Late one night in August I drove up to Arapahoe Basin ski resort with the intention of meeting some friends for a ten mile run. My projected start time was 1:30 AM.
I had signed up to be a pace runner for one ten mile segment of the Blue Planet Run, an event which saw 20 athletes running literally around the world. Runner's Edge of the Rockies had gotten wind of this through one of its members, Ned, who was associated with a group sponsoring the event. He told Coach David, who told the rest of us, who were all pretty excited about the idea.
I met up with the BPR folks in A-Basin, where Runner's Edge member Catherine was scheduled to start her leg-- before mine, which would start at Bakerville, ten miles east (and downhill). As Catherine started off with her BPRunner, the rest of us drove up Loveland Pass and waited at the summit for a quick photo op. Then it was down the hill to await my turn.
I didn't have to wait long. All too soon the pacing van pulled into sight just behind the BPRunner, and I was off with my partner, Lansing. We talked the entire run, sharing life stories and discovering a mutual appreciation for musical theatre--which led to some rowdy singing during the last two miles!
After my segment, Runner's Edge member Nason took off. I volunteered to drive him back to his car, and after that it was home to bed. At 5 am, I finally made it back to the comfort of my bed. What a night!
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