First and Last

Last night I finished my first "race" as a 50 year old. I also came in last in my new age group (50-59). Hey, I'm not sad, I am proud of myself for signing up for the O-H!lly Trail 5k when every time I've ever run a trail race I told myself "NEVER AGAIN!" I don't think I've ever come in last in my age group in a race and now I can cross that off my to do list. :)

My first trail race was the Blue Ridge Burn in 2007. I remember falling down and thinking, wow this was a stupid idea to do a few weeks before my 1st marathon. I did, however, find the energy to smile when I saw a photographer (see below).

​I can't tell you how great it was to be at an outdoor endurance event with no masks and all smiles. I saw at least 5 different shirts I've designed over the past 13 years as a volunteer with the Charlottesville Track Club and that made my day. The thrill of seeing my shirts in the real world and being recognized by other runners for my volunteer work never gets old! (Pictured below are photos of shirts from the PR for Public Radio 5K, the Charlottesville Ten Miler, and the Marathon and Half Marathon Training Program).

Fran (pictured below in all black) was cursing the entire race, but sadly I didn't get to hear that because I was about 20 minutes behind him. ​

On the drive home Fran made me laugh so hard when he talked about how he was considering doing a "Rosie Ruiz" because I was thinking the exact same thing. In the middle of the race there was an actual paved road and the thought crossed my mind, "I don't know where that road goes, but I'm sure I'm taking it!"

MY HONEY (in black below)! If you look closely you can see him thinking how he is going to yell at me for signing him up for a trail race. Also, I believe those lips might be uttering a curse word as he told me that he was letting the expletives fly the entire 3+ miles! 

The best quotes from Fran:
"That was less fun than the half marathon." (he said "one and done" on the half too!)
"Do we get results for that?" (that's when you know you're a real runner!)

Fran is "ONE and DONE" on trail races! So glad we have a photo of him at the finish line!

I love getting race swag that isn't a t-shirt! Thanks to Ragged Mountain for the pint glass!