big dog’s backyard hour 66:
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how can i possibly describe what it is like in camp?
tent city with holes like missing teeth
where the tents of the casualties once stood.
watching the shambling forms of the 8 remaining warriors
looking like refugees of some apocalyptic event as they leave the glow of light
and fade into the darkness.
.
when they return they will have run 275 miles.
they are in the middle of their third night
having started at dawn…
.
three days ago.
.
in the center of the disarray of tents
most buttoned up against the cold
is a single brightly lit tent
people sitting at tables working on computers.
in front of the tent only the red numbers of a digital clock tick off the seconds:
.
65:05:20….65:05:21…..65:05:22…..
.
shadowy figures huddle around a low campfire
they talk of personal records and leg pain.
they ask for the latest news about the belgians.
and worry about how the australians are doing.
.
there are 9 other camps like this
scattered around the world.
the belgians, enjoying the light of morning
after a long night.
in perth australia, enjoying a pleasant spring afternoon
in japan enjoying a cool fall afternoon
new zealand, france, sweden, canada, poland, and mexico…
.
these house the remnants of 61 teams
and nearly a thousand runners
who began this odyssey almost three days ago.
50 athletes remain on their feet
closing in on 275 miles of running.
.
they survive in groups ranging from 2 to 8.
stiff legs
squinting eyes
they hurt
they hurt like few can imagine
but they go on.
the bell rings
and they answer.
.
this is a blood sport.
.
this is the backyard.
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