Day 23

By the time we reached the tower and trail head I thought I was really going to lose it, but then I started to see faces of people I did not expect to be there. I just had to smile and revel a bit in sharing my joy with them with a hug or thank you. The Archibald’s showed up to congratulate me as did Eugene and Silvia (with their friend Chris) who we met in Thorpe on day 4, they are the ones graciously that did our laundry that night. Then there was Suran who I had just met in the Northern Kettle trails near West Bend. Everyone was so great and I was told many others would have liked to be at the tower for the finish, but couldn’t and wanted to pass along their congratulations.

The shear magnitude of what I have done is a jumble in my head. In one sense I wonder why it took so long to do and on another more sane level I wonder how it was ever possible in just 23 days. Driving back through some of the towns and roads I had just recently run the past 3 days made the task seem impossible, as the car miles seemed to take forever. Possibly what is most baffling is the body is probably ready to continue running as I just kept getting stronger as the last day approached and then today was a breeze. I of course still had to stretch out the IT band to prevent it from getting worse and the feet are pretty beat up (two toe nails will be lost I suspect), but I think the body could probably continue to do more. Of course the mind is definitely saying NO WAY-STOP!



I’ll probably miss a few people, but the shortened day brought out many fellow runners on the trail. We started with Timo, Ann, Tom and Lorraine and of course Robert. Not too much later Kay and Steve found us (hashers I know from Madison who crewed me at Badwater). Then Peter, Brenda and Dave showed up again. Brenda, Dave and Timo also did a super job of planning a party afterwards in one of the park shelters. It was a perfect way to relax afterwards and enjoy some food and my first beer since the start of the run. The also had champagne at the top of the tower for anyone that so desired to have some. Lorraine’s brownies were the perfect dessert to go with the drink. Then Kevin and Roy joined us closer to the end. My parents and sister’s family also were there again today and made the finish extra special. Jim, my brother-in-law called up my brother in California so I was able to talk to them for a few minutes too.

As we were entering the park we met Chris who was just starting his solo journey of the trail. He had his back pack on and a smile on his face. I wish him the best of times. I backtracked the route a bit near Manitowoc hoping to find Scott and Anne, but without luck. I suspect they had found a place for the night in Valders and were no longer on the road at 4:30pm when I finally got down there.

There is no way to cram everything down right now, but I will reflect on my journey over the next few weeks (and lifetime) and get back to you. I am planning to run the Ice Age 50 mile next Saturday in the Southern Kettles so maybe see some of you out there. Yes, I do actually look forward to running again.

I am tired though so will be going down to the couch to relax right now and have some dinner.