MT100 Pacer's Report

RUN/HIKE/WALK 25 miles in just over 9.5 hours

Hoo boy. Long day, long report. A better word for these "reports" is probably "narrative" but that doesn't alliterate with "race" ;)

I drove to Potosi Saturday afternoon and unfortunately missed TV as he started his 3rd lap. Turns out he's moving faster than anticipated. So I set up my tent, talked to MV about my sleep plans, and ate a dinner of 2 eggs, orange, and some of my pre-run bucket. To be prepared (and warm), I put on all my clothes for the run: long bra top, Craft baselayer, armwarmers, Brooks fluoro long sleeve, yellow windbreak jacket, compression socks, Mizuno tights, Cascadias. I brought along an assortment of head and hand options, decided on a head band and beanie top, and my mini-gloves with the Brooks mitten shell. My goal was to layer as much as possible so I could change it up as needed. As I lay in the tent under a blanket, I was getting warm and started thinking I could be overdressed!! I'm glad I didn't change anything...

I settled to sleep shortly after 7pm, not really sure I'd be able to sleep with the cowbell, generators, people walking by, and lights. But I did doze off. Woke up around 930, dozed off again, woke up to the 11pm alarm. MV and I predicted TV could come through around 11:30, so this time was to be used eating and waking up. I woke up OK, had my pre-run, and waited...but decided against standing by the finish line. Went back to the tent, wrapped up in a blanket, and listened for cowbell. I might have dozed here a bit, not sure.

Cowbells announced runner's arrivals, and soon enough TV came in. Turns out he overpaced and "the wheels fell off around mile 65". He was apologizing for the fact that I was joining him for a long walk in the woods. No need to apologize, I'm in for whatever! Although I have to admit, it was looking like a long cold night.

We took off with a lot of f-bombs and moaning from TV as he re-warmed up. I had some trouble in the first mile just warming up my head, I didn't have coffee or a caffeinated gel as planned, thought I'd see what I needed and go from there. But once moving, I was OK. Cold, but OK.

Not gonna write this up mile by mile, don't worry! Gonna hit the highlights as I think of them.

My knuckle lights worked great, I'd had some doubts after a practice with them Thursday morning. They fit fine with gloves. I did get some left elbow muscle soreness, maybe from holding the light? My headlamp hurt after a few hours on the head, but it worked perfectly.

My clothing was almost not enough! When we went down into the valleys it was cold and humid. One layer less and I would have really struggled. At one point around 3:45am all I could think about was a fleecy heated blanket set to eleven.

My nutrition was better than expected. I'd planned for a 7-10hr trip and tried to bring both run and walk fuels. The run fuel being gels and powerbars, the walk fuel being banana-quinoa waffles and powerbars. So unfortunately I carried a lot of gel weight that went unused. My camelbak was STUFFED with gear and food, when morning rolled around and I started shedding layers I didn't have much room for it. I ended up ignoring the 30-min Garmin alarm and ate as needed. I ate all the waffle (banana, quinoa flakes, 2 eggs), a powerbar, a banana in pieces at various aid stations, some baked potato with salt, and 2 ginger chews. That's it!!! When we finished I was hungry, that's it.

My hydration was as needed, I used the garmin alarm to remind me, and tried to drink whenever TV did, much like I learned to do running with TH. I had to pee at every aid station (every 5 miles) so I think I did OK.

My legs suffered, they aren't trained to walk this! I stumbled over every rock it seemed, as if I didn't have trail footing. More likely it was fatigue and the distracted focus of running in the dark. My left knee started hurting about 2/3rds of the way in, the same pez animus pain I had one year ago in the MT50. (it didn't hurt much at all once the race was over).

My body did OK in a cardiovascular sense, I've got the endurance for this. But my mind suffered the most. This wasn't my race, so the 'burn' to finish that TV had wasn't as strong for me. I had soooooo many moments of "god I wanna quit"-- even though I never would have -- the urge and fight was strong.

My pacer job I think went OK. He led the loop to set his own pace. I learned to stay quiet in technical sections so he could focus. I was able to fast walk and keep up with his shuffle-run with only having to run a few sections the entire way. I pointed out when he was leaning, hunched, stutter-stepping, staring to much at his watch, not peeing, and sitting too long. He thought he wouldn't remember most of the loop, and I've yet to ask.

We joked about pet rocks, naming the rocks on the course, listened attentively for generators, celebrated the upcoming aid stations, he became a bit fixated on trail litter and mushrooms. We had a dry crossing at Brazil. We were passed by LeeD after the 2nd aid station. I asked if he was seeing things (only a root that looked like a skull). We talked about Michigan, his trip to the west coast, anything and everything. But mostly we were quiet and focused in the dark.

We looked forward to the sun coming up mostly. At first it was just a lightening of the sky. Then we could see the tree silhouettes, then details of the trees to our left and right. What a change to not see just black. Then before you know it, the sun is up!

I learned a lot this morning. I learned that yes I put my mind to something that's 'not mine' and finish it though suffering (I kept thinking, if I hurt this bad how does he feel!). I learned that preparation and planning can pay off. And I learned what it might be like when I run my own 100, this was like a preview of what I might be facing in 2015: dark, lonely, fatigue.

Can I do it? Do I want to? Tough questions. Maybe I should recover first!