Vermont 100

 

Vermont 100 mile endurance run

Sweetie, aka, Laura is quite the special gal. Her support during my period of crazy keeps me going through the tough training days and the heartbreaking race days. She is always there to let me know I’m ok, to pick me up from my low points, and celebrate our finish. Sweetie I love youJ

 

The Sweeties before the VT 100 race start. 

 

On the other hand, I have unwantingly come to accept my pesky little sister. Aka Anne (with an E). Anne refers to me as the big brother she never had and never really wanted. What can I say…. Without any apparent thought she held my feet, removed smelly wet rainbow toe socks, and helped clean my feet. I don’t believe an adoring little sister would ever do that for a big brother. Anne, I appreciate the support you gave me and Sweetie in Vermont. You’re an OK little sister – for a jogger that isJ

Chris, you rock! The Grand Slam is such an incredible journey and you are definitely going to kill it.

 

 Troy and Chris at the VT 100 start.  All fun now!

I learned to appreciate a few more things during this 100 mile event:

PAIN: Pain, it is a good thing. Pain is there to tell you when you have gone too far or done too much. Pain lets you know it is time to stop the nonsense. When you enter the period of crazy, like I seem to have done, you tell yourself pain has no business interfering with the plan. So when you are at mile 40 and the legs burn; the shoulders ache; the feet sting; and you have taken your last gasping breath of air; you tell pain to, “Go the Hell.” You persevere and keep taking one step after another. You celebrate each and every milestone you can imagine: reaching an aid station, running the first 10 yards of a hill, walking a hill without stopping, finding Sweetie for a kiss, drinking an ice cold coke, and being thankful you don’t have the Ultra-Lean yet. Pain can have her turn after you reach the 100 mile finish.  

 



On approach to mile 70 on a painful leg killing down hill.

Expanding on the period of crazy, one of the runners was participating in his 8^th Grand Slam. That’s four 100 mile runs (Western States, Vermont, Leadville, and Wasatch) between late June and early September. The dude was 62 years old. I think he is experiencing an exceptionally long period of crazy.

CRYING CHAIRS: What’s better – a long cry or several mini cries? At lean Horse in 2011 I spent roughly 2 hours in crying chairs. At the VT 100 I committed to myself that I would stay out of the crying chair. The Anne and Sweetie tag team enabled me to use the chair to my advantage. I’d flop into the chair as the tag team went into action bringing coke, water, and supplies. I stayed just long enough to drink a bottle of coke and get a quick rub down on the legs. I complained a few times about the never-ending hills but evidently my little sister lacks empathy and compassion. On one occasion she smiled sweetly, as only a little sister can do, and replied, “Vermont is no joke huh?” I think I understood the message. Quit whining and get your ass back on the trail. You will get no sympathy from me!

HORSES: VT 100 also includes an endurance race for horses. At the runner brief the race director says, “The horse will not run you over, but the rider might have a different idea.” I’m thinking someone in the past must have been trampled by a horse stampede. The experience is a little surreal when you hear a horse, I mean freight train, running at you from behind. My reaction was to get off the trail and hide behind a tree. My technique must have worked because I’m still alive.

VT 100 includes a horse endurance ride!

 

 

NAMES YOU LOVE AND HATE: One location on the course is known as Sound of Music Hill. Sure enough, we ran across a high meadow with grass blowing in the wind and surrounded by spectacular views of the VT Mountains. How could anyone not sing the Do-Re-Me tune while crossing this meadow? I came to realize that many of the uphills had sadistic street names. You just knew it was going to be bad when you read Hill Avenue or any other name with Mountain, Peak, Pain, or Agony in the title. Using the picture below (the left axis is 200 feet per line) can you guess how many times I regretted reading the street sign? If I told you there was a combined total of no more than 1 mile of flat running surface I would be lying.

 



WHATS TOUGHER: I get asked this question frequently: What’s harder, the 100 mile run or the Ironman? No offense to my Ironman friends, but the 100 mile run (and for some courses the 50 mile run) is a significantly more demanding event. That said, I also believe the training for a hundred mile event is significantly easier than the training for an Ironman. I can’t say I should be proud of the realization that I have it covered either way:)

TIMBER: If a tree falls in the VT Mountains do you hear it? Yes, especially when it falls on the 4x4 you are driving (Pictures to follow one day).

 VT 100 was number 9 of 11 for 2013. I finished 67^th in a field of 325. 200 completed the event with 97 beating the 24 hour buckle clock. I humbly accept the many chickings I received. Next up is the Allentown Marathon followed by Palo Duro.  

 

Troy and Chris - Buckle Winners!  Hey, where is the hair?

 

 

 

High Bucks-to-Mile = Low Runner-Return

High Bucks-to-Mile = Low Runner-Return 

Is it only me or do you also believe race entry fees increased without any real justification or benefit to the runner?  I recently ran in two events sponsored by Tejas Trails.  To be honest I think an early entry fee of $80/70/50 for a trail 50K/25K/10K is excessive (add another $20 for late entry fees).  If the fee covered some decent swag then maybe the millage would be justified.  Turns out I was wrong.

Maybe there are not any other fees?  Wrong.  In addition to the “Registration Fee” the Tejas Trails events also tacked on a few other fees.  When you arrive you get to pay the Private Owner’s daily use fee of $10/person – even if you are a spectator and not running.  You also get to buy your own food pre/post race.  Does anyone reading this really think a 10K trail run should cost $60 plus food?

Maybe the race aide stations will be every 2 miles?  Wrong.  You still need to carry your own hydration system.  While I’m at it, I’m growing very tired of hearing race directors for trail races state, “Aide stations are limited – after all it is a trail race and you should be self sufficient.”  Personally, that sentiment by trail running gray-hairs is bull shit.  Participation in trail running events over the past few years has soared.  Race directors need to recognize that many unprepared participants will attempt to complete the race and compensate with more frequently placed manned and unmanned aide stations.

The swag was really great?  Wrong.  Ill fitting cheap-o tech shirts with sponsor advertising all over the back.  There were nicer shirts for sale if you wanted one.  No finisher hat, shirt, mug, nothing.  Wait, I did get a generic finishers medal.  The same one that is handed out every year for every event distance.         

I bet the post race cookout and beer was fun?  Wrong.  Hungry-I hope you brought cash.  Thirsty- I hope you like BYOB (which I typically do anyway).  Ever do a Rock-N-Roll event?  How did you like buying the $5 cans of MichUltra (aka-water) when you finished?

At least some of the millage went to charity?  Wrong.  If it did, I was certainly not aware of the charity.

I understand that without race directors we would all be forced to find places to run on our own.  Imagine groups of people getting together to run on public and private lands all over the U.S. for a few bucks each.  In many ways race directors have a thankless job.  That said, there ought to be a bucks-to-mileage ratio of some sort.  As for me, I believe high dollar events should provide more runner amenities.  Too many times I find that as the fees go up the overall attention to the runner goes down.   I’ve done some recent non-Tejas events that cost a third to half less and been amazed by the attention the runners receive.  Pre-race meals, nice tech shirts, loot in the race pick-up bags, random door prizes, lots of portapotties, finisher apparel, post race meals, and beer. 

So how is it one organization/group is able to fully support their runners for 40 bucks while other organizers can’t seem to be minimally attentive for a 100 bucks?  When did running events become more about the take at the end of the day and less about the runner?  Why do I/we continue to support organizers that over-charge runners that participate in their events?   What is a fair price and why? 

It’s time to boycott organizers with a high bucks-to-mile ratio and a low runner return.

From Great, to Good, to Bad, to Horrible

Crazy Desert in San Angelo is a very fast trail course.  The local running club (San Angelo Road Lizards) do a good job with the event.

The weekend between Cross Timbers and Crazy Desert I started having IT Band issues with the left leg at the end of a long mileage weekend.  I finished the training run and the left leg was in poor condition.  The week before Crazy Desert I drastically cut back on the weekly mileage in an effort to rest the leg.  Crazy Desert 50K was the test.

I started out great!  At the half way point (about mile 16) I was running in first and was on my way to setting a new course record.  I was running comfortably with no issues whatsoever.  I had about a 1.5 mile lead on number 2 and 2 miles on number 3.   At mile 20 I checked by pace and was pleased to see I was still easily hitting 8 minute miles.

At mile 22 things dropped to good.  The temperature was in the low-80’s range and the 20-25 mph wind was relentless.  An occasional twinge along the IT Band had begun.  I was still running well, albeit a little slower. 

At mile 24 things dropped to bad.  I began having difficulty sustaining any run pace (even my old man shuffle) for more than a few minutes.  The IT Band pain was soaring.  I unsuccessfully tried mixing up the run/walk stride to compensate for the IT Band.  This only succeeded in wearing a half-dollar sized blister on the left foot and aggravating a very old and sometimes cranky groin injury. 

By mile 26 bad had become horrible.  I knew I would not complete the race.  I was unable to walk more than 50-100 yards without having to stop and attempt to rub down the left leg.  What I really needed was a little “Massage By ErinJ”  Still in first, when I reached mile 27 I sat down, called for the SAG wagon, ordered a beer and popped two painkillers.

I might have been able to walk out the final 4 miles.  It would have taken about 2 hours and I very likely would have trashed the leg and potentially initiated damage to other body parts.  I’ve run with severe pain before.  Somehow the body just knows when you can run in pain and when you are supposed to cease and desist all activity.  This was a cease and desist day.  In the end I worked in a solid long trail run and I’m still able to continue training for VT100.  Even though I know dropping out is the right call, every part of me is disappointed with a DNF while leading the race.

There’s always next year – right?    

What have you done for me now?

“He used to be a runner.  Now he is old, slow and fat.”  I think the sharp comment directed at me by a soon to be former trackie as I rounded the corner is mostly in jest with a pinch of reality.  Is it true that you are only as good as last week’s mileage total?  Why does our small band of runners consistently evaluate each other in terms of, “What have you done for me now?”

We all have running accomplishments.  We retell running exploits while sitting around the beer chest and crowding each other’s kitchens during parties devouring deserts.  Eventually the questions become, “How much did you run this week or what is your next event?”  A piercing reminder of that was before – not now.   

And so, it was during a break in training (some may say lapse in training) that I had to once again pull it together and muster the confidence to start anew.  I had to find the will to do what is natural – run.

I struggle with getting my mind right.  I feel the need to watch, “Cool Hand Luke,” right now.    The joy of running, without purpose, isn’t very joyful. 

The first thing I need to do is simple.  Just go run.  A few miles is better than no miles.  3 days per week is better than no days per week.  Every week in a month is better than no weeks a month…  

The second thing I need to do is painless.  Just commit to something - anything.  Pick an event and put down the money.  Here in lies my weakness.  I don’t “just commit.”  I go big.  For me, commitment is a toss-up between ambitious goal setting and complete stupidity.  This time around I went for complete stupidity.

The third thing I need to do will physically hurt.  Get serious about your commitment.  Money is involved.  Missing an event due to a self induced lack of training from an apathetic attitude isn’t going to happen.  Scott Hamilton once said, “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”  It is time for me to choose my attitude.  It is time to run with a purpose.  It is time to embrace the pain (there will be pain) and joy (there will be joy) of another training cycle.

The fourth thing I need to do is mentally tough.  Accept the kind words and motivation from others along the way.  Return the favor.  What we do as a runner-in-training is a significant undertaking, both personally and for those nearby.         

It’s all paid in advance.  Now to implement my 2013 Plan of Complete Stupidity in order to accomplish my ridiculously ambitious 2014 goal.  The ultimate goal is to run my 50^th marathon/ultramarathon at the 2014 Cowtown Marathon at least one hour faster than my first marathon.  My first Marathon was at the 2004 Cowtown Marathon in just under 4 hours.

To meet the goal I need to complete a crazy number of events in 2013.  You are more than welcome to share some or all of the pain along the way (Psycho 50K, Cross Timbers Marathon, Crazy Desert Marathon, Grasslands Marathon, Hell’s Hills 50M, Pandora’s Box of Rocks Marathon, Whispering Pines 50K, Abilene Summer Solstice 6HR, Vermont 100M, Palo Duro 50K and one other TBD event). 

For 2013 I think I will have a response for, “What have you done for me now?”