How do you even try to write about something like this without writing a whole book?! This was my first experience as a runner in the Wasatch Back Relay. I have volunteered for Tom's teams 2 or 3 times so I have been able to see it from that angle, but running it and being a part of a team is a whole new angle! Tom and I were on a coed master's team officially named Spanish Fork Running Club #2 but self proclaimed as "Run like Hal" after our team captain and great runner Hal Amos! We were with the very first teams to start at 5:00 am Friday morning. So with the early start and Hal and Tom being the runners right before me passing people I was never around more than 2 people throughout most of the whole race. I was also the only legs with all three runs that I could not have my van support on. As I waited for Tom to come in and hand off the slap bracelet I all of a sudden started feeling a bit nervous. I've never been on a team with running before. It's always just been for me, not a team. Tom handed off to me and I was off. I knew this was going to be uphill most of the way. I wanted to run it without walking. I did it. The first mile was a bit too fast to help me love it to the top but I made it. The first mile had some level at the beginning and then up hill the rest of the way. Mile 1 8:54, Mile 2 10:38, Mile 3 11:39, last .16 11:06 AP: 10:26, Overall time: 32:57. I was happy to be able to pass people on this leg. I think I passed 5, and one sandbagger (or speedy guy on slower team) came flying past me. After this leg there were never many in my area to pass or be passed. I was pretty happy to see my team and especially Doug who would now start running! Leg #23 started just before midnight. I was nervous about running in the dark and getting lost out there. When Tom handed off to me at this exchange I could tell he was really worried about me going off on this. I found out later that his leg had really creeped him out. See his blog for the details of that. www.tom.fastrunningblog.com It's good I didn't have time to listen right then, I just started off into the dark night. Luckily while I was running the big, full moon came up over the mountain and was absolutely gorgeous for me over the water for my whole run! This leg had lots of memories for me....While I was still starting to get use to running in the dark on my own I was going up a hill concentrating when I hear a man's voice yell out to me. I can't even remember what he said but I let out a scream! He was on the other side of the road in the dark and scared me to death. I'm pretty sure he was cheering me on, but it creeped me out because there wasn't suppose to be any vehicles stopped along this road. Then I started hearing phlegm boy behind me. It was about driving me crazy, I couldn't wait for him to pass me. (for two reasons...one so I didn't have to hear him behind me anymore and two so I would have someone in front of me so I didn't feel so alone.) He passed me and got enough ahead of me that I didn't have to worry about him spitting all over me but I could keep him right there to follow. This was also "Skunk Row". Holy cow! I thought for sure I was going to be sprayed and I wouldn't be allowed back in the van! I could smell skunk pretty much the whole run. My favorite memories are of the beautiful scenery that followed me through this run. The moon, the water, the mountains....I just kept wishing I were an artist who could go home and paint the scenes I was seeing! This turned out to be an amazing time for me....one of those runner high times! Even after getting back into the van my teammates could tell that I had a great time on that one! Mile 1 8:53, Mile 2 9:20, Mile 3 8:29, Mile 4 8:05, Mile 5 8:02, Last .55 7:27 AP: 8:27 Overall time: 46:56 | 
