He did it!  I warned you he would.  He did.

135 miles.  Starting at the lowest point in the western hemisphere (Badwater in the Death Valley National Park, 282 ft. below sea level) and covering 135 miles over 3 mountains and ending at the portal of Mt. Whitney (the highest mountain in the continental USA).

40 hours and 55 minutes.  Stopping only for brief massages and wardrobe changes.

As an at-home spectator, it was a very exciting and emotional two days.  There were long stretches that the crew would lose cell phone service, so I wasn’t able to get real-time updates.  But at other times, I was able to hear the latest, and watch a webcam set up at various mile markers.  I was even able to talk to him on the phone at mile 122.  Click here for a very rough recording of the webcam and my phone call.

My dad and I share a special bond with running and we’ve had some of our best memories together pacing and pushing each other (me pacing him for his first 100 mile ultramarathon, and him pacing me for my first marathon).  So, it was heart-wrenching to not be there for his most challenging race yet.

Here are a few excerpts from his race report:

• “I can sum up this race report by simply saying I ran and ran and ran and shuffled and shuffled and shuffled and staggered and staggered and staggered and stopped.  Obviously, Forrest Gump was a lot smarter than me.  He just ran and ran and ran and stopped.”
• “Amanda, my marathoning daughter, couldn’t go since she just gave us our first grandson 6 months ago.  In her place Kacee stepped up as the adopted daughter.  Of all the hours I spent on the road, the ones with Kacee gave me the most joy.  I’ve had many blessings in my life but my 3 kids are the best and Kacee makes 4.  What a lucky guy I am.”
• “I had to force myself to open my eyes every time I blinked.  I am even pretty sure I went to sleep several times while running.  I’ve read about this but never experienced it and really have never been sleepy in an ultra before.  Judy has told me that sometimes I run in my sleep, so why not sleep in my run.  It only seems fair.”
• “In Lone Pine, Amanda called to see how I was doing and to let me know that Pressley Ridge kids had been following my progress all day.  Even though I was exhausted, this was the most motivating thing I could hear.”
• “After the race I got to bed as quickly as possible and have been eating, resting and sleeping pretty much since then.  I have to admit, I’m getting good at those activities.”

Congratulations, Dad!  We’re all so proud of you!

Now, if someone could maybe turn the man on to golf or antiquing, we might all rest a little easier.