Extreme Races

I <i><b>started</b></i> running marathons (actually marathon- singular- I'm training for my second) after GCx2. Yes indeed it was an incredible experience, however I bonked at Phantom Ranch on the way back and nearly had to crawl back out to the south rim. 19 hours total- I decided when I finished that it was the hardest thing I have ever done (more difficult than climbing Aconcagua).<br><br>
Right. Do I sense a bit of sand-bagging?! <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> Let me see- 10,000 feet gain in 30k- yeah, that's measly! I don't qualify for this year's, but I will keep it in mind. Nipmuck sounds interesting as well.<br><br>
Some marathons that I thought would be cool to participate in:<br><br>
Great Wall of China marathon<br>
Everest marathon<br>
Athens marathon (the original??)<br>
Big Basin Redwoods marathon:<br><a href="http://www.envirosports.com/events/displayevent.php?eventid=1136" target="_blank">http://www.envirosports.com/events/d...p?eventid=1136</a><br><br>
And perhaps the Kepler Challenge if I'm feeling nuts:<br><br><a href="http://www.keplerchallenge.co.nz/general_info/info_frameset.htm" target="_blank">http://www.keplerchallenge.co.nz/gen...o_frameset.htm</a><br><br>
So much to do- so little time. For now, though, it's back to training for the Big Sur marathon.

Thanks for the link. I spent three weeks trekking and climbing in Nepal last November, and no one in our group suffered the intestinal maladies that he describes. We had a smaller group, though, and were in a more remote area. The thought of running a marathon in such spectacular surroundings really appeals to me. Also, the sherpa people were some of the nicest people I have ever met.

Speaking of tough races, I had forgotten about this one in my own back yard:<br><br><a href="http://www.run100s.com/HR/" target="_blank">Hardrock 100</a><br><br>
Has anyone run it? Gives me the willies... <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">