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108 hr update(6 days to go) Something special. Ultrarunners are unique amongst humans.They want to push themselves.They train their bodies and minds to be able to endure.They savor the accomplishment of finishing what they set out to do. HOTS runners are unique amongst ultrarunners.They want a challenge that is undefined.They start by training their bodies and minds,but go further to train their wits and will to be able to endure.They aren’t satisfied unless they are Read more…

96 hr update(6.5 days to go) Digging deep. Over and over,these runners have felt their lower lip quiver.Over and over,they have let the tears flow. and yet, over and over,they have taken another step. Well past 100 (or 200!) miles,everyone is hurt.After 4 days on the road,there is not a place left on their body that is comfortable. They are at rock bottom. But when you are at rock bottom,there is good news. It is Read more…

84 hr update(a week to go) Apologies for the short update, the long meatwagon drive meant I couldn’t visit with any of the runners still on the course. The beatings will continue until morale improves. Journey racing in the summertime can be a merciless pursuit.Runner after runner has cried uncle.The HOTS has truly lived up to its name.Heat indices have hit or topped 100°on each of the first 4 days. These sustained high temperatures,coupled with Read more…

72 hr update(7.5 days to go) No (wo)man’s land. When all is said and done,when the blisters have healed,when the nightmares about getting up to move have abated.When they’ve come back from being so deep within themselves on the open road… The HOTS runners will think backto the turning point of the journey. Many of them will think back to the start of day 4.Their bodies and minds are desperate.The finish (heck, even Montgomery!) are Read more…

(8 days to go) Beat the Heat. “We’re gonna try to BEAT THE HEAT.”“Ummm, I don’t think that means….what you think it means.” Two runners were commiserating early this morning.One was pretty sure he was gonna make the call for a ride (DROP)The other was looking for a way to keep going despite the difficulty. (CONTINUE) DROP:“I don’t see how I’m gonna make this work.It’s too hot in the day to move, but we need Read more…

(8.5 days to go) Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. After a day of high consequence,the HOTS field is reeling. The sparse services and higher than usual temperaturesconspired to send a gut punch through the fieldover the first 48 hours of the race.(and they have to hang on for another 24 before any relief comes). The sun rose and the crack team of facilitators looked at our spreadsheet.oof.The meatwagons are overbooked for today. Read more…

High Consequence. One of the fundamental tenets of the HOTS is that you alone are responsible for yourself. That doesn’t mean you can’t accept help, from either road angels, or your fellow competitors… But it does mean that when push comes to shove, you are on your own to make the decisions and either bask in the success, or suffer the consequences! After 36 hours, this year’s class hasn’t really had an opportunity to bask Read more…

What a difference a day makes. Just a day ago, 54 adventurous souls got off the bus at the beach. They were fresh, felt good… with fuel gauges jammed on FULL. After 24 hours on the road, not a single one of them is fresh any more. As the sun came up this morning, almost all of them would have been on the road. Happy to see the light, but also not wanting to say Read more…