And They're Off

I got up at 3:30 am. Took a shower and put on the clothes that would see me through the day. It all seemed like an almost normal running day which I was hoping it would feel like. I made and ate a half of peanut butter and jelly sandwich and then decided to stretch a bit. My muscles were loose and I felt good.

Before I knew it we were all loading in the car and driving over to the start. Yes of course we were within walking distance but hey there was a long day ahead. Why waste the energy. We arrived and beheld the majesty of people, port-o-pots and of course the lights and music that is a race start. People scurrying everywhere. Testing headlamps. Relieving themselves (in the appropriate places of course.) Myself being kinda of oblivious to most of it walked with Michelle over to the table to check in with my bib number. Once that was done I took a quick trip to the john. How did it get that name? Then I waited.

It seemed like 15 to 20 minutes but I am sure it was simply a few. I made a small joke about being a Kenyan since everyone was looking at my own personal film crew with puzzled faces and then there was the countdown. I gave Michelle a kiss goodbye and then the horn went off. With a small cheer all 212 of us were off. It was surreal running out in the darkness, led by some unseen person or force. As the light of the starting line disappeared in the darkness we transformed it seemed into a barrelling freight train speeding headlong on a tiny track into the darkness of morning.

We could all feel the terrain change underneath us. Grass to rocks, rocks to dirt and then back again. From time to time as we had slowly been peeled by the thinning trail into a bouncing glowing snake you would hear a voice call out "root" or "creek" or "branch" and the whole line of us would hiccup as the obstacle was avoided. We seemed to run a circle at one point (this would of course be later confirmed) and we hit the first aid station. I slowed to a walk and drank most of the first bottle in my Fuel Belt. Before I knew it I was off again.

I had little conversations first with an Army medic who was telling me that this would be his last race for a while because he had to devote more time to his family and he was planning on moving from Virginia. Then I spoke briefly with an Army ranger who was telling me about some of his missions and that running was the only way to have a little bit of sanity. I of course told them about my illness and how I ended up here in the midst of a 50 mile race.

We all settled in and it became a silent uneventful jaunt in the darkness. It would not stay that way for long.

The 'Ol Up Down

is of course not to be confused with the "Ol In Out" from "A Clockwork Orange." Thank you Roddy McDowell. As is common throughout training hydration is important. I had been a 1.5-2 litre minimum of liquids daily throughout training. The day/night before the race since we were traveling and shopping and picking up the number and checking out the aid stations I really was not sure how much water I had consumed. I felt that I was lacking so...in an effort to make up the difference I decided to polish off a litre of water from the time we arrived back at the cottage to the bedtime.

This was smart in one sense since it was highly unlikely that I would be peeing much during the race because most of my moisture would sweat out and be evaporated off my skin. You really need to maintain a good level of fluids before during and after the race (during being most important). So while we filmed the interview etc. I was steadily drinking, and drinking and drinking.

When we finally retired preparing for the 3:30 alarms about 6 hours away I was prepared to get a so, so sleep. When you travel for races its rare to get a good night sleep the night right before the race. Most racers and race directors will tell you the night before the night is key. My night before the night was pretty good. The night before however was a series of trip back and forth to the bathroom, countless position changes and of course going from hot to cold and then to hot again. It was a long night for me, Michelle and I think even Alex and Elizabeth. I think I got about two ad a half hours of sleep and that may just be being generous. It was the shortest and longest nights sleeps I have had since the day my father died.

Thankfully I would not pay for it the next day.

Right About Now...

actually it should be right about then, with then being a week ago, right now. We Michelle, Alex, Elizabeth and myself were finishing up lunch and heading to the mall.

We had awoke at about 3:30 am Shit, shaved and showered (sorry I have always wanted to write that and its my blog so I can lump us all in together). I personally had breakfast. Some of my homemade bread with peanut butter and jelly. You don't mess with the Zohan and you also do not mess around with my breakfast. Its sacred. Following breakfast we began the game of Tetris which is packing the car for the trip. Big marine cooler full of food and goodies. Our bag, their bag, my personal gear bag, extra pillows and of course blankets. Oh yeah Alex's work/school bag.

I decided to drive. It would really be my only opportunity until maybe Monday or Tuesday. It was a fun ride and we cruised along. Singing to a personally made iTunes mix as well as intermittent filming of the trip and the feelings and of course tomorrows looming challenge. We stopped briefly at my mom's house and after only a few minutes of being on camera she had had her fill. It was fun and funny as well as eye opening to me.

We continued on and found our way into the park and finally to our cottage. It was nice and spacious. By this time which was a little before noon we were all starving so we set off into the hinterland of Northern Virginia and ultimately found a shopping center that would be our best friend. We settled after much deliberation on a Cafe where we all seemed to get sandwiches or salads or both. Lunch was scrumptious and we then went on a roundabout mission of getting my number and swag bag from the Northface Store. Then of course off to both of the parks where there would be aid stations the following day (Great Falls and Difficult Run). Both names although named for the river and water would turn out to be quite appropriate. Checking out what we thought were the aid stations we were satisfied. Seeing the surrounding scenery we were blown away. It was stunning especially the river and the boulders.

I had had my fill and was ready for the last little bit of shopping and then it was time to settle in for the evening. We hit the store I think it was Winn Dixie (Michelle noted the uniforms were the same as Stop & Shop) got ice and a few other essentials. Back to the cottage we relaxed. Had a home cooked pasta dinner and then somehow delved into the entire story of the sickness and the race and the hospital and the training. It was quite eye opening since alot of me being sick I was so out of it...I didn't remember.

Then thankfully it was time for bed. It was/is a story unto itself.

OK I Lied, So Here's Thursday

I thought I could go cold turkey on the blogging and just leave the race and the event for film but I can't. I like to run my mouth and so bit by bit I will lay out the events of last weekend. As I mentioned last time there is so much to say that I couldn't wrap my head around it. So instead of chomping onto the whole thing lets take it piecemeal.

A week ago Thursday was in essence the moment of truth. The last day of reality before the surreal experiences began. The work day was average and non-descript as it should be before something like this. Michelle left work a bit early and got home. It was good to see her. Very reassuring in many respects. We finished up whatever we had to do and then went to Enterprise to pick up the SUV. Now maybe I am living in the past but what we got was not SUV like as I denote them. It was more like a lifted station wagon. I think it was a Nissan Rogue. Just enough space it would turn out.

Anyway, we got the car and Michelle finished up the Quinoa salad which was our dinner fare for the evening. Just about this time Mayo (Elizabeth Mayo CO-founder of Pareidolia Films LLC) arrived on the bus. She made the hike from Queens through the city and up the Hudson to Nyack. She had most of the gear as well as the bag for her and Alex. She's a trooper because the camera was not light and it was definitely muy expensive.

We got in she settled down. We bs'd a bit and then had dinner. Following dinner which was quite tasty and which I took more than my fair share, (kinda a pre pre race carb load session,) Liz and I drove across the river to the Tarrytown train station to pick up Sir Alex Chancey. (No he has not been knighted but I figure if I say it enough people will ultimately think it.)

Chancey ate and then there was bit of filming about the race and the feelings surrounding it. A little more filming of us packing up the gear and the food and then we were all a bit sleepy. This would be the last good night's sleep for a while. We all retired and after 20 or thirty minutes of running through a mental list of everything we were supposed to have packed and/or collected for the trip and the race I finally fell asleep ready for the 3:30 am wakeup.

I Came, I Ran, I Hurt

There are a million things I could say about what happened last Saturday. All the training all the hype all the zen calm and eerily lack of fear. The race was everything I thought it would be and yet so, so, so much more. To try and describe it here I would be remiss in so many things. I will say simply this. It is the hardest physical feat I have ever performed in my life. My words alone cannot do it justice. Luckily I was graced to have a vast portion of Thursday through Sunday captured on film. When its ready I will do my final post. Until then I would like to simply thank everyone who took part in my mini adventure...my wife Michelle, Mom L, Mom P, Dad P, Michael, Kathleen, Bruce, Donald, Aliana, Darius, Little Joe, Evelyn, Aunt Maria, Susie, Dr. Gurniak, Dr. Okiri, Dr Strauss, Cory, Stacey, Miguel, Joe and a super big shout out to Elizabeth the Great and Sir Chancey and most importantly once again my beautiful wife Michelle. She not only put up with a horribly cranky patient who realized his own mortality suddenly at age 37 but then helped drag his tired ass across the finish line after running the last 14.8 miles with him (ad some stragglers he picked up along the way).

For now that is it. You have hopefully read the blog and like me anxiously await the movie which of course is coming via the skillful hands of Alex and Elizabeth. Oh yes one final thought...never, never, never try this at home kids. Let the adults be crazy.

Michael Buffer Where Are You?

Its almost game time and I have been noticing that life has gotten surreal. I know the race is coming. I have all the gear ready. The support team is on their way here. It will eliminate some time in the early morning heading to Queens. The food is ready my bag is almost packed. I/we're ready to go and yet it seems like its not really happening. Bizarre.

Oh well, I am in hurry and wait mode.

Michael, Michael He's Our Man...

If He Can't Do It, Izzard Can?!? It has been brought to my attention (thank you Michelle) that should I run into trouble in my endeavor, the hilarious Eddie Izzard is readily to pick up the gauntlet. He has recently been running the equivalent of a marathon-a-day for over forty days. He has traveled all over his native England raising money for charity.

Is this guy challenging me to a fund raising? Don't make me kick your behind Eddie...only kidding. Its quite admirable what he has done and how he's doing it.