Packet pickup was at a sporting goods store in the small ski town of Angelfire. I couldn't quite find it using the map that was emailed, but I had no problem plugging it into Google Maps. Parking was a bit tough, but the email forewarned it would be... And honestly, by a little tough, I mean I had to walk about 100 yards... oooooh. The ladies at the booth were very friendly and got my shirt and GU gel, and some literature about other races. My mind was so lost at the moment because of how green everything was... I was literally standing across from a meadow... in 70 degree temperatures. Perfect. The ladies forewarned me about running at such high altitude, as both of my previous marathons were at sea level. They were right, and I knew they would be... but that would just add to the fun.

I drove slowly through the hills back to the hotel (I stayed about 22 miles away for under $70, and the commute was NOT an issue but rather a joy. I didn't do much other than a quick tour of the tourist town and then crashed for the evening watching TV. There were plenty of things to do including neat little shops, but I was just too tired to go it alone after driving all morning.

I got up at 4:30 and did my preface ritual (including making coffee since no Starbucks), and headed out towards Angelfire. I got to see fog as I drove (the temp was 33 degrees), and wildlife grazing. As the sun did its best to illuminate the sky, I felt like I was staring at a Bob Ross painting. Eventually I defended to the starting line parking area. Parking was an absolute breeze. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a walk to get to the starting line. It probably felt far because of how open everything is, rather than the usual commute of some downtown city area. Music was playing and the MC was calling everyone over. There weren't a ton of people, so it felt pretty intimate, but there was a nice range of people, most doing the half. I had wanted to keep with the 5-hour pacer, knowing that I couldn't do it, so hoping to hang tight as ling as I could, thinking I might do 5:30. I was wrong :-)

The course was a gradual downhill for the first several miles, then a few rolling hills. At mile 7, there was a turnaround, and then a gradual uphill the way back for the half. I was keeping with the 5-hour guys through this point, despite not being acclimated to this altitude (8,500 ft). As soon as you pass the half finish, the gradual uphill becomes a bit more steep... like the course is yelling at you to just quit type of hill. At mile 15, I could feel myself starting to cramp, and started thinking holy hell... I have 10 miles to go and I don't even know when the uphill stops. There were some serious hills, up and down, until 20... which was the turnaround, so I got to do them all the way back. Several people I passed had quit... cramped/injured/tired. My heart hurt for them, as this was the toughest course I'd ever seen... like something you would create in Excitebike back on Nintendo as a kid.

I walked, very slowly, not even on and off anymore, at mile 23. I had been stopping to capture pictures of the beautiful course, but had been running on and off through this point. No more, though. The calves were tight, the groin was more yarn than elastic, quads were done... and I was sunburned. But with three miles to go, I just wanted to finish. Since it was a turnaround course, I know there were only about 10 people behind me. At mile 25, two nice ladies that were obviously strangers to each other but decided to pace each other (they were hurting and walking, too, but much faster than I), asked me if I was okay and if I was would I like to join them. I tried to keep up, but I couldn't... even speed walking. See the cool thing about running though, is there's not a judgement. It's fine that I'm going at my pace, everyone celebrates for you.

Eventually I got to the home stretch, and they call your name over the speaker as you approach the finish. Even though I had been running for 6 hours, these lovely people and volunteers had been standing at the finish waiting to make me, and the rest of us, feel like champions. I got my groovy medal, I took a hundred more pictures, and waddled to my car. I just kind of sat there for about 20 minutes, not trusting my legs to drive... which was fine. I was in no hurry to get back to 118 degrees. I absolutely recommend this event. Do it for the challenge. Do it for the scenery. Do not do it for a PR in time. But do it.