Top of Zion - Leg 3

It was so cold on our last leg.  I was wearing sweats and a hoodie.  My run went great.  I was so glad it was over.  Zac's run was even colder.  About mile 2 into his run, he could feel his muscle straining really bad.  Then at mile 3 he felt it cut loose.  He was really hurting but he finished.  Devin took off for his last leg, and the sun was finally starting to come up.  All three of us ran on dirt roads.  Devin finished strong and Jordyn took off. 

It was starting to get hot with Jordyn. Once the sun was up it warmed up really fast.  She was doing great!  We saw her at mile 1.  We were going to stop at mile 2.  We were driving and driving and couldn't see mile 2.  Then we saw mile 3.  Crap.  We totally missed mile 2.  Her run was 3.4 miles.  So we went to the exchange.  When she finished and Steph took, she told us she needed us to spray her so bad.  It got really, really hot.  I still feel terrible that we didn't stop sooner.

Stephanie had this BIG hill she had to climb for her last leg.  She did awesome.  She was so glad when it was finished. 

Jason's run was all uphill.  He only had us support him a couple times.  He did so good.  It looked like a terrible course.

We got to the last exchange and saw everyone.  Because Steve had rolled his ankle, he switched runs with Heidi because she had a shorter run.  He still finished his leg.  Wow.

Jason doing the last exchange to Heidi.

Van 1 - we are finished - are TIRED.

Once at the finish line, we were able to take showers.  It felt so nice again to be able to shower.  We ate the BBQ that they had.  It was gross.  The beans were crunchy.  Jordyn even complained, and they just gave her money back, instead of making some edible beans.

COUSINS!

VAN 1

It was so windy!  The finish line kept on blowing over.  One time it blew over as a runner was trying to cross it.  He jumped over the top of the finish line.  The medical area was starting to blow away.  We hopped up and tried to hold on as the wind came through.

Someone from Devin's friend's team got severe heat exhaustion.  They drove their van straight through the finish line looking for medical.  It was a 47 yr old woman.  Her body was shaking and she was going in and out of consciousness.  They tried to get an IV in her, but she was so dehydrated they couldn't get the needle in.  Luckily, one of the runners on another team was a nurse.  She was able to get an IV in her thigh.  An ambulance came and took her to the hospital.  What a horrible way to end a race.

I love Zac's Magnum PI pose.  Perfect.

 CROSSING THE FINISH LINE!!!!  We were so relieved when we heard they were here.

 Team photo with our mustaches, headbands, flower leis, and shirts.

 

 They had really cool medals.  The middle of it spins.

 Someone with a video camera had us all turn around and "chant" our saying.

 So happy it's finally over.

Van 2 killed their times every leg!  I was always so surprised at how fast they ran, especially in that heat!  They did so good!  I wish we were able to talk more with them and hear about their experiences.  We only had 5-10 minutes at a time to see each other. 

 Van 2

Van 1

After the finish line, we needed to head back up to Capitol Reef to get Jordyn's car.  We used the gas station outside of Zion, and somebody stole our debit card information!  We had 4 charges in Arizona by the time we got home.  Bummer.  Our bank has worked it out with us though.

It took us 3 - 3 1/2 hours to get back to the start line.  I was relieved Jordyn's car was still there.  There was a little part of me that thought that it might have gotten towed.  She was able to hop right in and take off.

We were all so hungry, so we stopped at a little shack for some hamburgers and milkshakes.  They tasted so good!  We were all so tired!  Our eyes were so heavy.  Jason drove most of the way home.  There were so many deer jumping across the road.  I lost count after 15 deer. It wasn't a very restful drive home.

We got to the park and ride in American Fork about 11:45pm.  Jason's wife came shortly to pick him up, then we headed home.  I have never been so happy to sleep in my bed!  I got woken up at 5am from Jennifer asking me if I slept in a hotel. Her face about 5 inches away from mine.  Kids.  You can never sleep in.