Climb, climb and more climb.
This is how organizers of the Mt. Disappointment 50k/50mile endurance run in the mountains northeast of Los Angeles describe the last leg of the race:
“The final climb, which offers spectacular views, ascends the challenging Kenyon Devore Trail (1,910 feet in 3.1 miles) up to the Mt. Wilson Summit Finish.’’
This is how I describe it:
Pure, unadulterated hell. Throw me a ladder!
Which brings me to my point: If I’m going to run around Costa Rica for six days, including up and around a volcano, the Mt. Disappointment run, held this year on a hot August day, thankyouverymuch, was a perfect preview – or so I imagine.
What will they call the run around Arenal (the volcano) in Costa Rica? Mt. Beyond Disappointment? Mt. Another Four More Years of George Bush for President? AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Dante’s Seventh Circle of Hell has nothing on the Kenyon Devore Trail.
It kills runners, adding an hour or more to their expected finishing times. Surviving it, I am told, builds character. Well, it sure builds up resentment that I ever took up this “sport” (temporarily); plus, a waxy build up under my nails. 
I was alone (reminded me of sex) during most of my slow, agonizing shuffle up the Kenyon Devore Trail. Seems the faster walkers had the flames of Satan licking at their running shorts, spurring them on, while the slower ones preferred to wallow in their hopeless, cheerless fate – as well as pools of vomit and other bodily fluids.
Ahh, I love this sport! And, I really need a new Coach, someone who cares about me as a valuable person!
Greg
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