Vermont 100
Miler 2007
July 20
This
morning starts our travel to Vermont for me to run the Vermont 100. We are flying up to Lebanon, New Hampshire
in a Cessna 172. We leave the house
around 7am. When we get to the airport,
we find out that our plane needs to be switched because the one we were going
to fly is not IFR current. IFR stands
for Instrument Flight Rules. We will
need the IFR capability for this trip because the weather definitely contains
plenty of clouds. The flight up to New
Hampshire goes well. We make it in less
than four hours because we have a tail wind.
The flight was very interesting as we were routed directly over JFK in New
York. The clouds were broken so we got
a decent view of New York harbor and Long Island Sound.
At
the airport in Lebanon, our rental car was waiting for us, and we quickly
loaded up our gear into a Ford Escape.
Martha will be handling all of the driving this weekend, so I jump in
and try to relax as I transition from piloting the airplane to thinking about
the race tomorrow. We eat lunch at
D’Angelo’s, which is a deli chain here in the northeast. After lunch, we check into our hotel, which
is right beside the airport, and then hit the store to buy supplies. We shipped a box of stuff up to our hotel,
and it is here waiting for us. We get
the groceries and everything into the hotel room, and then we quickly head for
the race headquarters to check-in and attend the “mandatory” runners’ briefing.
At
the runners’ briefing, everything goes well.
The weather is the topic as it is supposed to be perfect weather
conditions. The forecasted temperature
at the start is the mid-50s. The high
on Saturday is going to be in the mid-70s.
And the low Saturday night is supposed to be around 50. There are many runners from Virginia, and I
spend some time catching up with different people. I also get a chance to say hello to Zeke Zucker, who I paced at
Massanutten this year, and he is in charge of several different parts of this
race. He will also be manning the West
Winds aid station at 77 miles. After a
good dinner, we head back to the room.
It is quite chilly out as the temperature is already in the low 60s. Back at the room, we prepare and plan for
tomorrow and then set the alarm for 2:10am.
It is about 8:30pm, so I might get 5.5 hours of sleep.
July 21
I
get up just after 2am. I think I slept
pretty well considering the shortness of the time. I get ready quickly and then the family gets up and ready. For breakfast I have a bowl of Frosted
Flakes and some orange juice. We leave
the room just after 3am and drive to the start. Arriving at the start at about 3:35am, there are three volunteers
ready and waiting to check-in runners for the start. I talk with David Hughes from Indiana for a while, and then it is
time for us to get going. The temperature
is in the mid-50s and the sky is perfectly clear. I am wearing shorts, a Coolmax shirt, and a relatively new pair
of shoes—Keen Wasatch Front.
Mile 7.0 1:32:52 (13:16 avg./mile) Densmre Hill
Starting
off, I try to take things very easy.
The majority of this course is on dirt road, so I am hoping to hold
12-minute miles through the first half of the race. Unfortunately, as you can see, I have maybe gone out a little too
easy. My idea is to go out nice and
easy and that it should not be any hard work until at least the first 20
miles. With this slow start, I guess I
will have to change the plans a little and pick up the pace. My stomach isn’t quite right at this point,
but it is nothing that I am worrying about, yet.
Mile 11.5 55:08 (12:15 avg./mile) Dunham Hill
I
pick up the pace a little for this next section, but I am still not cruising
yet. The other thing is that various
parts of my legs are already starting to hurt.
This seems to be lingering issues because my legs aren’t as fresh as I
would like them to be. The good news is
that nothing hurts for very long before something else hurts. So far, my right ankle, left hip, and right
hamstring have given me notice that they aren’t in top form. These first two aid stations are just liquid
refill stops for water and HEED, which is the replacement drink for this
race. I will not be touching any HEED
today because I have had issues with it in the past. My stomach seems to have settled out now.
Mile 15.3
Finally,
I get some quick miles in, but most of these have been downhill. I am doing okay given the situation of my
non-fresh legs. At this aid station,
which is the first one with food, I grab two sandwich quarters and a couple of
cookies before heading on down the road.
Mile 17.5
After
the downhill miles comes the uphill miles, and as can be seen, my pace is not
as quick as I would like it to be. I
tell myself just to keep the average under 15 minute miles and see where things
go. This is another liquid only refill
stop.
Mile 21.1
I make
it into the first full service aid station as my crew sees me for the first
time in the race. I get a full
Camelbak, eat a bagel, and drain a pint of chocolate milk. It feels good to finally eat some good food,
and it is also very good to see my crew—Martha, Nathan, and Amy. I stick with the same shoes as they are
doing very well.
Mile 25.1
These
miles were mostly downhill, but I am starting to think that I might be working
my legs into a decent place where I can roll on through these miles and at
least get me to halfway in good shape.
At some point I think I will have to pick up the pace, but there are
plenty of miles left to do that.
Mile 30.1
At
this aid station, I meet my crew again, and I eat lunch. Lunch consists of a grilled ham and cheese
sandwich and a pint or so of Conquest.
My time in the aid station is reflected in this split time because I
don’t hit the lap button on my watch until I leave the aid station. I also decide to change my shoes for the
first time. My shoes are doing well,
but I don’t want anything to start bothering me. So, I put on the Montrail Nitrus. I also take off my shirt as the temperature seems to have warmed
up into the high 60s by this time.
Mile 33.9
Here’s
hoping that the legs have settled down, and I can run some smooth miles for a
while. Half of these aid stations are
unmanned, but it is still a nice place to see my split. There are a lot of people right around me at
this point, and it feels more like an adventure trip than a 100-mile race.
Mile 35.8
Downhill
miles are coming quicker now, but the mostly uphill miles are still posing a
challenge to my legs, I guess. The new
shoes I put on are working well, but they don’t seem quite as comfortable as
the Keen’s I had on to start the race.
Mile 39.2
The
Nitrus shoes I have on are starting to rub on my heel. Nothing that is too severe, but I will
definitely want to change out of them the next time I see my crew. That won’t be until Camp 10 Bear at mile 47. For now, things are rolling pretty well, and
I hope I can continue to make good time on the downhills like I did on this
section. I have caught up to a lady
named Barb, who I saw at Massanutten this year. I think she paced someone there.
Mile 41.4
Some slower uphill miles follow my good downhill miles. I am talking with Barb for a while as I try to figure out where I have seen her before. I am still optimistic about my chances of coming close to 24 hours because I think I can make up time on the downhill sections. My legs are starting to level out to a nice numb level.
Mile 43.5
Coming into this aid station, I realize that it is time to take a sitting restroom break. Fortunately, at this aid station there is a Jiffy-John. Unfortunately, someone is in it, and I have to wait a couple of minutes. However, even with the wait and the stop, I still get through this section with a reasonable time. Now, it is about time to start pushing the pace some and get ahead of 24 hour pace.
Mile 45.6
My time on this section is slow because it is mostly uphill. We pass some truly beautiful houses up here in these mountains. The best part about them is the view that they have in this setting. At this aid station, there is a guy who got a little lost and ran about seven extra miles. Also, on this section, I passed Barb for the last time. So, I felt like I was picking up the pace as I pass a couple of other people, but my time indicates otherwise. I will just have to wait for the downhill.
Mile 47.2
My Camelbak is nearly empty, and I have been rationing my water a little bit so that I wouldn’t have to refill my Camelbak until I see my crew at this aid station. This aid station is the first weigh in point. I climb on the scale, and I am three pounds lighter than my starting weight. Now, my starting weight was 193, so I am not really concerned at all. The medical personnel, though, are giving me the third degree. “Do you feel okay?” “Are you drinking water?” “Do you have sunscreen on?” Yes, Yes, and Yes. They will hold you if you have lost 6%, but I am nowhere close to that! Finally, they quit asking me silly questions, and I go to my crew to change shoes, eat a bagel, and drink a pint of chocolate milk. The shoes I put on are Asics Eagle Vs. These should do me well, I hope.
Mile 51.0
Okay, now I am really fired up after that grilling by the medical personnel. I am also motivated to drink and eat plenty so I don’t have to go through that line of questioning again. I think I have made good time on this section, but I am still right on 15 minutes/mile pace. I know there is a long downhill going into mile 70, so I hope that I can make up the time then.
Mile 54.1
Here we go. I have finally gotten below 15 minutes a mile again. Since I am past halfway, there isn’t much reason to hold back anymore. I just hope that I have the legs left to push the downhills like I know I can.
Mile 57.0 37:57 (13:05 avg./mile) Tracer Brook
Now, I am finally making some good time. I don’t feel great, but then again I have been out here for over 12 hours and over 50 miles. I wonder how long I can keep this up, as I am not really pushing the pace too hard, I think.
Mile 62.1 1:33:05 (18:15 avg./mile) Margaritaville
This section is not a bad time considering the first 3.5 miles of this section are all up hill. I have heard it called four-mile hill, but it is a little less than 3.5 miles to the top of the hill. It just keeps going and going and going. I really made an effort not to push too hard on this hill as I knew I could really finish off my legs if I pushed it too hard. Coming into this aid station, Nathan greets me and says they have cheeseburgers. So, I ask for one, and Martha goes to get it while I change my shoes again. These Asics aren’t bad, but they aren’t providing much cushioning on these hard dirt roads. I put on my Montrail Highlines, which are ripping out on top of the toes, but they still have some great cushioning. I eat half of a cheeseburger, a bowl of Ramen soup, and two hash browns. I washed it down with plenty of Conquest, and now I am full! Let’s see if I can still make some time. I put a shirt back on as it is cooling down some.
Mile 65.1 45:00 (15:00 avg./mile) Brown School House
This section, I think, is more uphill than down. So, I am really satisfied with this time. Now, I think it is mostly downhill to Camp 10 Bear. I need to make some good time on the downhill before it becomes dark. The Highlines are really tight on my toes. I don’t remember this before, but they need to seriously loosen up for me to run well.
Mile 70.1 1:13:04 (14:37 avg./mile) Camp 10 Bear
The mostly downhill doesn’t happen until after the first couple of miles. I am also not able to really open up the stride and make good time on the downhill, although I do okay. I don’t think this bodes well for my chance at 24 hours. At this aid station, which is another weigh in point, I am now one pound heavy. Therefore, I gained four pounds in the last 23 miles. That cheeseburger must have been pretty heavy! I change out of the Highlines because of tightness in the toe box. I am out of fresh shoes, so I put back on the Keens that I wore for the first 30 miles. They feel much better, and I hope that will help me. Before leaving the aid station, I grab my headlamp as the sun is starting to set.
Mile 74.7 1:30:31 (19:41 avg./mile) Seabrook
Darkness has arrived, and I don’t like my chances in the dark. At Mohican (my last 100 miler), I did really poorly right after it got dark, but then I was able to pick it up when I started drinking Coke and listening to Martha’s MP3 player. Right now, things aren’t looking too good.
Mile 77.0 51:34 (22:25 avg./mile) West Winds
This is the aid station that Zeke is in charge of, but I can’t say that I am overjoyed to be here. I am tired. My legs hurt, and I just want to take a lot of easy miles from here to the finish. On this section, I missed a turn, but the people in front of me had missed it also, and they came back to me before I got too far past the turn. We then doubled back and picked up the course again. One of the people is this lady trying to finish her first 100, and she is wondering if she still has a chance at 24 hours. I do some quick math in my head and determine that she has to do a little better than 15-minute miles, but it is still possible. This conversation picks me up some, but it is very temporary. At the aid station, I talk with Zeke a minute or so while I get the MP3 player from Martha. I then find out that it is 11.6 miles until I will see my crew again. That is not the most comforting thought as it is getting late at night. I leave the aid station with just a short sleeve shirt on still. This decision worries me soon after leaving the aid station, but I am not going to turn around at this point. I will just have to keep pushing the pace and running the downhills to stay warm.
Mile 81.0 1:16:02 (19:00 avg./mile) Goodmans
Now that 24 hours is out of my mind, my motivation is to keep moving forward. I am doing okay at this point, but this aid station is unmanned, and there isn’t any Coke at it. Therefore, I am starting to get very sleepy, and I might have to start taking catnaps, but so far, I am still making decent forward progress.
Mile 83.6 1:08:00 (26:09 avg./mile) Cow Shed
The problem remains that I am very sleepy. A few runners pass me and ask if I am okay. I mention that I am very sleepy, and one of them gives me a couple of No-Doze. I have never tried it before, but I give it a try since the alternative is to lie down and go to sleep. Unfortunately, before those kick in, I decide to take my first 5-minute catnap. When I get up, the pills are kicking in, and I am refreshed from the nap. At this aid station, I grab some Coke and a couple of sandwich quarters. My stomach is finally no longer full from the full meal I consumed at Margaritaville.
Mile 88.6 1:55:24 (23:05 avg./mile) Bill’s
Getting into Bill’s is quite the mental accomplishment. This is another weigh in point, and this time, I am right at even. The medical personnel seemed pleased and only jokingly ask me if I am tired at all. I sit down and eat a bowl of oatmeal while washing it down with some Conquest. I grab my long sleeve shirt and head back out into the cold night.
Mile 92.0 1:31:26 (26:54 avg./mile) Keating’s
I am getting close now, but I my legs really hurt just all over. I take another catnap on this section, and I am just trying to get in at this point. There was quite the nice little steep hill coming into this aid station, and I am very tired of hoofing it up hills at this point. At this aid station, I get a cup of coffee and hope that this will get me to the finish.
Mile 95.5 1:43:25 (29:33 avg./mile) Polly’s
Leaving the last aid station, I quickly determine that the coffee is going to cause me to stop and take a squat in the woods. If I had know it was going to cause that, I might not have drank it. Anyway, I take care of that business and then a mile later, I take yet another catnap—hopefully my last of the race. The sun is now up, but it doesn’t really wake me up. I roll into this aid station, and Nathan is ready to go the last 4.5 miles with me. I wish I could run, but the legs hurt too much at this point, and I know I am not setting any personal records today.
Mile 97.7 1:04:13 (29:11 avg./mile) Sargent’s
Nathan walks slowly as I stagger on down the road. We pass some people out in their front yard watching the race, and they say it is only 1.5 miles to the finish. However, Nathan and I know that the last unmanned aid station is at mile 97.7 so we have to have farther than 1.5 miles to go. Unknown to the people watching the race, the course was re-routed slightly before the finish, and not only do we have almost 2.5 miles to go, but there is one more big hill before we get to see the finish line.
Mile 100.0 1:01:07 (26:34 avg./mile) FINISH LINE
The climb up the hill is on a nice trail. I am struggling, but I can smell the finish now, so I will hold off on any more catnaps. A few people pass me going up the hill, but then we get to go down a little to the finish. I am so glad to see the finish, but I am disappointed that it took me so darn long!
Official
Finishing Time
118th out of 220
starters (142 finishers)
This is clearly not the best
of my five 100 mile finishes, but I am glad I persevered and finished. There were thoughts going through my mind of
not wanting to go any further from 90 miles on. I was really hoping to get a much better time and possibly even a
personal best. However, it was not to
be on this weekend. I don’t think the
fatigue came from Mohican five weeks earlier, but rather from my busy schedule
the past two weeks.
Now I am getting ready to go
run the Catoctin 50k tomorrow on August 4.
This will be very interesting to see how the legs have recovered. I have run some since Vermont, but nothing
more than 6 miles. I feel good, but
time will tell. After Catoctin, I am
not planning on anything until the Mountain Masochist 50 miler on November 3.
Never stop running,
Darin
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