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From the 7:15 early start, about 50 of us will head downhill on the dirt road as the sun rises, illuminating the Superstition Mountains and the surrounding desert. Moderately cool temps will change soon enough. Gorgeous scenery will grace the course all day.
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Here's something you don't expect
to see on a marathon course. Also, the guy with the guitar |
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Dirt gives way to asphalt at about mile six. At the mile 10 aid station, I have ten minutes banked against my 5:40:00 goal. That advantage will keep shrinking in a direct negative correlation with the rising of the sun. By mile 16 I find on my stump a dime-size blister which will also get worse. Between the heat and the blisters, by mile 20 I've fallen ten minutes behind my goal.
Traditional Arizona dancers
| From driving the course yesterday I know exactly what lies ahead at mile 23 (below): Dutchman's Revenge, a nasty climb of some 50 vertical feet over a horizontal tenth of a mile. As I draw closer I envision a sign adapted from Dante: ABANDON HOPE ALL YE DUMB ENOUGH TO RUN HERE. |
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As I struggle up the dirt hill in this oppressive heat, I begin wondering: exactly what did someone do to make this legandary Dutchman so vindictive? And would that person please apologize? Finally, after struggling up Dutchman's Revenge, the view doesn't provide much sense of relief. (Asphalt resumes after maybe a mile.) The long final stretch proceeds straight westward on Lost Dutchman Road. It brings several more subtle inclines—and some not so subtle, a couple of them downright hostile. Occasionally I make a attempt to jog and pphhtt I find myself just outta gas. |
The Renaissance ensemble working the mile 25 aid station carry out their duties in heavy, bulky period outfits—an endurance event in its own right, given this heat. Yet they keep up a cheerful attitude ("Perchance, kind sir, thou wouldst like small portions of fruit, or indeed some Accelerade, to sustain thee upon thy perilous journey?")
Finally I turn right on Idaho Road—by this time I feel as if I've run to Idaho—then I take a final downhill to the 26 mile marker and the finish inside Prospector Park.
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