STORMY RACE REPORT

Below is my race report. The long version is long. It was a 100miler after all. The short version: I trained. I ran. I finished. Have fun reading!

Sunday, August 10, 2008: It is the morning after the two last days before and I am sitting with my feet high up on two pillows with my laptop on the couch. My feet are a mess, swollen with blisters and if a fly would touch them I'd scream. Outside the birds are chirping and my two cats, Bailey and Marley, go about their usual business. As I am sitting here completely absorbed in the moment and present as I have in the last two days trying to figure out how the heck to write a race report on a 100 mile race (my first) without writing a book, I notice that although I haven't felt yet the euphoria of actually finishing, nor have I felt yet a sense of accomplishment - I feel very much alive. I feel very happy and lucky to be able to participate in such events, to belong to a most amazing giving and loving running community and to have the most generous, wonderful, supportive and inspiring friends! Such an event could never happen without the coming together of people who give selflessly for many, many hours and when you run a 100 miler it is really evident. You meet all those people and while the strength in your legs slowly diminishes, your heart fills with such love that you can almost feel it overflow! This is one of the reasons why I love this sport with the obvious one to be out there in the wilderness for a long time and why I will be back! Here are some of the highlights of this journey: it was an amazing sight when in the middle of the night on one of the trails (was it Macintosh?) bats flew in front of us like little airplanes (yet they never hit us). Early in the morning - hour 20 of the race - we saw deer. Beautiful to see dear this far into the race and watch them move and jump ever so gracefully .... The other highlight was the complete surprise that Mike showed up at mile 43 just before midnight. I did not expect him there at all since he was racing the 50miler the next day. This gave me a boost for the next 57miles!

Taper: While I did have a three week taper, my third week still consisted of 45miles running. I basically tapered for two weeks. The second week before the race was the toughest. Both physically and emotionally. My legs felt worse than they had after a 70mile week and it took some getting used to not running every day and not running to and from every event, appointment etc. in my life. I also generally did not feel energetic. The third week was physically really good. After I had my massage my legs felt like new and the count-down to the race began. I kept riding my bike to and from work and only ran once for an hour in the week before. The two days before the race I totally rested and other than stretching I didn't do anything! I did carbo load the second to last day before my race. I adopted the same system I use for my marathons and it works really well. The day before I generally eat light. That last week was emotionally a roller coaster. I was very nervous and when I was not nervous I worried because if I was not nervous where was my race anticipation? I also wondered whether I had trained enough and kept going over my training log again and again. Then I read that this happens to most ultra runners and is normal. That helped. In a marathon you basically work up to your weekly mileage; you have your speed training and hill work outs and follow a set schedule. Training for a 100miler although schedules are available if you are a working person you can really only run so much and cross train so much. Then you factor in some speed and hill training (which I tried to incorporate in some of my longer runs) and the time runs out. Add to this overtime at work and other unexpected life events. I think the stress I had before the race with lots of overtime at work and I still followed my schedule helped my endurance and I got used to running while very tired!

Pre-Race Preparation: I packed, sorted, unpacked and re-packed my stuff - from nutrition to clothing, headlamps, first aid stuff, toiletries (yep, it's a 100miler!) over the course of a week! Of course I put way to much stuff into my two drop bags. This was my first race where I didn't have a crew so I guess it was better to be over prepared.

Race: The race started at noon. From North Vancouver I got a ride with Karl to Squamish. and despite the construction the traffic was not too bad. We -met some other runners at the start, organized our drop bags and FINALLY we were standing at the start line. After months of training and preparation the moment was here. All my nervousness was gone. We were a group of 30 starters and there must have been more onlookers and people taking pictures. As we started the first group took off but what the heck - there went all my running buddies right behind them! They were running as if they were in a half marathon! I didn't care; my pack was heavy and I settled in a slow easy pace. Karl had told me that if you run a comfortable pace at the beginning of a 100miler you're going too fast. A couple of miles down the road Gilles and John stopped and slowed down and I caught up with them. They had been going a 8:30pace/mile and called it a "warm-up"! I really like the first 20miles of the course and was looking forward to running a few hours and to be out on those easy rolling trails. I was wearing a sleeveless shirt, it was sunny and hot but not too hot. Perfect running weather. I had a muffin for breakfast and a sandwich and a coffee drink for lunch so right away I made sure I started drinking my electrolyte drink. I was not too worried about eating as I ate an hour before the start. My stomach felt good and the legs were a bit heavy as usual the first hour. All was well. Great company and the miles went by quick and easy. I was pleasantly surprised that after 10miles we were an hour and a half ahead of my self-imposed schedule. I hurried Gilles through the aid stations as I was planning to spend only 1-2 minutes at each and to allow for some unexpected events. That would be at best an hour of aid station time in the 100miles. It was a good idea and great planning to have a schedule. It gets you going from point to point and I never thought of the whole 100miles (except of course days before the race when this prospect raised havoc with my head). John stayed behind us with Jessica. We got to Perth Drive (aid #4) at 4 hours and started making our way up to the University up a LONG hill towards Pseudopsuga. It was now 4:00 p.m., really hot and a long climb up. Still I power walked to keep on schedule. I noticed that I was swelling up pretty good. I stopped eating shot blocks and held off drinking for a while. I had only peed once at this point. On the way back to the University I got tired. Tired? I had another 70miles to go. I got in a not so good mood and was wondering what was wrong with me when Gilles mentioned that the 30mile mark is usually the worst for him of the whole race. We settled into a slow running pace and made our way to the Powerhouse for the first time. We would come by there four times. One down three to go. We didn't stay too long however, as soon as were ready to leave Jessica came in and was right behind me. I hurried Gilles along again and made my way out of the aid station. There were 30 starters and only four of us women. I knew Shirlee was ahead at least 45 minutes, Jessica was on my heels and Teresa from California was behind somewhere. We ran the flat towards nine mill hill and then I power walked up nine mill hill. All of a sudden we saw Glenn there looking at berries, strolling around and taking pictures of us. He obviously did not have a good race. I kept pushing and Gilles stayed behind with Glenn. There was also another fellow, Nathan, from Seattle and he walked/ran with us on and off. That hill is a killer. I did not remember it being that steep! All of a sudden we saw two guys ahead of us who - two fast guys. One of them was not walking in a straight line and the other had a worried look on his face. We soon learned that Brad was bonking and saw that he was not coherent. When I spoke to him I could not make out whether he even heard/understood me or not. It was Brad's first 100miler and Carlos is a fast runner! And the sun had gotten to Brad. I called the race director to come and pick Brad up and asked Brad if there was anything he needed. This was the first time he spoke and he asked if we had a chocolate bar or something. I gave him my snickers bar and I have never seen a human being inhaling a chocolate bar like this in my life. We made him sit down and I told him about five times to stay there and not move and to promise me that he would stay there. We kept going. This was still a race and Jessica was on my heels. I did feel guilty leaving him there though. There were other runners behind us. Amongst others Glenn. I was hoping that he wouldn't commiserate with Brad and drop out. Later I learned that he did just that. Gilles however took off with Carlos who went at a real good pace. In the meantime Nate (Nathan) caught up with me and slowly we made our way into the forest again up ring creek or rip I think it's called. It started getting dark yet it was too soon for headlamps and our pace slowed a bit as our eyes adjusted to the light. Nevertheless it is a nice down hill and it was great running after power walking up the past 7 miles! Soon Baldwin caught up with us and we were now wearing our headlamps. We joked with Baldwin and his missed singing career while Nate kept us going with his "FARTissimo"...due to something he ate earlier. Soon we got to the Powerhouse plunge, which is technical and Baldwin did a great job guiding us through it. The trail was also marked with glow sticks. Powerhouse #2. Mile 43. 10:00 p.m. As we approached I saw this guy and I thought gee, his legs look just like Mike's and oh boy was I happy when it was Mike! What a wonderful surprise. This was also where I picked up my pacer, Karin. While she is doing Ironman Penticton in two weeks she was so excited to come and pace me the night! I downed a coffee ensure, handed one to Karin, changed the bladder in my hydration pack and tried to get organized and change my shirt all the while muttering that Jessica was right behind me. Off we went into the dark with Karin, John and Nate towards Crumpit woods. It would take us three hours to complete this very technical section with lots of up hills. Finally at 1:00 a.m. Karin and I arrived at the 50mile mark which was the end of the first loop. We grabbed a potato and I downed another ensure and off we went onto the second loop. Before the race I thought this might be a difficult point in the race as it was also the start and finish area. However, I looked forward to the next 20 miles of the race. I had also done those in the night training run and felt well prepared. This time my pace was slower and we were now one hour behind my self-imposed schedule. At some point Nate caught up with us; he had some stomach issues after eating soup. We made it to Perth Drive #3 and Jessica was still on my heels. We didn't waste any time at all and kept going. We moved but much slower. I started getting tired. I had trouble running. In hindsight I wished I ran more downhills to pick up the pace. My feet started hurting and my back was killing me. I kept drinking ensure and my electrolyte drink and took some more advil. It was now somewhere between one or two o'clock in the morning and I offered Karin, John and Nate caffeine tablets. I took one myself and pretty soon it worked and I felt awake again. Just before we arrived at the Alice Lake aid station Jessica and her pacer passed us. She. was just flying by. I wished her luck. I was simply too tired to try and keep up. Although the night passed quickly we still had almost a. whole day ahead of us to race! Karin and I grabbed a potato at the aid station and made our way up the road past the campground towards the next trail section up to Edith Lake. It seemed to take forever. I think morning was approaching and although I knew those trails and this was the second time I was on them in this race and the third time in less than a month, I had lost all direction, orientation and sense of time on how long it took to get from point A to B. I was so confused and the trails just kept on going and going that I was sure they had taken the Edith Lake aid station away! Not only that but I could swear we had already passed Edith Lake! Dawn came and as our eyes adjusted to the light we put our headlamps away. We were now on a nice single track section and it was almost easy downhill running. I had felt tired again a couple of hours ago and had taken another caffeine tablet. Now the day would give me - hopefully - the energy I needed. I ate something and felt better still. We came onto a gravel/trail road and Dan from Bellingham was sitting on - was it a bench? - rubbing his foot. We asked if he was ok. He nodded and signaled us to continue. Back into the trails, up the hill and - what was that? Edith Lake aid station! I was relieved and not so excited at the same time! Relieved to see the aid station to refill my bladder, which had almost nothing left, and disappointed that we weren't farther ahead. At this point I really felt nauseous also and the aid station person even had black tea there! My feet were in bad shape and Jessica or not, I HAD to sit down and fix them. I applied some duct tape to my heels as I had read in numerous 100miler reports this would work. The guy at the aid station, I will call him angel because he had tea, knew exactly what I needed, was very knowledgeable, helpful and was in the middle of nowhere all by himself the whole night, saw what shoes I was wearing and commented on how they are such that their heel cup is low, thus the heel moves up and down more in the shoe. It would be another couple of hours now to the next aid station where Karin and I would part ways. Her job was done and she was a fabulous pacer! In the meantime we noted that the 50milers and the relay people were starting their race. Mike was doing his first 50miler and in my thoughts I wished him luck. The plan was that I would be at the finish before him. Just as we got to Perth Drive for the third time now, we saw Jessica leaving. Karin and I grabbed another potato and left. Although Jessica was running (!) we still had just under 30miles to go and I knew that I might catch her on the uphill past the University. Shirlee was now a good hour and a half ahead of me. I assumed Teresa was behind us. Karin stayed with me until she took the way straight to the Powerhouse to her car. It started to rain. By the time I reached the hill up to the University it was pouring. Somewhere along the way Nate joined me again also and it was nice to have company up this endless unforgiving stretch. I had to stop however to put my long sleeve shirt on. We had now met up with Jessica. I asked her how she was doing and she was upset because she was very tired. I encouraged her and said we'd stay with her for a bit. As I slowed down however, I got really cold. I apologized that I couldn't stay with her, picked up the pace and Nate and I power walked up the hill. All of a sudden we saw something in the bush - deer! A group of beautiful looking young deer! What a sight. We were soaked, had been on our feet for over twenty hours now and this encounter made me appreciate the journey! Finally the Pseudopsuga plunge! Nate went ahead as my feet had a hard time with the downhill and my back was hurting. As I came close to the aid station I heard people cheering. The 50 milers must have arrived. I felt really good now. We were on the last little stretch to Powerhouse #3, mile 80! 1 had never before run that far in one stretch! Once there I took a bit of a longer break to change clothes, shoes and socks. Taking off my socks my feet were a mess. There was angel No. 2 - Glenn Pace. He brought his "blister suitcase" and got to work! Once he was done my feet looked better than new and most importantly felt good; patched up and in dry socks I was confident now I could runt/walk another 20 miles! Nate had left before me and now I was on my way. All of a sudden I saw guy running next to me - it was Brad! Bonking Brad! I didn't believe my eyes. He told me that after he ate the snickers bar he felt as good as new. Had a bit of a rest and kept going again. Unbelievable! First I am seeing angels now ghosts..... The sad part was though that once Glenn saw Brad, Glenn himself dropped out just as I had feared. Nine mile hill was even more endless this time. I didn't know where Jessica was at this point and if she was even still running. There was no one to chase. Just the clock and the cut off. It was now 10:30 a.m. I had seven and a half hours for the next 20 miles. A tough twenty miles. It took me two hours all the way up nine mill hill and another two up ring whatever, down it and down the plunge. I know I lost a lot of time on nine mile hill. It was never ending and I got discouraged fearing I wouldn't make the cut off at the Powerhouse. I also was not sure anymore what the cut off was. Thankfully I did have some legs left to run most of it down ring rip. I even ran part of the plunge! Once I got to Powerhouse #4 - the last time I would be there and seven miles to go - I lost it! I saw Craig Moore and I started to cry saying how tired I was. Angel Glenn was at the aid station again, offered me a chair, fed me, gave me a hug and some good words for my last stretch. All the way up nine mile hill and down people I knew passed me and kept saying Mike is right behind me. I kept looking back over my shoulder to see if he caught up with me. As I was on my last stretch I wanted to ask him about the exact details of this section but he was nowhere in sight. I just couldn't remember anything from last night. Finally a guy passed me who knew the trails well and gave me some indication of how long it would take me. I decided to power walk everything as best I could and to run the not too technical down hills. After a very, very long time - and still no Mike in sight - I came to the parking lot. The lady said a couple of kms to go. My watch said 4:15 p.m. My goal was now to get there in less than half an hour. After 28 hours I was still worried about minutes! I ordered myself to give my head a shake. Still, I ran a bit, walked a bit, ran a bit until I couldn't run anymore. I was determined to run into the finish! Boy these two kms were long - and flat! Once I started running and got a pace going it was actually ok. I was amazed on how my legs felt! Other than my arms they were actually the best feeling part of my body! My feet and toes were definitely done; my stomach had taken a beating and my back was killing me! My legs were fine. As I looked back one more time to see if I could spot Mike so we could run into the finish together, a 50miler approached and hinted for me to keep going. I shouted that I am not a 50miler so he had nothing to worry about. Across the road, to the left and there it was - the FINISH LINE!! The finish line! ONE HUNDRED MILES! I just ran one hundred miles. All my friends were there, I heard my name and as I crossed the line I broke into tears. My good friend Heather also had tears in her eyes. That really moved me. Lucy, Gilles' wife, took me aside right away to work on my blisters. I sat there for a bit screaming as she touched my feet and watched some more 50milers come in. At the last aid station I learned that Jessica had dropped. So did Teresa. Twenty minutes after I got in, Mike ran into the finish with 11:01! His first 50miler! I was so proud of him! We both finished!!

Thank you to all my running bodies, Karl, Gilles, Nate, John to keep me company and cracking jokes. Thank you Karin for pacing me. Thank you Jessica for competing with me - my pace would have been slower without you! Thank you volunteers for all your hard work and always having a smile on your face - and lots of good food. Thank you Wendy Montgomery for putting up such an awesome race! Thank you for everyone who showed up and lent a helping hand. Thank you Lucy for cleaning my blisters and just for being there again and again! And thank you Mike for sharing all of this with me!

What to do the same: Planning: I had made a time schedule and planned overall well for the race. I studied the course, aid stations etc. It helps you going and you don't wander around aimlessly. Plus you don't tackle the whole distance at once.

Training: My training was good. There is always room for improvement but for a first time it was very good! I had plenty of long runs, a few night runs, lots of cross training and hills and some speed work. I made it to the start uninjured. Perhaps I would incorporate more running/power walking. Nutrition during run - see below; it was excellent! All my plumbing worked just fine the whole 28:41 hours! I really monitored it also and made adjustment when needed.

What to do differently: Gear: while my running wardrobe so far worked for every distance I have run from 5kms to 50 milers it did not work for a 100 miler. I would wear running underwear because due to the sweat the lining of the running shorts chafes the skin around it. I put glide on all the time but still I am hurting now!

Shoes: my trail shoes are about one size bigger than my normal every day shoes. For a hundred miler I would get at least 1 'h sizes if not two bigger and shoes with a big toe box. My feet swelled up so much at 40 miles I couldn't even get into my other trail shoes! I will also experiment on different socks.

Food: I took way too much stuff with me which was probably good for a first hundred. However, the aid stations are so well stocked that you really just need your own personal preferred food/drink such as the electrolyte and ensure.

First aid: I will definitely be better prepared for blisters and such. I had to take my feet to the clinic, have infected blisters and now have to take antibiotics.... (by the way I had all my toes taped but after 50miles of sweating even the waterproof tape comes off or starts moving around).

Pacing: it was awesome to have a pacer. It was manageable without crew. However, having a crew makes it more fun as you also get emotional support. It was a good experience though being self supported. I would pace myself better at night. Even if you can't run keep up the power walking. I lost too much time maloe, excuses because it was dark.

Nutrition: In total I drank 9-12 ensure; ate one snickers bar and one pack of M&M's (these really work well for me because you can just eat a few at a time); 3-5 packages of shot blocks; about 9 litres of Accelarade sports drink; one apple; 2 thermolites; 15-18 advil (I had overstretched my quad two days before the race so initially I took them for that and then my back was killing me); I ate bananas, water and fruit at every aid station. I never threw up and never bonked. I only lost 2lbs at the weigh in at the finish. So I suppose the nutrition worked. I couldn't stomach any solid food and all I could have was the ensure drink - I would down one at the drop bags (mile 30, 44 and 74) and then sip on it while I was running. All I wanted was fruit and the apple I ate was very welcomed by my stomach. The ensure did give me a bit of trouble after 20 hours but after that I was ok again. Accelerade has protein in it so I guess that fills me up and really keeps things balanced. When I started the race one of the girls who did the 100 mentioned that women need less food in such events than the guys. This certainly holds true for me.