Aug 27 A festive atmosphere prevailed last night. The Gourmet Cowboy catering crew out did themselves at dinner with steak and corn on the grill, baked potato bar and great side dishes to satisfy everyone.
There seems to be a sense of relief that the last stage is near.
Bryce and I wake at our usual 5:45 a.m. and go through our routine of breakfast and breaking camp for the final time.
Today’s stage is 20.6 miles with a ten mile climb to “only” 10,160 feet. Five miles and 2600 feet of descent will bring us to the final challenge: three miles and 1300 feet up them 700 down in two miles to the finish.
It’s Bryce’s day to lead but he lets me take the climb out of Vail. Again, we pass our usual groups going up, wishing each other luck and the typical, “see you on the way down.”
I push as much as I can, but the steepness of many sections puts us slightly behind where we hoped to be at the first checkpoint at 6.9 miles.
At the summit Bryce takes over. My quads are beat to death but I lean into the slope, pick up my heals as much as possible and pinwheel my arms. It hurts about the same but does generate a bit more speed. Bryce moves nimbly ahead enjoying himself. Halfway down the trail narrows to a 12 inch rut along the edge of a sharp drop off to a stream. Tall grass and weeds make it hard to see the trail. I’m barely keeping my balance and my stride shortens to painful stabs at the ground. Equally painful is the beating my pride is taking as our downhill friends sweep merrily past as I scramble into the weeds, clinging to anything I can to stay upright. I fight with myself to keep from cursing out loud at the trail, but manage to keep the filter on. Actually, I’m so tired of this that my mind can’t even settle on an appropriate expletive before being jarred back by the next wobbly foot strike.
After barely negotiating three stream crossings without falling in we scramble up an embankment and on to a paved road. One more downhill mile and we’re in Avon, the base of our last climb. The three hour mark arrives and with it our next 1 minute walk break. Bryce says the next checkpoint is just around the corner and we should wait. I’m too ragged to disagree as I plod ten meters behind. Finally we see the Timex van 100 meters ahead. Surely the checkpoint is there. No, it’s just the Timex guy in a lawn chair telling us the aid station is 400 meters ahead at the top of a huge hill. I’m not happy with Bryce, we’re 8 minutes past our break and it will take at least 3 more minutes to get up the hill. I resign myself to the climb and push ahead.
Vicki from Gore greets us at checkpoint three, as she always does. I’m thinking we have three miles left and don’t take well the news it is three miles UP then two more down.

While Bryce chats with Vicki and mixes a bottle of Endurox, I take half a bottle of water and begin the steep climb. Even though I’m walking, it’s no break because the trail is too steep to run. Bryce catches up when it flattens out and we wind our way upward.

Fifteen minutes later, I speculate that we’re almost halfway up, if we’re lucky. At some points it’s too steep to run, everywhere else, I’m plugging along as hard as I can with Bryce behind me. Just after 30 minutes we reach a false peak, only to discover there is more to climb as we round the bend. At 3:44 we enounter the Team Solomon Flight Crew guys from Cananda, who are usually well ahead. One is bent over and his partner helps him off the trail. We ask if they are OK and the they tell us to send medical help. Five minutes later we catch sight of Steven and Deb (downhill friends) two switchbacks ahead and call ahead for them to get help to Junior and Luc. Thankfully, a couple minutes later a medic on a quad rumbles past.

We pass the top about 3:40 and now it’s a question of how fast I can get downhill. At 4:00 Bryce asks if we can skip the walk break. I’m out of water anyway and agree to press on. It was a good choice as  tw0 minutes later we could see the finish down below. Two more switchbacks, and a footbridge crossing brought us to the finish chute. The announcer got our names right and we cross the finish line in 4:06:27, hands clasped and raised overhead like we do every day, excpet this time we’re DONE.

One step past the line we take a knee and give thanks. After that Bryce trys to hug me, but I turn toward the the wonderful volunteers holding cups of water. Bryce grabs me from the back in a reverse bear hug and I bend forward, lifting him off the ground, carrying him toward the water. We were both pretty happy.

We take eighth for stage six, nearly ten minutes ahead of ninth, but not enough to move up in the overall standings. Our total time is 22:13:16, over 30 minutes faster than Marshall and Kyle, and we ran 5 miles farther.

We congratualte our downhill friends who beat us and cheer on those we beat. Junior and Luc, rallied after getting medical help and make it in at 4:27:37. No one was going to pull them off the course with 2.5 miles to go. Ben and Liz come in at 4:45:00

I have to catch a 7:50 p.m. flight out of Denver and my ride will arrive around 1 p.m. The shower truck is gone, but the Gore-Tex guys let me rinse off in the rain/wind test chamber in the “It’s What’s on the Inside the Really Counts” truck. Twenty minutes later I’m gone. There’s a big awards banquet tonight and I’m sure I’ll hear all about it. All I care about now is getting through the next 9 hours so I can put my head on a pillow for the first time in 7 days, in my own bed, next to my wife (no offense, Bryce).

Aug 26 Coldest night yet. Woke to frost instead of dew on the rain fly.
After a short shuttle to Red Cliff we headed back up the road reversing yesterday’s finish. The first 10 miles were a climb to 11,500 feet. My verse of the day is Hebrews 10:30 “So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded.”  It was my day to lead and I was determined to give Bryce everything I had with every step.
We hit checkpoint 1 at 7.9 miles on pace. I pushed the down hill sections toward checkpoint 2, 6.4 miles away,but still couldn’t match Bryce. On the 300 foot climb to checkpoint 2, I found my low gear and ground my way up. Along the way we passed the better descending teams we’d come to know well over the last four days. Running along the ridgeline in the Vail ski area we could look thousands of feet down on either side.
Getting to checkpoint 2 took forever. From there it was 3000 feet down to the finish. If that wasn’t bad enough (for me) construction in the Vail ski area lengthened the stage from 22.3 to 24 miles.
We passed one more team on the last steep grind then Bryce took over. The switchbacks were brutal as the route followed a thin mountain bike trail. Several times I heard people approaching, but unwilling to take my eyes off the trail I had to wait to discover who was catching us. Each time it was a mountain biker, much to my relief. I turned myself inside out for Bryce, not wanting to spoil his great downhill cruising. Finally we could see the finish at Mid Vail Lodge, but it was well below us. Two more switchbacks on the steep gravel road dumped us out at the finish chute where the announcer introduced us as the leading women’s 80+ team. Since they usually beat us we were pleased. In fact, none of our downhill friends caught us. Even more satisfying, we bettered Marshall and Kyle’s time even with the extra distance.
I ran as hard as I could the whole way. I’ve never been able to say that after a race. Not in 30 years. Team matters.

Aug 25 A cold night made for great sleep. Heel blisters felt find this morning. Quads did not. With another big climb, it was Bryce’s day to lead. We motored along well until we reached the steep section – 1,000 ft in about a mile. The pace became a walking trudge, but Bryce’s trudge was better than mine. We reached the 6 mile checkpoint close to our goal. On the trip down my quads wouldn’t lift enough for me to roll along. Though it seemed like I was moving, Bryce was flying. He was having a blast bombing down the mountain and I was ticked I couldn’t keep up. He was very kind about stopping to wait for me.

As bad as it was there was no option of giving up. This is a team effort and I didn’t want to let my teammates down any more than I already was. After a foot-numbing section through a rock strewn stream we reached the 11.5 mile checkpoint. From there it was just 2.5 gently downhill miles on a smooth gravel road. The mixed team we’ve been back and forth with each day was just ahead and we were not going to beat Marshall and Kyle’s time. As silly as it sounds, I was on the verge of tears. I hate to lose and here were two significant losses staring me in the face. Bryce calmed  me down as we rolled along. Determined to salvage something, I focused on getting my knees up and hitting the tangents. I found some rhythm and dug in for the rest of the way. Amazingly we dropped our rivals and averaged sub 8 minute pace for the final 2.5 miles. Our time of 2:48:01 was almost 5 minutes slower than Marchall and Kyle and dropped us back to ninth.

We were both very pleased with how the stage ended and enjoyed a post run soak in the icy stream in Red Cliff.

Aug 24 We went to bed last night optimistic about 24 mile stage 3. This morning we woke up after a good night’s sleep, but definitely sore from the 3617 ft of climbing and 4062 ft of descending.

A cool morning and two miles on the road were a good warm up for the first 7 miles at 10,000 ft. We made great time hitting the checkpoint at 7 miles in 1:15. Greatly encouraged by the quick pace we pressed on to the next checkpoint at 14 miles. The footing was not as good, but we ran nearly even splits, leaving the aid station in 2:36. The next few miles took us through a pine forest with good footing.

Then we began the 900 ft descent to the 20 mile checkpoint. This turned out to be our rough patch as our quads complained loudly with each step.

With 4 miles to go we had our first goal of beating Marshall and Kyle’s time of 5:03 well in hand and a great shot at our ideal goal of 11 minute pace, 3:21. Nine minutes later we turned onto a gravel road for the final 3 miles. Hurting but determined, we chugged up the last little hill and threw what was left into the gradual slope to the finish at Nova Guides. The clock came into view at 1:14:00 and I suggested we try and break 1:15. Fifteen seconds of “sprinting” later Bryce said, “I’m going to throw up.” Two seconds later I also felt the urge to hurl so we slowed down and enjoyed our 4:15:17 24 mile finish.

Aug 23 Last night I took the lead from Ben in the overnight trips to the pre hydration competition. My afternoon nap put me way behind in hydration so I had to make it up between supper and lights out at 9 p.m.
This morning we made the half hour bumpy bus ride to the starting line. At our briefing last night we were told there was a chance of thunderstorms and lightening (and instructions to head downhill as fast as you can). By start time is was sunny and cool.
Today was Bryce’s day to lead the team. After about 2 miles we began the 3 mile 3000 foot climb to Hope Pass. Bryce did an amazing job on the single file hike moving us up and past group after group. Around half way up we heard people ahead making excited noises. When we reached that spot we saw why. The view back down the valley was incredible. We agreed with Luke 19:40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
We reached Hope Pass 12,000+ in good time and good spirits. After taking two quick pictures we began five miles of insane downhill. The first and last sections were nothing short of treacherous with an enjoyable patch with good footing in the middle.
The scenery on the way down was as great as it was on the way up, I think. Every time I snuck a quick look I’d trip on a rock. My LaSportivas were the perfect shoe both for traction and low to the ground performance. As my quarantine got more and more tired I had more and more near misses. With only two check points in the first five miles there was no way to tell how close we were to the finish. Last year Marshall and Kyle ran 2:13 for 10 miles. This year 3 miles were added to the end of the stage. I was hoping for a time around 2:45. Between 2:30 and 2:45 three different spectators told us there was 1 mile to go. I wanted to believe them but knew better.
Finally we got to the finish just sneaking under 2:56. We ran 3:56 and came in 11th and also felt much better than after Monday’s stage even with the higher elevation.
Time for some serious recovery before tomorrow’s long stage.

Aug 22 Song of the day U2; Elevation.

Update to follow, when I can get online.

3hrs 55 minutes. Much respect to Marshall and Kyle for running 3:49 last year.
The day was sunny and hot. Bruce and I worked well together. After 45 minutes we had a tough half hour climb. The next hour was mostly downhill in sandy gravel and easy on the legs. After another long climb it was about 3 miles straight to the finish. We managed 10 min pace for the last three. The hard part was seeing the finish 2 miles away. It never seemed to get any closer. The 20 mile stage was 8000 feet or above the able way but we didn’t notice too much trouble except going up.

I got a much needed nap in the afternoon and will be in bed before 9p.m.

5:45 a.m. After a fitful night, I am ready to go. Ben is so competitive, every time I got up for pre-hydration relief, he would do the same. Unless he snuck in a trip while I think I beat him by one.

Aug 21 Finally here in Buena Vista after a scenic 2 hour ride from Denver with our host.
Check in was blast as were deluged with awesome swag: a Gore jacket, a Timex watch, Headsweats hat, race shirt, assorted food items and huge bag to store it all.
Dinner was a Greek theme and delicious.
Coming back from dinner we met one of the locals, a 10 point buck with velvet covered antlers walking down the sidewalk. We stopped and fed him some green apples off a nearby tree.
Ben, Liz, Bryce and I crowded into our room in the Topaz Lodge going through our gear and new stuff like Christmas morning. As we sorted through small zip lock bags of Endurox and other OTC meds we looked like a scene from COPS.
We’re relaxed and excited. In12 hours it’s go time!

Aug 20 Another 6 a.m. bowl of oatmeal and drive down to Monument. Today I’m going to be a regular runner going for an easy 4 mile run: no compression shorts, no hydration belt, no hills. Three other cars sat in the small gravel lot along the New Sante Fe trail, a rails to trails path running north/south through town.

One minute into my run, I passed the 52 mile mark and immediatly hit the split button on my watch. I’ve been wondering all week what kind of pace I’ve been running. One comfortable mile later the watch read 8:41 (which included two brief stops for street crossings and an untied shoe). The next mile was 8:24. Not bad for 6500 feet, I thought. A brisk headwind greated me when I turned around. I hadn’t noticed the tailwind (you never do). Easy run or not, my competitive nature urged me to hold the same pace on the way back in spite of the wind. I did, telling myself the effort still qualified as an easy run.

Back at the parking lot a father and daughter were stretching. He asked me how far it was to Monument Lake. Shirtless and pasty Michigan white, I wondered how he could mistake me for a local. Turns out they are from Rochester, NY.

Bryce arrives tonight, and tomorrow we hook up with Ben and Liz then head for our rendez-vous with the Rockies. The final question will be answered soon enough.

Aug 19 Up at 6 a.m. again for breakfast, then a drive out to the nearby town of Palmer Lake. The Pike National Forest is on the west edge of town and I wanted to get on some real trails.

After parking the car and going around a locked gate at the trail head, I encountered a National Forest Service cabin. From there I scrambled up what was kind of a steep trail next to a stream. It was hands and feet crawling and climbing, and I hoped it would lead to some sort of runnable trail. Ahead the sound of a waterfall got louder and about the time I could see it, I also smelled cigarette smoke. The waterfall was about 30 feet tall, and what trail there was ended there. Two teenage guys were hanging out smoking, when they should have been in school (yes, school has started here). I crossed the stream and made my way up the steep embankment, still hoping to locate a trail. After 100 or so, it occurred to me that the wisdom of what I was doing was probably no better than the delinquents by the waterfall. Just how was I going to get back down? The rocks were not that secure and there wasn’t enough brush to grab to make a controlled, gradual descent.

Eventually, a clear trail emerged and I headed into the woods. The path was narrow, with a steep drop off on right side and an equally steep rise on the left. After running parallel to the stream the trail led into a meadow and then into the Limbaugh Canyon. The scenery was, of course gorgeous – tall pines rising on each side of the canyon, large random rock formations and lots of wildflowers. The orange ones matched the laces of may adidas Rides (I was was going to toss the LaSporivas in the car and now  regretted not doing so).

At 30 minutes I turned around. Unsure of the altitude (8000 feet) or the pace,  I was having a blast. I tried to imagine my teammate, Bryce, running in front of me and decided that on terrain like this we’d need to keep some distance as the footing was often not the best. When I reached the ridge line trail, I began to wonder how I was going to get back, since I was not going to try and go down the way I came up. (Mom, stop reading and skip to the next paragraph) That thought was interrupted when my toe caught a root and the ensuing stumble put my left foot over the edge. As I was going down, I happened to grab a three foot pine growing out of the side of the hill. In my mind I pictured the cartoon image of the guy dangling over the cliff, clinging to a solitary branch. The sapling held and I came to a stop about the time my right knee landed on the path. No harm, and I used the adrenaline rush to fuel a surge.

I could hear the waterfall again and came to a bend in the trail I didn’t remember. I stopped, moved to the edge of the trail and looked down. One hundred feet below was the top of the Forest Service cabin. Hoping the trail would take me there, I continued. Eventually, it became obvious that the trail was not going to get me back where I started. A dry creek bed was the closest thing to a trail leading down, so I took that, scolding myself for not wearing the LaSportivas. My effort was rewarded with a new trail heading back toward the cabin. I was pleased until I reached the cabin, this time even with the roof and no clear way to get the last 20 feet down. Continuing on, I found the stream and spent half an hour trying to follow it through thick brush, eventually coming out on a dirt road. A kind woman walking her dog directed me toward the trail head half a mile away.