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The
Mountain Masochist Trail Run (MMTR) Let
me start by proclaiming the 2005 MMTR was my first ultra distance event,
and for that matter my first race on trails.
I’ve always had lofty goals which ultimately lead to a severe
ankle injury in late 2004. After
a winter rest I geared up and ran the Music City Marathon in April, not
bad but not good either. Then
for some reason “still unknown to me” I made the jump to Ultra trail
running, and the application to the MMTR. During the late spring into summer the mileage got a little
out of hand and I ended up with the dreaded orthopedist. After even more rest and the realization that I might not run
the MMTR all seemed to be better, and the positive “I can do this”
came back. Although in the back of my mind I knew the eight weeks of
minimal running mostly easy would come back and bite me (it did). After
a wonderful pre race dinner and inspirational, or was it depressing, song
we left for the hotel. I
should have saved my money and set in my car, for the hour sleep I got
would have been the same. Arriving
to the school at 4:45 I was strangely calm, arriving at the start, still
not nervous, even when Dr. Horton announced the one minute to go I was as
calm as ever. No butterflies, no nausea, something must be wrong, oh well
I’ll deal with it. We’re
off, Hey This Isn’t All That Bad, Aid station one, two, oh there’s the
trail. I quickly set into a rhythm and knocked off the miles, still
trying to keep in mind the fact that the second half is “harder”
(wow!) than the first. Up and
down and up and down, haven’t we covered that 9000’ yet, guess not
still going up. The half way
there station came without much drama, only the realization that it’s
half way there. I made quick time filling bottles and munching on cookies
(decided to pass on the burgers, maybe smart) then out following two other
runners when we hear “wrong way, this way”.
Well, let me tell you our way would have been much better, for the
next 3-4 miles, but felt like 8-9 were uphill, or should I say “upmountain”.
Hearing the Rocky theme I knew I was close, and wanted to run
in with arms triumphantly over my head, I didn’t.
Leaving out with a PB-N-J is when the meaning of a quote I had read
before the race made perfect since. The quote “scripture doing what
scripture should” yea! Inspire, motivate, encourage well it did and the
Rocky theme didn’t hurt. It
was down hill and I knew I could do this, one little problem; the dreaded
“loop” was coming up. Let
me say the loop was not my problem, yes it was tough, but manageable and a
renewed vigor came from having it behind me.
Trudging along I come to an aid station with the sign 4.1 miles to
next station. Well for some reason I asked how far to the next one, the
reply “4.1, but a long 4.1” I set out.
This was where the pain came in, stomach cramps, leg cramps, and
exhaustion. Keep moving
forward I told myself, and after what felt like 4.1 miles I asked a couple
“how much further out of here”. The man replied “just over that
little hill”, his wife giggled, and I knew I was in trouble.
Half way up the leg cramps got me and I went down, so bad I
couldn’t even crawl, not wanting to think it was over I made one last
attempt to stand. It worked and I was off, just very slow. The
remainder to finish was quite painful, but the knowledge that it’s all
downhill from here was great. “What
doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger” a quote by Fredrick
Nietzsche was in my head on the final descent, and the latter part I hoped
would prevail. This was one
tough race, but worth every wonderfully exhausting second that it took.
Granted the 11 hours and 26 minuets that it took me to finish was
slower than my plan, but nonetheless finishing strong was its own reward.
I’m now hooked, the application for “Hells Gate” is filled
out beside me, and par my new job will let me off I’ll be there. If you
are reading this and have plans to run next year, take my advice and call
in the following Monday, it was by far worse than the actual run. See you all next year.
Steve Osborne
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