I was a deer today…then my bubble burst!

Last weekend I had an opportunity to chat with Kristina Folcik at the top of Mt. Ascutney-the day after she won the inaugural Cayuga 50 trail race! We talked about how running a 50 miler is almost more mental than endurance. She was telling me how she visualizes herself as a deer or a mountain lion. I relate her explanation to the visualizations I use-targets.
You know… the big white target with the red rings. That’s the one. Either it’s on the back of the person in front of me or I am wearing it. Yesterday I ran the Six in the Stix trail race which is the second race in the Western NH trail series. My legs were tight but I surprisingly felt pretty good. This was the first time in 3 years I did not walk any part of the uphill (thank you Winter Wild and USATF NE Mountain Series). I passed a male friend of mine on the way up. He groaned and I said “I am sure you will pass me later” and his response was something about that is what I said last week and I ended up finishing ahead of him. Fast forward to about 2 miles left in the race. I had been hearing breathing behind me for a good portion of the race. It wasn’t feminine so I wasn’t too worried but I still felt as though I had a big ole’ target on my back. I kept pushing strong and the breathing and the footsteps continued to follow. Then came my “a-ha” moment…I am a deer. A little over a mile to go and my friend passed me. I shouted “I told ya” and he zoomed down the hill. I followed. He had a target and I was now a mountain lion…yet I was still a deer with a target on my back…I could still hear footsteps and breathing. Soon after he passed me the deer in front of me fell lame, he tripped…but jumped back up. I didn’t gain all that much ground. The last 100+ yards is on the track and every time I hit that section my high school track days come back to me and I run like the wind. I was gaining on him. He looked over his back and I yelled his name and told him he better kick it in. He won but I was close and we had fun reminiscing later about the experience. So fun! I also got to meet the mountain lion who put the target on my back. He laughed and joked with us and was impressed that I took off like I did at just about the time he thought he could take me. It was a great afternoon followed by a delicious pint of Switchback at Salt Hill tavern with a couple of runners.

Six in the Stix-More maple syrup!

Then there was today’s race-10 miles on the trails at Fort Rock in Exeter. Last year was my first year running this race. I found out it was a part of a series and bam… I started running longer trail races and completed all four races in the Granite State Trail Series. But I digress… Today my legs were tired. Out of the past 4 weekends I have had double races three of them. I knew it would be rough for me and I intended to be okay with that but as soon as we were given the green light I ran like I was in it to win. I managed to not get caught in the bottle neck of racers heading onto the trail like I did last year. Instead I was rounding out the front of the pack. OH WAIT-this is 10 miles. I slowed a little but still wanted to keep a good pace, I didn’t really see any other female runners than the few ahead of me (that I could no longer see). I ended up running behind yesterday’s mountain lion and I told him I was there. He was on his home turf and I had no intention of keeping up with him. A little over a mile in I hear from behind me “Hey girl, you gonna keep that pace for 10 miles!” It was another friend I met on the trails who was running the 4+ mile race. I explained my strategy about going out past all the other runners then settling into my pace. He said he was doing the same thing until he saw me a head of him. Needless to say he zipped past me. Glad I could be his motivation. Then came the split that separated the short and long run. I crossed under the tunnel into the distant land and was there singing “all by myself”. No targets a head of me, no targets behind me. Not taking

any chances I went into deer mode. I was hoping the young girls I saw at the beginning of the race were in it for the short run. The elite runners that I normally see weren’t running today. I suddenly found myself pretending (dreaming, wishing, hoping) I was the first place female runner. I pretty much ran those 6 miles alone, hunting and feeling hunted. At about 8 miles in I was feeling wiped but there was the tunnel and the water station, I had to keep it together. I then heard “3^rdfemale”. Pop…my bubble burst and I was feeling deflated. My legs instantly turned to bricks. I talked myself out of it and put it back into gear. I saw my friend the mountain lion ahead of me. Target mode. When I met him we was feeling like I was but he let me pass. I had less than 2 miles and tried to kick it in but still ran into no one. Still in 3^rd place for the women. I finished strong but felt frustrated. I went back to my car had a pity party then shook it off and joined the post-race festivities where my bubble was burst again. I wasn’t 3^rd. No pint glass and beer for me. I must have been fourth. Grrrrr. Its just not my time…yet.

Other race recaps…

Bretton Woods Fell race (June 2^nd) HOT HOT HOT. Probably my best race in the mountain series. I did a lot of self-talk and talked myself out of being too hot. I got to see a moose on the course-So cool! Finished 22/131 finishers. (a large number of people did not finish due to the heat) I finished 4^th female and felt pretty strong.

5 and Dime at Mt Ascutney MTB trails (June 8) such a fun race and beautiful with waterfalls! I finished 1^stin my age group (since the 1^st place woman was in my age group). Dad’s Father’s Day gift shopping was complete! Saturday night was perfect for camping.

I stayed at Wilgus State Park along the Conneticut River and had an beautiful view. Woke up to the birds chirping at 4am…what the heck…luckily I fell back asleep and woke up at a decent time ready to stretch, break down camp and get into Pre-Race mode.

Mt. Ascutney road race (June 9)…Brutal. All up hill, no down hill breaks. I knew it was going to be tough for me…I hated the outcome but none the less enjoyed the experience. That what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Finished something like 13^th women. Lost some security in the USATF standings but still holding on to 3^rd place female (by one point).

*Side note-All these races have post-race festivities with food, awards, and raffles (most of the time). I love hanging out with the racers sharing stories, comparing experiences, seeking advice, and just learning about people. Yesterday after Six in the Stix I had good conversation with quite a few different people and found myself thinking how lucky I am to have found such a great community. I have a lot of running “friends” out there and each race brings different people I look forward to seeing and connecting with. We might be competitors on the course but we are all on the same team afterwards. Such a great feeling!

Next up: Michigan Vacation June 22-July 6th (something like that). I need to be back to NH so I can compete in race #5 of the USATF NE Mountain series at Loon Mountain on July 7th.

* acidotic RACING photos on this page were taken by Gianina Lindsey