Odyssey Race in Virginia

This weekend we traveled to Virginia to run in a trail race in Douthat State Park.  Proceeds from the race benefit veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Since the park books up a year in advance and we only decided to sign up for this 11 weeks ago we stayed just outside the park at The Firmstone Manor, which was so wonderful it needed a separate blog entry.

We arrived at Firmstone Manor around 3:00 Friday, met Barbara and her dogs China and Snoopa and then went to the park to check it out a little and check in for the race at 5PM at the Discovery Center.

This is the Boy Scout fire pit in the Discovery Center area which was also the start and finish for the race.  Douthat seems to be particularly kid friendly with lots of monthly activities for children.   We think we may stay here for future trips to Richmond after Audrey comes home.

This picture shows the first 2oo feet for all the races.  And it is really deceptive in illustrating what any of the courses were like since the trails were hardly flat and much more narrow.

This picture better illustrates what the trails were like.  Both of us were thought it was more difficult than we had anticipated.

We did not see this salamander but apparently they have them.

They also have fishing areas designated just for children under 12.

John's race started 1 1/2 hours before mine.  So after he took off I had to take my tote bag back to the car.  On the way I saw a woman wipe out on one of a trail.  Although I did not bandage her up I think in a way my first aid training may have helped.  I was the first one on the scene, got help before I could get back from our car with our First Aid bag and I recognized she was going in to shock (she started shaking) and yet did not freak out.  Her knee that was cut the deepest was also the one she had knee replacement surgery on as well. 

Minutes before my race started I learned that the 5 mile route was actually 5 1/2 miles.  I ran it in in 1 hour and 9 minutes.   I listened to my China CD candidates playlist on my ipod while I ran.  Ironically the song Celebrate Me Home came on just when I got to the lake which was the last 1/2 mile of my race.  John finished in 3 hours and his race was also longer than a 1/2 marathon.  The other 2 races were marathon and ultra marathon (40 miles) and about 160 total participants.