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HARDROCK
Hardrock has been a dream for a long time, since I began to run
on the long distance. During my first 100 miles attempt, at HURT
’05, I asked Hans which was his preferred ultra, and he told me
that “Hardrock is the greatest race on earth”. In January 2006 I
entered the lottery, but I was not among the 125 runners
admitted to the race: my name was only # 21 on the waiting list.
I decided to go to Silverton anyway, even if I had few chances
to run the race. It’s a long journey from Italy to Colorado, but
I was happy to visit a place I never saw before.
I arrived in Silverton 2 weeks before the race. I needed time to
get acclimatized to the altitude, and then I wished to explore
the trail during the course marking. I really enjoyed this
activity: it was real fun to walk on the mountains with many
friendly runners. Never before I had the chance to meet other
runners before the race. The days went by fast, but my name was
still on the waiting list: 2 days before the start, I was still
# 4. At this point something strange happened, maybe a kind of
little miracle... A few more runners were allowed to enter the
race, and among them was my name! Sometimes the wishes become
reality, and this was the case!
On Friday morning it is still dark when we meet at the school. I
still have many doubts, but it is no more time to wonder, just
time to act. Finally the start: let’s go! I try to run slowly,
as I know it’s a long long way to go before we can be back in
Silverton! I really enjoy the landscape: these mountains are so
big and wild! Ice Lake is a wonderful sight, then it’s a real
fun to run down Grant Swamp Pass. The ascent to Oscar’s Pass is
very hard because it’s so hot, but up there it’s raining when I
reach Virginius. I thank the volounteers who came up on foot
carrying drinks and chairs! Here I realize that I’m in advance
on my schedule, so I decide to slow down to spare my energies,
and walk down the long way to Ouray without any running. It’s
getting dark when I’m at Ouray aid station, and I spend some
more time to get ready for the night. The way up to Engineer is
highly romantic, under a beautyful moon. It is just like a
dream: beautyful landscape, full moon, and a great joy to be
here now!
The ascent to Handies Peak is very tough as I am tired: I sit on
a stone to rest a little, and I fall asleep for a few minutes!
On the top of Handies I can watch the sunrise. Just a moment to
enjoy it, then I begin to go downhill. After having eaten some
food in Sherman, it’s time to go on: the course now is not steep
but it’s a very long way! At Pole Creek it’s cold and it rains,
but it will last just few minutes. When I reach Maggie I sat on
a chair and close my eyes a little. After a few moments I hear
the aid station chief saying “Number 120, here is your pacer!”.
I open my eyes, and I meet Bill, who will come with me to
Cunningham. I guess I look very tired, and no one wants to let
me go alone. I’m happy to go on with Bill, so we can talk a
little, and this helps me to remain awake. In Cunningham Jackie
is waiting for us: she will take Bill’s place and come with me
to Silverton. We reach Little Giant Pass at dusk, but Jackie
knows well the course and now I feel fine, so we can go fast.
The end of this beautiful and absurd race is not far!
We enter Silverton around midnight. A few people is still awake
at the school to wait for the runner that are arriving. I kiss
the rock, final act of the Hardrock. I still don’t realize that
I reached the goal I dreamed for months... And I can’t
understand how I can feel so fine after 42 hours without rest.
Fatigue and pain disappeared, only the satisfaction remains! For
sure this experience will remain forever among my sweetest
memories!
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