End Note

Going to Bed, the Storm and Going Home

We left West Winds looking for the comfort of our sleeping bags. Finding the campground at 2:00 AM in the pitch black was no walk in the park. Thank goodness our GPS was able to bring us back to our tent. I just wanted to sleep and put my DNF behind me.

The Tent: The tent was trashed. As a result of torrential rain and hurricane like wind each time it stormed during the race, our blue tarp system ripped, fell apart, and funneled 50 gallons of rain water into the tent through an open window.

The CR-V: The CR-V was trashed. Filled to capacity with coolers, bags of wet and dry running clothes and gear, and too much erroneous stuff for a trip of this nature... STX-Man agreed to sleep in the car. At least it was dry! (I have no idea how he fit.)

Sleeping: C-Team and I found a corner of the 12x12 tent that was not submerged in water, unfolded our air mattresses, and were dead asleep in moments. Lying down... not moving... life was good.

I felt disheartening to hear the distant and sporadic muffeled cheers from spectators and volunteers down the hill as runners crossed the finish line in the wee hours of the morning. It was not my day to finish the VT100M. Damn...

The Departure: We awoke at 6:30 AM. We wanted home. Still muddy and filthy from trail running, C-Team and I did a quick break down of camp... reorganized the trashed CR-V... crammed every bit of (wet) stuff we had back into the car... clicked on the GPS... and, tore butt home.

Epilogue

Sunday: The drive home was quiet. I text-messaged friends about my DNF. I was in agreement with myself... no more 100 mile races. 77 miles was as far as I ever wanted to run in my life. (Hmmm. This sounds familiar.)

Monday: I was a little achey. I had spoke to more friends and family about the race, the things I learned, and the things I'll always remember. I wasn't planning to run for 2 weeks. In 6 weeks I'd be joining Runners With No Sole to run Reach the Beach 200 Mile Relay Race in NH... and, then... there's the Stone Cat 50-Miler in MA on November 8th. Yes... I did have a running future. DNFing the VT100M was just one part of a long adventure. I was OK.

Tuesday: I continued to honor my commitment. I didn't question or marginalize my deicsion to DNF the VT100M. I knew what I was doing when I made that decision. I was OK. Folks were appreciative of my thinking. They understood my decision to never run another 100-miler.

Wednesday: I couldn't stand it any longer. What the heck was I thinking. This VT100M thing wasn't over. Damn... I was in... I was doin' the VT100M in '09. That sucker was gonna to be mine in '09. This time... I planned to train for those ugly hills by running a mountain a week... Yea! That would be my mantra for the next 12 months... a mountain a week! I'll be in such great hill-shape the hills of the VT100M won't even register as hills when I race through the course! Oh, yea... I'm back in the game! The VT100M is mine in '09! (C-Team's response: Good grief.)