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Vermont 50 - Sept 30, 2006 - Brownsville, VT
Because I now had some experience tip-toeing my way through the treacherous terrain in the Appalachian Trail at the JFK 50, and because I had completed my first 50 mile ultra in under 13 hours, I gave the Vermont 50 mile trail ultra run a shot in 2006. The morning of the race, which began at 6 am, was a wet and misty one, but not cold. The first 3 miles of the race were on a flat asphalt road. The next 47 miles were a series of trails and uphills and downhills.
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The weather couldn’t decide if it wanted to rain, drizzle or shine sun. At mile19, I was feeling good and ahead of my time at the same distance in JFK. At about mile 25 it started to pour and I was facing blinding rain. The beautiful Vermont landscape, mountains, and trees kept me alive and energized me. Fellow runners helped to keep me focused.
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At mile 31, Jonna quickly replaced my wet socks while I munched on an Oreo. And off I went into the solitude of the woods. It kept me company and kept me focused. I was on pace.
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At about mile 42 I got lost for about a minute. At about mile 45 my left foot and shoe got stuck in the mud in the middle of a beautiful meadow surrounded by hissing snakes. I couldn’t see them but I could hear them. After pulling out my shoe from the mud and the sock from my foot, I ran for about a quarter mile through the woods with a sockless, shoeless left foot peppered with a couple of blisters. Right before the mile 47 cut-off I saw my husband and son.
I barely made the mile 47 cut-off. With Sebastian as my pacer the last 3 miles in the dark with one headlamp, I made it down the alpine slope to the finish past the 12 hour time limit in 12:52:54. I came in dead last. A cold hamburger and a finisher's medal awaited me.
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Tip-toeing my way down the alpine slope to the finish in total darkness.
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Happy to come in last and happy that
I did not quit.
I am also the author of Come What May, I Want to Run: A Memoir of the Saving Grace of Ultrarunning in Overwhelming Times. Read excerpts, praise, and reviews, and order the book here from the publisher, Amazon, Bookshop, or Barnes & Noble. My Vermont 50 journey is one of many ultramarathon experiences that weaves through my memoir.
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Watch my video - How to Pack for a 50 Mile Ultra
CHECK OUT MORE OF MY ULTRA RACE RECAPS HERE.