To quote Andrew Leigh, the honorary starter of the race on the occasion of his 53rd birthday: “A trail ultra is a lot like politics: long campaigns, uphill battles and the occasional mud-slinging.” Fortunately, today’s race saw little in the way of mud-slinging, but more than made up for that deficit in the way of long campaigns and uphill battles. Even the many downhills became uphill battles!
Yet for all its inner and outer struggles, barriers, hardships, obstacles and yes – actual mountains – the joy and satisfaction glowing through the agony on the faces of the solo finishers cannot be described or faked: it can only be earned, and deeply felt.
For the story of this race is told in faces: at Saturday’s registration, some nervous, trepidatious faces mingle with hopeful bravado and quiet attunement, the seeking of that inner poise of preparedness we all long for yet never quite clasp. The starting line faces of concern, relief that the wait is over, bewilderment, determination, bracing against the cold while preparing for something far more formidable – the unknown. The smiling faces of the early hills in the dancing dawn light; settling in the territories of the familiar, the cherished morning run. The sociable faces of the transitions, relief at the comfort of simple interactions with familiar friendly faces. The grim faces of Black Mountain, mirroring its name: some turning inward to block out distractions, others seeking outward for distraction against the growing formidable pain, felt and unfelt. The fatigued faces, each line etched from its own story of effort, endurance, hope, prayer, protest and resignation; hard lines and flickering lines portraying the cat-and-mouse game between self-doubt and self-belief. The relief of belief. Exhaustion and exhilaration. Sacrifice and fulfilment. Pain, pain again, then again gain, lasting gain…
For a list of heroes and champions, see the published results above. Every name alongside every finishing time tells its own history of will, achievement and glory. Today we do not single out anyone. Many of the heroes, as always, remain nameless, unheard and invisible. We salute and thank you all, for enriching us as you have each enriched this remarkable day.
