Thank You, Brian

Before I can even start to write about my run at Never Summer, I have to thank my pacer, Brian Emerson.  I'm not sure of the exact date that I thought to ask him, but I felt better immediately.  I have run or attempted to run NS 3 times already.  I was only successful once.  It was a battle, probably one of my toughest ever.  Having someone with me for the dark seemed a game changer.  I knew I'd still have to deal with the above timberline weather extremes by myself, but I now owned all the gear.

So, I have a friend who is willing to fly all the way to CO to run 15 miles with me at the end of my race.  How amazing is that?!  I know that had Rick feeling a lot better.  Then we get the next email from GNAR runners, the TMR equivalent putting on the race.  It had a little nugget tucked in the there.  Evidently, there's a new rule that runners over 60 can have a pacer starting at Ruby Jewel, 29 miles in.  Coincidentally,  Bucky, Mindy, Brian, Rick and I were having lunch to talk about NS.  

I couldn't wait to tell Brian the "good" (for me) news!!! I know it wasn't even two minutes before I blurted out something about fantastic news.  He wouldn't be flying over halfway across the country to run 15 miles with me!  He could join at mile 29 not mile 50!!!  Brian did not flinch or miss a beat.  I'm not sure of the exact words, but it was resounding, "fuck yes!".  

Now, I would have someone with me when we did the climb up to Kelly Lake.  Twice I have been dodging lightning and being pelted with hail on this rugged climb.  It is weird that putting someone else at risk with me gave me so much mental relief going in.

Squirrel and I had crewed for Brian and Bucky (aka Joker and Petrol) for their amazing 100 Mile Wilderness run.  We had our own fun navigating the logging roads between crew points.  They were a dream team.  It was in this race they learned the term HtFU and certainly embraced it, nailing the FKT for TMR!!!  Now, they went so fast, Squirrel and I didn't get to hit Elaine's for amazing baked goods (the only reason we'd agreed to join their crazy adventure ;), so maybe Brian figured he owed me.  But my adventure involved planes, altitude, and other crazy shit (stay tuned for race post).