I made it. I ran the mountain twice in a row. 1.5 miles to the mountain, 2 miles up, 2 miles down, 2 miles up, 2 miles down and 1.5 miles back to the car.
That was a run!
A couple things. At the end, my legs felt like I had run a marathon. In fact I actually hit a wall with just about a mile left to go. I was shot and could barely seem to lift one leg in front of the other.
All in all it went well, with one HUGE exception.
Hydration.
I didn’t. I didn’t drink much on Saturday. I didn’t drink any water on Sunday before my run. This wasn’t on purpose, I just forgot. I also didn’t take anything with me on the run and there are no water fountains except near my car.
Not good.
I debated stopping after my first time up the mountain, but this would be the only time I could get this run in and it would be 13 miles which seems to be to be close to half marathon distance. 🙂 (My half is in 2 weeks, so next Sunday I’ll just run my normal run.)
I debated running back to the car, but that would add another 1.5 miles on to my run and I honestly wasn’t up for a 14.5 mile run.
So I just ran.
It went well other then my freaking out. I didn’t want to overdue it. I didn’t want heat exhaustion. If I could just find some water. I prayed, “Lord, if you could use a raven to bring Elijah food, could you please get me some water”.
The top of the mountain, the second time up, I saw two women looking at a map of the park. They had WATER in their backpacks. Now, I am very aware that a guy, covered in salt from dried sweat is probably not going to be well received by a couple of women minding their own business. I was a bit desperate. I went up to them and asked nicely if they had any water I could drink. One looked at me and said, “Do you know where you are?” I thought, “Do I look that disoriented?” I replied, “Yes, I run up here a lot”. She said, “Great, because we are lost”.
So I told them how to get to the falls and they shared about a half a cup of water with me.
Then it was back down the mountain and to my car.
The last 1.5 miles were brutal. It had gotten near 80 outside and my legs were shot. I had almost nothing to give, but I refused to stop running (If you can call a 11:00 pace running). I thought, “If I can run 13 miles up and down a mountain, I can handle a hilly half marathon in Nashville.”
I finally got to the water fountain and drank for about a minute. I poured water on my had so it would keep my head cool and then ran the last half mile to the car.
13.1 miles in just over 2:09. Not bad for 1200 feet elevation and in my old PureFlow’s.
Then I saw it! The Gatorade machine. It was like an oasis. I got money out of my car, and filled it with quarters. I pressed the button… and nothing happened. I pressed all the drink buttons… Nothing happened. It was a mirage. On top of that, it took my money. 😦
I can’t complain. I’m glad I made it back and I had 2 waters in the car. I’m sore today, but it is a good sore. I feel like I accomplished something big and I was satisfied that I gave it all I could.
Next time I’ll hydrate!!!
Tom
278 to Boston 
Nathan makes water bottles that you can carry with you. I like the hand held one (not the waist one). They are really worth the investment 😉
Thanks. I’ll check into them. I just wasn’t very smart this time. I hand held bottle would be a great thing where there are no places to get a drink… Like a mountain.
They are great!! There is a small pocket for cell phone and gel also 😉
That is great. I take my cell phone with me, so that would really help!!! Thanks.
That’s awesome! Oh, and for us slow ones a 11 min pace is still running… Haha.
Ha. I guess pace is all relative. Thanks though. I can now look forward to Nashville knowing that if I can run that run yesterday, I should be able to do Nashville without too much trouble. Here’s hoping it is a cool day!
Shaking my head at you and glad you are okay…:-)
It was stupid, but I think my fear was greater then any issues I had. Thank you! I’m glad I survived too!!!
This is something I would do too. A few weeks ago I did a post on Simple Hydration. They sent me a bottle and I was hesitant because I hate other water bottles but I tried it to do a review. I am hooked, I even went to a few running stores out here in NYC to tell them about it. It has a hook that fits into the waist band of your lower back and sits against your back. You can’t even feel it. The first time I kept forgetting it was there or thinking it fell out. Just a thought.
I am one to always forget hydration. Usually doesn’t affect me too much but my husband needs it for sure. Not sure I you notice this but I always find that the last mile no matter what distance is rough. If you did that same run and made it 14 miles I bet it wouldn’t hit until mile 13. I think our minds are awesome at prepping us for the pain for the most part. Congrats on your awesome run.
Generally I don’t need to hydrate because I drink a gallon of water a day during the week. Yesterday though, I hadn’t had as much to drink during the week and it got hot. I was fine, but worried, which doesn’t help. Thanks for the info on Simple Hydration. I do need something on these runs where I have no access to any hydration. Also I agree about the last mile. My legs were like rubber. Felt good though.
Oh my, you are brave! I have gone back home to get my water. Awesome run and what a nice couple! Its amazing how people/things seem to be there “just for us” when we need it the most, if that makes sense! 🙂
Great run! I usually drink a lot during the day, but don’t drink during runs. Certainly something I need to work on.
Thanks. I guess you don’t need as much if you drink a lot in general. My biggest issue was that I didn’t drink much at all Saturday or Sunday. Not a good plan. 🙂
You don’t want anything from that Gatorade machine anyway. Last time I got one from there I was sick for about a week and I’m pretty sure it was from that machine that sits right there at the boat dock next to the lake. Consider that a blessing.
Well that is good to know. I was desperate though. So desperate I almost decided to drink from the creek. Just not sure I might not be sick for a week. 🙂