Aw, hell.
Hell, hell, hell, hell, hell.
Hell.
Hell, hell, hell.
Hell, hell, hell, hell, hell, hell, HELL, hell, hell.
Hell, hell, hell.
That’s 22 “hells.” One for each freakin’ loop of the Sundance, WY, course.
TWENTY-TWO LOOPS.
We ran on the Crook County Fairgrounds which are currently under repair and renovation, partly to support the newly opened Sundance Elementary School, and partly, well, hell, I don’t know. The packed gravel was pockmarked and it was more than a little treacherous on the uneven ground… especially as I once again availed myself of the early-pre-dawn-start. But I made it. Somehow I made it. As did the rest of the Mainly Marathon gang.
And for me, it was a special milestone. Achievement unlocked – a second circuit completed of a marathon in each of the 50 United States, each under 4 hours.
I purposefully didn’t tell anyone about it before the run. I didn’t want to jinx it… and then after I saw there were 22 loops to contend with, I REALLY didn’t want to jinx it.
But I made it through. And as Jesse and Daniel mentioned that tomorrow was my big day to achieve Mainlyner 50 Race Status, I told them it was indeed my big day with them and I was looking forward to earning my skull. I then let slip that today was my 50sub4-times-2 day which I wouldn’t normally have done but I was a bit delirious. Some milestones are more for you than anyone else. I think I learned that from Crash Davis in Bull Durham (1988). That and I should believe in “long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days.”
I then went ahead and put it on Facebook as I decided, “aw, what the hell?”
But I digress. I have to admit, I was trying to just get this one in the books and was more worried about not-tripping than taking a lot of photos or cataloging moments to scribble down in this blog. But here are a few shots from the loops.
All 22 of them.
TWENTY-TWO LOOPS!
Bloody hell.
And the big finish. George was the masterchef today in the Loony LunchBox and whipped up some tasty pulled pork sliders, which seemed like a fine way to celebrate.
The sunrise and water features were lovely; the rest of the Sundance course, as I mentioned, was run near the school and amidst a construction site. This all made for some equally memorable and no doubt, dare I say, “hella-good” scenery.
