The wait is over

There are times when we set goals that are lofty.  The times when we really feel like we are ready to venture into a brand new level of challenging ourselves.  That is the place I found myself this year when I registered for the

Massanutten Mountain Trails 100

I felt like this new challenge was simply mine for the taking.  I was nervous but ready to push past that place where others stopped.  I wanted to see just how well I could suffer and still loved at the end.

Today I accept that I will not get to christen my 100 mile adventure in Massanutten.

#14 is as close as I got.   And while there wasn't anything I could have done

and believe I would have done nearly anything

to insure that I got it, I am sadden that all my planning will not result in my maiden 100 mile adventure happening as I celebrate my 2 year streak-iversary. 

But my drive to challenge myself is not dampened by a few tears.  Isn't that part of the reward?  The struggle to arrive at the finish line doesn't begin at the start line.  It begins that first moment when we think we can.  That first time I thought that I could go a little farther.  The moment when I told myself that I could finish a 100 mile trail race.  That is when I starting moving towards that finish line. 

And even though my trail just got a little longer, I will keep moving forward until I cross that finish line where ever it happens to be.

A long engagement

Even though I haven't yet done a year end or a 2012 goal post, you wouldn't have to be reading very often

but of course you read every day, right?

to know that my A goal for 2012 is to go for the 100.

yeah, as in miles run at one time. 

on trails, in the mountains, through the day and through the night, without dying or falling off a cliff.

To achieve that I registered for the Massenutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile Run.

Like many true trail races, the MMT 100 has a limited field of runners.  To allow runners a some what equal opportunity to run a very popular race MMT 100 uses a great lottery system as part of their registration.  The next step of the system was on January 4th, the last day for "lottery winners" to submit payment and stay on the entrants list.  On that day I went from a potential 158th to 75th. 

That's right there are 74 people ahead of me on the wait list.

The race only allows 205 runners to be on the entrants list.

As mose of my readers are beyond the fourth grade and can do simple math, I'm sure you can see that I might have a long engagement with the wait list.

Fellow ultra friends who have run MTT 100 many times assure me that with the next two steps on April 16 the (last day to withdrawal with full refund) and May 1st (last day to withdrawal with partial refund) many entrants will drop out for a list of reasons. 

The race scheduled for May 12 - 13.

As exciting as the possiblity of doing a 100 mile ultra is, it would kinda be nice to know before the day of the race that I am going to get in.

What is the shortest notice you have ever had that you made it into a race?

What do you think of race lottery systems?  Level the play field or should it be first come first served?

for a complete explanation of MTT 100's lottery system click here

Just Another Day

Streak ~ Day # 324

Today was much like any other day.

I woke up wanting more sleep but I got up any way.

wondered where I was on the BRR wait list

I woke S'ghetti girl up.

wondered where I was on the BRR wait list

I woke S'ghetti girl up again.

checked the website...I'm 13th

I woke S'ghetti girl up again.

wondered if I'd move up on the BRR wait list

S'ghetti girl caught the bus to school.

worried that I'd move up on the BRR wait list

I ran my morning miles.

imagined what running to 10+ hours would feel like

LBM and I got ready for our day.

confirmed that I was still 13th on the BRR wait list

LBM off to the sitter.

wondered if my name would move during the day

Me off to work.

saw my name move to 12th on the BRR wait list

Busied myself with the day's responsibilities at work

stalked the BRR website

I have barely had a moment to think with so much to do;

planned two possible hotel options

dealing with customers,

printed out routes from both hotels to the race start

talking with co-workers,

printed out routes from home to the hotels

balancing check books.

checked the BRR website just in case my name moved

I did take a moment to pray for those who will be running BRR 50 miler

especially those concerning dropping out

I'm only thinking of their safety

you know, maybe 13 of them