BFF Time on the Trails
2011 ended with a challenging 100 mile race, Ancient Oaks 100, and after some time off and the New Year, I decided to get back to the basics of why I love to run. As much as I enjoy the challenge of finishing a race with a time goal in mind, I needed to take a step back from that and focus on why I really run.
Fat Ass 50k is a GUTS race that is has been a tradition for me since 2009. All week, I was excited to travel with Dena Cyr to Sweetwater Creek Park in Lithia Springs, GA, see all of my GUTS friends, and enjoy some time on the trails.
Dena and I met the summer of 2004. We both joined the newly formed, Hamilton Mill Road Runners club (that I now am the director of). People come and go in running clubs either due to pregnancy, moving, or changing athletic goals. Dena and I are the original club members and have shared many miles together throughout the years. I have so many fond memories of our runs.
We became good friends outside of our runs and our kids essentially grew up together. In fact, our sons are only 4 months apart in age. Grant has been friends with Parker longer than any other friend. We have been to parties together, out of town together, and lunch together throughout the duration of our friendship. Our friendship expanded far beyond just running into a deep caring for one another.
Because life can get busy and we may not speak to eachother for a few weeks at times, we always know that if I needed something or if she needed something, we would be there for one another in a heartbeat. I don’t have a ton of friends in my life that I know will truly be there for me.
Dena and I were so looking forward to BFF time; not only on the car ride there and back, but hopefully also on the trails. In a long race like this, we always have the understanding that it’s not required that we stay together, but on this day, it just worked out perfectly that we were wanting to stay together.
What can be better than over 7 hours in the woods with your BFF? I would get so caught up in our conversations that at times, I would forget to run again after walking a difficult section. We talked about everything: training, kids, husbands, other running friend’s successes, Christmas, and anything else that came up in the moment. On the 4th loop, I suddenly lost my balance while climbing one of the boulders (yah, I need to work on that, lol) and Dena caught me! We were a team out there all day-even when the rain came down hard on the 5th loop and we yelled, “HTFU!” and “Who else runs 34 miles on trails in the torrential rain!”.
On the way home from the race, we literally found a Taco Bell right off the interstate. This made the end of our day just perfect!
“Dena, why does this burrito taste so dang good?”
“I don’t know I should have gotten another one”.
“I know we should have gotten two!”
We laughed remembering other times that we devoured Taco Bell food after races and how we would never eat Taco Bell unless it was after a race.
Another Fat Ass in the books and more running fun in the future with Dena and my other running buddies. 2012 is going to be a good year and I’m so grateful to have friends like Dena in my life. A run like this makes you remember what’s important in life and I’m thankful for this reminder.
