It has now been one week since I completed my third JFK 50-miler.  My quads have mostly recovered, thankfully, so now I have only to push through that seemingly inevitable post-race slump (I call it my "blue" period); what do I do with all of this time on my hands?  I could get those photos in the shoe boxes organized or rearrange the spices in the kitchen pantry.  Well, maybe on a rainy day...wait...it doesn't rain here in Southern California!  So, instead of a long run today, I suppose it's a good thing that my day will be packed with activities (Christmas shopping, putting up the Christmas tree, a Starbucks run in between and eating left-over turkey and trimmings).

The absolute best memory I have of last week was not the race itself but rather before the race, in the school gym, when Anna Bradford enveloped me in her arms and gave me the best hug I've had in a long time (aside from my loving husband, of course!).  Since our move to the West coast two years ago, I have truly missed the Sunday runs with the Reston Runners as well as Anna's infectious smile and "energizer-bunny" energy.  Her welcoming hug warmed my heart and for a brief moment it was almost as if time had stood still and we still lived in Fairfax VA and it was just moments before a Sunday run.   It was also wonderful to see other familiar faces with more hugs to come; Jim Ashworth, Norm and Hiroko, Farouk, Pete Bruno, Bill VA, Al Rider, Donna R., Jim Bradford, Jim Nagle, John Nusbaum (I wished Maria was there!) etc. etc.  

Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to catch up on Reston Runner news or local gossip; we had arrived barely in time to get our race packet and rush through pre-race instructions for our crew (Pete for Doug and Kevin Hart for me).   And, because of a travel day from hell the day before, we were unable to make it to the pre-race get-together at Pizza Hut where we surely would have had time to catch up on the lives of various dear Reston Runners.  Despite running this race twice before (1997 and 1999), I was a bundle of nerves.  Surveying the runners around me didn't seem to do much to calm my nerves.  They all looked so well prepared and if they felt anxious it certainly wasn't obvious.  People all around me were laughing, enthusiastically talking or quietly stretching.   I was busy  literally shaking in my trail shoes with fear; not only had it been seven years since my last 50 but I had not trained much on trails and I taken nearly a month off in September and part of October due to injury.  The AT portion of the run loomed like a monster ready to swallow me whole; I simply wasn't sure that I would make it through the first 15 miles!  

It's a good thing I didn't have long to dwell on what lay ahead as the race director announced last minute race instructions (including glowing remarks about the Reston Runners I might add!).  With a final adjustment of tights, gloves and bottle carrier as well as a good luck kiss for my husband, I made my way out of the gym and down the hill along with hundreds of other runners--all ready for the challenge of running 50 miles.  As I walked towards the start, I felt hot in the early morning chill as if I had fallen into an active volcano!  I had dressed in tights, long sleeves and gloves and now I was worried about being overdressed!  How was that possible?  I lived at the beach and I hadn't worn tights or long sleeves to run in since leaving Virginia!  Almost certainly it was just another hot flash!  The minutes before the start horn sounded were filled with excitement; the air seemed to crackle with electricity we were all ready, and even if we weren't it didn't matter and with the sound of the horn we were off.  Walking, that is..uphill.  Remember Cristina..I said to myself..start slow and then back off.  The goal is to finish.  I was happy to start out with Anna, Ellen and Donna (I knew that I would only see them for a few minutes and then not again until the finish line).  The AT portion was as beautiful as I remembered..and as treacherous.  I managed to keep what I felt like was an even pace and I even felt surprisingly relaxed through the first 8 miles.  Then I fell.  It was a soft fall and I bounced back up within the blink of an eye.  I shook it off saying to myself, well, there is your one fall it's done.  I have never fallen on the AT and now it had happened.  After another two miles, I fell again.  This time it was a bit harder.  I couldn't figure out how that happened.  I had felt relaxed yet focused.  It was nearly impossible to not be focused.  I tried to not let the fall rattle me and again, I was up quickly.  This time I slowed to a walk and took a few gulps of water.  The third fall was the hardest of all coming at around mile 11.  I fell hard, ripping my new tights and scraping my right knee (fortunately, bleeding was very minimal unlike a long run earlier this year when I fell, landing on a rock, gashing my knee which required 6 stitches).  My confidence was really shaken at this point.  I walked for a couple of minutes, shaking the fear from my head and then started running again.  I prayed every step of the switchbacks that I wouldn't fall; thankfully, I made it to Weaverton Cliffs without another fall.  I was ecstatic to be off the AT and to see the smiling faces of other Reston Runners and support crew.  Kevin and his helper Sarah were ready for me. They give me hot chicken broth and helped me through a change of shoes, socks, shirt and tights.  They were great, even providing me with a makeshift dressing room!  Within minutes I was off again.  Despite the three falls, my legs felt great and my quads did not feel sore at all.  This surprised me because of my experience with my past 50-milers.  I summed this up to incorporating biking and spinning into my summer training regimen.  

I felt so good coming off of the AT; I really felt on top of the world.  I certainly knew that I had a long day ahead of me but I felt that the worst was behind me.  Little did I know that wasn't necessarily going to be the case!  I was running at a smooth and even pace when somewhere around mile 18 gastro-intestinal issues seemingly came out of nowhere and would plague me the rest of the day even after the race was over!  The first attack had me frantically scouting for a tree for a modicum of privacy.  I was literally using shallow Lamaze breathing in an effort to keep from having an accident while looking for a place to go.  I couldn't believe my eyes when a porta-pottie magically appeared along the edge of the tow-path trail.  This same scenario actually happened three more times along the way; each time I thought I would have to crouch behind a twig I would be blessed with a porta-pottie!!  I cannot tell you how many times I thanked God during the race.  I think it was by mile "38 special" that I grew nearly weepy with concern over the bouts of diarrhea.  My pace was slowing and I felt terribly uncomfortable; I was nauseous and worried about dehydration.  Up to this point I had only consumed two gels and a couple of potato chips as well as sips of soup or Coke at each aid station.  I saw Pete Bruno on the sideline and asked for help.  He advised me to take Immodium-AD and try to eat something like crackers or bread.  I was very reluctant about taking the Immodium since I had never taken it but Al Rider, who was nearby and heard my whines concurred with Pete.  I don't know who actually gave me those little blue pills; they appeared in the palm of my hand and before I knew it I was swallowing them down chased with a few Cheez- It crackers provided by my support crew.   Al Rider gave me some last minute encouragement before I left the area saying I still could finish in 10:30 if I just kept moving.  So, I did.  I just kept moving.

I met up with Kim not long before receiving our reflective vests.  We ran together for a bit and honestly I had planned to keep running with her because she was running at a good pace.  But I have to confess that when I realized we were getting off the tow path I felt carried away almost like an out of body experience so I left her, running up the first hill off of the tow path.  I remember feeling bad about that!  I also saw Katherine Hunter during those last 8 miles and I was so excited about seeing her as well.  I wanted time to stand still for a moment so that we could talk and catch up on the news but my legs kept going..I smelled the finish line ahead!  

I ran most of the last 8 miles to the finish and I was thrilled with my 10:37 finishing time.  I had managed to complete the course in less than 11 hours (my goal) and considering the falls and bouts of diarrhea, I felt I had run a good race.  My husband finished just seconds ahead of me.  I never saw him the entire day!  Although he was worn-out he managed to give me a bear-hug and a kiss.  What more can I say about the day?  My crew was wonderful, the weather was perfect; Pete Bruno and Al Rider made me feel like I was the fastest woman alive, and best of all..there was hot water in the shower room!!