A brief introduction to the photos here: I headed up to Leadville, where I expected a rousing good time and the joy of seeing old friends again. My two most favorite and fun ultra friends were in attendance: Emily Loman, running her first race since Hardrock just 5 weeks earlier and her first attempt at Leadville; and Ernst Baer, longtime ultrarunner, here crewing for his Lady Friend Emily. :-)
I decided to jump on this bandwagon immediately. It would be a blast, and me crewing would allow Ernst to pace Emily for as long as he wanted. So begins my weekend....
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| Ken Clouber begins his rousing pep talk. |
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| The rest of the crowd, during the pep talk. |
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| Emily Loman and Ernst Baer |
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| Emily downs her super-secret race formula: antifreeze straight out of the bottle. |
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| Looking towards the start area, in the rain, Abba blasting on the loudspeakers... |
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| Ernst looks at the rain while Emily grins for the camera, about 3:55 am. |
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| Just after the gun (Hans-Deiter Weisshaar is on the left, with short white beard) |
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| More runners stream past... |
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| Runners, runners, runners. 4:00am. |
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| Randy Isler, just outside Fish Hatchery aid station. |
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| Ernst at Twin Lakes, mile 37. |
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| Emily arrives at Twin Lakes |
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| Emily refueling at Twin Lakes. After taking this picture, I told her that she didn't have to smile EVERY time I picked up the camera; hence the expression in the next photo.... |
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| Emily on the trail up to Hope Pass, the 2nd time. |
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| Emily just after finishing in 26:03:23, with RD Marilee O'Neal. |
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| Hope Pass, from just outside Leadville. Its the low saddle in the center of the photo. 12,600 feet doesn't look quite so high when you are viewing it from 10,000.... |