I had a different than expected completion of this 100 miles... I went into it feeling really good. I'd dropped my Covid 15, recovered from all my nagging injuries and even got in a little speed work while tapering. From the RD's description, this was an easy race to finish at 30 hrs & I was looking forward to gentle trails & climbs after NB100. Let's just say my family and I changed the name from Mountaineer Rumble to Demon Rumble! I went in respecting the distance with a plan to go easy. The weather felt perfect, 70s,/ 50s, with bright blue skies and gorgeous autumn leaves. Jason & I were a bit concerned because the looped course map was confusing and unclear on several intersection points. The RD was going to try to explain in a pre race meeting but cancelled it as he was still marking the course the night before the race. There was a great spread of food at the race dinner but keto, I stuck with a salad. Logistically it was a nightmare, we had runners trying to form lines all directions, all crowded in a pavilion so Jason & I kept our distance with masks on. We met a couple girls running their first 100, Brittany and Rachel, and had a fun conversation, one of them. Brittany was from our area, and she & I got to know each other well before this nightmare day was over. 😅
There was a revolutionary war re enactor who set off a cannon at the race start which was really cool. He told us Kings Mountain was on the sight of a Revolutionary War battlefield which meant alot much to me. The chance to run on ground made sacred by the sacrifice of patriots. It was appropriate for the Marines I was running for, and the current state of our country. I was running with a new Marine, SSgt Christopher Wilson, who served 3 deployments and had an unborn child before losing his life to suicide. His memory and spirit added a new dynamic feeling to my run. Just felt the love out there, that these 3 Marines, Dexter, Taylor and Christopher have, for the children they left behind. :(
Spent roughly the next 15 hrs running through leaves so thick it felt like running in sand. Buried in them were alot of hidden rocks and roots. The air was warm & thick with humidity. I was quickly drenched in sweat and breathing hard for the moderate pace I was going. The course description didn't mention any water or needing extra shoes or socks...there were 2 solid ankle deep water crossings in the first 11 miles, I lost count but it was somewhere near 18 creeks in 78 mi, no word abt them in the course description. 🙄
I knew this was going to be a bear when 2 people at the 2nd aid station, only 10 miles in, were already struggling with nausea and one guy had a bad bloodied knee. The ground uneven, & technical, sloggy mud pits throughout. Trying to slipslide around the mud pits was a special kind of fun. :-P There were only a few sections where you could open up and run without staring at the ground. The fall leaves were brilliant under a blue sky and beautiful...when you could stop and look up! My oldest living son Isaac, had his first child born the night before the race. At the 50k point, Jason told me her name, Evelyn Mae. My heart was singing with joy over my newest granddaughter!
The 2nd loop had been leaf blown so that was a better trail for running, but they were still fairly technical, with narrow, rolling hills& undergrowth scratching at your legs. I did a hard face plant that knocked the wind out of me and bruised my chin, but I had good music and good company running with my Marines. I had the chance to talk about them to several runners and aid station workers on the course so that was really special. Before I'd begun my race a cousin & good friend texted me and asked me to pray for our country out on this race. Given the special location, I felt that deeply. I got a special feeling out there that our country is in God's hands and that He was still mindful of liberties.
I finished the first 50k in 8 &1/2 hours. Slow but decent time. There were several of those mentioned confusing looped crossover sections of the course, but there were enough runners around that we troubleshooted the directions correctly. That became a problem on the 2nd loop, 50k-100k. The night came on quickly and the second loop was run mostly in the dark. I was feeling good and making up time at first, passing other runners, but in the dark it was more difficult to navigate the terrain. By 43 miles was already feeling I'd run twice that far. I was passing runners constantly who had gotten lost and we're trying to make up time and get back on course. This was apparently a huge problem because there was at the end, only a 37% finish rate and more than half the runners dropped out by midnight! Those are terrible numbers!
I ran through the dark almost entirely alone. It was hard to enjoy it because I had to really concentrate staying on track and not tripping in the mud pits, creeks or on hidden rocks and roots. Jason was at the aid stations refueling me and making sure I stayed pointed in the right direction. The highlight of the night was feeling good enough at 50k to eat a hot bacon cheeseburger and later a slice of pizza, but after the 50k I was mostly drinking orange juice. . Was hot, then cold alternatively so kept taking my jacket off & on and that slowed me down.
Jason met me at mile 47. I'd deteriorated quickly from the effort and my feet were shredded from running in wet, muddy shoes. I collapsed on the ground trying not to vomit while he helped pull off my shoes. Because of all the water crossings my feet were prunes and already covered in blisters, socks full of grit and mud despite gaiters. I had a change of shoes at that AS but no socks, so my darling husband took off his own dry socks and made me wear them. He gave me a really quick blessing. My head was spinning so I didn't realize until later that a song of Dexters "Show me the way" -Styx... a song that led Jason to becoming a Christian, randomly started playing on my phone. I hadn't added that song to my playlist. <3 I know that was Dexters way of saying he was out there with us. <3
The shoe change felt so good & I felt revived with the admonishon to have courage, and faith that Heavenly Father and my team of angels were with me, and that I'd have fire in my heart and spirit and would be able to continue. <3 At one of the confusing trail 4 way stops just before midnight there were several runners just sitting. They all looked like elite runner types. They were angry and complaining about the course markings and getting lost. They didn't follow me back out so I assume they dropped the race there.
I started having trouble again with nausea and couldn't eat or drink, going into 53 or so...the math miles are really confusing on these loops, ha. I took a big swig of ginger ale and vomited black goo all over my shoes, haha. Pretty nasty but I felt better after that and was able to jog along. Someone at the aid station told me I was in the top 3 female runners still going. That gave me some courage to push harder. I had a brief 40 minutes or so of just feeling happy to be out there. It reminded me of one of my favorite things, driving in the car with my kids, cranking the music and everybody singing. I just had this feeling like I had the same thing going on, out on the trail. Runners high dissapeared a few miles out from the 100k mark because I got lost. There were 2, 4 way stops, one poorly marked, one not marked at all. I took the wrong direction twice and ended up back at the 59 Mike aid station TWICE! I was so angry, it was 3 in the morning by then, I lost an hour and knew I was going to be lucky to make cutoffs the last loop. Jason my amazing husband, ran out to find me and helped me find my way to the 100k finish...He was running in shows with no socks because he'd give me his! I barely squeaked under the cutoff having run those extra miles. The race director the told us I basically had an hour to get 5 miles to make the next cutoff. I laid down & Jason helped me swap back into more dry socks and shoes. I was pissed but knowing I could still finish with 12 hrs to run a 50k + change. I grabbed some OJ from Jason and started the third loop. Sadly though I gave it my best, the terrain in the dark was tough and I came into the next AS 30 minutes late after running 71 miles. I was like, screw this, I'm glad to be done...but at that aid station the RDs brother was working. He said there was actually no cutoff and we could keep going. He called the RD to check who told us he was 'giving grace" and as long as we stayed on course. I'd passed Brittany who we met pre-race and her 2 friends going into that AS. Brittany came in just after me. It was her first 100 and though I was ready to quit was motivated by her determination so we set off together. the other girls did not continue.
We made up time the next section doing a steady jogging pace and had alot of fun talking and getting to know each other. As the sun started to rise I felt my energy returning and I was getting my legs and pace back up. My stomach was still feeling good and I even ate some cheese. Brittanys stomach though, took a turn for the worse at 77 miles (abt 72 course miles) She had to stop and dry heave for like 10 minutes. I stayed with her and walked while she staggered and moaned into the next aid station. Oh, I felt sooo bad. I know the misery of those lows!!! At that aid station the workers were packing up. Brittany was looking extremely sick. They told us the RD would cut us from the race if we didn't go the next 5 miles in 30 minutes....which was of course, impossible. But then also said that they couldn't drive Brittany out if she dropped there. even though they had a vehicle and were preparing to leave. They had a couple dogs so I guess the pups took precedent over a sick runner. >:( One last determined female runner caught up with us there. She decided to press forward hard in ase that information was wrong and we were still allowed to continue. It was only 8am, 8 hours was enough time to get in a 50k possibly. I briefly faced the choice of taking the opportunity to run it in, but I absolutely wouldn't abandon Brittany to stagger alone for 5 more miles to hopefully make it off the course before passing out on the trail or something. We stayed together. She was walking a 45 min mile pace and was so so sick! We found picnic tables on the along the trail so she laid on a bench, unable to continue.
I was so disheartened...but then I felt this overwhelming feeling of love and the thought came into my heart and mind that Marines never leave a brother behind, and that I was doing exactly what Christopher, Dexter and Taylor would have done, and being with my new friend was the real prize in this race. My spirits lifted.
We spent the next 2 hours calling Jason and Brittanys friends to try and get Brittany off the trail. The RD didn't help at all, Jason was so angry! He couldn't get any clear info from him as to where we could find the nearest road. He finally told us we could walk out one direction but when I scoped it out, it was a mess of undergrowth and a steep ditch, no sign of a road. With me carrying mine and Brittany's packs both and her trying to move using my poles, we staggered out and then back to the tables. I teased her, I think her newbie 100 miler pack was 10 lbs! Shes a superwoman carrying her pack all that way! Eventually her friends Jenny and Rachel who had dropped earlier, found a park ranger who then with help from the RD, got us going to the nearest road half mile up the trail. We slogged through one more little water crossing and around one last mud pit to add insult to injury.
I was irked still knowing I could have pulled out those miles but was relieved to be done and felt rewarded to have made a new friend who though, having gotten very sick, still made a distance and time PR. I was very proud of her determination. Though her feet were covered in blisters and she was sick as a dog, I think she would have kept going all 100 miles. I was dissapointed having dealt with the highest quality RD's in the past that no concern was shown at getting the last sick runner off the course Here, my race report should end. We went back to the hotel where I licked my wounds. Showered, ate 2 whoppers, an oreo shake and french fries then managed to get a few hrs sleep. We started getting ready for the drive home when it hit me that I knew I had been capable of finishing the race and I just started bawling, so dissapointed that I couldn't take home 100 miles of effort to Christopher & Taylors families..
As I just kindof sat on the bed and cried...until I felt "presence" & several thoughts came flooding into my mind all at once. These 100 mile races are YOUR goals, You determine the parameters of your own goals, not any race or race director. . This weekend is not over, you are still out on a race trip. You do not have to give up. Marines do not quit. I remembered a story I read recently of a man running100 100s in 100 weeks, in memory of his deceased brother. His ultras included 100 miles in his apartment in NYC under quarantine, running on cardboard in 60 hours. I just felt this kick from the Marines to not be a quitter. To get back out on the trail and get the rest of those hundred miles. I started grabbing all our stuff and packing the car & told Jason that we were driving straight back home, that I was going to change back into all my nasty race clothes including my wet shoes and Jasons socks, and run the last 22 miles.
My dear, dear running friend Rebekah who always prays for me, pointed out to me the significance of the #22. My brain was so out of focus that it didn't even occur to me! 22toomany. 22 too many veterans per day who die by suicide. :( I felt my heart flame into a fire and I was weepy the whole drive home.
I picked up a flag to wear for these last 22 miles to donate to the Wilson family and their weekend walk in memory of Taylor and suicide awareness.
I plotted out a course that would be the equivalent at least, in mileage, technical difficulty and elevation and wouldn't get any extra gear, only what I had in my drop bags. I tried to get my clothes to dry out in the car and did some protective work on my blisters and loose toenails, my legs and feet started to swell and the tired muscles stiffened. As soon as we got to the trailhead I jumped out, pinned on my bib, grabbed my things and went.
I was scrambling to get everything, I determined to finish these last miles <8 hrs, to beat the race course cutoff time.
The first mile or so was misery. Despite having had rest and food, my legs had almost 80 miles on them, and in some ways it was more difficult to return to the trail, running on stiff puffy tree trunks. After about 2 miles my legs softened up and I started to feel an excitement to get this done. It didn't take me long though to realize, this was going to be a beast & buttkicker and maybe even a little dangerous.
Once I got past the average trafficked distance, the trail was covered with deep leaves making the trail harder to distinguish. I had to start navigating at least half the time, from the white trail slashes on the trees. The late afternoon & autumn evening was glorious.
I drank a bang energy drink and a bunch of energy kicked in, but I also started sweating like CRAZY, it was around 76 degrees. I had sweat pouring into my eyes, burning them from all the crying I had done! It was hard to see the trail, so I said out loud kindof humorously, 'Heavenly Father, you know, if you could just throw something out on the trail for me to wipe my face with, I would sure appreciate it." A mile down the trail, came the first creek crossing. I slipped and got my shoes soaked including Jason's cotton socks. Bad bad for feet, ha! As I got my balance I looked up and there carefully placed on a tree branch was a right handed black glove. I just laughed, put it on and kept going, wiping the sweat out of my eyes with that little trail gift from heaven <3 . I ran across a through hiker named Amazing. She was this super sweet Asian woman who had hiked from Maine so far, and was intent on doing the whole trail. She asked me advice about shoes and we gave each other a hug like long lost friends, these two crazy women out on the mountain! At some point on the trail the pain in my feet dissapeared and didn't bother me the rest of the night.
It didn't take long for me to remember that my headlamp didn't have fresh batteries so I had to set my headlamp on the dimmest setting and try to follow those tree blazes, in case my light didnt last. . As it got dark I did a lot of praying...that my batteries would hold out, that I wouldn't get lost, run into any bears, get murdered by a mountain stalker, break my leg etc. I did take 3 or 4 wrong turns on the trail and had to backtrack so I didn't get lost. About 6 miles out I completely lost the path climbing a waterfall in the dark...luckily my turnaround plan was 6.1 miles for 12.2 on the AT, so I took a few extra steps and headed back. It got harder to navigate in the dark but out of necessity, I managed to finally figure out how to use my gps tracking on my garmin and was able to backtrack my course, only getting off course once or twice. This section of the AT is known as the roller coaster, it's packed with steep climbs, downhills, multiple creek crossings and at least a bazillion rocks. 3 miles out I was out of water, tried to choke down some alieve with spit and pieces of licorice. I remembered I had several mint peppermint patties in my pack and realized that Amazing was probably a days hike away from restocking, so I started looking for her in the dark. She was hard to find already hunkered in her hammock tent, but we called out to each other in the dark as I passed. I stopped and peeked into her little tent. She had been creeping herself out from night noises and was happy to see my face, and was even happier to get some candy, haha. We hugged like we were best friends, and talked for a few minutes, then I wished her well, told her I'd pray for her safety, and went on my way. It was a really sweet chance meeting.
Just before the last big climb up, I ran out of gas. The elevation and constant tripping and turning my ankle, .I really wondered if I could make it. I had to stop and turn off my lamp and just look at the beautiful stars and rest. I prayed and told God that I just needed help up this one last hill. As I got back to it, I was near tears my legs felt sooo wasted. I just kept plodding up this seemingly endless hill when at some point one of the songs my son Adam sent me "Help is on the way" started playing...It gave me a boost and I tried to power up, saying those words over and over. After about 5 minutes I looked up the trail and could see headlamps. I realized I was almost at the top and was going to make it! At the top in the dark was a group of about 6 young adults out at the Bears Den lookout. They asked what I was doing so I stopped and told them about Dexter, Taylor and Christopher. I broke down and cried when I was talking to them. so embarrassing haha. They thanked me for their service, and literally started cheering me on. "You go sister, those tears are power, you are an iron woman, you can do this, keep going, keep going!" They clapped and cheered as I ran off in the dark and I could hear their cheers down the trail. That experience was almost better than any finish line. :) I found a reserve of new strength in my legs and ran the last mile to meet Jason in the parking lot at 12.2 miles. Help indeed. <3 :) .
Jason thankfully had brought me an orange juice and several bottles of water, phone charger and reflective gear.. I had been so thirsty I'd considered risking giardia for a drink of creek water...haha! Hey, I'd lose a few lbs, but I decided it'd be better to not accidentally get sick and die. My last 10 miles was to be the 5 mile road climb to the FEMA base at the top of Mount Weather and back to the car. I was so grateful for Jasons help, and he was also going to run the last 10 miles with me. MORE help! <3 <3
Up to Mt Weather is 5 miles up, 5 down. Running on the road felt absolutely beautiful. No tripping or stumbling or power hiking. Just a gentle easy run. We ran pretty much the entire climb. The skies were crystal clear and there were very few cars so we turned off our headlamps and ran under the stars using the white road line to guide us along. With a view of the stars & lights in the valley, I had to stop Jason and give him a kiss and thank him for our "date". We grabbed a picture at the FEMA camp (lol) and then had a 5 mile run back down the mountain.
We were pulling out some 10-13 min miles on 90+ mile legs and I almost felt like I was flying! We cruised along singing to music and just loving the night. The very last mile, we hit a big clearing in the trees & the sky opened up. Under the milky way, This amazing old song about Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Starry Night, started playing on spotify. Emotions suddenly overwhelmed me and I completely lost it. We kept our pace but I grabbed Jason's arm so I didnt stumble and just sobbed till I could hardly breathe. Crying over my poor sweet son. It was as if that song was the exclamation point on whyI was out there. "Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night
You took your life, as lovers often do
But I could've told you
This world was never meant for
One as beautiful as you"
......
I finished in 7 &. 1/2 hrs. 30 minutes under the race cutoff. There were no cowbells, no cheering or buckle, just Jason and I in a deserted parking lot, yet I felt maybe it was my best run so far.
My sweet daughter Hannah said I needed my own buckle & to call it the demon 100, so that's just what I'm going to design and order. Not just in recognition of a miserable course experience but to me, its why I run... the demon of depression, ptsd, & mental illness is robbing us of some the worlds most beautiful souls.
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