Anyway, this will be a thank you letter (with some apologies) and not a blow-by-blow account.

My thanks go to Jerry for organizing the race and making me feel special at the finish line.  I would have helped you dismantle the finish line station if I wasn’t already dismantled myself.

Thanks to the videographers and photographers (Iggy!) who will have a permanent record of me sucking air.

Thanks to all the volunteers at all the aid stations who patrolled the traffic, filled my bottles, and filled baggies with food to carry, for cheering me on, and for words of encouragement.  Oh my god, my apologies to Aid Station 5- the traffic controllers were holding up the traffic for me; I had a cup of drink in my hand; I was dazed, confused, unthinking- I TOSSED the cup on the ground, so I could dash across Route 80.   I’m so, so, so sorry!

My thanks to the small group of runners who were with me during the race- Doug Story (the woohoo king!), Tom Malcolm (I think we have run ~100 miles together across 5 different races, spanning 3 years and have exchanged the same one word with each other at each race –‘hey’!), Heather Wiatrowski, Hillary Johnson, Dan Bennett, and Susan Dewitt -thanks for pulling me through at various stages of the race – even if you didn’t realize it, and even if  it wasn’t your intent. 

My apologies to anyone I left out.

Booman

I started my run at the baseball field in Stoney Creek on Saturday at 630 am and ran nice and slow to the dam, the Quarry, and out to the Evergreen Woods like I wrote last week. I had to find the entrance to the Evergreen woods from the parking lot, and it took a while but the stretch of trail was worth it! Isn’t it amazing what a new trail does to your spirit? I came out at the Woodwinds parking lot worried that I might not find the connector to the next trail section. I followed the dots to a construction company parking lot with suspicion-filled r#dn**ks. Just as one was making his move towards me in his pickup I found the white dot adorned tree behind a rusting 18 wheeler. I dashed through the entrance and was rewarded by a very nice half mile connector to rte 139. I trotted to the flax mill soccer fields and took care of pressing business in the Portalet. (This was a first for me – I’ve never done a big job in the middle of a run. Too much detail for you? You asked for it sister; re-read your email!) Significantly lighter, I took off on another new connector that spills out on Northford Road, close to Forrest’s house. After several tries I spotted the white dot on the other side of the road and took off on a trail that connects to a trail that runs along side a stone wall and comes out close to Linsley ponds. From there to the upper gorge and thru to the upper ridge inLake Saltonstall was a slog. I took a long break (checked emails and for messages) and took off again on the upper green near the power lines (I took you there last Sunday). I got out on Hosley Avenue at the boathouse entrance, and then ran a long road section to Beacon Hill. I was really tired by now, and as I ran by the trolley tracks the tram passed me in the opposite direction. I swear the engineer looked like the Baron. I was also thinking I was fortunate not to be on the small bridge when the trolley showed up. Really exhausted by this point I was walking and running in brief intervals when the Dillons came by and offered me a ride – yes I was shamefacedly walking at this point. I refused and started running again. Through Stannard venue, Harbor Rd, Maple Street past Donni’s place, past Indian Neck at which point I cursed myself for not taking the ride. I passed Lenny’s putting in really long walk intervals. I ducked into the shade of Waverly St and stopped at a tag sale. I wanted a memento of this run – I picked a small plastic horse which the woman gave me for free! I finally entered a trail I’ve been meaning to do for a long time and it did not disappoint! I experienced eighteen minutes of pain free jogging on soft shady trails after more than an hour of clomping on unforgiving black topped roads! I came out close to Anthony’s house, and then the rest you know – Young’s Pond, the white trail near the tracks and then the trolley trail and back to my car. I was too exhausted to include the Jennie Vedder trail, so I waved to her monument as I passed by. I collapsed in a heap at the baseball field and drank my Recoverite in 2 huge gulps. I rested for a while and looked at lonely clouds floating past the brim of my cap. I thanked many gods for taking care of me and for bringing me home safely.

It took a massive 6h 45 minutes to accomplish what I wanted to do for many years. I eschewed some parts of the trail, and replaced some sections with equivalents, but in my heart and soul I feel very accomplished.

1: Route 80, will be visited twice
2: Bluff Head will be open between 9 and 11 am (approximately)
3: Braemore will be open between 9:30 and 12 (approximately)
4: Rene Way open between 10 am and 3 pm (3 pm being the 7 hour cut off)

The finish will need to be manned from 12 until 6 pm (or earlier if everyone has finished).

At least 2 aid stations already have volunteers from Carlson Craft Brewery and Beauvais Printing and a third is provisional. I hope we’ll be able to have a Bimbler’s Station handing out plenty of ‘BS’ and encouragement as well!

If you can help out in any way, please email me at: jerry(at)mrbimble(dot)com.

Of course your goal doesn’t have to be a marathon. Getting out there running (or swimming and biking) is what matters!

Today was the first time ever that I put my gear on and talked myself out of a run.  Some hero! Some heel!