I'm back bitches!!!!!!! Mutual Mine 50k

It was a crazy Saturday and Sunday.  Good thing I rested up for a few months!  Mutual Mine is a fat ass group run that takes place in the Withlacoochee State Forest near Inverness, Florida.  On the way to camping out the night before the run, I hit IKEA, the Cooter Festival (sounds much more exciting than it was) and then Ron, Scott (fellow Vol Staters) and I went to dinner with Heather and Dave.  I got to meet birthday girl Mama Joan who is turning 90 soon!

It was COLD Sunday morning.  43 degrees. About 65 of us showed up for the run, some of whom had run a 50k the day before.  I've been slowly easing back into running (without falling) for about six weeks now.  I couldn't have chosen a better run to start off the running season!  I saw familiar faces, new faces and good friends.  The course was all trail and stunning.  The weather was perfect.  At one point, some yahoos removed signage and about fifteen of us went MILES in the wrong direction.  As the super fast guys blazed past to get back on course, I nabbed one of them so we could figure out how to get back on track.  Richard and I had a great time wandering around, getting back on track, staying on track and chatting up a storm.  I'm always amazed at how much we ultrarunners can have in common and be able to talk and hang out all day long when we've never met before.  I was lucky to hang out with so many people that I felt this way about:  Yogi, Scott K, Ron, Richard, Scott M, Jan (fellow VSer and pacer from L2O) and Marilyn (my pacer from Route 40).  Any how, I digress, Richard and I stuck together and stayed on track after the wrong turn to the end.  Eddie caught up with us and fell behind like a yoyo for a while and then went ahead at the very end so that I could have the DFL position.  At the last mile and a half turn, there were Jan W and Amy, Richard's wife and fellow tutu wearer!  The last time I saw Jan was when she picked me up in the Meat Wagon at Vol State.  Once again, she was a welcome, cheerful sight!  The four of us headed for the finish and Richard took off at a run and so did I.  After my last place finish, I did the lamest one armed cartwheel.  I ran more than I should have but it was worth it.

As far as the Addison's goes, I took 10 mg/ hour of hydrocortisone on the hour most of the hours.  For some stupid reason, I've taken to only bringing enough HC to last me the length of the race.  I'm not sure why.  When I went a couple hours out of the way, I panicked and thought I didn't have enough HC so I alternated 10/5/10/5 for a while.  It worked out fine.  I had enough energy to drive home and shower.

Thank you to everyone who made this weekend what it was.  Paul for taking care of the animals (we've added a fish to the family in addition to the birds and dog) and holding down the fort, Heather, Dave and Mama Joan for meeting us for dinner after a very long day of driving, Ron and Scott for camping with me, Terri for gathering all of us together, Richard for keeping my mind off of my lack of training and making me laugh, Yogi and Jan for being there at the end, Jim for the encouragement and whomever else I forgot.  Thank you.  For the first time since June 20th, I feel like myself again (even if I can't lift my arm yet or do a proper cartwheel).  I've got my motivation back and I'm ready to do a sub 24 hour Ancient Oaks in December.  I'm back Bitches!

Yep, that's a Cooter between my legs.  Cooter Festival, Inverness, Florida 

Lovely Terri telling us about the course.  Only none of us knew what she was talking about and fifteen of us followed the wrong yellow blazes

Vol State crazies line up at Mutual Mine.  Scott and Ron, did you match on purpose?



Yogi is training super hard and did a 50k the day before this race.  She looks good, doesn't she?!

Magic in the Withlacoochee

Scott M, Vol State crazy and RD of LOST and R40R

I don't know who this guy is but he embodies the joy I was feeling yesterday.  I love this picture

Ahhhhh, trail!

Giant Orb Weaver.  They like to have their stomachs stroked, really.

 

Richard and Eddie

Gotta love the low key ultra running sigange!

Jan drove over to Mutual Mine on her way to Panama City for her first Iron Man and Yogi stuck around until I finished.  Gotta love these girls!!

My husband made me shower before I got in bed last night.  I don't know why...