Out of the Woods

I have always had a certain knack for getting lost.  The first episode occurred as I embarked on my first bus trip home from first grade.  I didn't know where my bus stop was, but I DID see something familiar.  It was the city hall, so I hopped off the bus right there.  As I was wandering aimlessly in downtown Aumsville, a police car pulled up.  It was Chief Angle.  He knew who I was, who my parents were, where I lived and probably much more!  Those are the advantages of living in a small town!  My mom was waiting for me and starting to get worried when the police car showed up outside her house with me in it. Whew!  Crisis averted! 

The next episode happened at my Uncle Archie Wayne and Aunt Ruth's house.  Their granddaughter was visiting from Indiana and they gave us permission to walk down to Mill Creek.  This time I was a little older, maybe 8th grade?  I'm not sure, but we did spend most of that week memorizing the lyrics to a popular Sir Mix-a-Lot song, so maybe early 90s?  Ahem, I digress...! My reference point for Mill Creek was Boone Park.  Some of you reading this will know how far it is from Uncle Archie Wayne's to Boone Park.  Their dog followed us on our trek and we ended up carrying him.  We wore the dog out, but we were undeterred! Instead of walking a few feet, we walked a few miles! Not only do I not know where I am on this planet, but I can go in the wrong direction for a REALLY long time! Of course, everyone was worried when they couldn't find us.  Uncle Archie Wayne explained where he meant for me to go.  Afterwards I made some comment about how stupid my mistake was.  Never one to beat around the bush, he replied, "you said it, not me".  Thanks for the support Uncle Archie Wayne!  :) 

 

Those of you who know me are probably familiar with my special talent for getting lost.  I have to call and figure out where the heck I'm at and how to get where I'm going.  To be sure, I was nervous about signing up for a trail race for this very reason.  My sweet husband did everything to assure me that I could run this ultra marathon.  No problem.  We ran the entire course during a few training runs.  He assured me the course would be well marked.  He was going to pace me from mile 25 on, where he thought there might be a turn I'd miss.  Well y'all, I STILL found a way to get lost!  The McKenzie River 50k turned into a bit of an odyssey...



This was taken the night before the race.  Guess I should have been reading a map instead of Mike's copy of Trail Runner, huh?

This woman is drawing a start line for us!

For me, the race started out at 6:30am with a hoot and a holler.  That's how they do it for these ultra marathons.  I took the early start.  The best thing about starting out early for us average folk, is that we get to be in the lead for a little while.  I was with a group of three other people.  We managed to get lost in between the first and second aid stations.  At least I was with other people at this point and we turned around.  Okay, back on track.  I ran with this same group for maybe 15-16 miles.  In fact, I even had a buddy named Tom who was right behind me most of the way.  He was doing a great job of distracting me by chatting me up.  Apparently this was no hard work out for him.  He would be running the Pine to Palm 100 miler shortly after this race.  Tom was very knowledgeable about the ultra world and I learned all sorts of new things from him.  Unfortunately, I had to take a pit stop in the woods and I never saw Tom again. 

Tom, on the right, in the blue hat & shorts

 

All of us early starters looking speedy

 

Enjoying the woods

A few miles after that things went awry.  I can't even tell you exactly where, but I ended up on some logging roads.  Maybe it was when I went UNDERNEATH a gate.  Yep, I actually went underneath a gate somewhere.  Did I really think that would be the right way to go?  Was I delirious after having ran close to 20 miles?  At what point did I think it would be a good idea to do that?  So many questions! I didn't see any flags or markings to show where to turn.  Next thing I know I'm going uphill.  Hmmmm...I know I'm supposed to be on a trail, but how the heck do I get there?  I'm upset with myself for getting lost again.  I'm frustrated.  At one point I finally decide to turn around.  A little while later I see a white truck.  I flag it down and ask about the Deer Creek aid station. He seems baffled as to how I could have ended up on this stretch of road, but he says, "straight ahead". Okay, I've got direction and it gives me a little more spring in my step.  I still have a little water left (not much) and I get running.  Dave, Kristin, and Will would be waiting for me at mile 21 and were going to worry.  Then I come to a junction.   Hmmmm...the guy in the truck said to go straight.  I would later learn that I should have turned at this critical junction.  After a while I realize this isn't right either, but what to do?  I thought about just staying put. Isn't that what survival guides would say?  But I'm stubborn and I'm not going to stop moving.  I look down and see deer tracks and what I'm hoping are large dog tracks.  Now I KNOW I'm going the wrong way.  I start to resign myself to a DNF (runner speak: did not finish) and walking out of here on this logging road.  Surely if I walk far enough it will bring me out to the highway.  There are tire tracks going down the road with the animal tracks too.  I'm having visions of hitchhiking back to an aid station.  Delusions of grandeur, my friends.  A government truck goes by and I let it.  I don't flag it down.  Why?  WHY DIDN'T I STOP THAT TRUCK??? ARGHHHH!!!

I'm walking now because I've ran out of water and I figure that I might be out here for a while.  I promise God that I WILL stop the next vehicle I see.  I WILL ask for help. I have plenty of time to think and be out in the sunshine.  I remind myself of the scripture that says God takes care of the birds, He will surely take care of you.  I look up to the sky at one point and admire the clouds.  I should soak up the scenery while I'm out on my stroll, right?  This is going to sound sappy, but I saw an opening through the clouds in the shape of a heart.  It was as if God was saying to me, "Tonya, I love you, even though I didn't bless you with navigational skills".  Thanks, God! Strangely, I'm not really scared, just frustrated and feeling like an idiot.  I'm out there for another stretch when I see and hear a diesel truck headed my way.  Hallelujah!!!  Glory! Glory! He tells me he's the last guy out of the woods today and that the direction I'm headed only leads to more wilderness.  When I make a joke about hoping the tracks I saw were just that of a large dog, he confirms my suspicions that they were most likely cougar tracks.  Do you think the deer was his lunch?  Yipes. Glad his/her belly was full!  :)   This friendly logger/angel had seen people setting up the aid station at mile 21, which was just the place I needed to be.  He drops me off and I say "bless you" and he returns the sentiment.  I never say things like that, but it felt warranted in this case...divine. 

Mike runs into the aid station just as I am pulling in.  Kristin, Dave and Will are there too.  Now it's time to make a decision.  I'm feeling a little emotional and really glad to see my people. Someone from the race tells me that I can still make the cut off.  I have 9 more miles to go in order to complete the race.  Normally, after running 20+ miles my back would be hurting and I would not feel like going a step further.  Other than wanting to cry a little bit, I was fine, but ultra marathoners probably aren't supposed to cry so I buck up and get back on the trail.  I think this part of my journey was also divine in that I actually had some gas left in the tank and my pain was minimal compared to what it should have been.  Mike paced me during those last 9 miles.  Some of his comments added fuel to the fire and others gave me some much needed confidence.  Thanks, Mike!  :) 

In total, Mike and I are estimating that I ran roughly 40 miles that day.  Since I didn't run with my fancy watch, I can't be sure.  I finished in 8 hours and 24 minutes, which brought me in at second to last place.  Woo-hoo!  Other than getting lost I felt like I ran a pretty darn good race.  I've also set myself up pretty good to run a PR (personal record) for next year!  :)     

Rockin' my McKenzie River 50k fleece hat!

The girls were all tuckered out after spending the day with Grandma C. Thanks for taking such good care of  these sweeties for us!  You can tell they had too much fun!  :)

 

 

* I also need to send out a special thanks to Dave, Kristin, Will, and Will's cowbell for giving me the much needed boost at the Deer Creek Aid Station.  You are a huge part of the reason that I kept running and why I was so determined to get out of those woods!!!  I know what it's like to be on the spectating end so I truly appreciate the fact that you took an extra long chunk of your weekend to cheer me on.