onepinkfuzzy

Notes from a running-centric weekend:

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It's Friday and I should be at work but instead I'm running nine miles while waiting for Olga and her friend Adrian to arrive. It's the middle of the day and it's hot but I don't mind. I'm running and I'm happy.
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It's Friday evening and Olga and Adrian have just arrived and Olga's first inclination is to relax in the courtyard and talk girl-talk and Adrian's first words to me are, "Shall I get us a six-pack?" I decide I like this guy. We spend an hour chatting and drinking beer and Chris joins us as the sun sets. Olga decides she's hungry so we all hop to it and get in the car letting Olga drive which is a total mistake as I feel I've put my life into her (recklessly driving) hands. But it's ok, cause I drive even worse so I don't mind. Too much.
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We eat a fast dinner from Safeway and Olga and Adrian pack for the race. I prepare my crew stuff and Chris reads. We sleep as well as we can before waking up at 3:30 am.
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We are efficient runners. We are ready to leave 10 minutes before we are scheduled to leave. We stop at Safeway but it's closed so we head to the freeway to find a truck stop. We need coffee and gas. But the truck stop only serves large vehicles. My little Kia is not even close to a large vehicle. We find another gas station and get our supplies.
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We meet Trail Goat and take our before photos. The runners start the race and I trek up to the car and on to the first of four aid stations.
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Throughout the day, I remember why I love crewing: driving fast on dirt roads, spending hours relaxing outside with a good book and a few magazines, catching up with friends, watching the race unfold.
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Olga does well, she's worried about a bladder infection and is in pain, but moving well. I keep missing Adrian, he's too fast for me. Every aid station, I look up and he's passing me on his way out before I can get the camera out.
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Mile 40: Olga says she's in survival mode. I'm worried, but it's Olga, so I'm not too worried. She's 30 minutes behind pace and thinks she can't finish in 11 hours.
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At the finish line Adrian crosses the line before I can get a photo. We discuss when Olga will arrive and then I go stand in the sunshine while Adrian closes his eyes to rest. A few runners come in and then I see Olga's familiar gait - about 40 minutes ahead of when I am expecting her. I shout across to Adrian - it's Olga, look! It's Olga!
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Her knees are bloody, tears are streaming down her face and she gives me the best, most saltiest hug I've ever received. She made up 20 minutes in the last 10 miles, this gritty, determined, amazing woman.
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Dinner is at Sauce, pasta for me in preparation for 18 miles the next morning. Chris laughs at Adrian's dead-pan jokes and I just laugh and laugh and laugh and after spending most of dinner in the bathroom, Olga decides she wants to take the restaurant's toilet home.
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Olga and Adrian leave the next morning - I am sad to see them go and I am happy I got to see them. I am ready for my 18 miles and I am full of excitement as I head to Sabino Canyon.
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I complete the first loop in reverse of my usual direction and take 2 minutes off my time. I wish I brought a pair of socks to change at the halfway point, then decide it's okay that I went through a few creek crossings. I fly downhill, using Olga's tips on how to go downhill without hurting my knees. I love the sunshine and the ferocious wind and my music and my fueling. I know I'm doing well and I love it.
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I run the second loop in the usual direction and pass people again - the same people I passed on my way down but this time I'm passing them on the way up. Back again? Says one guy. Yup I say with a smile.
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I'm tired and sore but my knees are doing better than two weeks ago and I'm still fueling right and my fingers aren't swelling like normal. I wish more people were on the trail but it's still nice.
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I'm tired, I'm sore, I'm 17 miles into an 18-miler and my knees hurt, my body's numb, my back is spasming, I'm running an 11:30 pace and I'm happy.
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Dinner is a burrito at La Salsa then I beat Chris at Scrabble before we watch Michael Clayton and then I crash in bed. I'm exhausted and happy and I realize I got 34 miles in the week - the most I've gotten since last June and I know I'm finally "in shape' in a general sense and even better, I"m getting in Zane Grey shape. That's awesome.
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