What was the mood when they cancelled the race? Did they try to postpone it later in the day…why not the next day? I can imagine a lot of upset people. What is the policy on this…do they refund you any of your money?
i was.
the mood? it kept changing, and ended on a rather high note. it was irritable and patient, all at the same time, during the several changes in plans and information------which is to say, when it seemed like something was still going to happen. the hour wait, 8-9am, was somewhat like a normal pre-race time (varied chit-chat, etc.) in the several places where i was (i kept moving, trying to get warm). and during each successive announcement, more people picked up their bikes and left.
when the cancellation announcement came it gave two definite options, which seemed to give focus to the whole deal: leave, or do the run. when they called for people to assemble for the run start, the mood change was very striking to me: ready for enjoyment. upbeat. smiles. not goody-two-shoes stuff, just normal ready-for-fun outlook.
there were no stakes in the run, of course, but they still had the announcers doing their thing at the finish, full finish chute festivities, volunteers (chip takers, towel givers, etc.), and it was a good ending.
the mud field was something else again. that turned into a funfest with very serious business. maybe people just got into the spirit of it because there was no other alternative: all had to help push, shove, pull, or you were going to sit there until the field dried in a week. there just were no other options. some pushers, with garbage bags as shirts, took to chest-diving/skidding in the mud between pushing cars. one of them had his swim goggles on, primarily to keep his eyes free of the huge backswoosh of mud that came from spinning wheels. people all over cheered as each successive car made it out and onto the road. it was quite a scene.
peggy