2 Blisters, a team, and a dang pirate

So, I am writing today as I reflect back on the last 48 hours of my life and the best way I can sum it all up is "2 blisters, a team, and a dang Pirate". For the 5 of you that spent 27 of the last 48 hours with me this makes perfect sense but for the rest of you let me explain.
27 of the last 48 hours was spent with 5 teammates in a suburban in the mountains running the Wasatch Back Relay. Our journey began in Logan Utah and 188 miles and 27 painful, sleepless, ache-full hours later we finished in Park City. During those 27 hours I learned a few things about myself and about life.

1- "2 Blisters" I started my first leg around 1:30pm. It was 6.9 miles long consisting of 1 mile up hill, 3 down, and finished with 3 fairly flat miles. About 3 miles in I developed a pair of blisters (1 on each foot) right on the inside of the arch of my foot. At first I thought it was a rock but after a quick examination I realized that I would be running the last 15 miles of this race with a set of quarter sized blisters. Once I realized I had these blisters a thought flashed through my mind, "you should stop, it's not worth it". I immediately pushed that thought out of my head and told myself, I haven't trained this hard just to let a little nuisance stop me now. I can't do anything to stop the pain now. I need to push through it and endure.

Deep insight: Life is like a steep downhill race. You are sure to get some blisters along the way but life is not about the blisters it is about how you react to the blisters. Do you stop, give-up, or just push your way through the temporary pain?

2- "A team" Or should I say a whole support crew. After dealing with the blisters from my first leg and some minor dehydration issues it was 10:00pm and time for me to start my second and hardest leg of my race. 8.1 miles of mostly gradual uphill with the last 1/2 mile taking a turn for the worst with a severe incline. I felt like crap, my feet hurt, the blister on my right foot had popped, I felt nauseous and like I said, like crap. I put on my shoes, clipped the light on my hat, and set out to do my best all the while having a sick feeling in the back of my mind that I didn't think I would be able to finish my leg without walking.

Mile after mile I fought the erge to stop and walk. Mile after mile my team stopped to cheer me on, give me water and goo, encourage me. Every time I heard the horn blow or saw my teammates I knew I couldn't let them down. I had to keep going, I had to fight through the pain and aches and nausea. Soon I came upon the "1 mile to go" sign and my spirits were lifted. I knew I could run 1 mile no matter how bad the conditions. I put my head down and plugged away. 1 minute passed, then another, soon another and another. At this point I couldn't have been much more then 1/2 a mile away from the exchange. I lifted my eyes to see if I could see the lights of the exchange in the distance. As I lifted my eyes at first all I saw was darkness but as I continued to lift my eyes towards the sky I could see the lights about 300 feet over my head. My heart sunk and everything began to grow heavy and then I saw a figure in front of me in the dark. As I approached the figure the light on my hat revealed that it was my brother. Having seen the condition I was in and the struggle in my eye the last time he had stopped to give me water, he had jogged down the hill from the exchange so that he could run with me up the hill. He ran stride for stride up the hill with me encouraging me and giving me the strength to finish my leg without walking. Looking back I don't know if I could have run up the hill without his incouragement and support but one thing I do know, it was a simple gesture of love but I will never forget.

Deep Insight: Sometimes in the dark of night we feel alone with nothing left and the weight of the world feels too heavy to bare. However, we are never alone, there is always someone waiting for us and helping us even if we cant see them right now.

3-"The Dang Pirate" At the beginning of the race we always look for a group that we can run against. One of the groups we picked this year was called "The Pirates of the Wasatch Back". We battled with them throughout the 1st day passing them and then being passed by them. We saw them at most of the transitions and along the trail the first day but as the evening approached we lost sight of them not knowing if they were behind us or ahead of us so we pushed on. As I started my last leg, a mere 3.1 miles, the thought of beating the pirates had faded away and now the battle was with myself. I had 3.1 miles to go and I was going to finish this race having given it my all with no regrets. I pushed myself to the limits and when all was said and done I finished my last leg recording my fastest pace of the race. I was exhausted, sore, but content. It wasn't until later in the race that we saw the pirates again. They had pulled out in front of us by a good 20 minutes through the night. It was slightly disappointing to realize we had lost the battle with our foe but I realize that I had won the true battle. The battle with myself.

Deep Insight: Life is a series of battles, some we lose and some we win. Just make sure you win the ones with yourself because the rest don't mean a thing. Stupid Pirates!!!