Today is the 6 week mark of my wife and I coming home from out anniversary weekend to find my big black bum, Smokey had died. It still hurts but the pain is more of a sweet pain where I remember the wonderful 9 years I had him. I cannot write this without tears trickling down my face but I guess that is not so bad. We don't know what happened on that Sunday, March 17th but I know I will never forget. The fear that struck when he did not come to greet us and the pain when I found him dead in our bedroom. I miss you buddy! You were the best dog I could ever have wished for. I feel robbed of many years with you! I feel cheated that I will never see you get old, grey and lazy but I am also very grateful for the years I had with you. Thank you!
So I finally participated in my first real trail run on April 20th 2013
Leatherwood Mountains Ultra Run. Friday was a very rainy day and I was really hoping for good weather on Saturday and I couldn't have asked for better weather. It wasn't too windy, it did not rain and it was neither too hot nor too cold, it was just perfect.
We lined up shortly before 9am and since this was my first trail run I started in the back of the pack not really knowing what to expect. However I quickly found that I was faster than that, but when we hit the real one track trail there was little I could do and I had to stay behind people until it was convenient to pass. After about 4 miles or so I had advanced past most of the people that were slower than me and I was joined by Michelle. We ran/trudged up and down the mountain while talking/chatting/cussing. It was my first social experience during a run. During most road races I am focused on my running and so is everyone else around my pace so if we exchange words they are few and far between.
I finished my first 10 miler and with a total elevation gain of somewhere between 2000 and 3000 feet (Garmin Connect is not 100% precise when it comes to elevation) it was definitely the toughest run I have ever done. This is also reinforced by the fact that it took me 2h 9m 23s which is the longest run (time-wise) I have ever done. That being said I am hooked on the trails. I am hoping to do the 50k out at US National Whitewater Center in October.