Wasatch 100 2008

For as long as I can remember my Dad has been involved with the Wasatch 100 Mile Endurance Run and for the last 20 years he has been the race director. So that being said... For as long as I can remember I have been involved in the Wasatch 100 too. The Wasatch 100 takes place every year the first weekend after Labor Day. Approximately 230 runners run through the mountains of the Wasatch front. It's starts Saturday morning at 5:00am and ends at 5:00pm on Sunday (36 hours). Now I would like to say I have been one of those crazy people running and finishing 100 miles, but no, not I, instead I hold a different title. I do however have different family members who have ran and finished including my Aunt Lynda, my Cousin Krista and her brother Jake, (both are Lynda's kids) and my hero, my brother Adam as well as some great friends. So you ask, what is my title? Well it's the "Finish Line Time Keeper". Each year I tell people I have the "100 miler this weekend" and they always think I mean I am running it. As if running 100 miles compares to having to stay up ALL NIGHT, in a comfortable sleeping bag and lawn chair, with a nice toasty heater. I mean that's much more difficult, right? Well that's how I make it out to be. That taking finish line times all night, without any sleep is the "real" accomplishment. Perhaps I just needed to make myself seem more important and more significant than those actually running the race. My sister has been my partner ever since she was old enough to help me and not annoy me. LOL Honestly it's been so much fun over the years and we have so many great memories. I think in the last 20 something years the only time one of us wasn't there was when we had babies... She's missed more than I have :)

Well for the last 10+ years the race committee has given an award called "The Spirit of the Wasatch". It's an award that has been given to runners and non-runners and volunteers and just anyone who has been involved in the Wasatch 100 and made some kind of positive contribution or impression to others. My favorite, or most memorable was the year it was given to a woman who doesn't have one of her legs. Her husband runs every year and just before he crosses the finish line, this 50 something year old man picks her up and carries her across. She is an inspiration to everyone and has the most positive attitude. Never letting her struggles in life show or get her down. Instead she is supporting and loving all of those involved in the race and cheering for her husband running his two legs across 100 miles of mountain terrain. What an amazing couple and inspiration they are. So this year the award ceremony starts and I am sitting by my sister, laughing because I am delirious from staying up all night taking finish line times (didn't want you to forget). Suddenly it's time for "The Spirit of the Wasatch" award. Yes finally the time I've been waiting for. Well as I'm listening to my Dad talk about the award, I start to have this feeling that something seems a bit different... I hear him say "I had nothing to do with this" and "this year it's going to 2 people" and I can hear him start to get emotional... And just before he says it, I know he means me and my sister... "Amanda Kearns and Stephanie Davis". I was in complete shock. We were actually getting the award for all of our years as the "Finish Line Time Keepers"? So we REALLY were noticed and somewhat important after all. WOW!! Everyone clapped and cheered and it was a very humbling and emotional moment. It was such an honor to share it with my sister too.

So now that I have the award for the "Finish Line Time Keeper" I guess maybe it's time to try for the "measly" award of running 100 miles...