I really hope the weather is better next Saturday. It should be - according to the weather websites. Maybe I could sacrifice something to make sure (Twilight just went into hiding). I am going to pack my drop bags today. I have written up lists of items to remember for next Saturday and blogged about my plans and lists on my other running blog. Leslie - there is a great article in the latest Runner's World on pacing for the Wasatch 100. You can read it here: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-297--13080-0,00.html PM - I just wrote the following email to my sister - she will be in the last aid station I have to pass through: You saw how at the end of a marathon some people need help. Well, in an
ultramarathon - we are all mental, so need help in different ways. You
are going to have to decide at times when to be a nurse and when to not
be.
Lie - tell us we are looking good, we can finish strong, we are moving well - anything like that.
Don't ask how we are doing
- there are high points and low points - but at the time you will see
us - we will all be hurting. If we are tired, sore, our legs hurt, we
want to puke, etc - encourage us to keep moving.
Get people
in and out of the station as quickly as you can. Encourage them to eat
and drink. Fill their water bottles for them to help speed them out.
If one thing sounds horrible to us, try another. Be concerned if
someone is looking dazed and like they need real medical attention -
but you will have the advantage of being near the end and people will
be trying their best to finish.
If someone is near a time
limit - encourage them to push on as fast as they can. DNF (Did not
finish) and getting 'cut off' are two of the things ultra runners fear
the most.
At that point in time - unless a blister is just
starting, people are living with blisters and will probably just move
on and cope with the pain. I don't know what supplies Jim will have -
he says he will have a first aid kit - but I've heard duct tape is
great. You might also want to have some towels and buckets of water
handy if you want to bandage feet. Bandages don't stick to dirty
sweaty feet.
Things not to say:
- You are almost
there or you are almost finished. Instead - say something like - "this
is the last aid station - you are going to finish this puppy!"
- It's all downhill from here. No - it's not - and we hate hearing it.
- C'mon - you can go faster than that. Nope - or we would be doing it.
If
people want to know what is up ahead - there is a 3.5 mile section of
single track. It wraps around the northwest corner of the hill and
eventually ends up in White Rock Bay. At that point in time they get on
roads and have one uphill - but will see the finish and can handle it.
There is a point about 1 to 1.5 miles from the aid station where it
gets really rocky and you might want to caution them to be careful -
but it only last for less than a half mile. They will be facing some
small uphills - but the worst of the course is over.
I am so excited about this weekend!
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