2021 Never Summer Very Done - No Really

I was going to go back to edit the previous installments, but, no...We're just pushing through.  So, remember my poor foot?  There is no more nerve pain going on.  Maybe it's just the blisters, yeah, I know, I say I never get blisters, that were on the bottoms of my front foot pads and under my big toes and in between its neighbors were barking louder.  I had no interest in taking my shoes off to see if anything could help them.  We're just pushing through.  

Brian noticed someone had gotten artistic while peeing. Was it a name or word?  I forget, but it got us off on a tangent.  Lets just leave it at fart templates were being discussed.  Somewhere along the trail, I think as we were on our way up to Clear Lake I, I developed big burp capability.  I'm just going to put out there that I was as loud or louder than Chandra or Kristen.  Yeah.  I'm not kidding.  I belched my way for miles.  Brian's efforts were nothing compared to my newfound volume.  Oh, and we broke the fart barrier on this stretch too.  Squirrel and I had done that at Peak's.  Special memories (remember to freely sprinkle the eye roll emojis).

The last time I finished NS, this stretch was scary.  With Brian, I couldn't even understand how it could have been.  Of course, it wasn't even really dark yet, but we'd grabbed headlamps at Clear Lake II because it would be dark soon enough.  I'm really glad I remembered to add extra batteries, too.  I don't know if any of you saw on FB, but I had actually done a test of my headlamps.  The one I chose, the winner of the little test, lasted 9+ hours on a fresh charge.  That should have been more than enough.  I don't know if it was on the way to Canadian or Bachman, but it flashed, letting me know it would be dead soon.  At least it isn't one of those that just go dead.  I had some warning.  We swapped the dying rechargeable out for the fresh AAAs.  So much for testing.

Brian periodically checked on my salt intake.  I was trying to take a salt tab every two hours or so.  I was keeping up on my Tailwind too.  Still, we'd laugh because I'd say oh right, but then forget to actually take it.  We did ok though.  I didn't cramp at all and my stomach was better than any other ultra.

I'd like to say I was looking forward to seeing Rick at Canadian, but I was really looking forward to seeing him holding the tube of Butt Paste.  The diaper wipe from Clear Lake II had helped quell the fire, but it was still smoldering (eye rolls folks). 

We made sure to run in.  Rick directed me to a chair.  Look!  A lot of my same chair neighbors.  Some greetings, but then we get down to business.  I ate some PBJ squares and had at least two hot chocolates.  Coffee?  No, just the cocoa please.  Also, Rick offered the beer I requested.  Hmmm, no.  Things were good, lets not yet.  Bring it to Bachman.  I pasted my butt and we got going before cold set in.

The trail from Canadian to Bachman is pretty nondescript.  Maybe in the daylight we'd see something interesting.  We popped out onto a dirt road.  Brian said he thought we should go left.  I didn't see any markings to let us know.  Looking around, I saw reflective markings off to the right, but in the woods.  There were two ATVs in the direction I was looking.  They yelled to us we should go left, there'd be a a turn off onto a trail in a bit.  Who the hell are they?  How do they know?  Brian is assuring me he'd seen the turn off they were talking about when he and Rick were heading to Ruby Jewel.  But what about the reflective stuff over there??  Why aren't there any markings telling us to go this way??  Blah, blah, blah....Brian brought up the course on an app on the phone.  It showed us on course.  Ok, but I'm not happy.  They've marked so well for the rest of the course.... Even when we found the turn, I complained about the marking.  Get over it!

As we approached Bachman, I had to laugh.  The ATV folks were there.  There were associated with the race not just random ATVers out in the middle of the night.  I apologized for doubting them.  They laughed.  The one woman said, "I said look, she's till arguing with him!" as they watched us head away.  Arguing?  I think that was a strong word, but we all laughed.  Rick tended to me while Brian visited and tended to him.  I had two more hot chocolates, but then we got out of there.  See you at the finish, Rick!!!  

My big blister on my right foot popped.  It was a new little sensation to focus on for a while.  I told Brian this climb would be a good one.  Have I mentioned we've been picking people off since Clear Lake II.  I don't think we were repassed after that.  We were coming up on a guy who looked like he was struggling.  He confessed to being a pacer.  His runner had dropped him on this climb.  We all shared a little laugh.  Now, unlike Brian, this sad pacer had only joined at Canadian, where the young 'uns can pick up their pacers.  So he should have been very fresh.  At most he was 7 or 8 miles in and his runner was closed to 60 miles.  We caught his runner and shared a bigger laugh with him.  And the up kept going. 

It seemed much steeper and longer in 2018, but it was enough!  We did it.  All downhill from here!!!  It wasn't long and we were passed.  OMG, it was the pacer.  He was losing his runner.  I'm not sure he got the pacing concept (laughing and eye roll emojis).  We plodded on.  I wish I wanted to run.  It was downhill, but I didn't trust myself with all the rocks.  No need to fall.  Hmmm, Brian is pulling away from me.  Was he trying to get me to run?  Was he dropping me like that other pacer?  Did he just need to stretch out his legs a bit?  The distance grew.  Finally, his headlamp stopped.  It looked back at me and waited.

Well?  He had a bag of Swedish Fish and gummy worms.  While he ran, they bounced around, making it sound like I was right behind him!  He was impressed at our pace (diagonal, laughing emoji).  I wish!!  He checked his watch.  How much of a goal is sub-22?  If you push this last 2.4 miles....oh, wait!  The race started at 5:30, not 5, you have over and hour to get it done, not half an hour!!  I had planned to really run the last bit.  I had in 2018.  It's amazing what necessity can do, though.  I definitely remembered this stretch smooth with no rocks.  That's a laugh.  We could finally here the finish.  Brian said we're running all the way.  Yup!  We ran pretty well to, but if I wasn't walking, I was going to pee my pants.  I wasn't walking.

Rick cheered us on through the finish!  And then I had the best hug from Brian!!  We did it. I was done with Never Summer.  We headed in to the building.  Rick got us burgers that neither Brian or I could eat.  I did finally have a beer.  That went down well.  Brian pulled a white Penn State pompom out of his hydration vest.  His daughter, who's heading off to Penn State soon, gave it to him.  It was going to be pulled out if things went bad and he needed to cheer me up.  That would have been worth some suffering!!!!

I'd have loved to sit and talk, but the chill started to settle in and my runner's cough became non-stop.  Brian headed off to sleep in his rental.  He would be on the road to the airport before we woke up.  Wow, Brian.  Again, thank you so much (all the hearts).

Things that worked:

My Roclite 275s are easily my favorite shoe ever.  With the Salomon gaiters, my feet were never an issue.  I know I had blisters, but that was not the shoe or the gaiters fault.  The fine mud that filtered in just created the friction.  But, I never had to tie or empty stuff out of them.  And I must have killed that foot nerve myself.  I haven't felt any pain since the race.

I must have eaten 4 entire PBJs over the course of the race.  I liked the Picky Bars, but they needed hot liquids to go down easy.  While this isn't the hot chocolate that was served, hot chocolate definitely works for me.  Ask Brian.

My rain jackets weren't as important as they would have been in severe weather, but they were on and off me a million times at least from Ruby Jewel on.  I pulled up and pushed down the sleeves all day, too.  They even went over the rain jacket sleeves once the TMR sleeves were all wet.  Got the warmth without the wet.

There are things I don't like about the Salomon vest, but it has to be the most comfortable one I've ever warn.  I relied on the bladder way more than the soft flasks.  When I put on the rain jacket the bite valve magnet would stick to my outer pocket zipper like it had been planned.  I really like the Osprey bladder, but it takes some practice to learn to get the air out efficiently. 

Note to self, carry butt paste from now on.  Bucky told me I should have asked him.  He's carried it with him since I told him about it.  I also love my little stick of sunscreen.  Perfect size and really easy to apply.

And this Joker <3