Racing Across the Sky

Ok, I first have to admit that I am an awful blogger. It has been about seven months since my last post and the Leadville 100 is over. Here is a quick recap of the time between my last post and my race:

2/9: Had a 26.2 mile training run in 3:16 and felt great.
2/16: 11 miles into my long run my left knee was very angry and I had to walk home.
2/17-2/24: Ran only 5 miles due to very sharp knee pain that did not let me run.
2/25: Ran Mount Si twice and Little Si once outside of Seattle on a business trip. Once again, I had a lot of knee pain.

The view the first time up Mount Si was not so great.

I climbed Mount Si a second time for this view.

2/26-3/22: Logged a total of 41 miles, mostly uphill walking on the treadmill.
3/23: I recorded my first official DNS. It was a 30 miler.
3/29: I received a call from my physician telling me to stop all exercise due to my MRI result. He thought that I needed surgery on my knee to repair some cartilage.
4/11: An orthopedic surgeon disagreed that I needed surgery and ordered physical therapy.
4/12-5/4: I trained mostly just walking, mostly on the treadmill with one long trail walk on the weekend.
5/11: I decided to go ahead and try to Ice Age Trail 50 mile race for which I had registered. On my training walks whenever I started running it became painful quickly so I walked the entire race. Walking 50 miles at 14:09 pace on hilly trails was harder than I expected. It was a great mental boost to finish an ultra, however I was extremely sore and my feet were DESTROYED. I will spare you all of seeing that picture. I had as much blister as foot.
5/21-5/23: I was in the Seattle area again for work and climbed Wilderness Peak and West Tiger Mountain #3 while I was there with heavily taped feet.
5/26: I ran 8 miles with knee discomfort, but not the sharp pain. It was something to build on.
6/1-6/22: I focused on just one run per week and got up to 20 miles with still only aches and discomfort in my knee instead of the sharp pains.
6/25 and 6/27: Ran the Mission Peak Park area in Fremont, CA on a work trip. These runs felt pretty good, but at this point I was only one and a half months from Leadville and I still had only gone 20 miles in training.
6/30: 20 mile trail training run, achy knee.
7/6: 26.2 miles by doing 5 laps around Devil's Lake. That comes out to just under 5000 feet elevation gained which is more per mile than Leadville.
7/17: My sister in law got married in Incline Village on the north side of Lake Tahoe so we were there for 5 days. I took advantage of being in the mountains and got as close to a race preview as I could. I did a 39 mile loop starting in Incline Villlage and ascending Relay Peak, Mount Stoughton, Church's Peak, and Mount Rose. All of those peaks are over 10,000 feet and the total elevation gain was about 7000 feet. I felt okay, still just discomfort in the knee that I could run through.
7/26: 30 mile trail run during the night after a full day of work.
8/4: 16 mile run.
8/5-8/16: A total of 4 miles of uphill treadmill walking to let my body rest.

During this whole time frame I continued physical therapy which I enjoyed much more than talking to the doctor's ideas of what might be wrong. I am very happy that my surgeon did not jump into knee surgery. Through physical therapy we have identified that my left leg in general has no strength. I can lift hardly any weight with it. My strengthening exercises have only helped minimally, so after Leadville I will need to focus 100% on correcting my left leg.

That brings us to my race, the Leadville 100 mile trail run. I had logged less than half of the miles this year that I had planned if I was healthy. My couple of 30+ mile runs had given me the confidence that I had a chance finishing this. The finish rate is typically under 50% and with my injuries this year I knew it would be tough, but I was still hopeful for a finish.

Running miles are the yellow bars. My miles were supposed to increase from January through July.

Leadville

We flew out to Denver on Thursday 8/15 and drove straight out to Leadville after a stop at Target and Chik-Fil-A. Leadville is a nice little city and also the highest US city at over 10,000 feet of elevation. On Thursday I picked up my race packet and we drove to the first couple aid station areas to familiarize my wonderful crew (my wife Kendra) with their locations. Friday we drove to the other aid stations, attended the pre-race meeting, and then ate a large dinner before heading to bed at 7:30 pm. My Pizza Hut meaty marinara pasta ritual continued, I ate three servings.

Pizza Hut Pasta!

 My original goal back in January was to finish under 25 hours. With my great reduction in training I realized that 25 hours would be tough, not impossible, but I needed to really focus on finishing this race. My expected time when adding up my splits for my wife to find me at aid stations was 28 hours and 45 minutes.

The race started at 4:00 AM. It was dark for just under two hours after the start.  At the start it was cool to see Scott Jurek.

Start to May Queen

Miles: 0-12.55
Time: 2:05:00
Pace: 10:00 min/mile
Aid Station Time: 1:30
Elevation:

This first section of the course starts downhill on some roads, mostly dirt, before making it down to a nice trail around Turquoise Lake. With 944 people starting the race it was a bit crowded on the single track trail, but I was not in much of a hurry at this point. I finished this section at 10:00 pace which is exactly what I had planned. It got light out just before I reached the aid station. I grabbed some chicken broth from Kendra at the aid station and dropped off my running pants. I felt great so far.

May Queen to Fish Hatchery

Miles: 12.55-22.85
Actual Time: 1:56:10
Actual Pace: 11:17 min/mile
Accumulated Time: 4:02:40
Accumulated Pace: 10:37 min/mile

Aid Station Time: 3:00
Elevation:

 

It was now time for the first of the six major climbs. The uphill was not too steep in most places and I was able to keep a quick hike. The downhill was a trail that weaved through a powerline clearing. It was STEEP in places. I averaged 8:45 min/mile over the 3.5 mile descent, it wasn't faster just because I had to put on the brakes to prevent sliding. At the aid station I dropped some more clothes, ate some soup, stocked up on cookies, GU, and a sandwich before heading out.

Fish Hatchery to Halfpipe

Miles: 22.85-29.5
Actual Time: 1:12:10
Actual Pace: 10:51 min/mile
Accumulated Time: 5:17:50
Accumulated Pace: 10:46 min/mile
Aid Station Time: 0:25
Elevation:

This section was relatively flat, however I was ahead of schedule and made an effort to walk even these small uphills. I could feel discomfort in my left knee and upper leg as I have most of the year, but it was not anything bad enough to worry me too much. I saw Kendra at the treeline (27.1 miles) for one more quick cup of soup and I continued on to the aid station. No crew is allowed at the aid station so I checked in, grabbed some watermelon, and continued on my way.

Halfpipe to Twin Lakes

Miles: 29.5-38.25
Actual Time: 1:49:25
Actual Pace: 12:30
Accumulated Time: 7:07:40
Accumulated Pace: 11:11
Aid Station Time: 6:20
Elevation:

This climb seemed to last forever! Miles 25 to 35 are predominantly uphill and by the end of it I was more than ready for a break. I was not in the best of moods for the last mile of it, but that quickly changed when I hit the downhill. I lost 1355 feet over three miles and it was very runnable. By the time I got to the Twin Lakes aid station I was recovered from the climb and feeling great once again. At the aid station I loaded up on sunscreen, drank Gatorade, and grabbed more cookies and GU. It was plenty warm but they warned us not to go over Hope Pass without a jacket so I threw it in my pack. I sat for a few minutes and then headed out. Kendra left for her break/nap at the hotel and I would see her back at this aid station in 21 miles.

Running downhill felt great!

Twin Lakes to Winfield

Miles: 38.25-49.4
Actual Time: 3:29:00
Actual Pace: 18:45 min/mile
Accumulated Time: 10:41:00
Accumulated Pace: 12:59 min/mile
Aid Station Time: 17:30
Elevation:

Good news: I was done with almost 40 miles and I was feeling good.
Bad news: I was about to climb 3300 feet over 4 miles.

First, I had to cross the river. It was shin deep and we had a rope to guide us across. It was so dry out that my shoes were fairly dry within a couple miles.

As soon as I started the climb I quickly realized that I had run 40 miles already over mountainous terrain and that this was much steeper than we had climbed so far. I called Kendra (yes, I had cell phone reception) and let her know not to hurry back too fast to Twin Lakes, I knew it would be 6.5-7 hours at the fastest to return there.  I just kept a nice steady pace over this climb. It took 1 hour and 20 minutes to cover the first 3.5 miles of this climb which is a blistering 22:51 min/mile pace. I had even been passing people in this stretch! After 3.5 miles there was the "Hopeless" aid station. They had llamas that had hauled the supplies up there. I grabbed some soup and watermelon and continued on for the last half mile of climbing. Getting to the top was glorious.

The top of Hope Pass, the first time.

So unlike the top of the climb before Twin Lakes where you get to enjoy a downhill, this descent was not the least bit enjoyable. It was a struggle just to stay on my feet. There is 2400 feet of elevation loss over 2.4 miles. I averaged 18:30 per mile over this section showing that it is hardly even walkable. Hitting the flatter section at the bottom was a bit of a relief, though it does include climbing 400 feet. I was able to average 15:20 for this section which felt fast. When I reached the Winfield aid station I decided to check out my feet. They were not awful, but I did have a few blisters to relieve, bandage, and tape. This along with a shoe and sock change from my drop bag took about 15 minutes so I was eager to leave. I just grabbed some oranges (no melon available), filled up some water, and was on my way. I was half way done in less than 11 hours which meant that I had 19 hours to finish the second half. That should be easy, right?

Note: The leader had passed me just as I was approaching the top of Hope pass, so he was about 10 miles ahead. Scott Jurek was in third or fourth when he passed me just after I had started my descent.

Winfield to Twin Lakes

Miles: 49.4-60.4
Actual Time: 3:40:15
Actual Pace: 20:01 min/mile
Accumulated Time: 14:38:15
Accumulated Pace: 14:32 min/mile
Aid Station Time: 10:00
Elevation:

I have never seen such misery in a race. When we all started ascending Hope Pass for a second time it was tough to say the least. This side of Hope Pass was steeper and the legs were much more tired. Many folk were alternating walking with resting, including me. I made huge efforts to last as long between resting as possible, but I just needed the breaks. The 2.4 mile climb took me 1 hour 22 minutes. Yes, 34:10 pace. Like I said, this was absolutely brutal.

Photo evidence of the walk/rest method.

As I approached the top it was sad seeing the folk heading the other way that had no chance of making the time cut-off at Winfield, there were a lot of them. The descent on the other side was much more forgiving. After the limited "Hopeless" aid station I averaged 14:00 pace down the mountain. When I got back to the Twin Lakes aid station I was very glad to see Kendra and take a seat. I had realized that I did not eat enough at Winfield and was starting to lag in nutrition. I had just crossed the river again so I changed socks and shoes one more time. I drank some Gatorade, ate some cantaloupe, ate some watermelon, drank a cup of mountain dew, and I was on my way once again. The dew was much more delicious than expected and I felt the quick caffeine kick.

Twin Lakes to Halfpipe

Miles: 60.4-69.2
Actual Time: 2:35:45
Actual Pace: 17:42 min/mile
Accumulated Time: 17:24:00
Accumulated Pace: 15:05 min/mile
Aid Station Time: 11:45
Elevation:

Looking at the elevation chart the climb out of Twin Lakes is fairly cruel. You just finished Hope Pass and now you have the steep side of this climb to tackle. This climb for some reason did not bother me too much.  I climbed at just over 18:00 pace which is not so bad for this climb at this point of the race. After I reached the top I started to try and jog and my legs had other plans. My quads were pretty trashed and my legs just started crumbling when going into a jog. So I backed off and continued a quick hike down the trail. Soon it turned dark and my stomach was really becoming angry now as well. I tried to take a GU and half way through just about had it come back up. I tried cookies a little later and they were not settling either. I was hoping this downhill would feel great, but it became a slow hike with no quads and a stomach that was not accepting food. Just like the uphill on the way out, this downhill lasted forever.

I was ecstatic to reach the Halfpipe aid station. They had a tent with a propane heater (it was now back down to 40 degrees or so) with a large variety of food. I grabbed some hot beef broth, chips, coke, and watermelon. I sat down and ate it all.  I continued to drink one more cup of beef broth while my food settled and then took one for the road. I felt much better when I left this aid station than when I arrived.

Mentally at this point I was in a pretty good state still. I knew a 25 hour finish was not going to be possible without a true miracle, but a solid finished time with a couple hours to spare under the cut-off was well within my grasp if I can keep my stomach happy and keep moving.

Halfpipe to Fish Hatchery

Miles: 69.2-75.9
Actual Time: 1:40:15
Actual Pace: 14:58
Accumulated Time: 19:16:00
Accumulated Pace: 15:14
Aid Station Time: 24:30
Elevation:

 Just over two miles after I left Halfpipe I saw Kendra at the treeline. I felt okay since I had just ate a buffet so I quickly grabbed a cup of soup, ate a piece of melon, and traded my water pack for a hand bottle since it was only 4.5 miles to Fish Hatchery where I would have access to another food line. 1.5 of those miles were on dirt road and a trail before the remaining three miles of paved road. It was nice to not have to focus on where I was placing my feet and not having a pack on my back for a bit. Even the Gatorade in my water bottle was not settling well on the move though. Nothing at this point seemed to settle while I was moving.  I kept my walk around 14:00 pace over this paved section, the legs still were not wanting to shift into a jog.  I could see the aid station lights from about 3 miles out and it took forever to finally reach it.

At the aid station I sat down and started eating once again.  I ate watermelon, chips, coke, and soup.  Kendra bagged up some watermelon and chips for me to put in my pack since I had over ten miles before I would see her, or any aid station, again.  I left the aid station and before I got past the people I realized the ball of my right foot was in bad shape and was stinging pretty bad now with every step. I stopped to bandage and tape it up before leaving civilization and heading back up the powerline.

Fish Hatchery to May Queen

Miles: 75.9-86.4
Actual Time: 3:32:00
Actual Pace: 20:11 min/mile
Accumulated Time: 23:12:30
Accumulated Pace: 16:07 min/mile
Aid Station Time: 14:30
Elevation:

The second time up Hope Pass was the most misery I had seen in a race. Climbing the powerline on the way back was just about as bad. You are almost 80 miles into a race and this is a steep climb of over 1500 feet over 4 miles. Another racer and their pacer passed me just as we started the climb and I decided that I would try to keep up with them as long as possible. I felt like we were really pushing the pace up this section as I held on for 2.4 miles.  Looking at the splits we were averaging 21:39 min/mile.  I was only 4 miles past Fish Hatchery and I was starving. So I stopped for a six minute snack break to get some calories in without getting sick.  I ate all of my watermelon and most of the chips.

After my break I continued the last 1.5 miles of the climb at around 21:00 min/mile pace. Shortly after I started to descend I was once again starving and now I had no food left. My stomach got increasingly upset and if I jogged even a couple steps it got worse. I trudged along down the mountain pass at a painful 21:42 pace. I actually averaged slower on the way down than up. By the time I reached Kendra at the May Queen aid station I was not in good shape.

Kendra immediately commented on how pale I looked and we started the process of consuming calories. Watermelon was the food of choice along with the chicken broth. I ate a lot of watermelon. I would see Kendra again in less than five miles and then it was another eight or so to the finish so I packed extra melon in my pack with the plan to stop with 4 miles left to eat it if necessary. I was not going to run out of food again. I drank a cup of coke and headed out.

May Queen to Finish

Miles: 86.4-99
Actual Time: 3:21:35
Actual Pace: 16:00 min/mile
Accumulated Time: 26:48:35
Accumulated Pace: 16:05 min/mile
Elevation:

Leaving May Queen I had over 6.5 hours left to cover less than 13 miles. That comes out to just over 30 minutes per mile in order to finish. I knew it would take a disaster for me not to finish at this point. The trail around Turquoise Lake however was still painful. In the elevation chart you can see the constant little ups and downs. I felt like I was continually going up and this point and to make things worse my headlamp was starting to fade. Navigating trails with little light when exhausted was not fun. I found someone going a little faster than I was comfortable with to push me and we talked on the uphills as I trailed him mooching off his light. I continued with him until the trail turned away from Turquoise Lake. I had covered the last 6.85 miles since May Queen at 19:06 pace.

There were less than 6 miles to go at this point and it was starting to get a little light out so I forced my body to start running on the flat and downhill. I felt like I was going to fall apart, but kept pushing. Most of the last five miles is uphill and I ended up averaging 12:11 pace over this section. My quads were on fire as I pushed up the final miles with a 13:00 walk up the steeper sections while moving at a jog in the flatter sections. The last quarter mile is an uphill and I thought I would be able to run it. As sad as it is I had to switch back to my fast walk until I reach the fences of the finishing chute where I then ran it on in. I finished with a time of 26:48:39, it was 6:48 in the morning.

After finishing the adrenaline was pumping pretty good and I felt alright. I weighed in and had only lost about 4 pounds during the race. I got a couple pictures, found my drop bag to pick up, and went to a shop to get something in my stomach. I got a fruit smoothie and it was delicious. Then we went back to the hotel to finally get some sleep.
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After Leadville

There were 944 people start the race and 494 finished. That is a 52% finish rate which is actually better than usual for Leadville. I finished 188th which put me in the top 20% of starters. I was very happy with my finish considering my training issues this year even though I did not get my original goal of sub 25 hours.

Things That Went Well

- Foot Care: I pre-taped my heels and I tended to hot spots as soon as I felt them. I only had about 6 small blisters at the end of the race. My feet were in much better shape than after my 50 miler this year.
- Cramping: I never cramped up in this race. In most ultras my legs cramp up pretty good. I am not sure the reason it did not happen in this race.
- Getting Sick: I did not puke during this 100 miler. It was not pleasant in my last one.

Things That Went Not So Well

- Nutrition: Just like my last 100 miler, my stomach was not in good shape somewhere around 70 miles. This is tough to address in training since I will never do a training run this far. Last time sandwiches and soup were my go to foods to get back on track. This time it was watermelon, cantaloupe, and soup. Next time I need to have extra of all food items with my crew and make sure to take plenty with me between aid stations.
- Aid Stations: This is really the same as nutrition. I spent twice as long as I had planned. I expected 50 minutes of aid station time and actually spent about 1 hour 40 minutes instead. Most of this was to get my stomach back on track. Having extra of all foods pre-bagged could have saved a little time.
- Conditioning: Due to my left leg issues that limited my training I ran out of gas earlier than I should have. There were many flat or downhill sections later in the race that I should have been able to run.
- Lighting: I clearly did not have the quality of headlamp that most people had. I will upgrade before the next race I do in the dark.

What Is Next?

I need to fix my leg issues that limited me this year. I start physical therapy again now that my race is over. I am hoping that I can actually heal now that I am not running. I am not going to sign up for any races until I am on track to have back to normal strength in my left leg. If things go well I will possibly do some shorter races (10k or less) next spring and then see what makes sense for the fall.

Thanks

I need to finish by thanking my wife for crewing me for almost 27 hours while she was 30 weeks pregnant. Kendra is reaching professional status for ultra marathon crewing and I would not want to do a hundred miler without her.

My belt buckle. I will wear it to all formal occasions.