EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
After predicting a finish of 27 hours, and hoping for a finish much closer to 24,
I finished my first 100-mile race in a time of 27 hours 28 minutes 15 seconds. Running
well within myself at about at 24 1/2 hour pace through the first 45 miles, I suddenly
experienced a severe "freeze" of the right knee which completely prevented
me from running. On the downhills I had to limp stiff-legged, losing LOTS of time
there, but on the flats and uphills, I was able to walk just fine. Determined to
finish, I did just that for the next 55 miles, walking from there all the way to
the finish. Through mile 90 or so I was "hammering" at a pace which was
about 5 minutes per mile slower than my running pace but involved a lot harder effort,
and actually passed many people, particularly on the uphills. After 90 miles I slowed
a bit from the effort, but still pressed on strongly to the finish. In some ways
it was a more satisfying accomplishment than if I had remained uninjured and ran
to a faster finish, in that it required considerably more determination.
LONG VERSION:
PICTURES!
FOR THOSE FOR WHOM THE BOSTON MARATHON IS THE NE-PLUS ULTRA OF DISTANCE EVENTS:
This map, which appears on the back of the Western States T-Shirt, IS to scale:
