Push Me,Pull Me – A Bimbler’s Bash Race Report

The Bash is one of my favorite trail races. It was here in 2007 that I officially joined the running community and made a lifetime commitment to use trail running as my ultimate form of exercise and connection with nature and friends. No better place to enjoy this experience than Westwoods in Guilford.
This years race fell on April Fools day and I did my best to joke about it. Like weather predictions of possible snow for race day and the idea that the race coarse will be run in the opposite direction! The joke about a large cat roaming the Westwoods on race day was a good April Fools but latter found out that the possibility of this actually might be true. “Run faster, large cat be hind me” was my gag along my run at the race. It worked and I ran fast and encouraged others as well especially the ones who stopped to pee. I did not make a P.R. but did manage to loose a couple more pounds to make a 20 pound total blubber loss over the past ten weeks. Bragging rights!
My head had been clouded all week with the fact that Micah was missing in New Mexico on his trail run and that everything possible to find this brother was being done. Late on Saturday I deleted the post on the Bulletin Board about him missing because I had a gut feeling he was gone ( and I wanted to give respect ). Immediately after I did the delete I found out he was found dead by his buddy beside a stream lying on the ground. It was such a heartbreak. I was sure not to speak much of this at the Bash to ruin the mood. I dedicated my run to him today and when I got to the Lost Lake water station I screamed his name as loud as I could on the bluff overlooking the lake. Tears poured down my face and Ultra yelled at me to get back on coarse and run. Instead of drinking any water I dumped it on my head to cover up those tears as I left the aid station. Thanks Ultra for helping me get my grip. Though you probably did not know it at the time.
There is this rock scramble after the aid station where I manage to get my focus back on the race. It was not far after this that I started hearing someone on my heals. I dare not look back cause I am trying for a P.R. but knew I jeopardized it with my extended stay at the water station and the fact I did not drink any water there! Anyways I cruised it by the power lines and down that steep still hearing this quiet runner behind me. Scoobie was at the trail junction where you head back to the school. She was yelling and cheering on runners by there names. When she said “come on Snobody” as I passed her I asked if he was really behind me! He was that quiet runner behind me and had been pushing me for a while. I was somewhat shocked because Sno is usually a mile ahead of me by now. I knew that from here to the finish would be murder. He pushed me and pushed me hard. At some moments I think I was even being pushed by another runner. A mantra started to develop between us. It was like pushhhh and pullll and pullll and pushhhh. As we came out of the woods and on to the soccer fields there was the bagpiper and it is so cool to hear the sound of the bagpipes at the end of the race. I started complaining to Sno that I can’t run any more and that I have given up. All he said was pushhhh and I replied pullll. I pretended to slug him in the face a couple of times and proceeded to sprint to the finish. The lady I stopped and helped out of the mud about a mile back was sprinting also and I kindly let her pass. Sno and I finished 140th and 141th together and that was cool especially since he has helped me over the past 13 weeks at those WW a.m. runs. Thanks Snobody. After my run I wanted to collapse but instead cherished the moment of joy of almost puking in front of everyone. Lefty brought me some water and I was just fine. This year was a Blast at the Bash and I want to give thanks to Mr.Bimble and Guthrie and all the volunteers for making this my favorite trail running event. Suds