This year Dick was ecstatic to learn that a doctor was volunteering, even though the doctor was a pathologist. Perhaps the pathologist could find a cure for the disease of excessive trailrunning. Those who do not meet the qualifying standards but choose to run anyway will be asked not to show their mug ever again. For the rarefied cadre of runners, this is the most terrifying proclamation on the running form, worse than the warnings of death or serious injury. The psychological pain suffered by the banished runner would be far greater than the physical pain incurred during the run itself.
Some runners claim they have never seen an animal during the run.
The animals are out there, although they tend to hide from 175 runners crashing through the forest. Perhaps the wildlife let the strong pass. There will be time enough to prey on the weak and the wounded. This is evidenced by the crashed plane along the course. Just as the mountain breaks down the crashed plane, the mountain breaks down unprepared runners.