I just did my first in-person road race in over a year; a half-marathon in NH. It was cold and my time was okay considering my limited training. As I ran around the streets of Hampton Beach I was overcome with many memories of running in the area for Reach the Beach. Reach the Beach is a relay race that goes from the mountains of NH to Hampton Beach. Over 200 miles of running divided among a team of generally 12 runners. There are a lot of logistics to it, easiest to sum it up with my team's name "Run, Rest, Repeat". Also we all smell really, really bad for 2 days and we are so tired and punchy.
I was asked to join RRR for my first RTB (keep up with the acronyms) in 2003 by some friends I had met while doing a marathon in Alaska (yes, that Alaska). So one Thursday night I went to NH to meet 9 new people (2 of the runners I knew) with whom I would be spending the next ~48 hours. Having just ran a marathon I assumed that I was all that and a bag of chips in the running world, I was wrong. My first run was a 7 miler from Attitash to Echo Lake State Park, I love this run and rave about it each year. Somewhere I have leg diaries about this. I was slow but got the run in.
My next leg was around Midnight. I ran alone with flashlights, peaceful and amazing with the solitude and beautiful night light. Living in a more urban area I don't get the opportunity to run like this at night; over the years I have really enjoyed my nighttime run (except for the one time when I fell). Occasionally I would get passed by a runner and vans would go by giving quiet encouragement. Signs were posted along the route warning motorist "Caution Runners on the Road at Night", definitely odd if one didn't know the event. A teammate or two may have taken a sign after the event.
I was concerned because I was so slow and thought that my teammates would be upset that I was not running as fast as I had thought. They had stopped along the side of the road to cheer me on and give me some water. I came up to them ashamed and hoping that they were not mad that I was so slow. The amazing captain, David, and his trusty side-kick, Mike were patiently waiting for me and were more concerned that I was okay and felt safe, it didn't matter what my time was just that I enjoyed it. This is what it is all about. Whether it is running or another activity, most people who participate are encouraging and love the camaraderie of it. Running is a solitary sport yet we have an amazing community of people. I made some amazing friends through RTB and have so many stories from the event. While I am not sure if I will participate again I hope to connect with the wonderful group of people again.
As I stumbled through the last few cold miles of the half marathon along the water I was reminded of our Den Mother running with me on my last leg and quietly talking me through it. I smiled at the start of the race when we ran through the sand, I had been the anchor leg a few times to the screaming cheers of my teammates feeling like an Olympic athlete. The celebration of chicken and a beer after, the hugs as we all say goodbye and thanks for the memories. The drive back from Hampton Beach, sometimes driving North to only turn around and head South since the logistics of this thing is a bitch. I am blessed to have done this event and blessed to have some many running memories in NH and blessed to have found running.
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