2015 VERMONT 100-MILER
July 18-19, 2015 West Windsor, Vermont. * For anyone reading this race report please keep the following in mind. Running an Ultra does not require athletic talent but instead requires mental tenacity. One of the unexpected challenges in running an Ultra is that they are not necessarily easy to enter. Typically there are qualification requirements. Obviously some of these qualifications at a minimum ensure that someone is serious and understands the toll it takes on the body and mind. Depending on the difficulty of the race, requirements can vary but typically they consist of having run specific other ultras within a certain time limit. Even if you meet the qualifying standards, there is still typically a lottery system. These lotteries exist because the races typically take place through national, state or private lands where not spoiling the terrain is important. Plus given the distances involved logistics, support, weather changes & safety can be challenging in the best of circumstances.
I go through all that as it is somewhat challenging trying to plan a race calendar when you are subject to changing qualifications and lottery odds.
Earlier in the year I had put my name in for a couple 100 mile ultras but failed to be accepted in any of them. I then put my name in the lottery for Massanutten 100 (MMT-100), Vermont 100 (VT-100) & Leadville 100 (LT-100). As the fickleness of fortune would have it I went from famine to feast and was accepted into all 3. This created a completely different dilemma.
If I chose to run all 3, I would be running 3-100 mile races in a span of 91 days. Even though I am a plodder who rarely has injuries, I know that is asking a lot of my body. It is also very taxing mentally to gear up each time. Each race presented its own unique obstacles but also an attractive siren song. I had toyed with dropping one or even two but in the end, as with most decisions in my life, I winged it and just decided to go for it.
I recovered fairly well following MMT-100 and felt physically prepared going into VT 100. My goal was simple for VT-100 was fairly simple: enjoy, finish under 30-hours and emerge healthy and ready for LT-100. Unfortunately a few days before I headed out for Vermont, I learned that you only received a belt buckle if you finished under 24-hours and if you finished between 24-30 hours, you received a plaque. I could not shake the thought of sub 24-hours. I know how my brain works. it is like once a thought takes place it becomes rooted. So my entire goal changed.
I traveled to Vermont solo and did the race solo. I prefer running solo and doing difficult things by myself. It is not always the best decision but I like the ownership factor of success or failure.
VERMONT IS BEAUTIFUL. The citizens are very friendly. VT-100 is one of the 4 Grand Slams of Ultra Running. The heat is usually a factor and the course is rolling hills. Several of the signs and locations say 'mountains' but I am not sure if we were actually in the Green Mountains or not. Nonetheless the hills were relentless.
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| VT-100 Elevation Profile |
One of the most unique and coolest aspects of this race is that there is a horse race over the same course at the same time. The horses are Arabians and Appaloosa and are beautiful. I dropped my race bags off for the different aid stations. My bags are always amazingly small compared to other runners. I use like Glad sandwich bags that contain gels, salt pills, ibuprofen, maybe later in the night my small LED flashlight, AAA batteries, headlamp but that about it. I always see everyone else dropping off giant bags full of what...I have no idea. I stayed for the pre-race meeting and it was touching to hear from a family and special needs child who benefit from the proceeds that go to support Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports (https://www.vermontadaptive.org/aboutus.php). Their mission is to provide youth and adults with disabilities gain a measure of self confidence and independence by participating in adaptive sports programs and activities. I met my buddy Charles West at check-in who was camping at the race start. I did find it interesting they gave each runner a quick physical and weighed us.
START
The race started at 4:00am (I believe the horses started at 5:00am). I believe 18 horses started the 100-mile race but only 7 of the horses completed the full 100-miles. There were 324 registered 100-Mile runners filled with nervous vocal energy. As always, my focus was internal calm to save the limited resources I had to expend.
Perhaps my actual report on the race will be shorter than others. I remember around miles 40-50 thinking to myself, "this will be an easy race report to write - first 40-50 miles awesome....then I quit at mile 60!'
I felt awesome the first part of the race. I found an easy early pace that I felt I could run forever. The trails were awesome. Wide packed dirt with some gravel and even the first couple hours at night my footing was sure and I could run without worrying about tripping. I had my splits with me for each aid station. The aid stations came in different categories: 1) a table with water, Gatorade and another electrolyte drink that escapes me; 2) the same with some snacks with a few volunteers; 3) the same with more options, plus our drop bags; 4) which was Camp 10 Bear which we hit at the 47 & 69 mile mark which also had medical personnel and required us to weigh in to make sure we had not lost too much weight or were unable to keep nutrients down.
STAGE ROAD (30.3 miles - 6:23)
The first 30 miles were a breeze. I felt great. The scenery was beautiful and I was able to run up and down the hills. In retrospect I was using up my quads more on the downhills but I was pursing sub 24-hours. We ran across covered bridges, across rivers and waterfalls and through forests.
I believe it was shortly before the 30 mile mark where we ran through some just gorgeous rolling grass fields colloquially referred to as 'The Sound of Music Meadow'. We then eventually hit the 2nd of the fully staffed aid stations with our drop bags at Aid Station Stage Road. At this point, I was well over 2 hours ahead of a sub 24-hour pace. I ran down Stage Road crossed the road and then headed up the next hill. There was something about this hill. It was so very steep. It was so very long. It was through thick vegetation on the sides and on the ground but completely exposed to the sun. It was so very humid. It was so very hot. I cannot tell you how much this one hill just seemed to drain me. I even took this picture about 2/3rds of the way up but it fails to capture how it hurt.
It took quite a while to recover. I had to walk for a while even on the flat areas. I had drank all my fluids on the ascent and I was trying to avoid becoming dehydrated. From that point on I was just really really hot & soaking wet from sweat. I was so sick of just being wet and I kept thinking about the large fluffy white towel I had in my car from the hotel and turning the AC on high. I bounced back some and was again able to run, but I had felt the initial crack. I was able to continue running fairly well.
CAMP 10 BEAR #1 (47 mile - 10:32)
I made it to Camp 10 Bear family efficiently and holding it together fairly well. They weighed me and I remember I had only lost 1-2 pounds. My stomach was fine and I was able to process solids and liquids. I could tell my quads were too sore too early but that was okay. My feet were perfect with no hotspots or issues. I even changed socks just to be safe. It was now 4:30pm and I felt I only needed to be prudent for the next couple of hours and then let the temperature drop which would naturally make me feel refreshed. I headed out. The heat was just so oppressive. I could feel myself fading and wilting under it. It is hard to explain but I just felt cooked. I kept running but it was taking way too much effort. At this point, I could tell it was going to be a long day. The next manned aid station was Margaritaville.
BIRMINGHAM (54 mile)
MARGARITTAVILLE (58miles - 13:59)
At this point I was starting to think about quitting. I said think about quitting but in reality I do not know how to quit. I am not saying this as a tough guy. I am saying this as a logistics guy. if I quit what happens? How quickly do I get back to the start or my hotel? I have always seen people who quit at various aid stations but I would not want to quit then just sit around. It feels just as bad to me moving as it does sitting so I just keep moving. By this aid station, my personality had morphed into Mr. Hyde. I would like to blame it on a lack of glucose in the blood/brain but I think at some point mental physical misery just makes you ill. I was pissed off that all the aid station workers were having fun drinking alcohol and partying. They were great and did everything we needed but they were having fun and misery loves company. It was at this aid station, the diarrhea hit me. There was a port-a-potty and spectators and others were in line but they always let the runner go ahead of them. I started out again filling terrible. Now I knew the death march was beginning and I absolutely hated the prospect of that thought.
THUNDER STORM
Talk about a blessing and a curse. Around 7:00pm, I could occasionally start hearing some distance rumblings. A couple times I thought it was approaching but nothing materialized. At 8:00pm on the dot (I looked at my watch) the heavens opened and a deluge fell from the skies along with thunder and lightning. I love running in the rain. The rain felt so refreshing and brought me back to life...but it was Fool's Gold. The trails immediately turned into creeks, bogs and mud that threatened to pull your shoes off your feet. It is always amazing when running mountain trails how quickly they can deteriorate in rain. The rain only lasted about 30-45minutes but it was enough. My shoes and feet were soaked and I could quickly feel the blisters begin on my feet. The hot spots, the build pain, the pressure, the release of pressure and relief only to then be followed by the feeling of separation of layers of epidermis. Familiar and fatal to mobility. It sucks and hurts. A lot of pain goes away with time but skin tearing and re-tearing on the bottom of raw wet feet does no alleviate.
CAMP 10 BEAR #2 (70miles - 17:14)
I returned to Camp 10 Bear and given the diarrhea and my having to refrain from eating too much I was worried about my weight loss. In reality, at the point the bigger worry was maintaining balance standing on the scale. I had to hold onto the medical staff and I was allowed to continue. I did not want to continue. I remember looking over at 6-8 runners in the medical area on the cots wrapped in blankets looking like corpses. I was SOOOO envious. I just wanted to stop but I could not figure out how to stop. I am so thankful it is not east to stop. If we ever invent teleportation, I seriously believe it will be the end of endurance athletics. Most of the runners picked up their pacers at this point but I was running solo, so I headed out alone into the dark. I do not mind being alone. I do not mind the dark. But I do mind knowing I am looking at a 30 mile walk! Did I say I wanted to quit?
NIGHT TIME
I like running at night but I was walking in the night. I do not remember a lot of specifics during these long races especially at night. I think I spend most of my time staring at my footing plus the lighting of the headlamp or flashlight almost has a hypnotic effect. It become almost like a metronome. I do remember a couple specific things.
1) The day had been so hot and humid, then with the thunder shower, when night fell there was a thick palpable fog in the air. The headlamp made the fog thicker and it looked and felt like a curtain. You could see the particles flowing like rivers in the air. I had experienced this at Rocky Raccoon 100-Miler and it can be disorienting. I turned my headlamp off and used the small LED flashlight I carried. I was able to carry it at my hip level and undercut much of the fog. I came across a military guy who was falling side to side staggering. When I got to him him I asked how he was doing. He said he was disoriented from the fog. I told him to take his headlamp off and put it in his hand to try and get lower under the fog and to change his visual perspective. I do not know if it helped or if he finished.
2) Even though I had turned my headlamp off, it was still on my head. I hated that headlamp. It was soon aggravating. It felt like an anaconda squeezing my brain. Its just another example how when you are miserable...everything is miserable.
3) I came across a girl who was really really struggling. Of course I was not doing too well myself. The first thing I noticed was she had her headlamp facing straight up. She was walking more side to side then she was forward. I eventually caught up to her. I selfishly wanted to pass her and move on as I lacked any energy to provide any useful assistance. I knew behind me were a runner who had a pacer with him. As I caught up with the girl she kind of stumbled toward me. Drawn to me liked a burned moth on its last legs to a flame. She went side to side behind me. I knew she needed help but I honestly did not know how to help her. Thee was no aid station, I had no way of doing anything meaningful. I kept moving forward. I looked back and at some point she feel to the ground and I could hear her vomiting. At that point she was closer to the runner and pacer than to me. I stopped. If they did not stop to help her, then I would go back. They stopped so I continued on. At the next aid station I stuck around long enough to ask them how she was. She was dehydrated and they stopped her at the next aid station as she was disoriented.
DAYLIGHT
The first aid station I reached at the beginning of daylight I dumped everything. My lights, shirt, batteries, headlamp....I was so glad to get rid of that headlamp!
I do not remember taking this picture but it was somewhere around mile 85.
I never feel like, "Hey I have run 85 miles I am almost done." It always feels like, "I do not know how on earth I can go another 15 miles?"
FINISH (100miles - 28:39:29)
I just kept moving forward. I never had an epiphany where I knew it was in the bag. It seemed like the hills never stopped. Even up to the finish there was always another hill.
I love this sign. It says '1 to go'. Sounds so simple and easy. Just remember at this point I am moving so slow its probably a 15-20 minute mile pace. I used to be able to run a 5k faster than I can go 1 mile. I could die before I cover that 1 mile.
POST RACE
I spent time in the medical tent having my feet drained and bandaged. Another runner's girl friend brought me a cheeseburger, which I can honestly say was the tastiest cheese burger I have ever eaten. Its fun listening to all the stories in the M.A.S.H. Unit. Of the 324 registered runners, 221 finished with 72 running solo. Its a beautiful course, in a beautiful part of the country with friendly people, well organized and volunteers. If you are ever thinking of running VT-100, I recommend it!!!
THE END
I finished. I missed almost every goal I set. But I am thankful for having had the amazing experience and opportunity. I know I am blessed. I subject myself to suffering on a voluntary basis unlike the children and adults Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports support who suffering every moment. I will never complain, for I am always cognizant of the blessings in my life.
Leadville????
*As always, I write these 1) so I can try and capture the memories while they are fresh, 2) leave some autobiographical history for my children and 3) some people may actually be interested.
