Gallivanting Runner: Day 2: Race Day!!!

Starting the morning off with the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon. It was an overcast and chilly (51 degrees) morning...perfect for a marathon! On the shuttle ride to the start I spoke with a fellow runner about our various races and style of running. He was a seasoned trail runner and casually mentioned to me that this race has 9 miles of gravel....WHAT?! Yeah, he even wore his trail running shoes for the race...YEESH! So, I prepared myself for another challenge on the course. As we started off, I felt really great about the run. We started in one of the high school parking lots and proceeded out onto one of the main highways in Anchorage and as we made the first turn I realized I left my camera in my bag at the bag check van! MAN! The views were AWESOME! No question our Creator exists and is beyond our understanding. Such beauty! We ran along an Alaskan Army base and turned toward the mountains. After we crossed over the highway we turned onto military property and headed into the great trees on the mountains...and hit the gravel...At first it wasn't too terrible. Rough, no doubt, but do-able. Well a few miles in, running on gravel up-hill was going to be more of a challenge than expected. My knees started to tell me to take it easy maybe even walk some...but no, I refused to listen to my body and pushed myself to run the entire 9ish miles (I think it was only 7 or 8 miles of gravel and 1 or 2 or trail) only slowing for water. Worst thing I could have possibly done. As we were ascending, the light drizzle turned to rain. 50ish degrees, up-hill, on gravel, in shorts and a tank top, wishing I'd remembered to grab my camera and keep my long sleeved running shirt on. The only thing you can expect in a marathon is the unexpected. The good thing, I now know how to be even more prepared for future races. As I came to the end of the miles of gravel my knees screamed so bad I had no choice but to walk. A few feet further and the gravel turned into a trail...unpaved trail...up-hill! I attempted to run again and immediately had shooting pain through my left knee. Running was completely out and I was only at mile 13! I walked the entire rest of the marathon...boo! I met a few Ft. Worth women running with Team in Training, another from Houston, a couple who were from Austin and a part of Hill Country Trail Runners, and the neatest guy....running with a 45 lbs. military bag on his back in honor of his two close buddies who were critically injured in Iraq. One lost his left leg and the other suffered brain damage and broke nearly every bone in his body. And this man was running, for them...made me cry. The course is the most beautiful, amazing, and challenging course I've run thus far. I even met a guy who was completing his 50th State and the guy running with him had completed all 50 twice and was now working to complete all 50 in one year...this race was his 36th state for the year! Within the next 5 years, I will return to take the course on again. It's a quiet course, very minimal water stops (but each one provided everything needed for the runners!) and few spectators. I finally finished 6:23:08. I managed to force myself to run (more of a quick shuffle) for the last .2 miles over the finish line.

By far my worst "run" ever but still absolutely amazing. After getting situated and rested up, I decided to head down to the Moose’s Tooth (local pizza place and pub proudly serving local ales) for a quiet evening. As the cab pulled into the parking lot I was overwhelmed with how busy it was with tents and everything else set up just outside of the place. The cab driver told me it was because of the Solstice celebration going on all weekend. I put my name on the list for a table (1 hour wait) and got in line for the bar to get a tasty beer. While I was waiting I struck up a conversation with the couple behind me. They asked if I was there for the 311 concert, I told them no and that besides not knowing they were even playing I had come to the Moose’s Tooth expecting to grab a table in the corner and enjoy a quiet evening. I got my beer and went out and sat on the patio to wait for my table and figured I would just come back out to the patio after eating to catch the concert since that’s what all the adjoining tents were for. As I was sitting there a guy came up and asked if anyone wanted a free ticket to the concert because he was giving his away. I asked him if he was serious and when he told me yes, I jumped on is offer. Following my wonderful pizza and beer...