I wanted this year Catoctin run to be like last year except I could not step into the same river twice. I had a series of races right before it.
Recent setbacks. Old Dominion 100 did not go the way I wanted to go. It was so close yet so far. 10 miles too far. I don’t know if I can get over that. I can blame it on the training etc of what leading up to it. In the end, it resulted in an injury. So I was sidelined for following two weeks (on my third week without running). I am now 99% recovered but still haven’t got back out running like I used to.
Then came the OSS/CIA 50. I knew I would not be able to do well when I entered. It was hard. I love the hard run. I was limited by what my injured leg could bear. Luckily I did not make it worse.
When the Catoctin race came, I was smart enough to sit out on it. It pained me that I could not run in it. I chose the second best option to volunteer. I was asked what if one day I could not run any more, what would I do. I got a good taste of that. I was injured once, a few years back due to a lower back pain and had to sit out for a few weeks, so this was not the first time I had to take time off from running. If one day I never run again, which is inevitable because I will get old, I will deal with it when the time comes. I would still love to cheer on others.
This year has been great. I don’t know why. I haven’t done anything significant but just feel great. Maybe having less stress of not racing so much.
I wanted so much to make it like last year, mostly because of the race Western States 100. It has been exactly a year when I toed the start line. This weekend is the Western States 100. I wished I were there. Couple of the people I know are running in it. I will be very happy for them regardless how they will do. Some will be chasing for the grand slam, so some I will be seeing (again) in Vermont or at Wasatch. I am not doing the slam myself, but I hope to be there. The perspective is a bit different now playing a supportive role compares to doing it myself.
Likewise, I originally wished to write about my experience at the Cat 50k this year. But as a supporter, it is not the same as running in it (2024-report). I was happy I volunteered last weekend and saw my friends going through the aid stations on a tough course and saw them survived the race and also some that did not. We earned praises from runners and the race director for managing our station well.
One thing I wanted to mention was the course was slightly changed before the race (there was a reroute) and because this was an old school kind of race, in that we don’t mark the course, so it was a fun day for people getting lost (for some people not all). We did our part, in that unofficially, we kind of marked our small section of coming into the aid station with balloons. And because of about a quarter mile section that deviated off the trail, we sent volunteers near the exit to tell runners where to go. I was mostly the person there unless my friends came through then I either helped them or joked around and sent them out the wrong way (joking). I felt I did an important job that day. (I was at the Delauter aid station — we were a newbie crew but we were praised for running the aid station like pros, which I was glad).
So as expected, the last three weeks haven’t been too well for me. I took 3 DNF/DNS’s. Never before had I encountered such setbacks. They were inevitable. I have done only two smallish runs so far, about couple miles instead of the usual 25-30 miles.
I was asked when is my next big one. It is coming up in couple weeks. I don’t feel ready for it. I know I am not. The race name (in VT) must not be mentioned for fear of jinx-ing it. Then another big one after that (Eastern States) and then Grindstone 100. I have an axe to grind for that one. I am not afraid of you, Mr. Grindstone (for those who grew up watching Home Alone). They all come one after another. Ahhh. One harder than before. I have to start training hard.
That’s a wrap for this week. I will be watching the Western States even though I am not running in it and probably never will again (report). I love my buckle! I still need to get a belt for it.
When I could not run any more, all I have left is memories from my former races. Yes, and that actually what I did while volunteering, we were talking about our races when I was asked which one was my favorite. I love all my races, thinking back those times I was out on the trail. There’s another alternative, that is hiking/backpacking, more to come (exciting news to share in the next post).
In awe 
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