Heavy cream, barely ready and squats together

I had the heavy cream, the rock salt and the ice cream maker. We had already made mocktails, (I can really bring the insanely tame party to the aid station). I didn’t tell the crew about the ice cream makings, that was a surprise for later. An aid station on the out and back Oregon 200 course is open for a long time. I was trying to keep up the fun when the fun isn’t a chipmunk onesie or fun rainbow outfits and too loud cowbell. The aid station was open for 3 days and three, 90+ degree days is too long to be in costume for me (I know, quitter!) 

Then on day two a lightning fire started on the course just south of the aid station where we had been laughing under the stars, dancing with runner’s crews, making dumb signs and cooking noodles. It started with thunder. Then a plume. Then just a few hours later we were gathering runners to get back to town, the race was cancelled. 

Instead of ice cream we helped race directors get runners safely out, packed up the aid station and got out of there. By the time I left I could hear the crackle of the fire from miles away. I understand how fast a fire can spread from reports of new incidents going from a spark to 150 acres to 3,000 acres, but it is a whole other story to see it spreading up the closest mountain. 

Everyone got out safely, mostly because the race directors made a decision quickly and moved FAST to get runners back to the nearest town. Being a race director is NOT for the weak. We left with the course still marked in places. The U-Haul is full of dirty gear, uneaten food and buckles not given out.  There were only five finishers, runners who got through the course before the fire. Hard to celebrate that finish. 

If you know someone who directs races, had their race cancelled (Cascades 100 was also cancelled this weekend), has a house near an active fire or is triggered by poor AQI, reach out. Fire season in Oregon stinks for runners, but more than that, it is scary to have the places we live and run on fire. I think we all are owed a little ice cream! 

BARELY READY IS READY

• Anna Hall competes in the heptathlon. The heptathlon looks hard. Here is a taste.  "Barely ready is ready."
• Rachel Entrekin, the winner of the 250-mile Cocodona earlier this year and winner of basically everything she enters has been putting out some fun content lately. You can find her on the A Little Happy podcast where she shares some of her winning attitude. "Giving up is a choice."

STRENGTH
JOIN ME for Strength Training for Runners this Wednesday. Live to your screen. Free always. It would be great to have a big bunch of you, like a big group hug that is also doing squats.