I’m not going to let frustrating traffic entanglements, and some dubious decisions about expanding the race limits, detract from what was a magnificent and historic 2011 relay adventure for the UltraLords team.
We set out to perform a first-time-ever double rendition, beginning in Seaside, climbing to Timberline, and returning to the Pacific Ocean. Make no mistake, we did it!!! If not effortlessly, for sure earnestly and enthusiastically, overcoming lightning, dogs and loneliness on the way up, then heat, fatigue and bumper-to-bumper conditions coming back down.
Dave, Jim, Todd, Mike, Joe, Kevin, Mark, Lance and I ran a combined 400 miles in 53 ½ hours plus a 2 hour intermission. Our conditioning efforts and smart pacing helped us enter the post-race beach party with muscles and joints comfortably taxed but essentially pain-free. We’ve created new bonds and solidified old ones – the memories will be long cherished, with plenty of documentation to back it up.
On behalf of my teammates, I wish to express the most sincere gratitude to our families and many friends who blessed us with their patience, contributions and support. This includes Christine, Rachel and Frank, our course volunteers; David and Kam Gray, who provided their home as a critical stopover point; all of our generous charity contributors; and our sponsors, whose apparel, consumables and other investments definitely enriched our Coast to Hood to Coast experience.
Along with immense pride in our individual and group effort, extreme satisfaction in our collective achievement, and quiet relief that nothing worse than slight sunburn (and in my case a small bump on the forehead from a rambunctious canine) occurred, I can proclaim with confidence that we were most definitely not going the “wrong” way, but instead and indeed the best way! Wow, that was great!!!
