Luck, Dried Up

I got some news this week. I won't call it bad or sad, though it definitely feels that way. With something like this, you can't really make it such a big deal. But it was a bummer.

A total, friggin' bummer.

As you may know, The Bourbon Chase has become a more popular event each year, and unfortunately, due to course capacity and our desire to present a top-notch race for participants, we simply cannot accept every team that desires to be in what many consider the best overnight relay in the country. Unfortunately, for 2016, your lottery entry was not one of those selected – we are sorry that we could not include you in this year’s relay.

The Pirates of the Bourbon Trail will not run the hills and plunder the distilleries this October. After two years of doing shots, eating Veggie Straws and cheering for each other, we will be doing what we normally do – shots, eating Veggie Straws and cheering for each other – only from the comforts of our home and not in the cramped quarters of a van.

I had been hoping that we would make it for a third year but it's only fair that we take off a year. Wait. It's not fair because lotteries are inherently random and have nothing to do with what's fair.

Organizers remind us that we have the option to run as a charity team but that idea sort of fell flat last year when we discussed it. The work required to raise $6,000 would be challenging, and it's not for everyone.

Note: That said, I'm totally open to doing a charity team on my own! Who wants to join me?

Not running the Chase is only part of the disappointment. I will miss the bourbon (duh!) and my vanmates but it was also a guaranteed opportunity to visit with one of my close friends who lives in the Bluegrass state. The past two years, she's watched me cross the finish line and then we spend that night and the next morning catching up over Cracker Barrel. I am just not sure I can make it through October without her face and hashbrown casserole.

As such, I've started looking for some races that I could do in the fall that would fulfill the chance to drink bourbon, see my vanmates and stare at my friend over a Grandma's breakfast.

• KY Historic Half Marathon, Sept. 24. This race takes runners on a tour of the state capitol – Frankfort – and plays up the historic theme. Bonus: It's a bargain at $55. I've never been to Frankfort, which is between Louisville and Lexington, and home to Buffalo Trace Distillery. I haven't been there, either ...

• Iron Horse Half Marathon, Oct. 16. A smaller race in Woodford County, which was one of my favorite spots during the 2015 Chase (van 1 team members will hit Woodford Reserve).

• Urban Bourbon Half Marathon, Oct. 24. This race is based in Louisville and is only open to runners 21 and older. This race plays up the bourbon experience (obviously), offering participants a sampling of bourbons from various distillers along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Bearno’s Pizza and Falls City Beer. There will be live entertainment, and guests can pay a fee to join the fun. This race might give Mark and I the chance to take a couple's weekend (unless, Sweet Baby Jesus, Si is still not sleeping through the night).

Any recommendations on racing in Kentucky?

The Bourbon Chase: The Recap

Shuffling down Main Street, I looked like I was doing anything but running toward a finish line. A pair of denim jeans hugged my hips and bright pink Chucks slipped on and off my heels. A Starbucks grande decaf Americano (spiked with bourbon) splashed out of the lid as I tried my best to keep the cup even.

But there I was, surrounded in a sea of identical orange shirts, crossing the timing mats finishing the journey of 200 miles.

I've spent the better part of the past week trying to discern what makes a relay so special. The Bourbon Chase is challenging in terms of elevation and distance, and the general conditions of a relay can be draining. Many of us will lament about how big of a hill we climbed or the rumble strips on the highway as we retell each leg.

But, there in that last sentence, lies the answer. It's having someone to share the experience with. It's being a team.

Though we may sign up to participate in a race with a friend, it's not often that we cross the finish line with her – much less 13 others (11 teammates and two drivers). We don't always have that push to run faster, go harder to make a contribution to the other. But, with a relay, you do.

And it's really frigging awesome.

The Bourbon Chase, a 200-mile relay along the Bourbon Trail, begins at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky. In addition to Jim Beam, runners go through Maker's Mark, Heaven Hill, Four Roses and Woodford Reserve distilleries. The 2015 race is the second time I've participated, having been runner No. 12 in 2014. 

This year, I had the distinct honor of starting the race for Pirates of the Bourbon Trail.

And I did it well by doing a shot of Jim Beam apple before making my way to the start line. I'm not even going to pretend to be sorry about that. It was smooth and delicious.

Sort of like that first run.

Leg 1 runners head (downhill) out of Jim Beam to tackle the 7.1-mile leg. Shortly after exiting, we picked up a hike-and-bike trail.

I wish I could describe this trail to you but I'm not sure words would do it justice. It was wooded and the leaves in the canopy were beginning to turn. Starting at 9:45 a.m., the sun was poking through the breaks and illuminating the dirt path. Leaves crunched, birds tweeted. And the air. Crisp and sweet, it smelled like fall.

I wanted to slow down, take it all in. I wanted to enjoy every foot of that trail – after all, of late, I've been disappointed that I don't get to spend time on the trails. But I couldn't. I was too excited. I was too ready to take it on.

And so I flew.

Mile 1 was 8:44 – 45 seconds faster than my goal pace and 1:45 faster than my projected. I tried to bring it in as I tackled the early climbs, winding through the patchy woods, but still logged an 8:58 for mile 2. My third and fourth splits were better – 9:07 and 9:11 – but the thrill of a strong run coupled with the fantastic fall foliage was hard to fight. 8:56, 8:44 miles followed.

By this time, I was running on Deatsville Road, which took me past a Four Roses outpost and residential homes. I was moving well. I was happy.

And then I followed the curve of the road.

A hill met me. A giant friggin' incline at the start of mile 7. I wanted to scream. I wanted to complain. But I didn't. Instead, I walked. I let myself slow for a tenth of a mile. I had ran good enough, I reasoned. I was still coming in under projection, and I didn't want to bank too much time.

But after that tenth, I made myself chug along. When the exchange was in sight, I picked it up more. I didn't try to slow for a smooth hand-off. I wanted to run. it. in.

7.3 miles, 1:06:21, 9:05 pace

Run No. 2 – Leg 13

We were running ahead of schedule, our team running strong. I thought I had more time but as I made my way through the crowd in Danville, I heard my number being called.

"8-6-0. Team 860."

I shoved people aside (and, more than likely, into the Nuun tent – sorry I'm not sorry) as I took the bracelet from Josh.

My second leg, a seemingly short 4.5 miles, began in the heart of this cute Kentucky town. I tried to find a strong rhythm as I navigated the sidewalk. Down the curb, up the curb. I headed into the street as we passed a gas station and headed east on US 150 toward Stanford. It was dark, just after 7, and the air was still cool. I looked up and thanked those stars that the weather was perfect for the Chase this year.

Heading up the highway, the blinking lights of runners marked the route. Up, up, up they went. I hugged the shoulder and tried to find a good footing. Stupid rumble strips. They made for some precarious footing but it was either that or be in the lane. And I didn't want to be in the lane.

The route climbed. Solidly. The last mile was straight uphill. My pace, which had hovered in the 8:40s, surely dropped. I'm not sure by how much as my Soleus battery was low and dropped satellite.  I tried to use the lights ahead of me as a way to push forward and maintain a solid effort. 1, 2, 3. Grind. Go. Catch. 1, 2, 3. Grind. Go. Catch.

But it wasn't easy. I had to dig, and I found myself repeating a new mantra: You are strong. You are fast. You are fearless. In my head. You are strong. You are fast. You are fearless.

You are done, I thought, handing off the bracelet once again.

Run No. 3 – Leg 25

My alarm went off at 5:15 a.m. – 5 minutes before the others in the room of our hotel. I was going to take a shower, get dressed and have a cup of coffee. I would eat a Clif bar and chug a bottle of Nuun. By the time we would need to leave for the next major exchange, I would be ready to take on my last run.

But as I got out of the shower, there weren't teammates wiping sleep from their eyes and stumbling around the room. There was rushing and confusion. We were further ahead of schedule. We needed to leave – and leave now.

The things I was hoping to do at a leisurely pace were now being juggled in the back of the van as I pumped. I needed to be ready to go once we got to Wild Turkey.

The van pulled up to the drive, and I hopped out. I reasoned that it would be quicker to walk to the exchange from there than to sit restlessly in the van as we looked for parking and then hoofed it down the hill.

I trotted down, remember flying down that hill the year before, and tried to find the mental space to run. It was the last one. It was only 3.4 miles. And, I thought, it was an easy leg. It would be less hilly.

It was a nice thought – while it lasted.

I headed down the hill from Wild Turkey and crossed the "S" bridge over the Kentucky River. I took a deep breath and stared at the sky. It was dark, the sun not even showing signs of rising, and the stars shone bright. I looked for the dippers, the only constellations I can identify, and tried to savor the steps. I had nearly 12 miles behind me and only 3 to go. I wasn't ready for the weekend to be over.

But the hills ... they could be done.

The real challenge began just after the first mile beeped on my Soleus. It was a sharp climb, almost a half mile, before turning into more rollers. I believe I gasped "Fuck" when I saw it and started the shuffle up. I was told later by a fellow runner whom I had passed that I also said, "This hill blows." All I know is that I had to really work.

For reference: Soleus has me gaining 423 feet of elevation on this run. A typical route in Fort Wayne is usually no more than 38.

For as difficult as it was for me, I didn't repeat a mantra. I didn't try to dig. If anything, I wanted to slow down. Take my time. I wanted this run to last. I wanted to see the glint of sunlight come over the hill because I knew that the route would be gorgeous in the early morning light.

But, I did not get to see it. The night sky still overhead as I passed off to Bryan 30 minutes later.

I took a deep breath and walked to the van, the blinking light on the back of runner No. 2's shirt fading in the distance.

The Bourbon Chase: Packing List

Three sets of clothes, resealable gallon-size bags, two sets of shoes ... we've all read the packing lists from bloggers tackling overnight relays. Heck, I even wrote one last year around this time.

But here's the thing: We all include the same items and most of them are no-brainers. Does someone really need to be reminded to bring a sports bra?

Wait. Depending on how much sleep I have had, I might.

Regardless, there are things that make running a relay easier or even possible. Things that I don't often see on the lists.

1. Cold, hard cash. You can pack that van full of snacks and Nuun but sometime in those 30 hours, you are going to want food. Real, hot food. And you have to pay for it. Credit cards can do the trick but relays often go through smaller towns and not ever establishment accepts plastic. Also, I saw some cute stands set up last year, one during our last set of legs, selling honey and other local goods. I was tempted but my cash was limited. This year, I'm ready.

2. Power inverter. Cell phones, GPS watches, Fitbits all need to be charged. An inverter makes life much easier. My captain brings one for each van as well as a power strip so we aren't fighting over who gets to charge her phone.

3. Hand warmers. Relays have night legs and those night legs can get cold. Even colder? Coming into the van sweaty after your night leg. Hand warmers help keep you comfortable. They are also helpful for your teammates who are waiting for you at the exchange.

Have you run a relay? What are your essentials?

The Bourbon Chase: Training

It's called the "Jogger" schedule, which, to me, implies novice. But, the plan from the folks at Bourbon Chase looks nothing like a beginning runner plan. Each week has five to six days of running per week and strides. Lots and lots of strides. The mileage is fairly low on the plan, most runs less than 5 miles but it's intimidating nonetheless.

Sort of like running a relay.

Having run two before (Hood to Coast 2013 and Bourbon Chase 2014), I had an idea going into training this year with what it takes to do an event like this. A good endurance base, experience running on tired legs and the ability to run whenever on whatever terrain.

As my total mileage for the race will be 15 miles, too, I knew I should be able to come close to running that distance on a long run. Knowing the terrain of the Chase, I knew I needed to be serious about hills. And the threat of cutoffs, I wanted to have some fire in the legs.

So my weekly plan shaped up to be a little like this:

• Easy run with strides at the end. This run was usually in the 4- to 5-mile range.

• Mid-week quality run. This run, more often than not, was a combination of hills plus speed at a local cemetery. Initially, I wanted to alternate between shorter intervals and hills but an experienced runner encouraged me to combine the workouts. Example: Run loop with hills, recover, hit perimeter of the cemetery for 400s. Alternately, I would run a fartlek – 1 minute hard, 2 minutes easy – over a hilly course. I tried to make sure that I ran at least 5 miles on this day but preferred to do at least 6.

• Mid-week run with the BRF. We usually run 5 miles at a whatever pace. If we were particularly grumpy or excited, we did them faster. If we were tired, we ran them slower.

• Long run. I slowly built my endurance to get in half marathon shape. Every third week, though, I split the long run so that I could do a double. Hurt so good.

I'm feeling really good with where it left me. I felt strong on the small rollers when I ran the Muncie Mini-Marathon, and I had a faster than expected race at Fort4Fitness. My endurance is on point, too, and I finish long runs tempted to keep going with my marathon-crazy buddies. But, I don't.

An aside, as they had a cutback week this past Saturday, I ran all 12 miles with them. The pace slowly crept up the last few miles and I decided to go for it the last half mile. We finished with an 8:50. Holla!

Here's how the last few weeks of running have looked like. I didn't have as many quality workouts between racing and tapering but that's how it be.

Week 9

Monday: 3 miles with Tami, 9:58 pace
Tuesday: 5 miles, 9:40 pace
Thursday: 4.2 miles, with strides, 9:39 pace
Saturday: Fort4Fitness Double Play – 10K at 8:49 pace and 4-mile race at 9:20 pace

Week 10

Tuesday: 5 miles, 9:41 pace
Thursday: 5.52 miles, 9:26 pace
Friday: 4.25 miles, 9:31 pace
Saturday: 13 miles, long run, 10:01 pace

Week 11

Tuesday: 5.25 miles, 9:02 pace (1-2-3-4-5 intervals)
Thursday: 6 miles, 9:28 pace (hilly route)
Friday: 4 miles with Tami, 9:47 pace
Saturday: 12 miles, long run with strong finish, 9:55 pace

The Bourbon Chase: Race Week Is Here

My Vera Bradley duffel is in the middle of the bedroom floor. Fall/winter running clothes have been pulled and tossed from the storage container, sorted haphazardly on the bed. My hatchback is stuffed with goodies from Nuun, NAAWK and ProCompression. Boxes of snacks from Sam's Club are occupying space, as well.

If the state of my house and car doesn't say it, I will: It's almost time for the Bourbon Chase.

And, let me tell you, I am so excited. Probably a little too much but the trip to Kentucky promises the opportunity to sleep more in one night than I have in a week.

Plus, this race is the one I've been working toward for more than 12 weeks. Sure, I've had a few thrown in there (like my impromptu half) but I have been training for the Bourbon Chase. My plan (a modified half schedule) was tailored to meet the demands of the course and efforts to build endurance and speed were all to help me be a strong teammate. It was the race I dreamed of when I couldn't run when I was pregnant and when I was waiting for my C-section to heal. It was the weekend that kept me sane when the demands of a newborn tested my emotional stability.

Or maybe it was the promise of bourbon.

Anyway, this week, I'll be talking about the race.

Today: Legs and expectations
Tuesday: How I trained for a relay
Wednesday: What I'll be eating
Thursday: Three unexpected things you should pack for a relay

◊ ◊ ◊

At 9:45 a.m., outside the Jim Beam distillery, I will start the chase. The 200-mile journey from Shepherdsville, Kentucky, to downtown Lexington begins with me.

I felt a little greedy asking to be runner No. 1 for our team, Pirates of the Bourbon Trail, especially since I was runner 12 last year. There's just so much fan fare when you are a runner through a major exchange; it's hard not to want to be a part of that.

The mileage for runner No. 1 seemed fitting for me, though. I will run a total of 15 miles over three legs and not run much more than 7.

Leg 1: The Chase begins

This 7.1-mile leg is rated difficult, probably because of its distance and elevation profile. My projected time is 1:14:33, based on a 10K pace of 10:30. I was very generous with my 10K time because I wanted to take a bit of the pressure off me and account for hills and fatigue. However, I ran the Fort4Fitness 10K at  pace of 8:49. I'd love to be around a 9:30 pace for all of my legs.

Leg 13 : Outskirts of Danville

This 4.5-mile leg, rated easy, is mostly on U.S. 150. It has some pretty rad downhill sections, which make me really excited, but a gradual uphill to the exchange. The second leg is traditionally the night leg but I'll start around 8:43 p.m. – so no super dark runs for me. I have an estimated finish time of 47:15 but I'd love to be around 43 minutes.

Leg 25: Don't Gorge Yourself

The exchange for this 3.4-mile run is at Wild Turkey, and it starts with an insane downhill. Last year, I remember coming into this exchange at a sub-7 pace because I couldn't go any slower down the hill. I'm pretty sure I fumbled the bracelet hand off because I couldn't control the pull. I'm not sure I'm that fast this year but it will be nice to have a fast turnover down the initial decline.

I am excited for this last leg, not just because it will be the shortest, but for the views. According to the Bourbon Chase, "The majority of this short leg runs along a very narrow road and crosses a bridge HIGH above the Kentucky River. In fact, the railroad bridge to your right is known as High Bridge because at the time it was built, it was the highest railroad bridge in America."

Captain has me down to run this in 35:42. Even though I said I'd like to run faster, I would really like my legs to work. Period.

Fun, right?

Weekly Training Update {8/31/15-9/6/15}

Currently training for: Muncie Mini Marathon, Fort4Fitness Double Play, the Bourbon Chase

The dining room armoire. That's where I found them. 

My 10-ounce Nathan Quick Shot, my larger Nathan handheld (I think it's 22 ounces) and my Nathan Speed belt.

Obviously, the key components to my hydration arsenal belonged in my flipping dining room armoire where I would never thing to look for them. I wouldn't, say, put them in the kitchen cabinet with the rest of the water bottles or a different one where I stored them last year. I didn't pack them away in the storage tote with the rest of my summer running gear nor did I put in the basement next to my vest.

Nope. They were in the dining room for a good 9 months, two of which were spent actively searching for the bottles.

But all is well and good now ... now that I have them. I can now go on long runs, even short runs considering our recent streak of 90+-degree days, and feel good with my hydration.

Well. Sort of.

On Saturday, I took the larger bottle for my 12-mile (!!!) run and it was good to have that much Nuun with me. I needed it on a rather sticky morning. However, it was a pain and a half to carry – heavy and hard to hold. I feared that I was going to get a blister from holding it the wrong way. Thankfully, I didn't but still.

The problem – from locating the bottles to the potential chafing – would have been moot had I properly cleaned my vest. Not just that but purchased the right stuff to clean it, rather than letting it hang out in the basement all winter. I need an industrial length bottle cleaner to save it now. 

Or at least I think. I'm scared to actually look at it. I am such a flipping grown-up ... as evidenced by my stellar storage skills.

But enough about that. I ran 12 miles, and it was OK. Pretty decent, actually. And now I can say I'm relatively trained for the half in two weeks. Holla.

The week, in training:

Monday, Aug. 31
X-TRAIN | Boot camp {taught}
Time: 45 minutes

Tuesday, Sept. 1
RUN | 5 miles
Time: 49:18 Pace: 9:38

X-TRAIN | Boot camp {taught}
Time: 50 minutes

Wednesday, Sept. 2
X-TRAIN | Piloxing {taught}

Time: 45 minutes

Thursday, Sept. 3
RUN | 5 miles
Time: 46:44 Pace: 9:20

X-TRAIN | Boxing fusion {taught}

Time: 60 minutes

Friday, Sept. 4
RUN | 4.11 miles

Time: 39:48 Pace: 9:48

Saturday, Sept. 5
RUN | 12 miles
Time: 2:00:03 Pace: 10:00

Sunday, Sept. 6
REST 

Note: I have added affiliate links. It's a douche move, I know, but I'm trying to be fiscally responsible and reduce my debt. Also, diapers are expensive, yo. I'm trying to make the little things add up. The links are a little thing. Thank you for your understanding.

Weekly Training Update {7/27/15 - 8/2/15}

It's official. I'm training. With a legit plan. OK. I take the legit part back. It's a mish-mash plan that I made myself to get ready for the Bourbon Chase.

The goal of said plan is to increase my mileage so that I can run 15 miles over 30 hours without hurting myself or repeat a litany of curse words as I tackle the crazy hills. Solid goals, I think.

The basics: One long run; one workout, alternating between hills and intervals; one easy run with strides; one plain-old easy run.

Basics plus: It's a half marathon plan that I modified to fit my base fitness. It's also race specific in that every third long run will be a double, with the mileage split between a longer morning run and a 3-miler in the afternoon.

I had my first workout on Tuesday – 4 x 400s – or four rounds of quarter-mile hauling butt and a quarter-mile slogging. I haven't figured out how (or if) laps work on the Soleus but my miles with the repeats were post-baby fast, and I went under 9 minutes for the first time.

Another first for the week? Hitting 20 miles. #toolegittoquit #heyhey

P.S. Scroll to the end of the post for a giveaway.

The week, in training:

Monday, July 27
X-TRAIN | Boot camp {taught}
Time: 45 minutes

Tuesday, July 28
RUN | 5.05 miles, intervals
Time: 48:08 Pace: 9:31

X-TRAIN | Boot camp {taught}
Time: 50 minutes

Wednesday, July 29
X-TRAIN | Piloxing {taught}

Time: 45 minutes

Thursday, July 30
RUN | 5.05 miles
Time: 48:39 Pace: 9:37

X-TRAIN | Boxing fusion {taught}

Time: 60 minutes

Friday, July 31
REST 

Saturday, August 1
RUN | New Haven 10K
Time: 59:40 Pace: 9:34

Sunday, August 2
RUN | 4.5 miles

Time: 46:53 Pace: 10:25

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Let The Good Times Roll {A Three Things Thursday Post}

"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" Cap'n asked.

The news. I want the news – no games, I replied. It's mean to play games with me.

And so, he gave me the news.

1. We won the lottery! Well, the lottery for the 2015 Bourbon Chase. Most of my team, the Pirates of the Bourbon Trail, is reuniting to take on the 200-mile course that winds through the Kentucky countryside and bourbon distilleries. I had such a blast last year that I'm excited to get to do it all over again – even if the hills made me curse like none other.

We are floating the idea of trying to qualify, for lack of a better term, as a charity team so that we can spread the joy we have on the experience to one of three organizations – Alzheimer's Association, CASA and Leukemia Lymphoma Society – that partner with the race. We haven't settled on this road nor an organization but Alzheimer's is a cause particularly close to my heart.

It would be a large undertaking, requiring us to raise $7,000 as a team but one that would be worth it. I did the math one night, and it would break down to less than $600 a person or each of us netting 24 donations of $25. It seems feasible when I look at it like this.

If anyone has any tips for fundraising, let me know so I can share it with the team!

2. You're in! I recently found out that I was again selected as an ambassador for Pro Compression. (I also continue my role as a Nuun ambassador.) The program was new last year, and the company is really looking toward making it gang busters for 2015. I was completely uncertain as to whether I'd get selected (I had to reapply) but I'm honored to be a part of the group.

And, in case you haven't seen it, I thought I'd share the February sock of the month – Pink Hearts. I think they are adorable! I bought a pair the day they came out. Yes, they are great for Valentine's but I think they will look be cute for races that raise awareness for breast cancer. Use code HEART to save 40 percent on all pink socks and sleeves.

3. It's back!

The mid-season premiere of "The Walking Dead" is Sunday night, and I'm so excited to have some good TV to watch. Mark and I have been settling on episodes of "Mountain Men" and "The Incredible Dr. Pol" on Netflix for weeknight entertainment. It will be nice to have something to watch besides prolapsed uteri and cow-killing wolves.

I also heard that the third season of "House of Cards" will be released this month (Feb. 27) on Netflix. It should be just enough to get me through till maternity leave, when I plan to re-watch/catch up on "Parenthood."

Anything good happening in your neighborhood?

Education on the Bourbon Trail: Lessons from a relay

There are lessons with every step, with every mile.

And the Bourbon Chase was no different.

The 200-mile journey was full of learning opportunities, some of them on the guidebook side and other on the fun end.

Quote me. Call it delirium or stir craziness but some funny things are said when seven people are in a van together. Because I'm a blogger and intensely aware that I need to document anything that is remotely amusing, I started a note file and recorded the things that made me laugh. "I’ve got nothing better to do than to run faster in the dark." "My legs feel like a dying star. They could disintegrate at any moment." "It's so damn hot my piss is smokin'." "I've got the stick of love." Obviously, they are funny to those who were there but it's fun to rehash later on a group Facebook page for the team. It also might be fun to put them on the back of a T-shirt if you liked the people enough to do it all again.

Make a scene. Take photos and lots of them. Note the delirious part above, and you'll see why. There are so many moments you'll want to remember and without the photos, you might not. Family and friends will like seeing them, too, as the idea of a relay is a bit foreign to non-runners - heck to even other runners sometimes.

Light it up. Bourbon Chase rules required each team to have a reflective vest, blinking light and headlamp/flashlight - but just one set. We had three, I think, and it was perfect. One on the person running, one on the runner waiting in the wing and one hanging to dry since we had such wet conditions. We saw other teams, though, trading off vests and lights at the exchanges. It just seemed frantic and annoying to be honest. These are things that are important to have, in general, so it's best just to invest in several sets. Also, we had problems with one particular light model (more than one of them in the van) not lasting and my green light was burnt out thanks to Miles so we needed the extras.

Food for thought. Pretzels, Cheetos, Combos, gummy bears, Red Vines and rocky road trail mix. I packed it all thinking it would be devoured by a group of hungry runners. But, as it turns out (and as it should be), real food was preferable. One of our teammates had the forethought to buy the makings of sandwiches and pack enough for both vans. I hadn't been sure about them, to be frank, but we ate those sandwiches that trip (kept in a cooler) and have already requested them for next year. The PB&J and subsequently Nutella PB&J were also popular but it would have been better to premake them.

Go it solo. On the subject of food, my community snacks were great, and the Red Vines eaten. However, the bags of Veggie Straws and individual nutrition bars were much easier to grab. It's not always the most economical choice but it is convenient.

Carry cash. A team could pack meals for days but van food gets old - literally and figuratively. You'll want real options, as well as a way to decompress and come together as a team after major exchanges. Bring money for meals out. Also, we were lucky enough to come across several exchanges where communities used the race as fundraisers. I bought several coffees and hot chocolates at such affairs, one of which had pancakes, sausage and biscuits and gravy. Another exchange had a farm selling bourbon honey. Sadly, the wallet was in the van and I could not grab one.

Never trust a fart. Enough said - but note there were no such accidents on this trip.

The Bourbon Chase: A race recap

This is the true story of 14 (mostly) strangers, who chose to sit in a couple vans, run together and have their legs jacked up, to find out what happens when people stop being polite... and start getting chased.

The story of how I came to be on the Pirates of the Bourbon Trail team is one made in social media heaven. My twitter BFF (and now real-life friend) knew I dreamed of doing the Bourbon Chase. She also knew a guy in Lexington, also via Twitter, who was putting together a team. He needed ladies for the co-ed division, and Alyse knew I needed a distraction. Connections were made, money sent and Facebook friends accepted.

As the months passed, my excitement and anticipation grew - but my expectations did not. I had been disappointed the year before when I thought Hood to Coast would be a life-changing, litter of puppies-double rainbow experience and it was just a puppy and a glimpse of a rainbow kind of time. I would know no one on the team but the captain, and I hadn't met him in person. I knew the running would be hard, too, and harder still at 14 weeks pregnant. I just pictured myself sitting in the back of the van, eating Red Vines and playing on my smart phone.

But when I showed up at my teammates' house on Thursday night to crash, I got my first inclination that it wouldn't be that way. They were kind, generous, fun and adventurous. They were the kind of people that you want to run 200 miles with.

And so, just shy of 3 p.m. Friday, I hopped in a van with six relative strangers with little worry and ready to take on the journey ahead.

Stop No. 1: Maker's Mark in Loretto, Kentucky. The distillery was the first major exchange, where Van 2 (I was runner 12) would take over the race. We got there with plenty of time to spare - always good in a relay - affording us the opportunity to explore the grounds, sample bourbon cocktails (well, some of us) and peruse the gift shop.

 

The ground was wet and the air damp as we wandered in and out of barrel rooms and mash houses. We could all hope that the rain would be temporary. After all, the Bourbon Chase guidebook declares that this time of year is the driest in Kentucky. But, as you could expect, it was not temporary nor was the race dry.

Ahead of schedule, our first runner took off for the seventh leg of the race. His 4.9-mile run was rated medium but as we wound the narrow, windy roads of the Kentucky countryside, we quickly learned that "medium" is a very loose term meaning "holy hell, for the mother of God" hilly. I knew from that point on that this flat-land Hoosier would be in for a challenge.

Leg 12/Run 1

11 p.m. It was far past my bedtime but I was awake. Relatively excited. And wet. The rain was continuing. Steady, maybe even strong. I knew I would be hot with a long-sleeve shirt but I threw on my Flyer jacket anyway. Red Pro Compression socks were pulled to my knees. My Nuun visor securely on. Lights flashing.

Standing on the side of the highway, I was ready to go.

Amanda passed off the slap bracelet, and I hauled my behind up the first hill. Always starting uphill. I was slated to run 8:30s based on my 10K pace, which I submitted just before getting the big fat positive. I was hopeful I could still come close to that - at least for the first leg of 3.6 miles - and was ready to push.

The first mile beeped in at 8:17. Good. Great, even. And then the next hill. It was almost a mile of steady climbing, along the shoulder of the highway. I was hot and soaked and the 8:17 pace wasn't fun. It was hard, and I knew I had to adjust. So I did. I trucked along, moving left to avoid getting splashed, and skipping over puddles. I was soaked but I didn't need to be more so.

I was able to breathe a sigh of relief as I turned into the city of Danville. The first leg was done. I had come close to my projection. And I could sleep. Maybe.

The team stopped at The Hub in downtown Danville to get a bite to eat. My stomach, though, was in knots - equal parts "I might throw up" and "I hope I don't have to call a Code Brown." I sat for a few minutes and then ordered a breakfast burrito, cognizant that it would be my last real food for a while.

We drove to the high school where the gym and showers were open to runners for a nominal fee. Half the van went in, half the van stayed. I was too tired to muster the energy to get out and feared the gym would be too loud for me to sleep. I grabbed a free bench and covered up. Sleep didn't come easily but it did arrive. I got a couple hours, maybe, but I was glad to have that.

Leg 12/Run 2

The perk of being the last runner in the van was that I had a chance to rest a bit more before having to get ready. I was searching for that sweet spot that a short nap gives but didn't find it. So, I grabbed my doTerra peppermint oil and put a drop in my mouth, underneath my nose and rubbed it on my hands.

I headed to the exchange at Four Roses, where the distillery had a sweet setup for runners. Beautifully decorated bourbon balls and wrist bands of the sweat variety were out for the taking, I grabbed one of each when I heard "470" from the mouth of a volunteer. It was go time - even if I was still chewing.

This leg was the one I feared most. Eight miles and hilly. So hilly. I knew I wouldn't hit my projection so I didn't even try to start out speedy. The goal was to start around 9 minutes and see where things went.

And they went up. Up, up, up.

I can't really complain - I didn't have the most challenging set of legs nor the farthest. But, yeah. I need to do some work if I do this race again. I was muttering a lot of not nice words as I went up the hills. It went from "fuck" to "motherfucker" to "shit, motherfucker, shit" every time I saw an incline. But it's a hill, and I had to get over it. So I did.

This leg was far more beautiful than the first, running on country roads and through a quaint downtown. There were cows and fields. It's exactly what I hoped to do when I signed on.

I made a turn and the exchange was in sight. Just at the bottom of the hill, at Wild Turkey Distillery, Rebecca awaited. Whether it was the excitement or grade, I'm not sure but I went for it. 6:45, 6:30 the watch flickered. I was going so fast I wasn't sure I could stop. But I did.

Leg 36/Run 3

We were tired. We were smelly. We were ready to be done. And, because my team was mostly local, we had the unbelievable advantage of knowing someone in the area.

Grandma.

She graciously opened up her home, allowing us to shower and nap. Let me tell you - a shower never felt as good as it did Saturday morning. I felt warm, awake. Like a person. I didn't think I'd sleep but I looked at the clock at 10:30 a.m. and didn't see the second hand tick again until two hours later. It was glorious.

It wasn't going to be pretty but I was now ready to take on my last run.

Our final runs took us from outside Frankfort past multi-million dollar horse farms to the Legacy Trail to downtown Lexington.

My final leg - and that of the race - was 4.9 miles starting on the Legacy Trail and into downtown Lexington. The clock read just past 6 p.m. as I made final preparations - two pee stops and the last minute decision to wear my Flyer jacket. It was raining. Again.

I'm not going to lie. This leg HURT. I was awake, I had energy but my legs were lead. I was grateful that there were a couple women in the distance on whom I could focus. I had no intentions of passing them, though I did; I merely wanted to stay in sight of them as we wound around the urban areas of Lexington.

I was passing the LexMark sign when, in the distance, I could see the Lexington skyline. Booms and thunder filled the air and fireworks lit the sky. It was the grand finale. And, if I could dig, I would soon be there.

So I dug. I focused on running tangents, getting to the next landmark, the next turn. Over the hills and through the woods. It wasn't pretty but when I got to the final straightaway and my teammates joined me, I was filled with joy.

I had had the race I wanted but never expected and the adventure I couldn't have thought to wish for. And though my legs ached, my heart did, too - knowing I have to wait to do it all over again.

Packing for an Overnight Relay: Bourbon Chase Supplies

I put gas in the Mazda. I requested three big hugs and two kisses from Miles before leaving daycare. I have a stack of maps printed (never trust the GPS).

It seems I am ready to head to the Bluegrass State to take on the Bourbon Chase, an overnight relay that takes runners through some of the finest distilleries between Louisville and Lexington.

And though I'm packing for one, my hatchback is full with supplies for this 30-hour adventure.

Essentials

Clothing: Faster teams might opt not to change but I sweat - a lot - and I don't want to sit in the van with stinky, wet clothes. I'll have three sets, each in its own bag. Since this year's race theme is disco, I'm packing two Team Sparkle skirts. I also will have my Flyer jacket and in between running clothes.

Shoes: Two pairs. I rotate shoes between runs and with three runs in such a short time, I want a fresh pair for my longest leg of 8 miles. Also some in between running shoes.

Compression: It's your friend. Cramped up in a van and running a lot means that my muscles will need to recover as best they can between legs. I planned my outfits around my Pro Compression socks, and the company graciously outfitted the team with black and red socks to fit our pirate name.

Reflective gear: Each van needs to have at least one set of gear that includes headlamp, blinking lights and a vest. My captain, wisely, suggested we have at least two sets so I'm bringing what I have. Eve if we have an overabundance, it will be nice to sweat on my own stuff.

Nourishment

If I learned anything at Hood to Coast, it's that a relay isn't a relay without the right goodies - Red Vines, peanut butter-filled pretzels, trail mix. I signed on to be one of the ones bringing snacks, and my bag has Red Vines, granola bars, pretzels, pumpkin banana muffins, peanut butter and jelly and Combos.

Also, thanks to the generosity of Nuun, our team is hooked up. We'll have an ample supply of flavors - active and Nuun Energy - as well as a bottle to drink from. Hydration is key in this type of event, and I'm glad we're well taken care of.

Incidentals

Mother Nature is not expected to be kind to us on this journey and thus we are preparing to get wet and wild. Towels for drying off and newspaper to stuff inside shoes.

Other items include:

• Shower Pill athletic wipes. No showers, probably, for nearly two days times seven people equals a lot of funk. These wipes are awesome and should help us stay as fresh and as clean as we can.
• USB car adapter, iPhone and iPhone charger, Garmin and Garmin charger
• Tiger Tail. Recovery. Do it. It can also be used as a prop while cheering on runners, if I am accurately remembering Hood to Coast.
• Sleeping bag. I am not sure how I'll use it - on the floor, as a blanket, as a pillow - but I want it.
• NAAWK sunscreen. I can hope that I need this.

Entertainment

A cowbell, obviously. How else would my teammates notice me cheering on the side of the road? It will also work if a runner falls asleep and refuses to stir.

Oh, and myself.

What items are essential for you relay vets out there?

Disclosure: My team was provided free socks and Nuun but we were not supported financially in the race nor was I compensated for this post. I also was not required to write this post - only to share the love and love Pro Compression and Nuun I do.

Reading, lately {A Three Things Thursday Post}

I used to read books. Once upon a time, you know. Chick lit and memoirs (ah, Jen Lancaster, I love you). I sometimes got into historical books and biographies, and there was the obligatory running book.

These days, though, when the time comes to rest my butt, all I want to do is space out. Veg. Watch TV. Recently, it has been a marathon of "The Killing" thanks to Netflix. I finally made it through the first two seasons, which if you watch the show, you know why it's such a milestone. I hate to love that show.

But I digress.

As much as I say I don't have time to read, I have found myself wrapped in a few things lately.

1. OK, this first item isn't technically a book but I have been studying it. A lot.

The Bourbon Chase map! Our team captain is getting to the nitty gritty of things - like van and leg assignments - and we got to put in for our top picks.

When it comes to relays, it's important to be honest with yourself and your abilities. I am not going to pick the hilliest legs because a) I don't like hills; and b) I live in northeast Indiana where the best hills are on the golf course. I don't mind longer runs, though, so the higher mileage doesn't throw me. I asked to be runner 6 or runner 9, and I got penciled in for 6. I loved being a major exchange runner for Hood to Coast, so I'm amped that I will be for Bourbon Chase. Plus, when I'm done, the van is done. (Read: FOOD.)

2. Speaking of food, when I was advised to take a look at my carb consumption and the possible link to depression, I went in search of information - research or anecdotal. I had received positive feedback about Whole 30 and was then led to "Fitness Confidential" by Vinnie Tortorich. I am reading the latter but before my friend gifted me the book, I picked up "Wheat Belly" on audiobook from the library.

I am not here to support or dispel the claims in the book but I will say that I found it very interesting. It definitely made me re-examine the amount of processed wheat in my diet and the affect that it has on my physical and mental well-being. It is quite scientific in its tone, especially in the early parts, and I'm not sure I could have gotten through it in traditional print format. The audiobook was nice, and it came with a PDF of documents and recipes.

3. And, on the opposite end of the spectrum, I've been reading "The Fit Bottomed Girls Anti Diet." As the title suggests, this book is the anti-diet diet book. There are no menu plans or workout schedules. There's no list of safe foods or an even longer list of things that are forbidden. It's a book about getting healthy and, well, feeling healthy doing it.

The book is written by the authors of the popular blog Fit Bottomed Girls - Jennipher Walters and Erin Whitehead - and reading the book feels very much like reading the blog. The tone is conversational, the advice practical. So much so, and I don't mean this in a negative way, that the book feels a little bit like a Weight Watchers meeting. Your leaders - Jennipher and Erin - address a topic (from eating to exercise to well being) and offer solutions that could be applied without disrupting the whole family. Some of them, like WW, seem a bit "duh" but we have to remember that information wasn't always "duh."

Some of the things that stuck out to me were fighting with the scale and why you were doing it, which felt quite relevant to me personally; how to take compliments with grace and accept them; and 10-minute fixes.

The publishers of "The Fit Bottomed Girls Anti Diet" provided me with a copy free of charge for review ... and are offering three copies for me to giveaway. Enter using the widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to those over 18 and residents of United States and Canada. It begins on 5/15/14 and ends on 5/24/14; the winners will be contacted via email on 5/24/14. One entry per person. The The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Void where prohibited by law.

Chasing hope: A personal post

There are times when you just need to run, when you need a race. You need the miles, the pavement. You need to breathe hard, to find space. You need to work, to work toward something.

And since I became a runner nearly five years ago, I'm not sure I've needed the sport or an event more than I have needed it now.

I have been melancholy at best and severely depressed at worst in the past month. It's a fact I've alluded to here on this blog. And though the deeply personal reasons are not ones I'll spell out, it's fair to say that there are times in a relationship when you discover that not only are you not on the same page, you are not even reading the same book. It's hard, painful. Even more so when the "problem" is one you can't avoid.

As I've struggled in this period, I have found myself researching fall marathons, contemplating an epic 50K in December, mapped my way out mile by mile. I planned longer runs, or tried to (stupid weather), with my group. I registered for an out-of-town half marathon before seeking the typical approval of family. The more distance I covered, the more I could be separated from life.

What I realized, though, is it's all a distraction - a Band-Aid - and not a solution. I can run a third marathon but I would be doing it to get back at someone, which is not a good headspace to take on 26.2. I can run a 50K but would the snowy, icy trails really by the ice bath my sore soul needed?

Though the answer was no, it didn't take away from the fact that I desperately needed something. And that's when fate, maybe, stepped in.

On a nearly forgotten Pinterest board, I pinned the Bourbon Chase as a bucket list race. The 200-mile relay takes teams of 12 through the Bourbon trail of Kentucky, with exchanges at the famous distilleries of the Bluegrass State. Mark and I once visited some of those distilleries, and that trip will always have fond memories. To see the area on foot, I knew, would be a once in the lifetime chance.

It's a chance my twitter BFF Alyse knew I wanted and when someone she knew needed female runners for an open mixed team, it was my name she gave. She knows me well and, when she did so, did it because she thought it would be a fun thing. Little did she know it would be more than a race to me - it would be hope.

The race would be something to look forward to, something that I wanted for me (even if it was filling other needs). It would be a race that wouldn't compromise everything without holding out either. It would be insurance that if life didn't go as planned that I still had something for me. Even if the race didn't pan out as the team captain had more women than he needed (lucky guy!), the thought of doing it would carry me through some dark days.

On Saturday morning, though, I got the official word: I am a member of the Pirates of the Bourbon Trail open mixed team and on Oct. 10, I will set off on my first leg through the gorgeous countryside. I will live out a dream.