Javelina Jundred Race Report

I know, I know. It has been forever. I have been severely slacking on my blog. Part of it is Facebook's fault--posting there is short and easy. I really have no other excuse except for getting lost in life for awhile. But, I couldn't be happier to be racing again! I kicked off my comeback with the Javelina Jundred last weekend!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this race! It is on the beautiful Pemberton Trail near Fountain Hills, Arizona. Every little detail is thought out for this race and it is a whole lot of fun too! Jamil and Nick Coury do an amazing job!

I got to Arizona on Friday morning before the race. I went with my running buddy, Tammy, to the packet pick up. I also made sure to carry out my tradition there. If you didn't know this--hugging a cactus brings lots of luck! After visiting with more friends, it was time to get organized and get ready for bed.

On race morning, I laughed as I dressed in my bee costume. I wasn't sure if I would be able to run at all in it much less 100 miles! Tammy and I met up with Tony for pre-race photo! I think it is so funny that we are all about to race!

I remember starting off slowly just wondering if I would be able to do the distance again. My training miles were way down so I was hoping I could "fake" it. As I got out there again, I started to get this energy. I saw so many friends (the washing machine loops are great for that because you get to see people all the time) and I took in the beauty on the trail as I remembered my journey to get to this point. Then I just went with it.

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The race is six 15+ mile loops and one 10 mile loop. Each loop, I just felt stronger. By loop 2, it was hot so I lost the costume! Loop 6, I picked up Dominic Grossman as a pacer. Dom offered to pace me for the last 2 loops. He is very young, but already has a lot of ultra accomplishments under his belt--one of which is Badwater! So, we went off into the darkness for loop 6. I had a great time laughing and talking about silly stuff with Dom. He was great at keeping me moving and making the time fly by. We ran most every part of the course--even the big rocky hills!

Before long, we were on the final loop and the final section. Dom told me to take it all in and relish what I was just about to do. We ran it in hard and just like that, it was over. I finished in 17:11--1st female and 2nd overall in a new course record! I wasn't expecting that, but was elated to do this for myself!

I want to THANK everyone who helped get me to that starting line and finish line! Thanks to all my amazing friends and family! Thanks to Jamil and Nick for a great event (and all the volunteers), thanks to Hammer for fueling me perfectly, and Drymax for relentlessly supporting me and keeping my feet blister free again! Thanks to the beautiful ultra running community--I needed this accomplishment more than most people will ever know!