Some times you’re the windshield, some times you’re the bug… Mary Chapin Carpenter

#50K every day

Flat bike path ’round a dog park in Mills River, North Carolina.  Overwhelmed with pain, struggled to move forward this day.  8 days of 50Ks, body feels battered; couple that with blistered sunburnt lips & huge lack of calories — Day 8 was a BUG day.  Notta lotta left.

Dejected/head-down, sat on a bench mile 28/29, spirit broken.  Spanish lady/an angel walked up, placed a hand gently on my shoulder.  Flood gates opened, just bawled like a baby.  Scared the living bejeebers outta her – LOL>  Apologized, got up & got it done.  I think when you push so hard/so long/so many days, emotions get crazy over-amplified.

Miracle 2 — listened to advice.  Drove to a local Ingles.  Pharmacist provided numbing cream plus several over-the-counter lip balms for reminder of the trip.  Numbing only temporary — but allowed me to load-in calories & grab a good nite’s sleep.  Morning — broke apart lips (sealed shut overnight), cup of motel coffee, dabbed/wiped up all bloody portions & reapplied meds.

Woke to RAIN.  Prettiest course of the series: Steele Creek Park, Bristol Tennessee.  Winding dirt trail, pear trees in blossom, scenic pedestrian bridge.  Strictly looking at Garmin time, Day 9 mimicked Day 8 results.  Reality — walked lotta miles with the run family ’til they finished their distances, then jogged out my extra 50K miles.  AWESOME recovery day.

My God — right on time, all the time ❤️

Inspiration Station — thanks y’all ❤️

pain CAVE

Whole lotta rain, whole lot LIP.

Guess where I missed applying sunblock?  Woke to swollen sunburnt lips.  Painful err.  Day 5 also brought RAIN.  YES!  Think I’ve soaked up enough sun this adventure.  Argh.

Set multiple wake-up alarms.  Hotel straddled the Alabama-Georgia border.  Bed was in Central Time, bathroom Eastern.  No joke.  Phone display flipped back-n-forth an hour.  Crazy.

Yoholo Micco Trail, Eufaula.  First rolling hills after multiple days of flat.  ‘though most of the run family complained, MY legs said THANKS!  Yep, one of the weirdos who digs hills.  Body stays more engaged — physically & mentally.  7 hours later collected another medal, pic-snapped with the town’s Big Bass, then motored 3 hours further to Macon.  Our latest race start (8:30am) because of park permit restrictions.  Woke groggy, dry-mouthed, lips still pulsating.  Benadryl hangover.  Had skipped dinner night prior.  Hotel breakfast never tasted so good 🙂

Course in Georgia most scenic yet.  No pics to prove it — day spent in the pain cave.  Rescued late by Jun, a Philippine runner marathon-registered but hung [with me] the full 50K distance.  Beyond amazing — who does that?  Thanks man.  Just WOW.

Another long drive, another skipped meal.  Hungry, down calories.  10pm hotel check-in.  Mentally knew I needed food, physically struggled to intake over cracked water-blistered lips.  Tough.

Sun returned Day 7.  Shaver Complex in Seneca, SC.  Baseball fields & one massive hill.

4 miles before legs responded.  Paced up.  Jog.  Easy run.  Steady, consistent.  Body’s a remarkable instrument.  Found my ONE this race.  Gal named Victoria, marathoning with cancer & undergoing chemo.  Mad at cancer, mad at body changes (weight gain/loss of hair), mad at folks’ actions/social media comments… mad at God.  I walked this journey 2 years ago.

This day… this random place in South Carolina… I was there to listen, she was there to unload.  Blessed beyond words.

50K #7, mile 220.

Eufaula AL

Jennings LA to Gulfport MS — 4 hour drive.  Life lesson learned, carry a phone battery.   Key when dependent on the Maps app.  Luckily, old school ways still work.  Stopped at a gas station.  Yeah — guys DO ask for directions (when there’s absolutely NO other option).

Day 3: BEACH RUN.  Boardwalk stretch right along the Gulf.  White sands… and no trees. Was forewarned so us albino types sun-blocked up, donned UV arm sleeves & brought out the bucket hat.  Flamingo hat, always a conversation starter.  LOL>

Never run three 50Ks back-to-back… ’til today.  Quads sore, calves right, blisters, chaffed (no details) & Day 2 neck sunburn.  So… you walk the first 2 miles.  Cold engine warms in 20 minutes, so does the body.  Walk becomes jog, you find pace, start clipping off miles.

BEAUTIFUL sunrise, light breeze.  Banged out 15 before the sun exploded.  Decreased my pace, kept the heart rate steady.  NO surprise, you’re running aside the GULF of MEXICO! Get outta your head & get it done.  Reward?  Marathon feet in the ocean.  Boo-yah!

5-hour drive to Marianna, Florida — or as locals call it, L.A. (lower Alabama).  Technically the state of Florida, but this ain’t DisneyWorld.  Heavy Dixie accent, railroads and swamp. No negativity here — I find all America beautiful.  Sometimes you just appreciate home more 🙂

Motivated by my first dive motel, brother was lined up for Day 4 — 30 minutes to spare.  Not calling out names.  Sometimes when you pay only $45, you get $45 worth of lodging in return.  No roaches in the shower.  Unusual cold temps (for fake Florida) kept God’s creatures lined against the baseboards.  Slept on top of the covers, warmed by my puffy jacket.  4:30am alarm.  Gas station coffee.

FOG covered lake.  Beautiful first couple miles at Citizen’s Lodge Park.

4th state medal collected, another 50K recorded.  Ultra winner this day.  Gulf Coast Series complete.  Short 2-hour drive to Eufaula, Alabama.  Appalachian Series in the morning.  New runners, new faces, same me.  50K every day.

Gulfport MS