Marquette 50 RECAP. Fight to the finish

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lives at all."  J.K. Rowling 

I had a couple dreadful obstacles I was praying would not occur on race day, one of them showed up and one of them miraculously never appeared. 

The Wednesday before race day I came home around 9pm from work limping, my knee was trashed. Andy looked concerned and without thought, grabbed me pillows, ice and Motrin. The truth is that my knee got injured 3 weeks prior on a training run in Marquette. It was swollen, angry and locking up on me. I had come to grips with my injury the night before the race. I had prayed fervently, asking, almost begging others to pray for me but ultimately owned that I had a good chance of DNF-ing my 50 miler race. 

My other fear was rain, running on those rocks in the rain made me tremble, however, that fear dissolved when it stormed Friday night. 

MARQUETTE 50. 

Race start: 5:30am

Temperature: 67'

STARTING LINE. 

"...I believe this race is one of the hardest races in the Midwest..." the race director shared as we were ready to head out into the darkness. 

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!"

I was way closer to the front of the pack then I knew my legs should be going, however, I had been informed to get out in the front as quick as you can or you will get caught in the bottleneck. 

"GO ANITA"

That voice of overflowing encouragement echoed through the trees. Two seconds later "Let's GOOO NITA!!" then of course my favorite seconds behind those, "I LOVE YOU NITA!" Laughing with all the runners I yell back, "HI, I AM NITA, HE LOVES ME!" We all laughed, a laugh and love I would need to carry me another 49 miles. 

Truth is, Andy wasn't planning on going. But as my biggest fan he would be crewing me for the next 13 hours. 

The First 11 LOOP. 

The first 11 miles was a small loop of sweat. The trail was tight with both the 50K and the 50 miler racers. You had to keep up or get off the trail. I was confused at the amount of sweat that was dripping off me. It was so muggy even my thoughts were sweating. 

Running felt foreign, between the darkness and the dampness I felt out of my elements. 

 

The First 20mile LOOP.

 I felt good knocking ot the first loop, but I was already having a full-board meeting with my bad decisions. I had soaked through all my clothes which is a first for me. I just kept drinking. The course was well marked, and the aid stations were great. But I began getting free commercials of runners on the side of the trail wincing in pain from cramps. Concerned that could be my future self,

I drank more!

The falls began adding up. I had a beautiful roll that made me look like a stunt man but the voices inside me were thanking God for helping me miss the jagged rocks or gnarly cluster of roots. 

Each mile, I wondered how much pounding my knee could withstand before it sidelined me. 

More so than pounding it was the pivoting trying to avoid all the life altering rocks and roots. 

This loop would have to be done 2 times, clockwise and counterclockwise climbing, Sugar Loaf, Sugar Cube, Top of the Mountain, Bareback and Hogback. By the time I would finish the race I would have climbed 9 peaks. 

My confidence was cracking even though I felt fine,  I was debating whether I was brave or just plain dumb. 

The Second 20mile LOOP. 

Andy had made it to several aid stations, knowing exactly what I needed. I actually felt more confident to knock out the next 20 miles. 

God was performing a miracle with my knee, and I was not going to question His healing power over that lame limb. 

The terrain on the peaks were treacherous and I found myself very conservative in hopes I wouldn't provoke my knee or anything else.

I would run as quick as I could when I could to try and make up time from my pathetic climbing skills and it was working UNTIL one of my nightmares came true... 

At first it was a trickle I questioned. I thought maybe it was my sweat dripping off my sopping wet hair, or maybe it was from the trees. I didn't have to question it long when the skies opened up and the thunder growled. Even in the deep woods I was getting pelted so hard I couldn't even see. I tried to feel for my hat, tucked in the back of my pack but the rain blinded me, with a couple minutes of stopping I retrieved my hat and found instant relief. 

A flood of fear infected my brief confidence. I doubled down on my prayers. "LORD, please protect me on the rocks, keep me safe, upright, please please please..." 

Yes, I begged.

Thunder and lightning manifested the sky. I took the climbs even more conservative, slipping and sliding both up and in total trepidation down. I went down on my butt and I went up climbing some on all fours. 

After over 2 hours of rain, it stopped but the trail was destroyed. 

Finishing it up. 

I knew I was not going to be able to recover my time in the rain, I had calculated I lost between 20 and 25 minutes in those two hours. 

BUT my KNEE FELT so strong, so I ran harder feeling the Lord's strength and perseverance in me. 

I also ran sick. At mile 42, I began dry heaving. Andy had put tailwind in my flask by accident, and it makes me sick. 

I swallowed a GU chanting to myself "MIND OVER MATTER". I knew I needed to drink but all I had in my flasks were the dreaded TAILWIND. I kept running through my churning stomach. 

I ran with a couple people here and there but at aid station 47 Andy was there. He got me in and out with fresh water and a phone call telling me I was probably not going to be able to make up my time.

I might not make my goal, but I was going to give it hell trying. 

Holding back the bile that had built up in my stomach I kept moving.  I had 2 big climbs that knocked me back into reality but I ran better on those muddy roots than I had been. 

At mile 52, Andy and Mark showed up on the trail to help me to the finish, I picked up that pace with both of them chasing after me. 

Everything was chaffed, soaked and burning. I pulled off my vest and passed it back to Andy as I dug in that final mile. 

THE RUNDOWN:

FEAR-Fear of falling, slipping- my worst nightmare came true,,,THE RAIN. 

I was alone in the woods. The thunder shook and the rain pummeled me, even deep inside the woods I felt vulnerable to the elements. 

There was so much uncertainty at the outcome of the race. I had math-ed out my miles without these elements of disruption.

Over 30% of the racers didn't FINISH. 

But not only do I put my FAITH in God, but the Lord also gave me ANDY. 

Andy never stops believing in me. We have been together since we were 15 and this man still chases after me! He chased me at another race, feeding me pretzels, exchanging my water, kissing me goodbye and encouraging me in my desperation. 

This race like many others would look a lot different without Andy being there for me. Andy got up at 4am, chased me through the woods, got rained on more than once because he believes in me, because he loves me and I am so happy to have him. 

And humbly thanking the LORD for His provision and truly miraculous power over my knee. I am still in awe at running 50 miles in that terrain and my knee NEVER hurting.

I may not have hit my A goal, it wasn't the finish I pictured but it was the finish I fought for. 

CONGRATS to my friend Erica who took 1st female overall! 

In Peace, Not Pieces, 

Anita