Yesterday I started my last morning visiting my mom with a 12-mile extra-hilly run. My run was far better than my previous one, but those hills put a hurting on me. My total time was 2:00:54 (10:04 pace), and my quads are still complaining!
I ran past the trash and recycling center and since they were open, I stopped in to use the porta-potty (no surprise there). It was the cleanest porta-potty I’ve ever seen… It even had a rug in it! You don’t think I could have passed up on a picture, do you?
A few miles later I ran past this little lady and she started following me. Every time I turned around to check on her, she cowered down. I finally decided that she was just wanting to be friendly so I let her come over to me. After lots of happy jumping and licking (by her, not me), I turned to continue my run. My new friend decided to run with me and stayed right beside or in front of me for about a mile or so.
A few minutes after my new friend joined me, I passed a house with a little workshop right by the road. I saw a guy sitting in the yard and decided to ask him if he knew who the dog belonged to. As I ran by, I asked him how he was, and he replied, “Doin’ fine.” Just as I started asking, “Do you know whose dog this is,” I noticed that I could see bare skin on his side below his shirt and that his pants were gathered below his knees. O. M. G!!! He was squatting there doing his morning business, not expecting a soul to come by, especially a chatty runner girl.
After a wonderful five-day visit with my mom, I met Bill, Joseph, and Julie in Blacksburg in time for an early dinner at Cabo Fish Taco.
I ordered what ended up being one of the best margaritas I’ve ever had. That bad boy was almost gone before my chicken fajitas arrived. The fajitas were good, but don’t deserve the same high accolades as the margarita!
After dinner we walked over to the Duck Pond to watch the sunset. I took this picture with my iPhone, and Bill took a bunch of pictures with his fancy camera. I’m sure his are outstanding, but I don’t think mine turned out too shabby!
After watching the sunset, we headed to Cassell Coliseum to watch the finals of the ACC Wrestling Tournament. We were thrilled to cheer our Hokies on to an ACC championship!
After we left Cassell Coliseum, we drove over to the Drill Field to cheer on Julie’s friend Brett who was starting an overnight training run in preparation for the Umstead 100-Mile Endurance Run. Julie and I would have loved to run a few miles with Brett, but we weren’t exactly wearing the appropriate footwear! Next time, Brett, we promise!
Each lap around the Drill Field is almost a mile (50 miles = 62 laps). We stayed for a while and cheered Brett on each time he passed by. Bill took advantage of me being preoccupied and pulled out his camera and tripod and took some night photos of Burruss Hall. You can see Bill in the background in an orange shirt.
And speaking of 100 mile ultramarathons, I have to give a huge shout-out to my friend Amy who battles chronic Lyme Disease, and yesterday attempted to run the Graveyard 100 Mile Ultramarathon. In Amy’s words, “By running this race, I want to raise awareness about Lyme Disease, to bring hope to those battling Lyme Disease and to raise money to fund research for a cure for this crippling, chronic illness.” If you are interested in helping Amy, you can make a donation to the National Capital Lyme Disease Association through her website.
Amy, at the 50 mile mark of the GY100
As a veteran JFK 50-Miler, Amy attempted to run the race without a crew and knew this would be a big challenge. If you’ve never run an ultramarathon, you probably don’t realize just how important it is to have a crew to support you. Crew members are responsible for your well being during the race. Not only do they carry your gear, changes of clothing, and any of your special dietary needs; but they act as your cheerleaders, doctors, and sometimes decision makers during the race. It is their job to get you in and out of your check points as quickly as possible, and watch to make sure that you are still healthy enough to continue the race.
Even without a crew, Amy was able to stay in the race until she set a new distance PR (personal record) of 100K (62 miles). I am so proud of Amy and can’t wait to read her race recap on her blog, Twingles Mom.
- Questions:
- What animals have befriended you on one of your runs?
- Have you ever crewed for a runner or gone to a race to cheer the runners on?
- What was the most fun thing you did this weekend?
I cannot BELIEVE there was a guy doing his business right there! My goodness! The look on his face and the sheer shock of it all probably got you through a few miles!
The most fun thing I did this weekend was make a beautiful trip to Sedona. It takes just under an hour for us to get there and we went as a family. The boys aren’t getting any younger so I know these times will be fewer and further between.
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I’ve never been to Sedona, but I’ve heard it’s beautiful! Enjoy your time with your sons because once they get a little older and get part-time jobs, plus their activities, they’ll have even less time for those excursions.
Hi there!
I haven’t been by to write a comment in so long it feels like but I’m so happy that that porta-potty made it to the blog I just had to write!
Congrats to your friend for an awesome job!
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Thanks for stopping by!
The whole first half of your post had me laughing! I can’t believe the dude just squatting there! That rug in the portapotty is hysterical, too. Maybe someone should tell the guy in his yard about the portapotty.
Courtney @ Don’t Blink. Just Run. recently posted…St. Pat’s 5K Race Recap
Glad I made you laugh! The porta-potty was only about a mile from his house; and his house was about a 20 second walk from where he was squatting! I guess he just felt like being “one with nature!”
Ha ha ha- that’s hilarious about the man squatting and you talking to him!
Sounds like you had a fantastic weekend between visiting your mom,, lots of great runs, and more family fun!
That’s crazy to do all those laps in training. I guess it helps bike mental toughness!
Wow- amazing work, amy!
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Brett said that since he was mostly running alone, he decided to run around the Drill Field so he would have easy and regular access to his car for grabbing water, fuel, etc. Students had just left for spring break so there wasn’t a lot of traffic.
I agree, Amy’s amazing!
That was an interesting run, Deb! I’ve never encountered a peeing man, but my husband gets a little freaked out by the crazy dogs who run back and forth in their yards as he runs by. You never know if there is an electric fence, or if the dog is determined enough to just plow through it. At least the dog you met was friendly!
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There certainly wasn’t a dull moment on that run, and I don’t think that guy was peeing!
Oh my gosh, I can’t believe that guy was doing his morning business in the yard. Oh, wait, I can 🙂
Did you ask to use the porta potty at the trash and recycling center? There’s a trash/recycling center about 2 miles in on the Dora Trail, and there have been a few times I needed a porta potty. But I was too shy/embarrassed to ask them if I could use it. I love that you took a picture!
Barry and I made friends with a dog last week that ran with us the rest of our run. We haven’t seen her since, though.
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I just went right on in the porta-potty because I didn’t see anyone when I first stopped. As I came out, the lady that works at the center remembered me from a previous visit and we talked for a while. That day, a couple of summers ago, it was really hot and she insisted I take a water bottle. Later my parents dropped off a case of water to her as a thank you. Knowing my mom, she probably takes home baked brownies to her when she takes the trash there!