The weekend of the walk came. Monique and I went up to Keystone the night before to make sure we were prepared. Loaded up on carbs and watched a cheesy movie.
The morning of the walk we were up super early and probably the 1st walkers to arrive. Our 1st day was 25.3 miles - we started off strong. At mile 13 we passed the altitude check and ate our lunch. Still felt Strong and the views were amazing!
We were walking from Keystone to Frisco and going halfway thru the canyon in the middle. Up the canyon was rough - it was all up hill and the heat of the day really started to set in. Once we made it up top, it felt like a big accomplishment - and seeing the sign for 20 miles felt huge!! With the extra boost we kept going strong. With 4 miles to go the hurt set in - and it was the hardest 4 miles I had walked up to that point.
Once we made it to the camp I trudged to find our tent and they set the tent up while we took showers - and for showers that were in the back of a tractor trailer - they were the best showers ever!! We ate pasta for dinner, went to the massage tent and then tried to lay down. The whole thought of getting the full experience by staying in a tent next to all the other walkers - BIG mistake! There were lots of people who didn't do the full 26 miles and only did 13 so they had lots of energy. Needless to say, I did not sleep at all...lesson learned.
6am and it was time to roll up the sleeping bad and take down the tent (yes we had to take down our own wet tents while we are sore and grumpy - bitter - YES!!). Had a semi-warm breakfast, trip to the medic tent to have all the blisters popped and off we go for the last 13 miles!!
We were walking from Frisco to Breckenridge - again it was super pretty! 2 miles into it I ran into my cousin's Brittany and Holden - such a great site to see them on the corner. So off we go, blisters building and getting worse and hips are killing! At mile 6 we are by the highway and all along we have had so many people cheering us one - but I see a wonderful site - my Tahoe going down the highway honking - it was my FAMILY!! I see them turn off a little down the road and immediately start crying. I have never been so happy to see them. There they were cheering me on - Larry with Hailey on his shoulders and Ashley by his side. I stopped long enough to give lots of hugs and kisses and hear them cheer me on. I had to finish this.
At mile 8 we stopped to have blisters worked on and Monique couldn't go on. We hugged and cried and I knew I had to stay strong. I did not train the whole time to not finish - my body was hurting like I had never felt but I had to finish just to have my girls see me cross the finish line. Mile 9 I was joined by two of the youth walkers - when I wanted to break down I stayed strong and just talked. At mile 10 they had to stop and it was me, my thoughts, and the pain - and a text from Larry cheering me on. Mile 11 I ran into my friend Melissa and we walked the last 2 miles together. Coming into town and actually seeing that finish line was amazing. There were so many people there that I didn't know where to look - but then I heard my name and there they were standing right at the finish line. Ashley came out and she walked across the finish line with me - it was something I will always remember. Larry was so proud of me, Monique was there with Tom, and Hailey was asleep. It was perfect!!
Knowing that I can push myself that hard thru that much pain has been amazing. I am so happy I did this!! I am proud of myself and can now say that I have done a marathon and a half all in one weekend....
*so the next day I couldn't remember anyone and Larry rushed me to the Dr.. Had minor heat stroke - nothing a couple bags of iv fluid couldn't solve!
