29 thoughts runners have while running the Quarry Crusher in Columbia

The Quarry Crusher Run is not for the faint of heart. The punishing 3.7-mile race has runners dashing down into an active quarry, then climbing back up at a quad-busting 10 percent grade.

If that sounds fun, read on.

Vulcan Materials Company lets runners into its private quarry behind Olympia Mills once a year for the race, which started in 2012 with 200 runners and has increased steadily each year. Around 800 runners ran it last year. The race’s toughness is balanced by the experience of running past sheer rock faces that drop 400 feet below sea level.

This year, the race has expanded into a series with additional quarry runs in Atlanta, Birmingham and Baltimore. The series will end with a Complete Crusher Run that can only be unlocked once participants run in at least three series races each year.

The kickoff race is in Columbia on Saturday, April 16. If 3.7 miles isn’t enough for you, try the Double Crusher at 7.4 miles. (And good luck with that.)

To help you hardcore cardio-enthusiasts prepare, we ran part of the course early and got a sneak peek. Here are some of our runner’s thoughts:

1. What a nice day for a run. Sunny, light breeze. This will be great.

2. OK here we go! Don’t worry about the fast people; just go your own pace.

3. Wait, did I lock my car?

4. Never mind. Hey, this is part of the course is pretty flat. Piece of cake.

5. All right, now we’re going downhill.

6. Whoa, I’m running SOO fast! Downhills are the best.

7. How far have I gone? I must be getting close to the bottom now.

8. Only a mile?! Crap. OK, concentrate.

9. Just stay with this guy in the blue shirt. Yeah. Let’s go, Blue Shirt.

10. Time to turn around and go uphill. I can do this.

11. I don’t think I can do this.

12. This is waaaay steeper than I thought it would be.

13. Why didn’t I run more hills in training?

14. Yep, still running up.

15. Ow.

16. Did that middle school girl just pass me?!

17. Whatever. Maybe I should walk. No don’t walk. Keep running.

18. Must. Lift. Feet.

19. Middle school girl just started walking. I’m totally going to walk for a bit.

20. This hill is never-ending, and I am 107 percent tired.

21. Geez, it’s dusty. Who thought it was a good idea to run on a course made entirely out of pulverized rock?

22. There’s pizza and beer at the end of this, right? Isn’t that what I heard? I must have burned enough calories for three slices of pizza by now.

23. Yes! Motivation! Now get yourself up the rest of this hill.

24. Don’t look up. Keep your eyes straight ahead.

25. Almost there, and, is that? A water station? Hallelujah.

26. Final stretch. I got this.

27. Whew! Finished! My legs are on fire. But it’s over.

28. Running is fun?

29. Also, where is that pizza?

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 12:19 PM with the headline "29 thoughts runners have while running the Quarry Crusher in Columbia."