The Last 50k

The last 50k of the season.

To be fair, I thought we were a little off this year. Maybe it was to be expected. It was a big paddling year, a super stressful work year, an insatiable winter of skiing. I did more and got slower, heavier; you gave me more and asked me for better. Undertrained for Cool, undertrained for Skyline, a sprained ankle, a bruised rib, a ploddingly slow R3, a DNF at Boggs and then the fatigue that plagued me afterwards as I slogged through Crossfit, through NF training runs, chipping away at the quality of our training time together on the trails.

(Photo courtesy C. Streeter)

50k I took you for granted this year. I knew it, I felt it and I continued to do it - consciously or not. I continued to believe I could do it all, sometimes half-assed but sort of near my target when the reality is that I never gave you 100%. And for that I'm sorry.

But all that being said, I still absolutely adore you and will be recommitted in 2011. Don't give up on me, 50k. I'm coming back!

But first, a nod to the North Face finale of the year - the last 50k.

Lining up with less than my A game (again), I ran with no Garmin and no watch. I was neither apprehensive nor gung-ho but I was definitely tired. I ran with friends - old and new - for 95% of the way and spent a good 10 minutes in Tennessee Valley talking to Saul and Chris, friends who'd waited an hour in a cold, heavy mist just to cheer me on. I relaxed (mostly) and just tried to dial in to a pace I could maintain, to be upbeat, to be friendly to the other runners around me. This got me from point to point, ticking off the miles until it was the final stretch and I found that last 2 mile energy boost that clicks into gear. I have no highlights to share per se, or "dark" miles to revisit - it was a long, muddy day spent in great company with a fairly good dose of amusement. And while I came in almost an hour slower than last year, I finished right alongside my good friend Yariv and into the throes of dozens of high-fives and hugs from friends at the finish line, a warm change of clothes and the usual exhilerating, exhausted glow that comes at the end of every 50k. That feeling is my drug.

(This was Yariv trying to lay the last second dash down to beat me to the finish line. I don't think so.)

Congratulations to everyone who raced! Big hugs and a warm thank you to all the friends who ran alongside (okay, okay, mostly AHEAD) of me, who came out to spectate along the course or be there at the finish, to Dana for spearheading our running train up Heather cutoff with great humor, to Yariv who kept me going along the flat stretches and generally entertained most of the way to the finish, to Tina who brought A-game enthusiasm despite having to drop out of the race weeks before when work intervened. To Chris and Saul - you were a great boost to see at TV! I could go on and on and on but I think I hear the music queueing up which means my time is ending.

And mostly to you 50k, for the challenge you present, for the spirit you embody and for the experience you never fail to deliver. Thank you.