River to River, Part I

2008 Several months ago Richie and I signed up for an annual 8-person team, 80-mile relay race that takes place in Southern Illinois called The River to River Relay. It is a pretty well-known relay in the racing community drawing teams from as far as Albuquerque, NM and even international locations each year.

Having grown up right next door to the grounds for this event, it is a shame that up until now I was a R2R Virgin. I had watched my dad and Richie run the course for years now. I even served as a volunteer once. But in reality, the closest I had ever been to running the R2R was when I would meet Richie at the finish line and excitedly run from the heavenly bratworst/jambalaya stand to the indulgent funnel cake stand.

This year was different.

I became a Thunder Canyon Road Raptor.

Being a Road Raptor carries responsibility. Three 5Ks to be exact. And together you put in 80 miles of the hilliest terrain in Southern Illinois. A formidable sacrifice to the Running Gods, to be sure.

The 2008 Road Raptor Line Up

#2: DAVE
The #1 Category 5 Cyclist in Illinois. Wow.

#3: JOHN
Our team captain and stat-man extraordinaire. Has been running the R2R every year for the past 20 years! This year he completes his sixtieth leg.

#4: BRETT
An SIUC senior in Architecture who is tall, lanky, and appears incapable of functioning at any mode above “chill,” but is actually deceivingly fast.

#5: CAM
John’s son, a chip off the old block who recently completed his first marathon in Austin.

#6: MIKE
A guy from Edwardsville who despite being Diabetic and in his 40s has spent the last year of his life becoming a 6 minute miler. Today he is talking about being ready to run his PR.

#7: BRIDGET
A female State Trooper who holds the Illinois 1600 meter record among female Troopers. She can also put together a car all on her own.

#8: RICHIE
The fastest of the lot. Runs sub-6 minute miles, and is touted by John as being our Closer.

#1? ME

Saturday, April 19.

The alarm goes off at 4:30am. Richie and I grudgingly get up and start packing up snacks, extra clothes, socks, energy drinks, towels, rain jackets. Weather is predicted to be rainy and cold all day.

We drive out to meet the rest of the Road Raptors at our captain’s house east of Carbondale. We pile in to his VW van circa 1970. It’s awesome. I feel like we are in Little Miss Sunshine- a mixed nut family in a geeky-cool car. We drive out to the first leg of the race.

(I should say here that what would have been the first leg of the race, and my first leg specifically, was cancelled for only the second time in the history of the relay due to mudslides from recent torrential rains. I consider this an unfortunate incident for the region, but a fortunate one for me as I would have probably died had I ended up running the full 10 miles. But I digress…)

Dave is the first runner off. Once Dave is off the day begins to go by at lightening speed. Over the river and through the woods we go, stopping every few miles to reel in one runner and send off another. #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, and then #8.

“We’re gonna beat those ROTC’s,” John says as Richie takes off. “Richie’s gonna beat their guy.

Though my team is just in it for the fun, I am starting to feel nervous knowing I am next and ROTC might just kick my butt. With Richie out of sights, we take off to Exchange # 9.

“You ready Alba?” Everyone is asking as we tumble out of the van.
I hope so.

I see Richie coming in form the distance. It seems like we only just dropped him off a moment ago. He is kicking butt and taking names.

closer.
Closer.
CLOSER.
NOW!!!

Richie slams the baton into my hand and I’m off.
“Gooooo Alba!” Richie cheers. The Raptors are whistling as I run past them. I think, This will be over in no time.

My first leg is designated as HARD because of the insane number of hills and their steepness.
You can see for yourself here.

As I head up the first uphill, it starts raining. Great. I already feel like I might die, but I promptly tell myself:

NO! You are graceful. You are energetic. You are fast. You will be done soon!

I sustain myself with positive thinking and as I near other runners I make it a point to try and pass them. Don’t want it to be my fault if ROTC passes us after all. On a particularly steep downhill I near a 40 year old guy who seems to be making an effort to keep me behind him. While my body is at its limit, I blow by him on principle.

Around Mile 1.5 the Raptor’s VW van passes me and the team leans out the window to cheer me on.

SMILE! Bridget it yelling, so I do.

Yes! I think. I’m Little Miss Sunshine and they know I can do it, and I CAN!

The adrenaline from this carries me much of the way during this first leg. I feel like I’m flying by everyone. In fact, I probably could have convinced myself I was running sub-6 minute miles when in reality I ran more like 8.5 minute miles.

As I was head up that last massive hill, my legs begin to tighten. My chest seems heavier than before. And the guy struggling up the hill ahead of me seems far, far away.

Then, I see an orange flag flying in the distance. The exchange must be right around the corner. I bite the bullet and decide I am going to pass that last blue shirt before the finish line. I muster what energy is left in my body and sweep past Mr. Blue Shirt.

“Good job.” I say as I pass him. I realize as soon as I say that what a buster thing it is to say.

This thought is quickly forgotten when a few minutes later I see Dave, waving me in to the exchange point. The rain is stopping and I give it my all for those last hundred yards. The Raptors are again cheering. Richie is running alongside the road screaming too. My first R2R leg is about to end! As I push through the exchange point and hand off to Dave I feel a huge sense of pride.

So much so, that I imagine the crowd yelling,

“RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!”

The underdog has done it!!!

As I wobble to the side of the road, I feel accomplished. I feel like pounding a Gatorade like they do in the commercials ‘cus I’m so hardcore. I feel like hopping back into our Little Miss Sunshine van and calling it a day.

And then I remember I have another 5K to go.

To be continued…

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