Deseret News stories about Lorie

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We did it!

Wow what a ride!

I think that I have found one of the reasons I do these long events.  I wish that everyone could be in my shoes at the end of a race.  Being part of something, such as this race, that takes selflessness, devotion, dedication and a good sense of humor.  We all came together as individuals and worked together as a team through the heat, wind, storm,  fatigue and sleep depravation to get us through to the finish.  It is a fantastic feeling to work as a team toward a goal with people who like to have fun just as much as I do.  I can't wait to show the pictures that were taken while we were on the road.  Margaret brought a bunch of costumes for herself and everyone to wear while they were crewing.  Once I was too tired to notice that the whole crew was wearing thick black glasses with large noses.  Before I left them I figured it out, that kept me smiling for miles.  Most of the costumes were not so subtle, Margaret in a "Sponge bath Betty" nurse out fit.  Drew in a speedo and water wings.  Andrea with tube socks and a nighty.  Steve with his bare chested Buddha impression or his coconut shell chest and grass skirt.  Jodi did wear the glasses with the nose, someone had to hand me something to drink while everyone else was acting out their roles.

I did everything I knew to do to train for this race, I ran the mileage, I practiced on pavement, I did the heat training I even lost a few pounds.  However our 8th place overall finish is a  direct reflection of my Amazing Crew.  Badwater is a team event, no one runs this race alone.  We had our theories about how to keep me cool during the run but it was not until a few miles into the race that we got it figured out.  Everyone added something to this team that was invaluable.  I am so proud of our team, I love every quirky part of them!

Steve, Andrea, Drew, Jodi, Margaret and myself have just gone through an amazing experience together.  We get to keep this wonder feeling and all these memories forever.  

Lorie

p.s. Thanks for following at home, it was really fun to read your posts and to get the voice and txt messages.  

Amazing Lorie!!

Being a part of the crew has been fabulous...the views, the sweat, the cheering, the sweat, the bathroom breaks.... the sweat...All kidding aside it has been a privledge to have been able to crew with Nurse Betty and the gang for Lorie who showed such amazing strength and grace in an event that just still seems unimaginable even though I just witnessed it.  I think my muscles that are the most sore are in my abs.....from all the laughing I did with fellow crewmembers there was truly some fine entertainment!  Buddha Steve and I had the night shift which was fabulous for me since I got to run with Lorie to Father Crowley Point under the glorious dark starry filled night sky with a yellow moon, cooler temps, and a nice breeze... a memory I will always love.  We also got to be with Lorie as she passed the 100 mile point absolutely flying down the pass at sunrise..... very cool. Thank you to Margaret as crew chief who organized everything and kept us all together and smiling, and thank you to Lorie for an adventure I will never forget! Much love and cheering to all.......tube socks rule!

Andrea 

The Crew is Alive!!!

Happily, the crew also finished Badwater is excellent condition!  We have only a serious papercut, a hangnail, and a few bruises and sore muscles to show for our 135 mile adventure.  We had an outstanding time crewing for Lorie, trying to make each mile pass by as quickly and enjoyably as possible.  We may have set new standards for crewing at Badwater, and I'm suggesting that those "standards" may actually become "rules."  You know, no speedos and water wings, no dance parties in the middle of the highway, no naughty nurse costumes...  We had a great time and more importantly, were able to keep Lorie smiling (usually) and her core temperature on day 1 at 98.4!  That in 118 degree heat is strong work, in our humble opinion.  Yesterday was a true test of a finish as well particularly coming at the end.  Temps in the 90's and a vertical climb to finish at the impressive Mt. Whitney.  Thank you for all of your support and kind words for Lorie and for us.  We loved being able to login and see what you've all written.  We'll attend the pizza party and awards tonight and then begin the drive back to UT for some normal temps and maybe a little par-tay-ing.

Finished!

31:17!

Lorie chewed up and spit out her first Badwater Ultramarathon, finishing eighth overall, fourth among women with a time of 31 hours, 17 minutes, just one minute behind Shanna Armstrong, from Texas. She did really well at night, making good use of cooler temperatures to turn on the gas. A few brief naps and some stops for a little body maintenance here and there were the only time munchers. She also took part in a research project that involved some medical procedures - very generous of her.

As of this moment, she's getting cleaned up after a nap for a meal of Mexican food with her crew in Lone Pine.

Wow. That's all there is left to say.

This just in ...

It's 9 p.m. here. You can see a stream of car headlights descending from the mountain range down the road from Panamint Springs. Lorie should be coming soon. Now it looks like the race will finish at its intended destination, Lone Pine, at the trailhead to Mt. Whitney. A little flash flood could change that in a minute.

Before and after ...

Here's the before shot of the whole bunch. Stay tuned for the AFTER photo.

Also - Check out a reader comment from Margaret two posts ago. She wrote it this morning, intending it to be a formal blog entry, but it got posted in the wrong place.

Doing great!

Awesome.

It's the only word to describe how Lorie has been doing so far. It's almost 7 p.m. here in Panamint Springs where two crew members are taking a rest after a meal. Lorie is somewhere between here and Stovepipe Wells. She is flying through this course, so far. On the way here she has nearly 5,000 feet in elevation gain - and then she has to come back down (ooh, don't your quads ache just thinking about that?). Throughout the day she has been picking off runners who started two hours before her.

Strange thing. There's been an inordinate amount of rain here in Death Valley over the past few days and roads are getting washed out. On the way here to Panamint we drove through a basin that had standing water on either side of the road. So, they are actually (as of right now) ending the race at this location, 60 miles away from Lone Pine. The runners will come through here, go 30 miles ahead to milepost 120 and then turn around and come back to Panamint to log the full 135 miles. It's rare to change the course that dramatically, but it's got to be done.

Either way, Lorie appears to be on her way to a very grand first time here at the Badwater Ultramarathon! Oh, daytime temperature in the van/shade has been 111. Yeah, it's been hot out here. Crew members are all doing fine - in awe, actually.

Check in later!

Buddha does Badwater

We have brought a little good luck charm with us to Death Valley.  I hope the owners don't mind. (better to ask forgiveness than permission).  So far he has brought us good luck and many funny pics. which will be published later. 

Maybe we will come home with a buddha scape book or something.  

That smile is too contagious... He makes you smile back.  We will see just how contagious that smile is tomorrow afternoon...

A better look ...

This photo was taken in Moab last March.

Badwater's seed was already growing inside Lorie, behind those eyes.

And behind those eyes may be the answer to many questions:

Will she conquer 135 miles through Death Valley in July?

How fast will she run?

How far will she go?

What does victory mean?

Why Badwater?

We are so excited to be a part of Lorie's crew!!! Let's go get HOT for Lorie!

Introducing ...

Lorie Hutchison!

What can we say about her?

We'll say a lot as this blog gets going.

Suffice it to say, this woman has put a lot into training for one of the toughest foot races on the planet. She will run/jog/walk/crawl 135 miles through Death Valley July 14, into the 15th and possibly on into the 16th, in search of her first Badwater finish.

Check in for more on Lorie's incredible adventure!