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Stories about Striders - 2008 | |||
Dennis Connor writes:
'My first 161km (100 mile) race' Saturday & Sunday, November 15-16, 2008
I only started running 6 years ago, and when I joined Stevens Creek Striders, I saw people who ran, gasp, 50km races, or 100km races, or, what were they thinking, 100 mile races. I thought they were crazy. I could not comprehend how they could do that. My friends and I started running at Rancho, and were passed by people running up the hills... 'how could they do that?' we asked ourselves... Slowly, we succumbed to running up hills, running 35km trail races with PCTR, then 50km races, then 50miles races... then, I signed up for Javelina Jundred... My 2008 running season had been going really well. I ran American River 50 mile in April in < 10 hours, which I was extremely pleased with. I had a strange knee injury in June, and had some Physio for that, and started a build-up towards late fall races. I did Skyline 50km, Steve Patt's Skyline 50km, and Dick Collins 50mile. I was particularly pleased with Dick Collins, since I DNFed last year. Despite bad leg cramps from 40km-60km in the race, I finished strongly.. So, on to Javelina. I flew to Phoenix early on the Friday morning, checked in to my motel in Fountain Hills, shopped for the food I'd want, and drove out to the course for checkin. I walked a portion of the course, and thought - 'crap, it's hot....' I registered, had the pasta dinner, and went back to my motel for an early night, and, with sleeping pills, got to sleep by 9pm.. Next morning, 4.30am alarm, felt great, ate some breakfast at the motel, and left at 5am with other crazies from the motel. Easy drive to the course - still dark, but not too cold.. Very relaxed start - wanted to go out slow... Hang out near the back, and then found Martin Casado, who I know from the Bay Area, who typically goes out slow, and finishes fast. He was doing 4 minutes run, 1 minute walk on this first lap, to slow himself down. I also met Summer, in costume, and we ran together for quite a while. The first lap goes up the rocky section to the first aid station, then rolls over the top to the next aid station, and then a long downhill to the start finish. It was hard not to go faster on the downhill, but Martin's 4-1 strategy made us be sensible. We saw the front-runners about 4 miles from the start-finish - so they were already 8 miles ahead of us.. Wow ! Despite the moderate pace, we finished the first 15.2 miles loop in 3 hours, 4 minutes.. Way faster than I was planning..
I went and weighed in - 159 of those pound things, down a couple from by fully-pre-hydrated weight, and got eye-drops, 1/2 bottle of boost, and back out. I'd been taking one enduralyte an hour from the very beginning. The second loop goes counter-clockwise, and about 2km from the start I catch up to a guy with an English Bandana.. I start talking to Gareth, who is originally from England, living in Phoenix, and, incredibly, in the process of emigrating to Christchurch, New Zealand - where I am from ! As well, he had done Javelina before, but DNFed. He advised - don't run up this hill - it'll chew you up, and spit you out. So, we power-walked it together, at 13 1/2 minute/mile pace (according to his Garmin), and made good time to the aid station, then the across the top. As we were heading across the top someome shouted - 'the Fountain' - we could see it playing, all the way to Fountain Hills, which was pretty amazing. We ran easily down to the start finish in 3hrs 15 minutes. So, I had done approx 50km, in a time faster than two 50km races I had done earlier this year. Oops - I was trying to start slowly and conservatively. I went and weighed in again - weight unchanged, more eye-drops, another 1/2 bottle of boost, change of hat, and back out for the loop in the hottest part of the day - which we were advised to take easily. Gareth had gone out more quickly, so I was on my own. I power-walked the uphill, ran across the top conservatively, and easily down the other side. It wasn't too hot - about 28C at most. I now took 2 Enduralytes per hour. I passed Gareth - who had GI problems in the middle of this loop. Did a reasonable 3hours 54mins for this loop. Weighed again - no drop in weight, more Boost, and picked up lights for the next loop. It was starting to get cooler, and as the sun started to set, it was beautiful over the hills and the landscape. Nothing outstanding on this loop - again - power-walk the up-hill, runs across the top, and run the downhill. And, there I was, completing 4 laps - 100km - the furthest I'd ever run, in 14 hours 38 minutes, and feeling great. At this point, I couldn't see why people would quit at 4 loops. I guess I was over-confident. I texted friends back in the Bay Area, changed shoes & socks, had more Boost, weighed again - no weight change, added another layer against the cold, and got ready to go out again. Went over to the food area, and sat to eat soup or noodles, and starting feeling really bad. I was shivering, and shaking, and feeling awful. Tried to stand up, and felt I couldn't. Rested a bit more, and it wasn't getting better... It didn't make any sense to me. So, I just got up, and started walking out of the aid station, very slowly, but moving. Caught up with another woman, who asked if I wanted company, and I said: 'Yes, please'. We walked together awhile, and I started feeling better, and started pulling away from her. This was the rocky portion going up-hill, which I didn't like, but I eventually got to the Aid Station about 5 miles out, but that took me 1hr 40minutes - much longer than earlier. I was eating noodles at this Aid Station, when Gareth arrived, and I suggested we run together again. This was the start of the recovery. Gareth and I ran together the rest of this loop - alternating the lead, and keeping each other going. This was further than Gareth had gone, also, so we were both new to this. After you get across the top, going down feels really great, and we felt good to get to the start/finish again. For some reason, on this lap, I started peeing a lot - about 8 times for the loop, but my weight was still identical when I weighed in this time. I had more Boost, some Starbucks Espresso & Creme, and soup. We went out together for loop 6. Heard coyotes howling in the distance. The uphill seemed very, very long. We were both getting tired. It was still very dark. The Aid station people were very encouraging, though, and other runners were was well. We got to the second Aid Station on this loop, and stayed a while, eating hot noodles, and talking. We saw some people coming the other way with glow rings on their neck - those on the last partial loop. The Aid station people kicked us out - said we were growing roots. From there it is the rocky section - my least favourite section. The undersides of my feet were sore - I hated landing on rocks - but there isn't much choice ! As well, we were thinking ahead that we had to come up this section, and were wondering how we would do that.... I was still in excessive urination mode - although I had slowed my rate of fluid intake - don't know why. We finished loop 6 - although it took 4hrs 42minutes. However, 6 laps down in 23 hours, 52minutes !!! Only 9 miles to go, and 6 hours to complete it ! I weighed in again - weight unchanged, despite peeing 9 times this loop, more eye-drops, and some more food. We knew it would become light in about 1/2 an hour, and that's very encouraging. Also, getting the glow-ring around your neck seems a symbol of pride. Gareth & I went out - fairly slowly to start - thinking we'd have to break ankles to not finish it now ! It started to get light as we were heading up the rocky section - which was no more fun this time. The sunrise was beautiful over the hills, and we got through the bad section, and then we started to run the rolling portion, and some of the up-hills. The aid-Station came into view, and we spent only a minute there getting water. We then get to go on Tonto trail - back down. This is a very smooth trail, and very encouraging to run. My feet were sore, but it was easier to run. Gareth's knees were sore, and it was better for him to walk. So, we alternated. We knew we were going to do it. Down the 3 miles in 30minutes... One more mile to the finish.... And we're there - 26 hours 14minutes. Gareth & I cross together. We'd run the last 35 miles together. We did the last 5 miles in 55 minutes... Absolutely incredible that we were compatible in speed, endurance & personality to run together that long, so late in a 100mile race. We were like a pacer to each other, but better, because we both had our own agenda to finish the race. It certainly made us both finish faster to run with each other.
We got finishers belt buckles from Jamil, and go and sit down with the food. Gareth's wife & sister come to congratulate & take photos. She brings beer. Awesome. We feel elated and awesome.
Final results said I was 41st of 147 starters. Only 49% of starters finished.
The course was pretty amazing with Saguaro Cactii everywhere. I didn't see Coyotes or tarantulas, which was a little disappointing, but had a small snake slither between my feet at one point during the night, and some other small animal run across my feet. We saw a somewhat 'wild' horse on the trail -but it seemed quite at home there. The sunrises were lovely, and the sunset gorgeous. The Aid stations were well spaced, with great volunteers, and good food.
I think I did pretty reasonable race management. I took Enduralytes from the first hour, and 2 per hour at the hot times of the day, and didn't have any cramping problems, like previous races. I ate solid food at each aid station, PB& J, noodles, soup & chips, had a GU between each aid station, all day & night. I drank 1/2 bottle boost every time at start/finish, and felt OK for energy the whole time. I maintain OK hydration. I drank their Gatorade for the first 3 loops, then changed to Succeed for the remainder when the Gatorade got too sweet. I pee-ed all the time, and perhaps excessively at night - which was also when I changed to Succeed. The only real problem time was when I was leaving on loop 5 - when I was shivering & shaking. But that passed. Small blister under my foot, but not serious.
So, it is great to get the first 100 miler under your belt. It feels great. Western States 2009 will be much, much harder, but, I know I can go the time & distance.
Thanks to my friends at Striders who trained & raced with me during 2008, and for the support and encouragement they offered. Dennis
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First
loop, with Summer behind.
