Gregg Gelmis: We Run Huntsville |
The 13th Annual Dizzy Fifties 50K, 40 & 50 Mile Race was sunny, breezy and colorful.
My first race since dropping at mile 87 of the Georgia Jewel 100, my main goals for the DF50K were to finish under 7 hours and make my latest race a finish instead of a DNF.
My first race since dropping at mile 87 of the Georgia Jewel 100, my main goals for the DF50K were to finish under 7 hours and make my latest race a finish instead of a DNF.
I took two months off from racing
to recover and create a break between my running seasons of 2016 and 2017.
Fall of the year begins a new season for me
mentally, since it's the best time of year to run in my view.
By the time January rolls around, we're 3/4 of the way done with the Grand Slam and three months into the cold
weather, so it's hard for me to think emotionally that January is the beginning
of a new running year except for annual scheduling purposes.
Start/Finish Pavilion (G. Gelmis) |
I get to the top of Monte Sano Mountain a little before 6 a.m. and ease
into a parking spot on the side of the road next to the start/finish pavilion.
Everything is going smoothly until I start removing my run backpack and bag
chairs out of our CRV.
I did not feel rushed, but I parked on a slant, so
I'm trying to hold the heavy, rear swinging door open while I gather things and
it puts a small strain on my back.
"Why did I park on this slant?!" I should have
relaxed and moved the car down a little to the flat, but Nooooo... I fight it and show that
gravel bank who's boss for about a second and a half. I move away from the door, set some things down
and take a deep breath.