Croom Zoom 100K

After reading my Croom Zoom report from 2011, I found some striking similarities: I hoped to use the Zoom as motivation to stay slim through the holidays, I ran a horrible NYE day run, and I was considering dropping to the 50K.  Miraculously I ended up running 12:31, a 100K PR by 6 hours.

Leading up to Sunday's event was much the same: Lack of long-run training, a few extra pounds on board, and a terrible NYE day run.  Once again, I thought about scaling back to the 50K.  But with a weather forecast of lows in the 20's and highs in the 60's, I decided to go for it...especially since it would be my last race at Croom as a Florida resident.

Ilene and I drove up to Croom together in the wee small hours of the morning.  Thanks to Patrick, we had the luxury of a warm RV in which to gear up with Dave and A2 .  At 6:00am, Andy yelled "Go!" and the chilled 100K and 50K runners were off.  Ilene and I ended up running the first 12M together, which gave us the chance to catch up on the last two weeks.  We had a great pace but when she decided to take a pit-stop at camp, I kept moving.

The second and third loops went much the same: running alone, with the exception of having Jason's company for a few minutes (after finishing 2nd place in the 25K), and hooking up with Docs for a couple miles (who left me when I commented that he must be tired if he's running my pace!).  I finished the first 50K in 5:40, just a few minutes slower than my John Holmes run.  Christian and Justin kindly helped me refuel, and knowing I'd continue to run alone, I put on some tunes.

Loop four was by far my best (thanks to Advil and caffeine).  I was clipping along, rocking out with Metallica and passing some folks.  When I got back to camp, Patrick, Ilene and Roger were chilling on my chairs .  I didn't stop long, but kinda wished I was done too so I could sit and shoot the sh*t my my friends.  Instead, Christian handed me a veggie burger and sent me on my way.

The fifth loop was beautiful and boring, but I enjoyed chatting with Sara each time at aid station #2.  I was looking forward to getting back to camp, where Armando and my Mom would be waiting.  But when I got there, they had not yet arrived.  Although I was way ahead of schedule (at this point, hoping to finish sub-12), I didn't want to wait around.  Thankfully Andy had recruited Ash to run the last 10M with me, and as Ash and I left camp we were reminded, "What happens in the trails..."

...and I have to say that Ash was Awesome in the trails!  I led my Victory Loop for awhile, still feeling spunky.  But eventually he got in front and pulled me along.  Ash was (too) nice and let me walk often, and kept me entertained by chatting away.  How this young guy got hooked up with the ultra crazies, I'll never know...but he seems to be enjoying the experience.  When we hit aid station #2, we were greeted by Armando and Mom...what a nice surprise!  We didn't stay long, but said we meet them at camp in an hour.

Ash and I high-tailed it into the woods, knowing we'd be back before dark.  When we hit the rooty climb, I knew we were home and we hooted.  I gave Ash a high five and our cheering section roared.  We hit the finish line in 11:28...a PR by just over an hour.

Talk about leaving Florida with a bang: I ended up 2nd woman in the 100K and 5th overall!  This finish is once again unexplainable.  I'll boil it down to having hot mojo right now and some fabulous friends to push me along...  

My experience with the FUR's over the last 5 years has been, shall I say, wonderfully painful.  I am so lucky to have found you and will hold each one of you in my heart.  You have become my dear friends and I cannot thank you enough for pushing, counseling, tormenting, and encouraging me in every aspect of my life.  When I'm a mile high, I will be reminded of you when I look at my trail-scared legs.  I know we will remain friends and will be reunited in the woods again soon...XO