Western States 100 Miler

At the start. Photo by Monkeyboy




So, 18 hours and 19 minutes to run 100 miles. I'm not supposed to say it...... but I'm pretty disappointed. This is not to say that I'm not proud of myself or that I don't think that my time is not pretty good. I think it would have been equivalent to running a 9:30 at Miwok this year when I ran a 8:29. I was trained, I was rested, and I made a few mistakes that I think cost me an hour or so. So, from the start...

The week before the race, I drove my family from Bend to San Diego for the Fleet Feet Conferences. Not ideal (the driving and the altitude) but its life, its my business, and it needed to be done and we had a great time down there working, doing the "Sea World" thing, and hanging out with some of the best people (other Fleet Feet owners and vendors) in the running industry. We made the long trek from San Diego to Tahoe on Thursday. We decided to take the longer and much more scenic route through Bishop and the Sierras. The drive was amazingly beautiful but it was really, really long. I don't want to sound like a wuss but I got a crazy, migraine style headache during the drive (probably because we had gone from 0 to 8000+ feet) and by the time we got to Tahoe, we we been driving for almost 11 hours and for the first time in my life, I thought I was going to be car sick. There was no need to be a little bitch about it but I was bummed. My wife, Katie, was awesome and tried to do everything to deflect any inconveniences from me but it was just a really f'n long drive before a really long race....
When we got to Tahoe, I hit the sack immediately and slept for 12 hours and felt much, much better in the morning.
Friday was the normal Western States stuff. Dropping off "drop bags", getting weighed, seeing old friends. It was a good time. Finally, I tore myself away and headed back to the room to chill out before dinner. Finally, a good pasta dinner with my pacer, Jamie Gifford and his wife Becky and off to bed. I slept well and did my normal routine in the morning. I felt bloated and fat so it was definitely time to race.
The morning was chaotic but I just found Rob Evans and we chilled out and waited until it was time to run up the hill.
Here we go... pretty much right up and over the Squaw Resort. When we got to the top, we were treated to about 5 miles of pure snow running. It was pretty fun. Slipping around, having small waterfalls stream down the single track. Feet were soaked but it was a good time. It was also evident that there were a LOT of really fast runners. I'll make the statement that I think this is probably the most competitive trail ultra marathon that has ever gone down. Lots of leap frogging was going on so it was hard to pinpoint where I was in the pecking order.
After about 7 miles, we got on the official "snow course" for about 12 miles (which was definitely easier than the standard route). We had a long downhill on a dirt road followed by several miles of just slogging along a dirt road that passed some campgrounds. Eventually, we hit a reservoir and got on a single track that just kind of rolled along. At this point I passed a few people (AJW, Justin Angle, and Erik Skaden) as we headed up towards Duncan Canyon. It was here we got our first taste of a little bit of heat. The new trail to Duncan was real awe inspiring. It had the feel of a brand new trail with lots of newly cut stumps and lots of dust.
At Robinson Flat. Photo by Jenny U.
I felt pretty good climbing out of Duncan and just basically leap frogged the entire time with Erik Skaden who I was determined to hang on with for a while and to hopefully lean on his experience on the course. When I got to Robinson Flat, I felt better than I usually do (29 miles in). I felt pretty fresh, my caloric intake seemed solid and I just kept trucking. The next section is probably my least favorite on the course. Going up and around Little Bald Mountain and then down, down, and more down on dirt roads. I just find it pretty boring and I got discouraged when AJW flew by me like I was standing still. I have learned that I am a MUCH better technical runner than just on the open road... not sure why. But, I just stayed steady and continued to leap frog with Erik Skaden. He would fly by me on the dirt roads.... (I mean, really dust me) and I would think he was gone forever but then I would reel him in again when we got back on single track sections. After what seemed like forever, we headed down into the infamous "Canyons". I never find the canyons that intimidating. Devil's Thumb is steep but its just a hike so I just settle in and trudge up. Sure, it sucks, but the trail is good and its just a long slog. I didn't seem that warm to me either. It was during this time that I seemed to put a little bit of distance on Mark Lantz but I was sure he would catch up soon... and he did. I took a little time at the top of Devil's Thumb and gathered myself for the run down. I got to Deadwood Cemetery and stopped, and meticulously retied my shoes for the descent to Eldorado Canyon. I'm bummed I did because I would like to know my true split on this section. I ran it really well and caught and passed Erik Skaden and even caught up to Glenn Redpath near the end but he didn't seem to want me to pass and I didn't really care so I just slowed down and finished the descent with him. In hindsight, I probably ran that section a bit too hard. I really hammered it as my quads still felt okay and I thought that was a good time to let 'er rip a little bit. Probably my first significant mistake.
I hit the bottom and headed up to Michigan Bluff. I felt solid on the long climb up to Michigan and shadowed Glenn Redpath as we ran probably about 1/2 of the climb up.
As far as fueling, things were feeling pretty good. I had been drinking 2 bottles of GUBrew between each aid station, taking 1 SCap per hour, and eating a GU every 30 minutes. In all, I was getting around 300 calories per hour. I was feeling a bit bloated though and that was kind of bumming me out.....
When I hit Michigan Bluff, I found that I had reeled in AJW which I was thrilled about since I figured the rest of the course really favored my running style and I knew I was running in a good position if he was around as he always runs very smart races out here. I had also pulled away from Erik Skaden and Mark Lantz again.
Now, for my big mistake of the day..... arriving at Michigan, I skipped an S cap in the excitement and a few minutes later felt that I wasn't as bloated. Hmm, maybe I've been taking in too much sodium? And, with my stupid ass theory, I decided to skip an S Cap or two and see if that continued to make me feel all right. In hindsight, I think I went about 2 hours without taking another salt and I went from drinking 2 GUBrew bottles to only 1 bottle and one water. So, less sodium and less calories. At the time, I thought it was okay as usually I have stopped taking GU's by now due to my stomach.
Anyway, I passed AJW, gave him some encouragement and headed to Foresthill. When I got there, I picked up my pacer and good friend, Jamie Gifford and headed out. At first, I felt pretty good. I didn't feel awesome, but shit, we had just run 62 miles so that seemed okay. AJW again gapped me a little bit but I had pulled ahead of Glenn Redpath. We just ran steady on Cal Street trail. I told myself that the real racing would begin on the other side... and it did... unfortunately, I would become the wounded target!!!

62 miles, Foresthill. Photo by Rick Gaston
Running towards the river was a downer for me. My speed was not what I wanted it to be and I had lost contact with AJW and Glenn Redpath had passed me and I just was putzing along. However, the game changer happened about 2 miles from the river. I'm not sure what set it off... the heat, not getting enough sodium, calories, who knows. But, with about a mile and a half to go to the river, something was wrong. My entire upper body from about my chest all the way to the top of my head got this crazy tingling like when you sleep on your arm. In fact, I was poking my face and I could not feel it. I told Jamie that I had a serious issue. But, we were close to the river, and he urged me on... which he should have, but I didn't have anything right then. I felt like a ghost on the boat across the river and immediately got out and laid down in the river. That felt better and we made our way to the aid station. I was worried my day was going to be over... things did not feel right at all. I told him that I needed to re-load. I took several SCaps, a GU, some soup, a little bit of sandwich, and a little bit of potato chips. Damn, was this race close. While I sat there, 3 people passed me while all I could do was watch. I saw Erik Skaden, Ian Sharman, and someone else pass me. That really took the wind out of my sails....
But, we got up and kept going. However, each time I tried to run, my calves COMPLETELY seized up with cramps. I felt I had a *little* strength to run but literally, could not. Bummer. So, we just walked every step to Green Gate. I was equally bummed to see friend, Hal Koerner weaving up the road to Green Gate. It was evident that his day was done. We both wallowed in our misery for a moment and Jamie and I headed off. At the top of the climb, I was able to run again but it was liked the damage of the day settled in. I had deja vu as my quads were shot. I had no other gears other than a trudge. SHIT!!!!!!! I was frustrated but I just couldn't do anything about it. I popped some Advil but it only slightly dulled the pain. The pain was real and very sharp. I'm very frustrated that my quads just seem to get thrashed at this race. All of the other *harder* races I have done, this has never been an issue but for some reason, Western just beats me up. I'll keep trying though...
Anyway, we just kept moving along. We weren't running horribly but we certainly weren't going fast. "Just minimize the damage". That is what Jamie was telling me and I really was trying. We got to ALT and Ford's bar without incidence but we certainly weren't going to pick anyone off. There really isn't much more to say about the race except that I was hurting and wanting to be done. My time goals kept slipping away and I just kept struggling forward. It was truly a race where if you were slowing down, you were going to get passed. And I did. The most painful part was being passed 3 times from mile 96 to the finish. In truth, I was just over it and if I wasn't going to be in the top 10, it didn't mean too much to me but it still doesn't feel good to see people running strong at mile 97 when you are just struggling.

Good times, good times.....
Jamie just had me jog/hike the final climb until we hit the road. Even the last 1.1 mile on the roads felt VERY uphill and tough. I was so relieved to get on the track and get it done. I sprinted across the finish line with my son, Fisher, to get under 18:20, 15th place and a new PR for me on the course. As a side note, this time would have gotten me into the top 10 every other year this race has gone on. Bad luck on that one...
I felt pretty darn thrashed afterwards. My quads were absolutely ruined and I later learned that I had CPK levels of 66,000. Better than the 96,000 that I had in '07 but still very alarmingly high and frustrating since I felt like I did put in the work during my training.

At the finish with son, Fisher. Photo by Glenn Tachiyama
SO, what are my thoughts? I feel a bit of a letdown. I gave it my all and for that, I'm stoked. I ran 100 miles and for that, I'm stoked. I made more memories with my family and my good friends. And for that, I'm stoked.
I am now fired up for Leadville. My legs are still too sore to run but I'm excited to get back after it and look forward to challenging myself again. And, in the end, this exact story is the beauty of running 100 milers. There are guys that I am faster than that beat me. There are guys who are much faster than me, who I beat. That doesn't happen nearly as often in shorter races and I find some beauty in that. Go figure.

Top 20 Overall.. at least I didn't get chicked. Photo by Kim Gaylord.

Thanks so much to Jamie... I hope I didn't disappoint you. I sure wanted to give you a hell of a ride to the finish and I didn't do that. Thanks to my wife and family. They haven't seen me race a 100 in years and it was cool to get that back into the scene and I think my wife might have even enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.