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Spartathlon 2008 - 09.26.2008

Here is a picture account of the Spartathlon. My hopes for a good race (i.e. finish) were shattered when 5 days before the race (in Athens!) I sprained my ankle so badly I couldn't weight-bear for 2 days. With my phenomenal crew's support, I went into "ultra healing" mode and did everything I could to keep up my chances for getting to the start line. The rest, ice and brace were keys to success. We made it to the start line! I had no expectations as I had not run on the ankle. I expected only to do my best and to quit if I thought I was going to hurt myself more. There is always next year, right?

I did my best, gave it my all. Felt great through the Mountain section. The loose skree on the mountain downhill however really flared my ankle. It was shortly after that that I hitched a ride to my crew at checkpoint 60. I gave it my all. So did they. I was so disappointed to have made it so far but to not be able to finish. The decision was right though despite the emotions.

In the end, we had a fabulous trip to Greece and the Spartathlon! My excellent crew deserves all the kudos. Dang they were great! Thank you so very much to Tim Englund, Allison Moore, and Glenn Tachiyama.

This is an excellent international race. It is very difficult. The people who work and run it know that, so there is a bond among people. I very much enjoyed the people. It was great to run with American women Stephanie Ehret and Stacey Bunton, who placed 2nd female. It was also great to see the guys who keep going back for more - Scott Jurek (another first place), Mark Godale, John Price, Valmir Nunes and his wife Kelly, Markus Thallman, Piotr and this year his brother too. I made new friends, including Peter Foxall and Martin from Britain, Marios from Greece, Marika (3rd woman) from Germany, Bazals from Hungary, Mark Williams (winner of the Barkley)... and many many more. I'm sorry I cannot mention them all.

Here's a link to John Price's pictures: http://runvb2vb.com/2008Spartathlon/

And a link to the ultimate photographer's photos (Glenn this is!): https://pbase.com/gtach/spartathlon08
packing
packing
Seattle airport
Seattle airport
Glenn arrives in the Athens airport
Glenn arrives in the Athens airport
Allison!
Allison!
Lisa, Glenn & Allison arrive at John's Hotel in Glyfada
Lisa, Glenn & Allison arrive at John's Hotel in Glyfada
Tim
Tim
Scott Jurek posters in Glyfada
Scott Jurek posters in Glyfada
Allison gets jiggy with it
Allison gets jiggy with it
easy training run
easy training run
g1/81/452681/3/103946694.Nifn8Wu8.jpg g1/81/452681/3/103948253.HUQvTQA5.jpg Glenn slows to check out the fun Eurobaby park
Glenn slows to check out the fun Eurobaby park
rest stop
rest stop
don't do it!
don't do it!
Allison tests her Drymax socks
Allison tests her Drymax socks
bummer!  bad ankle sprain
bummer! bad ankle sprain
right over the surgically anchored ligament. bummer!
right over the surgically anchored ligament. bummer!
Hospital in Athens
Hospital in Athens
socialized health care. take a number. it works.  whole visit 3 euro.
socialized health care. take a number. it works. whole visit 3 euro.
air cast
air cast
pigeons
pigeons
how I spent my Greece vacation
how I spent my Greece vacation
think positive
think positive
Tim
Tim
DSCN0478.jpg
DSCN0478.jpg
Parthenon, temple of Greek Goddess Athena
Parthenon, temple of Greek Goddess Athena
pregnant dog
pregnant dog
ballet?
ballet?
g1/81/452681/3/103948269.GfqkKv4r.jpg AdventureCORPS rocks!
AdventureCORPS rocks!
DSCN0480.jpg
DSCN0480.jpg
DSCN0484.jpg
DSCN0484.jpg
DSCN0486.jpg
DSCN0486.jpg
DSCN0487.jpg
DSCN0487.jpg
DSCN0485.jpg
DSCN0485.jpg
trying to make it work
trying to make it work
DSCN0489.jpg
DSCN0489.jpg
DSCN0490.jpg
DSCN0490.jpg
the no's including no high heels
the "no's" including no high heels
pretending to run down the cobblestone road, the start of the Spartathlon
pretending to run down the cobblestone road, the start of the Spartathlon
g1/81/452681/3/103949801.yxztH9dg.jpg g1/81/452681/3/103949809.faeeB68p.jpg ankle nemesis
ankle nemesis
g5/81/452681/3/103949823.wwE2QTXl.jpg
lunch
lunch
bakery
bakery
Megara, home of Euclid the inventor of geometry
Megara, home of Euclid the inventor of geometry
photo shoot
photo shoot
DSCN0496.jpg
DSCN0496.jpg
Team Bliss
Team Bliss
DSCN0497.jpg
DSCN0497.jpg
course - hills, sea
course - hills, sea
course - vineyards
course - vineyards
Ancient Corinth
Ancient Corinth
g1/81/452681/3/103993745.xdaoDZo5.jpg Ancient Corinth
Ancient Corinth
DSCN0482.jpg
DSCN0482.jpg
Sangas
Sangas
g1/81/452681/3/103949864.Rccd7xEO.jpg g1/81/452681/3/103949867.0Lp8rcxc.jpg
after resigning to the brace, Glenn does shoe surgery to make it fit
after resigning to the brace, Glenn does shoe surgery to make it fit
g1/81/452681/3/103949873.Jdw2N7m6.jpg bravo!
bravo!
checking in for the race on Thursday
checking in for the race on Thursday
g1/81/452681/3/103949877.LzeEB3lR.jpg Piotr Kurylo ran with his brother Pawel from Poland to Athens for the race.  (Piotr did this last year too then came in 2nd!)
Piotr Kurylo ran with his brother Pawel from Poland to Athens for the race. (Piotr did this last year too then came in 2nd!)
Lisa and Piotr
Lisa and Piotr
trying to explain something I guess.
trying to explain something I guess.
the study
the study
my foot plantar pressures
my foot plantar pressures
g5/81/452681/3/103959476.3dGECzP4.jpg note the right-left differences
note the right-left differences
Spartathlon competitors read the Badwater brochures
Spartathlon competitors read the Badwater brochures
Piotr's and Pawel's carts used to run from Poland to Greece (3000km) for the Spartathlon
Piotr's and Pawel's carts used to run from Poland to Greece (3000km) for the Spartathlon
IMG_1279.jpg
IMG_1279.jpg
IMG_1280.jpg
IMG_1280.jpg
IMG_1281.jpg
IMG_1281.jpg
pre-race meeting
pre-race meeting
g5/81/452681/3/103993751.iXiFuK9H.jpg g1/81/452681/3/103993756.jKexPD5K.jpg
view from hotel deck, where I spent a lot of my time recovering.
view from hotel deck, where I spent a lot of my time recovering.
g1/81/452681/3/103993772.E8rV2KJP.jpg g1/81/452681/3/103995302.cUDOjzcE.jpg pre-race dinner
pre-race dinner
the brace
the brace
DSCN0504.jpg
DSCN0504.jpg
Drymax - world's best ultrarunning socks!
Drymax - world's best ultrarunning socks!
competitors walk to the start at the acropolis in the dark
competitors walk to the start at the acropolis in the dark
start line
start line
g1/81/452681/3/103995307.4DJ8uvg2.jpg Stephanie Ehret!
Stephanie Ehret!
Glenn, Tim, Allison - best crew!
Glenn, Tim, Allison - best crew!
2007 Badwater champ Valmir Nunes from Brazil
2007 Badwater champ Valmir Nunes from Brazil
Markus Thalmann from Austria (will come in 2nd place this year)
Markus Thalmann from Austria (will come in 2nd place this year)
start
start
g1/81/452681/3/103995313.eTCq9Xnq.jpg
g1/81/452681/3/103995314.9OoAA3dr.jpg g1/81/452681/3/103995315.ZoAEHxgT.jpg Scott Jurek, Mark Godale
Scott Jurek, Mark Godale
g1/81/452681/3/103995319.hEHQIOIX.jpg
g1/81/452681/3/103995321.nJ6ayFKW.jpg #357
#357
runners
runners
g5/81/452681/3/103995906.aL3jOFJM.jpg
Mark
Mark
g1/81/452681/3/103995910.RZNlK77U.jpg beautiful course
beautiful course
g5/81/452681/3/103995921.3c41XnxZ.jpg
Jurek
Jurek
masked runner
masked runner
Glenn shooting runners
Glenn shooting runners
g1/81/452681/3/103995938.mkCqGtYE.jpg
Nunes
Nunes
g1/81/452681/3/103995949.RyI6jpZB.jpg Piotr, I think.
Piotr, I think.
Mark
Mark
g1/81/452681/3/103995953.uTmLKZvN.jpg g1/81/452681/3/103995954.uzB7Ljq2.jpg Allison and Peter Bakwin cheer the runners
Allison and Peter Bakwin cheer the runners
puppies!
puppies!
g1/81/452681/3/103995958.XHMbwXS1.jpg puppy maul
puppy maul
g1/81/452681/3/103995963.UcIuRghI.jpg more runners
more runners
g1/81/452681/3/103996826.rFEGra4I.jpg I was running based on perceived effort (which is what I always do) and feeling very good.
I was running based on perceived effort (which is what I always do) and feeling very good.
g1/81/452681/3/103996831.RL1BPdeN.jpg I kept having to fish little rocks out of my brace
I kept having to fish little rocks out of my brace
wrong way!
wrong way!
Marika Heinlein in black (3rd female)
Marika Heinlein in black (3rd female)
g1/81/452681/3/103996867.7mipHPnA.jpg g1/81/452681/3/103996874.w5dMSBFP.jpg
g5/81/452681/3/103996879.GoydE0oU.jpg Stephanie Ehret
Stephanie Ehret
Stephanie Ehret
Stephanie Ehret
Stacey Bunton
Stacey Bunton
g1/81/452681/3/103996894.pwXBR7vS.jpg crowds line the streets
crowds line the streets
Corinth Canal
Corinth Canal
Helas Can checkpoint (81 km), the first point where crew can meet you.
Helas Can checkpoint (81 km), the first point where crew can meet you.
ancient wall
ancient wall
g1/81/452681/3/103996911.H0H7nuaD.jpg g1/81/452681/3/104002197.DR2gqGMU.jpg ancient wall
ancient wall
ancient Corinth
ancient Corinth
g1/81/452681/3/104002201.e6VBbr6s.jpg g1/81/452681/3/104002202.REIIbDPB.jpg ruins
ruins
g1/81/452681/3/104002204.0AuA8usw.jpg Steph's through Ancient Corinth
Steph's through Ancient Corinth
the driver
the driver
sunset
sunset
Jeff, Stacey's boyfriend, in orange t-shirt
Jeff, Stacey's boyfriend, in orange t-shirt
aid
aid
aid
aid
waiting
waiting
the kids in the villages are the BEST!
the kids in the villages are the BEST!
Glenn fits right in!
Glenn fits right in!
girls
girls
Malandreni aid station
Malandreni aid station
g1/81/452681/3/104002217.NnfhpuMX.jpg kids run with the runners down the hill and into the aid station
kids run with the runners down the hill and into the aid station
can you be any cuter?
can you be any cuter?
g1/81/452681/3/104002223.g7f0LNm9.jpg
resting
resting
aid
aid
g1/81/452681/3/104002369.Iw6CBd0M.jpg g5/81/452681/3/104002372.N3ZHGB6W.jpg
pose runner
pose runner
Ancient Corinth
Ancient Corinth
Glenn refuses the photo op
Glenn refuses the photo op
gets mad?
gets mad?
punches the Paparazzi?  :)
punches the Paparazzi? :)
feet immediately post race (well 195 km of the race).  Not ONE blister or even hotspot!
feet immediately post race (well 195 km of the race). Not ONE blister or even hotspot!
the chafing on the front of the left ankle is from the brace
the chafing on the front of the left ankle is from the brace
King Leonidas statue at the finish line
King Leonidas statue at the finish line
g1/81/452681/3/104002393.V0qSaeIQ.jpg celebration
celebration
post-race cigar celebration in Ancient Corinth
post-race cigar celebration in Ancient Corinth
g1/81/452681/3/103960095.LTBOEipa.jpg
Glenn's shooting secret
Glenn's shooting secret
ribbon
ribbon
IMG_1286.jpg
IMG_1286.jpg
g1/81/452681/3/103960083.qAAUffv0.jpg
g1/81/452681/3/103960090.Vj7rDGci.jpg IMG_1295.jpg
IMG_1295.jpg
IMG_1296.jpg
IMG_1296.jpg
dog
dog
g5/81/452681/3/103960114.in7Tcquk.jpg feeding the dogs
feeding the dogs
wag more, bark less.  Allison plays with the happy dog that is eating out leftover food.
wag more, bark less. Allison plays with the happy dog that is eating out leftover food.
can you believe it?!
can you believe it?!
the parking garage employee put on the spare for us (we had no wrench).  Lucky for us!  Again!
the parking garage employee put on the spare for us (we had no wrench). Lucky for us! Again!
All dressed up and ready to go to the awards
All dressed up and ready to go to the awards
Mark with Glenn's camera
Mark with Glenn's camera
Allison , Glenn
Allison , Glenn
Mark, Valmir
Mark, Valmir
Lisa, Stacey (2nd place woman)
Lisa, Stacey (2nd place woman)
We were lucky that Mark Williams and his wife join us at dinner.  Mark has completed the Barkley - the WHOLE thing!  Neat guy.
We were lucky that Mark Williams and his wife join us at dinner. Mark has completed the Barkley - the WHOLE thing! Neat guy.
Peter Foxall ran a great race in 34:36!
Peter Foxall ran a great race in 34:36!
Greek Marios Fournaris (20 Spart starts, 14 finishes) brought me a gift for making it to 200 km & invited me back next year.
Greek Marios Fournaris (20 Spart starts, 14 finishes) brought me a gift for making it to 200 km & invited me back next year.
Kelly (Mark's crew)
Kelly (Mark's crew)
we bought similar rings on the Plaka
we bought similar rings on the Plaka
Glenn
Glenn
Valmir, Scott
Valmir, Scott
g1/81/452681/3/103961989.wuDFk1YQ.jpg Mark, Valmir, Scott, Kelly (Valmir's wife)
Mark, Valmir, Scott, Kelly (Valmir's wife)
g1/81/452681/3/103961993.JMJM9o0s.jpg
hmm, not sure what this is a picture of.  Looks like we're dancing.
hmm, not sure what this is a picture of. Looks like we're dancing.
3rd place woman Marika Heinlein from Germany
3rd place woman Marika Heinlein from Germany
isn't she adorable!
isn't she adorable!
American champs (Scott overall in 22:20 hrs and Stacey 2nd female in 31:25 hours)!
American champs (Scott overall in 22:20 hrs and Stacey 2nd female in 31:25 hours)!
g1/81/452681/3/103961998.PqzZYEiB.jpg Justin (Scott's crew) partakes of the celebration wine.
Justin (Scott's crew) partakes of the celebration wine.
So does Ingo from Germany
So does Ingo from Germany
g1/81/452681/3/103962002.vb3qZFdc.jpg
love the look!
love the look!
can it hold a whole bottle?
can it hold a whole bottle?
g1/81/452681/3/103962007.3iL3VSSQ.jpg g5/81/452681/3/103962009.lqiqwPKl.jpg
bottoms up
bottoms up
g1/81/452681/3/103962013.ySWLt623.jpg g1/81/452681/3/103972570.j5mmlKzJ.jpg psychedelic
psychedelic
leaving Athens aiport
leaving Athens aiport
heading home
heading home
my furry kids!
my furry kids!
i missed you!
i missed you!
feet 5 days after the race.  The ankle swelling is significantly down.
feet 5 days after the race. The ankle swelling is significantly down.
bruising is better
bruising is better
not sure why there is bruising on the inside of the ankle, but that's healing too
not sure why there is bruising on the inside of the ankle, but that's healing too