Mere spectators will surrender to live in awe of what others may accomplish. They spy something hard. And they are not wrong. But when we allow the sparks to fly, strike fire, and blaze into believing “What if…” Magic soaks the spine and fear bows a backseat to glorious wonder. This is good.
5:30 a.m. My eyes engage as I search out my cell phone to cease the alarm’s good morning warning. Memories of the ere flood in as the lobby TV continues its bloody battle against sweet silence. Only the room’s mercurial AC motor stands a defense at deafening it. This is not the best sleep I’ve ever had. Nonetheless, it’s time.
Get up. Get dressed. Swallow some vits and go. I parade in the shadows as my wife waits in bed, scarcely conscious. We kiss our farewell as I exit the room. The aroma of coffee lingers in the breakfast area. Snag a cup and some water while responding to a text - my Pastor praying for us. Wishing us well. Nick and I are now off to the race.
Drive. Park. Check-in. Drop off bags. We search out the starting block before beginning our stretch. With many of the race’s ‘same olds’ still intact, a looming doom remains at large with its unfamiliar haunts. Distance. Its pain. Its taunting to give in. Kindly, it consoles you you’ve done enough. Oh, but once you resign, its game of shame is horribly cruel and mortally uncontested. Who may slay this nefarious evil?
Do we have what it takes? Will we settle for better than the average Joe or are we aiming to truly break beyond? We gird our loins. My chest drums down the seconds till go time. On your mark…
50K is our goal. 45, the minimum. Runners must be in and hit the trail again by specific times in order to re-enter the race or follow a shorter path for lesser distance. Tracking chips attached to numbered, purple vests assigned to us at check-in will tally our personal progress. Some 300-plus souls enter the staging area. Our MC boasts this an Infinity record attendance.
I wonder how each individual will fare. I imagine us all meeting up on the other side wearing smiles, having successfully left it all out there - having passed through the Pearly Gates. But never mind any such daydreaming for now. Here. We. Go.
The gun sounds and a mob of restless souls lunges forth. We are numero uno in terms of heats. Untouched is the trail ahead. Obstacles eagerly await, currently and epithetically unscathed. It’s the first great leg of a nine-hour day. Steady now. Steady.
Mud. Monkey bars. Electricity. And icewater. Some of the many facets we face over this 15K loop - running the entirety of the stretch. Round 1 is now in the books. “Piece of cake!” we concur. Two more and a quick 5 before we reach our goal. There’s just one hitch: A slight, yet lingering stab at the side of my knee. Dear God, let this be nothing. We take a moment to stretch. Here we go again. Enter round 2…