Race Recap: Dances With Dirt 26.2

One of the things I decided to do in 2017 was run a 50K.

Having never run a marathon (the 26.2 distance scared me a little), my coach decided that the easiest way for me to get prepared for my 50K would be to do a marathon as my longest training run.

Many of my Oiselle Wisconsin teammates have done Dances With Dirt and recommended that as a great marathon to do. The course goes through Devil's Lake State Park (and the campground) and has a lot of elevation! Long story short, the course is not for the faint of heart!

Picked up my bib and shirt, of course had to take a pic in front of the Start Line!

B and I decided to camp for the weekend at Devil's Lake Campground since it was significantly cheaper than getting a hotel in Baraboo. I haven't been camping since I was pretty young, maybe 10 or so, and let's just say, as much as I love running on trails, I am NOT the kind of person who digs sleeping in a tent. Never again. 

Arthur is very unsure of this setup.

B made us steaks over the fire after we got all set up and I started a beer, but was so tired that after a few sips I was ready to call it a night. We tucked in on the giant air mattress (double high, because of course) with Arthur. I was hoping sleep would come easy, but there was a screaming child from about 1 am until 3:30 am or so that could be heard around the whole campground, so while Arthur wasn't barking, he was awake which meant I was awake.

I woke up around 5:15 am and decided to just start getting ready for the race. I have to say, I didn't think it would be a big deal to camp the night before but I felt SO discombobulated that I didn't feel it was worth it to continue tossing and turning on the air mattress. I grabbed a Starbucks Refresher out of the cooler (no time to make coffee and I needed a caffeine hit), we loaded up Arthur and headed to the race start.

It was only a 10 minute drive from our campsite to the start line, but I was still super antsy to get there. I always like getting to the start about a half hour early to loosen my hips up and calm my nerves.

Not that I ever actually feel calm before I run a new distance, but that's neither here nor there.

Start Line jitters but smiling the whole way. Fake it til you make it!

I ran the first half of the race with my Oiselle Volee teammate Ali, who is badass and has run tons of 50Ks and marathons. She helped keep me on track as far as hydration and nutrition during the miles I ran with her and helped me keep a good pace. It was so nice having someone to motivate when the times got tough and she had no problem telling me "Come on, push through it, we gotta keep moving!" when I was ready to give up. Especially during that death climb (oh yeah, the one we got to do...TWICE).

I was feeling pretty okay and trucking along until about mile 18. My watch died and my phone was on the verge of dying. There were large sections for prairie with no shade and no breeze. I hit an aid station and had a really hard time motivating myself to keep going. But I thought to myself, "Make it to the mile 20 aid station and then you can drop if you want."

Maybe 1/2 mile or so out from the mile 20 aid station, I ran into Jen and Ali, who were both running the 50K. They pushed me to get to the aid station and the whole Oiselle WI crew that had finished their distances were waiting for me with cheers and hugs and motivation. As Sheila (our MKE Oiselle Team Leader) said, "In 6.2 miles you are a marathoner! You can do it!"

I was ready to drop. Those few miles without a watch or phone or concept of time/where I was really got into my head and I was in a dark twisty place.

Jen was having none of it. She told me to get some food in my stomach, chug some Mt Dew. and we were all finishing together! So off Jen, Ali, and I went to crush the last 6.2 miles (which included the death hill).

Jen from IL and I ran the last mile or so together after seeing each other on the course many times. Such an honor to finish with a fellow Bird!

My left hip started to pull about 2 miles out from the finish so I told Jen and Ali to finish and I would see them there. Jen from IL and I joined up and crushed those last two miles together - it makes such a difference finishing with a friend!

OMG I'm a marathoner!

My official time was 6:54:48.

 

I fought through so many dark and twisty mental thoughts and really let the distance get into my head. As coach Nora told me "You can do this. You have trained and prepared and it's just a training run."

#trailsistersforlife

Having Jen envelope me in a giant hug at the finish was the absolute best feeling ever. (You can't see in this picture, but I was totally crying.) She has been there for me during this whole training cycle, providing me with motivation and comfort, helping me work through the toughness that is preparing for an ultra. She and I also did training runs together (including getting caught in a thunderstorm, LOL). I'm so lucky to have someone like her as a dear friend.

"It's her first marathon!"

The #OiselleWI crew w/some IL Birds sprinkled in!

I am so thankful for this team of women who has motivated and pushed me to accomplish more than I ever could have thought possible in running. To be able to run all or parts of a race with such awesome humans is simply the best. #oisellevolee 

Check out my review of this race on BibRave!