W.W.W.D.

What Would Waldo Do? There is no way around it...Waldo kicked my fanny!!
It was the hardest thing I've ever done. If I would have "really" known what I was in
for I would have been really scared!

5:00am Start time: We started at 5000 ft. with approx. 1500 feet elevation gain in the first 2 or so miles. When I crested the top and headed to single track trail, I felt motion sickness...which I'm sure was the sudden elevation gain. My ears were popping like crazy. Then for the downhill, it was a nice gradual slope and the daylight was starting to break and that was nice. I hit my AS 1, right on schedule. Gary met me and handed of fresh bottles and gels and away I went to climb Mt. Fuji for another apprx. 1500 ft.

I did a lot of run/walk up to Mt. Fuji, it was nice to turn and head back down to AS2 & 3. I was on schedule for the most part. It took me a little longer to climb Mt. Fuji, but I was a little faster on the downhill, so it all evened out.

AS4: I met Gary again, this time the kids were awake and screaming for me! Hannah was my big cheerleader of the day. I grabbed my stuff and Gary pushed me through the AS.

Now I was headed to the Twins & Lake Charlton. I was not feeling it at this point. No music was allowed on the course and I was talking to myself very badly! That isn't helpful!

AS5: Charlton Lake - I entered the AS with thoughts of "NOT" being pushed through. I changed my shirt and looked at Gary and almost cried! This is hard, I don't feel good! - He reassured me I was doing good, just keep moving and that Kris Ryding wasn't too far ahead....he knows I like some kind of challenge. He just didn't know that the challenge would be just to keep me moving.

AS6: Road 4290 - I was feeling better and knew that I would finish the race, it just wasn't going to be the pace that I wanted.

AS7: Twins - I was somewhat dehydrated and grab my stuff again from Gary and headed to Maiden Peak AS.

AS8: Okay, I thought this is where the hill repeats would come in.....I had no idea that it was an 80% grade!!haha. - I did some running right out of the AS and did that for about 1/2 mile. I tried to walk with a purpose, but I think I was still lacking.

Maiden Peak: It was the most spectacular views! It truly was beautiful, but I wondered how I was going to get down after all this climbing....my downhill is usually good, but I was seriously moving slow. I was a little dizzy, so I fueled and headed down to lower elevation.

AS9: Maiden Lake - When I got here, it was not pretty...I was pooped!! I was greeted by two friends - Caroline & Stacey. They were pivitol in getting me refocused for the downhill. Stacey gave me the mileage breaks and gave me some time projections in order to make the cut-off of 16 hours. At 16 hours you get a hat....past that Nothing! It sounds crazy but, I wanted that hat!

I headed down the trail slowly. I knew I had 3 1/2 miles to the PCT trail and then another 4 to the finish. Once, I hit the PCT - I looked at my watch and knew I had to get moving to get in within 16 hours and to beat the sunset.

I started passing people that passed me earlier, my pace started to pick up! I was feeling it and took off. I had some flat running around the Rosary Lakes but, managed to keep a consistant pace. After the last Rosary Lake, I met up with Eric True. We had been taking turns passing each other all day. I passed Eric and he jumped in behind me and we ran together the rest of the way to the finish. It was nice to push/pull each other! The last 2 miles it was "dark", we managed to run as our eyes adjusted. It was a GREAT sight to see glow sticks, that meant we were close to the finish. We saw a group of people with flashlights. I said, "How much further?" They said, "About a 100 yards". We rounded the corner and I started yelling!!! Yes, lights & the finish line. I was so happy to finally be done! 15:38!

I learned a lot from this race.

1. Waldo is hard!
2. It was really hard!
3. Super dooper hard!
4. No joking it was hard!







It has been so amazingly hard and I walked like a stiff legged person for 2 days! I had one big blister but that's it. I've learned a lot this last race.

Me & Eric True on the finish!
















Me, Kassidy (daughter) & John (son-in-law)
Sophia, Ben, Hannah. We were only missing Joey & family!



Next week I pace Gary the last 25 miles of his 1st 100 mile run! woot woot!