I just got to town to use the bathroom and update the website. BT and Tad made shockingly little progress during the night. When I saw them this morning around 8:30, BT said their odds of finishing are 50/50 because they are running out of time. They have until 6 a.m. Monday morning to finish, which would mean they would be running for a full 48-hours without sleep.
By around 1:30 this afternoon, they had completed another 9-mile loop. I spoke with them for just a minute before they took off again. They asked me to charge the batteries on their headlamps because they are going to have to walk through the night again. BT then said that he would check in after their next 2-mile loop. The problem is that it’s not a 2-mile loop. It’s a 4.5 mile loop, which means his mind is going. They look like my 83-year-old father as they walked away, shuffling their feet. Tad doesn’t look to be any better off than Bryan. At this point, I don’t honestly know how many more they have left. I don’t think they are completely sure either because they are so far beyond exhaustion that they can’t do the math. My best estimate is that they have between 26 to 30 miles left.
The good thing that it’s a beautiful, clear day. The rain has stopped, which will make it somewhat easier for them to keep going. However, I genuinely concerned for them. If they finish, they will be physically wrecked, at least for a few weeks. If they don’t finish, they will be physically AND emotionally wrecked. Imagine working so incredibly hard and getting so very close only to run out of time. They blow an airhorn every time someone finishes. I pray that they will have the satisfaction of hearing that sound as they cross the finish line. I’m wondering if I need to start walking beside them to encourage, yes, but also to intervene, if necessary. BT and I agreed on a key phrase: higgledy piggledy. If I say it, he agreed to quit.
I’ll try to get some video the next time I see them.