Live to Tell the Tale

The Tale:

On Saturday I woke to a 4:30 am alarm to head to Moab. Unearthly hour but after the first 10 minutes the excitement started as my 6-person team and I made our way to the start line of the 2nd annual Moab Back Relay Race.

A few months ago my friend Jenna La Rose (of last year's triathlon fame) convinced me that we needed to get our husbands form a team for the Moab race. From the first mention of the idea Jer, in no uncertain terms, said he would not do it, no thank you, no way. I laughed and said sure he would. Of course I should have known better. Jer rarely says no to me but when he does, it is like changing the flow of the Mississippi.

In the end, Jenna and Randy La Rose were the only couple on our couples team. Undaunted, we went forth. Saturday morning found us shivering at the start line, a bit nervous since most of us had never run anything like this, and ready to roll!

I will have to rely on the pictures from Jenna and Shannon's cameras since Jer had ours on another adventure (see future posts). We took TONS of shots and I will post them as soon as I can.

However, I will briefly describe the experience while the pain is still real and memory has not softened the edges.

The Moab Relay is a 50-mile race over the La Sal Mountain Loop Road. It is called the "backside" of Moab since is it just over the ridge from the city. Each runner has 2 "legs" of the race. As each runner finishes his or her leg, they would meet at an exchange point and pass the "baton" (in our case a pink, sparkly slap bracelet - oh the guys loved that!).

I was runner number 2 with a 5.2 mile run along the bottom of this

valley floor. This picture was back over my shoulder the entire run. It almost made me forget how hard I was working! Almost. This is the road through Castle Valley and is truly breathtaking.

My second leg was 4.2 miles and I could not find a shot this morning to do the scenery justice. I had a vista over the Moab Valley my entire run. It was also all downhill, even some really steep downs, so I was loving the force of gravity pulling me toward the finish line. I promise a few "oohs" and "aahs" when those pictures get on here!

The entire relay is spent with the other 5 members of the team in the follow car. As the runner makes their way down the course, the car stops about once a mile and provides water, aid, and lots of cheering for their runner. At each exchange the car parks and helps the two team members pass off and tells the finishing runner what a great job they did, provides a stretcher if needed. Then the card heads after the new runner to start it all over again. Kind of like a giant game of leap frog.

Yes, after the first few runners, the car is stinky. Yes, food and water come at strange intervals. Yes, that was one of the best, funniest, memorable car rides, ever.

After 7 hours, 18 minutes, and 29 seconds our team crossed the finish line together and smiled all the way across.

I think I am starting to learn why running, or any other athletic challenge can become addicting. Some of those miles hurt, some of them I wanted to stop and walk, just catch my breath. Sometimes I felt so good and ran smoothly for a bit. At times I would look around and appreciate all the beauty around me and at others I could only focus on the next few feet.

So many life lessons all in one little race. Today I have felt a new confidence, in addition to the new sore places on my knees and feet. I am so happy the race is over and have already made plans to torture myself next year. Mostly I am so happy that I finished with a smile. Isn't that what it is really all about in the end?