How to Run 40 Miles and Still Have Fun - Run Around the Gorge

I am sore.  I mean really, really sore.  More sore than I have ever been.  But if the Run Around the Gorge race had a third day on the schedule - I'd be at the start line ready to go.  And I'd be smiling!

The inaugural Run Around the Gorge race took place this weekend - a two day 40 mile trail run around the New River Gorge in West Virgina (http://www.runaroundthegorge.com/).   It was more than a race - it was an event.  For highlights - jump down to the bottom of this post.

First about the "racing" part - I've linked the course description including the topo maps and elevations for both days - http://www.runaroundthegorge.com/course.html . To say the course was beautiful would be a gross understatement.   At every turn - there was something more beautiful than the last.  I left the ipod at home and enjoyed the sounds all day - birds, waterfalls and rapids.  I ran much of the race on day one alone and I was never, never bored.

I put "race" in quotes, because I never felt like I was racing.  I strained my hamstring in August, so I all but stopped running in preparation for Savageman, which took place in mid-September.  After Savageman, the longest long run I completed was only 12 -13 miles.  I was not in racing shape, but I felt like I had enough base fitness to get through the weekend.  And while there were a couple times I questioned this reasoning, I finished both days in a respectable manner.   But more importantly, the race director had created a light hearted fun atmosphere around this event.  EVERYONE had fun.  There were less than 30 racers in all, and I can't think of anyone who did not enjoy the weekend.

I know that some of my friends question my definition of fun, but I guarantee that anyone who spent time at this event would be inspired to join us next year for the Second Annual Run Around the Gorge!

Weekend Highlights:

1. Arriving at Opossum Creek to a refrigerator full of beer and wine - and looking around the room and seeing everyone with a full glass.  CARBO LOADING!!!!
2. Finding out that I'd be sleeping in a room with seven women and I'd be on the top bunk.  Funny when I was 10, I thought the top bunk was awesome... of course when I was 10, I wasn't tall enough to hit my head on the ceiling when I sat up!
3. Discovering that the other six women in the room over packed as much as I did.
4. Seeing old friends and acquaintances I didn't expect to see and meeting new friends, whom I am sure I will again see at future races.
5. Getting stuck in the downstairs bathroom - not once, not twice but THREE times!  BTW - did anyone ever tell Mark that the door to bathroom didn't work? Because I never did!
6. Hanging out with a bunch of people that didn't get upset when they got stuck in the bathroom... a couple times (yeah - we are all slow learners!).
7. Navigating a spiral staircase in the main house that was far more technical than any downhill paths during the race.
8. Realizing that there were far more women at this race than men.  I think there were 24 racers and only 5 were men.  Women ruled this race!
9. Being the "Meanest Racer"on Saturday.  Which really means that my race time for day one was closest to the average time for all racers. Yeah - I can be mean sometimes but really I'm just average.
10. Taking the "alternative route" on Sunday down the climbers ladder and along the endless wall. 
11. Stepping into a crevice between two rocks hidden by leaves and falling thigh deep, scrapping my shin and and hitting my knee on the way down.
12. Having a mere "flesh wound" that looked a lot worse than it really was - and having Jody tell her version of how it happened. I'm guessing It was far more dramatic from her perspective behind me- one second I was running and the next I was two feet down - sunk between rocks
13. Looking forward to uphills when I had an excuse to walk and give my my quads and knees a rest.
14. Learning that ladybugs bite.  Not kidding.
15. Eating two McDonalds Cheeseburgers on the way home and not feeling guilty about it!

I hope to post pictures later this week!

2010 NFL Flag Football Regional Tournament (Raven's Stadium)

I love it when everything comes together at the last moment - which is exactly what happened for the Arlington Thunder 9-11 Flag Football Team.   Every year, Arlington Youth Flag Football sends one or two all star teams in each age group to the annual NFL Regional Flag Football Tournament, hosted this year in Raven's Stadium. Winners of the regional tournaments, held around the country, go on to the National Tournament in Florida, all expenses paid courtesy of the NFL.

Earlier in the season, the decision was made to send one Arlington team in the 9-11 category, but at the last minute there was a push to form a second team.  Just to provide some perspective - the first team was formed in August, before the actual season even got underway.  The second team, Arlington Thunder, was put together the first week of October and Ethan was asked to join the team.  The tournament was on the third Sunday of October.  In other words - Arlington Thunder had two weeks to assign positions, develop and learn plays and construct a defense.  And to confound matters a little more, the person who volunteered to coach had to back out at last minute. 

So when I got a call from the league commissioner asking if I would consider stepping into the coach position, I was at the same time flattered and terrified.  I was in no way qualified to coach an All- Star team!  Sure I coach a league team - but I was doing that by the seat of my pants.  I knew enough about running plays and setting up a defense not to embarrass myself or the kids!

As it turns out, I'm a pretty fast learner and so were the kids (okay - the kids learned faster than me, but don't tell them that!).  With a ton of help from the league commissioner and and a great assistant coach, we ended up having a pretty spectacular tournament.   Despite our late start, and the challenges of a Columbus Day holiday weekend, the kids pulled it together and exceeded everybody's expectations.  

Funny thing - we didn't win the tournament.  We didn't even win our pool, but after the disappointment of losing the final pool game wore off (which didn't take long) - there was immense pride over what we had accomplished.  We (and when I say we - I'm including the coaches) learned a new and complicated defense and contained the other teams - allowing only two touchdowns during pool play.  Now that's something to be proud of!  And on offense - not only did the kids learn the plays, they executed them well.  It was incredible to watch as I called in the plays from the sidelines through one of the players and then see them line up without confusion.  They we were calm and confident throughout the tournament. 

The kids who did not get much playing time were all mature, upbeat and supportive of their teammates.  These kids let the coaches focus on the game - they were ready to go in when needed and did not distract when they were not.  I have to give my own son, Ethan credit here.  Despite being the coach's son, he was substituted in one game for only two snaps.  And that was only because the assistant coach thought to put him in.  Ethan knew before the tournament that there was a high possibility that he would not play - he was the youngest player on the team and the only one that would be eligible to play in this age group again next season. Quite frankly, for the week leading up to the tournament he was miserable and at times made me miserable too.  But on game day, he learned what it meant to be part of a team.  Best lesson ever!