Dashing through the Show

I ran the 5K, Dashing through the Show (the holiday light show) at Sandy Point State Park.  The race (or stroll for some) was sponsored by the Annapolis Striders, benefiting Anne Arundel Medical Center. I got there early, waited for dark, when the race started at 6:15pm.  It was fun  Families were out running together.  There were young ones, as young as 3, I swear, running, walking, looking at the lights.  Groups of young kids around 6 to 8 were running in little gangs, with parents on the edges, making sure they were ok, but staying out of the conversation.

This whole thing reminded me that as children we love to run and play.  As adults, we should still run and play.  I love that I do that, that I know that. I wish I could share more of that with non-active friends and co-workers.

Too Much Forking

I took a few days off after the 50K, or as my daughter says, 31.0086 miles.

But the need for an adventure or some type of challenge is nipping at my heels again.

Don't laugh, but I went on-line and found the Sandy Point "Dashing Through The Show" 5K, which is just a trot through the holiday lights strung each year at my beloved Sandy Point State Park, on the shores of my Chesapeake Bay.  Yes, they're mine. I share them though. With lots of other people.

So I'm doing that run this Friday solo, probably.  Dave will be on his way back from a meeting in DC and I haven't tried to entice anyone else...OK, maybe I'll see if my daughter is up for it.   There is no advanced registration; just show up, pay $14 which helps the local hospital, and do the run. No premiums. Good. Like I need more running T-shirts.  Not.

My next adventure, at least one that I signed up for and put on the calendar, is another running event. I've always wanted to do the Celtic Solstice 5 mile run in Druid Hill park in Baltimore. I'm a Baltimore ex-pat, and I'm totally into B-more trivia, and this Celtic Solstice is a run that belongs to the locals.

So yes, I've always wanted to do it from the time I lived there, but something always got in the way, or, OK, so I forgot about it coming up sometimes. They do this run rain, shine, sleet or snow, though they don't go all postal about it - they laugh and put one foot in front of the other, slipping and sliding along. I hope, yes, I hope it snows.  Now that would be more adventurous for me.  I look forward to this run.  I've got cabin fever. I'm biting at the bit to get out hiking, biking, birding or kayaking, but we continue to be tied to the house for continued tweaks here and there on things that need to be fixed, cleaned up, touched up.

And I'm eating my home made ice cream.  I'm fighting off that daylight savings time change, and less light as the days shorten.  I'm forking more than running as I fight off curling up into a little butterball.

All housework, no adventures, makes me crazy.

Did it! 50K!

I did it! It took me 7 hours and change, but I did it!  

50K! 

31 miles! 

It was three laps around the perimeter trail at Rosaryville State Park, MD. 

My husband was one of the volunteers working the water station on the north side of the park.  I went through there three times.  

I ran the whole thing, unlike the marathons I've run, where I walked off and on the last 6 miles.  

I just put my head down like a horse and kept slogging forward, thinking that with each foot fall, I was closer and closer.  I let my mind wander, I was in my zen.  It was so much easier than the marathons. I think it was easier because it was in the woods, which I love, and the dirt was easier on  my body than the asphalt and cement of most roads and streets. I ran a lot of this course by myself, so I was able to just think, or not think - just be. 

I'm glad I was on the course a week or so ago to run it and take pics and look around.  I also studied the map after that and got it in my head what things would look like and how far it was from one point to another. That enabled me to know what was coming up and to not panic or get psyched out that it seemed to take so long between certain points, which is a bit of what happened a week or so ago when I ran the one lap.  This time I was prepared. The miles between the southern water station and the northern one included a lot of switch backs and when I ran it before, it psyched me out.  This time I was prepared mentally.  

Yes.  Did it! For a day, I entered the ranks of the ultra runners.  I finished in a respectable manner.  Finishing is respectable, actually.  Only 200 were allowed to sign up, and about 150 finished.  I think I was 139.  Maybe a dozen or so were over 50.  I had good company!  

People on the course were friendly.  The volunteers were all friendly.  This was a very good experience.  My friend, Doug, finished at about 6 and a half hours.  He had a tough time the last lap, he said. He is 31 years old and quite the runner so I think he expected more of himself.  I was very happy with myself, with how my body held up and especially with my mental state.  Totally determined, totally held it together. Yes.

Prep for 50K

Today I took the day off work and drove south to Rosaryville State Park, letting the Reverend Al Green sing me some tunes such as Pretty Woman and Unchained Melody.  I started trying to work out alternative lyrics to Pretty Woman that went along the lines of "Running Woman."  It was fun, and I certainly had time to work on it while doing the 9 mile and some Perimeter Trail.

For the 50K coming up next weekend, it is 3 laps around the Perimeter Trail.  A friend who I talked into signing up for it with me, tried out the Perimeter Trail a few weeks ago and thought it was an ass kicker.  He is in better shape than me, by a long shot, so this got my attention.