Hellgate 100k 2021 – Warm Weather

December 11

It is the second Saturday in December so for the 19^th year in a row, I find myself at the start line of the Hellgate 100k in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia alongside of 141 other runners on this seasonably warm night.  My crew for this year’s race is Andrew, who is a fellow co-worker.  He has not crewed for me before, but he says he can make a good grilled cheese sandwich, so he qualifies.  We flew up yesterday morning from Huntsville, Alabama to Roanoke, Virginia.  It was a great flight with 30+ knot tailwinds, although we were in the clouds most of the time.

Like most years, the focus is on the weather.  Usually, the question is how cold is it going to be and will there be any frozen precipitation.  This year, it is warm with a couple of chances of rain during the race.  So, the questions are:  how warm will it get? (It is forecasted to rise up to 70 degrees.)  And, how much rain will we have to deal with?

The temperature at the start is in the mid-40s, and I am wearing shorts, a long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts, and a buff.  I feel good and ready and hope I have enough fitness to finish under 17 hours, which would be a Western States qualifier.

Mile 3.5      46:50 (13:23 avg./mile) FSR 35

It feels like I ran this section well, but my time is my slowest ever.  That being said, I am only a minute behind my targeted pace for this section.  The course is pretty dry as I guess it is true that Virginia is behind on rain.  For only the second time ever, I manage to rock hop across the stream around mile 3.  Two things have to be true to even attempt this—the water level must be low, and it cannot be below freezing as that would make the rocks ice covered.

Mile 7.5      58:05 (14:31 avg./mile) Petites Gap

Since I have a couple of minutes to make up, I run about a third of this section.  It is all uphill, but the gravel road is smooth.  I talk with Sheryl Mawn on this section about our goal times for this year.  She isn’t sure she is ready to run the downhill sections with the abandon it would take to go below 16.5 hours.  I disagree, but I don’t know if I can run downhill fast enough anymore to qualify as “running downhill with abandon.”  At some point, Scott Lee passes me.  He and I ran together for several miles at Burning River in July.  Scott completed the Grand Slam of 100-milers this year and even ran Wasatch Crest and Grindstone on back-to-back weekends!  At the aid station, I drink some chocolate milk and take a bagel with me to eat on the run.  I am now right on my targeted pace for a 17-hour finish.

Mile 13.1    1:39:17 (17:44 avg./mile) Camping Gap

Starting down the first part of this section, I roll my chronic right ankle.  I rolled it three weeks ago, so the pain isn’t as intense as it was then given the proximity to the last event.  I survive the rest of the rocky downhill trail, traverse nicely through the rolling trail with a couple of small stream crossing, which have virtually no water in them this year, and then begin the 3-mile climb up the jeep trail to the aid station.  There were a few sprinkles of rain on this section, but right now on this climb, the temperature is the most interesting aspect.  It has been in the mid-40s so far, now it is alternating between warm and cool.  I estimate it is a 15-degree swing with each pocket of air that gets blown to us.  After several minutes of this, the temperature settles on the warm side around 60 degrees.  It is much warmer than I would like, and I stay conservative for the rest of the climb to ensure I don’t get too hot.  However, when we round the corner to the aid station, the wind is howling, and I take a small cup of broth when it is offered to me.  I grab a couple of sandwich quarters and some potato chips.  This section was slower than I wanted so I am now four minutes behind my targeted pace.

Mile 21.9    2:31:22 (17:12 avg./mile) Headforemost Mountain

The first two-thirds of this section brought on another weather phenomenon that I had not experienced to this extreme—unbelievably dense fog!  It is a struggle just to see my feet; there is no hope of seeing a few feet in front of them.  This part of the trail is a rolling old grassy road.  The downhill parts are usually when I can open up a good stride.  That is not the case this year.  I am just trying to stay on the mountain by not wandering off the side of the trail.  Sheryl Mawn is again around me on this section along with Chelsie Viar (going for her 11^th finish) and Amy Gordon from Arizona.  Very fortunately for us, the fog clears just before we enter the Apple Orchard section that leads down to Overstreet Falls.  I run this section really hard with Sheryl close behind.  I tweak my right ankle at one point, but otherwise do really well getting down to Overstreet Falls and begin the short final climb up to Headforemost.  I lose another minute, and I am disappointed as I thought I could really gain some ground on this section.  The fog had other plans for me, though, and I will have to be content with getting to this point at 5:55am.  Despite the fact that Sheryl has run this race seven times already, she asks me how I think we are doing.  My reply is that given the fog, I think we are in great shape, and I am ready to run hard downhill for the next several miles, if the fog stays away.

Mile 27.6    1:38:59 (17:22 avg./mile) Jennings Creek

Leaving Jennings Creek

I rarely feel like running hard on this section at first.  The last section is the longest on the course, and I need some time to relax.  But, I need to make up a little time, so down the hill I run.  As I pound down the hill, my left shin starts to talk to me.  What is this?  It takes me a minute, but then I recall that this was hurting me after the Indiana Trail 100 in October.  Hopefully, it doesn’t get to really hurting!  I make good time and manage to successfully negotiate the one part of rocky technical trail on this section.  During the last mile, I pass Bruce Tweedie and Lanier Greenhaw.  I stride into the aid station in great shape having made up a couple minutes towards my targeted pace.  Andrew has also survived the night driving around in the dense fog.  At one point, he says he had to just pull over for a couple of hours as he couldn’t see the road in front of him.  Regardless, he is ready for me with a perfectly made grilled egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich.  I munch on that while I change my shoes and socks.  I drink some chocolate milk and CR01 before heading up the next climb.

Mile 34.5    1:49:19 (15:51 avg./mile) Little Cove Mountain

Leaving Jennings Creek, I pass Kim Weatherford and Alissa Keith on the climb.  On the downhill section, I catch up to Lanier and Sheryl again—I think both of them passed me in the aid station when I was changing my shoes.  We stay mostly together as we make our way to this aid station where crews are no longer allowed to go.  Just as I arrive at the aid station, Martha Wright sneaks past me.  Martha is 60 this year and is trying to break the female record for 60+ set by Janice Heltibridle in 2018 at 17:06.  I grab a few French toast sticks made by Rossie at this aid station and top off my Camelbak to ensure I have enough water to get to the next aid station.  The temperature has climbed into the mid to high 60s, but it is nice and breezy.  I gained almost six minutes on my targeted pace and am now a little over a minute ahead of my 17-hour pace!

Mile 42.5    2:20:00 (17:30 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap

Coming into Bearwallow Gap

I run with Martha briefly on this section (long enough to find out she has three grandchildren) before she runs away from me.  Sheryl runs away with her as well, but I keep both of them in sight for a couple of miles.  Although it feels like I am giving back time, in the end, I do decently well on this section.  Bruce Tweedie catches up to me, and we run the last few miles together into the aid station.  The leaves on the course are not too deep this year, and I manage the devil trail without any falls or ankle twists.  At the aid station, Andrew has out done himself in fixing as good of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich as I have ever had at Hellgate.  I eat the majority of the sandwich washing it down with plenty of CR01 and a little chocolate milk.  I was spot on my targeted pace of this section and thus am still over a minute ahead of pace.

Mile 49.5    2:01:38 (17:23 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap

Coming into Bobblets Gap just behind Lanier

I leave Bearwallow Gap with Bruce just ahead of me.  I plan to catch back up to him, but it seems like my legs aren’t up to climbing as fast as he is.  He pulls away from me, and I am left with trying to stay focused, hoping that I can stay on pace.  My stomach is plumb full; did I possibly eat too much of the scrumptious grilled ham and cheese sandwich?  After the climbing, I start trying to run the flat and downhill sections.  At one point, I catch my toe and hit the dirt and rocks.  I scrape up my right thigh quite nicely, but not so good as to win best blood or anything.  Soon thereafter, Lanier catches back up to me.  He said he went through quite a low on the last section, but is now rebounding.  At one point, we are passed by Kim Weatherford again.  She mentions that she has improved by five minutes each year she has run this race and will run a Western States qualifier in six more years.  When I tell her she still can go under 17 hours, she picks up the pace and leaves me and Lanier behind.  Lanier and I make it into the aid station where Andrew has fixed my Ramen very nicely, but I don’t eat much before drinking a small cup of Coke and leaving the aid station.  I was 11 minutes behind goal pace on this last section, so I am now 10 minutes behind my targeted pace.  It seems like I didn’t quite have the closing speed I needed, but we will see how this next section goes.

Mile 56.1    2:08:21 (19:27 avg./mile) Day Creek

Lanier tells me to press on without him on this section, so I try to run the downhill road as fast as I can.  It is about 2.5 miles, and I make it in 28:34 as we enter the single-tracked trail again.  Maybe I still have a chance at 17 hours?  I attack the climb with gusto and have two ladies ahead of me to try and catch.  I fail to catch up to them.  About halfway through this section, Jeff Aultice catches up to me and runs with me the rest of the section.  He is from Lynchburg and is doing this race for the first time.  Surprisingly, my right ankle is doing really well the latter half of this race and actually feels strong.  About a mile before the aid station, Lanier on yet another rebound, catches up to us, and the three of us make our way into the aid station.  Andrew is here with some potato chips and another Coke.  I leave the aid station at 15:53.  If I match my fastest time ever on this last section, I can still get in less than 17 hours.  The problem is that my fastest time on this last section was 11 years ago.

Coming into Day Creek leading a train of runners

Mile 62.4    1:35:35 (15:10 avg./mile) FINISH

I press the climb with purpose, but not all out recklessness.  The odds of me going under 17 hours are very slim, and it is more important to get the finish.  I get passed by one other runner on the way up to the Parkway.  I make the climb in 48:49, which is rather pedestrian.  I start slowly running down the other side and manage to re-pass the runner that passed me on the climb.  I don’t catch any other runners, and one more passes me.  In the last mile, I can see and hear a few runners approaching from behind me.  I pick up the pace, covering the last mile in 11:22, which is just enough to keep Tyler Upham from catching me.

Finish Line Congrats!

Official Finishing Time          17:29:26

109^th out of 142 starters (118 finishers under 18 hours)

At the finish, Horton gives me a hug and says I am slowing down.  I am actually over 10 minutes faster than last year.  Regardless, he enjoys announcing to the finish line crowd that I am 19 of 19 at Hellgate and that all five of the Fearsome Five are now finished.  I chat with Ryan Henry and his wife while I try to eat some chili.  I also talk with Charlie and Doc Wortley.  I ask the good doctor about my left shin, and he says I have tendonitis of the tendon that lifts the toes up.  He says it is quite common for ultra-runners.

Andrew and I pick up a pizza on our way to the hotel room in Roanoke.  Overall, I am happy with my effort and results this year given the conditions, but I am still disappointed that I didn’t finish in less than 17 hours.  I thought my three 100-mile attempts this year would give me the base endurance I needed, but it wasn’t meant to be this year.

I have already started planning my race calendar for 2022.  I will run the Mountain Mist 50k in January and probably Mount Cheaha 50k in February.  I am also going to go back to Virginia and the Bull Run Run 50-miler in April.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Indiana Trail 100 2021 - Warm Fall Weather

October 9

In the course of my ultra-running career, I have never attempted to run three 100 mile races in the same calendar year.  I started this year only intending to run the Kettle Moraine 100 miler.  However, the weather decided to bring 94 degrees of heat on race day.  I dropped at mile 63 along with almost half the field.  So, I put my name on the waiting list for the Indiana Trail 100 for October, and since I was 89^th on the waiting list, I also decided to enter the Burning River 100 miler in Ohio in late July.  Unfortunately, the weather on race day in Ohio was nice and warm with thick humidity.  The temperature only rose to 86 degrees, but after 73 miles, I was cooked.  Amazingly and fortunately, I moved up the waiting list for Indiana and was entered by the end of August.  However, I was still planning to run rim-to-rim-to-rim at the Grand Canyon as part of our vacation in September.  So, two and a half weeks ago, I ran R2R2R in 98 degree weather.  Granted it is only 42 miles, but the steep, long climbs trashed my legs.

So, here I am trying for the third time this year to finish a 100 mile race.  I know I am ready, but so many things can go wrong along the way to a 100 mile finish. Let’s start with today’s forecast.  It rained yesterday, and the high temperature today is supposed to be around 76 degrees with the low tonight dropping near 60 degrees.  The temperature at the start is 57 degrees with partly cloudy skies.  I have a short-sleeve shirt on with a buff on my head.  The key today will be to remain patient.  238 runners begin the 100 mile race in the dark at 6am.

Stu and Darin early in the race

Mile 3.1      36:42 (11:50 avg./mile) South Park

I settle in nicely on this first section.  Along the way I meet two runners—Stu and KT—who are from North Carolina.  Most of us don’t stop at this first aid station.  I punch the lap button on my watch and keep moving right on through the aid station.

Mile 7.6      56:07 (12:28 avg./mile) Hilltop

I continue to run very conservatively by walking all of the uphill sections and cruising easily on the downhills.  I reach the aid station just as the new day is dawning.  I turn off my headlamp and grab two PB&J sandwich quarters—one of which has been grilled and tastes fabulous!

Running through the early morning

Mile 12.0    55:16 (12:34 avg./mile) Weber Lake

Previous editions of this race had a 20-mile loop.  This year the loop has been expanded to 25 miles.  This section has most of the extra five miles.  It is nice and smooth trail that is similar to the rest of the course, but there is one short section that has water on the course.  This first time through, we all get our feet wet.  On this section, I am running with Laura, who is a former triathlete.  She has finished the Ironman in Hawaii seven or eight times.  With a mile to go, there are signs with quotes from the Princess Bride.  It starts with, “You mock my pain—an ultra-race is pain your highness,” and proceeds with “A Christmas tree in the middle of the race course—Inconceivable!”  Lo and behold there is an evergreen tree beside the race course that has been decorated.  I grab a couple of PB&J sandwich quarters before proceeding.

Mile 16.4    55:27 (12:36 avg./mile) Rally

A little downhill

It is cool so far and overcast.  It looks like it may rain, but the chance today is less than 10%.  This is the one aid station in the loop where crews are allowed, and there are many crews and spectators at this aid station.  I eat a quesadilla and quickly proceed.  I am moving well with minimal effort so far.

Mile 21.9    1:14:35 (13:34 avg./mile) Schoolhouse

The weatherman was wrong!  During this section a light rain begins to fall.  I just hope it doesn’t rain too much and make the course really sloppy.  There is one part of the trail next to one of the lakes that is flooded, so I get my feet wet for a second time on this loop.  I intentionally slowed a bit on this section to ensure I wasn’t going out too fast.  With the early cool temperatures, I don’t think that is a problem at this point.  I grab two more PB&J sandwich quarters and proceed to the last section of this first loop.

Flooded trail section going towards Schoolhouse

Mile 25.0    50:06 (16:10 avg./mile) Sand Beach (start/finish)

My time on this section includes my time at the car at the start/finish area.  I continued to run comfortably making good time.  Just before the aid station, I see KT again as he stopped at his car for a bit.  My cousin, Andrea, said she was planning on coming out and seeing me so I told her that I would be at mile 25 between 11:00 and 11:30.  The time is around 11:20am when I get to the car.  I change my shoes and socks, eat a ham and cheese sandwich, refill my Camelbak, and drink some chocolate.  I say hello and goodbye to Andrea before beginning my second loop—one down, three to go.

Mile 28.1    42:17 (13:38 avg./mile) South Park

Having eaten a whole sandwich, I move a little slower on this first section.  I run a little with Stu on this section.  The rain has stopped, which is good, and it is clearing off some.  At the aid station, I don’t take anything as my stomach is still mostly full.

Slow and Steady wins the race

Mile 32.6    1:03:28 (14:06 avg./mile) Hilltop

The skies quickly cleared, and the temperature is now rising.  There is a breeze, so it is actually pretty nice right now.  I leave Stu behind for now, but I will see him later.  At this aid station, I eat two more PB&J sandwich quarters as my stomach is no longer full and press on to the next section.

Mile 37.0    1:11:30 (16:15 avg./mile) Weber Lake

Leaving the Hilltop aid station, I am looking for the water place that was on this section during the first loop.  When I get to it, I figure out a way around the water that keeps my feet dry.  This is a very good thing as keeping the feet dry for long periods of time is important.  The temperature continues to rise on this beautiful fall afternoon.  It will reach 79 degrees.  At this aid station, I take my first restroom break in the porta john.  It is a little early, but not a bad thing.  After that, I grab another quesadilla to eat, and I refill my Camelbak as I am consuming more water with the higher temperatures.

Mile 41.4    1:03:06 (14:20 avg./mile) Rally

This section has some open prairie, which would be nice if the weather was cooler, but now with the temperatures in the high 70s and the sun shining brightly, it is quite warm.  Fortunately, there is a breeze, so it isn’t too bad at this point.  As I approach the aid station, the crowd of crew and friends has grown significantly.  It is a great atmosphere!  I grab some more PB&J sandwich quarters along with a few potato chips to keep the calories coming into my body.  I like my time and pace at this point.

Mile 46.9    1:24:31 (15:22 avg./mile) Schoolhouse

It is such a beautiful afternoon that many people are out enjoying the plentiful lakes in this state park.  They look so relaxed and comfortable gently paddling their canoe or kayak.  The state park is named appropriately, Chain ‘O Lakes as there are many lakes, and they are all linked together by canals or streams.  Meanwhile, we runners are just nearing the halfway point of our journey and most of us will be out here all night.  I meet a runner on this section named, Allma, I believe this is her first 100-mile attempt.  Stu and Sarah are also around me as I approach the flooded trail section.  At this point, I again figure out a way around the water area by bushwhacking a bit.  I am not sure that Stu and Sarah agreed with my approach, but they did follow me this time.  At the aid station, I grab some more potato chips and even throw back a little Dixie cup of pickle juice.

Continuous forward progress

Mile 50.0    58:39 (18:55 avg./mile) Sand Beach (start/finish)

I make decent time from the Schoolhouse and get back to my car.  It is just before 6pm and darkness will descend on us around 7:30pm.  So, I need to take my headlamp with me.  As I am sitting behind my car, eating my ham and cheese sandwich, Allma arrives, and starts to change her socks.  Her feet are completely water saturated—very white and wrinkled skin.  I have four pairs of shoes with me at the car and another pair of road shoes in my drop bag that is a Weber Lake.  After seeing Alma’s feet, I decide to change my shoes and socks again even though I have managed to keep my feet dry.  I am thinking that it is better to change them now, and then I probably won’t need to change them after the third loop.  I also change my shirt and rig up my headlamp.  With the warm weather, I drink quite a bit of my CR02 beverage and a little bit of chocolate milk.

Mile 53.1    57:55 (18:41 avg./mile) South Park

I am nearly completely stuffed as I start this section, so I walk quite a bit of it.  At this point, I am not going to set any personal records (my 100-mile best time is 24:38) and am content to just get this done.  Survival is the name of the game, and that requires me to keep my stomach happy.  Stuffing it with as much food as I did at 50 miles was probably not the best thing, but a salt tablet and a little time usually take care of things.  I again don’t grab anything at this aid station and keep pressing forward.

Mile 57.6    1:15:33 (16:47 avg./mile) Hilltop

Darkness comes slowly, and I am almost to the aid station before I turn on my headlamp.  About the time I am turning on my headlamp, Stu and Sarah catch up to me.  It is great to have the company, and I am hoping it will keep me moving at a good pace.  At the aid station, I ask if there are any Tums, and the aid station worker has a roll.  I take two and decide to not eat anything.  I leave the aid station slightly ahead of Stu and Sarah.

Mile 62.0    1:20:39 (18:20 avg./mile) Weber Lake

I avoid the water on this section for the second time and soon thereafter Stu and Sarah catch up to me.  Stu is from the western parts of North Carolina.  He drove up with KT, whom we haven’t seen in miles and must be doing very well.  Sarah is from Washington State.  It is pleasant running with them, but I think I want to move a little faster.  As I approach the part of this section where the Christmas tree is, I wonder if it has lights on it.  When I round the corner and see the lights, it brightens my mood.  It is really cool to see the neat themes that some aid stations adopt!  At the aid station with my stomach feeling a little better, I eat a hamburger quesadilla that is really good.

Mile 66.4    1:18:54 (17:56 avg./mile) Rally

We leave the Weber Lake aid station walking in the dark, and then here comes Jake and his pacer.  They are running some, so I decide to proceed with them.  I say goodbye for now to Stu and Sarah.  Jake’s pacer is a guy named Chuck, and they are making good time.  Jake is a lawyer from the north side of Indianapolis.  I stay with them for most of this section, but when they run across the prairie section, I walk a bit, letting them go ahead.  At the aid station, I eat a hamburger patty that is rather dry, but I hope is the right thing I need at this point.  The crew crowd is still mostly here, but definitely smaller than it was when I came through on the last loop.

Mile 71.9    1:46:07 (19:18 avg./mile) Schoolhouse

This section is mostly on the high ground right through the middle of the park.  It is the straightest section of the loop and goes almost from one side to the other.  There is a point near halfway in this section where a glimpse of the finish area can be seen on the other side of a lake.  Then the course turns to the left to go out to the Schoolhouse.  As I have run this race twice before, and this is my third time through here today, I determine that it is about 2.5 miles from the point where the finish can be seen and the aid station at the Schoolhouse.  Landmarks are good things to have for motivation.  At the aid station, I get some noodles and broth to try something different for my stomach.  At some point on this section Stu and Sarah caught up to me again.

Mile 75.0    1:19:47 (25:44 avg./mile) Sand Beach (start/finish)

I leave the aid station with Stu and Sarah, planning to stay with them for a while.  But, about a mile or so into this section, I stop at an outhouse, and they continue on.  This will be the last time that I see them.  The bathroom break is successful, and I am hoping that alleviate that issue until after I finish the race.  Back at the car, I only drink Coke as my stomach is still not great.  I pick up my iPod and ear buds for this last loop.  I have a little over 10 hours to go 25 miles.  That seems simple enough, but that means I need to average 24-minute miles.

Mile 78.1    1:24:54 (27:23 avg./mile) South Park

I am tired and nauseated, and it is warm and humid.  Any drop in the temperature was replaced with more humidity, and the air is not moving at all!  I stop and sit at every bench I see along the trail.  I don’t sit long, just a few minutes to help my body cool down and rest a bit.  When I arrive at the aid station, I go directly to the porta john once again.  Obviously, I am not done using the bathroom. After another successful bathroom break, I grab a slice of pizza and walk out of the aid station.

Mile 82.6    2:06:26 (28:06 avg./mile) Hilltop

I struggle on through the night.  I know I am not moving fast enough at this point, but I am still in the race.  I need to just wait things out and hope for a rebound.  I know that hope is not a plan, but it is all I have at this point.  At the aid station I again use the porta john.  I only eat a few potato chips and proceed to trudge forward.  Forward progress is all I can do right now.

Mile 87.0    2:10:26 (29:39 avg./mile) Weber Lake

I avoid the water over the trail successfully for the third time.  Now, I am stopping at more than just the benches.  Any place I can sit down works, and I am dozing off for a few minutes at each stop.  The last place I stop on this section finds me sitting on the ground leaning up against a tree.  I am enjoying a nice catnap when I feel someone shaking my leg.  It is another runner’s pacer, waking me up to ask if I am okay.  Irritated, I say I am fine, and when she asks if I want to walk with them, I answer with a terse no.  After a minute or so after that rude awakening, I get up to walk to the aid station.  I pass the Princess Bride signs, along with Christmas tree and then meet an aid station worker walking towards me.  He says they got a report about a struggling runner and so he walked to find me.  He tells me that I need to make good time (yes, I know) if I am going to make it under the 30-hour cutoff.  I use the porta john (again!) and am putting my headlamp away in my drop bag, when the helpful aid station worker starts encouraging me to get going.  It is morning twilight as I leave without a headlamp, and I now have 4.5 hours to cover the last 13 miles.  That means I need to pick it up and average 20-minute miles.  Not a hard thing except that I have been averaging closer to 30 minutes per mile lately.

Mile 91.4    1:26:59 (19:46 avg./mile) Rally

With dawn comes a renewed focus.  I am not scared yet, but am power hiking quickly and running the downhill sections again.  With a clear goal, I come into the Rally aid station having averaged less than 20-minutes per mile.  I now know I have the finish made.  I just need to remain focused and finish this thing!  I ask if they have any quesadillas, and a guy brings me two very large ones.  I eat most of one of them, before throwing them away.  At this point there is no crew crowd left to cheer us tail end runners.

Mile 96.9    1:40:35 (18:17 avg./mile) Schoolhouse

I have 5.5 miles to the Schoolhouse.  This is my last tough section as the last one will be easier with the smell of the finish line.  I am power hiking along one of the ridges on this section when a small lady catches up to me.  Her first question is whether I think we can make the cutoff.  I respond very confidently that I will make it.  She then continues to talk about her doubts of making it.  I assure her that I have done this many times, and I know how to get in under the cutoffs.  Then when I catch the glimpse across a lake of the finish area, I tell her we have 2.5 miles to the next aid station adding that we will be there in 50 minutes or less.  Connie is still skeptical right up to the point where we arrive in 49 minutes from when I made my statement.  Her confidence grows considerably at the aid station.  We leave the aid station together, and I have a handful of potato chips in my hand.

Mile 100.0 57:35 (18:35 avg./mile) Sand Beach (start/finish)

Connie and I pass a runner and his pacer early in this last section.  Then about halfway through we get passed by a different runner and her pacer.  I keep them in sight, and when there is less than a half mile to go, I throw in my last surge.  I leave Connie a little behind, but I repass the runner and her pacer as I power hike up the last hill.  It is then just a short downhill to the finish.

Finish!

Finishing Time    29:37:32

100^th out of 238 starters (105 under 30-hour cut-off)

On the third and last chance this year to get my Western States 100 qualifier, I succeeded!  I didn’t leave much margin of error.  And, I battled through stomach issues in this race persevering to the end.  My speed and fitness was never a question.  The only question was how my stomach would hold up.  While it didn’t hold up very well, I was able to battle through it all.

Now I have nine weeks until Hellgate in December.  I don’t have any races planned between now and then, so I will have several weeks of solid training.  This will be the 19^th year for Hellgate.  All five of us fearsome five are entered again this year so we will see if all five of us finish.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Grand Canyon 2021 - Rim to Rim to Rim

Running the Grand Canyon from one rim to the other rim and back again in one day has been on my bucket list for quite a while.  So, when the Cirrus Owners migration/convention was scheduled for Scottsdale, Arizona, and we decided to attend, I started thinking about a R2R2R run.  This is not a race; it is just a run that many ultra-runners have completed.  The fastest known time according to the website (fastestknowntime.com) is 5 hours and 55 minutes by Jim Walmsley in 2016.

South and North Kaibab Trail

I made contact with a couple of my running buddies from Virginia about my R2R2R attempt.  Jeff Garstecki said that there should be plenty of water resupply points so 1.5L should be fine.  Martha and I have been out west for the past week, mostly in Montana above 7,000 feet.  So, my initial altitude acclimation should be okay.  We flew from Bozeman to Flagstaff yesterday, rented a car, and drove up to the Grand Canyon.  We stay in a hotel in Tusayan, which is about 15 minutes south of the South Kaibab trailhead.  

My goal is 14 hours, which I figure I need to make the first crossing in about six hours to allow for going slower for the return trip.

September 22

Getting dropped off

My alarm goes off at 3:30am.  I quickly go through my morning routine and eat two blueberry muffins, washing them down with a pint of chocolate milk.  We leave the room around 4:20am and drive to the Canyon.  The entrance is unmanned at this time of day, but there is an honor box to drop your money.  Since I am a veteran, I am free so we just drive to the south rim.  We get to Yaki Point Road, and the signs at the entrance say it is only for employees and no drop offs are allowed.  So, I hop out of the car, kiss Martha, and jog down to the trailhead about a half mile away.  The temperature on top here is 44 degrees.  I have a small Camelbak backpack with 1.5L bladder, hat, gloves, Houdini jacket, two bagels, butter, potato chips, and beef jerky.  I start with shorts, a long sleeve shirt, and a buff on my head.

Mile 7.1      2:05:12 Phantom Ranch

Crossing the Grand Canyon via the South and North Kaibab trails is easily broken into thirds.  The first third is down the South Kaibab trail across the Colorado River to Phantom Ranch.  The descent is rather steep with erosion planks in the trail every six feet or so.  Immediately below the trailhead, it is noticeably warmer.  10 minutes into my adventure, I stop and take off the long-sleeve shirt.  I have a small headlamp that is working nicely, but there is also a nearly full moon providing great lighting.  I pass a hiker just before I stopped to take off my long-sleeve shirt.  Later, I passed a hiking couple at The Tipoff point, which is 4.4 miles from the trailhead.  They say they are hiking all the way to the north rim.  The sun rise is beautiful, and I see the Colorado River for the first time.  I continue to run all the way down to the river and then cross the black bridge.  It is ow only about a half mile to the Phantom Ranch.  It is still nicely cool, and the sun has yet to shine down into the canyon.  I stop only long enough to take a picture before heading up the North Kaibab trail.  My legs are a little jelly-like after 4,700 feet of descent in only seven miles.

Black Bridge over Colorado River

Phantom Ranch

Mile 14.2    4:18:08 (2:12:56 split) Cottonwood Campground

This first part of the North Kaibab trail is smooth and only slightly uphill as it follows a creek up a narrow canyon.  I meet two runners coming the other way, who appear to be doing a rim to rim, from north to south.  Then the backpackers come in droves.  Most of them stayed at the Cottonwood Campground last night and are probably staying at the Bright Angel Campground, which is right next to the Phantom Ranch.  It is interesting that there are many more women backpacking than men, at least on this morning.  There are several couples, but then there are groups of women, 5-8 or more.  The sun first begins shining down on me around four hours into my trek, just before I make it to the Cottonwood Campground.  I sit down at the first picnic table, and eat a bagel with butter poured on it.  I empty some sand and small rocks out of my shoes before refilling my Camelbak. 

Mile 20.7    7:31:52 (3:13:44 split) North Kaibab Trailhead

After Cottonwood, the trail gets steep in a hurry.  My initial thought is that I should be able to do this section in a little over two hours.  Reality sets in as I meet another R2R2R runner, who tells me that I have about two more miles to go.  I also meet a couple of day hikers who ask me how far to the Roaring Springs.  I tell them it is about 45 minutes away, and then I ask them how long they have been hiking from the top.  There answer is 2.5 hours!  It ends up taking me another two hours from this point.  The desire to stop short and turn around is great, but that would leave this unfinished and tempt me to come back to try it again.  With the sun out, the temperature is rising quickly, but it is not yet too hot as I climb higher.  I meet a lot of day hikers coming down from the north rim.  My quads start to cramp a little as I make it the final stretch up to the north rim.  So, I am an hour and a half behind the time I wanted, and clearly I am not going to do this in 14 hours!  At the north rim, I talk with a couple of people while I eat some beef jerky and potato chips.  It is a really nice day in the shade at 8,200 feet elevation.  The north rim is about 1,000 feet higher than the south rim.  I text Martha and tell her I am going slower than planned, so it will be probably close to 10pm before I get back to the south rim.

Mile 27.2    10:19:22 (2:37:30 split) Cottonwood Campground

Coming down from the North Rim

My initial thought is that I can make good time going downhill from the north rim.  This goes well for about 30 minutes, but then my legs are cramping, so I stop and just walk.  It is painful going downhill walking, but I manage to keep the legs from cramping too much this way.  Every time I see other people, I just want to run down the hill to look like a real ultra-runner.  However, the temperature is rising quickly, and I know I need to take it easy if I am going to make it.  About an hour into this section, I have second thoughts that maybe I should have stopped at the north rim.  However, I figure it would take me at least two hours to hike back up, and then I would have to call Martha to come get me.  (The drive from the south rim to the north rim is almost four hours.)  Even with my dead legs, I still make it back down to the Cottonwood Campground in less time than it took me to go up.  I stopped at a water point about a mile back and ate the other bagel I had with me.  So, I just refill my Camelbak and press on towards the bottom and Phantom Ranch.

Roaring Springs

Mile 34.3    12:54:53 (2:35:31 split) Phantom Ranch

My legs have recovered relatively well, but I do not run this nice gradual downhill section because it is now blazing hot!  Instead, I power hike my way to the Ranch.  Along the way I see several backpackers struggling in the heat trying to make their way to Cottonwood for the night.  There is a little bit of a breeze, but it is still very hot.  I refill my Camelbak on the way to Phantom Ranch out of the creek running beside the trail.  I don’t have anything to treat the water with, but this stream is fed by the Roaring Springs, and it is swiftly moving.  About a mile from Phantom Ranch, I start to smell dinner being cooked.  It smells so good, and I begin to dream about a nice meal to fortify myself for the climb up to the south rim.  When I get to Phantom Ranch, I go up to the window to see what I can buy to eat.  The nice lady tells me that they are closed right now as they are serving the cabin guests for the next hour and a half; however, she can sell me something from the snack bar.  I walk around to the other side of the building to the snack bar, where there are a few candy bars for sale.  I decide to buy a Slim Jim, string cheese, and a cup of lemonade.  They also have beer, but they only sell that to the cabin guests.  So, no hearty meal and no beer for Darin!  I sit down at a picnic table with three other guys and talk to them while I eat my meager food.  It is 98 degrees here, and while it is a dry heat, it is still very hot if you aren’t sitting in the shade with a breeze.  The guys are from Chicago, and we have a nice conversation before I decide I should get going.  I leave Phantom Ranch about 5:40pm, thinking that I have a good chance to make it before 10pm.

Black Bridge again across the Colorado River

Mile 37.0    15:07:53 (2:13:00 split) The Tip Off

There are intermediate checkpoints going up the south rim, and I mark my progress at each of these.  Initially, I am feeling great.  I cross the Colorado River again and start the climb.  I am moving well, and I figure the quicker I climb the sooner it will be cooler.  I meet a couple of backpackers coming down, and he asks me if I need anything.  I am covered with salt from all of the sweating I have done today, but I respond that I still have several salt tablets left.  I am dripping sweat at this point, and it remains very hot.  Soon after this, feeling good leaves me, and this time, it isn’t my legs cramping.  It is a queasy stomach.  Okay, I need to take this slower and wait for the temperature to cool off.  The sun sets a little after 7pm, but it doesn’t get any cooler.  The rocks and sand have absorbed all of the radiant heat, and now are keeping the air nice and warm.  I start a rhythm where I walk for five minutes, and then sit down for five minutes.  I finally make my way to this point, and now know I still have about 4.5 miles to go.  There is no water on this climb up the south rim, so I need to ration how much water I am drinking.

Mile 38.4    17:09:54 (2:02:01 split) Skeleton Point

During one of my many rest breaks, two guys come along hiking down in the dark.  Jeff and James are just starting to experience backpacking, and they stop to talk to me.  They are amazed that I have gone this far and keep congratulating me on my accomplishment (that I haven’t finished yet!).  They are offering all sorts of items, and when James mentioned he has an extra liter of water, I seize the offer and have him top off my Camelbak.  He also insists on giving me a granola bar.  After several minutes of talking with them standing and me sitting down or even lying down, I realize that these guys aren’t going to leave until I start moving again.  (I think they were a little worried about me.)  So, I stand up, thank them for their generosity, and continue my climb while they continue their hike downhill.  I go about 100 yards, before I sit down again to take another break.  My five minute rest breaks have now turned into at least 10 minutes.  At some point, I stop for about 20 minutes as I take a little catnap waiting for things to cool off.  Finally, about 10pm, the air begins to feel not hot.  I manage to get a cell phone signal and text Martha to tell her I am running further behind schedule, but am doing okay.  I reach Skeleton Point, and I am elated!  I now only have a mere three miles and 2,000 feet of climbing left.

Mile 39.9    18:12:27 (1:02:33 split) Cedar Ridge

With the cooler temperatures and with a greater water reserve, I am able to increase my rhythm.  I am now hiking for almost 10 minutes in between my five minute stops.  The moon begins to rise, and the Canyon is beautiful in the moonlight.  The stars are awesome, and I lean back and stare up at them during my stops.  I am super motivated to reach this point in only an hour since I left Skeleton Point.  It looks like I just might survive this adventure and finish before midnight!

Mile 41.4    19:07:03 (54:36) South Kaibab Trailhead

I press on for the final section of the climb.  I only have 1.5 miles and 1,100 feet of climb left.  I start counting the switchbacks as a way to mark my progress.  I have no idea how many switchbacks there are as I wasn’t counting them on my way down.  My pace quickens, and I don’t run out of water until I have about 15 minutes left.  I am walking for up to 15 minutes before I take a break.  My count ends up at 16 switchbacks as I reach the trailhead and the parking lot.  I have made it!

This little adventure ends up being a bit harder than I expected.  Although I live at a low altitude, I think I am reasonably acclimated having spent the past week at 7,500 feet in Big Sky, Montana.  I didn’t have the climbing legs that are needed to run this quickly, but it would be interesting to do this when the temperature was cooler.  I am thinking that a late October run would be much better.  The trail is not very technical so running in the dark is not a problem.

I now have a quick turnaround for my next race.  I am making my third attempt at a 100 miler this year in order to get my name in the Western States 100 lottery.  The Indiana Trail 100 is October 9-10 in northern Indiana, and I am hoping it will be my coolest weather at a race this year.  I ran Cooter Creek near Charleston, South Carolina in April, and it was 75 degrees; I dropped at Kettle Moraine in Wisconsin in June when the temperature soared to 94 degrees; I dropped at Burning River in July in Ohio when it was 86 degrees and very humid.  The soreness in my legs does not completely clear up for a week and a half.  So, here’s hoping for some cool, fall weather in northern Indiana.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Burning River 100 2021 - What will the Weather do?

Before the Start

This race is all about the weather and finishing under the 30-hour cut-off in order to get into the Western States 100 miler lottery for 2022.  Six weeks ago, I failed at the Kettle Moraine 100 miler in Wisconsin as the temperature soared to 94 degrees, and I dropped out after 63 miles.  Since then I have focused on getting as much heat acclimation as possible.  The average temperature for Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio for this time of year is 82 degrees.

July 24

The latest forecast is a high of 86 degrees, which ironically is the same forecasted high in Wisconsin six weeks ago.  What will the temperature climb to today?  On the plus side, it is starting out cool in the high 60s with low humidity as the dew point is 61 degrees.  At 4am, 344 of us crazy people start the 100 mile race in downtown Cuyahoga Falls.

Mile 5.5      1:03:41 (11:35 avg./mile) Memorial

Right from the start with overcast skies, there is some rain spitting.  By 5am, it starts a steady light rain.  This was a 30% possibility by the forecast and shouldn’t last very long.  The first few miles are on streets as we make our way out of downtown.  I settle into a very comfortable pace and do not mind the light rain at this point.  At this first aid station, crews are not allowed, and there are only fluids at this point.  I click my watch on my way through the aid station as the course leaves the pavement for a section of the Erie Canal tow path.

Mile 10.0    1:01:29 (13:40 avg./mile) North Hawkins

Under the umbrella at mile 10

Tow paths are always interesting to me as they are either gradually going uphill or
downhill.  I am not sure it really matters, and I start my timed walk breaks every 15 minutes.  In general, I will run for 10 minutes and walk for 5.  I get through two cycles before the course leaves the tow path.  The rain continues at a light to moderate rate so the dirt trail soon becomes a muddy, slippery track.  The runners who aren’t wearing trail shoes have a tough time with it, but my La Sportiva Raptors are doing great at this point.  However, about a half mile before the aid station, I catch my toe on a root and test the firmness of the ground.  I arrive at the aid station and get a towel from my excellent crew (my daughter Amy and her friend) to clean off my arm, leg, and shoulder.  I then drink some chocolate milk and take a small bag of pretzels with me.

Mile 13.7    48:43 (13:10 avg./mile) Mingo Shelter

I start a conversation with a lady next to me while we are running.  Come to find out, Rhonda is a VHTRC runner, although she currently lives in Dubai.  And, Alan and Pam Gowen are crewing for her today!  Rhonda has run Massanutten 100 miler a couple of times, but has not done any other 100 milers.  What is funny to me is that she is worrying about the cut-off since it is only 30 hours compared to Massanutten’s 36 hour cut-off.  I tell her I don’t think this is going to be a problem since this course is not very technical, and Massanutten is beyond technical.  This aid station is not manned on the outbound, but the timing device is setup and registers our progress.

Mile 15.4    21:36 (12:42 avg./mile) Botzum

Rhonda decides to let me go ahead as I have a little quicker pace than her at this point.  I am enjoying my nice smooth pace, and the rain isn’t dampening my spirits even if it is dampening the course quite a bit.  At this aid station, I get to see Amy and Ed, and I consume a wonderfully made egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich.  I eat about 75% of it while washing it down with chocolate milk.  My little bag of pretzels still has plenty in it, so I only trade out my Camelbak at this point.  I also remove the shirt as I think the rain will stop soon.

Mile 20.1    1:03:05 (13:25 avg./mile) O’Neill Woods

The rain does stop at some point during this section.  I test my right ankle on a curb as I am crossing a street at one point, but it is fine.  I also encounter my first real issue of the race—the insoles in my shoes are scrunching up due to them being waterlogged from all of the rain and water on the course.  At one point, I stop, sit down, and take each shoe off to straighten out the insole.  The rain lasted about four hours, and at some point I had the thought that the forecast might be completely wrong, and I hope it will stay lightly raining all day to keep the temperature down.  However, the forecast seems to have been wrong a little, and now it has stopped raining and is clearing off some.  This aid station is non-crew access, but they do have PB&J sandwich quarters so I gobble down two of them.

Mile 23.8    49:31 (13:23 avg./mile) Oakhill

Leaving Oakhill after taking off the shirt

Since the start of the race, I have been playing leap frog with several runners, two of
whom are two ladies from Ohio—Michelle and Vanessa.  They are running their first 100 mile race and as I repass them on this section, they ask if I am using a run/walk strategy.  Yes, I walk all of the uphill sections, and then try to do 10 minutes of running and 5 minutes of walking on the mostly flat sections.  The mostly flat sections aren’t very long, but my goal is about the same.  I have typically found that I can still manage a 15-minute per mile or better pace with this strategy.  At this aid station, Amy and Ed are ready for me with a change of shoes.  I would have preferred to not change out of my first pair this early in the race, but with the insole problem, I decide to make the change now.  Hopefully, I will be able to keep my feet dry for a while.  I take half a bagel from my crew and head down the trail.

Mile 27.5    43:32 (11:46 avg./mile) Valley Picnic

With the rain stopped and still with relatively cool temperatures, I guess I got a little excited with the pace on this section.  That and I think it is mostly downhill.  I get into this non-crew access aid station and consume a couple more PB&J sandwich quarters before crossing yet another road.

Mile 31.1    45:38 (12:41 avg./mile) Robinson Field

My quicker pace lingers on a little as this is fast than I should be going at this point.  During this section, I strike up a conversation with Lyn, who is from Mars, Pennsylvania.  Since I went to school in Pittsburgh, I know that Mars is north of town and that there is an ice rink there as we practiced hockey there sometimes my freshman year before the ice rink opened in Monroeville.  She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii and her son was born at Tripler.  She refers to it as Crippler, and we trade our less than stellar experiences with Tripler.  My wife, Martha, is also a University of Hawaii graduate, and our son was also born at Tripler.  At this aid station, I grab two more PB&J sandwich quarters since crew cannot access this station either.

Mile 35.1    1:03:24 (15:51 avg./mile) Pine Hollow

At Pine Hollow

This section is mostly on single track trail with some relentless rolling hills.  Thus, my pace naturally slows.  Additionally, things are warming up with the clouds moving out of the way for the sun half the time.  I get into this aid station in good shape, and Amy and Ed have a grilled ham and cheese sandwich ready for me.  I eat most of the sandwich and wash it down with plenty of CR01.  I take a new bag of pretzels with me leaving this aid station.  I need to keep my salt intake high as I am definitely sweating profusely through the heat of the day.

Mile 40.9    1:30:23 (15:35 avg./mile) Kendall Lake

This section is probably the most challenging section of the course.  We run for about 45 minutes and then we can see the last aid station a couple hundred yards away.  That is unmotivating as the course essentially did a large loop without going anywhere.  This entire section has the largest hills on the course, and they are constant.  There are no easy flat sections of trail on this section.  So, I am glad to get into this aid station, which is another non-crew access point.  I eat a few dill pickle slices before eating another PB&J sandwich quarter.  I leave this aid station about the same time as Michelle and Vanessa, and Lyn is just ahead of me.

Mile 45.0    1:01:57 (15:07 avg./mile) Olde Route 8 (Tiki)

This section contains a portion of a tow path and a few hills, before the course dumps out on a paved fitness trail.  The pavement will take us all the way to the halfway turnaround point.  I leap frog again with Michelle and Vanessa, but Lyn has left us behind at this point.  On the pavement, I resume my run/walk strategy, although I am very tempted to increase the percentage of walking.  At this non-crew access aid station, I eat more PB&J sandwich quarters and then take a grape popsicle with me.

Mile 50.5    1:33:16 (16:57 avg./mile) Silver Springs

Approaching the halfway line

This fitness trail is mostly unshaded, and the temperature has risen into the mid-80s.  Initially, Michelle and Vanessa are ahead of me and one of them is playing Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer and belting out the line, “Woah, we’re halfway there…”  They are mostly walking so my run/walk rhythm quickly allows me to pass them.  I get to the halfway aid station, but first we have to traverse around three baseball fields.  I am not quite sure why we couldn’t go straight to the turnaround line, but someone wants this race to be more than a 100!  Just before the line, Amy and Ed are setup and waiting for me.  I change my shoes, putting on my last clean pair of trail shoes that I have with me.  I have one other pair, but they are road shoes, which I could use the last five miles, but shouldn’t before then.  They have also managed to dry out the pair of socks I wore for the first 23 miles.  I eat most of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, washing it down with copious amounts of CR01.  I then head towards the porta johns, but there are temporary fences and the aid station blocking my way.  Eventually, an aid station worker tells me to just duck under the rope in the back of the aid station.  Fortunately, the porta john is not too hot as it is mostly in the shade.  Business complete, I head back around the three baseball fields and rejoin the paved fitness trail for the trip back to the finish.

Mile 55.9    1:20:05 (14:50 avg./mile) Olde Route 8 (Tiki)

After a couple of miles on the paved fitness trail, Scott Lee catches up to me.  I had seen him earlier with his VHTRC visor on, and he has seen me with my VHTRC shirt on for the first 10 miles.  We run/walk together into the aid station comparing notes on who we know really well in the club.  He is from Haymarket in northern Virginia and is doing the grand slam this year.  The Vermont 100 is canceled this year, so Burning River is one of the designated replacements.  So, he did Western States last month and will do Leadville next month and Wasatch Crest in September.  While enjoying the conversation, I am surprised to see the aid station so quickly.  I don’t grab much to eat at this aid station as my stomach is not feeling great, and I am sure my last sandwich is still being digested.

Mile 60.0    1:06:13 (16:09 avg./mile) Kendall Lake

Two more miles or so on the fitness trail and then back to off road stuff.  I continue my good pace, managing to get to mile 60 in decent shape.  I am trying to find the right food to make my stomach feel better, but I am still going to eat.  I grab two more PB&J sandwich quarters.  I am really happy getting to this aid station with it only being 6:12pm.  Now, I just have to navigate the next tough section to Pine Hollow.  At some point on this last section, Scott let me go ahead of him.

Mile 65.8    2:09:17 (22:17 avg./mile) Pine Hollow

I really struggle on this section, but it is the toughest section.  I refilled my Camelbak at Kendall Lake, but regardless, I still drain it before reaching my crew at Pine Hollow.  But, when it is empty, I think I am close to the aid station, but I cannot be sure.  Also, it is really warm out here and any breeze is not penetrating into the woods and the single track trail.  Finally, with no water left, I make it out of the woods and only have a simple climb up a field to the aid station.  I make it to my crew, sit down, and begin taking care of several items.  First up is changing my salt-crusted shorts.  I wrap a towel around and remove the shorts and then quickly put on the other pair.  Next, I put a shirt back on for the first time since early this morning.  It is now 8:20pm, so dusk is coming soon, and hopefully the temperature will begin dropping although it is only supposed to drop to 71 degrees tonight with the humidity so high.  Finally, I eat some of the Ramen that my crew has made for me, and then I wash it down with over a cup of chocolate milk.  I mention that my stomach isn’t feeling great so hopefully the chocolate milk will do the trick.  Before leaving my crew and this aid station, I strap on my headlamp and plug in my ear buds to my iPod.  I am ready to take on the night!

Mile 69.8    1:58:13 (29:33 avg./mile) Robinson Field

I leave Pine Hollow with good tunes and a little refreshed from the break.  This lasts about 10 minutes when I feel hot again.  It is near dusk, but the humidity is thick, and I realize that I am not going to be able to drop the hammer and take this one home.  Rather this is going to be a slug all the way to the finish.  I walk quite a bit, and I am looking for good places to sit down and cool off a little.  The fallen logs are plentiful, and when I do sit down, the next runner comes by and asks if I am okay.  Finally, I get to this non-crew access aid station and sit down.  The wonderful aid station worker brings me broth and then a Coke.  I didn’t think I sat too long in this aid station, but now I think I must have been there for at least 20 minutes.  My time split reflects this time sitting in the aid station, but I don’t worry about that.  It is all about finishing, no matter how slow as long as it is under 30 hours.

Mile 73.4    1:40:37 (27:57 avg./mile) Valley Picnic

With my unhappy stomach, I try various solutions.  I have eaten a few Tums, and so now I turn to ginger chews, which I have been told will cure any stomach issue.  It doesn’t really turn things around, but it doesn’t make it worse either.  When I stagger into the aid station, I make my way to the porta john.  I do my business and as I am finishing up, I realize that I am about to throw up.  I stagger out of the porta john, hit the dirt, and proceed to heave twice.  At this point, an aid station worker comes over to ask if I am okay.  Then she asks if I feel better because sometimes people feel better after they throw up.  When I tell her that I don’t feel any better, she helps me over to a cot in the aid station.  On this cot, I will lay for the next hour.  During this time, the aid station worker checks on me several times, and a thunderstorm starts pouring down the rain and lightning.  After an hour and not feeling any better, I make the decision to drop.  The nice aid station worker calls my crew, who are waiting at the next aid station, and they come and get me.

170 out of the 344 starters finish under the 30-hour cut-off

I get back to my hotel room around 2:30am.  After lying on the floor of my hotel room for 30 minutes or so, I then throw up again, heaving several times.  It is only then that I am able to take a quick shower, mostly sitting down, before I crawl into bed for a much needed rest.

It was a nice muggy day in the Midwest on this late July in 2021.  This finishing rate is very low for most 100 milers these days.  The heat obviously had something to do with it.  For me, I think it was definitely a factor, but basically I was unable to manage my electrolytes as well as I need to manage them.  I have been experimenting with different salt supplements, and for this race, I didn’t take any.  Instead I tried to eat enough salty food and that wasn’t enough given the conditions.

My next race isn’t really a race.  Rather it is the Grand Canyon, rim-to-rim-to-rim in one day.  Martha and I will be in Arizona in September, and if the weather cooperates, I plan to run this by myself on September 22^nd.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin