big’s backyard hour 3:
the routine is starting to settle in.
doing the trail loop is not fast
so some of the team is only arriving a couple of minutes ahead of the whistles.
but these are veterans.
tent city is clustered around the corral
and nobody is in the corral ahead of the 30 second mark.
most come in between 15 seconds and 10…
so i have a little low level stress each hour
hoping no one makes a mistake!
here in camp the thoroughfares are getting worn in
as everyone builds a mental map of this place that sprang up yesterday.
by tomorrow this time we would be able to draw tent city.
inside each tent everything is organized and clean.
people have hung various flags
and are in the process of creating homes
in which the crews will live
and the runners will spend a few minutes each hour.
but these will be like motels occupied by construction crews.
gradually the neatness will be replaced by disarray.
dirty gear and clothing will accumulate.
food and cooking utensils will be strewn about.
maybe a wind will come up
and the tents become disheveled.
flattened grass tracks will be replaced by dirt trails.
the condition of the runners and tent city
will deteriorate together.
but for now, everything is pristine.
