Attempt #2, and strike out #2. I went into this race knowing it was a tough course, with a lot of climbing. But also that I'd applied some of the lessons learned from my attempt at Javelina last October.
I think prerace could have used some better organization, but things seemed to run smoothly. More of a lack of signage then anything. The race start could have used some propane heaters too, but thats coming from a desert runner who doesn't function in the cold. But, I digress, the race is whats important.
For hydration, I had my two 20oz Amphipod hand helds which have served well in the past. I kept one filled with water and the other mixed with Tailwind Nutrition powder. I also wore my Spry vest, with the zip pouch packed with ziplocks of Tailwind and the other with a small Body Glide, salt tabs, a Clif gel, couple Wet Ones, and a pack of Honey Stinger chews. The only things from that pouch that I ended up using was the Body Glide and the Wet Ones. After several hours, the mouth pieces of the hand helds get really scuzzy and the Wet Ones kept them clean. Ish. I'd used the Glide on my inner thighs before the start, and again at mile 52 though never really experienced any chaffing there. Depends on the shorts, the ones I wore to Zion work well for chaffing. I did, however, experience some very unpleasant chaffing between my butt cheeks and under the scrotum. Some time around 1am, I got desperate enough to go behind some bushes, drop my shorts, and liberally apply some Glide. Not a whole of modesty left at mile 70. I also lubed up my feet before the start.
Only used a single drop bag for this, and left at Aid #6 and 8, miles 37 and 52.
The first climb, up to Gooseberry, I think it was, was steep. 1200ft in a mile. But still early enough in the race for the legs to recover. The descend down and then up to Eagle's Crest was likewise do-able. Think everyone walked these climbs, but I enjoyed the run down from Eagle's Crest. The next climb, back up to Grafton Mesa around miles 43-44 was absolutely brutal. After reaching the summit, I pretty much walked it into the Grafton aid station for mile 52. I reached it well before sunset though, by a few hours. While there, I changed my socks and re-lubed my feet. My leg muscles were depleted pretty bad but my feet were free of blisters, the usual bane of races for me.
I left mile 52 feeling tired, but my stomach was holding strong and I'd been peeing regularly. Altogether, feeling pretty good for post mile 50. The way back to the Gooseberry aid station was on a service road, which we'd also taken to the Grafton aid station coming into mile 37. Lots of cars going up and down during it though, kicking up a lot of dust. After several hours, I think the dust had made me hoarse. And I know it effected my nose and allergies later on. Long trail races always do a number on my allergies though.
I was lucky enough to make the descend down Gooseberry before sunset, though only barely. Shortly after reaching the bottom, I had to put my head lamp on. Unfortunately, I'd left my gloves at Grafton. As I approached the 100K turn around, I was feeling pretty solid and decided to continue onward on the 100 miler and climb up to the Guacamole aid station. On the way up, thats where my body started going out on me. About half way up, I felt a rock in my shoe and stopped to remove it. Turns out it wasn't a rock, it was a blister. On the climb, the temperature kept dropping. Leaving my bare hands progressively colder and number. Ended up asking every runner that I passed or that passed me if that had spare gloves. By the time I reached the Guacamole aid, my hands were completely numb and I'd firmed up a decision that if I couldn't get pair of gloves, I was calling it. When I checked the weather forecasts, I'd neglected to consider the temperature drop at the tops of the mesas. At least 10-15 degrees colder. And if there's one thing I can't stand, its the cold. More than 10 years in Phoenix will do that.
Luckily, the guy working the aid station, Turtle, I think was his name. Or nickname. My memory is a little foggy of the details about this time, had a pair of gloves that had been left there. No idea why someone would drop a pair a gloves though, it was cold enough to see your breath. I lingered there, at mile 67, took in some calories in a burrito, some broth, and ramen. Perhaps too long, because it hurt like hell to get up and start moving again. This 9.4 mile Guacamole loop was absolutely brutal, easily the worst part of the race. Next to none of it was run-able. Most was over massive, jagged boulders. In the dark, it was a game of 'Find the LED markers'. After that, find the best way to get to it. As the crow flies was rarely the right way. I am positive that not a single runner actually traveled only 9.4 miles on that loop. It took me nearly 4 hours to walk it. Seriously, 4 hours. Sometime near the end of the loop, it dawned on me that I'd barely finished my water bottle and only drank about a third of my Tailwind bottle. A severe under hydration that I'd neglected because of the cold. I staggered back into the Guacamole aid station at mile 76.5. The jagged rocks had destroyed my feet and the cold had robbed me of all energy. I knew I was shot when I got into the aid station. Turtle was still there, and hooked me up with a pancake laden with apple cinnamon syrup. Which dripped out onto my crotch. Bah. Tasted great though. Far as I knew, none of the aid stations were heated. I crashed here. My race ended in that folding chair, and I spent two hours wrapped in blankets shaking like a leaf before riding back to the start/finish after 6:30. I was half passed out and half sleeping during that time, only remembering a few things. The HAM volunteer ranting about CB, apparently its the Xbox Live of amateur radio, and a few runners reporting a crashing and hallucinating runner on the loop. My concern was trying to keep warm, no matter what, I simply couldn't. The volunteer driver, Eli, that took my broken body back said a lot of people had dropped to the 100K and that he'd picked up 4 or 5 people from the Guacamole aid station.
On a positive note, the Tailwind product worked great. Never had a need to take any of the gels or chews I'd had in my Spry the entire race. Next time, I'll probably still take them but store them in a drop bag. The only down side of the Tailwind powder was my delivery system, zip lock bags. Try empty a zip lock baggie into a water bottle in gusting wind while your hands are shaking from the cold. Wonder if it'd be possible for them to reformulate the powder into dis solvable tablets like Hammer's Fizz?
Things I'm going to do differently at my next 100 attempt: Multiple drop bags, warmer clothing. Also going to keep duplicate items in them, multiple pairs of gloves, for example. I'd also need to lube my feet more frequently. Blistering is the bane of my races because its unrecoverable. The blister just doesn't go away, you can't drink more water or eat more calories. Once them start, they only get progressively worse.
UltrAspire was a sponsor for this race, I think, and a couple of their ambassadors were running the race. I like my Spry because its super light and I can wear it pretty lose and it won't bounce. There's a pretty good chance I'm going to pick up one of their 2L pack models to replace my Camelback model that needs to be cinched super tight to stop it from bouncing like crazy.
All in all, my most successful attempt yet. Javelina Jundred in October and the Coldwater Rumble in January will be my next attempts. Will definitely need warm gear for the Coldwater race.
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