This weekend marks my two year run-racing anniversary. Two years ago, I took a last minute plunge - after only two months of running - in buying a 30k race bib from an injured runner. Toeing the line at Around the Bay 30K in Hamilton, ON, I was uncertain whether I'd be able to finish because the longest I had ever ran was 18k. My memory of the actual race is a blur. I remember running with my friend, Christine the whole way and somehow after 3+ hours I finished. I remember crossing the finish line in Copps Coliseum, a volunteer putting a medal on me, and sitting on the floor never felt so good. We sat there for a long, long time. Since then I've done marathons and 50ks but I'll never forget how I felt finishing my first 30k. It's only truly exhilarating when you finish something without knowing that you can. I miss that. DNF are three daunting letters that impede me from even trying sometimes. This weekend, I am flying home to run the ATB again. Words cannot explain how stoked I am to run the race and to run it with my friends who got me hooked in the first place.
(If you haven't read Part 1, it's here .) (Sat) Oct 13 - Sunrise at Spruce Knob 6 a.m. start in the dark. My legs surprised me by being happier than yesterday. My heart is in better place as well. The first 6.7 mile goes up to Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. Part of this section was on fire road and I welcomed the faster miles. Steady progress was made in the first 20 miles or so until the long, long descent into Aid Station 3. As I have decided yesterday, I'd start the race, go from aid station to aid station, and re-evaluate my condition at each. I left Aid station 2 feeling good but then the long descent once again put doubts in my mind. Running reduced to little steps on jello-legs. Compression socks helped to contain the injury and pain, but the strength to support the pounding was still lacking. Soon, my knees started to hurt as well. At aid station 3, they told me I had 2:45 to make it to the next aid station before the cut-off. At the pace I...
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