Finishing with smiles on our faces
I told you Friday that my Saturday long run plans would include 30k on trails as part of a 50k relay. All I can say is that Saturday’s 20-plus miles were some of the most fun I’ve ever run.
The conditions couldn’t have been worse. It had rained and dropped a tiny bit of wet snow the night before, so the trails were nothing but mud. And when I say mud, I mean sometimes shin-deep mud. My leg of the relay, which I ran with my friends Jess and Janelle (sounds like a band, no?), didn’t begin until the 3rd loop of the five 10k loops, so it already had the impact of hundreds of feet all over it. Read: super slippery! I’m pretty sure each loop took us more than an hour to slog through.
Before
Just staying upright was a challenge. By some miracle I managed not to fall, but Jess fell once and poor Janelle was on the ground five times. By the last loop, she had had her share of kissing the mud. We were all slap happy at that point, and I laughed until I had tears in my eyes.
A few comments on people who run ultras–what a fun, laid back crew. They’re out there for the joy of running and many don’t get caught up in their times (the way, ahem, some of us road racing peeps do). And can you beat the aid stations at ultras? Cookies, pretzels, PB & J sandwiches, the works. Gotta love it. Big props go to Phil Lang and Bullseye Runningfor pulling off a first-class event in the first year.
After
And of course, since it was Feb. 11, I ran with my Sherry Arnold bib on. I didn’t know her, but I can imagine that as a runner who lived in a beautiful state like Montana, she would have appreciated the quiet peace that can be found on a trail in the woods. It was an honor to wear her name and see many others doing the same.
Run for Sherry
How was your weekend run?
I had a good run on Saturday- finally back on the trails for the first time since a 50k in October, and since the leg muscle injury. It was so peaceful- though most of it was either an inch of snow or an inch of mud. I was the only human who was out there! I’ve only done two ultras and I can tell you that you are absolutely right in your assessment of the people and the food! I had also done a 15k during the summer that was road vs trail runners scored cross country style. We trail runners lost the race by quite a bit, but we beat the roadies badly when it came to the beer consumption contest at the halfway mark!
Erik the Running Moose recently posted..4 Weeks Into My Plan…Mwah, hah, hahhhhh!!!
My running group did the run for Sherry this weekend. It was such a reality check on the true blessing of running and life in general. Glad you had such graet runs this weekend!
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..The First 14 Miler
There seems to be a positive relationship with the amount of mud on the shoes and the number of girlfriends with the enjoyment of the run! Sherry probably smiled when she saw you girls!
Adrienne recently posted..Working On My PhD: Making Adjustments
Sounds like a great run you and your friends had. And the look of the shoes afterwards tells everything about the mud
I didn’t run at all this weekend for several reasons, main reason was the bitter cold. I wasn’t brave enough to face it. Thankfully as of today it’s getting warmer, no more freezing temperatures at night and during the day.
Fran recently posted..Wednesday February 8 – 2012, The workout edition
i secretly love getting muddy so i think i would have had a great time with you guys…we’ll just pretend I could have kept up
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted..Healthy Breakfast Bars
Glad you didn’t fall! I ran 4.5 miles and thought of Sherry.
What a blast, nice job avoiding a fall : ) I ran for Sherry too this weekend.
Molly recently posted..Virtual Run for Sherry Arnold
The before and after is awesome! My runs this weekend weren’t bad, but nothing to write home about either.
kari @ Running Ricig recently posted..not even leaving an impression
Sounds like such an exciting race! I agree that once you hit trails the atmosphere is more relaxed and less time oriented, and I love that.
Vanessa @ Gourmet Runner recently posted..Happy Birthday (and a Hangover)!
That sounds like so much fun! Way to get muddy:) Even better that you got to run it with friends.
Hikermom recently posted..Running For Sherry
Oh my, that is a lot of mud! Glad you had so much fun out there.
Trail/ultra runners DO seem to be such a fun and laid back bunch. I want to experience that for myself one of these days.
marlene recently posted..Three Things Thursday
you totally rock!!!!
I ran even though I didn’t want to…wasn’t in mood but that changed once I got out the door! but nothing like your run!
Tara Burner recently posted..Motivation Monday – haters, anger as motivation?
That does sound like a lot of fun! Mostly because of the delicious aid stations
I would take my sweet time and down as many cookies as humanely possible 
My weekend run was great! I kept it indoors and just did 50 minutes of treadmill sprints 
Christina @ the athletarian recently posted..22 pounds of rice.
I agree – ultra runners are so much more laid back. At the start of my first ultra, it was like nobody wanted to be at the start line. There was about a 5-foot gap between the line and the first line of runners!!
Sounds like a great way to honor Sherry – glad that you didn’t fall and had a fantastic run!
Michele @ nycrunningmama recently posted..Do Yasso 800s work?
I’m not a trail runner, but that sounds wicked fun!
MCM Mama recently posted..Love the Run You’re with 5k race report
My run Saturday was cold and windy, but at least there was some sun. I thought about Sherry the whole way. I enjoy reading stories from the crazy ultra folks because the joy for what they do is so obvious.
Christina recently posted..Redemption of Lazy Sunday
How cool?! Sounds like a ton o’ fun!!
awwwww – mud? girlfriends? a cause? the weather doesnt matter – that is a recipe for fun- fun-fun. so coooooool!
Kris @Krazy_Kris recently posted..The Stranger | Music Monday
That sounds like so much fun! It’s great you had friends with you as I’m sure that made it even more fun. I kind of want to do an ultra purely based on the food there is available at the aid stations!
Kristen (The Running Mom) recently posted..Runner’s high
Sounds like a blast! So glad you had fun and it went well !
Erin Henderson recently posted..For Sherry
Your before and after shots are priceless! Sounds like a lot of fun – glad you stayed upright
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted..What I Love about Running
Oh man, I love that after pic! That looks like an awesome day!
Heather@Just a Colorado Gal recently posted..Weekend Recap & Giveaway Winner!
Oh I love it and what a nice tribute to Sherry
you girls are hardcore!!!!
Ali Mc recently posted..Virtual Race, Rocking Out & More Logan
My weekend run was 7.25 miles around CCBC during swimming warm up. Chilly and windy! Nice to meet you!
Mara @Big Happy Family recently posted..Happy Birthday to me (last week)!
That is so cool, glad everyone had fun
BDD recently posted..11 Things x 4
They are a great laid-back bunch…except for the front runners. They can be as serious as road racers.
Sometimes it is just soo fun to play in the mud!
That sounds lovely.
I hear ya about ultra runners. I think I could really get behind a group like that. If I don’t have to worry about pace and I know there will be snacks, I could go for days. Maybe after Ironman…….like a year or two after, heehee.
Missy recently posted..14 miles for Sherry
Sounds and looks like fun. I definitely found there to be a very different vibe when I ran my first trail race versus road race. I’m in the middle or back anyways but even there you can tell a difference!
abbi recently posted..Does Anyone Work Anymore?
I do not run trails enough.
And I did not know one could ahve too much fun!
Jamoosh recently posted..And Done!
Sounds like an awesome experience! I love running with people who aren’t thinking about their pace or times. And in all that mud, sounds like it wasn’t an option anyway.
Laura recently posted..Rainy day and Austin prep
My run was brutal but I loved reading about yours. I kind of like that rain/mud thing only because the shower post run is the bomb.
Laura recently posted..3 Things Wrong with Sunday’s Long Run
That looks like a BLAST. PS we have the same magenta/purple running top and we both wore it on Saturday! twins!
Erin recently posted..Race Report: 2012 Heart Throb 5K
Is it sad that I covet your mud run? I am so over all the icy trails, roads, and sidewalks!
I had a great 15.5 mile run with my group for Sherry with countless “WOAH’s” and squeals as we slip-slided away. Wouldn’t have missed it for anything – despite the conditions!
Kathy R recently posted..Staying In the Moment – Running For Sherry.
Sounds like your mud run was a great time and that you guys needed a good hose down after you finished! I always hear great things about ultra runners and love how the races are filled with some of the yummies snacks ever, maybe one day I’ll venture into that realm of running.
Britt @ Chicago Runner Girl recently posted..CHM Training Week 2
I have yet to try that trail run…well that’s not true I have done it once…it was with that Dean Karnazes guy….all 8k in the mud…!
Caroline recently posted..Running for a cause.
Saturday I did a walk (behind my running group) in honor of Sherry. Sunday I ran a 20 mile training run with members from my running group…my longest run to date! Most of it was on road, but my favorite part was the 6 or 7 miles we did on trail. Love trail runs!
GreenGirlRunning recently posted..A Virtual Run
Whew!! dirty girls
and it does sound like a band lol!
Isn’t it amazing how many ran for Sherry? Makes me smile to know that all over people were thinking of her…I did not know her either but it could have been any of us.
MilesMusclesMommyhood recently posted..Weekend Wrap UP
i keep alternating between must do an ultra and who am I kidding
Amanda – RunToTheFinish recently posted..The Happy Movie
Love the “after” shoes…..looks like a great day, based on the mud
Lisa recently posted..Gatorade-cicle (a long training run report)
Your run looks fun to me, too! I love trails. My weekend run was also on trails (frozen solid ones) and also lovely, though more solitary and less festive than yours looks! :^)
Terzah recently posted..The Worldwide Run for Sherry Arnold
Oh that sounds like so much fun!! Glad you ladies managed to complete the relay without anyone getting hurt! Love it!
Michael recently posted..My Bloggerversary!
Love the before and after picture!! Good job on your run
Christine recently posted..What I Love about Running
That looked like a lot of fun! I love to get a little muddy too; the trail runners in our club are very speedy and skeery (to me, anyway) so I haven’t ventured out with them yet. I’ll have to work on that.
Tracy recently posted..Run to Remember Sherry Arnold
Wow! Look at the before and after pics of the shoes! Who thought to do the before one? Good call!
What a cool race to honor Sherry! Glad you stayed upright in all that mud!
Teamarcia recently posted..Weekend Rewind
Five times!! That’s a lot of times to fall! Glad you all had a blast anyway. This reminds me of a trail race I did last year. It was only 10 miles, but the runners were so much friendlier and laid back than what I’m used to seeing at road races (not that road racers are rude or anything like that). Sounds like a fun way to experience an ultra without having to actually run the whole ultra!
Laura recently posted..Place your bets
Also ran for Sherry, also ran a 30k! But a road race. Very windy.
Gracie recently posted..Run like the wind! Or at least into the wind.
Sounds like a tough run but weirdly fun. I love the after photo.
Char recently posted..I’m a Naughty Girl And I Must Be Spanked
Who’s car were you in? I please you weren’t climbing into my car after that run!!! looks like you have fun, we only got wet for the 1st 10min, then it was only the wet cushes we ran through…
Coach Dion recently posted..CROSS TRAINING
Sounds like a blast! Bet ya all slept great that night-such a great feeling!
RIP Sherry
Fueled by Spite recently posted..Rest in Peace
That sounds brutal!! I can’t believe how muddy you guys were! I am so glad you guys had a fun time. Jess and Jenelle does sound like a band!
Katie@Will Race for Carbs recently posted..Finishing Is Winning
Oh man I want to do an ultra just so that I can experience one of those aid stations…YUM. That sounds delicious.
The mention of that reminds of me Dean Karnaze’s book where he eats a pizza while running.
Katherine @ Neon Blonde Runner recently posted..Happy Valentine’s Day to my Loves