My Second Chance
 Michelle Lancaster, 22, Ultra-runner
(Somewhere?), VA/NC, USA

If I wouldn't have known where I was going on Friday, April 26, I could
have very well have gotten lost on my way out to the Selida Center in
Bedford, VA.  Not only was the weather perfect on Friday evening with
temperatures in the 60's around 6pm, but, no one--especially an
ultra-runner could drive that lonely country road out to the Center and
not take notice of  the huge mountains and gulleys that we would get to
play in the following day.  The sun seemed to perfectly highlight the
white "golf ball" on the top of Apple Orchard Mountain and with this
sight, tears started to form in the corners of my eyes.  I can't help
but get lost every time I drive out into this area of Virginia.  And this
year, while heading out to the Pre-Race Buffet, I was reminiscing on
running my first ultra out at Promise Land last year.  I don't know if
I was crying because of the beauty or if it was because I knew what I was
in for.  Regardless, at that moment I felt like the luckiest person
alive. 

Of course, I also was thinking about the months that had passed since
Holiday Lake.  That was the last race I had run.  I performed to a much
less standard than I tend to hold myself to, but with failure comes the
success of knowing what not to do next time and shoot, I am still very
new at this game.  Anyhow, this year, Promise Land would pose itself as a
time for redemption. 

I arrived at the Selida Center with my belly already full from being
attacked by a quart of water and Bean Curd and Broccoli and on the hour
drive there.  So, I skipped on the meal and decided that it was very
important that I find the women's restroom before I wet myself. 

Shortly thereafter I checked in and got my race bag with the few CLIFBar
and CLIFShot goodies that were being passed out.  Mmmm-mmm...nothing like
my favorite shot:  MochaMocha and bar:  Chocolate Almond Fudge.  Deciding
that I would save these savory snacks for a lonely night at home on the
couch, I slipped them into my pocket and headed out the door to the sea
of people. 

Yup, I was home again.  The whirlwind of conversation that I became
engulfed in started with David and Nancy Drach.  I spoke to them for the
longest amount of time about how life was treating me and how utterly
confused I am about what is going on in my little 22 year-old world.  I
told them of my  intentions of working for SOAR this upcoming summer in
Waynesville NC and also of my up-in-the-air plans of moving to Utah in
the Fall to start graduate school.  Regardless of that, I started to
settle in and found myself making rounds to whomever would accept
conversation.  The time flew and before I knew it I found myself hopping
in my little marshmallow truck and driving to Promise Land camp.  Man,
what another awesome evening with Horton and friends. (And to think that
I even bagged a Patagonia Airus long-sleeve tee out of the deal...Sweet!)


It was near twilight when I pulled into the campground.  The full moon
was hanging delicately over the ridgeline that surrounded the camp and
for the second time that day, I felt like the luckiest person alive.
When I hopped out of my car, I was greeted by a nasty chill in the air.
Not the kind that makes you think you need to throw on every piece of
clothing you own, but the kind of chill that sends your mind into a
debate over what you will be wearing at the race start.  Hmmm...a factor
that I had not considered when planning for the race!  Chilly-ness. 

I was soon greeted by a few friends and we headed over to the bonfire to
try and steal some warmth from unsuspecting-people-that-we-didn't-know.
Nevertheless, the excitement inside of me of what was to come the next
morning became almost too much to handle and I decided that before I
turned into a one-woman party that I would head to bed.

Whip-er-whirl, whip-er-whirl, whip-er-whirl, whip-er-whirl.  AH!  I
sometimes hate that I am an Outdoor Recreation/Education
junkie...especially at 230am on race morning when a daggone bird is
waking me up! Any other time, I would have enjoyed the show that it was
providing...but at that point I seriously thought of getting out of the
tent and causing a scene to chase it away.  Thankfully though, for
everyone who was camping out, I had enough fleece and stuff to put over
my head that I soon forgot about the bird and slowly fell back to sleep.


No more than two hours later I was pleasantly woken up by David's voice
yelling that it was wake-up time.  One hour before the race start.
Oh...it’s too early.  My body was screaming ten more minutes to
me.  So, I did as any other sane person would do...I rolled back over.  I
jumped out of my bag at 5am when I was abruptly brought out of my
sleep-like trance by my name being called over the intercom.  I had not
checked in yet.  Man, what a rough night...I don't know if getting up
five times to use the restroom or the bird at 230am was what was causing
my lack of enthusiasm--but I needed to find a fix quick!

Five minutes til race start!  Five minutes! I heard blasted
over the intercom.  AH!  I still needed to finish brushing my teeth, go
the bathroom, and change into my shirt and shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I suppose that moments like these have caused me to gain the two
nicknames that I have--L.M.M. (Last Minute Michelle) and MadMax.  And
surely, anyone who was either observing me or just mis-happing across my
energy saw small parts of both characters coming out that morning.

Breathe, Exhale, Relax, Shake-it-Off.  Breathe, Exhale, Relax,
Shake-it-Off.  Shoes are tied, I've got Gatorade, CLIFBars,
CLIFShot...Breathe...

GO! David screams...

The chilly morning air became almost unnoticeable within moments as my
ears were treated to Woop-woop and numerous other sounds made by
the amped up runners.  I giggled to myself and leaned over to comment to
Derick Page, whom I would be running the race with, about how curious I
was as to how many of these crazy grown men would be Woop-wooping
come half-way or even Apple Orchard.  Man, if I only would have known.

My legs and mind were quickly reminded of the path that lay ahead of me
and I settled into my rhythm right before the first aid station.  Right
after that station I was reacquainted with a few of the men who had let
out the calls at the beginning of the race.  As I passed them by on the
first climb on single-track, I was hassled about how quickly I was
walking and also was made aware of how it seemed that every man was just
filing behind the small woman (Me) who was setting the walk-run pace.  I
turned around to see that they were not joking!  I was followed closely
by around twelve men, most double my age!!! 

The mood was set as quite playful and jolly and I had even started to
refer to one man as Garbage-Bag Man.  Haha.  That caught on quick.
What I didn't realize at that point was that a few  of these men would
provide me with the lightness and amusement  I needed during the race.
Within about a half an hour, Derick and I pulled away from this group on
the grassy fire road. We both discussed that we would probably not see
them again until after the race was over. 

Ah, those words barely had enough time to slip from our conversation as
we heard in the distance, We Rock! Woo-woo!.  Again, a smile
slipped across my mouth and feeding off of their energy, I screamed back,
You Rock!  The rest of the day was about the same.  We traded
leads with these men a few more times before they headed on without
us.  Ah, the energy.  The excitement.  The experience.  I did not lose
touch with these guys much at all for the remainder of the race.  I heard
them every part of the way except for during the brief pavement section
(which I am assuming quieted down more than a few folks). 

Only when we reached the climb up Apple Orchard Mountain did we finally
put a visual on Don and PG.  I decided the only way to say hi again was
to go to Plan A:  the Sneak Attack.  So,  I waited until I
was about 50 yards behind Don to announce my arrival.   I screamed at the
top of my lungs, You ROCK!.  Swinging around quite abruptly , Don
flashed a smile and replied back while shaking his hands, I knew
you'd be back Michelle Lancaster--hey everyone, move aside, she's
back.  Yup, and you guys better not forget it.  Haha.  I somehow
managed to convince myself to do the same.  Don't ever forget it.  I
could have not asked for a better race...a better redemption day. 

As I entered the long, gravel downhill that I had climbed some six hours
earlier, I took notice of how special this day had been indeed.  The sun
had somehow found its way from the sky through the many openings in
the canopy and also through the small crevasses of my body.  My heart
smiled.  Just as I had no control over the realization of the beauty of
nature and of life on Friday, I allowed myself to conclude the same again
as the tears formed in the corners of my eyes.  All I could muster out
was the comment of, Wow, how lucky I am to be alive.  (Isn't that
the truth?)

I finished a shy over six hours and thirty minutes...very comfortable,
very relaxed, and very pleased.  I went into Promise Land not expecting
much out of myself.  I feel that I went in this year with the right
intentions.  This year, I went in to finish and to try and learn a bit
about my style of racing.  I am only twenty-two years old and still
learning about life, living, and racing ultras.

While first thinking that was not possible to have the energy to belt out
Woo-Woo, You ROCK! throughout an entire race, I found myself proven
very wrong.  As PG and then Don crossed over the finish line, I raised my
hands in the Rock On sign and returned the favor to them as I
belted out You ROCK!.  Not because I wanted attention...but because
I felt that the appreciation I had for these men needed to be on display
for everyone to see. 

And now, I will thank you guys again and David Horton (and the whole
community of runners and volunteers that came out for PL2002 for that
matter).  Your souls and spirits are truly magical and I appreciate
being able to spend the day playing with you. 

And, after such an extraordinary experience at Promise Land on Saturday,
you know what the best part was (other than the massive spread of vegan
food that waited for me at home???)? 

I was walking on Sunday.  I actually hopped out of bed and ran down the
stairs to the kitchen with a smile so big and so deep that I can now only
begin to describe it to you. 

In summary:  What another glorious day spent out in the woods with new
friends! 
Promise Land 2002 ROCKED!

THE END.