From owner-ultra@caligari.Dartmouth.EDU  Thu Jul 17 17:24:09 1997
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 17:22:40 -0700
From: Gene Thibeault <2tbows@neworld.net>
To: Ultra@caligari.Dartmouth.EDU
CC: russwt@cyberportal.net, castle@mail2.quiknet.com, kevin965@aol.com,
        Karen_Tebbenhoff@msn.com, Paul.B.Alsop@UNISYS.com,
        badwaterbenj@telis.org, bjroehr@telis.org, Lalhasa@aol.com,
        garitch@pacbell.net, IUS-L@american.edu
Subject: Hardwalk

Hardwalk Report or Doom with a View

The pre-race briefing of this years Hardrock 100 is unlike any that I
have attended.  There is little bravado but a lot of genuine concern.
How is the snow?  Will it be cold?  How can I keep awake for that long?
I felt that I had trained well and I usually have done well at
elevation, having twice been over 20,000 feet.  I found the first two
climbs labor intensive, but was captured by the scenery and specter.
The climb up Oscar’s was unrelenting but I was able to go up in 1:20.  I
loved the steep snow glissades and was lost only briefly.  Half-way down
Bear Creek I dislodged a rock which fell on my calve.  Any pain free
running was over from that point on.  Yet it was the fourth pass out of
Telluride that did me in.  I developed a very congested chest and was
whistling with every breath.  The steps were slow and the head was
spinning with doubts about my sanity.  I hoped that the 1000 feet
descent on the snow would revive me, but that was not to be.  The
Hardrock had its way with me.  The best running on the whole course was
mostly a stiff walk with an occasional slow walk.

Because I had the world’s greatest crew.  I rose from the chair in Quray
after trying to talk myself  back into the event.  Roland Martin who had
dropped out at Chapman would pace me and try to revive the spirits.
Together we limped into the darkness.  After an hour of struggle, I knew
that the chest was not going to loosen up.  I had my crew waiting
at the Highway Tunnel and I reluctantly entered the car.  At least one
of the family was still out on the course and getting Suzi through
became the goal.  When driving up Red Mountain Pass I realized that I
made the only wise decision.  As Suzi says at Hardrock DNF means Did
Nothing Fatal.

What now?  Well I have just gotten my reservations for the Eagle 100.
Canada here we go again.  As for the Hardrock.  I’ll be back with fresh
lungs and a revised sense of respect for the most difficult of all 100
milers and to all those who attempt it.

--
Gene Thibeault (t-bow)2tbows@neworld.net
http://users.neworld.net/2tbows

I'm having an out-of-money experience.