Katie: Oh look! Registration is still open for the Rock 'n Roll Lisbon event at the end of September. You know, that's one I was looking into early this year and it gives us more time to train than Prague or Budapest...
Lori: Okay, well let's pick a few and cost them out.
Katie: Sounds like a plan. Oh! Check it out...the Madrid marathon is on my 30th. We can totally run 2 marathons in a 3 weeks time frame right? I mean, we're going to train a lot smarter this time.
Lori: April?
Katie: Oh and the Dublin half in next August so put that on your schedule too.
Lori: You're crazy.
Katie: What are you doing this weekend?
Lori: I don't know.
Katie: Want to do the Vesuvio Trail run with LPN? 9K. No time limit, let's hike it.
Lori: Sure.
- - - - -
Once we were committed, I was able to convince 2 additional unsuspecting individuals. But hey- I just saw trail run on Vesuvio so I wasn't expected a walk in the park, but I was also planning to hike it rather than run it. Two hours, no problem.
So this morning a small group of us LPN folks headed to the starting line. With the pack quickly escaping in front of us, our small group of hikers pressed on. The tree cover was nice, but still didn't negate the gravel/sandy path on the incline. Within the first few kilometers our group dropped in numbers as the incline increased significantly, but the volunteer chosen to bring up the last of us (TO make sure we didn't get lost out in the wilderness!) was patient with our stopping to catch our breaths or take a swig of water. Gianni was his name and he was continually reminding us piano piano, and telling us how many more kilometers until the incline was done.
Well, when the path switched to loose soil coated in pine needles while simultaneously increasing the slope to something between 50 and 90 degrees, the four of us started to question our sanity. Of course two very in shape guys heading down saying it was too tough, also played a major role in our doubts. Lori being the smart one (and gets the gold star award for knowing her limits and not being stubborn or competitive) headed back with Gianni, leaving me and Andrew the important message of catching up with Enzo, another volunteer that he had headed back.
Within 5 more minutes of heading up the trail, the idea of turning back crossed both our minds- but we were tasked with an important message! Somehow the trail got even steeper and with every few steps (or you know, clinging onto any shrub or exposed root) I found myself hugging a tree to avoid slipping and losing hard earned steps. So yeah, I hugged many trees today!
When we thought it couldn't get worse...it did. The trail became so steep that even quick feet up the cascading gravel wasn't going to work. So it really was a crawl/scramble up the hill. This is where we caught up with several others, including the woman that I quickly dubbed hazard as she would lose her traction and slide. It was a challenge, but we saw that the path leveled out above us. We followed a fire road for a little while, thankful for the well marked trail. At an opening we saw Enzo and relayed the message that we were the last ones. (Does anyone else see this sad but true pattern emerging in my running events?) He passed us off to another volunteer and we continued on. At first it looked level...and then we saw steps after we tromped through the plants growing over the path. Mamma mia.
Luckily, not too long after that last incline, we started our decent. Before too long we found ourself back by the clearing and Enzo was still there showing us where to go next. [This is worth noting because in so many of these Naples area races volunteers pack it in not too much after the winner crosses the finish line and that course are so poorly marked when you are bringing up the end you really question if you're one the right path or not.]
We followed the arrows and tape to an area on the side of the hill that must be a mess come winter time with all the rain. The fine gravel and dust was easily a foot deep and after our initial steps we concluded that trying to keep it out of our shoes was pointless. Without the fear of sliding down since the gravel enclosed our shoe with each step, we finally picked up some speed. With the dust flying behind us we joked that we were walking on the moon as our legs rejoiced over a different movement. After a few minutes into this, shoes were filling up with gravel and my poor (already abused) toes were packed in there. There was also a strange burning feeling around my ankles. It took me a few more steps to realize that the hot gravel was making this experience even less pleasant and made me wish I really did have some cardboard to slide down the hill.
At the end of the "landslide" area we parked on some rocks while we pour mounds of dirt and gravel from our shoes. Apparently we weren't the only one with this issued; at least one pair of discarded socks was there with us.
Our next terrain was a very organized pine tree grove, as in all the trees were perfectly spaced. As the land leveled out we figured we had to be near the end of the trail. When we reached the end of a wood walkway, a man sitting in the shade of a tree offered us water, and we started to chat with him. After a minute of chatting he informed us that the finish line was just down the road. Are you kidding me? So with one last chug of water we finally decided to make a run for it. Well, a downhill jog with extremely tired legs.
In true form, our group was still waiting for us- even if the inflatable arch had already been deflated and put away. Worse part? We took 2 hours longer than the finisher's 51 minutes.
Yeah, 51 minutes for a 9K. This course was crazy.
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