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!