Why is it a BAD idea to DNF at the Fire Tower Aid Station?
Most runners are familiar with highs and lows in a race and with the concept of “hitting the wall.” Upon reaching the Fire Tower at 60.8 miles, you have completed 60% of the race and most probably have been running over 12 hours. At this stage you may be feeling exhausted, rotten, miserable, etc. – a real low – and all you want to do is to stop moving. BAD IDEA! Consider that you have just run 4.3 miles from the South Park Aid Station climbing 710 feet while descending only 380 feet. You’ve just “hit the wall.” Eat a little, drink fluids and decide NOT to DNF at the Fire Tower but to just walk all the way to the Covered Bridge. Consider that distance is only 2.5 miles. Certainly you have enough energy to walk that far. Moreover, it is predominantly downhill with only 280 feet of ascent and a whopping 640 feet descent. Even better, after you’ve walked about two miles you will be at the new bridge. You may have barely noticed it the first time on that section when you were still fresh. T
