Friday, June 7, 2013

Hey Aunie, Want to Run a 100k?

Sawtooth Relay
Original image source here. Poor photo-shopping credit all goes to me. 

Well, here we go again! My mom and I are off to the races tomorrow... and this one was even more unplanned and last-minute than the last one. Let me explain...

On Monday, my mom called me and pleaded, "One of our runners can't do Sawtooth because of emergency surgery—will you run it with us? Please please please?" I checked my calendar and didn't have plans, so what was I going to say? No? I don't think so! I called her right back and signed myself up for the torture.

So what is this race, you may ask? It called the Sawtooth Relay, and it's a 100k run that begins in Stanley, Idaho and travels along the Sawtooth Mountains to finish in Ketchum (right outside Sun Valley). And no, I didn't misprint that—it's a 100k—which is 62-miles. Obviously, we don't run the whole race alone. There are teams of six who each run two legs (12-legs total). The race begins at 12:00 am and they start teams every 15-minutes. Team vans tote the participants to each exchange station, and it's just a giant all-day relay extravaganza.

Our team is scheduled to begin bright and early tomorrow at 4:15 am. I've been assigned legs 2 and 8 (one uphill, one downhill), which are 5.83 and 5.09 miles (respectively), so I'll have logged a total of 10.92 miles by the end of the race. I'm expecting that our team will probably take around 10 hours to finish the race. Ten hours. Talk about a long day! I think the craziest part is that we'll be running alongside ultra-marathoners who will be running the entire race by themselves... no thank you!

Today, I'm logging a full day at work, and then going to pick up my mom to make the 4-hour drive up to Stanley... and then we'll snuggle right into bed because it's going to be an early morning! So tonight, while you're cozy in bed, you can bet we'll be out with our first runner, warming up at about 3:30 am. This probably all sounds really ridiculous... but I'm so excited. It's not every day that you get to join a team of five other fit ladies and crank out 62-miles! Wish us luck!

32 comments:

Suzzie said...

wow that sounds like so much fun! unless you're one of the ultra marathon runners doing it by yourself. good luck. girl!

Lisa said...

I can't wait to read the recap of the race! I've always wanted to do a ragnar relay or something similar :-)

Kelly Ann said...

Oh my goodness, people run the whole thing? THAT IS CRAZY! Good luck on your two portions!

xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes

Sara Wiles said...

This is the coolest thing I've ever heard. Crazy long day, but look at what you will accomplish! AND PEOPLE ARE DOING THE WHOLE 62 MILES THEMSELVES?! Wowza! Have a great time!

Abby Johnson said...

Good luck! That sounds awesome!

Cynthia Meyers said...

What a fun thing to take part in! Good Luck and have fun! Cant wait to hear about it!

Breenah said...

That sounds cool to do it as part of a team. I CANNOT imagine doing it by myself. Nope.

Tina Byland said...

This sounds like such a fun race! Good luck this weekend! I am sure it's going to be a blast!

Annelise Rowe said...

Can you imagine? That sounds so difficult! Thanks a bunch, Suzzie. I'm excited to share how it went next week... and hope I get service to IG some photos!

Annelise Rowe said...

So fun! You should! I'm bringing my camera for some cool mountain shots and I'll do a recap Monday... that's my favorite part!

Annelise Rowe said...

Aren't they insane? SIXTY TWO MILES. No way, jose! 11 is good with me!

Annelise Rowe said...

Thank you, Sara!! It will be a long day... but I've never done a distance relay before so I think it will be awesome. And since they're starting us every 15 minutes there will be a lot of time where we are running by ourselves so it will be just like a normal training run :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Thank you! I hope it IS as awesome as it sounds!

Annelise Rowe said...

Oh, and you will come Monday! LOL... are you getting tired of hearing me talking about running yet?

Annelise Rowe said...

Me either. The idea of running 10+ hours? Oh. My. Gosh. I don't know how people do 100-milers and run for an entire day. That takes heart. And training. And guts. And a little bit of craziness :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks Tina! I'm so looking forward to it. It's going to be an entire weekend adventure for sure. Tonight, tiny road trip. Tomorrow, race. Sunday, hobble around with blisters all day... ha!

Hannah Johnson said...

That sounds slightly crazy but so fab at the same time! My Mum and I are doing Race for Life next weekend which is a 5k walk round the local park raising money for Cancer Research UK. My Mum doesn't really run so we tend to walk it all at quite a quick pace (about 50 minutes ish) and put the world to rights. I then often get over excited and sprint the last 100 metres or so lol.

Cynthia Meyers said...

Absolutely not! I love hearing your stories and look for inspiration in all of them!

Tracey Stone said...

Count down till we leave for our run.....isn't this great that Annelise writes all about these crazy races we do. I just have to tell people to go read her stuff! I didn't even know some of the facts! Good thing I got a great daughter!

Annelise Rowe said...

That sounds so great! Good for you! The best part is the sprint at the end :) For sure!

Annelise Rowe said...

<> :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Aw... mom! You're the best. Maybe I'll make you write the Sawtooth recap post! Ha!

Oh, and I lurked their website for about an hour yesterday because I'm terrified! That's where all the facts came from!

Karla said...

That is so awesome!!! Sawtooth Relay was my first ever race. I LOVED it! It was so much fun. One of my legs was down the mountain and I ended up losing a toenail but it was worth it. Good Luck and have loads of fun! :)


www.MySerendipitousLife.com

Annelise Rowe said...

Your very first EVER race?! Girl, you've got guts!! My toenails are already painted black b/c one turned black from our last half marathon, so I'm expecting more to follow with this race... such is the life of a runner! I have two "moderate" legs... one uphill and one down. I'm excited to see how it goes!

Martha said...

Man, you guys are in SHAPE! Have fun and stay safe out there!

Annelise Rowe said...

Ha! Now that is something we like to hear! Thanks so much, Martha! Have a nice weekend. We'll tell ya all about it Monday!

YolandaRonaldo said...

That sounds like so much fun!! I hope you enjoy your early morning :)

Katie said...

That sounds crazy and awesome! Good luck. Pray you guys stay strong and stay safe!

Kateri Von Steal said...

62 MILES... I am proud of being able to do 1.62 miles on an elliptical in 15 minutes... I would die with 62 miles.. I know you have previously said, you've always been an active runner... but, jeez... How do you DO IT?!

Annelise Rowe said...

Well, to be fair, 62 miles was the ENTIRE distance. I just did 2 separate legs of 11 miles total. One 6-miler and one 5. So I just contributed to the overall 62 miles :)

Annelise Rowe said...

Thanks so much for your prayers, Katie! Your helped us achieve absolutely ZERO injuries! Not even blisters!

Annelise Rowe said...

Oh, it was EARLY early! Thank you!

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