Ben, I am only sendingthis to you, to read or post, forward or delete, as you desire. My intentwas to share this with you and Denise in a hand written letter, because asunbelievable as it may sound, I am a private person. But in staying silentuntil the "perfect words" come to me on paper, I do you two agreatdisservice, as my gratitude to you and Denise is indescribable. And I wantyou, or as you see fit the world to know that. It has also meant somuch to me these last 10 days, to still be a part of that outpouring ofthanks. It feeds its self. And you two are at its center.Thank you.Love you guys,ErikaERIKA GERHARDT: BADWATER REFLECTIONS So, I did like yousaid, Denise, and I gave this more time to consider. So here's my thoughts"from the waaay back", behind even Frank MacMillan back. The lastpersonback. I relate to Frank in that you have the amazing ability to"elasticize" the parameters of "what is normal," justfor this for event,and out of love for the people in this event. In my case, "My crew MUSThateme" (which wasn't true), you assured me even THAT "wasnormal" . . . . Idropped out of the race at mile 77, just after Panamint. I ran out of totalcalories and protein. It was my birthday, and like the song, I cried: I justwanted (A), my husband, (B) my dog, and8a birthday cake. My dad said, I don't have any of those, but let's just goanother mile. And he, a non runner who signed on to crew his first ever, andthis baddest of ultramarathons two days before the event, stretched thatmile for five miles. I told him I wanted to drop and it was my dadthatmade sure I put the marker in. My dad also ensured when he checked in atLone Pine Friday night, not to count me as a DNF "yet". Saturday morning,after a hearty sleep and some heartier food, Denise gave me a pep talk toreturn to the course as an unofficial finisher. I just wanted to beable toWEAR my Badwater T shirt, even if I didn't count. My crew and I continuedon, getting into Lone Pine at 5:30 Sunday morning. My crew gave their all,even Don (Meyer) pacing me for almost 40 miles. The crew got 17 moreunofficial hours than they "signed up" for and they held upremarkably: Don Meyer, Anna Leeg, Glenn Gerhardt, Greg Gerhardt, you rock! Denise,thank you for stepping in to assist with decisions in Lone Pine when we were alltoo exhausted to comprehend, except to know on some primordial level that Icould taste the finish. To then reassure the crew and to organize willingvolunteers, Bob and Dave (Matti Ace) from Lisa Smith's crew. Additional thanksto Bob and Dave (the self proclaimed "Good Cop/Bad Cop" tag team) forguiding methe last 13. I think Dave and I spent five miles determining which TV show was
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