Each Day Is a Gift

WBR Leg # 19 & 31

** Continuation from yesterday's Leg # 7 report.  If you're still reading, you're nuts.**

Exchange #18

After enduring 2 hrs of obnoxious runners loud talking, 3 car alarms going off, cars arriving and leaving, I finally got out of my damp sleeping bag and went to the p-o-p.  Did I mention van 1 called to give us 1 hr. notice?  I quietly went to the car to get ready waking up sleepy Heather and Lowell.

Lowell has this brilliant idea to help me overcome the fear of running in darkness.  He wound up a strand of Christmas lights onto my fuel belt.  Brilliant!!!  I wore his reflective vest, Phil's headlamp, a jacket (had no idea what the temp was, but it was a bit cold and breezy).  Our team got in the car and drove out of the park.  The whole gang walked with this Christmas lit grandma to the chute, when all of a sudden, Phil heard #195 called.  Not knowing where the chute was I ran towards the light and saw Jason ran towards us.  Whew, almost missed the exchange there.  I started my run at 1:33 am.

Had no idea which way I was supposed to run, just chased after a blinking red light in the far distance.  Running across the road,  I saw a four legged animal darting around in the bushes.  O man, it better not be a wild fox.  It turned out to be a rabbit.  I saw quite a few of them scurried around when I ran by.  I could count about 2 blinking red lights up the mountain, so I chased after them. 

The first 0.25 mile was flat then down which immediately notified my ITB.  Man, I had not stretched or warmed up.  All that sitting in the car and laying down on the ground did not help this old body.  I passed the second blinking light who was wearing sweat shirts.  I got warmed up within 0.5 mile.  My team drove by and I took a drink while I walked.  First 2 miles splits came in at 9:13, 10:25.  Pretty soon my eyes got adjusted to running in the dark.  I actually quite like it.  If it weren't for the passing cars, I would have been a little concerned about getting lost.  I passed two more blinking lights.  I shed my sweaty jacket and handed to my team.  It was fun to have all these other teams cheering me.  Other than walking while I drank, I ran the entire uphill.  Mile 4 and 5 splits:  11:54, 10:24.  WOOHOO!!!  THAT WAS FUN!!!  The finish was made sweet when Lowell came and ran with me.  He asked if I could hear cows.  Is that what that was?  I thought it was the guy I passed.  Total number of road kills on this leg was 5 which were all that were running ahead of me.  I failed to catch one more just before Lowell ran towards me.

Everyone on our team ran long stretches on this leg in the dark.  Lowell found a running partner and paced her to a happy finish.  Someone must have forgotten to send him the memo about road kills.  We felt bad that we totally missed Heather after her mile 4 drink.  We thought she had gone ahead while she actually took a potty break.   That poor girl ran 7.7 miles with one drink and tummy issue.

Phil's leg started at the break of dawn.  It was so pretty to watch the sunrise over Wanship.  I need to come back and visit these part of Utah again.

Exchange #31

After everyone in our van was done running, we drove from Morgan to Heber where the endless restless wait began.  Heather and I had hoped to shower and change but saw none such facility.   She went off towards the p-o-p while I ate some breakfast.  While standing in the p-o-p, Kelli saw me.  She walked me to the building that houses real bathrooms with hot running water.  YAY!!!  It was so GOOD to see her.   RAD called and found us.  She had a much better night in a "mansion" than us.  It was fun visiting with her a bit.  We tried to nap unsuccessfully while waiting for my turn to run. 

At the chute I saw Kodi (Mel) and some bloggers.  I must have looked like death warmed over.  I was so tired!  The sky was partly cloudy and the sun peeked out when I took the "baton" from Jason at 11:02 am.  I just wanted to get this leg over with so I ran as fast as my tired old body let me.  I heard all these passing cars cheering me.  One car might have been from my Stake.  Each time I heard my name cheered while passing runners, I would yell out the number (of road kills).  I think that was a naughty thing to do.  I only did it twice.  I passed a total of 27 road kills.  My splits were:  8:32, 8:40, 8:09, 8:37, 8:40.  WOOHOO!  THAT WAS FUN!!!!  Once again, the sweetest moment came when Lowell ran a little with me to the chute.  I think I saw Tyler there. Brayden's mom and dad were there to cheer him.  What great parents to drive all the way to Midway to witness Brayden's first race finish.

No time to stretch or waste, we had to get the next two brave runners, Lowell and Heather to run up that monstrous mountain in the rain.  The winding narrow road was wet and muddy.  Lowell marched up like a brave warrior passing some young bucks.  He again paced another girl.  I saw Metcalf finished her leg at the exchange.  I was so proud of her.  Lowell and I walked for quite a stretch waiting for our car to drive up.  Heather was running strong and even paced a 13 yr old boy.  I am so proud of my team.  It was fun watching Phil ran the portion of the course where my hubby would ski in the winter.

The finish:

There must have been thousands of cars at the finish parking lot.  What a mess...what a maze to get in and out.  We made it there in the nick of time to watch young Paul flew down the hill, we chased after him.  I think we could have easily pulled a muscle tear doing that.  We finished in 26 hours 41 minutes and 24 seconds, taking 12th in the Open Male and 24th overall.

The afterthoughts:

My favorites:

1.  Having Lowell there.

2.  The beautiful mountains, valleys, lakes and streams of the Wasatch Back.

3.  The commadarie of the teammates.

4.  Watching the exuberance of youth.

5.  The actual running part.  Wish I had more miles to run.

The disappointments:

1.  Roudy people.

2.  The long long long wait between legs.

3.  The dangerous and congestive traffic.

4.  No sleep and lack of appetite.

****  I will post pictures later ****