Not a trip report in the true sense as I did not really go anywhere. I was a volunteer for the Neusiok Trail Race held 5 Jan 2013. This is the second year the run has been held and as it is held on the local hiking trail that I hike and help maintain I would not feel right if I was not our there to help (plus I know the guy putting on the run).
The run consisted of a 21.5, and 43 and 64.5 mile run of the trail. The run started at 7am with 100K runner going first and the 42 milers and the 21.5 milers at 5 minute intervals.
I meet with Brandon (the race organizer) at 3am Saturday to help set up the starting area, check in ect. I got there early and started to set up my hammock but Brandon arrived before I could get it set up so we started getting the race stuff setup..Very windy and cold, 37 degrees. Luckily there was a large picnic shelter we were able to use for the check in/feeding station and once we got some tarps set up to block the wind it felt much warmer.
Once the race got under way Brandon took off to check on the other check points/aid stations and to meet with the 21.5mile runners when they finished the run at the other end.
I stayed at the starting point to watch things. At this point I set up my hammock and took a nap. I used my BB and my new Warbonnet travel sock to block the wind and it did a very good job of doing so. I had the hammock facing the check in point so I could snooze and keep an eye on it. I did talk to several people about hammocks and my setup. Talked to one Vietnam vet who told me about sleeping in the old military hammocks in Vietnam and freezing in it. I told him about under quilts and how they work and he said he know knew why he got cold. I got another person interest in attending a group hang.
At least I did get several hours of much needed sleep as once I got up at 11am I never had a chance to get back into the hammock..
One of the 42 mile runners said he took a header along the trail and it looked like he had birds nest in his head. Others had the usual scrapes, blisters ect.. Luckily the EMT on site had very little to do except treat some blisters.
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