Ancient Oaks 2011

Start/Finish line

Ancient Oaks was fantastic!  The course through the Enchanted Forest was beautiful and challenging.  Many of the participants were legends in the ultra world and were happy and willing to talk to me.  The front runners were a pleasure to watch.  Because this course is a loop, the front runners passed me over and over again and they didn't wear shirts.  Thanks guys!  My running was really great considering I have not trained much since August.  I completed more than 50 miles with only one stretch of about 1 mile where I felt icky.  There was no crying.  I loved every minute I was out there.  Next year, I'd like to come back and complete the race.  A big thank you to Mike Melton who put the race on and to Stu Gleman who started the race years ago! 

I felt really good the majority of the time.  My new tact with my HC is to take my normal morning dose, supplement with salt through out the day and take HC when I started feeling like I needed it.  I think for 50+ miles, I ended up taking about 70 mg of HC.  No extra florinef, just the usual .05.

Running 16 laps at Ancient Oaks has me charged up for the 2012 running season.  More on that eventually!

4 minutes until start time.  Everyone was as far away from the start line as I've ever seen.

 

Video of the start.  It's kind of funny.

The only hill on the course.  Slightly steeper than in looks.  The bridge crossed the Addison Canal.

Looking down into the Addison Canal

I think you can click on the picture to make it bigger, if you want to read the sign.

So much sand!

The parking lot where we crewed ourselves out of our own cars.

Tiara and a boa, I might not have skills but I have flair!  At night, I wore battery powered lights.

A Fat Ass on the horizon

Sounds nasty, huh?

It's not!  A Fat Ass is a race where you're responsible for you.  You might get a race number (might not), you might get water (you might have to bring your own), no frills and no extras.  "No Fees, No Awards, No Aid, No Wimps".  It's always free too.

I applied to get into Ancient Oaks 100 in August, when I didn't hear back from the RD, I naively assumed that I was not invited.  At the end of October, right before we started packing and driving cross country to our new home, I got my invite!  Ancient Oaks is in Titusville, Florida near Cape Canaveral National Seashore.  The race will be this Saturday and Sunday (12/3&12/4) through the Enchanted Forest Nature Sanctuary.

My "training" has been absolutely, positively pathetic.  I have continued my one mile a day of walking or running.  I'm on day 653 of the streak!  I have added some longer runs, I was peer pressured into a 50 miler in October and I've lifted weights a little bit.  I have absolutely NO ILLUSIONS about this one.  I will, most likely, not complete it.  I will have my car outfitted for a night of sleep, which is most likely what will occur after a day of running and walking. Besides, I have no physical gifts when it comes to endurance exercise.  My enthusiasm takes me to places I don't belong.  Addison's can be a detriment for endurance exercise too.  I know I stink at endurance running/walking/crawling & crying.  Actually, I'm really good at crawling & crying.  I'm not kidding.

Yet again, I will wear a tiara, possibly a Wonder Woman costume, glow sticks and bring pom-poms to cheer others on.  I will have fun, fun, fun no matter how poorly I perform.

If you want to follow my patheticness, I believe the http://ancientoaks100.com/ website will be updating progress every two hours or so after 7 am on December 3, 2011.  As you have guessed, I will post pictures after the race.  

Why I'm thankful

Thanksgiving is over and I'm sitting here thinking about what I am thankful for.  I thought I would share my thankfulness list with all of you.

I'm thankful for:

• a son who loves me and misses me terribly
• a husband who supports me, loves me and doesn't get between me and my crazy ideas
• a new home.  It's warm here!  I love warmth and sunshine.
• new friends who included us in their family Thanksgiving.  Everyone was so nice and there was no drama!  What a great way to spend the evening!
• my Addison's community.  You are wonderful and thoughtful and supportive.  I am so grateful for all of you.  I'm constantly stunned at the generosity and kindness that you show me.  It's often totally unexpected and always makes my day!  You are the very best part of Addison's.  Without this disease, I would have never met any of you.  Thank you Addison's!
• friends in Idaho and around the world (you know who you are).  Thank you for being there for me, loving me and being like a nice family to me.  I hope that you all know that you are amazing and I miss you so much.  You are the family that supports me, loves me and takes care of me
• the Internet for keeping me connected with the people who love me and care about me
• salt.  Cause I love salt and I'm thankful for it!  Salt is the second best part of Addison's for me
• Dolly, our dog.  Cause she's cute, sweet and only wants to be near us
• my Life.  It's good and I'm thankful for that

To those of you to whom I owe an email or letter, I'm getting there!  I am trying to respond to emails today and tomorrow and the next day.  Do me a favor, don't email me back too quickly!!!!!!!!!!! :)