I got up at 4:00 and drove familiar route to White Mountains. I’m a Cow Hampshire native, my parents too, so it’s like Christmas morning for my GoatDad when I run Mount Washington.
MomGoat called me the night before with mental prep I could draw upon… something about a magnetic mountain pulling me uphill and also Mount Washington being sacred to Native Americans and my Native American lineage.
It was misting when I arrived, saw Judge, Spanky and Taz, then Goatie stepped into a grassy ravine filled with water… socks wet already. Judge too, we took off socks to try to squeeze out some of the water.
Judge, Spank & I warmed up then I got into an unfortunately slow line for porta-john and almost missed the start. Sprinting to the line I did glove hand off to GoatDad, high five with RD Bob Teschek, good luck hug with 3 time Mt Washington winner Dave Dunham (17 sub 1:10 finishes), quick fortuities with GTD runners Jim Johnson (Taz) & Jon Healey and lined up with Bob Hodge (13 top 10 finishes).
GoatDad and Dave Leonard stood on the rocks and yelled to me as we started the incline. It was humid and foggy and I looked around wondering if Spanky was nearby. The Goons had bet that Spanky and Goatie would duel it to the top. Spanky is two groups ahead of me at GTD track, so I feared it could be a painful duel for Goatie. As the only Goon girl racing against the Goon boys, Codfather encouraged me: “you eat men for breakfast” and “mountain goats always are at home charging straight up the mountain leading the pack of beer guzzling males.” Fearing Spank’s sneak attack like New Bedford, I pushed harder.
The miles actually went by quickly and I kept checking in on my form to reduce the hurt. I wanted to punch one dude who kept running too close to me… I’d speed up, him too… I’d go to the left, him too… I got tired of it, gave him a “look”… finally away.
Somewhere around 5-6, walking started to seem better than running, so I asked two guys near me to make me start running again. Firmly, the guy on my left said, “Let’s go, run to the bottom of that hill!!!!” I replied, “Hahahaha, it’s ALL a hill!!” But his push got me going and we ran together until a steeper incline, then we looked at each other and he was ready for me to back off, but I had found my extra gear to keep running strong.
I saw the Dunham entourage running down, but at a higher point than last year. Logically, I figured, I very well could be faster than last year… he must have spent exactly the same time at the top, right?! Given my level of exhaustion, this way of thinking made more sense than looking at my watch.
Scott Mason was a wonderful sight and I knew not far until the finish. I saw Kristin, Taz and heard lots of cheering and I smiled about the ridiculousness of the wall… it’s totally nuts. I saw the clock in 1:40:50s and knew it had been a good run… finished just over 1:41... stupid 4 seconds over, rather be in 1:40’s, but no whining, it was a 2.5 minute PR.
I waited for Spanky & Judge who made me proud of their strong runs and with absolutely no whining or complaining about the challenge they had just endured. Typical Goatie made them go to the summit for a photo and then led them through wrong parking area… professing some knowledge of the location of Taz’s bro-in-law’s car.
Learning from post-mountain race lightheadness, I forced some Gatorade, put on my Goon jacket and Judge & I met up with GoatDad and Scott Mason at the bottom. No kidding, Dad was so pleased, you’d think I had won… glad he enjoyed it, all I did was run.
Judge and I phoned Doc D with our Goon update and I hit the road south.
Thank you so much to all my GTD buddies for their kind support and encouragement, Mrs T, Sonic Boom and I had worked hills together, honorary Goon Scott Mason, Professor Fernando and of course, Doc D who makes me one very lucky & happy Goatie
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