Epic

I’m heading off to the Epic Relay on Friday morning.  I began training for this race in March and now it’s time to run.  I feel ready.  I’ve put in the hours and I’m ready. 

Our team has 12 runners: 6 men and 6 women.  We begin at 8:30 on Friday morning outside of Portland and will finish in Eugene sometime Saturday afternoon.  There will be someone from our team running during that entire time.  We will cover a total distance of 187.63 miles.  I’m pretty excited about it.

The distances of my assigned legs are 4.56 miles, 2.41 miles, and 7.36 miles.  I will be running them in that order.  My only concern is that my longest distance is my final leg.  If I get any sleep Friday night, it will be in a field somewhere.  I worry about aching joints and fatigue.  I also worry about having enough energy after eating only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Cheez-its.  And Sour Patch Kids.  I bought a giant bag of Sour Patch Kids.  They’ll probably be what saves me from exhaustion.

I’m looking forward to cementing friendships and enjoying girl time.  I’m looking forward to the accomplishment.  I’m looking forward to being done with my training schedule.  Running 4 days a week is a lot for a lazy person such as I.

I’m dreading the stench that will be following me around after running and not bathing.  I’m dreading the same stench from 5 other women in the van with me.  I’m dreading porta-potties and changing my clothes on the side of the road.  I’m really dreading sleeping on the ground.  More than anything else, I’m dreading sleeping on the ground.  I’m going to be mighty ugly by Saturday.  Good thing we’re bringing a video camera. 

Bring on the adventure.

Now, to all of my friends in Southeastern Idaho: there’s an Epic Relay that runs from Logan to Jackson Hole.  Don’t you want to get in on the action?