An Experience of a Lifetime!

The Keys 100 was something Mark and I would never have imagined without Henry! He asked us to be his "support crew" and we said yes, probably without putting much though into it, but it ended up being a weekend we'll never forget! The entire experience it hard to even begin describing, so much happened in 4 days, I don't think it's really sunk in! For a "play by play" of the race go to www.twitter.com/followforrest.

Wednesday 5/13: Henry arrived in Gainesville and we went to Super Wal*Mart for supplies. $150 and 21 gallons of water later we were set!

Thursday 5/14: Mark & I worked and Henry and Bailey spent the day together preparing for the race. We all met for an essential pre-race meal at Satchel's (www.satchelspizza.com). That afternoon Henry decided on one more run before the race and took off to explore Gainesville. About 1/3 of the way through the run the 1st thunderstorm in weeks decided to make an appearance and after sitting inside and out of the rain for about an hour, Henry had to run home barefoot so he didn't get his race shoes wet. What a way to start the weekend! Then it was home for the boys to create the Sh*t Hut, a necessity for the race in case nature called in the wrong place.

Friday 5/15: We packed up the car and headed south! It took us about 7 hours to get to Key Largo with an important Subway stop along the way in Palm Beach Gardens. Our hotel in Key Largo was GREAT! It was little cottages right on the water and the grounds were covered with every lawn ornament imaginable! The cottage had it's own parking (ideal for getting the car ready for the race), a small kitchen, and a large fridge and freezer for ice storage the night before! Soon after we got there it was off to race check-in, purchasing 15 noodles for decorating the car, and the pre-race meeting. After the meeting it was a late night of preparing for the next day . . . making music playlists, organizing the car, getting Henry's food and drinks ready, etc.

Saturday 5/16: We were up at 4:30 am and at the race start by 5:15. Time for stretching, making last minute plans regarding meeting point and strategy, and another race check-in. At 6am sharp the 100 mile individual race began, and they were off. We spent the day meeting Henry every 1 to 3 miles, giving him food and water, and cheering him on. He did an amazing job preparing for the race, researching what he needed to eat and drink to keep him body going, and it made Mark and my job very easy! There is one road through the keys, it's the only way in and the only way out, and many times it's very narrow with water just on either side of the roadway. The day was hot and sunny, no rain, and there are many, many bridges. The two most challenging parts of the race were around the 50 mile mark, and early Sunday morning (after the 75 mile mark). Following the 50 mile check in Henry had to run over the 7 mile bridge with no assistance from us, which he did in an amazing 1 hour and 12 minutes! The 75 mile check in was after dark and it got progressively harder from there. By 2am we were all exhausted and Henry decided he needed some rest. He slept for a little over an hour and was ready to go again!

Sunday 5/17: Henry finished the Keys 100 in 25 hours, 52 minutes and 25 seconds, just before 8am in the morning. He finished 15th overall and 1st in his age group (18-29). There were about 66 people who started the individual 100 mile race and only 19 who finished it! Finishing this race is AMAZING! Getting 1st in his age group is UNBELIEVABLE!

After he finished we slept by the hotel pool until our room was ready, checked in, took much needed showers and then headed out for a picture at the southernmost point and the awards ceremony. Then it was off for a celebratory drink at Sloppy Joe's Bar, and we were all in bed and asleep by 8:30pm (not waking until 7:30 the next morning).


It was an incredible weekend!