Run til you drop: Shoe Run, Run Race Report

It all started with a text--a simple invitation from my friend Olivia.

"Want to be on my shoe run run relay team?" she asked. It was an innocent question.

"Sure! When and where is that?" I replied. She shared the registration link and all the details. Her friend (and now my friend) Shawn agreed to join us for the madness. 

Olivia's next question was more sinister.

"How many miles were you thinking about for the stage race?"  

The race, Shoe Run Run, didn't have a set distance for each of the three days or "stages." It was a BYOD (build your own distance) type of race. Those are dangerous words for an ultra distance runner. 

I told Olivia I thought I could do 50. Olivia was thinking more of the 60-100 mile range. Running 100 miles in 3 days would mean running more than a 50K three days in a row. 

I wasn't sure I was up to that. Heck, I wasn't even sure I could do 50 miles in three days with little training. I settled on 60 miles with 20 miles run each day.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the world, I was fitter than I had ever been and ready to set a new PR on the 50 mile distance. Just about a week and a half before I was set to toe the line, the race was canceled.

Needless to say, with no more race to train for and little hope of future races actually happening, I slowed my training way down. My longest run since March was a whole 12 miles--not near far enough to be ready for something as wild as running 20 miles three days in a row.

But, oh well. I took my chances and I came out on top.

Friday, June 26.

I joined my other trail sisters Sonia and Donna for some stupid climbing. Donna showed us a new Strava segment named "Blue Balls." It includes some backcountry climbs on the north end of Oak Mountain State Park.

Blue Balls is a 5ish mile route up the bike trail to the blue trail to King's Chair and then into the backcountry. If you're familiar with the backcountry near King's Chair and know the segment is named "Blue Balls," then I don't feel like I need to say much more. You already know it's hard.

Sonia and Donna of course beat me to the top of every climb. After about mile 4 I was wondering why I decided to do a stupid segment called "Blue Balls" on Day 1 of my stupidity stage race.

I finished my 20 miles with more than 2,600 feet of elevation gain. (More than I wanted on Day 1).

I felt generally good going to bed and was optimistic about Saturday.

Saturday, June 27

By Saturday, I had named the weekend the "stupidity run." Who in their right mind wants to run 20 miles three days in a row? Me, apparently. Play stupid games, get stupid prizes. (Except my prize wouldn't be stupid... More on that later).

I overslept but did meet up with some amazing friends at Red Mountain Park. I joined Lisa, Mary, Tanya, Greg, Ki and Elizabeth. I ran 8ish miles with them until Greg, Elizabeth and Ki went their separate ways. I ran about 7.5 more miles until Mary finished her run.

I finished the 20 mile run Lisa and Tanya and had the best time. We ran from Red Mountain to downtown Homewood. We walked, laughed, made inappropriate jokes, ate cold fries out of Tanya's Prius then ate some fresh fries at a food truck. We stopped for Steel City Pops too.

I finished my 20 miles at a cute plant shop in Homewood complete with snacks, cold drinks and air conditioning.

I was a little less optimistic by the time I got home. I felt good, but I knew Sunday would be rough. The forecast wasn't promising either, with the high temperature expected to be 91 degrees.

Even though I knew it would be hot, I slept in Sunday morning.

Sunday, June 28. 

I did not want to get up Sunday morning. The day 2 fatigue from Friday was setting in, on top of the next day jelly legs from Saturday. 

I had a smoothie and a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast, but I was still hungry.

I slowly made my way out the door, knowing full well it was only getting hotter. I started my run just before 10:30. I even ran into Olivia on a super hot section of the High Ore Line Trail. 

It was hot. I was miserable. At mile 12, I sat down on the steps at Grace's Gap and wondered if I would finish. I was low on water and it was hot hot. I knew I needed to eat, but did not feel up to it.

After refilling my back with water and snacks at the car, I headed back out for the last 6 miles. Those last miles ticked by quickly. By the time I was finished, I didn't think I could go one more mile.

Turns out the hard work and the heat paid off, because our team won the distance award. We ran 181.3 miles. 

Now, the real challenge of the race begins. I'm asking you to help me raise money to buy shoes for children in foster care in Shelby County. I don't have children, but I see all you moms posting about how fast your kids wear out shoes. My wallet hurts for you.

You can donate by sending money through Venmo to Race Director Mary Campbell. Here's the link to her Venmo.