tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42293766365896240022024-02-19T03:35:59.522-08:00D-M Bataan Death MarchThis site is for the folks, almost 30 of you who are ready and willing to take on the Bataan Death March this March. I can't wait....Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-22429095398658114142010-03-26T19:57:00.000-07:002010-03-26T22:34:40.653-07:00The Bataan Memorial Death March--21 March 2010<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbxR7oo_JYqoc9dAYVLAPjoUDwzC_EZYfMwSbcHhQzBjxX5iI31WpqotxRjxUTF93cFlJomJNdrzG__nnxo1e-Vpn8rtHkYbrSY2M85ioyxwrUjfWvfVuKR2NlUJ1Wm7Gq2JfGZZLHj0/s1600/bataan+sign.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452630639691064434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbxR7oo_JYqoc9dAYVLAPjoUDwzC_EZYfMwSbcHhQzBjxX5iI31WpqotxRjxUTF93cFlJomJNdrzG__nnxo1e-Vpn8rtHkYbrSY2M85ioyxwrUjfWvfVuKR2NlUJ1Wm7Gq2JfGZZLHj0/s320/bataan+sign.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is the story of my experience of the Bataan Death Memorial March I did with my boyfriend Kevin and my three friends/co-workers, Scott McNally, Tylar Ryan and Jason Gebbia. The March commemorates the 11,796 WWII Amercian Soldiers who were forced to march for days in the heat of the Philippine jungles. Thousands died, those who survived were in POW camps for 3 1/2 years. This march/walk began in 1989 with 100 people, it is now up to record breaking 5,704 marchers. This walk was for them and this is our story...Settle down in a comfortable spot, this is lengthy, but, worth the read if you have the time.<br /><br />Here is the front of the flyer<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz7kJXZIHBXZr9ZuQRoa0s_arDU8ZkeI-KwqNo66lT0WfysBSCKqg1RE-JD1puC_6sBv87gw1ylFjwTRlSJOPrW3sLvlJVtL-9uTwKOmast9NBIZcMgGibnRUYzpyfUFDficyasT4p4E/s1600/Program_Front.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452403253998634834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz7kJXZIHBXZr9ZuQRoa0s_arDU8ZkeI-KwqNo66lT0WfysBSCKqg1RE-JD1puC_6sBv87gw1ylFjwTRlSJOPrW3sLvlJVtL-9uTwKOmast9NBIZcMgGibnRUYzpyfUFDficyasT4p4E/s320/Program_Front.JPG" border="0" /></a> Back of Flyer<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIYIFNxxdIPusTLBASsgqIWfpTQGdSS5p6jlnxcUpCdrxOROC_uCaqhLWi5e4sQ6X8SwF1XzU3WYjHAcoCnBUbMUyZZLQtQHmVIe0_M9ZdTbZiV335hR4UAkKu8HSwgPrN6xB1ww7IyY/s1600/Program_back.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452403757707384370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIYIFNxxdIPusTLBASsgqIWfpTQGdSS5p6jlnxcUpCdrxOROC_uCaqhLWi5e4sQ6X8SwF1XzU3WYjHAcoCnBUbMUyZZLQtQHmVIe0_M9ZdTbZiV335hR4UAkKu8HSwgPrN6xB1ww7IyY/s320/Program_back.JPG" border="0" /></a> I should start with how this all began. I was sitting in my office back in November time frame when one of my co-workers, James Cleveland who knows I like to challenge myself told me about the Bataan Death March held at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. I looked it up on the Internet and thought, wow this sounds awesome. It didn't help at all that I was listening to an audio book at the same time frame of Dean Karnazes runner who ran 50 marathons in each state in 50 days. After listening to that I got some crazy notion-I can do this and I am going to talk as many people as I can into doing it too. What I meant in that I can do this is, I am going to do the Heavy Division (26.2 miles in uniform with a 35 pound pack on) in military uniform-the hardest category available. My first victim would be to try and talk Kevin into it. Immediately it was a resounding NO. I pressed him, got more of a NO and thought if I push this further-I may end up single. So I left it for a couple weeks and then tried again. I got a Maybe. Maybe is yes to me and kept trying. Next came work people. I constructed an email and sent it out. I was truly astounded at the response. I had 30 people who were interested, not committed, but, interested. Awesome. I told them that we wouldn't start the training until 1 Jan since Kevin and I had the El Tour De Tucson 109 mile bike race in November followed by the Tucson Marathon 21 days later in December. So, we needed time to recover. I got a resounding yes from the 30 people, no problem. I was so excited. As with most things, it looked good on paper and those folks dwindled off. Who remained was Kevin, Scott, Ryan, Gebbia and our good friend Will. He trained with us up until the end when he needed to back out. Not for one second because he couldn't do it, but, because him and his wife Theresa have been blessed with a foster baby to hopefully adopt and that is far more important in this life. I still count him as one of the team, because he did a lot of the training with us. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMQcZfQDOl8wCOM1Zz10-2AuuT2WU7eIBjnGGkiY7fJyhG8otWf1vPB803qOGcP58nNUe5LCfxIcOUG1VPAGStFeJecIWUkpC6ZHNJxxCKXP8vyBaTsNB0f2L0UbqCRor2vMkNyfaMdI/s1600/142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452406188758507218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMQcZfQDOl8wCOM1Zz10-2AuuT2WU7eIBjnGGkiY7fJyhG8otWf1vPB803qOGcP58nNUe5LCfxIcOUG1VPAGStFeJecIWUkpC6ZHNJxxCKXP8vyBaTsNB0f2L0UbqCRor2vMkNyfaMdI/s320/142.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a picture of when Will was training with us. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jTfZ2aoyf1qDMuqjKUBGymQX0OCpymbr5tw7Ugrcc1LKGguXvstKgPTcbPIZKWnfti25R_YOllw5JYAS8wN0P9QPF08E8jpwfNTaVGXDqm2todukjeH9LyESjHL8ND3W-oFgZFXuMeQ/s1600/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452413515731375906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jTfZ2aoyf1qDMuqjKUBGymQX0OCpymbr5tw7Ugrcc1LKGguXvstKgPTcbPIZKWnfti25R_YOllw5JYAS8wN0P9QPF08E8jpwfNTaVGXDqm2todukjeH9LyESjHL8ND3W-oFgZFXuMeQ/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></a> This was Gebbia, Will, Tylar and Kevin on a training hike that we had to cancel due to snow and rain and potential hyperthermia. Scott stayed home, it was raining-duh.....<br /><br /><br />So there we were, the 5 of us. We all made our hotel reservations, travel arrangements etc. to get us to New Mexico. Let the journey begin. Kevin and I rode together, Jason and Tylar rode together-we all came down on Friday and Scott came down on Saturday due to work commitments.<br /><br />Our trip was interesting right from the get go. When we saw this sign for a lost kitty. I am not making this up. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIlowxKhip5ozri_LxckKAsIo0OlsQmui57tXO_wL7rUKUnbJm8-33cIBKz7UMC7A6ksf9Tvl8HdYNft8ABMYTbselBFkvnMu2lKu49lWgEqAsq7OwhgKbsougkVr1dJrACqMrXkoWxQ/s1600/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452407384951254050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIlowxKhip5ozri_LxckKAsIo0OlsQmui57tXO_wL7rUKUnbJm8-33cIBKz7UMC7A6ksf9Tvl8HdYNft8ABMYTbselBFkvnMu2lKu49lWgEqAsq7OwhgKbsougkVr1dJrACqMrXkoWxQ/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></a> The drive to New Mexico is let's say, boring. You find humor where you can and try to make it as interesting as you can. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVvKBnqq5_PkVGuNvNx68zI906x9kfqF2JwFmrEhDhHsS8_U65fR6WP35pYCIEdYakzuofKDfF3rYq8jcIR8573vkWkfow6fQF0nQqMZg5yS_opP3JoQhfdhXF33ZAK3QQugO65CMJ3c/s1600/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452407778590600514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVvKBnqq5_PkVGuNvNx68zI906x9kfqF2JwFmrEhDhHsS8_U65fR6WP35pYCIEdYakzuofKDfF3rYq8jcIR8573vkWkfow6fQF0nQqMZg5yS_opP3JoQhfdhXF33ZAK3QQugO65CMJ3c/s320/004.JPG" border="0" /></a> To include stopping at a tourist stop along the way called the Continental Divide-it had everything you could think of in there, fireworks, trinkets etc. It was the only store for like a hundred miles....we got some stuff for the kids. To include these magnetic rocks which I guess could take out credit cards and anything with magnetic strips on it or cell phones. So, we may be keeping those gems ourselves. Interesting side note, we had a tiny competition as to who could stuff more in the little bag then the other. We counted them that evening and we both had 19. That number has typically been a very bad luck number for me, not to mention we drove to New Mexico on the 19th.<br /><br />Notice in the picture the no smoking sign around the fireworks for sale.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYDJRfDnrkfd7dmr1hDBcWODRXcAP226TTLXrUlLVd9PJvQF2hCR6YsWSzicCgQGX4x2O9VTFEE5SjmZOkgDK-TQDDEuCEQ0KQbN-rCzvZFl-MOQPgM7vPy7Fw05Cg7ajp-hMR8wLbVE/s1600/006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452408244555046706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYDJRfDnrkfd7dmr1hDBcWODRXcAP226TTLXrUlLVd9PJvQF2hCR6YsWSzicCgQGX4x2O9VTFEE5SjmZOkgDK-TQDDEuCEQ0KQbN-rCzvZFl-MOQPgM7vPy7Fw05Cg7ajp-hMR8wLbVE/s320/006.JPG" border="0" /></a> Along the way at the various rest stops, we saw an interesting way to get customer survey comments...maybe they should do the census like this!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjommCFdnaqASyM2tlqWPHWZOdRDGED6rd8x3-t4bwEKy6xfY9YdPTuMQkVPQHVUtwdkH5QmpyV7ecX1pG27jpxj_gnqJFl04T8tvQ3TQRlAe_9gc4tZLVaT1joeh_6ICaoMPtQNPWVgpQ/s1600/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452408851554700578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjommCFdnaqASyM2tlqWPHWZOdRDGED6rd8x3-t4bwEKy6xfY9YdPTuMQkVPQHVUtwdkH5QmpyV7ecX1pG27jpxj_gnqJFl04T8tvQ3TQRlAe_9gc4tZLVaT1joeh_6ICaoMPtQNPWVgpQ/s320/005.JPG" border="0" /></a>Then there was an interesting stop for us in the thriving metropolis of Deming, New Mexico. We needed to get gas and we pulled up to the pump and there was this guy who realized his gas tank was on the other side, so like folks normally do-they pull forward then reverse to the correct pump. Clearly it was Way too much effort to get all the way out of the vehicle so with the door open, one leg on the outside like a Flintstones car he pulled forward, put his foot down as to stop the truck, backed up-looking out the door to guide him correctly and put his foot down again as to stop the truck. Did I mention gale force winds going on-it was a scene I wished I had filmed. Given that we were so lucky to witness this moment, we got a lottery scratch ticket...we lost, but, it was fun on this long boring road. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29rbt4dc_jre_J5dUfZfKo2IYd1Zr3uvJaZJ1MBo6Omd8qUR1C7IQzrTRjfDQPQaZnwpKXgvkQH_CrNrKgpGMyqsShoDE3fsRCg4K802aw7d_lxZOpwivPWFiRapL-T9B6iZivMJTOyc/s1600/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452409393312800578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29rbt4dc_jre_J5dUfZfKo2IYd1Zr3uvJaZJ1MBo6Omd8qUR1C7IQzrTRjfDQPQaZnwpKXgvkQH_CrNrKgpGMyqsShoDE3fsRCg4K802aw7d_lxZOpwivPWFiRapL-T9B6iZivMJTOyc/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /></a> Then finally we pulled into Las Cruces to the hotel. Kevin conveniently found us a great hotel with a hospital nearby, just in case...the room was very nice and the staff very nice too. When we got out of the truck though, we were faced with very cold temps and some really nasty wind. I had grave concerns immediately for the March. Cold and Windy-yikes, did we pack enough warm gear? I took this video of the wind on the flags. Note, I stink at taking videos, sorry.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dynBX1yc6woAMrIkI5mf8M9PStuk-adz6BuRUgDmvjt0cpRDN-J1X9ljQw_-FrUAN5pXYH3NBcF86whQBU2YA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />As we pulled in we got a text from Ryan and Gebbia that they were there too, they were at a different hotel. So we made arrangements to meet up for dinner. We first went to Buffalo Wild Wings, but, it is NCAA time and New Mexico State was playing and there was at least 5 million people there. So, we said, we saw a sign for Chili's. Have you ever been somewhere that you could see the sign, but, just not figure out how to get there? It was like some sort of Rubik's cube puzzle. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlKaMTxnlLFrW_rbJuhndEgGwk2nfHqYpGjE6uFSoja3qA0lSSeCO5MaextkUag_WDfJKuYNHNQRgNhF2zzF-tvNCygBV6zyhnPo6cg4q1419bCK7XZBynDuog4ZzvypH5kr39bkmvzo/s1600/images.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452415054269613874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 110px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 117px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlKaMTxnlLFrW_rbJuhndEgGwk2nfHqYpGjE6uFSoja3qA0lSSeCO5MaextkUag_WDfJKuYNHNQRgNhF2zzF-tvNCygBV6zyhnPo6cg4q1419bCK7XZBynDuog4ZzvypH5kr39bkmvzo/s320/images.jpg" border="0" /></a> When we were driving to Chili's, there was sand blowing around that looked like snow on the ground when there is a light dusting of snow. Great, Wind, Cold, Sand-sounds like the perfect facial... We got seated and waited for Ryan and Gebbia to show up. They had the same difficulty of course. As we were talking about the trip and the plans for the weekend. I had come across some stuff that I needed to make sure they understood completely. First was Gebbia's pack was a civilian pack and he needed a military one, which I brought an extra one. This was when I heard the phrase that became the phrase for the weekend, "The F*** You Say?". I said, yes, if you don't they could disqualify you. Then I brought up, you do have 1 quart of water with you for the start, the f u say came again. Then I brought up, it is usually windy on the giant hill-given the winds outside, I was afraid I might lose them as I got more the f you says...the kicker was when we needed to be in place. We needed to be through the gate by 430 am, which meant leaving the hotel at 315 am, which meant waking at 230 am. That was the biggest the f you say. Jason told Scott later, it was like she peed in my beer and it just kept getting worse. I just wanted to be sure they were informed...oh and it was going to be 27 degrees in the morning. The F you say?? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K1-T8V8lV9zmE003PDGwQlgbD5N8qSlIcGOV77XXO546R5Ktjan3Zw7vLk9jmvNuSYN4jLgLQKiYWm8Vnurwp39HI5o2C7vDpQkPcut_tk1wVCSv3hLTAYtCR7ILypZgVs4rKtMIckE/s1600/DCAU2XXZ4CA06FZ60CANYOHQZCAC9XDB6CACKPEFHCAI196C7CA9W6BEBCAD300LCCA90U7RWCAM2IQ1JCA4DYFYPCAEYNHT5CALYX1FGCAJSQG9WCAXGXFM3CA2TTXTECAEH3STVCA15MDVVCAI27BIK.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452418954319737890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 91px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K1-T8V8lV9zmE003PDGwQlgbD5N8qSlIcGOV77XXO546R5Ktjan3Zw7vLk9jmvNuSYN4jLgLQKiYWm8Vnurwp39HI5o2C7vDpQkPcut_tk1wVCSv3hLTAYtCR7ILypZgVs4rKtMIckE/s320/DCAU2XXZ4CA06FZ60CANYOHQZCAC9XDB6CACKPEFHCAI196C7CA9W6BEBCAD300LCCA90U7RWCAM2IQ1JCA4DYFYPCAEYNHT5CALYX1FGCAJSQG9WCAXGXFM3CA2TTXTECAEH3STVCA15MDVVCAI27BIK.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8qjtOsXwvWcs3uuPGkio1uhTKxHBwcR7aNRszMnwfBQ95ofDwvkBfzltTMv9hgjL7AX6BA_sEAEKFqzbSr9AkSThjzsr_LMxgmgzLOGJGypItoj34twq-VNP7wUu3qKLb_jlkeHlv5E/s1600/020.JPG"></a>That evening we went home and fiddled around and watched the NCAA basketball tourny. It was at this time I failed miserably, (go ahead, get your laugh muscles ready)...I picked the teams who I thought would win in the brackets according to no skill at all. Just who I thought I liked and various randomness. Well Kevin asked, why I didn't pick Kansas, being a Coloradian, I am a Bronco fan and I don't like the Kansas City Chiefs. For my whole life, I never knew they weren't from Kansas and they were from Missouri!!! As Scott put it, geographic fail. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6E5L0cTsRCcEE3jRYIE8HrQd-uv_HZmUfb6hbwNCpgznFKpjtOXodBAQ91G7CTc1JNIWvY_AMRNjf1SevpEyjxmcSOY7MDFRlD4XZJ1fHE-1KqdcO6uJtv0CAvluKOfQnFTD2FGq9bQ/s1600/us.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452419944683032562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 101px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6E5L0cTsRCcEE3jRYIE8HrQd-uv_HZmUfb6hbwNCpgznFKpjtOXodBAQ91G7CTc1JNIWvY_AMRNjf1SevpEyjxmcSOY7MDFRlD4XZJ1fHE-1KqdcO6uJtv0CAvluKOfQnFTD2FGq9bQ/s320/us.jpg" border="0" /></a> We thought we would start out the day with a nice nutritious meal from Village Inn. Apparently, the finest folks of Las Cruces did too. Amongst them, a lady who was talking to her friends-whom we never heard speak about the fact she was leaving on some trip on the 18th-she said it at least 10 times. The fella with white socks to the knees, khaki shorts and a white belt with silver circles. That guy from the entire baseball team that showed up, with the afro that somehow put a visor on over it all. You could see the front of it, but, the back of it was invisible. There was the guy with a blonde lightning bolt in the back of his head. But, this guy, topped the whole event off. It was a hoodie, sleeves cut off, low cut tank top underneath....hmmm, this is going to be an interesting day. Swear we saw this fella on the way out...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUxnqdSaTxmxX_WQNAQlb2JnhD8IOqTHQhvtmUXaZUtPvH95UZgKqfQfHvoYuVqb3iZDS4VcaY7Ob82udL2kXftuOpGAbDKt0K8FOk4B3S9e7_go747RUYAQrQTeDJPUxku8K7335CJg/s1600/red.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452421196302549810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 109px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUxnqdSaTxmxX_WQNAQlb2JnhD8IOqTHQhvtmUXaZUtPvH95UZgKqfQfHvoYuVqb3iZDS4VcaY7Ob82udL2kXftuOpGAbDKt0K8FOk4B3S9e7_go747RUYAQrQTeDJPUxku8K7335CJg/s320/red.jpg" border="0" /></a>We made plans to go to the White Sands National Monument where the real white sands are. We thought that the sand pit for the Bataan race would be this white sands and when we did the Google Earth, we realized it wasn't and we wanted to go see it. Along the way, we had an opportunity to see what would be our future march, mostly. If you have never been to see the White Sands, it is an amazing sight. It looks just like snow and it was still windy and freezing out. What follows are some pictures of it and a video of trying to walk in it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFEzJ7rEaCtwjnzKbwaCwZp_y-29ugSFRFJ4rIZEZDS9NBq_zD2YSWv6sHY6ze1Xwxy-Z9rmPTJIU1VSlWH3dhA52sAFc9yWK4oUZCggSDj9Gww0v5qVCOoleQk3_M5EWRatu94a23Z0/s1600/031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452622679114710338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFEzJ7rEaCtwjnzKbwaCwZp_y-29ugSFRFJ4rIZEZDS9NBq_zD2YSWv6sHY6ze1Xwxy-Z9rmPTJIU1VSlWH3dhA52sAFc9yWK4oUZCggSDj9Gww0v5qVCOoleQk3_M5EWRatu94a23Z0/s320/031.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYHzvL7fYQFHWVF2NmF7v8YbMnkRUtWCudQdOE0hHJlqGUhFbYw84R5tO2OLDiup4SHzm6jaAEparWhKbkwAEKE6XH4k26MPriClWbBFrz2qRQjv5Z3DCxyHnnQTXmLW4QMUtAFlBiEU/s1600/017+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452623403896383922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYHzvL7fYQFHWVF2NmF7v8YbMnkRUtWCudQdOE0hHJlqGUhFbYw84R5tO2OLDiup4SHzm6jaAEparWhKbkwAEKE6XH4k26MPriClWbBFrz2qRQjv5Z3DCxyHnnQTXmLW4QMUtAFlBiEU/s320/017+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxqqf_cmsMvYLctrBL2JOiCH0-IjpcGY6c-31wrBgmzY2ymm8CM6ymUK4Whg_13Hm5nRx76Q7NrPepQc7CLSw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />We had a few great photo opportunities along the way to capture the beauty surrounding the March area and leading into the base. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSvbErRyESSLZgXKDMapZKZ0f5FoFL0Zr7VqPnqI15WQ81Uu-5015itPjEDNwi_bFgArZZQJFg3n3V_6i9a1aLbEOACN81_pN7cnY0ldpQAt9NmeCcbamFE0BeAs9bLw_-es1r0uQK-g/s1600/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452625710142660114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSvbErRyESSLZgXKDMapZKZ0f5FoFL0Zr7VqPnqI15WQ81Uu-5015itPjEDNwi_bFgArZZQJFg3n3V_6i9a1aLbEOACN81_pN7cnY0ldpQAt9NmeCcbamFE0BeAs9bLw_-es1r0uQK-g/s320/014.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxO0dmNUmzkstG8lvSsfLjYiTDtVnG2Dmzpx6e1W4BEBB5kR3eOhHZ4IKtUwzEG66Is4AxMznmmmp9WnnrYOa-s_FC6_gMjOjK-kBmtNunOtWSsWpdimGFquFp5ftf6oPMBp2D1AhpCM/s1600/016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452626305973191458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxO0dmNUmzkstG8lvSsfLjYiTDtVnG2Dmzpx6e1W4BEBB5kR3eOhHZ4IKtUwzEG66Is4AxMznmmmp9WnnrYOa-s_FC6_gMjOjK-kBmtNunOtWSsWpdimGFquFp5ftf6oPMBp2D1AhpCM/s320/016.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLgyODKn4w8imJvgcEa1IrbAntfPH_J72drB_6coMwHhIaB8EivAGPKaW8HETlsSt1wvQ9rsfcQGU5CxQJI8WkMc2NOh2rciiTFFxMAj3Q78DGiULgG6BVolQmbxlYqQNWD9dqi6mJp8/s1600/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452626804017543202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLgyODKn4w8imJvgcEa1IrbAntfPH_J72drB_6coMwHhIaB8EivAGPKaW8HETlsSt1wvQ9rsfcQGU5CxQJI8WkMc2NOh2rciiTFFxMAj3Q78DGiULgG6BVolQmbxlYqQNWD9dqi6mJp8/s320/018.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our plan was to meet up with Ryan and Gebbia to do packet pick up together. As we pulled onto the road, a couple signs stood out. The first one is the one that caused a pit to develop in our stomach. It said, Welcome Bataan Marchers. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdtFpRy3gJcIhIDWo4QudttHpuJsAcLVPkDnYWEdPjO0nviYQUa5DIgNaAgE2NfMocdpfyRStMAHnBsVxeMRm8aTCQFsvpZpJorl5XHGq2ck8goWG_rhHksBI1bxwYmdFNBpRmEW07hI/s1600/041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452633189826701234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdtFpRy3gJcIhIDWo4QudttHpuJsAcLVPkDnYWEdPjO0nviYQUa5DIgNaAgE2NfMocdpfyRStMAHnBsVxeMRm8aTCQFsvpZpJorl5XHGq2ck8goWG_rhHksBI1bxwYmdFNBpRmEW07hI/s320/041.JPG" border="0" /></a> The other was the warning sign of the oryks that were imported from Africa many years ago. We were pretty excited about maybe seeing one of them. (Kevin called them zorks and many other various names, but, I think only once by their real name)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7p0FATpsCTJuFPDiHsFKSY6gkOCwJF1_LbvZeFSRM5UzM4Ir7wXFNVEOje5KxcpZOj55QOuN9ouUn_He-gpoxa8JCye_FoeQbRTqB7xZ0z9HOww0j07wjv2MGK3Ym88GWam2zeLBwGc/s1600/039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452633873619898562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7p0FATpsCTJuFPDiHsFKSY6gkOCwJF1_LbvZeFSRM5UzM4Ir7wXFNVEOje5KxcpZOj55QOuN9ouUn_He-gpoxa8JCye_FoeQbRTqB7xZ0z9HOww0j07wjv2MGK3Ym88GWam2zeLBwGc/s320/039.JPG" border="0" /></a> As we pulled into the base, we located Ryan and Gebbia and went on our way, aimlessly. It was hard to find the place until we saw the sign. We parked and made our way over. We were going to pick up Scott's for him since he couldn't make it in time. We got there and stood in line for at least 30 minutes or more. There were so many people lined up. Many more were lined up when we left. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDirX15BF8YGtzLVwO60zW154wJX4IFYJ1q5btw6rRXSZZ7nUNFmtdiWSgrnTj7BRndymy2USFiSkr-GaiCEF2xQKSPuybi4Du9cSQHlPFAW4qIy5H-oVPV1FwcaaLibSEondG4BhFTY8/s1600/036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452634953803929794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDirX15BF8YGtzLVwO60zW154wJX4IFYJ1q5btw6rRXSZZ7nUNFmtdiWSgrnTj7BRndymy2USFiSkr-GaiCEF2xQKSPuybi4Du9cSQHlPFAW4qIy5H-oVPV1FwcaaLibSEondG4BhFTY8/s320/036.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKIoe_ypjKOkY6_Osct0JE_-_tVF4heTc_OGqvxjbFIzsqi_1nPc7G04NKe970v2n2PCpMONEAOuVBJCCExIaPlhyphenhyphen3q016_tx-zVJjaeNR8VpbSh7oueL4T9eFyk-gljWm8K9eBNUhc8/s1600/037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452636091265557858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKIoe_ypjKOkY6_Osct0JE_-_tVF4heTc_OGqvxjbFIzsqi_1nPc7G04NKe970v2n2PCpMONEAOuVBJCCExIaPlhyphenhyphen3q016_tx-zVJjaeNR8VpbSh7oueL4T9eFyk-gljWm8K9eBNUhc8/s320/037.JPG" border="0" /></a> I initially had to go to the bathroom, been hydrating like crazy. I went inside and it was chaos. I got so nervous. Went back out to my gang. It was freezing cold outside. We weren't prepared for such cold temps at all. The winds was still kicking around too. Once we got inside, we were herded along like cattle in such a tiny room. It was confusing where to stand when you got done with one table/check point to another. When I got my timing chip scanned the lady confirmed I was in the famale military heavy division, I said yes and she whispered, "You are crazy". <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfF-n9bg1Tp83g57FuxUqlfN85_KbNVkA4aMitxbl9iE7grc4__QYHt6OuFA7XrILdr__QOuSn15WRchVpa9AlYHBGxmvThL5rUEk50rVuL3-54s0bgEkVMWlMO73qVX2dEOAFev0-CSg/s1600/025+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452638989796870530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfF-n9bg1Tp83g57FuxUqlfN85_KbNVkA4aMitxbl9iE7grc4__QYHt6OuFA7XrILdr__QOuSn15WRchVpa9AlYHBGxmvThL5rUEk50rVuL3-54s0bgEkVMWlMO73qVX2dEOAFev0-CSg/s320/025+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> We herded along to the tables of where the goods were. The shirts, hats etc. for purchase. The folks that did the ordering didn't really take in consideration of who would be getting shirts because they were out of Large and Extra Large-which was kind of disappointing. Then we got stuck behind these two girls who were trying on everything-really, it is a sweatshirt. Then asked to have their pictures taken, "oh wait, that won't work, my mom is a photographer and I wasn't smiling, can you take it again?" Please ladies move along. We were trapped. Then we get to the checkout point at the end of the table. Shock and dismay, her credit card didn't go through. My Lord. Kevin took some pics, why, because I stood there THAT LONG. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGrDeb0NV8C_ax-vF-aLDhSqiK2VgQs6Cydr9nGUhpjqYduEAjECcytUUl6hyl5_VEUR9h5c6c4gHJw7cJ5wa8VZc9IQSE-cBpPgfGFYm4L2P6fZ7YjDTM8qKpYCTvwoBLzUSda6Dir4/s1600/024+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452640214637237922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGrDeb0NV8C_ax-vF-aLDhSqiK2VgQs6Cydr9nGUhpjqYduEAjECcytUUl6hyl5_VEUR9h5c6c4gHJw7cJ5wa8VZc9IQSE-cBpPgfGFYm4L2P6fZ7YjDTM8qKpYCTvwoBLzUSda6Dir4/s320/024+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> When Ryan made it out he said, Wow I feel like I just spent two days Christmas shopping. It was a painful process to say the least. Then came a pretty cool part when we put our coins down. It wasn't widely advertised, but, you could bring your unit coin to have permanently displayed. I put down an AMMO Coin, Kevin put down a Marana Police Dept coin. Tylar was going to put down the EMS (Equipment Maint. Squadron) coin.<br /><br />Front/Back of Coins<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVJRifidX9Z8ERs4NC0968W0plnp9BKId1xZsxC-MFslMOxsFNZgtpT5q00WyglSe3T8hEpYgCj4TMdDVlXKtTeVfn9gJenLZs7vixpSOkzeo31gfJgUM4snrATJYFEpc4VOr2cjucEY/s1600/030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452641964621776466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVJRifidX9Z8ERs4NC0968W0plnp9BKId1xZsxC-MFslMOxsFNZgtpT5q00WyglSe3T8hEpYgCj4TMdDVlXKtTeVfn9gJenLZs7vixpSOkzeo31gfJgUM4snrATJYFEpc4VOr2cjucEY/s320/030.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn9ya-bfdQJ9unQp8SlV7-PpfQM4joUxMKyn72EiRyu6Me5GawXcuWJkIHj2Hk7YuL9vwv16UhhQeRIO8bajaB1Cy2iuVKI2mQ0eCJ5pIbsk9pp1NmMJzgKUgzsAbGYb9H4LS-Kqcxgg/s1600/031+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452642519177396290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn9ya-bfdQJ9unQp8SlV7-PpfQM4joUxMKyn72EiRyu6Me5GawXcuWJkIHj2Hk7YuL9vwv16UhhQeRIO8bajaB1Cy2iuVKI2mQ0eCJ5pIbsk9pp1NmMJzgKUgzsAbGYb9H4LS-Kqcxgg/s320/031+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYjIKuNCMf-woHLgoXagbNbQhIfchv4ovD152y7EmEybBDAqlTnmC7w4LfMfBTXxGZEbkoLK9K3IvgwvBS01qhLHpei24q7-4tkAHqcyy5_-DRKY-i3FPVrhQ23znECyUUksUVu73KT4/s1600/032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452643185547273698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYjIKuNCMf-woHLgoXagbNbQhIfchv4ovD152y7EmEybBDAqlTnmC7w4LfMfBTXxGZEbkoLK9K3IvgwvBS01qhLHpei24q7-4tkAHqcyy5_-DRKY-i3FPVrhQ23znECyUUksUVu73KT4/s320/032.JPG" border="0" /></a> Next came the part of meeting some of the survivors of the Real Bataan. It isn't just about the 60+ mile march they survived, it is about the 5 months of fighting with equipment and munitions from WWI-without any support. Then being surrendered to the Japanese plus the 3 1/2 years as a POW. It is about surviving the rail cars, the hell ships-it is more then the March, far more then that. It is the fact, they thought they were forgotten and now, they will never be forgotten. I will never forget them, they have sealed a place in my heart that will be a source of strength for years to come. You could never appreciate the silent strength they had until you looked in their eyes and saw the pain that still lingered there. That the pain is there, but, they are surviving not just to live, but, to share their stories, so that people do remember and that they are NOT FORGOTTEN. Something that hit me so hard when I met them is that these guys are in their 90's. Ninety years on this earth. People that are in perfect health struggle to make 90 and these heroes endured unbelievable challenges both physically, emotionally and mentally and here they are. This makes these Bataan Heroes truly amazing to me. I fought back tears the whole time. Through out the day the survivors would cycle through. We had the privledge and honor of meeting Phil Coon of Oklahoma and Malcom Amos of Iowa. They were such kind, gentle folks enjoying the moment to talk to us not knowing the chance for us to meet them was a gift. I stood holding Malcom's hands and talked to him and told him how sorry I was for his loss of his friends, his co-workers, his acquaintenances, his atrocities he endured as a POW. The things he was forced to witness. The time he had to spend in the 8 by 40, the rail cars meant to hold only 40 men or 8 horses. They were shoved in there, a 100 men pushed in there. Some died and they never knew it until they got out of the rail cars and their bodies fell to the floor. The deseases, the dysentery, the fever, all of it-it is truly amazing these men are alive to tell the story that history didn't tell the whole way. Below is a video that was part of the news, it is Phil.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.koat.com/news/22904788/detail.html">http://www.koat.com/news/22904788/detail.html</a><br />The survivors were signing autographs of sorts, we had our certificates signed, some put their addresses on them, others wrote their name and just talked to you. Here are our certificates. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyToUH4UWcrdoZOAugDBF4NWBiCBjX2CfNDGHa7MVgwZezrk_wjJVjhjfbLQyncEE6wGns1lhifi2BDuM7gOO-3AFzRajCZD5YOX-3IYmIym2_OIlpaOD6IBMqQvDU0ZnewX8bUfjbfM/s1600/Kristin_Cert.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452669587572847858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyToUH4UWcrdoZOAugDBF4NWBiCBjX2CfNDGHa7MVgwZezrk_wjJVjhjfbLQyncEE6wGns1lhifi2BDuM7gOO-3AFzRajCZD5YOX-3IYmIym2_OIlpaOD6IBMqQvDU0ZnewX8bUfjbfM/s320/Kristin_Cert.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RCI01pux37IWlC_CjjKfPuYE-fWoMFzH7Ji92YiPm_jMQCePKTON5mSNmB_w7M-Yf3Z9H-IYcIpu468Ie2cSY6OslkvCnlpyZCUkWEMCk8UW4BhN2VsQ3Fa_aCgWCbHrKUJhz3Yy5V4/s1600/Kevin_Cert.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452670160494402530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RCI01pux37IWlC_CjjKfPuYE-fWoMFzH7Ji92YiPm_jMQCePKTON5mSNmB_w7M-Yf3Z9H-IYcIpu468Ie2cSY6OslkvCnlpyZCUkWEMCk8UW4BhN2VsQ3Fa_aCgWCbHrKUJhz3Yy5V4/s320/Kevin_Cert.JPG" border="0" /></a> I had the opportunity to meet Naomi Ortega, her father Abel Ortega with help from his son wrote his memoirs of his story. It is called Courage on Bataan and Beyond. He passed away 2 days afer his 90th birthday. This was his story, here is a copy of the book cover.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpR7HMlOkpyQxz3t-J7o2ThlvvjPhkdCat2WLbtwJSpzwna8ur31UAcVK_hvZC68cvZxIlG1LPbXZo97VvezM5ukknsh1JYC0fNRb60Y5Hz2E09EYelrfdxUpsc_s3TW0BMVGiwBw6zw/s1600/006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452660407323650978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpR7HMlOkpyQxz3t-J7o2ThlvvjPhkdCat2WLbtwJSpzwna8ur31UAcVK_hvZC68cvZxIlG1LPbXZo97VvezM5ukknsh1JYC0fNRb60Y5Hz2E09EYelrfdxUpsc_s3TW0BMVGiwBw6zw/s320/006.JPG" border="0" /></a> A lot of the surviviors never really talked about their struggles until they were further into their Senior Years. So many thought they wouldn't be believed or understood. Naomi shared she never even really knew this about her father until the book. I have read some of the book thus far and one thing I have discovered is that in any horrible situation, you find a way to survive and find humor. This part is directly from the book:<br /><blockquote></blockquote>We were always trying to find ways to improve our living conditions, food sources and our clothes. You see, every time we went to a new camp or work detail, we would scout out the area for whatever we could use. At this camp (Wakinohohama Camp)we constantly sent out spies to look in the different warehouses for things we needed and could sneak back into camp. We would have a couple of lookouts and a couple of guys doing the scouting. One day, we were checking out another warehouse and we came across some large bolts of cloth. We thought to ourselves, we could sure use some new undershorts. Some of us didn't have any and those that did has G-strings under the ratty old pants the Japanese gave us. The G-string was simply a cloth tied around your waist with a flap in the back. You brought the flap up between your legs and tucked it under and over the peice around your waist in the front. Those were our undershorts. We decided to send in two men at a time. The height of the cloth went from the floor to just below your armpit. One guys would lift his arm up and back into the roll and turn around a few times until he was wrapped up, then we would cut it. The next guy would do the same until we all finished and hurried stiffly back to our detail. You see, when we marched and walked in somewhat of a formation to the Japanese cadence. But on this day, watch out West Point, we were stiff as boards and marched with precise turns and steps. We were marching as if it was pass and review time at West Point because the cloth was wrapped around us like a mummy wrap from the arm pits down. It was so funny we all started cracking up back at camp. What was even funnier was when we tried to make our shorts. Some of the guys could not sew or cut equal sides so some would be too tight and some owuld have one leg longer then the other. This was a great time in all the chaos that surrounded us. We were eventually transferred to another camp because this camp closed on May 20th, 1945.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br /><p>It proves the human spirit even in a time of adversity can find a way to survive and find the humor in anything. I am saddened I couldn't meet Amos, but, I am learning the hero he was through his words. I know this was a pretty big portion, but, this is the reason I did this, for them. After we left the survivors we headed back to the hotel to get things ready for Sunday until we were going to all meet up for dinner. This part of marathon preparation is totally different then any race we have done before. Why you ask, because it involves a scale. We brought our scale from home. Earlier in the day, we had to get new batteries, it was all out of whack! Below is what figuring out what the packs weighed looked like. It was like a game of Guess that Weight. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NVbonjw0wByc01Ahs1ADf9c8zpBVK76QADXJpZROxI_-5R3tRCdC7zYz8c9MxABIUwolps8pbSLtcKFs2V3_eQUkVI4kqZUOMA7E5xB2AAFmWx9X8KVXh8RMWVDN77G67JH1jtwWqjE/s1600/BDM_pack_worksheet1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452668353744739954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 146px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NVbonjw0wByc01Ahs1ADf9c8zpBVK76QADXJpZROxI_-5R3tRCdC7zYz8c9MxABIUwolps8pbSLtcKFs2V3_eQUkVI4kqZUOMA7E5xB2AAFmWx9X8KVXh8RMWVDN77G67JH1jtwWqjE/s320/BDM_pack_worksheet1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yEf05_HyAJgk4A4SJQzG6wACVmg5wJrB0PxWR0Xt09bms78-viPWrnjdymiZOxGPyNqG56eoghHlBlue1wI7tPbZSxdRMXc-3a9kxphhsxjKfIEnvI68opjnoSs4qt96_AaARaYSFmo/s1600/BDM_pack_worksheet2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452668693806509234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yEf05_HyAJgk4A4SJQzG6wACVmg5wJrB0PxWR0Xt09bms78-viPWrnjdymiZOxGPyNqG56eoghHlBlue1wI7tPbZSxdRMXc-3a9kxphhsxjKfIEnvI68opjnoSs4qt96_AaARaYSFmo/s320/BDM_pack_worksheet2.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was crazy! The packs had to weigh at least 35 pounds and not less, could weigh more, but, why? When we did our training, we did it with close to 50 pounds, so making the weight come down was an easy task. Then we did the outfit layout. Far more intensive again then a normal marathon. More clothes, layers and options. We had a good time laying them all out. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMT47hI-AqdU3azmXQEFK5vbZ-t1GO0u6uzVABkX784nSxJljKX6rmR8GyjzdBZIKwcxjHB6M9hXy34pAI7ZNlc0hQRWx8hmyUju_xi_dHhU0qT_U0wPa-isJqMcClDVo4YKyJQxGtbs/s1600/049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452672393883886178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMT47hI-AqdU3azmXQEFK5vbZ-t1GO0u6uzVABkX784nSxJljKX6rmR8GyjzdBZIKwcxjHB6M9hXy34pAI7ZNlc0hQRWx8hmyUju_xi_dHhU0qT_U0wPa-isJqMcClDVo4YKyJQxGtbs/s320/049.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyg0WDzXTucN7PC8hD6HDFGQ830jWAe6Jl9KrUpTguriAdW52g0wKa9rz4gRBHXrv96JnW9lwF4CosP_q9Xqc-xSFdSj54UOGnRPu9UVi7Cnk96eCIopMe_I7aQxURjBdi8ry0TYE1PE/s1600/054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452673135005935346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyg0WDzXTucN7PC8hD6HDFGQ830jWAe6Jl9KrUpTguriAdW52g0wKa9rz4gRBHXrv96JnW9lwF4CosP_q9Xqc-xSFdSj54UOGnRPu9UVi7Cnk96eCIopMe_I7aQxURjBdi8ry0TYE1PE/s320/054.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dinner was awesome with some interesting little twists. We went to an Italian place and we ate like it was our last supper. It is the Death March afterall. Tylar ordered this pizza with jalepenoes on it, I said, you are going to be shooting fire out your ass for eating that tomorrow. There were these yummy rolls, wow, they were awesome and we told the waiter, just keep them coming. He asked, are you doing Bataan and we said yes. The basket was never empty. I ate these meatballs and spaghetti-the meatballs had tiny little raisins in them...interesting. We decided what time to meet up and I would do wake up calls to them at 2:30 am, which is 1:30 am Arizona time. We left dinner for a last minute trip to Walmart for bike shorts, sleep aide and gloves. Then it was to McCallisters to get a sandwich to put in our packs for lunch time. Alarms were set, two of them. Sleep aide taken. Laid there for an hour willing sleep to come. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Beep. Beep. Beep. The F you say, time to wake up already? It has only been 3 1/2 hours....ugh. Checked the weather. See below. First is what was expected and posted at in-processing and the second is from Weather.com the morning of. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsEPYEjd-Z1kwTIXf9N4qQG8COpcBXhZ1h5jRfIiPVayLFIvO7BX21gYnjgIBnJXFo2qyRaxab_qIIvBeOOqEhpq3LndVViQ_izCm3lYrF3N_gxS3y5bi3Evwaoug0DpvkxrlgtaICM4/s1600/028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452674481420112242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsEPYEjd-Z1kwTIXf9N4qQG8COpcBXhZ1h5jRfIiPVayLFIvO7BX21gYnjgIBnJXFo2qyRaxab_qIIvBeOOqEhpq3LndVViQ_izCm3lYrF3N_gxS3y5bi3Evwaoug0DpvkxrlgtaICM4/s320/028.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RULgWOzkPJeh90QzOFVEpIkYpwRSlXWB_FnA7dM6XOp-xLOaqs1B6S_M-h1SurSx4P3cK3-y3PPTBpAUKfY0IYa42cKjOz3uWC-EIuU8Qnqd-Yvq4GFXqNJT-CPPcAH8Fxb2v69RVQM/s1600/063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452675801063306242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RULgWOzkPJeh90QzOFVEpIkYpwRSlXWB_FnA7dM6XOp-xLOaqs1B6S_M-h1SurSx4P3cK3-y3PPTBpAUKfY0IYa42cKjOz3uWC-EIuU8Qnqd-Yvq4GFXqNJT-CPPcAH8Fxb2v69RVQM/s320/063.JPG" border="0" /></a> I tried to prepare my feet for the march the night before, slept with them wrapped up like this. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1zOaBBSYrSIRVncDbUvJIdA-I-mpXy2Hok2GojJYu4Zm4QaYgCGT9SY43uekTjKp321V6Nz6r5hGTNzoI1FROuocx7g9inJdXrO30R6dbxZtvnUTLrVkfXZHZvZXbCduKbSu1YZWxBc/s1600/056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452676562421024674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1zOaBBSYrSIRVncDbUvJIdA-I-mpXy2Hok2GojJYu4Zm4QaYgCGT9SY43uekTjKp321V6Nz6r5hGTNzoI1FROuocx7g9inJdXrO30R6dbxZtvnUTLrVkfXZHZvZXbCduKbSu1YZWxBc/s320/056.JPG" border="0" /></a> Wow, this is it. They guys pulled up to the hotel, ran and got some coffee. By the way, who has their kid in a convenience mart at 3 in the morning? We made the drive to the middle of nowhere to our death march. First matter of business was to drop the packs off and check their weight. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6kLqjJbaBfiqHZ-lYFAFnoDgijExB_g3meikj4o_mMPTUatSyXmuOsiHb3dHkfxKG8zDmVnKR-hZ-JtGHty8i8gG-gXxH4Ajl74Bf9OLgwiso1qTTuPOMQ4ffEKg_XKWuN_is2nFX2c/s1600/043+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452680003766555154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6kLqjJbaBfiqHZ-lYFAFnoDgijExB_g3meikj4o_mMPTUatSyXmuOsiHb3dHkfxKG8zDmVnKR-hZ-JtGHty8i8gG-gXxH4Ajl74Bf9OLgwiso1qTTuPOMQ4ffEKg_XKWuN_is2nFX2c/s320/043+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcAJbs69RLP7FBqDgxi-yJse2j4Gh1RDnAsz8tCLoTm7SpMEsm0thc5Dm3lGTpRVBsFltQtqdRIy1ezw3TqfzDQykv5hs_3IdIHZlHKXawpFBVFGF5sfr6y452NrMMQf_PmrrfXr4ShM/s1600/044+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452681191597145730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcAJbs69RLP7FBqDgxi-yJse2j4Gh1RDnAsz8tCLoTm7SpMEsm0thc5Dm3lGTpRVBsFltQtqdRIy1ezw3TqfzDQykv5hs_3IdIHZlHKXawpFBVFGF5sfr6y452NrMMQf_PmrrfXr4ShM/s320/044+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> It was so silly to see we could take even more weight out. At this point, training with 50 pounds paid off. It was soooo light. There was bags of rice and beans everywhere from people dropping the weight down. It was a fun and nervous time doing the final weighing of the packs. We put them at our tree, we claimed it. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs1MCJ0EZkhgbsbAgCeNKqi6Mdv84TnWcbEge6S7w6VfPE151iir7_LoAekpD9-SQrMYG5VvldBjC9LQpGstdYpClP7IHezdD_0CR7gdTK-Su8n62w6g21VHVKcyEjC5pDVKMknV6Tmk/s1600/049+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452684249727887330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs1MCJ0EZkhgbsbAgCeNKqi6Mdv84TnWcbEge6S7w6VfPE151iir7_LoAekpD9-SQrMYG5VvldBjC9LQpGstdYpClP7IHezdD_0CR7gdTK-Su8n62w6g21VHVKcyEjC5pDVKMknV6Tmk/s320/049+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> Breakfast started at 4 ish. They had the best stuff out there, danishes, muffins, juice, bananas, oranges. We ate like kings sitting in the warm truck. It was in the 20's. Here are some pics of the gang... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jR63N8COkN2ZtSUGdUD4RPUNMzOPvI634KTYnspp_kJ_x6nj1yTF67at5_cvg8eHBCilxXUQAYPaj4ZXhgthSzevUPaoCZiPNRXcdWI2__IPepuyO70SoCOLXjLYOMfsBQVILV1B_CE/s1600/072+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452695376728544626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jR63N8COkN2ZtSUGdUD4RPUNMzOPvI634KTYnspp_kJ_x6nj1yTF67at5_cvg8eHBCilxXUQAYPaj4ZXhgthSzevUPaoCZiPNRXcdWI2__IPepuyO70SoCOLXjLYOMfsBQVILV1B_CE/s320/072+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ5harh7m7q-9p4mxFeFz9njgCr9sCtKQTM9sn-Xly-llcFgvaIdIEmIUUTgIb3ozQatZEqjmruYo5IK9O8_p6HShYzzZ7M1deh4grDJpuQKhaWHWRduP9yeX1nC8fIKyK1nWq7nTouI/s1600/066+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452695930432574914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ5harh7m7q-9p4mxFeFz9njgCr9sCtKQTM9sn-Xly-llcFgvaIdIEmIUUTgIb3ozQatZEqjmruYo5IK9O8_p6HShYzzZ7M1deh4grDJpuQKhaWHWRduP9yeX1nC8fIKyK1nWq7nTouI/s320/066+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIaHuOGcEl0rq3ZIpqjpCKMphhaXpr4ssvFZaUILq2qVjtdqLHlSWhBXGn0r3qIMV6m1oFZj0iRf1mfQCPWTnBaJA71B8jkPKRqta5BRvDgJ8HDwGzXNXwAcKyCMk9vRHMBtbNFASnko/s1600/073+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452696477854414226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIaHuOGcEl0rq3ZIpqjpCKMphhaXpr4ssvFZaUILq2qVjtdqLHlSWhBXGn0r3qIMV6m1oFZj0iRf1mfQCPWTnBaJA71B8jkPKRqta5BRvDgJ8HDwGzXNXwAcKyCMk9vRHMBtbNFASnko/s320/073+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBj189eRu7xjLgqo7-Tb9wyYvG0NNAIvz8KHZbx6PGrPXsS9OjRre4W-Gsdur_x6pxtsttAIa-V3deottDlXqPwK0pY3-gdl1K8p4rrrJSVwDPZoup_16TJt0hKudunoY3VPO38Bqv1g/s1600/076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452697308289919458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBj189eRu7xjLgqo7-Tb9wyYvG0NNAIvz8KHZbx6PGrPXsS9OjRre4W-Gsdur_x6pxtsttAIa-V3deottDlXqPwK0pY3-gdl1K8p4rrrJSVwDPZoup_16TJt0hKudunoY3VPO38Bqv1g/s320/076.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMddFn95TbpQA5lqv0MtjqcZMgCfN4S-Bqi9V306qIyOJUaJGopjTXahhtmzsldwxrT4cmF_g4YLDe3AquVF8AYq_g6hM3yaJOycGnv7Eh2X95u0bwBjsmhMBR4njDtZJhOCVR2YNQb1Q/s1600/077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452697998749725938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMddFn95TbpQA5lqv0MtjqcZMgCfN4S-Bqi9V306qIyOJUaJGopjTXahhtmzsldwxrT4cmF_g4YLDe3AquVF8AYq_g6hM3yaJOycGnv7Eh2X95u0bwBjsmhMBR4njDtZJhOCVR2YNQb1Q/s320/077.JPG" border="0" /></a> Opening ceremony wasn't until 6 am. So, it allowed some time to make some changes to my feet. I tried to prepare them the night before, but, they were a little too tight. I fixed and fiddled with the damn things 4 times. I was determined not to have any blisters. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAaLRn3uFhj13F0JcsTfbJr4BS40ljllaer5Eiw8zk0B9furejKfmh02LsCDI5XwZfGbQK1-DZvcbbB4n0LmR6EOosG9_YFJDArV2zrtok3Fq1Y-K_JlLBMOFBgvQm3Vv0ONxmDcteFs/s1600/048+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452686090797763922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAaLRn3uFhj13F0JcsTfbJr4BS40ljllaer5Eiw8zk0B9furejKfmh02LsCDI5XwZfGbQK1-DZvcbbB4n0LmR6EOosG9_YFJDArV2zrtok3Fq1Y-K_JlLBMOFBgvQm3Vv0ONxmDcteFs/s320/048+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAaLRn3uFhj13F0JcsTfbJr4BS40ljllaer5Eiw8zk0B9furejKfmh02LsCDI5XwZfGbQK1-DZvcbbB4n0LmR6EOosG9_YFJDArV2zrtok3Fq1Y-K_JlLBMOFBgvQm3Vv0ONxmDcteFs/s1600/048+(2).JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUgqy61CqwzeXaXohvI4aqVpRN8DKjhFWnbfVMV1ynVfVrrd7HcvxUxStPDHdnf7Mw_Nu25OJuLXslnLljSVkXkRKVOe3kSyKApjFqrCH3nQVSb_zgieFWBwVyaXIpoEYv8MgHGUY6kM/s1600/052+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452709238198993234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUgqy61CqwzeXaXohvI4aqVpRN8DKjhFWnbfVMV1ynVfVrrd7HcvxUxStPDHdnf7Mw_Nu25OJuLXslnLljSVkXkRKVOe3kSyKApjFqrCH3nQVSb_zgieFWBwVyaXIpoEYv8MgHGUY6kM/s320/052+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> I have everything you can think of in my pack. Blister repair kits, duct tape, cable ties, you name it-it was half my weight. I even had clippers. Which Scott said yahoo. He had an out of control toe nail. He clipped them and announced, think I clipped them too close. In my experience, you can never be too close when it comes to toe nails. Kevin and I decided to do another porta potty break, of course everyone else had the same idea. We noticed the temp dropped again. There was steam coming from the porta-potty towers-gross. Wow it was cold. We were in line a great deal of time and knew that the guys should make thier way over from truck.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaEC9XQmDNyqjj3KDaP7Ksz8F1KABSCaqJNHSBcn4ZBHTHSbIeojQ9HM5zOE3LGkCZqT9SYATOur5J1ve46r8Zp8ja7nmyOYO5azu0GZNwAufJ0jUKOmNhVstcV7SgZLmSb_JTUP8S6k/s1600/046+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452687166287316306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaEC9XQmDNyqjj3KDaP7Ksz8F1KABSCaqJNHSBcn4ZBHTHSbIeojQ9HM5zOE3LGkCZqT9SYATOur5J1ve46r8Zp8ja7nmyOYO5azu0GZNwAufJ0jUKOmNhVstcV7SgZLmSb_JTUP8S6k/s320/046+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> Called them and stood in line longer. We had a chance to take pics of the biggest American flag I have ever seen, which was awesome. A video serves its grace better. </p><p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwJDdyMFsLkYvGxt6G8x1kt1l1FOf72qqdX9EOPWrDkQIppXYtCp7hzdtEC0nkqzT5LtD4d_s3jQvBtIKP9Yw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>Additionally there were some bagpipe players that was circulating through the crowd. </p><p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxxHrF_Oj1-tdMfHMVph1WH9DLrtYoyF4RrNrTmm2zbfSRvxxV3w2qNxXlzFmmlyu_L6cfV6IVx85qUXbSvvg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>Here is a video of the crowd at the opening ceremony. </p><p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxws-F-AlsGGEYA-tqKd55ATUGLniPSbrUC6XyVwXd0mtArYZRYCF1eXq0HPZQcibbOzJLSPfiA5KPdodgRuA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>It was 6 am, time for opening ceremonies. This was the most moving part of the day. It is where I drew strength from later that day. They posted the colors, the anthem was sang by one of the high school choirs, senior leaders spoke and then the most awe inpiring moment happened. They asked us for a moment of silence while they read the names of the Bataan Survivors who have passed since last year, it was at least 30 names. They played taps and tears rolled down my face. They also read the below, which puts it more into perspective why we needed to be there, so they were not forgotten, these Battling Bastards of Bataan. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7-HehKZJ5eujWUpxW-a2dvn_q0ouBhNCpXbP807h2-gX_AdohpAgTOtCFriTpSWYSdLl0a3PQLTGLKf0Agp_SxGFPWH_gm17ThIEGdE2H6Pb8esEjSaGWg3k8XQRgKuCqpUTxyK1vVE/s1600/009.JPG"></p></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452693617032172466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7-HehKZJ5eujWUpxW-a2dvn_q0ouBhNCpXbP807h2-gX_AdohpAgTOtCFriTpSWYSdLl0a3PQLTGLKf0Agp_SxGFPWH_gm17ThIEGdE2H6Pb8esEjSaGWg3k8XQRgKuCqpUTxyK1vVE/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /> Then the cannon balls went off, way cooler then a starting gun!! There were several categories. Light/Heavy categories for 26.2 for both military and civilian, 15.2 miles, team/individual categories for both light/heavy for both military/civilian and the wounded warriors from all the wars of the present and past. There were 5704 people registered for this event, so it was a lot of categories of people and a lot of people to get shifted along. Each time a new category was to go, the cannon ball went off. I was in the porta potty for one of them-thank god because I almost peed my pants when the cannons went off!! We were sort of towards the back because we weren't an official team, we were in the individual categories because we had Kevin on our team and he is a civilian-he was supposed to go before us, but, well, that wasn't going to happen. So we were off, together. None of us could feel our toes. Frozen. We came around the corner and it was like an accordian, we all stopped. I thought what is the problem? But, what we saw was awesome. They had the survivors in chairs all bundled up on both sides for us to shake their hands sending us off on our journey. It was phenomenal. I said, this is going to be more then a life changing experience for us. We were off. It was 7:35 and the sun was coming up and it was gorgeous. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnrjE2Vg_-z91_-95b9yYjocNlB-Ir0z4VRu6w4z4i2mZznTs2KfexJ5N5g0FkLvfjA9zD1Uelv_0PhCiZ4NO25KU_lbz883iBhwsdu2yuwQDXHRefPJJN0Wq0A9ocggVTqzVFHHsEmc/s1600/077+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452699568499241090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnrjE2Vg_-z91_-95b9yYjocNlB-Ir0z4VRu6w4z4i2mZznTs2KfexJ5N5g0FkLvfjA9zD1Uelv_0PhCiZ4NO25KU_lbz883iBhwsdu2yuwQDXHRefPJJN0Wq0A9ocggVTqzVFHHsEmc/s320/077+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> We got to the first stop (about 2 miles in) and realized we were in nearly last place. Hmmm, how did that happen. But, we made up for it. We shed a few layers of clothes, used the toilet and went on our way. Speaking of clothes, we were all wearing these shirts we got at a trail run that were neon green-best idea ever. We could find each other so easily when we would get separated in a field of camoflauge. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcamodUSFlkTjtvb_vBg_cdoEeqx0eW5uEygdt5srZxnaPrRgYD8RMSubG0_8rUQN4xEWwV35metn1vXYCdzDkCJzHcZ5ZBpM_rdpFrfQJ_757yqYB3U1aRHyuB5vvSjLARq7UqNcyCpg/s1600/078+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452700796247751522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcamodUSFlkTjtvb_vBg_cdoEeqx0eW5uEygdt5srZxnaPrRgYD8RMSubG0_8rUQN4xEWwV35metn1vXYCdzDkCJzHcZ5ZBpM_rdpFrfQJ_757yqYB3U1aRHyuB5vvSjLARq7UqNcyCpg/s320/078+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> When we got started again, wow passing city. We passed so many people. We were averaging 16 min miles. Some were easier to pass then others. There were these two girls, we will call them the ipod twins, they shared an ipod. Really, how long will that last? Kevin made a choice that he was going to wear his pack the whole time at this point, even on breaks. He never took it off, not until the end. I almost fell over more than once sitting on a cot and falling backwards. Some of the guys wore it into the porta-potties. This is So much easier to go pee for a boy with a pack on then a girl-let me tell you!! Here are some pics of us on our journey.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivyLYUqeQgpEuVZFHJGdDdElJDNnqRIo7FuO8hMX23LszBp-g-uu4r5q_5e4CxHZlO1XuQafDrtt446EkI2zA4bXIWPj6e0NHBfTPVAJGg_SArsWSBmgyKnK9uYtPiIaYfD6zdxYjhaw/s1600/079+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452702234584820258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivyLYUqeQgpEuVZFHJGdDdElJDNnqRIo7FuO8hMX23LszBp-g-uu4r5q_5e4CxHZlO1XuQafDrtt446EkI2zA4bXIWPj6e0NHBfTPVAJGg_SArsWSBmgyKnK9uYtPiIaYfD6zdxYjhaw/s320/079+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9_RAcv_RgL-UcvQKbefTa5BEizjgbNPWaBn-JXnohE_9EZFtx0oVNvfJXFqVDFEtSzHeX5pmFpKLCibi7_dhn1PQ1ln-QQc30BVrKDjsvEWiUtqBajggNgxnAayqP03otECfMCxK8DE/s1600/083+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452711572162824002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9_RAcv_RgL-UcvQKbefTa5BEizjgbNPWaBn-JXnohE_9EZFtx0oVNvfJXFqVDFEtSzHeX5pmFpKLCibi7_dhn1PQ1ln-QQc30BVrKDjsvEWiUtqBajggNgxnAayqP03otECfMCxK8DE/s320/083+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> Then came the first roadside repair of blisters. Scott and Ryan started having some issues, out came my kit of moleskin, bandaides, tape, scissors, duct tape, medical tape. We were at between mile 5 and 6. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U_oIJCaWOlX1p27aaZL5FAYTpctjxRZrC7K2fpeqeOECNV47bdMPIAx-PfUWhZ4LdipbtpiIj3XNmCt8gzLX_2ZhIaUOPu__mzs3ehfTsKO90V_YpeWcpyf9DY6IoKbf6MFciCXrNEw/s1600/086+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452703716491975922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U_oIJCaWOlX1p27aaZL5FAYTpctjxRZrC7K2fpeqeOECNV47bdMPIAx-PfUWhZ4LdipbtpiIj3XNmCt8gzLX_2ZhIaUOPu__mzs3ehfTsKO90V_YpeWcpyf9DY6IoKbf6MFciCXrNEw/s320/086+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQDuitfwCPNbiUkncTLZuFE4Hxm2wEYLmi6sJMwk0SMMxH7VrPePVX4ZLI8ekiiocmlcn21uXM-rnFH9IGAC02xTGzvStTcVdfJmp0GeP-0qwqvXG2q5D7skOgc40vIhVGLuBvkdpKMI/s1600/088+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453057663887017682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQDuitfwCPNbiUkncTLZuFE4Hxm2wEYLmi6sJMwk0SMMxH7VrPePVX4ZLI8ekiiocmlcn21uXM-rnFH9IGAC02xTGzvStTcVdfJmp0GeP-0qwqvXG2q5D7skOgc40vIhVGLuBvkdpKMI/s320/088+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We ate some food. I had these protein balls-peanut butter flavored, we named them, moose nuggets, elk balls, rocky mountain oysters-they were delicious. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQEDNePcEInrSn5PvdGIsHxAUv9cmiOCdIDfX0l4DWFs54aFkOXrfl365nb2dyPhzmhT5Z_fvRZ7ZniFNYwivgCJoYBbOxPaA-jmDea5i1o0VJ00d40YpFwWd_3ua7FV9VcXV-K03-s8/s1600/080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452704522433726450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQEDNePcEInrSn5PvdGIsHxAUv9cmiOCdIDfX0l4DWFs54aFkOXrfl365nb2dyPhzmhT5Z_fvRZ7ZniFNYwivgCJoYBbOxPaA-jmDea5i1o0VJ00d40YpFwWd_3ua7FV9VcXV-K03-s8/s320/080.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislAg6Zn8xU68SYUC7PRSsTfd799UAjh4rhrruL5woPRX9xDUF2ouRl8olDORjn_fa8v4njI1YamauQJ1IElcErgDAzXf3igXyXedHvKYi14qxBAjn29cpwqvGp7qoWpCnMNOb1F0MICM/s1600/082+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452705108116450626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislAg6Zn8xU68SYUC7PRSsTfd799UAjh4rhrruL5woPRX9xDUF2ouRl8olDORjn_fa8v4njI1YamauQJ1IElcErgDAzXf3igXyXedHvKYi14qxBAjn29cpwqvGp7qoWpCnMNOb1F0MICM/s320/082+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> We had a pee in the desert and did further repairs. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LLIm1w07dqI1h7gzjuW0HvnSm3ns6DaBLrJPGwk8eBrln9V41tja9ee1sOOxaH9qLnNOCezURQ95wK5_YRR3nXacV-7lSDaNiXgQRGCU5OWQT4uUF3tl27VwY23N6opCCWcPgv4RadQ/s1600/082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452706399990201826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LLIm1w07dqI1h7gzjuW0HvnSm3ns6DaBLrJPGwk8eBrln9V41tja9ee1sOOxaH9qLnNOCezURQ95wK5_YRR3nXacV-7lSDaNiXgQRGCU5OWQT4uUF3tl27VwY23N6opCCWcPgv4RadQ/s320/082.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCLBn2MGlE5GFFOopTmm3waepNanzAiVuD7munDiet2PUNdzJlzaat5kpDdNa6egES0fmkwP8Bm3_o_ZeGbwWfxIqs6Cq_Y-ci5iIti79yAnFWvpK5eaOnNmY3tcHnjkEVkqf96FJJ1Q/s1600/084+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452707051068840306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCLBn2MGlE5GFFOopTmm3waepNanzAiVuD7munDiet2PUNdzJlzaat5kpDdNa6egES0fmkwP8Bm3_o_ZeGbwWfxIqs6Cq_Y-ci5iIti79yAnFWvpK5eaOnNmY3tcHnjkEVkqf96FJJ1Q/s320/084+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> We continued further on our way to the first major aide station, it was incredible. It was like a MASH station, pretty cool. This is where the 15 milers go one way and the marathoners go the other, where the real journey began and changed. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKEDGdjHtU1CJ-aJcH69fBIPAx3IX7Aa1BEm_ozVGN7v3_CA60MmU6i0W_aQO7qDqhcatluSN1FORbrNvJSXZcwt_Axpzi2q9wxJNs1LEq-Tk_CP1v5VDMV9U1x2V_dydGqaVTD5Ca5E/s1600/081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452707901574614226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKEDGdjHtU1CJ-aJcH69fBIPAx3IX7Aa1BEm_ozVGN7v3_CA60MmU6i0W_aQO7qDqhcatluSN1FORbrNvJSXZcwt_Axpzi2q9wxJNs1LEq-Tk_CP1v5VDMV9U1x2V_dydGqaVTD5Ca5E/s320/081.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ePHCN3jftStToTzeSJAs8LX193Xp1PEYtIPBIT-s2ZeuNEguHtWuVAI0GYLZ9-dP3uIrP3siu4TgTy2vHQvp7qXbozWaQ_ziFvaT6NsK8TsGWNzsIdnZ6x1KSCryG7A-JczL-O3FGg0/s1600/084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452712219496392402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ePHCN3jftStToTzeSJAs8LX193Xp1PEYtIPBIT-s2ZeuNEguHtWuVAI0GYLZ9-dP3uIrP3siu4TgTy2vHQvp7qXbozWaQ_ziFvaT6NsK8TsGWNzsIdnZ6x1KSCryG7A-JczL-O3FGg0/s320/084.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is where we left the dirt trail and hit the pavement. It was the start of the 7 mile hill refered to as Hell Hill. It just kept going and going and going. They had these misters that sprayed on us that was pretty cool. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpx3BM9xWPy-fWmc_YXmeifde7rjAwzXyJ_g_opODyjJXpYdRpwvmDRgaUiNhRLqa4avHAHus4IYzEV5Xpzrdlm7lMuEyHScrRoA69JMVFggBNwiOv5n_qAJNMP6rvD9kE5bRQlaB4Vg/s1600/087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452712959951536306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpx3BM9xWPy-fWmc_YXmeifde7rjAwzXyJ_g_opODyjJXpYdRpwvmDRgaUiNhRLqa4avHAHus4IYzEV5Xpzrdlm7lMuEyHScrRoA69JMVFggBNwiOv5n_qAJNMP6rvD9kE5bRQlaB4Vg/s320/087.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhAOBXcp2i3CDqZDPaH41BHKkDiSNsVbyaRuTqxGgSeYVtsiQJ_eZt7Tyh11-utns-uPmHXCmqlctSO6p6HqRL6IPqYpdP2l-Wt6ogLSq753uXKsESU-j5i5r-ymwBufhbkzlkbAAfUA/s1600/096+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452715414051645202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhAOBXcp2i3CDqZDPaH41BHKkDiSNsVbyaRuTqxGgSeYVtsiQJ_eZt7Tyh11-utns-uPmHXCmqlctSO6p6HqRL6IPqYpdP2l-Wt6ogLSq753uXKsESU-j5i5r-ymwBufhbkzlkbAAfUA/s320/096+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfV7Ai-WvPdSMXr07BbUOoQtSDIL7592phOBFPXwc_JEixurN-ykDA5nDYKsH2dqtEfxyqSzFN_lbkkdyEw5ZQcFb2t8kmRn5TvC1U5a6V_D145V3TlmQHYQmbZ-4ocKTDIJcrWE5jtg/s1600/095+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452715408992746306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfV7Ai-WvPdSMXr07BbUOoQtSDIL7592phOBFPXwc_JEixurN-ykDA5nDYKsH2dqtEfxyqSzFN_lbkkdyEw5ZQcFb2t8kmRn5TvC1U5a6V_D145V3TlmQHYQmbZ-4ocKTDIJcrWE5jtg/s320/095+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIahQkmhjUHKH1UVPHpY5F_AwDysYsdq5o-F0O9j5YjYTpAvhY_oDKBMgC765F-r8AFaxEIJ120TZ0Oj1HbLHXUIbqzLXjRBFj62HfEkiBrFcnc6D1-fccoGKqiaJ2kV_GDdiT-IwVVcE/s1600/094+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452715396388392338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIahQkmhjUHKH1UVPHpY5F_AwDysYsdq5o-F0O9j5YjYTpAvhY_oDKBMgC765F-r8AFaxEIJ120TZ0Oj1HbLHXUIbqzLXjRBFj62HfEkiBrFcnc6D1-fccoGKqiaJ2kV_GDdiT-IwVVcE/s320/094+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40puyXRbIMPbMLzLjtSiXcCMM5BYxHaNs8kwMEjAD6pdGUi29ruhAJi5ZVVm7ulLZcZgADlRma0GYPTLUPo_KQNscrKbi5aRA_mPPgZd5I-OWVyijOyt-F27htmo091tRM1Xx7xLgxmk/s1600/093+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452715391560876194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40puyXRbIMPbMLzLjtSiXcCMM5BYxHaNs8kwMEjAD6pdGUi29ruhAJi5ZVVm7ulLZcZgADlRma0GYPTLUPo_KQNscrKbi5aRA_mPPgZd5I-OWVyijOyt-F27htmo091tRM1Xx7xLgxmk/s320/093+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> We took a break at this part and I loosened my boots and more road side repair happened for all 3 of us--Scott, Ryan and I. Kevin and Gebbia weren't having any issues. We talked about our training at this time. About how Kevin pushed us through some pretty challenging hills and that was when we decided that Kevin had a Hill fetish and this hill was glorious to him. It felt great to me after I loosened my boots--this was the best I felt yet and the entire race. Weird how an uphill would feel the best. Without Kevin pushing us through those workouts though, this hill could have taken us out. I found this and I think they made this sweatshirt for Kevin.... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsSq9YPHBnpdJfyYOqJCYWu706UMwo664q0osYMbv2QClAn8BHXCsQIQDuqQEaZP1LOVpOSi1HiK8oiaTvx3V764OfGh-BmTdXzYvAZLgR-uwc057P4Tx2wyWbA-0Z_LSq4Lxro80ixI/s1600/hills.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452728247753253778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 129px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsSq9YPHBnpdJfyYOqJCYWu706UMwo664q0osYMbv2QClAn8BHXCsQIQDuqQEaZP1LOVpOSi1HiK8oiaTvx3V764OfGh-BmTdXzYvAZLgR-uwc057P4Tx2wyWbA-0Z_LSq4Lxro80ixI/s320/hills.jpg" border="0" /></a> We started to see the marathon runners coming back, it gives you a false sense of illusion that we would be coming back soon. Really? The F you say, what was I thinking? We haven't even reached the halfway point. We got to see the teams of all kinds. A lot of young kids from ROTC out there. We saw this one kid, Lee and he was struggling, his team was running with packs on. Not sure if they were heavy packs or not. But, he was struggling to stay with his team and they were yelling at him. We tried to keep him encouraged. We saw teams of Marines, listening to a boom box with an ipod playing (not allowed to, but, come on, who is going to stop them? Not me.) We saw people who were running the marathon in uniform, in boots, with packs, some light, none and some heavy-wow, thank god they have youth on their side. We saw a lot of amputees running and marching. Pretty amazing. I thought for a time, wouldn't it be nice if I didn't have a foot, then I wouldn't have any blisters. But, they have blisters on their stumps that I couldn't imagine that pain. I was awed by them and thanked them all for their service and for being here. We saw guys doing push ups at certain points with their packs on. We saw this young group of kids, no packs, looked like high school kids. They were pretty strong at this point. The view was getting pretty nice, the more we went up. We could see the white sands we saw the day before-seemed like a week ago. In some races, you can look ahead and tell where you are going, I could see we were heading up to some point, but, where were the people going? Kevin theorized we were getting pushed off a cliff or something. All we could see was a giant mountain. We went throught these gates and all kinds of signs were warning us of RF energy and other warning signs. (It is a missile testing range afterall). I at this point thought to mention, Beware of my Butt. Those stupid meatballs made me the gassiest gal out there. If this is too much information, ignore it. But, it made me laugh for 10 min and became a source of odd amusement the whole time out there. Kevin made a comment, much later in the race when I thought we were alone and we were not and well....I tooted and he said, "Dear God, there are people behind us." Oops, pardon me.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioBAIQnLN2ALLiWgN3uwkrkg620N829pjy7RZUR92dmSnuVVIcLQSAL7seRtk1XEt9_UJtZO8jY6SQZCQfFC9uB6zbKb_QNffePale_NTSbqpQO25JwoqucqHqqquSh1b4jiVP47HvD0/s1600/12799_msn101_dp_funny-42.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452726855264569122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 96px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 96px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioBAIQnLN2ALLiWgN3uwkrkg620N829pjy7RZUR92dmSnuVVIcLQSAL7seRtk1XEt9_UJtZO8jY6SQZCQfFC9uB6zbKb_QNffePale_NTSbqpQO25JwoqucqHqqquSh1b4jiVP47HvD0/s320/12799_msn101_dp_funny-42.jpg" border="0" /></a> Finally we got to a point where the pavement finally ended. There was a big aide station ahead with these little kids handing out gatorade, it was cute. We all got caught up to each other and we broke the news to Gebbia that we were still going uphill. He said why are we going up still when Kevin said that the highest point was 12.85? Kevin said, I lied to keep you going. Wait for it...the f you say? We trudged on. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6RtpxMJ9f4mQX4h0HHSfpc11MY8_5mYZIe0K3dRPufH3s8mwBriTd-CMebIn7mJvLy8Xkd3n60_2iMdxY8BcuGWRRoTEw2IFBxCY01xNU9wFaIZ_qme8v_j5TlFds1YLwgqGbkUlguQ/s1600/090+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452729515817925330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6RtpxMJ9f4mQX4h0HHSfpc11MY8_5mYZIe0K3dRPufH3s8mwBriTd-CMebIn7mJvLy8Xkd3n60_2iMdxY8BcuGWRRoTEw2IFBxCY01xNU9wFaIZ_qme8v_j5TlFds1YLwgqGbkUlguQ/s320/090+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> Gebbia was ahead of us some at the 13 mile mark and we could see him waiting for us. We caught up to him to discover him standing there innocently by a 10lb bag of sugar...hmmm from his pack? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGVdWgYulxmZXdupbuqKupk0V_cP7aU3XBkAbs4VX6iXhjGu6opDLT5QIorchBJDY0y5t-CrJaUphDKhO9D-wiPbX6cxmnHuZpxtwro2W7pXeu-I8rrfcOyhLsbGf9eGz2GQrH1dn9qY/s1600/093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452730133895460674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGVdWgYulxmZXdupbuqKupk0V_cP7aU3XBkAbs4VX6iXhjGu6opDLT5QIorchBJDY0y5t-CrJaUphDKhO9D-wiPbX6cxmnHuZpxtwro2W7pXeu-I8rrfcOyhLsbGf9eGz2GQrH1dn9qY/s320/093.JPG" border="0" /></a> We kept trudging and it was on this part we met Georgia, that wasn't his real name, it is what we called him the whole time. He was a retired Marine and now is a AF Reservest-he has a total of 38 years in the military. He said, I am the original Forest Gump. He was the oldest guy in the heavy category, he was 57. Pretty cool fella to talk and walk with. Here's is a check-up on everyone making their way up the hill.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qVxh09GeAvB9Hi4etp2DoNlwYIdMgxs2lHcs4rkoVFBTT7uEDrKM__CB2PR7Jey3uRlXYMObysclwdaaV_EVYYTh-Dc6LDq_tYIdttr5UrHKNVEgSgdcbmn8MiFILlvY0XxaH47jCOM/s1600/092+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452732080252343954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qVxh09GeAvB9Hi4etp2DoNlwYIdMgxs2lHcs4rkoVFBTT7uEDrKM__CB2PR7Jey3uRlXYMObysclwdaaV_EVYYTh-Dc6LDq_tYIdttr5UrHKNVEgSgdcbmn8MiFILlvY0XxaH47jCOM/s320/092+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51P3sk8jKnQYzzoHD3N5veQVW5gZVT7xsDtSYNSjq8f-Ejy_uXlCEdYOXoxGfP5pw2OOGZJYR06pKfW2ADXg5JgmbaZi-k5W1tRg6lTuokOkNT-gXv-mvA4iMsi9FV1OWT3A0dJmt0bg/s1600/091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452732069524661138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51P3sk8jKnQYzzoHD3N5veQVW5gZVT7xsDtSYNSjq8f-Ejy_uXlCEdYOXoxGfP5pw2OOGZJYR06pKfW2ADXg5JgmbaZi-k5W1tRg6lTuokOkNT-gXv-mvA4iMsi9FV1OWT3A0dJmt0bg/s320/091.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSJnxxB16ZfAERtABdP-bUNGP5XkNpuqlqULMVkOTODWfHdMYDpE4yQ956SqA0uDthDugwe9x0ut1aH4x10ZLAx4TeSOM0cZnG_C9Gw6hucg0HqZj2o4HpcvYLUT-jxKUmor-GR1_PSM/s1600/090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452732062943788914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSJnxxB16ZfAERtABdP-bUNGP5XkNpuqlqULMVkOTODWfHdMYDpE4yQ956SqA0uDthDugwe9x0ut1aH4x10ZLAx4TeSOM0cZnG_C9Gw6hucg0HqZj2o4HpcvYLUT-jxKUmor-GR1_PSM/s320/090.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn3KG6JQb6D4iKJNYNOoJZzAo0vXzr10fcRKTIMWJuXo7IabstR2mO6cNRI5B2TNAA8P1wmuLECnEiV0G9uc8Sg96M7j5K29KtYb17gQ5Iy05WPcG2S_HZjGxfp1S7mI98i65TfGucS4/s1600/089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452732056424861410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn3KG6JQb6D4iKJNYNOoJZzAo0vXzr10fcRKTIMWJuXo7IabstR2mO6cNRI5B2TNAA8P1wmuLECnEiV0G9uc8Sg96M7j5K29KtYb17gQ5Iy05WPcG2S_HZjGxfp1S7mI98i65TfGucS4/s320/089.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1g1Vd-CiDFBvyAySHrcCIwMb8nqpt86eTpidKJKXk_mgoR2FZGSDH5_XZxyk_74w4QgapI_XrPLi4lNCdfFQtkZS0EFiFX8CONYHc5aEOV9cQ_tkkCny42ptYuW9N70SwmIBQp3q7Sk/s1600/088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452732049890843634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1g1Vd-CiDFBvyAySHrcCIwMb8nqpt86eTpidKJKXk_mgoR2FZGSDH5_XZxyk_74w4QgapI_XrPLi4lNCdfFQtkZS0EFiFX8CONYHc5aEOV9cQ_tkkCny42ptYuW9N70SwmIBQp3q7Sk/s320/088.JPG" border="0" /></a> Then a miracle happened, the road started to go downhill. Well, it seemed a miracle at first. We saw Gebbia get attacked by a dust storm, which was hillarious, from our perspective of course. At the upcoming aide station we could smell BBQ...mmmm a yummy hot dog would be great. Oh wait, they ran out. But, back to why it wasn't a miracle. My feet were hurting, a lot. The downhill walking caused the blisters to really flare up. We got to a pretty major aide station and I said, Kevin, I am going to have them see if they can do something about my feet. I stood waiting in line, a lot of folks needed help out there. I sat down on my army cot and one of the aide people came up to assess the situation. Something to note, a week prior I ran my foot into a door and had concerns I broke my baby toe. I may or may not have done, but, clearly there was a problem now. The guy looked at the blister and said, hmm, that is unusual, there are two pockets. Then came the question to lance or not to lance because of the risk of infection. I said, do it and named it the Twisted Sister Blister. Scott was having some issues too. He had the same toe issues, except he had a top hat, it looked like a contact lens on his toe. He had heel problems also and the guy working on it looked like our friend Jeremy Griffin, he could be his brother. Ryan had work done too, on his heels. We were a gruesome threesome. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1oGRVDXZlzpOVFapsbcFidBX6GRPNuQR9PrkhKVA1YVh2TvUnREgCKq1FwIOxQELhosxGL-gdgRJg5Ny-kNFVEmY2gljHHDMI_N_-gDBcrWuaZJUQNLeYZQHu7MvO6PJyccb8FqyFdU/s1600/110+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452774283920460194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1oGRVDXZlzpOVFapsbcFidBX6GRPNuQR9PrkhKVA1YVh2TvUnREgCKq1FwIOxQELhosxGL-gdgRJg5Ny-kNFVEmY2gljHHDMI_N_-gDBcrWuaZJUQNLeYZQHu7MvO6PJyccb8FqyFdU/s320/110+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uE2pOH79qTPWIrkD2qEWkGpItTtlWb0DiwzQbXs_J-AWwDNN83s5Xd68Bb1fzkUswyn47NaRPTLFxVWT2MVWATuYmFVrhFd5TABZQ4ol8Qt3raqAzV05f-9AHT9NqWtelTI1T6rvi0k/s1600/109+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452774276931705234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uE2pOH79qTPWIrkD2qEWkGpItTtlWb0DiwzQbXs_J-AWwDNN83s5Xd68Bb1fzkUswyn47NaRPTLFxVWT2MVWATuYmFVrhFd5TABZQ4ol8Qt3raqAzV05f-9AHT9NqWtelTI1T6rvi0k/s320/109+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPXaXbp3m8Gw88XxmMo75fJ8FkifWdVzYe6YzUzx-u6OtiZDgbtxcQ2V85jQ3rnxnbPfcit59WGBGej-vSlBWmSamdLqVFOka2QoJmwitnSIZXW6N97PSGvNiwech4h1hxLp4xOG5yDE/s1600/106+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452774268915451170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPXaXbp3m8Gw88XxmMo75fJ8FkifWdVzYe6YzUzx-u6OtiZDgbtxcQ2V85jQ3rnxnbPfcit59WGBGej-vSlBWmSamdLqVFOka2QoJmwitnSIZXW6N97PSGvNiwech4h1hxLp4xOG5yDE/s320/106+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIuYulTb51GNPZwdkJiWjT3Y84vClzujPY42T8rUJudL4nn-R9fp9pafiVYjHThv3TebApcYP-ahS_TCDEqquPuh6JAFlr7YhhIbAfWrOzNKFHYNzBFdH3EUHt7AtlbSmYLmfL-vRpok/s1600/108+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452774257456168402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIuYulTb51GNPZwdkJiWjT3Y84vClzujPY42T8rUJudL4nn-R9fp9pafiVYjHThv3TebApcYP-ahS_TCDEqquPuh6JAFlr7YhhIbAfWrOzNKFHYNzBFdH3EUHt7AtlbSmYLmfL-vRpok/s320/108+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqM7J_B82pZ6nxET83BaA0jmznivzw_RD0sT0RzW019Bot-U25_HhYs7TEEBT2dxUelMTf55r96i7WluqL5zhaJlBHr278eesnUsVErm3noDjWjinH9jCZNufj9qxAAln2MArl-bLIPEU/s1600/107+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452774250444679778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqM7J_B82pZ6nxET83BaA0jmznivzw_RD0sT0RzW019Bot-U25_HhYs7TEEBT2dxUelMTf55r96i7WluqL5zhaJlBHr278eesnUsVErm3noDjWjinH9jCZNufj9qxAAln2MArl-bLIPEU/s320/107+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> Kevin decided to lay down and eat his sandwich while he waited. It was at this point that I thought, hmm, we have lost our 16 min pace and it will be a long day. We just made it to the half way point and going downhill killed my feet. I had blisters on both baby toes, both big toes and both pads of my feet. How did all that preparation not work? Kevin and I had said from the beginning, we knew we had the endurance to do this and it would be the wear and tear that would most likely break us.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEyvoG6-SfqvMCEd6tCcA7B5tSSJLV8Ep_NMEjCOmUyqQKajsTyNSDDQ5OvTGjgE0F2lOQs1NXbdEEMmmSOt_5Oif5t5sNB0pMW4BAYEJ_r9OokDHOkU-TgV1fUqmB9Y_Ey2C99evKnE/s1600/102+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452775405806088290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEyvoG6-SfqvMCEd6tCcA7B5tSSJLV8Ep_NMEjCOmUyqQKajsTyNSDDQ5OvTGjgE0F2lOQs1NXbdEEMmmSOt_5Oif5t5sNB0pMW4BAYEJ_r9OokDHOkU-TgV1fUqmB9Y_Ey2C99evKnE/s320/102+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> We were going to make our move once again. I had to pee and the guys said they would stop and meet us. They had that pace where if you stopped you may lose momentum and I understood that, we didn't see them for awhile. Around mile 14 or so, we could see the finish line area, the military base. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KQmiDPipYsMLs-IHksZUKiDLwEc5gV6RH5ar_3vA6Yc5z8Wi6l6XlpqYRd9bm6YMtiQCY861fkfFHZk5ejBv-cJcyCUWyVZS12jiH8TpspwkTg5PPqIyG60pk5mO5ZHdZdOlnKrMY8c/s1600/111+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452776112473803138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KQmiDPipYsMLs-IHksZUKiDLwEc5gV6RH5ar_3vA6Yc5z8Wi6l6XlpqYRd9bm6YMtiQCY861fkfFHZk5ejBv-cJcyCUWyVZS12jiH8TpspwkTg5PPqIyG60pk5mO5ZHdZdOlnKrMY8c/s320/111+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> At this point also, Kevin got a picture of me when my walk like a penguin started. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnaOFIFzMEaPmxirhiPBuycMWfP9LCSIZCJbVA_4r4mDsXzcB90HM6MWGg8jhDu_9F-gBScEO3TNNlow6rZ9BaoUwj8bTo6C1LoiayXrAcDXgrlCKS0DCCDLshCCMJ14CyxtcmlPMcyo/s1600/112+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452776622903668610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnaOFIFzMEaPmxirhiPBuycMWfP9LCSIZCJbVA_4r4mDsXzcB90HM6MWGg8jhDu_9F-gBScEO3TNNlow6rZ9BaoUwj8bTo6C1LoiayXrAcDXgrlCKS0DCCDLshCCMJ14CyxtcmlPMcyo/s320/112+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> Along the way we ran into a father son pair, the son was 11. He was having a hard time and we shared with them stuff to help motivate them. Like thinking about the great reward of yummy food at the end, special treats etc. When you are that point, any distraction is a good one. Somewhere along the way I ate my sandwich, walked and ate it and got some of the worst heart burn, not sure if you are supposed to walk and eat.... We were looking around at the scenery and decided to take stock on all the wildlife we had seen out there. We had all these warnings about the wild life, so we wanted to be cautious. We saw, hold on to your socks, a dead lizard, two stinkbugs, 4 birds, a butterfly and some weird thing we thought was a leg of something...it may have been a a branch.<br /><br />This got us thinking about Dora in the kids movie, Finding Nemo where she says, Just Keep Swimming, Keep Swimming, Keep Swimming. We changed it to Just Keep Walking, Keep Walking, Keep Walking.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNyg_tVDqEj6VJq9eZS_WqV79b9u0LjwpSj0zvL0uhFiDy_4xF01EcVXGFTi4I9Dnx1vlbblOz0aSWgm4mRnIFcsklf_wCKgCeqhLgQ9955X7-lo3fL8dOa_SXXJzPMD_S0uAK2sHfJQ/s1600/fish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453059371154758130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 116px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 98px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNyg_tVDqEj6VJq9eZS_WqV79b9u0LjwpSj0zvL0uhFiDy_4xF01EcVXGFTi4I9Dnx1vlbblOz0aSWgm4mRnIFcsklf_wCKgCeqhLgQ9955X7-lo3fL8dOa_SXXJzPMD_S0uAK2sHfJQ/s320/fish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p>We took in all the pretty yellow flowers and that white flower we saw. Kevin is remarkable at getting me to focus on other things then my pain. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ6uCC3VlC9FTrdyzSdoeYoDXGLWPdBkQeGALNy-N705Eo5M4ioC2no2gBn29BkkLNeYjGQcCfd5XmsKS9tXBW69g4-c0HRrasPlfmEisSBo_EXnMdpiAiXLpDdTKLI_hAdt0G53KDZU/s1600/116+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452778984339637218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ6uCC3VlC9FTrdyzSdoeYoDXGLWPdBkQeGALNy-N705Eo5M4ioC2no2gBn29BkkLNeYjGQcCfd5XmsKS9tXBW69g4-c0HRrasPlfmEisSBo_EXnMdpiAiXLpDdTKLI_hAdt0G53KDZU/s320/116+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPSzV8tfUQ7gGnGF_tJOWhjr6C1Az9JO7LaFxB748CV0kwlzcJeH8QAGZr0lQ40Za205cFtzNwsM8xAJA2Qkxt5hjaDqvgcyrSRX6RMUdzoqIuwPHntrG71QQBrD0Vssedog8lzkhtfs/s1600/117+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452778975005660546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPSzV8tfUQ7gGnGF_tJOWhjr6C1Az9JO7LaFxB748CV0kwlzcJeH8QAGZr0lQ40Za205cFtzNwsM8xAJA2Qkxt5hjaDqvgcyrSRX6RMUdzoqIuwPHntrG71QQBrD0Vssedog8lzkhtfs/s320/117+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95EEsESqarzmb0FdQfrCRmGGwqevm-2w2Mkp4VB_S9rTyJlRErHSUq18PRmVHi9s3Es_6Y7pqVazuymMtuAKXe1dcCQGo_jXkrRoEsTulc6kRkEMvAiNrjbROFJSWappwG4NQPB2HBzY/s1600/105+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452778965074538978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95EEsESqarzmb0FdQfrCRmGGwqevm-2w2Mkp4VB_S9rTyJlRErHSUq18PRmVHi9s3Es_6Y7pqVazuymMtuAKXe1dcCQGo_jXkrRoEsTulc6kRkEMvAiNrjbROFJSWappwG4NQPB2HBzY/s320/105+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> I started to think, 50% of the time one foot doesn't hurt, the other 50% it did. We had to stop to do another roadside repair. This time I lanced the other pinky toe with toe nail clippers. Our pace was slowing down dramatically, I had taken to walking like a penguin. Why does downnhill hurt so much? I hadn't been listening to music at all the entire time. Kevin's ipod was half way charged so I just didn't put mine in. He asked me, have you put your music in? He knew it was getting unbearable. We saw mile marker 16 and knew that we would be getting close to the single digit midget numbers left. Between 16 and 17 miles though it was getting really rough. I had my music in and tried to make idol chit chat. Taking in the water stations and their patriotism and superb support helped. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3iYF_w1Sf2QQ5qUGzH0sOZxRwt7JO4CGWcZFNqXTgGecMYZ4eytPOZMXk_V6lg32WRMS0Y-dpu273ohoKge69jG3K5FWOdIECGKrSB7T8yThX7CyDIEajv0onHckPuzsAXBar_Pa2RY/s1600/121+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452780288166521170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3iYF_w1Sf2QQ5qUGzH0sOZxRwt7JO4CGWcZFNqXTgGecMYZ4eytPOZMXk_V6lg32WRMS0Y-dpu273ohoKge69jG3K5FWOdIECGKrSB7T8yThX7CyDIEajv0onHckPuzsAXBar_Pa2RY/s320/121+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO20jtD8F0plnNvjDayXvWqcpKdfwv2HRWm9reBnaqwNPyyHps3feofIDu8IEfp4BWmkr_YodXgpHAiAWu_t9GrCF2hyphenhyphendM6aye4NetYSsEmC45yJIQw8hU6UqtxR6sV-Gb4ol4Hl53A4/s1600/120+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452780278995483618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO20jtD8F0plnNvjDayXvWqcpKdfwv2HRWm9reBnaqwNPyyHps3feofIDu8IEfp4BWmkr_YodXgpHAiAWu_t9GrCF2hyphenhyphendM6aye4NetYSsEmC45yJIQw8hU6UqtxR6sV-Gb4ol4Hl53A4/s320/120+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> Kevin started to hold my hand and pull me along. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszrhaaWhucubUHjDOPBsoo7qFZxj41PJ-7xRHeguWOEzz6gGvCGhX4o0QACaKjh1FWkDMaTmPMTECVohAIJylnY_1hQKNA7CenOeOzCRHpYwZPXW2OeAr5PunNlSx9BPL1iQePibzCUU/s1600/holding_hands1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452782975488007074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszrhaaWhucubUHjDOPBsoo7qFZxj41PJ-7xRHeguWOEzz6gGvCGhX4o0QACaKjh1FWkDMaTmPMTECVohAIJylnY_1hQKNA7CenOeOzCRHpYwZPXW2OeAr5PunNlSx9BPL1iQePibzCUU/s320/holding_hands1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Not sure where it happened, but, Kevin mentioned you know what sounds good? A nice cold coke and a taco. I agreed, where was a taco bell and a Circle K when you needed it? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Tx4QZvbOC1PcTl6d_Bo9jfX8F2KodvXav_2siV7K6CLLgyS0dIevJGHsNCBwy6hIQ6ylEPaxlZvHJBgBB-XzGu2KJlLBrpYUdFN4G387-YiPLIrmM7-iQHWvusxuH__xaOUx4z9Eqto/s1600/coke.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452781305820772258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Tx4QZvbOC1PcTl6d_Bo9jfX8F2KodvXav_2siV7K6CLLgyS0dIevJGHsNCBwy6hIQ6ylEPaxlZvHJBgBB-XzGu2KJlLBrpYUdFN4G387-YiPLIrmM7-iQHWvusxuH__xaOUx4z9Eqto/s320/coke.jpg" border="0" /></a> We hit the pavement again at mile 18. Wow, it was worse. We were still going downhill, but, the pavement was unrelenting. I walked in the ditch in the sand for as long as I could, but, it was getting too hard to navigate when the bushes got thicker. I had no choice but to hit the pavement. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAqTSX3GlovzJToqwkN8L0DOi5JQS5rwzGn4gjo_qSPuLjH9tiexk8zBmzdkA5MWcf-AL43HuVEAzMv3gpnRg_zj8onYVR83dgwEpIVXRZT7QeXBJYnsOi3dieFctWBRshgUAR1Eapu4/s1600/123+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452784071158149986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAqTSX3GlovzJToqwkN8L0DOi5JQS5rwzGn4gjo_qSPuLjH9tiexk8zBmzdkA5MWcf-AL43HuVEAzMv3gpnRg_zj8onYVR83dgwEpIVXRZT7QeXBJYnsOi3dieFctWBRshgUAR1Eapu4/s320/123+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a> I saw the misters up ahead and thought I saw some neon green-my guys must be up ahead. But, I just couldn't keep moving. I had the tears coming for the first time and I needed to sit down. We sat down at some trailers by the misters and I took our medicine coctail. It is 2 advil cold and sinus and 2 excerine. I wiped away the tears and we began again. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYRUtMZz5T5SA1MMuIgXx65Jleikq5hkPHQXaE5K0MUnG7v-s8gHhOzCaVcmaBW8Pb3m58rh7gKfysmBiNGr6d-oBRTuX3uCSu6B7dChESL_07lZNeu6w885TN0XEQgBB8RUw7VnZ5Ms/s1600/124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452785288741262210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYRUtMZz5T5SA1MMuIgXx65Jleikq5hkPHQXaE5K0MUnG7v-s8gHhOzCaVcmaBW8Pb3m58rh7gKfysmBiNGr6d-oBRTuX3uCSu6B7dChESL_07lZNeu6w885TN0XEQgBB8RUw7VnZ5Ms/s320/124.JPG" border="0" /></a> Along the way we saw a guy struggling. He was part of a team and he was having hip problems. I tried to show him some tips and stretches. His guys came to carry his pack so he could continue and he was mad they were taking it. He wanted to continue, but, was in pain. There were people lying down everywhere. It was really eerie. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlg2qimt-VXez2B2B6SqQ2QURWrOTMwsYfFVO86kZ3HVTkx_J9X23RoCiz1mHfyWKZJp4T2Z98NGAeHMIWBwgfuDwdhNOikAIhZxkCTuqQemP1EmT3pOhyphenhyphenSrHRvJ4rAFBZJ8Qmw14Pgc/s1600/095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452786593812595458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlg2qimt-VXez2B2B6SqQ2QURWrOTMwsYfFVO86kZ3HVTkx_J9X23RoCiz1mHfyWKZJp4T2Z98NGAeHMIWBwgfuDwdhNOikAIhZxkCTuqQemP1EmT3pOhyphenhyphenSrHRvJ4rAFBZJ8Qmw14Pgc/s320/095.JPG" border="0" /></a> Then at Mile 20 Aide station we saw Scott and Ryan. They were sitting on a cot. I wobbled up to them and Scott said, do you have the stuff? What stuff? The Aide stuff, duct tape? Yes. So we sat there doing more repairs. I gave them some granola bars and chewing gum. Then we gave Scott the medicine coctail too. Then we ventured on, the 4 of us. Gebbia was out of sight, they lost him a long time ago. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpscju0z6IwinuBMZSNgmPa_UnfE8Pei7702xqi9OdEKqGlAjg-aSNCxI99luMO0ETN_0P3_NUCgJ_j3iBXEo-xR6dWp7lT_gI_O54Xt1PEju4bqWUjUQUaOQVAE7cbE5NuYYi_tjlWg/s1600/125.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452787243981968194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpscju0z6IwinuBMZSNgmPa_UnfE8Pei7702xqi9OdEKqGlAjg-aSNCxI99luMO0ETN_0P3_NUCgJ_j3iBXEo-xR6dWp7lT_gI_O54Xt1PEju4bqWUjUQUaOQVAE7cbE5NuYYi_tjlWg/s320/125.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Kevin took a video of Scott and I walking like penguins.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx1E1wbT496PnEXk3HqoWRJ88bYdz6AeHkrmVFPiQB-ecYi8LtMKcbTDdbwbN6smmtv_4JVWWCqJ6iOVm_tug' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Soon was the infamous sand pit. Some chaplain told us it was a half mile, Scott said, he lied. I agreed, but, the sand felt heavenly compared to the pavement. I would have taken sand all day. Something to note, all I cared about was my feet. I never once was bothered by the pack. It was like it wasn't even there. Kevin offered to carry the weight and I said, I still have to walk, so it wouldn't make a difference. We saw the craziest flag up ahead. No idea why it was there, but, it was. I thought I had taken a picture of it, but, in making this I realized I didn't. It was a small flag on a series of attena types things hooked together about 25 feet in the air.<br /><br /><br />We came out of the sand and around the corner to a downhill section. We saw some aide station teenage girls laughing about some bees trying to get to their oranges. Then it happened. </p><p>The thing that made me want to die. Just fall down and die. My toe felt as though it truly exploded. I saw spots, the pain was searing. I would rather give birth to 15 kids naturally with no medicine then feel that again. I almost collapsed. The girls tried to offer me an orange. Really? Kevin pushed/pulled me forward to the aide station that was about 200 yards away and up a hill-really it was uphill. I got to the desk and said, can you help me. I have a major issue with a toe. A stupid little damn toe. I was out of breath from trying not to pass out and he said, you sure are breathing fast, are you ok? I said it is my toe. So I sat on the cot, again. I pulled off my boot and socks and displayed the problem. I had 8 aide station people and a doctor standing around me looking at it. First was the issue of getting the bandaide unstuck. I nearly passed out again. Then they looked at it in awe. Wow, it has 4 pockets of fluid in different layers of skin, what do we do. They had to drain it, again, I nearly passed out. The tears nearly caused dehydration. There was talk of a horseshoe, a toe seperator, all this stuff then the doc came over. He was a wilderness doc that goes out on search and rescue missions and does stuff out in the field. He says, do we have any cotton? They come back with a pad looking thing and pulled the fluff off of it. He put some ointment on it, the fluff and cut off the finger of a rubber glove and made like a toe condom. The picture below is from afterwards at the hotel, but, you get the idea with how the toe condom looks.<br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1CUdVLJGujjD3cVJZPQ05dXzD2BuyYOgURoX2TVUzRIZHuEwL9SdCL2e3ZJAsxPXlbUJ1dhkn4_R__SBwULklt8w9rE5plkEmVryBSTDxyFY65mQiJP0jNkcUZn2yD0BjJph5snWRWo/s1600/112.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452790770363404306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1CUdVLJGujjD3cVJZPQ05dXzD2BuyYOgURoX2TVUzRIZHuEwL9SdCL2e3ZJAsxPXlbUJ1dhkn4_R__SBwULklt8w9rE5plkEmVryBSTDxyFY65mQiJP0jNkcUZn2yD0BjJph5snWRWo/s320/112.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I nearly passed out when he put it on and sat there contemplating, how am I going to finish the last 4 miles? A guy who picked up people who fell out said, I have a really nice comfortable van to give you a ride to the finish. I said hell no. I am going to finish this thing. I drug 4 people in this with me, I am doing this no matter what. The doc had my little toe condom on and he squeezed my toe and asked if it hurt. I said yes, only a little, lying because it was a ton. I didn't want him to make me quite if I said yes a lot. I think he saw I was lying. Then he asked the most important question of the day. You want to finish this thing don't you? Yes, at all costs. I can do one more thing if you want to. What? I can do a nerve block so you can't feel your toes. Do it!! He shot my nerves up on my toe with lidocaine, which has the same effect as novicaine. It was like fire in my veins, but, it was awesome-I had no more pain in that area. I asked Kevin to take pictures, I couldn't look. I had ladies holding my hands, holding me up so I didn't fall off the cot, all of them supporting me and telling me to breathe and it will be okay.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4txUeiG5hOiHlmKbPdJl3KUkk1NtBhj7PQBcvxR_kLX7Sjckf28TZVL5HPenj2C037pjPL_c-F4fMoroYIuur0ZOsggxkXXpiWmIHMeICRk80setrA4yUi1L4wyES1BOUba9iGo6psw/s1600/128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452791746734236114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4txUeiG5hOiHlmKbPdJl3KUkk1NtBhj7PQBcvxR_kLX7Sjckf28TZVL5HPenj2C037pjPL_c-F4fMoroYIuur0ZOsggxkXXpiWmIHMeICRk80setrA4yUi1L4wyES1BOUba9iGo6psw/s320/128.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CtFUFpM5lGmYUNEOf54E-6XITBeQvzVonDSn2dclOElsOsmUmghW4-hcYyp2egl9WQPoI1hldZpe-e5tpg5CV4UjyrwEvC6DNE4nSyf5GMOZQ96uvkIU8skYh_CdiyrKojNfjTJLpl8/s1600/127.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452791745538739538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CtFUFpM5lGmYUNEOf54E-6XITBeQvzVonDSn2dclOElsOsmUmghW4-hcYyp2egl9WQPoI1hldZpe-e5tpg5CV4UjyrwEvC6DNE4nSyf5GMOZQ96uvkIU8skYh_CdiyrKojNfjTJLpl8/s320/127.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I asked how long will it last and he said 2 hours, just long enough to get me to the finish. His name, all that I can remember is Dr. Daryl. The caring and compassion of those people at the aide station truly understood why it was so important for me to finish, it touched me deeply. I will never forget them. It was the most painful experience I have ever had in my life. I have truly never had something as small as a baby toe cripple me to the measure that happened. </p><p>So, with 4.2 miles left to go, we continued. They were the longest 4 miles which is weird because it seemed we were walking as fast as in the beginning. It gave me a renewed strength, I felt heroic. I felt the strength of the survivors. I was going to do this for them. I felt a little like I cheated, but, I used the resources provided to me, I think anyone would have. I truly believe that if the doc didn't numb me up I would have really struggled to finish. I wouldn't have allowed myself to get picked up, but, it may have been taken out of my hands to be picked up.<br /><br />We came across a lot of struggling stragglers, just barely putting one foot in front of the other. We stopped to see they were okay, telling them, only 3 more miles and it will all be over with. We saw a couple of guys who were really struggling and a few minutes later, we saw they had gotten picked up by the van and went by us. Another van went by us and the guy shouted out the window-no bonding because Kevin and I were holding hands. I was in uniform and that is not allowed, but, under the circumstances, I kind of let that go. We had to switch sides because him pulling me along for 10 miles was killing his shoulder. When that guy shouted out the window, we just laughed and said, too late for that, the bonding has happened.<br /><br />There were countless Border Patrol guys going around on 4 wheelers checking on people. They stopped to ask if we were okay many times out on the course, we saw a lot of people being carried by them too. Because we were wearing neon green shirts, we asked how much further the others were and they said not much. Scott and Ryan were doing the same thing and so was Gebbia, we stood out so it was easy to try and figure out where we were. </p><p>Then we heard music and thought, the end is near, we are almost done. It was an aide station playing music. Something I want to point out is at every aide station, water station we came to-they were as supportive and excited as if we were the first ones they have ever seen. They had the same spirit and energy, they had the supplies still out there and were such a wonderful group of people. There were Vets out there, kids, Survivors, so many people at each site, it was always so uplifting. Even when we came to this one and learned it was only music they were playing and it wasn't the end. They were playing it just to keep us uplifted. I told them how much I appreciated they were still out here. They said, you "heavies" are why we are out here, you guys are the ones really pushing and struggling out here. It is why we are here. That just touched my heart all over again and I welled up in tears. They told us, the end is near, stay strong. That was mile 24. I should note, I had them lower the tray of gatorade cups because I didn't have enough strength to lift up my arm.<br /><br />We ran into Georgia again, still moving along strong-Hooah. The border patrol guys stopped to ask if Georgia, Kevin and I were ok and Georgia was asking what is left on this damn course. He was getting mad. Which, is understandable, so were we. It is like they moved the mile markers further apart and it seemed we should make a straight line to the end, but, it was a series of dog legs and switch backs. We also realized, wow, the sun is going down. We saw it rise and now we are seeing it set. </p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn4lRcFzxGLsqx96ZD_r2aXgMRZ7l9dRQi3EJ8U4PlTkWWn0ShadgKm1Y1CJ6grj2xL8r38SetUUolTc1hjGAJA9YFlDFHt7Ne1a9eYiDzVqEGPEqUW18bm0OZioN4xxZzXOPFvRNN20/s1600/129.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453058491967426530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn4lRcFzxGLsqx96ZD_r2aXgMRZ7l9dRQi3EJ8U4PlTkWWn0ShadgKm1Y1CJ6grj2xL8r38SetUUolTc1hjGAJA9YFlDFHt7Ne1a9eYiDzVqEGPEqUW18bm0OZioN4xxZzXOPFvRNN20/s320/129.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />They said just follow the rock wall, there will be a gate and through the gate is the finish. Hmmm, easier said then done. That wall went forever.<br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45-3CFOt6FeK4LDJ0RvYjyhq4k1aXKBXxc4RF-DHHjeDqWlNvfM7jrU3iEW7-of9xUi6OZQ0HcehAdSSVDHHzlR6S4zs6FQIJispKJqQ6y31E8yvOZrfnlh7TuU418XeFBc38o4FlrCw/s1600/132.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452795110800797714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45-3CFOt6FeK4LDJ0RvYjyhq4k1aXKBXxc4RF-DHHjeDqWlNvfM7jrU3iEW7-of9xUi6OZQ0HcehAdSSVDHHzlR6S4zs6FQIJispKJqQ6y31E8yvOZrfnlh7TuU418XeFBc38o4FlrCw/s320/132.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Along that wall a few things happened. First, someone was making BBQ chicken, the wall went behind the base housing area. It smelled incredible! Second, I got excited, I thought I heard people cheering. I was wrong, it was pigeons. Yes, pigeons.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDaixgieqwdESrFV5V9Bosp_XC1yVF3TbF9Aaop9Epsz5O69s8QHzUwFgvz_d8mC1tbFf2RdXBSdhfChoEZ6d3-N4sJcYsqrL81Kdx8xQNMxXl8IRk68RuUsdyxdZOlZ6H-2p35SGENs/s1600/Pigeon1c.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452798124571237986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDaixgieqwdESrFV5V9Bosp_XC1yVF3TbF9Aaop9Epsz5O69s8QHzUwFgvz_d8mC1tbFf2RdXBSdhfChoEZ6d3-N4sJcYsqrL81Kdx8xQNMxXl8IRk68RuUsdyxdZOlZ6H-2p35SGENs/s320/Pigeon1c.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />We ran into some ladies who were cheering people on in the backyard on the wall. They had a sign, Go Navy, but, cheered everyone on. It was great to see that. Then we saw a bunch of people taking pictures. Kevin said, that has to be a good sign. It was the 26 mile marker-thank God. We got a picture of that one and took some pictures for the other people there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnPMUG9y97c6Q52CM9gIhMNlTu4EOaBmsCrSTETMWSU8kSqPE99RngH7a_ur3_cEq3CpPViFC36qcvku8MN1BbZbLo-hol-fHSNBhmbpmH6yTcy10REhUScc4ZbYHdDxOz_RI1Da-pRs/s1600/131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452798997244153058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnPMUG9y97c6Q52CM9gIhMNlTu4EOaBmsCrSTETMWSU8kSqPE99RngH7a_ur3_cEq3CpPViFC36qcvku8MN1BbZbLo-hol-fHSNBhmbpmH6yTcy10REhUScc4ZbYHdDxOz_RI1Da-pRs/s320/131.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then we made the final turn through the gate, the finish line. There were folks cheering people on still, it was great to see. A couple of guys on the left said, that is what we like to see, you holding her hand and pulling and pushing her through. It was awesome to finally finish. Kevin took a picture of the finishing time, that was the gun time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EOqzKpY4ELmNIHbwfkcs5t6hS0HHk_pAZt-ygUpUenDCvdFNs-pFcaPuAHsx53TSv3KZSe1DCexO60QMoKIryPy5BMOvg1W66vTouTI8iMuNvNv5NmnVlRCGo_kgkcVqKsQClih1JeA/s1600/133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452799603823286402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EOqzKpY4ELmNIHbwfkcs5t6hS0HHk_pAZt-ygUpUenDCvdFNs-pFcaPuAHsx53TSv3KZSe1DCexO60QMoKIryPy5BMOvg1W66vTouTI8iMuNvNv5NmnVlRCGo_kgkcVqKsQClih1JeA/s320/133.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />There was my guys. Standing so proud. I was never so happy to see them and to see they were all okay. They finished about 25-30 minutes ahead of us. The guy at the finish area took my pack off to get it weighed. He grabbed it and said, why do you have the really heavy one, I said I carried everything we might need, I am the momma. He chuckled at that one. The final weight was 39 pounds. We got the rice and beans out of the packs and got it over to the trucks. Last year they collected 5,000 pounds of food, this year close to 18,000 pounds of food. All the food goes to a relief society for that area. It is a pretty awesome feeling knowing what I carried will help someone some day. The guy at the finish area recognized the walk of blistered feet and told me I needed to go get them looked at and taken care of over at the medical tent. Kevin said to me later, wow, did they call ahead from the aide station that gave you the shots? It was funny. But, I went up to the tent and saw a wide array of folks in rough shape. It looked like a combat zone in there. There were no lights, people were working with head lamps on. There were people wrapped in sleeping bags, silver blankets. There were blisters galore, but, there were I.V.s, wrapped up ankles, knees. Ice packs, all kinds of problems. We read later that one person got airlifted out of there.<br /><br />I sat down at the cot and the guy redressed the blisters that had gotten quite worse on my left foot, I could feel parts of my right foot, but, he left that bandage alone. Then this girl came up to us and said, congratulations-we knew you would finish it. It was one of the ladies from the aide station with the shots. It meant a lot to me to see her. She said to the guy, we did lidocaine shots in this foot and he said why, astonished. She said, it was THAT bad we had to do it. So, clearly, that wasn't a normal practice. He bandaged me up and told me to leave the dressings on for 24 hours. I tried to put my boots back on and decided to walk in my socks, it was easier that way. I would have done that sooner, but, there were rules you had to wear shoes. Stupid rules.<br /><br />Kevin came in and saw the doc was there and told him we made it. He said he saw us on the road when they drove by and said he knew we would make it, we were holding hands and walking pretty strong. We plan on sending the pic we have of him to the race folks with what we do know of his name, Daryl so we can properly thank him for what he did. </p><p>We left the triage tent, boots in hand walked like a penguin to the truck. One of the police officers dealing with the traffic said that they could pull the truck closer if I needed it, which was very nice. We got in the truck for the ride home and talked about each of our experiences with the race. Gebbia waited for quite awhile for Ryan and Scott, thinking we were with them too, but, then finished. Ryan and Scott asked about us from a few of the patrol guys and they said we were a ways back, so they finished about 10 minutes after Gebbia. I asked how Scott was doing and he said our medicine coctail helped him out a lot. Gebbia was pretty somber, I found out at breakfast that he just wanted to kill me for making him do this thing. We were all just so exhausted both physically and mentally. We kept the chatter going all the way home to make sure Ryan didn't get sleepy at the wheel, I am so thankful we all rode together and that he drove.<br /><br />We got to the hotel, grabbed our ever so pleasant light bags and were walking our way into the front lobby when this gentlemen stopped us. Ordinarily for any other race the following would have seemed a dumb question, but, this time it was different. We had our race numbers on our legs, I am in full uniform sans boots and he said, did you all do the Death March? Yes we did. He said, I am a Vietnam Vet, thanks for doing that and thank you for your service. We said, no, thank You for Your Service. It brought tears to our eyes, because it is folks like him for why we did this.<br /><br />We got to the desk to ask for extra pillows to elevate my feet and the girl there saw immediately we had done the March. She asked the usual questions, how did it go etc. She said her mom had run a couple times and she was thinking about it. We told her to get the training in for next year and do it. She will never forget the experience. It would be interesting if she does, I think we gave her some motivation at least to try.<br /><br />In the room, we shed off the packs, the sweat soaked clothes and showered. Before I could get in, I had to tape trash bags to my feet so the bandages wouldn't get wet.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHYAhzYn0Mu2omcm8M8I0HTzqJEzsn1UXSqoOX5kQbeNJV0vA9P-KqMIds0h-n3AnvqDv3Wn3yLNgDcAhaSNYAH6GbqJaSqHTP_FYT3uDs00IyborjPVlgTGymvkqRdzQKYJRilP7bck/s1600/098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452800980022767538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHYAhzYn0Mu2omcm8M8I0HTzqJEzsn1UXSqoOX5kQbeNJV0vA9P-KqMIds0h-n3AnvqDv3Wn3yLNgDcAhaSNYAH6GbqJaSqHTP_FYT3uDs00IyborjPVlgTGymvkqRdzQKYJRilP7bck/s320/098.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was after we showered we discovered abnormalities with our bodies that weren't there before. I was so wrapped up in my feet I had no idea the pack did some damage/bruising to my armpit, it hurt to put deoderant on. I had chaffing on almost my entire legs. I had one area that chaffed from a pocket that is lower on the calf which had my cell phone and identification cards.<br /><br />I had 1 sunburned hand. Yes, ONE. The other didn't see the sun so much because it was tucked in holding Kevin's hand as he pulled me through.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcihMlYCkWhNC3gP4HRyFk34mkyr0Lz-ldpo-kBOTRKy_yacENenvL4QxC3Gg9kSChjoMkIM1B3UrL0Ls6gFiE0T6ITF6BgLsqGkgXA9MpgECaXEVhyphenhyphen5V-F_UMyGpG7Fix2XsS6mdhdo/s1600/104.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452801651401263074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcihMlYCkWhNC3gP4HRyFk34mkyr0Lz-ldpo-kBOTRKy_yacENenvL4QxC3Gg9kSChjoMkIM1B3UrL0Ls6gFiE0T6ITF6BgLsqGkgXA9MpgECaXEVhyphenhyphen5V-F_UMyGpG7Fix2XsS6mdhdo/s320/104.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The lump on my spine. The red marks from clothing seams-they didn't go away for a few days. The red sunburned look of Kevin's ankles that never saw the sun? We narrowed it down to a really bad heat rash, it was blistered also.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSM2NaDs4iPvp_x92_c-G2MS76JZeZC0VCtb37RcSBAJZfymRzNbfhaa_bTejp24PCbOcPdbli1Sp-EHyBjYOsM2tg0Lca5PnXLHyT_Vj9svAonCykqmXFibMQ65_hyphenhyphendfEF48dDeeB40/s1600/103.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452802102304209810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSM2NaDs4iPvp_x92_c-G2MS76JZeZC0VCtb37RcSBAJZfymRzNbfhaa_bTejp24PCbOcPdbli1Sp-EHyBjYOsM2tg0Lca5PnXLHyT_Vj9svAonCykqmXFibMQ65_hyphenhyphendfEF48dDeeB40/s320/103.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The sunburned lips. Which is silly really. We were all riding in the truck in the morning and I asked if we had chapstick and Kevin and Gebbia chimed in at the same time yes. Plus, we saw like 3 or 4 discarded chapticks out on the course.<br /><br />The blisters, my Lord, the blisters. I did an inventory, I had over 20 between both feet. What follows are a series of pictures of the stages of the feet. I won't be able to wear shoes around my toes for a week at least. I had to extend my leave until Monday, boots are not an option at all.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7Q63V8zgi32QLTA34SIPIU4QSnZXZWNK8RHeB3mRPP8z_8OZ8qAumEC8iNOvQ1qDgaUCqmDtwvWstbky-lWs3z-0dudbxMv4_lazGWeko3CXPCU8Oy3ZBfP__iacQCUuPU_3JjQD7LY/s1600/123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452803879218034626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7Q63V8zgi32QLTA34SIPIU4QSnZXZWNK8RHeB3mRPP8z_8OZ8qAumEC8iNOvQ1qDgaUCqmDtwvWstbky-lWs3z-0dudbxMv4_lazGWeko3CXPCU8Oy3ZBfP__iacQCUuPU_3JjQD7LY/s320/123.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgOZOrxYZkcOUXkQGu3uo9MKZxjMAdih15vS16kTko1ko56TYAhuL20quFrI9KD3l5ve8gxznTuZ1E1Q8ll2FoQc9r0Febs0BL63jFSMLOmCJLb-ui1cv8sFkDfPxRi28qHpGBjLAL3E/s1600/117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452803867025486066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgOZOrxYZkcOUXkQGu3uo9MKZxjMAdih15vS16kTko1ko56TYAhuL20quFrI9KD3l5ve8gxznTuZ1E1Q8ll2FoQc9r0Febs0BL63jFSMLOmCJLb-ui1cv8sFkDfPxRi28qHpGBjLAL3E/s320/117.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0B0odCLQrpv-BBrqgPKoIPmzllCeVvW9XY7wcCKfpjN0GeaA7XFOrT9U8M1Sq92lT3Os-lMgGIYaqwonT1Ds157TiGQXaeSevOoaI76rcFlP0KsGqegvMnylYlvqsy_CoT1qh6uu1-g/s1600/120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452803861668863314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0B0odCLQrpv-BBrqgPKoIPmzllCeVvW9XY7wcCKfpjN0GeaA7XFOrT9U8M1Sq92lT3Os-lMgGIYaqwonT1Ds157TiGQXaeSevOoaI76rcFlP0KsGqegvMnylYlvqsy_CoT1qh6uu1-g/s320/120.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FuIHILfaCzF0KsjPyx2tVcAGEyNjXFVsBN8trNThAPvOyjf3t_1_iBbF2Hvi2VVQ7esAh_4jRjWkNHHMpI1WDfhxDXVERUXMQ7nLeHOa2PLKFFxVtlCJobXurv7DL7aDR_mgFolDiRM/s1600/114.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452803855101828770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FuIHILfaCzF0KsjPyx2tVcAGEyNjXFVsBN8trNThAPvOyjf3t_1_iBbF2Hvi2VVQ7esAh_4jRjWkNHHMpI1WDfhxDXVERUXMQ7nLeHOa2PLKFFxVtlCJobXurv7DL7aDR_mgFolDiRM/s320/114.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWFloGiuJ6z_U6Galk6WA6AgNpCtSxDW6l1CPq6kFWg5A4_ebYTFz_CDXJ219rZ7XUZrAwGhIuJSljgvtR2B0R_qzwy5YPd8IW9dlw41CHOd1ZXYWgODFLUPgnKlbaBS4tKNRq2GDtJY/s1600/097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452803845294867810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWFloGiuJ6z_U6Galk6WA6AgNpCtSxDW6l1CPq6kFWg5A4_ebYTFz_CDXJ219rZ7XUZrAwGhIuJSljgvtR2B0R_qzwy5YPd8IW9dlw41CHOd1ZXYWgODFLUPgnKlbaBS4tKNRq2GDtJY/s320/097.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Kevin ordered two big juicy cheeseburgers and fries from room service and we had a beer and motrin and called it a day, the most phenomenal day of our lives. We awoke at 6 am, in pain. The wraps on my foot from the toe explosion incident seemed so tight and my bones in my foot were killing me. My feet had start to swell, which was the cause of all the pain. Poor Kevin stumbling around in the dark found the Motrin and scissors and cut it off. We fell back asleep until 9. I checked my phone and saw I missed a meassage from Tylar that they were packing up the truck. I called them to meet for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel then made the effort to try to walk.<br /><br />Two things. Slippers were the only thing I could wear. I walked like a penguin still at a resounding slow pace. Kevin said I looked like the Emperor Penguin, because they are the best and most powerful penguin.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIImztzbt7j64hqxjYUII4PIHfG5F5yDwYQVD3a2w_ExgD-_yM8pvRspmBtjLFysA5KVpcC9jh1mMbpcV9tKugKyuO2HunoHjS0l0TXTh70u-SbBlhvyHxP9HUZOvvOO4tzDVNOuo4QU/s1600/march.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452811105398578514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIImztzbt7j64hqxjYUII4PIHfG5F5yDwYQVD3a2w_ExgD-_yM8pvRspmBtjLFysA5KVpcC9jh1mMbpcV9tKugKyuO2HunoHjS0l0TXTh70u-SbBlhvyHxP9HUZOvvOO4tzDVNOuo4QU/s320/march.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpz8tFdAeAYH0J1LTvh7OkMUdaNd8mgVeJH2TvtHMfMDJeQN6SkFScQvjpcW2PYtdlrqjYRkMkxAZddcp0ok9YuB1QKRs99KYspa8P9HsgrQcZtWqLoEINL0OUMdMYFFHCMpDMMMxcao/s1600/106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452960001353599314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpz8tFdAeAYH0J1LTvh7OkMUdaNd8mgVeJH2TvtHMfMDJeQN6SkFScQvjpcW2PYtdlrqjYRkMkxAZddcp0ok9YuB1QKRs99KYspa8P9HsgrQcZtWqLoEINL0OUMdMYFFHCMpDMMMxcao/s320/106.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We got to breakfast and met up with Ryan and Gebbia, Scott had left for Tucson already. We wanted one of everything. When we walked in and sat down we looked around and saw a lot of other Bataan Marchers, wearing their shirts with pride eating a large amount of food as well. When we saw folks walking it, we recognized the walk immediately. Later on we ran into some guys at a gas station starting their route to Sacremento. We stood there and talked and compared injuries. They had the same walk. It looked like the walk in this video clip.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-hCuYjvw2I&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-hCuYjvw2I&feature=player_embedded</a><br /><br />We started our journey home and thought back to what an amazing event this was. We made notes for me to write this and determined that we will be back. We won't do the heavy division again, we are okay with doing this just the once. We want to come back and run the marathon. Even if we finish in 5 or 6 hours, there will still be the marchers out there on the course and we want to be there to encourage them to continue on. We have thought about planting ourselves along that long wall and hand out cookies, candy, anything to keep them going. We want to be out there for the folks who are working the hardest to get through this journey.<br /><br />This event has never been about us and our own personal achievement. It has been about being part of something bigger. It has been about giving something back. For me being in the military is about giving back to those whoes sacrifices paved the way for me to be a part of the Air Force. Some people called me crazy for even considering doing this and the guys told me, if you call and ask, hey I got this idea-they may hang up, maybe not. Because I knew from the start-I would walk, crawl, hobble and stumble away from this a changed person. I learned more about my own personal strength both physically and mentally then I have ever from any other event. I was willing to get 3 shots in my toe to numb the pain just to continue, to finish.<br /><br />The Bataan survivors had no choice, had no nice van to give them a ride to the end. At the end of their March they didn't get a triage tent treatment, no big cheese burger, no beer, no motrin. They walked into a POW camp. I may complain and comment on my aches and pains and blisters, but, it pales in comparison to thier sacrifices. I will be back to do this again when I return from Afghanistan.<br /><br />Another thing I wanted to share is some of those guys were carrying the weight in thier packs of their comrades lost in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. So instead of 35, it was 70. That my friend is the ultimate show of true patriotism. Nobody will be forgotten, never again.<br /><br />Here is a snapshot to how we placed. There were 5,704 registered for the March, with the 5 of us we took the number over 5,700. There were a total of 32 who didn't qualify. For each team, there is 5 people. They all have to finish within 20 seconds of each other, if they don't, the team gets disqualified and even if some of the members finish, there is no credit given. So, with all of those numbers, only 4,156 finished the race. Roughly 27% who started didn't finish. So, with us finishing it was quite an accomplishment. I placed 45th out of 50 women who carried the heavy pack, if you did my age group, I placed 4th. Gebbia placed 343rd, his time was 11:03, Ryan and Scott placed 349 and 350 with a time of 11:08 and Kevin placed 199th for the civilian group, our time was 11:35. It took about a half hour to get to the timing start pad for our timing chips to get activated. Our original goal was between 9 and 10 hours, we were on track until the course decided to shred our feet.<br /><br />We looked up the results for people on the course we met, Georgia finished about 15 minutes behind us. The father and son finished before us. We were at that aide station with the shots for a pretty long time, at least a half hour.<br /><br />Here are some news articles we came across to share with you that covered the March:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_14728535?IADID=Search-www.lcsun-news.com-www.lcsun-news.com">http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_14728535?IADID=Search-www.lcsun-news.com-www.lcsun-news.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_14728532?IADID=Search-www.lcsun-news.com-www.lcsun-news.com">http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_14728532?IADID=Search-www.lcsun-news.com-www.lcsun-news.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_14718518?IADID=Search-www.lcsun-news.com-www.lcsun-news.com">http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_14718518?IADID=Search-www.lcsun-news.com-www.lcsun-news.com</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is what the medal looked like and the coin we got:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Tb3_OIQVuRa7rVe9PVyg7ACpjLzG2NsA-4Fr6SPalPsRR1pSVFji3wR80vyAnMiHH3cOVKPBzO0GpLT2jAMUsjIc975wPKWp3oyqf9_iVklvizGUffXHapmbhKM-JcQbGV9ZM6C9ilk/s1600/147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452807738695608834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Tb3_OIQVuRa7rVe9PVyg7ACpjLzG2NsA-4Fr6SPalPsRR1pSVFji3wR80vyAnMiHH3cOVKPBzO0GpLT2jAMUsjIc975wPKWp3oyqf9_iVklvizGUffXHapmbhKM-JcQbGV9ZM6C9ilk/s320/147.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here are our race numbers that will be saved with pride:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JXuqw4hvZuRrhtmFy-DJkyo_ip39tJ-EuJzSaN1WLL7ZX4TZFr8M9c6rNw7pq6QG_DLNB97wjBoZb1hoALaMAXGhGur3IM3mxnHtB0l2002RyMToz1NQdpz9VsWrwJlzt90W8cWNpFc/s1600/KT_Bib.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452808999045857042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JXuqw4hvZuRrhtmFy-DJkyo_ip39tJ-EuJzSaN1WLL7ZX4TZFr8M9c6rNw7pq6QG_DLNB97wjBoZb1hoALaMAXGhGur3IM3mxnHtB0l2002RyMToz1NQdpz9VsWrwJlzt90W8cWNpFc/s320/KT_Bib.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtJocAlglx7YnmDdExKPGxvEQ7rq2QCxENWlG2mm2bx39z9MgZrKCzAbMteKRmWBcdx0dHCLkdorIFKOVqzKV4UcXYVkZz_7oKY1Id1IpSYlPGggCtG2H_EaZpf11OYMn2yQnir99pJs/s1600/KM_Bib.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452808977781124594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 316px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtJocAlglx7YnmDdExKPGxvEQ7rq2QCxENWlG2mm2bx39z9MgZrKCzAbMteKRmWBcdx0dHCLkdorIFKOVqzKV4UcXYVkZz_7oKY1Id1IpSYlPGggCtG2H_EaZpf11OYMn2yQnir99pJs/s320/KM_Bib.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is what I looked like putting this together the first day, it took 3 days to put this together.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNchACfjDo_2n_1qeXBCXSAVks6Dlh6HEYMeWhZsWnTKY_3JTK6FjzZzjm06HP15EujcSydjbQEnwzyu3qBEbrLka03fO71U2k3OGCbS1Q-QL1N6kF1sSVILJGlI2oDPlrnQDFM5nbFg/s1600/156.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452808272116144914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNchACfjDo_2n_1qeXBCXSAVks6Dlh6HEYMeWhZsWnTKY_3JTK6FjzZzjm06HP15EujcSydjbQEnwzyu3qBEbrLka03fO71U2k3OGCbS1Q-QL1N6kF1sSVILJGlI2oDPlrnQDFM5nbFg/s320/156.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I know this was lengthy, but, the experience was tremendous and deserved explanation and rightful aknowledgment to the Bataan Survivors and why if given the chance, this should be experienced. I am proud of our achievement and I am proud of the team of people I trained with. More so, I am proud of all the people who participated in the March not just this year, but each year since its inception in 1989. I am most proud of those that had the courage to talk about Bataan, because without their stories, we may never have known what really happened. We owe it to those who can't relate their struggles, we owe it to give back. This will close with a quote we came across that sums up why we do what we do:<br /><br />"The purpose of life is not to arrive at death in a perfectly preserved body, but rather to slide in head first, perfectly used up, yelling 'Yahoo! What a ride!'" <a href="http://http//www.koat.com/news/22904788/detail.html"></a>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-26988910063096504722010-03-24T13:46:00.000-07:002010-03-24T13:47:45.641-07:00Bataan not readyFor those that got the first Bataan Post, it was an accident. Please just delete it until I can post the final product...KristinKristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-47675713164133639062010-02-01T19:14:00.000-08:002010-02-02T17:47:15.151-08:00Can you say HILL?Our adventure on Sunday was....grueling. Full of hills, hills, hills, hills and hills. Kevin, the grand master of pain put the course route together with the theory in mind, what kills you kills you. No wait, that wasn't it. Train harder then the race will be. Our route took us up Tumamoc "Hill". Let me clarify that this wasn't a hill, it was a flipping mountain. We walked, climbed, crawled up to the top. My legs were on fire, my shoulders were burning, I was dripping with sweat and we were only at the beginning of this march....<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHpWl9jhCRqL6JZGv2L9wD-wE7R9BCfHX3Beml7t7-w0Mcbz3MRFNx47Bb9X1EiuFRWkFQvAW5LPVx3KLON1LO_ofgnUhCPyrEo7RpvnAdLB1Z6ws42rZ8q0NeHsVlRsZnG9PRldGuRo/s1600-h/142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433494081114229634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHpWl9jhCRqL6JZGv2L9wD-wE7R9BCfHX3Beml7t7-w0Mcbz3MRFNx47Bb9X1EiuFRWkFQvAW5LPVx3KLON1LO_ofgnUhCPyrEo7RpvnAdLB1Z6ws42rZ8q0NeHsVlRsZnG9PRldGuRo/s320/142.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Who was there this time. The usual suspects, Will, Kevin, Ryan, Scott and me. I thought more would show up, but, to no avail. I can only hope they are putting in the mileage and the weight in the pack. We went half the distance of Bataan, 12.82 miles, but, I call it 13 miles!! Our route took us up/down Tumamoc through the city to the backside of A Mountain (which is smaller then Tumamoc "Hill"), cut across to Tumamoc-go up/down it to the car. It took us 4 hours and about 15 minutes. I cut out the 25 minutes we took to rearrange Will's pack. Here is Will after we arranged everything better. We were worried he was going to have a heart attack...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S7o83qhLxcvxsX7Eg72gW_xJChA9MQNqeJBYe3DB5MHNmtm47RsCyWsmPzMFm2aJEc5Qs5xvQYGpIMzoEdQl5r0ulqeq8YDxE42zJqT6EIzghWzgybRq5vRvVbgoGdMuZtmHKglTVhQ/s1600-h/155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433494736524056434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S7o83qhLxcvxsX7Eg72gW_xJChA9MQNqeJBYe3DB5MHNmtm47RsCyWsmPzMFm2aJEc5Qs5xvQYGpIMzoEdQl5r0ulqeq8YDxE42zJqT6EIzghWzgybRq5vRvVbgoGdMuZtmHKglTVhQ/s320/155.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So here is our journey. We all met up across from a hospital-just in case. Not really, the parking was better there. We needed to wait for some time for Will to arrive, such a girl, always late. While we were waiting, Scott got his pack out and rice was leaking everywhere. Ploy to make bag lighter....I think so....we fixed his rice bag and we were good to go. I should mention, I have already bust a bag of beans. This made us giggle a lot at work. This is the view of A Mountain from Tumamoc.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6uG3mLmoTIp-9RDoRy2o7dFqFmmj5C259ddKx6SezKXdm5f7_9RLEveTVLhlAuhocuCo5qCusMDI633DD5N005bGD8PjJvdEyQJ2nzUL4sVRZkW9KMztB_yiJmCmmiVKJastmqwwzgQ/s1600-h/147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433495394049926690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6uG3mLmoTIp-9RDoRy2o7dFqFmmj5C259ddKx6SezKXdm5f7_9RLEveTVLhlAuhocuCo5qCusMDI633DD5N005bGD8PjJvdEyQJ2nzUL4sVRZkW9KMztB_yiJmCmmiVKJastmqwwzgQ/s320/147.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Will arrives and off we go into the path to our death. We were the usual jovial talking about the weather, the view, work, the people and surroundings. Then it just kept getting steeper and steeper. Will was struggling some. Kept grabbing at his heart, said he had heart burn. I was concerned he would have a heart attack. His pack was bothering him too. We realized we didn't adjust his pack to the new centralized weight thing. I said, we can readjust when we get to the bottom, hang in there. Everyone gives me a hard time about being Mother Hen, but, you can ask Will how many times my little tricks and tools have saved us. I used one of the cable ties to make an adjustment to my pack. It was Kevin's idea of the cable ties and rubber bands. I will add duct tape to the list next time. I looked back at one point and saw Scott and Ryan discussing something and I got a ninja pic of Scott talking about his boot. Pretty funny.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwx3-V58ql-JJ7kGN993TI9-loA1qCA7TG8ijW1voSIdbpL5KNxjKH0ICiRPQfMVHfM83OqWlQu1rDgfAQ9k7hd4MHyyIGdN_kB0duZWxpgrRB32XuXU3x6yUOHZVeDMXfvpx2OSEifb0/s1600-h/144.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433496080353734802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwx3-V58ql-JJ7kGN993TI9-loA1qCA7TG8ijW1voSIdbpL5KNxjKH0ICiRPQfMVHfM83OqWlQu1rDgfAQ9k7hd4MHyyIGdN_kB0duZWxpgrRB32XuXU3x6yUOHZVeDMXfvpx2OSEifb0/s320/144.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We got to the top of the mountain, not a damn hill, the mountain and the views were spectacular. We had made it, now came going back down. The dynamics of going down hill are of mixed emotions. Great because you aren't climbing anymore, but, grueling on muscles not known existed before. My feet felt as though they would slide out the end of my boots. At one point I asked, is there smoke coming off of my boots? My feet are on fire. Did I mention that we were only on the first time coming up this thing and going back down? Will said, maybe we should just do the last time we come up without our packs... here is the view from the top.</p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DBSmbwuSNEF2gWw_NwpFQtXJNExd8tdiwzt9TzDLKPlckfftrxjmxGw7RHtfeONu9PlrtUPkN7DHX0Jauw1xxj-JJjYx1mJPKvYcwaaKR54tA3WT0mo36EMFO-BQy0ylhKOYGGTq2Gc/s1600-h/124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433807406218985266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DBSmbwuSNEF2gWw_NwpFQtXJNExd8tdiwzt9TzDLKPlckfftrxjmxGw7RHtfeONu9PlrtUPkN7DHX0Jauw1xxj-JJjYx1mJPKvYcwaaKR54tA3WT0mo36EMFO-BQy0ylhKOYGGTq2Gc/s320/124.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p>So we made our trek through town to get to the back side of A Mountain. We walked past some seedy homes in a part of town you don't want to be in after 9pm or you may get shot. We also went past some college apartments where we saw the epitome of party pad. The beer bongs and the poor looking hung over dog. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZTVwM6WUQ49FGeJBCcCw1EuXmxU8OcakscTLGg7jz6IeqLy6T02QdONbUmkMpZInBZjpHTp1hfQmgCmc1CpxIOtxk0gwMQ20Hbc8wJBcLvqarO3sFFv1uhu1-FReNAUXFsM6DdSh2y8/s1600-h/156.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433808655247759874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZTVwM6WUQ49FGeJBCcCw1EuXmxU8OcakscTLGg7jz6IeqLy6T02QdONbUmkMpZInBZjpHTp1hfQmgCmc1CpxIOtxk0gwMQ20Hbc8wJBcLvqarO3sFFv1uhu1-FReNAUXFsM6DdSh2y8/s320/156.JPG" border="0" /></a> Along the roadside we saw a lot of interesting things, I saw a discarded note that had PAIN on it. Hmm, how did they know? There was that dead skunk. The various doggy doo, beer bottles, bolts and discarded super gulp cups. It got me thinking of how many people at this moment may be doing the same thing-training for Bataan. So I said, hey, just think of all the people across the nation and further that are training for the same thing and Scott said, I wonder if they have to pee too. It was funny. We were walking by a school at the time-not really the place to take a whiz. I did see this sign that defined what will keep us going in the race and in our training.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPIUx3dkFu5PLy8RSDlTnPCtKjXeisLy2RU3nbnKJvhyphenhyphen1jHbL4O10Dy_Cs7Re0vJ9kktYylQPDLqc42NzZPoDbp6QwO3hV7vcmW5dyPfTZCupY9rKoXdLzTemHgQY5j7YvzWRLDwAJuw/s1600-h/157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433809216366411410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPIUx3dkFu5PLy8RSDlTnPCtKjXeisLy2RU3nbnKJvhyphenhyphen1jHbL4O10Dy_Cs7Re0vJ9kktYylQPDLqc42NzZPoDbp6QwO3hV7vcmW5dyPfTZCupY9rKoXdLzTemHgQY5j7YvzWRLDwAJuw/s320/157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then we made the turn to go up the backside of A Mountain. Something to note, A Mountain used to be a volcano, it is an inactive one now. Not sure when it erupted before but, it became a topic of discussion in Cecilia's school and Matthew loves volcanoes. So I found a couple of lava rocks for them that I carried in my pocket. Like I needed more weight, but, they deserved it. I should mention that the going wasn't easy, thought I would fall to my death again and take out the people behind me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQl-i4J7FabuKHjea1lmM5s5QpV0Vb5NTwifcQGgScS5UVoGs9aGXsanKY1YceHPpjbN29ySPGG4mmuFOX10qJkXJjpvMyW7wsMcojlVMYFnmU35XBW5bBbJ18xQs41tzO4nFnZryuEk/s1600-h/158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433810115056186898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQl-i4J7FabuKHjea1lmM5s5QpV0Vb5NTwifcQGgScS5UVoGs9aGXsanKY1YceHPpjbN29ySPGG4mmuFOX10qJkXJjpvMyW7wsMcojlVMYFnmU35XBW5bBbJ18xQs41tzO4nFnZryuEk/s320/158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div>So we made our way to the road. I should note, this is the second time I have been up A Mountain. The first time was on a bike, now with a 50lb back pack on. What is next Kevin, a pogo stick...just kidding. We made our way to the top and rewarded again with achievement and wonderful views. We had some great photo ops. One of which is my favorite of Kevin and I. Sunday was a difficult day for him with a very difficult memory of Benjamin. This helped ease the darkness for a little while. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3W3r_V1Z8UqsdsuwLIWqNzP9VINxhhGHYabnOjHC9aVp8YA2x57h9QxqWGZz4CjM6uxLevCzoE-oKtmF25bLKjPx0N6lfPy4HlPHkQbwNCZ91H9TsfNPiMbv_h_iv5dh_1QimqTLDBM/s1600-h/163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433811760163706770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3W3r_V1Z8UqsdsuwLIWqNzP9VINxhhGHYabnOjHC9aVp8YA2x57h9QxqWGZz4CjM6uxLevCzoE-oKtmF25bLKjPx0N6lfPy4HlPHkQbwNCZ91H9TsfNPiMbv_h_iv5dh_1QimqTLDBM/s320/163.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Here is Scott and Ryan<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitp141qbqGQTN7Za_9W7VkSmosMB6XRB-fFiB3hfnguOk-R3G7wnyxtgSn6EI25q2uG89IAlIGf8ZuE4AtW1SWlCxwGn0NAnfEX2zRtJ69gJdXAQ42e2BfMic2ZrGuztyMfn24G9kXm-U/s1600-h/165.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433810957958822882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitp141qbqGQTN7Za_9W7VkSmosMB6XRB-fFiB3hfnguOk-R3G7wnyxtgSn6EI25q2uG89IAlIGf8ZuE4AtW1SWlCxwGn0NAnfEX2zRtJ69gJdXAQ42e2BfMic2ZrGuztyMfn24G9kXm-U/s320/165.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then we were back on our trek down A-Mountain. It was along this route that Scott was telling me the problems he was having with his feet. The blistering was bad on his heels, his ankle was feeling rough. So we knew we would lose them before going up Tumamoc again. But, before we lost them-we still had to get to Tumamoc. It wasn't easy. We had some rough terrain to cover. </div><br /><div>Scott had to pee in the bushes. </div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIFMMyKHwaG-rl0IYSjh9xLf5uEqXoF5ump8sLTRllDlwgylowoyqZXiykIQBiUGvOy5diuD0pdDJOSbgkW05WoU83Q9LJ4bcF7EyjpuS718FTnGYEwjxuWCNKmBfza9Q1GCyG037l64/s1600-h/169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433813171520206562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIFMMyKHwaG-rl0IYSjh9xLf5uEqXoF5ump8sLTRllDlwgylowoyqZXiykIQBiUGvOy5diuD0pdDJOSbgkW05WoU83Q9LJ4bcF7EyjpuS718FTnGYEwjxuWCNKmBfza9Q1GCyG037l64/s320/169.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>Plus there was that fence. Do you have any idea of the lack of grace a person has with 50 lbs on their back? I ripped my pants getting over the barbed wire... </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEByUNTLmcBJtcP6bt9FTePg0FdUcS916fhMh2GB52iEGKEPCwekwqjxnuRXSElx63sGvoCDhYJo6hNKPS0s5nRrY4FiU46FLQv0oOKB4NJglssSIy6Zm_v2Gidxq-t-YBJtKBvqVBvzM/s1600-h/171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433813812418521746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEByUNTLmcBJtcP6bt9FTePg0FdUcS916fhMh2GB52iEGKEPCwekwqjxnuRXSElx63sGvoCDhYJo6hNKPS0s5nRrY4FiU46FLQv0oOKB4NJglssSIy6Zm_v2Gidxq-t-YBJtKBvqVBvzM/s320/171.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Not to mention Kevin's belly button went on overdrive in the sweating....okay, so it was his water tube-but, still funny.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6ioipuyGvJJ5YOaf6MrYAddLzKM_d1L9kFtHtS1lZ2mzKU8ocoftKlUr9ukS0-l5SuAjamD1puUYO3A4_-9Ealdn5aJEvAkHzozIMrdCaZnIqGwkP4X8qfTougmW65m-IZ8xUTanmJ0/s1600-h/167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433814995420501666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6ioipuyGvJJ5YOaf6MrYAddLzKM_d1L9kFtHtS1lZ2mzKU8ocoftKlUr9ukS0-l5SuAjamD1puUYO3A4_-9Ealdn5aJEvAkHzozIMrdCaZnIqGwkP4X8qfTougmW65m-IZ8xUTanmJ0/s320/167.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We made the trek up the hill back onto the road up Tumamoc. Scott and Ryan rode together and went down the road to their car and the three amigos-at it again made our way up. The second time up was really tough. It was beyond tough. I didn't come to tears and say I want to quit, but, I could have sat down a number of times. Will said, so do you think you could do push-ups with this pack on? Kevin and I said no that would be crazy and we kept walking. I turned around and we lost Will. I guess, this is up for speculation, he did 20 push-ups. Kevin and I didn't witness it...he did show us his hands and they looked bad like he did...jury is still out.<br /><br />Then suddenly, I saw them. I saw some deer. Kevin said I was hallucinating. Earlier Will thought he saw a javelina and it was a dog. So, I said no, in between breathes-there....is....a....deer....up......a....he...ad. Then he saw one run across the road. Thank God for these deer. They were a perfect distraction from the Hill that was killing us.<br /><br /><p></p></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dylYT5jIqEPcTltKlLnWHM_HGrZUQYWg9KPundiavYkIp5hb2iO8CShY7JYdzjzextccJubAmeBnlcr-gIlhQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We made it to the top again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1kA1Einc_8KVD9KVSiCHY8aom5sm3rC7xZeotgIQFZrsRMJsf2UqzUg_PlOguUBk3MP7Xxnk8tvoRIm_OT4Zc8rir0dkQJjcQeZG-auNlf25__2cOB6QYQeCUjEyZetlhpy49_Ztnig/s1600-h/182.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433819583285483330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1kA1Einc_8KVD9KVSiCHY8aom5sm3rC7xZeotgIQFZrsRMJsf2UqzUg_PlOguUBk3MP7Xxnk8tvoRIm_OT4Zc8rir0dkQJjcQeZG-auNlf25__2cOB6QYQeCUjEyZetlhpy49_Ztnig/s320/182.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Coming back down was a whole new beast. It took us at least twice as long to get back down. The pain was ridiculous. I thought my sausage toes would pop off. Will and I noticed our hands were all swollen like jimmy dean sausages.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOJDxu0TKL-ekJPpLcTFSWX0BRPJC_AFG5WBhLaKJN6Osx9XGzWiqEMbsoblxE5LElVclw3k4ct4I1zYe4FSB0e_gE44CYGbU41EZRIiN-ohCINmfkJS3RQtInEOSM11G0MNI80JXsyQ/s1600-h/183.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433818640209142386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOJDxu0TKL-ekJPpLcTFSWX0BRPJC_AFG5WBhLaKJN6Osx9XGzWiqEMbsoblxE5LElVclw3k4ct4I1zYe4FSB0e_gE44CYGbU41EZRIiN-ohCINmfkJS3RQtInEOSM11G0MNI80JXsyQ/s320/183.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />There was a lot of giggling on the way down. Deliriousness took hold. Kevin decided to lay down on the ground. I tried to save him and almost fell over. I think Will was falling when he took the picture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob_qfKAH_iHiPSm7cTmNUTLfWJ2VSsG3Ta4q_UskKyhj9ixVC14krFmerbixJjqQqRSC46p2hyphenhyphenEj4SDdcMJcJqcdJf4DJK7aAoxM4gfZ6GekMLHXaj4I8Jcug0_cHPhBIfgybVlaLpdc/s1600-h/186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433820648132829026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob_qfKAH_iHiPSm7cTmNUTLfWJ2VSsG3Ta4q_UskKyhj9ixVC14krFmerbixJjqQqRSC46p2hyphenhyphenEj4SDdcMJcJqcdJf4DJK7aAoxM4gfZ6GekMLHXaj4I8Jcug0_cHPhBIfgybVlaLpdc/s320/186.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then sweet sassy molassy-we made it to the end. We went to Eegee's and got some lunch. I have never been so sore in my life. There is a legitimate concern I won't be able to stand up. I have been in this position way too long. Maybe Bessie, my beloved pack is why I can't lift my left arm all the way...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKh3mWK1ACFE1vMVZbG4_wvJc3gOU0P55StOAHme0NHNY0dMnWL9_5D3D95IE-2hTTxNBxMTD8uhLQ8MNa1dW2jyNDRtXozLthrRXrZu_NKkiaumEq7dmuTr-DKGwgyXOkwrkVtIZaFw/s1600-h/176.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433822135996785970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKh3mWK1ACFE1vMVZbG4_wvJc3gOU0P55StOAHme0NHNY0dMnWL9_5D3D95IE-2hTTxNBxMTD8uhLQ8MNa1dW2jyNDRtXozLthrRXrZu_NKkiaumEq7dmuTr-DKGwgyXOkwrkVtIZaFw/s320/176.JPG" border="0" /></a> Do I think we can make the full 26.2....jury is out. I think we can if we continue to train hard with the heavier weight. Any less then the level we are training and we could be in trouble. This will be one of the hardest things I have ever trained for. I know I won't be able to walk right for days following the race. I went half the distance and I am really sore.<br /><br />We are recruiting also...here is Matthew with one of my boots and one of Kevin's boots on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBop1Nww_xqnCi_1lsaJ9vtalmLfTJRMsPcOuLcXJlcB-Wcn1jGaCwXcWC05F6yoyAA8RDatDEPxhWiSiFTYrO326Zbae5WbXx8Ypbr3EPQIoOpDg_8UUVA_B2wB5eu2v6q9UKMBEdWMM/s1600-h/119.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433822864824900882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBop1Nww_xqnCi_1lsaJ9vtalmLfTJRMsPcOuLcXJlcB-Wcn1jGaCwXcWC05F6yoyAA8RDatDEPxhWiSiFTYrO326Zbae5WbXx8Ypbr3EPQIoOpDg_8UUVA_B2wB5eu2v6q9UKMBEdWMM/s320/119.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Until the next Bataan Journey....Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-30310015117581788292010-01-27T18:16:00.000-08:002010-01-27T19:05:49.878-08:00Intervals with a pack???First...it has been a few days since I wrote, so a recap on what has been going on.<br /><br />Last week was miserable weather, hurricane Zena, tornado alley, snow storms, flooding, rain-it was unreal. Coupled with the return of my guys from Afghanistan-came in at 230 am two nights in a row. It kind of put things on hold with the pack. But... that didn't stop the plans to do a 10K on Sunday.<br /><br />Note-people think I am crazy. Then when I have Kevin with me, they think-over achievers, show offs. We lined up in the back of the crowd with the stroller, packs on our backs. Kevin got a new pack for the civilian category they don't need to be all military. LUCKY!!! He has so many cool pockets and stuff. So a few people understood what we were training for, others just stared at us. We aren't circus freaks, I don't have a beard like the bearded lady-just ask us-hey what are you guys doing. But, we said-oh well, let's do this. Oh and we are also putting signs on our packs....<br /><br />We were hauling ass. I mean speed walkers may not have kept up. But, the walkers that were with us in the start only did the 5K. We continued on the 10K and we were apparently the only walkers for the 10K. It was a 5K/10K walk/run....but, I guess hauling a 50 pound pack on your back wasn't a category. So, with that being said, for the first time ever- we won not only our age group, but, the race and the category-IF there was a category for walkers with pack and stroller. Realistically, with all of that excitement, we were in dead last place. They were tearing the finish line down. The water stations were closed. We were last and that wasn't fun. We deserved a little-hey, great job. Nobody noticed or appreciated our true achievement, but us. We averaged 16-18 min mile pace. We won't do the pack in an organized race again unless of course it is one with the carry a pack race-which presently I only know of one-the Bataan Death March.....<br /><br />I ran 6 miles on Friday<br />I ran 5 miles on Monday<br />I worked on Saturday<br />Sunday-10K<br /><br />Due to the storms our lunch time walk, about 2.4 miles has gotten a little muddy. As if it isn't enough of a challenge with the pack, we had 5 pounds of mud on our boots. Ryan and I went on Tuesday. He went to a hiking store and got some tips on the pack. We made some adjustment and it is a lot better. It is all about the weight distribution and where the weight is centralized for your body to carry it better. It is so much better now.<br /><br />Tuesday night-I did my stairs and pack. I tried a new thing to try some strengthening exercises-I stood on one leg with the pack on. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ummmm</span>, yeah. I looked like a flamingo standing on one leg in a hurricane. My leg was so wobbly. Am I really that weak? I think I can get stronger. I imagine it is funny to watch. Cecilia commented that my butt was jiggling. Thanks for the support....<br /><br />Today I thought of a brand new challenge. Intervals of running and walking carrying the pack. Holy crap. It has a hard element and a free feeling element to it. My course I did is a 1 1/2 mile route, I did the first one with the pack, took the pack off and ran 1 1/2 miles. I repeated the set-so in total I did 6 miles-3 miles pack and 3 miles running. The goal of a runner is to feel light on their feet. I felt like I was floating when I took the pack off. It is an amazing feeling. My legs felt strong, my stride felt right. If the burning sensation in my feet of potential new blister area wasn't there-it was perfect. I feel like I have unlocked a secret in the pack intervals. Olympic marathoners should do this. Biggest Loser should do this.<br /><br />Another thing I discovered. I have finally been able to test the audio book. Perfect. I spent 2 hours doing my workout and didn't even realized the time. I didn't feel the weight of the pack-it is the best distraction. I laughed out loud, I enjoyed the book so much I just wanted to keep moving and listen to it. Part I laughed at which I will share from Dean Koontz-Velocity, it is a thriller/suspense. This character in the book hated his neighbors so much he peed on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">their</span> living room window while they ate dinner. The wife didn't appreciate it and made a gn<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ome</span> molded/painted after this character-he had two beers in his hands, he was exposed and was a drunk. The character didn't appreciate it and smashed it to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pieces</span>, she put another out there and told the neighbors if they wanted one she was selling them. There were some more incidents and the husband took the neighborly rivalry to a new level. He went up on his roof and decided to pee on the characters windows while he was eating dinner with his mother on her birthday. Well, he fell and hit his head on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">gnome</span> and died. His mother said, God works in mysterious ways....it was such a random way to start the story and full of humor. That part of the story line carried me almost a mile. Amazing invention the audio book.<br /><br />Almost forgot, the asshole has a new name. It is Bessie. Cecilia named it. It slid across the backseat and ran into her like a cow. I was in a wheelchair for some time with one leg in a cast and the other ankle sprained, I named the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">wheelchair</span> Bessie. Funny how in less then 2 1/2 years since the first Bessie and I am carrying one on my back.<br /><br />Bessie is getting some maintenance tonight too. A plastic part rubbed my back raw tonight. Duct tape and washcloth should do the trick....<br /><br />Happy Marching....13 mile group hike on Sunday....Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-25586069082571965122010-01-19T19:41:00.000-08:002010-01-19T19:53:49.266-08:00Game Face and my StairsI know I have taken a whole new turn in my life on this journey of training when I feel that I need a game face to go up my stairs. Okay, so I went up them 840 times and back down them 840 times with my friend, the asshole, the pack of death<br /><br /><br />This is my "game face". It looks dumb because Cecilia kept making me laugh.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fG0G1xZRFwHfQBChlAJS-Yxae3rc1yc-kd6kTXAn_cynPuMTt6fOnQnX0Txfh17gBVrmbhmcj4pzzNhx6uzMyGdIVFeJ0D25xDmlwpLQ1zMFkUqyhFzRQSCl4SGvvKmuQx95-J5rphQ/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428663979253434402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fG0G1xZRFwHfQBChlAJS-Yxae3rc1yc-kd6kTXAn_cynPuMTt6fOnQnX0Txfh17gBVrmbhmcj4pzzNhx6uzMyGdIVFeJ0D25xDmlwpLQ1zMFkUqyhFzRQSCl4SGvvKmuQx95-J5rphQ/s320/005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Did I mention I have on shorts and my new boots? Quite the stereotypical picture. Oh yeah, well my mom wears combat boots. Plus she can totaly kick your ass with a 45 pound pack on her back...or something like that.<br /><br /><br />This is my awesome Tuesday Marching outfit...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LNQ2vi8ROYqKflomT6OQ6m3U6Z4369Lv6UXnKIu26gamt6csMy48ADA0EK0CtCEP7gg44MsofIpUOMp4t22QmfBks0bO9f0GNH2QqkkVU1L7SOdUJ-psCRK91BmPmVJDyJ3gAYoXzsM/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428664499300568082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LNQ2vi8ROYqKflomT6OQ6m3U6Z4369Lv6UXnKIu26gamt6csMy48ADA0EK0CtCEP7gg44MsofIpUOMp4t22QmfBks0bO9f0GNH2QqkkVU1L7SOdUJ-psCRK91BmPmVJDyJ3gAYoXzsM/s320/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Happy marching.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-32908602325205088602010-01-17T19:37:00.000-08:002010-01-17T22:25:03.300-08:00Group March #1--Holy Climbing BatmanToday was a good test of, can we do this...can we finish the race alive and in the upright position....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNlIjX6sv9V-p914D63NcYiuOfZWmrV6JLOJkGWEyN7CjBV3SiPt-csNn76h1ifQV_xOJoKzudt9aC1q0MuyChYmmO9chYp8hGWbMM-5KsXM_zvkFDI6zHPyZUAXqAgqgxOPSRqPQ1Cw/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427948994985951202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNlIjX6sv9V-p914D63NcYiuOfZWmrV6JLOJkGWEyN7CjBV3SiPt-csNn76h1ifQV_xOJoKzudt9aC1q0MuyChYmmO9chYp8hGWbMM-5KsXM_zvkFDI6zHPyZUAXqAgqgxOPSRqPQ1Cw/s320/001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />This pic is of Ryan, Scott and Kevin.<br /><br />First, some facts: the course is a trail, an out and back 8 mile course. There were 4 of us. Ryan, Scott, Kevin and I. Ryan had 48 lbs, Scott had 25 lbs, Kevin had 48 lbs, I had 45 lbs. The weather was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">little</span> chilly-perfect for what we were about to do. We had some snacks and plenty of water with us on board too. Which-add at least 5 pounds to each of us just for that.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhhSw6xq8-bSxk_hR-yc4zwlAN0Q3MVXXqCU6GPmriHVjg8chPrddtY6jkra2s0jHmQ2W3PfZ4NG_EfKZaeyTA7xDnqRstLNtIywoNYhfXfBOOIoyoaSuMSQqJVefoiVLPoTHsBxapmc/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427949388021454050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhhSw6xq8-bSxk_hR-yc4zwlAN0Q3MVXXqCU6GPmriHVjg8chPrddtY6jkra2s0jHmQ2W3PfZ4NG_EfKZaeyTA7xDnqRstLNtIywoNYhfXfBOOIoyoaSuMSQqJVefoiVLPoTHsBxapmc/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This pic is of Scott, Ryan and I.<br /><br /><br />We started out all jovial-talking. Laughing. Talking about the weather, the march, people and whatnot. Then came the hill. The hill by any other standards would require climbing ropes I am sure of it. I was leading the way and the steepness of the hill and climbing up the rock steps was plain grueling. You keep stepping up, up, up, up. I tried alternating the leg I was leading with to even the burden out. Didn't help much. I was worried with each step that I was getting weaker and weaker that the 50 pounds on my back would pull me backwards and I would be the catalyst to take us all out on the hill-like a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">domino</span> or snowball falling down a hill. Our trek was literally 4 miles uphill to the turn around and 4 miles downhill home to the car. Both-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">intensely</span> demanding. As we were going up the hill, I was breathing like I had asthma. I mean it was tough. Sweat was pouring off of me. I couldn't drink the water quick enough-plus, quicker to lighten the load. We pulled over to the side several times for a breather, to bend forward and have the weight of the pack off of the shoulders. Even for a second-it makes a difference.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oEUtcOB24xDn6xY58w1VxoPCvnyFbpJ4T1SlLrd48QLlse3wk3gCpbebiGmHYZkKap-O8DwkWtsYHJssWPOo3QFDFptgdYtlRKEJsn12hu8YTFcL8vG92rJv5AZnopLXDyOdxcpkMo0/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427949836857926706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oEUtcOB24xDn6xY58w1VxoPCvnyFbpJ4T1SlLrd48QLlse3wk3gCpbebiGmHYZkKap-O8DwkWtsYHJssWPOo3QFDFptgdYtlRKEJsn12hu8YTFcL8vG92rJv5AZnopLXDyOdxcpkMo0/s320/005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This pic is of Scott and Ryan taking a break.<br /><br />At one point, I saw a big bunny rabbit and said to Kevin if he had seen it. He said I was hallucinating....I swear it was there. We saw a few other hikers-one guy was running-show off. Oh wait, he wasn't toting 50 lbs-wimp. Finally, we made it to the turn around point. I should note that Kevin brought the GPS to keep us on track. I was walking along listening to "My Humps"..."What you gonna do with all that junk, all that junk inside yo trunk" I adapted it to my pack, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">whatcha</span> gonna do with all that rice all that rice in your pack...then Kevin starts yelling out, Stop, Stop, Stop. Apparently, at that exact spot in the middle of yet another hill, it was time to turn around. Hurray.<br /><br />Here is the pic of Kevin consulting the GPS...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppPDhFg72pF9iYyGedOekMYIicqN_HQgj6QpcKwCBdnLIrQzpYdVHfPbLAtuu4PpGn6yM7HCcZqgj8DhKKr8N9r3G9ugQgXoR220DgluZkJx362_l1AdbZDEvfyBrc4JeqyZe_i1ntak/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427947610512070946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppPDhFg72pF9iYyGedOekMYIicqN_HQgj6QpcKwCBdnLIrQzpYdVHfPbLAtuu4PpGn6yM7HCcZqgj8DhKKr8N9r3G9ugQgXoR220DgluZkJx362_l1AdbZDEvfyBrc4JeqyZe_i1ntak/s320/006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Going down was just as hard. Fear of falling was high. Fear of turning an ankle was high. Scott was sort of running at times. How he ended up in front, the guy with the lighter pack. He led off like he was in the Olympics. Kevin and Ryan said they would throw rocks at him to slow him down. I said I would take a prickly pear cactus and smack him in the face. He slowed down.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq76xB-XGXLTYWOUhRlKNVwIHZt7_oPyyX4NG-PP1lsLs1LaWkPPUnHAv36PaeXVGYj5DuqZpkjtY-rO92HnsaglISaqz-a1sPc20HpA2UsB-R5VHcoK0dLBjuj4e4UiuYgnT8nEmpA0/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427947141738157522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq76xB-XGXLTYWOUhRlKNVwIHZt7_oPyyX4NG-PP1lsLs1LaWkPPUnHAv36PaeXVGYj5DuqZpkjtY-rO92HnsaglISaqz-a1sPc20HpA2UsB-R5VHcoK0dLBjuj4e4UiuYgnT8nEmpA0/s320/004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />This is a pic of the packs taking a break, Ryan's, Scott's, Mine and Kevin's.<br /><br /><br />I should note that Scott wasn't being a wimp or anything by having 25 lbs. My original training plan called to have that weight for this march, Kevin, Ryan and I are just crazy and thought going big would be the way to go. I am seriously considering dropping to 5 lbs-since I can barely lift my glass of wine while I type this.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Q1dvN-30OHApm8-EeH3oOSHp0oJIde0eWPA1aXhiQEfn3FInWbtAw49j9nxEihfOj-0UHSWbkpduuxko2VnnMs3krXlOlnexXFrPuaJ95qu36mV2EqRHQLbZ8sYRpNJHuc_L7JqPtkU/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427953236583700450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Q1dvN-30OHApm8-EeH3oOSHp0oJIde0eWPA1aXhiQEfn3FInWbtAw49j9nxEihfOj-0UHSWbkpduuxko2VnnMs3krXlOlnexXFrPuaJ95qu36mV2EqRHQLbZ8sYRpNJHuc_L7JqPtkU/s320/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />A view from the hike.<br /><br />Last night Kevin asked if I would adjust the weight distribution in his pack. He had originally various bottles of fluid, Gatorade, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Pedialite</span>, V-8 and some rice. So I fixed it with beans, rice and a few <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gatorade</span> bottles and evened it out. He came back from putting Matthew to bed and I said, I evened it out and it weighs 48 pounds. He didn't find that amusing. Guess he thought it would be lighter....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN_f5QE4hM6-4WHseSHXVoopscgCtIT6y5VHNJp7Lo_Fwmmnkr3DqlIDWZw_AIpwKv-ZH2UUk0QHjEbYi2lGH1JdT7DEoaVCm9R4jXieVDsgfhlvzVo6ifFqh2JjAA0hPyalei35DtFA/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427954293868165250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN_f5QE4hM6-4WHseSHXVoopscgCtIT6y5VHNJp7Lo_Fwmmnkr3DqlIDWZw_AIpwKv-ZH2UUk0QHjEbYi2lGH1JdT7DEoaVCm9R4jXieVDsgfhlvzVo6ifFqh2JjAA0hPyalei35DtFA/s320/007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br />I am on top of the world...or a hill picture.<br /><br />My daughter asked me if I would be putting any more weight in mine. The answer was not no, but, hell no. Mine is all rice and beans.<br /><br />In Ryan's pack, he has a tow chain and some rice. Scott has free weights. Will had bird seed and free weights. Whatever works.<br /><br />I digressed...the weight of the pack is intense and encompasses your brain all the time...<br /><br />So, we were heading down the mountain/hill and the fear of falling was pretty intense. We passed a lot of day walkers with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">their</span> little packs of camera, granola bars and water. With <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">their</span> walking sticks. One guy wasn't at the point where he needed his stick and nearly speared Scott.<br /><br />Okay, this is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">soo</span> distracting. We are watching a show with the top 100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Chowdown</span> Countdown. Such awesome food, a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">cheese steak</span> with nacho sauce. Chocolate fountain. Garbage plate. BBQ, sausages. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">OMG</span>...the food. Pulled pork sandwiches. Sundaes. Pies. The Cherry Cricket in Colorado-burger joint with a choice of 23 toppings. Holy burger. They have a dart board you throw a dart at if you can't decide. Amazing idea. Frozen custard in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Milwaukee</span>. Warning-none of this is fat free. The 2400 calories burned today allow you at least a stop at one of these places.<br /><br />Where was I. T.V. food network. I want a slice of pie now. So, we are going to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Fuddruckers</span> tomorrow for burgers. Focus....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxXwaXNCCMky7oh6sLBRM-3AZXCtDsuI37PegpNoA5hoCO9zryAr1gwTnQQBywQg7oWUtPLX1C4nf4dBVcHIyzC-JqmY9NL3BudKim1zNzkpeTbikUnxthg2r0R1P-K6J1DF3zFu5tJ8/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427952313010245874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxXwaXNCCMky7oh6sLBRM-3AZXCtDsuI37PegpNoA5hoCO9zryAr1gwTnQQBywQg7oWUtPLX1C4nf4dBVcHIyzC-JqmY9NL3BudKim1zNzkpeTbikUnxthg2r0R1P-K6J1DF3zFu5tJ8/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />A slice of Kevin's Birthday Pie.<br /><br />We were coming down the hill and we were passed by a lot of folks coming up. They smelled nice, looked happy-if only they had a pack on their back-what did we look like to them? A couple of larger folks passed us, which I thought-good for them-they are out there doing something. Then it got me thinking. I have the weight they have on their body as fat, on my back. How hard it must be to lug that around all the time. Makes you think about the strain on the body of people overweight.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1dLN0gcTkcGqtqzD2eQL7VyEYeSUCvObJe843cLCiEErqVAvOQxdgSM656wNBlGG0joJWJ0QFeFkmkAsjKONuORBfHoPpM45VyYzGHjaTz8BjyYz3JSZUASmWgiMScz7OZn4gNGBA1Q/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427955076249760642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1dLN0gcTkcGqtqzD2eQL7VyEYeSUCvObJe843cLCiEErqVAvOQxdgSM656wNBlGG0joJWJ0QFeFkmkAsjKONuORBfHoPpM45VyYzGHjaTz8BjyYz3JSZUASmWgiMScz7OZn4gNGBA1Q/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />Our car was at the end of the road you see in the distance.<br /><br />We got to the truck and Kevin said, we aren't quite at 8 miles, we need to walk .15 of a mile still. So, we walked that extra bit to this sign for the .15.<br /><br />Back at the truck we compared injuries and soreness. I tried to do a high five, I could only get my hand half way up to like a mid-five. The rest of the day, I felt like I ran a half marathon or more. I am more drained then sore. My shoulders hurt, I have some pain in my knee and have soreness-like when you get the flu and you ache.<br /><br />Question remains-can we make it the whole way, upright. Yes. Today's terrain was steeper and harder. The weight in the pack was heavier. We can make it...with a lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">aleve</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Motrin</span>!! Until the next update-marching along with my asshole....the pack of course.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-8968730104553757522010-01-12T19:16:00.000-08:002010-01-12T19:40:58.035-08:00Holy StairsWow-who knew that 14 stairs--14 up, 14 down could try to kill me. Okay, they didn't reach out and attack me...but, I see them in a different light now.<br /><br />Because life has demands and I need to get groceries--I had no time for a march when I got home-so, I had to make some modifications. I decided to do my stairs with the pack on, 5 sets of 10. That is walking up them 50 times and down them 50 times with 40 pounds in the pack. I limited it to 10 times, because at the 6th and 7th time going down, I had to really grab the hand rail becuase the stairs got fuzzy. Kevin told me, what if you fall down and get stuck on the floor like a turtle with the pack on my back and can't get up. Kevin-it almost happened.<br /><br />Did I mention I had "help" in my stair climbing? Two kittens who thought-wow, this looks like fun. How about I just sit here in the middle of the stair and watch you, then chase you...I nearly died-more then once.<br /><br />End result-I worked up a really good sweat, could spend time with my daughter and it hurt-so I must have gained something from it. I think I will add this in as a weekly work out and build up from here.<br /><br />Something that crossed my mind today-would it be wrong to do the grocery shopping with the pack on? I mean you spend an hour in there getting stuff, looking at stuff, walking around? Is there a etiquite book on this?<br /><br />Until the next march...by the way, that is 1400 stairs...Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-41363386666907147072010-01-11T18:25:00.000-08:002010-01-11T18:43:18.666-08:00The scale liesSo-I put another 10 pounds in the asshole today-that sounds gross...okay, another 10 pounds in the pack today. I swear it felt like it was 50 pounds in there. I thought I had 37 pounds in there prior to the addition. But, much to my major dismay-I stood on my scale and it said it was only 38 pounds. LIES...I swear. Kevin said I should go to the gym with those scales with the slider things. He thinks my scale is wrong-thanks babe for believing in me. I mean who measures the weight on the bags of rice too? <br /><br />Nonetheless...I carried my friend, the asshole for my lunch time stroll. It was TOUGH. I mean major. I have high arches and I am most assured-for the first time in it's life, the middle of my foot felt what the ground feels like. I need arch support if I am going to make it. I am putting support in my boots tonight. I still need to buy the BOOTS for the event. Funny thing-people see me and my lunch time walking friend, Ryan-we call it taking a lap. It is just about 2 1/2 miles long loop around the bomb dump-the Munitions Storage Area. But, people at work see us out there everyday-I think they think-that looks easy-I want to do it. Ryan and I discussed those that signed up not realizing just how difficult of a task this is and how long they will last.... Or maybe they think-I want to be part of something amazing too. I have somehow managed to motivate 7 more people in taking this on. I am up to 35 people. It started with Kevin, me, Will, and a couple guys at work. I simply sent out an email looking for another team mate and then-whoa-look at what it has become. I have even motivated a couple walkers-without packs. People-this is big. I am so excited.<br /><br />I didn't get to march tonight. I was really looking forward to listening to my new book too. Scheduling, commitments, requirements and the sun going down kept me from being able to. I will make up for it tomorrow. It was a pretty long and trying day and an exertion was just what I needed. Tomorrow awaits...and the scale at the gym.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-4731242656855113722010-01-10T18:19:00.000-08:002010-01-10T18:47:46.262-08:00I am just trying to get there...So, I was all set for a 6.7 mile march with 37 pounds in the pack. I stayed over at Kevin's so he helped route out a course, one we have ran a couple times. It is amazing to me how much more you take in walking then you do running or biking. I may take the camera with me next time. As I was preparing I made some quick notes, I am completely navigationally challenged, so notes are needed. Well, I took note of the "big" roads and not the little roads. I was bee-bopping along and I had to cut across from a dirt road to a paved road which I thought was the Big Road. Nope, so I just kept walking. Now if I was just an average person on a walk it wouldn't be obvious I was sort of not sure of my surroundings. I stand out, I am 5'10, not a discreet person. I have a giant pack on my back. Which is known as the A-Hole. It needs that name and has earned it in the most affectionate way. I get onto the Big Road eventually and think, I am on this too soon, I need to walk further up-I thought I had cheated and cut some distance off. So I just keep walking, walking, walking. Interestingly enough, for a time there-I didn't feel the weight, as I was concerned for the route. I just wanted to get there-to a point where I would recognize for sure. Then, out of the blue-up drives Kevin in his Police Truck-turns out-I was doing it right the whole time and I was less then a half mile from the Quick Mart-the halfway point. I took the pack off in front of the store to get my money out to get something to drink, a quick refuel. I was concerned, totally irrational, that someone would steal my a-hole, so I grabbed it to take in the store. Kevin thought it was funny-he needed to help a man with directions, so I went in and got-you guessed it, chocolate milk and some peach rings. Chatted with Kevin for a minute and back on my way of getting there. After a final 2 hours and 15 minutes-I got home. Interesting little note-I burned the same amount of calories walking 6.7 miles with a 37 pound pack as running a half marathon. So walking a half marathon with the a-hole, will equal a marathon and doing the marathon will be a marathon and a half-roughly 8000 calories. Not bad. This week I am adding another bag of rice, another 10 lbs. You get used to it after awhile. I am also going to download some books. The music I have makes me want to run, to walk faster. When I walk faster, I lose form and roll my ankles. I am going to test this theory out this week.<br /><br />On another side note. I saw a train hit a semi truck today-trying to get to a lunch with my troops. There was a lot of damage and chaos, but the driver was ok and nobody else got hurt. It was the craziest thing I have ever seen. It took me forever to get there to my troops meal. <br /><br />Then I had to get to packet pick up for a bike race-got lost-duh and finally got there-just in time.<br /><br />Then I needed to get home to get the kids to get them to Kathy's for the ride on Sunday-didn't think I would ever get there.<br /><br />When I got home to Kevin's, I was there. I was ready to rest and realized, I had the most peace of the whole day-out there on the march. Knowing each step I was taking, was getting me closer to there, to where I can't wait to be-The Bataan Death March. Serving, marching, motivating and being There for all those folks who lost their lives.<br /><br />The journey continues...Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-59289987595022426822010-01-08T20:04:00.000-08:002010-01-08T20:24:43.572-08:00Weekly updateToday we had a meeting to talk about the our upcoming adventure. Just a few folks showed up, which is understandable. I read through the website and discovered a few things to pass on. The weight of the pack is 35lbs which includes the weight of the pack. I recommended carrying more weight then that for training to be prepared and strong for the event. I am at 37 pounds and I carry it everywhere. I call it the asshole. We all have one and you can't go anywhere without it-so it is appropriately named. Truth be known-I have given thought to its name--I know, how silly is that. I put together a quick list of information that I found. I will post it on here maybe on Monday. It is on my computer at work. I need to get a 100% of who is doing this. I don't want to clog up people's mailboxes if they aren't doing it. For the guys I talked to today-they are excited and seeing thier enthusiam makes me excited for the event. I am pretty excited. I am doing at least a 5 or 6 mile hike tomorrow.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-8068605056226066762010-01-05T19:57:00.001-08:002010-01-05T19:57:40.737-08:00Water Bottle-Water Bottle-where are you??? Day 2 training...Wow-tonight was a lesson in-just forget about the damn thing.<br /><br />Today was Day 2 of the Bataan Death March training adventure. Last night was Day 1 and I did a march with the pack that weighed 23 pounds. I had both my water bottles in there-after some time I took the purple one out and left the pink one in there. Well when I went to put the pack in the car today to do a march at lunch time-it was MIA. It isn't just any average bottle, it is one of my biking insulated pink water bottles. I drove the course this morning to see if I could see it and to no avail. So I said, well I have no choice (dumb thought by the way), I will have to retrace my steps tonight. No problem and I will tack on a couple extra pounds in the bag...<br /><br />Here is where it all failed. Last night I wore my work boots and I got the start of a blister on the bottom of my foot-not a normal place. So I thought it would be okay and I would just wear my running shoes tonight instead. Second fail-I had to pee sort of after I started-thought it would go away. Third fail-I left about 15-20 minutes later then yesterday.<br /><br />This is how it all went down. All was good to start off with-felt good. My knee wasn't bothering me, my ankles felt good-all was good. I had to pee a little, but, felt good. Kept on treking and the need to pee grew bigger, but, I needed to hold it. It came to the turn around point where I touch the stop sign and put on the warmer layer. But, prior to this-I am standing on the side of the road waiting to cross to the other side so I can touch the stop sign. I know it seems silly, but, touching the sign is a big deal. So, I am standing there and then I nearly pooped my pants and screamed like a little girl. It was a wayward dog. It seriously looked like a cross between a poodle and a great dane with red rimmed eyes. It scared me to death-because he sauntered up to me and I had nowhere to go. I did the only thing I could think of-squirt him with water, not really-I just shooed (spelling) him away. It really freaked me out. Then finally a break in traffic came and I could cross the road and touch the sign. Did I mention, I needed to pee?<br /><br />I put on my long sleeve shirt since the sun was going down. I strapped on my reflective gear, got out the keys with the light on them and continued on my way-still looking for the dumb water bottle. It was at this point I was realizing the cause of my blisters wasn't just the boots it was the cant in the road, not the can't I don't want to do it anymore, the cant-the angle of the shoulder I think has some influence. But, I needed to keep on treking. Wow, I need to pee. Why is there so much traffic who will see me in the brush? I can hold it-keep going.<br /><br />Ouch, ouch, ouch-I think the duct tape is failing. I need to pee. Holy Jesus, that car nearly hit me. Does he not see my light, the reflective gear? Where is the water bottle? At the light you can stop walking for a minute and for the love of God, stop thinking about pee. When will the light get here, is it getting farther away? Why did I walk this far out today. The water bottle was 10 bucks, it is replaceable. Have to pee. I wish I was on a trail than the side of this road. Pee. The sunset like an hour ago was pretty. pee. What is that heavenly smell? Someone is grilling. It smells like steak-it smells devine. It would make a vegetarian drool I am sure of it. I am never going to get home. I will pee my pants. I should call Kevin. No, don't. By the time he makes it here, you could be home. I could sit on the side of the road and go pee. No, don't give up-keep going. That smell is from that restaurant near the house-keep going.<br /><br />Is that the flag I see-the road is right across from there-you are almost home. Check the mail and then you will be home.<br /><br />Ahhh, home. I weighed myself and the pack first-really. I wanted to know my accomplishment before I peed. I carried 25 pounds 5.3 miles for the second day in a row. High five yourself girl and go pee. Added bonus-Cecilia did all of her homework-high five Cecilia too.<br /><br />The foot has a pretty serious blister in the squishy pad part-never had one there before. Should be interesting. Hopefully it is better in the morning. I may skip a march tomorrow.<br /><br />All this pain though, pales in comparison of what the survivors of Bataan went through-so this is worth each step. I get a lot of funny looks out there-I think I am going to make a sign-in training for Bataan Death March and put Look it up on my back.<br /><br />One more exciting point about today-Kevin and I are stars. Our picture is on the Marana Newspaper from our Egg Nog Jog from New Years Day.<br /><br />Life my friends, is good.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-60249674448599903002010-01-04T19:13:00.000-08:002010-01-04T19:28:09.153-08:00Day 1 of Bataan TrainingWould like to hear about your stories too. Here is mine.<br /><br />To start off, I don't officially have my boots yet, so I wore my day to day boots. I know, you are thinking after all that talk about boots. I am trying to find the right pair. I was wearing a good pair of socks.<br /><br />I got dressed in some of my standard running gear and went to getting the pack ready. I bought rice and beans tonight-so I was ready to go. I had no idea how heavy the pack was on its own-so it needed a check on the weight. Turns out, it was 7 lbs. Interesting. So I put in a 10lb bag of rice, filled up two water bottles, a long sleeve shirt, a jacket, granola bars and said, ok, I am ready. Guess what-it amounted to 23 lbs. Adds up quick. But, initially, it seemed light. I nearly added more weight-but, I needed to be realistic. I have been runnng, but, not with a pack and not walking with a pack.<br /><br />I set off on my way. Interesting note-people see me running and drive on-put a pair of combat boots on and a camoflauge pack and you get honks, waves. Makes you feel proud of why you are doing this in the first place. The excitement and adrenaline of the moment got me walking like a speed walker in the Olympics-not the best idea by the way. The route I chose is one I run often. It is a 5.3 mile course, uphill then at turn around point downhill. It was easy at first then got harder. You use different muscles when you walk, even more so with extra weight. My back was a little sore, not as bad as expected. My legs were feeling it. The more tired I got, the worse my form got and I rolled my right ankle twice. I have farely strong ankles, so I was fine-but, made me worry for those who don't have strong ankles. If this is you, recommend a thin brace. I drank all of one of the water bottles, didn't sweat as much as running, but, my legs were drained. It took me an hour and a half to complete. The sun was going down and I was treated to a gorgeous sunset-so that made me feel pretty lucky to be healthy enough to do this and strong enough for those who can't. I plan on doing this again tomorrow, a different course and leave a little earlier. I feel great for starting this.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-51043701074433194632010-01-04T18:45:00.000-08:002010-01-04T19:09:31.888-08:00Boots, Socks and ToesHave you found your boots yet? Don't forget that you need to get boots at least a half size, almost a size bigger for the fact your feet are going to swell. They need to be comfortable enough that you could easily spend 7 hours or more in them in constant motion. You may think, well I will just use the boots I use everyday. Fail. The cushioning is wore down on these, the support is not substantial. Plus, they are not quite the right size for the fact of your feet swelling. You may also want to consider shoe inserts-the sports gel ones. In doing this, take them with you to try on boots-they take up some real estate in the boots, but, again-they are worth it. For those of you who have to wear steel toe boots for work, steel toe boots for the march may not be the best idea. Two reasons, heat-hot toes under metal roof. Second-weight, they weigh more. You are already carrying over 35 lbs, why add more to your feet?<br /><br />Socks-have you thought, well I will just wear the same socks I wear everyday? This would be a bad idea. You need to get socks that are designed to wick away the sweat and not cause chaffing. I haven't check the clothing store yet, but, I did see them at Miller's just off of base the military outlet store. They have a brand called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Thorlos</span>, they are cushioned-like little pillows for your feet-but, they wick away the sweat too. A pair will set you back about 10 bucks, but, trust me-it is worth it.<br /><br />But, just because you have awesome boots and socks won't mean you won't blister or get a hot spot-where a blister will start. I learned a valuable tip that I put in motion in the last marathon-duct tape. They come in all colors-I chose tie-dyed-why not. I put it on the places that are known to give me problems-no blisters. Trust me-just try it. For hopefully obvious reasons, don't put on an open blister-it will rip the skin off-trust me there too-ouch! Also, don't attempt to put on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lotioned</span> up feet-no sticky.<br /><br />Accept this point right now-you are bound to lose a toe nail. What use are they? They grow back. I have lost several and it hasn't stunted my growth or caused me to get counseling.<br /><br />These are some basic starting points for you to take into consideration.<br /><br />More tips forthcoming...Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-84824115397196047262010-01-04T18:11:00.000-08:002010-01-05T04:21:01.879-08:00The websiteWhere it all began-a click on the website and you were all hooked. I have gone to this website countless times, so why not have it here. It is located at the top of the page just under the heading.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bataanmarch.com/"></a>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4229376636589624002.post-77734300407350320162010-01-04T18:04:00.001-08:002010-01-04T18:09:26.642-08:00This is your placeTeam DM, not just Davis-Mothan, but, Marana Police Dept, spouses, friends...this is all for you. I will make posting here on race updates, useful information-anything that I think would be very valuable to you. It is your choice on whether or not you want to read it. Because work is busy, I thought it would be easier to do this in my off time. I would like you to be able to share your workout stories too. Share why you want to do this, what you hope to get out of it. It is a free forum for information sharing and story telling. I will post tips I have learned along the way with marathon training that will be helpful. I am very excited to get this all going and even more impressed by the number of you ready to take this adventure on.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773044146312933412noreply@blogger.com0