Between work and school, I lost track of the days the last few weeks and only when I was at work looking at my schedule and noticing that I had the whole weekend off that I remembered, duh, I'm running the Dreadmill 100 Sunday morning! I Had a day and a half to make a plan for all my food & hydration and get set up to run. I'd arranged with Sam Bartlett, my friend and owner of the Curtis Bartlett Fitness center, to use one of his treadmills for my race. Sam's son was a veteran, popular body builder, and police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Sam gives free memberships to veterans and first responders. He is an amazing individual. He so generously also lets me use his world class fitness center. It was exciting to have his help and support and promotion videos from the gym.
https://fb.watch/wrq48SLTn7/ DM100 is run all across the country during the month of December and results are tallied at the end of the month. I won 2 years ago with a sub 20-hour time, but having just run Dino Valley 100 a week prior, I wasn't completely recovered and the morning before the run was still popping blisters under my toenails. I was excited to find out that I actually won 2nd place female in my age group at Dino Valley. That was a big morale boost after how poorly I've been doing the last few races. I hoped to get a solid sub 24hour finish. Not running at home this year, I thought it would get really boring trying to watch videos on my cell phone. When I complained about that to Kevin, he gave me a tablet he wasn't using so I'd have a large screen to look at. I knew that would help so much! I also ran out of time getting ready, so he took some time to make me a sign to display at the gym so people would know what I was doing there.
After a quick video with Sam https://fb.watch/wrqea3pRVl/I got into a comfortable 10&1/2 min mile pace and put down early miles quickly. I recognized a few friendly faces at the gym of regulars encouraging me and wishing me luck. I planned a bathroom/ hydration & fuel break for every 5 miles. The gym was pretty busy early on but as the day wore on I had the place to myself quite often. Early on I had some great friends from the run club, Ed & Tracy, come by and say hello. Tracy stuck around and encouraged me, made plans to buy the rest of my winter honey and encouraged me. Such great people, I'm blessed to have them as friends!!
Favorite treat early was a couple frosted honeybuns, something Dexter loved.
In the evening Ed and Sandy showed up and ran on the treadmill next to me. They both wore their Froggy Mountain Adventures race shirts which made me happy! Sandy is unreal in her support. She brought me a McDonald's meal of a chicken sandwich & fries, worked with a doctor in town to get me a prescription of zofran, and even went home in the middle of the night to bring me a charger for my headphones.
There's not a lot to write about except watching concerts and talking to my friends. Late in the evening Kevin came by and did a Wendy's run for a chicken sandwich and chili. He also went crazy shopping and brought me a ton of food, peanut butter pretzels, blue Swedish fish, my favorite gum, a big bottle of strawberry milk & chocolate milk and a baked potato with sour cream & butter, plus a sprite and a cold cherry coke. All the fuel he brought kept me fed through the duration of the run.
Wee hours of the morning I had the gym to myself. Did a lot of thinking and the hours seemed to slip by quickly. I have had the holiday "sads" and still kind of struggling with heavy emotions that feel like they'll knock the wind out of me somedays. Focusing on a race and miles and helping veterans is medicine for my heart.
When I hit 75 a guy came in to support me and walked like 10 miles from my 75-95. We talked awhile and he was really nice, then Ed came back towards the end and got on a machine with us. The last bit of food I was able to eat was chili Kevin brought me with some Cheetos. I was feeling okay but the last 5 miles I had to stop the treadmill twice and run to the bathroom & throw up, a combo of dehydration & motion sickness.
Finished the 100 mi in good time, 22:35. Ed and Jared helped me to the ground and I just layed there for awhile to settle my stomach before getting to the bathroom in the gym for a hot shower. I was so tired after that I laid by my treadmill and fell asleep before taking down all my stuff and heading home. All the morning people at the gym were super nice and congratulatory.
Ed and his wife Tracy made the gym desk guy keep me there until they arrived back so that Ed could drive me home. Two very kind people gave me donations, one named Alice whose husband was an air force combat vet. I don't know who the other gentleman was, but he slipped me $100. It was a very cold morning getting back to my camper & I cuddled under my covers and slept for a few hours. The only finish pic I have is back at home, ready for rest!
My watch wouldnt track my last 4 miles because I was holding onto the rails so I didnt pass out and fall down, lol.
This wasn't a 100 miler with much excitement or fanfare but I was grateful for the chance to remember my Marines and cause at the start of a difficult and emotional season for those who've lost loved ones or who are struggling with grief, loneliness, depression etc I was so touched and grateful for true friends who came to support me. I took a few days to visit family in Utah, where my daughter gifted me a gorgeous quilt for Christmas that she made from Dexters old jeans. Next race, it will feel like a hug to wrap up in it and feel Dexters love.
In 2 days I'm running Beast of the East 100 again. A tough mountain race, usually in the cold and rain in South Carolina, with a lot of boulder scrambling. In memory of PFC James Dexter Morris, Sgt Jacob Gray, SSgt Taylor Wilson LCpl Jacob Crewson, PFC Morgan Daly, and PFC Dillon Jutras (KIA) May their memory, presence and love be felt strongly within their family homes this holiday season.
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