I am currently laying on my couch, my legs elevated, with ice on my knees. Even though I feel like I've been hit by a truck, my heart is full. Full of accomplishments, memories, and great friends that continue to amaze me. Most of you know, last year my friend and coworker Larry got us into this 95+ mile relay called Run to the Sun from (then) Mount Bonnell in Austin, to Enchanted Rock out in Fredericksburg. We ran again this year which was the second year the race was held, and it went backwards which was awesome for many reasons. The best reason was we got to end in Austin and not have to deal with driving over an hour to get home on no sleep.
When we started preparing for this years race, a lot of people in our school were interested in running it as well, so many that we had to form another team. So this year we ran in two teams, but really as one, Young Guns, and the new team Casis for Esme. After our awesome fundraising, we had many parents from our school give us cash for food, water, etc. and we had so much we were even able to spring for a fancy bus, with a driver! It was pretty incredible since last year we were crammed into a van where we had to stiff legged climb over seats to get to the back.
Ruby, Amy and Charles' Eurovan that stopped along the way to give us water, encouragement, whatever we needed.
Fancy bus!
We met at Casis Saturday morning and headed off just after 1:30 to get to Enchanted Rock for our 3:15 and 3:20 start time. It was really hot out there for the first few legs, but then the clouds came and the wind started which was awesome, and awful as the night wore on. Because we had two teams, we had two people running together on each leg. Heather also rode her bike with us whenever we needed extra support. We were on a mission to win team spirit again so we went all out every time our runners came in. Some legs we would throw confetti or silly string on them, and every leg we had a tunnel they had to run through and held signs Heather's kids made for us. As two teams running together, we were definitely full of energy!
Casis for Esme @ Enchanted Rock
Young Guns, with the Bensons
Tunnel ready for Katie and Kellie to head off on leg 1!
Katie and Kellie coming in
Leg 2, Brandon and Alli
After this moment, we all did the heel click as we ran in!
While waiting for the next runners yoga was obviously needed.
Leg 3, done!
Leg 4, done!
Leg 5, done!
We have some really fast runners on our team so my first leg was at around 8:30 pm, instead of 10 like I had thought. I was excited to run in the dark again! I loved running on my own last year, but running with Chloe was really great! The first leg we ran was terrible! The elevation charts totally lied. We were supposed to have some nasty hills for 4 miles, and then the last 3 were supposed to be all downhill. Not the case. It was one beastly hill after the next! A few miles in we hit the steepest and longest hill and I had to stop and walk for a little bit, but Chloe was awesome and didn't stop. We had already talked earlier that if we are feeling good/bad/whatever it was ok to leave the other person because we knew we would still always be in sight of each other if something happened. Since I walked a little it took a while to catch up with Chloe, and I really enjoyed running on my own again, in the dark, with all the sounds around me. I had my music in my water belt again which worked out great. Right as I was catching back up with Chloe I kicked a dead bird! Not something I was expecting. I screamed which would have scared Chloe but because it was so windy she didn't even hear me. We finished strong and were ready to get back to cheering on our friends.
Leg 7 done! With a heel click recreation.
While we waited for our last leg, we all continued to have dance parties, cheer each other on, mess with each other, and just have a really fun time being with each other. I know it sounds corny, but there is something really great to just being with friends for hours, especially once that sleep deprivation sets in and things get a little wacky. Everyone was finishing really fast and strong, and we stayed at the front of the pack the entire time! Last year, since they stagger starts so we all finish around the same time, the fastest groups were catching up and passing us around 1 am. Not this year! We kept yelling we were first, which clearly wasn't true even though we were close, and I think it pissed some people off. (BMW group, I'm talking to you with your lack of a sense of humor.)
Anyways, our second leg, leg 12, was going to be 7 miles again. I was nervous because my knee had started hurting me some on the first leg, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to finish my second leg again this year. Chloe and I started really strong, and it was mostly downhill which was amazing! Heather rode her bike with us because I knew I would want her and her crazy stories and energy there with us when we started to struggle. At about mile 2 my knee started to feel like someone was jamming nails underneath my knee cap. It was quite lovely. My left knee held in there pretty good, but I felt it getting tweaked every now and then. Heather was awesome. She kept slowing down for us, or stopping and riding super slow next to us when we were walking. It probably drove her crazy because she had been with fast people on the other legs, but she didn't show it. She just danced along to my music with me, and told funny stories, some of which we heard. Although most of the time I would hear her voice and then laughter not knowing what she said because the wind was blowing so hard. Yeah the wind sucked also. It was SO strong and blowing against us, of course.
Charles and Amy were in Ruby and stopped frequently because they knew Chloe and I were struggling. Amy continues to amaze me with her encouragement and energy even at 2 in the morning. She would get out of the car and run around the road dancing and singing to get us pumped up. On one particularly hard stretch she even mooned us to get us smiling and laughing again. It worked! After the mooning we had a mile and a half to go, and I started getting my second wind and picked up speed. With about 3/4 mile left some Whitney came on and I immediately stopped in the road and started dancing. Chloe was behind me and yelled, "Why are you so happy? What is wrong with you?" I told her sometimes Whitney just does that to people. Heather and I danced along to Whitney for awhile. I think stopping in the middle of a race and having a solo dance party is starting to become a tradition with me. We finished the second leg in pretty good time even with our walking quite often.
After that we only had a few more legs until we reached Mount Bonnell! Even with our exhaustion, stiff legs, and hungry bellies, we never missed runners coming in and cheering them on.
Leg 13, done!
Leg 15, done!
Waiting for Amy and Larry to meet us at the finish line.
They made it!
Amy with Christiane
We finally got to Mount Bonnell and once again many of us were overcome with emotion and crying seeing Amy and Larry finish so strong. As a team we walked down about a mile to Laguna Gloria. It was awesome walking together as the sun rose to the party just for us. Well, us and the other 25 teams that ran. There was delicious food again, and the same gospel choir as last time. After the Benson's talked it was time for awards. Last year we won team spirit and most donations. This year we won for raising over $10,000, and team spirit again! We got these really awesome fancy backpacks with the Run to the Sun logo on them, a running watch, and a gift card to Lululemon. Awesome!
As I was driving home with Sara I realized there were some really amazing accomplishments I reached in this one race. Last race I had to stop during my second leg, which killed me not to finish. But this year I ran both legs with no thought of stopping, even with my insane knee! I ran further than I ever have before, 14 miles (yes, I realize it's only a mile more than my half marathons, but come on, a mile is a long way after running 13 of them!). I also finished my first leg, just over 7 miles, with only walking 2 breaks. Woohoo!
Looking back, (yes, I'm aware it's only been a few hours, but I don't care) I am continually amazed at my friends. No matter how anyone was feeling, we were out there cheering each other on at each stop. Amy knows me so well and knew when I needed her most and never stopped encouraging me. Heather logged more miles than anyone on her bike, and just like Amy, knew what I needed before even I did. As we left Leguna Gloria, Paige, a mom at our school, an awesome runner, and coordinator? of the race stopped some of us to give us hugs and said she wanted our top ten list for the race. Well Paige, here is mine!
Top 10 Moments of Run to the Sun 2012:
10. The sunset around leg 5 was incredible! It seemed like a good omen for the rest of the run.
9. My dance party on leg 12 was pretty awesome and super fun. Sorry you couldn't be there.
8. Chloe was such a great running partner!
7. The team walk down to Laguna Gloria was pretty great. It was nice walking as a team, during sunrise, to the finish. Love the show of solidarity.
6. Amy's mooning came at the right time! She knew I needed a laugh and a pick me up, and it worked!
5. My time spent running alone, and with my friends was priceless.
4. Being a part of the tunnels at each stop was so fun! I loved cheering my friends in after a great run.
3. Seeing Amy and Larry come up that last curve to the finish line. Beautiful.
2. The encouragement Amy and Heather gave me during that second leg was something I will never forget.
1. The love, generosity, and encouragement of friends can't be described. We really ran as one. I can't wait for next year!
Click here to check out the video Larry made this year with my pictures and his videos.
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