Amy Egan

I’m the type of person who will avoid going outside when the thermostat drops below zero. I knew when I stepped out of the car at Mile 101 it was going to be a long night; it was miserably cold out.

The only thing in sight was a couple of port-a-potties and in the distance a small cabin. The first thing I had to do before gearing up was use the bathroom. Going on a port-a-potty at 40-below is something I had never experienced and hope to never again.

The next challenge was taking pictures of the first team arriving. I’d have to say, besides worrying about my camera freezing up, the most technical part about the experience was trying to maneuver my camera with bulky gear on. Being as it was so dark out I had to use flash, that posed problems because it put out such harsh light.

The next step was driving to Central; I’ll admit I’m a terrible driver, let alone on an unfamiliar winding road with no street lights. It was dark out and I was tired. Missing a turn and almost causing us to go off of the road, I felt for the passengers in my car. Once in Central the worst part for me was the cold. My body was stiff from sitting in the car for so long but the thought of walking it off outside was not an option for me. I was outside for only as long as I had to be in order to get some photographs. Luckily there was a roadhouse to recoup and warm up in.

I was so cold from being outside that entering the roadhouse, which is an average Alaskan bar, felt like paradise.

This 24-hour adventure is an experience that will stay with me. The ambition that every one involved in this race had will stand out in my mind almost as much as the cold did.