Mendon 50k: Loop 3 of 5

This is the fourth in a series of posts during which I am continuing to tell the tale of my personal journey through five 10k loops this past Saturday, November 10, as I attemtped to complete my first (mini)-ultra marathon...

Loop 3 (1:13:40)—Perhaps the best thing about recreational running is that it offers the opportunity to meet folks from many walks of life with which, despite the myriad of possible differences, you share at least this one in common. Roughly two miles into loop three, I came up upon a lad of about twenty-eight, with whom I sparked a short conversation, one which would foreshadow the events to come that could potentially derail my run.

“How’s it going?” I inquired between breathes.

“Okay, how are you?” he said in a drawl which suggested he had traveled to the race from points West.

“Pretty good, I actually feel like I’m holding up okay.”(By this time the other races taking place today of distances between 5 and 20k had begun.)

“Are you going twenty or fifty today?” he inquired.

“Fifty. This is my first time, how about you?”

“This is my first fifty, too. I’m beginning to feel it in my hips, though.”

Surveying the trail ahead I said, “I’m worried about getting lost… the trails are well marked though—good luck!” I pulled away as we headed down a mild hill and we went our own ways.

Every trail has a few points that help the runner take notice of just where they are on the course. Some are natural, such as hills, trees, or other scenic indicators. Others are not. One such point in this race was “Carol’s Diner,” the aid station just over halfway through the loop. About a third of a mile in advance of reaching the station was a small cardboard sign stapled to a wooden stake on which was written in black marker: “Carol’s Diner Just Ahead!”

This station was a blessing in that there were many snacks and drinks available there to help give you a little something as you continued along the trail—M&Ms, H2O, cookies, pretzels, and, most importantly, cheers. By this point in my run I had passed this location twice, once in each of the preceding loops, and as I passed through the third time, I took a cup of replacement drink and some pretzels then continued on. And on… and on…

Eventually, I continued on up the worst incline in the race, one that had been covered with gray gravel resembling kitty-litter, and supplying zero traction. As a pumped my arms vigorously attempting (with little success) to power walk up the hill, it occurred tome that I had been here before. Well, of course I had, this was my third loop. Finally dragging myself up the hill I turned left(?), continued on until reaching a sign: “Carol’s Diner just ahead!”

Uh-oh.

Somewhere midway through loop 3 I lost ten minutes. I can only surmise that I’d gone off course somewhere and inadvertently looped back around this most challenging part. I think my fiends at the Diner sensed something was wrong, as I had just been through, but with so many folks on the trail, I imagine we all looked alike. Once this realization hit me, my spirits began to drop, and quickly.

I continued on and as I hit the top of the final hill which dropped into the chute, I remembered that Anne would not be there… I began to consider for the first time, at what was mile 18, the possibility of stopping short of the entire 50k...

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!