The Kannonball 31 (F3) - Backblast

 

What:  The Kannonball 24 31

When: 12/11 1500 to 12/12 2200

Where: Kannon AO

Who: Anvil, Catfish, Chicken Strip, Cupid, Hipbone, Homeland, Java, Loafer, Luthor, Mountie, Minivan, Philly Special, Gunny, Phidippedes,Scooter, Shooter, Sir Topham, Heatstroke, Mrs. Phidip, Total Package, Tiny Savage, The Burgh, Snowman, Fire Chicken, Monty Python and I forgot two other PAX.

 

The Thang

Start at 3 pm Friday at the Kannon AO.   Run, ruck, walk, or limp a 1.5 mile loop.  Take a mandatory break from 10 pm to 5 am.  Return then rinse and repeat until 10 pm Saturday.

Moleskin

YHC apologizes in advance for any omissions and lack of clarity..still trying to find the final tally but the top three are pretty clear.

This “non-event” turned into something so much more than originally planned, because the men of F3 made it so. 

 

The morning of the event, a dear friend informed me his brother had died suddenly and unexpectedly, in the middle of a life well-lived.  Grayson Holcomb was 40 years old, married to his wife of 16 years, with two children aged 9 and 11.   A tragedy beyond words, and difficult to understand where this fits into God’s greater plan.   To his memory and family we dedicated this race (as well as to Java’s uncle, who also passed two days earlier).

We were blessed with perfect weather.   YHC had no hand in this other than the fact that I have run dozens of races in miserable conditions, so perhaps this one was “in the bank”?

 

Our start time of 3 pm was dictated by the recent stay-at-home order from 10 pm to 5 am.  We’d now have to run from 3 pm to 10 pm and return the next morning to run from 5 am to 10 pm, giving us 24 hours of running and 31 hours total.  Thus, forever transforming the Kannonball 24 into the Kannonball 31.

We had a small group starting out at 3 but picked up a few more at 4 pm.   YHC wish he could remember exactly who started...Catfish, Sir Topham, Homeland, Scooter, Cupid...apologies for not having better recall but it was a solid group, for sure.   Java and Chicken Stip came by later in the evening and between those two, and Sir Topham, set the stage for an awesome showdown.  

The evening was perfect, with cool temperatures, a stunning sunset, and West Street aglow with holiday decorations and carols emanating from the baseball stadium.   Many of the PAX retired to Old Armor for some well-deserved refreshments, and when YHC was passing by on loop number (can’t remember), Catfish jumped out and handed me a $50 bill and said it was a donation from this nice young couple drinking nearby (now, if anyone can sell snow to an eskimo, its Catfish).   But this couple was sincerely touched by our efforts, and we told them this was a direct donation to the family of Grayson Holcomb.  It was a truly perfect moment in the universe.

By the end of the evening, it was Sir Topham, who was struggling with balled-up calves and knee pain, Chicken Strip, Java and Cupid.   By 10 pm, it was all quiet on the Western Front, and YHC did a few more loops in the quiet darkness, and called it at 10:45.

The next morning the fun began at 5 am sharp with The Burgh, Gunny, Monty Python, Philly Special, Fire Chicken, and Heatstroke.  It was cool but clear and we soon joined forces with Kannon, doing a People’s Q, led by The Burgh.

 

YHC ran a few laps with HeatStroke, it was great getting to know our Meca Nant’an and realize this event could really be something.  Thanks for the support!

The day continued with absolutely perfect conditions and some amazing performances put in my Philly Special, who cranked out 27 mi., a returning Java, a returning Sir Topham, a returning Cupid, and lots of PAX coming in throughout the day.   Total Package was zooming around on his bike and clocked in 60 miles!  Mrs. Phidip also showed up to clock in some laps and bring some salted boiled potatoes, don’t knock if you haven’t tried it.  The rivalry heated up late in the day when Chicken Strip returned looking strong, and Sir Topham return with his SO, Tiny Savage (FIA).  They walked a few more laps and I believe he ended at 46.5 to Java’s 45.  But there was one more guy out there…..and this man was Chicken Strip.

What can you say about the guy except “guts”?  He was looking strong when we returned and just kept going.   Perhaps it is the weird, otherworldly blinking device he straps to his chest, or perhaps he is trying to make his cats proud.  Whatever his motivation, he was still going by they time YHC had given up the ghost at 6:30 pm.   Cupid also made his FOURTH appearance on the course and together, these HIM’s both cruised to PR’s, with Chicken Strip logging 51 miles and winning the coveted <prize to be determined>.  

This event became what it did because of PAX!  There were at least four PR’s smashed (Chicken Strip at 51, Sir Topham Hatt at 46.5, Java at 45, and Cupid at 25.5), there were multiple modes (run, walk, ruck and bike) deployed, and lots of new bonds formed.  It is the very essence of F3.

Note: I met with Grayson’s brother Dusty (Dream) the next day.  I told him about how we dedicated the race to his brother, and passed him the $50 donated by the couple.    While I can’t share his words, the impact of your support and kindness on him, and his brother’s family, is immeasurable.  Grayson’s support page is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-support-the-family-of-grayson-holcomb

 

AYE!