tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761716983916840972024-03-12T22:32:31.626-07:00The Bleat Blog: Miles from the Irish GoatAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16673458633004225342noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276171698391684097.post-24767310444704094142014-03-21T12:54:00.001-07:002014-03-21T12:54:58.976-07:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">Race Across the USA (RAUSA)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">I
am pleased to announce that last week, I was honored with acceptance onto the
Core Team of athletes participating in the inaugural Race Across the USA
(RAUSA), a 3000-mile journey from California to Maryland across the mid-drift
of the American Heartland. These ten runners will be racing to the nation’s
Capital with several goals in mind, “but the primary one,” as the RAUSA site
explains, “is to raise awareness about the childhood ‘inactivity’ epidemic.
According to the CDC, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and
tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years. At the present time, 18% (or
almost one in five) children, aged 6-19 in the United States, are obese.” So,
the RAUSA is a charity run –and the specific charity is the 100 Mile Club®.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
100 Mile Club® is a non-profit 501(3)c organization designed to provide “a
low-cost solution to ‘inactivity.’ Kids are challenged to run (or walk) 100
miles in a school year.” In most American school districts, there are
approximately 170 days each year. This would require each child to walk/run
less than a mile per day to reach their goal. The program costs only $10 per
student a year to fund and the secondary aim of the RAUSA is to raise funds for
those families who cannot afford the cost of the program.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
RAUSA traverses 3000 miles from January 16<sup>th</sup> to June 2<sup>nd</sup>
of 2015. It begins at the Pacific beaches of California, and heads almost due
east across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,
Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina & Virginia to pause at the White
House, and then terminate at the Atlantic Coast of Maryland. The trek will last
140 days, and will average around a marathon (26.2 miles) per day for the
entire journey. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">I wrote a piece
on transcontinental runs back in the Spring of last year (05/30/13). I find it
ironic and humbling to be able to participate in such an undertaking. Here is a
brief excerpt from that article: </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
is a little-known fact that before modern-day ultra-marathon runner Dean
Karnazes completed a solo crossing of the US, men from all walks of life made
it from Los Angeles, California to New York City, NY, nearly 85 years before
him. Dean’s route virtually mirrored that established by race organizer C.C.
Pyle, the brains and finances behind the first transcontinental race in
America.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March
4<sup>th</sup>, 1928 saw nearly 200 men line up to begin what would become an
84-day footrace covering roughly 3400 miles. The race began in Los Angeles,
with contestants from Canada, Estonia, Finland, Great Britain, Germany, Italy
and the United States. The cost of admission was a hefty $125, but supposedly
included square meals, lodging and incidentals along the way. The route
followed Historic Route 66 from LA to Chicago, and then veered east to NYC.
Most of Route 66 was still a patchwork of urban pavement with long expanses of
dirt, mud and holes in between towns. By the end of the Mohave crossing the
first week, the 199 starters had already dwindled to around 130</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This RAUSA follows the historic Bunion Derby
route until the halfway point around Dallas TX. From there, it stays east as
opposed to veering north to Chicago. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In addition to a registration fee, there is a
fundraising minimum of an additional $2000. Anyone interested in running a few
miles with me while I cross your state, contributing to the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">100 Mile Club®
fundraising goal, or simply wanting more information, please contact me (</span><a href="mailto:chris@irishgoat.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">chris@irishgoat.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">) or check out
the race site (</span><a href="http://raceacrossusa.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">http://raceacrossusa.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">). </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16673458633004225342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276171698391684097.post-6991670350416155452014-03-21T12:52:00.003-07:002014-03-21T12:52:49.302-07:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Graveyard 100: Race Recap</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Many
people say that after the first time, anything becomes easier. Unfortunately,
that isn’t always the case in ultra-marathon. After my first successful one
hundred miler last February, I refrained from competing for the full five weeks
leading up to the Graveyard 100. This North Carolina race is located on the
Outer Banks, and spans from Currituck Lighthouse to the Ferry at the southern
tip of Cape Hatteras. It is ‘rated,’ as all ultra-events are, by its difficulty
of grade and surface. GY100 ranks a meager ‘1’ on the difficulty scale, meaning
it should be easy. The race director took great pains to ensure no one left
that course feeling cheated out of a challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Brandon
Wilson, of RacENC, designed the course and implemented the inaugural GY100 four
years ago. I actually remember reading a newspaper article about him trying to
plan this race way back in 2010. Brandon is a former Marine, Ultra-runner, and
one of those folks that truly takes pride in ripping out feats that folks just
didn’t know they had within them. He designed this all paved, point-to-point
course with one goal in mind –to make the easiest rated course the most
difficult to complete. Here is how he did it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">First,
he chose a string of islands connected by bridges in the Atlantic Ocean. Wind,
storms, heat, sand and flooding all occur there (sometimes simultaneously) in
the early Spring. The 2013 race had so much flooding that the course had to be
modified to a shorter out-and-back format with much of the pavement being under
water. Fortunately for those of us this year, only a few areas were completely submerged.
For those of you unfamiliar with the terrain of the OBX, here is a quick
synopsis. The first 50 miles of the course was primarily residential beach
houses with the ocean to our left. Upon hitting the ‘halfway bridge,’ the road
was quite literally flanked by about 250-500 meters of sand dunes on either
side, with ocean to the left, the sound to the right, and nothing else but wind
ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Although
a liberal 30 hour cutoff for the race in total, the first half had to be
completed in a mere 12 hours. This is a pretty aggressive 100-mile pace for
many. There were many water points (most unmanned) to refill water and
electrolytes, but only four true Aid Stations with food, medical, supplies,
established bathrooms, etc. Some of the water stops had port-o-potties, but the
storm leading up to the race had tipped close to half of them over. The storm,
in fact, deterred many from even coming out to start the race. Once you hit the
bridge by the cutoff, you had at least 18 hours to finish up the GY100’s final
50 miles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
desolation of the second half was brutal. Waxing fatigue, ongoing nutritional
challenges and a waning mental clarity all were augmented by a strong headwind,
absolute darkness and a biting cold. Many runners ran without pacers or a crew.
I commend their efforts –I relied heavily on mine. Since I am trying to
complete four 100-mile races in four months, I am not pushing these races hard.
On the contrary, even as a new PR for me, I was in the last few finishing. When
compared to Rocky Raccoon last month, this race ranked a 4/5 in mental
toughness, even though only a 1/5 in physical toll. Rocky was a 2/5 and 3/5
respectively. I believe Brandon said it best when he warned all of us to
discount the rating and “Respect the course.”</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16673458633004225342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276171698391684097.post-26571115765273382372014-03-21T12:50:00.003-07:002014-03-21T12:53:08.969-07:00<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Rocky Raccoon 100M</b></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">First
of all, I want to thank everyone that sent me well-wishes on my second attempt
at the Rocky Raccoon 100-mile Endurance run February 1<sup>st</sup>. It was
indeed a success, and now the first of four successive one-mile runs is down.
More importantly, though, was what the completion showed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">My
last quarter of 2013 was ripe with injury, sickness and misfortune –at least in
the training sense. I was unable to get in the prerequisite training miles
required to complete a one hundred mile footrace. Or so I thought. For three
years, I firmly believed the mantra of the ‘hunnerd miler.’ It is a simple, and
time-honored premise. To run a 100-mile race, one must average a bare-bones
minimum of one hundred miles cumulatively each week for several weeks before
the taper period of the event. I always believed this basic rule of thumb.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Unfortunately,
I could not follow this training plan. Time and health prevented me from
breaking 30 miles each week, much less a hundred. So what I did was increase my
cross-training ten-fold, and really pushed specific run drills for the miles I
did run. Instead of a long slow twenty miles, I would do 2 miles of speed
intervals followed by 3 miles of hill repeats. I did one day per week of
fast-packing with 20-30 pounds and did close to 20 hours of weight-training,
plyometrics and bootcamp-style workouts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Although
wary going back to a previously failed race, I felt better physically than I
had in six months. I started at a moderate clip, and used a terrain-based
run-walk for the first 40 miles. Then I went into a fast power-walk for the
last 60. I could feel the residual strength from the targeted run and fast-pack
training immediately, but the true payoff was the cross-training classes for
core, upper body and leg development. I finished faster than expected and was
running again in less than 48 hours. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">So
I argue that there is another path to distance. If you have the health, the
time and the will to get in your 100 miles a week, I have seen the system work
time and again. But if you find yourself having to balance life, work and a
race deadline, targeted runs and cross-training might be the thing that gets
you over the hurdle.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">You’ve
all heard it. Every seasoned ultra-runner says it. 6-time Olympic running coach
Bobby McGee has written copious amounts on it. It, of course, is the mental aspect
of running. Little more matters during those low points of an ultra. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">No
matter to which training philosophy you subscribe, the power of the mind will
direct the actions of the body. Last week, I discussed the different approaches
to training for endurance events. Neither amount to much unless you’ve
conditioned the mind for those 12, 24, 48 or more hours of constant, grueling
forward progression. Your legs are only as fresh as your mind allows you to
believe. Even a short-term wavering of will can be catastrophic. A decision to
drop is instantaneous and irreversible.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Bobby
McGee trains athletes to mentally prepare for races. One of his many lessons is
to (if possible) simulate or run the actual course beforehand. Try to acclimate
to possible weather, altitude, terrain and other factors in your training. This
does condition the body; but more importantly, it gives a relaxed familiarity
leading up to the event. A great example would be hosting an event at Kiwanis
and the Endor trail (CARA, anyone?). Having a home court advantage makes all
the difference mentally.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">During
Rocky Raccoon, I went in determined. It was a “vindication” race. I had failed
this mild course once due to a wavering mental state. By identifying that
weakness and spending months overcoming it, I had little chance of failure. I
did, however, start to hit the “dark moments” around 88 miles, as the
temperature dropped 35 degrees and it began to pour rain. In fact, this RR100
had the lowest completion rate (57%) of its 22 year existence. Most folks
dropped early from the high temps and humidity or at the end when the deluge
began.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
key is simply this –You will conquer any event you truly want to complete. Stay
mentally strong, either through simulation training or a hard-as-nails pacer
that when keep you moving against your shattered will. It really is all mental.
Training is essential, but the mind determines the only outcome that matters.
Will you leave with blisters, bruises and depression, or blisters, bruises and
a buckle? Your body is going to be battered either way, so why quit without the
prize?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16673458633004225342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276171698391684097.post-61151155835391658972014-03-21T12:43:00.001-07:002014-03-21T12:45:41.127-07:00<div class="region-inner header-inner">
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<h1 class="title">
The Kumamoto Castle Marathon: Race Recap
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgqdNaE0iY0NIc5xbFyW38jpc8dLSq06rPNekeb1pgNtOmc5qVdg2LH1GH0l7kF0gEqkT5qLB0_Ld6y-wtERcG1XZRy1yWAfDScrjmlAoRFVSgZEkGmrggT-lZKRLcLGVC7yQEcUFBBFD/s1600/100_0344.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgqdNaE0iY0NIc5xbFyW38jpc8dLSq06rPNekeb1pgNtOmc5qVdg2LH1GH0l7kF0gEqkT5qLB0_Ld6y-wtERcG1XZRy1yWAfDScrjmlAoRFVSgZEkGmrggT-lZKRLcLGVC7yQEcUFBBFD/s1600/100_0344.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">In
mid-January, I was asked if I would be interested in going to Japan as an
“Ambassador-runner.” San Antonio has a sister-city program harkening back to
the Eisenhower Presidency, and Kumamoto is one of those nine locations (to
include Monterrey & Guadalajara, Mexico; Las Palmas & Santa Cruz de
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Gwangju, South Korea; Kaohsiung, Taiwan;
Chennai, India; and Wuxi, China). With Iceland now six months past, and only
domestic races on the foreseeable horizon, I immediately agreed to be a part of
the program. This was the single-best decision I have made.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Ten
days before departure, I met with the City of San Antonio’s International
Relations staff. I was a bit anxious upon my arrival, as all contact had been
through email and phone calls. I wasn’t sure the City of San Antonio realized
that their single representative was a tattooed and kilted man sporting an
8-inch Van Dyke goatee. I felt like a pirate –until I was greeted with
enthusiasm and an unmatched generosity. This office put me completely at ease. They
outlined the program, presented their expectations and even provided materials
to help me transition into the social and cultural aspects of Japan. In fact,
their primary aim was for me to be myself, have a great time and simply “enjoy
Kumamoto.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">With
only four days before departure, I experienced the difficulties in changing
dollars to Yen. The exchange rate is roughly 1 to 100. For example, 50000 Yen
is $500, give or take. The problem is that it is rare for someone to stroll
into a San Antonio Wells Fargo and order 50000 Yen. We had to add a rush from a
sister branch, and with a looming snowstorm, it still was touch and go whether
or not I’d have any spending money for this trip. Fortunately, I got my 50K Yen
the day before my flight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
City of Kumamoto was covering every expense once I hit the ground in Japan. The
marathon, hotel, meals and most entertainment was comped as part of the
sister-city exchange program. I was required to cover the transportation to and
from Japan, and any souvenirs, extra snacks and coffee, incidentals, etc. I
could not believe I was the only one (of five available slots) to pounce on
this opportunity. Wednesday morning, at 4:00AM, I began a 21-hour flight that
hopped from San Antonio to Houston, then crossed the Pacific to Tokyo, Osaka
and finally, Kumamoto airport.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">I
was greeted by a charming young lady holding a CHRIS KNODEL sign in the baggage
claim area. It was Misaki Tateo, the project manager for SA-Kumamoto Programs
(International Affairs Office), City Promotion Section –Tourism, Culture &
Exchange Bureau. She got me to the Kumamoto Hotel Castle, by way of an orange
juice and rice ball purchased at a local 7-11 convenience store. She, along
with my Canadian interpreter (and Coordinator for International Relations,
Cultural & International Affairs Section) Ciaran Dudley, would be my guides
throughout this journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Following
a traditional Japanese breakfast, I linked up with Misaki and Ciaran. My
exposure to Japan truly began; and to be perfectly honest –I will never be the
same again. This trip literally altered my projected course. I have raised my
expectations of what life can provide. I feel that this chapter ended an era,
and fostered a new path.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Day
one was a cultural whirlwind. Like San Antonio, Kumamoto has many sister cities
(to include runners from Aix-en-Province, France; Heidelberg, Germany;
Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Ulsan, South Korea; Suzhou & Shanghai, China). Most of
my interaction was with three German runners and the delegate from France. We
toured the Kumamoto Castle, visited the Suizenji Garden and actually got to
tour the Lafcadia Hearn residence museum. We grabbed a Soba noodle lunch and
even had a traditional Matcha Green Tea at the Garden. Everything was
beautiful, simple and ritualistic. For an OCD, type-A personality that follows
a structured day bordering on uber-discipline –this was a place of perfection.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
first day ended with a fourteen course meal that ranged from various soups,
vegetables, seafood, chicken, noodles, tofu and rice. The Japanese incorporate
the full spectrum of food colors into every meal, thus insuring that every
essential vitamin and mineral is represented. Flavors lean towards bitter
(vinegar) and salty over sweet and the sours. The exception to the lack of
sweet flavors is in the alcohol. I tried a bit of plum wine that made the
sweetest Rieslings and European dessert wines taste bland. Dinner was fabulous,
and the conversation with my hosts was both enlightening and filled with
laughter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Day
two began with the Hosokawa Mansion, the residential estate of one of the
Shogun’s Feudal Lords. Ornate clay tiles adorn a traditional rice paper walled
structure. The low beams and intentionally squeaky floorboards (Nightingale Floors)
served as defense mechanisms. The labyrinthine floor plan surrounded various
gardens. The mansion is truly a sight to behold. Everything was an example of
the purest simplicity and minimalism. From there, we saw the Kumamoto
Fujisakidai Baseball Grounds, various Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines.
Finally, as afternoon brought us closer to the Marathon Exposition and Banquet
dinner, we went to the Wakuwaku Za Culture Museum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
marathon exposition was in the center of one of Kumamoto’s expansive shopping
arcades. The entire city was adorned in flags, flyers and banners advertising
the event. Remember, the Kumamoto Castle Marathon is put on by the City of
Kumamoto, not a corporate entity. This event is part of the city’s civic pride,
and although only in its second year, has grown to over 13500 participants
–which is comparable in magnitude to the Walt Disney races. And not unlike
Disney, the City has created an iconic figure that has become one of the most
recognized figures in Japan. Kumamon was born in 2010, and has come to
represent Kumamoto City. This black bear with round rosy cheeks is a
fan-favorite, and is everywhere you look –city busses, bathrooms, building
murals, pamphlets, store windows and restaurants. At least in Kumamoto, Kumamon
reigns supreme.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Day
two ended with the pre-race banquet, a very formal affair where the sister city
delegates were presented to the public. In addition, the mayor of Kumamoto met
with each of us to wish us luck at the marathon. Mayor Seishi Kohyama is a runner
himself, and actually was gearing up to complete his first marathon along with
us (I am proud to report that he did, in an impressive time of around 4:30). At
the banquet’s close, after the speeches, presentations and an impressive
display of samurai skills from an entertainment troupe, we were all pleased to
see Kumamon take the stage. At the prodding of the French runner, I joined him
onstage to dance with the iconic bear. He apparently has a much choreographed
routine not unlike the Margarina –but more animated. So, Kumamon, the Frenchman
and the kilted Texan flailed around wildly to the delight of all present before
returning to the final sleep before the marathon. So far, so good…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
race began at 9:02AM. But before we were to line up at the start, we headed to
the Town Hall to meet with the mayor a final time. Logistically, this
complicated things for those runners that followed a strict (and often
superstitious) pre-race routine. Luckily, I am not one of those. I am very
superstitious –I just am a bit more malleable in my pre-race preparation. I
believe I will not race well without my goatee (or Samsonite, as it has been
dubbed). I wear an Aztec Axe blade totem for strength. I cover the Ironman
tattoo with a compression sleeve during runs and the opposite with doing
multisport events. I also will not begin a run without the prerequisite pot of
coffee. Other than that, I’m pretty easy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
mayor greeted us, pumped us up for the run and we made our way down to the
start. Although I had made sure that the directors knew that I would not be
doing this marathon quickly, they had me in the starting corral next to last
year’s winner. The Germans were there to compete, and were shooting for sub-3:00
hour times. I was hoping for a 5:00-5:30 finish just coming off of the Rocky
Raccoon 100. At 9:00, the 30K runners began. At 9:02, our gun went off. The
race was on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">I
saw the projected winners and the Germans take off. I moved a bit to the side
of the road, and although severely congested for the first five miles, stayed
out of everyone’s way. What surprised me was how many spectators there were. I
found out afterwards that over 100000 people lined the course during the event.
There literally were no breaks in this wall of people cheering us on. As the
field thinned, I moved to the left side of the road and began high-fiving the
spectators that were pointing to me and holding out their hands. My arm
remained up and out for the remainder of the 21 miles. I have never been rallied
that much before. The energy literally charged me throughout the event. Women
would run out from the houses with baskets of dumplings and cherry tomatoes.
Every two miles presented more aid, water and restroom facilities. I had never
been in an event this stocked, well run or logistically orchestrated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Two
stretches of the course were trying. The first was a midway section of around
6-7 miles that I have dubbed the “death corridor.” This linear out and back was
fully visible in its entirety, and with the rising artic cross-winds was a bit
demoralizing as a midway point. The second harsh area was the final two
kilometers. As an impregnable fortress, the castle is on the highest point in
Kumamoto. This meant that the finish was virtually straight up a strategic
embankment. Mentally, this was very difficult. Many runners just broke into a
walk and crossed the mat panting. I managed to maintain an increasing speed
that resulted in a finishing sprint. But there was nothing left after that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Unfortunately,
having my Garmin hand out ‘High-Five-ing’ the entire race made me unaware of my
running pace. Instead of the 5:30 I was aiming for, I ended up finishing in
4:15 –a full 1:15 faster than I should have. Shortly behind me, the mayor had a
strong finish and a hearty welcome. The Kumamoto Castle grounds had Bento
boxes, live bands and a huge picnic area for runners and spectators. The medal
was very classy, and results printed out on a collector’s certificate that came
with a small frame. The finishers received a full-sized towel and great shirt.
I really could not offer much in the way of improving this venue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">We
celebrated at a traditional Chinese restaurant and dined together a final time.
Now that the marathon was over, the sister-city delegates were going in
different directions. I was heading to Aso, Japan, with the Chinese, while the
Germans and the Frenchman were heading to other venues. It was a dinner filled
with laughter and tidings, but you could feel the sadness of parting. I slept
hard and awoke for my final day in Japan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Ciaran
remained with me while the other runner-delegates headed out to their final
destinations. I was going to see the fabled Mount Aso –the largest live volcano
on the island. During the marathon, the volcano had erupted, so we were told
that there might be some restrictions on how close we could approach. Normally,
one could go right up to the crater’s edge and look down into the lake within.
On the way, we stopped by the natural spring responsible for Kumamoto’s crystal
waters and the resulting United Nations award for water purity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
spring is purified by geothermic activity as it bubbles up through its natural
‘charcoal filter.’ On the grounds is a Shinto Water Shrine. Ciaran led me
through the ritualistic ‘Bow and Clap’, a prayer ceremony, and gave me some
background history on the differences between shrines and temples. Shrines are
for the Shinto gods; Temples are Buddhist. They often look the same, and many
have become a fusion of the two beliefs. Whether at a shrine or temple, one can
purchase a prayer and loosely tie it to a prayer alter. The wind carries the
prayer away –and at that point it will become granted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">After
the natural spring, we stopped at a Japanese Kebab Restaurant. Of all the
traditional meals I had in Japan, this one really transported me back in time.
I could have been in the year 1600. Through the rice paper screens, snow was
falling on plum blossoms. The mountains in the distance were misty, with
gnarled trees and purple tops. I sat beside a raised charcoal pit. Before me,
were five skewers cooking slowly. The first had pear-shaped potatoes covered in
a thick dark sauce. The next two were vegetable skewers with peppers and mushrooms.
The forth had a thick tofu brick blackened to a crispy shell. Last, was the
fish. Now those of you that know me, know this. I have never feared death by
fire or flood. My darkest fear is a simple one. I am petrified of fish bone
choking. Immediately before me was my darkest fear, and the second the drops of
water cease dripping from the open mouth, it would be ready for consumption. I
stared at the fish; the fish stared back. Drip. Drip. The drops were slowing.
Drip. And suddenly, the matron of the house handed me a skewer with a complete
fish –all scales, teeth, fins and tail intact. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">I
was with the Chinese delegation for the day. I decided to watch them and see
how they attacked this delicacy. To my horror, a beautiful and tiny Chinese
woman grabbed the fish in her hand and bit the head right off. She gnashed and
ground it into submission, and then simply swallowed it down. It looked simple enough,
but you know how fear works. I lightly nibbled at the side and chewed that
piece for around five minutes. As my confidence grew, I started working my way
from tail to head, but that’s where I drew the line. I stopped at the gills and
moved on to the bowl of rice. My fear was conquered –one fish down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">We
headed to Mount Aso, and as we suspected, the mountain had been closed. The
snow was falling harder, but we got to see the outline of the rising sulfur
cloud cutting through the dancing flakes. It truly was majestic –even at this
distance. From there I headed to the Kumamoto Airport. My flight this time went
to Tokyo, then Los Angeles to San Antonio. Within 24 hours, I was back home
with Kristine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The
take-home message is this. Go to Japan. I have never respected a culture like I
do the Japanese. I have rarely felt at home in any societal setting –but I
never felt out of place there. I will return whenever I can, and hope to spend
much time within their borders.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16673458633004225342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276171698391684097.post-86406954743538126912014-03-21T12:27:00.002-07:002014-03-21T12:42:11.986-07:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">Racing the Planet 250 Stage Race Review
</span><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
</h3>
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Wednesday, August 14, 2013<br />
<br />
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Racing the
Planet: Iceland 250K Stage Race</div>
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-The Race
Report</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJhKH4rrM8OG761sHdVfUEIEqFD43eMjHxHs8cnNfhHu7IU_xjZDrMQ0aUVYZU1Exj-DqjQ-yCnePIpuz6W1ZZYvCgf1uKm48qFkjvMb465TBLEjceaSJO_6fj5aflx-5_Zx1bGkWprPK/s1600/101_1424.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJhKH4rrM8OG761sHdVfUEIEqFD43eMjHxHs8cnNfhHu7IU_xjZDrMQ0aUVYZU1Exj-DqjQ-yCnePIpuz6W1ZZYvCgf1uKm48qFkjvMb465TBLEjceaSJO_6fj5aflx-5_Zx1bGkWprPK/s200/101_1424.JPG" height="112" width="200" /></a>As many of
you know, I began this journey over a year ago after linking up with the
Runwell Foundation and joining one of two teams planning to cross the country
of Iceland. There were to be eight of us –two teams of three members each, and
two solo runners. All participating individuals <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>were to raise a $10000 donation cap for the
foundation, and travel, lodging and registration would be covered. All we
needed to provide was travel to the West Coast [Seattle International] or East
Coast [JFK International] airports leaving for Reykjavik, Iceland… and the gear
we’d be carrying.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwBz8T_ALJu3DQfUd5QUYd3D9pnrkL2fMpc-uVrqb8_7M_kQANtzC5c6NJeBsDuQw8YHJ3TgR4gGFV1iptPAgoZpL1RNAcNnEiYGOVKpL1cpZPnbCkJRrUnj-nahlH0hh4pi0Lt9nTiWw/s1600/101_1492.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwBz8T_ALJu3DQfUd5QUYd3D9pnrkL2fMpc-uVrqb8_7M_kQANtzC5c6NJeBsDuQw8YHJ3TgR4gGFV1iptPAgoZpL1RNAcNnEiYGOVKpL1cpZPnbCkJRrUnj-nahlH0hh4pi0Lt9nTiWw/s200/101_1492.JPG" height="112" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6c4PRYyUbdDTiXhyphenhyphenmwcuCbe9xpZbQdIkMH3ACMqgEIFj_QuZ7TdcEwTVakZxKfe4NVLG74CoXWDAb_Plnl3Qcl8AXGuKQAItwybDEOp2s2UOWkUBdRpup_7oCXh_hpu2-ueP4p-dXL13/s1600/SAM_0363.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6c4PRYyUbdDTiXhyphenhyphenmwcuCbe9xpZbQdIkMH3ACMqgEIFj_QuZ7TdcEwTVakZxKfe4NVLG74CoXWDAb_Plnl3Qcl8AXGuKQAItwybDEOp2s2UOWkUBdRpup_7oCXh_hpu2-ueP4p-dXL13/s320/SAM_0363.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>The
immediate issue was fundraising. I abhor asking for money. Luckily [for this
particular issue], I was relocated to San Antonio as part of a military move.
This gave me the opportunity to stage two successful yard sales in preparation
for the relocation through a local facility. The owners of the Black Belt Leadership
Academy, in Tramway NC, gave me every resource required to sell my unneeded
goods to help finance my goal. By the end of the second sale, roughly $7500 had
already been raised. Between those proceeds and the ones brought in from a
charity run on Runwell’s behalf –the Zombiegoaten 5K on Halloween 2012, I
really only lacked about $1750. The people of Sanford
NC provided those funds. In the end, it took less than six weeks to accrue the
10K limit. I thank everyone who helped me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kf2QDnsmI0JnBX4W5eBp3i-WXoaIIfo097_z9NDANADhYJvHb5KZ_phLE2NIDS-H_UVv3nnnV3IMEJ5dr9wg2d5DS3-qNmnIbtAz3vo8LRP5jB3cy3gYtSJnGqN4ma-s_SsXocPS4UtE/s1600/101_1537.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kf2QDnsmI0JnBX4W5eBp3i-WXoaIIfo097_z9NDANADhYJvHb5KZ_phLE2NIDS-H_UVv3nnnV3IMEJ5dr9wg2d5DS3-qNmnIbtAz3vo8LRP5jB3cy3gYtSJnGqN4ma-s_SsXocPS4UtE/s200/101_1537.JPG" height="112" width="200" /></a>So now I
lived in the vast state of Texas, and began focusing on my training and gear
procurement. Racing the Planet sent a 21 page packing list to all the competitors.
Even after stripping down the items into the most meager articles of frugality,
the costs began to exceed $2000. Packs, bags, clothes, lights, shoes, socks,
medical kits, food and myriad other items kept popping up. Three weeks before
the race, a record cold summer actually caused a doubling of certain cold-weather
items. Roughly $2200 of gear later, I had completed my required packing list. I
should own stock in REI, as 90% of my gear came directly from the Cary NC and
San Antonio TX branches.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGawbs-TxGcYbYuSMYbv6yLx75vAd_QmLPxiUVHfxePsgKR1koRyVuyFiGtypqw4BP2EHUBmu4U1XxrCB13cnUeZiIcjjFYbuzvFl6SkFf3E56Lp32gqNLm9nYb5gOI690gcPEv1l8JZD/s1600/10-iceland-fjallabak-nature-reserve_32551_600x450.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGawbs-TxGcYbYuSMYbv6yLx75vAd_QmLPxiUVHfxePsgKR1koRyVuyFiGtypqw4BP2EHUBmu4U1XxrCB13cnUeZiIcjjFYbuzvFl6SkFf3E56Lp32gqNLm9nYb5gOI690gcPEv1l8JZD/s200/10-iceland-fjallabak-nature-reserve_32551_600x450.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>And then by
February 2013, the training that began so well began to falter. I had over
competed, and was becoming more and more apathetic to exercise, running and the
lifestyle that had guided me for three years. I struggled with
maintaining my ideal race weight, and was plagued by several DNF [Did Not
Finish] results at races I could not afford to miss. I became depressed,
disinterested and even quite distant. Some of you that witnessed me racing during
the February through July 2013 time frame can attest to the often mercurial
disposition I possessed. It wasn’t until I had to get a mandatory physical
release for the RTP Iceland trip that I found out, nearly by accident, that it
wasn’t just a motivational collapse. I had developed Hypothyroidism. Perhaps as
a result of maintaining such a high level of intensity through the 2012
calendar year, I had literally damaged my thyroid gland. So for the two weeks
leading up to Iceland, my doctor [a runner] placed me on a non-invasive oral
synthetic that regulated my glandular production levels. I rebounded almost
immediately.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbESFLktlyeVewttVPdUXGBebR4PcExVVLycm9V9YM_Cs13v6myYebBUCMj-DLdq_cHU4zoPD0a8iCrxEK9E3585rqkLkHWJL5thrzoJNd9a85PWstswDj3u0qy-t6g3VN6ahrTbDRpLAc/s1600/101_1602.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbESFLktlyeVewttVPdUXGBebR4PcExVVLycm9V9YM_Cs13v6myYebBUCMj-DLdq_cHU4zoPD0a8iCrxEK9E3585rqkLkHWJL5thrzoJNd9a85PWstswDj3u0qy-t6g3VN6ahrTbDRpLAc/s200/101_1602.JPG" height="200" width="112" /></a>On August 1<sup>st</sup>,
I flew from SAX to JFK airport, to meet up with several members of the Runwell
Team. I use team loosely, as both teams dissolved during the preceding months,
and two members left the Iceland race, while a new member joined. Everyone
would be competing as an individual. We loaded the vast hull of the Icelandair
jet and began the 6-plus flight across Canada, Greenland and the Atlantic to
Keflavik International Airport, 50km from our host hotel in Reykjavik. Once
there on August 2nd, it was about six hours from the time we could check in, so
we stored our baggage and walked the Capital city. Iceland, from top to bottom,
is stunning. It is clean, well-organized and ranks as a world leader in
Recycling/Conservation. Reykjavik is situated on the Southwest side of the
island, which is opposite the Arctic cost where whale-watching and flocks of
Puffin are routinely sought.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvP5-4wo9R2khNy6qFnfqgT4V7L8iUjEiisKJ319W8IA1kgHnFYvdkidiQTFdTapdFbG6mbMA2jnW0RnIRjc5_sNrlbXRYRvDafZKTmYgvtOsgaHoas0OpYw0_HlBNW7YH6dcp6kmI9F6/s1600/14-iceland-eyjafjallajokull-steam_32555_600x450.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvP5-4wo9R2khNy6qFnfqgT4V7L8iUjEiisKJ319W8IA1kgHnFYvdkidiQTFdTapdFbG6mbMA2jnW0RnIRjc5_sNrlbXRYRvDafZKTmYgvtOsgaHoas0OpYw0_HlBNW7YH6dcp6kmI9F6/s320/14-iceland-eyjafjallajokull-steam_32555_600x450.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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We finally checked
in to the Grand Hotel, and immediately the pace picked up. We were given the itinerary for the
following day and the Stage information. Each room was shared with another
competitor, and although nice, these rooms felt a bit small once gear was
spread out and we were forced to move about. Most people went to bed early,
although several opted to explore the ‘night-life’ of Iceland. Keep in mind
that at this point in the Icelandic summer, it is daylight 19 hours a day. It
never really gets much darker than that near-illuminated “30 minutes from dawn”
we see in the NC or TX mountains. At 6am, the following morning, though, it all got very real.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsKe5nzelgG85h8l0F7q2kazdZD-exh4LKdesihR8CspFuigPyPCxj1IIP1yzed4FGK5oA8l9eqm5rwqP0WMduBKdZpKIr48LRZdfuP-luW-PlFG_CcUO2WsmdNRmXyXFZdu0fIfnF9Ua/s1600/101_1633.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsKe5nzelgG85h8l0F7q2kazdZD-exh4LKdesihR8CspFuigPyPCxj1IIP1yzed4FGK5oA8l9eqm5rwqP0WMduBKdZpKIr48LRZdfuP-luW-PlFG_CcUO2WsmdNRmXyXFZdu0fIfnF9Ua/s320/101_1633.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a
hasty, and almost vegetarian-friendly breakfast, tent assignments were posted.
300+ competitors were placed 8-persons to a tent. RTP tried to keep languages
common within the tent assignments, but with 60 countries and at least 40 forms
of language being spoken, it was hit or miss. I had two other Runwell mates in
my tent, although I did not know either of them. There was a couple comprised
of a Swiss man and Filipino woman, and then the three-female “Icelandic Team.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not to meet until later in the
evening, as we were carted off to the base camp. But for now, it was time for
the very stressful [and very mandatory] gear check. If you lacked anything, you
were required to buy it or be disqualified. Luckily, my $2200 served me well,
and I passed the layout. Upon clearance, we were to congregate and wait for the
competitor briefing. It was long, hot and boring as sin. In RTP’s defense,
though, it is really hard to make a syllabus of events and safety look and sound sexy.
Now that the admin was done, we stored our non-race items in the baggage security
room, and loaded on buses for transport out to Base Camp #1.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBdTB-ZWQT2rCNlJ4w4CJi2UuBKf_zWd9NoRGQGjspH3Qkq6s2IczVmjtocLDnz2ubhzFTjEubiN7FU5Pr8M9iXKK3KAbdojg2Wvvu18NqHekpkKQlX4EyXJz95Zu0l5H6xuirOQI40O6/s1600/101_1623.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBdTB-ZWQT2rCNlJ4w4CJi2UuBKf_zWd9NoRGQGjspH3Qkq6s2IczVmjtocLDnz2ubhzFTjEubiN7FU5Pr8M9iXKK3KAbdojg2Wvvu18NqHekpkKQlX4EyXJz95Zu0l5H6xuirOQI40O6/s320/101_1623.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a>Our buses
trekked roughly 150 kilometers into the center of the Icelandic Glacier
country, where the base camp was a triple line of tents along a raging stream
situated between two enormous glaciers. The temperature had dropped to within
10 degrees of freezing and a wet mist had settled into our valley. The tents
were tall enough to stand in, but only had a footprint large enough for exactly
8 humans without any gear. They were canvas with a thick plastic-sheeted
floor. Across the stream and away from the camp were 8 port-o-loos, for use
when in camp only. No paper was provided, but they were undoubtedly the warmest shelters in
the camp. Unfortunately, they were always about a quarter of a mile from the
tent city, and always had a long line to occupy. Also, there was a hot water tent, where one could procure that very
essential ingredient for coffee, tea or freeze-dried giblets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that was all there was. So we spoke a bit
and provided introductions to our tent-mates, and ate a bit of food the Icelandic
Team brought with them. It consisted of wine, cheeses, three types of bread,
potato salad, cold-cuts and some prepackaged European pancakes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhjms3LziQgVwPIcW5g5hiLbpvl2RbOhVochaGEdc9i4GgbQU3FBXGUfcF5H2D64kHtLx95R7B8RjM59-VZ6eUtvCaQVkrMj71Ch5IDjRV_tKkQIlVaNCxKgmqGY2RwXu48GHPDlABSqP/s1600/101_1570.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhjms3LziQgVwPIcW5g5hiLbpvl2RbOhVochaGEdc9i4GgbQU3FBXGUfcF5H2D64kHtLx95R7B8RjM59-VZ6eUtvCaQVkrMj71Ch5IDjRV_tKkQIlVaNCxKgmqGY2RwXu48GHPDlABSqP/s640/101_1570.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKge82P2P8cJUgNSEqSdl3RM50tQwKs-_AZw3vyFYI38UdqOjke-nzhdlPuMOtZrHdbHlGgan5bchSUP_geQSnFGus7KAXDRoPxCXtySxrJCeJXrgCKhnmRK80iOkZpJokTatonjQ9LEd/s1600/101_1596.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKge82P2P8cJUgNSEqSdl3RM50tQwKs-_AZw3vyFYI38UdqOjke-nzhdlPuMOtZrHdbHlGgan5bchSUP_geQSnFGus7KAXDRoPxCXtySxrJCeJXrgCKhnmRK80iOkZpJokTatonjQ9LEd/s200/101_1596.JPG" height="111" width="200" /></a>At 5am
August 4<sup>th</sup>, we awoke, rechecked our gear and pushed into a heavy
mist beside the raging stream. This Stage was titled “Between the Two Glaciers.”
The unknown was about to become known. Due to a very cold night, around 28
degrees, and the fact that a storm was approaching rapidly, the course had been
altered slightly. The river crossing was scrapped and we were routed onto the
gravel road we had bussed in on the evening before. For the next 28.5 miles, we
would be doing our bus commute in reverse -on foot. Within seconds of passing
through a starting banner lined with 60 national flags, the bottom broke out of
the sky. The winds exceeded 55 MPH and the rain struck the skin like buck shot.
For approximately two more hours, we fought with the merciless winds, often being
battered to and fro without much control. Our bags and clothes were like sails.
And then, as quickly as it started, the wind died and a bit of sun pushed
through. The remainder of the day was around 40-45 degrees and quite pleasant.
We trudged along the road following the infamous “pink flags” until we found
the Kerlingarfjoll campsite. Day #1 was finally over. For several competitors,
it served to be the last complete day of the event…</div>
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Stage #2 was
Langjokull (Long Glacier). It began as a cloudy, cold and generally miserable
day. The soreness and pains of Day #1 were fully manifested in the hobbling “zombie-walk”
many of the racers exhibited while making their way to the starting chute. It
seemed like we were heading right back onto that hated gravel road from the bus
ride out, but within a mile we veered off into the open ground. This was the
first occurrence of what I will describe as ”fell flagging.” Similar to fell
running in that we crossed ground regardless of terrain, but instead of
following an “orienteering” route set by a compass, we mindlessly followed the
pink flags up, over and under wherever they led us. We crossed a second raging
river swollen from glacial runoff by way of a pedestrian bridge, and
immediately began our first real mountain crossing. The wind was picking up and
temperatures was dropping as the path kept leading up a 30-40 degree slope. Upon
peaking the crest, we started down towards some of the most stunning scenery of
the race. A large glacier, lake and waterfall lay before us. We trudged across
its sandy shore before crossing a cracked plain resembling a barren desert
framed by mountain peaks. Last, we linked up with a small jeep trail to “The
Land of Trolls,” our Stage #2 campsite.</div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH2hA4PVROGiT9qE1idrBV5hXj5186cF-iIU34d0R2sCdCZmeEOA2e9QbVxc1d4u43dnJtv4R8dFPUHuBYtqbDfshxXrDlyNggO5oyjR0VeK6N-KrgXWz7Q8iEcqbbt5iHCpw1E1MDOMr/s1600/101_1747.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH2hA4PVROGiT9qE1idrBV5hXj5186cF-iIU34d0R2sCdCZmeEOA2e9QbVxc1d4u43dnJtv4R8dFPUHuBYtqbDfshxXrDlyNggO5oyjR0VeK6N-KrgXWz7Q8iEcqbbt5iHCpw1E1MDOMr/s200/101_1747.JPG" height="112" width="200" /></a>After what
seemed like days of winter harshness without relief, Stage #3 opened with sunny
skies and warmer temperatures in the upper 40’s-50’s. This was also the first day
that inclement weather had not forced a change to the planned route. It was
nice to shed the waterproof pants, tights, heavy jacket, fleece, long-sleeve
shirt, gloves, wool cap and buff for the first time while trekking. The terrain
was mild, with the glaciers receding from view to our right and the mountains
to our left. It seemed like the stage name of Black Sand Desert was pretty accurate.
The surface was a moderately rocky path of ashy black sand. For the first
twenty miles, it all looked the same, then the final miles took a sharp turn up
and over a mountain range and ended in our camp, the Black Sand Paradise.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1JTi4G4IAlW7RIy9pCQikG975_3sgycr45ITGVgXRS4UkoqVp-z95faEzv07fK-IRltmu5gb8jAO4t00PzWY3ZrzhrX0PAlgUI6XxThjOOcYFT0MtVGuxiSkjvrOLybbGHVuz743jvBx/s1600/101_1678.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1JTi4G4IAlW7RIy9pCQikG975_3sgycr45ITGVgXRS4UkoqVp-z95faEzv07fK-IRltmu5gb8jAO4t00PzWY3ZrzhrX0PAlgUI6XxThjOOcYFT0MtVGuxiSkjvrOLybbGHVuz743jvBx/s320/101_1678.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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The
competitor list had been shrinking steadily. What had started as 300 optimistic
entrants had been sloughed by injury, demotivation or simply a waning will to
continue. Each day presented more culling to our herd. By the start
of Day #4, titled “Through the Lava Tube,” the camp was noticeably quieter and
a bit more mundane. Less people joked around the early morning fire barrels.
Fewer people ran around snapping off photos. Most just stood and shivered over
coffee as the sunny yesterday was replaced with another cold, overcast today.
And then we crossed the starting chute toward our subterranean destination –the
Lava Caves. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After about a mile of
running through a field covered in large rocks and deep, spongy moss, we were
allowed to drop our gear and line up for entry into the caves. Upon completion
of the 300 meter arced descent, we would wind back, reclaim our gear and
continue on towards our final destination at the Geothermal area.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXC5IpQrjlvn2EVpCxvOiO6H7y3j4Ob7FZRTlHMuzUsoJVCUy1HSxSgPza0hRSCQBL_-w-yfukHCQsy3K5zcvyYy0K-S_0tJ_ddEeKFBJeM6yOwGHvuJJhTicOoQtmE6Gu_IR8T2RThGG/s1600/101_1605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXC5IpQrjlvn2EVpCxvOiO6H7y3j4Ob7FZRTlHMuzUsoJVCUy1HSxSgPza0hRSCQBL_-w-yfukHCQsy3K5zcvyYy0K-S_0tJ_ddEeKFBJeM6yOwGHvuJJhTicOoQtmE6Gu_IR8T2RThGG/s640/101_1605.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbIgiXmFoBDX1wvsaLXbJNXjxdUDsjXy_jO5gHlfIOrX5kRuFJHC1TUeydKPYO6TYL-qqKjTL0CKiCR2MT1SWKJp6heQqnh-4DjcvIOZY_0FwtnOoT6FyqmV-FPr-807zGSyhVoTTsZzg/s1600/101_1739.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbIgiXmFoBDX1wvsaLXbJNXjxdUDsjXy_jO5gHlfIOrX5kRuFJHC1TUeydKPYO6TYL-qqKjTL0CKiCR2MT1SWKJp6heQqnh-4DjcvIOZY_0FwtnOoT6FyqmV-FPr-807zGSyhVoTTsZzg/s200/101_1739.JPG" height="200" width="112" /></a>The caves
were a pretty cool addition to race for two very different reasons. First, they
were stunning, novel and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>kept us out of
the elements for a good 30-45 minutes. Secondly, and more importantly, it was the only period that we
were in motion without our slowly lightening packs strapped to our backs. As we
ate day after day, the loads would lighten –but that trend reversed at the end
of Stage #4, as you will see. We popped out of the Lava Tube and trudged on
through the agricultural area and birthplace of Icelandic Government in
Thingvallavatn. The “path” was a very deep rut of horse-trail through miles of
field. Up until this point, vegetation had not grown higher than ankle level.
Now, reeds, grasses and small shrubs could be seen and we continued to the
southwest. We passed through the Krokus farm area into the geothermic area, and
began to see steam hovering over the plains. Seemingly everywhere deep holes were
gurgling up boiling mud and a sulfuric stench. Lakes bubbled like spas.
Volunteers offered soft-boiled eggs cooked in the geothermal ponds beside the
course. That egg was one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland. I sat for a
moment and savored my warm, soft egg. Those minutes would redefine the rest of my trip, as
I did not notice a rapid drop in temperature and a darkening of already greyed
skies. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1SCMO5tzB_KZwy9nb5i21ElcxipGgvGlIma4sv3GYLOYn9sln_jo6YlLLN2jLlEoKQH-51U-d6zdlRPeoQsNdosMsxc8uX9KDIUjkMb8KuPRGzixxR62tLOatBFS6Dt-UhINvTe3b76h/s1600/101_1732.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1SCMO5tzB_KZwy9nb5i21ElcxipGgvGlIma4sv3GYLOYn9sln_jo6YlLLN2jLlEoKQH-51U-d6zdlRPeoQsNdosMsxc8uX9KDIUjkMb8KuPRGzixxR62tLOatBFS6Dt-UhINvTe3b76h/s200/101_1732.JPG" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
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I could see
the Stage #4 camp, named “Mid-Atlantic Ridge.” I needed only to cross a
three-quarter mile stretch of field and I was home free. You could now
feel a
thickening wet mist and I made the decision to race the storm rather
than pull
out all of my rain gear and waste time stumbling into it. I chose
poorly.
Within minutes the Icelandic god Odin punished me mercilessly for my
time wasted with my egg. I was soaked through. Everything in my pack,
everything on my
back –all I owned soaked up buckets of rain water. Nothing made it but a
single
pair of tights and a long-sleeve tech tee. And tomorrow was the “Long
March.”</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx8ZUIXdFAOz32g_0j7GkCDiX_yuRaXz5gn5O__5tzw_80LeZfA_XEhyphenhyphen8638_zjOs3YnfWuiwEtDOMaB2jh4JzdacRzh3KF8nTMlJ_fVIfJlB_QM-AlZQ4k5pXZh2y6ofrwgrL1wpMEn8/s1600/101_1761.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx8ZUIXdFAOz32g_0j7GkCDiX_yuRaXz5gn5O__5tzw_80LeZfA_XEhyphenhyphen8638_zjOs3YnfWuiwEtDOMaB2jh4JzdacRzh3KF8nTMlJ_fVIfJlB_QM-AlZQ4k5pXZh2y6ofrwgrL1wpMEn8/s200/101_1761.JPG" height="112" width="200" /></a>So
far, each
day had been a little more than a marathon distance. Due to the
lengthened legs
of the opening days, the
Long March continuously shortened to around 40 miles. That was the good
news.
The bad news was a forecast of near-freezing weather and a continuation
of the
rain storm that had soaked my gear. Spirits were low. I stared at my
gear and
wondered how I could do 40 miles in wet clothes. The final kicker was
that my wet load now negated any benefits I had from a lighter pack due
to food
consumption. My pack felt heavier than on the first stage. Top that off
with
how cold I was and it made for a moment of reflection and doubt. More
people
had dropped; They were loading a bus back to Reykjvik. Back to heat.
Back to
showers. Back to Life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ySDaBlVzOt79q3BisknNOwHXbwizG5_mS5d3gHc55xVYqcWzJAD-slKNvq9N68qukbd9Jbo-5eX8NMnAm_CGAJKZl78Kafo1YZyYM57VUk2qlM7F9CkkxfPoIi6axNhQ2G7-RfPfARxt/s1600/101_1818.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ySDaBlVzOt79q3BisknNOwHXbwizG5_mS5d3gHc55xVYqcWzJAD-slKNvq9N68qukbd9Jbo-5eX8NMnAm_CGAJKZl78Kafo1YZyYM57VUk2qlM7F9CkkxfPoIi6axNhQ2G7-RfPfARxt/s320/101_1818.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a>We
began the
Long March by omitting our third river crossing due to freezing
temperatures. I
was testing a theory with my gear. I had put on the dry tights and tech
tee
directly under my waterproof pants and heavy jacket shell. Then I put
the wet
shirt and fleece on over the shell to keep the wet off of me, but
hopefully it
would still offer some warmth and protection from the wind. I had a
dirty, but
dry pair of socks that I slipped on and then placed in two unused
bio-degradable poop-bags for course waste. Then I stuffed my plastic
sheathed feet into my soaked
shoes and they seemed to stay somewhat dry. I just wanted to end this
day.
The race began and we immediately cut through another section of the
geothermal
plant towards a fishing hamlet on the Arctic Ocean. Winds were high and
rain
unrelenting. We cut across mountain ridges until we linked up with the
roads that
carried us onto the black sand beaches. Time virtually stood still for
miles as
we leaned into the biting wind and trudged slowly across a never-ending
expanse
of beautiful, but energy-sapping semi-soft sand.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbYkJgTeUiBrrW14rU_ph0sJSK3iuUhIDnCWvZWosmyVHVhCUTwVI0mOiv9N8FgJ_RPziX-jx-ZEsGt-p3r2H4jb1GTnEpdS-MOa66hVix7FrJF4pQKRt35f2nZzNKffKglMdSr2yHLwi/s1600/394207_10151022494711527_652069989_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbYkJgTeUiBrrW14rU_ph0sJSK3iuUhIDnCWvZWosmyVHVhCUTwVI0mOiv9N8FgJ_RPziX-jx-ZEsGt-p3r2H4jb1GTnEpdS-MOa66hVix7FrJF4pQKRt35f2nZzNKffKglMdSr2yHLwi/s320/394207_10151022494711527_652069989_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>The beach
terminated at a fishing harbor and wound through a small town to the next trial
of the day, the Lava Fields. These former flows of erupted magma bordered the
ocean for miles. It was more of a climb than a hike, with a constant barrage of
sea foam and biting wind making balance on the slick rocks difficult. Three
miles of lava rocks brought us into a rocky sand expanse leading to a coastal
lighthouse, and then on to the final Aid Station called the “Tunnel of Love.” I
mention this particular stop because the two miles leading up to it were the
hardest of the entire Icelandic Race. The winds tipped Gale Force level and
actually brought me to a complete stop several times. I literally couldn’t push
forward until a lapse occurred. Smaller competitors were battered from side to
side, front to back and many were brought to their knees in this stretch.
Luckily, the tunnel led to a sharp turn and the final miles of the Long March
had the wind at our backs. I literally ran the final seven miles like I had
wings. And then, there it was. The Stage Finish. We loaded buses and were transported
to a gymnasium renamed the “Thousand River Haven,” as this was another last
minute campsite change due to harsh weather. We had dry floors, hot showers and access
(for a small fee) to the heated pool, steam room and hot tubs.</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCnsqahtbPJBkFvNvR4fDJeWcHfB2WFvjncV671OFDdqfO0dDxfkY3EeXSbHX5allKyD7CtHpGZEEi-KiAbSArPSulbGGP02rT1p7QJg2AbU99HzttdzKeEwd3y_naDGq4Pcg_FQ9dKct/s1600/101_1805.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCnsqahtbPJBkFvNvR4fDJeWcHfB2WFvjncV671OFDdqfO0dDxfkY3EeXSbHX5allKyD7CtHpGZEEi-KiAbSArPSulbGGP02rT1p7QJg2AbU99HzttdzKeEwd3y_naDGq4Pcg_FQ9dKct/s320/101_1805.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a>The Long
March is unique in that you had roughly 10-12 miles more than the usual miles
to cover, but were given 24-hours instead of the normal 12 to complete the
stage. Then you are given roughly one single day of recuperation before
beginning Stage #6, “The Final Footsteps to the Blue Lagoon.” So the remaining
250-ish competitors spent a day in the Gymnasium, either trading food, swapping
blister remedies or trying to remove the black sand from every orifice, garment
or bag. Shoes were left by the front entrance, and the entire facility rapidly
began to reek of drying laundry, funky bodies and rotting shoes. Most people
slept, but several found the wait restless and longed to finish the final six
miles and be done with the event. I waffled between the two, as I was restless
but also appreciated the break. Some folks snuck out to visit the local bakery,
bar and pizzeria, but most resisted the temptation by the threat of time
penalties for those transgressional behaviors. I slept and did a short swim in
the heated pool, dried all of my gear and repacked for the final day. I awoke
feeling rested, relaxed and ready.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IHqCfQv0Nb3YbONMrRri3_sJ5g7oRmcj6KC-7tgEXScNxdMu6-VO78cCMB7WRntwOlFMjVOhQpbnI0jPg1m35-FAG3RoiPI1D-CC2uL_DpssV5J4hy0A65szoDSreyhQX6zLqE0xd3ED/s1600/578971_641534672524721_1039618074.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IHqCfQv0Nb3YbONMrRri3_sJ5g7oRmcj6KC-7tgEXScNxdMu6-VO78cCMB7WRntwOlFMjVOhQpbnI0jPg1m35-FAG3RoiPI1D-CC2uL_DpssV5J4hy0A65szoDSreyhQX6zLqE0xd3ED/s320/578971_641534672524721_1039618074.png" height="240" width="320" /></a>We were
bussed back out to the final start point. The terrain was rocky and presented
more elevation than most of us expected this close to the coast. The heavy mist
was back, but temperature was a bit warmer than usual. Rain was probable, but
did not manifest. We ran through the final set of mountains and descended into
Iceland’s National Forest, which amounted to about one acre of Christmas trees.
From there we wound through a stunning rock field on a crushed gravel path and
then faced an iridescent lake next to yet another geothermal plant. This was
the infamous Blue Lagoon. The double line of competitor country flags lined the
way to the finish arch, although everything was partially obscured by the
geothermal steam hovering over the blue waters. I crossed the finish amid a
swirl of familiar faces and near-maniacal smiles. It was over. The race was complete.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4-OZgS6qH0OzQ-oqTJ89bSzXbhKzthOsPnUpzt2Z4I4EGq0lwYnltpaNKOZ7W-6zZn_1IuW_XsJc1zb39uHMI5yYF5ceVZJ2Om2Mp97lnCM9BBz_2SoWiNm1HK5d2NlxZA2DztoTqSqW/s1600/1150823_641141239230731_675680238.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4-OZgS6qH0OzQ-oqTJ89bSzXbhKzthOsPnUpzt2Z4I4EGq0lwYnltpaNKOZ7W-6zZn_1IuW_XsJc1zb39uHMI5yYF5ceVZJ2Om2Mp97lnCM9BBz_2SoWiNm1HK5d2NlxZA2DztoTqSqW/s200/1150823_641141239230731_675680238.png" height="195" width="200" /></a></div>
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After photo
opportunities and collaboration with new friends, I munched down some
fresh
bread and vegetarian broth. The path to the Blue Lagoon “bathing area”
was a
600 meter winding path of the same crushed gravel we finished on. Racing
the
Planet had reserved an entire wing of the Lagoon, and we all settled
into the
steaming hot waters for a long relaxing dip. A small cabana-style bar
made some serious bank off of the bone weary competitors, as the lagoon
bobbers soon soaked with mojitos, champagne and golden beers. After
about an hour, we began
loading the busses for the ride back to the Grand Hotel in Reykjavik. We
had
the afternoon to relax, pack for return voyages home, and clean
ourselves up
before the awards banquet.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDuVzi71EaMrzNiMvj08Oz-r7ZtkE7XnN9xKf5JShGpEuHGJrX35QV1pQOdd-mbS3xWq2FQ22ihpjVyvJsUGEDo_b7FvhAtNVTDw1a6JqrEy1lZvfT8hzMu-zQ3fE4-x2_6fIba3V87Om/s1600/582660_10151022487771527_984417880_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDuVzi71EaMrzNiMvj08Oz-r7ZtkE7XnN9xKf5JShGpEuHGJrX35QV1pQOdd-mbS3xWq2FQ22ihpjVyvJsUGEDo_b7FvhAtNVTDw1a6JqrEy1lZvfT8hzMu-zQ3fE4-x2_6fIba3V87Om/s200/582660_10151022487771527_984417880_n.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a>Racing the
Planet is a top-notch organization and provides for every contingency. Their
ability to apply effective contingencies while conducting the race was impressive.
Planning a race of this magnitude is difficult in itself. RTP is a Hong Kong
company and still manages to arrange, plan and administer international races
with unrivalled efficiency. I have already committed to participate in the 2014
4-Deserts Race at the Atacama Pass in Chili. I have every faith that RTP will
once again exceed all of my expectations. Iceland 2013 will remain one of the
best experiences I have ever suffered through.</div>
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I have provided a few more photos below. </div>
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