So, August. I can honestly say that, for running, August is my least favorite month. This year being no exception, it was just fucking hot. All the time. I had shit for miles, was going into Anchor Down undertrained (yet again), but the highlight as always is the Run4Kerri 4-mile road race in Matunuck, RI. Almost always warm, and the shortest race I do, as well as the only road race I put on the calendar each year now. Also, my first race ever and this would be the 10th straight year! Whoohoo!!!
I kicked off August with a couple of good training runs. My location of choice lately has been Bluff Point. I used to not enjoy Bluff, but the variety there (once you know it) opens up lots of options, and the fire roads allow for a ton of miles without destroying yourself. And, it's convenient as Hell :)
2018 Run 4 Kerri. 31:58 - #101 of 456. Always a great time at this race! I opted to not go crazy here, but just run off of how I felt, and 31:58 was how I felt. Got to touch base with lots of friends before and after the race, and paused for a mid-race hug from BLS! Had a blast, and the afterparty with the TNT crew is always a great time!
2018 Anchor Down Ultra. 29.5 Miles in 8:40 - #67 of 74. What the fuck, the wheels really came off here. It was record-breaking hot, like Africa hot, leading up to the race, and race day was no different. I was in for 100, and already felt like it wasn't gonna happen before the race even started. Nevertheless, I packed all my shit, and drove over in the afternoon to get prepped for a 7 p.m. start.
I arrived, got my gear hauled over to the Shenipsit Striders tent, and then waited. Helped Faith (my would-be pacer) set up her tent and was already sweating...crap, this was gonna be rough. I sipped water all afternoon and sat in the shade, and finally geared up and got ready!
When it's humid enough before a race that you're drenched before the start? I felt behind before the gun went off, but we all headed out en masse into the woods, as the first 1/3 of the loop is a trail section. The rest? Paved footpaths along the water, and it's incredibly beautiful there. Colt State Park, great spot!
A short loop meant I didn't have to carry much, a handheld and a headlamp would do, and all my nutrition would be found at the start/finish area. Faith was going to pace me in the morning, and was working the aid station, and checked on me each lap until she retired for the night.
Somewhere around 23-24 miles, I swear I simply lost interest, and started to walk. I walked two full laps, then sat in the tent and BS'd with some people, and when a lightning/thunderstorm rolled through, I said "Fuck it, I'm done," and quit at just under 30 miles.
So there you go. Another 100 attempt. It's not an easy distance, and I'm having a very hard time with the walking thing. If I can't run, I start to look at the distance and go "This isn't running, what the Hell are you doing?" I won't give up on getting a 100 completed, but damned if my head doesn't check out of the race when I start to walk. Have to get over it!
Anyway, I waited till morning, cheered my fellow competitors on, and let Faith know I was done. Grabbed a coffee and sandwich at DD on the way out, and hauled ass home. Not a successful venture. Great race! I'll be back! But I have some shit to sort out first...
The rest of August? Plenty of good running, I actually hit the reset button on my training after ADU, and closed out with two solid weeks of runs. Looking ahead to September's race. Just one, Nipmuck!
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