Beyond the Blog Day 29 (May 26) - THE BIG FINISH! - Part I

First thing in the morning, facing the music for the day

 

It is September 9, just over three months after completing the Ruck.  As I write this, I am recognizing that it is unlikely I will ever experience anything as epic as that last day, at least with regards to physical and spiritual challenges over an extended period of time.  It is a tough thing to contemplate, to know that you are done, and the temptation to think of the next big thing is great.  But I would not put my family through that again, nor would I ever ask the friends who volunteered so much time and effort to ever step up to the plate again.

 

The feelings I have about this day are of completeness, moreso than a sense of pride.  It is the recognition of all things coming together, with the Ruck being one part of an entire event that united so many people for a single mission.   I also felt extreme relief at having finished the challenge and not let anyone down...donors, CAN, and autistic families following my journey. The comments of all of those donors were still written in my mind. Beyond this, I felt complete gratitude to my support team, to my own family, and yeah...to God, for keeping me safe through some dangerous moments.

 

 

The Farmers Market in North Myrtle Beach at 5:30 am, our departure point on this final day.

 

So let me back up to the beginning of the day itself.   It was another early start as we were to meet a news team at 6 am at the Farmers Market in North Myrtle Beach.   The route that Stephanie had planned would take me all the way through North Myrtle Beach, past the outlet shopping center into downtown Myrtle Beach, heading south and eventually ending as Surfside Beach.   It was going to be another scorcher, so the early start was fine with me, and knowing this was the last day, I wanted to take my time.

 

I should mention the “100 Slamball Burpee Challenge” at this point.

 

Sometime earlier in the week, Matt and I were having a discussion about how to make the event more difficult, as a fundraising challenge, and we began throwing out some ridiculous ideas.    Running backwards, carrying extra weight, doing 1,000 burpees, etc.   I forgot how we settled on the 100 Slamball Burpees, but we did (probably because I did them during the Myrtle Beach Marathon five years earlier, Slappy’s first distance adventure.   We set a goal of $10,000 additional that had to be raised in the next week as the buy-in.    Becky did her thing and wouldn’t you know, they hit the challenge goal pretty quickly.   I was committed to 100 slamball burpees!   Cheryl made a whiteboard chart with each set of 10 Burpees to be marked off, along with a countdown of miles to go before the event finished.   This was a great motivator as I struggled later in the day.

I left as stealthily as I could under the circumstances.   The news crew was awesome.

 

The TV reporter got some footage of me doing the burpees and we had a fun interview.   The other interviews were at the end of the day, at the very finish, when I made much less sense.   We had a nice little area at the Farmers Market and enjoyed hanging out a bit after the interview, but it was going to be a hot day and so we said our goodbyes, and by 7 am I was off.   I wouldn’t see Becky again until mile 21 or 22.   There was no big ceremony or speechifying, although we did say a prayer of gratitude.   But without any further preamble, I was off.   In the video for that moment, I just say “I gotta go”, and then about 10 seconds later, “I just hit my top speed for the day”!

 

The ruck through North Myrtle Beach was peaceful, and reflective.   The street was quiet and the sun was coming up.   For this stretch, it was actually just me and Cheryl, and I knew she could track me on Life 360, so I wasn’t in a rush.  I was processing a lot and really just wanted to clear my mind, focus on where I was right at that moment, rather than get overwhelmed by events that were building on their own accord.   I felt a sense of joy, feeling the early sun on my face, my body exhausted but still intact, my family and friends ahead of me.   

 

Packing up Slappy after Round1 of Slamball Burpees

 

The route took us down the main strip in North Myrtle Beach, and then at Tanger Outlets, we took a left and headed past Kings Plantation.  Cheryl met me there and related yet another “autism encounter” with a woman shopping at CVS (where Cheryl was buying work gloves so I could hold Slappy better on the slamball burpees).   The woman, a customer, had noticed the signs on our car and had asked about CAN.   It turned out she had just moved to the area and was struggling with her son with autism and really needed some support.   Cheryl said she teared up when she heard about CAN and our mission, and she left the lady with some information on how to get in contact with CAN.   I hope she did...there IS help available and once again, it proves that a little awareness goes a very long way.

 

When it gets hot, don’t be afraid to look ridiculous if it cools you down

 

When passing by Kings Plantation, I was reminded of when we used to stay there for Cheryl’s medical conferences, back when Claire was a baby.   Claire’s first beach was North Myrtle Beach, and I have a wonderful picture of her splashing in a tidal pool that always makes me catch my breath.  Further on, we cut through a neighborhood of million-dollar homes on a luxury golf course, which I didn’t even know existed in this part of Myrtle Beach.   A mile later, as I was rucking past a shopping center, a lady across the road was jumping up and down cheering for me.  She had seen the news broadcast and waited there at that spot for me to pass by!  My very own fangirl!  It was pretty awesome to experience that kind of support.

 

Station Number 2 or 3….getting a little warmer

 

The day wore on, getting hotter.   I had stopped four or five times and my slamball burpee count was at 40 or 50...I was doing 10 at every stop while Cheryl recorded my totals on the traveling whiteboard.   She also had a reverse countdown of miles to go before I finished.    The whiteboard became my single source of truth as the day progressed, the heat rose, and I began to flag.   What did the whiteboard say?  Where was I?

 

I don’t remember this being a particularly fun moment

 

Matt was with us at this point and we had some good conversations as we headed into Myrtle Beach downtown, along the ocean.   I was at the halfway point in the day, coinciding with the halfway point for the Myrtle Beach Marathon, so it was familiar and comfortable ground for me.   The slamball burpees were getting much harder, though, and Cheryl and Matt did their best to keep me on track without overheating.   Matt practically drove his car next to me handing out water at one point.   He had to leave and meet his mom and sister, who would be at a rest stop around mile 18, when I was at a low point and not at my best.  Cheryl was particularly concerned and kept telling me to walk, but when I reach a certain point I get very stubborn and cranky, and I’m afraid I was right there by the time we got to downtown Myrtle Beach.    There is a long 4-mile stretch of hotels, souvenir shops, tatoo parlors and bars..you know, classic Myrtle Beach, and I slogged through in relentless heat, increased by the sun reflecting off all of the buildings.   I was starting to redline on the last day and refused any help or advice, mostly my own MD wife.   That is the strange thing about exhaustion or heatstroke….your decision-making ability goes to zero yet you are convinced there is nothing wrong.   It’s why people die on trails in the desert.  Your brain is not right.   I write this because even now I know I snapped at her unfairly while Matt’s family was gathered around.   I can just imagine the wonderful impression I was leaving on them. 

 

 

Putting on Slappy after a very hot, somewhat contentious stop.  

 

There was just 2 or 3 miles to the next stop and I had time to mentally cool down and remember how epic this day was.   Negativity is a matter of attitude and I wanted to banish it altogether from this experience.