“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.”
OUCH!I love hills. I love rocks, it's the damn roots that took me down.
It was a fine climb during the first 8 mile out and back. Breathtaking views of the ocean. A long slow climb to the top. On the way back it was a few miles to the next loop during a nice downhill run on soft trails covered with leaves...BAMMM
What the hell took me down? Roots....those little hidden bumps you can't see that take the wind right out of your sails. I rolled on my shoulder to the right avoiding a face plant. Landed in the poison oak.
OK, I'm fine, get up, be careful....
I'm trotting along carefully and about a mile down the trail BAMMMMMMMMMM, I don't want to go down, I am trying to stay up and my feet are scrambling behind me but my upper half has too much momentum. I roll right this time, no poison oak. I hit my hand hard on something and start bleeding. DON"T BE A WIMP. Wipe it on your shirt and you'll look macho.
So I head out for the last 5 mile stretch, stiff and sore but ok. A long climb and then my favorite single track level trotting ground. I start to run and both my knees and hips scream out in pain. Maybe I am just stiff I think. I will walk awhile and try again. I try again...OUCHHHH, SHIT.
Do I go back? Do I finish and walk in the last 5 miles and earn the last place award?
Well, stupid me, I opted for the second choice and have gone down in the Pacific Run history books as the last person in the 21K at 4 hours and 4 minutes.
I woke up this morning feeling ok except for the poison oak that is popping out all over and a sore right hand.
A friend asked, what ever happened to YOGA?
Way to hang in there! Who cares when you came in-- you finished without permanently injuring yourself, so all is well. (I might not be the best person to follow on this one though-- see my Skyline to the Sea race report for clarification...)
ReplyDeleteAND you have an Aussie! They're the best dogs EVER!!
Find me at Woodside-- hopefully I'll be doing the 35K.
My friend had a total face plant, shoulder hurting, body scraping fall too. Sorry to hear you fell. She still finished before me though. LOL It was a very tough course. I almost bit it a few times.
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