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Nobody said the Knee Knacker is easy but it sure is fun. I always look forward to the start at Horseshoe Bay with everyone’s excitement and anticipation. Smiles abound and eyes light up as our race director starts the countdown. Then at the finish line I enjoy hearing the first-timers exclaim how difficult it was to run the entire 30 mile length of the Baden Powell Trail, though sometimes they arrive in pure silence just glad to have made it the whole way in one piece. And I can be sure racers are proud of themselves for an amazing athletic and mental accomplishment, but I can’t be too sure if they’re going to do it again. Thankfully, the Knee Knacker is such a great event most people do come back to run it again and some return year after year. For me, it’s a test of determination and discipline throughout the months leading up to race day to be prepared physically and have the best mindset I can have for a successful day. For many it’s a crowning achievement as part of an active lifestyle and a way to grow personally. I continue to be in awe of the men and women that seem to run this event with hardly any effort, finishing with incredible times and well ahead of the majority of us. However, I know that they have given it their all, just like the rest of us and deserve all the credit they get. I’m not amazed that no matter how much we prepare ourselves, the Knee Knacker will make it’s own decision about how kind or tough it will be to us on race day. It happened for sure this year as I saw exceptional people turn in surprising times (slow and fast) and also spoke with others that achieved exactly what they wanted – to simply finish. Sometimes there is just no explaining the outcome. I had a great day. I felt wonderful, I got to see lots of old and new friends and my finishing time was pretty much what I planned. I seemed to finally have a great third quarter after a couple of really tough years on the Grouse to Lynn Canyon section. If you’re a first-timer to this event and this distance then take solace in knowing that any part of any ultra-race at any time can sneak up and get you down. But also know that it can make you stronger and even more determined to do better the next time around. It’s up to you what you do with each challenge of course. I’m very thankful the day was cool and the weather cooperated. I got rained on for about 5 seconds at the very end as I came down the stairs and then it stopped. Overall we had ideal conditions even though the ground was rather wet in places. The water runoff from all the rains was definitely exceptional for this time of year and created streams, puddles and mud holes big enough to slow down everyone. I’m sure the deep mud gave some people much pause about how to get through without disappearing entirely. And for those of you that slipped, tripped and otherwise inflicted extra pain on yourselves, well, I guess it was even more satisfying for you to finish. We also had a great organizing committee full of dedicated volunteers and of course we’re very thankful that so many other people volunteered for race day. It truly is all of the volunteers that make the day so enjoyable and worthwhile in the end for the racers. Thank you to everyone that made my entire day so much fun and for passing on your personal thanks to me. On behalf of the committee, we all hope that that this year’s Knee Knacker for you was safe, unique, fulfilling and memorable and that you join us again in 2006.
Craig Moore
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