June and Rocky Raccoon

At 5 a.m. on Saturday, my good friend June Leland will embark on another in a long line of adventures. She'll be running her first 100 mile ultra marathon in Huntsville, Texas. The race, known as the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Run, is off road on terrain much like Croom.

June's running buddies can't be there with her, but we'll all be there in spirit. Last summer when June did her first 100K/62 mile race, the Vermont 100 Endurance Race, her friends each wrote an inspirational message, one for each mile, which June then carried with her in a little plastic bag. We’ve added a few more messages to bring that collection to 100. In this way, one of June's friends will be accompanying her along every mile.

The course consists of five, twenty mile loops. I suggested that I would think that would be preferable to an out and back course. I can't imagine having run forty miles and knowing, in your head, that you're still running away from the start; also, I thought it would be sort of comforting to see familiar territory after the first lap, and most importantly, I thought it would make it easier to get back to your 'drop bag' to access supplies, etc.

June agreed but also offered, "But I'll also have to pass by my car every lap."

Good point. Kind of like when my husband buys those yummy mint chocolate cookies, and they nag at me every time I walk past the pantry - only magnified exponentially, of course.

Yes, as I think we all realize, the mental challenge is at least as great as the physical one. As I put in my ten miles or so Saturday morning, I will be thinking of June, and my ten will go by in a flash. Everything is relative.

We'll all be looking forward to the debriefing early next week, June. Here's to you!

Comments

[Wendy]

Go June!! I will be thinking of you when I run Saturday for sure. I'll probably even think of you when I have to get up early Saturday for Dances with Dirt. You'll already be running when I wake up and you'll still be running when I go to bed. You are so inspiring! Good luck!!

[Sandy]

How can you not love this woman!

[Joni]

WOW...RUN GIRL RUN
You ROCK, June.
Cannot wait to hear all about it. You are such an inspiration.