The race director (RD) for this weekend's 50K (= 31-mile) trail race just gave an hour and a half briefing on Facebook.
You know, stuff like ... what to do if you get caught out during a thunderstorm, or if you see a bear. (In the past two years, black bears have been seen on the course during the race.)
So far, the 5K has 34 entrants, while the half marathon has 129 and the 50K a whopping 150. There are even five 50K runners who are over 70. What in the world are they thinking???
One thing I learned during today's briefing is that there will be a special award for the LAST PLACE finisher. I may win it without even trying. I plan on keeping my overall pace pretty slow and to take plenty of walk breaks. I feel incredible cardio-wise but being on one's feet for 8 hours is going to be a challenge, to put it mildly. Thankfully, the RD said the aid stations will have plenty of PBJs and Pepsi. I hear one aid station will even have pizza. Oh, yeah.
I'm really looking forward to this race.