Although the weather could hardly have been better and 81 of the 127 starters did finish the entire course, all of us in my circle of running buddies succumbed to one thing or another to keep us from basking in the Olympic music filling the woods (if we had crossed the finish line).  

The worse case was New Zealander Jim Kerse--trying to run with an abscess on his thigh that he had acquired three days before the race, he was too weakened to get past mile 25, went back to the local emergency room and had the abscess cleaned out.  I had the least serious issue, so I actually got to go the furthest--some pesky blisters did me in.

All in all, though, it was a "wonderful day in the neighborhood" for me.  This was the mostest I have ever run/hiked (both the farthest--77 miles--and the longest--21 1/2 hours, including four major climbs).  In spite of the distraction of the blisters (which started around mile 20), I had a very exciting time running a course that had a little bit of seemingly every kind of trail and Forest Service Road possible in the Ouachita National Forest (just west of Little Rock) without having to run the same trail in the same direction twice.  

This race was the best run event I've been in so far.  I hope to go back again next year with more appropriate shoes for the terrain. There were 267 volunteers manning the course, keeping track of the progress of each of us, and providing us with the overall best choice of foods I've ever had on an ultrarun (my favorites were the tomato sandwiches and the hot "Roman" chicken pasta)!

But, to me, the most meaningful part of this experience was being able to demonstrate to myself just 9 weeks and a day after surgery that my fitness level had not been seriously eroded and that my cancer won't keep me from running/hiking through some of the most remote and picturesque areas of our country!  (Peggy and I are already scheming about where our next weekend getaway might take us.)

Thanks be to God Who gives us His world and Himself to enjoy!
And thanks be to all of you who have encouraged me through the past few months to not give up my heart for running!

Best of regards,
Herb