Where the Wild Things Will Be!

B recently asked me "Which would you prefer, running a PR race and hating & hurting every minute of it? OR being slower but enjoying yourself throughout the time and distance?

Despite admitting to having my share of competitive/comparison impulses, that's really a no brainer question...

I'm in it for the long run and for feeling good both about and within myself.

YMMV

Things not me in a race:
Running hard enough to make myself puke;
Running with a mad on;
Calling 26.2 a "mary".

-- Running is one of my favorite physical activities, throwing up is at the bottom of the list. And, masochist I may be, but I've never seen the "no pain, no gain" glory in running yourself sick.

--I have run while angry on occasion (like when I've been a ditz and have missed the start of a race and am playing catch-up), and there can be something cathartic to moving at a fast & furious pace to get out those aggressions, but overall I much prefer to work at and get more out of a Zen mindset when on the move.

--it's a marathon. Maybe you are able to toss off the distance any old time you please, but I won't discount it with this particular diminutive.

Lol..if I'm going to be on a first name basis with the marathon dsitance (or more), I think I'd call it "Max". (for it requiring a maximum effort from a runner, and for the so named character in WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE: "Let the Wild Rumpus start!" :)

As always, your mileage may vary.

fyi: the accompanying illustration (homage to Maurice Sendak) was me playing around with Microsoft Paint. Did you notice I included our Slo Sloth? :)

Is this the Starting Line or the Finish?

Slow sloth sez: It'll take as long as it takes!

Heather rambles on:

   I always like to do something “special” to celebrate birthdays. For instance, a couple years back, my goals were to run a 50K and 50M ultra before I turned 50. I did it. This year, I had thought about making a trip to San Francisco California to visit my twin sister and run the very yummy Tampala Headlands 50K. But Coleen is heading off on her own late August vacation (to the Burning Man Festival) and so the scheduling was a bit tight. Then, just a few weeks ago, I had such a great time with Terri P and Joseph N at the Strolling Jim 40M. Terri and I hit it off as friends and soon started talking about getting together again sometime later this summer for a race or run. And, since we both have August birthdays, that morphed into the idea of a celebratory run. Terri ...mentioned she loves camping, so we added that in to!

I pulled rank and suggested the location of Monte Sano State Park, near Huntsville AL, and the 50K Mountain Mist course. It’s my local stomping grounds and a great place for trail running or hiking! It’s also my nemesis….. as I have registered for the Mountain Mist Trail Run the last 3 years, and have only garnered 2 DNFs and one DNS. (The first year, I just missed the last mile 25 cut off time, after being slowed down a bit by slipping and gashing my forehead ; second year, I missed the race start because our car got stuck on the ice and snow driving up to the park and timed out by mile 17; third year I got cold feet, gave up my registration to another wait listed runner and volunteered at an aid station instead). I have run all of the MM course in training—but never the entire distance at one go! Now, this gives me a special chance to do so, and at my own pace and with friends!

About the Event

WHAT? Heather Whiteside’s birthday is August 24; she will be 52! Terri Preast’s birthday is Aug 14; she will be 45! Join a couple old slow gals for a weekend of camping, running, and fun!

WHEN? August 11-12, 2012

WHERE? Monte Sano State Park Huntsville AL
...http://www.alapark.com/montesano/ State Park website w/camping info

WHO? Our running friends and family.

SOME OF THE DETAILS:

Campfire Carbo-load Birthday Bash Saturday evening!

Trail run bright and early on Sunday! We’ll be heading out to cover the same 50k course as the Mountain Mist Trail Run. (Personally, I’d opt for a 6 am start…to hopefully finish by mid afternoon, but we may work with a start whenever you want philosophy)
http://www.huntsvilletrackclub.org/HTC_Races/MM11/index.html Mountain Mist 50K OFFICIAL RACE website
http://www.briartech.com/msmap.htm Topo maps of the area (helpful for the directionally impaired)

No Registration Fee. Heck, no registration form…just let us know if you are going to be here! Likewise, you are responsible for making your own camping or hotel reservations, and for abiding by all park rules.

No timing (other than your own watch, but there will be a clip board at the finish for you to please sign with your name, miles done if different than the entire 50k route, and finish time. Results, and any race pics, will be posted sometime after the event)

No cut off times. Do all or part of the course (there are some nice shorter and easier trails in the park as well!). If you are here, you count! One of Heather’s mottos as a self-identified Sloth: “It’ll take however long it takes!” Of course, if you know Heather, you also know another of her favorite sayings “If you can’t be fast, might as well be flashy!”

Minimal aid provided. There will be jugged water and maybe some basic cookie-pretzel type snacks at several points on the course, but bring a water bottle or hydration pack and additional snacks of your own as needed. Hopefully, I’ll have time to go out mark some of the trail intersections, but will have map copies available