You know that favorite pair of shoes that you can't bear to part with? Or that favorite movie that you never get tired of watching? Well, that's the feeling we get from our ol' favorite trail race, the Half-Wit Half Marathon in French Creek State Park, Reading, PA. Perhaps it's because this is the first half marathon Chris and I ever did, or because it never ceases to challenge the body and mind. Most likely, though it's the camaraderie of our friends, fellow trail fanatics and Ron and Helene Horn who really know how to put on a great race and turn it into an even greater party!
This race is no joke: hills from hell, rocky, ankle-wrenching terrain and the 100 "steps" of death, aka some stone slabs thrown helter-skelter into a hillside. The most unique aspect, however is the "alternative beverage" stop at miles 10 and 12 famous for the King and Queen of the Half-Wits Beer Challenge! As you might have guessed, this involves the male and female who can drink the most beers (9 oz. cups of Yuengling Lager) and still finish the race under three hours. Four years ago, Chris took down the reigning champion and earned this honor with a dazzling 29 beers! He still gets name and face recognition at various venues for this amazing feat.
Upon hearing that the reigning queen was not present this year and that the record for women was around 7 beers, my competitive spirit emerged. I could definitely take this down. Arriving at mile 10, I was in a solid 4th female place, but cast that aside in exchange for the beer challenge. Three beers down and I tackled the technical, brier-strewn loop between miles 10 and 12, then arrived back at the beer stop to finish the job. Surprising to me, I had some stiff competition from two other contenders, but my strategy was to stay at least two beers ahead. At #13 I was actually leading the men and women, so started heckling the men that they might just be embarrassed today! One of my rivals gave up the fight, but the other stayed the course. Though she was much younger than me, I was determined not to go down. Never give up...never surrender!
Finally, at her #19 and my #21, she conceded and uttered a drunken, "You got me!" and started back on the trail home. Then it was my turn to make the mile back. Chris had finished the race and came back to coach me through this challenge and he so graciously ran ahead of me to encourage me along the way. I only hit the dirt once, and luckily it was in a soft section of the trail! At 2:58 I crossed the line and was crowned "Half-Wit Queen," an honor which I will treasure for many years to come. Thanks to our Wissahickon Wanderers and Pagoda Pacers friends for a fantastically memorable day!!
No comments:
Post a Comment