It's Only 100 Miles

January 16th will mark 6 years of my "running life". I really can't remember what life was like before that day in 2006. One thing I am absolutely sure of is this... NEVER in my wildest dreams would I have said that there would be a point in my life that I would be running a 100 miler. Now I'm getting ready to do just that.... for the SECOND time.

There have been many changes over the past 6 years. That first day I barely made it one mile. It seemed like the hardest thing I would ever do. The next day felt even worse. I ran a 5k a few months later and wondered how in the world people could run any farther than that. 10,000 plus miles later and I have managed to go a little longer from time to time. It has been a learning process and the failures outweigh the successes. Fortunately, the successes have been enough to keep me coming back for more and looking for the next challenge.

One of the biggest changes over that period came in late 2009 and early 2010 when both of my parents were diagnosed with cancer. The very idea that somebody I loved would have cancer was crazy and it was unthinkable that both parents would require life altering procedures within a few months of each other. That was as far fetched as me running 100 miles. Both were ridiculous notions. Cancer happened to "other" people and NOBODY runs 100 miles. Except it doesn't happen to "other" people and people DO run 100 miles.

My eyes were opened to the horrors of cancer during this time. It is an evil monster that robs from ALL of us. Both my parents are alive and I am thankful but in the past few years, several of my friends, people that I loved and considered family, have been taken. Of course I'm not the only one, many of my friends have experienced great losses too. We are ALL in this fight together. Sometimes I get caught up in the hype and forget this.... that we ALL hate cancer and want to see the day when it is no longer relevant.

When I say "caught up in the hype"  it's not a reference to my seemingly narcissistic love affair with myself. Sometimes I just feel like it's too much. Too much to keep asking. Too much to keep begging. Too much to keep tweeting or posting on facebook every 5 minutes, the fact that I hate cancer. We all hate cancer. I know this but still fundraising can be emotionally and physically draining. It takes it's toll on my body before I ever hit the starting line. Anybody that has been there knows what I'm saying. It usually makes me feel guilty for asking time and time again. So I decided NOT to ask this time because it would just be easier that way. I could just concentrate solely on the race and go into it mentally prepared without the pressure of anybody watching.

Then the VOICES kicked in with rational thought a stern lecture. They let me know that this was a selfish and disrespectful approach. Facts are facts. I will run 100 miles on February 4th. It is the Rocky Raccoon 100 in Huntsville, Texas. Unless you are an ultra runner, you probably don't know anybody that will ever try this distance. It is a unique opportunity for both of us to TEAM UP and fight back. I will run 100 miles as fast as I can. I promise to keep moving in a forward motion, even when it gets dark and cold. Even when the miles seem impossible, I promise to push toward the finish line. I will do this with the full knowledge that my pain and weakness is not even enough to resgister a blip on the radar when compared to those with cancer. All I ask of you is to support me with one dime for each mile that I cross.  

Please consider this. I am asking begging for a $10 donation to the Relay for Life. I have NOTHING to offer in return. The Honor Scroll Run will be coming soon and the Pink Tutu will make an appearance (or two) this year. For this run it will just be me, a cancer hatin' doo rag and some really cool shoe laces. If you want to donate click------->HERE<------- or make a check payable to the American Cancer Society and mail to:


David Murphy
HC 72 Box 324-8
Wasola, MO
65773

Here is a link to last year's Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Recap and Video

Expanding the Limits- Rocky Raccoon 100

A few weeks ago, I was on a training run with a friend. As usual on a long run, the topic of discussion was scattered and all over the place. At one point along the way, the subject of limits came up. In a joking manner, he stated -A man has got to know his limitations. Yep. I agree. But you will never know your limitations until you FIND them. That is what I love about running, specifically ultras, you are constantly pushing the limits of your own perceived endurance. Overcoming the fear of failure and the fear of inability is what it's all about. The more you push, the more the limits expand.

As a runner, I have come to believe that limits are set ONLY in our minds. This means that WE are the only ones that decide how much our bodies can take. Training is only part of it- of course it can change how MUCH we rely on the second part- Attitude is the most important part. How bad you want it. How hard you are willing to push it. How important it is to finish. All of these beliefs were tested and reinforced last weekend at the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Race in Huntsville, TX. It is not often that I wonder if I had found my limit but there were some rough patches along the way where that question entered my head.

I arrived in Huntsville on Thursday afternoon after about 10 hours of driving. The drive wasn't too bad because I had my "crew" with me. Jon and Charley had both agreed to come down to crew and pace me. Four days away from their families and 20 hours of driving just to stand around waiting for me to run 100 miles. Seems insane but I think they were just as excited to do that as I was to actually run. That is why they are full-fledged members of The Idiot's Running Club.

We woke up on Friday morning to ice and snow. Ice and snow? What? Yep. It really wasn't too bad but the locals were spazzed out and Houston had to shut down the interstates. This combined with snow and ice in other areas of the country made travel tough and, in some cases, impossible. Around 80 registered runners of the 100 miler couldn't make it to Huntsville for the race. It was a good thing we drove down a day early....

So, we had some time to kill before the packet pick-up on Friday afternoon. What to do? Hmmm..... Jon and Charley came up with a brilliant plan. "Let's go for a run on the trail." And because I am part of The Idiots Running Club, I agreed and we loaded up and drove to the Huntsville State Park. First sign upon entering the park? A "Do Not Litter" sign? Nope. An "Alligator's Exist In The Park." sign? Yep. Huh? Alligators? Sweet. We continued on and found the start/finish area and met the Race Director, Joe. He was very friendly and we chatted briefly before hitting the trail. I ran 5 miles while Charley and Jon went out for 6.2. It was nice to get a feel for the trail and the conditions were fine. No major patches of ice or snow. Just a few roots....

We hit the packet pick-up that afternoon. Watched all the "rock stars" roll in to grab theirs. I don't think they were intimidated by me. Afterward we grabbed a few supplies and went back to the hotel for an early night. After a few slices of pizza and a couple of beers, I was ready to sleep. I did. I slept for almost 3 whole hours before starting the old "what time is it" roll. Finally, at 3 a.m. I gave up and decided it was close enough. Sleep is over-rated anyway. I was pretty nervous but managed to eat a couple of microwave-able sausage biscuits and suck down a BUNCH of coffee. I discovered a card from my wife and kids in my bag that was very inspiring and motivating. Just the kind of thing I needed before this monster of a test. At 5 a.m. we were off.

Just before 6 a.m. the racers started to line up. I knew that I wanted to go out at a decent pace so I lined up towards the front. After a few minutes, a group of dudes come rolling up right in front of me....... What's up with that? Oh- I see. Kupricka, Jurek and company (including the now WORLD famous Ian Sharman) decided that was a good spot too. Fair enough. It is a pretty awesome sport where an average schlubb like me can line up shoulder to shoulder with the very best in the world. Killer experience.

The RD did the final countdown, I let out a loud WOOOOO!!! right behind Jurek-(though I'm sure he didn't hear me) and we were off. This was the last time I would be that close to the leaders but, because the course was a 20 mile loop, not the last time I would see them. The first few miles went pretty fast and somewhere just past the 6 mile aid station, I decided to back off the pace some. I had ran the first 10k at an 8:40 overall pace- great for a 50k but STUPID for 100 miles. By the end of the first 20 mile loop- the pace was sitting at 9:09/mile with a total elapsed time of 3 hrs 03 minutes and things were feeling really good. I met my crew, grabbed a few essentials and went out for round 2.

The second loop went about as smooth as the first. Everything felt great, the pace was fine and the hydration/nutrition seemed just right. The only thing that I did notice on this loop was that the 6ish mile leg of the "Damnation" loop seemed to stretch a little longer- this was a sign of things to come- but overall, miles 21-40 were pretty good. This loop slowed down some, but remained pretty steady and reasonable- I thought.... Total elapsed time after loop 2 was 6 hrs 25 minutes and the overall pace had dropped to 9:37/mile. Still on track for a great finish. (remember this is my 1st 100 miler..... I had no idea what was coming)

The day was warming up fast and I got rid of the long sleeves and gloves, opting for a short sleeved tech shirt and a dry doo-rag before heading out for the 3rd loop. Things felt pretty good here too. I hit the 50 mile mark with a PR time of 8 hrs 14 minutes. Nice. But it was starting to get a little tough and the pace slowed over the next 10 miles. At mile 55- I had officially gone farther than I ever had- and still was barely half way done. An interesting thought came into my mind at this point- "Dumb-dumb.... you have never even SNIFFED 100 miles- are you freakin' insane?" Kind of made me laugh. I continued through to finish miles 41-60 with a total elapsed time of 10 hours 29 minutes and the overall pace had dropped to 10:29/mile. Still not to bad...... I was also informed that I had started this loop in 25th place overall. I was quite confident that was no longer the case- in fact I would have bet that I was closer to 70th place. I would have lost.

Finally, the time had come for a pacer and I was READY. It was starting to get lonely out there and my legs were feeling it. It was still daylight and warm but we knew that wouldn't last long so I put on a jacket and grabbed my head lamp. Jon and I headed out for the 4th loop. We hit the first aid station at about mile 63 and, because pacers get to partake in the aid station food just like the runners, Jon finally got to eat some "real" food. Him and Charley had existed all day on peanut butter and jelly- this made the aid station food look like a 5 star meal to him. I took my time getting some hot soup while he munched the quesadilla's like Scooby-snacks. Not sure WHY I found this funny- but I did. We hit the Damnation loop and I started struggling. I was starting to question if I wanted to continue running- I didn't want to but I also knew that I would.

Jon pulled me through as it got dark and cold. We talked about all the folks that had sent emails and told their story- very inspiring, tearful and motivating- finally after mixing in some walking and much slower running- it was over. Miles 61-80 were completed in a total elapsed time of 15 hours and 28 minutes with the overall pace dropping to 11:35- not great but I did NOT really care at this point. 11:35 seemed smokin' fast to me.

Before embarking on the final 20 mile loop- I needed to sit down and assess the damage. My right ankle had been hurting pretty good and it appeared swollen. Jon wrapped it with an Ace Bandage, I put a few more clothes on, grabbed some hot soup and we were off. Charley was pacing this time and I can guarantee that him and I have never gone this slow EVER. He managed to keep me running for the first 12 miles of this loop- but after the Damnation loop- around mile 92- I was zapped. The next 8 miles would be the longest and most important miles of my "running journey". It was time to decide where I would set my limitations.

Charley and I had met at a local 5k back in 2007. We started training together and decided to run a marathon. Who knew that we would end up on a trail in Texas, freezing as I struggled to step off the last few miles of a 100 miler? Man, we had come a long way and as we approached the final 5k- Charley encouraged me to keep moving. His reminder of my "hatred" for 5k's gave me a great laugh when I really needed it. 5k's kill me- I hate them but I keep going back for more- and here I was, 97 miles in and it was only a stupid 5k between me and the finish line. Awesome.

I couldn't run. My ankle was swollen, both feet hurt from the pounding and I couldn't lift them up high enough to avoid the roots covering the trail. When I tried to run, which was only a slow shuffle, the pain would shoot through me and when I would catch a foot on a root or rock, the ensuing stumble hurt more and more. So I chose to walk. It hurt less. But it was COLD. Really cold. Finally, Charley said, "You only have about 1/2 mile to go- you CAN run it in." Yep. I CAN. I did. I kicked up that Texas dirt and blew leaves off the trees with my tremendous speed. (maybe I'm embellishing a little here) It felt slow- it was slow- but it was all I had. Soon I could see the lights from the finish area and knew that it was over. 100 miles. Sweet.

As I approached- I let out my final WOOOOO!!! of the day/night. I crossed the finish line with a total elapsed time of 20 hours 59 minutes and 40 seconds. I had finished my first 100 miler with 9 hours to spare. Even better was the sub- 24 hour designation and sweet belt buckle to commemorate the achievement. Without the support of my great friends and crew- this would have been much more difficult and the outcome may have been different. Awesome dudes.

Here is a link to my splits and overall time ---> MY STUFFS <---- if you are interested. Other numbers that I found interesting..... 316 starters with 190 finishing under the 30 hour cutoff- for a finishing rate of 60%. Of these 190, there were 77 (about 40%) that finished sub 24. I will be the first to admit that mistakes were made. I am a firm believer that success comes way before race day- it comes in the early mornings spent in the gym, the hard miles of a long run and in the discipline of the daily miles. I am thankful for the opportunity to make these mistakes because they will help guide my training for the NEXT one. Oh yeah- there will be another. Not only was this the most difficult and painful challenge in my "running life" it was also the sweetest and most euphoric feeling I have ever had. Bring on the pain- I'm ready to roll.

Thanks to EVERYBODY thatsupported me on this quest. So many of you donated money to the ACS (and you still can by clicking ---->HERE<---), shared your story with me and encouraged me along this path. It is a very unique situation where I am able to chase my goals while helping in the mutual dream of beating cancer. Seems almost selfish for me to actually enjoy the journey- but it is the only way that I know to contribute and, with your continued support, WE will keep on running. Cancer sucks and together we will make a difference.


Here is a link to the video. It is kind of long at 8:35 but it tells the story pretty well. You can see me bouncing all around at the start line right behind Scott Jurek. Guess I was ready to get moving.......

Just a little change.....

When this "running stuff" started 5 years ago, there was no thought at all in my head about EVER running 100 miles. Funny how things can change so drastically in just a few years. I went from an over-weight, out of shape dude that had never ran more than 3 miles in my life to running marathons for fun, tackling 50k's in a tutu and rolling in to a 3rd place finish in a 50 mile race. That is a pretty significant change of lifestyle in a relatively short time.

Just over one year ago, there was no thought about the impact that cancer would have on my life. For me, cancer had always been one of those things that happen to "other people" not anybody that I was close to. When things change- they change fast. A diagnosis of cancer for my dad in December of 2009, left me with a lot of questions. Surgery came within days and my head was spinning. In March, my mom was diagnosed and her surgery happened before I could fully grasp the situation. Fast. Both of my parents, within just a few months of each other, had been smacked by a horrible, silent, and all but invisible BEAST. Luckily, they were saved through surgery- life is forever different but they are still with us.

Not so lucky were two men that had a major impact on my life. I had known both of these men for over 30 years- which is basically my entire life. They both passed within days of each other, each losing their battles with the BEAST. Again, things happen fast and this was no exception. One battle lasted a few months and the other, just two weeks.

I became involved with the Relay For Life last year because of my parents. Sometimes we need a "wake up call" and I had mine. I went in blind- not knowing what it was really all about- but have learned so much, from some wonderful people in a short time. The Relay For Life is a great and necessary cause that I fully believe in- weird that it had been established in my community for several years but I never felt compelled to help out.... well, things have changed.

Here comes the part where I ask for your help. You knew that I would ask- right? So here is what I was thinking- if we could get one dime for every mile..... yep, one DIME- not one dollar- for one mile. I know what your thinking, "That is craziness.....at 10 cents per mile it would take like 100 miles to even make 10 dollars." Well, fortunately I have thought that through (kind of) and, in less than a week, I will be lining up at the starting line of the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Race in Huntsville, Texas. Because I am also a math whiz- all I have to do is run every one of those 100 miles and your $10 donation will break down to one dime per mile.

There will not be any gimmicks involved in this journey. The pink tutu stays home, the Honor Scroll awaits another opportunity, there will be no names written on my shirt with a sharpie and t-shirts will not be sold. (Although I do reserve the right to bust one or all of these out later in the year.) Nope- nothing over the top or flashy- just me and my pink laces in the Texas dirt for 100 miles.

Of course I could use maybe a little extra help. You see, my training has been less than great for this race and I really could use some inspiration and motivation, especially as the day turns to night and the tough miles start to come. This is where you can REALLY help me. If you wouldn't mind sharing a unique story about yourself or a loved one that has been touched by cancer- I just know that it would help pull me through. It may sound silly to some of you but having been through this journey in the last year- I KNOW that it helps. I have been pulled along and carried over the hardest miles of some tough races by these stories of the real warriors in the FIGHT. Leave a comment here- or email me - runlikeamug@yahoo.com.

I believe in the power of numbers- the more of these warriors I have with me- the better my odds. It also works the other way too- the more people that band together, in search of a world without cancer- the better our odds. This is something we CAN achieve- something we MUST achieve and I will not stop asking or trying until WE do.

FIGHT ON!!!

Click HERE to Donate Online

Or by mail
David Murphy
HC 72 Box 324-8
Wasola, MO 65773

Please make checks payable to- American Cancer Society

Running With a Heavy Heart

The VOICES are chattering and everyone is excited. This has been the best year of training in club history. That's not saying a whole lot considering the WE have only been running since 2006 but still, it's been a good year. More miles, consistent paces and awesome long runs have translated into PR's at EVERY distance that I have raced in this year. The 50k last week was not a PR for the distance but it was a PR for a trail 50k. Mile 21 of Sunday's marathon will be the 2,000 mile mark for the year, 500 more than last years total miles. All of this has the VOICES rambling on about PR's and chasing down the elusive sub 3 hour marathon. I'm not sure about the sub 3 but feel confident that a PR is realistic.

My first marathon was Bass Pro back in 2007 and the 3:13:something still stands as my PR. There have been some really close times but this has been my best. I think, if everything goes right, on Sunday- there will be a new PR at that same marathon. Muhammad Ali and Babe Ruth are battling in my head. Ali predicts a KO on the 3 hour mark and the Babe is pointing to the fence signaling a home run on the PR. These two dudes know that confidence makes a difference. Confidence comes through training and WE feel like the dues have been paid and it is time to put it to the test.

A slight scare at the end of today's run has me a little worried but I think it will be okay. As I was finishing up, my hamstring felt like it was knotted up and I had to walk it off and stretch it out. Hopefully this will not be an issue on race day and things will go as planned. I have the “pie in the sky” hope of sub 3 but will be pleased with 3:10. That's a huge difference, I know, but that's my approach. If it feels good early on then I will hammer down and see what happens. If not, I'll ease up and try again in 2 weeks at the White River Marathon.

Last week, I ran in PINK and honored all those touched by cancer and in support of breast cancer awareness. The $423 raised for that event, combined with the money from the Honor Scroll and the Relay run brings the total to almost $4,000 this year. Pretty awesome support. This week, there will be no “gimmicks” and the pink tutu will stay in the closet. Of course, the FIGHT continues and donations are ALWAYS welcome but the begging will cease for a while. Thanks for all your help.

Even though this is not a fund-raising event, it will have a significant impact, for me, as I re-new my efforts in this FIGHT. I will run, as always, in Honor of all who have battled the beast. My mom and dad, as always, will be in my heart BUT they will have to share the space with some very special people. Two of my favorite people in the world have both lost their battles with cancer this week. Two men that have had a lot of impact and influence on my life have been stolen by this monster. To say that I have know both of these men for my entire life would not be a stretch. I am 38 and they were both a part of my life for over 30 of those years.

Two different people but they both shared a common trait. They both believed in me and were always quick to let me know that fact. Joe was a former Marine that served in Vietnam. He carried himself in that way that Marines do, and lived his life with pride and integrity. He had the confidence to try anything and made people around believe they could too. He was a major influence in my decision to join the Marine Corps when I was 19. He did not suggest that I join, he did not tell me that I should, in fact he never even talked to me about it until after I went through boot camp. His influence came through his actions and the pride in which he lived his life.

Bob was a great friend to me, even when I was a kid and he was a few years older than my dad. He always treated me like I was special, even though I was just like the rest of the crowd. He always welcomed us to his house for a hunting trip, canoeing on the creek or just to lay around on a lazy Sunday and watch football. As an adult, we often worked together and I enjoyed learning “tricks of the trade” from him- he also taught me that it was OKAY to fish in the rain as long as the fish were biting and there was enough cold beer.

I will miss both of these great men. On Sunday, I will be running with a heavy heart and I fully expect to shed a few tears as they bring me through the hard miles. I know they will be watching and patting me on the back with pride. This will keep me running when I want to quit. This will keep me involved in the FIGHT when I want to quit. I loved these two men and I HATE cancer.

On The Wings Of Angels and Warriors

Turn The Trail Pink..... I threw the idea out there and YOU responded. Thank you so much for all the support. We all HATE cancer and it amazes me how many lives it has impacted. There are so many times throughout this past year that I have broke down into tears while reading about the destruction this MONSTER has caused. I am so proud to know there are such a high number of warriors ready to fight back! You are AWESOME.

This weekend was all about PINK. Pink is the "official" color of breast cancer awareness month and we represented well. I opted out of my usual Red Friday, in support of the GREAT KC Chiefs, and went with Pink Friday instead. Trust me, I am a dedicated Chiefs fan but some things are just way more important. To me, it was important to get in the right frame of mind and focus on the task at hand, which was breast cancer awareness, honoring those touched by cancer and FIGHTING BACK.

A quick rundown of Saturday morning and then I'll get to the 50k. The Ozark County Relay 5k for Breast Cancer Awareness is an annual event in our little town. We have some very dedicated and awesome people that work really hard to raise funds and they do a great job with the race. I showed up with the idea of "taking it easy" and saving something for Sunday. This was a great plan until we actually started the race. As we took off, I held back for about 30 seconds BUT I just couldn't stand not putting all my effort into it. Maybe I'm competitive and don't like to do less than my best..... uhhh.... no maybe about it. THAT is true. I ran hard and ended up with a PR for this hilly course by about a minute. (a minute is pretty BIG in terms of a 5k) Luckily, the really fast dude (Charley) actually did take it easy and I pulled off a victory with a finishing time of 18:11.

Some really cool things happened during this race. First, some great friends made the trip down from Springfield to support the event. They bypassed several closer 5k's and drove 1 1/2 hours just to run ours. It is people like this that make me proud to be part of the running community. They could have ran a more convenient event but, knowing how important this fight is to all of us, chose to show up and help out. Awesome character. Awesome.

Second, and probably the most significant event of the weekend occurred AFTER the race. A friend, whose wife is fighting cancer, commented on a towel that was on the side of the road at mile one. We all noticed the towel but he put it into proper perspective for all of us. He said, something to the effect, it was there to remind us that we can't throw in the towel. We MUST keep fighting. Very inspiring and motivating. Did I mention the towel was PINK? Yeah, I still have goose bumps.

On to the 50k..... I showed up with the pink tutu and it got a LOT of comments and looks. Imagine that. It was adorned with over 50 ribbons to honor those touched by cancer. My friend, Karla is a super warrior in the fight who found time in her VERY busy life to hand craft each ribbon. Without her, things would have been all screwed up. My wife stayed up late on Saturday night pinning each ribbon to the tutu- each one had to be in the right place and she did an excellent job. Without her, I would be lost.

Several friends were on hand to give me support and made me feel a little more comfortable about showing up decked out in pink. They all ran the 25k and had some amazing finishing times. The race started a little after 8 and we hit the first creek crossing shortly after mile one. I lost track of how many crossings there were but they ALL happened in the first 5 miles leaving us with wet feet for the rest of the race. Sweet. Around mile 5, I "thought" there was enough space between me and the pack behind to slip off the side of the trail. You know, coffee..... As things were starting to flow- a voice- "Girls don't stand up to pee." Busted. Fortunately, it was my buddy Charley (the fast dude from earlier) who was "supposed" to be taking it easy because of injury. It was great to see him and we ran up to mile 13 together. This was the point the 25k and 50k trails split. He went on to place 3rd overall in the 25k...... so much for taking it easy.

At the halfway point I guessed that my position was about 10th or 11th. I was right but things felt good so I kept a good pace and pressed through the hills. At mile 17, I passed one runner and started to feel like I could finish strong. Over the next few miles I passed 3 more runners but was starting to feel a little sluggish. Then, at mile 24, something AWESOME happened.

Coming off a VERY steep climb and really feeling like it was going to be a LONG way to the finish, I looked down at the trail. I almost stepped on it but managed to avoid it and turn around to pick it up. It was a ribbon from the tutu that had fallen off early in the race. The course was out and back, so this ribbon became unattached at mile 6. As I picked it up and looked at the name, a huge smile came across my face. It was a SIGN. The name belonged to Doug R...... (hate to use a last name here- haven't asked the family) Doug lost his fight to cancer and I did not know him. For that matter I do not know any of his family. This is what I DO know.

Doug's daughter was the first to donate online to this event. She told me that, "He was the kind of a guy who wouldn't turn down a patient-- no matter the time of day nor the fact that they couldn't pay." This is EXACTLY my kind of person. The kind that looks at the big picture in life and does what is right, regardless of his personal reward. We need more Doug's in this world. The idea that I found this particular ribbon at such a tough point of the course is not a coincidence. It can't be. It was a rally call. A reminder to stay the course and remember that this race was not about me or how I was feeling. It was about the FIGHT and honoring the real champions.

This was the moment that I KNEW the finish was within reach and would be a strong one. I kicked it up a notch, passed another runner and headed toward the finish line. Coming around the last bend on the trail, I caught a glimpse of another in front of me. He was quite a ways ahead of me and I tried to catch him. I needed another 1/4 mile- he finished 20 seconds before me. Can't win them all.... As I came down the last stretch, there were a lot of cheers for the dude in the pink tutu. Most were my friends that had stuck around after the 25k and it was really cool. I ended up in 5th place and had a finishing time 0f 4 hours 26 minutes. Very good for a chump like me that thought if I could hit 5 hours- it would be by pure luck. Turns out I didn't need luck, I had something better...... The wings of angels and true warriors.

One last thing before this turns into a novel. Thanks to everybody that helped support this effort financially. The total amount raised, as of now, is $405. This includes online, cash and checks. Thank you so much for opening your wallets- it takes money to FIGHT the monster and you have, once again, come through in a big way. There has been some suggestion of possibly running the Bass Pro Marathon, next Sunday, in the tutu. I am open to the idea IF we can make that total $500. Yep. I'm still trying.......