Two Ears One Mouth

See what I did there?  As everyone else is discussing the long weekend I went with discussing my long run. Oh Marathin Monster. You have consumed my entire being. After a very successful Track Tuesday I sat on the couch never to run again. That's a lie. But I didn't run again the rest of the week. Saturday the plan was to hit the always scary 16 mile mark for the long run. Why I had such a hard time getting out of bed I will never know. But I peeled myself from bed, stumbled along in the dark cursing as I stepped on random bits of things (wood floors hold a tremendous amount of debris) and made it to the kitchen for breakfast. Close to 7am Autumn sent me the text I always secretly wish she will send saying she couldn't run. I was disappointed initially but upon letting my dog outside and closing the door sweating I didn't feel too bad about the decision to skip. I tried to lay back down on the couch but no real luck falling asleep so I got on Facebook to see a post...

Wait, what?! Trail? Marathon?!  Another year, another Bernheim Trail Marathon and this time I wasn't going to miss it! So, those who can't do, volunteer ! I've done some informal trail running and have always really liked it but have never done a trail race. In my world, the easiest way to check something out is to do it or in race terms volunteer at it. The threat of severe storms made me reconsider heading out at 6 am but I knew rain is no bother to the true trail runners so if they were going to be there, so was I. Autumn  went with me even though she doesn't like trail running or nature but she was a good sport and came along so I could check things out. We got there late for various reasons but luckily the storms delayed things just a bit and we ended up not missing anything. We were assigned to aid station 5 with another woman at what we were told was mile 16 of the full marathon. Trail marathons are the real deal. During road races I think it's safe to...