My First Hundred-Miler

 

On Pea Island

The Setup

My Graveyard 100 journey began one year ago on the side of NC12 in the darkness, somewhere between the temporary "Lego Bridge" and the village of Rodanthe. I had just told my crew I was dropping out of the 100k event. Somehow Josh and Scott came up with the brilliant idea of a handshake agreement between us that we would run the 100-miler in March 2015. Here I had just utterly failed at running 62.2 miles and the solution to that was to attempt to run 100 miles! It didn't make any sense, but I went ahead and shook hands with them.

Eventually several of us from the Outer Banks Running Club signed up for the 2015 race. We had lots of adventures training and running races together. We all enjoyed the process but never lost sight of the fact that finishing the 100-miler was our ultimate goal.

For me this was one big, hairy goal. As the race date neared, it seemed to take over my entire consciousness. The only time I wasn't thinking about it was when I was at work. In a way I enjoyed having that singular purpose. In another way I found it very disconcerting.

The Course

I don't want to call the Race Director, Brandon Wilson, a genius because he would get a big head, but the way he planned out the 100+ mile course is pretty impressive. I would say the race is designed to be doable, but if you get careless or make a miscalculation you may not finish. This year's DNF rate was 27% so the race isn't a gimme by any means.

Here are some of the factors that you have to plan for or deal with:

The race is held in early March, a time of notoriously unpredictable bad weather on the Outer Banks. Wind speed and direction can pose issues here for runners even during relatively fair weather. The race starts at 5:00 a.m. so most runners are sleep deprived going in. There are an adequate number of water stops, but only four aid stations during the entire 100 miles, so you must plan accordingly.

The first half and the second half are completely different.

During the first 45 or so miles you are running mostly through highly populated areas so you have lots to look at and be distracted by.

Running over the two and a half mile Bonner Bridge can be an adventure in itself because there is no pedestrian walkway and the road is not coned off for the runners. It's just you and whatever vehicular traffic there is on the bridge. I've done it three times now and it doesn't get any easier.

The last 55 miles is like running on the Moon. I call it beautiful desolation. I enjoy running past the giant sand dunes once you get on Pea Island. The inhabited villages are few and far between. You are running at night and temperatures usually drop significantly. If it's overcast, you can't see much further than your headlamp will allow and you start getting tunnel vision on the two lane highway. Runners get spread out and you may not see anyone else for hours. Traffic is often speeding by at 60 or 70 mph, sometimes mere feet or in some cases inches from you! Late at night the traffic that was annoying you suddenly stops. When it's clear you can see the villages and the Hatteras Light for miles and it seems like you will never get there.

The Goal

Since this was my first attempt at 100 miles my goal was to simply finish. Nothing more, nothing less. There was no Plan B.

I decided to not let myself get caught up in any pre-race excitement. Last year I was so hyped up during the race briefing by just sitting at the same table as the Badwater 135 record holder, Valmir Nunes. I was going to try to treat the event as just another long training run.

The Plan

My plan was to alternate running 25 minutes / walking 5 minutes with Laura for at least the first 50 miles. We had recently done the 42.7 mile FCA Light2Light Run together using that approach with good results. Rich was Laura's crew chief and since Laura and I had agreed to run the first 50 together, he was sort of my crew chief by default. Ron agreed to be my crew chief on the bottom half of the course. I knew it was likely that Laura and I would split up eventually. Several people from the Outer Banks Running Club volunteered to pace me once we got over the bridge, where pacing is allowed.

I told myself if I could make it 62 miles to Aid Station #3 in Rodanthe, there was no way I wasn't finishing. I knew I could run, walk or crawl to the finish line from there if I had to.

The Race

Rich picked me up at 3:30 a.m. and then we drove to Laura's house to pick her up. When we arrived at the start area it was 21 degrees. We checked in with race officials and got our gear ready. At 4:55 a.m. ninety runners lined for a very cool electric guitar version of the Star Spangled Banner. Then we heard Thunderstruck by AC/DC start to play. We took a few quick OBRC photos and we were off into the darkness at 5:01. The energy level of everyone was very high. It seemed very surreal to me.

OBRC members at the start

Laura and I ran with Wendy for over ten miles I believe. The sun came up but it was still cold for quite some time. It was fun chatting with and seeing some of the other runners. I was trying to learn all I could by observing how they approached a 100-mile run. Eventually Wendy went on ahead of us.

In Duck - Photo Courtesy of Susan Scott

Before we even made it to the first aid station in Duck, both Laura and I were having issues. Laura was running with a head cold and her knee was starting to bother her. My left hip flexor was bothering me. When we got to the first aid station I took a couple of Tylenols and that seemed to solve my hip flexor pain.

The aid station reminded me of a NASCAR pit stop. We refueled, changed clothes and went to the restroom in about six minutes according to Rich's advice.

Once we made it to the beach road, we started running with a guy named Bryan from Manassas, VA. He said it was his first attempt at 100 too. It was good to have a new person to chat with and it helped to pass the miles. By the time we got to the Epstein St. water stop it had gotten pretty warm. I was wishing I had changed into running shorts.

By the time we reached Aid Station #2 in South Nags Head the temperature had started dropping and the wind picked up. Kathy was there and helped me change socks and worked on my feet and muscles for a few minutes. She used some fancy essential oils which really seemed to help. I had a cup of hot potato soup which really hit the spot. Rich and Kathy told us to get going so we left the AS and headed for the bridge.

Surprise support from the bridge catwalk

Once you leave South Nags Head everything changes. You turn left on NC12 and you leave civilization behind. We made it to the bridge in fairly short order. We ran all the way to the steep part of the bridge and decided to walk the "uphill" part. As we ran to the far end of the bridge we heard people talking. Some of our supporters surprised us by hiding on the catwalk on the other side of the guardrail. It was kind of funny. We had beat the cutoff and were over the bridge with about an hour and half to spare I believe.

Laura picked up her pacer and took off ahead of me. Ron, Deb and others helped me change into warmer clothes and I took off with Robert, my pacer. Robert and I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and a gorgeous sunset that seemed to last for hours.

On Pea Island - Photo Courtesy of Susan Scott

Eventually we made it to AS#3 in Rodanthe. My crew got me some food. I had brief dizzy spell because I had become overheated in the warmth of AS. Once I got out of my hot, damp clothes I recovered almost instantly. Kathy worked on my feet and muscles again with the essential oils.

Running with Laura in South Nags Head

Kathy paced me through the next two water stops. It was nice catching up on what was going on with each other during those miles.

Next Terry, Ron and Deb paced me at various points all of the way to the finish. I enjoyed a cup of hot ramen soup and part of a hamburger at AS#4 at the Hatteras Lighthouse. Those last 13 miles from the lighthouse to the end were a struggle. I was hoping that sunrise would re-energize me but it didn't.

I did get energized once we arrived in Hatteras Village. Dee and Scott drove up in their van and cheered for me and took photos. From there it was a quick jaunt to the finish.

OBRC at the finish line

 
My official time was 28:37:47. Nothing spectacular, but I did it. I was very conservative with my energy, having never gone that far before. If I was to try it again I think I could cut a couple of hours off of my time. I would be tempted to run it solo next time. My hat is off to anyone attempting it solo. Solo has to be a lot more difficult than running it crewed like I did.

Lessons Learned

1. Tailwind Nutrition worked well.
2. Hokas and Injinji toe socks worked well during the first half. During the second half I switched to regular socks and got big blisters because of it.
3. I was very surprised when my feet and ankles swelled up after the race. I never had that happen before. Maybe I should have worn compression socks?
4. I'm pretty stubborn. There was no point in the race where I thought I wouldn't finish.


It was a great experience. Kudos to Brandon and his family for putting on such a top notch event. I would recommend it to anyone.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Light2Light Run

I feel very fortunate to have participated this relatively small event for a great cause. The organization, volunteers, community support and fellow runners were all fantastic. The run started at the Currituck Lighthouse at 7:00 a.m. and finished 42.7 miles to the south at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Runners had the option of signing up as a relay team or running the whole distance solo. Runners needed to finish the run by 5:00 p.m.

A few of us who are training for the Graveyard 100 in March signed up to do it solo. It made a perfect training run to test our pacing, nutrition, gear, general readiness, etc. on the actual Graveyard 100 course.

The Start - 33 ℉

It was great chatting with all of the runners at the beginning of the race while we were still bunched up together. After a while the field spread out.

With Rich 7 miles in at Pine Island

I ran the entire Light2Light event with Laura. We have decided to cooperate during the first half of the GY100 when no pacers are allowed. Rich will be Laura's crew chief. He has agreed to help me out during the first half too. Thanks, Rich!

Somewhere below Duck a guy asked us if we were running the FCA Light2Light Run. We said yes. He launched a helicopter drone and filmed us from overhead. It was pretty cool. I wonder if we will be on YouTube.

Jennette's Pier Aid Station mile 35.5. Me fumbling with a Tailwind packet.

Laura and me holding up our finisher medals at Bodie Island

Here are my lessons learned:

1. Hokas are awesome! The extra cushioning in those shoes really helps reduce the pounding your body must absorb on a long run like this.

2. Tailwind Nutrition is great! During the first two thirds of the run I was very conscientious about drinking my Tailwind and felt great.

I got a little lax about drinking it later on and paid for it. I started to bonk after we left Jennette's Pier aid station. Fortunately, Terry was at the side of Old Oregon Inlet Road and gave me a GU gel. My blood sugar and energy level started coming back up after that. I've bonked so many times now I can feel it coming on and know what to do before it's too late.

3. Don't overdress. I wore an old race shirt that I wouldn't mind throwing away if I got over heated. Sure enough, I started to get hot on the beach road.  I took the shirt off and tossed into someone's trash can. I felt much better after that.

4. 25 minute run / 5 minute walk works great. The secret is to do it from the very start and to be consistent about it.

5. Aid Station stops are very important, but just don't stay there long.

6. Reduce caffeine intake before an event like this. Then when you get droopy during the event by all means have caffeine, whether it's in your sports drink, Coke or Mountain Dew.

7. Injinji toe socks work well. I didn't have any major blister issues.

Next up Graveyard 100!

Seashore Nature Trail 50k 2014

The furnace was running at 4:45 a.m. when my alarm went off.  I knew it was cold outside. I told Marie I wanted to skip the race and go back to sleep. She said I would regret it if I didn't go. She was right. I dragged myself out of bed, got dressed and drove an hour an a half down to First Landing State Park near the Virginia Beach ocean front.

The park is a really beautiful place to run. The trail system takes you through several habitats including cypress swamp, salt marsh, maritime forest, freshwater wetlands, dunes, and bay shoreline. It reminds me a lot of Florida when you pass through the sections where Spanish moss is hanging from the trees. I believe it is actually the northern most U.S. location of Spanish moss.

Seashore 50k Map

I got to the park early and met Chris from Williamsburg. We realized we could have car pooled so we exchanged phone numbers so we can coordinate any future events. I also got a chance to chat with Jeff, who had done the traffic stop for us during the Graveyard 100k.

Some of the Outer Banks Running Club contingent prior to the start

I met Andy at the starting line. We met each other through the Williamsburg Riders Motorcycle Club, but we have both since transitioned into doing endurance sports.

Andy's wife took this photo just after the start

This was my third year running the Seashore 50k. Having recently done the Graveyard 100k this event felt pretty low key. I didn't have any particular goals other than to have fun and get some training in. I usually bring all sorts of changes of clothes and shoes and a drop bag but this time I didn't even bother. I guess I'm becoming a veteran now.

In the beginning of the race I remember chatting with Andy, Wendy, Laura and a few others.  Eventually the field spread out. By the time we reached the first aid station it was just fellow Graveyard 100k runner, Laura, and me running together.  We decided to run the whole first loop and then switch to run 25 minute, walk 5 minute intervals to practice for the upcoming Graveyard 100 in March.

Running the first loop was routine until we reached the Bald Cypress/Osmanthus section. Shane, who should have been way ahead of us came running up behind us. He had mistakenly run that section twice in a row. Fortunately, he was able to work things out with the race officials. They let him skip that section on the second loop. He ended up running the full 50k course, just in a slightly different order than everyone else.

Seashore always has great volunteers and aid stations. I ate peanut butter sandwich squares and drank Mountain Dew or Coke at every aid station. At one point in the race my right calf started cramping up so I ate a bunch of potato chips and pretzels for the salt at the next AS. It seemed to help because the problem disappeared.

Laura and I at Aid Station 2

I think the highlight of the race for both Laura and me was the surprise appearance by Kathy. Kathy ran several miles with us in street clothes. It was a great chance to catch up on what was going on with her because she moved away and we don't see her so often anymore.

Laura, Kathy and me.

On the second loop coming back toward the finish I started picking off runners. This is something I'm not used to doing. Laura wasn't having the best day. When we saw a runner up ahead she would say, "Oh no, I know what's happening next."  Then we would accelerate, even on the uphills, and pass the runners. We must have passed at least a dozen people this way.

When we finished I was surprised it wasn't a PR. I was about a minute slower than last year. I think I ran faster in the beginning last year and paid for it at the end. This year I was definitely more consistent throughout the race and had some more in the tank at the finish.

Laura and I coming down Cape Henry Trail

Next up - 2014 - The year in review.