Friday, August 14, 2009

John Denver, Monster Mix & Stank: A Wild West Relay Race Report, Part II

Some more pictures from our first leg!


Once our first leg was over, we started the drive to our next exchange point. It looked like it may be a longish drive and we were HANGRY so we decided to stop in Poudre Canyon for some grub. I had the greasiest, tastiest BLT and fries EVAH!

Then we got lost.

But on the way we saw this perdy sunset in Walden, CO so all was well. We found some rando to take our picture. Gorgeous! One of my fave pics from the trip actually.



Then....we got to the next exchange and we waited on the other team. And waited. And waited. In the cold. (It was in the 30s!! brrrr) When they finally showed, Cynthia was off to murder some serious Colorado hills through Medicine Bow National Forest. Almost 9 miles completely, utterly, all the way uphill. She is my hero!


Eventually I was up for my 2nd leg, 7.1 miles at around 3 AM! I started in Wyoming and ran across the state line into Colorado.


I was half asleep wheen I started preparing for this leg, so I decided to try out my Hammer Espresso gel with caffeine. I took it about 15 minutes before my run and it worked like a charm! I will DEF be buying more of these to take before my weekday morning runs. This was my best leg yet with an average pace of 9:30.

I felt like I was flying most of the run, it was so nice to just be out there in the open range Colorado cattle country in the middle of the night. Although, it was a bit creepy. (Do you see how dark that picture with the sign is?? That was taken by my teammates while I was out running!)

I also had a running partner for most of this leg. Some guy who ran up behind me and ran with me most of the way. He didn't really want to talk (even though I kept prodding him to), but he pushed me to keep running faster so all was good.

It was especially funny when Steve (who was driving the van since he was no longer running) pulled up for one of the vans "motivational cheering points" and screamed, "You're prettier than that guy behind you!" So that became something our van started screaming at runners. Eventually it was just shortened to, "YOU"RE PRETTY!!!!" Good times.

I knew guy was going to turn on the gas right when we got to the exchange, and he did, but I was okay with him coming in a few seconds ahead of me. (I was ahead of him the whole run...) I probably wouldn't have kept the good pace without him!

So thanks guy I think your name is Cooper who breathed heavier than me yet lived in Denver. You kept me moving!


I don't look tired at all! The sun started to come up and then it was Alesha's turn.


Can I move here please?

Alesha finished up our van's second leg as she ran us into the Walden, CO high school. None of us had slept more than 45 minutes and we were all tired, dirty, stanky and CRANKY! We were told we could sleep in the school (as Van #1 had done for a lovely 3 hours...we were so not hating them at that point...) but we couldn't so we looked at our maps and it said the next exchange had a "camping" area.

So we decided to venture on that way and see how much sleep we could get outside, in full sunlight, at 8 AM before our final leg...

22 comments:

  1. The dangerous dozen is hot!

    I love how your van managed to crush the dreams of the guy running with you. He probably went home and cried that he wasn't as pretty as you are.

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  2. EXCELLENT pics! I cannot imagine running at 3am, I bet that was really different and fun...and across state lines, so cool!! I love the Espresso Hammer Gels. Hows TNT going?

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  3. I love the sunset pic of you guys. Prob my fave too. Of course that dude wasn't as pretty as you... :p I'm all about moving to Colo. I could live in Ft. Collins and be happy for the rest of my life. (Once acclimated to the altitude that is. ha)

    Also, I got screwed on my leg into Wyoming, I had the whole van looking for a sign to take a pic for me, and all of a sudden we came up to the Wyoming Highway 10 mile markers. LAME! At least you got a sweet sign. On the way OUT of Wyo? Random...

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  4. Looks like such an awesome time (minus the sleeplessness and combined group stank).

    Seeing the scenery, I wonder why I ever moved away from Fort Collins. Someday Colorado will be home again. Someday.

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  5. you were totally hardcore running at those hours of the night...awesome work!

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  6. So cool that you go to run across the state line!!!

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  7. So freakin' cool! I think your race is a bit more scenic than my Florida one will be. Ok, a lot more scenic. Your blog is getting me sooooo excited for it. Congrats again on finishing a super tough race.

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  8. Nice! Man you were on fire for your 3am leg. One of these times I need to do one of these crazy relays.

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  9. Wow it looks so beautiful there!! That 3am leg sounds tough!

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  10. I love that darkness of night legs, but then I get to thinking about what might be out there and scare the crap out of myself.

    Dang, I need to do another relay!

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  11. aww so sorry you didn't get to sleep!! love the wyoming sign we totally missed it

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  12. Great pics! I bet it was so tough running in the middle of the night! I would be exhausted!! Ya'll are awesome!

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  13. 3AM leg?? What in the world! Great pics though!

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  14. That sunrise is amazing! What a great picture. I think I need to get someone to drive next to me and shout "you're pretty!" during all my runs. :o)

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  15. Lovin' the pics! Looks & sounds like such a blast - too awesome :)

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  16. Awesome run and sounds like a great experience!

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  17. Very nice pictures and story! I have that pink and white Nike hat. Very cute. ;)

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  18. The pictures are wonderful. What an amazing experience. You all looked liked you had a great time.

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  19. What a great experience! Very nice pics as well. :)

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  20. A pretty team with pretty pictures...looks like an amazing time!

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  21. I am loving all the recaps! It looks like an amazing experience!

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