Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile

At the start line, I feel like I have a lot on the line. My first 100 miler, the culmination of the trilogy (what we won T do for a belt buckle or a fancy hat rack, especially considering that before my first belt buckle I did not wear a belt, and I do not usually wear hats, these are all much needed trinkets). So here I am, feeling strong, and the only way I will not finish this thing is to be dragged from the course.

40-50 degree start. Rain is in the forecast and again I have placed enough stuff in my drop bags for a weeks vacation. Better looking at it then looking for it. I start in shorts and sleveless top with long sleeve top. The gun goes off ( well, Joe says go!) and Oswego. I want to run with Robert as long as it is comfortable for both of us. Heading out toward their interpretive center, it seems mighty quiet to me. I guess everyone is busy with their thoughts of what the next 30 hours (give or take) will hold. Suddenly I hear someone from the back calling "hey, legs" or something like that. It was David Berdis having some fun already. He was playing catchup, mumbling something about Joe starting the race on time and being caught in the porta-potty and not being able to shake it enough. What did he mean? It looks like the fun is beginning.

Robert and I cat and mouse most of the first loop, except that he is not allowed to go ahead of me. His pacer, Tom Crull, had given him strict instructions not to race his wife and not to do the 1st loop in less than 5 hours. So when we were running together, he was a good boy and always stayed a step or 2 behind me. I rolled through hiway, dam road, and far side aid stations just a tad quicker than I thought I would. I snapped some photos of my buddies Jim, Mike, Mark, and Terry and some on the way back to dam road. But I jumped the gun because it was foggy and overcast and none of them came out until the 2nd time through dam road. It was one that a volunteer took of Robert and me. I asked Robert how he was gonna explain that one to Tom!! Across the bridges and through the swamp, hit aid station 174 and then back to start finish in 3:51. Got a photo snapped of me, Joe, and Ryan, grabbed nutrition and hat. Four hours was my best case scenario plan, so I felt that it not TOO fast, but a tad of change in the bank. Heading back out the paved path, I meet Robert. He tells me he figures he ought to sit on a picnic table for an hour so Tom won't fuss at him! While fumbling with the adjustment on my hat and chatting with ? , I realized I was running down a grassy Highline area, which I knew was not right. ? realized this at about the same moment. We hollered at the woman ahead of us, turned around and went back up the 100-200 yards we went off course, and got back on trail. I couldn't believe I had missed a well marked turn on a course I knew so well. As we turn to go up the hill on the jeep road, I wave at the progression of friends ahead, David, Meredith. And on the way back Robert, Steve, Ava, Chris, Liam, I enjoy snapping some photos in this section.On through dam road and the far side out and back where I catch some more photos. Finish the 2nd loop just a few minutes ahead of plan.

I head out of the start-finish aid station and realize I forgot to down my boost. So I head back in and get my nutrition. A ways past the interpretive center, I feel some gut rumbles and soon realize they must be addressed. I take care of business and think, well, that's at least done with. See David and Meredith on the jeep road again, but am starting to miss some of the folks coming in as I am Going out. At dam road, I forget something and have to go back for it. I am beginning to learn why I was told to make a check-list for aid stations. Lesson learned. At far side, Jim asks me how it feels to be halfway through my 1st 100. I am elated. However, on the way that makes me think I still have a LONG way to go. I decide I will do a shoe change at dam road, mile 53. I switched from my Hardrocks to my Salomon Flagstaffs. The aid station angel Louis is very helpful by rinsing, drying, and massaging my feet. I put on a dry shirt, tied a long sleeved shirt around my waist, grabbed my flashlight, stocked up, and was on my way. Since I was carrying my flashlight, I dropped my plain water bottle and carried a water bottle with Spiz.

It did not take long before I realized that the Flagstaffs were gonna rub my bunion. So I found a place to sit down and apply a band-aid before my feet got to sweaty again for it to stick. Better safe than sorry, I thought. I head on, looking forward to picking up Shan for the next loop and having some company. The Spiz is ok for fluid, but I was tasting for some plain water. Once again through the swamp and bridges and Site 174. I tripped and fell on one of the asphalt crossings. Damn asphalt, but no harm done. I continued into home for the 4th loop. Another 4:28 had passed, still having a very good day. In fat, I was a tad ahead of schedule and surprised Shan who had to scurry to get her stuff and sign her waiver. Linda Rust helped me with my stuff and got me to tie a dry long sleeve around my waist. The weather gods had been kind all day. The shirt was a precaution and I had rain gear in my drop bags if need as rain was in the forecast.

Shan and I head out and it is good to have her company. I fill her in on how the day has been going. I am well on track for a sub 24 and really excited. We do the highway aid station out and back parade and head into dam road. Shan had told me Chris Chandler had not been feeling well, and she was resting at dam road (on her 3rd loop) (?)

We had toward far side and I begin to have gut rumbles. I believe I have to stop 5 times in this 6 mile out and back section. Definitely the low part of my race. I take some papaya enzymes at the aid station, and things seemed to be better by the time we hit dam road again. On we go and I get to the start finish right at midnight, right on schedule. Mark Lindsay tells me I have 12 hours left to finish one loop on my 1st hundred. I wink and say, No, I have 6 hours!!

We leave for the last loop! I trip and fall again in the asphalt section, but just a skinned knee.