Day 2 OF THE QUEST

Need to be brief...battery low...Sick as a dog Monday night...did not think i would make Tuesday was in my tent at 7:00 with the chills etc...I thought the Quest was over after 1 day. Fever broke at Midnight. Was very weak and had to climb to 12,500 on Tuesday. Make a long story short. We made it. Thanks to a lot of help from a lot of people. We ended up teaming up with a total of 8 people and we help each other through the ordeal. Speaciall thanks to OLD Goat Steve. But a Big,BIG Thank You to Jo who paced us all the way up and all the way down. It was the best feeling I have had in a very long time when reach 12,500. I hope to post some photos if the battery holds out.

Day 1 Of The Quest

Started out early got up at 6:00am too nervous to sleep. Peed and poop 1000x. Met everybody downstairs for breakfast at 7:00. After breakfast Peed and Pooped 100x more. Then off to the start line it was 80 degrees not happy. But we were with all of our new friends and everyone was anxious to get it started. The Race started at 10:00. George and I started off on our quest. It was supposed to be an easy run 12.9 miles. NOT that easy. We finished in about 2 1/2 hrs. I think the altitude killed me and it seem like it was all UPHILL all the way.

Have felt better...but hope to come back strong tomorrow. We have to climb to 12,500. Off too dinner.

George: For those of us that know and love Fred, let me simply say that his colon is problematic. We all know the rest of the story.

Well, the news flash of today is the temperature... it's too hot for this insanity and we are hoping for a tornado tonight to change the air pressure in the rocky mountains. Nonetheless, we did okay today... no major tactical errors, but there were spots that we could have went a bit slower. Paulie, we took a sugar tablet when we were feeling crappy and I think it helped.... even if it didn't, we think it did... so mission accomplished.

Tomorrow will be a unique day.... signficicant 3 mile clime to 1250 feet and then a long descent. We can do it, because after all.... this is a VISION QUEST !

Until tomorrow.

T-1 The Race Begins Tomorrow But We Did a Preliminary Tonight In A ThunderStorm

George: To my fellow runners ... I am proud of you and please be safe, put your troubles aside for a week and have a great race ! God Bless, see you at the campfire.

To my daughters, Nikki and Chynna... I love you and I will see you soon.

Freddy : Good Luck everybody!!! Enjoyed today...hope to do the same tomorrow.

Katie, Freddy and Helen I hope you are reading the Blog and I miss you guys!

Days 163 & 164

Up at 5:00am slept about 2hrs Thursday night. Said goodbye to Katie and Freddy & Helen. Got to the airport no problem plane was on time. Leave it to me sit next to a DNC delegate from NJ slotted to vote for Obama. Well we got into a shouting match and the plane almost had to be diverted !!!! JUST KIDDING...She was a nice little old lady with her husband. I was a good boy and did not talk politics.

The plane landed early, got my luggage and went to find George. Found George then went to find our ride. We had a little wait for the shuttle so we had lunch. After lunch we found the shuttle and 4 more Transrockie runners. Then off to Buena Vista a 21/2hr ride. It was a nice ride got to talk to the other 4 runners. We all had a story about our training.

We got into our hotel around 3:30. Unpacked, and went across street for dinner with our new friends. We had a good time with a lot of laughs. Saw some pretty powerful lighting storms after dinner. We were in bed at 8:30. Long day but did not feel that horrible. Slept halfway decent...the ear plugs worked...George did not snore too much.

Saturday, woke up early and went down for some breakfast and decided to go for a short run. At breakfast we met Jo and Sat our UK blogging buddies who had gotten in late Friday night. They decided to join us on our run. It was nice easy run down to the river and we did not feel too bad. But the Altitude was felt. We also hooked up with some more folks from Toronto and we all went to dinner together. It was a nice day.

This is George: ditto above regarding meeting some new friends.
We are assessing our new friends intent for the race.... looking clandistinely for those that can meet our goal to run slowly and arrive safely. What we are finding is a diversity of experiences and folks that are vets of ultramarathons, folks that have coaches, folks that have sophisticated support networks.... I fear that we are doomed to running at the back of the pack all alone. The good news is that we have about 600 brownies with us, so we won't be hungry and we won't have to share.

In all seriousness, it is great to be around individuals that share our interest and are looking to achieve a goal without much in the way of expectation for "Glory " or recognition ... it's just cool to have a a stretch objective, become a bit fitter and take on a challenge that is a bit daunting. I'm proud of us all and look forward to the week ahead for the running, the scenery and the fellowship.... hard to say which will be the best element of the experience, but it is already clear that this will be a blast.

Stay tuned for updates from the maniacally engaged webmaster of this blog.... Freddie the Magnificent... Cheers !\

Days 161 & 162

Wednesday,went to the Y for final time before the Quest. Wanted to say goodbye to Carmen. I hope that in 20 years I am in as good a shape as he is. He is heading down Florida to visit his son. He has been trying to convince his wife for a couple of years now to get a big screen TV. She finally has come around. But now he has been debating for the last 2 months whether to get a LCD or Plasma. I told him to just get one before she changes her mind!!! He says he is going to get it when he gets back from Florida...in time to watch the Yankees in World Series( we are both Yankee fans so we never give up). A few of the older guys at the Y have been wishing me good luck. It is a nice feeling...I just hope I can finish this Quest.

Anyway, it was a beautiful day yesterday and I was going to go for a short run outside. But decided not to...did not want to risk any accident on my last of training. So I just walked uphill on the treadmill for 30-35minutes and did a light work-out.

Wednesday night did some last minute packing and played chess with Katie and Freddy. All of sudden they have taken to playing chess. It is fun teaching them the game and finally I can beat somebody. But I got a feeling that will be short lived they are already pushing my limits.

Today, too nervous and excited to work so I am posting. Leave for the airport at 5:30am tomorrow. I know I will not sleep much tonight. Looking forward to meeting my new BLOGGING Friends, Jo, Sat and Steve.

A big thank you to everyone who have been sending in encouragement via post and emails.

The next post will come from Buena Vista, Co.

Days 159 & 160

Monday, went to the Y and did a little uphill walking on the treadmill and a light work-out. I feel lethargic and nervous can't focus at work just want to get going. I think I am finished packing.

Today, did my usual Tuesday routine...Sams Club shopping for the school. Home for lunch took a Nap. Got the small camera I needed. Read Steve's post about the weather for the run. I keep seeing the weather report that says it is going to perfect running weather. But Steve's forecast calls for snow and rain. I guess the weather will be what it will be. Could be difficult to have campfire chats in the rain. I share the same view as Steve roughing it is having no room service at midnight!!!

Days 156,157 & 158

Sat and Steve I am thinking about bringing my ski helmet!!! But I am going to try to believe in the weather people this time... the forecast is looking perfect for running next Monday mid-60's and sunshine. Although, I just read that Denver set an all-time low for Saturday--58.

Having said I would trust the weather folks they were dead wrong on Friday. Which I was happy about. Was able to play golf Friday afternoon. Played well... Rick and I were partners both of us played well both we lost $20 as our other buddy Al shot a 75. The bad news is I hurt my neck so that will rule out any golf next week and re-enforce no training this coming week.

Being a true knucklehead knowing my neck was bothering me I went for one last run. In addition, I went on a trail I should have been running on since March. A beautiful trail along the Delaware canal, completely shaded with nice hills. Leave it to me to find it at the of the Quest. If I survive the Quest I plan to run on this trail a lot when I get back. Anyway, ran 8 miles around a 9min mile pace. Too fast especially with the neck issue. Spent the rest of Saturday with ice on the neck and taking a nap.

Sunday spent packing...still trying to figure out what jacket to bring. I know I am packing way too much stuff but it still fits in the duffel bag at the moment. Still need to get a small camera that will fit easily in the pack.

Spoke with George he has been up in Chicago cleaning out his house that looks like it might be sold. He will be very relieved if it is. I hope he has some energy left for the Quest he has been cleaning/packing since Friday...14hr days. Now he is driving back to Dallas in a U-haul van. He was 122 mile outside of St.Louis when we spoke.

Sat...George has a new e-mail address... georgebrown926@yahoo.com. He was not sure if you had it or not.

Again, thanks to Steve and Sat for the advice. A week to go...I can not believe it.

Steve, will the Ultra Michelob bus be waiting for us next weekend!!!