My quest to earn mountain goat status...

Saturday is a rugby day!

The weekend of  May 4th and 5th was a little busy. I started Saturday with Amoskeag rugby club when I briefly stepped out of retirement to play with my running partners and good friends Amy and Brigit. It was a fun morning, I played a position I had never played before and I didn't get hurt! I hesitated playing because on May 5th I was scheduled to run the Sleepy Hollow mountain run-the first race in the USATF NE Mountain Circuit.

photo by Gianina Lindsey @ Snapacidotic

photo by Gianina Lindsey @ Snapacidotic

After the game I drove home, showered, packed my car with my tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, running kit etc. I then drove 3 hours to Huntington VT to Sleepy Hollow trails. $15 and I was set for the night! I set up my tent and was settled in around 9pm. The sounds of the night were amazing and after dark the skies were full of stars. I was excited for a good nights sleep and I wasn't disappointed. Woke up, broke down camp and started to psych myself up for my first race of the series and my first race running with acidotic RACING. I met Chris in the parking lot and got my jersy and buff. I was ready to hit the trail! The race started-close to 200 participants and I was nervous. We headed up and I felt strong-down and up again. I was fast on the down hills not as fast going up. I tend to only tap the brakes going down and feel the need to take advantage of the moment. I passed a couple women who passed me again and ultimately I passed them before the race was through. I met up with a fellow aR team mate on the trail. Didn't know him but we both were wearing team jerseys. We toggled back and forth and finally after the second hill climb up and fast down we were running together. He suggested we run together with a nice opportunity for a pic in the aR yearbook. Sounds fine but did I mention that I sprint the finish-oops. He wasn't happy but we pretty much crossed the finish line together-in a full out sprint. After the race he said "there is a word for people like you and it starts with a B" I took that as a compliment ;-)  It was nice to have people to hang out with after the race and I enjoyed meeting people with a similar passion for the trails. I ended up finishing 3rd in my age group, just one place from medaling in the USATF mountain championship. Not bad for my first official mountain race.

 

photo by Gianina Lindsey @ Snapacidotic



The weekend after Sleepy Hollow I had a great 12ish mile run in the Belknaps. We hit 4 or 5 peaks in total and finished at Mt. Major. I was enjoying the moment so much that I forgot to snap a picture...oops! It was a long but great run/experience. Looking forward to doing it again. This past weekend I ran Pumpelly trail of Mt. Monadnock. It was my first trip up Monadnock for the year and it did not disappoint. The views were incredible and it was a fun run/hike. I only ticked off one angry woman (gave her wrong directions on accident) and wiped out as the end of the run was "near". Many laughs and perfect weather made for a great day. Next up...Mount Wachusett!

It was nice not to have to take a selfie from the top of Monadnock!