The G Running Diary

Here We Are: 6/28/02

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I am at Western States! Well, I'm in Squaw Valley, where all the race preparation is happening. We got here last night and today dropped off our drop bags and listened to the pre-race speeches. It was great to see people I know, particularly akabill from Hawaii, who immediately handed me an entry form for the HURT 100 miler, held in Hawaii in January. That is a tough 5-loop course. Akabill has a great attitude about running. He writes stories and race reports, and finishes them with "life is good." Actually, he says life is good all throughout the runs too. He calls it the church of the holy trail.

I have said this before, I am not a religious person, but I feel blessed to be here. I am so grateful that I just keep hugging everyone I can. Not the strangers, mind you, although with everyone here being a part of the race, whether running, pacing, crewing, volunteering, or just hanging out, no one is really a stranger. In the little Western States store, I was eyeing the license plate holders. I decided not to buy it yet, because I don't want to jinx the race, saying yeah, better wait until after the finish. A man I have never met before said, "Hey, if you finish, I'll buy it for you!" And he was serious.

So this is my last entry before the run. People say it's a race that changes you, that the person who finishes Western States is not the person who started. I guess we'll see. I'm just happy to be here, and nothing hurts.