It's Looking Like A New Challenge!

Yesterday was the 43rd running of the Western States 100 Mile Race. It is the granddaddy of all 100 mile races. It is one I would love to do, but because of logistics and the lottery, I probably never will. In fact, I thought I ran my last 100 mile race last September at the Hennepin Hundred. I had promised my wife that I would not do any more, a promise I had every intention of keeping. But it is funny how things can change in unexpected ways.

It started at a simple dinner, just my wife and I, at a local Mexican restaurant. My wife really likes Mexican, so even though it is just okay with me, I try to let her get me there about once a month. I am still not sure how it came up, but I mentioned a cool race out west, the Tahoe 200 Mile and how they give you 100 hours (4 days and 4 hours) to finish it. It is the only 200 mile race that consists of only one loop; around Lake Tahoe. I kind of said it casually, but I thought it would be a neat thing to try, particularly, with the amount of time given. And lo and behold, my wife agreed. I was kind of stunned, saying that even with the amount of time, it would be a challenge.  Lots of elevation change and some very technical trail. I did come out and say that I really thought I could finish and that would be my only goal. Not even a contemplation of trying to race it at all. And, again, she agreed that I could do it. The one thing I did know was that it would not be this year. It would have to be 2017. Again, she said that sounded reasonable. It would give me over a year to prepare, particularly, the vertical. Well that was about it, but it was enough to plant the seed in my mind.

Over the next few days, I checked out the website for the race. Candice Burt is the race director and her site is very extensive on information about the race, including a 30 page runner’s manual. I found the resources she provides for the runners are incredible, fully stocked aid stations and six sleep stations, as well. The cost for the race is pretty high ($995), but everything I read confirms that you are getting your money’s worth. I would have to start saving now, but it could be done. There was only one real wrinkle; qualifying for the race. To qualify, you have to have completed a mountain 100 mile (15,000 feet or more elevation change) within the last two years or two non-mountain 100 mile races in the space of three years. I have only one of the non-mountain 100 milers. So, I need another 100 mile. This is where I am having to back away from my promise to my wife. The most convenient and easiest way to get the second 100 mile race was to see if I can move up from my Tunnel Hill 50 mile in November to the 100 mile. After contacting the Tunnel Hill race director, he said it would be no problem and actually was enthusiastic about the idea. It will mean another $100 though. So my saving for the Tahoe race will have to start a bit later, especially with MaryLou’s birthday just a week away.

There will be some new things that I will have to practice starting next spring. Being a mountain race with 40,000 feet of elevation change, I am going to need to get used to carrying a pack with mandatory kit (anything can happen in the mountains). I will also need to learn how to use trekking polls. And, of course, lots of uphill and downhill practice. It will be a challenge, to be sure. But it should be an exciting journey to get there.

Minooka Summerfest 5K

Good 5K today.  Minooka Summerfest 5K.  21:22; only 3 seconds off my 60s best. 14th out of 179 overall. 1st out of 4 in my age group(60-64). 6:53/Mile. John wasn't running today, so had a pretty easy time.

Kettle Moraine 100K

Saturday was the Kettle Moraine 100K with most of it on the Ice Age Trail. It was my first return there since 2007 and the DNF. My main goal was to just finish it this time, but I really wanted to have good day. I felt even at my age, I could possibly finish in 12 to 12 1/2 hours.

I drove up on Friday afternoon, checked into the Baymont Inn in Whitewater, and then headed over to packet pickup at the Start/Finish area. Got my number and met one of co-race directors. And I was able to pick up a great gym bag from a previous year for $20. That night I packed my drop bags and laid out my stuff for the morning. After a bite to eat, hit the sack.

Woke up at 3:30 am to about 62 degrees. Weather for the day was supposed to have a high about 78 with some rain and possible thundershowers. After the pre-race meeting we were off at 6:00 am sharp. The 100K and 100 milers went off together. The race starts off with a pretty easy first mile and then the rolling hills start for the next five miles or do. But is on a nice wide trail. There are several distinct sections to the course.  After the rolling hills, we get into single track and lots of pretty technical ups and downs for another six miles. After the Emma Carlin aid station, we get about ten miles of prairie and savannah mixed with some short tree covered areas. What made this section harder than normal is no shade and about 80 degrees. Near the end of this section a light rain started and kept up off and on for the next couple of hours. We now entered the Scuppernong area which would take us to the turn around. There was some real technical steep trail through this area, but once through it, we finished up with some forest roads to the turn around. I thought it was the halfway point at six hours and fifteen minutes. But I was very happy with it, especially since the legs tended to feel on the heavy side for most of the trip out which really preyed on my mind. I wasn't in the greatest mental state. And later, I found that the return trip adds a couple extra miles. 

But making the turn and knowing I was heading back really gave me a lift. I ran really well back through Scuppernong, the savannah and the prairie. What was crazy, though, was that I was getting passed by a bunch of runners on the way back and couldn't figure out why they weren't ahead of me already. Then it dawned on me that the 50K runners started off from Scuppernong between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm and they were running on very fresh legs and were only doing half the distance than I was. I did start to slow a bit going back after Emma Carlin again. But during those last thirteen miles, I was only passed by one person who was not in the 50K, so I must have still been moving okay. 

I finished easily while it was still daylight for a nice run: 13:25:40.9, good for 15th place out of 95 starters and 1st in my age group (60-69) out of 5. All in all, a good day!