inspiration

Contemplating the future as I throw my body against the Colorado Rockies, my thoughts go back two years to the first inklings of inspiration. Excerpts from Bob Nelson two years ago 2007 Howl at the Moon. The strange attraction of it all. Bob - you remain one of my heroes. He did it again in 2008. I was there. He went farther with better weather.

-Larry

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Many of you have wished me luck and best wishes for the 8 hour run that I was to do August 11th in Danville IL. I appreciate all the support and thoughts of me as I entered this adventure that I have never tried before. The most I had run at one time was a 50K this year that took a little less than 5 hours. This race was to run as far as possible in 8 hours over a 3.29 course and then an out and back 1/2 mile at the end until the time lapsed. I had a great time. The weather started decent at 67 or so and got hottttttttttt fastttt. I am not sure of the temp but in the 90's. The humidity was also high but not as bad as the day prior. I finished running and walking the whole 8 hours with 44.27 miles placing me 4th in the Grand Masters (50&over). This group had the most entered in it. The winner overall passed me 4 times, the girl winner, I think lapped me twice. The support their was great, the people were fun to be around. Several I talked to knew The "Great Bonnie Busch". One man who had done this race several times died just after reaching the 2 mile marker. He was doing fine and fell over dead. I was on my second lap when I reached the area where they were working on him. It was sad, but that is how they said he would have wanted to go if he had a choice. I also spent some time in the hospital due to heat exhaustion, lack of enough fluids. after an I V and a nap I was fine. I had finished and was cooling down, took an outside shower, changed in to shorts and was trying to get some energy up to go eat. I keep feeling weak and couldn't get my temperature down. The medic worked on me a bit there and couldn't get a BP reading that was good but after some oxygen and throwing up I was feeling better. I had taken plenty of fluids each hour and the calories suggested and electrolytes. I was fine after the race until about 25 minutes or so later I started to really struggle. There were several others who got IV's and sent to the hospital. I am fine now. The legs today are okay, no blisters a little chaffing but over all ready to get started on the Marathon training for QC and Chicago. It was an experience that I would do again hoping for better weather.

---Bob