I was listening to a radio station that was doing a morning of supporting the local food bank. $1.00 is able to be stretched into $10.00. The radio host suggested emptying the coin tray in the car and stopping by the location they were broadcasting from to donate. It was on my way so I made a short stop.
I arrived to the race venue and pitched in doing inventory and then assisted my friend Yishai in some course marking. He really did an incredible job marking the course.
I finished up the day and went to my friends house to get some sleep.
Saturday morning I traveled to the race venue as I wanted to send well wishes to the 12 hour Hurricane Heat participants beginning at 6:00 am.
At 8:00 am the men's elite heat began and I saw my friend Iram start. I hadn't seen him since Vermont where I met him September 2013. He inspires me every day with his amazing attitude and I love his charm too. At 8:15 the women's elite heat began and I started crying watching my friend Corinne start as she walked because she's still recovering from knee surgery. At 9:45 my friend and training partner Terri started I was excited to see her success. At 10:15 my friend Lauren who I gifted her race entry was beginning her first Spartan Race experience with her boyfriend as her teammate. At 12:30 my Spartner in Crime Seth who almost forgot to change his shoes had me do his number body marking and off he ran.
I helped at the street team exit tent and then went to the finish line to retrieve timing chips from race participants. I saw Iram finish and got a wet muddy hug followed by Terri and Corinne.
I then met up with the other course sweepers and we divided into two groups. One following runners and the other to take down course markings and pick up litter.
My partner B and I caught up to the last two runners. They had volunteered earlier and were then doing the course. It was a young guy and girl high school and college sweethearts. We waited while they did the obstacles and B participated alongside them. We were hiking up a hill and I asked if the girl would like a gel. She said yes as I proceeded to pull out paracord, snacks, clif bars and every flavor gel out of my pack while being asked if I was Mary Poppins of Spartan Race. At the bucket filled with gravel carry the young man began and his girlfriend said she wanted to opt to burpee out. B encouraged Erin to try it and began filling her own bucket. This was much like my experience with the young man I followed as course sweeper last year. Gabe came down the hill with his bucket emptied it as his face filled with emotion. He waited for his girlfriend and B. Erin arrived at the bottom of the obstacle exhausted with tears of joy and she carried on.
I received a radio message that our runners had one hour to arrive at the next aid station or risk not being allowed to complete the course for time and safety reasons. B and I urged them to dig deep and carry on. The runners had an option to take left or right. I followed them left cleaning and taking down course markings behind them while B swept course right.
As I arrived at the top of the ridge I saw the 12 hour hurricane heat participants on a mission to take on their next assignment and was a little jealous of what they were accomplishing.
B and I met at the top our arms filled with course tape and signs. My pack tied with clothing and B's pack with a marking tape diaper and rope harness.
We were taken by my friend Yishai to our next part of trail to sweep then arrived at aid station 6 a little prior to 8:00. We received radio notice that anyone not arriving at that aid station by 8:00 pm needed to be asked to be done with outcrossing the finish line. B and I realized our two runners Gabe and Erin were not there yet. We were taken by Mike the course foreman to find them. When we arrived to find the couple on trail I was so sad to tell them they wouldn't be allowed to finish. They had given their time all morning volunteering and had invested their time and energies into the event. B saw how disheartened Erin was and began walking with her. I was so proud of my partner B she wanted to see Gabe and Erin through to the finish line and she did. She exemplified true Spartan service. I was then asked if I could go to a last section of trail that still needed the course markings removed. I loved the section I got assigned and I pulled my headlight out of my Mary Poppins pack and off I ran.
I loved the entire weekend being given the chance to serve just a little bit without the distraction of preparing to run. I also used the hills as a training day for the event I've made a goal to complete in just a few short weeks.
Focus on giving rather than getting and you will receive more than you ever gave. This statement I have absolute faith in.
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