*with 11 other awesome, crazy people

We finished the American Odyssey Relay in 32 hours and 30 minutes– slightly better than I’d anticipated.  We averaged right at a 10 min mile over 202 miles and some pretty legit changes in elevation.  I did it.  I didn’t think I could but I did– we did.

My team, Shelby’s Foote-Soldiers (don’t know who we’re referencing, click here), was great.  All the angst about planning and schedules and itineraries paid off.  It went off without a hitch, a fact I still can hardly believe.  I find myself saying that and then immediately looking for wood to tap on.

I won’t go on and on about what a transformative experience it was here– that’s not what this space is for and as someone who is new to running I remember how it felt to have to listen to someone talk about their endorphin high and moments of running-induced transcendence (which, by the way I so get now).  Also, they’re not as poetic now that I type them and am not just thinking them at the edge of Antietam at 3 AM with a headlamp to guide my way… so, let me just say these three things:

1. This is one of the few things in my life I felt was genuinely hard: physically, emotionally, and even intellectually (let me tell you, planning one of these things is no joke).  I have the tendency to think that if I can do something, it can’t possibly be all that difficult.  Perhaps we’re all like that?  Anyway, this is not that– I’m still amazed I actually did it.
2. Running crazy long distances brings out the best in people far more often than it brings out the worst. I was amazed at how when other runners passed me (which, um, happened a lot) they always said something like “lookin’ good” or “see you at the finish line.”  When I really struggled on my first leg (I blame the Sudafed– not a performance enhancing drug) the folks who passed me offered me water and Gatorade.  By the third leg, when we were all tired and oscillating between cranky and euphoric, I traded jokes with a guy who I kept switching positions with.
3. There are not enough things in life that let adults cheer for strangers or stay up all night. We tell our friends we’re proud of them for all sorts of things, we applaud at events, but to really cheer and to know exactly how someone feels or what they’ve gone through is different.  Plus, runners are just some of the most relentlessly positive people I know (see number 2).

Anyway… I’ve actually done some crafting in the past two weeks.  I’ll share that soon.  In the mean time, I’m considering the next challenge…

P.S. I wore my race T-Shirt to the gym yesterday and felt super awesome.  I doubt anybody noticed that I ran 200 miles but I knew.

P.P.S. If you’re interested in running insanely long distances I cannot recommend the AOR enough!  It was well organized, a truly beautiful course, and had a great not-too-competitive atmosphere.