Weekend Ramblings

We just got back from our weekend at Eklutna Lake. (And my 'Eklutna Challenge'). My camera was dropped by one of the kids, so I'll have to post pictures after I get them off said damaged camera. We had a great time! We did foil dinners, pineapple upside down cake, and roasted marshmallows. We told stories and read scriptures by the fire, and enjoyed just being together.
Saturday morning was my race. I had signed up for the Eklutna Challenge under the impression that that lakeside trail was fairly tame, and with a few exceptions, mostly flat. Not so! I started the 3 mile run, feeling pretty good. I ran past my husband and children, smiling for the camera, and when Morgan innocently yelled out, "what are you doing back there, Mommy?" I couldn't resist with a "I'm keeping the back company sweetie!". Everything was going pretty good, til we came to this very steep, very long part of the trail. (about 1/2 mile straight up...)
I only had to stop twice. Once to tie my shoe, (how lame is that?) and once to run back up the hill I'd been coming down, to retrieve my missing IPOD.
You run to the finish line, and immediately over to your staged bike. Put the helmet on, and take off down the trail. (you know, the mostly flat one) This is where I'm really glad I know there is a God, and my family is eternal. Several times, during the 15 mile bike ride, I rode screaming (like a little girl) down a steep, gravely, jagged rocks sticking out trail, full steam ahead, thinking, "that's it, I'm going to die!". Then it would slow down, and a very steep, slow, uphill trail would ensue. Not a lot of flat trail, I might add. And where there was flat road, you can be sure there was a very deep, black watered puddle (by puddle I mean at least 5 feet by 10 feet) that I was told you could not slow down for. By the end of the race, my fanny was covered in mud, my white shirt was no longer white, and what wasn't covered in sweat, was caked on dried black mud. And this is where the cameras started flashing.
Now, am I glad I did it? You betcha, (after all, I did finish 53rd out of the women contenders).
Am I bummed there were only 60 women racing? Not really, cause hey, I finished. I didn't blow out a tire, (like about 12 people did) and I didn't turn around half way through, (like all my good senses were screaming at me to do). Could I blame part of my problem on my chain coming off twice, or my seat needing to be adjusted twice after the jarring down hill parts? Mmmm, maybe. Will I ever do this insane race again? No way Jose! It was great to say I've done it, and my wonderful husband kept the children entertained while I did it, and he was even sure to be there at the finish line when I zoomed through. But my extreme mountain biking days are over. I shall return to the posh biking trails of the KGB and live quite contently thank you.