You can read all about Leg 1 HERE.
When I left you last, I had wrapped up a 5.64 mile run with a 2000 ft elevation loss, basically I had just ran down a mountain. Once I was done, I took the time to roll out with the Stick (thanks Lesley) and then wrapped my foot/ankle in some Arctic Ease.
I didn’t mention on my blog ahead of time, and tried to downplay it to my team (because I had nightmares they’d kick me off…yeah I’m weird), but I had hurt my left ankle/outside foot earlier in the week. I saw the podiatrist the day before I left and he basically said to take time off and he would treat it, but if I insisted on running then I was on my own. So….I was on my own. 
This was my ankle BEFORE my first run, already looking super lovely and swollen. Eek!:
Sexy huh? Ha! Coach Adam and my buddy Lesley were lucky enough to wake up to that picture Friday.
Anyway, as soon as I finished that first leg I knew I needed to ice/treat that ankle. Thankfully, Gene had sent me the Arctic Ease wraps, the cool compression I got from them went a LONG way in recovery. Thanks Gene!
Somehow, despite the abuse, the ankle never felt any worse than it did going into the race. Thanks to the wrap, and compression it looked about the same.Score!
(Not so)Average A rocked her leg. I loved being able to hand off to her and watch her power on her way.
Then our nuun staffer Caitlin hit her frenzy button (inside joke) and blew her leg out of the water
Caitlin handed off to Kerrie who pushed through some crazy heat to kill her leg. I was SUPER proud of her for overcoming the heat and rocking that run. Kerrie has picked up some serious speed in the last couple of months, its been fun to watch her transformation.
Next came The Faster Bunny. And let me just say, she should be renamed the faster MACHINE! That girl is awesome, watching her run is mesmerizing. It became difficult to get our VAN to the exchange faster than she ran to it. Yeah, she rocks.
Last in our van to run was Lisa.Poor thing got stuck with no van support (we weren’t allowed to stop) but she powered through and looked great doing it! 
With Van 1 Nuun Platuun done with their first legs, we got to finally see Van 2 at the first major van to van exchange in the Safeway parking lot. 
(L to R Average A,Susan,Harmony,Caitlin,Faster Bunny,Tonia,Kerrie,Me)
Next up: I play chicken with a train.
Did it look the same then after the race?
Yeah, where's the after picture of the ankle?
You guys seriously look like you had an awesome time.
I love reading everyones recaps of H2C!! I so want to run that one of these days!! Everyone looks like they are having so much fun!
Heyyyy, why the hell wouldn't you mention YOU WERE INJURED??? My goodnesssssss! Had I known, I would have kicked you off the team.
Great post! Love the pics and inspirational.
Hope your ankle feels better!! ~Tracy
Man that ankle looks bad before, I am glad it held up for you!
I hope you win that battle!
Ah! I missed this photo op running! Darn first runner in van 2!
You can make cankles look sexy. Just sayin.
Love reading about this!
I'm hoping the next recap is all about how you kicked some major booty and that your ankle is perfectly fine!!!
Woohoo sexy cankles! It looks so fun being on that team!!!
that looks painful…hopefully you get a chance to heal it over the weekend!
Hopefully your ankle is better now! Great recaps!
I'd have kept that ankle info confidential too. No need to give anyone reason to keep you from this sort of thing
First runner sets a strong tone with a strong first leg and everyone else kicks butt. Well done Runner No. 1.
I'm enjoying your posts about the race!
I did a relay a couple years ago and on my 2nd leg, at 2am, on a downhill similar to your first, I stepped in a pothole and holy cow, twisted my ankle bad! Then I had to run on it for 9 miles. I can so relate to what you went though.
Looks like a seriously fun time!! Yay
I'm loving the recaps! It looks like so much FUN!!!! Hope your ankle is feeling better.
ouch on the cankle!!! can we just keep reliving HTC over and over…
We're going to be like those guys who were on the regional champs high school football team and NEVER MOVE ON! LOL…. and love every minute of the recaps and reliving… and hope beyond all hope that we get to do it again and again and again… minus the cankle!
I so wish we could have watched Van 1 run from the start! Hope that thing is getting better
Oooo wooow! I did not realize you were injured That is crazy. Oh gosh but that is how us crazy runners are, I am with you!!! But seriously, are you ok? How is it going now? Take care of yourself lady.
Ouch. Hope your ankle is feeling better. Last year when I did our 100 mile relay I spent all non running time in the van with my foot in an ice bucket. Fun.
Hope your ankle is recovering ok. I'm always jealous of the relay reports – sound like so much fun!
Your ankle looks like mine did when I had a stress fracture in my calcaneous. It was almost a complete fracture. I had no idea it was my heel until I got xrays/mri etc and found out even though all the pain/swelling was in my ankle, it wasn't my ankle at all! I hope you're okay!
oh my…what did it look like AFTER the race? you poor thing, but you pushed right on through!!! AWESOME
Glad to hear the ankle held up and you were able to treat and continue.
Love reading about this!