I made it. And I'm feeling it now. Whew my legs are sore.

Day one: The Ascent (over 7,800 foot climb from Manitou Springs to the top of Pikes Peak - 13.32 miles) was good except for the end...can you say, sleet, snow, upper 20's wind chill and I was in a sleeveless bike shirt w/o any gloves...brrrr. the first 11.5 miles were fine. then I cracked. When I finished I was rushed to the medical bldg b/c I was stumbling all over the place and someone caught me. She asked me what was wrong and I said I couldn't feel my hands. At that point my legs were giving out and tears were running down my face. They got me to a cot and covered me up and put socks on my hands. I shivered for 30-40 mins or so and finally thawed out thanks to some very generous friends who rubbed my arms, hands and back and for giving me water and Tylenol. For the most part of the race, I was really fine until the last two miles when the front came in and froze everyone. I finished in 4:42. I learned soon after I thawed that Jill got turned around at A-Frame which is the tree line. She got to come back down. Her 13.32 mile trek turned into 22 miles as she and her friend Laura had to come back down due the summer/winter storm at the top of the Peak.

Day two: the Marathon was better. The weather held out although it did rain on us a little but it wasn't as cold and I was better prepared. The ice and slush at the top was difficult to maneuver but only lasted a half mile up and a half mile down. I took my time coming down as I didn't want to repeat my crash of '01 - I still have scars. I went from 26-35 minute miles going up to 18-14 minute miles going down. Midway through my descent I tried to run at a relatively level area and my legs were shot as is no spring. So I walked and shuffled as fast I could. Finally w/3 miles to go and about 2,800 feet to descend, my legs came back and I actually ran it in. I did the last 3 miles in 36 min which is how long it took me do the last mile to the top. :-)

Ascent 4:42
Marathon 8:51
Official Doubler!

Climbed over 15,600 feet in two days...ran, hiked, walked, crawled 40 miles in two days. Climbed two 14'rs in back to back days. What do you think? Leadville 100? Sunmart 50 miler? No way!! :-)