I decided to volunteer for this race because there were several Get Fit Atlanta runners (some Blue Angels, Jen, Sandy, & Faraz) planning to run. I also like to get a whiff of the crazy that I not ready for now but am considering jumping in with both feet. I exchanged some emails with the Volunteer Coordinator to see what might be the best Aid Station. In spite of my high maintenance needs (I wanted to see the runners at the start, twice on the run, get back to the Finish in time to see them finish, & I needed to get short recovery run in the middle of all of this) Kirsten found the perfect place for me - Dowdell Knob.
Let's rewind just a little. I left my house at 5:05am - about 20 minutes later than planned. Navigated perfectly and ended up at the Start at 6:35am. Got checked in at the volunteer table and got to see everyone before the start of the race. I even picked up another volunteer task - I was supposed to move a few cones and direct the runners through a break in fence. I recruited Erica's husband Phil to help. It turns out there were about 10 of us there doing the same job including the race director. After the runners were off Phil said he was off to get some breakfast. I was tempted to tag along but I had to go get a run in and be at the aid station around 8:30am.
I hopped in the car and headed to Dowdell Knob. My online scouting told me that Dowdell Knob Road was 1.3 miles long from Hwy 190 to the Dowdell Knob lookout. I needed to do 4 miles so I figured that I'd do a couple of out and backs and be done with it. When I got there Mike & John were there with the aid station equipment. I helped take some water down to the trail then I got changed for me run and headed out. It was clear when I got there and I should have snapped some pictures before I headed out because while I was running the clouds started rolling in. It was nice run. I am novice trail runner so instead of hitting a little bit of the race course I stayed on the pavement with the mountains on the right heading out & on the left coming back. At the end of the 1st lap I went to the look at area and did a quick double take when I caught sight of the FDR statute. Was wondering what that guy was doing out here and how he'd gotten here.
I could go on and on but from here I'll do a bullet list of highlights:
- Got to meet a bunch of great GUTS folks including meeting Javi who before Sunday was one of my virtual FB friends and someone I follow on Twitter.
- Saw lots of blood and scrapes but the best was the guy bleeding from his head who could have cared less.
- Got spend some quality time with Phil at the aid station while he jumped in and help as was need.
- Towards the cutoff time at the aid station I was reminding the runners it was a waterstop not a waterstay.
- I swear when Faraz came through the 2nd time at mile 28 he was speaking with a Spanish accent. If you know Faraz you know he's actually Canadian. :)
- There was the runner whose little girl was crying because she couldn't understand why she couldn't run the last 12 miles with him. I told him: "Some day's you run to that sound but today you get to run away from it."
- Managed to get back to the Finish in time to see everybody finish then stayed around long enough to ruin my nutrition plan thanks to the running chef's great spread.
A few more photos:
Sandy at the Finish. She was smiling like that at miles 14 & 28 as well. Not everyone was though.
Erica, Julie & Faraz at the Finish. I wish I could take credit for photo-shopping this photo but they were sprinting and that's how my the phone on my camera saw it.
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