This year was an epic year for me. After missing out on the lotteries for Western States and Masanutten, I was looking for races to do. I eventually settled on doing all local races, since there were plenty I hadn't done, in particular 100 milers. Since I had a DNF at the Zumbro 100 last year that would definitely have to be on the list, and I wanted to run The Sawtooth 100 again this year. After picking those two, it really wasn't too much of a leap to choose to do the Wilderness Athlete Gnarly Bandit series. This tough lineup consists of the two aforementioned races along with Kettle Moraine 100 mile/k, Black Hills 100 mile/k, and Wild Duluth 100k. I figured this would be good practice for a long term goal of mine, The Grand Slam of Ultra Running. To add some icing to the cake, Wilderness Athlete was offering up $500 to be split among the finishers. This is a series the doesn't have a winner, as everyone who makes it through all the events is a true winner, no matter what their times were.
Running the Bandit would by far be the toughest set of races I'd ever done, more than doubling the miles of racing I've done in one year as well as doubling the number of ultras I've done in total, from five previous finishes to ten at the end of this year. I was worried about staying motivated all year as well as injury free. Fortunately, at least physically, I held up really well, garnering nothing more than a sore back after Sawtooth and some other minor aches and pains. The only thing lingering now, a month after Wild Duluth is some toenails still growing back...who knew that for as often as you have to trim them, that once you lose them they take months to come back.
As happens in any given race, this season was itself a roller coaster of highs and lows. I started off with a superb run at Zumbro on a beautiful day with a bunch of familiar faces. I was on all day and couldn't have felt better, but after the race I learned that a big effort so early in the season leads to a lot of recovery time, nearly a month to bounce back.
After that it was on to Kettle Moraine, and some of the least fun I'd ever had running a race, but my biggest learning experience. It was hot, humid, and no shade. I had gone there with a plan and stuck to my guns, eventually beating myself into a pulp. I learned here to be flexible, it's fine to have a plan, but you need to be ready to throw it out the window for any number of reasons...I'm not a hot weather runner and I had no business running like it was 60 degrees out instead of the 90 it was. Adapt and adjust, and above all take care of yourself. Lessons that would help out for the next three races. I did manage a little personal redemption by hanging out all night helping friends that were running get care they needed and back out on the trail.
Three weeks after Kettle was Black Hills. I stuck to a T with just a plan of running soft and taking care of myself with no aspirations of 'racing'. This was a big reinforcement of Kettle, as I ended up running a solid race and coming away with the win. When you are out all day, there is no point in worrying about your position at 10 miles. I had a new template for the future, take care of myself until late in the race, then see what I've got left and start jockying for a spot. Oh, and don't forget to take electrolytes, I only want to experience that once.
The last hundred miler of the year would be the benchmark of the midwest, The Sawtooth 100. A fun reunion with all the familiar locals, which has quickly become one of my favorite reasons for racing. This, again was a race where taking care of myself was important, really hot during the day...and very depressing running for me. But I had stayed on top of my hydration and nutrition, and come nightfall had what is probably my best run ever. It just goes to show you, even if you feel down early in a race, that has no bearing on how you are going to feel in a few hours. Patience is a virtue.
Finally, at long last, the final race in the series, the Wild Duluth 100k. This was a hard day for me, but all in all a beautiful day to be in the woods. I finally paid the price for a long summer of racing, or maybe it was just one of those days. But this was a race where being mentally tough was the order of the day. I never felt like dropping, but I was rarely more anxious to just be done. Sometimes just making yourself put one foot in front of the other is all that is needed. Yeah, it's a lot of steps, but the end does come. Something a friend of mine said after Sawtooth had stuck in my head: “I think a tough time for you is different than a tough time for me.” I'm fortunate to be able to finish these things fairly fast, and even though I didn't feel good, I'd still be done hours before many others. Someone who grinds out an 18 hour finish in this race, has to be tough for a lot long than I would. I don't really have a justification for whining.
There were a lot of people that made this summer possible, some directly by crewing and pacing for me, or volunteering. Others for logging training miles with me or just offering kind words on the trail. My wife made most of the races and crewed for me and even logged some pacing miles. Several other friends selflessly gave up a weekend or part of a day to crew and pace as well. Many many volunteers keeping these races going. Jerod, over at Wilderness Athlete, for offering up the bounty as well as sending me a pile of bars and gels to keep me fueled. Karl Meltzer helped keep me in peak condition all season with training plans and lots of chats. Everyone made this an immensely gratifying season of racing.
Thank you all!
