Since Hansel was leaving Thursday before noon, we went out for Mom's birthday Wednesday night. Hansel had to head up Thursday because registration was Friday. The race started at Squaw Valley, where Hansel parked his car, but was going to end at Placer High School in Auburn.
I drove Maile and Beck up to Roseville on Saturday while leaving Mathis at home with Mom and Grandpa Cliff. It was the first time Mathis would be taken care of overnight by someone other than Hansel or I. We got in late afternoon to the Larkspur Landing in Roseville. We had reservations, but they were oversold. So, they put us up for free at the Hilton Garden Inn across the parking lot and gave us $40 worth of Golfland money.
For dinner we went to Islands across the streeet. It was so hot up there I was tempted to drive across the street. We were just walking across the street while Hansel was running a 100-mile race in that heat. And to think, it was not as hot as it normally can get that time of year.
After dinner we went to Golfland diagonally across the street. This one also had huge water park. We just hung out in the arcade. After, we went back to the hotel, where I checked on Hansel's pace. I used their computer because I didn't have much charge left on my phone and I wanted to conserve what litle I had left. Hansel had taken the car charger, and I didn't bring a regular charger.
Earlier in the day, he was pacing slower than he predicted. But when I checked after Golfland, it looked like he was going to get to the checkpoint where we were going to meet before us. I got he kids "ready for bed" because we were going to get back late after meeting Hansel. We jumped in the car and headed out as quickly as legally possible.
We planned to meet Hansel at mile 62 at Foresthill School, which was according to google maps 45 minutes away. I parked as close as legally possible to the checkpoint. There were lots of cars, people milling about, and a few runners slowly making their way through the dark. As we quickly walked to the checkpoint, someone said, "Hi, princess." I thought for a second he was calling Maile princess because she's a young girl, but then I realized it was because she was wearing her princess nightgown.
I asked someone under a tent, who was in front of a computer, if Hansel had checked in. He had. My heart sank. I then asked if Hansel was still there. She told me to check with these people with clipboards who were checking runners out. He hadn't checked out yet! A couple of minutes later a man came up to me asking me if I was Lisa, Hansel's wife. He pointed out where Hansel was and led us over to a support area. Hansel was having a blister patched up. Can you imagine running 38 more miles with a blister?
Hansel limped over. He looked good but kind of out of it. The kids were happy to see him but didn't completely know what was going on. We gave him some hugs, cheers, and took a photo.
He finished around 9:30 -- 28 hrs and 29 mins after he started. We were so proud of him and his accomplishment. I don't even like driving 100 miles. I did not envy his recovery though. I could tell he just wanted to go to his hotel and crash, but they had to take vitals, and Hansel had to pick up his medal. Hansel understandably didn't want to wait til 12n to get his medal. I was able to pick it up for him. Originally, the kids and I were going to drive Hansel to his car back at Squaw and somehow he'd make his way to Northstar Hyatt, where he was going to spend the night resting and recovering.
If you haven't already, go to http://www.digdeeprunlong.com/ws100.php to read Hansel's account of the race.
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