So the title is a reference that mostly old people will know. Abbot and Costello, the Stooges, and Lucy all did versions of the skit. It's not that funny, but it's what popped into my head. I didn't even realize I was starting to bend at mile 70, but people mentioned how bad I looked in the pics. Oh, those are nothing...Tanya stopped taking pics or messaging the people when I got bad. She was, um, busy. But back to the story.
Mindy got me back to Dry Lake. It was still cold, but I knew it would get hot before too long. I wanted hot chocolate, of course, but there wasn't any. There weren't any saltines either. Pancakes? All gone. I'm pretty sure it was here that Tammy made me a hot chocolate substitute by making coffee with cream and maple syrup. Not bad! Tanya seemed to finagle some pancakes out of them, too and made me a second cup of coffee. Feeling pretty good. Tammy also gave me her short sleeved patagonia TMR tee for later. I love our people.
I hope I said thank you to Mindy. I am pretty sure I gave Rick a kiss. And then Tanya, Tammy, and I were off. It was cold, but bright sunshine. The trail was rockyish, but okay. Then we ran into a guy standing in the trail. He was a little freaked. There's a moose! He said it was right in the trail, but had moved a little off. We thought he was far enough and facing the other way that maybe we could go...till we saw the other bull moose on the trail. We were so close to these guys. Tammy broke into song, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..." very loudly. The moose didn't take any time, but moved right off. Enough that we felt okay to go. The guy let us go first. In fact, he seemed like he might be faster, but was definitely good with me, Tammy, and Tanya leading the way.
So I knew there was some kind of climb, but I didn't hear about it from Craig or PT. I think the rain made the climb out of Olympian so bad for them, they didn't think to warn me about this one. I know that Tanya had been a little worried about staying with me for the climbs. I'm normally a very good uphiller while her strength is downs. She had told me that if she was struggling on the up to just go, she'd catch up. Well, not only was I not worried since I would have 70 miles on me, but her body loves Colorado and elevation. She and Bucky are like polar opposites. We started to climb and climb. I kept glancing back but she was right with us.
The climb just kept going. I looked up and said no way am I going up there! But that's just where we went. Shit. Tammy was getting stronger or I was getting slower. Either way, she said she was going ahead and that we'd catch her on the down to Summit. I knew exactly what she meant, but we didn't go the same route that we'd come out so there never was that long dirt road down. We'd never catch her. Go, Tammy!!!
I was probably 75 miles in now. I told Tanya the right side of my back was really getting sore. It seemed like a knot, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Wait, I'm confused...Billy's Rabbit Hole is around mile 77. I thought I remembered Tammy eating the pizza they made there. Was that a different runner? I really don't know. I couldn't even look at the pizza. The smell alone made me want to hurl. I am pretty sure they had hot chocolate though...unless this is where Tammy made me my coffee, cream, and maple syrup. That's seeming very likely now. Maybe this is where she left us.
At any rate, I know things started getting worse out of Billy's. Is it this stretch where I fell, doing a little of a roll out, but still hit my head on a rock? The runner and her dad behind me were really concerned. I said I was pretty sure I was ok, but they seemed to want to make sure I'd tell the next aid station about my head so that. They were really sweet, but I was fine. Tanya confirmed that my roll out pretty much made the fall innocuous. Plus I still had a fleece headband on that likely cushioned me from the rock. My head didn't hurt in a short time. But my back continued to increase it's complaint.
What the fuck! My left lower back was now way more sore than my right. How did that happen?! Tanya offered to try some massage. I was starting to lean forward more, but I was still moving well. Then I noticed I was leaning more to my left. "Tanya, I'm a leaner!!" This was a surprise and revelation to me. I don't even understand the phenomenon. She said I think you are.
When we pulled into Summit, I was pretty bent forward. I wanted to change into my shorts and the tee Tammy lent me. An aid station person suggested going over to her car where I could open a door to provide some privacy. I was heading there trying to figure out the doors when Tanya was there with a chair for me. I was able to sit behind a car door and change. I don't know if I could have without the chair. Ok, all new clothes and just under 20 miles to go with lots of time.
We set off. I don't think I was totally at a 90 degree bend yet, but I was well on my way. I could stand up straight, but I couldn't take any steps if I did. My legs could only work if I was bent. Seriously bent. What the fuck???
I think it was before I was totally bent that I couldn't squat to pee without falling over. Unfortunately, I had to pee pretty often so was tipping over. Tanya and I couldn't help laugh at me. What else to could we do? But the good thing is I was peeing a lot and it was nice and pale. You wouldn't believe how many people were concerned about my peeing.
That's it for this installment. Bedtime.
Eagerly waiting next installment!
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