This and that: More from the HUFF

It’s been 37 hours since I crossed the finish line of the HUFF 50K relay, and I feel like I am still processing the entire event. Overcoming the mud, the water and my own fears and insecurities seems to have had a lasting effect – something I wasn’t expecting for a race that was not close to my personal distance record.

So bear with me as I share a bit more from the day.

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I think what made the day so, umm, special was the fact that I got to share it with these amazing women. So often we go to races with our own agenda and our own goals, and we lose out on the camaraderie of running. Taking on the HUFF as a team allowed us to share the good times, the bad times …

And a little nakedness.

When I say these women were amazing, it wasn’t just because they believed in me when I didn’t or that they were out there in the cold and dark rooting for me as if it was noon on a sunny day. No, these women were amazing because they handed me hot chocolate at the finish and helped me undress and redress in the tent. Let me tell you, there’s nothing to bring a group closer than underwear and trying to get on Recovery Socks.

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If you are appalled that I stripped down in the tent, don’t be. It was pretty common. In fact, one runner stripped down completely – as in L saw his bare bottom – and that was when the tent was crowded. I give him props for keeping his man parts toward the outside of the tent.

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Mark knows that I’ll do just about anything for a new pair of shoes. He just didn’t know that included running 10.5 miles in pools of water and ankle-deep mud.

I’m not sure if you can tell from the photo but my shoes were trashed after the race. Thankfully, I found the same shoes on sale at Running Warehouse and using Skinny Runner’s discount, got them for less than $60 shipped. Huzzah!

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I might have developed a strong affection for the course worker who went out of his way to make sure I finished safely but there was one guy who won my heart.

Ringo, a malamute-husky mix, ran the entire 50K with his owner and still had enough energy to socialize. It made me wish (sort of) that I had brought Denali.

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People like to preach the benefits of chocolate milk as a recovery drink. Pshaw. I have something better.

Cheeseburger Happy Meal with a Diet Coke – now that’s a combination of protein, carbs and fat that I can enjoy.

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Remember that video I showed you the other day, previewing the course?

Here’s what the course actually looked like:

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Other blog posts about the race:

Teammate L at My Story Chapter 2

Nurse with a Purse

See Meggie Run.

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Have you ever had an experience, race or otherwise, stick with you?