The last running race of the season happened last Sunday. It was an 8 km/5 mi (depending on how you like to measure). It was either the fastest race that anyone has ever run or the course was actually shorter than the advertised 5 miles. The top time in the race was 24 minutes and some random number of seconds - sub five minute miles. Mike's time was 36:04 - just over 7 minute miles. We figure that if the winner was running sub-fives on a course that was half uphill and covered in rocks, then he should be in the olympics not down here. Regardless of the actual distance, it was a fun race - about 80 people ran. In addition to this run, this season there was also a 5 k/3.1 miles race, a marathon/half marathon, and a short race to the top of Observation Hill. There was a Cyclo-Cross bike race where you run to a bike, and then race around the rocky roads.
Mike running so fast the picture is blurry!
The agony of defeat or a twisted ankle at the end of the race.
We also recently walked the to Castle Rock. This is a large rock formation about 3 miles from McMurdo. It looks likes a castle (maybe that is where the name came from?) and early explorers used it as a landmark when they were traversing across the ice. When they saw Castle Rock, they knew that they were close to their huts. It takes about 4 hours to walk there roundtrip. Within 15 or 20 miles there are three different huts used by Scott and Shackleton. They have placed emergency shelters along the way so that if a storm comes, you don't die. One of them even has a telephone.
Sticking our heads out of the "Apple'. The second emergency shelter on the way to Castle Rock (which you can see in the background).
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