Day 9 - January 13 RACE DAY
I set my alarm for 5 AM and woke up on my own at 4:40 after having gone to bed at 8 PM. The hotel was kind enough to serve breakfast at 5 AM instead of the normal 7 to 10 for all of the athletes. First task is to walk and feed foxy, check. Then down to breakfast we’re Amy, Kiki and Alan were already at breakfast but no sign of John… After stuffing ourselves full of eggs bread butter toast and 3 cups of coffee we disbanded the shower use the facilities make our pack and final preparation for go time at 7 AM. Still no sign of John who we all think just overslept or just slept in but he was down at the agreed meeting time ready to go and excited for the upcoming adventure. The weather today actually looks OK with the morning having cloud cover and some sun while the afternoon promises thunderstorms. Throughout this 135 mile track we will experience multiple microclimates to rain forecasted in this town has nothing to do with the next town 20 km away. Hopefully the weather gods will shine on us for the next few days.
Our objective for this race is to finish comfortably and be able to enjoy the experience. Going fast does not matter is all we need to do is come in under the cut off time. Therefore our day one plan is to go at least 16 hours then find a place to shower and just rest for three or four hours which will reset our body then we head out for day two and go for at least 16 hours again and then take another rest probably a little longer then wake up and finish off the last day feeling solid. This is an unconventional approach as I don’t know anybody else who does it this way but it has worked for us for the last three years always finishing well under the cut off and feeling good.
Out of the gate we have extremely steep slopes to the top of the mountain where we can cross over and head down towards Aguas da Prater our first town. Our plan that is it every stop we regroup everybody must be together before we leave. While we’re on the trail, everybody goes at their own comfortable pace which is how Aimee and I always go. I wander up in front she relaxes listening to her music in back and then we regroup at every rest stop.
We are about to get to our first town and have climbed over 3000 feet in about 17 miles. The sun is coming in and out and when it’s out it is hot! Tim is holding up well but we feel the miles already looking forward to a cheese pastel and a fresh coconut water to get the spirits up again.
we just left the town after pastels hot sauce and Coca-Cola. Gear me the owner who makes the pastels remembered us from two years ago with a Lucky and asked how lucky was doing sadly we needed to report he’s no longer with us but we did have foxy and he was delighted to know that we had company again. People are so friendly and nice it’s incredible here. John is feeling much better dehydration is behind him. Couple of sore spots on his feet they were able to tape and he’s actually doing pretty well now. We’ve gotten our lights and we’re headed out into the rural area again with a big climb ahead of us which will be the last climb of the night and then we will look for a Posada to shower and sleep for a few hours before kicking off again tomorrow morning. Aimee and I are doing really well we feel strong few little hotspots on our feet but other than that we are solid.
it is 10 PM and we have just climbed out onto Sera Dos Lima in a torrential downpour. John’s nausea is resolved ex are resolved and he’s moving very well now. We are all a little fatigued and working our way towards a Posada and either Barra or Ceisolia.
2 AM update. We have decided to make a push for a town that will leave us in great position tomorrow and the next day to casually come in. John is getting stronger as usual all of us are dealing with foot issues but hopefully with a little bit of rest shower we can fix tomorrow. About an hour away now from the shower and bed for a couple of hours signing off. About an hour away now from the shower and bed for a couple of hours signing off.
