Brew to Brew 44mile ultra - RunUltra Marathon

6:00am running is a bit dark but we had a full moon and the flashlight was pointless… the first 4 mile leg of the race is really flat... running on the river levee… after 4 miles of running w/my long sleeve shirt decided it would be better to endure the cool morning air so I changed to a tank top.. I could go into details about the race but honestly I don’t recall much from miles 4-34 so let me give you the highlight of what I do recall.

- (miles 1-43.2) we have a steady head wind of 20mph with the occasional 40mph guest

- (miles 1 – 40) My buddy Tucker on his trusty steed feeding me Power Bars & water

- (mile 27) Shannon calls me… she is talking about buying running shorts and that she loves me and she will see me in a few miles… it was nice to hear her voice…

- (mile 30) The river crossing cost me about 3 minutes b/c the boat was on the other side of the river when I arrived and we waited for another runner…

- (mile 30 – 34) I was getting very close to seeing Shannon and our friends (again… thanks guys!!! Seeing your smiling faces really really helped) all I could do was look at my watch and do a countdown on the miles.

- (mile 34) I see my friends (Kevin, Claire, Rhys, Jake, Daneen, Madison) and my lovely girlfriend Shannon

- (mile 34.5) I’m running with Kevin & Shannon…. I tell Shannon to leave me in the dust b/c I will be going slow (She sprints ahead like a champion… you go girl)

- (miles 34.5 – 38) Was my only really really dark period… between the gravel road, hills, & head wind…. Thanks to my support team I made it.

- (mile 38) I round the corner onto the Levee w/Kevin… the last aid station I see Bad Ben (a local trail runner) he give me some words of encouragement and I head out with a few swigs of Coke and cookie (which tasted really really good)

- (mile 39 – 40) Kevin is giving me obstacles to run to (short distances) then he tells me that I gotta run to this big irrigation system that seemed like 100 miles away (I was thinking are you frick’en crazy!!! But I didn’t say anything)

- (mile 40’ish) My buddies Ken Bramble & Chris Jones (pushing a baby stroller) arrive to run with me (thanks guys your support was much needed)

- (mile 41) I hear the laughter Chris Jones’s children I asked Chris “Chris could drop back a 100 yards?” ha ha ha I felt really bad afterwards but I just could not take hearing laughter… If I had a gun I would have shot the birds that were chirping.

- (mile 42) I’ve stopped running a few times so I could pull myself together

- (mile 42.8) I see my lovely girlfriend (Shannon) running at me… she points @ the bridges and tells me that finishline is close… we start running together… seeing her and hearing her words... was like Christmas & my b-day all rolled into one.

- (mile 43.2) I cross the finish line with a smile and relief


I liked my game plan of running to the aid station and walking for a few minutes out of the aid station. Didn't always do it... but I liked the concept.

I would pray and ask God to give me a tale wind instead of a 20mph headwind

Nothing but a dazed and confused look


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