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June 3, 2008
the relay race report
I know this is a little late in coming. If you have been on the edge of your seat wondering how the relay went, I apologize for my tardiness.
I wish I had some legitimate excuse reason like:
- We won and were whisked away for press conferences and have been living it large with our new sponsors.
- I've been having sex with a foreplay obsessed massage therapist for three days
- I've been helping Ang and Brad pick out eco friendly bedding for the twins.
but, sigh, tis none of those.
The lack of posting is the result of lack of energy. I tried to write a post last night, but I typed one sentence and sat back on the sofa and feel fast asleep at 6pm. So today, I decided to prioritize, I'll do the report at work, then I won't feel guilty sleeping when I get home, or napping at my desk mid-afternoon!
8am - 3pm
This year I was in the second half of our team. The first half, Van One, started at 8am Friday morning, we took over just after 3pm. So while they all ran, I was at work.
3 - 7.14pm
My first of three runs came at 5.45pm, a little 7.5k run. Our previous three runners S, S S and S had all said it was muggy and hot. It was. By the end of the second km I was hot and sweating. The run was good. It was hard to pace it, you are by yourself mostly, but definitely running faster than you normally would.
Our Van was awesome at supporting me, they would drive a km ahead and offer me something different everytime. It started with water ... then dental floss ... then lip balm ... cheese and crackers. It made the kms fun and took my mind off the heat. I handed off to R who ran the last of our legs before Van One was back on duty and we had a break.
7.15pm-12.30am
We had a few hours off, so we headed out for dinner then to S's aunts who lived close to the race area. We were greeted with welcome signs and beer, towels and hot showers. It was just what we needed to energize us for round two ... the middle leg, 12.30am - 5.30am! We planned to leave Auntie Ds around 11pm, as we started to pack up the rain began, along with thunder and lightening. Out in the middle of nowhere, on the darkness of country roads gives you a whole new appreciation for the power of mother nature.
The next hour is definitely my favourite memory of the relay. As we waited for a runner to hand off to us, we danced and sang outside in the rain to cheesey classics like Copacabana and YMCA. .. and by sang I mean screamed at the top of our lungs.
Motivated and excited we began the second leg.
1am
... feeling good. Still singing, we make a pack, when a runner is out there, that's their hour, no one sleeps, it's all about them. No one sleeps when a runner is out there.
2am
... the rain has stopped, it's surprisingly humid. But we are making up some serious time. Our Van is kicking this courses butt! We've passed at least 8 runners.
3am
... yawn, we seem a little quieter.
3.15am
... we start snapping at each other
3.45am
... eyes begin to close for long periods of time in the van.
4.10am
... I begin my second run.
My second run is my best of the three. But also very surreal, it's dark, I can't see the road and my head is tired and foggy, I feel like I am dreaming I am running.
5am
... last runner takes over, van is silent, more sign of life on Mars.
It's at this point I realize people really do need sleep, if they don't have it, things can turn bad, quickly. Mary Poppins could turn into Freddie Krueger after a sleepless night in a van. Suddenly Team becomes a very bad word.
6am - 9am
Getting lost, getting gas, coffee, shower, some sleep, breakfast, more coffee, clean up the van, coffee, getting lost again
9am - 11.30
We aren't due to run til 11.30am, but Van One has logistical problems where two runners are running at the same time, so we come out to support them. Which turns out to be a really good thing, since there is construction on the race route detouring support vechicals, excepts there are no signs just deadends. Van One gets lost. A runner is can't be found. Other runners are in different vans. There is about 45 minutes of craziness. But you know what happened during that mayhem?
Teamwork.
We were no longer 2 Vans but one team. Even when I lost it and started yelling. Yes ... I did. Due to the above, the next runner wasn't at the exchange when P finished her leg, so we subbed a runner in to keep everything going. When the runner arrived, they wanted to start running from there, not 2k down the road where our runner was. That's when 29 hours without sleep, 9 coffees and a natural lack of patience kicked in.
After that everything went back to, well, as close as you can get to normal. Oh except we got lost one more time.
11.30 - 5.30pm
Seriously, the longest 6 f*&$ing hours of my life. It went from hot and sunny to potential tornado, rain storm complete with hail and high winds then back to sun and heat.
These last six runs where tough. We are all tired. Surviving on a diet of pretezels, coffee and milky ways. I am dreading my last run, 9k, I don't have the energy to do it, but I am looking forward to finishing it, then we are only 9.8k from the finish line ... and sleep.
My run is kinda of a blur. I was hot. My legs hurt. I don't remember much except, seeing this red vision ahead, every km. It was moving and making noise. As I got closer, it was our team, in red shirts singing and dancing. Every km. They rocked!
Finally I handed off to R, who took off like a rocket. Everytime we pulled up beside her and asked how she was doing, she looking very focused, would say,
"Gotta, git er done! I want this finished!"
She blazed out 5 min kms. Gitt'n us done in just over 34 hours.
Posted by Ali at June 3, 2008 9:44 AM
Comments
Wow, that sounds like a real endurance effort never mind all the running!
Posted by: Andrew is getting fit at June 3, 2008 1:52 PM
these type of races sound so chaotic and fun, i'd like to try one. During our road trips we passed a few where people stopped to regroup or wait for runners at rest areas at 5 am or earlier.
Posted by: deene at June 3, 2008 2:08 PM
Sounds like a fun - yet crazy time!!
Posted by: Debbie at June 3, 2008 4:31 PM
Yeah, that pretty much sounds like the relays I have done :-) I apparently can get really mean after being sleep deprived...
(and the middle of the night run is always the best!)
Posted by: Danielle in Iowa at June 3, 2008 8:10 PM
this is VERY exciting stuff! we have 12 women doing this same thing next March, cept we're running 207 miles across Texas.
i'm willing to bet i'm the screamer too when its all said and done.
WELL DONE MISSY!!!
Posted by: June at June 4, 2008 9:07 AM
Ok, you are officially f**king crazy and Promises is holding your room for you.
Wow, that sounds.... well, crazy. That's the only word to describe.
Would you do it again?
Posted by: P.O.M. at June 4, 2008 1:18 PM
I was hoping for excuse/reason #2, and a full report!
This makes me want to do a relay race.
Congratulations
Posted by: Bridget at June 5, 2008 10:55 AM
A friend is trying to talk me into running a 12-person relay this summer. After reading this race report...I'M TOTALLY IN. Sounds like such an awesome journey. These memories will last a lifetime.
Posted by: MissAllycat at June 5, 2008 12:57 PM