Legends Don't Cry – Legends Trail Seen From The Dropbag Van

My Goodness, Sy Oneux!

I've already got used to driving the Bad Boy. The only sudden trouble was the beeping sound when I switched the lights on at Hotton. I checked the doors and all and couldn't work out the reason. Visibility is good and in Belgium you can drive with lights off at daytime so I switched them off. On our way we pass villages with the shortest possible names: My and Sy. We reach Oneux without problems. I somehow manage to reverse the van into the yard from the tight street packed with cars. Now I could still take all dropbags in one go. Later on, when the field is stretched, it won't be possible anymore.

The leading four arrives before noon, not long between one another, with the Dutchman in the lead. Another bunch, all Belgian, comes an hour and a half later. The next group including the leading girl, last year's winner Paula Ijzerman from Holland, shows up after another two hours. The Legendary Medical Team (LMT) takes good care of them and especially of their feet. Paula bravely faces the puncture of a large blister on her big toe. – Legends don't cry – I say, taking a photo of the operation. – That's right – she answers, hissing with pain – they can scream and swear but never cry!

The LMT includes Geert Dewit, last year's Legend. Some other finishers also became volunteers now, those I know are Peter Swager and my friend Hans Coolen who will join us tonight. I know him from Zamieć, a Polish winter race. Leopards don't change their spots even if they can't race now...

Taking advantage of the sun peeking through the clouds I go out to meet the racers and take some photos. Our heavyweight dropbag champion Theo Leroy has been slowly but surely pushing on together with his old friend Pascal Poulain, also Belgian. I'm glad to see them both in good spirits. I get an hour's nap on a mattress and then do some dot watching, tryinig to suss out how to transfer the dropbags to CP3.

Luckily I'm not alone with this task and the bags of the fastest four have already gone, probably taken by Clint and Nelleke. There is a separate logistics team this time which makes our whole work a lot more efficient. Last time I worked in one of the LSTs and now I'm a transporter. Maybe that's because previously we the Polish drivers were highly valued by the race directors in wintry conditions. It's always nice to try something new anyway.

The second night's weather forecast is grotty. Late afternoon the racers already leave CP2 in the pouring rain. I set off for my first shuttle still at daytime to manage all the remaining dropbags in two goes. At the same time I want to make sure all the racers get their bags on time. At least there is no more of that pesky beeping when I turned the lights on. – Be careful on those mountain roads in the rain! – I hear Tim before I leave. – Alright, always careful, especially in a car I don't know well...

Over the hills and far away

A steep narrow road leads me down to the river. Then to the right alongside it to Aywaille, where last year we stood by the bridge with Arend and Dieter as one of the LSTs and bought pizza for the knackered racers. From Remouchamps steep up the hill. It is already getting dark and the windscreen wipers can hardly cope with heavy rain. A turn into a small descending road brings me to CP3 which is hidden over the hills and far away in the mountain hut called Ferme de Comptoir at 151 km. Again somehow without anyone's help I manage to park backwards into a narrow space between cars so that I can unload the bags more easily. Have I driven a lorry in my previous life?

I'm cheerfully welcomed by Patrick. Last time he also coordinated CP3 which was then at nearby La Reid. I learn that Ivo, Teun and Benny have already set off. Joris is still catching his forty winks upstairs as the only one of the big four. Another five Belgians and a Dutchman, who all came long after them, are also just about to leave. Last year's second Joris must have decided on a longer rest. We will see if this tactics pays off for him.

I watch the dots again, about 9 pm deciding it is time for the second shuttle to CP2 and back. The rain does not relent, there's a howling wind and hardly above zero degrees. As I drive the mountain roads in the Ardenne night I think of all the poor yompers on the Legends Trail.

The last of them are just leaving Oneux when I arrive. I take all the remaining dropbags to CP3. The safety teams are very busy picking up zombies from the course. Just as last time, the second night is the worst. I'm happy to finally see my friend Hans. And a bit less happy to hear his news – he's just picked the last year's female winner Paula, who succumbed to hypothermia.

Paula is sitting inside wrapped in blankets, coming back to life. Tomorrow, just like Dave, Tang and some more DNFers she will join the volunteers. Legends don't cry, do they?

Alex number forty and four has also had enough. He calls Karmen who is also here at CP3. She gives her phone to Stef who in turn instructs Clint hanging somewhere around in his car to find and bring Alex here. My speech gets confused from tiredness and constant switching between English and Croatian with some lame attempts at Dutch. But I'm far from feeling sleepy, too much is going on.

Some wet and cold racers come, eat and entrust their feet to the medical team. Others walk downstairs having had their power nap and go back out to face the music. I see some of them off and take a few pics. Then come the only two ladies remaining in the game – the American Sarah Johnson and Willemijn Jongens from the Netherlands, together with another Dutchman Tom Endstra. These three have been yomping together from CP2 and will most probably finish the race together as well.

I devour a few servings of rice with veg and chicken and after 4 am start loading the van. Again I groan with effort as I lift the Dead Man's Chest. Its owner is still pretty much alive however. Together with his friend Pascal, he slowly but surely sets off towards CP4...

7 Valley Run 100k

Krynica-Zdroj, 8-9 September 2017 / UTMB qualifing race / Prize money - 20k Euro