Join Date: Apr 30, 2009
Post Count: 1
Joe Z
May 14, 2009 at 5:35 PM
All, I ran in Minnesota's 100 mile foot race last weekend. This is my report of the experience. Two note - I wrote this for both runners and non runners. I also have been asked a lot about some of the specifics so I have tried to include those in this write up. The weekend started on Thursday as I drove up north with Adam Harmer and Matt Patten, who were also both attempting their first 100 milers. Adam's crewman Rick also joined us. We were up to the north shore by mid afternoon, and had a relaxing afternoon and evening consisting of checking out the starting area at Gooseberry Falls state park, hanging out at the lodge at Grand Superior Lodge (with great views of the lake), and checking in to the race and eating at at the pasta dinner associated with it. I wanted to make sure I was staying off of my feet, and we headed back to the lodge early, waiting for the night to end and the morning to come.
Friday morning started early, trying to get a last regular meal in (Matt thanks for the homemade Oatmeal). Jorge arrived, and being my crew and eventual pacer, we had a lot to discuss in a short time. Incidentally, planning and packing for this type of event is quite a chore in itself. It was far and away the hardest thing I had to pack for, between what to carry, what to have Jorge take to each aid station, what to have set ahead at aid stations where Jorge would not be, either because they are too remote for crew, or because he would be running with me. At the starting area, you quickly see how low key and informal these type of events are. Additionally, I think the race consisted of maybe 60 runners. At a few minutes before 8 I sat down on a bench, in my mind thinking it was probably (hopefully) the last time I would be off my feet for 24 hours. I had on my Inov8 Flyroc 310s, Smartwool quarter socks, Sugio shorts with multiple pockets in the back, a short sleeve technical shirt, thin gloves, a garmin, hat, and 2 20 ounce Ultimate Direction hand held bottles. At 8:00 we were off, running up a paved path for a couple of minutes before joining the Superior Hiking Trail. From here until Lutsen we would be running the Superior Hiking Trail for the most part (there may be a small section or two for a few minutes to get to aid stations) up to Lutsen (running south to north). It had begun. So we were running on a single track, dirt / rock / root trail and would be for the entire race. The race basically consists of running on this trail, and then coming to aid stations along the way (maybe 13 of them in all), where you could see your crew, and they had food and drink and other things you may need. So as the race started, I ran for the first mile with Adam Harmer. There were 4 people in front of us. Then Adam and I split up. I ran with someone I didn't know for a few miles, who ended up being Scott M, who was 3rd two years ago and 2nd last year. It was good to talk to him, another former soccer guy. Then I ran alone. I knew the three in front of me were Wynn Davis, Chris Gartner, and Duke Rembleski. I knew they were all going to have good races, with Duke and Wynn doing the race last year (and Wynn winning) and Chris training on the course all year. The first part was very nice - I was trying to appreciate the fact that my legs were doing what I wanted them to, they were not sore, and that I could see. I tried to enjoy the scenery around me but it was hard as you have to look down the whole time to see what is on the trail. I tried to appreciate the fact that my toes didn't hurt. I knew they would soon. This spring I did the 50k (31 mile) version of this race, which is an out and back from the end (so basically the last 15.5 miles of the course I would be running) and at the end of that, as we got to the last half mile off the trail and on the road, I was so grateful to be off the trail due to the condition of my toes. But it was perfect weather and I was in good spirits. I was running comfortably, trying to not to look at my pace but I kept doing so. Soon I decided the garmin wasn't a good idea and I got rid of it. I should have thought though, as then I didn't know when I needed to take my gel and s-caps. At the first aid station around mile 10, Duke was there and he said he was thinking I would be close by. He said he ran the vast majority of the course alone last year, and we were both happy to have the company. So we settled in and ran together. We ended up running together from about mile 10 to 55. He was great company, and also had a lot of insight on the trail (great description of the drain pipe) and the surrounding areas (great views of Bean and Bear lake), and even recommendations on campsites along the way. I think that we were both running the pace we would have anyway, so it was great to run together. At each aid station I would see Jorge, and he was key. He had everything ready and did a great job crewing. I would highly recommend him for any pacing efforts, although he may now be running these races himself soon. Duke's crew, his wife Eve, was also at each aid station and it was good to see her.
So the day went on. You try not to think about pace, distance, time, and instead just run. Keep moving. Don't try to think about it too hard. We had heard that Chris was ahead and Wynn was shortly behind him, but we really didn't care or worry about it. At around 40 miles I was struggling, and I got very quiet. These were some difficult, technical sections. I knew though that I felt awful at around this time at the FANS 12 hour last year and the 50 mile race this year, so I just needed to get through it. I felt like quitting but quickly put those thoughts aside. We decided at the 50.5 aid station that we would take a bit more time and he convinced me to change socks - good move. By 50 I was feeling good again, ready to go. Ran into Erik K, Chris' to be pacer - and as he could tell I was feeling good. Also noticed Wynn at the aid station, with his shoes off. We left before him and found out later he dropped out here. Sometime around here (I think it was the aid station before) I had also learned that Adam had dropped due to an injury. I didn't like to hear that. We left the 50 aid station right at 6:00, so 10 hours, which is exactly where I wanted to be. I knew night was coming (had the headlamp with me now - thanks for the recommendation Kurt), and I knew I would slow down in a big way. So onward. Shortly Duke dropped back a bit, which was unfortunate because I knew what lay ahead would be easier with him, but I had to move forward. From 50-58 was a 'runable' section, and we still had daylight, so I had to try and use it. I saw him at the turn around at the 58 mile aid station, and he looked good still, which was great. It was now getting dark. A short section to 62.2 (100k) where I saw Jorge (he couldn't go to the 58 mile station) and I knew the next section would be tough - one of the tougher sections, now at night, alone, and it was now raining. I put on the iPod and got going. It was about a 9 mile stretch. It felt forever. It was very hard, a lot of up and down, climbing on your hands. I fell a lot. The iPod helped. A lot of bats flying around the headlamp. I really got into the songs on the iPod during this time. I understood lyrics on songs I have heard 100s of times and never realized before. Some very applicable songs from Zach, I also remember "I see a darkness" by Johnny Cash which seemed to hit home. I took some good falls here - including one where I ended up face up between two boulders, with no idea where my water bottles were. I finally got to mile 71. This was exciting as Jorge was here and he was going to start joining me as a pacer. It was good to have company. I wasn't really worried about how far Chris was ahead or where anyone was behind me. I just wanted to keep moving. At this point, I was pretty sure I would finish, it was just a question of how much I would have to walk. I was okay walking the whole way if I needed to. This part gets a bit gray. I know the first few miles with Jorge I was in rough shape, and I was very negative. Again Jorge, thanks for bearing with me. Eventually I felt a bit better. I was just total body tired. I kept telling Jorge I just wanted to be done. Adam and his crew were now at each aid station, also helping out. I had heard unfortunately that Duke had to stop due to a bad knee, this was sad news for me. The aid stations were key, it was nice to see some civilization. We eventually got to the top of Carleton Peak, which was quite a climb. Near the top, heading down, we were now in the section I recognized from the 50k. Jorge said something like 'what we have left doesn't begin with a 2' which didn't make any sense until later I realized he meant we had less than 20 miles left. Not much to report but we went on. We got to the last aid station and tried to keep it short. Now 7.1 miles to the end. It started getting light. Finally no headlamp. We walked up Moose Mountain - wow was that long. We ate some grapes - wow were those good. Jorge went ahead for a while, just to probably stop hearing me complain, but that also kept me moving. We eventually got to the last climb and I knew we were close. I hadn't been looking at the time and didn't care. Somewhere we hit 100 miles, and the fact that we had to go further (the course is actually 102.6 miles) didn't bother me as I thought it would. During this time, Jorge was glass half full, always saying we had less to go, I was glass half empty, always saying we had more. I think if you averaged our estimates it might have been close. I actually wanted to stub my toe one more time as I knew it would be the last time. We finally got off the trail and onto the gravel road, over the bridge, and right down the hill. Jorge didn't know how far we had left, but I did. About half mile. Jorge told me the time - 23:40. I was very excited, thinking that the goal of sub 24 was long gone. I knew we would do it. We started running faster and yelling. It was a great half mile. We saw Eve just before the turn, she was cheering us on. I started really picking it up, as all of the pains went away. I was coming in really hot, and forgot that you get back on a rocky trail behind the lodge and around the pool. I threw the water bottles in the air (thanks for getting them Jorge), and actually sprinted in. I was extremely happy to be finally done. The finish line contained less fanfare than any finish line you have ever seen, consisting of a guy taking numbers, Adam, Rick, Duke, Jorge, and maybe one other guy. Chris was long gone, probably on his way back home. My time was 23:46. It was finally over. This type of race is hard for some people to get their heads around. Here are some common questions I have gotten from those who haven't run something like it - Did you eat? Yes. What? I would say this is one of the most difficult things to figure out with these races (and I have not figured it out as my stomach is still not right 5 days later). I ate energy gels every 40 minutes early, until I couldn't stomach them anymore. Additionally, I was taking s caps for sodium. At the aid station at mile 20 I had a great peanut butter and strawberry sandwich (thanks Jill) and at each next station I had a quarter of a chicken sandwich (just deli chicken and bread). Additionally, I would try to eat what looked good at the stations. Grapes. Watermelon. At night, the soup was great. Trying to remember what else I ate. I was doing cliff bloks instead of gel later in the race. Pretzels. Overall, I didn't eat enough. Did you drink? Yes (of course). What? Water, water, water. Lots of water, but should have had more. I carried 2 20 oz bottles with me at all times. One had water, one had cytomax. Eventually I couldn't stomach cytomax so went to just water. I also had coke at many of the aid stations from the middle to the end of the race. I am still thirsty for water.Did you sleep? No. I was never sleepy tired, but to say I wasn't full body tired would be wrong.Did you walk? Yes. A lot. Especially at the end. Walked up most hills throughout the whole course. When my body was shutting down I walked down hills also, and even on flats when the ground was tough (rocks, roots). I walked a ton at that end - ask Jorge!Did you stop? Sort of. Only at the aid stations. I would say I took between 2 - 10 minutes at each aid station, maybe a normal stop would be 4 minutes. I took 10 minutes (maybe more?) at the 50.5 mile station, where I changed socks and therefore sat down for the only time (intentionally at least). Otherwise, I rarely stopped on the trail - CFM - constant forward motion.Did you fall? Yes, a lot. 10 times? 15? Not sure. None were too bad, but tripping on rocks or roots caused many falls. Did you stub your toes? Yes, maybe 80 times? This was the single worst part. The stubbing of the toes. It hurt every time. It stopped my momentum (if I had any). It made me made. I yelled. Jorge, thanks for putting up with this.What was your pace? Don't know, doesn't matter. It was slow. Why? I don't know - I thought I could do a 100 miler - which I can. I heard it was one of the more difficult ones. Why not?Why this one, which is suppose to be one of the more difficult? Because it is in MN, and I figured do the one at home first, and also if I can do this one I should be able to do others? Do you have pictures? I haven't seen a single picture of me on the trail. If anyone has one, let me know.What did you win? Nothing really, just the satisfaction of finishing. All finishers get a belt buckle and jacket (which I need to get as I didn't last until the awards at the end) and I got a nice wooden plaque with a moose on it. For these type of races, there is no money involved.What did you think about all of that time? Not much. It is crazy, almost 24 hours, and you actually have to concentrate so much on your footing, I didn't have time to think. So no long, existential inner discussions on the meaning of life.Did you see wildlife? Not much. Hawks. Snakes. Bats. Pheasant (I think). I would bet I ran by a bunch but never saw it. I am sure a lot of wildlife saw me.Would you do it again? Not sure. It is early, and I am still recovering. I think I would do another 100 miler at some point, but not this course.How are you recovering? Saturday I headed home, and by mid afternoon it got rough. Saturday night everything was hard - walking across the room was a big ordeal. I felt like I got hit by a train (just guessing here). I also had trouble sleeping because of the pain in the feet and legs. Sunday morning was better, I was able to get up and walk around a bit. Since then it has been strange. My body is still adjusting. One part hurts, then another does, as I think I am still getting back to balancing it to a normal schedule. I haven't run yet. I don't believe I have any injuries, which is great. My toes are still in very rough shape.What next? After a season consisting of 2 road marathons, 2 trail marathons (including Pikes Peak), and 5 ultras (3 50ks, 1 50m, 1 100m) I am ready for a break. I have completed this tough schedule with results I am happy with personally, and I am not injured. I plan on healing, and enjoying some fall running, talking it easy while running TCM in a month, and planning for the 2009 season! The race website, which contains results as well as the course and segment descriptions, can be found here - http://uppermidwesttrailrunners.com/superior/fall/index.html
Let me know if you have other questions. Joe
