PAUL STONE: BADWATER THANKS Things have beenhectic back here in Texas the past week since returning from Badwater, so Iapologize for the tardiness of this correspondence. While it has been said manytimes before and will surely be repeated many times in the future," Thankyou.Both of you."ATHANK YOU for encouraging my wife, Abby, between Townes Pass and PanamintSprings on Friday morning when she had some concerns about my condition.ATHANK YOU for giving me some "blue' Gatorade and potassium tablets (orwhateverthey were!) during that same visit.ATHANK YOU for wrapping my blisters in Lone Pine before my ascent to the finishline.ATHANK YOU for hosting the training clinics which gave myself and many otherfirst‑time competitors so much insight into the dynamics of this uniqueevent.ATHANK YOU, most of all, for the genuine care and concern you have for all thedifferent people who come to Death Valley year after year with a common goal inmind. They, like myself,view you both as friends in the highest regard. So many people probably haddoubts that a fat boy from East Texas could travel to Death Valley and besuccessful in such an extreme setting. While 53 hours, 21 minutes and 20 secondsmight not mean much to too many people, I'll always cherish every second. I hopeto return some day (perhaps soon) to shave a little time off that effort. Likemany of the competitors, I became ill shortly after leaving Stovepipe Wells (adelayed reaction to the intense heat, perhaps brought on by too much"gorging"throughout the day). I only covered about 22miles during a nine‑hour period Thursday night and Friday morning, butrejoinedthe course at 4:30 a.m. Friday about 44‑45 miles into the course. I neverleftthe course again for any extended period until I reached the finish lineSaturday afternoon I remained ill and could not eat anything until lateFridayafternoon. I was an ugly sight, but I was moving forward, getting a step closerto the goal with each step. Concerning my ability to finish when things appearedbleak, I look back to a prayer Abby and I said in the car before rejoining thecourse early Friday morning. We asked God thatstrength be placed in my body and that I might recover from my sickness. God didnot answer this prayer immediately, but by late Friday afternoon I was eatingheartily and feeling much better. You both certainly played a role in thisthrough your selfless devotion to all the racers' efforts. As for my effort, allglory should go to God. Thus far we have raised approximately $5,000 for ChildEvangelism Fellowship of Smith County (Texas) which gets young people‑‑ many ofwhom are living in at‑risk environments ‑‑ into a Christiansetting at least
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