MURCA 50K - an urban virtual ultra-marathon

St. Patrick’s Day weekend I made the decision to do the Virtual MURCA 50K. I had twenty-four (24) hours to run, walk, or even crawl thirty-one (31) miles for the Marine Ultra Runners Club of America to help raise funds for The Warrior's Keep's Vet-Ex and Vet-Rec Outdoor Therapy Programs. Hey! And even better reason to celebrate with a pint of Guinness.

I got up Saturday morning, March 16 knowing I was going to attempt this virtual 50K and started getting ready. Had my coffee and spoonful of peanut butter. Yup! I was wanting to start off by burning fat.

The MURCA site suggests making the Virtual 50K epic. Hm. How do you make a virtual event EPIC?

Think about it. It’s solely up to you. There are no other runners. There are no aid stations with happy and welcoming volunteers. There is just you and whatever route you choose to take. And I live in Nowhere, New Hampshire.

I packed my back to the weight of fifteen (15) pounds and was going to use today as part of my training for The Tough Ruck for the Fallen marathon that takes place April 14.

Yes! Some people call me crazy. This would be part of my EPIC adventure. How far would I go with that 15-pound backpack?

At approximately 8:16 AM I was out the door and on my MURCA epic adventure. The temperature was 30 plus degrees so that meant layers. Hat, mittens, fleece top, wool underlayer, then tights, jeans, Darn Tough socks, and a pair of Altra Paradigm shoes.

At no time did I plan to run. Having bronchitis for over three months killed that idea. Not to mention that 15-pound backpack. It was a pretty lofty goal just to complete the 31 miles. But what the heck! No pain, no gain. No dream, no achievement.

So, me, my backpack, my Garmin watch, and my music were off.

My plan was to use the rail trail and hoof it from Salem to Derry. Then pick up the bike trail in Derry and snake back to the rail trail and head back to Salem until I hit 31 miles.

How’s the saying go? “Best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry.”

Yeah.

I walked through my neighborhood to get a couple miles in before I get to the rail trail. The early section of the rail trail was nice and then became a sheet of ice in other sections. In one part I had to hold onto the wooden railing to get past the ice. I was NOT going to fall on my hiney with a 15-pound backpack attached to me. Can you imagine that thud?

I managed to go nine miles before needing to grab real food. One benefit of an urban virtual ultra-marathon…built in aid stations. After breakfast I wound my way back to the house, AKA my start-finish line.

Mischief

I was at mile fourteen (14) at this point. It was here I dumped the backpack. Thank goodness!Fifteen pounds is the equivalent of carrying around my chubby cat, Mischief on my back. Nice at first, but dang heavy after a while.

I took advantage of my home aid station to change socks, shoes, and grabbed a salty and fatty snack on the way back out. See my video of chips and almond butter. Salty chips really do hit the spot and they help with extremity swelling.

I was off again for a more leisurely (less heavy) walk. I was feeling good and had a nice spring in my step with fresh shoes. Woohoo!

Wind started to pick up even more about this time. I think we had like fifteen (15) mile per hour winds that afternoon, but I kept my head down and kept moving forward.

I made it back to the beginning of the rail trail near me and at mile 18 I passed a Dunkin’ Donuts.

For those of you that don’t know me…I am gluten intolerant. A donut is a complete no-no. BUT…a girl has to do what a girl has to do when she is in the middle of an ultra-marathon. At mile 18 a chocolate frosted donut never tasted so good!

There’s something about a chocolate frosted donut that makes everything feel better. It also gave me a nice energy boost so when I hit the section of trail that was ice the last time, I was ready for it.

To my surprise, the sun did its job and when I hit the trail further down there was extreme melting going on, so I didn’t need to skate across the trail.

It’s fun to discover nature after winter. To see grass after months of it covered in white puts a smile on your face. There weren’t many people out on the trail that day but there were a few and those folks were just as happy as me to be outside.

When the wind picked up, one gentleman I ran across warned me not to get blown away. It was THAT windy!

When I hit the trail near the breakfast spot I decided to not go there as there was still too much snow. I passed the restaurant via the sidewalk thinking maybe I would walk to Derry on sidewalks.

Again, a very short-lived plan. The sidewalk doesn’t go that far, and I am not a fan of busy roads with narrow shoulders. I turned back and took a side road that hit the section of the trail that I bypassed from the other end and took it back. Not great footing but not bad. As a matter of fact, part of it reminded me of a snow cone.

At mile 22 I was back at my home aid station. My feet hurt. I changed shoes again and grabbed a vest and a different hat. Fed the cats, grabbed a bag of chips and was back out again.

I was considering staying in my neighborhood and walking in circles for the next nine miles. By the time I finished the bag of chips and some Gatorade I decided circling the neighborhood was dizzying. And there was one spot I walked by that had this loud whistling noise, courtesy of the wind. That was enough for me.

After two miles of that I headed back out with a bottle of Califia Farms coffee and almond mile. YUMMY! I needed caffeine.

When I hit mile twenty-five (25) it was as if the energizer bunny’s battery inside me died. And instead of smiling and playing his drums, he grimaced and slowly moved his arms but the only sound that came out was a whine.

I have a video of the whine. I sent it to sister and aunt and a girlfriend. All of whom immediately responded with words of encouragement.

“Only six miles to go!”
“You got this!”
“You can wine later!

Yeah, okay, it was only six miles. “Suck it up, buttercup.”

It wasn’t like this was my first 50K. It was, however, the slowest. But I wasn’t going for speed. I wanted the time on my feet.

Sometimes you have to remind yourself why you are doing something to put the pain and mental anguish back where it belongs. When I hit the marathon distance, I marked that as a mental milestone and sent my virtual support crew a text. “Yea, me!”

Five miles left! Then the thought of dinner hit. FOOD! Real food.

A new plan emerged. Walk to get dinner. This is something I do in the summer on a regular basis. Why not now? The idea made me feel better.

I walked to my favorite pizza and sub shop where I ordered my usual grilled chicken in a bowl. My diet is so unexciting. 😊 But I had already been bad with the donut, so I needed to stay on the straight and narrow or in this case, back on the food wagon.

When my order was ready, I realized they put the food in a paper sack with no handles. More whining could have occurred, but it didn’t. Easy fix!

Two doors down from Romano’s was a pharmacy. No, I did not get any pain meds. Although, good thought. I don’t take them. However, caffeine is a different story. I bought a nice bottle of cold Coke.

Two of my favorite things for an endurance even are potato chips and soda.

The cashier at the pharmacy, a very friendly girl offered to give me a big bag for my bottle of Coke and my chicken in a bowl. SCORE!

With food, caffeine, and a bag, I was ready to get this 50K finished. I walked back the direction I came then veered right for a change of pace and scenery. I passed the donut shop on the other side of the road and when I crossed over for my turn, I considered getting another one.

See what foot pain will do to you? The mind is evil! Bad. Very bad! Nope. I only had three miles left and I had food ready to eat as soon as I got home.

The sun was hitting its downward arc and it was chillier. I pushed that out of my mind and reminded myself that I wanted to finish before dark. Then I reach home and looked at my Garmin watch.

ONE MILE LEFT!

Some evil spirit was screwing with me. It was as if someone had deflated a balloon or a tire went flat.

Defeat was THAT close.

It’s funny, I read all kinds of stories about endurance athletes and I have always wondered how anyone could quit with ONLY a mile to go.

I finally get it. I was literally at my home aid station. The start-finish line and still had a mile to go. My feet hurt. I was tired. And I wanted to eat real food. And it was getting close to being dark.

Wow! Do you hear that whine?

I put my chicken and Coke in the garage refrigerator and turned right back around and headed out in the cold and wind to that neighborhood route.

I was a tenth of a mile into that last mile when my cell phone rang. Hey. You bet I carry my cell on an adventure. Even close to home you never know what can happen. Besides, how else do you record your epic adventure?

The call was from my mom. Now, my mom never calls my cell phone. I was surprised. Pleasantly surprised!

The first word out of mom’s mouth, “Where are you? I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”

“I’m doing a 50K and I’m on my last mile.”

“What’s that?”

“Thirty-one miles.”

“__________” SILENCE.

You just have to smile at that reaction.

“Are you okay?

“Yup. Just tired and hungry. I’ll be home in twenty minutes if you want to call me then.”

The best part of that call, aside from talking with my mother? It totally took my mind off the pain and fatigue. I no longer thought about the aching feet and sluggish legs. I forgot about my growling stomach.

I finished the 50K by walking short loops in my driveway.

My neighbors were probably wondering if I had lost my marbles. BUT then they know me.

I completed the MURCA 50K just before sunset.

YEA, ME!

Afterwards, I went inside, dumped the outer layers and those shoes, grabbed my chicken in a bowl and the Coke then proceeded to get comfy.

My mom did all back and we had a nice conversation where she told me “I worry about you doing these things.”

‘These  things.’

Gotta love my parents. No matter how old or how far away you are, they still worry. They still care.

My response? “I gotta do it while I can. For as long as I can.”

The best part of this event for me on a personal level?

NO BLISTERS! That's a record for me.

Now, if you wall wanna do your own virtual ultra-marathon and support or Veterans, you still have time. Check out this link. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=64308

 

 

Closing out 2018

As another year ends, I thought it would be fun to reflect on the little moments that made this year spectacular. You know, take some time to remember the happy or best events that shaped this year. To express gratitude, which as you know can actually make you happier.

Try it. Take 30 minutes or more and think of the times that put a smile on your face this year. The times that gave you joy. Try for 5 moments and believe it or not, I bet you even more will start popping into your head.

Write them down. Share here or share with a friend or a loved one over a beer or your favorite hot chocolate, or pizza. See what they come up with.

Here is my list. Believe me there are more, but I had to stop. Hope it works for you and it makes you smile and feel good about the close of 2018.

Grandma at rehab.

Some of my best moments this year revolved around my beautiful, strong, 94-year young grandmother. My grandmother got sick this year and was in the hospital for several weeks. Well, if you knew Maxine (AKA Mad Max as my father likes to refer to her), you’d know she is one tough cookie. She survived the incident, thank goodness and I have pictures of her smiling to prove it.

Grandma with my hat she made.

 

 

 

Grandma made some of the crocheted hats we donated to the homeless Veterans this year. She even made a hat for me. When I got bronchitis in late October grandma called me to check on my health and to tell me I should go stay with her, so she could take care of me. Such wonderful love and spirit this woman, the heart of our family has to give.

The quilt my mom made.

My mother, who battles cancer every day, the daughter of the grandmother I just mentioned is a fighter and the craftiest person I know. She may not do as much as she used to, but when she does, whatever she makes is beautiful. Mom made the cards for our homeless Veterans backpacks. My Christmas gift this year was a quilt made by my mom, Mary. I adore anything handmade/homemade and she knows that what she makes will be treasured.

Dad and I doing a 5K together.

Dad, AKA Pops, is the smartest person I know with the most common sense and the biggest heart. He takes care of everyone in this family, no matter how close or how far. But we all worried when he had to go in for a hip replacement earlier this year. He survived it and he was right back to playing golf the same day the doctor gave him the all clear. Not kidding. He booked the tee time before he went for his last follow up visit. He was not going to be stopped. I get my outdoors and activity mode from my father, Keith. Along with my tenacity.

My nephew and me.

I had a terrific time when my youngest nephew, Brandon came to visit and share his 20^th birthday with me. I mean, seriously, how many aunts are lucky enough to have a niece or nephew want to spend a long weekend with them? Me! I enjoyed every minute and I hope Brandon brings his contagious smile, blue eyes, red hair, and his amazing personality back to visit again SOON.

Even though I am so far away from all of my family I hope they know how much joy they bring into my life.

Tough Ruck 2018

This year I had some huge accomplishments in my running/walking. I did my first marathon ruck this year. Twenty-six point two miles with a 22-pound backpack. Talk about tough, but the reward was time spent talking with many active military, retired military, and first responders. Oh, and the embarrassing part of tripping over the finish line. THAT, I will never forget. And the hot fudge sundae as a reward for my efforts. I had so much fun and supported such a fantastic cause - Military Friends Foundation that I am doing it again this year. If you’d like to help me support the Military Friends Foundation, which helps military and first responder families you can donate here: https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/tough-ruck-for-the-fallen-2019



Me and my support crew.

What brought me to happy tears this year was FINALLY reaching 100 miles in an ultra-event. Actually, it was 101 miles of cold, rain, heat, sweat, and blisters (my nemesis). What made it all the sweeter was not the buckle I received (although that was very cool!) it was having my good friend Renee there to share it with me. She not only walked with me off and on, but she was my support crew. She pulled me out of my funk when I hit bottom, went and got us real food when we could eat no more junk, and suffered through sleeping in the back of my SUV for two nights. How many friends do you know would do that? Heck, I can’t get most my friends to even go to a run and see what I love about ultras. If they only knew what they were missing…

Renee bucket list.

This year Renee and I also did a run from her bucket list – the Marine Corps Marathon. That is by far the best marathon and I know I enjoyed running it with a good friend, the sightseeing we did before and after the event, and just the general good time. Of course getting that medal put over my head by a Marine - there’s a lot of happy tears involved in running, but none more than when you do it with a friend. 😊



Operation Stuffit with family

What brings me much joy and happiness is giving back. This year I saved so I could spend every weekend gathering backpacks and supplies for our local homeless Veterans. I wish this was something that did not need to be done, but it is an honor and a privilege and a way for me to say thank you to the men and women who do so much for us. The culmination of this effort happened on a Saturday evening where I spent four hours with my neighbors and friends who are more like family to me; listening to Christmas music and stuffing the backpacks with care and love in what I refer to as Operation Stuffit. Thank you, Kenny, Donna, Jay, and Lynn not only for your help, but for your friendship and unwavering support.

Speaking of good friends. WOW! Right before Christmas I got to speak with a couple of longtime friends. I’m talking people I have known and loved since high school. I literally sat in my car for 90 minutes talking with Maurine and Duane who I haven’t spoken by phone or seen in years. Amazing how time slips away even after all these years and you realize how much you still have to talk about and how much these people meant to you back then and how much they helped shape who you are today.

I could go on. Like all the text messages my aunt Sheri and sister, Jeanine share weekly. Drives my brother in law nuts when the phone dings repeatedly when we are on a roll, but the three of us have a good time keeping in touch and making sure we know what is happening in our lives. Sharing with each other. Sharing is caring, right?!

See! I told you once you started you would see there were many happy moments, little slices of heaven that occurred throughout the year. Times and events that that make you smile and make you grateful.

I hope you take the time to recognize just a few and take that warm feeling into the new year.