24 hours of movement. Safety and Security.

People have been rightly skeptical of my training this weekend, 24 hours of movement. I put it in the context of ultra marathoners who do 100 mile races, 12 or 24 hour mountain bike races. People who run across America. And based on my health history it could very well end short of 24 hours. I am prepared for that. I don't want to do that. But I will. Which is why I have several contingency plans in place for my safety.

First, almost the entire route is commercial or residential routes. No desert trails. No off path movement. I will be in full cell range the entire time. I have a battery charger so I should be able to text and update people quite often. I have two people on 24 hour standby in case I stop and need a pick up. Plus as, I stated I will have my SPOT 2 gps tracker and sending regular check in updates to family and friends with my latitude and longitude. The unit also has a SOS function that will notify emergency responders if that is required. 

All along the route, I have recognized rally points. These are business that will be open when I am scheduled to come by. At these places I will be able to get something to eat and refill my drinks. If I need a pick up they are easily recognizable places like fast food joints, gas stations or Circle K type locations. 

I realize there are elements on the streets late at night that may not be safe for runners. Once the sun sets I will be in either a very affluent part of town, (Fountain Hills, North Scottsdale) running along the side of the road, or running along on the multiuse greenbelt along Hayden Rd. A few hours before sunrise I will transition to the westbound canal system running along Indian School road and past Scottsdale Fashion Square and 5 star resorts. As there is very few entrances along the canal or greenbelt, the odds of running into trouble will be very small. 

I have a lot of experience running, hiking, training in darkness and respect the necessity of being visually identifiable. The pack is bright orange for daylight notice and I will have a blinking red light attached to the back of my pack and either a headlamp or flashlight facing front for the overnight.

If I complete the 77 miles before the 24 hours are up and  I feel good I may just keep going till times up. I have a few favorite restaurants located at various distances from the house. I will make a judgment call on how to proceed. 

If I don't make it home in 24 hours, I will call the family to come get me and we will all go have lunch together once we are reunited. I could just as well get to the house earlier than 24 hours and call it good. I really don't know how I will react. Which is actually a mental test I am looking forward to. I can not minimize the fact that this event is more so a mental test than physical one.

I'm looking forward to this. I have tried to make it as safe as I can and I take those precautions seriously. I know I am damaged goods and if I need to call it quits, I will call it quits. If for nothing else than to prove everyone wrong that I won't if put into that situation.