Doug was convinced earlier this year that it would be fun to stay up all night in a van and pop out every-so-often and run 5-7 miles...even at 2 am in a race just under 200 miles where you're up almost 30+ hours without much sleep. I can hardly believe that I almost joined the team as well. What was a I thinking? :-)
Here he is in an 18-passenger van with one bench removed so they could have a bed and take turns sleeping. Notice Doug hugging our foam roller to 'roll out' his sore muscles? Yup, there was lots of rolling necessary.
It is a relay-style race with 12 members of the team each running 3 legs. Here is Doug about to receive the slap-on bracelet that they used instead of a baton.
He said that his stretches of the race were the most beautiful scenery he had ever enjoyed while running. I think he forgets that I was his running partner for several years...
He ended up with a few injured teammates and finished a leg for someone with serious blisters. He ran almost 22 miles in 30 hours with 2 hours of sleep.
I was recruited to volunteer for their team. Each team is required to provide 3 volunteers for them to compete. I arrived at 8 am and was handed an XXL orange vest and a neon orange baton to makes sure no cars entered where the shuttles were coming in and out taking the teams for the finish line. I was the last station before the finish line.
I got my shirt when my shift ended at 2:30 and headed to the outlet mall for a little shopping while I waited for Doug to get to station 35. I came back and cheered for him as he ran into my station. It had been a steep downhill for 7 miles and he made it in just over 50 minutes. He was flying!
I headed home to put our kids to bed and let Doug celebrate at the finish line with his team.
When I left, there was a flyer on my car for the Dirty Dash. My family has signed up and will be doing it together in September. I am SO excited!!
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