There is no doubt that this hurts but it has to be the best pain I've ever experienced. The rewards have been huge, as relentless as the race itself.

Last night was gorgeous. From midnight on I faced a 16 mile climb that saw about 3000 feet of elevation gain.

I won't go on about the climb. I'll just say it was tough. I utilized a bunch of the visualization, breathing, and imagery techniques I'd been practicing. About 1/2 way up the climb I conjured up an image of my son, Joe.

I wasn't really prepared for what came next.

The breathing combined with the deprivation and the physical exertion put me into this hypnogogic state. Joe's image was was very present and very large - he was about 30 feet tall, running along beside me sometimes holding my hand, sometimes pushing me with his big oversized mitt. I started crying and didn't stop for nearly an hour. I was very happy, totally blown away by the experience. Understand that I got what was going on, I was fully aware that this was my mind at work but man what a trip. When Joe started doing somersaults in the grass saying watch this daddy and giggling his little giggle I nearly choked. I was proud of him like I would be if I was watching the real thing.

That hour passed and I don't recall too much of it, like the experience of driving somewhere and not knowing how you got there.

When it was all over he said goodbye and scampered off into the woods. The next image was of him sliding into bed with his beautiful mom and waving goodbye.

I feel like a bit of a freak. But a lucky freak.

I guess this is how you get through RAAM.