big’s backyard starting hour 22:
.
it seemed like i had a rhythm going.
checking the fire,
doing the whistles and bells
filling in odd jobs or maybe even eat something while the leaderboard updated
and then doing a post
(that from out here in the yard it seems like no one is reading)
then starting over.
and over and over!
.
but this time there is no leaderboard update!
so maybe its a good time to talk crews and staff…
.
what about us?
generally i find the crews around the campfire just before the runners are coming in.
they seem to be attracted by the heat.
.
i think we agree that this is a pretty hard way to spend a weekend.
but we cant even properly feel sorry for ourselves because;
“what about those poor bastards out in the yard?”
.
some of the runners have two crew.
and those take shifts at night
actually sleeping more than 20 minutes at a time.
lucky dogs.
.
during the day it is a little closer to fun,
because it is warm and we can mill about tent city
and talk a little bit.
everyone knows when their athlete is coming in
so they are slaves to the clock
the same as me.
all the socializing has to take place in about 5 minute windows.
.
still, this is much better than if it was raining.
in the rain tent city is a miserable place.
huddling in your tent,
trying to minimized going out in the rain,
because there isnt anywhere to get dry afterwards.
no fire to get warm by.
even if i could build a fire in the rain
(which i can)
it isnt worth standing in the rain.
.
inside the tent fighting a losing battle
against the determined incursions of water and mud
wet leaves and grass
trying to protect an ever dwindling amount of habitable space
so that the time between yards for the runner
is slightly more pleasant than an above-ground version of a WWI trench.
.
and at least it isnt like ireland,
trying to maintain some sort of shelter in a 60 mile an hour wind.
.
or one of those years when it is way below freezing,
and no one moves until i come out to stoke the fire and do the start
hearing all the tent zippers when the runners hear me putting wood on the fire.
as soon as the bell sounds everyone scurries for shelter like so many cockroaches when you turn on the light.
.
but that leaves out the fun parts.
the peals of laughter over the spontaneous jokes that come out of a ridiculous situation.
(many of them not repeatable in a post)
.
the crews actually form bonds as much as the runners do.
helping each other out
sharing supplies and equipment
and generally making a good time out of what could be miserable.
.
yeah,
we dont get a lot of the glory
but we have our own challenges.
those runners get all the attention to their needs…
.
what about us?
