Recollection

48 hours later, as little details - flashes of sight and sound - start to fade, I'm rushing to get things down that I was lucky enough to catch and others may have missed:

• Setting a new Trial PR to tape off the 'loop' - destroyed the night before when the field was brushed down to the dirt.
• Yelling myself hoarse in the first round of 5000lbs overhead, and then warning Ray not to laugh if my voice cracked while he was lifting. 
• Watching Ray quietly pick apart the 5000lbs overhead.  Mechanical.  Wild. 
• Having Jori tumble, buckling under the bar, falling right flat on the ground, and then grip and rip to finish the event. 
• Monique wiping blood away from her nose after the clean and jerk. 
• The crowd around Nancy as she finished.  Probably 30 in a semicircle, cheering. 
• Almost climbing right up Sandy's back.  I was inches from his head.  Totally zeroed my voice on that guy. 
• Darren's wife and daughter screaming for him as he moved like I've never seen him.  He just - kept - going.  He didn't stop.  What an effort, and it paid off for him. 
• Walking to the start of the Trail, the women walking with Miranda are giving her wedding-night advice.  Also, post-WOD consummation advice.  I ran off ahead. 
• Simon pitching down the first drop, almost recovering, and then doing a shoulder-roll back to his feet to keep running. 
•   Yelling to Miranda, who was getting married 6 hours later, that this would be "the last event where anyone is going to cheer for 'Mayhew!'"  Her response:  "F*** that!  I'm keeping my name!"
• Spotting Philsy round that last corner of the run in first place.  I went nuts, and slipped partway down the hill. 
• Running from the Trail to shower and get ready for a funeral.  Hayley and Melissa Oikari were going, too.  I was sweating from exertion, excitement, fever....and had to stand outside at the funeral home until I calmed down.  On the front porch, I saw Hayley get out of her car in her dress, reach down and wipe some trail mud off her calf.  Completely forgetting where I was, I threw my arms up and yelled, "Yeah!" as loud as possible.  Luckily, that wasn't very loud.  Robin told me not to talk for the next hour. 
•  Returning from the funeral, Melissa jumping back in to do the Chipper.  Empty stomach, bad place mentally, didn't matter.  She still did well.
•   Tabulating for the Sandbag Carry, Whit was reading the standings for S1 men.  Darren was in second.  For a guy who was in S2 until he moved up 2 days ago...... wild.
•   Got memories?  I'm sure I"ll be adding to this through the day.  Post yours below:

Comments

[Anna Cappelli]

A few years ago, I ran the Toronto Marathon, just to finish...nothing spectacular. I remember that it was not just a physical endurance thing but a mind game as well. Keep your mind occupied otherwise you panic when you realize how crazy and grueling this is. (Sound familiar?) Well, my husband's uncle (who is a seasoned runner in Toronto) decided to join me for my last 10km. Dave just stayed with me and coached me through. When we crossed the finish line together, there were people cheering, my muscles were seizing (as I had to stand still for them to remove the timing chip on my shoe) and Dave gave me this great big hug. I was crying! Yes...your mind is so overwhelmed with emotion...that's what I did...cried, I just didn't know what else or how else to react. Now flash forward to Saturday. I was in the first flight and had to clean and jerk 75# for 40 reps. Grueling yes...legs shaking, sweating and people cheering...the whole nine yards. Next round comes Nancy who will not do 40, but 67 reps at the same weight! We are all cheering her on and its as if I can feel her pain (well...I did feel part of it about a half hour earlier). She complete's her reps out of sheer mental determination. When she finishes, we all congratulate her. As I go to hug her I lose it...yep I cried and I think she teared up too! It may be silly but who cares, most people out there can't appreciate what she accomplished. I just want folks to know what an emotional event the games were. People really gave it their all! Even though Nancy, you didn't finish the 4th event, the events you did complete were "as prescribed"! I just hope you reallize how well you did and how much you inspired everyone. Job well done!

[monique rollin]

I was racked with self doubt since first hearing about the games. I was embarassed to put myself out there in case I failed. I didn't think I was good enough, strong enough, fast enough, fit enough. The day before the games my 8 year old son told me that I wasn't setting a very good example for him. He said that I worked so hard eveyday at it and how he was going to be there for the kids event with me just going to watch? I entered the day before, against my better judgement, never having seen the trail and full of self doubt. My son's voice followed me across the finish line along with the cheers of people I have never met. He said "keep your eyes on the road ahead mom, you can do it".
What better advice could I ever give him?
Thanks Hayden, Wayne, Chris, Krista, Craig, Mel and everyone else who beleived in me when even I didn't.

[PJ]

well...for those of us who fought the good fight !! We trained hard, we sweat together, we encouraged one another,we cheered each other on(and would do it again in a minute), we put the effort out, we pushed ourselves and did the best we could do .... remember to be a winner doesn't always mean you walk away with a medal !! Compare yourself to no one !! Compete only with yourself !!! We ALL did a GREAT JOB !! Hats off to my fellow CF'ers !!!

[Carolle]

A couple of recollections:

1. During the chipper, PJ (scaled 2) insisting on doing what she could Scaled 1, challenging herself, with no regard for the extra time this took.

2. End of the sandbag--Adrian just finishes, sprawls out on the mat exhausted, and still shouts out the count for Ray's last few pullups.