It's no secret that I love the mountains. I don't live near any of them and sadly I only get to see them for a very brief time every year; yet there's something about just knowing that they are there that gives me great peace of mind. Climbing a mountain - which in my case usually means hiking up and running down some of the lesser peaks in Colorado - is both exhausting and exhilarating. And I never get tired of the views from the top.
Most of the mountains that I climb these days are more figurative than literal. I like to use this metaphor as I set goals for myself as I imagine that I am summiting peaks great and small as I succeed or fail in my various endeavors. As the final race of the Tejas 300 trail series approached, the Rocky Raccoon 100 mile, I imagined myself sitting at Everest Base Camp with the summit in sight, longing to set out on the final leg of what has been a very long journey. This journey is made up of course the 3 races themselves - Cactus Rose 100 mile in October, Bandera 100k in January, and now, Rocky. Each race has presented a unique set of challenges and difficulties. First and foremost, the distances to be covered are much farther than an outsider or someone new to trail and ultrarunning can comprehend. ("I don't even like to drive that far!" is a frequent refrain.) And yet when you look a little deeper, there is so much more than just the 262 miles that go into it. Balancing months of training, nutrition, proper gear, and even taking time to rest all become critical. Early mornings, late nights, and trips to the gym have become the norm as each race, each workout brought me closer to my goal.
I approached this race feeling fit, fresh, and relatively rested after a challenging Bandera 100k just 3 short weeks before. I had enjoyed a series of successful training runs the week prior and felt that I had recovered adequately and was ready to roll. The weather was not going to be much of a concern for this race either - while there was a slight chance of rain, the day would for the most part remain clear and cool. After a relaxing taper week in preparation for the event I was eager to get started on my trek to the summit of my metaphorical mountain.
I arrived in Huntsville the Friday before the race and met up with some friends who would be either running or crewing the event. It's always a pleasure to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones. After a filling Italian feast and a semi-decent night's sleep the night before, it was time to head to the park and get to work.
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| Race briefing. Photo by Ally Spiers. |
Loops 1-3
Splits: 3:20, 3:35, 4:02
The first three loops of the race went very well for me. There wasn't much to distinguish them from each other as I was able to run quickly and comfortably without any real problems at all. My stomach was fine, I stayed on top of my hydration, and a mix between simple solid foods and Tailwind worked very well. I actually began the race with a serving of Genucan and utilized a second bottle during loop 1 as well; however, after 2 servings of this product my stomach usually turns sour so I opted not to push it and switched to Tailwind for the remainder of the race. I ran most of these loops with my friend and fellow Dallas trail runner Josh (my cohort from Bandera), Paul, my friend and a strong runner from College Station, and a few other folks that we would meet along the way and with whom we'd share time and conversation. I was running far ahead of schedule, and while there was a concern in the back of my head that I might pay for this pacing strategy later, I would try to squeeze every mile out of it that I could. After 60 miles, I was very pleased with my position.
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| I'm on TV! Heading out for loop 4. Thanks to David Murphy and UltraSportsLive.tv. |
Loop 4 : 5:02
As I left the start/finish area for my 4th loop I made a conscious decision to slow down. I hoped to finish the race in around 20 hours. I was ahead of schedule but was beginning to feel fatigue begin to creep in. My concern was being forced into a slow walk or crawl over the last 20 miles or so. I would have a pacer for the final loop whose services I did not intend to squander on a "death march" to the finish line. I hoped that if I could slow down for a while and conserve some energy, I would have enough in the tank for a strong finish.
I began to mix in more hiking and slow shuffling. I relaxed at the aid stations, making sure I took the time to eat some lighter solid food. After I grabbed a snack, I would walk for a mile or so to keep my stomach settled before I pressed on at an easy jog. Twilight was upon Huntsville as I entered Damnation and prepared for my fourth go at the dreaded "Damnation loop". I was determined not to allow this stretch of the race to ruin my day, so I set out confidently following a few other strong runners with the intention of at the very least running THIS section of the course hard. And run hard I did, finishing the 6.2 mile section in a little over 1 hour. I eased up again as I passed back through Damnation, relieved that I would not have to run that section alone again. I relaxed my pace again and set off to finish this loop. I had mixed emotions as I rolled in in around 5 hours (16 hours cumulative). I had a capable pacer and thought that a 4 hour final loop and sub-20 finish, while difficult at this point, was not completely out of the question.
Loop 5: 6:15 - Where things got interesting...
For my final loop I would be joined by someone whom I had just met the previous day at the runner briefing. Mike, a US Marine, came up to Huntsville from Houston with team RWB with the intention of helping to crew, pace, or whatever he could do to be a part of the event. He had been patiently working with my crew during the course of the day to understand my needs, how I ran, and what my goals would be. By the time we would set out for that final loop he was prepared, motivated, and very confident. I knew I was in good hands and was ready to go.
Unfortunately my enthusiasm was short-lived. The cumulative effects of my accelerated pace finally hit me not long after we set out. I felt as if all the energy had been drained from my body, and it was all I could do to remain upright, much less shuffle along. I knew I needed calories but I couldn't get anything down, and I had lost my taste for the Tailwind that had kept me going up to this point. I was in a bad way and we had a long way to go. At this point, Mike stepped in. He remained positive. When his watch ticked off the miles, I would count down the miles remaining in the race. After a mile or 2 of this, Mike stopped me and said if I did that again, he was shutting his watch off. All I needed to worry about was the next aid station. (Great perspective!) We would move forward one aid station at a time and nothing more. He was spot on. Now, I just needed to get there.
I crawled into the first aid station of this loop (Nature Center) cold and exhausted. It had taken almost an hour to cover 3 miles. Needless to say, any time goals I may have harbored were long gone. I wrapped up in a sleeping bag and tried to relax. Mike collected some fruit and broth for me as I tried to gather myself. After a few minutes of trying to get some food down (with little success) I was determined to get going. We pressed on. It would be another 3 or so miles to the next aid station, Damnation, where my wife and daughters and a much larger contingent of support volunteers awaited. I had to get there. I could almost see the summit and I could not stop now.
The next stretch was excruciating. Mike tried to offer conversation to keep my mind off of the current predicament, but I could not reply with anything more than a nod or a breathless "uh-huh". He was absolutely correct in keeping us focused on the short walk to Damnation and it made all the difference in the world. It took another hour to cover the 3 or so miles to our next stop, and by the time I arrived, all I could do was collapse into a chair. I was wrapped in a blanket as Mike brought my wife over to help get me going again. It was agonizing as I sat in that chair watching other runners pass but there was nothing I could do. Slowly, with the help of Michelle, Mike, and some very enthusiastic aid station volunteers, I began to perk up.
Chicken broth. Mashed potatoes. Coffee. More broth. Potato chips. Even some gummy bears. The color returned to my face and before long I was able to talk again, and was even feeling chatty and joking with the aid station crew. And while my strength was slowly returning, I knew we had to go. They pulled me out of my chair. Mike and I grabbed more chips and candy for the trail and set out again into the night.
We proceeded slowly at first, but we were gradually able to pick up the pace to a quick hike. Mike and I shared a lively conversation as we began to shuffle down the trail. As a Marine, he's been in some pretty harrowing circumstances. At one point, he reminded me "at least no one's shooting at you!" (He had a point there!) We came back through Damnation about an hour and a half later feeling much better. I could smell the finish line now - only 8 miles to go.
Whenever we could, we'd pick up the pace and knock out the miles. We'd walk the uphills but run everything else. As we climbed the last hill before the finish, about a mile or so out, I told Mike that as soon as we hit the top, run. Run it all the way in, don't look back, and don't stop. We ran as hard as we could, at nearly 8 min/mile pace. It was a blast. Much like my finish last year, I was able to feel the exhilaration of crossing the finish line in a full sprint. With tired legs but a happy heart I claimed my 2nd Rocky Raccoon buckle in 22 hours and 15 minutes at 3:15am.
Surrounded by my family and friends, I took a deep breath, and enjoyed the view from the summit. As the saying goes, "they never said it would be easy, only that it would be worth it."
I'll never forget that moment.
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| Heck yes, I wore it home.... |
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| My final numbers for Rocky 2015 |
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| Tejas 300 Bling |
I'd like to offer a few acknowledgements here....I cant do all of this alone. I'll be forever grateful to my wife Michelle, whose untiring support and patience make it possible to chase impossible dreams. My daughters Madeline and Catherine, who made the trip and brought tears to my eyes when I saw them at the aid stations. For this race I am deeply grateful to Lesley Jones, who acted as my Dogwood crew and hooked me up with Mike the day before the race. She's someone you want in your corner on a tough day. My friends in the Idiots Running Club for cheering me along from ports hither and yon. And the rest of our NTX tribe who will run through walls for you - Josh, Reece, Lesli, Tabitha, Chris, Paul, and so many others. Finally, Mike Ramsdell, thanks so much. Words can't express my gratitude for your patience and perseverance.
Peace!
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