Finally, I have conquored it. It was kind of like nursing school for me... I waited a long time to be able to say I was a nurse. Now, I can say, "Why yes, I did the Shut-In this year."
For me this race meant a lot. I trained for it so very hard last year, and got injured, blah blah blah. I was really disappointed and discouraged with myself. I define myself as a trail runner, and in Asheville this is the race that I believe defines a trail runner. I could keep writing about how much it means to me that I accomplished it, but I think I'll just tell the race report, with some background.So, in the last 60 days, I have run 61.05 miles. Yep. That's all. My highest mileage week was 16.21. Now, if I had made the mistake of looking this over before the race, I would have scared myself for sure. Thank goodness I didn't.
So the race had the pleasure of falling on my birthday this year. I am a huge birthday person. I LOVE birthdays. But even though, I have waivered about doing it for two main reasons.
1. I didn't really feel prepared. Compared to last year, this training year was a joke. However, this wasn't a big issue for me for some reason.
2. This was the very same day/time as the infamous Green River Race. A lot of my friends went to Saluda to watch that race instead, and Yonton was in that race too, so I wanted to support him.
In the end, I realized how much this race meant to me and made the right decision for me.
Race day.
It being my 29th birthday and all, (I may mention that an annoying number of times, so prepare yourself), I woke up to an omlette breakfast with fabulous honey-covered toast. Mom came and picked me up. (I consider mom my #1 fan. She always goes above and beyond and always says she had fun. She drove around in 25 degree weather for 4.5 hours and waited outside in that weather to crew for me.) Anyways, we headed to the Arboretum at 8:15 for packet pick-up. She helped me decide on how many layers and which hats to wear, given the snowy and FREEZING conditions. Before the race started, Steve my stepdad, my sister Stephanie, Blake, her husband and Bailey, my niece all came to see me off too. It was awesome. 
Brenda and Marc from SMR were running too. I lined up with them. The final decision was announced upon start that we would be doing the last two miles. Given the snowy conditions, road closure was impending. It's not really Shut-In without the last two greuling miles. I would have felt cheated out of the experience and was so happy the whole race went as planned. 
The race started at 10am. I decided to really take my time and relax. There were many miles to go. I was excited when we took a right at the end of Owl Ridge onto Hardtimes Rd. I knew I would see my family at the top where the parkway meets. I had to shed some clothes here, so I tossed them to mom, gloves and all. (I wish I would have kept the gloves.) I felt it was too soon to take a snack break, but I did drink a little cup of water to stay on the safe side. 
Here was a significant climb as the race turns to the trail. I walked, as did most everyone. Most of the race here continued uneventfully. I jogged at an easy pace if it wasn't a significant hill and walked hills. It was exciting here, because I knew I would see mom at Chestnut Cove, then Sleepy Gap. It was fun to have the crowds at the overlooks. I decided that I should start eating here, it had been about an hour since the start. I had gone to get my favorite cappuccino hammer gels the previous day, but apparently I am not the only one who likes them because they were sold out. I ended up getting those Sport Bean things. I tried some at Chestnut Gap, but they were horrible and I knew if I ate them it would make me sick. Anyways, I kept running and after those two, I told mom I'd see her at 151 and kept on my way.
My friend Kim and her husband Adam were kind enough to stand at Bent Creek Gap with some food/clothes for me if I needed it. I was glad I had given them an extra shirt, becuase it was pretty cold out there once you couldn't move too fast. When I got up to Bent Creek Gap, I had a hard time spotting them. Kim had told me she was going to make a huge glitter-glue sign, but at the time, I couldn't seem to find it. I don't know if it was blood sugar or blood pressure, but I couldn't see very well - I just couldn't focus enough to see them. I decided I should eat 1/2 of a banana here on account of that. I thanked them (once they pretty much grabbed me by the shoulder) and kept running, thinking I wouldn't see any aid stations for 7 more miles. Thankfully I was wrong and the Forest Service had let water aid stations at each scheduled overlook.
Ferrin Knob was here, which is about 1,000ft elevation gain in less than two miles, with a 500ft drop in 0.7miles on the top of the peak. Needless to say it's rough on the legs, and slow. There are a few parkway crossings here with aid stations at most. Due to the parkway closings, however, it was one awesome person and a water cooler. I kept on uneventfully. My legs were pretty tired, but still working. My shinsplints were fine. The only frustrating part was my left Achilles was really tight. It's doing better now though and I was able to make it fine then too.
As 151 was approaching, I got excited to see mom again. At this point the friendships of a long race began to form. I had been running with Jim and a father/son team for about 10 miles. The father/son duo fell behind right before 151, and Jim and I kept on. At 151, there were a lot of spectators. I did spot mom though and had a snack and some water. I grabbed more gloves and a hat and was on my way. As I stepped onto the trail, my heart soared. I realized if I started this section, there was no going back. I knew I'd finish. I also had the realization that I may break 4 hours. These last two started pretty uneventfully. I felt okay... then the mountain rose, and rose, and rose. It was the equivalent of 80 stories - 80 stories after a 16 mile run. It was amazing. I didn't even know if I was moving at some points. (I didn't think 1 inch steps counted, but now I do.)
Needless to say, I finished. I walked the last downhill mostly too, scared of my failing legs and frost-covered leaves. I saw mom at the finish. I had my first coke in 3 years, some potato chips and a handful of m&m's. It was so cold up there though, that I felt someone had placed me directly in a freezer. I didn't even want to take a picture by the sign - which is VERY unlike me. I was freeeeezing, and wanted warmth. I grabbed my shirt, and we left.
We rode down 151 to Asheville with the heat on high, all clothes layered on and the seat warmers on high. I was convulsively shivering. We switched cars, drove to Weaverville in my car which literally has the hottest heat of any car I know. I still convulsively shivered. Once I got to mom's, I sat in front of the wood stove for 30 minutes and finally was able to stop shivering. Once I felt I wouldn't die of cold, I put on a suit and got in the 110 degree hot tub. I stretched in there for about 30 minutes, got out and took a boiling shower, and dried in front of the wood stove. Finally, I was warm.
It was a great experience. I'm glad I didn't decide to wait another year - prepared or not.
It was my Everest, and I conquered it. And I will continue to do so, for years to come.
