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?