Fight it Like Jack

Fight It Like Jack!

There are some races I run where I push myself to new limits.  Some where I was able to run faster than I had before.  Some for fun.  And then there was the Lost Lake run.  This race touched me on so many levels.   The first being I was able to fund raise for the Huntsman Cancer Institute where my dad is doing the clinical trials for his cancer.  Together with friends and family, we raised $2000!!!  I felt their love and support and it pushed me through the hard parts of the race.  And with it being a 16 mile trail run, believe me, there were hard parts.

I loved doing this for my Dad.  I love him so much!  He is fighting his cancer every single day and I just can't imagine how hard physically and emotionally that is for him.  I had some wonderful friends I was running with (see the part below), but half of the race I ran by myself.  And I thought about him.  And the things he's taught me.  And the incredible man that he is.  I was glad to have that quiet moment on the trail where it was just me and him.

I got to run a race with Marianna again.  Enough said about why this one was so amazing.  Not only did she run with me, but she added a little magic to my race jersey by adding a picture of me and my dad on it.  I didn't even know you could do that!  She came up with the slogan that defined this race for me.  "Fight it Like Jack."  How could I not run my hardest with a picture of my Dad on my back. Thank you Marianna for being here and getting me up that mountain at all costs - including your earphones. I have such good friends.  Add to that running with Brenda and Carolyn (who convinced me that this was a race I needed to do) and that took it up a whole notch on the fun factor.  And Mary who ran up Flattop every week with me for training.  And Ann who hiked the trail to give moral support and gu.  And every one who donated!  I knew at the end of the day I would be reporting to so many people about how the race went so I had to stay strong. That made this race so amazing. 

Survivors of 16 miles of trail running.  Phew!

Part of the beautiful Lost Lake Run trail

At one point in the race I had gotten behind a group of people.  It's a single person trail so it's practically impossible to pass others while running.  Not having done this race before I thought maybe you just had to run behind them until there was a wider spot in the trail.  I slowed down my pace and accepted the pace that others were setting.  That was until this old grandpa came up, yelled that he was passing, and passed.  Just like that.  I passed with him and suddenly the trail was mine and I could go whatever pace I wanted - the pace I had trained for.  Why had I just accepted the crowd's pace without a fight?  This little grandpa taught me quite the lesson!  I passed people the rest of the way.  I never caught up to him though.

I was the one who was physically running the race, but it was all the different people that made this race the most amazing racing experience I have ever had.  That and the most amazing scenery I've ever run in.   Could I say "amazing" enough while trying to describe this experience?!  I don't think so. 

It was amazing.