Swampstomper here I come

I've been on part of the Swampstomper race course before, but it was years ago and Drew and I just hiked part of it one Saturday. I've been a little nervous about the race, so I decided to visit our Memphis trail running association's forum to search for past race reports. Here are the descriptions I found:

wow...that was really hard. i'm not really sure what to say about the course. it was freaky...

i just gotta say that all the people that went out on a second loop knowing what was in there deserve some kind of reward, like free counselling or something because we all obviously need it.

the only thing that got me back out there is something dave horton said on his PCT run..."once you make a commitment, you must finish it"....seriously, that is what got me back out there and several times cursing him for saying it. then once i got back out there it was like....."what would Pre do...what would Pre do"......crazy mental gymnastics....

Last but not least, while not advertised as a technical course, I found myself on my Kiester enough times, not to mention crawling on all fours plenty of times including the final ascent to camp. If anyone heard cussing in the distance, it was me and please take no offense

I now must rest and try to forget, though the promise of physical distress will never let me forget.

This 25K was easily as difficult as any marathon I've completed. It was a strange experience to "bonk" after only 13-14 miles of running. Truly a mentally and physically exhausting run! Happy to report three slips and only 1 spill.

It has been a while since I have completed that distance anywhere. That course on that day was easily the hardest run I have ever attempted and finished. I have run further and run faster, but never have I put so much effort into something so difficult and it just became more so as the miles rolled along. I'm glad I stopped at the 25K.

Those are only a few descriptions - there are many more! I emailed this to Laura and we both were really scared/nervous. I decided to comment a fellow Memphis runner/blogger who had gone to some of the training runs out there and he made us feel much better. This is what he had to say:

White 1 is about 3.7 miles. Very steep downhill from start, then fairly flat.
--aid station--
red loop is about 3 miles. A lot of elevation changes with some flats. T
--aid station--
white 2 is about 3 miles. There is a lot of elevation changes and a creek (should be dry) to cross. Also includes some blacktop and a bathroom. This is the turnaround.
--aid station--
Reverse white 2 & 1, skipping the red loop and you be finished!

Seeing that made us feel much better...plus add in the fact that the weather is not going to be near as bad as it has been the past couple of years. Apparently what made it so crazy was massive amounts of mud and numerous creek crossings with water up past your waist. This year the course is much drier, so hotty toddy for us!

I've been drinking tons of water and eating lots of carbs plus resting. Swampstomper is my first "long" race of the season so I'm excited to see how I'll do. My A goal is to get as close to 3 hours as possible...but you know how goals go. I might get out there and just be lucky to finish or I might blow it out of the water. I found out tonight that another member of the Memphis Ultra crew got in the race - Patrick put his name on the waiting list and he found out last night that he got in! So we will have at least three members running. Michael is still waiting, but is he doesn't get in he'll be out there cheering us on with Drew!

Hopefully I'll have some good stuff to report on Sunday...I'll leave you today with a picture from last week's 3K. They just posted the pictures on the race website today.

I'm always amazed at what crazy faces I make!

Happy running - hopefully I'll have some good stuff to report on Sunday!