Start of the Madness

I never thought that I would be publishing a blog but my girlfriend, Liz Bauer, and I have started a project that a number of friends have expressed interest in following and I think this will be the best way to keep everyone up to date.  I've been meaning to write this initial post for months so here it goes.....

The project:  Liz and I have decided to attempt to break the record for the most 100 mile races done in one calendar year.  To the best of our knowledge this record was set by Monica Sholz in 2010 when she ran 25 runs of 100 miles or greater in that year.  Our goal is to hit 30.  A project like this has many challenges and you'd think at first that the main challenge would be the physical challenge of doing so many long distance runs in such a short time but I'm thinking that the financial, organizational and travel challenges are going to be at least as great.  The journey has begun so we shall see....

Liz and I with Phil McCarthy (center) moments

after he set the national 48 hour record in 2011

at 3 Days at the Fair in NJ.  Phil won't be joining

 us in this record attempt!

The players:  Liz and I have both been running ultras for 10+ years and have probably done about the same number of races though Liz has done many more 100's than I have.  My tally is about 20+ while Liz is in the 40 range.  These totals include 24 hour races where we did 100 or more miles.  Liz has had a lot of success winning many races.  She has also completed the last 9 Leadville Trail 100 races and plans to get her 10 year buckle later this year.  I don't think any other female done this many consecutive LT100's.  She also has a pending national age group record at 48 hours of 205+ miles.  I have a hard time keeping up!  Back in '03 and '04 I was running well and winning some races but have never got back to that level of fitness.  The most important thing though, that both Liz and I have going for us in chasing this record is our stubbornness and never quit mentalities.  We just don't DNF.  We suck it up and do what needs to be done when it gets tough and are good at maintaining forward progress and not lingering at aid stations. I believe in our ability to do this and we're both very committed both emotionally and financially!

The schedule:  Below is the schedule as it stands now.  Liz did the HURT 100 while I did not.  Both of us finished Long Haul so as of now the tally is Liz-2 and Scott-1.  Our plan is not to compete with each other but to share the record in the end.  Liz is far from guaranteed a spot in Hardrock while I am already in that one so that may be how we even up.  The highlighted races are ones we've already registered for while the end of the year is still to be determined.

Jan 14	Hurt  -  HI
Jan  21	Long Haul  -  FL
Jan  28
Feb  4	Rocky Raccoon  -  TX
Feb  11
Feb  18	Iron Horse  -  FL
Feb  25
Mar  3	Doubletop  -  GA
Mar  10	Graveyard  -  NC
Mar  17
Mar  24	NJ  Ultra Festival  -  NJ
Mar  31	Umstead  -  NC
Apr  7	Philly  -  PA
Apr  14	Potawatamie  -  IL
Apr  21	Labor of Love  -  NV
Apr  28	Salt Flats  -  UT
May  5
May  12	Zion  -  UT
May  19	Keys  -  FL
May  26	Nanny Goat  -   CA
Jun  2	Old Dominion  -  VA
Jun  9
Jun  16	Big Horn  -  WY
Jun  23	Black Hills  -  SD
Jun  30
Jul  7
Jul  14	Hardrock  -  CO
Jul  21	Vermont  -  VT
Jul  28	Burning River  -  OH
Aug  4
Aug  11
Aug  18	Leadville  -  CO
Aug  25	Lean Horse  -  SD
Sep  1
Sep  8	Pine Creek  -  PA
Sep  15	Mark Twain  -  MO
Sep  22
Sep  29	GA Jewel - GA
Oct  6	Arkansas Traveler – AR
Oct  13	Heartland – KS
Oct  20
Oct  27	Javalina – AZ
Nov  3	Ozark – MO
Nov  10
Nov  17
Nov  24
Dec  1	Cajun Coyote - LA
Dec  8	Bartram?
Dec  15
Dec  22
Dec  29

  …..  = registered

The execution:  Lots of airplane rides!  : )  Liz and I have a motorhome that we will be using for parts of the year but we'll also be making many trips to Atlanta International Airport.  This is going to be an expensive year with limited opportunity for working so we're definitely going low budget.  The cheapest rental car, the cheapest fleabag hotels, and for many trips we'll be camping.  We won't be eating just rice and beans but no haute cuisine either!  One of the things that we look forward to most is seeing so many different courses and parts of the country.  We're also excited about meeting lots of new ultrarunning friends (as we did this past weekend at Long Haul) and seeing all the many cool people we've gotten to know over the years.  

Long Haul 100 report to follow.....