This is the 3rd time I have done Manitou’s Revenge 54 Miler, aka MR54. I have created race reports the previous years I’ve done it. This year, I decided not to create Yet Another Race Report.

Why?

The race itself has not changed since the past 2 years that I have done it. The course remains the same, from start to finish, and every aid stations in between, mile per mile. If you want to have detailed info on the course (and my experience tackling this event), please check my previous posts in 2017 and 2018.

So this year, I decided to give this post a twist.

Imagine yourself in a banquet. This banquet. The MR54 banquet.

Start-Mile 21. The ‘Escarpment’ hors d’oeuvres. This is the section where you get an introduction to what this banquet is about, and also a chance to mingle and know the other attendees, in a still relaxed environment, while non-stop hills and technical terrain ‘food’ and ‘cocktails’ are served all around you. Make sure you don’t indulge yourself too much on the warm up food and cocktails because you might not have anything left for the appetizer and main course to come.

Mile 21-Mile 31. The ‘Kaaterskill’ appetizer. The section where the banquet comes to a more formal atmosphere. You now have the sit-down appetizer. Still not the main course, but the food and drinks start to become heavy on the body. Tempting, but you need to pace yourself for the main course ahead.

Mile 31-Mile 50. The ‘Devil’s and Tremper’ main course. After the belly filling sections that you’ve just had, the main course is served. Servings are non-stop, from one dish to another. You wouldn’t know which dish is the best. You just keep on taking them until you can take no more. Your body starts to complain of too much food. You will have to tell the waiters you’ve had enough. You want to have some dessert and coffee or tea, please.

Mile 50-Finish. The ‘Tower’ of dessert and coffee. The tower of cake signifies the end of the never-ending meal. But the banquet is not over yet. Dessert is now served. Some sweets, and coffee or tea, if you please. You can now unbuckle your belt and breathe. You might still want to be careful downing the sweet dessert – you might slip and land on your butt, if you go too fast. Do you still have anything left in your body for the final descent dessert ???

The Finish. ‘Speeches’ and ‘Thank You’. Finally, the end of the banquet. I’m pretty sure at this point, you’ve had a wonderful time. You had been served with food and cocktails you have never imagined you could take. It’s time to thank the host, and all his waiters and servers, of this banquet – Charlie. He has been up and entertaining guests from start to finish. And if you enjoyed this one, maybe you get a chance to come back next year.

Oh Yes – My race report. Sorry, can’t help it.

I suffered this year more than I have the previous 2 years. Perhaps I was less prepared this year than before. I had so many low points from start to finish, that at some points doubts started to surface. I said to the one above guiding me, “I’ll take the suffering, just don’t let me quit.” That has become the mantra of the day. Every tree I grabbed onto, every rock I touched, I said, “just don’t let me quit”.

Another word that kept me going – mindfulness – being aware of the present, on what and why I’m here. I would stop, take a break, close my eyes, utter the word, and breathe. It was a 5-10 seconds of recovery. It may be hard to believe, but it helped.

And with that, I finished. And this was the most rewarding of the 3 finishes.

THANK YOU.