End of year

Just as I thought I am done blogging for the year (and I had all the right excuses for it), Paul Charteris emails me with tagging questions. Then I see Rick and his Year 2007 review post, and I wonder, what if I combine the two?

1. Most memorable moment on the trail...pacing Adrien at SD 100 and hallucinating last 7 miles, scared if I have what it takes to bring him to his goal. I felt like I was making or breaking an Olympic team.

2. Best new trail I discovered in 2007...miles 93 to 96 of Bear 100, that insane psychopathic edge of the ridge path with no footing, sharp rocks and crazy bushes. I hated every minute spent on it (the whole hour plus) yet I loved it as soon as I realized what I had done. I am eager to go back and see if I can "pretend" to run some bits of it the way Karl flies over in the dark. That for toughness, when for the beauty the award goes to Bighorn 100 trails – just check out these pictures.

3. My best performance of the year was...Zane Grey 50. I didn't give up at mile 3 when got injured and hobbled for the next 20 miles, was able to recoup and kick ass last stretch. That flying downhill on loose dirt with rocks was phenomenal.

4. I do not know how I previously survived without...running skirt. OK, I know, it is lame and all, not really necessary, but when I finally did buy it - I felt so girly and loved it! Now I drag it everywhere. I wish they had as many pockets as my RaceReady shorts do, as I am yet to make a decision to wear the skirt for a 100.

5. The person I would most like to meet on a trail in 2008...Ann Trason. If I have heroes, she is it. I never had an opportunity to meet her - my first WS100 was when she didn't come due to injury, I signed up for Firetrails 50 (she RD’s) yet couldn't come...I am sure if I do bump into her on trails, I will freeze to death, but if we for some weird reason end up spending some 30 min together, we probably wouldn't stop talking. And my favorite quote that I use all the time when asked about long races by normal people is from her story on WS: I don't run a 100 miler, I run from AS to AS, and then it is from a tree to a tree. I also loved the "miles to life" comparison: when you start the race, you are a toddler, walking still slow and wobbly, then you are a teen (at miles 12-20), thinking you can concur the world, then an adult going through full-minded, then getting a little old and tired, and at mile 80, when beat up and in pain, don't you think you should be, because you are 80 years old now? (the words are NOT exact, just by memory).

6. The race I am most excited/scared about in 2008 is...I don't know yet. I am planning on a few new courses, so that's exciting, I am also going for a Bighorn 100 repeat, and it's a bit daunting because I have a score to settle...but what will really kick my emotional pants is if I get into Hardrock 100 - then watch out for my crying big time, both from been excited and scared:)

Blog tagging…
Blogger 1 Carilyn
Blogger 2 Sean
Blogger 3 Bryon

A short look back - best stories (not all) of racing, running, volunteering...(results are on the side bar link)
Chuckanut 50k
Rumble 60k
Zane Grey 50
Silver State 50
Bighorn 100
PCT 50/50
Cool night 12 hr
Waldo 100k
CCC 100
Teton races
Bear 100
SD 100

Until new adventures...