It is done.

Finally.

What a race!!!

The temps started out in the low 80’s with matching humidity.  Not too bad for a July morning in Mississippi.  We all started out strong.  By the time people were reaching the 5 mile water stop (where MFH~My Favorite Husband~had set up a water stop for me) everybody was completely drenched.  Holy Cow!  It was getting warm.  Fast!

We all plugged on but by mile 8, most people had already switched to a walk/run combination.  I reached the 10 mile mark at 10:30 am.  The RD (Race Director) had set out a large thermometer so the racers could see the temp.  When I passed at that first 10 miles, it was already 100F.  No wonder I was melting!!!

I stopped at our tent and changed into a fresh pair of running shorts.  The ones I had been wearing were completely soaked and sticking to me.  I couldn’t stand it!  I was thankful to have thought to bring an extra pair!  I filled my water bottle and soldiered on.

The second 10 mile lap was substantially slower than the first.  Most everybody I passed (and yes, I DID pass people!) were walking.  At this point, I was still doing a walk/run combination.  It hurt.  Due to the heat, it was hard to run for a full mile.  I was having a difficult time regulating my Heart Rate.  Had to keep it slow.  A lot of people were dropping out.  There were a lot of DNF’s yesterday.

I made it to the end of the second loop.  The thermometer, that they had so nicely put out for us was now reading 112F.  Holy Cow!!!  That was unreal!  I walked over to my tent, refilled my water bottle and headed on out for my last lap.

112 degrees.  There was NO WAY I was going to even try to run in 112F!!!  I walked the last loop.  Call me a sissy.  That last loop, I did not meet one person out there who was running.  Everybody was walking.  No one ran.

It was brutal.

BUT~~~I finished!!!  I did it!!!  It took an agonizing 10 hours.  And I was not last, either!!!  People were still out there!!!  That made me feel better   🙂

My sister and her family met me at the water stop MFH had set up for me on my last lap.  My sister walked with me a little bit.  I enjoyed that!

The race was advertised as “Flat and Fast.”  Flat and Fast my A$$!!!  There were places where I was on my hands and knees climbing out of ravines.  Trying to find a tree root or something that I could grasp to help me get out of there.

It was really hard.

It was worth it!!!

Would I do it again?

Not that race.  I lost a total of 12 pounds doing that race yesterday.  Unreal.

I want to do another Ultra, though!!!  Heck, YA I do!!!  Just maybe one where it is cooler.  That would be lovely!!

If it had been maybe about 10-15 degrees cooler, I would have been able to run the entire thing (well, except for the ravines and all).  That part was a little disappointing but all in all, I am content.

There were no finishers in the 100K yesterday.  Nobody could do it.  Too hot, too hard.  They either dropped to the 50K or were a DNF.

What an awesome experience!!!