So, the North Country Trail Relay. After deeper reflection, I've decided that, yes, it was really hard. But it was also pretty darn fun. Below you'll find a (somewhat) condensed version of the day's 11-hour-long relay:
4 a.m.: Alarm goes off.
5:30 a.m.: Arrive at race start. Encounter lots of Lansing-dwellers.
6 a.m.: Still quite dark out, race begins with little fanfare. There was no official start line, just a conglomeration of 50 runners (there are 50 teams allowed in this relay). They disappeared down the road and into the woods.
This is where the waiting really began. My first (of three) legs wasn't until somewhere around 9:30 a.m., so my nerves were abundant. And seeing as the entire team would ride to the next exchange point and basically wait around for the runner to arrive made me fearful that I would disappoint my team. Luckily, Lisa found the perfect opportunity to mention this wasn't a race to put too much pressure on ourselves. Phew!
9:30ish a.m.: While waiting at my first exchange point, a man in a '09 Bayshore Marathon shirt said hello: Sorry I didn't hang around to visit more, I blame my nerves as I was about to get running!
I slapped Steve's hand and took off up a gravel road. This leg was about half gravel road and half trails -- a perfect way to get acquainted. The key, at NCTR, is simply to follow the blue trail markings:
But for the most part, the trails were worn enough that you were relatively certain to be on the right track.
The first two of my legs, 4.4 and 2.5 miles, were tougher than I expected. They were rated "easy" by the race organizers, which made me officially nervous for my final leg of 6.4 miles at a "gut buster" rating. Gulp!
Later in the afternoon: I slapped hands with Lisa, and took my first steps toward what I knew would be a hard-fought battle with myself.
Right off the bat, it wasn't too tough. Then, the climbs came. And more of them. And I began bargaining with myself. It was far too early into this leg to be bargaining. I walked some uphills. (actually, I walked MOST uphills). I had been relying on my calves for most of the day, and half-way into this leg, they were trashed.
It was tough. More than tough. But it was also beautiful. And for those who put in the work to get deep into the Manistee National Forest, the views were unmatched. That work, though, was no easy task. And to see my team waiting at the exchange was quite the treat!
When Abby brought in the final of our legs (there were 15 that comprised 77.8 miles), the six of us headed down to the Manistee River for an "ice bath." It was absolutely frigid ... and somehow felt good, too. I have yet to figure that one out.
Teammate Lisa said I'd never want to see another trail again ... for a day. And then I'd be hooked.
I think I'm somewhere in between those two extremes. I'd happily hit the trails again (you know, once my calves return to normal). But I won't be abandoning the road, either. That's still my comfort zone -- and besides, it's a lot easier to find a bathroom in civilization!
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