big dog’s backyard ultra starts hour 35:
its a good thing i got a nap when i did.
this race is suddenly like a ride on the mad mouse.
new zealand still has 15 and leads with 510 yards.assume for the moment that belgium is right there (they have not checked in yet)
the US and canada have moved back up at (-4) and are a man down.
australia (-5) is down 2
hungary (-7) is down 3
france (-10) and spain (-10) have been waiting on this moment all day.
they got behind because they lost a man so early
but now down only 1 they are in a position to climb back over some teams.
this is team backyard at its finest.
every single team member is like solid gold.
every last yard is vital.
and while we might only be a day and a half into this thing,
everybody can feel it.
everyone is approaching 150 miles
and while that might not sound like much,
it is really far!
this is what we live for as athletes
everything is against us
everything is on the line
and we…
we are the key player that can make the difference between winning and losing!
the fact that it requires us to reach into the depths of our soul
to find the strength to go on…
that just sweetens the pot.
this is a glorious hell!
the mid-size competition is still going on,
and the battle for the last podium spot has only gotten crazier.
netherlands just wont back down.
they now match the number athletes with iceland,
but they are far ahead.
iceland can only try to keep everyone on the field
and hope that netherlands will finally show some sign of weakness.
slovakia, incredibly, managed to stave off norway for third place,
they are clinging to a 437-436 lead and both countries have 3 athletes left.
no pressure on those guys,
but if one of them quits they could knock their team off the podium.
but both teams have to be watching portugal with apprehension.
because portugal is now within striking distance at 433
and has FIVE athletes left!
i cant wait for every hour to pass
just so i can see what happens next.
