in charge of the "merch" at the Moab 240

We volunteered at Candice's Moab 240 ultra run.  This is the third time we have volunteered at one of her races.  The race is 240 miles across the desert where it is hot during the day (no shade) and cold at night, especially at high elevations.  The race goes through deserts, canyons, slick rock, and two mountain ranges. 

It was a lot of fun.  The volunteers we worked with are a ton of fun, for one thing.

We asked to be in charge of "merch."  We did this so we could work together all week.  

"Merch" means the merchandise that is sold--hats, t-shirts, hoodies, stickers, etc. 

 Candice's races are big productions....meaning BIG productions.  

She has an excellent staff.  In addition, she has a lot of people who volunteer because they like the community of runners.  Many people volunteer at the aid stations so they can see their family member and friends and give them support as "crew."  Nice.  Many also run some distance with their runners as "pacers." 

Some people reading this might be thinking something like:  "240 miles!  In the desert?  With little sleep?  Heat and cold?  And think it's fun???"

It might be crazy.  We don't think so.  A happier group of people is hard to imagine.  

Vicky and I believe what George Orwell said, and it fits for these folks:  

"Maybe we mistakenly think we want “happiness,” which we tend to picture in very vague, soft-focus terms, when what we really crave is the harder-edged intensity of experience."

The amount of food and supplies is hard to believe.  Here are some of the trucks that contain some of what is used. 

Food in this semi.  Almost filled. 

The food tent for volunteers....very popular. 

Unloading:

Refrigerator and freezer trailers:

Setting up the merch tent:

One of the big thrills for us in coming here was getting to see Stella, who also worked as a volunteer.

Grandma and Stella:

Our buddy Garret Froelich was the Race Director--the person who organizes everything and who does an almost unbelievably competent job at it.  We've known him for several years. 

Here is a photo of Dan and me with Nate, who helped us out selling “merch” on the day before the race… when we were swamped.

The "swag bags" in front of the "merch" tent. (you need to learn a whole new language to be a part of this).

With our girl, Candice:

The staff and volunteers getting all set up for the race:

Many safety precautions.  Everyone has to carry a device that has a map of the trail on it, and staff/volunteers check this device prior to the race.  Every runner also carries a tracking device.

 

There is also a large communications staff, with two trucks worth of equipment. And a large staff of medical personnel.  People have to be checked out prior to the race, and there are medical staff at all aid stations.  

 

Here is a photo of Todd, who has volunteered with the medical team for Candice for several years.  Don't have a photo of Brian who is charge of all medical personnel.   They have done some amazing rescues.  

The system of trackers, medical personnel, people who have medical and emergency knowledge and skills and running skills has worked.  Well.

One of the things that happens is that because of the physical demands and lack of sleep runners will often hallucinate.  One of the runners we got to know said she actually fell asleep and was dreaming while running.  Another told us that she hallucinated an aid station--Vicky said it was like a desert mirage of an oasis. All of these runners know that this can happen. 

 

Aid stations about every 15 miles:

 Getting ready to turn them loose!  Excitement in the air.

They're off!

 

 

Then things really slowed down for a few days.  We still did the merchandise but at a slower pace.

The high point was getting to know a lot of the families.  We had time to visit with them.  They were excited, and worried, and some just needed someone to talk to for those reasons.  

Here is a family from Quebec.  Talk about support for the runner!

We got to know two families especially well.  One was another runner from Canada who twisted his ankle badly and had to drop out of the race.  We had met his wife while working with her when it was our turn to make lunch.  They had a sweet little girl, Azaly, age four.  

Here is a photo of them, through the crowd.  The man and woman are in the back, and the little girl is petting the dog with Stella.

Here is a drawing that Azaly made of us, showing us being in love.  How cute:

Because we had some down time, we took in some hiking.  

Colorado River:

All set up for runners to come in:

And HERE THEY COME!

First man in:

First woman in, third overall.  Before she left, she brought me a bottle of Italian wine--from Italy.  She said it was the last one she had, and wanted me to have it.  We are saving it for a special occasion.

A family we got very close to, coming in together, as many families did.  Their two boys were with them, but you can only see one of them in this photo:

They came back the next day just to say goodby to us.  Sweet.

Other families coming in together, proud, so proud, of their runner: 

Remember them?

The runners who completed the 240 miles in 113 hours, got to pick out a handmade Moab 240 belt buckle.  They display these buckles in their home or wear them with pride….as they should!

Here is a finisher carefully picking out her favorite buckle, with Stella, Garrett, and Candice looking on.

One runner proposed marriage to his girlfriend  (who was his pacer) as he crossed the finish line.  Talk about a good start to their marriage!

Then the runners all left, and we cleaned and packed.  Felt very lonely without them.

It was a terrific experience.  

One dimension of it is worth noting.  We heard NO political discussions the entire 10 days we were here.  Talk about a vacation!  Everyone had a common goal:  To get as many of the runners across the finish line as possible.  Maybe we need Candice and Garrett to be President and Vice President and organize races for everyone in the country so people would stop fighting with each other.

It was a memorable experience for us. We're so glad we came.  

Just before we left, we celebrated Candice's birthday.  Here she is holding the book that mom made of her 400+ mile run last spring on the Arizona Trail. 

 

.....and now it's off to Bears Ears and Valley of the Gods for hiking and camping.