I broke my own rule! Rookie mistake. I was having the time of my life. I was running 10-minute miles. Nothing was hurting. I had settled into a routine that I felt could last all weekend. Nutrition was great. I wasn't tired or sleepy. At midnight, 15 hours into the 72 hour race, I had 79 miles completed. Then my right Achilles tendon started to feel weird. I had to slow down. Then I had to walk. Then I had to get off my feet to hope the pain would go down and I could go back out. After each break, I did 7 laps, then 4, then 3, then half a lap before it started to hurt too much. Is this what it's like to be human? Rule #1- Don't get hurt during a race. My goal of 250 miles was not going to be happening. I was at 90 miles when the sun came up. It took 9 hours to get those 21 miles from midnight so I could at least have 100 miles. As I came in one lap, I told Rob about my Achilles. He said that's what happens expletive expletive expletive when you just ran 200 mountain miles 10 days ago. Then he said a word that I didn't understand; I had never heard it before.

Rob- "That's what happens with overuse." Me- "I don't get it. What's that?" I decided that some things were more important than getting to 250 miles, winning a couple competitions against some friends, or getting a huge belt buckle. I am done, 48 hours before I'm supposed to be done.

Amy told me we were NOT going to El Paso next year to do Franklins 200 mile or 200k or Lone Star 100 mile or 100k. Today I told her that she made her opinion clear on the subject and that I agreed, finally. If I cut out that race, I can be fresh for next year's 72 hour race and do what I was supposed to do this weekend.

Here's what my left (normal) and right (a little swollen) Achilles look like. Hopefully it's good enough to run to work on Wednesday.