Before I write anything, I have to note a few things. I don't get to the start line without the support of my lovely wife! My motivation to dig deep when it hurt is credited to my beautiful daughter. I am so lucky to have had 2 amazing pacers in Hillary and WA. They all deserve a buckle for the work they did out there!
Whatever issues the 100 had last year were completely resolved this year. It looks like the race management team took in all the feedback from last year and made this into one classy event.
Say what you want about splitting the race between the Hares and Tortoises. It is what it is. For the record, I was fine with the splitting of the race and enjoyed seeing such a stacked field cruise by me so frequently. As for course markings...perfect. If you got lost, that was all on you. The elimination of the high school and short out and backs were a blessing. The aid stations and volunteers...amazing!! Each and every aid station went above and beyond.
Seriously, RRR was perfectly ran and either the 50M and 100M should be on your list for next year. Assuming you like low key races, zero traffic issues, well stocked aid stations, knowledgeable and passionate volunteers and a race directing staff who cares about the runners.
The weeks leading to the Race:
I'll be honest, I was scared as race day neared. I had caught a stomach bug and nice cold from my daughter a few weeks out that wiped me out but also thought I was recovering from. Then on Saturday, 6 days before the race, I woke to eyes crusted shut from pink eye and spitting out nasty glumpy balls of bloody snot from a lung viral infection. Instead of resting on the couch watching college football, I was at an Urgent Care getting some medication to rid myself of this nastiness.
I had cleared most of the lung stuff out a few days before the race. I was still putting in drops to my eyes the morning of the race. Most importantly though, I had gotten 3 straight nights of amazing sleep leading to race day. More then I had gotten the 3 plus weeks leading into the race.
Race Start:
(Pre Race: Family)
(Pre Race: Pacer #1 - Hillary)
(Great seeing Scott finish his 3rd 100. Still have fond memories of when I paced him at HR a few years back)
I was so thankful Steamboat wanted none of the weather the front range was getting. It was raining hard at times, even snowing at the highest elevations, but winds were calm and the sun shining most of the day.
I took it easy with no expectations and don't recall much till mile 22ish (Olympian Hall AS in 4:30). Alone on a steep climb around Emerald Mountain it dawns on me I still have roughly 75 miles left in the race. What a crappy thought to enter the head. All of sudden everything hurt. Running was difficult. Emotions started to get the best of me. Then 2 runners approached me and I hung with them on and off till mile 42. I still had a few rough patches here and there but overall, bull shitting with these 2 made the miles just go by.
I got back to Olympian Hall (Mile 42ish) in 9 hours and 05 mins. Much faster then I anticipated. Mix in that I felt bad most of the loop and had no idea to expect of this section. Some reported it being longer then stated, but I didn't find that to be the case. So it was a surprise to knock out roughly 20+ miles in 4 1/2 hours.
(still feeling good after 42 miles and a rather rough 20+ miles)
Look Death Straight In The Face:
Fueling and hydration were spot on thru 50 miles now. Never once did I hint of stomach issues. If anything I was getting hungry for real food. I went for some water like I had for the past 10 hours but this time the second it hit my mouth, I was aiming for the bushes and clearing out my stomach. Marched on for 15 minutes, tried getting some calories in and barfing yet again. Now I was laid out on a rock hurting and getting cold from the fast approaching night.
Never saw the vomiting coming and no clue how I could have prevented it.
I still had 5 miles and some 2,500 feet of climbing left. But I had put myself in a deep hole quickly. Hillary's goal was to get me to the Long Lake Aid Station without stopping. I fought her numerous times to stop and take a brake and never once did she let me. The miles were slow and painful! Every muscle hurt. I looked forward to getting passed as it allowed me a few seconds of stepping off the trail and stopping.
The last mile into Long Lake AS (mile 53) was the worst. I was whispering and mumbling responses to Hillary. I stumbled on my own feet with each step. I couldn't adjust to the now dark conditions. I literally felt like I was blind at times. I'm pretty sure I shit my pants a little too on a harmless fart. Thoughts of dropping ruled my mind.
I got to Long Lake, found a seat and dropped my head to my knees. No way in hell I could do this for another 50 miles.
Don't Call It A Come Back:
After a few minutes of sitting there, I noticed a volunteer had a bow of soup waiting for me. Hillary had some warm cloths ready for me to switch into that I had stuffed in my drop bag. At almost 10,000 feet, it was getting cold quickly. Changed to warmer gear and ate a bowl of soup. Then 2 bowls. Then 4, then 6. A few bags of chips. Roughly 15 ounces of soda. A few cups of water. After 30 minutes of sitting around, I literally hoped out of my seat. By now Hillary was flirting with the boys at the aid station but saw me spring to life. She was pumped at my new found energy.
It would end up taking me over 4 1/2 hours to cover 10 miles starting from the point when I left Olympian Hall AS to leaving Long Lake AS.
I left the aid station with 40 ounces of water, a PBJ sando and a handheld of hot noodle soup. Next aid station was a slight uphill 6 miles away and while I ran very little of it, I continued on eating and drinking and found myself getting strong with each passing mile.
A brief stop at Summit AS (mile 58) and we ran big chunks of the roughly 12 miles and almost 4,000 foot drop down to mile 70 in pouring rain. By now I had ditched the idea of taking anything of gel or powder substance. All food, soda and water for me!
(wishful thinking that I'd only eat this crap for 103 straight miles)
For never having paced (much less attend an ultra greater then 50) Hillary did an amazing job on keeping me focused and digging me out of my dark hole. If I were alone, I'd still be hanging out along Fish Creek Falls laid out somewhere next to my vomit!
33 Miles Left:
(less intimidating then a choo-choo train. Photo: WA)
Considering everything, I felt that I handled the climb well. Hiked most of it strong, ran all the flat and downhill portions and even a few of the uphill parts.
The next part of the course is along the stunning Wyoming Trail. A section I've always wanted to cover and a portion of the course I was looking forward to the most. I was behind my expected time targets but it allowed us to run this section right before sunrise. Stunning and while the 8+ mile section was long, WA did an amazing job in keeping me fueled and moving.
(a sunrise like this means I ran thru the night. Photo: WA)
Roughly 3 hours to cover 7 miles upon leaving Mt Werner AS. But not before sitting at the aid station as a medic patched up my blisters and taped my right foot.
Evil Downhill Finish:
3,500 feet of drop over 6 miles. Walking slow was getting really old. As was the pain in both my feet. It was ugly, but I was hell bent on running as much as possible. Heel strikes to stay off the ball of my foot and minimize the foot flexing. All painfully manageable on the service roads.
Then the trail went technical single track, to bush whacking, to straight down a diamond slope. Every step was killing my feet. Another popped blister and more cuss words that damn near brought me to tears.
(who needs trails when you have ski slopes! Photo: WA)
Finally back on service road and I found a way to run the last 1/2 mile or so to the finish line. Swooped up my daughter right before the finish only to realize I had to run up 6 steps to a patio to cross the finish line.
(huge uphill finish!)
21 hours to cover 86 miles when I was feeling good. 8 hours to cover 17 miles when I was looking at death straight in the face and hurting from thrashed feet and you get a 28 Hours 51 Minutes 01 Seconds finish in 17th place out 56 finishers. Much room for improvement.
(already wondering how I could have prevented all the lost time)
Aftermath:Took off my shoes to assess the damage to my feet. Dipping them in the cold creek near the finish line felt good. What felt better was throwing down 4 beers and 5 slices of pizza immediately after the foot soaking.
I gave my buckle to my daughter with the hope that it'll offer up some type of inspiration in the future. My wife asked shortly after the race if I'm doing another one. I gave her the stink eye and before being able to respond, she reminded me that my daughter's little brother who will be born in a few months will be extremely jealous that he doesn't have a buckle. Time to start planning for 2014!
