2022 RRR - The Race part II

Summit to Billy's Rabbit Hole, the next aid station, is only 4.1 miles.  Yeah, I think we entered the twilight zone.  I am sort of thinking that it was in this stretch that Bucky thought he was coming out of his altitude altered state like he did at Never Summer.  He said he'd get me to Mindy and then he go.  Now any of you that know Bucky and me know that he should never be with me at a race and we'd already done over 10 miles together.  His recovery lasted all of two minutes. We tried running.  The next thing I knew was he was off to the side of the trail coughing hard which would turn into dry heaves.  Ok, he'd be staying with me.

So, we started picking landmarks.  We'll run from that rock till the bigger tree by the trail.  This, interspersed with fast walking was sort of working.  Then the hail and lightening came again.  Rain jackets back on.  The hail was bigger and harder.  It didn't just hurt my inner calves, but really hurt hitting my face.  We were getting pounded and cold since the stretches of running were not enough to keep us warm.  My hands were freezing.  So we tried to run more only to have both of us in dry heaves, though usually not at the same exact time.  Puke-aphobe that I am, I'd rush to put some distance between Bucky and me with the first sign of a cough.  I think it was on this stretch that Bucky first came up with whoever pukes first forfeits Mindy as their pacer (I agreed, knowing that it was always Scout and Squirrel no matter what...unless I dropped and Bucky kept going.  I didn't really see that as an option).

Just before we reached Billy's, the hail stopped.  The skies started to clear, but the wind was still cold.  We were cold.  Billy, I assumed, was out there welcoming runners at the top of his lungs.  Bucky and I found chairs around an non-lit gas fire pit.  I was shivering like I was having some sort of convulsion.  The aid station people came over to tend to us.  My standard, "Do you have hot chocolate?" followed by "Hot water?" and Bucky's, "Do you have any veggie broth?" were met with success!!!  He got his broth and I got my hot water.  I was so cold that I shook it all over me...and it was very hot.  While someone found more, slightly less-hot water for me so I didn't get scalded, another aid station person put a space blanket around me, while two more worked on getting our fire pit lit.

I splashed the luke warm water all over the place.  One of the aid station people then produced a very puffy down sleeping bag that they wrapped over my space blanket.  Oh, we're making more hot water, but it's coming.  I fell in love with this aid station.  They might not have had hot chocolate, but they were super attentive and making sure we were okay.  

Tammy!!!  Tammy V came in looking really strong.  We told her we'd get sick whenever we ran.  She said who's running.  She was power walking and powering through.  It didn't take her long to get in and out.  Go, Tammy!!!  I forgot to mention that I'd seen Tammy near the bottom of Fish Creek.  I said I didn't like this part.  She assured me it was the most technical of the entire race.  I told her she was moving great.  

Bucky and I realized we need to get going.  Ten miles till Dry Lake and Squirrel. I'd had a couple of warm waters by now, no food, but that's not unusual.  We felt so much better...until we started to move.  This is runnable!  We should be running.  We'd pick out our landmarks.  It was rough.  One time Bucky pointed out that we both stopped, but we hadn't picked a stopping mark.  I told him my stomach did.  Pretty soon, my dry heave wasn't dry.  Fuck.

Later, Bucky hurled.  He proclaimed that he lost Squirrel.  I confessed to already puking.  From there, Bucky put me to shame.  Anytime that he'd stop to cough, he'd puke.  I'd yell back to make sure he was okay.  Are you coming??  I'd ask other runners, "Did you see the guy puking?  Is he ok?"  Twice I ran back before he emerged.  

10 miles till Mindy.  At this rate, how long is it going to take us??  Time to get headlamps out.  Bucky already had his on.  I didn't even notice that he put it on at Billy's.  During a short running spurt, I heard Bucky swear and say something to indicate pain.  He'd been stung!  What the hell are yellow jackets doing up in the dark!!  He's been stung before, no novice, but said this was the most painful ever.  Turns out it was six stings not one!  That's it!!!  It's a sign!  Bucky was sure the Rockies were speaking to him and none too nicely.  I let him know I had Benadryl, but only if he felt a reaction was happening.  I didn't need a drowsy Bucky out there.

Uh oh!  I pulled over and barfed.  And barfed.  And barfed.  And BARFED!  It made me dizzy and weak.  This is where I thought, "I'm done."  Bucky had thought the same somewhere along the puking path.  He called Rick to let give him some notice of when we'd reach Dry Lake.  I didn't know he said we'd be dropping so wouldn't need a pacer.  I know I did tell him that, if we're dropping, it makes no sense to go further than Dry Lake to Olympian.  If we are really dropping, 44.5 is as good as 51.  

Did I already mention that Bucky had sworn off any races at altitude.  "I'm never racing at altitude again.  There are plenty of great races not at altitude!"  I told him I wasn't even going to try to convince him otherwise.

Holy shit!  How long can it take to go 10 miles?!  I think it seemed longer than it was.  I was still power hiking pretty fast.  We were turning in 17 to 18+ min miles.  Remember when I said I had no business being with Bucky in a race?  Well, there's not too many people who run with Bucky who need to wait for him.  He is a great runner.  Right here, right now, I was waiting even on the power hikes.  

We popped out from the trail onto a dirt road.  The volunteers assured us we were so close now!!  Oh, right, you don't know that over 1/2 mile up is not close.  Not close at all.  And though we really don't hate you because you are volunteering and up in the middle of the night to help on a race, right then we said very bad things about you.  Sorry.

Bucky went right to the number taker, "601 and I'm dropping."  I sat in a chair.  They had hot chocolate!  Mindy asked if I wanted a beer.  No.  That doesn't sound good.  Hot chocolate!!!  I had a fleeting thought that I should wait a bit, but turned to the number lady, "400 is a DNF."  

More in another installment.... 

2022 RRR - the Race

From our make shift start, we headed down for a few tenths of a mile before hitting the ski slope.  It quickly became steep.  Our shuffling run became a hike.  I'm so happy I chose the early start.  I can imagine the conga line that would form here...and go on for miles.  The steepest part of the race was about 3 miles right from here.  There's a dirt path that pretty much goes straight up until the top of the gondola.  From there, it was switchback dirt road to the highest point of Mt Werner.

I talked with a woman who was from Steamboat.  It was her first 100, but she said she'd run all the trails.  She said to be prepared to see moose and bear.  Before long, she put a little distance between us, but I saw her right up to the end.  This climb was longer than the biggest of Never Summer, but nowhere near as steep or as high.  I didn't need to stop to breathe, but once or twice.  And that, I think, was due to a fairly steady pace.  At the top, by the gondola building, I turned to admire the view.  It was breathtaking (oh, or was that the climb ;) I took one of my only two pics.

Jedi had passed me on the steep up, but I overtook him on the dirt road.  He was singing to whatever he was playing.  Maybe Dylan?  We talked a bit before it was too hard with the distance.  I was sure we'd cross paths again.  

5.4 miles in, there was the first aid station.  Again, it was nice that it was uncrowded.  They wanted to be very helpful, but I was having trouble finding my reusable cups.  I thought I knew where everything was...or at least close.  Finally, one guy says, "We have cups."  He poured me three cups of water that I used to get down two PBJ quarters.  While I was finishing up, they were working on getting all their aid station gear under the tents before the rain came.  WHAT???  It was a beautiful morning.

I'd gone maybe twenty steps away from the aid station when I became enveloped by a cloud.  This was new.  It was like running through a dream.  With the dampness, I realized I better get out my rain jacket. I knew where that was. Just as I got it on, realizing I brought the one that doesn't fit over my pack, the hail started.  It was so interesting.  It was small hail.  I was still able to move pretty well.  As I ran, I wondered how long till things got slick.  

The hail kept up for a while, but it mixed with a cold rain.  Soon there were puddles that were only avoidable if you went off trail.  I don't like to do that...it makes the trail wider.  I fought my normal inclination to do drainage work.  Not now!  

You might have wondered why I wanted cups of water at that last aid station; I was carrying water in my bladder.  Well, it was 12.3 miles to the next aid station.  I wanted to keep my bladder fairly full.  I've been on shorter stretches where I've drained my bladder, granted they were warmer days, but better water than not.  

The sharp turn to head down to Fish Creek Falls was not the first time I realized that it was not marked to TMR standards.  I knew I was looking for a sharp turn, but wondered if I would have been confident about the turn if some of the later start runners hadn't overtaken me and taken the turn.  This initial down was very runnable, even if it had a few more rocks than I prefer.  

Taking stock, the only thing bothering me was my Piper toe which I thought I'd felt the last of around a year ago.  Piper toe, you ask?  When Piper first came home, I was running with her on leash.  She stopped dead right in front of me when we'd been running fast (hey, it was 10 years ago...I did run fast(er)!).  To not kill my new dog, I did something really awkward.  I thought I broke my toe.  It hurt for years after.  I was forever thinking I had a rock under that toe, only to find nothing.  Okay, I ran all of Halliburton 100 with a very angry Piper toe.

Shit!  Now I've made it to the part of the course I did not like.  It was the most technical part.  You folks that run in the whites would probably laugh at what I thought was slippery rocks.  Still there were slippery rocks, with some little drops and a real drop off on our left.  AHHHHH!!!  Awkwardly, my feet went out from under me on a big rock.  I landed on both my back and butt, mostly unhurt, but my pride.  I was very happy no one saw.  I'm sure it looked ridiculous.  Then I realized my pole was teetering on the edge, threatening to fall into the abyss.  Again, ridiculously cautiously I reached for the pole.  Why hadn't the strap been around my wrist?!  I always make sure to do that.  Stupid me.  

More people started to overtake me from the later start.  Fortunately, I'd made it through the rockier steeper parts before the throngs came.  At one point someone announced, "Here comes the 30 hour runners!"  When I looked back at the long line, I decided it was a good point to step off to tie the shoelace (that shouldn't have untied because I was wearing my gaiters.  They never come untied when I wear my gaiters.  Ok, until then, they had never come untied when I wore gaiters).  I was sitting on a rock and hear, "Get up, Scout!"  Dammit, Bucky, I am tying my shoe!!!!  He looked great, even squeezed in the long line.

Craig went by me not too long after Bucky.  I told him.  He was fine to let him go.  He said this stretch was where he started to fall apart last year.  He was being really methodical.  I think though he was staying with me a little to long so I released him.  I knew it was his year!

More down, then someone tells me I'm almost there.  Please, never tell someone they are almost there.  You have no idea to them what almost means where they are.  Tell them an approximate distance if you can.  Or just say, way to go, great job.  At the bottom, I realize that now we have to make a turn and go up.  And a little more up.  Was it a real road?  We did pass the most foul out houses that exist.  Maine parks, I love how you keep up with this shit!!  Although, I suspect CO's see much greater use.

Tanya!  Kristen!  Sean!  Kenny!  Karen!  It was such a boost to see these guys.  I knew not to expect Rick.  He and Mindy were doing other research for later in the night and then trying to rest if they could.  Was Sam here, too?  Tanya helped me with my bladder. I think I ate an entire pbj.  The person that made them was a little too generous with the peanut butter.  It was hard to get down. Bye!!!  Thank you for all your smiles and TMR love!

From here, it was 6.6 to Long Lake aid station.  I was feeling good.  Even though I had to do the slippery rocks again, I don't mind up.  I am an uphill girl.  I have been trying to get better at down.  The only thing, the technical rocky is so short here that there's no reason to practice that.  Any way, up, up, up.  

I did not mind stepping off for the tortoises that were catching up with me.  The early start was more than worth that.  Even though there were large groups and it cost me time.  They all said thanks and usually good job.  What started to annoy me a bit was the hares that were starting to come through.  They did not thank you, but definitely expected that it was on you to step off.  Some did say nice job, but I never felt like it was sincere.  One of the faster women actually did say thank you!  

Then, there was Bucky standing there.  What are you doing here????  He looked like shit.  He said, "I'm dizzy and nauseous."  Well, that sucks.  Did I offer any more encouragement or sympathy?  I'm not sure, but I know I kept moving.  He called out that he'd see me at the aid station.  What mile would that have been?  Hmmm, around 20?  

It was only a couple of miles before Bucky caught up.  I had slowed and he seemed to have gotten a little better.  I think this is around when the hail and lightening started again.  We had one brilliant crack right in front.  I forgot Bucky's reaction, but it was a little shocked.  I was all, this is nothing.  Never Summer really desensitized me.  Oh, I am not a fan of being out in a lightening storm, but I know when to be scared. This wasn't it.  The hail with rain made me cold again.  

We decided to stay together until Long Lake aid station.  Bucky still was a little altitude affected, but seemed better than he was.  When we got there, I was a little annoyed because I'd decided we were at Summit and wanted my drop bag.  What do you mean you're not Summit?!  Okay, then I want hot chocolate.  What?  No hot chocolate?  Ok, give me hot water.  No hot water????  Was it here that I took pierogies?  I don't think so. I think I was too pissed at them for not having at minimum hot water that I didn't take anything.  If I didn't have pierogies here, I had them at Summit.  I ate two at whichever aid station and took a third with me to get down.  That was a first for me.

Long Lake is 24.3 miles in.  Summit is 30.1.  Okay, Bucky, less than 6.  We've got this.  Summit would put us back over 10,000' though.  Bucky was looking for lower altitude to feel better.  I'm pretty sure it was in here that we had our 3rd bout of hail and lightening.  I was saying that I didn't want lightening as we were approaching some of the higher spots with less trees.  At least the thunder seemed to indicate the lightening was some miles away.  How come the hail seemed to hurt my calves more than any other spot?!  What the hell, hail?! 

We would pick land marks.  We'll run from the rock to that big tree.  Mostly that worked.  Bucky periodically pulled over to cough until he almost puked.  I ran ahead.  Scout and Squirrel are documented puke-aphobes.  I'd walk until Bucky was back with me, but no way I can be near. 

We made it to Summit.  This was my biggest drop bag.  You hit Summit twice.  The first time is in daylight, but it will get dark before you get to crew and pacers at Dry Lake.  Do I take long pants?  Any of my other cold gear?  I wasn't that cold now.  My pack was pretty full, but I squeezed in long pants.  I should have grabbed the gloves.  The thin ones I had were useless since they weren't waterproof.  Oh!  This is where I had the pierogies because they didn't have hot chocolate or hot water and I wanted something hot.  And this is where it went down hill...

And not in the "it's all down hill from here" sense like multiple people told us.  Bucky and I cursed them repeatedly with each up we found.  Not that they were hard ups, but they were ups.  Fucking people.  Don't like to ultra runners!!!  But it was pretty all down hill for Bucky and Scout.  

Race - part II to follow

 

2022 RRR - Part II

As we pulled up to the hotel, we saw Ann and George coming out!  They driven from ME, arriving a little the night before us.  While we were getting checked in, Mindy and Pete showed up!  We were all on the second floor.  We had gone with the hotel because the race info said it was right at the start/finish.  The condos the others rented really weren't that much further and were certainly nicer.  Noted.

With so many of us there, staying different places, it was a little hard to coordinate dinners, etc.  Jedi, Ann, Mindy, Pete, Rick and I went to packet pickup at about the same time, around 3pm when it opened.  It was about 4 miles from the hotel at what would be the Olympian aid station (miles, 51 and 64 on the course).  We got our numbers, a few free samples, and had our pre-race picture taken (Scout and Squirrel have been meaning to do this for Riverlands.  Maybe 2023 is the year we finally pull it off!).

Ann and George headed back to the hotel.  They planned to eat in and not go to the pre-race meeting at 6pm.  We tried to decide what to do.  It seemed a little to early to eat, but we definitely wanted to eat before the meeting.  Rick and I planned on being in bed by 8.  We all had our phones out looking for spots.  I wanted a burger for dinner and one to take home for breakfast.  I have found that burgers are really good before my long runs.  I don't get hungry for a long time.  Kristen had found us and knew more of the food and breweries around us, having been in Steamboat since Tuesday.  We finally decided on an Irish pub that was very close.

Good decision.  We all got to sit at the outside bar.  The waiter was fun.  They had a great beer selection.  We all found something we wanted.  And since it was happy hour, they had some pretty good deals!  I ordered a  huge waygu beef burger with sweet potato fries and $7 happy hour burger to take home for breakfast.  Perfect.  We killed just the right amount of time.  Off to the pre-race meeting.

Jedi was smart.  In the long time standing, listening to the race director, I think we learned two things we cared about....and I only remember one, the course markings.  Red ribbons meant you were on the 100 course.  Blue ribbons meant you were on the 50 course (a no no for us).  Blue and red ribbons meant you were on course that was shared by both 50 milers and 100 milers.  Yellow ribbon was our Mr T.  You are where you don't belong.  I'm not sure how much we missed, but we left soon after that.  Mindy texted Anne with the little we learned.

Well, Rick and I were in bed by 8, but I did not fall asleep sometime after 10:30.  By 3am, I was awake for the night.  I tried to stay quiet and still so that Rick could get some sleep.  He did better than me, but still not that well.  Remember I mentioned how much my resting heart rate had increased during Ally's illness?  Well, in CO, my heart rate during sleep was at least 10 bpm faster than my normal.  This night it was a full 18 min faster (normal is high 40s).  What's that mean?  Who knows.  More stressed?  Due to race or elevation or both?

Finally, it was time to get up.  I set out all my clothes, put my bladder filled with water and one flask with Ginger Mapleade into my vest.  Then I ate my cold burger.  It was bigger than I realized, but I was able to eat all but one bite.  I did take off the onion and tomato so it was burger, cheese, pickles and mayo.  Ready.  I checked in with Squirrel.  She was ready to head to the start...Oh!  That's the other thing we learned at the meeting.  The start wasn't obvious due to the construction going on at the ski resort.  We would be met my race people who would lead us to the start.  Interesting.  We knocked on Jedi's door, but there was no answer.  Probably out there already.

I don't think I mentioned that Jedi and I had opted to take the race up on the early start for the elderly.  Any woman over 50 or man over 60 could start at 7am rather than at 8 with all the rest.  I hate a mass start so was all over it!  And, if I needed that extra hour, yeah, I'd take it.  Since the first three miles are straight up the ski slope, I could just envision the long conga line, with all my claustrophobic issues driving me crazy.  If there is a perk for being old, yes please.

Of course Tanya was there!  She made sure we had photos to document.  Bucky, Craig, Karen, Sam, Kristen, and Pete also made it out to see the early start!  I started in shorts, short sleeved TMR shirt, sleeves, gaiters, poles, and stuffed vest.  I think there were less than 25 of us that toed the line at 7.  And we were off!!!

Next installment: The Race

2022 Run Rabbit Run

 A few years back, I told Craig that I was going to run RRR in 2021.  He was in.  Then I DNFed at Never Summer and needed to go back to get it right.  I only do one big race a year now.  Sorry, Craig.  I won't be going out with you.  Happily, I completed Never Summer in a time I could live with (big thanks to my pacer, Joker, who flew out just to see me through!).  Four starts and two finishes, I was done with that race for good.  I could move on.  Craig had his first ever DNF at RRR.  It's not a good feeling.

So, done with Never Summer, I could move on to RRR.  I really wanted to do another 100 before calling it good.  Craig was of course going to get redemption.  Slowly, the number of Trail Monsters registered climbed.  By the time registration closed, we had six registered for the 100 and two for the 50!!!  It was going to be a party!  In fact, we had two parties here at home to get ready.  Ok, the first one was more just party, but we did talk some logistics and strategy at the second.

Training had not gone according to my plan (I tweaked my Never Summer training schedule into what looked more like the 100 plans Squirrel and I followed for our two).  I factor in Riverlands and count the marking miles.  I make sure the race is on one of my back down weeks; I follow the classic three build weeks, 1 back down.  On a run at Riverlands when the trails were mostly clear, I made the poor decision to go spikeless.  On a short little down before an icy bridge, I was eying the bridge to assess my options.  Woosh!  There was black ice on that little down.  I was one my back with my right leg folded under me.  I was sure I messed up my knee.  I struggled to stand.  I knew Steve Day was in the park.  I called him.  He wasn't far away.  By the time he got to me, I decided I better keep moving.  He was good to leave me.  

PAUSE - Did you think this was a race report?  Either just wait; it's coming or skip down to the sub-heading "Race".  

Well, my knee was okay.  Turns out my ankle was not.  I tried to walk it off.  It's always worked for me before, but it just kept getting worse.   So, I'd gone too far to turn around, better to walk out to the ATV trail and go back that way.  Sigh.  The downs were still icy.  I had to work to make sure I didn't fall.  The slopes angered my ankle more.  It took a long time, but I made it back to my car.  The drive home was challenging.  Rick found crutches from storage.  I think they were from his knee surgery.  

Ally kitty wasn't eating.  I thought she might have a tooth issue.  She was getting older and the vet had commented on them before.  I called them to make an appointment.  I figured she could wait until I could bear weight.  It was Monday.  I made the appointment for Friday.  By Tuesday, I called back.  I think she needed to be seen that day.  Rick helped me with the carrier.  Ally was much sicker than I imagined.  Her kidney values were so high they were unreadable.  My vet made arrangements for her to be admitted to the Maine Veterinary Medical Center in Scarborough.  They had better testing equipment and came back with the actual values for Ally's kidneys.  It wasn't good.  They came up with a course of treatment.  After a couple of days we would reassess.  I was heart broken.  I drove down to visit her each day.  It was hard.  She had the IV ports.  She was used to having no rules.  Now there were all the rules.  She normally ate like a lab.  She was so food motivated and would eat anything.  Have you seen the video of her eating a cherry tomato?  Now we were using special food to entice her to eat, happy if she lapped a little of my finger.

After three days, they had to ask me again what I wanted to do.  Her numbers had com down slightly.  Do we continue, hoping to get them to something manageable.  I felt we owed her every chance, all the while hoping that was what she would have chosen.  Was she too miserable?  Finally, after 6 days in the hospital, we decided to bring her home so she could die where she was comfortable.  My resting heart rate had gone up well over 10 bpm.  I didn't feel well.  It's hard to take care of yourself when you don't even feel like you're taking care of your cat.  Was it a day or two after we let Ally go that I realized I really didn't feel well?  Of course I was heartbroken, but I really didn't feel well.  Turns out I had a bladder infection (probably hadn't been keeping hydrated).  The antibiotic they gave me made me sick.  Then it turns out I was on the wrong one for what I had anyway.  The new one gave me severe muscle cramps, a rare, but known side effect.  Fortunately, if I regularly took Advil, I could keep them at bay.  I didn't find that out for a few sleepless, pain-filled nights.  

This is supposed to be about a race.  Well, because of my ankle, Ally, and the bladder infection, I missed out on my first weeks of 20/10 back to backs.  Then I had a scheduled back down week for Riverlands.  Recovering from RDing at Riverlands is almost like recovering from actually running a 100.  I had to build back up to where I should be in my training.  Instead of (4) 3 week periods of 20+ backed up by a teens mile run, I did 5 total runs over 20 miles, of those, none were backed up with anything in the teens.  Most were between 10 and 11, but I did have one over 12!  Sigh.  The smart thing I added was more hill repeats.  And even smarter was June 20th, I started with weekly hill repeats at Lost Valley Ski Resort.  The grade of the LV slope was equal to anything we would see at RRR.  Running back down helped strengthen my quads.

Standing around at the Breaker, I mentioned that I would really like another pacer in addition to Squirrel.  Mindy was going to see me through the night miles starting at 44.  She would get me to mile 70, where I hoped the daylight would get me through the rest.  Without taking a second to think, Tanya offered to pace!  It's not like pacing a race here at home.  This involves vacation time, planes, hotels, and so much more than just the pacing.  She was in for the last 30!  Now, I would just have to suck it up for the lone night miles getting to Squirrel.

Rick and I knew immediately we'd head to Breckenridge the week before the race, not only is it a great place to acclimate (we sleep at about 10k'), but it's a place we love.  You can find a trail anywhere, without needing to drive.  Really, you can get by parking your rental car if you want.  

I made a shared google sheet for everyone going out so we would know who was staying where and when.  Rick and I were the first to head out, getting to our Breckenridge condo late on Thursday.  After a headache and racing heart through the night, I felt like I was pretty well set with the altitude.  Besides, part of that was probably due to beers at altitude, like real altitude.  We'd gone from sea level to drinking proper pints at 10,000'.  

Sunday, we met Pete, Mindy, and Nathan(!) in Frisco to hike a bit and visit.  Pete felt the altitude pretty hard; they'd been in CO less than 24hrs.  We still got in about 5 miles before we headed to town for lunch.  It was great catching up with Nathan.  He was doing a 50k on Saturday, but planned on being at RRR for the golden hour.  He had CO friends doing the 100 as well.

Monday, Rick and I had a really good run/walk on the trail heading from Breck to Frisco, getting in just over 9 miles.  Mindy and Pete did their own hike/fish.  Mindy saw mountain goats!!!  Even getting a pick of a mom and kid 😍.  I admit to being a bit more than a little jealous.  We've been coming out here for years now and no goats for me!!!  Even when we go to known goat hangouts!  But then I remembered it was her birthday.  Okay, universe, okay.  We met for a great birthday celebration at Kenosha in Breck.  It was pretty sweet.  From then on, Rick and I did shorter but higher hikes, getting over 12k twice.

Wednesday I worked on packing my drop bags.  I did a last minute shop in town to make up for some poor packing.  I added a second pair of long pants, knowing that I might want them at different points in the race.  I also picked up some Spring gels.  I admit that might have had more to do with the 8 week old french bulldog pup in the running store 😎.

Thursday, time to drive to Steamboat Springs.  Maybe a good time for a break.  Part 2 to come.

 

2022 Riverlands 100 - The Year July Happened in May

Mindy and I feel like we are getting the race directing thing dialed in for Riverlands.  The first year, 2017, we were less prepared than we thought.  We'd already RDed the Big Brad Ultras (50k and 50 miler) for 5 years.  So twice the distance?  Twice the effort?  Hah! 

I marked the entire course the day before the race that year while Mindy sorted all the aid station supplies and gear in Riverlands' main parking lot.  We barely made it to packet pickup and the pre-race dinner on time.  It's amazing we pulled it off.  Putting on a successful 100 is orders of magnitude more work than a 50 miler.  Now, I take over a week to get the course markings out there.  The Sunday the week before the race, we have volunteers help us sort all the aid station supplies and gear which we then store in the TMR trailer and a rented U-Haul.  

We're so fortunate to have hooked up with the Turner Timberland ATV Club or we may never have pulled off the race.  Every year they have lugged our gear to Middle Earth (our aid station approximately halfway between the turn around), our Middle Earth volunteers to and from their shifts, and retrieved injured runners.  We were a little worried this year since they were in transition in their organization, but we never should have been.  They were there for us no matter.

Mindy and I are probably as good of a team as can happen.  We fill in each others gaps.  We had four years experience under our belts for Riverlands.  Dialed in.  Then we started seeing the long term weather talking about mid 80s for our weekend.  Ok, we'd just spent a good deal of our Zoom race meeting talking about dealing with the cold at night.  That had been the main problem in the previous years.

Steve Day did our big shop for us.  We'd adjusted our shopping list to include a little more food since we had increased the solo runners from 70 to 80.  As it became apparent the long range forecast was going to hold, we tried to think of what we needed to do to compensate.  We bought a shit ton of ice.  We added more soda and pickles.  We said that adaptation would be our mantra this year.  Not that it isn't our norm, but more than usual, we'd have to react to what the heat brought.  I'd run races in unexpected heat, but we'd never race directed one.  Besides our massive ice purchase, volunteers also brought ice.  Sarah Love brought popsicles for two aid stations.  Sam Heye's mom brought ice pops to Middle Earth for her shift.  We added watermelon with salt and extra oranges. Summer stuff.

We had some last minute scratches in both runners and volunteers due to covid, a little ironic since last year we were unaffected by covid.  OK, I just realized that isn't true.  Last year, none of our Canadian friends were able to attend.  This year, at least that was back to normal.  With the normal DNSs due to normal life and ultra issues, we only had 66 people toe the line for the solo event.

Mindy stays at my house the night before the race.  She has to be here for the night before and then we need to be back to the Start/Finish (S/F) by 4:20am.  She lives 45 minutes further south.  It doesn't make sense for her to go home.  We're the first to get to S/F, at least of race personnel.  Some runners sometimes show up earlier than we'd like, but everyone does what they need to.  We know the drill.  Get the drop bags out from the trailer for Middle Earth transit as well as the gear that couldn't go out the day before.  Then get the S/F line set up as well as the drop bag area.

I'm not even sure what I said in the pre-race minutes.  I do remember the count down to go.  Immediately, the pressure drops on us for a bit.  We have stuff to do, but nothing super pressing.  We always marvel at how the race takes on a life of its own.  We help get the S/F aid station set up and start watching the Tracker and listening for issues from our aid stations.

We had ten runners drop in the first lap of the race.  Last year there were none in the first lap and six in the second lap.  This year there were 22 in the 2nd lap, making 32 out when the race was only halfway through.  Most of the runners we worked to see if we could keep them going because that's what we should do, but there were a few it was obvious they shouldn't continue.  When Nate Coombs said he was done, we tried a bit to convince him, but knew him well enough to know he just doesn't drop.  He was one of the only two on their way to a 500 mile belt this year.  Now there was just Sam.

It was so fucking hot.  Runners weren't eating.  They were drinking, taking salt tabs, and drinking pickle juice.  We added an info sheet at the aid stations to help identify heat related issues (exhaustion vs stroke).  Although, I swear much of the exhaustion symptoms resemble normal ultra stuff.  We try to encourage runners not to drop.  We want to see everyone do their best and finish.  We also don't want to see anyone have a medical emergency, a hard balance.  We were super surprised when Middle Earth had a request for more water.  We'd given them (4) 5-gal jugs more than last year, when they'd returned 5 jugs untouched.  

The first year we ran the race was also later in the month (we are the 2nd Saturday of May).  It was the year that Middle Earth was plagued by black flies.  They hadn't been that bad since....Until this year.  But, mosquitoes were never an issue.  I feel like it's not until June that they become a scourge at Riverlands.  This year, being later again and with unusually early heat, we had both black flies and mosquitoes.  Runners who were still moving, but not very fast, were subjected to unrelenting swarms of each.  It would be hard for anyone trying to stay positive.

At 4:19pm, I received a text from Craig.  It said, "Did Sam drop?  I just got a message from Grace saying he did."  I was stunned.  I checked the tracker.  There was a DNF.  I texted Chad to check since it was at Middle Earth that it said he DNFed.  Sam wasn't there.  Oh, there was no DNF for 128 who had dropped at ME.  Sam was 127.  They'd just put it in the wrong place.  It's amazing it doesn't happen more often; we're doing spreadsheets on our phones.  Phew!  Sam was still in the running to earn the 500 mile belt.  I'd never doubted he'd earn it, but this year was so crazy. I was stunned when Craig first texted, but then only sad.

The third lap, we lost 15 more.  The night had brought cooler temps, but not significantly.  It also stayed humid.  Still, soup seemed to be in demand (at least at S/F where MIndy and I were).  I think even though it was hot, it was food that people didn't have to work too hard to consume.  It made me really happy since I'd made the soup for S/F and added an extra batch because we had 10 more solo runners.  I think the ginger of the Carrot Ginger Soup was also a selling feature.  People still needed their stomachs to settle.

We'd told the Turner Timberland ATV Club that we were going to stick with the 6 hr shifts at Middle Earth, not sending out supplies other than shift changes.  We were asking that runners who needed to drop either walk back the shorter ATV route or wait till the shift change.  With the heat, we had to ask the club to do more.  Some runners couldn't walk out or wait.  Tom and Michael never complain.  They just get it done.  We love them.  Then there was Joe who we remembered from other years who was there for several shifts with Kyle and Tony.  

Back to the race....19 runners started the fourth lap.  Only one started before Sunday, the eventual winner.  In 2021, 16 runners were on the last lap before midnight.  Wow!  Well, since I already said 19 finished the race, you can figure out that all the 19 that started that last lap finished.  Damn!  Those 19 are lessons in all sorts of things, perseverance, strength, the right kind of crazy.... We were worried for some of them.  Cut offs are hard, meaning we strictly enforce them.  Mindy was keeping track of where each one was.  What time did they leave Conant?  Charlotte made the cutoff!  Meanwhile, our not-so-secret favorites, Sam and Jason were in good hands with their pacers, Bucky and Craig.  We were getting really special pics of them saying goodbye to all the "landmarks" on their last time through.  We also got a short video of Jason juggling.  Damn, Jason!  It was his first 100, though he'd run 9 relay legs in the 4 previous years.  He'd even added a couple extra miles to his 3 lap year to get 100k!!  I had no doubt he'd do great.  This year, doing great meant just finishing, but he and Sam, with Craig and Bucky along for those last 25 miles, finished in under 30 hours!  It was enough for 8th and 9th place.  Sam has a 24 hr finish on our course.  6 hours longer can be blamed on the heat.  I don't think Sam cared much about his time; he'd earned that belt!  The only runner to earn it the first year it could be earned.

I would say that everyone of the finishers could do most any 100 they entered.  We heard experienced runners telling us it was the hardest race they'd ever done. We also heard throughout the day from nearly all the runners about the level of care they received at each aid station. It's amazing they took they time after all they went through out there to make sure to thank our volunteers.  We are really grateful that we have such an amazing crew every year.  Most are experienced runners themselves so know what it’s like, but, still they give up hours of their weekends to make this race happen, standing in the woods for hours with all the same biting insects the runners are subjected to play a part in this crazy, wonderful event.

 Oh! I forgot two finishes that are important. Charlotte Clews, who we knew made both of the last two cutoffs, still would have to work really hard to get in before the final 32 hours for an official finish. With 5 minutes to go, we were all getting a little worried. We had used the grace minute two years back. Would we need it? Would it be enough?! Holy shit!! Here she comes!!! Tears streaming down her face, prompted tears from both Mindy and I. She crossed the line in 31:58:08!! Next year, she will be one of two people who could earn the 500 mile belt. I somehow love that the 3rd person ever eligible is a woman!

The second finish that was very representative about everything right with ultras and trail running, was a runner who finished, but immediately told me he'd short cut a very small part of the race during the night when he didn't have his head lamp. He bushwhacked to get to the ATV trail where he saw runners with head lamps. It was just the a very short piece right before the single track pops out onto the ATV trail. He ran back up the trail to where it popped out to get that portion, but said he wouldn't feel right if he didn't tell. We looked at the time. He could head back up to get what he'd missed. Which, after running 100 miles in grueling conditions, is exactly what he did! 

That makes me want to end on a quote from Jason's race report, "When someone in front of us DNFs (did not finish) we don't cheer that we moved up in the leader board, we feel for them. Everyone out there has put in countless hours of training, preparation, and sacrifice before they even start. It's heartbreaking."  Yes! It doesn't mean the people aren't competitive, but they don't root against anyone. I love these people.

Shit, shit, shit!!!  That makes me think of all the special volunteers (yes, they all were, but we had some extraordinary efforts).  Many, many relay runners did their legs and then volunteered or the other order.  Susan H, couldn't run her leg (found a replacement), but then put in 18 hrs at Middle Earth.  Patrick Hanna was supposed to run his first 100 with us, but found out he had a plantar fascial tear.  He volunteered for the entire race at Middle Earth (taking a few quick naps).  Our aid station captains run the show at the 3 aid stations making them the special places they are.  Ok, I could just keep going.  Done, until next year.

The race by the numbers:

• Solo winners: Israel Agront of MA in 24:35:00 and Rachel Peck of ME in 31:21:42

• 80 solo runners from 13 states and 4 Canadian provinces, 66 toeing the line

• 62 of those were from New England with 35 Mainers

• 8 of the 19 finishers were from ME, including the 2nd place man and 1st place woman

• Relay winning team: TMR in 15:43:17

• 11 of the 12 teams finished the relay with all but 1 team member finishing their legs

• 2 teams had 4 runners with 1 runner completing 2 of the (5) 20 mile legs

• 55 of the 58 relay runners were from ME with 2 from MA and 1 from NH

Riverlands to Thorncrag Adventure - or It Took a Village

 Normally, I don't do our Saturday group runs.  I lead every OSGR on Sundays so it feels nice to have a day off.  Plus many of the Saturday runs are too early for my taste, especially when travel is involved.  Yes, I'm not a fan of early runs, except when I'm on one.

Jason took over Karen's Saturday since she was going down to the Frozen Yeti.  He revealed his run would be starting at Riverlands and ending at Thorncrag.  Ok, that's exactly the kind of adventure that I love.  And OSGR the next day was going to be led by Dan of Lead with Nature, so, even though I was going, I wasn't leading.  In a way that felt like a day off.

Jason estimated a 10ish mile run.  There would be a few miles on the Androscoggin River and most of the rest on snowmobile trails.  It was going to be very cold with some wind.  I planned more than I normally would trying to account for the cold and taking longer than a regular 10 miles.  I put two Picky Bars in my pack and Tailwind.  Normally I don't pack fluids in the winter for anything under 15 miles.  I put a space blanket in my pack and extra toe warmers.  I was a little pleased with myself.  I was also happy that I left with time to spare.  I was responsible for picking Jason up at Thorncrag where he was dropping his car for the return trip.  

It wasn't long into the drive to Thorncrag that I realized I shouldn't be so smug about my packing.  I forgot my snowshoes.  Well, I didn't have time to turn around since I was, like I said, responsible for getting Jason back to the start.  It wouldn't be right to make the others wait in the cold because of me.  I decided I would just try it without snowshoes and if it was too shitty, I'd sadly let the others go without me.

I also shouldn't have been smug about leaving with time to spare.  The side roads, which most to get to Thorncrag are, weren't great.  I pulled into the parking lot exactly on time.  I didn't see Jason's vehicle.  Slight alarm till I notice he's right behind me!  He puts all his gear into my car and I tell him about my snowshoes.  Well, maybe they won't be needed, but he offers to let me use his and he'd go without.  No.

We approach the Conant Rd parking for Riverlands which isn't plowed yet (no surprise, it definitely isn't a priority).  KB and Leithan are both parked on Conant.  We pull along behind them.  It's interesting that they are both AT through hikers.  Jason again offers his snowshoes to me.  I said let me try the conditions first.  Yeah, there's no way I'm doing 10 miles in that and keeping up with folks on snowshoes.  Jason said he was probably better running without them; it would put him on more equal footing with us.  Literally.  

As we head out, Leithan, who had never planned to go all the way to the Crag, realized his snowshoes are not running snowshoes so encouraged us to just go.  He'll be happy just getting some Riverlands beautiful miles.  We said bye and headed into Riverlands.  The plan was to run in about a mile on the ATV trail and then take an off shoot to get to the river.  The ATV had not been ridden much at all by snowmobiles.  It was fairly deep sugar even with the snowshoes, but Jason was right.  He could keep pace with us better without snowshoes.

We oohed and ahhed about how pretty it was in the newly snowed woods.  We introduced KB to a few of the Riverlands landmarks: Scary chair and Mario crossing come to mind.  KB hasn't been running with us that long, but you'd never know; she feels like she belongs.  

We got to the spot where the "trail" led to the river.  Definitely hadn't seen any travel since the last storm or two.  It was where I learned how much Dion snowshoes threw up snow more than mine.  Wow!  Oh, wait.  I had already gotten a taste of it when I'd peed.  I took a few steps before fully getting my tights up.  Lesson learned.  Pull up tights first so your undies aren't snow covered (eye roll - remember this blog doesn't handle emojis well).

Holy cow!  The river scene was beautiful.  The sun was brilliant as was the sky.  The wind was a blowing.  We didn't realize how much while we were protected by the wind.  We also expected snowmobile tracks all over the river, but no.  None.  Did not curb our enthusiasm because, like I said, it was beautiful and we were on an adventure!!!  

The snow continued kicking up on my ass.  The wind continued to blow.  I may have said something about my ass freezing.  KB offered a light down puffy she had in her pack.  I said I was good.  We continued on.  Oh!  So the river was going to be that way?!  We plunged into some slush.  Jason and I were familiar with that condition, but KB was a little more concerned.  Her husband warned her she was on a river.  We assured her the ice below was super thick.  The slush, while slightly disconcerting, was most definitely above the ice.  It still isn't nice to post hole into slush.

Did I mention my ass was cold.  The wind continued to blow.  KB offered her jacket again.  Yes, please!  What a difference!!  She was wearing Dions too, but she had a quilted skirt over her tights.  I see both Dions and a skirt in my future.  Don't give me any shit.  I still am not a huge snowshoe fan, but those are so much better than my old ones and my body is more likely to get injured running in hostile conditions now.  

I didn't realize how long we'd be on the river.  I guess I just assumed we would just cross.  We ran about 3 miles on it.  You might think that was the easiest stretch since it was flat, but it had its own challenges even after we found a snowmobile track (maybe only one or two had been on it).  KB picked out spots that she knew along the river.  We chit chatted about the stuff you do.  We stopped on an island for pics and because it was adorable.

Just before the Gulf Island Dam we got off the river at the same spots kayaks and canoes do to get around the dam.  From there, we were on well traveled snowmobile trails for most of the journey.  That doesn't mean they were easy.  There was still so much sugar and surprising slush crossings.  I did mention that it was a cold day, right?  The slush was a concern.  Getting wet feet and not knowing how deep we might plunge was a concern, but, like what is so cool about such adventures, in a very fun way.  KB and Jason are such positive people.  If you ever need someone to pace you, or pick you up in the middle of the night, one of them might be a good choice.

After one of the slush fests, KB and I realized that our cleats are getting big ice clumps. She was able to get hers out.  I tried.  Then Jason tried to get mine out, but it wasn't budging.  I don't know who's idea it was, but someone came up with using KB's cleat to clear mine.  I laid down on my back and lifted my snowshoe.  She lifted hers, perfectly balanced, while Jason used her cleat to get my ice clump off.  Then we repeated with the other show.  I'm amazed.  Did I mention this was an adventure...of the best kind.

More running, more being amazed at where we are.  What?  This is the town line of Lewiston and Greene on Main St???  How does that make sense.  I'm not sure still where we were on College when we crossed.  I'll have to look at the map.  Jason had done the trek once and already had it down pat.  We were looking for an old osprey nest to tell us when to turn off the snowmobile trail to head to Whale Rock in Thorncrag.  

More slush crossings.  I went in to mid-calf on one leg and ankle deep on the other, but at least I didn't fall in!!  KB found her way around here better than both Jason and I.  She was saying, "I'm a duck, I'm a duck" over and over as a mantra as she found her path.  It worked!  

When we got to Whale Rock (almost done!), Jason and I discussed our options for the route back.  We decided on the shortest (well almost shortest, the part of the green trail that we did for the down of the hill repeats, not the steeper up).  KB suggested a pic at the fireplace and I'm glad she did; it was a good one!  And then all down hill from there!!!

Back at Jason's vehicle, both KB and I realize there's now way we can get our snowshoes off.  They are way too iced.  Jason worked pretty hard on mine, but was only getting cold fingers for his effort.  Fortunately, he has a Honda Element and could easily accommodate two runners in there icy snowshoes.  We reviewed our run and talked about all kinds of stuff as we made our way back to Conant Rd.  

Shit!  SHIT!!  My calf started to cramp.  I couldn't flex my foot because it was in the snowshoe.  It was really bad and getting worse.  I had alerted them to the issue, but then I think I yelled, "Jason, pull over!!" or "Stop the car!!", but you get the idea.  As Jason pulled the car over, I had the door open before he'd stopped.  As soon as I stepped out I had some relief.  Jason was out of the car and to my side in an instant.  He worked at getting the snowshoe off.  As he tried, I realized I was going to be able to get my foot out of my running shoe.  He helped me off with both shoes.  We put his snowshoes with my running shoes still in them into the car.  Ah!!! It felt so good to be able to stretch my calf. 

By the time we got to Conant, the ice had melted and my shoes easily came free.  I returned KB's jacket and told her she'd saved my ass!!  Both she and I had never run that far in snowshoes before.  What a great adventure!!!  We didn't say bye, but see you tomorrow because we all were doing the TMR tracking class.  Tired and happy.

When I called Rick to tell him I was done and on the way home, I also mentioned Jason lending me his snowshoes, KB lending me her jacket, the cleat cleaning, and emergency cramp stop.  He said, "Wow, you were needy!"  Laughing, of course.  Well, I was and had my needs met!