I just got home from a kick a$$ experience. The Spokane To Sandpoint Relay Race. Talk about an amazing time..... Where to begin.......
For those of you who don't know The Spokane to Sandpoint is a 184.3 mile Relay Race. You have 12 runners and you each take a different leg. Certain runners are assigned to certain Vans. Van 1 or Van 2. Van 1 starts (duh). Each runner will run a certain distance. For example if you were in Van 1, Runner 1, you might start with a 5 mile run. Your van drops you off at the start line and then heads out to the next exchange point (mile 5). Runner 2 will wait there for Runner 1. Runner 1 will hand off the runner's snap bracelet and Runner 2 takes off on what ever amount of miles their leg is. Runner 1 will hop in the van and ride with the other runners. Then Runner 3 will be shuttled to the next exchange point... This goes on until all 6 runners in Van 1 are done with thier assigned leg. Then Van 2 will start with runner 7...and so on and so on... Each Van will have 3 "legs" like this. You have 36 hours to complete the course. It's around the clock. I was in Van 2, Runner 8. I ran leg 8 (3.66 miles), leg 20 (2.83 miles), leg 32 (3.5 miles). Our Team was The Roslyn Brew Crew for Roslyn Brewing Company. Kelly's (our team captain) husband owns this business and they sponsored us!! How freaking cool is that??? Yay.
So there's the "idea" of this race. Thursday at 3ish we all met in town at Fred Meyers. I was EXTRA nervous because I only knew one gal, Lisa. The other ladies I hadn't ever spent time with and I KNOW they are big time runners. I just can't help but to feel like such a "newbie" to the whole running scene. Turns out everyone was super nice and friendly. We all piled into our assigned vans... I was in Van 2 with Kelly, Lindsey, Lisa (that told me about this and invited me to do this), Jackie, and Candie. Our Van was a 1992 Chev Suburban. It had NO AIR CONDITIONING and sometimes the back passenger side door wouldn't open. OH and the gas gage stopped working at some point. It was perfect for decorating and bombing around in BUT it definately was an oven.
Thursday night we stayed at a little lodge type place at Mt. Spokane about 5-6 miles from ths start line. It was simple and cheap, just like me so I didn't mind it too much. :)
Friday morning we were scheduled to start and we all woke up early. Both Vans headed up the road to the start line. At the start line while waiting for Van 1 to begin our race we did some decorating of what we affectionately called "Big Blue". :)
We took our pictures of us goofing around a team picture at the beginning of the race.
The Roslyn Brew Crew 2012 S2S
Kelly, ME (way in the back) and Lindsay. These chics are AWESOME.
Our first runner took off and Van 1 began their journey. Van 2... WENT TO STARBUCKS. When all the gals in our van decided to go to my FAV coffee stand I was PLEASED. We had a few hours to kill and I loved the idea of doing it with a latte in hand. We all visited and kicked back waiting for our turn. I was so worried. My stomach started to hurt and I knew I needed more water. I couldn't figure out if it was nerve or a sour stomach. Now, looking back... I think it was NERVES...
Van 2: Lindsey, Lisa, me, Candie, Kelly, and Jackie
Pretty soon it was time for our awesome Van 2 Big Blue to start. Candie was runner 7 which meant she was first. It was approximately 2:30 ish and DAMN HOT. Actually it was 97! I can't remember exactly how many miles she had, but I do remember that I WAS NEXT AND I WAS SCARED. My stomach was ON FIRE and my nerves were shot. I was trying to play it cool..... and doing a crappy job of it. As soon as Candie took off we all piled in the van and headed to the exchange. I remember standing there and feeling like my legs were going to start shaking. What the heck was wrong with me??? Candie came around the bend and did the hand off. I was instantly ready to go. I took off running and thought "I got this"... but my stomach was killing me. I looked at my Garmin and I was doing a 8:40 pace. That's SUPER FAST FOR ME!!! I passed one gal. I felt like I was holding my own.... but then it hit. My stomach was starting to turn. I had slowed WAY down so I could settle myself down. I could actually taste the latte coming back up and I knew I had to stop. It was 97 degrees out and I was on a trail with no water. What the hell was I thinking? I kept trying to talk myself out of it... but I couldn't hold back anymore. I started to vomit... It was the ONE AND ONLY TIME I have ever done anything like this... Runners were passing me.... and I was DYING. Not only was I getting sick, with no water... but people were seeing this happen? WTH? Have I no shame?? I started to regroup and had slowed to a jog... My face was sweaty and I was feeling whipped. I made it another .5 miles and stopped again for a quick dry heave. I almost started bawling. My head was pounding... but I talked myself down off the ledge and got my ass back in gear. I was incredibly slow but at that point, I just had to finish this damn leg. Soon I saw my teammates and they were cheering me on like CRAZY. I ran across this amazing bridge and did that hand off to our next runner, Lindsay. My teammates had cold water for me and were all so kind and understanding. I was so afraid of holding them up and they were only concerned about me. It made a terrible moment seem completely ok. These chics were cool as hell.
Lisa in her beer wench costume w me.
Kelly. One of her legs was a mustache/tattoo contest SHE WON IT. YAY....
EVERYONE in our van ROCKED THEIR RUNS. They are all so fast and strong as heck. The time went fast. Soon we were at the transition point where Van 1 picks up. We could take a rest and eat. We hit a fun little restaurant and I was sure to drink plenty of fluids that were not labeled Starbucks. We laid down in the park and napped while Van 1 was out doing their runs.
Our second set of runs were at night. And by night I mean PITCH BLACK OUT. My second run was a "glow contest"... It was so fun. I needed to have fun. I had totally had the worst running experience of my life during my first leg.... my second needed to be awesome. I had the coolest dress up nonsense EVER... It was LED gloves, lights, glow sticks, and a LED WIG..... I loved it. My run was short and it was SOOOO MUCH COOLER OUT. We ran along trails by the water which made a world of difference. I felt much much better and had runners running towards me at times. There were lots of high fives and laughs. I felt redeemed.
LIGHT IT UP.
The rest of our night runs went awesome. Everyone enjoyed it so much more.... it really made every ones experience so much more incredible. It was cooler and easier to move in. After our night runs Van 1 picked back up for their last set of legs and Van 2 headed to a local school to sleep. I can honestly say I have no idea how long it took to get there, where we were, or what the heck was going on. I had crawled in the very back seat and started to curl up with my sleeping bag. I didn't wake up until 5:00 am. I probably fell asleep around 1:30 ish??? I'm unsure of the exact time. When I did wake up my head was killing me. I really believe I got dehydrated. No matter how much I drank, I was still feeling whipped, and headachy. I guess that's what happens in super hot weather and poor hydration while sitting in a freaking oven of a car after running.... HA.
My last leg of the run was approximately 9:30 this morning. It was 3.5 miles and it was getting warm out. I made a deal with myself to just take it easy. My legs were super sore from running and sleeping in the car. They felt heavy, but I was so pleased to be on my last run I knew it was gonna be a mental game for me. When I finished I did what I always do. I bawled. I cried because I still cannot believe how far I've come. I was NOT the fastest but I was part of a team that encouraged me and showed me what strong women can do. We had some silly times and made great memories. We all took turns losing stuff in the car and it was always right in front of our faces, we got lost, we made jokes, we bitched about the heat, whined when we got cold or wet, and so much more. Heck, we even locked ourselves out of our vehicle but all found ways to find the good in it and keep rolling. I loved every second of that. I am so grateful for this experience to do a Relay with women who are amazing. I hope we can do it again next year. Maybe I'll make it without vomit. :)
OH and HELL YES... I got a metal, a cool tech shirt and I kept up with my 7 in 7 goal. August race .... COMPLETED! Yeeehaw....
BLING ALERT!!! On Thursday my ROCK ENCORE metal came in the mail. If you do 2 rock n roll events (Portland & Seattle)... you received an encore metal. Check this baby out... she's a gleaming mass of beauty... sparkles, sparkles, sparkles....
Damn good weekend... 2 metals were added. Yay..... I'm off to bed... I'm tired.........
xoxoxoxo,
M
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