Chip, in his usual Chip style, set himself a goal....to run 100 miles. He wanted to run the Bear 100 to be more exact. He has been doing this running thing for a few years and worked his way up to the point where this was the next challenge if you are into this kind of challenge. The jump from 50 miles to 100, is a big one, 100% increase to be exact. However, Chip says that really, after 30 miles, most of this challenge comes down to mental fitness more than physical fitness. Okay babe, if you say so. :)
The kids and I were part of the support team. We met Chip with the crew bag at one of his first aid stations, mile 20, took his warm clothes off his hands, helped apply sunscreen and refill water bottles, and entertained with costumes of course. I mean, what would an early morning aid station be without an astronaut and samari pirate. These costumes were entirely their idea. It delayed our departure a bit but it was cute to see their enthusiasm.
Ruby and Owen passed the time of waiting for dad by taking pictures with my phone...of dung. Awesome.
Here he comes! Looking strong.
Second aid station we caught him at was mile 40ish. It was HOT by this time of day. Here is Owen dipping the cooling scarf we got him in the creek and practicing with it for dad.
Chad and Emily as well as mom and dad DuRoss joined us at this aid station to cheer Chip in too. Everyone had their part in helping. Chad is jogging Chip in to car where all our supplies and some shade were. Chad joined Chip a few hours later to pace him through the evening and into the night.
I think he might look better than he did at the first aid station!
It was an INCREDIBLE weekend to be in Logan Canyon. The trees were going off and the canyon was a real treat. Between that and Bear Lake on the other side of the canyon, I was in total disbelief that we hadn't discovered this spot earlier.
Ruby and Owen and I made our way to the hotel to get settled in, dinner, and them to bed before this mama left to join Chip for my pacing section. You can see the full moon in the evening sky. This was yet another bonus to doing this race, the timing with the fall colors and the moon.
Here are couple pictures from Chad and their section together.
Yeah crew!!
It is about 1:30am at this point. 25 miles left to go. He looked better than I expected and was moving A LOT faster than I expected too. I basically off-the-couched this experience, thinking it would be relatively easy like my previous two pacing events. It did not feel easy. Possibly it was the time of day and lack of sleep on my part, but my body was sore and barely keeping up!
Last aid station!! Only 7ish miles to the end!!
A red bull each....
A sunrise moments later...
and we were feeling like a million bucks! Chip ran almost the entire last section.
I mean, take a look! What a motivating view!
He did it!! We are all SO proud and impressed with his determination, willing to work, push, stay focused and own it like a boss!
Here he is all cleaned up and rested after the awards ceremony.
Love him. I was high on inspiration for days afterwards. Pretty cool feeling.
Shenanigans at the hotel. :)
The next day we hobbled out to Bear Lake to stretch the legs, ride bikes on the beach, and soak the legs in the cold waters. As an added bonus we found shells! Lots of them! Beautiful ones!
Wow. It was a lot of work for everyone involved but such a fun endeavor to support one of our people through such an amazing feat. So proud of him for daring so greatly.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
