And I'm certain that if you want to be able to run in the middle of the night, you just have to either snag a nap (impossible for me to do) or stumble through the fatigue.

I did have an easier time with the hills, but food was an issue — again.

As usual, I ate too much and had stomach problems for my last legs. Also, for the first time in five years, we had two runners unable to complete their legs due to illness and injury, which meant extra legs for three of us. As I came up the last hill to the finish line, I saw my teammates standing there cheering for stumbling, slow me, and I was filled with the kind of joy that is impossible to describe.

I am barely an athlete. My greatest competitions are with myself and usually over whether or not I will train today. But for 36 hours, I am saturated with shattering my own limits and watching others do the same.

This is a race that connects you with what is best in yourself, and toughest in those who pretend you don't stink as they settle in beside you for a short power nap.

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E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com