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WESTERN STATES 100 ENDURANCE RUN

June 26, 2010 (Afternoon)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 80-90F, dry

Comments:
What a LONG DAY.

Woke up at 0445 and drove from Reno to Foresthill, CA, to meet a chick named Lucianna. I was to pace her boyfriend John Tidd from mile 62 to 80 in the 2010 Western States 100. He started in Squaw Valley, CA, at 0500. The course runs west to Auburn, CA -- with the 62 mile mark in Foresthill.

We met at 0730 and from then, on, I helped "crew" for John. We drove up to Robinson Flat, took a a BUS to this remote dirt road where they came through at "only 30 miles". Leaders came through at 9ish, and John at 9:30. What a cool experience -- there were TONS of people at that aid station -- not only as volunteers but about 50+ spectator -- in the middle of the woods!

After that, we took the bus back to FH, then we drove the winding mtn roads into Auburn to drop off my car, then back to FH...where we WAITED. I got ready: checked into "Pacer control", changed, got my shit ready, then ate and hydrated. It was already DAMN HOT by early afternoon.

The leaders rolled through FH at 2 and John was in about 20th when he came through at 3:45. Because of blisters and "fueling issues" we didn't start running 'til 4:15, but once we were off, we were rolling: about a quarter mile through the tiny Foresthill (about the size of Boyceville or Roberts, WI) and diving into wilderness, just like that!

Over 18 miles we dropped probably 3500' and gained a 1000'. John was FLYING on the DH's -- it was clear he practiced. We walked most of the ups, which was fine. The aid stations were SO COOL! Again, a bunch of volunteers and tents in the middle of the woods, along the steep banks the American River ravine. There they weighed the runners (to monitor fluid). It was also a chance for us to refuel. At the first stop they had DEWSKI! So key! I pounded a glass, then filled my bottle and we were off.

A ton of guys passed us at FH but we got them all back and then some along our canyon stretch. John was seriously rolling for a guy who'd already done 65 miles. Incredible.

However, trouble arose on two fronts:

1. John had been overhydrating AND over-salting early, so his weight was up AND he was swelling. On top of that, per his opinion, he "wasn't fueling enough". So he was freaking out a bit, more so deeper into our leg when he peed "brown" once. Despite these concerns, his pace was FINE and he was not hypoglycemic AT ALL.

2. About 14mi into the leg, we were rolling almost on river level when I tripped and fell HARD. My foot caught something and I went FLYING and, with all the luck, I landed ON A ROCK. My L thigh landed square on a huge rock. FUCK. It hurt so goddamn much. I literally could not run without limping the rest of the way. Usually you "shake it off", but this was so bad, it was impossible. That SUCKED. To add insult to injury I was running w/John's expensive little Canon camera and I think I broke it cuz sand got in the lens assembly! Double F!

After a couple miles of slow agony (for me), we made it to "Rucky Chucky" -- which is the stop where you RAFT across the American River. That was really cool getting a RAFT RIDE across the river!!! Before that, though, John weighed in and was still a bit heavy = water retention. He was starting to freak out about "renal failure", which he'd heard all about at the med meeting the day before.

After that, it was a MEGA-STEEP climb from the river, about 1000-1500' up over 1.7 miles. Unfortunately but fortunately (for me) we walked the WHOLE THING. I was limping so bad it hurt just to walk, so it was fine.

We finally got to Green Gate -- the top of the climb. That was end of the line for me, and almost for John, too. He spent FIFTY MINUTES there, "resting". He finally got his ass in gear and his brother Bill took over with "pacing".

I walked up to the car with Lucianna, glad to be done, but bummed about my leg -- and John slowing (he was in AWESOME position before the stop). Lucianna and I got back to the car, then went to the aid station at 93.5 miles to wait. And wait. And WAIT.

AT MIDNIGHT John came through -- he and Bill pretty much walked the whole 13 miles. Bummer but oh well. So we helped them out a bit and sent them on their way. Then back into town, FINALLY, at about 12:30.

I wanted to see him finish, but I knew it would be "a while", so I went to IN IN OUT BURGER for 2 more burgers, then back to Pacer HS track to watch the finish. What a cool experience, seeing people run the last 300m on the track at midnight or later...when they STARTED at 5AM! WOW.

John came through -- with Lucianna and Bill -- at 2AM. John's parents (from NH) were there, too, and we watched them finish up. SO COOL.

I chatted with them all, but didn't spend too much time there -- I gathered up my stuff and went to "sleep" -- I parked my car in a Comfort Inn parking lot and slept in the back of my car, finally to sleep at 3AM.

What a LONG DAY, but WOW was that cool! Seriously: a hundred miles through the woods, from 5AM to 2AM! WOW!

I'm definitely gonna do this someday!

THE RUNNING: I did about a mile warm-up, then ran about 15 of the 18 miles.