ac 50k? i didn't know....

on Saturday morning i set out with about 100 other runners to run the AC 100 mile endurance run. i learned a lot during my 33 miles.

1- i need to be better on those hills because there are many.

2- this is a very well organized race.

3- the people that toe the line are wonderful.

so what went wrong? many things... the climb at the start of the race was a killer. the next climb was even worse and the third climb that i made got the best of me, on this day.

true, i was probably tired from completing GTR two weeks before. hay, not everyone is Catra. but i had to try.

my friend was really struggling with an injury and my heart went out to him. this was to be his 10th official finish but i knew that it wasn't going to happen. he was too injured and when i heard him yell after slipping on a rack, well it was only a matter of time.

next i misread a trail sign that read Islip 0.9 miles. i thought "great, I'm in good shape" but when i got 0.9 miles down the trail i was hit with a cruel reality. another sign that read Islip Trailhead 1.0 miles. i'm screwed....

i made it to Islip in the nick of time. the only problem was that i could not spend anytime with my family who went out of their way to be there for me. i grabbed what i needed and i headed out. no kiss, no smile no thank you. my husband came running up the trail behind me with a cool bandanna, my family did just what i asked of them. as i walked my way up Mt. Williamson it occurred to me that i was not having fun. this was not my day to be doing this. i was never going to make it. i had lost heart. my friend was suffering, and i could not enjoy my family. ok, i will spend the afternoon with my family and go to lunch. that sounded much better to me.

when i got to the highway crossing, two sheriff's stopped to see if i was ok. i looked at my watched and told them that i would be in about 1 minute when i would then be officially cut from the race.

i had a decision to make. do i now take the cheater way and walk along the highway or do i go the purist route and follow the official race route where they would be awaiting me to cut off my wristband (not fast enough i might add). i thought about what George would do. if George ever were to cut the course by accident, he always makes sure to go back and correct his error. i knew that he would take the trail to his awaiting DNF and so that is what i did. as i came running down the hill i saw an empty aid station except for my family who were cheering for me and there was George in his white hat and royal blue shorts.

i was most happy to be done. on that day, that was all i could do. and i got to spend the afternoon with friends and family. i stayed through the night and was at the finish line to see the winner come through in 18:00 hours and for Dina who came in 5 minutes after the 33 hour cut off. i felt great pride in her efforts as a handful of us walked her in the last .5 of the race.

i felt a great sense of pride for all the finishers. and for my friends who did not make it. many are already planning for next year. and i might too, you never know.

AC is a special race and i was glad to get to be a part of it LC