"There's only one hard and fast rule in running: sometimes you have to run one hard and fast."








Thursday, November 19, 2009

Top 10 Trail Moments 0f 2009

It's early to be looking back on the year, but I won't be doing much for a while, so the best moments are probably already past.

1) Seeing Matt Patten crush the Kettle Moraine course. It was worth the agony of my own race to see Matt show the world what he can do.

2,3) Meeting Nic at Chippewa and meeting Rasmus and Tracy at Voyageur. I was fried at both races (Chippewa was the week after doing Trail Mix in 5:00, which was the week after finishing my first 100 miler), but it was worth the agony of my own races.

See the theme?

4) The 30 times up the Brickyard Hill workout. Only rockhounds and people walking their dogs saw me, but it was the one day I felt good and it all came together. I was totally spent - and happy.

5) The vengeance run at Afton. The week after my dismal showing at the 50K there, I went out and blasted the snowshoe loop at sub 7 minute miles, getting my heart rate to a new maximum of 184. It meant nothing to anybody, but I loved it.

6) Running into a deer, literally, at Battle Creek and finding the Mystic Trail almost by accident (within an hour of each other).

7) Having a runner on his way back from the Voyageur turn-around tell me, "You saved me."

8) Finishing the Zumbro 100. The last time up the Ant Hill, when the flowers opened as if on cue and a hawk soared beside me (and Val, Helen and John went by), knowing I was on my way to the finish line, it all seemed right, even if I had walked 50 miles.

9) Repaying a favor at Superior. Last year at Chippewa, Tom Griffiths handed me a pair of socks when I was in need. This year I had brought spare pairs of socks to the aid station where I was working and they were needed. [Later I told him to repay me by volunteering. Keep the good mojo flowing.]

10) Hearing Dan Mattimiro tell the story of his first Superior 100 finish, which included, "I was sure I was done at Sawbill, but you said 'You've got this. Just keep moving and you'll get that finish. You look good. The next section's not bad. The last one's tough, but you've been over it before. Just don't stop.' and I thought, 'Well, if Steve says I'm going to finish, I'm going to finish!'"

Looking back on my year, there were no great races, no major accomplishments (well, two slogged 100's), nothing to show (well, the Fab 5 old guys winner's award), but I may have had a hand in the best moments of some others. That's a good year, in my book.

9 comments:

Glaven Q. Heisenberg said...

If meeting Dr. Nic was one of the highlights of your year, you have my sincere condolences.

HAR!

O, Dr. Nic! You're the punch line that just keeps giving.

Seeing Matt Patten ... show the world what he can do.

Hey, I'm part of the world and I have no idea what Matt Patten can do! So ... what - yer kicking me out of the world, now, Steve?

You don't have the authority!

... do you?

[No offense to Matt Patten.]

Londell said...

Yes it is...

Bill S said...

I agree. Good job.

Jean said...

Way to go, Steve! I think you had an amazing year, and the fact that you helped some others have amazing experiences makes it all the better. All the best to you!

Anonymous said...
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SteveQ said...

G: Did you delete your blog and profile, or was that part of the malware attack that briefly hit this blog?

sea legs girl said...

I would make the obvious comment that it must have been a bad year if meeting us made it on there. But then again, meeting you was on my top 10 trail moments, too. And my year wasn't half bad. :) But, yeah, you were probably mostly referring to meeting Rasmus anyway.

SteveQ said...

Next time, if I get to meet the bois/lorax maybe it'll be the number 1 moment.

Matthew Patten said...

Thanks for the shout out Steve.

I think anybody who made it through Zumbro 100 Mile had a pretty successful year.

My perfomance is water way under the bridge. Unlikely I will come back to match that.

A little bit (a lot) of luck, with the right training, tune up races, and a tempered strategy goes a long way.

Glaven - maybe one of these days I will make it in one of your library books :)