tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53824567655027091012024-03-12T23:56:04.460-04:0030 in 52Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-79633241234340815082013-01-04T13:30:00.001-05:002013-01-04T13:30:47.390-05:00Buckles<div style="text-align: left;">
Expensive but who doesn't like a little bling?</div>
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I've labeled the pictures for searching purposes.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wU6ERzJ1Hws/UOcbZrWtZXI/AAAAAAAADhQ/u58hC4j_3MY/s1600/IMG_1970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wU6ERzJ1Hws/UOcbZrWtZXI/AAAAAAAADhQ/u58hC4j_3MY/s640/IMG_1970.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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LONG HAUL</div>
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ROCKY RACCOON</div>
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HURT</div>
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IRON HORSE</div>
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DOUBLE TOP</div>
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GRAVEYARD</div>
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UMSTEAD </div>
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NEW JERSEY</div>
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LABOR OF LOVE </div>
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SALT FLATS </div>
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ZION</div>
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NANNY GOAT</div>
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KEYS</div>
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COYOTE SPRINGS (WINNER) </div>
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BIG HORN</div>
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COYOTE SPRINGS </div>
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NEW YORK </div>
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BLACK HILLS</div>
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LEAN HORSE</div>
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BURNING RIVER</div>
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LEADVILLE</div>
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MARK TWAIN</div>
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HALLUCINATION</div>
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GEORGIA JEWEL </div>
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ARKANSAS TRAVELLER </div>
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HEARTLAND </div>
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WILD SEBASTIAN </div>
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JAVELINA JUNDRED</div>
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BARTRAM </div>
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WINTER (ENGLAND) </div>
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HOUSTON </div>
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Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-21798562048757385112013-01-03T23:09:00.000-05:002013-01-03T23:09:31.676-05:00A Year in NumbersHere's a table with some interesting numbers from our year. Perhaps the most surprising number that popped out as we compiled this list is the number of hours run. Liz had a total of 979.5 hours of running in 2012! That's a half time job and that's just time on her feet. I also had a goodly number at 751 hours and 47 minutes.<br />
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For the non-runners out there bonus miles are miles run while off course in a race. I only got bonus miles at Doubletop but Liz is greedy and took bonus miles at a number of races.<br />
<style type="text/css">.nobrtable br { display: none } tr {text-align: center;} tr.alt td {background-color: #eeeecc; color: black;} tr {text-align: center;} caption {caption-side:bottom;}</style>
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<table border="2" bordercolor="#0033FF" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: #99ffff; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%px;">
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<tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #0033ff; color: white; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-top: 5px;">
<th><br /></th>
<th>LIZ</th>
<th>SCOTT</th>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>Races completed</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total miles</td>
<td>3667.5</td>
<td>2894</td>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>"Bonus" miles</td>
<td>49.5</td>
<td>9</td>
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<td>Total time hh:mm</td>
<td>979:30</td>
<td>751:47</td>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>Avg. pace min/mile</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>15.6</td>
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<tr>
<td>Wins</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>DNFs</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
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<td>Sub 24 hour</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>10</td>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>Sub 22 hour</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>4</td>
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<tr>
<td>Fastest finish hh:mm</td>
<td>21:01</td>
<td>20:19</td>
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<td>Slowest finish hh:mm</td>
<td>47:11</td>
<td>32:45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td># plane flights</td>
<td>60</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td># sponsors</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td># comped entries</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td># belt buckles</td>
<td>29</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
Some more notes on these numbers:</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
<br /></div>
<div class="nobrtable">
- For the total miles we didn't do the research for exact miles per race. We just took our total finishes x 100 then added bonus miles plus 18 for Liz's LOST 118 race and I added my DNF miles in.</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
- The number of airline flights is accurate within 5 or so flights. Again we didn't do the extensive research but looked at our completed flights on our Airtran acct and added in the extras on other airlines.</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
- Mike Dobies sent a funny link to a google map with a driving route with our approximate total mileage between us. You can see it <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Airport+Way&daddr=36.7767753,-114.2788022+to:NW+12th+Ave&hl=en&ll=54.572062,-116.894531&spn=92.227344,235.898437&sll=27.225326,-81.672363&sspn=8.580842,14.743652&geocode=FR0qLwQddKYm9w%3BFUcrMQIdbj4w-Snd3OmtWoLJgDER07jGQQsNIg%3BFaZJiQEdgAU4-w&mra=dme&mrsp=2&sz=7&via=1&t=m&z=3">here</a>.</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
- The Coury brothers comped our Javelina entry. Thank you guys!</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
- Buckle photos will be up soon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="nobrtable">
<br /></div>
Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-2832260138556413232013-01-03T20:59:00.000-05:002013-01-03T20:59:49.999-05:00Year in Review - Races and Times<style type="text/css">.nobrtable br { display: none } tr {text-align: center;} tr.alt td {background-color: #eeeecc; color: black;} tr {text-align: center;} caption {caption-side:bottom;}</style>
<br />
<div class="nobrtable">
Here's a table with every week of the year, races run and times. </div>
<div class="nobrtable">
<br /></div>
<div class="nobrtable">
Here's a key to the table:</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
<br /></div>
<div class="nobrtable">
<u>underline</u> = sub 24</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
<br /></div>
<div class="nobrtable">
* = win</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
<br /></div>
<div class="nobrtable">
** = 10th consecutive finish at Leadville!</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
<br /></div>
<div class="nobrtable">
Off = licking wounds</div>
<div class="nobrtable">
<br />
<table border="2" bordercolor="#0033FF" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: #99ffff; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%px;">
<caption><br /></caption><caption><br /></caption>
<tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #0033ff; color: white; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-top: 5px;">
<th><br /></th>
<th>Liz/race</th>
<th>Time</th>
<th>Scott</th>
<th>Time</th>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>7 Jan</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14 Jan</td>
<td>HURT</td>
<td>35:51</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>21 Jan</td>
<td>Long Haul</td>
<td><u>24:00*</u></td>
<td>Long Haul</td>
<td><u>23:19</u></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>28 Jan</td>
<td>Off</td><td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td><td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>4 Feb</td>
<td>Rocky Raccoon</td>
<td>28:56</td>
<td>Rocky Raccoon</td>
<td><u>23:31</u></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>11 Feb</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>18 Feb</td>
<td>Iron Horse</td>
<td><u>22:55</u></td>
<td>Iron Horse</td>
<td><u>22:55</u></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>25 Feb</td>
<td>LOST 118</td>
<td>25:43*</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>3 Mar</td>
<td>Doubletop</td>
<td>33:11</td>
<td>Doubletop</td><td>32:14</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>10 Mar</td>
<td>Graveyard</td>
<td><u>21:39</u></td>
<td>Graveyard</td>
<td><u>21:12</u></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>17</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>24 Mar</td>
<td>New Jersey</td>
<td><u>23:17</u></td>
<td>New Jersey</td>
<td>DNF-70mi</td></tr>
<tr class="alt"><td>31 Mar</td>
<td>Umstead</td>
<td><u>22:29</u></td>
<td>Off - Injury</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>7 Apr</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off - Injury</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>14 Apr</td>
<td>Wild Sebastian</td>
<td>25:02*</td>
<td>Off - Injury</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>21 Apr</td>
<td>Labor of Love</td>
<td><u>22:54*</u></td>
<td>Labor of Love</td>
<td>27:08</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>27 Apr</td>
<td>Salt Flats</td>
<td>24:44*</td>
<td>Salt Flats</td>
<td>24:44</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>5 May</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>11 May</td>
<td>Zion</td>
<td>35:34</td>
<td>Zion</td>
<td>28:51</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>19 May</td>
<td>Keys</td>
<td>27:31</td>
<td>Keys</td>
<td>26:15</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>26 May</td>
<td>Nanny Goat</td>
<td><u>21:01*</u></td>
<td>Nanny Goat</td>
<td><u>23:20</u></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>2 Jun</td>
<td>Old Dominion</td>
<td>27:23</td>
<td>Old Dominion</td>
<td>25:40</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>9 Jun</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>15 Jun</td>
<td>Big Horn</td>
<td>33:17</td>
<td>Big Horn</td>
<td>32:45</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>23 Jun</td>
<td>New York</td>
<td>24:44</td>
<td>Black Hills</td>
<td>30:55</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>30 Jun</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>7 Jul</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>13 Jul</td>
<td>Hardrock</td>
<td>47:11</td>
<td>Hardrock</td>
<td>DNF-60mi</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>21 Jul</td>
<td>Vermont</td>
<td>25:55</td>
<td>Vermont</td>
<td>25:50</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>28 Jul</td>
<td>Burning River</td>
<td>27:42</td>
<td>Burning River</td>
<td>26:38</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>4 Aug</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>11 Aug</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>18 Aug</td>
<td>Leadville**</td>
<td>29:31</td>
<td>Leadville</td>
<td>DNF-55mi</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>25 Aug</td>
<td>Lean Horse</td>
<td>24:06</td>
<td>Lean Horse</td>
<td><u>21:32</u></td></tr>
<tr class="alt"><td>1 Sep</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>7 Sep</td>
<td>Hallucination</td>
<td>29:03</td>
<td>Hallucination</td>
<td>24:35</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>15 Sep</td>
<td>Mark Twain</td>
<td>30:59</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>22 Sep</td>
<td>Georgia Jewel</td>
<td>32:49</td>
<td>Georgia Jewel</td>
<td>30:30</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>29 Sep</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td></td></tr>
<tr class="alt"><td>6 Oct</td>
<td>Ark. Traveler</td>
<td>26:23</td>
<td>Ark. Traveler</td>
<td>26:08</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>13 Oct</td>
<td>Heartland</td>
<td><u>23:50</u></td>
<td>Heartland</td>
<td><u>21:50</u></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>19 Oct</td>
<td>Pony Express</td>
<td>24:23</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>27 Oct</td><td>Javelina</td>
<td>27:25</td>
<td>Javelina</td>
<td><u>23:53</u></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>3 Nov</td>
<td>Coyote Springs</td>
<td>28:16*</td>
<td>Coyote Springs</td>
<td>27:40</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>10 Nov</td>
<td>Wild Sebastian</td>
<td>26:29*</td>
<td>Wild Sebastian</td>
<td>24:51</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>17 Nov</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>24 Nov</td>
<td>Shazam</td>
<td><u>23:04*</u></td>
<td>Winter (Eng.)</td>
<td>28:57</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>1 Dec</td>
<td>Ancient Oaks</td><td>27:03</td>
<td>Cajun Coyote</td>
<td>25:43</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>8 Dec</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>15 Dec</td>
<td>Bartram</td>
<td><u>22:44*</u></td>
<td>Bartram</td>
<td><u>22:32</u></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>22 Dec</td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
<td>Off</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>29 Dec</td>
<td>Houston</td>
<td><u>22:26*</u></td>
<td>Houston</td>
<td><u>20:19</u></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-9429235252975775782013-01-03T18:31:00.000-05:002013-01-03T18:31:06.759-05:00Houston 100This race which took place on 29 December popped up sometime in October or November and fit perfectly into our schedule as a final flat and easy 100 mile course that was manageable (a 2 mile loop) and in a major urban area where Airtran flies (Houston). We barely hesitated in signing up for the run and after having run the race we couldn't be more pleased with the organization, course, and logistics of the event. We flew into Houston on Friday and flew home on Monday as the flights were much cheaper than on Sunday. We had decided to splurge a bit and get a more upscale room for Sunday night but with some internet sleuthing Liz found a room at a Hyatt Place for less than $70 which had an awesome hot breakfast and was very comfy. They even let us check in at noon!<br />
<br />
As we were driving to the airport on Friday morning we were reminiscing about the year and I mentioned how we had done remarkably well in only missing one flight the whole year when we overslept for our flight to Kansas for Heartland. I mentioned that I was glad that this would be the last time I had to drive to the airport for a while and so on. Well, when we got to the off airport parking place we use we got out of the car to load our luggage on the shuttle and Liz exclaims "Where's my suitcase!?" Crap. She had left her bag on the deck by one door and then left the house by another door and forgot to grab it. With a quick call to Airtran we made arrangements for a flight later in the day and drove the 80 miles back home and then back to the airport. Still, only two flights missed is pretty good, don't you think?<br />
<br />
Once in Houston we checked into our room and drove to the race start as we usually do so we know where to go in the morning. Then we got a bite to eat and were asleep by 10 or so. We slept well, barely bothered by the freeway thundering by 200 feet away and woke up ready to get this last race done. I have to share a secret we have used for a good part of the year to get to sleep the night before a race. What we do is take a dose of Nyquil which knocks us out and usually we sleep through to our alarms. I suppose it helps that any pre race jitters which might wake us early had left us many runs ago! We drove to the start and grabbed our goodie bag with bibs as well as our timing chips and pretty much holed up in the car as the temp was around freezing and there was a stiff northerly wind blowing. Here's a pic of the aid tent and the beautiful sunrise.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3FIwsrohe54/UOXcKFmGkBI/AAAAAAAADcs/zDDiL2f6noM/s1600/IMG_1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3FIwsrohe54/UOXcKFmGkBI/AAAAAAAADcs/zDDiL2f6noM/s640/IMG_1912.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The course was a flat asphalt bike path around a bunch of soccer fields and baseball fields. It had some straight bits and one section that snaked back and forth a bit but no really tight turns. It was funny how the course seemed completely flat early but by the end of the race the short slight inclines (we're talking 8 inch rise over 30 feet) were very noticeable! That said, this course is very fast. It would be a great first time 100 miler with such a short loop, great aid, chip timing so you don't have to worry about catching someone's attention each lap, and a high likelihood of good weather. We had cold temps and a 10 mph or so N wind during the day but short of rain this is probably as bad as it would get. I meant to carry the camera around a loop but never got around to doing it. With this being the last race of the year I had decided to push for as fast a time as I could since there were no more races to be put in jeapordy.<br />
<br />
I did the first few laps running with Shannon McGinn at right around a 10 minute pace. Then after a few laps she stopped at her car and I continued on staying pretty steady for a good bit. Those first few laps I was eating and drinking very little usually passing by the aid table without stopping. As the day wore on it continued to be quite cold running north into the wind but got nice and warm on the long straight section heading south to the aid station. I kept a good pace and had visions of a sub 20 hour finish if I could stay strong. I believe my 50 mile split was about 9:17 while I was hoping for around 9 hours. Eventually it became obvious that sub 20 wasn't going to happen and I thought about backing off and taking it easy but decided to tough it out and keep pushing with this being the last race in such a big year. Crossing the finish line in 20:19 was sweet. <br />
<br />
I got to run with several different people as the path was wide enough to run side by side easily and chat. Getting to know race winner Jeremy Blackford a bit better and local runner Trent McKenna was fun. At one point when I was starting my second to last lap I fell in with Jim Kern and he said that he wasn't sure if he had 2 or 3 laps to go. At this point I was in second place and I wasn't going to lose that position easily. I had visions of a push to the finish. As we ran along chatting I noticed that Jim was slowly increasing the pace and I matched him with some effort but no real strain. Eventually we were running what I would guess was about an 11 min/mile pace. I was still able to chat without being out of breath and after a little over a mile of this Jim started to fade back. I was able to continue on until I had a comfortable gap and eventually I wasn't even able to see him behind me. After I finished and he came by it turned out that he had another lap to go anyway. It was fun to race at least a little bit!<br />
<br />
I had passed Liz a number of times so I knew that she would be a while finishing. I sat in the aid tent chatting and sitting next to the kerosene heater but eventually started to chill so I went to the car and changed clothes and warmed up the car. It was well below freezing by now and I kept the car running dozing, shifting in my seat from sore muscles, and drinking bottles of gatorade. I had a time estimate when I thought Liz would finish and though it was still early I noticed her coming to the timing mat and got out of the car to see how she was doing. It turned out she had pushed the last couple of laps and this was her finish in a nice 22:26. And so it was done. What a year. <br />
<br />
Here is a picture after the race with RD Yen Nguyen the sweetest RD ever.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5IQI-Igqx9E/UOXcJoPPj2I/AAAAAAAADco/Wkbm_btAduY/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5IQI-Igqx9E/UOXcJoPPj2I/AAAAAAAADco/Wkbm_btAduY/s640/IMG_1915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yen and her crew were fantastic. They were there in the cold all through the night and <u>always</u> had smiles on their faces. The aid station food was your basic fare but there was pizza at dusk, grilled cheese, ham, quesadillas, and an array of drinks with a cup or two always poured and ready. Thank you so much Yen and all the others for making this end of the year run a special one!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Final race count: Liz (36) Scott (27)</div>
Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-56798400907587524302013-01-03T13:16:00.000-05:002013-01-03T13:16:14.508-05:00Pony Express 100 (by Liz)The Pony Express 100 was run on Friday Oct 19th. I only had 5 days of rest from the Heartland 100, where I had run a sub 24 so I was expecting to pay the price of a hard run. The historic Pony express trail is where young men once rode horses to carry mail from Missouri to California in the unprecedented time of only 10 days. The race course follows a portion of the actual trail located in remote western Utah. It is 100% dirt road with a good bit of gravel thrown in. There is not much climb, only about 3,000 feet. We ran 58.2 miles out, turned around and retraced the route back. Crew is required as water is limited to the two manned aid stations. A running friend Elise Harrington who is also an accomplished adventure racer, with many races from around the world, agreed to crew me. We both flew in to Salt Lake City. I had brought the GPS to assure we wouldn't get lost. Well, lets describe it like this... we ended up taking a 2 hour tour around salt Lake city, first arriving at a the end of a subdivision circle where the houses had not even been built yet. Second go round brought us south of the city to the driveway of a horse farm! go figure. By now it was 6pm and I was wanting to find the race start. Finally, at 8pm we found the race start and race director Davy Crockett. The starts are staggered to minimize dust on the road from crews. I was in the 7am start, I needed the extra hour of sleep. <br />
<br />
The start was a nice rolling downhill which tricked me into thinking my legs were going to be OK. at the bottom the road stretched out straight as far as the eye could see. I am not a big fan of flat running but, I knew my tendon I would be better off. At this point I was thinking to my self how much I would love to see some wild horses. With in 5 minutes, about a half a mile to the North....there they were in all their glory. Every color represented....grey, bay, cream, black and brown. The stallion was obviously the grey! Wow.....this was an incredible sight, one I will cherish forever. I looked off to the distant mountains and felt very alive and focused on those mountains and about 20 miles later I was climbing over them. The grade up was runnable, I power walked and shuffled this. On the backside was a long downhill where I rolled right along passing a few people. The weather was perfect. Crews would pass, I would see Elise every 4 miles or so and there was a lot of camaraderie, everyone drove slowly keeping dust to a minimum. I felt good until about 60 miles at this time hot spots were forming on my feet and worst yet, the tendinitis of my left foot flexor tendon was flaring up. I stopped briefly changing shoes and socks and retaping my feet. Ten minutes later, the different socks were aggravating the tendon. I knew to stop and try different socks, the cuff around the ankle was too tight and any pressure on the tendon would result in terrible inflammation. As the long night approached I grew tired and my legs were dead. I resorted to a power walk shuffle on and off, I was slower now and stops for Elise grew closer. By 2am I had asked her to only go a mile. I was so mentally and physically beat that I needed to see those tail lights. And that's what I did for the rest of the race......run to the lights. I did have a high spot upon reaching the big return climb. I ran down fast and keep the roll going for a least 5 miles, I believe those were my fastest miles of the race. Running strong at 80 miles is very invigorating and gives one a big boost. at this point, looking at my watch, I realized a sub 24 could happen if I pushed, so, I ran. We were on target until I thought were 3 miles from the finish when in fact we were 6. A big disappointment, but I gave it my best finished in 24:23 6th overall. 27 starters, 14 finishers. This is a fast course, totally runnable, but, you must prepare yourself for the long, straight stretches. However, the immense open spaces were so beautiful with the mountains pared up against the crystal blue sky!<br />
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I cannot thank Elise enough for her endless energy and ability to go without sleep to crew me. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to drive one mile stop, crew and repeat. this was truly a team effort. Elise and I stayed at the finish to watch some of the other runners come in. Elise then drove us to the airport. We didn't get lost this time! <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01320655699514531949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-7098819071933163422013-01-01T13:11:00.001-05:002013-01-01T20:17:48.119-05:00Mark Twain 100 (by Liz)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;">The Mark Twain 100 was on Sept 15, located about 20 miles east of Steeleville, MO. I flew into St Louis, got my rental car and was off. Unfortunately, I did not let my GPS locate satellites before programing in race location. The GPS thought I was still in Calf, I did not realize this and followed the directions for an hour and half before realizing I was driving in the wrong direction. Yikes! Anyways, a little detour, but I managed to find Steeleville without too much difficulty. This was an inaugural event, a truly unique 100 mile venue in that it is on 99% single track trail. And I mean real single track trail, no jeep roads ATV trails, etc. I became injured at my last race the Hallucination 100, the prior weekend. In adapting to my new Hoka's the tongue on the left foot had irritated my tendon just in front of my ankle. I recommend not breaking in new shoes over a 100 mile race. (I had no choice, as the neuroma pain had gotten to great to bear in conventional running shoes, I had to have more cushioning.) </span><br />
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I found a great inexpensive room in Steeleville in a old remolded Grey Hound bus station. We started at 6 am in the dark, Unfortunately, We all took a wrong turn and climbed a mile before realizing our mistake. The rest of the course was extremely well marked, no getting lost here. The first 5 miles were very rocky and technical, my ankle felt fine, so I started really rolling on the downhills. (big mistake) by 6 miles I was beginning to have an altered gait, favoring my left ankle. Also, at about this time the rain started to fall. The temps were mild, so the weather was not an issue. The course is very rolling, climbs are not steep or long, but, they do not let up. There is 10,000 feet of climb on the course. However, if you are not injured and rested, the course is completely runnable.</div>
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There are several stream crossings, at which I was able to stop, negotiate and rock hop and stay relatively dry. However, as the day went on the mud grew slicker and thicker. The aid stations were top notch with hot food, and lots of it. They were all fully maned, with extremely attentive volunteers, most of which were Ultra runners themselves. The stations are located about every five miles, and the course is a 25 mile loop we would repeat 4 times. By the end of my first loop I knew I was in trouble....the pain in the tendon, ankle area was bad. By the start of the second loop, even shuffling downhills was impossible, I was having to "crab" walk the downhills, just as I had done in the latter miles of Hallucination 100. I could still climb strong, so I tried to make up for the slow downs this way. When there was a flat section I shuffled this. In fact , I discovered a new ultra running gait "the scuffle" not as fast as the shuffle, but more efficient than the power walk, which I was unable to perform because of the injury. Finishing lap 2, I was really feeling the effects of running injured, my right side, the uninjured side was beginning to tweak and bark. This was going to be hard..... I told my self..".Remember... there are no bad finishes, you have plenty of time" so, endure is what I did. By the third lap I was limping noticeably. Into the night the rain continued on and , my feet were wet and blistered. I had taped over blisters from last weekend. The pain in the ankle and tendon over rode the blister pain. I ran alone for all of the race, people would pass on occasion, otherwise it was a lonely time where hours upon hours of dealing with the pain was all consuming. During this 3rd lap, I stopped to retape my feet. I recall 4 or 5 runners in chairs all with the "I'm done 100 mile stare" As I pulled my socks off, wet, stuck to the tape which in turn was stuck to my skin....sometimes you just do what you have to do. Luckily for me it was late at night 3am, so, my sh*!t and other foul language was par for the course. A kind volunteer came over during all this, starting asking questions, "What can I get for you? what do you need? are you ok? " etc. I barked back loudly "NO more questions!!" I was left alone to deal with my foot pain and taping task. Soon up on my feet again, with a "new set of tires" I was off into the night. Eventually, the sun rose. I recall coming into an aid station, standing bewildered looking at the table and leaning forward grabbing on to the table with both hands exclaiming " I just had to stop the table from moving"....stated with the utmost sincerity. Very casually, the volunteer said "You are not the first person who has done that" I was Hallucinating badly!</div>
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As I approached the end of my 4 th loop, I felt the endorphins kick in and I shuffled, scuffled to the finish to break 31 hours (30:59) Post race was full of great food and stories from other runners. Only 4 runners went sub 24 and no females finished under 24.</div>
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This is not a easy race, certainly not difficult, but, I will place it in the challenging category. To run 100 miles on single track trail is truly a challenge to be met. 100 miles over single track in one day (24hours)....Now..that's something to talk about. If you are a lover of technical trail, single track and can handle rocks and roots and love a challenge...This is the race for you. the aid, support, and directors of this race, Tommy Doias and Travis Liles get a thumbs up A plus on a race well done.</div>
Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-62626294271768458462012-12-31T10:02:00.000-05:002013-01-03T14:09:55.012-05:00IT'S DONE!Early yesterday morning (29 Dec) Liz and I both finished the Houston 100. This was Liz's 36th 100 miler in the calendar year 2012, and it was my 27th. We did it and it is now done! We both pushed hard on this one and following a sub-24 hour performance two weeks ago we both did a repeat sub-24 with Liz finishing in 22:26 and myself in 20:19. As we sit here in our hotel room we are sore, stiff and happy to be finished.<br />
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Liz has 3 or so reports that we will be posting soon. I will write up the Houston report later this week. And look for a "year in numbers post" which should be fun. It's been an exciting year. We've pushed our bodies and our minds to places that we've never gone before and met so many wonderful and interesting people. This has been a year to remember but definitely not one to repeat. For anyone who wishes to challenge the record, best of luck but be prepared for the challenge of your life!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at the start of the Houston 100 - a great omen for a great race to end the year.</td></tr>
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<br />Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-42354560137114322482012-12-27T22:08:00.000-05:002012-12-27T22:16:27.776-05:00Bartram 100 (The Bacon Protocol)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Bartram 100, run on 15 December for me was all about a great easy course, interesting people, and bacon. Liz and I drove down and slept in the camper so lodging was free and we were right at the starting line when we woke up. The race started at 7am and I don't think we crawled out from under the covers until about 6:20. There was coffee and donuts at the start and all we needed to do was for me to tape my feet and to get dressed. I have make a note about how well the RD's Russell and Mike did with this young race. This race is a labor of love for them and you really got the feeling that they wanted to do everything they could to help everyone achieve their goals. They are two really nice guys.</div>
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<b>The course: </b>This is a great course for a first time 100 miler to test themselves on. The tread is nice and soft and there are very few things to trip on. Almost all of the trail is double track which is very nice for chatting and running side by side whether with your pacer or other runners. It is very well marked and the 6.25 mile loops make things seem very manageable. There is a mini aid station and the course is set up so you never go more than 2.5 miles without aid. I did not carry a bottle and got by fine only stopping at the mini aid station once per loop. </div>
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Another thing that made the course nice was that there were small rolling hills spaced throughout the loop that really broke things up nicely. The hills were neither long nor steep and there was one really nice cruiser downhill that lasted about 1/3 of a mile. I was able to really roll this hill right to the end. Below are some pictures from the course:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the start/finish/main aid under the overhang in front of this middle school. </td></tr>
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This main aid station was manned through the night with students who did an excellent job keeping cups filled and a great variety of goodies well stocked. They looked more high school age but I could be wrong. In any event they did a great job. Thank You!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the beginning of the loop we ran on an asphalt track that went around this field along the fence in the distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail animal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken late in the day. The mini aid is just off picture to the right. Across the lake there is a shelter that we ran by after about another 2.5 miles or so.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was one of the "big" hills and at the bottom there was a "big" uphill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The uphill. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is part of the short out an back that brought us to and from the loop. It was nice to see and high five the other runners so often.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here Liz is coming to the end of the loop and the timing mat seen here between the cones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The signage on the course was nice and the mile markers every mile also a nice touch. The course was well marked but not over marked.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the final mile marker and part of the out and back section taking us back to the school. 1/4 mile to go.</td></tr>
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<b>The people:</b> You meet such interesting people at ultras, especially hundred milers. I mentioned that the course had a lot of nice double track which made it really easy to run and chat. Well I certainly did my fair share of chatting at this one. I want to mention a few of the folks that I ran with. First is the amazing, 69 years young, Terri Hayes. I had heard of Terri and the races that she puts on in SC and FL but had never done one or had the chance to meet her. I was excited to see her on the roster for the race and I cornered her, introduced myself, and told her how much I admired her achievements and the spirit of her races, her website and an explanation of her vision for the series can be found at <a href="http://www.ultrasontrails.com/">Ultras on Trails</a>.<br />
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To summarize her vision it is to have a series of runs that are very low cost events with very few rules or regulations. It is in part a protest against the high price, big swag races that are the norm these days. Pretty much all the races Liz and I have done fall into that category. That's not to knock those events but it's good to have low cost alternatives. As I caught up with Terri early on a lap I fell in with her and walked a whole lap with her and learned a lot about her ultrarunning history and some life history. This lady has been running ultras for 30 years (next April) and has done over 300 ultras all across the country. It was a real treat to run with her and get to know her a bit. She doesn't run much but has a very strong power walk and still finishes ultras. At this event she did 50 miles finishing a bit after dark and then slept and came back in the morning to finish the 100k. (The race is called the Bartram 100's because it is a 100 mile and 100k event.)<br />
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Here's a picture of Terri on Saturday:<br />
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I can't remember this young man's name and the results have still not been posted but I think it might have been Tim. He is in training to become a Special Forces Navy diver. He had just finished dive school where he was one of the less than 50% who graduated. I think this was his third 100 and though he had some ups and downs he finished in under 24 hours. I think he finished within 15 minute or so of me.<br />
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In this picture the guy in yellow is a PhD student doing laboratory work in nutritional science at Georgia State University. We had some interesting discussions about nutrition especially in light of my following the Bacon Protocol in this run. More on the Bacon Protocol below.<br />
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The guy in black is Levi and he is finishing his family medicine residency this spring. He has done multiple hundreds and had a very even and steady run. He also had the perfect efficient stride that gets you through these things. I ran for a while with both of these guys and had some fun conversation.<br />
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Here is Perry Sebastian, RD of the <a href="http://www.DoubleTop100.info/">Double Top 100</a> doing the timing for the race:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More timing helpers writing down laps on paper.</td></tr>
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Here is Dave Krupski the race winner and a very nice guy. He started very fast and ambitiously and really struggled through a couple of laps but pulled it together and had a fine finish in about 19:15. He was also the winner of the <a href="http://run30hundreds.blogspot.com/2012/11/wild-sebastian-100-fall-edition.html">Wild Sebastian 100</a> early in November.<br />
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<b>The Bacon Protocol:</b><br />
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The day before the race I cooked up 3 lbs. of bacon. Liz and I ate 1/3 of it with breakfast and the rest I put in a resealable container. I'm finding more and more that meat sustains me the best at these races with the least amount of acidy stomach and other stomach issues. I also have the habit of eating very little during most events. At certain time I do get really hungry and chow down but I try to wait until I'm really hungry before eating a lot. Anyway, during the first loop I decided to see how far I could go on just bacon. I had had some sweet wafer type cookies before the start but not a lot. I did the first loop and as I stopped by my drop bag I pulled two pieces of bacon from the bucket.</div>
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I continued with the following pattern. I would come to the start/finish aid station and have 1 full cup of gatorade and 1 full cup of coke. I would then pass by my drop bag and eat two pieces of bacon. Then about 2.5 miles into the loop I would stop at the mini aid and have some water or some more gatorade. I would finish the lap and repeat the pattern. On my 6th lap I walked with Terri and that took me about 20 minutes longer than my other laps and I was extra hungry so I ate 3 pieces of bacon instead of two. Other than that lap, though I continued with my pattern of coke, gatorade and two pieces of bacon. I got to 100k having only eaten 19 pieces of bacon in addition to my coke and gatorade. My energy levels were great and my stomach did not get acidy feeling as it often does. </div>
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After finishing 100k I didn't eat any more bacon even though there was more left. My body was telling me that I should eat more carbs and more total calories. I didn't struggle at all to 100k but at that point the bacon just didn't appeal anymore. It was very satisfying for me while I was eating it though. I don't know if it would work at a hotter 100 though even at other races whenever I've seen bacon at the aid station I've eaten it. Some of the runners I talked to couldn't hardly believe I was doing this and some said they felt kind of ill just thinking about it but it worked for me. It might work for you!</div>
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<b>Cudos: </b> A huge thank you to everyone that helped out at the Bartram 100! You made it as easy as it can be for us to run 100 miles. Congrats on a job well done!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are with the RDs Mike and Russell just after finishing. I finished in 22:39 and Liz in 22:47.</td></tr>
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Race count: Liz (35) Scott (26)</div>
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<br />Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-37971515680171129142012-12-27T19:06:00.000-05:002012-12-27T19:06:36.266-05:00Cajun Coyote 100Cajun Coyote was on 1 December and while I was doing this run Liz was in Florida doing the Ancient Oaks 100. I flew out on Thursday and drove up towards <a href="http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ichicot.aspx">Chicot State Park</a> getting a room just outside Lafayette which was about an hour away. I got situated in my room and gave co-RD Chris Scott and found out that they were just sitting down to dinner about 20 minutes away. I hopped over and enjoyed a nice dinner with Chris, Sue, Mark and a bunch of other fun folks. I had originally planned on camping during this trip but ended up leaving the camping gear at home and hiring a room for Thursday and Friday night.<br />
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I got to the park well before checkin was to happen but all the folks from dinner were hanging out at the pavilion planning on how best to organize course marking. They sorted that out and soon I was alone at the Pavilion so I just sat against a tree in the sun and relaxed for an hour or two. Eventually people started drifting back and things started to pick up. For the pre race dinner they had arranged to have this gentleman cook an authentic Louisiana sausage and chicken gumbo:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He cooked the gumbo in this huge cast iron pot and stirred it with this paddle. </td></tr>
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Once again the sun set way too early and most of the runners had arrived and I got to see old friends and make new ones and after a short race briefing by the Cajun Dip himself we finally got to eat!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cajun Dip giving us instructions for tomorrow's run.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cat was found near some of the cabins in the park and was the friendliest stray cat you could imagine. He did get adopted before the weekend was out. Yay!</td></tr>
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While I was able to find a nice cheap room near Lafayette online, I wasn't able to find anything less than $79 online near the race start. So when I first got to Ville Platte I poked around looking for a mom and pop type hotel tucked in a corner somewhere and what I found was a jewel in the rough. Well, actually the Best Inn was more rough than jewel but it was cheap! Also notice the new paint job on the exterior:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoever they consulted on interior design was very creative.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nouveau cinderblock and linoleum theme here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very little mold in the shower.</td></tr>
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The next two photos show an innovative lamp cord camouflage technique.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cardboard hanger tubing and packing tape - who would have thunk it?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't want to publish the address or phone # as I worked out a commission arrangement with the proprietor. Email me for details.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There wasn't really a "front desk" but the handy metal plate slid back so I could give my credit card.</td></tr>
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The Best Inn might have been a bit rough around the edges but I did not see a single bug and the mattress was quite comfortable which was good enough for me. I slept well. In fact, I was so beat I laid down and fell asleep before showering or organizing my things for the morning's race. When I woke up I still didn't feel up to doing my chores so eventually I just set the alarm for around 4am and did everything in the morning. It was probably about 8pm when I first dozed off.<br />
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Here are some pictures of the course. Chicot State Park is beautiful and the 20 mile loops worked out really nice. Most of the trails were quite runnable though there were certainly plenty of tree roots in places. There were also some fairly steep though short ups and downs. I think we 100 milers did 2 clockwise, then 1 counter clockwise, and then two more clockwise loops. There was also a 20 mile run and a 100k run so there were plenty of folks on the trails during the day.<br />
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My run went pretty well through the day and I figured that I had a good shot at a sub 24 hour run but once I got a few hours into the night I had my worst ever tangle with the sleep monster. This night I completely lost the battle. I figure that I spent approximately an hour and a half sleeping in 10-15 minute increments through the night. I would lie down and pass out for 15 minutes or more and then get up and a mile down the trail I would fall asleep on my feet and wake up when I wandered off the trail into the bushes. I think what had happened was that I was exhausted from having been in England touring around the country like mad, ran a tough race there the prior weekend and then I flew home on Tuesday only to turnaround and drive back to the airport for my Thursday flight to LA.<br />
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I had just not had time to catch up on sleep. Thankfully this was to be the last back to back week of the year. After this race there was a weekend off and then the <a href="http://www.Bartram100.org//">Bartram 100</a> and then another weekend off and then the final race of the year at the <a href="http://www.50StatesMarathonClub.com/houston100.html">Houston 100</a>. During this run I ate a lot of meat. I ate some of the leftover gumbo from the previous night's dinner, I ate a BUNCH of brisket, and some tasty burritos at one of the aid stations. I'm finding more and more that I run best on meat. I don't know if I'll be able to do this as much when and if I ever get to where I can run fast again but it's sure working for now.<br />
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Here's a pic of me with RDs Chris and Mark:<br />
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Thanks to these two guys. And thanks to all the volunteers who once again did a magnificent job. This was a very nice run in a very pretty park. We had good weather and if I hadn't struggled so with sleep would have done better. Definitely no complaints on this one!<br />
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Race count: Liz (34) Scott (25)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-11688097631253152462012-12-14T12:08:00.000-05:002012-12-14T12:08:14.731-05:00Winter 100 (in England)Sometime in late summer I was looking at my calendar and trying to fill in some holes with races. There were no races on the 17 Nov or 24 Nov weekends except Chimera in California which was too far away and too difficult of a race for the end of this year. Looking on the internet for international 100 mile races I found the <a href="http://www.centurionrunning.com/winter-100-2012/winter-100-2012/">Winter 100</a> on the 24th, an inaugural race held in Streatley, England which is about 50 miles to the west of London. It was going to be an expensive race with the airfare but I have never visited England before and decided to take some time before the race to see some of the country. I ended up leaving on 13 Nov which was just 2 days after finishing the <a href="http://run30hundreds.blogspot.com/2012/11/wild-sebastian-100-fall-edition.html">Wild Sebastian 100</a>. <br />
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The trip was well worth the expense even though it was late fall and the sun was setting shortly after 4pm. I spent most of my time in London visiting the British Museum, the National Gallery, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, some cool train stations, and much more. I tent camped on the outskirts of London and took public transport into the city keeping my accommodation and travel costs down to about $35 per day while in London. It was a bit cold and damp, not perfect camping weather but it worked out well financially and I had good gear to stay warm and mostly dry. I camped at the <a href="http://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/where-to-stay-and-short-breaks/camping-caravan/">Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park</a> which I highly recommend. The office folks were very nice and the Camp was very well kept. It was pretty quiet in the tent camping spot with it being late November:<br />
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I left this camp spot and went to another near the town of Bath where I stayed for two very rainy nights and got flooded into the campground for about 5 hours due to a swollen creek blocking the exit. This was on Wednesday before the race. Newton Mill Holiday Park:<br />
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This was the only way out of the park and my vehicle did not have good clearance. From Wednesday night through Friday night I had reserved a hotel room at the <a href="http://www.theabbeyhousehotel.co.uk/">Abbey House Hotel</a> in Reading which was about 20 minutes from the start by car and also a reasonably priced hotel with very nice folks running the place. It was very nice to be out of the tent, in a real bed with an in room shower. I had been doing a lot of touristy type stuff, spending a lot time on my feet and doing a lot of walking. I needed to try to dial it back some so I'd be ready to run 100 miles on Saturday.<br />
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I was fairly successful resting on Thursday and Friday and made it to the start feeling pretty well rested but still my legs were a bit tired but then again, I had 23 100 milers on them just from this year.... This race had a start time of 10am which I really liked. It let me sleep in some and not feel rushed getting ready for the start. Here we are gathered in the Morrell room in Streatly with RD James Elson giving us the race briefing:<br />
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I was already impressed with everything that I had seen about Centurion Running from the RD's correspondence to the sleek and well organized website. Everything looked well thought out and very professional. But James really showed his mettle in the way he handled some last minute course changes. The race was supposed to be 4 out and backs of 25 miles each with two of the legs following the <a href="http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thamespath/">Thames Path</a> and two of the legs following the <a href="http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway/">Ridgeway Trail</a> both trails being National Trails which were well used and well marked. But with all the rain that the south of England had been having the Thames river was flooded and the Thames Path unusable. So on the morning of the race he had to come up with a redesigned course that was both safe and at least 100 miles long.<br />
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While listening to the briefing I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about as he was referring to places and intersections and such that meant nothing to me. He assured us that it was all well marked and in fact it was very well marked and I never had any major issues though I did wander off course for a bit many times due to my own inattention. I never went very far off though realizing my mistakes soon or being corrected by another runner. So what we ended up doing was roughly half of the first leg twice (27 miles), then the third leg twice (50 miles), and then the fourth leg once to give us about 102.5 miles. I was impressed not only with how well it worked out in the end but also with James' calmness that morning. It seemed just another day at the office for him.<br />
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So we had our race briefing and instructions and were cautioned that things could still change as the rain had already started and there a significant amount of rain forecast to fall during the event. This was looking to be exciting! Welcome to winter in England!<br />
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Here we are just outside the doorway of the Morrell room ready to start:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RD James Elson sending us on our way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The swollen Thames River which we crossed almost immediately after leaving the start/finish.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A narrow footpath early in the course.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical section of the first 5 miles of the course.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ll25h1KOXyo/UMqvH31JRVI/AAAAAAAADRY/RDZAZm3lRKc/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ll25h1KOXyo/UMqvH31JRVI/AAAAAAAADRY/RDZAZm3lRKc/s640/IMG_1788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure what you call this kind of roof but it is some kind of thatch held in place with a kind of chicken wire with moss growing on the outside. You don't see this in the States!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kn0xYwXAPc8/UMqwIlCnhqI/AAAAAAAADR4/Ql1o4FwH6WY/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kn0xYwXAPc8/UMqwIlCnhqI/AAAAAAAADR4/Ql1o4FwH6WY/s640/IMG_1805.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The course passed close to this double set of train tracks with passenger trains FLYING past every 10 minutes or so at what must have been 80-90mph. No big deal to the Brits but I was fascinated.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another thing I enjoyed everywhere in England were these red phone booths. They were everywhere!</td></tr>
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All of these pictures are from the first 5 miles of the course which we ended up running out and back 4 times due to the modified course. The pictures don't show it so well but there was a fair bit of muddy single track and with all the out and backs this stretch got very sloppy as the day wore on. It was raining lightly when we started at 10am and it barely stopped for 15 minutes at a time, raining steadily until about 2am. Mostly it was a pretty light rain but at times it was pretty heavy and this constant rain completely saturated the ground making footing a nightmare. I was wearing my Hoka Mafates which had 600+ miles on them and while they did well in the mud when new with the worn out tread they were slipping and sliding constantly. Luckily in that first 5 miles there were a couple of miles of paved road and non muddy trail.<br />
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On the first out and back I was so fascinated with everything and taking so many pictures that I ended up falling all the way back to the sweep runner without even realizing it. I really enjoyed meeting and talking with Chaitan Kerai who was sweeping the first 25 miles of the race:<br />
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After doing the short leg twice we took a right turn at about the five mile mark to head up onto the Ridgeway Trail for another 7.5 miles to the turnaround and return to Streatley which brought us to about 52 miles. This leg had a lot more climbing as we followed a ridge up and up on rolling trail and through two horrendously wet and sloppy plowed fields. They weren't very wide but the footing was nasty nasty mud. And we had to go through them four times. Ugh. The turnaround was quite high and exposed but very welcome and manned by an excellent aid station crew as were all the other aid stations. Heading back from the turnaround was mostly downhill and went much quicker than the climb up though both directions were made more difficult by the saturated ground and some pretty slippery conditions. There was one spot where I went down on my butt and slid a good 30 feet down a muddy slope and I was even warned by a runner to be careful there! I went around the slippery bit the next three times at that spot.<br />
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Back at the Morrell room after 52 miles I finally put on some running tights as the temp was dropping and it was still pissing down rain. This was the first time I had run in tights in a race in years but it was that cold and damp. After donning the tights, changing socks and getting ready to leave a runner that I had chatted with a bit earlier was also about ready to leave. When I first chatted with Sharon Walton I found out that she was a first time 100 miler and I asked her the question I liked to ask first timers to gauge their chances of finishing. The question is "So do you think you'll finish?" Sharon's answer was something like "I'll finish if I have to crawl over the finish line!" That attitude and the way she said it told me that she was going to get it done. Usually with first timers I'll give advice if it seems they want it but with Sharon I got the feeling she didn't need my advice and I found out from her husband post race that she does her research and that she was, in fact, quite well prepared physically, mentally and gear wise.<br />
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Sharon and I left the Morrell room for our third leg (a repeat of the second leg) together and ended up running together until the end. Sometimes she'd get ahead a bit and sometimes I would but our paces seemed to match each other really well and we had a great time chatting and poking fun at each other for 15 hours or so. The repeat of that second leg didn't seem quite so long this time since I knew what was coming and the rain did stop during this leg but boy did the wind howl. As we were coming down the exposed ridge we were getting hit by a steady 25mph wind with probably 50mph gusts and they were coming right from the side. I got really frustrated in this section because it was right here that we were running in a rut of a trail that was about a foot wide and cut into the ground a good 6 inches. With my big Hoka clown shoes I had a difficult time here without the wind but going down this section getting rocked side to side by the wind I was constantly stumbling. Outside of this rut is was very thick and long grass on an uneven tread which was even worse than the rut so we had to just tough it out. All of the slipping and sliding and then all of this stumbling was really starting to wear me down.<br />
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By the time we got back to the Morrell room it was light out and Sharon's pacer Richard Hurdle joined us as did her husband Tim, though Tim only went a couple miles due to some low back issues he's been struggling with. It was nice to have Richard along. He had lots of energy and a great attitude. He didn't coddle us but made us feel like heroes for getting this one done. We had a great time talking about all things ultra. Like Sharon, Richard is just breaking into ultras and very keen. The daylight and his energy perked me up mentally but physically I was struggling.<br />
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This last leg was again on the Ridgeway trail which meant there was a fair bit of climbing. Even though we ended up doing extra miles on the Ridgeway trail and thus more total climing there wasn't really a tremendous amount of climbing all together. It was all the slipping and sliding that had taken it out of me and I was feeling it. As we reached the turnaround I met Tim Lambert who had asked on the race facebook page for special requests at his aid station. I asked for bacon and Tim delivered! I sat down and layed into a large container of bacon getting in more than enough to fuel me to the finish. And it was here that Sharon said to me in her delightful British accent "Come on Scott, it's not a picnic!" I just had to smile, give Tim the bacon, and carry on.<br />
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The first half of this leg had been a lot of pavement and nice smooth dirt roads but the last half had us working back and forth on grassy trails to find the least repugnant path. Most of it wasn't very wet but the trail was often uneven and too much work this late in the race. Eventually we got back down to the good footing and started to roll along a bit better. I was really impressed with Sharon. She wasn't talking much late in the race which was my only hint that she was finding this difficult. She was moving well and never once said anything remotely like a complaint. Perhaps she though I was doing enough complaining for both of us. I had made a mistake with my pain meds and hadn't brought enough for the whole time. I guess I wasn't expecting to be out for 29 hours but I ended up running the last couple of hours without pain relief. Usually I manage my pain quite well but here I was hurting. I was to the point where I was letting out pretty frequent grunts and sighs from the pain when I stumbled or my foot hit the ground sooner or late than I expected. I've only gotten to that point a few times since my first 100 miler.<br />
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Sharon's crew was at many different places where they could drive to meet her and they probably think I'm standoffish not paying them any attention but I just didn't have the energy to be social. This was a very hard run for me. I did get to talk to Tim a bit after the run which was nice but during the run I didn't even try to figure out who was who even though Sharon had told me who they all were. Sorry guys!<br />
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Getting to the Morrell room for the final time was a tremendous relief and I believe pretty emotional for Sharon as her first 100. In describing what I had witnessed on her run I told Tim that she had done this run with poise and determination. I was quite impressed with how well she handled such tough conditions on her first 100. We managed to squeak in under 29 hours with a 28:57:34. Official results are <a href="http://www.centurionrunning.com/results/winter-100-2012-race-report/winter-100-2012-results/">here</a>. Here's a picture of us just after finishing:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the muddy legs.</td></tr>
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And here are my shoes when I got home:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZyzN4z5A1Y/UMqw2AaatoI/AAAAAAAADSI/XV3Wuajxs7s/s1600/IMG_1810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZyzN4z5A1Y/UMqw2AaatoI/AAAAAAAADSI/XV3Wuajxs7s/s640/IMG_1810.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I seriously thought about throwing these away but couldn't find a shop in Atlanta to replace them before next week's Cajun Coyote 100. I though I might need them for that.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with the very capable RD James Elson. </td></tr>
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James' race report can be found <a href="http://www.centurionrunning.com/results/winter-100-2012-race-report/">here</a>. I was very impressed with my experience at the Winter 100. The aid station volunteers had to endure some tough conditions with wind, rain and cold temps and they did so without a whimper. The second time we got to the turnaround on the first Ridgeway leg the aid station was reduced to a pile of water jugs and food containers piled in the lee side of an SUV after the canopies had blown away in the gale force winds. But those guys were still out there braving the storm so we'd have support. And Tim's bacon got me through that last 12.5 miles. A huge thanks to everyone!<br />
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While I was running the Winter 100 Liz was doing the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/275423245911835/">Shazaam 100</a> near Atlanta. Liz did her 100 miles on a 400 meter track in freezing cold and windy conditions (but not wet!) in an impressive 23:04. I believe she is planning to write a report on that run soon.....<br />
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Race count: Liz (33) Scott (24)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-79284923198845719022012-11-12T22:06:00.001-05:002012-11-13T13:10:19.009-05:00Wild Sebastian 100 (Fall edition)The <a href="http://www.WildSebastian100.com/index.html">Wild Sebastian 100</a> is put on by Mike and Kristen Beck of <a href="http://www.flocracing.com/">FLOC Racing</a>, a couple of the nicest people you could meet. This race is used largely as a fundraiser for their summer and winter camps used to introduce kids to the great outdoors with camping and paddling trips. Mike is/was a world class paddler and you can read his bio <a href="http://www.WildSebastian100.com/7.html">here</a>. Kristen, also a lifelong paddler who has travelled the world with her kayak, teaches biology and knows loads about the fauna of the race venue, the <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/stsebastianriver/default.cfm">St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park</a>. They now plan to have both a Spring and Fall edition of the race with the Fall edition being held in the northern section of the park and the Spring edition in the southern half. Liz did this race this past Spring and wrote a <a href="http://run30hundreds.blogspot.com/2012/04/wild-sebastian-100-mile.html">report</a> on that run. (I was out with an achilles injury.)<br />
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This weekend would be a short surgical strike flying into Orlando on Friday afternoon and flying back out on Sunday night. This still gave us time, though, to enjoy some pre race socializing time as well as plenty of time to enjoy the post race festivities. Travel was routine and without problems. It was also nice to have 1 1/4 hour flight rather than a 4 hour flight like the last two weeks.<br />
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The course was laid out in a dumbell fashion referring to the shape of the course and not implying anything about the course designer. : ) That is, there were two loops connected by an out and back with the total distance of 25 miles. In fact, I really liked the course design with aid stations every 4 miles and the near impossibility of getting lost. The course marking and signage was superb displaying Mike's Teutonic heritage, according to Kristen. More on the signage below.... The start/finish with room for nice flat grassy camping was established at the Visitor Center of the park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_zEXTxtqbw/UKGXVh8hUwI/AAAAAAAADMo/bKGc8rB6F3s/s1600/IMG_1408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_zEXTxtqbw/UKGXVh8hUwI/AAAAAAAADMo/bKGc8rB6F3s/s400/IMG_1408.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start/Finish with the race about to start and participant parking in the distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Kristen on the right giving last minute instructions.</td></tr>
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Participants were allowed to sign up for anywhere from 1 to 4 loops and anyone completing a lessor distance than they signed up for were "given credit" for whatever they did run. 2+ loops got you a nice wooden medallion and 4 loops got you a belt buckle and wooden medallion. The Becks being the nurturing couple that they are set the run up as a way for people to challenge themselves no matter their ability or previous athletic achievement so all distances could use the same 32 hour cutoff. We all started at the same time.<br />
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Below are some pictures of the course and aid stations with captions. Unfortunately they are not in the order you come to them on the course but Blogger mixed them up when I uploaded them and I'm way too sleep deprived right now to sort them out. I guess you'll just have to run the race next Fall and see for yourself! And once again I only carried the camera on the first loop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Bj6nUfogsU/UKGX6JfEbDI/AAAAAAAADM4/__fsarBBOVE/s1600/IMG_1411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Bj6nUfogsU/UKGX6JfEbDI/AAAAAAAADM4/__fsarBBOVE/s640/IMG_1411.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the first mile.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mor72XeO7as/UKGYPM66sKI/AAAAAAAADNA/QURnlJh35uU/s1600/IMG_1414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mor72XeO7as/UKGYPM66sKI/AAAAAAAADNA/QURnlJh35uU/s640/IMG_1414.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also early while we are still bunched up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XNL0byj0Yk/UKGa7IHT66I/AAAAAAAADOA/2tC1Awlgk_o/s1600/IMG_1426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XNL0byj0Yk/UKGa7IHT66I/AAAAAAAADOA/2tC1Awlgk_o/s400/IMG_1426.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of great wetland habitat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PtfhJQwnV6E/UKGbb5w6_JI/AAAAAAAADOM/idXlRCO8QkU/s1600/IMG_1428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PtfhJQwnV6E/UKGbb5w6_JI/AAAAAAAADOM/idXlRCO8QkU/s640/IMG_1428.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately there was a bit too much of this kind of stuff for my liking. This course was flat and non-technical but still made you work.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z-g9cJUPd-U/UKGb8iN6pbI/AAAAAAAADOU/wcliqa35C6c/s1600/IMG_1432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z-g9cJUPd-U/UKGb8iN6pbI/AAAAAAAADOU/wcliqa35C6c/s640/IMG_1432.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the only spot where we had to get our feet wet. About 50 yds of ankle deep water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bpeco5JNyNM/UKGYnDMOl0I/AAAAAAAADNM/o22iIdX3Mqc/s1600/IMG_1417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bpeco5JNyNM/UKGYnDMOl0I/AAAAAAAADNM/o22iIdX3Mqc/s640/IMG_1417.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this shot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEoPqZRptz4/UKGZ44Gvo-I/AAAAAAAADNo/P7Lf7Aa7LOA/s1600/IMG_1423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEoPqZRptz4/UKGZ44Gvo-I/AAAAAAAADNo/P7Lf7Aa7LOA/s640/IMG_1423.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High energy AS1.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fCsJy5pxgK0/UKGaPobNSrI/AAAAAAAADNw/MFuxdy5ai28/s1600/IMG_1424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fCsJy5pxgK0/UKGaPobNSrI/AAAAAAAADNw/MFuxdy5ai28/s640/IMG_1424.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_wbgsnxSQ7E/UKGca2DyG0I/AAAAAAAADOc/htLCr02YTW0/s1600/IMG_1433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_wbgsnxSQ7E/UKGca2DyG0I/AAAAAAAADOc/htLCr02YTW0/s640/IMG_1433.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the start of a mile long stretch along I-95 with recently mowed long grass. This stretch was about 50/50 hard/not too hard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ydNX8edUqrE/UKGc4y6RkmI/AAAAAAAADOo/Dtgx0Gl52wg/s1600/IMG_1435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ydNX8edUqrE/UKGc4y6RkmI/AAAAAAAADOo/Dtgx0Gl52wg/s640/IMG_1435.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was another long straight stretch that lead to the aid station in the next photo. Easier running here though.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jc8MWxO7_AY/UKGdjOVc_tI/AAAAAAAADO4/JOzn31xzo7s/s1600/IMG_1438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jc8MWxO7_AY/UKGdjOVc_tI/AAAAAAAADO4/JOzn31xzo7s/s640/IMG_1438.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AS4 got my vote (and won the best AS competition!) for the incredible spread of hot and cold food as well as icy cold sodas all through the night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--akRhG1Qedo/UKGd4_YkmrI/AAAAAAAADPI/Ft_93-fcjnE/s1600/IMG_1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--akRhG1Qedo/UKGd4_YkmrI/AAAAAAAADPI/Ft_93-fcjnE/s640/IMG_1439.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the course was pretty open so this section was a nice change. It also had an easier tread than much of the trail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L070C9TXOFQ/UKGfJGL-CxI/AAAAAAAADPs/8C4y5pOdhCs/s1600/IMG_1447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L070C9TXOFQ/UKGfJGL-CxI/AAAAAAAADPs/8C4y5pOdhCs/s640/IMG_1447.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was about 1 mile of road like this where it felt good to open it up a bit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ni2VgTNQ8E/UKGffa7-nOI/AAAAAAAADP0/DIeBwirFegs/s1600/IMG_1448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ni2VgTNQ8E/UKGffa7-nOI/AAAAAAAADP0/DIeBwirFegs/s640/IMG_1448.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AS 3 was a close runner up for best AS. I had my second drop bag here and also my first ever beer during a race. It tasted so good at 6:30am even though it was a Bud Light.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5CF4rgxkVIQ/UKGf4lxvlTI/AAAAAAAADP8/t3yRZ18pmXA/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5CF4rgxkVIQ/UKGf4lxvlTI/AAAAAAAADP8/t3yRZ18pmXA/s640/IMG_1451.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nS3DwoetGHg/UKGe8BNI2ZI/AAAAAAAADPg/Pvf_fJAAjVc/s1600/IMG_1444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nS3DwoetGHg/UKGe8BNI2ZI/AAAAAAAADPg/Pvf_fJAAjVc/s640/IMG_1444.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AS 5 the Paleo Cafe. I had some tasty grilled chicken and many icy Sierra Mists here. Another fantastic aid station!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHHmOCk9sJc/UKGemB_rU1I/AAAAAAAADPY/7g-N1cWPKqY/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHHmOCk9sJc/UKGemB_rU1I/AAAAAAAADPY/7g-N1cWPKqY/s640/IMG_1442.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Think it gets hot in Florida in the summer?!??!?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-imGN5gWrJfA/UKGeLJqNpZI/AAAAAAAADPQ/aqEZxocaIQs/s1600/IMG_1441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-imGN5gWrJfA/UKGeLJqNpZI/AAAAAAAADPQ/aqEZxocaIQs/s640/IMG_1441.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical section of the course and a nicely framed shot if I do say so myself.</td></tr>
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I said that I would say more about the course marking and signage. Mike said he put out about 100 signs over the course and even went out before dark and affixed flashing lights to the sign so you could see them from far off at night. There were ribbons to keep you from going down the wrong paths, arrows left, right, straight ahead and mile marker signs every mile. But my two favorite signs were these:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXOK40jhHHY/UKGZI8sjhfI/AAAAAAAADNU/s-IGybFcQ58/s1600/IMG_1420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXOK40jhHHY/UKGZI8sjhfI/AAAAAAAADNU/s-IGybFcQ58/s640/IMG_1420.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think there were 4 of these signs including at the big wet spot shown in the picture earlier in the report. Hardrock course marking crew take note!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9cJIB9sxa7A/UKGZh_F_87I/AAAAAAAADNc/pnxknVWshg0/s1600/IMG_1422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9cJIB9sxa7A/UKGZh_F_87I/AAAAAAAADNc/pnxknVWshg0/s640/IMG_1422.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These along with the mile marker signs were very nice to have especially late in the race when the miles tend to stretch out and you wonder "Where the $!$#%^ is that aid station!"</td></tr>
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I also need to mention all the wildlife I saw. They included a herd of about 10 feral pigs, at least 20 deer over the course of the run, a flock of 10 or so big fat turkeys, several armadillos and some fire ants in one spot where I laid on the side of the trail to quiet some neuropathic toe pain which I talked about in my <a href="http://run30hundreds.blogspot.com/2012/09/burning-river-100.html">Burning River report</a>. Just as an update on this ailment I am now taking 400mg of Neurontin daily but still having more or less problems with it. At least I can control the pain by stopping and getting off my feet for several minutes which allows pain that brings tears to my eyes to completely disappear and allow me to run pain free again. My NSAIDS control joint and muscle pain very well but make no dent in this nerve pain.<br />
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This is a course not to be taken lightly. It is flat and the tread is always soft and never really technical with very few rocks or roots but it wears you down. Running through the grass is hard as the miles pile up and the sand can take you right out if you try to run too much of it. Where it is really soft you have to walk it because running it just saps you too much. You will however find absolutely wonderful support for you to achieve your goals. The course marking really makes you feel like you're being taken care of and the aid stations were first class and unbelievably well stocked. Make no mistake, Kristen, Mike and the volunteers are dedicated to making this a race that you will remember with fondness. Thank you all for a wonderful weekend!<br />
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I've mentioned this before but one of the things I really value in an ultra experience is having some kind of a post race party. It doesn't even need to be big or include entertainment or anything like that. Just providing some food at the finish and a relatively comfortable place to cheer the finisher in is enough. And this race provided just that. I had the yummiest scrambled eggs with bacon, sauteed onions and green peppers with salsa on top after finishing. This event was small this time so the finisher didn't exactly stream in but still the cowbells announced a runner coming in and everyone got up to cheer them in. I got cheered in at 24:51 and Liz at 26:29. The final finisher, a first time 100 miler I got to run with earlier in the race was Briggitte Sheehan from Delaware in 31:08. We found that we had many friends in common including ultra icons Steve and Deb Pero, Keith and Gary Knipling, as well as Sue Johnston and Chris Scott. Great friends all.<br />
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Next weekend is off for both Liz and I. The following weekend I will be doing the <a href="http://www.centurionrunning.com/winter-100-2012/winter-100-2012/">Winter 100</a> just outside London in the UK. (Send me a note to scott.brockmeier (at) gmail.com if you're in Britain and want to tip one back with me! I'll be there 14-27 Nov.) Liz will be doing a 100 mile track race here near home called the Shazaam 24 hour and 100 mile run.<br />
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Race count: Liz (32) Scott (23)<br />
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<br />Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-73714977685049790892012-11-08T13:56:00.000-05:002012-11-08T13:56:19.796-05:00Coyote Springs 100Another week, another 100 mile race, another 4 hour flight, another rental car, another motel, rinse, repeat. Last weekend we flew to Phoenix for Javelina and this weekend it was Las Vegas. The <a href="http://elementalrunning.com/races/coyote-springs-ultras/">Coyote Springs 100</a> is put together by <a href="http://elementalrunning.com/">Elemental Running and Training</a>, a relatively young organization run by Carmella and Jimmy. This race was held this past March but high winds, heat, and popular opinion prompted them to move the race to November and rather than wait 18 months to hold the event again they decided to do it again this year and so here we were on 4 November, ready to run another desert 100 miler.<br />
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Due to the event being so young and the decision to do the Fall version coming pretty late there were not a lot of participants. Carmella said, at packet pickup (Fleet Feet Las Vegas), that there were 15 signed up for the 100. At this run you can drop down and get credit for whatever distance you've run and many must have taken this option as the finishing numbers were well below 15. There were multiple distances being run during the event but only the 50 and 100 milers started at 7am. Here's that motley crew:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCoHGSWxHAg/UJvajAMb4FI/AAAAAAAADIs/jC_rm8p9qkQ/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCoHGSWxHAg/UJvajAMb4FI/AAAAAAAADIs/jC_rm8p9qkQ/s400/IMG_1361.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last year's winner Jeremy is to left, Liz, Ed Ettinghausen in yellow, and Michael Miller on the right not acting his age at all.</td></tr>
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Like at Javelina last week I only carried my camera for the first loop so most of the pics below are from that first loop. The course consisted of 6 loops of roughly 16.7 miles. We started down low and did two smaller loops which both entailed climbing up onto a kind of sloping mesa to a turnaround at a paved road and then descending back down and returning to the start/finish. From the start/finish there was then a 1.5 mile flat gravel road stretch we ran to a cone and then turned around and returned on that same stretch of road. This out and back needed to be done for all 6 loops. <br />
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Liz and I ran the first few miles together and this first pic shows Liz on a section of good flat running that took us from the start/finish to where we did the two loops climbing up to the mesa. The light was really nice here early in the morning.<br />
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This photo shows a short switchback section that took us to the start of the two loops. The woman in the picture is Michelle who led me astray later in the race. More on her and her nefarious plot later in the report......<br />
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The next two pictures show a section of trail where we contour around these slopes for about a mile and a half to get to the first loop up onto the mesa. We ended up doing this section out and back on each loop. This trail was cut about 3 years ago and has held up well with few washouts and a pretty nice tread.<br />
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This picture is on that first of two loops where we climbed up along a ridge to the mesa. Once on the mesa it could be a bit of a challenge to keep on the trail as it would along among the yucca, cacti and bushes because the amount of traffic that the trail has seen has not worn a clear trail. I was a bit worried about navigating this all at night though during the day it was very well marked with pink ribbons.<br />
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In this pic Liz is on the trail and as you can see the trail is far from distinct. My worries about night time navigation turned out to be unfounded as Jimmy went out and hung glowsticks which made navigation quite easy. I never did get off course for more than a few feet.<br />
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I believe this pic is on the way back down from the first aid station on a very nice section of trail. The entire course alternated between nice runnable stuff like this and more rocky, uneven and washed out stuff.<br />
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This manmade ramp is on the uphill section of the second loop and you can see a bit of a platform at the top. Apparently prior to a severe rainstorm earlier in the year this was a continuous dirt ramp right up to the top of the boulders shown here. We ended up having to scramble a bit at the top to get back onto the trail.<br />
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This pic shows the scramble I mentioned. It really wasn't hard but a continuous ramp all the way up would have been nice.<br />
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This pic is on top of the mesa on the second loop. Note the moon. The skies were clear the entire race and the moon rose at about 10pm. Before the moon rose it was extremely dark as we were about 60 miles north of Las Vegas in the middle of the desert. The stars were fantastic! Even with the moon overhead the trail was too technical and rocky for me to run without a headlamp as I did last week at Javelina.<br />
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This pic shows what the ground and soil were like. In places where the water got a head of steam there would be washout sections like this. There wasn't a tremendous amount of this kind of washout but late in the race going down steep sections like this with tired legs got to be tough.<br />
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After doing the two loops up onto the mesa and back we returned to the start/finish shown here. I would estimate that there were a total of close to 5 miles of easy flat gravel road running per loop with the rest more or less technical singletrack.<br />
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This is the parking lot where everyone had to park a short walk from the start/finish. You can see that there are not a lot of cars. And by 2am when many had finished their runs or dropped down in distance it got down to 5 cars..... Needless to say it got a bit lonely out there at night.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start/finish mega-complex. : )</td></tr>
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Here I'm returning on my out and back from the start/finish meeting Liz. You can see the finish line blow up thingy just below the blue water tank on the ridge. I would use this blue tank as a marker of the finish in later loops as you could see it well before the rest of the stuff.<br />
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Here is the lonely turnaround cone being kept company by a tumbleweed. It was always a welome sight but needed a glowstick stuck in it at night.<br />
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So that was a bit of a tour of the course and now I'll give a short recap of my run. The first two loops went well and I felt pretty good. There were not a lot of people out on the course but with the marathoners, half marathoners and so on it was much better during the day than at night. Especially after Javelina this was a lonely run. The sunset was beautiful but I knew that it led into a very long night. Liz and I have a number of races still to do and the nights are just going to get longer. Not fun. As the night wore on I entered into an epic battle with the sleep monster.<br />
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I ended up drinking two 5 hour energy shots during the night, taking many caffeine pills and drinking a lot of coke. I also had a Starbucks energy drink. Still I had to lay down on the trail 4 different times because I got so sleepy that I couldn't walk straight. I was actually falling asleep on my feet. One good thing was that there were not so many people so I didn't get disturbed as I was taking these naps.<br />
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At one point rather than lie down on the trail with my head on my water bottle as a pillow, I found a place where the trail had been cut into a side hill and the angle of the hill was perfect for sitting on the trail and leaning back. It was really comfortable and I had no time goals in this race knowing that sub 24 hours was not going to happen with the trail being as technical and me being tired. I sat there and turned off my light and enjoyed the beautiful night sky and stars dozing off and on. This was pretty early in the night before the moon had risen but well after it had gotten dark at about 6pm. As I was sitting there in the dark I heard someone coming down the trail and turned on my light so as not to startle them since I was sitting right on the trail.<br />
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A woman came running up and I started to get up to get out of her way but she said "No, no don't get up I'll sit with you for a bit." Tired and drowsy I agreed. She introduced herself as Michelle and mentioned that she was glad to see me as she didn't like being out there alone and wanted to run with me if possible. She said she was a great radio and had lots of stories to tell. Sounded good to me. After a bit I said that we should probably get going and we got up and started running down the trail. After about 1/4 mile we approached another runner and as she approached I saw that it was Liz! What the heck?<br />
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It didn't take me long to figure out that what I had done when I got up was run the wrong way on the trail! This was on the out and back section going to the first loop up onto the mesa and in my disoriented state Michelle had taken advantage of me pulling me back toward the start/finish rather than continuing on to the first aid station. (Of course, I'm kidding about nefarious Michelle. She had no idea which way I was going when I sat down on that trail.) So I turned around and started running back the other way with Liz. Suddenly I realized that I didn't have a water bottle! I told you I it was an epic battle with the sleep monster. I had been using the bottle as a headrest while sitting down and when I got up I not only ran the wrong direction but I forgot my bottle. Anyway, I kept an eye out and found the bottle sitting on the slope right where I had left it as a headrest.<br />
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The rest of the night was uneventful other than the stops to sleep. Usually if I can lie down and sleep for 10 minutes I'm good to go but during this race I stopped and slept several times after getting so sleepy I couldn't walk straight. Eventually the sun returned and I was awake again. On the last loop I figured out that with drops in the 100 mile race I was in third place. A guy named Shane had finished in around 22 hours and there was another guy ahead of me but I didn't know how far. So I was running along happy with what looked to be a third place finish running down after the first aid station with one more loop up onto the mesa to the second aid station and then back to the start/finish. At one point I glanced back and saw Ed Ettinghausen who had been at least 3/4 mile back only a few miles ago! I have learned how strong of a runner Ed is in a number of races we've run together this year.<br />
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The only time that I have beat him was last week at Javelina and earlier in the race when I passed him he had talked about how tired he was and how he just wasn't recovering well anymore. He's had a huge year with well over 2000 miles of racing. I figured that he knew he was in fourth and wanted to pass me to get third. Well, not without a fight Ed! I was just above a technical slot canyon towards the end of the first loop off the mesa. I pushed hard through this slot hoping to gap him so he couldn't see me and would get discouraged. As I got down to the wash and looked back he had made up about 300 yards and was right behind me! Yikes he must have hammered that technical stuff.<br />
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Anyway, I pushed on running steady but keeping it controlled as we still had close to ten miles of racing left. He passed me ringing the cowbell he carried the entire races with words of encouragement. I hung right behind him but as we started the climb back up the mesa to the second aid station he gapped me a bit. I'm not a good uphill runner so I bided my time thinking to make it up on the downhill after the aid station. I was able to keep him in sight the whole time. I did make up some of the ground as I bombed the downhill but eventually I saw that he was not slowing and I was tiring, not to mention having another 100 mile the next weekend, so I backed off.<br />
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Ed ended up keeping his strong pace right to the finish even passing the second place runner within a little over a mile from the finish. Nicely done, Ed! I ambled on in to the finish in about 27:39. (Resulst haven't been published as I'm writing this.) I was handed the very nice buckle and eagerly sat down to take off the hokas and put on some flip flops. Speaking of Hokas, I've been meaning to talk them up for the las few reports but they have become my standard footwear and so keep forgetting. I plan to write a Hoka post to talk about how these shoes have made both Liz's and my own lives so much less painful. It was nice to sit there in the shad and wait for the rest of the runner's to finish. Liz finished in around 28:31 as the only female finisher and thus the winner of the sweet all gold buckle.<br />
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Here we are sitting at the finish with Ethan on the left who is Ed's son and who single handedly manned the second aid station through nearly the entire race! Thank you Ethan! Then there's Liz with her feet up, then Ed in the yellow shirt. On the right are Jimmy in red and Carmella with the white hat. Thank you to Carmella and Jimmy for putting this together! The aid was good especially considering that there were not that many entries and the hot food cooked during the night was awesome. They were cooking up hotdog, hamburgers and cheese quesadillas. Yum.<br />
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Next up the <a href="http://www.WildSebastian100.com/">Wild Sebastian 100</a> in Florida......<br />
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Race count: Liz (31) Scott (22)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-57443234726278313092012-11-01T21:31:00.000-04:002012-11-01T22:25:20.338-04:00Javelina JundredI hardly know where to begin. This is going to be a pretty long post so you might just want to scroll down for the pictures. This run was started as a Jalloween party and fundraiser for <a href="http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/mcdowell/">McDowell Mountain Regional Park</a>, a gorgeous relatively pristine example of the diverse Sonoran Desert. The race was created by Geri Kilgariff, who passed it on to Rodger and Jimmy Wrublik, who in turn passed it on to Jamil and Nick Coury. It has grown (nearly 400 entrants!) and this year, my first at JJ, it was not only a great party but a perfectly executed 100 mile race. The aid, the course, the volunteers, and the feel were absolutely wonderful. The weather cooperated for the most part with only the third loop really getting warm for me. The course is a 15.4 mile loop done 6 times with a 9+ mile loop to finish the distance.<br />
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This run was a bit of a landmark for both Liz and myself. This would be the race where Liz reached the magic 30 races and for me it would be #21 which would put me past Hans-Dieter Weisshaar's record of 20 100 milers in one year. Hans has a list of all his 100 milers (record year was 2000) <a href="http://www.hans100.net/HDW-LISTE-100-MEILEN.htm">here</a>. To put things in perspective Hans turned 60 in 2000 while I turned 50 this year. Another thing that made reaching 20 in a year more difficult for him was the number of available races in 2000. There are now somewhere around 100 races at the 100 mile distance in the US and Canada. In 2000 Hans had far fewer races to choose from. Now there are races to choose from on many weekends and many more flatter loop courses. In 2000 a much higher percentage were point to point and mountain runs. The only advantage I can think of that Hans had over me was that he was retired while I have had to squeeze in some work. On balance though his 20 seems to me a more impressive feat than my own 20 and I wanted to acknowledge what he did.<br />
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I went into this race having had a week off from running so I could attend my sister's wedding. While I didn't run, I definitely had a very physical weekend helping to get things set up and taken down. It was a beautiful, perfect wedding by the way. So while my legs had had some time to heal, Liz had flown to Utah to do the <a href="http://PonyExpress100.org/">Pony Express 100</a>. (I'll post her report when she gets it written.) We flew from Atlanta on a redeye flight arriving in Phoenix just about midnight and after gathering the rental car and getting to a room we had booked it was close to 2am. We slept in fairly well but travel is tiring. We spent the early afternoon driving around Scottsdale where I used to live in the 90's and hadn't been back but once since. We found a great Middle Eastern restaurant in Tempe called <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Haji-Baba-A-Middle-Eastern-Food/109463015759370">Haji Baba</a> where we each had a great falafel plate. <br />
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Earlier in the week Jamil Coury had emailed us asking us if we wanted to use an extra comped room they had at the Radisson. We thought about it for 3.2 microseconds and said YES! We've been in a lot of motels this year but not like the Radisson. I guess Jamil was having pity for our poor tired broke selves. : ) That room was much appreciated and we slept like babies after a soak in the jacuzzi pool and the pasta dinner served on site for the runners. The checkin was well organized and we got to see lots of familiar faces. Part of the goodies was a nice small duffel with the JJ logo on it and the pile of these bags they had was impressive! Some of the fine folks we saw were Lynette McDougal, Dennis Drey, Wade Jarvis, Michael and Kimberley Miller, the Courys, Mark Tanaka, Trey Barnes and others I'm sure I'm forgetting. I also want to mention Michael Lebowitz, the excellent photographer who we had met at Salt Flats in April. His work is fantastic. I bought a couple of full res pics (7-9MB) and they are amazing in their quality. You can see individual grains of sand for heaven's sake! His pics from this event are linked from the Javelina Jundred FB page or use <a href="http://gallery.longrunpictures.com/Ultras/Javelina-jundred-2012/26226226_Nnt8d2#!i=2182569872&k=qpQ65MB">this one</a>.<br />
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This run is done on the full moon closest to Halloween and costumes are encouraged. For the first time in I don't know how many years I decided to do a costume and decided to be a zombie doctor. Here's one of Michael's pics of me late on Saturday afternoon:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Michael Lebowitz (Long Run Picture Company)</td></tr>
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With 400 or so entrants and all the volunteers and family and crew and pacers you can imagine the excitement and energy before the start. There were a bunch of great costumes. It was a bit cool in desert but I knew that 15 minutes of running would get us plenty warm and that a thermal shirt wasn't needed. Plus it would cover up the costume! We started on time and headed into the dark desert. It wasn't long before the sky was lighting up and the headlamp wasn't needed anymore. With all the other lights I really didn't need one at all. My plan was to carry the light to the Jackass Junction aid station half way around the loop and stash it in my drop bag there. Below are some pictures that I took while running the first loop. The morning light was fantastic and I got a few decent pics. I dropped the camera after the first 15 mile loop and meant to take it with me on the loop where the sun went down but forgot it until I was 1/4 mile past the aid station. So all these pics are from the first loop.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Lynette McDougall's wings and one of the majestic saguaro cacti.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much of the tread was like this which made great running.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But there were some rocky sections too......</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a beautiful place. I really love the Sonoran Desert.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly zombie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dennis Drey, 100 mile ironman.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan Donnelly as Raquel Welsh's character in "10,000 Years BC"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackass Junction with drop bags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9-nVi4sdBo/UJMB2-SefgI/AAAAAAAADHc/h29Wa1ySB-E/s1600/IMG_1337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9-nVi4sdBo/UJMB2-SefgI/AAAAAAAADHc/h29Wa1ySB-E/s400/IMG_1337.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wade Jarvis leaving Jackass Junction. I love this guy and got to run with him a fair bit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zombie doctor trying to eat Liz's brain. Of course he couldn't catch her......</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at Javelnina Jeadquarters (start/finish) where we turned around reversing the loop washing machine style.</td></tr>
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I found the loops to go pretty fast with the aid stations well spaced and the hills varied enough that it didn't seem you were going up or down for too long. In general from the start/finish it was uphill about half the distance of a loop and then downhill back to the start/finish. In places there were fairly long gradual inclines that were sweet to run down and gradual enough to allow a shuffle/walk on the way up. The first two loop were pretty comfortable but going out on the third loop was going to be warm. Finishing the second loop it was quite nice while up on a kind of ridge where there was a nice breeze but after the last aid station on that ccw loop we were in a wash with the wind blocked and the sun was intense. I slowed a bit on the third loop but not too much. My splits were roughly 3:03, 3:22, 3:40, 3:36, 3:57, 3:38 and a final short loop at 2:22. I was dissapointed with the 3:57 loop because I thought I was moving well enough to be close to 3:30. (I almost never wear a watch in my races.) At that point I figured that a sub 24 would be tough and so I pushed it some on the sixth loop but still thought at the end of that sixth loop that sub 24 was not going to happen. Still I turned it around at the aid station quick to give it a shot.<br />
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Here's a photo of me at the end of the fifth loop. Come to think of it a sub 4 hour loop ain't so bad for a dead guy.....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking but trying not to move like a zombie. (Photo by Michael Lebowitz)</td></tr>
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During this run I got to chat with lots of people and didn't spend much time alone. I got to meet Lisa from Atlanta, Sue from Alberta, and Elizabeth from Colorado. I very gradually caught up with and passed Elizabeth on the sixth loop and I'm sure she finished close to when I did. As I was running the final short loop she and her pacer Samantha caught up to me. Elizabeth asks me "So are you going to go sub 24?" I replied that it didn't look like it was going to happen. I felt ok for having 90+ miles on my legs but didn't know what the short loop was going to be like other than the rocky uphill to get to the unmanned water station where we would turn off the regular loop. I was okay with missing the sub 24 but probably not really going after it at that point.<br />
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Elizabeth's response kind of lit a fire in me though. She said "Well, we're going to get it." And they ran ahead of me. I passed them at the aid station and started the rocky climb still climbing strong and steady passing several people. You could tell who was on their final loop because they put chem light necklaces on us as we started that final short loop. Somewhere right around the place where we turned off the normal loop Elizabeth and Samantha passed me. It turns out that the new section of trail is called the Tonto trail and it is the sweetest gentle nice tread trail you could ask for. I lagged a bit and then pushed ahead to tag onto the E/S train. And what a ride it was!</div>
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Samantha dialed in the perfect doable yet hard pace. Exactly what we needed to get that sub 24 buckle. I stayed right behind Samantha all the way down that hill but there were a dozen times when I nearly stopped to get a walk break. If Samantha had been pushing the slightest bit harder I would have had to fall off the pace but I somehow managed to throttle the wimp in me and push on. I thought back to my pr on the Hardrock course where Matt Kirk was pacing me and he did the same from the top of the final 13,000 ft pass all the way into Silverton. That was even harder but having sucked it up and gotten it done there helped me last weekend in the AZ desert. After about 4 miles the trail dumps back onto the regular loop again and it was a painful cruise into the finish for the sub 24 hour finish. Thank you Samantha and Elizabeth! I would never have pushed myself that hard on that downhill and probably would not have made the cut.</div>
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It was still dark when I finished shortly before 6 and I got to see Liz come in for her final short loop. She didn't need any help and did her signature quick turnaround to get out there and get #30 done. She had Robert Andrulis with her for loops 5 and 6 which helped here a lot through the dark and lonely night. Liz doesn't like being alone during the night. Robert also helped me a lot on the early laps having my drop bag ready and gathering it all together after I had gotten what I needed. So Robert and I were sitting there chatting and the sun was up and I was just about to head to Robert's tent to try to get a bit of sleep (that never happened as usual due to sore legs and hips) when Nick Coury made an announcement about the winner of male "Best Costume" award. It was me! How cool! With a big smile I accepted this most excellent handmade trophy:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plaque reads: Javelina Jundred Best Male Costume October 27-28 2012</td></tr>
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Liz came in at 27:25 for her 30th 100 mile race of the year! The goal for the whole year and she gets it with a full 2 months yet to run! Amazing. I'm almost glad that I fell off the pace and came to realize that I was not going to make it to 30. I still should get 27 or maybe 28 but not 30. If I had still had the chance Liz would have honored our agreement to not compete and we would have finished 30 together. But if that had happened it would only have held her back from getting the 35+ that it looks like she'll get. That is going to be one hard record to beat, man or woman, young or old. Shortly after Liz finished, Nick again made an announcement about the Geri Kilgariff Award for Most Memorable Performance. I guess it doesn't get a whole lot more memorable than to watch someone finish that many 100 mile races in one year. So Liz got this prize:<br />
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So it turned out to be a great weekend for us. Liz got her 30th, I got the male world record and a sub 24 buckle and we both got special awards! It was a great weekend and I couldn't conjure the hyperbole that could match the reality of the excellence of this race. I love this desert and thought the course beautiful. The aid stations and all the volunteers were as good as any I've seen and the organization was flawless from the checkin to the timing, the webcast, the decorations, the awards. All of it came together perfectly. A million thanks to the Coury family, all the volunteers, Robert Andrulis, and Samantha who dragged my sorry butt to a big buckle.<br />
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Race count: Liz (30) Scott (21)</div>
Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-12284017948717931772012-10-24T19:27:00.001-04:002012-10-24T19:27:07.142-04:00Heartland 100Our big concern going into the Heartland 100 was the weather. The race was held on 13 October which you would think would be past the tornado season but as the weekend approached we got some ominous emails from the RD. Here's one of them:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"><div>
Just spoke to a meteorologist friend at channel 3 news, he said the current pattern is showing a high possibility of severe weather friday night and into saturday morning. He said as of now any chance of a tornado is well to the west, but high winds, heavy rain and hail are not out of the question. By noon saturday if this pattern holds he said we should be in the clear? Just wanted to give all of you a heads up.</div>
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If the chance of a tornado or hail is looming saturday, Kyle and I may have to postpone the 100mile start, but rain and wind are not going to stop anything. Please make sure to be at the pre race briefing on Friday for updates. Just a heads up, shoot with questions. ---Tony Clark</div>
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Also, looking at the NWS severe weather forecast for the weekend they mentioned the possibility of tornadoes in the SE part of the state, right where we would be running. So we were facing almost certain rain and a high probability of severe weather including thunderstorms and possibly of hail. Normally when I see the possibility of these kinds of conditions I don't worry too much because most of the runs I do are through the forest where there are plenty of tall trees to attract the lightning. But on the plains of Kansas we runners would most often be the tallest thing around!<br />
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Despite all of this Liz and I had one of the best pre race sleep ever at the Super 8 in El Dorado. Unfortunately we had also gotten some extra sleep onThursday night too due to setting both of our alarms for 5:30 pm instead of am. We overslept until after 7 and though we raced to the airport we were way too late to catch our flight. This was the first time all year that either of us had missed a flight and we were lucky with Airtran that we could fly standby on any flight later in the day. In fact, when we got to the ticket counter we were given confirmed seats on the next flight at around 1pm. We ended up arriving too late for the pre race briefing but got filled in by Paul Shoenlaub while we ate the yummy home made dinner. There was roast beast, mac and cheese, and a bunch of other goodies in addition to about 6 kinds of brownies and other sweets.<br />
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I looked at the radar when we woke up from our dreamless solid 8 hours of sleep and saw just a bit of rain far off to the NW. At the start it was quite warm and I once again debated on whether to bring a rain jacket but after what happened last week at Arkansas I decided to wear it. We started off in the dark but there were plenty of people with lights and the roads were easy to see so neither Liz nor I needed a lamp. We sailed along on the flat roads as the sky brightened and still no real sign of threatening weather. By mid morning though it was starting to get dark off to the west and we could hear distant thunder. It got closer with the gap between flash and boom about 9 seconds and then suddenly the flash and boom were only 2 seconds apart. (I've heard that it takes about 5 seconds longer for the sound to travel a mile than it does the light.)<br />
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Pretty soon it was raining pretty good and the wind was also howling pretty good and eventually, at times, it was downright pouring. The course takes several turns so we had the wind changing from side to side and front to back. Unlike, Arkansas, though it never did get very cold and though I put on my rain jacket it was really more to keep from getting completely soaked than to keep warm. In fact, I was really too warm running with the jacket and never did need it to keep warm all the way to the finish. There is a video taken during the day on Saturday at the Ridgeline aid station that shows the rainy conditions. You can find it here:<br />
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQgOs_CCOsQ&feature=player_detailpage<br />
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We had rain off and on all day. We had wind all day. We had very frightening thunderstorms for a time just before mid day. Most of the lightening was cloud to cloud though there were visible ground strikes and one of them was only about 1/2 mile from me. It felt very exposed out there and I felt very small and vulnerable. At the same time I must say that the Flint Hills, what we could see of them, were very beautiful. There are not many trees and the hills are gentle and rolling but the scenery had an appeal much like a desert landscape, beautiful in it's starkness. I really enjoyed this run and could see doing it again.<br />
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My run was going well to the turnaround and I was really actually happy with the weather knowing that I do a lot better with the cooler conditions and that if it was hot and dusty I would have to go slower. I hit the turnaround at around 10 hours and 30 minutes and felt good about getting a sub 24 hour finish. I saw Liz about a mile or so after the turnaround and she looked good saying something like "Another one in the bag" with a smile, meaning that nothing was going to stop her finishing this one. I continued on saying 'Hi' to the many friends running the race and managed to get to about 64 miles before I had to turn on my light. The sky was starting to clear but there was no moon and it was too dark to run lightless even with the smooth roads.<br />
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I continued to move well into the 75 mile aid station where the 50 milers had their turnaround after starting at 6pm. It was probably about midnight at this point and I passed many runners head on, on their way to the turnaround. I expected that many of these runners would soon be passing me but few ever did. I was also passing other 100 milers who were slowing down as the night wore on. I never felt sleepy and continued to run what felt a strong and steady pace. This is a course made for fast times as the footing is always good and the hills are often just enough to give you a variation on what muscle groups you use rather than tiring you out with long hills. I did some calculating and realized that sub 24 was in the bag and that sub 23 was a probability and as I continued on feeling strong I realized at the final aid stations that I might squeak under 22.<br />
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I ended up crossing the line in 21:50 which I was quite pleased with especially since that meant that I had only run 50 minutes slower on the second half than I did on the first half which is really good, especially after having a race the previous weekend. So while I may not have been fast at least I was consistent. This race also tied me with Hans Dieter's male record for most 100's in a year. Liz came in 3 hours later in 23:50 for a nice sub 24. We hung out for a while and gathered our nice belt buckles and a cool black hoody with the Hearland logo and "Sub Twenty Four Hour Finisher" across the back. We were to fly out of Wichita the next morning so we arranged for a room near the airport, and talked the clerk into letting us check in early to get some sleep. We rested for a while and then I took the rental car to the airport to save us a days rental taking the shuttle back to the hotel.<br />
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Our flight home was uneventful and we were both happy with our runs. This is a great race for a really fast time. The weather should be better than what we had and the course is really fast. The wind was an issue to some degree but the course zigs and zags enough that it doesn't seem that bad. The aid stations are top notch with many of them staffed by seasoned runners and the race organization went of perfectly. Thanks to Tony, Kyle and all the volunteers!<br />
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The following weekend I would be attending my sister's wedding in Florida and Liz would be heading to Utah for the crew-mandatory Pony Express 100. The weekend after that will be the Javelina 100 where I will break the male record getting my 21st and Liz will hit her 30th for the year.<br />
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Race count: Liz (28) Scott (20)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-71436527042301620272012-10-24T12:39:00.002-04:002012-10-24T12:39:48.776-04:00Arkansas Traveller 100The Arkansas Traveller was held on 6 October and is directed by friends Stan and Chrissy Ferguson. This was the 22nd annual AT so this one has been around for a while and it shows in how well organized and supported the run is. Liz and I flew into Memphis and hired a car from there to drive to the race. After we had landed I gave Billy Simpson (a Hardrock friend) a call and he happened to be sitting in a restaurant having breakfast with his son so we popped over and met him there. We had a nice chat and made arrangement to stay with him on Sunday night as we were flying out of Memphis on Monday afternoon.<br />
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We arrived in the middle of Chrissy's race briefing and got ourselves checked in, chatting with friends the whole time. We decided to skip the pre race meal so we could get to sleep as early as possible. We grabbed some quick takeout and hit the hotel room. We managed to get to sleep pretty early and got a good night's sleep before driving to the start of the race. The weather forecast was for a good chance of rain and thunderstorms during the day and the weatherman got it right this time. The course starts with a figure of eight that is 17 miles long and about half single track trail. This was the only significant section of single track with the rest of the course being all gravel roads and old logging roads, with various levels of maintenance form well maintained to not maintained in many years. Overall the tread was very runnable and while there was a fair bit of climbing the course really felt pretty fast.<br />
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This year Stan was doing the bulk of the race directing and Chrissy was running the race. I was running with her a bit early in the race and came into the second aid station a bit ahead of her. There were some scraps of bacon at the station which I gobbled up as breakfast. Chrissy then came running down the hill into the aid station screaming for bacon. Uh-oh. I told the aid workers not to tell Chrissy I had just eaten the last of the bacon but I was ratted out as soon as she got there! I got out of there quickly to avoid being DQ'd!<br />
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It was about mid morning when the rain started. It was a nice gentle drizzle at first but we could hear the thunder off in the distance and it wasn't long before the skies opened up. The rain came dumping down and the temps dropped dramatically. I had been debating on whether I should carry my rain jacket because it really wasn't that cold at the start but I was glad I had it in this tempest! While running along a guy caught up with me that did not have a jacket and we started to chat. His name was Rob Siebert and he was cold. He was a first time 100 miler and I could tell talking to him that he was worried about his race. He asked me about how many times I had dnf'd and how he wouldn't see his crew for a while and how cold he was getting. I told him that he was young and strong and fit and that he would get through this speedbump and feel just fine later. I told him that they would likely have some extra trash bags to make a poncho at the next aid station and that as long as he kept moving he'd be fine.<br />
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As we talked, I mentioned Hardrock and Rob asked me if I knew a guy named Billy Simpson. Well, well. It turns out that Billy had been informally coaching Rob and I knew now that I had to make sure that Rob finished this thing. We continued to run together for a while and I tried to give him as much help and motivation and confidence as I could. I gave him the "quitting is not an option" speech and felt pretty sure that he would tough it out. He had crew and pacers later in the race and it sounded like they had experience and would not easily let him quit. At the next aid station they were in full on garbage bag poncho production. It seemed like half the people leaving that aid station were wearing black plastic bags! Just another example of how well prepared these folks were.<br />
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Many of the aid stations had been manned by the same groups for many years and it really showed. The food selection was excellent, they were good about helping you get in and out quickly, and many were runners themselves which always makes a difference. I don't remember when Rob and I split paths but it was after the 50 mile mark. Because of the unrepeated figure of eight at the start the out and back portion of the run had the turnaround at mile 58. I really felt early in the run that I was moving really well and that a sub 24 was a real possibility. The rain didn't seem to have slowed things down and I felt good. I really felt I was moving well but when we go to the 50 mile mark Rob said the elapsed time was 12:05. With night coming on and some sections of rocky road and grassy sections that would be slower in the dark I knew that sub 24 was out of the question.<br />
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Liz caught up to me somewhere between 50 miles and the 58 mile turnaround and we ran much of the section to the turnaround. She was faster out of that aid station but I never did see her until the finish because it turned out that she had taken a wrong turn just past the turnaround and ran about 1/4 of a mile up the wrong road before discovering her mistake. So while I thought she was ahead of me on the last half she was actually just behind. I really felt quite good through the night and still felt I was moving well except for a very rocky section where we went uphill for a long way and the road was solid loose rocks. This section would have been slow in any event but I got terribly sleepy here and really struggled though I only laid down for a short 5 minute break where I wasn't even able to fall asleep. Eventually I reached the top and got back onto a good, well maintained road and once I was able to run again I felt better. <br />
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Towards daybreak I did start to feel tired and low energy but still felt I was moving well. Somehow I learned that Liz was behind me and I felt that I was moving well enough that she had probably dropped back quite a bit but it turned out that she had run strong through the night and only finished about 15 minutes behind me. In the hours before sunup and between then and the finish I passed many people who were either sitting in aid station chairs, limping along with blown legs or injuries, or just moving slow. I figure I moved up in the standings at least 20 places through the night. I was at the finish and after sitting and resting for a while and changing into flip flops I started to walk towards the car which was parked about 1/3 mile down the road and I stopped at the timers table at the finish line to see if they had any idea where Liz was and they said that she should be in at any minute. I was surprised but waited to cheer her in. She was moving well and finished with a smile.<br />
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We hung out at the finish enjoying the nice pancake/bacon/egg breakfast and watching folks come in. I asked about Rob and found that he was in fact going to finish and introduced myself to his crew person and his wife who had only arrived that morning. It was an emotional finish for him and fun to watch him succeed at his first 100 mile attempt. It was hard and he was sore and whupped but he did it! Good job Rob! We stayed for the awards ceremony where Liz got her 5 year award on this the 10 year anniversary of her first 100 mile race at the 2002 AT.<br />
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Before attempting the drive to Memphis we drove to a shady spot and napped for a while. We then drove to Memphis with a food stop or two and contacted Billy. When we got to his house he set us up with some fine Memphis BBQ sandwiches and greens. Perfect! A shower and some race recapping and we were ready for bed. The next afternoon Billy gave us a tour of Memphis including a wonderful lunch at the Soul Fish Cafe. It's all about the food! Thanks, Billy!<br />
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This race has been around for a long time and the organization and aid stations really stand out. It would be a great first time 100 and everyone should do it at least once. They give a nice buckle and a tech shirt and having a gathering place post race is really nice. We were able to sit around telling lies and eating yummy breakfast food. This one shows it's old school roots. Well done Stan and Chrissy and thanks to you and all the volunteers!<br />
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Race count: Liz (27) Scott (19)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-50906575670101551322012-10-12T10:12:00.001-04:002012-10-15T21:31:16.268-04:00Georgia Jewel 100The Georgia Jewel was on 22 September which gave me a weekend off after the Hallucination 100. While I had the weekend off, Liz ran the Mark Twain 100 in Missouri which she finished and in doing that tied Monica Sholz's record of 25 100 mile races in a year. I'll post her report if she writes one. Georgia Jewel is conveniently located just 45 minutes from where we live so we'd get a break from the airport/rental car/motel routine.<br />
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We decided to sleep at home on Friday night and drive to the start in the morning. We drove up for the packet pickup and briefing on Friday afternoon at thr Holiday Inn. We saw RD Karen Pearson, Andrei Nana, Mike Smith, Christian Griffith, Vikena Yutz And others there. We got a great briefing on what toexpect during the race and Liz got recognition for the fact that she would be the new world record holder for most 100 mile races in a year. We dropped off our drop bags headed home soon after to get some rest. It was nice that the race was close and we knew the course having run those trails many times. But knowing the course, we knew what we were in for. The race has a 36 hour cutoff and there's a reason for that. It is a rough, rocky course with lots (about 18,000 ft) of climbing.<br />
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We arrived at the starting line in plenty of time, looking forward to great weather. The course starts with about a mile and a half of climbing on a paved road to get to the Pinhoti Trail. It then follows the well blazed Pinhoti trail nearly all the way to the turnaround. The divergance from the Pinhoti is a cruel detour hatched in the dark recesses of the mind of RD Karen Pearson. And she seems like such a sweet person.......<br />
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Instead of just following the Pinhoti, Karen has us run up and down a powerline cut for about a mile. For a bit I thought I was on the <a href="http://www.mattmahoney.net/barkley/" target="_self" title="">Barkley</a> course with the crazy steep and rutted climb and briars. The first part of the Pinhoti we hit is called the "rock garden". For several miles you have lots of rocks. There are plenty of rocks throughout the course but those first (and last) miles are pretty slow and tough. The trail traverses through lots of beautiful hardwood forests on a mixture of single track, fire/logging roads, with a bit of pavement thrown in. <br />
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Aid stations are spaced a bit apart with the occasional unmanned water stops but the stations were well stocked and the folks manning them were absolutely great. I believe most of the aid station workers were from a local Dalton running group as well as the Atlanta <a href="http://www.getguts.com/" target="_self" title="">GUTS</a> group. Thank you all for such wonderful support! I was doing my usual eat only when hungry thing and doing fine but as I got to the turnaround aid I was famished! I pigged out big time eating a huge Turkey sandwich, a Mickey D's chicken sandwich, a large piece of pepperoni pizza, a large handful of chips, and a Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso drink. That gorging held me for about the next 20 miles!<br />
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As I headed back I didn't expect to see Liz for a while as I felt I had been moving quite well so I was surprised to see her only about a third of a mile down the trail. She was moving well and looking good. I continued on, feeling good myself and moved well as darkness fell. I did some foot maintenance at the mile 71 aid station and continued on to the 87 mile station where I sat for a bit and refueled. I had started to get real sleepy just before this stop and my stomach was getting a bit dicey. I didn't linger and after chiding Andrei not to sit too long I started up the hill onto the ridge above.<br />
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At this point Imwas running with the guy who had been in the lead at the turnaround. I don't remember his name but we had been running togethernfor several miles chatting. When we reached the top of the ridge, about an 800 foot climb in about a mile or so, I spied a campsite just off the trail. I was feeling really sleepy and said I was going to lay down and get a nap. I slept for probably 15 minutes and got up, very groggy. (Andrei teased me later about seeing me sleeping on the ground after just telling him to get out of the chair.) When I got up I actually wandered around a bit just to find the trail. I was disoriented but recognized a rock pile and started down the trail. I ran for while and has vague disorganized thoughts that I seemed to be dropping down too much as I thought The trail traversed more along the ridge. It never occured to me that I might be going the wrong way until I saw aid station lights below me. Crap. I had just run back down the hill to the 87 mile aid station at Snake Creek Gap.<br />
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I thought about just turning around before the station but wanted to see if Liz's brother, Robert, had made it there yet. I had run into him hours before at the top of John's Mountain. He was there and I explained what had happened to him and the aid folks I had just seen an hour before. What a stupid mistake! I wasn't really that upset about it all for whatever reason and started back up the hill. Thecourse is 104 miles long so I still had 7 miles to go. Near the end Susan Donnely caught up with me and we ran together for a few miles before she pulled ahead to finish before me. Those last miles through the rock garden were tough for me. I was tired and my feet really hurt. With all the rough tread And rocks I hate to think what I would have felt like without the Hokas I had been wearing the entire race. They were lifesavers! Still, I did have some toe issues.......<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5382456765502709101" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I ended up finishing in 30:30:26 so happy to sit down and take the shoes off. Having driven here I also had a cooler full off beer. Robert was there and helped a ton. My Subaru was parked in a different lot and Robert offered to get it for me. I told him where the key was hidden and where my flip flops were in the car. He came back and said he had found the car but couldn't find the flip flops. Odd. He went back to the car and was rooting around in the back when I looked over and saw him rooting in the wrong Subaru! I said "My car is green, Robert." His eyes got big and we got a good laugh. He said he'd put that one back and return the key to the identical hiding spot I used. I told him to park it in a different spot but he said he'd just put it in the same spot in the other direction. Pretty funny. Turns out I had met the owner before and he was amused too. At least it seemed he was amused......<br />
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Liz arrived in 32:49:25 and got quite the reception as her crossing the line set a new record for most hundreds in a year. Karen had also had a very handsome trophy made to mark the accomplishment. A very nice and thoughtful gesture, Karen. This is a very tough but very well organized event. As it grows it is sure to get even better. It was fun to do a race on trails I train on and perhaps one year I'll try to actually perform here rather than just survive. <br />
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Race count: Liz (26) Scott (18)<br />
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Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-92016671387576101482012-10-10T18:16:00.000-04:002012-10-10T18:16:08.916-04:00Hallucination 1003 days of peace, music and running says the website. The finishers medal is a peace sign that says "Finished it, man". There are multiple distance runs on Friday thru Sunday including a couple of night "natural" (read: naked) runs. What's not to like? The <a href="http://www.RunWoodstock.com/">Hallucination 100</a> course was a 16.67 mile figure of 8 that we did 6 times. There were lots of other runners out there with all the other distances so it never got too lonely. The organizers, <a href="http://runningfit.com/">Running Fit,</a> a Detroit shoe store organize a ton of races and have the execution dialed. It was a fun weekend.<br />
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After having driven the motorhome back to Georgia, we flew into Detroit where our friend Bill Hildenbrand picked us up at the airport, hosting us for the weekend in his motorhome. Bill is retired and lives permanently in his rig driving around the country running 100 milers and timed events. Just the week before he set a pending national age group record of 20:26:25 for 100 miles in the 65-69 age group. This beat the previous mark by 66 minutes and was run as a split at the Badgerland Striders 24 hour in Wisconsin. And he was signed up for the 100 again this weekend!<br />
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We arrived at the Hell Creek Ranch "Commune" well before the 4pm Friday start. The hordes of race volunteers got us situated in our parking spot just yards from the start/finish and we did our last minute preparations. We put together drop bags for the start/finish but decided not to make one for aid station at the far end of the course. There was a nice covered area for the aid station and drop bags. Everything was really well set up and organized.<br />
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We had heard some horror stories about the mud on this course and it looked like there was a good chance of rain so that had us a bit worried. And the rain did come with a vengeance after dark. It rained for most of the night but the trail was dry at the start and soaked up much of the rain. What we worried about was the start of the 50 mile, 50k, marathon and half marathon in the morning. (Only the 100 mile and the LSD 100k started Friday afternoon.) All those additional runners could really churn things up. It turned out though, that things dried out well enough that it never did turn into a slopfest like we had at Rocky Raccoon in February.<br />
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A nice surprise during the night was the appearance of Mike Dobies who lives in Michigan. Mike is a good friend from Hardrock and I wasn't sure that he was going to be able to make it. I also got a good chance to sit and chat and drink a few beers with him late on Saturday while waiting for Liz to finish. I finished in 24:35 and Liz in 29:03 after missing a turn and doing an extra 8 miles. I found out that Bill had dropped out after I think 3 loops with his legs more dead from his previous weeks run than he expected.<br />
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In my race, at about 5 miles, a guy runs up behind me and after running just behind me for a bit asked if I minded him just settling in behind me. I said it was no problem and we started talking. His name is Noah Wolfson and he's just in the process of finishing a doctorate in biochemical engineering at the University of Michigan in nearby Ann Arbor. Noah was attempting his first 100 mile with only one 50 mile race from 2 years ago. His training wasn't optimal either but he had a great attitude so I figured he had a chance to finish. We ended up running together all the way to about 80 miles where he pulled ahead as I struggled with sleepiness. I did catch him at the end of that 5th lap but he had a pacer for lap 6 so we didn't run together anymore. <br />
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Normally I don't try to run with anyone else but just do my own "steady effort" thing. But Noah was willing to match my pace and it was really great to run so far with him. We had interesting conversations about a bunch of stuff including academic stuff, life stuff, and of course running. He was a ready sponge for my ultrarunning knowledge and I think he learned a lot because he was willing to listen to the voice of experience. One thing he struggled with was stomach issues and I told him to back off on the food and keep emergency calories with him. He did this and his stomach settled down and he never did have any energy issues.<br />
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I've really come to believe that many runners doing ultras eat too much. You should shoot to eat the least amount of food possible during the event without getting bonky. Every bit of blood flow that needs to go to your stomach is blood flow that cannot go to your legs or brain. And if there isn't enough blood flow to go around then the stomach won't get it's share and you'll get sick. This is over-simplified but basically true. Train yourself to eat less during training and learn to listen to your body tell you just how much it needs during races. I think you'll find that less is better.<br />
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Noah ran well with me but was complaining of shin tightness which really slowed him on the final lap. He finished though, in a respectable 26:31. Congrats, Noah! I really love to see people finish their first 100 miler and I find it really fun to be a part of that experience. Just after the race he said he wasn't interested in doing another but in an email later in the week he said he was already looking for another. Ever heard that story before? <br />
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Thanks to the organizers, thanks to Bill, and to all the volunteers on the course. It was a really fun event and I recommend it for anyone looking for a 100 mile event that runs like a party. It would also be a great run to bring the whole family to. Despite the hippy theme and drug references it really would be a great event to bring anyone to. It had a real family feel.<br />
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Race count: Liz (24) Scott (17)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-11020862579804420652012-10-03T22:53:00.000-04:002012-10-03T22:53:11.323-04:00Lean Horse 100Lean Horse came the weekend following Leadville. Liz and I were in the RV and drove to Hot Springs SD from Leadville leaving on Tuesday, stopping at the <a href="http://www.boulderrunningcompany.com/">Boulder Running Company</a> en route to look at some <a href="http://hokaoneone-na.com/">Hoka One One</a> shoes. Liz and I both owned a pair of Hokas and had done some running in them but they had both been bought online at big discounts and were too small. One of the biggest physical ailments that both of us have been suffering from is tenderness in the bottoms of our feet. Doing so many races and doing some rocky races in road shoes earlier in the year (Zion and OD in particular) had left the bottoms of our feet really sore both during runs as well as in between runs.<br />
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BRC had the full line of shoes in multiple sizes and we tried on most of them. We both left the store with a new pair. Liz bought the Stinson Evo ($180) and I got the Mafate 2 ($150). Liz ended up running all of Leanhorse in hers and I did about 70 miles in mine. We are now both in love with our Hokas! Before this year I was really into the more minimalist shoes and I'm sure I'll go back after this year to a shoe where I can feel what I'm running over. But for the rest of this year I will be doing most of my mile in Hokas for the simple reason that they protect the bottoms of the feet so well. <br />
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They are remarkably light and provide decent stability by having a very wide outsole. The softness of the midsole also allows the shoe to conform to unevenness on the trail providing stability. I have found that the shoes are a tiny bit narrow and the uppers don't give so well which has resulted in my toes taking more of a beating that with softer shoes. I'm very happy, though, to trade some toenails and bruised toes for the protection of the soles of my feet.<br />
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I have wanted to do Lean Horse for several years but always imagined doing it fast, perhaps as a pr race. The course has little climbing and the tread is almost perfect. Alas, this year was not to be about speed. I really did enjoy the race, though, and could see myself returning. It is a great course for running a pr as long as the temps are not too high. Liz and I were lucky with the weather once again with race day falling perfectly on a window of cool weather sandwiched between 90 degree days on both Friday and Sunday! I believe it was about 15 degrees cooler on Saturday with a few clouds early in the day and clear skies late and at night.<br />
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The race has been going on since 2005 and RD Jerry "<a href="http://www.leanhorse.com/about-jerry/achievements/">Marathon Man</a>" Dunn has everything down to a science. The pre race meeting and dinner was held at the Meuller Center in Hot Springs, SD, a nice venue with lots of room, wifi, and showers. It is also the finish line of the race so you can hang out there and cheer runners coming in. There was a short 10 minute bus ride to the start. A huge shout out to all the volunteers and race staff. Everything flowed really well and the aid stations were well stocked and well staffed with very helpful volunteers.<br />
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The course is mostly on the <a href="http://www.mickelsontrailaffiliates.com/trail.htm">Mickelson Trail</a> which is a crushed granite trail that is smooth as a baby's bottom ... well, almost that smooth. The course has an out and back section that goes off the Mickelson Trail on the outbound only. and then about 17 miles from the finish you turn off the MT to run into Hot Springs. The turn around is in Hill City and the trail passes through Custer about 15 miles before Hill City. The first part of the course is pretty but kind of flat and open but the further along you go the prettier it gets. Up towards Custer and Hill City is it gorgeous.<br />
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I started out at a pace that felt fairly fast but with it being so flat it didn't feel too hard. I felt good and forced myself to walk a lot of the very gradual uphills that many people were running. I knew that these stretches would be fantastic for running in the other direction and didn't want to be too tired to roll on them. I got to the turn around feeling good and after a quick stop to fix some chafing and to eat a bit I was headed back. I saw Liz about a mile out and she was looking good and still moving well.<br />
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I continued to move well, enjoying the scenery and the cooling breezes. All day long there had been intermittent breezes and they always felt cool. At times the temps were just a bit warm but the breeze always felt nice. As the light faded I continued on without turning on my headlamp as I often do long past when others have their lights on. I love running at night but don't like running with a headlamp or handheld. If I can run by ambient light or moonlight I'm happy but running with a lamp tires me out. I continued on hoping that with the 3/4 moon at about 45 degrees and rising that I wouldn't have to use the headlamp much.<br />
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What followed was one of the most enjoyable stretches of night running I've ever experienced. The MT is very smooth and flat with no rocks or ruts or anything to trip on so even if you are in a moon shadow you don't have to worry about tripping. I was able to run most of the night just by the moonlight. The trail is also a light color so it felt quite bright. It was magical. The beautiful scenery, the moonlight, the nice running and still feeling good all came together for a very memorable experience. The only place I had to turn my light on was when we came off the road going toward Hot Springs and had to run some grassy trails for a few miles.<br />
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Coming back towards the spot where we turned off the MT and onto the Argyle Road I met up with Cheryl Lager another experienced 100 miler who I had heard of but never met. We ended up running a good many miles together chatting and helping each other stay awake. As we neared town Cheryl told me that she might be able to get her 100 mile pr here. Leaving the last aid station she told me she was going to put on her music and push to the finish. I decided to hang with her but my legs had a different idea. I was mostly able to keep her in sight but she finished a couple minutes ahead of my 21:32 for a 10 minute or so pr as well as third woman.<br />
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When I got to the finish I checked to make sure that Liz wasn't too close to finishing so that I could get a bite to eat and a shower. I did both of those and dragged one of our anti-gravity chairs over to the finish line along with my zero degree down sleeping bag and cheered people into the finish while waiting for Liz. (It was quite chilly outside especially with the post race body chill.) As the 24 hour deadline approached I joked with a 50 mile finisher taking finish photos sitting next to me that Liz would most likely finish between 23:50 and 24 hours as I thought she'd be close and I knew she'd push for it. But 24 hours passed and still no Liz ... but it wasn't that long before she finished in 24:06 barely missing it. It turns out she had been pushing hard for quite a while and thought at the final aid station that she had fewer miles to go than she actually had.<br />
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Cudos to the volunteers at the finish for the continuous stream of hot breakfast burritos and other goodies on Sunday morning! There was a nice awards ceremony around 10 in the morning which was well attended and then everyone started leaving. We had been camping out in the RV at the Meuller Center since Thursday and decided to wait until morning to start the long drive back to Georgia. Next up is the <a href="http://www.RunWoodstock.com/">Hallucination 100</a> in Michigan after one week off. We would fly from Atlanta for that one.<br />
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Thank you Jerry and all volunteers for a wonderful weekend!<br />
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Race count: Liz (23) Scott (16)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-74714945591726976392012-10-03T21:39:00.002-04:002012-10-03T21:39:52.310-04:00Leadville 100Leadville was in the middle of August and I'm writing this in October trying to catch up with my race reports. Lean Horse, Hallucination and Georgia Jewel (each of which both Liz and I ran) will get me caught up. This Leadville report is largely a negative spewfest against Lifetime Fitness and what the Leadville race has become. If you don't like negativity then this report ain't for you. Fair warning given.<br />
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The positive in this race this year was Liz achieving her 10th consecutive Leadville finish. She is only the third woman to do 10 and the only woman ever to do them consecutively. And she did this despite the curve ball thrown at us by race management this year. I ended up quitting just before getting to Hope Pass on the way back because there was no way that I was going to make it to Twin Lakes before the cutoff and I didn't see any point to all the extra running and climbing just to time out there, especially with Lean Horse coming up the next weekend.<br />
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To be brutally honest, I have never been a big fan of the Leadville 100 race. It was my second 100 miler back in 2002 and my first big goal 100. (I did Umstead that same spring largely to see how I would handle the distance.) I've learned, since 2002, that the hype and atmosphere of this race are just not my style. I'm much more of a low key kind of guy. The understated Hardrock 100 is more to my liking. This is the same reason I've never even applied to Western States or done one of the huge big city road marathons. To each his own. They're just not my cup of tea.<br />
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So I'm not a big fan of the Leadville race but that's just my preference. Besides my personal preferences, what happened this year at Leadville rises to, if not surpasses, a breach of contract with race applicants. I was really pissed just after the race and planned to try to get my entry fee refunded to me but in the end decided that it probably wouldn't happen and wasn't worth the grief to try. But I'm still disgusted with race management. So what did they do?<br />
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Keep in mind that this race has the tightest cutoffs and one of the lowest finishing rates of any other 100 miler in this country. 30 hours to finish this race with 14k feet of climbing at altitude is very very tough and an approximate average finishing rate of 40% attests to that. To be in line with other races the cutoff should be at least 32 hours if not 33 or 34. I'm not saying that they should add time to the final cutoff. On the contrary, I think having a race with tight cutoffs is good as long as you know what the challenge is when you sign up. If hundreds of people are willing to pay the money knowing that it is unlikely they will finish then no problem.<br />
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When I signed up for this year's race late in 2011 I knew what the challenge was. I've completed the race twice and paced another 200 or so miles on the course in other years. I knew that this year would be more difficult due to doing so many races prior to Leadville. But I was willing to give it a go, thinking that while it would be hard it was doable. Then 3 days before the start of the race, race management announces that there would be a course change. And this was to be no small change....<br />
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The change was in the last few miles where, instead of running down from Hope Pass to the Winfield road and then up to Winfield, we would follow a new single track trail out to Winfield and back. This change would add approximately 3 miles, 800 feet of climbing, and for back of the packers, close to two hours of running. And all this announced just 3 days before the start of the race with arguably the toughest cutoffs of any 100 mile race out there! Historically, close to half of the finishers of Leadville finish the race in the last two hours. This was an ambush! Not only was the course longer and with more climbing but it took away several miles of easy dirt road running and replaced it with newly constructed, twisty, narrow, up and down single track. Instead of looking forward to a place to regroup on the Winfield road you now had to maintain focus and concentration the entire way out and back from Winfield.<br />
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Those who know me would attest that I'm no whiner but this move on race management's part was just wrong. Morally, ethically, perhaps legally, wrong. If you're going to make one of the toughest to finish races out there even tougher to finish, at least do it before you have the participant's money in your grubby hands. It really makes me wonder if the people (person?) making the decision was looking at how many fewer buckles they would have to hand out. Or maybe they were calculating the cost of cookies and coke for all those people coming back. I dare anyone to challenge the idea that Leadville is now all about the $$$. Lifetime fitness paid a lot of money for this race and they are milking this modern day gold mine. The awards ceremony felt like a WWF arena with the high tech blaring PA system and two Masters of Ceremony rather than Race Directors handing out awards. The two guys doing the ceremony looked to me like two guys doing a job and nothing more. I detected zero emotional involvement in the event or the participants.<br />
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Lifetime Fitness is providing a product and if that's where you want to spend your money that's fine. But I will never again write a check for any Leadville event. I think that the Grand Slam should seriously think about allowing an alternative event for Leadville so people can take part in that challenge without having to put up with Lifetime Fitness. I'm sure I'll have friends do the race and I'm sure I'll help some of them with it but I'll never compete there again.<br />
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Having said all of this I must mention that I do like what this has done for the town of Leadville. Ken and Merilee as well as Lifetime Fitness donate to the Leadville Legacy Foundation but the amount is a pittance compared to the revenue generated by the races. The town really does benefit though from all of the money spent there during all these sporting events. That's a very good thing. I like the town and it's people. <br />
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Okay, rant over. It is what it is. I'm sure Lifetime Fitness will start 800+ runners again next summer. I just hope the runners are able to run the event they signed up for.<br />
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Race count: Liz (22) Scott (15)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-35682865466024520092012-09-21T14:19:00.001-04:002012-09-21T14:19:36.902-04:00Burning River 100After Vermont Liz and I drove to the town of Old Saybrook on the CT coast, staying there until Thursday morning. We had a great time with some great meals, great conversation and we got to watch Avatar on a big screen in 3D. Pretty cool. We did all but about 40 miles of the drive on Thursday, got a room, and then drove to the packet pick up on Friday. Remember that we were in a rental car after flying from Denver to Ohio the previous week. There was no scheduled pre-race briefing so we just picked up our packets, and hung out there at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium where there was wifi and lots of tall skinny people wearing running shoes.<br />
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An odd thing about this race, especially given that it was the national 100 mile championship race, was that there was not only no pre race briefing but also no post race awards ceremony! Awards were given as people finished the race. The finisher jacket was very nice and there was good food at the finish and it was all very well coordinated but it just seemed odd to me to have no award ceremony at a national championship race.<br />
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This race is a point to point race with buses providing a shuttle to the start VERY early in the morning. Liz and I like to maximize our sleep so found a runner we had met earlier in the year, Scott Garrett, and his crew who were gracious enough to shuttle our rental car back from the start to the finish area. That was a huge help to us. We looked for a spot to camp near the start but ended up getting a very nice room at a reasonable rate just a few miles away.<br />
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I don't have too much to say about the race itself but it was very well marked and easy to follow. The course runs through a pretty well populated area but most of the time you didn't feel close to civilization at all. It was mostly singletrack trail through the woods and very pretty. I did have one revelation during this race that I wished that I had discovered sooner. I mentioned in previous reports that I had been having some serious neuropathic pain in my big toes. Well, it came on with a vengeance during this run. It was so bad that I just had to stop and get off my feet. I did this at about 15-20 miles, sitting on a bench or log next to the trail. I sat for about 3 minutes and the pain subsided pretty much completely even that quickly. It was kind of odd that something that hurt so much could subside so completely and so quickly. But it did. And what was even more surprising was that once I started running again the pain was completely gone!<br />
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I found that I was able to run for another 5-8 miles until the pain began to build again and when it got bad enough I would start looking for a place to sit again. Sitting again for 3 minutes and I was good to go again for several more miles. This process continued until about 35 miles or so and after that I had no more problems with the toe pain though I think I did have some short periods where I could feel the pain but it was not disabling. It kind of sucked to have to completely stop several times but it was well worth it to avoid trying to run through that pain. After this race I would be flying back to GA and while there I planned to get a prescription for Neurontin which would hopefully take care of this problem.<br />
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The night passed and the sun came up. The temps had been warm during the day and that night but not too bad. Once again we had been lucky, catching a window of cooler temps in an area that had been broiling just days before. I finished in 26:38 and Liz came in at 27:42. There were a bunch of people and some nice breakfast foods at the finish. The aid stations were great with decent selections of food and lots of energetic folks manning the stations. Thank you all! The buckle holds the title of the largest buckle yet this year beating out the Graveyard buckle by a pretty wide margin.<br />
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We were both flying out of the Akron-Canton airport early Monday morning, Liz to Denver and me to Atlanta, so rather than spend money on a room we decided to camp out at the airport. We searched around and found a deserted carpeted spot and spread out our sleeping pads and bags. A security guard came by before we went to sleep and we explained our situation. She said it would be fine for us to sleep there. We set an alarm and got a surprising good night's sleep considering it was not too dark and at an airport.<br />
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Next up - Leadville after 2 weekends off. <br />
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Race count: Liz (21) Scott (15)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-66328931788557417932012-09-12T23:54:00.000-04:002012-11-08T10:54:08.989-05:00Fall schedule (updated 8 Nov)There have been some changes in Liz and my own schedules but the following schedule should be pretty stable. I've registered for all of my races and Liz most of hers. We've diverged a bit but are doing many of the same also.<br />
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Date Scott Liz<br />
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9-15 Off Mark Twain<br />
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9-22 Georgia Jewel Georgia Jewel<br />
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9-29 Off Off<br />
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10-6 Arkansas Traveler Arkansas Traveler<br />
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10-13 Heartland Heartland<br />
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10-20 (Sis getting married) Pony Express<br />
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10-27 Javelina Javelina<br />
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11-3 Coyote Springs Coyote Springs<br />
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11-10 Wild Sebastian Wild Sebastian<br />
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11-17 Off Off<br />
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11-24 Winter 100 (in Britain) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Shazam</span><br />
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21-1 Cajun Coyote Ancient Oaks<br />
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12-8 Off Off<br />
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12-15 Bartram Bartram<br />
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12-22 Off Off<br />
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12-29 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Houston Houston</span><br />
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(11-8-12 Updates in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Red</span>)<br />
<br />Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-89867208886608467382012-09-12T23:21:00.000-04:002012-09-12T23:37:24.281-04:00Vermont 100Logistics: Vermont came the weekend following Hardrock with Burning River coming the week following Vermont. Our plan was to drive from Silverton to Denver parking the RV at the airport, fly to Ohio, drive to Vermont and run the race, drive back to Ohio, run that race and then fly back. Liz would return directly to CO to acclimate for Leadville and I would return to GA for some work, returning to CO on Wednesday before Leadville. I was a bit worried about Vermont because we would be traveling almost the entire week. The travel went okay but didn't leave much of that full on downtime that would have been preferred.<br />
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I had had Vermont on my "to-do" list for many years. I'd been told many times how pretty the course was and how well run the event was. It more than fulfilled my expectations with the added bonus of having much cooler temps than in most years and much cooler than it had been in the previous weeks and months. This has happened again and again this year where we get cooler than average temps for race weekend. And I like cool.....<br />
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There is very nice camping at the Vermont site and everything was organized to a 'T'. There were two huge tents at the start finish, a bunch of space for the corrals for the horses that would be racing with us during the 100 mile as well some shorter races. There was also a huge field for tents where we set up our tent. Here's a couple pics:<br />
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The course was georgeous and it was very cool running for short times with the horses. My race was relatively uneventful though I did have some more of that terrible neuropathy in my toes and got very sleepy early on Sunday morning. Oh, and it was really hard for the last 15 miles! That's one thing I'm beginning to notice ... it's always hard at the end....<br />
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During the afternoon I ran for several hours with a lovely young lady from Portland, I believe who was on her second attempt at 100 miles. I don't believe she finished as I didn't see her post race. She is a neurologist who specializes in Parkinson's and I really enjoyed running and chatting away several hours with her. I tried to give her some advice on finishing 100 mile races and after a while I asked her professional advice about the toe pain that I had been having. She agreed with my thought that it was a neuropathy and that it was likely from the tremendous pounding that my feet had taken this year. She recommended a drug that I give often as an RN for neuropathy called Neurontin, or gabapentin.<br />
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I was having trouble again at this race but it was coming and going better than it had a Hardrock and I was able to endure it fairly well. I take Celebrex for pain during these races which is a 12 hour NSAID which works very well but it does absolutely nothing for this neuropathy. My neurologist friend said that she even carried some with her on her runs for hip pain. She said that I could use it as needed for races rather than having to be on it everyday. I made mental plans right then to talk to my doctor when I got home to get a prescription.<br />
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The night was long and not too cold. I ended up running a fair bit with Liz though we did our typical back and forth thing. I needed to sleep at one point and crashed out for a good 15 minutes which revitalized me as usual. I finished fairly strong though sub 24 hours was not in the cards so I didn't push but just ran steady. I finished in 25:50 and Liz in 25:55. It was fun to cheer in runners, get a primitive lake fed shower and drink a beer (thank you Patrick and friend!). Our friend Caroline Williams was attempting this 100 for something like the 7th or 8th time and was still not in as the clock ticked down. We saw Leonard Martin finish just before the cutoff but still no Caroline. Finally someone yelled that she was coming but she crossed the line 3 minutes! after the cutoff. A gutsy try and in my book a finish for sure. <br />
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The awards ceremony and bbq feed were awesome. The marinade on that wood cooked chicken was the best I had ever had. And I need to also mention the pre-race meal. Oh my goodness, I have never seen such a spread. It was hands down the best pre-race meal I've ever seen. They definitely have this thing down to a science and someone like their food! : ) Another great thing about this race is that it is run as a fund raiser for <a href="http://www.vermontadaptive.org/">Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sport</a> which provides technology and support to help kids and adults with missing limbs or other challenges to enjoy outdoor adventure, a great charity for sure.<br />
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Next up is Burning River after a few days R&R in Old Saybrook, CT at Liz's longtime, childhood friend.<br />
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Race count: Liz (20) Scott (14)<br />
<br />Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-38226953664953144952012-09-12T21:25:00.002-04:002012-09-12T23:58:42.799-04:00Liz's New York 100 race reportI did a bit of editing but here is Liz's report on her run in NY:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;">The Great New York exposition, a 100 mile run starting in times square and looping all around Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, out to Coney Island...Wow what a cool idea! This race was organized by Phil McCarthy, a National record holding champion in the 48 hour race.<br /><br />The thought of running a 100 miles completely through a city intrigued me, and sounded exciting. There would be no aid stations with food, water and gator aide only. Runners would carry cash to buy food along the way, there would be multiple opportunities for Dunkin donuts and local cafe stops. One drop bag would be available for supplies, I put my blister kit, light, a warm shirt, etc. A pacer would be required after mile 64, I did not have one, but, Phil fixed me up the most wonderful local runner, her name was Erin. Many Thanks go out to Erin for her navigational help; Phil gave us all detailed turn by turn directions, four pages worth. Navigation was going to be a challenge, the course would be marked, but, with turns coming sometimes every 10th of a mile, map reading would be neccessary.<br /><br />I flew into Laguardia NY, was able to use public transportation to times square, got a room just 100's of feet from the start. It was all starting to be very fun, just being in Times Square for the first time. The start came too early and we were off! I started very slowly, my legs were still feeling the last run. I can't say enough good things about this run, I had a blast! I meet so many nice people, ran quite a few miles with a Doctor named Mark, his wife met us every 10 miles or so, with a cooler of ice and drinks.<br /><br />The cut off for 50 miles was 12 hours, and the going was slow with stopping for all the lights, intersections and map reading. Quite a few of us did bonus miles, my self , and 2 other runners took a wrong turn in a park and ran down the wrong railway bed trail, we did about 6 extra miles. Running over the big bridges was really cool. Going out to Coney Island at 3:30 in the am and running the leng<sp>th of the board walk along the beach was neat. There were so many people out. Bands still playing, the city never sleeps. One time we went by a fire hydrant spraying water, several of us decided to cool off.<br /><br />In a neighborhood, I was low on water, there was a man out washing his car, so , I asked him for some of his hose water, he said "oh no, we have filtered water inside, let me get you some" New Yorkers are so kind! It was fun going into the local shops to buy food and drink. During the night, I never needed my light, I always felt safe, it was a true adventure.<br /><br />This has been one of my favorite runs this year. The finish in times square was exhilarating. Phil had a room reserved for the runners to shower post race, this was very thoughtful. I am sure I am missing a lot of fun details, but, you'll just have to run it for yourself! This is a must do. My time was 24:44 </sp></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><sp>A couple of start pics:</sp></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runners at the start in Times Square</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RD Phil McCarthy giving last minute directions.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><sp><br /></sp></span>Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-74838635759208305872012-09-12T21:23:00.001-04:002012-09-12T23:37:07.675-04:00Hardrock 100First off, apologies for being such a slacker keeping the blog current. I have no excuses about not having time or opportunity to post. The explanation is that what happened at Hardrock this year was a huge disappointment to me and really got me down. I lost the motivation to post and pretty soon I was far behind which made me avoid tackling the task even more. I hope to have things caught up here by the end of next week though.<br />
<br />
Hardrock is far and away my favorite event. And I say 'event' because this is so much more than just a race. I've been attending since 2004 and all the folks that return year after year to run, volunteer, crew or whatever have really become family. I usually am in Silverton for the two weeks prior to the race to enjoy hanging out with everyone as well as all the cool activities. Nearly every day there is course marking going on. Newbies are strongly encouraged to take that opportunity to learn the course and many veterans also participate. There are any number of folks doing different training runs/hikes. On July 4th there is an early 10k race and then a parade in which all Hardrockers are invited to march.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVbTL3rRxsc/UFEi26a431I/AAAAAAAADD0/E0rVd2ljPLU/s1600/IMG_1182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVbTL3rRxsc/UFEi26a431I/AAAAAAAADD0/E0rVd2ljPLU/s400/IMG_1182.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silverton's main street. Similar mountains surround the town.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hardrockers getting ready to march in parade.</td></tr>
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After the parade on the 4th there is a waterfight between two fire departments, a rhubarb pie bake sale, and one of the most amazing fireworks displays ever with the sound and light of the fireworks rebounding off the 13,000 ft peaks surrounding Silverton. As the race approaches there are course briefings, a pot luck picnic, and pre-race meeting. You can feel the excitement building in everyone as the Friday morning start approaches. This year there was also a new running event two weeks prior to the race put on by the Coury brothers, the <a href="http://www.silvertonalpinerunning.com/events/silverton-61224-hour-mountain-run/">Silverton 6/12/24 Hour</a>, held on a tough one mile loop next to Kendall mountain. This is the same course as is used for the <a href="http://www.silverton1000.com/">Silverton 100</a>, a race too crazy to exist!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gDlfA5yl3s0/UFEjn3W9nqI/AAAAAAAADEI/CIzBn8GsthA/s1600/IMG_1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gDlfA5yl3s0/UFEjn3W9nqI/AAAAAAAADEI/CIzBn8GsthA/s400/IMG_1200.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner with friends before the race at the Avon Hotel. Bill Duper is in first seat on left facing Mike Dobies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BbgIqgjfzqE/UFEj7jbo4EI/AAAAAAAADEQ/_9RMYcvtlk4/s1600/IMG_1211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BbgIqgjfzqE/UFEj7jbo4EI/AAAAAAAADEQ/_9RMYcvtlk4/s400/IMG_1211.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-race briefing in Silverton High School gym which is also the site of the start/finish.</td></tr>
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One inevitable bit of pre-race drama is the Thursday checkin deadline where we find out who on the waitlist gets into the race. There are always more people in town who are on the waitlist than can get into the race. This year the first person on the waitlist when the checkin deadline had passed and open spots had been given to waiting runners was none other than Liz! Yikes, too much drama! Some years there are people who are in the race that cannot or choose not to run on Friday morning and the first waitlisters are encouraged to put out drop bags and be dressed ready to go on Friday morning. As Liz and I were preparing to head to the gym for the 5:45am Friday checkin deadline, Rebecca Clark, the registration czar knocked on the RV door telling Liz that a runner had chosen not to run and that she was in! Cool beans. This was Liz's attempt at her 5th finish which would greatly enhance her chance in subsequent lotteries.<br />
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We all set off at 6am with a course that was in as good a shape as I have seen with little snow, and very dry conditions. Things were going fairly well through about 35 miles though I felt sluggish and felt I was working too hard to keep my position in the back 1/4 of the field. Climbing up to Oscar's pass was as nice as I've ever done with nice cloud cover and no bugs at all. This section can often be hot with biting flies. It was definitely slow and I was feeling fatigued but things seemed to be shaking out okay. As I descended from Oscars down into Telluride, though, my race fell apart.<br />
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Several years ago after a very hard 48 hour effort, for the first time ever, I experienced very sharp shooting pains going through my toes. Liz, who ran as far as I did in that race also experienced the same pains, and also for the first time. Since then we have both had these pains after tough 100 milers but only after the race for a few days. This year though, with all the races stacked on top of each other I started to experience the pains <i>during</i> races. At first this wasn't much of a problem as it only lasted about 10-15 minutes. Descending from Oscars though it went on and on without letup. To be clear this is an excruciating kind of pain that is impossible to ignore. I had tears in my eyes from the pain as I walked down. It just would not go away.<br />
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The pain is not from damage to tissue but rather is a neuropathy which results from damage to the nerves. It took me forever to get down to Telluride and I was emotionally devastated. I had decided to quit and announced that at the aid station but was persuaded to sit and think about it. Kathy Lang, an MD was there and gave me some Pennsaid gel to put on the toes. I sat for probably 30-40 minutes and decided to continue on. I had no more pain from the toes the rest of the race and I attributed that to the Pennsaid though I now don't think it was the cure. More on that in the Burning River report. (Nice teaser, eh?) Anyway I continued up over Virginius (first time ever in the dark) and down into Ouray moving well and feeling better than anytime in the race. I was slower than ever before but still had plenty of time.<br />
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I fueled up and left Ouray in much better spirits. Those high spirits soon vanished though as I climbed toward Engineer. I just had no juice, no mojo. Even on the short downhills I could not move well. I was crawling and even at times had to sit on the side of the trail despite moving so slow. I reached the Engineer AS which is about halfway after the sun was up with more than 24 hours elapsed. I would need a negative split to finish. It was nice to see Fred Ecks here and I pretty much gave up here, sitting and enjoying the fire and aid station food. Finally I left and started up the final pitch to the pass. I was SO SLOW. It was pathetic. I crested the pass and started down the road, finding that even downhill I could not run. I decided to quit at Grouse and cut several of the road switchbacks on the way down.<br />
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Having this, my favorite race, ruined by this 30 in 52 quest really made me resent the whole project. I have since gotten over that and am back in the effort but the costs of doing so many 100 mile races have definitely piled up in larger and more varied ways than I expected. The financial, emotional, and physical tolls have been high.<br />
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Having quit, I was able to shower, rest and see Liz as she came through the final AS. The first thing she said was to the effect of the difficulty of doing something like Hardrock after such a year. I really believe that I was the only one at that race that had any idea of what she was going through. She is incredibly tough and determined. My hat is off to her for getting this one done. While at this aid station I also got to see Deb Pero come through with her brother Drew. Steve, Deb and Drew had started together and planned to run together the whole race with Drew as Steve's pacer (60+ year olds can have a pacer the whole way) but Steve's vertigo took him out at Ouray. They were cutting it close but had good spirits and looked strong and confident. Deb would go on to finish as the last finisher in 47 hours and 49 minutes with 11 minutes to spare! This gives her a finish in both directions and also the title of most senior woman to ever finish the race. Congrats Deb.<br />
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Liz really struggled to finish, especially on the last climb but persevered and finished in 47:11 for her 5th official finish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mvO2QaI5mO8/UFEkPmen-aI/AAAAAAAADEY/d5066MCBLtM/s1600/IMG_1217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mvO2QaI5mO8/UFEkPmen-aI/AAAAAAAADEY/d5066MCBLtM/s400/IMG_1217.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liz at the finish with the rock.</td></tr>
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The awards ceremony on Sunday morning, done by RD Dale Garland is, each and every year, the best post race awards ceremony. Dale does just a wonderful job, calling up each finisher and usually with some little story, anectdote, or quote about each finisher. The picture below is of Kirk (Mr Hardrock) Apt who had finished all but the first Hardrock Hundred with 18 finishes now. The finishers award each year is print of a photo or painting submitted usually by someone in the Hardrock family of some part of the course. This year, as Kirk came up to get his print he took the mike and did a beautiful thing which epitomizes his gentle and caring nature. He said that he had many of these finisher prints and that this year he would like to make a gift of his print to a friend of his, the race, and ultrarunning in Colorado. He asked that anyone who knows Bill Duper to sign the print and that he would present it to Bill late in Leadville.</div>
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Bill will be know to anyone who spends much time in Silverton for Hardrock or Leadville in the summer. He is, I believe 78 years old, and knows everything about current and past ultrarunning in Colorado, the US and world stage. He drives to all the races and is truly embedded in the fabric of ultrarunning, especially in Colorado. This was a wonderful gesture that really meant a lot to Bill. (He had left town before Sunday's ceremony but I spoke with him in Leadville later.) </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirk Apt asking people to sign his award print for Bill.</td></tr>
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There is a new rule in the Hardrock rulebook that says that anyone with 5+ finishes who dnf's two years in a row will be dropped from the 5+ finishes group for lottery purposes. This raises the stakes for me next year so if you see me next year in Silverton I will have my game face on! <br />
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Race count: Liz (19) Scott (13)Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382456765502709101.post-6945873034375092592012-06-27T17:47:00.002-04:002012-06-27T18:34:56.031-04:00Black Hills 100<br />
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This was the radar image around 10pm on Friday night before the start of the Black Hills 100 mile run. I was sitting in the Winnebago wondering when the temperature would drop and the terrible mugginess would ease. I noticed a lot of lightening to the west so I opened up the Ipad and found this radar image. I braced for the onslaught and it did get windy and rain a bit but then the storm just fizzled out. I rechecked the radar and this cell had just vanished. At least the air started moving and the temps moderated so I could sleep.<br />
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I had stayed in Sheridan post Bighorn until Thursday night and arrived in time to get some sleep and make it to the packet pickup around 10am. I got to meet co-rd Chris Stores and Debbie Phillips the wife of co-rd Ryan Phillips here. I got some of my questions about the course answered by Chris and was charmed by Debbie's contagious smile. Ryan and Chris conducted the race briefing at 4pm and a pasta feed started not too long after the briefing. Everything was well organized and I felt good about keeping on course and knowing what to expect out on the course. Saw lots of friends including Beth Simpson and Larry Hall, Olga V and Larry King, Mike Smith, Dennis Drey, Patrick from Bighorn, Alan Holz and probably more that I don't remember. The big concern for the race seemed to be the heat.<br />
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My biggest concern was my feet. I had a terrible time with blisters at Bighorn and I still had two decent sized holes in my heels, one of which was still very tender. The ball of my left foot was also still tender. I came up with a taping strategy and hoped for the best. Starting the race I was really worried as I could feel several different areas of .... discomfort.<br />
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The start and finish of the race is at a newly resurfaced track called Woodle field right in Sturgis. It's a great place to stage the race from with a plenty of parking, a concession stand type building, and plenty of room for post race festivities. Here's some pics from the start:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZfeQ6UztKg/T-tpWEBx8YI/AAAAAAAAC_g/78L_q9ckZxQ/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZfeQ6UztKg/T-tpWEBx8YI/AAAAAAAAC_g/78L_q9ckZxQ/s400/IMG_1134.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dennis Drey and Mike Smith. 100 mile afficianados discussing the finer points of running insane distances.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ih_Z5qvDJ50/T-tpYiyMrjI/AAAAAAAAC_o/glTN_YB3HcU/s1600/IMG_1136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ih_Z5qvDJ50/T-tpYiyMrjI/AAAAAAAAC_o/glTN_YB3HcU/s400/IMG_1136.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry Hall's head and the start/finish line.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tgc8s4dc73g/T-tpbK6FpAI/AAAAAAAAC_w/Sx6DoZnEItA/s1600/IMG_1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tgc8s4dc73g/T-tpbK6FpAI/AAAAAAAAC_w/Sx6DoZnEItA/s400/IMG_1138.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Co-RD Chris giving some last minute instructions.</td></tr>
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One very cool thing that they did at the start was to invite Billy Good Voice Elk, a local member of the Lakota tribe, to say some words and send us off with a traditional Native American song/prayer. Thank you for you kind and inspirational words!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VYzS5aSk0Y/T-tpd0CpaoI/AAAAAAAAC_8/obmK_oZSYVM/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VYzS5aSk0Y/T-tpd0CpaoI/AAAAAAAAC_8/obmK_oZSYVM/s400/IMG_1140.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billy Good Voice Elk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first 300 yards of the race. 100 mile, 50 mile and 100k runners all started together.</td></tr>
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I'm not going to give a blow by blow of the course but you can roughly think of it as divided into two roughly equal (effort wise) halves. The first half is the 29 miles to the Dalton Lakes AS which is the second drop bag spot. The 21 miles to the turnaround is the second half. The first half has a ton of really sweet dirt single track trails. As advertised there were constant ups and downs and while there are several pretty good hills for the most part it was 150ft or less per hill. Coming back on Sunday morning they seemed to have added a lot of small hills in the last 5 miles that I did not recall from the outbound journey.<br />
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Some pics from the "first half":<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vByKxWxXCRI/T-tpl0aIZBI/AAAAAAAADAM/ECKBx-Lz4yE/s1600/IMG_1144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vByKxWxXCRI/T-tpl0aIZBI/AAAAAAAADAM/ECKBx-Lz4yE/s400/IMG_1144.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very early climb. Once again I find myself near the back of the pack.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T00ln5RPxDA/T-tppkwWFYI/AAAAAAAADAY/sSj44J7wAt0/s1600/IMG_1147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T00ln5RPxDA/T-tppkwWFYI/AAAAAAAADAY/sSj44J7wAt0/s400/IMG_1147.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dennis Drey showing the efficient stride that has brought him around the Hardrock course 8 times.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G29CsSJqmTY/T-tpsekH0wI/AAAAAAAADAg/ZNQeBMHDr78/s1600/IMG_1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G29CsSJqmTY/T-tpsekH0wI/AAAAAAAADAg/ZNQeBMHDr78/s400/IMG_1149.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the hills that seemed much longer and harder on Sunday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YSJX2bQ5GYs/T-tpxq3T6lI/AAAAAAAADAo/2hjQcLjKKrw/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YSJX2bQ5GYs/T-tpxq3T6lI/AAAAAAAADAo/2hjQcLjKKrw/s400/IMG_1151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet. Many of the hills returning to town in the last 15 miles have steep ups and cruiser downs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJ71d_fdvLQ/T-tp3BFIAyI/AAAAAAAADAw/YCvmJLbM3fE/s1600/IMG_1154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJ71d_fdvLQ/T-tp3BFIAyI/AAAAAAAADAw/YCvmJLbM3fE/s400/IMG_1154.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe this aid station was either Alkali Creek or Elk Creek.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFmQlvM41lo/T-tqDrq-aCI/AAAAAAAADA8/_CHlLQZGTdA/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFmQlvM41lo/T-tqDrq-aCI/AAAAAAAADA8/_CHlLQZGTdA/s400/IMG_1155.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the 100's of carsonite signs that we followed.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjkgj5Lkm2Q/T-tqNrtFmNI/AAAAAAAADBE/YP33lGTcp_k/s1600/IMG_1157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjkgj5Lkm2Q/T-tqNrtFmNI/AAAAAAAADBE/YP33lGTcp_k/s400/IMG_1157.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allan Holz and a blaze. The course follows the Centennial Trail (a NRT) which is number 89, hence the "Cruising the 89" from the race website.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SUIzs-Jtm6w/T-tqmzxlBiI/AAAAAAAADBY/OYeY45XveEs/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SUIzs-Jtm6w/T-tqmzxlBiI/AAAAAAAADBY/OYeY45XveEs/s400/IMG_1167.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scenic highpoint.</td></tr>
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There was one section of trail in the Elk Creek section where we were running up high above a beautiful rocky gorge. I took a movie of it but had trouble getting it on the blog. This section, past the Elk Creek AS, was the coolest part of the run in my opinion.<br />
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The second half of the course from Dalton Lakes to the turnaround in Silver City is very different from the first. Here too there were sections of sweet single track but the character of this section is defined by double track that is more or less torn up by ATVs. I didn't get too many pictures of this section probably because the trails weren't so pretty. I did capture some of the character of the trail here but there were miles long sections of trail that were WAY worse than any of these pics show.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZxuTqsyQVw/T-t7LapsuCI/AAAAAAAADDE/Yxd7pXQf4qA/s1600/IMG_1168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZxuTqsyQVw/T-t7LapsuCI/AAAAAAAADDE/Yxd7pXQf4qA/s400/IMG_1168.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe this shot is on a long climb up out of Dalton Lakes where the "open to motor vehicles" section starts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was lots of this kind of stuff.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFuGE5IK4Sk/T-t7RUOeFTI/AAAAAAAADDM/xW9DqBGkVsY/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFuGE5IK4Sk/T-t7RUOeFTI/AAAAAAAADDM/xW9DqBGkVsY/s400/IMG_1171.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zeTfRsT8MyQ/T-t7cRqBxdI/AAAAAAAADDg/236QdGu_0dk/s1600/IMG_1177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zeTfRsT8MyQ/T-t7cRqBxdI/AAAAAAAADDg/236QdGu_0dk/s320/IMG_1177.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry Hall, Beth Simpson-Hall and Mike Smith. I took this from behind them to give everyone an idea of what I've been seeing all year. Mike Smith has finished several hours ahead of me, though I see him during the race, in probably 6 or 7 100 milers this year!</td></tr>
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This race was definitely a low point in the year for me. I was hurting and unhappy for way too much of this run. I was really having some negative thoughts about how much time, money and energy I was putting into this project that was causing me so much pain and doing harm to my body. I'm really feeling beat up, unable to do the maintenance exercises for my back, and I'm developing hammer toes on the second toe from the outside on both feet. As I sit and write this I'm deciding whether to give Angel Fire a shot or not this weekend. I feel confident of being able to finish Hardrock in 2 1/2 weeks which is important to me but I don't know if I can do both. And I just don't feel like doing another rocky 100. I'll decide by tomorrow night.<br />
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Once again, cudos to race management and all the volunteers out on the course. The event was well organized, well executed and everything was done necessary to get us to the finish. There was food and beer at the finish line. Yay! Many people had already left when I got in at just under 31 hours but there was still plenty of tacos and some beer. Thanks to Ryan, Debbie, Chris and everyone else who helped out last weekend. </div>
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Liz had a great time doing the Great New York 100 mile finishing just over 24 hours. I'll post a report if she writes one.</div>
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Race count: Liz (18) Scott (13)</div>Scott Brockmeierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718144953661072096noreply@blogger.com7