leif the lucky

ok, so it's been awhile.  sorry about that.  it's just that, like most people this time of year, i've been on vacation for a few months.  you know how it is.

what's that?  werk you say?  well, it's a damn good thing that i don't blog for a living, cause we've all seen how that goes.  oh well.

so.  last april i had a bug planted in my brain about running my first marathon.  and why not combine it with a late summer trip to greenland and iceland, spend a month cruising around and checking out some far out places?  and run a marathon while you're there.  and i'm not talking just any city fun-run, on paved streets with water stations, cheering crowds, and the fame and glory and talk show appearances that inevitably follow.  

mine was in qassiarsuk, greenland. about 50 people live there. and it's a town fabled to have been founded by none other than eric the red, father of leif eiriksson.  so leif the lucky marathon it was.

as far as the course itself, it starts in town at sea level and then climbs and descends a number of epic hills en route to a couple other settlements in the area, all while giving a spectacular tour of the sheep-filled grassy peaks, diamond-white waterfalls, and iceberg-packed fjords.  the course includes over 3,700' vertical feet of elevation gain.  i don't think i really knew what i was signing up for.

i mean, i've climbed 3,700' vertical feet a number of times in my life while hiking peaks in colorado and around the world.  but that was always walking.  and 6-8 miles.  

and i've certainly hiked over 26.2 miles on a few occasions, but running that and climbing the equivalent of a 14er in the process? 

oh, and did i mention that at the time i decided to go i had never run further than 6 miles at a stretch in my life?  

this was going to be an epic challenge, but i needed something huge to work towards in my life and some serious motivation to get in better shape. i had 8 pounds of beer sagging around my mid-section, not much for a pilot i know, but too much for me.  it was time to get back to my fighting weight and be a lean sexy tiger again.

i trained my ass off the next 4 months,  doing yoga and insanity classes every day, and of course getting in 4-5 progressively longer runs per week.  i started eating healthier and not drinking a drop of alcohol.  i've never felt so good in my life.

when the day came, i wasn't sure if i could do this.  the longest run i had done in training was 20 miles with about 2,700 vertical feet.  this was going to be a real test and i told myself that i would be content with just finishing.  i would not care about times or placing or any of that horseshit.  

we sat down for a breifing. the course was explained in danish, then translated to english. there would be 3 concurrent races sharing portions of the same route: a 10k, a half marathon, and the full marathon.  i stretched and got ready for the starter's gun.  about 40 of us were running; most the 10k, a handful the half, and 8 of us the full holy tortilla.

the shot went off and we started and i quickly found a comfortable spot midway in the pack.  the leaders were sprinting and those in back were nearly walking. the first hill came only a quarter of a mile in, and i shifted into low gear, mentally preparing myself for the arduous feat ahead.  soon i found my zone and mostly it was a cruise.  i brought my camera and took lots of pictures.  the scenery was stunning.

i tried to imagine what it must have been like for those first vikings who settled here.  short summers. harsh winters. no trees in sight for firewood.  badasses all.  leif eiriksson, i salute you.

i paused for water and snacks when i needed them, downed some gatorade and chocolate and bananas. waved thanks to the volunteers stocking the aid station and went on my way.

i shocked myself by never needing to stop.  around mile 22, i could feel a little soreness in my left knee, but i just slowed down and it went away.  i crossed the finish line in 5th place, a full 5 and a half hours after starting.  all the locals were clapping and hooting and hollering while paol, the head organizer, hung a medal around my neck and i collapsed into the grass, legs on fire and grateful for me finally giving them a break, staring up into a deep blue sky with puffy clouds and a profound sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

the day ended with an awards ceremony and massive feast of greenlandic lamb, potatoes, salad, bread, beers, and wine.  i stuffed myself senseless, temporarily suspending my vegetarianism, as it doesn't get any more local or organic than this.  i found a way to eat double the amount that i normally would for dinner, and still felt hungry.

greenland is a spectacular and little-traveled place.  the people were incredible and the scenery stunning. the locals were shocked and thrilled to have foreigners in their community race. i was welcomed with open arms and i certainly want to go back one day.  those beers, even though they were $12, never tasted so good.

and the sunset overlooking icebergs was among the finest of my life.

i did it.