![\"10392358_928321217288015_488006551967656632_n\"](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/10392358_928321217288015_488006551967656632_n.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIt was a perfect Mississippi morning. \u00a0The day promised to be a tad on the warm side but not too bad. \u00a0Most of us runners were prepared for the warmer temps. \u00a0No worries.<\/p>\n
Last year, it was quite cold at gun time. \u00a0When we arrived at water crossings on the first loop, the mud was frozen and some of the water crossings had ice on them. \u00a0This year, it was in the 40’s at gun time so that meant no ice and aggressive mud on the first loop.<\/p>\n
Just like last year, we encountered our first water crossing right after the 2nd mile marker. \u00a0After this first crossing, your feet are wet for the remainder of the race. \u00a0There are water crossings every 3(ish) miles for the rest of the race.<\/p>\n
We had received some substantial rain on Thursday so the water crossings were higher than last year. \u00a0That’s a risk you take with trail racing. \u00a0Only two crossings were above my knees so I considered myself lucky. \u00a0The mud…holy cow, the mud! \u00a0It had a life of its own!!! \u00a0It seemed to try to suck you down as far as it could and not let go. \u00a0Hahaha!!! \u00a0Serious stuff!<\/p>\n
As the race progressed, I was getting a chuckle as we would approach the water crossings. \u00a0We would hear other runners at the crossings about a quarter of a mile ahead of us. \u00a0We knew what was happening from the variety of 4 letter words drifting through the air. \u00a0Funny! \u00a0Or at least it was funny until it was my turn to try to get through the muck. \u00a0I witnessed runners frantically digging through the mud trying to find a shoe that had been sucked off by the mud.<\/p>\n
At mile 4, I fell. \u00a0I picked myself up and kept on running. \u00a0The first loop is 12.5(ish) miles and by the time I had successfully run the first loop, I had fallen a total of 8 times. \u00a0That’s a LOT of falling!<\/p>\n
My last fall was between mile 9-10. \u00a0It was in a water crossing. \u00a0There was a log I couldn’t see. \u00a0It was in the water but the water was so murky from everybody running through it…well, it was impossible to see. \u00a0That log came up and smacked me a good one on my shin bone. \u00a0When that happened, I knew the 50M wasn’t going to happen. \u00a0RATS.<\/p>\n
I completed the first loop. \u00a0MFH was there ready for me with advil and a bandanna. \u00a0I grabbed both and kept on running. \u00a0I thought I could run out the discomfort from that smack on the leg. \u00a0The first loop was considered a 20K distance~one of the distances offered for this race.<\/p>\n
Half way through the second loop, my leg would not quit hurting. \u00a0In fact, it was getting worse! \u00a0My leg was swelling as was my foot. \u00a0My shoe was getting tight and I found myself compensating for the discomfort. \u00a0Soon, I was limping.<\/p>\n
It was a this point I had to make a decision.<\/p>\n
Taking a quick peek at my Garmin, I looked at my total miles run. \u00a017 miles. \u00a0A 50K is 31 miles plus change. \u00a0There is a long way to run from 17-31. \u00a0Did I want to push myself and get the 50K? \u00a0I knew if I tried this, there was a very strong possibility I would injure myself enough that it would put the rest of this year’s racing at risk.<\/p>\n
Seeing as I’ve successfully raced the 50K distance a couple of times, I decided to throw in the towel. \u00a0I was already hurt, better not to add insult to injury. \u00a0I stumbled to the next aid station and DNF’d. \u00a0The kind people there drove me to the start\/finish\/timing tent where I told them I thought it was best for me to call it a day.<\/p>\n
This is where a great deal of kindness was shown to me!<\/p>\n
The RD (Race Director) asked me how far I had run. \u00a0I replied I had run 17.75 miles *gospel according to Garmin* \u00a0That was 5+ miles further than the 20K distance. \u00a0Instead of giving me my well earned DNF, they put me down as a 20K finisher where believe it or not, I was second woman overall! \u00a0Amazing stuff!<\/p>\n
I received a finishers medal and a finishers visor. \u00a0They were so very, very nice to me on what was a discouraging day.<\/p>\n
Some days are just like that! \u00a0Most days are not but every now and then a run just doesn’t go as planned. \u00a0It’s just a bummer my turn at this kind of a day happened to be a race day.<\/p>\n
We did have a lovely time, though!<\/p>\n
Yesterday I did go out and run a 6 mile recovery run. \u00a0I needed to know what the deal was with my leg. \u00a0Seems to be just some pretty major bruising from all the falls. \u00a0That is a HUGE relief! \u00a0 I’ll take bruising over broken bones any day of the week!<\/p>\n
There were some race pics and I’ll share them. MFH even had a race pic! \u00a0When I was running, he was having fun doing some Ham Radio stuff.<\/p>\n
#IRun4Aiden<\/p>\n #teamZensah<\/p>\n #AbbottWMM<\/p>\n![\"12798863_936748399778630_8274171358648962376_n\"](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/12798863_936748399778630_8274171358648962376_n.jpg\")
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