Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 11:19:54 -0800
From: Suzi Thibeault <4suzit@neworld.net>
To: IUS-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Subject: Avalon XP

Serious athletes will want to delete this post about now, as I intend
to fawn over the pleasure of running a 50 mile race just for the fun
of the weekend party.  Why do I run ultras?  Because I can.  Why
do I party?  Because I want to, and I still can.

Avalon 50 has everything.  An island vacation.  A benefit for
charity.  Some dirt and some asphalt.  Plenty of uphill and all the
downhill your poor little foots can stand.  Every kind of restaurant
variety or price imaginable and accommodation diversity too.  You
can camp or be pampered.  Like I said, Avalon has it all.

We wrapped this terrific confection with a stay on the Queen Mary
Thursday night past, and then took the express boat ride to
Catalina Friday morning.  We actually saw seals, dolphins, and
spouts from grey whales from the boat!  I had worked with about 30
clients going for the race, and was meeting some of them in person
for the first time that day.  We had breakfast with the Cooper
family, Dave and Lane aboard the Queen Mary found them to be
ready for action.

Lane is a small package of high energy with curly blonde hair, and
an attitude of adventure.  For all those worrying about this child
being pushed into ultra endurance runs by a promoting Father,
forget it.  Dad Dave is being dragged down the trail, with the
anchor out, by a kid enjoying himself immensely.  During the run
Lane took off with new found friend Bobby Porter, and was 30
minutes ahead of his Dad before the "pacing God" struck him down
and he faced the reality of a rabbit start.  The good news is Dad
caught up by the turnaround and they made a mutual decision to
drop there with a smile instead of continue with a frown.  Wise
decision, and there was some parental guidance involved, though
kept carefully disguised.

The rest of us "adults" however, were left to our own devises.
Gene made his first choice by just saying NO to my cold water dive
plan Friday afternoon.  I did go scuba diving with Jan and Bob
Davis, and though cold, the visibility was good and the dive was a
blast.  Many lobster, schools of fish including orange Garabaldi, an
octopus, and kelp forest galore.  The news story about a beached baby
grey whale on the California Coast however, was not about me, though it
could have been. Bob was worried about the dive effecting his run, but
after a PR for 50 miles, he will try to find a dive in Vermont this
July I'm sure.

Saturday morning was pitch black, and filled with excited runner on
the waterfront street start.  The course was well marked, good aid,
and everybody got to see all the other runners on the out and back
to the turnaround.  The weather just seemed perfect, and so was
the company.  Geri and I even finished together, though we spent
many miles with other friends.  This run was a treat.  My own finish
was 9 minutes slower than I ran 9 years ago, so I guess I am
slowing down, but you gotta stop to smell the buffalo in life.

Everybody smelled better than buffalo at the dinner dance held at
the famous Avalon Ballroom Saturday night, and the band was
good.  Lane and I danced a few, and even old Gene got out on the
floor after collecting his "second place old fart trophy".  The meal
was terrific and the ballroom was gorgeous with the harbor view and
post run relaxation.  What a treat.

I didn't have a pacer, my bottles didn't freeze, and anyone who
wants to copy and publish this report is welcome to do so.

Suzi T
4suzit@neworld.net