The Bigger Picture - Destin Beach 50K

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Destin Beach 50K

February 15, 2015

Running can be a selfish sport.  Training for a marathon takes several hours away from your family each week.  Long runs typically take place on a weekend when you could be doing something else fun with your loved ones.  Sometimes it requires your spouse to watch your children (or in my case border collie puppies) while you run for hours on end.  Then you get home and all you want to do is kick your feet up in your recliner and relax.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy running.  The time I spend on the trail or road is my church, time to reflect on life.  I’ve always ran for my own benefit, until this year.

       I decided to sign up for the Destin Beach 50K Ultra Run.  It takes place in Florida in February.  My original plan was just to sign up and run on the beach in Florida and get away from the cold and snow of Michigan.

        I knew that the race benefitted a charity, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.  As an Army Reserve veteran, I felt this charity fundraiser was something I might want be a part of.  I looked into the organization and saw it rated very high on CharityNavigator.com, it scored higher than nearly 98% of all other charities in the United States.  That was important to me know know that almost all of the money raised whet to the cause.  In this case, the funds go to provide scholarships to the children of special operations personnel that have died in operation or training missions.  It also provides assistance to severely wounded special operations personnel and their families.  

There was no requirement to take part in the fundraising. You could raise as little or as much money as you wanted.  You could just sign up for the race and not fundraise, even most of your entry fee benefitted the charity.  

I have always been reluctant to fundraise because I didn’t want to ask all my family and friends for donations.  I had read about other running events and that you had to raise so much in donations to participate.  Some events require you to provide your own credit card and whatever you don’t raise will be charged to your card.  I was not comfortable with signing a contract and securing an amount upwards of  $4,000 on my credit card for a race such as the Boston Marathon.  Don’t get me wrong, they have great charities involved, but I just wasn’t in a position to pay that amount if I was only able to raise $1,000 or so.  

       A few months prior to the race I set up a fundraising page through the  charity and the race websites.  I made a post on my Facebook page and informed everyone that I was going to be doing a fundraiser for the next few months.  I gave a brief explanation of the charity and let my friends and family know that any donation was appreciated and no donation was too small.  The donations trickled in at first but closer to the event they came flooding in.

There were 152 finishers in this event.  Forty-five people in the group took part in the fundraising.  The previous year the event raised over $34,000.  This year the race director set a goal of $55,000.  I set a personal goal of $1,000.  There was no penalty if I didn’t reach my goal, so I set it higher than the amount I expected to raise.  As incentives, the race director said he would refund half of your race entry fee if you reached $1,000 and all of your entry fee if you reached $2,000.  If you were able to reach $5,000 he would refund 100% of your entry fee and give you a free entry to the event next year.    

The event was amazing.  The entire race took place on the beach.  It was a beautiful sunny day and the temperature was close to perfect.  The waves rushed in and splashed on my shoes.  I felt a part of something bigger, something better.  When I crossed the finish line, the race director handed me my medal and a lady approached me.  She said her husband was killed in the line of duty and she thanked me for my participation in the event.  She told me that her children had benefitted from the college scholarship provided by the charity.  The look on her face was enough for me to know that I made the right decision to fundraise for this charity.   She more than willingly accepted a hug from this sweaty runner.  

At the awards ceremony, the race director announced that as a group we raised  $55,000.  Due to the generosity of my family, friends, coworkers, employers and a few total strangers, I was able to raise $2,330 to help this amazing cause.  I cannot believe that I achieved more than double of my goal and at the time of the event I was the third highest fundraiser for this year.   

I was afraid to try something different.  I was alway running for myself.  It felt really good to raise money for fallen brothers and sisters.  That day we all ran together.  We were runners, military and civilian and part of the special operations family.

Born to Read - My Top Picks for Running Books

Born to Read

People have often asked me, “What do you think about when you run?”  Oddly, the answer is that I think about everything but running while I am doing it.  I think about what I am going to have for dinner, what I need to buy at the grocery store, and sometimes I think about nothing at all.  The opposite is true when I am not running.  If I’m driving to work and I see someone running, I wish that was me running.  If I hear a marathon is being held that I am not at, I am jealous that I’m not there.  So what do I do to pass the time when I cannot be running?  I read about it.  Here are my top picks I feel every runner should read.

Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women’s Sports by Katherine Switzer

I’m amazed by Katherine’s courage and passion, she paved the way for women in the sport of running.  The journey through her training and racing at a time when women weren’t even allowed to participate in some running events is mind boggling.  She proved to the world that running will not make your uterus fall out.  

Flanagan’s Run by Tom McNab

This is the lost classic of running books. It is fictional, based on an actual footrace across america that took place in 1929.  The tale involves two thousand hopeful participants that will race through incredible terrain and weather to try to win a large cash prize.  They come from all around the world to accept this challenge, each one with a different dream and hopes for a brighter future if they win.  The author was an olympic coach and he did an amazing job capturing the mental and physical pain of the runners. 

Running Through the Wall: Personal Encounters with the Ultramarathon by Neal Jamison

I read this book while training for my first ultramarathon.  I’ll admit these stories scared the pants off me.  I could only read one chapter at a time as my butterflies would get the best of me and I’d break out in a sweat just thinking about my upcoming event.  If you want to learn more about why someone would run fifty or one hundred miles, run all day, night and then part of the next day, then this book is for you.  

Duel in the Sun: Alberto Salazar, Dic Beardsley, and America’s Greatest

Marathon by John Brant

This story is running rivalry at it’s best.  Somehow I missed out on this book until a few years ago.  I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it.  It chronicles the two men training and competing in the 1982 Boston Marathon.  They each have their own personal struggles prior to the event, but the aftermath of drug addiction, accidents, and depression was shocking.  The author did an amazing job describing the race, it almost felt as if I was there watching it unfold.

To the Edge: A Man, Death Valley and the Mystery of Endurance by Kirk Johnson

Badwater is commonly known as the World’s Toughest Footrace.  It is 135 miles across Death Valley.  The race takes place in July and the course starts at the Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level and ends at the Whitney Portal, 8,360 feet in elevation. It’s so hot that the participants have to run on the white painted line on the road to keep the soles of their shoes from melting.  The author’s brother, a runner, committed suicide.  Johnson then started running to try to cope with his brother’s death.  He had not even run a marathon prior to Badwater.  This is basically his couch to Badwater account.   

Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner by Dean Karnazes

This book is the single reason I got into running ultramarathons.  I absolutely devoured this book.  Who knew a mortal man could run these crazy distances?  Who thought you could have a pizza delivered to you while on your run and you could roll it up like a burrito and eat it while running?  Dean is an inspiration. His book helped push myself out of my comfort zone and complete distances that I had before thought would have been impossible.  

Each of these stories embrace the physical and mental toughness involved with running and completing challenges.  Through sheer determination and grit you can accomplish whatever you set your mind too.   There should be no limits on where your running can take you.  Create your own story.  

Convert to the Skirt - Why I Wear a Running Skirt

CONVERT TO THE SKIRT

I’ll confess, I’m a t-shirt and jeans kind of person.  Getting dressed up is not my thing.  Dress clothes make me feel uncomfortable and don’t event talk about high heels.  I am not a “girly” girl.  

So why do I wear a skirt when I run?  I don’t remember how or when I stumbled upon the Skirt Sports brand of clothing. I’d never even seen someone run in a skirt before.  But when I saw the “tattoo” print skirt, I knew I had to have it.  It was pink, had slits cut up the side, and the hem that was well above the knee.  It was nothing I would ordinarily pick to wear ever, let alone for running.  I was not even sure I had ever owned anything pink in my life.  

The package arrived and I tried it on.  I instantly felt like a different person.  Then I went for a run.  The sides swished up and gave a little flip at the end of my stride. It felt breezy and light.  It was fun, cute and a little sexy. Did I mention my husband loved it?

How can a piece of clothing change you? Well, I’m not rail thin and I don’t like the way typical running shorts put everything out there to be seen.  Every lump and bump visible to the world.  Running skirts made me feel different about myself, stronger and more confident.  I felt like the cool kid in high school, which I assure you I probably wasn’t.  I started wearing the skirt to races, and eventually to my first 50 mile trail race.  Sometimes when a girl passes a guy on the trail he will say he was “chicked.”  I heard one guy say when I passed him that he’d just been “skirted.”  

     My friends now can tell it is me from a great distance on the trail because of the skirt.  I’ve even been recognized from behind, I hope that is a compliment.

I know that I am a better person when I run.  It clears my mind and refreshes my soul.  My Skirt Sports running skirts have helped define me.  They created an even better version of myself because I feel great when I wear them.  

     To sum it up in the words of Nicole DeBoom, the Skirt Sports founder, “When you look good, you feel good.  And when you feel good, you perform better.” 

***Disclaimer: I am a brand ambassador for Skirt Sports.  They provide me with discounts on their products.  Regardless of this, I would wear their products and sing their praises.  It's a company I believe in and am I'm proud to be a part of their family.  

Wherever You Go, There You Are - The tBunk Endurance Challenge

WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE

The tBunk Endurance Challenge

November 7-9, 2014

Would you rather risk failure attempting something hard or have guaranteed success doing something easy?  That was the question I asked myself when I searched for my next race.  I opted to try something hard, something I had no idea if I could complete.    

Registration opened on April Fool’s Day for the 2014 tBunk Endurance Challenge.  This was the second year for the event.  It consisted of a 200 mile, 150 mile, 100 mile, 50 mile races and a 50K “fun run.”  I decided to risk failure and signed up for the 200 miler.   The race series was named after Tom Bunk, an ultra runner from Wisconsin.  He passed away shortly before the 2014 event, after a courageous battle with cancer.  I never had the chance to meet him, but everyone that I encountered spoke highly of his dedication and generosity towards others and the sport of ultra running.

All the races are in the Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin.  The race is described as tough but fair.  It is designed to test your mettle, not your patience.  The course for the 200 miler consists of 22 laps on the 9.19 mile blue loop.  This actually totals 202.18 miles, because why do 200 miles when you can do 202.18?  The course is not overly rocky or rooty, but  a million fallen oak leaves easily hid the trip hazards.  The elevation change totals 37,400 feet.  The race started at 7:00 a.m. on Friday and you must be finished by 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.  In the first year of the event there were only two finishers.  Lucky for me, one of them was my friend David and he offered to pace me.  My wonderful husband, Erick was there to crew for me and updated friends and family of my progress on Facebook. 

David and I before the race.

       We arrived at the start/finish area at 6:00 a.m. to drop my gear off and pick up my bib.  I brought a huge rubbermaid tub filled with several changes of shoes, socks, clothes, hats, mittens, hydration packs, water bottles, skin lubricants, and headlamps.  I also had a cooler filled with electrolyte drink mixes, energy gels, and more than a dozen bottles of Ensure.  I held out hope that these lotions and potions will get me to the finish line.   Other runners arrived and I saw that I was not the only one that packed as if they were going to be out there for a week.  

Me and my gear.

  The temperature was 34 degrees, a chilly start.  There were 13 people registered for the 200 miler, only 11 showed up.  The 150 started at the same time and there were seven people registered for that event.   

The small field of runners.

There was such a small group that it seemed more like a training run with friends than a race.  I felt pretty comfortable being in the back of the pack.  I took the first loop in two hours and four minutes.  I had two hours and forty minutes. to complete each loop.  I knew I ran it too fast, yet I was the last person to complete the loop.  

The second loop I tried to pace myself better, I came in about 12 minutes slower.  The next few loops went by uneventfully, unless you include the abdominal cramps and vomiting.  The wind picked to 20 mph and temperature dropped into the high 20’s during the night, accompanied by a cold rain.  At the end of loop 6 (56 miles), David started to pace me. I have bad night vision and it is harder for me to see trail markings in the dark.  I was glad he was there, even when we both missed a course marking and logged an extra mile.  

      I no longer wanted to eat solid food after I vomited a second time.   Two Ensure per loop seemed to keep up my calorie intake. My feet started hurting and I stopped for a shoe and sock change.  It felt as if each loop during the night I was developing a new problem.

      The 100 mile and 50 mile runners started their race at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, we started to see them on the course about 15 minutes later.  They were running on fresh legs and flew by us like we were standing still.   They passed and said words of encouragement.  Ultra runners rarely pass without saying something.  You don’t get that in shorter races.  There is a sense of camaraderie.  Possibly it is because most of us are competing with ourselves or the clock and not each other. 

Forcing down a PB&J.

We finished loop 9, 82.81 miles at 8:18 a.m..  It was 43 degrees and the wind picked up to 30 mph.  I kept forcing in the food that I did’t want to eat.  My breaks between loops became longer.  I wanted to go faster but my legs just wouldn’t cooperate.  I know as a runner the furthest distance is not the length of your race, it is the distance from your head to your feet.  This is especially true when there is a short circuit someplace in between. Loop 10 was completed at 11:53AM, 91.9 miles.  I was pretty happy to be running at all at this point.  Typically, at a 100 miler I walk almost everything after the 100K mark.   I was not going fast, but I was still going.  

At 4:27 p.m. I hit a new level.  101.09 miles, further than I had ever run before.  I took a 15 minute nap, which turned out to be a big mistake.  After being warm and comfortable laying in a cot, I did not want to get back up or go back out in the cold. I hit loop 12, 110 miles at 7:58 p.m., each loop was taking longer than the last.   The temperature continued to drop into the low 20’s.  I had to stop and change into warmer clothes for the night.  It was more time down the drain, but to keep going I had to stay warm.

Attempting to nap.

 

Going up the hills became increasingly difficult, I developed a pain in my hip flexor.  A fellow runner offered some pain medication.   It helped for awhile.   At dusk the first of my hallucinations started.  I asked David, “When did they put that building there?”  He looked at me strangely and I knew it was my mind playing tricks on me.  What I saw was a large screened in building with a person inside on a ladder, behind the building was a huge cell tower.  He told me the building was not there and that it was a tree, not a cell tower.  I stared at him in disbelief.  I approached it slowly while it disappeared and turned into a tree, just like he said.  

Stalling, not wanting to go back out.

Throughout the night I apologized to David because I was walking so much.  I felt that I was letting him down. He reminded me that I was at a point that was further than I had ever gone before.  

My hip flexor took a turn for the worse during the night.  I looked more like a prisoner dragging a ball and chain than a runner.    Each time I approached a hill I was forced to physically pick up my left leg to make any progress up the incline.  We were both exhausted mentally and physically during this loop.  To add insult to injury, it started snowing.  

We came into the aid station after loop 14.  I knew there was no chance of making the cutoff for the 150 or the 200 at this point.  I decided that 128.66 miles would be the end of my race.  I knew in my heart I could have pushed myself on to the 150 distance, but it would not have been within the cutoff.  No buckle, no official finish, but I would also likely have a lasting injury.  My journey ended 1 day 21 hours and 7 minutes after it began.  I knew David wished he had brought me to the 200, but I told him I would have no regrets about this D.N.F. (Did Not Finish)  How can you regret the furthest you have ever pushed yourself?   

My selfless Pacer (David) and Sherpa (Erick)

After a shower, a few hours of sleep and some food, I felt way better than I should.  We drove to the finish line to watch the last two people on the course finish their quest.  In total, there were three official finishers in the 200 miler.  One runner dropped down to the 150 mile race and completed it.  Another person “unofficially” finished the 150 miler as he wasn’t within the 48 hour cutoff time.  Craig, the race directer opted to list the mileage results for each person, even if they didn’t make a cutoff.  He said he’d rather give everyone credit for the mileage they logged, rather than listing the big letters that no runner wants to see, D.N.F.   

Even though technically my race ended with a D.N.F., I felt as if Craig gave me a pat on the back by acknowledging what I accomplished.   I’ve often heard the saying, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”   I see now that my journey was the real destination. 

It's All Relative - The Marathon to Marathon

IT’S ALL RELATIVE

A year ago I was very fortunate to be chosen to be an Ambassador for SkirtSports (Skirtsports.com).  I think one of the reasons they chose me is that I enjoy encouraging others on their running journey.   I truly enjoy being part of the SkirtSports community, it has rewarded me in so many ways.  

As much as I love to hear compliments on my skirts, the best compliment I ever received was someone saying that I inspired them to run.  To me that is a huge gift.  I’m in my third decade running and that compliment has only recently been bestowed upon me.  My friends and family know that running is a huge part of my life, so when one of them starts up with running-it is like giving me a gift.

A few years ago I retired from my career as a police officer.   Dean, my brother was unsure of what kind of gift he wanted to present to me that would be meaningful and something I would remember for a lifetime.  I was teary eyed when I opened the card, in his sentiments he wrote that this card was good for one marathon with him. 

Although Dean had not always been a runner, he was active in sports all his life.  Running was a development in the past few years for him.  We ran the Bix 7 miler together and that was his longest run to date.  He has always been a big supporter while I did my running, including crewing for me at a 100 miler.  Even though I missed a cut off at mile 93 and was pulled from the race, he enjoyed being part of the running community and trying to help along the way.

I gave Dean a book on marathon training along with a training plan.  We decided we would do the Marathon to Marathon in Iowa in June of 2013.  I enjoyed watching the progression of his long runs and hearing of his experiences in training.  I remember how proud he was of what he was accomplishing, I guarantee I was even more proud of him.  

Time flew by and it was time for our marathon to happen.  Our parents drove from Michigan and an aunt and uncle drove from Kansas to support us.  My husband (Erick) and Dean’s girlfriend (Christi) came along to be the ultimate sherpas.  They were along the course to support us and make sure we got to the finish line.

Anyone that knows me is aware of the black cloud that has followed me to a lot of my races.  The Marathon to Marathon would be no different.  The forecast was not looking good.  Race day met us with temps in the 70’s.  The marathon started in Storm Lake, Iowa and headed north to Marathon, Iowa. The race is a point to point road course through cornfields and farms in rural Iowa.  There is little place to take shelter in a storm.  The winds picked up and before we knew it they were up to 20 mph, by the end they were almost 40 mph.  Almost the entire race, as we looked to the north it was a wicked and dark looking sky.

Dean did great, but  he battled some muscle cramps when he got to the 20 mile mark.  This was further than he had ever run.  Around mile 21 the race director drove by in his car and said there was a dangerous storm headed our way.  Cloud to ground lightening was expected.  He said that if a bus drove by we would need to get on it and clear the course.  Dean asked what exactly that meant and I said it would be the end of our race.  He told me he knew exactly how I felt when I missed that cut off at the 100 miler he crewed me at.  The idea of a race being cut short against your own will is not appealing.  He kicked it into high gear and kept going.  Throughout driving rain, thunder and lightening strikes (sometimes within 1/4 mile of us) he pressed on.  

Our family

Erick and Christi took extra caution and drove our Jeep along the route, always within 1/4 mile of us in case there was an emergency.  The race director drove past us again around mile 23.  He asked if we were ok to keep going.  Without thinking or consulting Dean I said, “It’s just a little rain.”  I think we both laughed at that a bit later as we had never been out in that kind of an open area in a lightening storm.  

We started to realize that we are going to be able to complete this race, despite the storm.  We turned the corner and saw (through the deluge of rain) the sign that announces we have arrived in Marathon, Iowa!  We had about a half mile to go to the finish.  Our parents and aunt and uncle were standing in the pouring rain in their dollar store ponchos waiting for us.  Our mom tried to run with us in

Our mom

her Crocs in the ankle deep water to the finish.  We crossed the line and the announcer says our names and also that we are brother and sister.  We received our medals and congrats from our families.  I’ve never been more proud of my brother than I was on this day.   

Fast forward 1 month.  It is my birthday and my brother has no idea what kind to give me as a gift.  I open a card and he’s presented me with a certificate to run a 50K, his first ultra marathon, with me.  He doesn’t need to say the words that I’ve inspired him, his actions mean more than any words could say.  

Post race celebration

Way to go Dino!

Since our marathon, Dean has done the Bix 7 miler again, this time with Christi.  She also did her first half marathon with him in September.  These actions mean more to me than any other gift could.  These are gifts from the heart and it’s all relative.  

Back row-Erick and Uncle Tom
Front row-Aunt Jan, me, mom(Carole), dad(Paul), Dean and Christi

You're Going To Do What? - Center of the Nations Series

YOU’RE GOING TO DO WHAT?

5 Marathons in 5 States in 5 Days 

Center of the Nation Series

September 16-20, 2013

Spring of 2013 I stumbled across a posting on the Marathon Maniac race calendar for 5 marathons in 5 states in 5 days.  What the heck?  I’d never even known something like this existed.  Erick (my husband) and I had been considering a long road trip in our RV for the fall anyway, so I thought I would ask if he would consider taking me to this event.  Typically I say it is easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission, but this was kind of a big deal.  Five days in a row of running marathons in the middle of a vacation.  I don’t know many husbands that would go for that.  I poured a few beers into him and approached him with the idea.  To my surprise he said to go for it.  He told me to go sign up right now, I certainly wasn’t going to argue with that.  

I told a few people that I had signed up for the Center of the Nations Series.  I feel that if I tell people what I am doing it helps to hold me accountable.  If you think I got crazy looks when I said I was doing a 100 mile race, you should have seen the looks I got when I dropped this bomb.  

All of a sudden it dawned on me.  How do you train for something like this?  I searched Google, but didn’t come up with much.  I fired off a couple of emails to famous ultra runners.  I got one response, it was from Ray Zahab (of the Running the Sahara movie.)  In his email he said, here’s my phone number, why don’t you just call me on Saturday and we can discuss it.  It was like getting an email from a celebrity.  I told Erick about it, he was a little star struck too.  I prepared a list of questions for Ray, he an answer for each. Basically, I need to be used to running on tired legs.    I need to get up each morning and get those first few steps in, knowing that it will get better after a few miles.  Ray gave me some hints on how help speed up my daily recovery and tips for dealing with my stomach issues that I typically get at my ultras as well.  I took notes and was thrilled to get this advice from one of my running idols.  

My training went well, I had followed the Relentless Forward Progress  book plan for the Beast of Burden 100 Miler.  Shortly after Beast, I paced my friend David at the Hallucination 100.  I kept praying that I didn’t trip on something on the trail and get hurt.  I couldn’t imagine not being able to do the five marathons.  

Erick and Jersey 

Erick decided we would turn this trip into a month long vacation.  He took care of the logistics and we left Michigan in the RV with Jersey, our cocker spaniel.  We visited friends and family along the way.  I’d like to say the journey to the first race was uneventful, but it wasn’t.  We got a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and were unable to change it ourselves because the lug nuts were on too tight.  I’d also like to say that our roadside assistance was prompt and got us on our way quickly.  Well, let’s just say that in some areas of the country it can take more than 24 hours to get a tire changed. 

     The Center of the Nation Series (or CONS as we liked to call it), was a first year event.  The race got it's name as Belle Fourche, South Dakota is the geographical center of the nation.  The race was organized by a fellow named Clint at MainlyMarathons.com.  He has several other multi-day events, but this was the first year for CONS.  The race would consist of a marathon in each of the following states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska.  The website said that the race locations should be less than 200 miles apart.  I started a Facebook group so people could start chatting about the event.  It seemed that there was going to be a good turn out for the event.  People could register for just select states or all five, they could also do half marathons.  Clint also offered that if you had someone volunteer at an event, you could run it for free.

     There was a pre-race pasta dinner in North Dakota on Sunday night.  We went and had a few drinks and met lots of the runners.  The organizers give you your bib, you wear the same bib all week.  You also got your race shirt and first medal.  The medal consisted of a red, white and blue ribbon with a medal that was a compass point that had a map of the United States on it.  The five states involved in this race series were raised on the medal.  It was pretty darned cool.  The medal had little clips at the bottom of it.  We would later learn that each day, in each new state, we would earn a new medal that would clip onto each pervious medal.  You also got a small bar that clipped on with the race year on it. By Friday, if you put the medal on it would hang down to your knees.

All the races are similar in the aspect that they were either a short loop or short out and backs.  When I told friends about this, they were horrified at the thought of running such a strange course, thinking they would be bored to death.  I felt it would be kind of nice to see so many people all the time.  If these courses were point to point you might not see anyone for hours at a time.  The way they were designed, I don’t think I went five minutes without seeing someone on the course.  

We learned to count rubber bands and not miles.  Each day there would be a poster that said how how many rubber bands each half or full marathoner would need to collect to finish the race.  As you completed each loop or out and back you would reach your arm out and a volunteer would slip a rubber band on your wrist.  When you collected the required amount of rubber bands you could turn them in and be done.  Now and again you would see a stray rubber band on the road and wonder if someone would do a few extra miles because of it.  On the last day of the race one of the few spectators had a sign made that had rubber bands taped to it.  It read, “High quality rubber bands for sale.  Cheap.  Credit cards accepted.”  

Jennifer and I 

We had every form of weather during the week of this event.  The temperatures were as low as 38 degrees, forcing runners to go to their cars and get jeans out to put over their tights to stay warm.  The following day would be almost 90 degrees and what little clothing you had on felt like too much.  We went from super calm days of no wind, to days of almost 40 mph winds.  We were very lucky that we only got a little sprinkle one day, the rest were clear.  A week after the race I was watching the news at home and saw that the location for the race in South Dakota had gotten three to four feet of snow.  I can’t even imagine what any of us would have done if that happened when we were there.  

Camping in South Dakota

Each of the towns that the races were located in were pretty small.  Ok, they were REALLY small.  No Five Guys Burgers and Fries or things like that.  Mostly it was small town businesses.  We stayed in our RV at local campgrounds.  Some friends had less than positive things to say about the local hotels.  As far as I know, only five people camped out at this event.  We were in our RV, one guy tent camped, the race director Clint and his wife stayed in their RV and his brother and sister-in-law had a camper on the back of a pick up truck.  The last guy slept in his car all week!  At night he would fold the back seat down and lay down with his feet in the trunk area and his chest in the back seat.  

     The races were very low key.  There was no first place prize and no tape to cross if you were the first to finish.  There was no time limit on the courses, if you came in last you got the caboose award.  I know some people are all about finishing as fast as they can.  I can agree with that at times.  Sometimes, for me, it is just about the experience.  I was far from coming in last on any day, I was also far from coming in first.   I can respect the people that stuck it out and were out there hours longer than I was.  We each fight our own battles in our own races.  Each of my race times were at least 45 minutes slower than my average race time.  I’m fine with that.  My first and last days times were exactly the same, I’m proud of that.  

I wasn’t sure how my body would handle doing five marathons in a row.  Yes, I had done 100 miles in a race.  I’d also done two marathons in two days before.  But five marathons in five days?  The first, as expected, felt pretty good.  Each of the following days were about 5 miles of shuffling until my muscles were really loosened up, followed by 21.2 more miles of shuffling.  After each race I would either try to get my feet in a bucket of ice water or put on some compression gear.  

Jersey couldn't resist a cold drink

After the first day in Bowman, North Dakota we had to pack it up and drive four hours to Belle Fourche, South Dakota.  We stayed put here for three nights.  The second race was based out of Belle Fourche and I was able to walk to the start.  The third day was in Colony, Wyoming and was only a 20 minute drive each way.  The fourth day was an hour drive to Albion, Montana followed by an hour back to Belle Fourche and then another four hour drive to Chadron, Nebraska.  Needless to say there was a little bit of driving on a few of the days.  Those were the hardest.  I was lucky that my husband drove the RV and I could just relax with my feet on the dashboard.  I had several friends that had a hard time driving rental cars without cruise control after running a few marathons.  

The courses were on varying surfaces.  A few were on roads with large chunks of gravel that tore up my shoes.  One was on a city sidewalk that was so boring.  Another was on a gravely/dirt road through a cattle ranch, I swear you could see forever in any direction.  The last was my absolute favorite.   It was on a loop in a park that was partly on tree lined roads through the campground and partly through the woods on a trail.  The weather was absolutely perfect this day.  The race director said we could run the loop in either direction.  You could change direction each loop if you wanted, or run them all the same direction.   Just collect your rubber band and go whatever direction you please.  This was pretty cool as the course looked different if you ran it the opposite way.  

I can honestly say the best part of this race series was the people.  The race director and his family welcomed you with open arms.  They provided a generous aid station each day with welcoming smiles each time you came by.  They gave you hugs at the end of the week and even gave my husband a small “thank you” gift for helping out at the aid stations.  By the end of the week, I had more than a dozen new Facebook friends.  They ranged from an older gentleman runner that did shots of alcohol instead of gels to an young, fit guy that by the end of the first day I was thanking him for taking his shirt off and inspiring all the ladies.  There was a husband and wife  that came in later in the back of the pack, but stayed together the whole way, every day.  I watched a lady in a walking boot out there each day, suffering from some kind of an injury but she refused to miss out on the series.  My favorite one out there, was my friend Jennifer.  She gave me a bracelet when I met her at the Beast of Burden in New York.  It is cute and pink and says, “Harden the Fuck Up!” on it.  She passed these bracelets out to various people at the race when they looked like they were suffering.   When we passed someone with a band on their wrist they would yell, “Harden the Fuck Up!!!!” at us.  It became a mantra.  I wear this bracelet at all my ultras.  When my spirits are low, I remind myself of my time at the Center of the Nations when bunch of runners went out and did something that they weren’t really sure they could do-until they did it. 

Pacing It Forward - Waugoshance and Run Woodstock

PACING IT FORWARD

Waugoshance Trail Half Marathon July 13, 2013

and 

Run Woodstock Hallucination 100 Mile Run

September 6 and 7, 2013

I was bored and put this in the Google machine, “What is a pacer at an ultra?”  The response I got was this: “In the traditional sense, a pacer is a runner participating in a race to help another runner maintain a particular pace-usually a fast, demanding pace that may be too strenuous for the runner to achieve alone.”

Did I read something about fast?  Ha, never been accused of running fast before.  Yet twice in the same year I was asked to pace friends at races.  I’ve never done that before.  Can I do it?  Will I disappoint them?  I have to say “Yes.”   I’m honored, and a bit frightened I may let both of them down.  

Pacing Part 1: 

      Rochelle is a girlfriend I met through my local running group (Your Pace or Mine Running Club.)  She wanted to do her first trail marathon, the Waugoshance Trail Half Marathon in Mackinaw City, MI.  She’s done a half before, but never on a trail.  She was both nervous and excited.   We both made reservations to camp in that area and meet up at the campground on Friday.  

On Saturday Erick (my husband) drove us to the race.  I should mention we were very fortunate to find the start of the race, this was quite an accomplishment-no real markings or directions to the start were provided.  At the start novices are chatting about poison ivy and bugs and such.  We brush off the chatter and are happy we put the Deer Fly Tape on our hats.  If you’ve never been in Michigan in July on the trails, this is a must.  You will hear those little suckers buzzing for your entire run, but you won’t get bit as they are glued to your head. Rochelle enjoys the trail almost as much as I do.  I didn’t hear a single complaint out of her the entire time.  She was made for this!  

Rochelle’s only goal for the race was to finish within the cut off time.  I plan to get her in with a little time to spare.  I have done more trail running than Rochelle and my running pace is a little faster than hers.  I’m comfortable that we will meet her goal.  

The trail was marked well but you wouldn’t know it when I start headed the wrong direction and Rochelle has to correct me.  Yikes!  I’m supposed to be there for her and I’m already screwing up.  Thank God she saw that course marker that I missed!

Before we know it the race is over half way done.  We’ve crossed a dam, switchbacks and lots of quick hills.  She is in great spirits.  After a road crossing we hit a wet and muddy section of trail, she takes it all in stride.  We have talked the entire time, I feel we have bonded over this race, it will connect us.  We reach a point that the trail ends and we are back on a road that I know will make a few turns but eventually lead us to the finish.  She’s getting tired, but she powers through it.  We make the last turn to and see our husbands ahead at the finish.  Her children are cheering for her.  As we approach the finish she grabs my hand and we cross the finish line together.  I am overwhelmed at how I feel.  This was her race, she finished almost thirty minutes faster than she had planned. I’ve learned you get more than you give when you pace.  

Pacing Part 2:

My friend David (the fellow that paced me at Kettle Moraine) asked me if I would pace and crew for him at the Hallucination 100 Mile at Run Woodstock.  The crewing part, I got that.  No problem.  The pacing part? This is like asking a turtle to pace a rabbit. No joke here.  David took 3rd place over all in 2012, I took 63rd place out of 69.  Big difference in our speed.  I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me.  

We met up with David and his wife Amanda a few hours before the race.  David is relaxed and seems ready to go.  He gave Amanda and I a run down on what he would like us to do as his crew.  I look over his supplies.  He has a cooler filled with Boost and a small stash of food.  He also had a small tacklebox filled with things like batteries, powdered gatorade, M&M’s, electrolyte capsules.  He had a few extra clothing items in a bag and that was it.  When I packed for an ultra I looked like I was going to be away from home for a month.  I think I have more stuff stashed in my purse on a daily basis than David takes to an ultra.  

The race starts at 4:00 PM.  We go watch David and the rest of racers start.  The weather is predicted to be good.  A far cry from the past two years of rain and mud.  We all enjoy the music and atmosphere that this race provides at the start/finish area.  There are a lot of campers and I get a chance to visit with a lot of my running friends.  

Earlier in the day, a runner approached us while we were hanging out at the RV.  He surprised me by saying that he read my first blog post about my 100 miler at Woodstock.  He said I inspired him to run his first 100 this weekend.  I am in awe of this.   I had no idea anyone actually read this blog, other than my family.  

David’s first loop was under three hours, just as he expected. (The course is 6 loops of about 16.6 miles.) David is pretty easy to crew as he does not need or want a lot of support.  We refill his bottles and he heads out.  He takes his headlamp with him as it will be dark the next time we see him.  David’s second lap goes by fast and again he doesn’t need much from us.  Between laps, Amanda and I go back to the RV and get about 2 1/2 hours of restless sleep.  Neither of us really falls asleep as we are thinking about David and don’t want to miss the alarm to get us up.  I’d hate for him come in from a loop and us not be there for him.  Most of the time we wait about a half hour extra in the dark and cold because we don’t want to miss him.  

I lose track of what happened when during the night.  I remember convincing David to take a clean, dry shirt so he wouldn’t get hypothermic during the night.  I also remember him coming in with a green look about him that told me without even hearing the words that his stomach had turned on him.  I think it is the first time he’s ever been through this.  I’ve had more than my fair share of stomach issues at ultras.  I remind him that it will pass and he will feel better.  Overnight, he is forced to slow his pace to allow his stomach to recover.  

He comes in on the second to last loop and I am ready to go do my official pacing duties.  Even his slower pace overnight was still faster than my usual pace.  I am only hoping not to be a disappointment to him.  I’ve told him several times before the race, but I remind him one last time as we head out.  I tell him that if his pace is too fast for me that his has to drop me.  I don’t want to slow him down.  He assures me that won’t happen.  He has faith in me that I will keep up.  David has a few times during the loop where he wants to just walk.  I know what that is like.  After a few minutes I suggest we start running again and he agrees.  He runs far more than I do at that point in a hundred miler.  We laugh as a black cloud comes out of nowhere and it begins to rain briefly.    It feels great and we actually enjoy it.  I’ve been at this race four years in a row.  I enjoy the course and I get to know it better each time.  There are several wooden bridges with no hand rails.  David takes a bad step and slips over the edge.  He lands with one knee in the bog and one on the wooden planks.  Both his hands smash onto the planks and break his handheld bottle.  His Boost energy drink is everywhere.  Fortunately the water bottle got the worst of the fall and not David.  He’s a tough one, he gets up and keeps moving forward.  

There are only a few miles left and I know that David could run faster than me in finish a bit earlier.  I offer the suggestion to him and he flat out refuses the idea.  He said he knows he will still get a sub 24 hour finish with me.  That turns into his goal.  We have about a mile left on the course and we see one of David’s boys waiting for us on the course.  He runs the last of the race in with us.  His son is as fast as David is, I see ultra running in his future too.  We hear the music that we know is playing at the finish line.  We come out of the woods and charge to the finish.  David and his son cross the line.  

David and Amanda feel like family to us.  We’ve been at several races together in the past year.  It’s amazing how running can bond you.  You see each other at your highs and lows.  You get to see the core of a person, the part that is left there when all the daily distractions are stripped away.  David did not care that I was a slower runner.  He just knew that I would be there for him and help get him to the finish line.