Strider and Pete both were part of relay teams that raced for 24 hours this past weekend. As further evidence that there is an extremely wide variety of personality types within even one family, these guys paid real money -- a good amount, actually -- to have to camp outside, getting very little sleep, because they were all taking turns running hither and yon over roots and through mud as fast as they could. I would have to
be paid a very significant amount of money to be willing to do any of that.
When the girls and I arrived to watch on the second day (Colsen and Miles were at Windy Gap for camp with cousins and Nonna and Poppa), I was reminded of a type of Woodstock scene. People were all sprawled out together in fields and in the woods, looking and smelling a little gross. Music had been blaring all through the day and night. And everyone seemed to be having fun!
Pete joined the team that were actually the winners of the entire race last year, so the pressure was on! He was one of the oldest members (perhaps the oldest?) so he felt the need to keep up with all the young whippersnappers. He definitely held his own and posted some good times. In fact, the whole team ran more miles and earned more points than last year.... but sadly, they were still slightly out-run by one other team. Still -- second place in that large field is not too shabby!
The team was comprised of Pete, his brother-in-law, his other brother-in-law, and his other brother-in-law, plus that guy's brother-in-law, and his brother-in-law's brother-in-law.... plus a bunch of co-workers from FHG. Tight-knit group!
Strider's team was not nearly so competitive, but they made it suspenseful at the end, when they were running as many sets of 1 mile loops as they could before the last seconds ran out. Strider ran the very last lap and his teammates came to run with him up the last hill.... So cool! It was a great end to a great weekend.
At least it was great for them.... I still think it's a little weird. :)
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