CPA, MD + 3: Welcome to My World: Bourbon Chase 2016

Running 203 miles in 35 hours through the hills of Kentucky between Louisville and Lexington with 11 other friends... that's how I spent my weekend on Oct 13-16. I know, that was a while ago, but it has taken a while to recover. It was truly one of the most physically demanding things I've ever done.

My friend Mandi and I arrived in Lexington in Thursday afternoon and met up with the rest of the team that evening. Our team was comprised of 12 people - 10 women and 2 men, ranging in age from 36 to 66. Some had done several relays like this before, but most of us were newbies. We were dividend into two groups - those in Van 1 and those in Van 2. I was in Van 2 with my friends Mandi, Jana, Lorena, Rusty and Ginger.

Van 1 started the race on Friday morning at 7:15am. Each of their 6 runners ran their individual legs, handing off the relay bracelet to the next runner at the end of their leg. Van 2 took over the running at 1:30pm on Friday.

I ran my first leg of 7.2 miles around 4:30pm. It was a straight shot down a highway, with lots of rolling hills. I ran on the shoulder of the highway which consisted of a two foot wide rumble strip. The cars and semi trucks passed within a few feet of me every few minutes and I had to turn my head so I wouldn't catch a rock or other debris in the eye. I was very glad when it was over.

After my run, I stretched, iced my feet and ankles, downed some pickle juice (to ward off muscle cramps), and changed into dry clothes in the van. We drove to the next exchange point to pick up the runner after me and drop off the next one.

Van 2 finished their legs around 7:30pm and Van 1 took over the running. We grabbed dinner at an Italian restaurant close by and then headed to the hotel rooms the team had booked for the night. Because we had to all be at the next major exchange point to meet Van 1 around 1am, we got to lay down for only about 2 hours. The last runner in Van 1 handed off the relay bracelet to our first runner at 1:30am.

I ran my second leg of 5.4 miles around 3:30am. The course was on a windey country road in the woods. And again, it was over several hills. There were no street lights and the moon was blocked by clouds so it was very dark. I had a headlamp, reflective vest and flashing rear light for safety. Somerines I was the only runner I could see; so it was a little spooky at times. I was glad when it was over.

After this run, I stretched again, iced my feet and ankles and changed back into my dry clothes. When all of our Van 2 runners had finished, we stopped at a Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Coffee, eggs, bacon and a biscuit - so delicious!!

We then drove the van to the next major exchange point and parked for a few hours and tried to get some sleep. At this point it was about 9am Saturday morning. We stretched out on the seats and floor - wherever we could get "comfortable." Around 11am we pulled ourselves out of the van, so very sore and tired, in search of more coffee and to change into our last set of running clothes. Van 2 handed off the bracelet to our first runner around 12:30pm.

My third leg of 6.7 miles started around 1pm. My legs were very sore starting out and the pain just got worse as I went up and down the hills. I quickly determined that I could no longer run up the hills - I allowed myself to walk up them and then run down the backside and across the flat(er) sections in between. At one point I ran through a cloud of knats and had to decide whether I'd run with my mouth closed and suck them up my nose or run with my mouth open and swallow them. Swallowing was better than taking them up the nose. I finally arrived at the end of my leg, exhausted, sore and covered in dead bugs.

After my final leg I iced again and changed into dry clothes. The last runners from our van finished their legs - we met up with the rest of our whole team and our final runner at the finish line and ran (hobbled) the final 100 yards with her past the finish line. There we received our race medals, posed for some pictures and did a little race swag shopping. The runners in Van 2 decided to forgo the post race party for a steak dinner at Outback. We then hobbled back to the hotel where we had stored our luggage for a shower and crashed into bed. I apparently slept through an alarm and my roommate talking to me - I cannot remember if I have ever slept that soundly before!

Sunday morning we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel and then it was time to pack up and leave. There is a bond between our van-mates that did not exist before this race and I think it is something we will always share. I could probably be talked into doing another Ragnar Relay with this great group of girls - but it would definitely have to be a much flatter course!