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| This less-than flattering photo reveals the angst I was experiencing with still 25km left to go. Some days one must resort to "PLAN ZZ"! |
Finally, back to being “online” after days living on a
rainy, snowy mountain in Northern Italy w/o phone or internet service, I will
share a brief report with more to follow.
First of all congratulations to 2012 WC 100km
Championship, USA’s Amy Sproston! I am so
very pleased for her and proud to be her teammate! Yay! She ran a great race!
I’ll provide a link in a moment to see (read) the details!
Equal congrats to teammates Meghan Arbogast (bettered her
own world record for 50+ age group yesterday) and Pam Smith whose combined
times scored the USA women a GOLD medal! Yay!!!!
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| Team USA with Amy (white, top left) |
The men’s team also performed fantasticly and earned a
silver medal. Yay USA men!
 |
| My new friends were stylin' from the outside! |
As for me, my plan “A” to run 7:50-7:54:58 went bust. My
intestines started giving me grief around 25km and I believe I spent at least ½
hour inside various Italian portapotties and more time ducking in the bushes
and being afraid to drink/eat too much, not wanting to invoke “the port-a-port
urge”.
Despite taking 2
immodium halfway through the run, I knew that as I continued to work as
hard as I could, today would not be the day, I would contribute to a US Team
medal. I felt very relieved Carolyn Smith and the eventual top girls were doing
great.
The plan went to plan “B”, wishing for 8:40 –the qualifying
time for the 100km team for 2013.
Not to be. The stress of this helped invoke some external
rotator/hamstring issues and between the GI issues and bio-mechanical stresses
I hobbled along. I can’t remember wanting so much to ever withdraw from a race:
ie: QUIT! Afterall, at this point
I had nothing to contribute to Team USA.
Yet I am a pig-head and since I was not endanger of hurting
myself or anyone else and even with a list of 100 reasons to stop, there was no
good reason to do so before I was done. Everyone gets uncomfortable during
these events.
After some attitude adjustment I knew there was NO WAY I was going to quit a
World Championship because I felt bad and demoralized. So I went to plan “ZZ”:
Just finish with integrity! I
walked, ran/ jogged when I could, visited port-a-potties and finished taking 2
hours longer than planed. True, moments I felt awful-bent over bloated belly
cramps, and other times I felt the genuine support of the Italian people as
they cheered me the “back runner”
me during my last lap. (I think I came in 11th from last)
At first as I continued on in my Team USA uniform and
thought about placing in back of the pack, I was afraid of disgracing my
country with such a bad finish-I though a DNF and claiming illness a cleaner
image. Yet as I continued on, I
knew for me, I was out of the RACE, yet not out of the RUN. I experienced all
sorts of emotions and confusion and discomfort and pain and ultimately was
thrilled to have finished despite having to resort to Plan “ZZ”.
Again I reiterate my pride for my teammates, all of them and
gratitude for the support and encouragement I received from USA runners,
volunteers and staff as I struggled with my demons yesterday. These folks
worked longer hours then they would have if I’d run well and I so appreciate their
support to see me through.
A more well-rounded race/Italy “story” , with great photos, to
follow after next weekend.
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| Georgio (George) my husband and Team USA volunteer and I post awards ceremony. |
http://www.irunfar.com/ and http://www.iau-ultramarathon.org/ have complete results.
11 comments:
Annette, you are one classy runner! Congrats on sticking with it and finishing. Sono fiero di te! Enjoy Italia!
That's why it's a team, you never know who might get struck with some bug. A huge congrats to ALL members of Team USA!
You should be very proud! Most people would have indeed given up. You gave everything you had that day.
You continue to inspire! :~)
Let me know if you'd like for me to work on those hams for ya'.
Annette,
While there are reason to DNF, especially in the face of injury, I really respect that you finished, especially while wearing the USA jersey. At 100k people are going to have bad days, keep your head up. Thanks for putting yourself on the line,
-Alex
That takes some serious guts, and while you were leaving some of those out on the course, you had so, so much more to keep, to show, to use! Congrats to the Team USA, to each girl and guy, and to all together.
Annette, you showed true grit,& determination. To PERSEVERE is to INSPIRE. You are an inspiration to us all. Thanks for finishing.... Hold your head high!
We all know bad days happen - Doesn't change that its tough to take after so much work.
I was happy to hear you are not physcially injured.
I am excited for US ultra-running right now. Congrats to 100k Women (Dominant) and Men.
Hopefully this continues over to September for the 24 hour WC.
You could us all that fitness and go to FANS24 (June2-3) and try qualify for the 24?
Thank you for sharing - Always great reading your blog
Michael Henze
Sounds grueling! Still, I'd say you did USA proud!
Annette,
You are such an awesome teammate and person and I've so enjoyed our times spent together in both the Netherlands and Italy. So impressed with your gutsy finish on Sunday. Many others would have dropped but you showed your grit and heart by pushing through to the end. An honor to be your teammate, and I look forward to sharing more Team USA memories in the future. It was so nice to get to know George on this trip, as well, after hearing about him on your blog for so long. You two are awesome.
Big hugs, and a speedy recovery to you!
Amy
Thank you everyone for your kind, supportive words! I continue to celebrate Amy and Meghan and Pam and all of us (Strong Men too!)
George and I arrived home 1.5 hours ago. I look forward to getting some sleep and then being able to process this whole adventure and experience.
Thanks again for all the support!
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