To say that I was nervous about this race is kind of an understatement. It had been since May of last year since I raced last, well raced a 100 miler anyway. I did not want a repeat of that race. That was brutal, you can read that one here if you want to know how bad it was.
I felt like I had this pressure this time but not from anything externally it’s just that I had a very small window to finish this race. As most of you know I’ve been chasing a Western States lottery for the past eight years and if I didn’t finish this race I wouldn’t have earned my ticket. So the pressure of finishing, which isn’t a problem for me but having it there didn’t feel great. It felt like the end or maybe the beginning of something. Though I had a good crew and my client/friend Jen was coming. I trained harder for this one than I had in the past, still didn’t feel like it was enough but I knew that if I do get that ticket in December next year is going to be a doozy. Don’t worry I’m going to get to the race recap but there’s a little bit that happens before, we all know that. The year was full of great things: training camps, traveling to crew and pace friends and clients, vacation, my daughter turning 21, and probably the biggest thing, the loss of my dog in August. That continues to hit hard, and I haven’t really had time to process him being gone. I knew inside myself that this race was for him. See this is my 10th 100 miler and he crossed the finish line with me of my very first one, he wasn’t going to be here for this one.
OK OK I’ll give the people what they want! Here comes the recap:
Before.
The drive is about 14ish hours with no stops from Minnesota so we decided to leave Tuesday morning with a planned stop in Louisville that evening. I think we got in around 10:00pm with no dinner and crashed in a hotel. We get up early Wednesday morning to run with a coworker of my partners where he gave us a little tour of downtown Louisville and got a nice fancy coffee and some breakfast before we finished the last leg of our trip. 
However we did stop and see Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace on the way, which was a neat little side quest. Once we got to town we made sure to go to the grocery store and try to get some things for the next couple days and then for the race. Jamestown has a Walmart, a Save-a-lot, Walgreens, and multiple food establishments. Our Airbnb was in Alldart which was a great hub for us and less than 30 minutes from the race start. I was anxious and decided to start getting my drop bags in order just to get organized. The race allows you to have four drop bags. 
I knew my crew would be at every accessible aid station that you could have drop bags at plus one more place(Piney Butte) they could be at where they could have an additional bag for me. And in true Chris fashion he made a spreadsheet that would be beneficial for him when they were crewing. Eric and Randi show up that evening and we kind of go over a little bit of logistics but they also drove from Wisconsin so a full night of sleep was in order for us. Jen arrived about 3:00 AM. Fun fact at about 2:45 AM Chris woke up to find that we had no power in our house, it came back on shortly, but it does make for a good story.
Also if you’ve read previous race reports or you know me, I get anxious. I like to be there ahead of time, I like to know the plan. Thursday morning I wake up with no alarm knowing I want to be at the park at noon because that’s when packet pickup started. I wanted to be there at noon to get my packet, do my shakeout run and then head back to the Airbnb to rest and eat. We ended up getting there about 12:30pm as they were still getting set up there were a few other runners there, I was not the first one! I dropped two of my drop bags off, I kept the ones that had lights in them to drop them race morning. Packet pickup was relatively easy, very straightforward. Biggest thing I noticed was the size of the bibs, so small and no folding needed! I got my bib photos taken then Jen and I just went out from the start and just did a little out and back to shake out. I quickly realized that the first part of this course was going to be quick also the air was dry. Noted. We go back to the Airbnb make some food I watched the Facebook live video that was recorded a week before. I knew that they were having a pre race meeting at 7:00 PM but it wasn’t mandatory if you watched the recorded video. I wanted to be in bed by 7:00 PM so we did that instead. I had reserved and planned to camp at the race start with Chris and Jen the night before the race. I realized that the race started at 8:00 AM and it didn’t feel as necessary to be right at the start with that later start time. So we made the collective decision to stay at the Airbnb the night before the race. I made it into bed at 7:30pm with a wake up call at 4:45am to leave by 6am.
Race Day
I woke up feeling rested and probably the least stressed I have been before a race. The crew was already up making food for them for the day and loading the car. I made my pre-race oatmeal that I would take with and eat when I got there. Got dressed and grabbed what I needed. It was go time.
We arrive about 6:40am, plenty of time to get settled in and ready. They offered a breakfast and coffee situation, that looked good but I didn’t really eat. We made conversation with a few runners around us and dropped my remaining two bags. The buzz was in the air, mostly excitement. At one point while sitting and getting the rest of my stuff on I heard a song a recognized that the race was playing. They were playing all Paul Cauthen, his music stayed with me all day and I would return to. 
While I bathroomed, got my hair braided (thanks Randi), ate, and petted dogs; the crew started their “bingo card” game that they made up. They have to do something with the 20+ hours they have, right?!
It’s a few minutes before 8am and we are all getting lined up, he calls anyone who wants to podium up to the front including women. Myself and another woman go for it. He counts us down and it is time to fly.
Start to Pickett Aid
You leave the start and take a right down a gravel road for a few miles, the lady who lined up near me and I start chatting. Her name is Amy and we spend the next 18 miles together, but I am getting ahead of myself here. The first 8.5 miles is mostly downhill, they had to reroute this section due to tornado like storms back in May, so this was all new. I mean it was all new to me. I knew going in it would be faster and I should just be patient. I took my phone with so I could take pictures-spoiler I didn’t. Your crew is allowed here at the first aid station, we decided that I did not need them to be there and I was good on water and food, so I crossed the bridge into it, waved and cheered and went on my way.
Pickett to Bandy
This section isn’t sticking out too much, Amy and I ran together and chatted. She was here to get her double buckle(the course is run clockwise and counterclockwise every other year, so if you run both directions, that’s what you get). We ran with a guy named Austin who was running his first 100 miler (he finished), I told them this was my 10th hoping it would be lucky. The landscape was unbelievably gorgeous. Rock outcroppings that were so big that it was hard to even imagine. Truly breathtaking. Since the race started with the sun up and the forecast was to be hot, we were getting toasty already. It became evident that this course was going to be a doozy. I wouldn’t say hard, and not difficult, but long maybe? It was non technical except for a few short sections here and there, the climbs weren’t technical either and then your downs were runnable. The HR or effort didn’t really get a break. I decided to slow down a bit while it was real warm so I would have legs later. I knew that from Mohican I went fast early and paid for it in the last 20 miles. I wanted to be able to run at the end of this and even though I wanted to podium, I couldn’t risk not finishing.
I came i n pretty close to on time and knew I was in 3rd place. I come in Bandy Creek where I see my crew for the first time, I double over hands on knees and say “it’s so hot.”
They fix me up with ice on my neck and chest, wet my hat, refill my bottles, make sure I eat. I had a freeze pop, drank my Precision drink mix, and took respite in the shade for a few minutes. I would see them again in about 12 miles, so I didn’t take too much time here. Little did I know that the crew thought that after seeing me here, it was going to be a long day for everyone. They thought I was in trouble and it was all downhill, I mean literally for me it was leaving this aid station. But I was good, good spirits, happy. Just hot.
Bandy to Duncan Hollow
There was one aid station in between these two, I don’t really remember it. I wasn’t really eating from the aid at this point and just refilling bottles, so my time in them was limited. I do think it was this section where I met Brock. He had a stellar run/walk situation, it took awhile to catch up to him because his run portion was quick and the walk was short. We started chatting like people do, I think he said this was his 6th 100 in 2 years?! It came out that he has a male Rhodesian Ridgeback and his female had passed away earlier this year, of course he does. I knew Roubaix would show up somewhere for me, after all this race was for him. We shared in our losses and celebrated that the love of a ridgeback is unmatched. We came into Duncan Hollow together, I saw Chris with his fleece blaze orange vest unzipped and dancing, a huge smile crossed my face. Lets party.
I knew I needed to eat a ton here, I wanted to sit for a hot minute, and get rid of my phone. This is about mile 38, I wouldn’t see them again until Blue Heron mile 62ish and it would be dark. The crew crushed it. Wiping off my face, and arms. Refilling bottles, making me drink, and proposing real food from the aid station. I was still in 3rd, but as I sat two women came in and I was aware, not worried, but aware. I ate about 500 calories of gels, I ate the middle out of about 4 pierogis, refilled my ginger chew stash, grabbed my little headlamp and waist light, kissed Chris, took bacon to go, and went on my way.
Duncan Hollow to Blue Heron
Leaving the aid station I was energized by my crew, which deflated when I saw what waited for me. A steep downhill that was rocky and lasted for a mile or two, it’s hard to know exactly. This next section was also the longest on the course being over 9 miles to Laurel Hill. After the decent we had a nice rollie wide trail, I pulled off to pee for the first time. One of the women passed me here, her and her pacer were chatting and having a great time, still I wasn’t bothered. I took some Aleve here because the pressure of my vest and the bottles in the front felt like it was bruising my rib cage and making it difficult to run. Throughout the run there were these huge leaves, brown on one side and white on the other and in this early twilight I played this game with myself “rock or leaf.” The trail would weave in and out of the fire road and was runnable, I was feeling on fire! I passed those women and a couple others, I can say with confidence this was the best section I had all day. I was smiling, I was running, I was confident. I ran without light until I couldn’t see right in front of me, it was freeing. Here I was in the dark in the middle of a forest, fucking stoked.
As I approach Laurel Hill, I see a fire and bunch of dudes hanging out in chairs. I refill my bottles, grab some pickles and ask what the next section was like. The aid station volunteer said mild, I asked “what was that section we just did?” He responded with difficult, one of the most difficult of the course, and as you read above, I had the time of my life on that. So if that was one of the worst, I got this. I put on my waist lamp and headed out on the 7.6 miles to Ledbetter. At this point we are dark, it’s not late, but its fully dark now. I started to have a hard time with my liquid calories and knew that I was probably in a deficit, but I could still eat the 90g precision gels. My goal in this section was not to get passed. I didn’t and came into Ledbetter in high spirts. The race director was there and gave some tips about coming into the river crossing at Blue Heron. I joked with the volunteers, refilled, took some pickles and cruised on out of there.
The only thing I remember from here to there are the couple cemeteries I passed in the dark, hidden and almost forgotten. Not scary, but almost sad. Who were these people? How long have they been here? Does anyone remember them?
As the race director predicted, the long rocky decent to the river was brutal and slick. All I could think was: I have to go back up that after the loop with wet feet. Cool, cool, cool. The river was awesome. In the dark with a red rope to hold, the photographers lenses guiding the way. The current was strong, but the water was only about shin high. Climb a little boat ramp and you are in the land of lights and commotion of Blue Heron. Chris greets me and guides me to the crew spot. A real chair! The plan here is to change sports bra, shirt, and socks. I needed to switch out head lamps to the bigger one and wanted to drop my waist light. The combination of a loaded vest and waist light was too much for my ribs and knowing I’d have pacers from here on out, it wasn’t necessary. I spent too much time here, but I changed socks ( hindsight I didn’t need to), clothes and tried to eat some potato soup. Chewing was over for me currently. Amy from earlier in the race said hello as she came in from her loop, now close to first place. I started shaking and legs were cramping, so I decided we needed to go or I’d get stuck. Randi was up in her first pacing gig for the next 6+ miles until we came back to the same spot.
Blue Heron Loop
I wish I could have seen this section in the daytime, we had multiple ladders and steep stairs that I went backwards down. We ran through rock formations all while Randi took pictures and told me stories. It was refreshing having some one else to chat with that is familiar, it does make the miles tick by. I will say there was a piece of me that would have been ok without. Those previous sections where I was alone in the dark is hard to explain; peaceful and necessary. We come into the loop, I sit and eat mashed potato/broth. It’s still hot out, but its not hot, it’s humid and sticky. I ask Randi to take my socks with her in case I want to change after the water crossing. We have about 8 miles to Piney Butte(previously Bald Knob) where the crew will be waiting.
Blue Heron to Piney Butte
I prep Randi for the long steep climb up after we cross the river. She was so excited to see the river and the people, it was contagious. Now, the climb wasn’t nearly as bad as it was on the way down. This was one of the only places where you got to see other runners on course, which is always a cool boost. Another section that blew by without much to note. The biggest thing I remember is that it took forever. There were multiple water crossings, but shallow enough to cross with rocks, and those giant leaves blanketed the trail. I believe it was this section where a woman passed us, I had never seen her before and either had Randi. It looked like I was now in 4th.
Piney Butte to Peters Mountain
In the original plan, I was maybe going to do this 10ish mile section solo, at Blue Heron I told Jen to be ready as I was ready to have her company. Here I know I told the crew that I was getting over my drink mix and needed something else to drink. I think I had my first coffee drink here and more mashed potato/broth mix. Took shoes off and wiped off my socks, didn’t change them but wanted to get some of the sand off. Jen and I were off in our first role reversal.
She has been at one of my races, but she was also racing. So this was her first time pacing me in, how special. We had been saving up topics to talk about for weeks, there wasn’t much conversation though, she talked, I grunted. We got into Spring Branch, what a party. They had a fun light up runway and light situation in the trees. As I approached they asked if my name was Amy, sadly no. Why would they ask me that? Random. The woman who passed me earlier was in a double chair here, I sat next to her for a hot minute to relieve the feet. There still wasn’t anything I wanted to eat, so we refilled bottles and ate a precision with caffeine(they are so bitter but necessary). 5ish miles to Peters where we would see the crew for the last time before the finish, it should also be getting light out.
Ok this section I can’t be sure if it happened before Peters or after. But the woman from the chair passes us and tells us that its rolling gravel til the next aid, which has to be Peters. I tell Jen I don’t want to be passed by anyone for the remainder of the race. Bring on the gravel road, this is my jam. I know I have blisters and the downhills aren’t awesome, but I can run them still. We cruise, running the rollers, walking for 10-20 sec and continue on. We pass that woman, chatting and laughing with her wishing her well. We also pass this other guy that I had been leap frogging with since the beginning, I called him green shirt guy in my mind because I never got his name and well he was wearing a green shirt. I knew that there was a bigger climb with about 10 miles to go and I knew that it would be slow going for me, so I wanted to get as much distance as possible on anyone behind me while I could. We come into Peters hot, I borrow a chair quick, switch to LMNT in one bottle and eat what I can which happened to be 90g precision. This was the last crew spot til the end, we had about 14 miles left of this sucker. I got rid of my lights, took my 6 second smooch and we left with smiles.
Peters Mountain to the Finish
Spoiler alert, I was real cranky here. Leaving the aid we had to navigate a riverbed for what seemed to be miles. I was really hoping to make up some time and really run, nope. So then I got pissy about the amount of time it was going to take to finish. There was no way I was getting under 24 (which was my A goal time). B goal time was under 26 hours and if we couldn’t run, that was out too. Also in this section as the day got lighter, we got rain. Holy frick yes!!! This brought some cooler temperatures, which was amazing. At one point we stood and looked out at the rock outcropping, mist in the air, wind blowing the leaves around: awe. There were two aid stations in this section before the end, Great Meadow which was across a river crossing and not mandatory to cross, you just had to check in. So weighing our water and food situation for the next 6+ miles and the time it would take, we opted out. I don’t remember too much from here, but I know I ate and was feeling a bit better, we ran, we took some pictures, we laughed. We had a climb and I think it was right before the last aid where my watch died. I was pissed, I yelled a little and then got over myself. Dumb, it doesn’t matter. I do remember the cemetery aid station, a gravel road up a hill and on the left. They had a whole situation and wanted to give us pancakes, sorry bro I don’t do gluten. I did take some sweet potato soup that was to die for and a Starbucks espresso drink: Money. Refilled some water and we blasted, only 4 miles left and I was really hoping on making it under 27 hours.
Little did I know that we would be rock hoping a bit and have another river crossing with a rope to get you down the bank it was so steep and slick. I had been telling Jen that I hadn’t seen any wildlife or heard any birds the whole time. Low and behold we go to cross the last creek and there is a raccoon washing his little hands 10 ft from us. Thanks for the treat little fella! Things became familiar since we retraced the last 2 miles to the end. Jen is trying not to cry, I’m shoving it down. The last bit of gravel seems to last forever. We rounded the bend near the parking area and I see a young girl running away, I tell Jen that I think that is Caitlin, my cousins daughter. Here we go, I can hear the finish, I can see my crew, the inflatable arch welcoming me. Take a left underneath and across the final timing mats of the day. Everything melts away and collides at once, it’s over. Hugs and tears, a buckle, a eye to eye connection with Chris and a finish line kiss. That’s all folks, 3rd place woman, 23rd overall, 1st 40-49 woman all in 27:21:19.
P.S. Let’s come full circle on the “is your name Amy” question. 1st, 2nd, and 4th(the woman I was leap frogging with in the last bit) were all named Amy!
Fuel: Maurten 320 drink mix, precision 60g carb/ 1000mg sodium drink mix, precision 90g gels, precision 30g w/caffeine gels, precision chews, LMNT mango chili, Saltstick fast chews, ginger chews, spring energy.
Gear: Salomon S/Lab Ultra shoes-same pair all day, Hollow Brand crew socks, Kanaberra chafe paint for the toes, Suunto shorts, Oiselle flyout muscle tank, Rabbit cropped EZ tee, Oiselle sport bras, Team Bird neck gaiter, Team Bird flat/flex brim hat, Salomon womens Adv skin 8L vest, Fenix head lamps, Ultraspire waist lamp, Coros Apex pro 2 watch.
