I suppose this race report begins Christmas night when I woke up with a sore throat and was then sick for nearly three weeks with sinus, allergy, dehydration nastiness. I had written off attempting 50 miles since I'd missed Bandera 50K. I was planning to add a few miles at Bandera to get me as close to 40 miles as possible since I'd never done over 50K. So thanks to Chris Chandler for telling me I could do this and offering to pace me. I know I would have more regretted not trying than not finishing. My mindset going in to Rocky was to see how far I could get and enjoy that I was healthy, feeling well, running again, and just enjoy the company of so many talented runners and amazing volunteers. I felt strangely calm and peaceful about my decisison to give this a try and knew overtraining sure wasn't an issue.

The plan was to get as far as I could before sunset since I knew after dark I'd be tired from a long day and wanted my time in the darkness to be a short as possible. I don't remember too much of the first loop, it was my fastest and I felt great. It was cool and the sun had just come up, what more can you ask for, a quiet run through the woods at the start of the day. My camelback didn't get closed completely at the first Dam Road stop so I got about 20 oz. of water down my back, shorts, and legs. I got really cold and my thighs were numb but this made me run faster through all the ups and downs to Far Side. I was thinking I would regret this "speed" so early in the day but it felt great to be flying down the hills, well flying for me anyway. (probably half Jorge's pace when he passed me on the last loop with great form) A few paper towels at Far Side got me a little drier and warmer and I was off. I had a great conversation with one of the Dam Road volunteers my second time through and he told me just go, go, go. That w as the only loop I didn't particularly mind the nearly 4.5 mile stretch to 174 aid station and enjoyed the warm sun as a crossed the bridges in between. Before I knew it I was up the hill and back to the start/finish. 3.5 hours, I knew the next loops would be slower.

I changed shirts, grabbed my iPod, and thanks JJ for getting my camelback on me, that would have been really bad leaving it at the aid station. I thought I felt a little light. I got my music going and zoned out most of loop two. I knew I was getting slower and started to have some discomfort in my right leg that has acted up since my ankle sprain in September. It made me slower on all the downs I'd enjoyed to Far Side on the first loop. I figured out stepping down with my left leg was helpful and was concious of doing that and the discomfort subsided immensely. Plus the good music kept my mind off things. I just kept going knowing I'd soon be ready for the last loop and picking up Chris, my pacer.

By the time I reached the start/finish aid station again my stomach was getting upset. I downed some Endurox which may have been a bad idea looking back on it, but you just have to figure these things out as you go. Chris and I got going and my stomach was not too happy. We reached Dam Road and I didn't really feel like eating anything, definately no sugar, but still had too far to go to not eat anything. I had some beans and rice, they tasted fine but a bit down the trail my stomach was really churning. It was frustrating having a body that still felt well to run but getting more upset stomach if I did run. I walked most of Dam Road-Far Side. At Far Side, Jim "short-order-cook" Balthazar made me some Ramen with broth. That helped quite a lot. Chris pointed out at Far Side that I'd done 40 miles, only 10 more to go. I'd been calc ulating how many miles left but not how many I'd done and was a bit shocked to realized I'd done 40, my longest ever. I was feeling a bit better by the time I made it back to Dam Road. I got some chicken noodle soup there and at the end of the jeep road met Conrad from California who was doing the 100 miler. He went on ahead but we ended up finishing the last few miles together and I enjoyed visiting with him on the trail and his encouragement. (Diversion from report: One of the things I love so much about trail running is the support and encouragement the veterans give to the newbies. Here's Conrad, a Western States vet, telling me how amazing I am for finishing me first 50 miler and cheering me as I took off down the blacktop to the finish line.) After the second round of soup, I felt better as I came up to the levee and enjoyed seeing a beautiful pink sunset. I was able to run quite a bit through this area as my stomach was settling and I really wanted to be as close to 174 as possible at dark. The original plan had been to be past 174 for sunset, but things happen. Darkness may have been good for me because I wasn't looking at my watch constantly calculating where I was and how much longer until I made it in. At 174 I was beginning to get hungry but my feet were beginning to hurtand tire. I really wanted to sit down and enjoy some warm soup. Chris, thankfully, suggested I keep moving. I know it would have been hard to get up plus she was concerned I would get too cold sitting there. Another cup of broth and a bolgona and cheese and I was on my way. It didn't seem to take as long as I thought to get back up to the road. Chris suggested I run, we were only about a mile out but my body was tired then and told her once I hit the blacktop I run in. The blacktop was there before I knew it and it was wonderful to have such support at th e finish 13 hours and 2 minutes later.

The volunteers at all of the aid stations were amazing, filling water, getting whatever we wanted and getting us back on the trail super fast. Joe and Joyce did such a fantastic job and I really appreciate their encouragement and congratulations. Of course thanks Chris for being so patient and helpful in getting me through my last slow loop and getting me out there to begin with.

I enjoyed an epsom salt bath after the race, ate some yummy mac and cheese and fried chicken, went for a short walk/run at Chris' suggestion on Sunday and have not been really sore. It continues to be a process of amazement of what we are capable of and I feel blessed to enjoy the company of such great people and runners and enjoy being outside coming across armadillos and whatever else my pop out of the woods. Thanks everyone, I had a great time and plan on another one.