by Keith Paine…
So, we did it! Turns out that 50 miles is a long haul, and requires pretty much everything you’ve got. The different parts of the course are challenging in different ways, but our team held together, gutted it out and managed to laugh a lot along the way. Which is important, because it took 15 hours ! Some highlights from race day :
* The 5:30 am drive to the Mohonk trail, in which we manage to get in a killer breakfast of eggs, avocados and toast, lose the car keys, see an amazing sunrise, and hear an impressive early morning rendition of “God Bless America” before we jump off into the wilderness.
* The first 10 miles feel so nice, we decide to start running the downhills. We’re happy campers, and conditions are perfect–sunny and 55 degrees.
* We hit the 25 mile mark in 6 hours. right on schedule. This is where food and hydration become really, really important, so everybody refuels.
* At around mile 30, we literally run into our friend Terence Girshberg, an experienced marathoner, running coach and all-around great guy. He’s running down the ridge we’re about to climb. as w get into it, we can’t help but notice that the trail just keeps. going. up.
* Mile 38. the last aid station. All around, feeling pretty good. Daniel and I put in a couple miles running just to stretch the legs. We’re ready for the final stretch. Only a half-marathon to go!
* Mile 45: the moment of truth. Every long race has one, and ours comes when we realize that 2 of our team are injured, we’re all fatigued, and it’s getting dark. Fortunately, the course designers did a smart thing: the only way to get home is to finish the race! so we did. it was absolutely a team effort, and I think Daniel summed it up
best: “I’m glad I did it, and I’ll never do it again! “
