A Mantra to Help You Through the Tough Spots: Forward Motion at All Times
by Frank McKinney
48 hours, 49 minutes, 20 seconds. That is how long it took me and our six-person crew to complete my journey across the Death Valley Desert.
Our Badwater Ultramarathon adventure began at 282 feet below sea level at 6:00 a.m. on July 11 and finished 135 miles later at 8,500 feet above sea level at 6:49 a.m. on July 13. More at badwater.com . By clicking this link, you should be able to see many stories and photos found on the webcast.
The high temperature on the course varied from team to team. We saw 131 degrees. Others saw as high as 137. It was over 120 for most of the race. One German team took a reading of the newly paved asphalt and it read an astounding 203 degrees.
I suffered greatly, going places in my mind and body that I never thought existed. Most unexpected was coming back or recovering from the depths of debilitation on more than one occasion to put on my hat and shoes, roll out of the van, and get moving again. Relentless forward motion was the mantra.
The sights and majesty of the desert were a constant companion. We saw two nights and three sunrises. The night skies shown more white than black as there were countless stars and distant galaxies that made me want to look up often to see shooting stars by the dozens. I looked forward to the sunsets for the beauty and the drop in temperature.
While there were many highlights that will unfold over the next few weeks, one that comes to mind is the finish. The last 13-mile climb from 3,500 feet to 8,500 feet began at 3:00 a.m. First light began to show the outline of Mount Whitney just before 5:00 a.m. The grade was steep, sometimes over 15%. There was no running, just a steady march up the many switchbacks. The sun rose, and below and far beyond we could see where we had come from. A long, snaking highway that disappeared over the range we had crossed the day before.
When we arrived within a few blocks of the finish line, my mom, wife, daughter, and the rest of the crew joined me for the final slow sprint to break the tape as a team. After crossing the finish line, I was overwhelmed with crystalline pure jubilation. A feeling of great accomplishment that was over a year in the making. We all joined hands and thanked God for the strength, courage, patience, and enlightenment that was bestowed upon us to get us to that point – 48:49:20.
One of the mental images I relied upon to get me going when I thought I couldn’t was that of those less fortunate. You see, this experience was not just for the sense of accomplishment and personal growth. I have had the good fortune of plenty of that. This experience was for those with whom we are called upon to share our blessings. It was the thought of those suffering in Haiti, Indonesia, Honduras, Nicaragua, and here at home that kept me going and allowed me to experience the finish line.
I thank all of our sponsors who can be found on our website , and I thank you for sharing in this most meaningful experience.
God Bless,
Frank McKinney
www.frank-mckinney.com
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