Overnight Halloween Run

The crazy FUR's decided on an overnight run from Saturday to Sunday for some happy haunting.  Some runners planned to go 50M, while others would go less.  I honestly didn't think I'd make it 50M, but thought I'd give it a try.  We met early to drop aid stations and do some decorating.  In the spirit of the evening, I decided a blue fairy would be apropos for a run through the woods.  Some of my fellow runners weren't such good sports, so they were stuck wearing my extras.

After a photo shoot with the help of the Boy Scouts, 13 of us headed into the woods promptly at 8pm.  In following tradition, we made bets as to the number of falls for the night (I guessed 9).  One mile into the run, we lost James and were quickly down to 12.  We chatted our way to the first water stop at mile 12 and refueled.  

Running and chatting commenced during the second segment, and when Becky and Woody made a beeline for the parking lot, we were down to ten.   A1 broke the falling seal, and we were dropping like flies from that point on.  I fell once (after A1's second fall), then proceeded to fall 4 times in a matter of 45 minutes a little further down the (what I'm sure was a newly-blazed, nubby) trail.  At first it was funny, but by the fifth fall on my right knee, I'd had quite enough!  

After much grumbling, we made it back to the parking lot with 30M under our feet before 3am.  Nick and Jay were done for different reasons, and Ash had just completed his first 50K, so they all left the scene.  I just wasn't feeling it (or my dirty and scratched up knees were feeling too much of it) and decided I was going to cut it short.  Plus, we spent way too much time at the cars, and the dropping temps chilled me to the bone.  I hate being the one who has to be tended to, and I had every intention of running out with the group for 3M then heading back alone.  But A1 would have nothing of it.  We did the jog/walk routine out to the pits and back, which gave us time to catch up with each other.

We were back in the parking lot by 5am...a 9-hour tour.  I was fine with my 'shorter' run, as was A1 (or so he says).  We changed clothes and snoozed in A2's truck til 7:30am when the troops returned all revved up. 

The Andy's and Kathleen got breakfast cooking and we enjoyed the camaraderie that ultrarunning brings .  We decided that we ended up with 19 falls overall, and if you can believe it, Chris fell more than me.  It was good to see June, Jim and Kathleen (who'd made their own trek through the night), and we laughed as the Andy's cracked open their beers at the crack of dawn.  

So I didn't run 50M.  I had nothing to prove last night.  But it also goes to show how important having a goal is...there was no reason for me to push myself, so I didn't.  But it looks like the stars are aligning and so I think I'll shoot for Western States and/or Leadville next...