Day 27 - Out of Their League

This morning I did my fourteen mile run.  Any other week I would be impressed with myself but not today.  Yesterday, I watched the finish of the Burning River 50 Miler and the slightly over half way on the Burning River 100 mile runners at the Stratford House finish line/aid station.  It was a tremendous sight to behold.  It was the essence of the sport we love. These are all participants who could care less about the roar of the big time marathon crowds.  These were real endurance runners,  The preparation that they put into doing their best to perform on a hot summer day was just so impressive.

I waited close to four hours for our really good family friend Connie Kolita to get in from the trails.  I did the running selfie with her at about 500 yards left to go.  At one point on the trail Connie fell and hurt her knee but got back up. All who know her are very proud of her.

Pretty early on, I considered it a privilege to watch the 50 mile runners come by my location.  The anticipation of folks who were cheering on their friends and loved ones that were standing by me was quite emotionally moving.  I hurt for the 100 mile runners that had to call it a day at the 50 mile finish line. Several of them came by me and I was at a loss for words of encouragement or comfort.  

In the lower picture, that is Mark Warner, SARC member, on the far left heading toward the finish line for his 50 mile effort.   

As much as I have struggled with the sun on my long runs during my training program, I fixed that today by going out before dawn.  It was cool enough. It was really dark as I made my way to Silver Lake.  The sky got brighter as I headed around Silver Lake itself. Then it was on to the Silver Lake to Kent trail along the Cuyahoga River.  I had plenty of rabbits, groundhogs, deer, and birds to keep me company.  At 12.5 miles into my run I ran into these lovely ladies just short of Billy Goat Hill in Stow.  Moving left to right on your radio dial, this is Shay Christopher, Debi Glinsek, and Lisa Nemes.  I was tired and was listening to John Mayer's "Why Georgia Why" when I looked down the road and saw them.  Each with smiles so bright, it made me forget for the next mile how fatigued I was starting to get. It was uplifting to see them and their smiling faces!

This was the end of Week 6 of my Hal Higdon program.  I am grateful that I am still feeling motivated and staying on point.  Twelve more weeks to go to Columbus.  Not matter how good I felt today though, there was one sure thing. When it comes to the runners I saw yesterday and even Debi, Shay, and Lisa, I'm out of their league, and it's okay.  Nothing says I can't keep trying to make to "The Show!" It's certainly worth the effort to try to do so.