DNS

My first DNS (did not start).

There were two events scheduled in April, the Run Raleigh HM, and the Medoc Spring Races.  The morning of Run Raleigh my alarm went off, and instead of putting on my race clothes that were laid out, I rolled over and went back to sleep.  Fatigue has been building up for a few weeks, and when race day came, I didn't have any energy.  Well, I probably could have pushed to do it, but it seemed a better choice not to.  I thought if I did the race, I might not make it to the start line for the Medoc Spring Race the following week, and that was an event I was really looking forward to.

So, I slept in.  Then later that day, I went to REI and bought a new chain for my bike.  Put it on, pumped up the tires, and went out on my first ride on over two years.  Only an hour, about 15 miles.  Felt a bit strange to use some different leg muscles, but not bad.  So, it might be time for some cross training.

I did make it the the Medoc Spring Races.  Loved the event.  7.5 miles of trails with a staggered start.  The race started at 9am with females 73 and up; then two minutes later, females 70-72; two minutes after that, males 80 and up, females, 66-69.  And so it went.  I started at 9:20, only 10 minutes before the scratch runners took off.  So, all the fast runners had to pass me.  And they did, most of them within the first two miles.  Pretty humbling experience, but a lot of fun.  Finished in 1:26.

The next day I went to the Run for Boston event in Raleigh.  Sobering but uplifting run.  Lots bigger crowd than expected.  I knew there were a lot of people at the start, but the full size of the crowd wasn't really evident until the turn around.  Then I could see the road was shoulder to shoulder on both sides,

Here is just before the start.

 And near the turn around. Both of these photos are from the event's facebook page.

I had felt bad for having a DNS earlier in the month, but this really helped put that back in perspective.

This month, one more trail race, the Philosopher's Way 15K.  This race is named philosopher because of Horace Williams, first chair of the Mental and Moral Sciences Department of UNC Chapel Hill, now known as the Department of Philosophy.  And here is Horace, wearing the shirt from the race (courtesy of the trailheads.org facebook page).

Should be another fun run.