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Promise
Land 2006 was an ambitious choice for a first 50K. The course would be
demanding under any conditions, but this year the weather made it even
more so. But somehow the mud and rain and lightning only enhanced the
overall experience and made it exhilarating. At one point, I was
wringing about a pint of water out of my fleece top every two minutes
and laughing over the futility of trying to squeeze water out
of my clothing while so much more was coming in.
Other
high points of the race included: -Listening
to Jeannie Craig sing the national anthem at the start. Beautiful! -Starting
up the first hill in the dark, watching pools of light and runners’
silhouettes ghosting along, lit occasionally by flashes of lightning. -A
truck passing me on the hill on the way to the first aid station,
slithering and sliding in the downpour in way that made me wonder if it
was going to start sliding back downhill! -Veteran
ultrarunners steadying everyone else up the first stretch of trail,
chit-chatting, laughing and teasing each other. Good lord. It’s
pouring rain, and they’re happy as larks. -Rocks,
rocks, rocks & mud, mud, mud -The
relief of reaching the broad, grassy forest road. Good footing! -The
anguish of spotting fresh morel mushrooms along the trail around Mile 6,
and not being able to stop and pick them! -Breakfast
at the second aid station…who knew Pringles were the perfect race
fuel? (At last I have cracked the secret of the ultrarunner’s fabled
endurance!) -A
quick look back at the mist and clouds in the overlook. I hear comments
about what a shame it is that it looks so yucky today…but it’s still
a gorgeous and uplifting view. -Miles
8-11, and the constant mental calculations about whether footing would
be firmer on the side of the trail, or in the muck in the middle? -Mile
11 onward: Down the mountain! Whee! Beautiful creek, but no time to
look…gotta watch the footing. -Crossing
the incredibly swollen creek. Watching one runner slip and go completely
under in the cold water, but taking it cheerfully in stride. I start
wondering what it would take to make some of these veteran runners break
down and start cussing. -Oh,
my. Wildflowers are blooming everywhere.
There’s the smell of crushed licorice underfoot. Fire pinks and wild
violets. The air has warmed up now. Lots of chit-chat with other
runners. Everyone is so friendly. Intense and competitive, yes, but also
collegial. No prima donnas here. -Reaching
“the Last Chance Saloon” (the aid station before -I
am deeply impressed by the race volunteers. They’re spending 10 hours
out in cruddy conditions just to help a bunch of grimy runners do their
thing. Wow. -Up
and up and up the -Changing
socks at Mile 26.7 and drinking a Coke. Feeling intense happiness over
both. -Down
the hill. It’s not much farther, but the muscles around my knees are
killing me. -….aaaannd
there’s the finish. Yes! Carter Wiecking
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