Crewing at JFK

The running community is indeed a very special place as just being able to share the experience with others at the JFK 50 this weekend displayed. As a crew member, I might have been more nervous than the runners, but Kevin had the details down and I think it all went off without a hitch.  Sara Jane and I left the logistics up to Kevin and then we panicked when he drove Vivain to Pennsylvania and not Maryland before the start.  Although she seemed unflustered and handled it well, I know that she was a wreck, but maybe that was a good approach - no time to think before the start.  Sara Jane and I were a bit apprehensive about shoe changes, moving the chip, and getting everyone back on the road in a quick transition, but I think we nailed it.  



It was fun to run with Wendy in those middle miles and witness how strong and motivated she could be.  She clicked off those miles like it was nobody's business and I knew that she would sail to the finish line meeting her goal as she was just right on the money.  Seeing her break her goal and "crush" Kevin's best time on the course was absolutely amazing.  I have seen Wendy after a half marathon (Houston) and a marathon (Boston) and this was the best I had ever seen this girl after a race.  A testimony to training smart and running smart.  She finished as the 16th women (WOW).  Hats off to Dr. Miller.



Martin's focus was incredible.  He looked so strong at Antietam (the last time I saw him until the finish) so much so that we really thought all he did was "kick a rock".  That was until we saw the foot after the race and yesterday morning!  Ouch, Schuey - take care of that one tough guy.  I would have dropped out after the AT.

Tim's sense of humor was great.  He is so understated and he expected nothing from us.  It was great to see him at Antietam as he was in the zone but could still laugh, but the look on his face when he walked into the school after finishing (we had just arrived to try and catch Wendy and just missed him) was priceless.  Wish I had my camera to capture it as he was so happy and proud (as he should be!) especially after running all that way with a wonky achilles.

Michael wasn't sure what he had got himself into at mile 27,but when I reminded him that there was less than a marathon to go, his laugh and smile uplifted everyone around us.  He ran into very unfamiliar territory and left it all on the course (including leaving Trevor back at the start because, well, Trevor is a big boy - who ran 34.4 miles!).  He had us worried when he had to get a little medical assistance at the school, but Kevin and I were very happy to return there with Vivian and family to see that he was gone and off to Chris's already.

And Vivian - after sharing those first 12 miles and the experience at Boston, it was an incredible rush to be able to run her the last 4.2 miles to the finish with Kevin.  As you can imagine, Kevin and I were a comedy team and we never shut up for the entire 4.2 miles.  We also wouldn't let her stop as she was going to beat that course up once again.  It was very cool that Caroline and Oliver ran 7(!) miles with her and I wasn't sure if they were more proud of Mom or themselves and it was more than cool that they met her with 0.2 miles to go and ran her across the line.  



And the final wrap up at Chris's was superb and well deserved by all!  (Well even though we then ran the coldest, windiest, and (one of the) hilliest 10Ks that I had ever run on Sunday morning.   It was so cold that the on-line results are screwed up as so many 10K runners bailed at the 5K distance. 



(As another testimony to the running community, two marathon maniacs that I know performed CPR on a 22 yr old runner that collapsed in the early miles at the Route 66 marathon in Tulsa yesterday.  They waited until EMTs arrived and then finished the race only to find out later from the EMTs at the finish that he did indeed suffer a cardiac incident and they probably saved his life.  Wow - that just says so much about the community).


Edited to add this article from RW:  http://www.runnersworld.com/trail-racing/miller-and-harrison-prevail-at-jfk-50?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-RunningTimes-_-Content-Trails-_-112513TrailRaceRecap

What a great report, Michele! Thanks for sharing.

Great pictures too!

Great report! Glad you could be there.

Jim Lentz wrote:Great pictures too!

Credit goes to Sara Jane, Brian Adkins and others for the photos.  I was way too flustered to think about something like that and wished I had captured Tim and Michael at the aide stations.

What a great experience and kudos to you for being awesome!

Awesome!

I have to say that Kevin, Michele and Sara Jane were awesome.  Kevin sent me emails and talked with both Trevor and me on the phone to make sure that all our preparations were right.  He was there when I came off Weaverton and made sure I knew where everything was set up.  Michele and Sara Jane were there to help with the shoes and make sure I still had my sanity. Michele at Antietam popping up right in front of me in a different color surprised me, but the little encouragement talk got me moving again.  But the real bonus was after the race when I wasn't feeling so hot, they made sure I made it to medical in one piece.  To think you traveled, used up a precious Saturday to stand in the cold for endless hours to support us is really appreciated.  You have no idea how much.  Chris, thanks for opening your house to us after for a few brews and pizza.  They hit the spot.  I guess I can be a Mule fan for a day.

Again, many, many thanks for being out there.

Race report to follow in a day or so.

mountandog wrote:I have to say that Kevin, Michele and Sara Jane were awesome.  Kevin sent me emails and talked with both Trevor and me on the phone to make sure that all our preparations were right.  He was there when I came off Weaverton and made sure I knew where everything was set up.  Michele and Sara Jane were there to help with the shoes and make sure I still had my sanity. Michele at Antietam popping up right in front of me in a different color surprised me, but the little encouragement talk got me moving again.  But the real bonus was after the race when I wasn't feeling so hot, they made sure I made it to medical in one piece.  To think you traveled, used up a precious Saturday to stand in the cold for endless hours to support us is really appreciated.  You have no idea how much.  Chris, thanks for opening your house to us after for a few brews and pizza.  They hit the spot.  I guess I can be a Mule fan for a day.

Again, many, many thanks for being out there.

Race report to follow in a day or so.

I have to say the crewing about which has been written is truly marvelous and selfless.  Do y'all rent out?

You were all so awesome. THANK YOU, Michele, for hanging with me for all those miles, and doing whatever I asked. Big thanks go KEVIN for all of his hard work organizing everything, and to Sara Jane as well. It was her face I was picturing as I neared the finish line. Indeed, the running community is amazing!

Way to go people, looks like a swell time!

Way to go Michele, along with Sara Jane and Kevin for crewing.  Great job. Wish I wasn't injured and could have run it.

It looks like you guys did such a great job crewing. What great friends!

Nice to see a report from a different perspective. Great photos too!!! Thanks!

Running is generally such a solitary sport (during a race - not before and after), that it's good to read a story of real teamwork. Well done, everyone.