Day 4,582—Moving Slow and the Final Note on Rim to River—

 

Start time: 4:46 a.m.

        I slept in 5 minutes today! It was a struggle and then more of a struggle to start on time. I knew I would feel better if I ran at least 5 miles, and completing 7 has been a nice boost to each day this week, but I had to stop and use the restroom during this run, so I slowed down and didn’t have enough time, but I got this picture at the end of the run. It is more scenic than I would have imagined, and I am glad I at least got 5 in today! I can always try to do more tomorrow. I didn’t work on the video last night, but I wanted to write briefly about Rim to River.

Rim to River 100—The Aftermath

        I moved about 5 times slower than average when I woke up, and I started to clean up my campsite. I wasn’t sure whether my drop bags or my poles would be ready yet, so I figured there was no rush. I made it to the bottom of the hill, and I saw runners still finishing. There wasn’t much time left, but it was encouraging to see them out. I grabbed my drop bags, but I couldn’t find my poles or anyone to ask about them, so I headed inside for food. I ordered a pizza without cheese. It was 16 inches, so I wasn’t sure if I would be able to finish it, but I ate the whole thing over about an hour as I talked with some of the other racers and was happy to sit for a while. I spoke with a guy for a little while, and he recommended I check out a lookout not too far from where I was sitting. I was still just marveling at how pretty the area was.

        I went out to find my poles, and this time it took almost no time; they had them sitting out in an area I'd most likely passed at least four times already. I was just glad to have them back! I was still in shock accepting that I had gotten them back. When I decided to keep going, I fully expected not to see them again. Although I didn’t have much spare time if I was going to drive 10 hours to my house and then go to work in the morning, I figured, when would I be here again? So I took the guy's advice and went to the lookout a few miles away. At first, the GPS took me to the wrong place, but then I followed the sign and saw it. I walked down and saw the river, but what made the view spectacular was the train I could both see and hear going around the hill. I saw more than a couple of spots with what looked like old train tracks, and thinking about riding a train around these mountains or along the river felt like something out of a dream from so long ago that I had forgotten until now. And no joke, I have this memory of riding an old train as a kid in an area like this, but I don’t know if it is real. The drive home was uneventful but not too bad. I got to talk to some people, and I made it home in time to go to work on Monday!