Now about that first time experience...

It was dreary, especially for Friday.  Been raining for two days, and the
end was no where in sight.  But there we were, me and my three new found
car pool buddies... on our way to Holiday Lake to compete in, or should I
say, complete an ultra marathon.  And not just any ultra run, no... my very
first run of any sort over 25 miles.  I was scared I might not make the time
cut-offs, I was worried I might fall down and hurt myself... I was even a
little concerned  my legs wouldn't have the strength to carry me through.
And then of course, lingering in the back of my mind was the fear that
some other something, something I hadn't even considered would pop-up out of
no where, and I would not be able to finish.  Thankfully though, some six
hours and two minutes and 22 seconds later (but who's counting anyway) my fears
were alleviated.  I finished the race, intact, and actually felt quite
elated when it was finished.  Yes my knee hurt, and yes it felt like I
dropped an industrial sized can of frozen peaches on my left foot, but I
finished!!!  I finished an hour faster than I thought I would!  I wasn't
really tired... or even really whipped.  I felt good... real GOOD.  I did
it!  I made it!  Wow!  All I'm really thinking about is where is the
first place I'm going to wear my new T-Shirt to, and what can I put in my
finisher's bag to justify carrying it around for a few day.

Three days have passed since the run, and I'm thinking to myself, was
anything about the race like I thought it would be?  I can honestly say
no. For starters, women had their own cabin, and not like that was a bad
thing, but I guess I thought a bunch of crazy ultra runners who all go to the
bathroom in the woods together would also sleep under the same roof.  And
then the food... I expected cafeteria style bland food that was prepared
in a closed 4-H camp by part-time cooks... and actually, the food was
delicious!  I sort-of thought people would stay up after dinner and drink
a few beers and talk while someone played a few tunes on the ol' guitar,
but I would say most people were in bed with the lights out by 9:00 p.m. (and I
didn't notice anyone drinking beer).  And then the special wake-up
call... I imagined a tape recording of Lee Greenwood's "I'm proud to be an
American" blasting away at 5:30 a.m. over the loud speaker, but instead, it was a
Dr. Horton rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," and not half bad either -
ha!  And the rain had finally stopped!  Then of course there's the run.
Not really hilly... in fact, you had to tell yourself to walk some because
the course wasn't so steep as to force you to.  Muddy... very, very, very
muddy. And then those streams... real streams... no babbling brooks here.  (I
was convinced everyone exaggerated about their size).  Some people very
carefully (not very successfully I might add) tried to avoid the streams
on the way out, but I didn't see one person even attempting not to get wet
on the way back...in fact, just the opposite.  I guess there's something
very soothing about ice cold water when your feet and ankles are swollen and
killing you (ha!).  Crossing the finish was fun too... people cheering,
but not like when you run a road race and there's hundreds of people milling
about the finish line... more like you can hear the individual claps and
congratulations, and see the faces of the people doing it, and it was
really nice.  The hot shower after felt AWESOME, and those baked potatoes for
lunch were to die for!!

So will I do it again?  You bet!  In fact, I already signed up for Dr.
Horton's series.  And in the end, what did I really take away with me?
What mattered most?  The people of course... its always all about the people.
It was fun to swap running stories and share dreams and aspirations with
everyone at the race.  It was especially fun to get to know the people I
car pooled to the race with... Frank and John and Steve.  It was fun to be
unified by this common bond called ultra running.  Oh, and by the way...
someone did ask me if I ran "that race" the first day I wore my T-shirt.
And I just grinned this great big grin and said yes... why yes I did in
fact!               

MAJ Gena M. Bonini