Preface: Sunmart is an annual race run in Huntsville, Texas, considered to be one of the top ultra-marathon events in the United States, where participants tackle distances of 50K (31.0 miles) or 50 miles.

My first Sunmart experience: 

It all started Friday afternoon.  We were packed and ready to go.  The Fort Bend Fit (FBF) RV was loaded down with luggage and seven excited women set out for the host hotel for the pasta dinner.  Only three of the group had tackled Sunmart before.  The rest of us were Sunmart virgins.

We met up with more FBF folks at the dinner and chatted throughout the evening.  We loaded up on pasta and picked up our packets.  (GREAT swag BTW).  Headed to Huntsville to settle in for the night. 

Everyone went off to their rooms to get some sleep before the race.  BIG thanks to Andy Ralph for visiting with Patty and I to share some ...last minute race tips.  SO glad we listened!

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We met up in the Mo-tel (not hotel) parking lot at 5:30 and were pleased to find no wind.  Oooo!  We were excited.  We got to the park early early early (did I say early yet?) in the morning, before the sun.  The park looked so festive with Christmas lights and tons of inflatable lawn decorations.  We set the tent up by flashlight and settled into our spot.  There were about 20ish FBFers and some Corpus honorary members buzzing all around the tent.  We ate some breakfast and tried to stay warm by the portable heaters.  As the sun came up, we all were getting very excited and some of us, getting very nervous as well.  Took a few group pics and wished the 50 milers a good run.

7:00 am....first off, the 50 milers.  Kevin, Shirtless Dave (it was cold enough for him to actually wear a shirt!) and Andy set out, heading into the hills.  All I could think was, man are they crazy!!  I can't believe they are doing this!!

We gathered again before the 50K start for more pictures, Coach Terrie's prayer and a big loud FBF HOO-YAH!!  We echoed through the park! 

7:30 am....50K start.  Much more crowded around the start line now.  Everyone was in their tights, jackets, hats and gloves in the cold cold weather.  Patty and I were attached at the hip.  This was our first Sunmart....start together, finish together.  That was our plan.  Planned to walk the hills, nice easy run, conserve energy for the last loop. 

We took that first six nice and easy.  The first six miles was an out and back on a very narrow path.  It was fine until we started seeing the faster runners heading back and the path was getting pretty crowded.   I remembered Pam telling us about it and how she was claustrophobic...but I did my best to keep my mind on other things.  It gave us time to meet some new friends from Dallas.  One man kept us busy by telling us about all of the marathons he has experienced...Great Wall of China, North Pole.   Way cool.  It also allowed us to high five the FBF runners ahead of us.  First there was Marina (honorary member!), Clent from Corpus, Audrey, then Pam, Larry, Chad, Terrie.  Then Jeanne and Janet.  Smiles smiles smiles.  It was great to see everyone go by.  We were so pumped.

Finally, off of the narrow path and back to the turn around point.  Time to head out on the first loop.  The crowd was slowing us down on that first six mile leg, but already we were glad it had happened.  We were feeling so great.  We found US Marshall, Richard, from Texas City; had such a great time running part of the loop with Rosa, Dee, Louis, Lori and Liz.  We Hoo-Yah'd through the woods, laughed and enjoyed the scenery.  Richard didn't even care at that point that he had lost his running buddies!  He was having too much fun with FBF!  We experimented with the various foods.  My fave was the peanut butter and m&m sanwhiches and boiled potatoes with salt.  Patty loved the salty chips. Yum. Got to the turn around and saw Jen and Zeenie.  They drove all the way up to come out and cheer everyone on!  Man I love FBF!

Last loop....12.5 to go.  Headed out for the last leg.  Feeling great. Our longest distance ever was 26.2.  We were going to push past that!  We are at 23 and feeling awesome!  Wished I felt this great at mile 23 of a street race.  We ran some of the loop with Lori and Louis.  We were all feeling great.  Hyped about getting this far.   Our game plan was to pick it up a bit on this loop.  Little push, bit by bit.  We took some time at the aid station and Patty and I decided....ok.   We can do this!  We are doing this!  8 to go.  8?  Only 8?  That was a Saturday run!  Stick to the plan.  Last 6 we were going to tear through the woods.  Give it a little more at this point, but conserve more energy over the next 2 miles. 

After many "yes running mommy" moments, Patty had been keeping me in line and I'm so glad we stuck to the plan.  The miles behind us were not hurting us.  The miles ahead of us were goin' down!  We were ready.  Six to go...we started to pick it up more.  We were zooming through the woods.  Felt so good.  This part of the course was the fun part...like the trails we were used to running in Houston.  The miles and time on the course was starting to hit us.  Legs were aching and screaming.  Patty was trying to work through some pretty tough cramps in her calves.  She hung in there like a trooper.  Come on, bit by bit.  We are almost there.  A little while longer.  We can do this.  Patty kept saying "mind over matter, mind over matter".  5 to go.  4? 4? That's a green trail run.  We can do this.  Legs screaming, we hit it hard and brought it home.  We saw the paved path again....the guys with the bright orange flags directing runners.  We were out of the woods and headed back to the parking area where the finish was.  Pass the FBF tent.  Chad, Terrie, Audrey, Terry...all there screaming at us!  A few more steps....faster feet, faster feet.  There it is! 

Hand in hand, heads held high... we did IT!  We finished!  Hugs, tears, more hugs and a Sunmart medal.  Wow.  We are now ultra runners!

Hats off to everyone that toed the line.  50K, not to mention 50 MILES , is an intimidating number. 

First timers Patty, Lori, Louis, Liz, Dee, Elizabeth, Chad, Brooke, Rhonda, Kelly, Paula.  We did it!! 

Liz, I am so glad you hung in there and finished this race.  Rosa, you are a hero for pushing her to do it.  I know she will forgive the "nasty" way you got her to go on!!  I am so proud of you both, as well as everyone that was out there yesterday.  It was great to share the day with my FBF family. 

This was by far one of the best races I have ever done.  And, I am so glad I was able to share the Sunmart experience with my great pal and running buddy, Patty.  Wouldn't have had it any other way.  And wouldn't have finished it without you.

Look back at the top...notice I said first?