*Warning: There is a picture of a large scratch and a bit of blood about midway through this post. What’s a trail race without a little blood??

This past Saturday I ran the Trail Nut Half Marathon. This was the fifth race in the Mountain Junkie’s Roanoke Non-Ultra Trail Series, and my fourth race in the series. I haven’t had very good training in 2015, but I am having a good time at these races! Saturday’s race went pretty well, until it wasn’t going so well. But lets back up.

Last year I made it to Bedford (a little over 90 minutes away) just before they ran out of parking. So this year I made sure to get there a bit earlier. It worked out and I arrived about an hour before the race start. I picked up my packet, got ready for the race, and headed down to the pavilion for the pre-race meeting. I always find these meetings so confusing, but I’ve yet to get lost at a Mountain Junkies race! I also got to meet John, whom I’ve corresponded with on Twitter. Cool!

Shortly after our pre-race meeting we headed down the hill to a grassy area to get the race started. We waited around a few minutes, and before I knew it we were off and running! I was familiar with the first 3 miles of the course, as they are the same for the half and 10k (and I ran the 10K last year). It was still relatively cool, but sunny, and it felt great to be out running in the woods.

A little after mile 2 my Achilles started to feel like they were on fire. This happens to me on trails sometimes (I don’t know why, it’s sporadic) and I can usually just run through it. I ran through it, and eventually the pain went away. Unfortunately, my feet also went numb at this point. That went away a few miles later, but it’s annoying to run with numb feet.

A little after 3 miles the half marathon split from the 10K and headed up a huge hill to the bike park area. This hill was no joke!

The bike park was really neat to run through. We were weaving all over the place around various mountain bike obstacles. It reminded me of one of those crazy mouse roller coasters!

As we exited the bike park we ran through a really pretty open field area. The trail was pretty muddy, and it was the clay-type mud. When I made it down to the bottom I actually stopped briefly to wipe some of the mud off of the bottom of my shoes. It felt like I was running with ankle weights with all of that mud stuck to the bottom.

We spent the next three miles weaving through the woods, with lots of small-ish hills and lots of switchbacks. During this time we merged back with the 10K’ers for a bit. It was kind of nice to see some more people on the trail.

Then, just after mile 7 (mile 7 for the half, mile 6 for the 10K) we split off again as the 10K headed for the finish. I was still feeling relatively fresh, and was having a good time.

The next two miles got a bit lonely, but it was also nice to have some solitude in the woods. I think I like the latter better than a crowded trail. I was taking a few walk breaks, but things were still going well. We also got to my absolute favorite part of the course, which I remembered from last year.

Shortly before mile 9, we (and I mean me, as I had not seen anyone for the past two miles) merged back with the 10K on their final hill to the finish. The half marathoners ran through the finish to get a 9-ish mile split and then headed back out for another 4 mile loop. I knew we were going to do this, I saw people do it last year, but it’s still tough. I was ready to tackle those last four miles, though. Little did I know what was to come…

I headed back into the woods on the trail we had run on in the beginning. I’d seen the 10 and 11 mile markers during our first loop so I knew we would overlap a lot here. Fine by me. I was feeling pretty tired and it was very warm at this point (although not humid like Blue Ridge), but I was ready to do some work.

Shortly after I passed the mile 10 marker I was running down a short, steep hill. My left ankle rolled and I fell, hitting a tree with my right forearm and then landing mostly on my arm on some rocks. My ankle didn’t hurt, but something in the arch/heel area of my foot hurt. I brushed myself off, got back up, and tried to keep going. But my foot was hurting so much that I was limping and I was forced to slow to a walk.

I wasn’t too far from the finish area, and I considered going back. But I ended up deciding to push on. I thought that maybe the pain would go away (it never did) and I could run more. Unfortunately, I had to limp/walk/jog most of the final three miles. I think they took me about an hour and 5-10 minutes to cover. Boo.

 

It’s a bummer that my day ended that way, but at least things went well up until mile 10. This was the first major spill I’ve taken during a trail race, so I guess I’ve been lucky up to this point. Hopefully I’m getting it out of my system before Ragnar Trail Appalachians this June!

Who else has taken a spill during a race? At least no one was around to witness my moment of clumsiness!

P.S. My foot is feeling better now. It was pretty sore for a few days, along the inside bottom edge from the heel to the arch. My heel was a bit bruised for a couple of days, but it was never swollen.

This week’s Wednesday Word prompt is Dreams. We all have dreams in life – some realistic, some not so much. But with perseverance and dedication, the realistic ones can often be accomplished.

Dreams, both realistic and unrealistic, can drive us to achieve more than we ever thought we could. They are what fuel our passions. They can be a bit scary to think about, but that just means you’re dreaming big. When you’ve got a dream or a big goal in mind, you make a plan and make it happen. There is no “right time,” you just have to go for it.

I have hopes and dreams for the near future – like starting a family and exploring additional possibilities in my field of work. And I have bigger dreams for the distant future. Ones I’m not sure will ever happen, like running a 100 miler and driving across the United States.

As long as the seed is planted, the possibilities are endless.

Join in on Deb’s link up and share what dreams mean to you!

What do you dream about? What are your goals for the future?

This past Saturday I was in Bedford for the Trail Nut Half Marathon. I’ll talk more about that later this week. Right now I want to talk about what I did on the way home. Bedford happens to be home to the National D-Day Memorial, and after driving by it hundreds of times I finally decided to stop and check it out. I can remember learning about D-Day in school, and it blew my mind back then. But to see the memorial, and the bronze plaques with the 4,413 names of the Allied forces lives lost was really something.

A little background for you: D-Day took place on June 6, 1944 on the beaches of Normandy, France, in the midst of WWII. It is the largest amphibious landing in history and required an unprecedented number of servicemen and equipment. Allied troops totaling 150,000 landed on a 50 mile stretch of Nazi-held Normandy, supported by more than 5,000 ships and 11,000 aircraft. Against all odds, the Allies gained a foothold in occupied Europe. D-day is one of those rare single days in history that represents a complete turn of events. The Allies success set in motion the destruction of the Nazi regime, but at a high cost. Over 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded on this single day in history.

I started my self-guided tour at Estes Plaza, which celebrates the success of the Normandy invasion and the international allied effort that made it possible. It also recognizes Operation Overlord’s human role. The flags of each of the twelve nations of the Allied Expeditionary Force (AEF) surround the arch. They include: the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

The Overlord Arch in the center represents triumph, and stands 44 and a half feet tall (for 1944). In front of the arch, a sculpture of the soldier represents the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of those brave souls. This is common theme throughout the memorial.

In front of the arch, overlooking the plaza below, is a sobering tribute to the more than 4,400 members of the AEF who were killed on D-Day. The inverted rifle topped with a helmet is an emblem of death in battle, and it is a powerful symbol of the ultimate sacrifice of the fallen.

Stretching out behind Estes Plaza is the Stettinius Parade, which signifies the expansion from the beaches of Normandy to Paris and beyond. This was the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. A Purple Heart Monument looms under the shadow of the flag, in honor of all those who received the purple heart on D-Day. This area also includes Clement R. Atlee and Harry S. Truman, the successors of Churchill and Roosevelt, respectively.

From there, I headed down to the Gray Plaza and the beach area. The Plaza is divided into five sections to represent the five D-Day landing beaches: Sword, Juno, Utah, Omaha, and Gold. The beach area signifies the fierce struggle as the Allies landed on the beach. A “Higgins Boat” was used to transport troops from the ships to the shore. These boats were later credited by Eisenhower for winning the war for the Allies, thanks to their versatility. Sculptures show troops in various poses of battle to honor the hallmark theme of the D-Day Memorial: Valor, Fidelity, and Sacrifice.

In front of the beach, going up towards the arch and Estes Plaza, a sculpture depicts the rangers who scaled the cliffs at Normandy. They were fired upon from above, and had grenades thrown at them by enemy soldiers, as they shot rope ladders and began climbing the cliffs.

As the ranger soldiers made it over the top of the cliffs, they gained a firm grip on the land at the top and began to seize back Europe. These rangers are the first ones who helped free a continent.

On either side of the beach are two circles which pay tribute to the 5,000 ships and 11,000 aircraft which supported the D-Day operations.

Surrounding the Gray Plaza are long stretches of bronze plaques. These are by far the most haunting of all of the figures at the D-Day Memorial, as they bear the names of the 4,413 Allied service members killed on this single day in history. The western wall has the names of United States service members, while the eastern wall has those of the other AEF members.

As I made my way back to the parking area, I passed by the “In Homage” statue. This symbolic piece is for the communities across the country who supported those who went away and grieved for those who never returned.

This memorial was truly amazing to see. There was so much to read and everything on the property has a meaning. You may be wondering why this national memorial is located in Bedford. It’s because of the “Bedford Boys.” Among the hundreds of thousands of service members massed off the shores of Normandy, 44 were from the rural area of Bedford, VA. Twenty of them were killed on D-Day and another four in the days to follow. On June 6, 1944, Bedford suffered the nation’s severest per capita D-Day loss. It’s a somber distinction to hold, but it is the reason behind the memorial’s location.

I fully intend to return to the memorial again, if not several times, in the future to spend more time reading all of the information.

Have you ever been to the National D-Day Memorial?
Are you a history buff?

Tomorrow I will be running the Trail Nut Half Marathon. This will be my fourth race in the Roanoke Non-Ultra Trail Series. This particular race is also a bit special to me, because it was my first Mountain Junkies trail race last year, and second trail race ever.

Last year I ran the 10K, but this year I decided to do the half marathon instead. The park where this race is held is a beautiful park and I can’t wait to run there again!

Today, I’m also linking up with Debbie’s Wednesday Word. I’m a few days late, but still wanted to join in on the fun! This week’s word is courage and it ties in well with tomorrow’s race and trail running in general.

Trails were completely new to me last year and it took courage for me to sign up for my first trail race. This year, it took even more courage to commit to the trail series.

Running has taught me to have the courage to push myself and know that when I get tired I can still continue. It teaches me to tackle my fears head on. This June that will include my fear of the dark, as I run trails in the middle of the night at Ragnar Appalachians.

As I trained for my very first race back in 2007, my Team in Training coach gave me the below picture before one of my long runs. I think this is when I first started to see the metaphor running has for life, and the life lessons that can be learned from long distance running.

Running can teach you a lot of things. You learn that you’re stronger than you think. You learn how to be strong mentally when the going gets tough. But most of all you learn to have the courage to continue, because running never takes more than it gives.

Who’s racing this weekend?
When was the last time you had to summon your courage and face your fears?

My birthday is a little ways off still, but I’m already starting to think about what I’d like to do this year. Last year Barry and I went bowling, which was a lot of fun. The year before that we went camping at a nearby campground which had giant water slides. That was also a lot of fun. This year, I’m considering four options.

Usually I just do something low-key, and don’t really decide until last minute or so. But a few of my options require a bit of prior planning.

Option one: Imagine Dragons concert in Charlotte, NC on July 7. This one would be a bit of an early celebration (by 5 days), but I’m a big fan of Imagine Dragons. I don’t know what kind of a show they put on, but based on their music I’m figuring it would be a good show. Barry and I haven’t ever gone to a concert together before, either, so that would be fun too.

Option two: Live production of the NPR show Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!. I recently became a podcast listener, and this is one of my favorite shows. It’s kind of like Jeopardy mixed with stand up comedy. I was really excited when they announced they were going to be in Virginia, in my dad’s neck of the woods, on July 23 for a live show. ‘Nuff said.

Option three: Weekend camping at the nearby Rural Retreat Lake & Campground. A lot of times when we go camping it’s for another event: a race, a wedding, etc. Every once in awhile it’s fun to go camping just for the sake of camping. I also like checking out nearby, new-to-us campgrounds. This one has a trail that goes around the lake!

Option four: A day at the CineBowl. I’ve been here once before, recently, with friends. It’s a really neat place that has a movie theater, restaurant, bowling alley, and arcade all rolled into one. We could spend a day there catching a movie, grabbing some food, and then bowling. Or we could eat, then watch a movie, and then bowl. Or we could eat while we bowl and then catch a movie. AND there’s air hockey! You get the idea.

They all have their merits and I think any of these options would be a fun birthday celebration. The easy solution is to do them all, but that’s not going to happen! I’m going to have to choose….

Do you make plans in advance for your birthday?
Low-key or big celebration?