Snails and Fails

The day that Dave ran up Alum Cave Trail to Mt. LeConte in 52:22 I was working the late shift. I came into my office to find a tiny sticky note with his time on it stuck to my computer screen. It was at that moment that I knew something was about to happen between him and running. Don't get me wrong he had always been ultra motivated and had put in his fair share of miles, but it was that incredible feat(not even a record) that marks the beginning in my mind.

Dave contemplating his mountain...proof that he does sit down.

Since then I have traveled with Dave to Chattanooga for his first 50 miler (standing in the freezing cold at each aid station, just to see him for 30 seconds), to drop him off at Newfound Gap for his trip from Newfound to Davenport Gap(a test run for his record attempt on the AT through the park) and I was there to hike up to meet him right above the shelter on Davenport Gap the day he shattered the record on that run from Fontana to Davenport.

People have always thought Dave was a little crazy in his own way, and that therefore I must be a little crazy too. But, since that AT record was set I have been getting the same question over and over again, when I am talking about it with people. "How do you keep up with him?" They say.

Truth be told, the answer to this question is one that I have struggled to answer, but here goes.

I have never expected to "keep up" with Dave. I am an incredibly slow runner, so running together is something we rarely do. I used to think that if I could just run the same amount of time as him, that would work, but that was a mega fail as well. Then I came to the realization that his goals and my goals have nothing to do with each others in this regard.

I know how you feel buddy.

I run 50, 60 sometimes 70 miles a month, sure he has done this in a day, but that doesn't matter to me, I am still proud of myself. When I come home after working all day long and Dave has run 35 miles in like 5 hours, he doesn't look at me and say, "Well aren't you gonna do something?". We hang out, and eat dinner like a normal couple. Sure he is exhausted and eats ALOT, but beyond that he is no different than if he had come home from a 9 to 5 like me.

Motivation is the one thing that his hobby has given me day in and day out. My running has given me the confidence to do many things that I was previously afraid to do or do on my own. But Daves running has inspired me to be a better runner and a better me. Last year when he began his season on the mountain, I got it set in my mind that I would make it up to see him 1 time for every month that he worked there. GOAL Accomplished. Although I did double dip in September to make up for November.

Horse Gate at the top of Alum Cave Trail..where you know the torture is over

And I also got it in my mind that I would make it up Alum Cave in under 2 hours. This one, it turns out, I will have to chip away at. Previous to this weekend I had done it in just under 2 hours 10 minutes. Friday, I made it in a disappointing 2:06:35. Some people would not even set a goal like this when their husband or wife had made it in under half the time, but for me I think I do it BECAUSE he has.

Every day I sit down in my office and look at that tiny sticky note with "Alum 52:22" written on it in Dave's crazy scrawl that I know so well, and I think about how lucky I am to know a guy that is so motivating just by doing what he loves.

To think I had planned to write a post about Snails....maybe some other time :) ~~~Caitlin