2015 VERMONT 100-MILER

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.  

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.

2015 MASSANUTTEN 100-MILER

MASSANUTTEN 100-MILER

MMT-100 Belt Buckle

May 16-17, 2015, George Washington National Forest, Shenandoah Valley, VA -  The race is called the Massanutten 100 (MMT100) but the official distance of the race 103.7 miles. If I had truly known how difficult this race was, I doubt I would have attempted it. From research after the race I discovered it was ranked the 8th Hardest Ultra in the USA. I decided to run this race solo & entered the solo division, meaning no support crew, pacers or listening devices.  The race had 15 Aid Stations (AS) with 11 where we could drop off small bags with any special needs.  The 11 bags I dropped off each had 10 ounces of beet juice, 2 Gu Roctane Gels, 2 S-Caps and then depending on my anticipated time of arrival, small flashlight, headlamp, long sleeve shirt, extra batteries and/or Aleve.  I will discuss how I used these during the race.
MMT-100 HeadquartersI arrived at the race check-in Friday, deposited my AS bags & picked up my packet.  Ironically the very first person I met at the check-in was Gary Knipling. Dr. Knipling is a legend in ultra running.  He has run MMT-100 over 17 times, completed the Grand Slam (Leadville, Western States, Vermont & Wasatch in the 10 week window!).  In the 2006 MMT-100, Dr. Knipling & Kerry Owens were featured/followed in the film “Massanutten:Two Runners, 100 Miles.”  I bought the DVD prior to running MMT-100 & watched it to get mentally psyched up for the race. Dr. Knipling is 70 years young still runs 100 mile races.
Gary Knipling

I made a last minute decision that worked fairly well for me.  I really did not want to run with a vest for my hydration so I just used the bottle and stuffed it down the back of my pants. 

StartThe race began at 4:00am at Caroline Furnace Camp. 199 of us started and headed out across a meadow.  I could immediately tell this was a much more experienced running crowd, as there was none of the attendant yelling, talking, singing, etc…  We headed out across the field. The weather was awesome at close to 60 degrees with high humidity.  The first 4 miles of the race were basically uphill mountain crushed gravel service roads that would take us to the trail.  My goal was simply to reach each Aid Station ahead of the prescribed time cutoff and try to accumulate a larger cushion at each cutoff.

MMT
#1 AS Moreland Gap (4.1 miles - 4.1 total)
This was basically a water stop as we entered the Massanutten Mountain Trail.  There was no time cutoff to reaching this point and I was just keeping up with a group of runners.  I do not like to chat during a race as it wastes my energy so I did my typical hanging back but close enough to listen. 

#2 ASEdinburg Gap (8.1miles - 12.1 total)
I remember this portion because the Whipporwhills (nocturnal bird) were so noisy.  It seemed like they were right on top of us. I also could hear a bunch of owls.  After a couple miles of fairly inclined trail running this quickly became an incredibly rocky march/climb up the mountain in the dark. I was the lead climber in a group of about 5 guys, 2 were vetrinarians as I had listened to their conversations earlier. I asked if anyone wanted to pass me but they said they liked the steady pace I was maintaining.  The sunrise was not spectacular as I was not where I could see it but the lighting of the forest was quietly beautiful.
Cutoff for Edinburg 7:50am / my arrival 7:05am = +45mins

#3 AS Woodstock Tower (8.2 miles - 20.3 total)
As with every one of these sections the pattern persisted, we left an AS headed a couple thousand feet up rocky, muddy, wet (or actual streams) mountain trails, across the rolling ridgeline and then back down similar single track to the next aid station. The elevations were basically between 500-3,000 feet with roughly 11 summits. Altitude profileI fell pretty hard at mile 15.  I strained my left arm but luckily nothing involving my legs.  The fall was enough to scare & remind me I was on my own. By this point, the worst part of the entire run started to become apparent.  The horseflies slowly and relentlessly began swarming.  They were awful & I felt I was locked in a battle of wills.  Oddly they kept biting my left shoulder.  They were like a plague.  I remember at one point if I had been in the Civil War in the Army of Northern Virginia, marching in these woods, in wool uniforms, with all these dang horseflies, I would have deserted!  It is amazing how something as small & unanticipated as horseflies can have such a negative impact on your attitude.
Woodstock Tower
Cutoff for Woodstock Tower 10:30am / my arrival 9:32am = +58mins

#4 AS Powells Fort (5.6 miles – 25.8 total)
It was during this section that the heat really started to become an issue.  I could hear the runners around me who had run the race previously begin to talk about how hot the weather was becoming.  We were running in mid 80s, in the shade but it was the fact we had close to 100% humidity and absolutely no breeze with all the surrounding canopy.  I was dripping sweat.  It was at this point I realized I had miscalculated carrying only one water bottle with me.  I began stopping at the stream crossings, splashing water on my arms, neck, face, head and soaking my shirt.  It was refreshing but not sure it had any significant anatomical affect.  It was at this AS, the beet juice I had planned on drinking at each AS became more and more difficult. Beet juice is bad.  Warm beet juice is horrible.  Hot beet juice is damn near caustic.
Powells Fort
Cutoff Powells Fort 12:10pm / my arrival 11:01am = +69mins

#5 AS Elizabeth Furnace (7.5 miles – 33.3 total)
This was one of my favorite early sections as several miles were on logging type road and fairly flat.  I was able to actually run, yet the heat was really becoming an issue for everyone.  When we arrived at this AS, I saw many runners who were in really bad shape and were already beginning to call it quits. I tried to drink as much as I could and decided to walk right off the bat for a while to give the fluid a chance to be absorbed. I took my time at this AS as I knew I was heading into the hottest part of the day.  I drank my beet juice (last beet juice I drank for today), drank lots of water & gatorade, iced up, packed my Roctanes, grabbed a couple dill pickle slices and headed out.  Immediately as I left Elizabeth Furnace, I felt horrible.  I was dehydrating.  I was walking but was in trouble.  After about a mile, I heard the distance rumble of thunder but unfortunately felt a storm brewing in my bowels.  I detoured about 20 feet off the trail.  I found a tree to squat behind but also to hold onto so I could lean back.  Any ultra runner recognizes this as the traditional evacuation position.  My bowels exploded and just as I was through and starting to feel better, I violently vomited several times until I was just dry heaving.  It seemed everything liquid I had consumed during the race had just left my body.  The good news was I felt better and I could tell it was getting ready to rain.  The bad news was obviously I was dehydrated and was in a dicey situation if I expected to finish this monster.  I decided to be conservative and if push came to shove I would drink stream water from the higher elevations as it was very clear and less likely contaminated.  The rain felt wonderful.  Unfortunately the rain quickly made the streams murky from the runoff.  I decided to hold out the best I could.
Cutoff Elizabeth Furnace 2:30pm / my arrival 1:19pm = +71mins

#6 AS Shawl Gap Parking (4.7 miles – 38.0 total)
I actually made it to this AS without losing hardly anytime I had accumulated.  I was surprised given my condition.  I took my time at this AS & drank lots of water & as much fluid as possible.  My plan was to walk for 15 minutes before running trying to simply absorb.  I also only had 3.1 mile to the next AS.  The distance was not always the issues but the terrain.  I was worried about the upcoming section as I had talked to a guy previously who failed to finish the previous year and he said he failed to meet the cutoff for Veach Gap.
Cutoff Shawl Gap 4:10pm / arrival 3:00pm = +70mins

#7 AS Veach Gap Parking (3.1 miles – 41.1 total)
This turned out in my opinion to be the easiest and most unable section.  It was a crushed gravel mountain road and I ran almost the entire time.  I felt great.  I was hoping my system had some how miraculously bounced back after the great purge!  I passed numerous runners and accumulated 30mins of cushion!  Shocking!
Cutoff Veach Gap 5:05pm / arrival 3:20pm = +105mins

#8 AS Indian Gave Trailhead (9.0 miles – 50.1 total)
I thought this was the most difficult section for me.  The path up the mountain was one giant climb diagonally up the side of one of the faces of the mountain.  You could see up the climb and it just appeared to go on forever without being able to see the top.  it was mentally intimidating.  I just grabbed ahold of my compression shorts, stared at my feet & just methodically kept putting one foot after another. It was a complete grind.  Eventually we reached the top.  it was at the top of this mountain across the ridge line where I found the black snake on my path.  I was exhausted and of course I could not let pass an opportunity to catch a snake.  Here is a photo from the video I have previously posted.  Snake The snake was a great distraction as it reminded me I was supposed to be having fun!
Cutoff Indian Grave NONE / arrival 6:45pm

#9 AS Habron Gap Parking (3.9 miles – 54.0 total)
I had also been told my another runner when I got to Habron Gap to each as much as possible because getting to Camp Roosevelt was a long section in time and distance and would need the energy. I took this advice to heart.  I ate 2 cups of soup, some grilled cheese, an ice cream sandwich & took a bean & cheese burrito with me.  I rehydrated and filled everything up as best I could and started back up the mountain.  I had also placed a small LED flashlight in my bag just in case.  I had optimistically (and unrealistically) hoped to reach Camp Roosevelt pro to sunset, which is where I placed my headlamp.  I also noticed when I took my LED flashlight out of the bag it was already on and appeared to be weak.  Sigh!  I did not know how long the battery life would be.  I had about 30-45mins but the forest would be dark.  I conserved my flashlight.  Once evening set in and I ran into other runners, they kept asking me about why I did not have better lighting.  I explained my predicament and most were kind enough to hover around me before I passed them or they passed me to share the lighting.  It was another example of poor planning on my part and I hope I was not going to self-destruct.
Cutoff Habron Gap 9:00pm / arrival 7:57pm = +63mins

#10 AS Camp Roosevelt (9.8 miles – 63.8 total)
I arrived at Camp Roosevelt and this was a significant milestone to me.  I had heard some veterans mention that if you could get to CR in good shape with a good cushion you had a great shot of finishing.  I noticed at this AS, several runners around me were quitting and it was not because of injuries but just a lack of will.  I took my time to eat well, grab my headlamp and head out for the night time labours.  I was feeling optimistic but each successive climb was taking a greater and greater toll on me physically in particular my feet.
Camp Roosevelt
Cutoff Camp Roosevelt 1:15am / arrival 11:27pm = +108mins

#11 AS Gap Creek/Jawbone 1 (5.8 miles – 69.6 total)
I had heard one of the female veteran runners mention she thought the climb through Gap Creek I was the hardest part of the race for her in years past.  (FYI she was one of the runners who this year DNF).  The climb was rough but it was at night so I was not really sure what it looked like.  I did know that this portion of the race was basically a large circle that sent us out and around and eventually back through this area during daylight.  It was also the beginning of where it seemed several of the 'trails/paths' we ran were rocky streams. No way to even try and keep the feet dry.  Just at times a mile or moe or running through rocky streams made muddy from the sporadic rain showers.  My feet were raw.  They ripped with each step. This is where you can see I started given back significant time to the course.  I could maintain a steady pace climbing and even on flat sections.  It was anything downhill that kept causing my skin to separate from my feet and the nerves were raw.
Cutoff Gap 1 3:45am / arrival 2:15am = +90mins

#12 AS Visitor Center (8.5 miles – 78.1 total)
This section just seemed to go on forever.  I lack a lot of specific memories as I ran it in the early morning hours and was just trying to make the next cutoff.
Cutoff Visitor Center 7:30am / arrival 6:14am = +76mins

#13 AS Bird Knob (3.5 miles – 81.6 total)
This section had probably the worst steepest climbs of the course.  They were short but even I could not maintain a steady pace up them evenly slowly.  I say that with some pride as although I am not fast I am strong and usually do not have to stop on a climb but can pace myself and methodically push up.  At this point and with these steep climbs, I would occasionally need to stop for 10-20 seconds to lower my heart rate just a bit.  Another runner and I were pushing forward together without speaking.  The mountain kept tricking us.  We thought we had submitted only to have another spur taking us higher.  My feet were such a huge problem.
Cutoff Bird Knob NONE / arrival 7:50am

#14 AS Picnic Area (6.4 miles – 87.9 total)
Mentally I kind of zoned out on this section.  My Garmin had long been dead and I had no way of knowing how far or fast I was traveling.  I tried to maintain a sense of urgency but although my mind was willing the pain in my feet was over ruling everything else.  It was around this time that I started to worry from a purely physical standpoint if I was going to be able to finish.  The pain in my feet was increasingly difficult to block out. The AS workers told me I was in great shape with plenty of time, almost an hour, but I knew I was rapidly losing time back to the course.
Cutoff Picnic Area 11:00am / arrival 10:05am = +55mins

#15 AS Gap Creek/Jawbone II (8.9 miles – 96.8 total)
I finally made it back to this section.  The last 1-2 miles to Gap Creek 2 was on crushed gravel mountain road.  I was able to jog as I knew I was dramatically losing time and I need to gain or hold onto as much of a cushion as possible. I had hoped to reach this AS and head out with a solid 60min of cushion.  I arrived at this last AS.  I drank & ate anything and everything I could find with sugar and/or caffeine looking for whatever last boost of energy I could find.  I also continued taking advil, aleve, aspirin, tylenol or whatever pain killers I could scrounge from any spectators.  The AS were not allowed to dispense any medication for liability purposes.
Cutoff Gap II 2:00pm / arrival 1:28pm = +32mins

FINISH - Caroline Furnace Camp (6.9 miles – 103.7)
People ask me why I do these long events.  This right here is the answer.  I had been on my feet for over 30 hours, no sleep, vomitted, diarrhea, alone, fatigue, pain, despair, etc...  The easy thing was to quit. My body had quit several times.  My body had been telling my brain it was time to quit.  That it was but to quit.  Even my brain agreed that it was better for the organism to quit.  But I want to see at these moments how do I react.  I had 2 and a half hours to run 7 miles.  That sounds so easy.  I started back up the mountain.  There were 2 women in front of me. A runner and her pacer.  Both had ski poles.  They looked like they were flying up the mountain.  I tried to push.  They quickly disappeared.  I knew there were a handle full of runners behind me.  I knew If I could get through theses early miles of brutal climbs, I would eventually exit onto the mountain gravel road with 4 miles largely downhill to the finish.  All I kept thinking about was getting to the road.  My feet were raw throbbing stumps & my shoes had long since fallen apart. I remember thinking if I saw a bear I would hobble toward him hoping he would put me out of my misery.  I heard voices behind me.  That simply meant other runners were catching me as I struggled.  Two more ladies caught me.  Again another runner with her pacer and they both had ski poles.  They offered to each give me a pole with I find so kind but politely refused.  Again they seemed to pass me like they were running 4 minute miles.  I eventually exited the forest.  I got to the road with 55mins left to run 4 miles (I had finally turned on my iPhone to use the clock, nothing else worked).  I knew the remaining route was largely downhill as we had run uphill to this point to start the race.  I stood for a second looking to my left, which was uphill a couple hundred feet to the crest and then appeared downhill from that point.  To my right was downhill and then curved out of sight. I was delirious, dehydrated, in pain and knew I was not in the best from of mind to be making decisions.  Nothing looked familiar as we had run this section at night.  There were no landmarks, houses, signs, cars or runners anywhere.  I headed right.  I ran with deliberate speed hoping to simply catch sight of the runners who had passed me so I would know I was going the correct direction.  Two cars came around the bend and passed me going the other direction.  My immediate thought was they were heading to the finish line to pick up their runners, meaning I was running the wrong way.  I continued to run with purpose.  After running about a mile I cam around bend toward the bottom of a swale and I Could see a great distance ahead of me.  I did not see any other runners. I cannot express the despair that overcame me in that instance where I determined I had turned the wrong way.  There was a pile of gravel rocks on the side of the road and I just sat down.  I had run over 100 miles, for over 35 hours & I screwed it all up by turning the wrong way.  it was too late to head back the other way plus I was broken.  I guess that was the best word to use.  I was not mad.  I was just done and broken and finished.  I tried to rationalize, "If a car comes by you can have them drive you the equal distance from here to the other side from where you exited the woods!"  I was bargaining with myself.  Thankfully no car came by and I was not presented with that choice.  I just sat there.  It seemed like forever.  I was wondering how do I even get back to the finish to get my truck.  I was just staring down at the ground.  All of a sudden I heard a guy say, "You okay?"  I was so startled.  He was running and there was a girl about 50 feet behind him with a race number.  I jumped up and asked, "Are we heading the right way?'  He said yes but that we needed to probably average 10:00 minute miles to beat the cutoff.  I was now angry that I might not finish because I had stopped.  The anger though squeezed the last remaining drops of adrenaline out.  I put my head down, leaned dramatically forward, over pumped my arms and started chugging.  There were still some uphill sections of the road but I never stopped.  I was hot and knew I was dehydrated as my skin was dry and I was not sweating. I knew the sign I was looking for that would take me up the final dirt road.  Around every bend I looked for it, to no avail.  I eventually did pick up the gentleman with whom I had run Bird Knob.  He was spent too and trying.  So it was the girl, her pacer, the guy and I trying to make it all being led by me.  I finally came around a corner and won about a quarter mile I could see the splint in the road we needed to take.  I yelled to the others.  I kept running as it was going to be close.  At the split, we had to run up a dirt clay road which was super slippery from the rain.  I could not run up it as it was so slippery.  I had to move to the edge of the forest so I had some traction.  We had to run about a quarter mile straight up.  A car was leaving and they said we were close, "Only 2 bridges & the meadow!"  That was not necessarily reassuring as I did not know how far that was and I know the time was expiring.  The path through the woods seemed quite long util finally it bottomed out and we crossed 2 small bridges.  We emptied the forest perpendicular to the finish but a large square the size of a quarter mile had been staked into the meadow to bring us around to dramatically enter the finish line and give the announcer and spectators the opportunity to cheer.  I remember when we appeared out of the woods everybody started yelling, "YOU HAVE 4 MINUTES!  HURRY!  4 MINUTES!" I still was not sure I was going to finish.
Finish 1
Finish 2
Cutoff Finish 4:00pm / arrival 35:57pm = +3mins! Only 60% completed.  40% DNF Rate.

IT WAS AWESOME!

I put my feet through a lot but they carried me 103.7 miles in under 36 hours so I would be remiss if I did not post them too!
Right Foot (top)
Left Foot (top)
Right Foot (bottom)
Left Foot (bottom)
Left Foot (post op)
Right Foot (post op)

*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.

Rocky Raccoon 100 Miler

Rocky Raccoon 100 Miler (USATF 100 Mile Trail Championship)

Huntsville, Texas February 1-2, 2014

Post Race Report

As always, I began with the caveat that I write these for 3 reasons: 1) to consolidate and organize my memory on paper before they begin to fade from my mind so that I can read them later in life, 2) to leave some insights for my children that will perhaps encourage them at different critical moments in their lives, and 3) some people have expressed their interest in reading these reports.

PRE-RACE

Why did I want to run 100 miles?  I remember when the idea first germinated in my mind.  I was in Louisville for the 2012 Ironman and met a guy wearing a Western States 100 T-shirt.  I was familiar with Leadville & Western States.  I asked him, “What is harder: an Ironman or 100 Miler?”  He said, “Without a doubt a 100 Miler.  Ask anyone who has done both.”  I know how I am and once an idea enters my mind it is almost like I have no control but to pursue it.  I began slowly educating myself on what it would take to complete a 100 Miler.  I began running more trail miles and trail events.  The running was completely different but also recalled how I first fell in love with running in high school running cross-country on trails. 

I knew I could run a marathon at anytime based on my Ironman training, so I ran two 50Ks and did better than I expected.  While officially a 50K is recognized, as an “ultra” event most ultra runners argue that “ultra” does not begin until 50 miles.  I then ran JFK 50 Miler in November 2013 and again did better than I expected on limited training.  I coined the phrase that I was a LeMUR Ultra Runner.  LeMUR - Low Mileage Ultra Running. 

Most ultra runners routinely put in months of 75-100 miles a week and ramp up weeks of high mileage over 100 miles.  I was not prepared to put in that amount of running, as I feared overuse injuries.  I know my body and felt if I could keep it in a steady state of fatigue through middle distance runs, low impact cycling and weight training I might succeed.  I generally ran 40 miles a week with one run somewhere around 15 miles.  I eventually worked up to 50-60 for several weeks and I think I may have actually exceeded 70 miles 1 or 2 weeks.  I never ran longer than 20 miles.  My lack of long runs was my biggest concern and unknown going into RR-100.

RACE WEEK

Wednesday night around 11:00pm, I was hit with the stomach flu. It was violent for about 6 hours.  Afterwards my system was empty, I was dehydrated, depleted, weak and felt awful.  I lost 6 pounds and had no appetite and the diarrhea continued to be problematic.  Thursday I spent the day trying to rehydrate.  By Thursday evening, I was able to keep down half of a plain baked potato, soup and drank liquid yogurt trying to replace lost live cultures and probiotics.  Friday morning I woke at 3:00am to drive to RDU to catch my flight to Texas.  Luckily by then I was feeling much better and again tried to focus on replenishing my body.  Was I concerned? Yes, but I see people at every race who overcome true difficulties and stomach flu is laughably minor.

In preparing for the race, I was reminded of my dad always telling me “A fool learns from his mistakes but a wise man learns from others.”  I spoke to several friends who had completed 100 milers and each of them gave me advice on what to expect and things that did or did not work for them.  Their advice was invaluable and I am eternally grateful.  I tried to prepare for every contingency, as I wanted to have control of as many variables as possible.  The biggest advice everyone gave me was the need for a crew/pacers.  I am attracted to endurance training because of its solitary pursuit and I really struggled with the idea and need for a crew/pacers.  I reached out to several friends and Wendy Lamb & Del Pietro agreed to assist me.  I was very open and honest with them.  I told them I was not sure if I was even going to want them to pace me and typically as I suffer I withdraw into myself.  I run in silence as talking wastes my already finite energy but they were both willing to do whatever I needed to succeed!  What great friends!

COURSE

The course consisted of 5 by 20-mile loops basically around an irregularly shaped lake.  The trail was hardened earth with some sandy areas and covered with large hard roots especially with any elevation changes.  The course was basically as flat and there were several sections that were jeep track or wider which were very runnable areas.  Aid stations were at mile 3, 6&12(same station), 15 and the start/finish.  

GOAL

The cutoff to complete the 100 miles was 30 hours and just by completing the race I would qualify for the lottery at Western States, which is another goal.  I really wanted to be sub 24 hours.  My strategy going into the race was to be under 4 hours for the 1^st loop, around 4 hours for the 2^nd, 4:30 for the 3^rd and then see what happened, as I had never run further than 50 miles.

BREAKFAST

I have found as I age my body reacts much better to higher protein than to carbs.  I ate my typical 100% protein breakfast.  I prefer eggs and smoked salmon but was unable to find smoked salmon the night before so ate 3 servings of eggs and 2 servings of sausage and then drank as much low calorie Gatorade as I could handle.

START

The race started at 6:00am in Huntsville, TX at Huntsville State Park across from Sam Houston University.  It was about an hour drive from my hotel in College Station, TX.  I arrived at the entrance of the park around 5:35am and we were immediately stuck in traffic.   I eventually had to just get out of the car and start walking toward the start with Del.  As we cleared the traffic jam walking I started thumbing and a pickup truck stopped and let us jump in and drove us the mile to the start.  My hat flew off but once we stopped, Del sprinted back to retrieve it and came running up to me with it just seconds before the start.

The weather was in the 50s and super muggy.  I had been hoping for weather in the 30s but it was okay.  I wore a running cap to hold in heat, black sleeveless shirt, 2XU compression shorts, compression socks and my K-Swiss Blade 2s.  Most runners were wearing some variation of trail shoes, especially popular were the Hokas.  I opted for my K-Swiss as they are nimble and I have never had a hot spot/blister. 

Obviously I was in the back of the pack at the start given my late arrival.  It was still night and very dark with all the runners wearing headlamps and carrying flashlights.  When I do a race I visually think of my energy as a bucket of water.  That I want to slowly and evenly pour out that water so that as I cross the finish line the last drop drips out.  I say this, as I am always surprised at experienced athletes who waste so much valuable nervous energy.  People were yelling and screaming, chatting, singing, some were yelling ‘Marco!’ ‘Polo!’  I just kept quiet.

LOOP #1 (3:56:56)

A lady in front of me tripped and fell in the first couple steps over the timing mat.  She was embarrassed but uninjured.  The path was dark and narrow and it was basically just speed walking for the first 3 miles until the crowd thinned out and I was able to begin running.  I just kept my head down focusing on sure footing in the dark waiting for the dawn to break.  I have always been fortunate that my stomach can handle about anything at the aid stations and can rely on them without having to carry much.  I knew the importance of staying hydrated and eating.  Golden Rule - YOU CANNOT WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE THIRSTY OR HUNGRY.  At the first aid station I grabbed a half banana, a quarter of a pbj and drank a couple cups of Gatorade.  This was basically my routine at each aid station with variations of the foods I ate.  I also began my pattern of taking an S-cap at every aid station. I think I had to pee a couple times in the first 10 miles.  The more I pee the better!  The first loop was really uneventful for me.  Basic strategy.  Ran 80% of the time walking up the hills just staying comfortable and keeping my heart down.  I was surprised at the number of people I saw fall and fall hard. I saw a young girl face plant into some mud.  Saw an older lady fall on one of the numerous wooden bridges without railings over swampy areas.  Those would come back to worry me too!  

I did notice a troubling pattern that when I hit a root I kept hitting it with my right big toe so I knew early on a good man had rendered his service for the day.  The humidity was bad and as a heavy sweater, I was soaked.  At the 15-mile aid station, I was surprised to see Wendy & Del as I thought they were just going to hang out at the start/finish.  I was glad to be able to hand them my headlamp & cap.  Two less worries.  I finished my first loop and had to hit the port-a-john as my stomach was still feeling the effects of the stomach flu.

I had packed and labeled everything and put them in numbered Ziploc bags to make it easier for Wendy & Del to hand me things for each loop.  Plus I do not like carrying belts, vests or packs so I can then just stuff the small plastic bags snuggly into my shorts. 

I had noticed on the first loop that my Garmin showed the distance as 19.25 as it lost track with some of the tree cover and switchbacks.  I calculated I could maintain a specific pace and knew I would be even faster.  I had lost 15 minutes in the first 3 miles from all the forced walking because of the pack.  That really irritated me but I had to let it go quickly and just stay positive and control what I could control going forward.

LOOP #2 (4:07:55)

One loop down!  Felt great!  My mindset was I have 20 hours to run 80 miles but I need to be smart.  I reset my watch and settled in for the 2^nd 20-mile loop.  I continued to smash my right toe from time to time and each time it hurt worse.  I kept doing an inventory of my body and I felt fine.  All systems go.  I kept passing people but had no idea where I was in relation to position and did not care.  I knew the battle would not be external but rather internal.  I was not going to run faster or slower but just steady.  People kept falling.  I carried a bottle of Gatorade with me so during some of the longer gaps in the later aid stations I would have something to drink.  I hate carrying anything but the bottle made a sloshing sound in rhythm to my stride and it almost became a metronome for my breathing and foot strick.  I almost felt like it was hypnotizing me into a trance and I just kept steadily clicking off miles.  I was curious to see what would happen around mile 38, as that was where I started struggling during the JFK 50 Miler.  I just stuck to my routine at the aid stations.  Drink as much as I could, eat something, take an S-cap and keep moving.  I did realize toward the end of this loop that I was not going to be able to run 100 miles in my K-Swiss as the hard roots & stumps were being felt too roughly through their road condition soles.  I do not consider that a mistake on my part as I wanted them for their lightweight and they did awesome!  I saw Wendy & Del at mile 35 again and threw them my soaking wet shirt.  I prefer to run wearing a shirt but the humidity had just turned it into a heavy sponge.  I told them I wanted to get dry so to have the wet towel, dry towel, Tri-Slide, new shirt, socks and Hokas ready along with bag #3. 

I finished the 2^nd loop as planned and on schedule feeling great.  The wet towel allowed me to wipe off all the salty sweat, trail grime and felt amazing.  I reapplied Tri-Slide to the usual suspect areas, changed socks & shoes.  I was not sure what time I would finish the next loop.  I opted for a long sleeve shirt and tied it around my waste in case I struggled and it got dark, cold or started to rain.  The weather report had called for rain but so far it had just stayed overcast. 

LOOP #3 (5:06:00)

Two loops down.  40 miles completed.  I now had 16 hours to run 60 miles to accomplish my sub 24-hour goal.  I did all kinds of math calculations in my mind.  That is what I thought about as I ran.  That is what occupied my time.  During the race I might occasionally run near another runner but if they wanted to start talking I would make a comment then try to leave them.   Talking during a long run saps my energy, breaks my focus or whatever you want to call it.  I just do not like talking while I am running.  People ask me what I think about while I am running for hours.  I really do not know.  My mind thinks of everything and nothing.  I just mainly stare at the ground and go into a trance.  I was wondering what was going to happen at mile 50.  That was the furthest I had ever run and was only going to be the halfway mark.  

I had taken my iPhone in a plastic bag and stuck it in my shorts, as I wanted to capture the halfway point.  During this loop, I still felt great but I realized my feet were starting to fall apart and blister.  It was a mistake on my part and I should have learned my lesson from what I put my feet through at IMKY.  I had left some foam orthotics in my Hokas.  I wear my Hokas as recovery shoes and the orthotics provide even additional support and cushioning.  The problem is they are 3/4 lengths so there is a slight little lip around the ball of my foot.  Its something I cannot even feel when I wear them but when you are running 100 miles it becomes like the pea and the princess.  Well I had survived a IMKY with half the bottom of both my feel blistering and blisters were not going to stop me here either.  I would just deal with them after I finished.  I got to mile 51 and was still feeling great.  I recorded a short video and posted it so people would know I was still alive.  I kept up my hydration and nutrition but I was losing my appetite and nothing appealed to me at the aid stations.  The aid stations did a great job of putting different items out over the race so you were not stuck with the same choices.  Usually during a long race I crave protein.  Specifically in the past I had craved fried eggs, smoked salmon & hamburgers.  I had packed fried eggs and Wendy & Del had gotten smoked salmon for me.  Interestingly though the aid stations started putting out pickles and mashed potatoes that were runny enough to drink.  Those really were the bomb during this loop and were my staple for the remainder of the race.  Yum

I saw Wendy & Del again at mile 55.  It was getting close to sunset so they gave me a headlamp.  My pace had slowed a little from mile 50-60 and I could have picked it up but I did not want to live and die by an artificial pace and just tried to maintain comfort. 

I finished the loop.  I ran it just over 5 hours but it had felt very easy and I truly felt I could maintain that pace for the next 40 miles with no problem so I was pleased. 

The race allowed us to have pacers for Loop 4&5.  I decided I did want Wendy & Del to pace me for the last 2 loops for different reasons.  I wanted them to experience the course and race so I could have someone to share it with plus the extra lighting on the trail would be helpful.  I also knew my pride would be pushed along knowing someone was watching me.  The question in my mind then became in what order.  I figured I would run more during the 4^th loop so maybe Del should go, as he was the stronger runner.  But whom was I kidding, my pace was slowing and that was not going to be an issue with either.  I finally decided that if I truly started have major problems, Del was physically stronger and faster and could render aid or obtain first aid quicker on the last loop.

LOOP #4 (5:50:36)

3 loops down.  60 miles down (almost 100k).  40 miles to cover in 11 hours to break 24 hours.  No problem!  I am going to be unstoppable!  Wendy & I headed out.  I explained to her that I preferred if she ran behind me and that she needed to run several strides back as she needed to stare at the ground so she could see the roots.  I told her my basic strategy was to walk jog the first 5-6 mile around the single track rooty trails around a 16 min pace and that around mile 5 there were more runnable sections of the course and I felt I could make up time.  I also said I probably would not be talking much and that if she fell I would not stop.  She laughed and said she would not expect me too.  At the aid stations, I concentrated on eating and swigging down fluids as she filled up my bottle.  I got to around mile 5 of the loop where the course opens back up and was able to pretty much follow the pre loop plan and picked up the pace.  At this point I started noticing my left quad felt like it had pulled but not significantly enough where I could not maintain the plan and it was not getting worse.  I did notice that whenever I did stop to walk it was taking greater effort to start running again.  Its funny when you get that tired.  I do not start running by increasing my leg speed.  I just lean forward until I start to fall and then use the momentum to start.  It may sound weird but if you have been there you probably know what I am trying to express.  On the course, there were a couple metal benches for the park.  Wendy casually mentioned that those benches had to be tempting for some of the runners.  About that exact moment we passed a bench and a runner was curled up on the bench.  I asked him if he was okay and he mumbled, “yeah.”  We were at about mile 71 and a runner (remember all we can see is a headlamp) comes up behind me, which surprised me as I was still passing people rather than being passed.  As the runner came up we said good job.  The headlamp said in a female voice, “Oh no, I am just a pacer.  My runner just quit.”  She ran with us for a bit and explained that they were using boats to take runners who had to quit across the lake.  I also started noticing more runners seeking medical attention at the aid stations.  Many were wrapped in blankets or having different parts of their bodies examined.  We got to the 73 mile aid station.  It was the largest aid station with multiple tents, vehicles and a bag drop area with lots of people around.  I grabbed stuff to eat and drink while Wendy filled my Gatorade bottle.  I started back up the trail.  Wendy waited at the aid station thinking I was still eating at one of the tents.  It was no big deal as it was 3 miles to the next aid station and that was where she was going to drop me to meet me at the start/finish with Del.  By the time she realized I was not in another area, she took off running after me but hit a root and fell.  I was oblivious and just kept going.  I say kept going because this is where my sub 24 hour race effectively ended.  I was putting out the same perceived effort but as I looked at my watch I could not go faster than 18 minutes a mile.  I kept trying but my body would not respond.  It was like everything just hit me once.  I stayed positive and said to myself, “Okay this is just a bad point.  You have been here before and you will get through it.  Just keep walking, get to the next aid station and wait to bounce back.”  I went through my mental checklist.  Dehydration? No, still peeing.  Fuel? No, have been eating.  Cramps? No. My quads were just fatigued.  I knew my left was slightly pulled but both were done to the point I was having balance issues and was curiously leaning to my left.  I had to make an effort to stay straight.  I made it to mile 75 where thank God Del was waiting.  He explained Wendy had called and told him to go on with me and she would meet us at the start/finish.  I walked over to the aid station to get fluids and food.  I stumbled and almost fell.  The medical people walked over and asked if I was okay.  It dawned on me I was in pretty bad shape so had to suck it up so they would not pull me or make me sit down to examine me.  I really concentrated and shook them off and started walking.  Del asked what I wanted and I said just fill up my Gatorade bottle.  He came running right back.  I said, “Look I am in bad shape. Your job is to just get me to the finish.”  He asked if he should push me and I said, “No we just have a really long slow walk in front of us.”  I could tell I was staggering.  I told Del I was going to try and distract myself by finally using my iPhone and put in my earphones.  In the process of putting them on, a simple little loop had formed around my race belt.  I kept trying and trying to unloop it but could not figure it out.  I know it sounds stupid and funny but I could not problem solve or get my brain and body coordinated.  I had to stop and face Del like a 3 year old child as he took 2 seconds to fix the loop.  He said, “Dude we are going to get you through this.”  I just walked.  I almost fell a couple times and occasionally had to put my hand on him for balance.  I told him I did not know what I had left so when we got to the start finish I was going to step over the timing mat, turn around and start right back out.  I was really afraid if I stopped I might not start or a race official might try to stop me.  Ironically my fully charged Garmin also went dead!

LOOP #5 (6:55:12)

4 loops done. 20 miles to go. I remember looking at the official race time.  I was starting Loop #5 at 19:01 but I remember I kept saying 18:01.  Now my brain said if you can really push yourself and run a 4:59 loop you can still break 24 hours!  So I decided to push with everything I had and if I could get to the 3-mile aid station in 45 minutes or less I would keep pushing until the next.  I know Del thought I was crazy as I would lean forward maybe fast shuffle 30-40 steps kind of recover, then repeat.  I am not sure I ever went any faster but maybe my arms pumped more.  When I got to the 3-mile aid station even my eternal optimism knew it was over.  If I had turned around right there and run back to the finish, I am not sure if I could have broken 24 hours.  I told Del sub 24 hours was over and that given the shape I was in, I was not even going to try and run.  At this point, I was afraid 1) I might not be able to physically finish or 2) I might injure myself.  I asked him to stay close to me in case I fell to try and catch me.  We walked and it just all kept getting worse.  It was so painful to walk down even just the slightest grade.  I had to step sideways at times.  There were roots I could not lift my foot over and kind of had to zigzag down and in between.  There was never a point I felt I would quit but I also never reached a point where I thought I was going to finish.  It was just so painfully slow.  Leigh Adams had warned me of the ‘halo-effect’ of wearing a headlamp for such an extended period of time.  Not sure if this is what she meant but I was so out of my mind I was hallucinating or misinterpreting shadows and things.  I am not jumpy but I thought I saw something scurry out on the path and I screamed like a little girl.  Del said he about had a heart attack I scared him with my shriek.  He asked what I saw and I said I had no idea. It also caused me problems on all the many bridges.  They were different widths but some were fairly narrow and none had handrails.  They seemed to rattle and vibrate as I walked across them and I had to spread my legs wide and walk across them afraid I would lose my balance and fall off.  I asked Del to stay really close.  I felt I was going insane.  Around mile 87, the weather just suddenly dropped out of the 50s into the 30s.  It actually helped me.  Almost like throwing a bucket of water on someone asleep.  I did not feel cold.  Del said he was cold but I could feel the heat coming off my muscles probably from all the tiny tears.  It was also about this time my hands really started to swell.  I knew this was a common ailment and the easy way to prevent and even alleviate the symptoms is to simply raise them overhead and repeatedly open and clench.  I tried to do this but it would cause me to lose my balance.  Del caught me once as I almost fell and I kept my hands below my head from that point forward.  Another strange effect was with the sudden cold weather when you exhaled I guess some of my breath condensation was heavier than other parts and it fell down and you would walk into it.  Almost like snow.  I had never seen or heard of it before.  Even Del commented on it happening to him too.  The wind really started whipping and we both knew it was just a matter of time before it started raining. 

I remember we were around mile 90 and it was going to take me almost 3+ hours to finish.  It seemed like as the miles decreased, my pace got slower and the time to finish remained stagnate.  It was a very frustrating time warp.  Like walking on a treadmill and going nowhere.  We crossed the earthen dam and at the end off the dam was a red clay hill fairly step but only about 10-15 feet high.  I knew my quads would fail on the grade and I would just fall.  I could sit and scoot down but was not sure I would get back up.  I had to have Del walk in front of me and I put my hands against his should and leaned forward against him as we slowly walked down.  At about this point is when it started raining.  Off and on at first.  It was cold but initially refreshing.  At about mile 93, I finally started getting really cold and knew hyperthermia was coming into play.  I was able to get my jacket and gloves from the aid station at mile 95.  My hands were so swollen it was an effort putting them on.  With the jacket on, I quickly felt warmer.  The plan had been for Del to quit at mile 95 and for he and Wendy to meet me at the finish.  I told them I was afraid I might fall or something happen that might prevent me from finishing.  I needed help so Del stayed with me.  It was agonizing and humbling being that dependent.  We just keep silently walking slowly through the dark, windy, cold, rainy woods.  The sun rose and it was nice to be able to finally see further than a few feet.  I got to about 1 mile from the finish.  I told Del I thought I could make it.  I wanted him to take my iPhone (his was dead) and for him and Wendy to space themselves out and video and take pictures of the finish.  As he left, I stopped and peed on the trail.  I did not want to finish then have to walk the extra couple hundred feet over to the port-a-potties.  I remember watching the steam rise even in the rain from my pee.  As soon as I stopped peeing, I was overcome with a bone rattling cold.  I started shivering and I could not stop my teeth from chattering.  It felt as if I had peed all the heat out of me and now I was just a hollow icebox.  I got a little concerned that there was still not guarantee I was going to finish.  I was slipping into hyperthermia again and I was still a mile from the finish.  I know that does not sound like far but a mile was over a 20 minute walk for me.  I knew I had to try and generate body heat somehow.  I tried pumping my arms, breathing slowly through my nose and to quicken my pace as much as possible.  Things I take for granted were such a struggle.

FINISH

The finish line is a 90-degree turn down a row of telephone pole power lines.  You cross a road then its about 500 feet to the finish.  I knew Wendy and Del were down there somewhere and were videotaping me and I really wanted to run.  With the cold and rain there was nobody in sight.  It was just me and my eyes had a hard time focusing on anything.  I heard a guy start yelling down off to the right. He was very excited and encouraging.  I looked behind me but he was yelling for me.  He was a race official.  He yelled, “Come on! Run it in you can still break 26 hours!”  I remember looking at the big digital clock and it said 25:55.  I remember thinking of course I can break 26 hours I am only 300-400 feet away.  But then I started thinking maybe I am going a lot slower than I think!  Or what if I fall.  Holy crap! I was only a coin toss from the finish and I still did not have this thing in the bag.  I was trying to run but I think I was just pumping my arms a little.  I knew my body was contorted but I did the best I could.  I finished alone.  No cheers.  No throngs.  Just me alone but it seemed oddly appropriate.  

There was a tent a few feet past the finish line and they waived me in.  They took my race chip and handed me a buckle.  They said I looked cold and offered me a chair next to one of the heaters.  I tried to lower myself but soon as I bent my knees my legs collapsed and I fell into the chair.  They brought a large wool blanket and wrapped it around me.  They encouraged me to take in hot fluids, which I begged of until Wendy convinced me to drink some hot chocolate.  I just set there shaking.  I was not excited, I was not happy, there was no grand epiphany or afterglow.  I was just sore, in pain, wet, cold, shivering but most of all thankful to God that I was finished.  I wanted to be dry and warm.

BANDS

When I decided to run the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler, I knew it would easily be the most physically difficult thing I had ever attempted.  In anticipation of the race, I had about 20 silicon wristbands custom made.  I carried all the bands with me on my race belt throughout the race - every second of 25:56 hours and each step of the 100 miles.  The other runners often asked me what they were for and I said they were my family and friends.  Each band represented someone who helped me get to the starting line to achieve this goal of mine and allowed me to feel as if they were running with me throughout the race.  It provided me with tremendous motivation to push past mental and physical barriers I had never before attempted.  I sent one to each person as a symbolic way for me to thank you.  Maybe someday they will run across it in a drawer or some other hidden recess and be reminded during difficulties in their own lives the words of Aulus Persius Flaccus “he conquers who endures.” 

I endured 100 miles.

STATISTICS

Finish time: 25:56:35

679 starters, 478 finishers, 201 DNFs

133^rd out of 279 overall / 106 of 280 male / 40 of ?? age group

USATF 100-Mile Trail Championship

49^th out of 81 male

6^th out of 10 Age Group

Off to my next adventure…