 15 minutes later than the elite. The awards started 2 hrs after their start. So trudging hard through GRASS was no fun while listening to their applauds. But----I did it!! I pushed through!!!

I walked most of the hills in order to save myself for the last 3 mile push, and that seemed to help. I really didnt want to run straight through those last 3, but orders are orders, so I reverted to my ever-helpful nursery rhyme technique, "Hickory Dickory Dock the mouse ran up the clock." I am ever so tired when I resort to this rhyme that the clock only strikes 1, over and over. Keeps the mind from being used up!!

So....another race down the hatch. I was hoping for a 2 hr time. But I was 6 minutes off. Not bad, given the sun and the hills. So I'm pretty darn proud!!!

Now for the big news.....I was planning on doing the Marathon at the Grand Tetons over Labor Day, but nooooooo, Coach wouldnt hear of it!

Sooooo....this should be my time to shine at a 50-Miler! Lord have mercy on me!!!!!