Indian/Celina Challenge 2012
Race Report
by Jeff Alvey
After returning home from being a spectator, and part of the make shift search party at last years race I remember thinking that maybe, just maybe next year I might give it a try. So this year when the Indian/Celina Challenge rolled around I had a decision to make, just coming off an injury that had sidelined me for most of the year made the decision a little more difficult, but things were progressing well and I decided to go for it, besides all my friends were doing it!
My day started off at 3:00 a.m., rise and shine after a full day of moving the day before. Up, dressed and packed it was off to meet up with the group and hit the road to Perry County at 4:30 a.m., we had a beautiful sunrise to watch during the drive and before we knew it we were pulling into the Hoosier National Forest, and I remember thinking, I thought it would take longer to get here or maybe I was hoping it would.
After driving through the expo and picking up our shirts it was yet another drive to parking lot where we caught the bus to the start, but not before gathering for a group picture, which I figured was more of a final head count and last chance to get a current picture to apply to the milk carton if it became necessary.
A short bus ride later it was time to check in and get my race number written on the back of my hand, again I could only think that this was somehow going to be used as some way to later identify the body. Now I had heard horror story's of the start and that every year it rains and the heat can get unbearable in the woods, so as I stood at the start line with goosebumps from the cool air knowing it hadn't rained for days, I could only take full credit in my mind, after all I have had a pretty good race day weather record, I mean there were no heat related deferrals the last four years in April.
So the gun goes off, or some guy yelled "go", and we are off, at least until we hit the woods where I quickly learned my first of many trail lessons for the day, start in the front. We quickly spread out, and by spread out I mean I quickly got passed by everyone, and I settled into a rhythm and began to repeat my mantra for the day in my head, "don't fall, don't fall, don't fall....".
Now I've never been one to rattle off my splits, or be able to break down my miles, or even look at my watch but have always envied those who can, I mean my last marathon I looked at it twice, at the half way point and about 200 yards from the finish, so I'm not going to attempt to start now, especially since looking down at my watch and taking my eyes off the trail for a split second would surely have ended in disaster.
I can tell you this much, the views when I could look where spectacular, the rocks were slippery even dry, you will twist your ankles, the hills on the backside were every bit as hard as promised, you will twist your ankles, and follow the advise I received the night before, when you come to the creek just run through it.
Now, I have to add that there were a couple of miles in there where I couldn't see anyone in front of me or hear anyone charging up from behind that were some what relaxing and I even joked to several after that I had nature's ipod on, just the sound of the birds chirping, the woodpeckers pecking, the unknown rustling in the bushes and the hope of someone just a little slower than myself close by if whatever was rustling decides to make a break for the trail.
I guess I should really wait until my trail shoes completely dry out and my ankles quit hurting to make the call to ever do another trail race, I mean I did have some fun, I do wear my race shirt with a sense of pride and I do have a history of repeating the same races, so who knows, next June I may be saying "Now where did I put those trail shoes"?
