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 89th 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!
Mile
12.0 55:16 (12:34 avg./mile) Weber Lake
Running through the early morning
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 |
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 |
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! |
100th
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 19th
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
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