Following back-to-back half marathon weekends, I originally eyed a return to the High Bridge Ultra 50K for a second consecutive year, but seeing the possibility of thunderstorms and probability of nonstop rain in Pamplin, Virginia, I decided instead to go back to the Danville Half Marathon, taking place on October 14, 2023, that I ran a couple of years previously in the eponymous city, also in Virginia. Albeit I expected rain here and there, if I could have foreseen to what extent, from packet pickup all the way to the end of the event without a break, I highly doubt I would have signed up with two minutes to spare prior to online registration closing the night before.

Because I recalled this course as mostly flat, I shot hard from the start for a sub-two-hour run, but whether I am still out of shape from the summer or the heavy rain, soaking my shoes early on, affected me, or perhaps my legs have not sufficiently recovered from the two half marathons in just over a week, I felt fatigue hit me earlier than I imagined. Periodically smelling pungent weed odor throughout the trail predictably riled me up as well as confuse me what weirdo(s) would come outside early in the morning in this heavy rain just to get high. (For years now, there has been almost nowhere I have been able to freely run or even walk without the likelihood of encountering stoners or at least the smell, so I am extra sensitive toward these inconsiderate senseless dolts who shamelessly smoke in public and brag about their drug use.) Approaching the finish, I no longer cared strongly to push to my limit, as I had already blown this run, but a face I recognized from packet pickup pulled up from behind and said hello with just over half a mile to go, and I told her, “I am running the rest of the race with you.” Amber was running her first half marathon after just having gotten over pneumonia, and conversing with a fellow runner took my mind off the boredom and slight exhaustion, and I for certain would have finished later without her entrance, for which I thanked her. My bizarre finish time of 2:07:34.66 still placed second in my age group of 30-34, so I cannot be too embarrassed!