Rocky Raccoon 100 - Success!!!

Two years of training, a few set backs and false starts, and finally I have achieved success. I have run 100 miles! I could not be happier!

The body can do amazing things -- if only the mind lets it.

Virginia always told me that Rocky was supposed to be my race. After the wildfires at Western States and the altitude problems at Leadville, I am inclined to believe her. Rocky was my first 50 mile race two years ago -- it felt right that it was also my first 100 mile finish.

The day before the 100 mile start, my children participated in the one mile kids trail race. They both did incredibly well. I know this event is really more for the parents, but I am so proud of my children. They went out there and ran hard! Sara finished in 9:08 (first girl!) and Joe finished in 9:53. I could not believe that they could run that fast! You should have seen them sprinting in towards the finish line. I loved it!

Sara in full blown sprint!

Go, Joe Man, Go!

The 100 mile race started at 6am on Saturday. We camped out at the park so we had a very short drive to the start. The weather was a little on the warm side - for running anyway. For spectating and volunteering it was downright nice! I was a little nervous at the start -- but not too bad. It doesn't make sense to get worked up at the start of a 100 miler - you'd waste too much precious energy. You just need to stay relaxed. In fact, I never even heard the RD say "go" - I just noticed that everyone else was leaving and heading up the trail. So with hugs and kisses to my friends and family, I was off!

It's OK, honey! I'll be just fine!

Jamie, Natie, Hammy, Joe, me, and Mom at the start

My race plan: I recently read an article by Gary Cantrell in Ultrarunning magazine. I am going to give him a ton of credit for my finish at this race. His article was about how an average runner (that's me) can run a 24 hour 100 mile race if he doesn't mind a certain level of discomfort, can run the uphills at the end, doesn't waste time in aid stations, and runs a conservative pace. I decided that is what I'd do. But the part about finishing in 24 hours was a dream -- I'm just not that fast -- or so I thought!

Rocky is broken down into 5 x 20 mile loops. I wanted to do my first loop in a very conservative 4 hours and 30 minutes. I knew that would put me near the back of the pack. And that's exactly where I wanted to be. I've heard so many stories of people starting this race too fast and just staggering in for a finish or not finishing at all. I did not start this race not to finish it! So I held back that first loop and ran it as slowly as possible. At one point early on, I had a pebble in my shoe so I stopped to take it out. While I was doing that, everyone passed me. I looked back into the night and did not see a single runner with a flashlight coming my way. And I thought to myself -- "perfect -- this is exactly where I want to be -- dead last!" And I was serious!

The first 20 mile loop went by without any problems. I came into the turnaround, said hello to my crew, and headed back out. My son, Joe gave me a big hug that gave me energy for miles. My crew kept me fed with breakfast tacos -- yummy!

Coming into the start finish after the first loop -- feeling strong!

Miles 20 to 40 were just about perfect. I had my tunes going and was feeling no pain. I was loving every second of it. The woods - the trail - the camaraderie with other runners - it was just perfect! I ran the second loop the same speed as the first loop so I was doing well.

The 40 to 60 mile loop got a little tougher. I had a few low moments here, but overall was feeling strong. My pace did not slow much at all during this loop. However, I was really looking forward to the night time hours when I would be running with my pacers -- Huy and Jeff.

Huy started pacing me at mile 60. That was a huge pick me up for me. Huy and I started running together 5 years ago, so it is just so fitting that he would be here for me during my first 100 mile finish. Huy had not run 20 miles in probably 2 years, but I knew he had it in him. I also knew that I would be running pretty slow by that point and he'd have no problem with the pace. We laughed and joked for the first 10 miles of this loop. It was like we were just starting out on a nice Saturday morning run. It was really quite comical. I could not believe how lucid I was at this point -- we were having very regular Huy/Mike conversations. After awhile, I kind of stopped talking during a low point. Huy then took that opportunity to quiz everyone we passed about where they were from or if it was there first time doing this, etc. He did not know it, but he had me laughing on the inside the entire time. I thought someone was going to push him over because he had so much energy!

Huy and Mike running into the night

Huy got me to mile 80 where I went back out solo for 3 miles. I was still in a low spot when I dropped him off. The 60 to 80 mile loop was a little slower than my previous loop, but not by much. I've often heard that miles 60-80 are the hardest on this course and they are right. I was very fortunate to have Huy there to get me through it - he did an incredible job. I was now determined to get myself back together for a strong finish!

After running 3 miles solo, I came into the next aid station to find my wife and best friend Nathan waiting for me. They had a surprise -- Virginia was going to run 3 miles with me to get me to my next pacer, Jeff! I can not tell you how happy that made me! The 3 miles with Virginia were the absolute highlight of the race for me. We laughed, she told me stories about the day, and I told her stories from the trail. I really think she enjoyed it. And it was such a huge boost for me! I remember telling her that I thought I could break 24 hours if I could hold it together. She assured me that I was strong, running well, and to just keep going!

There were many nice surprises for me during this race. There is a remote aid station in the middle of the woods -- you have to hike 3 miles in to get to it. Virginia, Nathan, and Jamie made this trek out there twice! I could not believe it! They took such amazing care of me during the race -- they were truly a NASCAR pit crew -- they got me in and turned around as quickly as possible. Another surprise came when Huy and I were a little turned around on the trail (I won't say lost). We came upon a group of people just standing at an intersection in the dark. I called out to them - "is this the right way"? We got a little closer - and it was my crew! They were wandering around lost trying to get back to the car! It totally cracked me up.

Virginia ran with me from miles 83 to 86 -- it was then up to Jeff to get me home. I gave V a kiss and then Jeff and I took off. I told him right away that I wanted him to get me in under 24 hours. He told me, let's do this 6 mile loop and then we'll figure out our options. I didn't know at the time, but he had plans to push me pretty hard and see if I could do even better than 24 hours.

The six mile loop came and went pretty well. I was still running strong, but I was falling a lot more often. I fell at least 4 times during the race -- once with Huy and three times with Jeff. But each time I rolled with it and never got hurt -- just dirty.

Jeff and I are now 8 miles from the finish. I can see Jeff doing the math in his head. My math skills were way gone by that time. I thought I would still be struggling to finish under 24 hours. Jeff knew we had that in the bag -- he had a new goal for me -- finish under 23 hours! He asked me what I wanted to do. I told him under 24 would be just fine with me - I didn't want to hurt that badly to finish under 23. So he then asked me, "well, do you want to run?" I said "of course I do!" He then replied, "that's what I wanted to hear. Let's just run it in and see where that gets us." I agreed to the plan and off we went.

Until that time, I had been leading Jeff and he had been following me - so I was setting the pace. Jeff decided to take the lead from here on out and he started pulling me along. We started running and really did not stop much until the end. He had me running up hills that I had walked all day - even when I was fresh! It hurt, but I wanted to do well and I wanted to finish strong so I just kept running. We passed many people at this point. There were so many people on the course who could just not run anymore. They had run themselves out and were reduced to a staggering walk. I was so glad to be able to move well at the end.

We finally got within a 1/2 mile of the finish. That's when I knew that I was going to do it. I was going to finish this race -- and I was going to finish it well! I thanked Jeff for everything he had done. He pushed me to a new limit - one that I would not have done by myself. We sprinted in to the finish line for a 22 hour 45 minute finish! This was under 24 hours and way under the realistic goal I set for myself of 27-28 hours!

I thanked the RD - Joe P - he is truly one of the best and received my belt buckle. This buckle will always be special to me. It is my first 100 and I finished under 24 hours -- amazing!

My friends and family were there to see me finish at 4:45 in the morning! There were hugs, kisses, and high fives all around. I will never forget that moment.

I'm done, right? Please don't send me back out there!

What did I learn from all of this?

The tortoise can beat the hare in these long races. You just have to plan well and execute that plan. My hydration, electrolytes, and fueling were dead on most of the day. I never had issues with my stomach or cramping. I was in and out of the aid stations extremely quickly. I knew exactly what I needed, grabbed it, and moved on down the trail. The Gary Cantrell plan works -- but it is painful! But remember, it's just one day - and you can do anything for one day, right?!

Lastly - I am so grateful to my friends and family. For one day they concentrated on doing everything they could to get me to the finish line. I'll admit, it was nice to be pampered like that for a day. I'd roll into an aid station to their greeting - "Hey, Mike - what do you need?" "I'll take 4 Advil's, 8 gels (4 blue and 4 white), 10 salt tablets, two cups of Gatorade, a taquito, take my trash, and please have my camelback filled up with water and everything else when I come back from the porta potty." This was a common request from me during the race.

Ouch, Mom -- that kind of hurts! Jeff looks ready to throw up next to me!

What's next? You know I have to challenge myself! I am quite sure that the Jemez 50 in May and WS100 in June will be a big enough challenge! But for now, two weeks of rest and then back to training!