I really, REALLY like getting disgustingly caked in mud, sweat, and grime. And those opportunities are actually pretty rare. Let me give an example: high-school cross-country. Of course I remember the practices, the road trips, the races...all so fondly. But one day sticks out from the rest. It was after a particularly rainy week, AND our school had forgotten to turn off the sprinklers on the baseball field. Our workout was intervals around the field, alternating between running easy, medium, and hard between the cones. Nothing unusual about that. Post-workout, however, some of us started playfully running over to the edge of the massive mud swamp, kicking up thick mud onto each other. Within about 2.5 minutes, it became an all out Mud Fest. We were pulling each other in, flinging mud pies at any body part that still looked clean, and ended up all out rolling, steamroller style, across the entire field. It was, arguably, the best cross-country practice of my life. My mom couldn't have been more surprised picking me up. And the next day, the entire cross-country team was in the nurse's office for mysterious quarter-sized welts that showed up on arms, legs, stomachs, etc. I think they determined it was some sort of bug bite.Anyways, the point of my trip down memory lane is that I believe mud & dirt can only make a run more fun, more memorable. When I heard about the Dances with Dirt series, it sounded right up my alley. I had already signed up for Dances With Dirt 50 mile in Hell, MI on September 12. Still two looong months away, I was getting antsy to race. I've kept up some good mileage with 45 miles at Beer Run (over 24 hrs) and 'biweekendly' medium/long trail runs with the CHUGs. I was eating lunch in front of my computer at noon on Friday, browsing http://www.theultramarathonstore.com/, and...look at that! A Dances With Dirt race in Devil's Lake, WI, starting in 18 hours. After a few doubts, some nudging from Beer Run 100 finisher Jim O'Brien (the dude who ran across the Atacama Desert), and simply not getting the idea out of my head for 5 hours, I was committed. A little status update on facebook, and Vishal joins the adventure at 9:30pm. Crazy!
We left at 2:30am, as most of downtown Chicago was getting it's 'Summer in Chicago' party on. The next 3 hours were filled with much excitement and anticipation. My GPS brought us to a ferry-crossing, which Google Maps didn't. Without much time to spare, we were a little nervous about where this ferry would take us. There wasn't a single other car on there! View was pretty sweet, though...and it took us straight to the race start. Thanks Batman (my GPS). And thanks Mum & Dad for the graduation gift!
We arrive at 5:30am and register. Of course, my naive self blows Vishal's sweet registration fee deal as the woman is about to charge him $50. "Oh, I thought it was $100 for day-of registration," I say conversationally. "Oh yes, you're right. It is." You can thank me later, Vishal.The race starts at 6:30am. Wow, I had no idea that I would be doing this 24 hours ago. The race goes along smoothly. And by smoothly I mean lots of rocks, roots, and brush. We hit a tough spot early on and the crowd slows to a walk. We're all in this long line in the woods and someone yells out, "Is this where I buy Rolling Stones tickets?". Everyone laughed. It still makes me laugh.
Miles 1-20: Business as usual. Mile 10 had an exciting moment when I was concentrating on opening a Gu packet, tripped, and completely wiped out on the trail. Flat on belly. This is kind of sick, but in that split second after, where you assess whether anything is broken, I was pumped! Finally a little dirty, becoming 'one with the trail.' What wasn't exciting was stubbing my toe, because it's the toenail I'm in the process of losing. That hurt. Now there's a blood blister underneath, making my feet even more attractive for summer weddings!The terrain varied from wider Nordic Trail-type sections to really gnarly and fun single track. One downhill section was completely covered by a canopy of trees. It was totally like riding the waterpark slide where you're enclosed in a tube. I always liked stopping myself on the walls and just sitting there in the tube when I was a kid. At DWD, I let 'er rip through these sections. There was a lot of knee-high brush & thorns that I decided not to tiptoe around for 31 miles, so my calves (and quads, somehow) showed that. Vishal has the right idea with the whole leg hair thing- I don't think his legs were quite as cut up as mine. Something to think about for DWD 50 mile, right? (haha)
For about two miles, the trail led us into the wide open woods, where there was no trail. See the pictures below- it was mostly just bushwhacking and hiking with pink ribbons hanging randomly. We slowed to a walk, hopping over trees, slippery rocks, dried up river beds, and so on. It was hard spotting some of the pink ribbons and there were multiple times where we just stood still, looking around for a flash of pink. There were also a few climbs up to some really gorgeous views of Devil's Lake. AND there was paved single-track! Vishal and I were amazed at this. Just a little single-track asphalt path around trees and rocks. I didn't get a picture of it, though. 
Pink ribbon, but no trail
We were SWEATY!
At mile 20 aid station, I headed out and Vishal was going to catch up with me, as was our pattern. However, no Vishal after 5 minutes...10 minutes...2 miles. I was a little worried, but told myself that he would get back on the right trail when he no longer saw white ribbons. However, the course was admittedly confusing, with plenty of places to take a wrong turn, follow a wrong colored ribbon, or miss the ribbon altogether. As I passed by the finish line at mile 26 with no sign of him, I was more concerned. I had aid stations leave messages for him, but there was no good way to find out where he was. I was slightly comforted by the fact that Vishal is a veteran ultrarunner now (100 mile finisher!) and could probably find his way to the finish line, via trail or volunteer vehicle. However, I wasn't comforted enough to think to fill up my bottles for the last 5 miles!! Huge mistake. At mile 27, I realized I had forgotten to fill up my dry Camelback bladder and empty Gatorade handheld. Not cool, as it was 80+ degrees and the last 5 miles were up and down the Devil's Lake ski slopes. This was where it got rough. Up to this point, I was on cloud 9. Had I finished at 26.2, I would have thought it was a perfectly happy, smooth-sailing day. By mile 27, I was tired, had a really nasty chafing situation going on with my shirt sleeve, and was thirsty (probably made worse by just knowing that I was out of fluids). The field was spread out by this point, and everybody I saw was walking. However, just 5 hours earlier, I had told Vishal that I wasn't going to walk the uphills just because they were uphills. We still walked the steep climbs, but few other hills. More than anything, I wanted to walk now. Vishal was nowhere to be found. I would have fit right in with everyone else. It was steep and hot. Wah. Somehow, though, I couldn't stop running. As much as I wanted to and begged to ease up a bit, I didn't want to finish the race knowing deep down that I could've pushed harder but took the easy way out. It's hard to lie about those things to oneself, you know? So, I was quite mad at myself for the last 5 miles and bitter about the feeling of needing to run, and run hard.
At mile 30, I ran into Vishal (who was going the wrong way! Guess we match each other's lack of sense of direction. I hope Vishal gets a sweet GPS one day). He had taken a wrong turn and added on 8 miles- poor guy. He looked so beaten down and still had the ski hills to tackle. He took off sprinting, knowing that I had to leave for Chicago in 50 minutes.
I came into the finish, doing the breathing that sounds more like gulping for air. I sprinted to finish under 6:40, because that felt significant at the time. I finished in 6:39:53. About 25 minutes behind my 50K PR, but a much better and harder run on a more difficult course. I was actually in an awful mood crossing the line. It hurt like hell! Excuse me, Mama, I know you read my blog. I usually love me some volunteers, but it was all I could do to mumble a thank you for my medal and cutting off my timing chip. I felt like swearing. Or at least saying out loud some of the things that had been on my mind the last 4 miles. So, basically, swearing. Luckily, I didn't. I got some fluids, found out I placed 3rd in my age group (and got a mug!), changed out of my soaked clothes, and sat on a blanket underneath a tree in the shade for awhile. After about 25 minutes, I starting thinking that MAYBE it wasn't so awful. I chatted with other finishers and did a little CHUG P.R. By the time Vishal came in (50 minutes later, on the dot!), I was a different person. However, I think Vishal now felt like swearing. The guy ran 38 miles (but placed in his age group!), the last 5 of which must have been blistering up and down the hills.
We had a nice drive back to Chicago, complete with a life-changing meal of grilled cheese and ice cream from Carter's. I had never heard of that place, but WHOA. 
The Aftermath: I am chomping at the bit for Dances with Dirt 50 mile in Hell, MI. Based on this race, I would have met the time cutoff for the 50M, which is something I had wondered about. Only 5 women finished the Hell 50 last year. I really, really want to be one of them in 2009. I'm pumped.Second, it's pretty cool to be able to 'up and run' a 50K. I like being in good enough shape to be able to do that, and mostly comfortably. However, I was sore after. Went for a 9 miler on Monday and the first 5 miles was a painful-looking stiff legged limp of a run. Note to self: Wear the event t-shirt during these runs so people know there's actually a reason you look like that. Also, respect the distance, respect the need for recovery.
Third, I am bumpy, itchy, and going to the occupational health nurse at work tomorrow about a suspicious looking rash on my arm. I have 3 mosquito bites on my forehead. My left quad looks like a cat went digging for treats. But MAN, I have been smiling for 5 days! I feel like the high school cross-country runner looking for mud has found her passion. I couldn't be happier or love this sport any more. Life truly feels sweeter than ever. Special thanks to Vishal for being the kind of person who would be willing to jump into an adventure like this, 9 hours in advance, no less. Also to the CHUGs, for being a group that encourages this kind of stuff and knows that it brings out the best in you. You all are my constant inspiration.
