Vermont 100 Mile Recap

Over a year ago when I decided that I would begin writing about my experiences in running and life and most specifically my 100 mile adventure I could never imagine that I would gain so much through an experience nor learn so much about myself and those close.  Two weeks ago I reached my goal of completing the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run.  It was a journey that took me through the Green Mountains of Vermont and a lifetime of emotions.  Here's my best recap of race weekend.

Kelly and I arrived late Thursday afternoon and checked into our B&B in Woodstock, about 30 minutes north of the start and finish.  After dropping our bags off we decided to take a walk through town and find some good grub and cold brews.  Even at this point it hadn't hit me that what I had been training for, talking about, and dreaming of was only a day and a half away.  After enjoying some great local beer we decided that we should get some sleep knowing it would be out last good night of rest for a couple days.

We slept in Friday morning and had a fantastic breakfast outside in COOL weather.  I should mention that not only was this my first attempt at a 100 miler it was my first time staying in a B&B, pretty risky huh?  After breakfast we drove to the start/finish of the race so I could get checked/weighed in and grab my bib and instructions.  While driving to the start the directions took us to a dirt road that we would eventually drive on for 20 minutes before arriving.  What's important is that this road was HILLY and I started to see course markers.  I quickly realized that some portion of the 100 miles would be on this road, oh boy!

There wasn't a moment through all my training, planning, or trying to grasp a 100 miles on my feet that I was nervous.  This was until we parked our truck and I saw the tents and the sign that said, "Welcome 100 Milers".  I felt like I was punched in the stomach.  It was finally real.  Everything that I had read about over the last year and all the miles I had put on my feet were about to become a reality.  As I stood in line I noticed that the guy in front of me was wearing a Leadville 100 shirt and another runner was wearing a Western States belt buckle.  My friends - I was standing in the same tent with the "big boys", standing amongst guys that had done this before and guys that had ran the races that I have awed over.

I nervously stood on the scale and weighed in at 217 pounds and had my blood pressure read at 120 over 80.  These numbers would be used as baselines for my weigh ins/medical stations at miles 47, 70, and 89.  If I were to fall below 6% (204) medical staff would check my vitals and my well being before I could continue.  After we gathered everything from the main tent Kelly and I walked to the start line to take a few photos.  One thing I didn't do was get near or even look at the finish line, I figured I would see it some time on Sunday.

After leaving Silver Meadow we met the Hollaman crew, who consisted of Erin(who I work with at Charm City Run), her husband Vassie, and their 14 year old twins Rebecca and Charles.  Along with Kelly these four would be largely responsible for helping me through the race.  We all met at a local brewery called Long Trail, we talked race strategy, we talked beer, and we had a great time.  After a sampler of beer we would eventually find our way back to Silver Hill Meadow for the mandatory runner/crew meeting.

At 4:00 sharp the race director called for everyone's attention, and within a few seconds the crowd of well over four or five hundred became silent as all the race details and instructions were broadcasted.  This was an important meeting for not only the runners but the crew and pacers as well.  Something important that was stated went something like this, "Pacers and Crew please keep in mind that once your runner has ran over 40 miles anything that he or she may say should not be taken to heart"...I am still reminding Kelly of this 2 weeks later.  We were reminded of the do's and do not's of race day and the crew and pacers were told the guidelines that they must follow.  In short crews and pacers are not allowed to assist the runner by carrying their gear (muling) and can only help in designated "handler stations".  Before the meeting ended they had first time 100 milers stand up, it was a welcome feeling to see myself and at least a quarter of the other participants stand up.

After the briefing we stayed in the tent and had a fantastic dinner.  I did my best to eat as much as I could without feeling too stuffed and tried to choose my food wisely.  Once everyone was finished with dinner we said our goodbyes and traveled back to our rooms.  Before I went to bed I did my best to have everything ready for race morning.  I took a shower, set the alarm for 2:00 a.m., and surprisingly fell asleep quickly.

5 hours later Kelly and I were up and as we headed quietly down the stairs of our B&B I didn't realize it would be the last time I would walk normally down stairs for a few days.  We arrived at Silver Meadow with plenty of time to have a cup of coffee, a bagel, and meet up with the Hollamans.  I checked in, took a photo with my crew, and happily met a fellow runner from Annapolis who was attempting his first 100.  Justin and I would meet up much later in the race at a much needed time for both.

A last second hug and kiss and I was standing amongst 300 people who would may have not as been as nervous as me but just as anxious.  I still can't remember if there was a gun or a bell or how the race started but I remember following the runner in front of me and telling myself that it was time to stop worrying, time to stop dreaming, and time to get to work.  Most importantly I wanted to enjoy the experience and enjoy the hills of Vermont.

I struggled with any type of race strategy over the last month of training.  I wasn't sure if I should be super conservative during the first third of the race or if I should use some of the early race energy and get some miles under my belt.  I did neither and decided to run a speed that felt necessary at the time.  I knew that I wouldn't see my crew until mile 22 and that it would be important to make friends on the course.  I spent the first couple hours with a guy about my size who had traveled from Kansas City, his name was Chris and it was his second attempt at a 100 miler.  I met people from all over and people who were just as excited.

At mile 14 we ran through the town of Woodstock and past the B&B that Kelly and I were staying at, and to my surprise I was able to see my whole crew a couple hours early.  I began to settle into a good pace and now started to hike the larger hills and run the downhills.  Before I knew it I was at mile 22 and was able to stop for a couple minutes with my crew, change out the bladder in my Nathan hydration pack, and grab some food.  I would meet my crew again at mile 33 and in the meantime I had met a new friend by the name of Ernest.  Ernest was a 65 year old guy from Alaska who was touring the country on a BMW motorcycle and running 100 milers when he had the chance, he had already ran 2 or 3 this year.  I spent my time with this guy laughing my butt off, his stories were unreal and philosophy on life was simply simple.  What a treat it was to meet such a man.

I met my crew at mile 33 and took a seat for a couple minutes.  I was in a bit of a funk and seeing them was just what I needed.  After leaving the aid station we crossed a road and began one of the toughest climbs of the course and arguably the toughest climb I had ever tackled.  We hiked for a couple miles up and over rocks and roots until we would eventually peak at the highest point on the course.  I think they called it the "Sound of Music" hill, the views were spectacular and the air tasted great.  BUT what goes up must come down.

I'm not sure at what point but the downhills of this course became just as difficult as the climbs.  I would see my crew again a couple times and each time I would do my best to roll my quads out and stretch.  I was also having IT band soreness, nothing ibuprofen and tylenol couldn't take care of right?
Mile 47, Camp 10 Bear, would be the first medical station of the day.  This would be my first of 3 weigh-in's.  I took a deep breath and stepped on the scale and was weighed at 210 pounds (I weighed 220 at the start) down 7 from Friday's weigh-in.  I was told by the staff to make sure I start eating and drinking more, so that I did and grabbed a grilled cheese with bacon and a handful of cookies.  I met my crew, who again were the best on the course, and took some time to stretch and change my socks.  After spending too much time, 25 minutes, I was off to a very tough 22 mile loop that would eventually bring me back to 10 Bear at mile 70.

After a few ups and downs I found myself at mile 53 with a burst of energy and made up some time running through the woods by myself singing an ad lib version of "Eye of the Tiger".  I weaved through the trails and fields of Vermont and came upon my Filipino friend who I had been trading miles with for the last 10 miles.  I am still not sure of his name and never had great conversation with him because he didn't speak very good English but every time I would see him he would tell me how happy he was to see me!

I again saw my crew at mile 57 and again took a much needed rest long enough to roll out my quads and grab a sweet tea.  I am a firm believer that I would have never finished the race without the help of Gold Peak Sweet Tea, simply incredible.  My whole goal now was to get to mile 70 so that Kelly could jump in and help get me through the last 30 miles.  The only problem is that the highs and lows were becoming closer and the course wasn't getting any easier.

As I mentioned earlier a fellow runner and now friend Justin Peake would find me at a very important time during the race.  We would begin shuffling along somewhere around mile 60 and made a pact to stick it out together until we rolled into 10 Bear at mile 70.  These final 10 miles would've been tough without him and I think that we did our best to feed off each other and push through the early nightfall together.

Finally mile 70 would appear and after a wardrobe change, much needed moral support, and some Desitin Kelly and I were off into the night.  We were not fast and as Vassie said, "And they are off...like a herd of turtles" we began one of our many climbs together.  As much as I have thanked my crew and their importance Kelly was my savior over the last 30 miles....and she did as my mom asked of her "please don't let my son die".

I was really tired during the first 10 miles together, it was past midnight and all I wanted was to lay down and take a nap.  I asked countless times if I could lay on a rock or a guard rail but she wouldn't let me and I am pretty sure at some point she began to ignore my begging.  We hiked more than we ran and talked about our lives and setting goals.  We laughed, and yes I cried, about stuff as simple as me mistaking a pile of horse crap for a dead kitten to how silly our kids can be at times.

I took a small turn for the worse at mile 81.  We had stopped at an unmanned aid station to drink some water and gatorade and while trying to take a salt tab I began to have trouble swallowing.  This would lead to me dropping to a knee and getting sick a couple times.  For the first time in the race I was scared.  I remember holding onto Kelly's leg telling her that it wasn't supposed to happen like this, I had 19 miles to go.

We started to walk and walk faster though I am not sure if we did run at all, things were a little blury for a while, but we managed to make our way into mile 89.  I hopped on the scale and had gained a pound back.  I was beginning to feel better but still couldn't eat so I stuck to my diet of hard candy and water.  The race volunteers briefed us on the last 11 miles of the course, and again like a herd of turtles we were off.

I hurt, everything hurt, and perhaps I was a little cranky.  We crossed what the course officials called the most beautiful field in Vermont and while Kelly was taking view in, as I should have been too, I asked her to stop weaving and pick a lane.  So she quietly moved behind me and let me take the lead.  Looking back on it now she handled my case of "cranky pants" better than anyone else would have and deserved her own medal for putting up with me for 30 miles.

As the miles slowly ticked away and as Kelly would sprint ahead and tell the crew not to let me sit or stop we would make our last push towards the finish and start our last climb somewhere around mile 97 or 98.  As we hiked our way up yet another mountain(or hill as they call them in Vermont) my emotions started to take over.  I was both physically and mentally exhausted.  We reached a tree that had a small plate that read, "Congratulations you have now reached mile 99, 1 mile to your goal".

That last mile was simply incredible.  I had been on my feet for over 29 hours, reached deeper and ripped more raw than I ever would have imagined.  I began to swell with pride and I knew that within minutes I would cross the finish line of the race that I had been dreaming of for over a year.  With each step we could hear the announcer and fellow runners cheering the finishers as they crossed the line.  And as I turned a corner I saw the sign that two days prior I wouldn't put an eye on.  I crossed the finish line with a time of 29:14:59.

And just that quickly my goal of completing a 100 mile foot race was complete and successful.  I couldn't hug Kelly and my crew of Erin, Vassie, and their children hard enough and to this day still can't thank them enough for their selfless act.  What a moment, what a day and night, what an incredible experience.

I only wish I could explain the feelings and roller coaster of emotions that swirled through my body during those 29 hours.  I only wish that I could have bottled it up and kept it forever.  Those 100 miles through the mountains and fields of Vermont cut me to the core and they humbled me beyond belief.  This race erased any self doubt that I had in my self, this course has put me to peace in so many ways.  And most importantly and without a doubt I lost and found myself on those trails and dirt roads of Vermont.  I am and will be forever grateful for all those that I have in my life.

2 weeks later as I sit with sore feet I am still proud but still can't thank Kelly, my family, and my friends enough because this was a journey that I could never have done alone.  There was not a moment that I didn't think I could finish and there was not a moment that I didn't think of everyone.  Again my friends, to me this was not only a race or journey it was a tool.

I may have finally found the end of the rainbow...and I can't wait to see it again one day.