|
May
12, 2004
Snakes
Alive, it Must be Groundhog Day!
 |
Mike
Barry "Muggs" for the
camera
See more photos in our gallery |
Holdrege,
Nebrasks -
?Hey, guys, it?s 6:30
AM. How about going for a 164 mile run?? Just like the Bill Murray movie, ?Groundhog Day?, each
day starts the same.
It?s hard to believe
that we have covered 1,622 miles, five states,
and two times zones in 12 days (11 running
days). We
have averaged over 15 miles at altitudes ranging
between sea level and 10,276 feet.
Under mostly sunny skies, temperatures
have ranged between 30 and 112˚.
As we near the middle of our trip, we
have fallen into a comfortable system that seems
to efficiently handle the rigors of the day.
Here is our typical day:
The wake-up call comes
between 4:45 AM and 5:00AM, and then it?s a
quick shower,
pack of the bags, and the last walk
around the room to check for cell phone
chargers, computers, cameras, camcorders, and
every imaginable connecting cable.
Then we head for our RV?s for a light
breakfast, lots of coffee, and our 6:00 AM team
meeting. We
learn our RV assignment, the total mileage for
the day, get our map detail and head off by 6:30
to start the day?s run.
The running system we have
developed has recognized that we must reach our
daily end spot between 5:00 and 6:00 PM.
First we divide the total mileage in
half, sending one group of five runners
(nicknamed the ?Moaners?) out to the half
way mark, while the other group (the
?Whiners?) are assigned to the first half.
Therefore today?s 164 miles meant each
runner would cover 16.4 miles (1/10th of the
daily total), and each RV team would be
responsible for 82 miles.
The ?Whiners? begin
their run immediately.
In order to most efficiently cover the
miles, we have found running three shorter legs
was less damaging than running the full
distance. Depending
upon the terrain to be covered, the weather, and
physical condition of the group, each team
decides the length of the legs for that day. For example, today the ?Whiners? decided to run 7 miles
on the first rotation, 5 miles on the second,
and 4.4 miles on the third.
They found the descending distances made
the late day run a treat!
Using an assumed pace of 9
minutes per mile, we needed to develop a
?double runner? system in order to finish on
time. Here?s
how it works.
After the first runner of the group
begins his run, the RV drives ahead to the next
split ? this morning it was 7 miles ? and
the van provides aid.
When the first runner is approximately
half way through, the second runner begins his
leg. The
RV waits for the first runner to return, while
the van hopscotches ahead to provide aid for
that team member.
The second RV (the
?Moaners?), in the meantime, have vaulted
ahead to the half-way mark.
The drive to the start generally takes
1:45 ? 2 hours. The late start is made up by the ?Whiners? when they
drive from their end point ? the ?Moaners?
start point ? to the final destination.
We generally find that both teams finish
within minutes of each other. So, that?s
how?s it?s done.
Now for today?s adventure.
The day broke crisp and
sunny. The
winds were more moderate than yesterday?s at
15-30 mph.
It was a perfect morning to run, and the
team responded with spirited runs for the first
rotation. The
terrain was mostly flat to gently rolling, and
the winds were from the NE (the left shoulder,
for a change).
Our first order of
business was to cross the border of Colorado
into our fifth state, Nebraska.
Shortly thereafter we passed into our
third time zone.
We are now only 1 hour ahead of the folks
back home.
Nebraska is in the heart of America?s
?breadbasket?, and for miles we could see
corn fields being prepared for this year?s
crop. It is amazing to think that in just a few
weeks, these fields will be sprouting their
green stalks.
Just as the ?Moaners?
were beginning their third rotation, they
received a phone call from Lyn Licciardello. The ?Whiners? were advised by the State Police to use
extreme caution on the side of the road.
Apparently, rattlesnakes are plentiful in
the grass that borders the highway.
Lyn advised us to take the warning
seriously ? Mike Barry came across one of
those bad boys immediately after the warning,
and Paul McGovern could hear the tell-tale
rattle as he ran along our route.
Hap Farber got up close
and personal with one of these reptiles during
his second leg.
Despite the warning, ?nature called?
and Hap needed to find an off-road site that was
suitable. He
carefully made his way off to the side of the
highway. His
pit-stop was accelerated when he came face to
face with a 4 foot rattler!
Fortunately, neither was hurt in their
mutual hasty retreat.
Hap clocked his first 5 minute mile.
The end of our day had the
winds pick up and become a direct
head-wind?very difficult running at the end of
a long day.
Dave D?Arcangelo, our meteorologist,
has bad news for us for tomorrow?s run.
In addition to the increased winds that
will be in our faces, we will see temperatures
drop into the 40?s with rain developing. The wind chill factor will be close to 20˚!
That should provide quite a contrast to
the weather we?ve been enjoying to date.
Fernando reminds us that we are trained
for that kind of challenge ? and with wind
chill factors in the 20?s, we can skip the end
of the day ice bath!
We are almost half way
across the country.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
We are coming home!
|
Count Down to Boston:
