Ready for the VT 50k!! One can hope!!

In ten days, I’ll be joined by hundreds of runners and mountain bikers who will be meandering down the picturesque trails of Vermont for the VT 50!!! What a beautiful state we live in, especially in the Fall!! It’s been a great summer of training for me and my hubby, Guy. He recently finished the VT 100, so this will seem like a walk in the park, right? Haha, all kidding aside, any distance of running, whether it be a mile to 100+ miles, is still a feat!! We have a great group of runners in town that we are blessed to share training with. What an eclectic group we are; from all ages, running styles, and different goals. We come together to train, share ideas of what works and doesn’t, races we’d like to do, food, kid/spouse topics, vent from time to time.. you name it….we’ve probably talked about it. Sometimes I feel like I have the Wikipedia out there with me!! I feel blessed to have these great people in my life, miles seem to fly by when you are chatting with new and old friends. Our numbers swell at times and decrease when life gets busy, but we all know we are there if someone needs a running buddy! I feel having a spouse, partner, friend, your kiddo, or someone to motivate you is a blessing. You feel accountable, like.. hey..so and so is waiting for me to run, I better get going to meet him or her! Can really be applied to whatever sport you enjoy!

Brownsville Runners

This year I’m pumped to be running the 50k with my good friend Carrie. This is her first, she has done numerous marathons, the Ragnar relay and too many to count endurance rides on horseback (our other passion we do together). We’ve finished great training runs, pushing each other, but mostly just enjoying the chatter, and beauty around us. She is a talented runner who will do great at her VT 50k debut! Go Carrie!! Next year…we battle the 50??? Hint, hint!

My friend Carrie and I on a 22 mile training run…getting ready for the 2014 VT 50k

My hubby, Guy is probably my biggest supporter, besides my kiddos, he makes me feel confident in anything I put my mind to. I think back to 2011, when I finished my one and only VT 50…I do want to try another, even though I swore my distance is the 50k, emphasize on K!! I finished with 6 minutes to spare on my 12 hour cutoff time. My funniest memory was (it wasn’t funny at the time) when Guy heard whimpering behind him…..me!! I was in the throes of nausea and exhaustion and feeling the pressure of the clock! He looked back briefly and said “…we got this, only five more miles (which felt like an eternity to me)..one foot in front of the other.” I cursed in my head, wishing I could hop on a mountain bike, on the downhills only…I don’t know how people bike in those hills!!! I put my head down and pumped my arms, pretty much saying, ” I think I can, I think I can!” Guy said he didn’t want to hug me or put his arms around me, for fear I’d crumble…which I may have, right there on the trail. Sometimes a little pity parade is ok, right? Thank you Guy for always being there and sharing this beautiful life with me…you are my hero..from a non-runner to ultra marathon man in less than five years, you are amazing!!!!!!! I love you babe..