Jemez 50 - another great day in the mountains!

This was my second year in a row running in the Jemez 50 miler. I love this race. It is tough, it is beautiful, and it just gets to you. It is a pure classic. And it is not to be taken lightly.

I made it 32 miles before timing out of the race. My legs were shot and I could not run anymore. Walking was even an issue as I was reduced to a 45 minute pace per mile for the last two miles. I was literally taking baby steps up any kind of incline. And believe me there are MILES of steep inclines on this course!

Bottom line, I was not properly trained for a mountain trail race. Being a flatlander from Dallas, this is not the kind of race you can fake your way through. You have to earn every single mile of this race and this year I was not in the shape to do it.

There lessons in every single race --- and sometimes you have to learn them more than once. That is one of the beautiful aspects of ultrarunning. There are no guarantees in this sport. You toe the starting line and you have no idea what is in store for you that day. It could be a perfect day or it could be a day where you just blow up.

I didn’t blow up at Jemez, but I wasn’t up to the task for that day. But it was beautiful, it was meaningful, and I loved every second of it! Jemez --- I’ll be back!

Running with the Blind - Pacing at Rocky Raccoon 100

For this year's Rocky Raccoon 100, my plan was to pace two friends for 20 miles each. Due to different circumstances, both of them ended up having bad days and not finishing.

I ended up meeting and pacing a new friend, Ted. Ted came down from Chicago without a crew or a pacer and this was his first 100 mile attempt. Around mile 65, he started to go blind. I’ve heard of this happening before in 100’s, but I had never witnessed it first hand.

Ted followed one of my buddies, Drew and his pacer Doug for 15 miles before coming upon me at mile 80. I spot Drew and ask him if he needs help. His response - "I'm fine, Mike -- but meet Ted."

Ted was sitting on the ground futily grabbing at things in his drop bag trying to feel around for some gels. Ted looks in my general direction and says, "Hello Mike. I can't see. I've fallen about 25 times so far. I can't really run because I'm afraid of falling down, but I can walk pretty fast."

I will be brutally honest here - I was not so sure I wanted to pace Ted. The idea of walking 20 miles in cold, damp temperatures (I did not have on the right gear), with a blind runner wasn't too appealing to me at 11pm at night. I asked Doug and Drew if Ted was OK to go back out there (you know, being blind and all). They both assured me he was OK as long as I stayed close in front of him. He could make out the reflections on my shoes to follow me. I made my decision right then to help Ted. It was going to be quite an adventure!

Ted pushed himself to his feet, and we started up the trail. After a mile or so of brisk hiking, Ted started to loosen up. He said he could probably run a bit when the trail wasn't too dangerous. Rocky Raccoon is known for its roots which reach up and grab you. So we started to mix in some running. I was pretty cautious at first - especially since Ted kept hitting roots and falling. But he'd get back up, brush himself off, and start running again. The guy was a machine. I could not believe how well he was doing. It turns out Ted is quite a fast runner. He is a guy that I normally could not pace unless he was having vision problems. We hit some sections of jeep road that had no roots at all and we picked up the pace. I was literally running as fast as I can and Ted had no issues keeping up with me. Did I mention that Ted is a near elite runner?!

Ted and I got to know each other more during the run. Since he lives in Chicago, he trained on a treadmill for most of his long runs. I told me he ran 52 miles on a treadmill for his long run getting ready for this race. Running on a treadmill for 52 miles takes extreme mental toughness. His longest official race before this 100 was a 50K – that’s it!

Ted and I stumbled through the last 20 miles of his 100 mile race. He fell too many times to count, but never lost his positive attitude. The guy was amazing. I was elated to help him finish his first 100 mile race.

This was the first time I’ve paced anyone for a hundred miler. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. Especially since it was Ted’s first. You run with someone through the darkness, through the struggles, and you feel so happy when they finish. I may have even been happier that night than for my first 100 mile finish. Congrats to you, Ted! You are amazing.

Bandera 100K - Damn, It was Cold!

Very cold temperatures, aliens punching me from the inside, and raw natural beauty are the things I'll remember from the 2010 running of the Bandera 100K. Unfortunately, I did not finish the race this year. I made it 40 miles before I called it a day -- I mean, night. I went into the race coming off a stomach virus and I had some serious lingering effects from it. Basically it just wasn't my day. I was not prepared mentally and I did not have the right clothes to walk the 22 more miles to the finish in the dark. My stomach would not let me run anymore and it kept me awake until after midnight before it finally gave up the ghost and let me rest.

Here is a video of one of sections of the course. It will give you a one minute snippet of what some of the terrain at Bandera is like.

It was another amazing race put on by RD Joe P and his regular cast of volunteers. These guys know how to put on an ultra and I'm blown away by them every time.

24 The Hard Way

After my DNF at WS100 earlier this year, I felt a great need to get back on the horse and try again for 100 miles. However, getting into WS is a luxury that I probably won't have for several more years. It didn't start off this way, but 24 the Hard Way became a chance for me to redeem my WS race.

First things first --- the race is held in a beautiful park in Oklahoma City and is put on by Chisholm Deupree among other co-race directors. They did an amazing job. It was extremely well organized. I really can not say enough good things about this race. If you are into timed events like this, you must put this one on your calendar. The course was good (some flat, some gentle rollers), the aid was great (best food I've ever had at a race), and the volunteers were both experienced and wonderful. They even had a monitor that showed your progress during the race. Every time you crossed the timing mat, you knew exactly how fast your pace was for the previous lap and how many miles you had accumulated.

The 24 Hour Runners

I went out to the race with Matt, Jeff, and Julie (Matt's wife). Matt and Jeff ran the race. Julie crewed for us and watched over us like a good mother hen. She's nearly eight months pregnant and was out there all day crewing for us. She even walked a mile with me near the end of the race when I was in some of the worst pain I've ever felt before in my life. I'm guessing Julie did quite a few miles walking with one of us when we needed it.

Mike, Matt, and Jeff - PreRace

Matt and Julie

My goal for the race was 100 miles. I knew I'd be disappointed if I did anything less than 85 miles, but 100 miles was my primary goal. I just wasn't sure if I was in 100 mile shape.

I started the race very conservatively. I know that I'm not a fast runner, but by using a run/walk strategy I can usually stay very consistent and be able to run late in a race when many folks can not run any longer. In fact, I walked half of each loop and ran half of each loop. After a loop or two I had it dialed in to where I would run and where I would walk. The first hours passed by very quickly. It was great fun running and chatting with every one. After several hours, Matt ran next to me for awhile and told me that I had 100 miles in me --- no problem at all. I silently agreed with him, but a lot can happen in 24 hours so I didn't want to jinx it.

Matt and Jeff were both in a groove all day long and were ticking off the miles like champs. We'd chat for a bit as they lapped me. That is really one of the special things about these timed events. They are held on a relatively small course so you get to be with people all day long. You always have someone to chat with --- or if you don't feel like talking, people understand that as well. We are all on our own personal journey out there. Jeff ended up with 112 miles and came in second place --- absolutely amazing! Matt finished with 70 really fast miles, but had to drop with foot issues. He came back later in the early hours of Sunday morning and ran some additional miles while wearing his jeans. The guy always cracks me up!

Another thing I loved about this race was the freedom of not carrying a bunch of stuff with me. During trail races I feel like Batman most of the time. I have on a waist pack or a hydration pack and will have multiple gels, salt tablets, ipod, jacket, gloves, etc. It was so nice to run with my hands free of a water bottle. Anything I needed I would stop and pick it up. And if I forgot about something -- no big deal -- I'd be back at the aid station in 12 minutes. So it was worry free running! And there were no pressures of cutoffs hanging over my head stressing me out to no end. I really loved that aspect of this race.
The day progressed and I was able to hold my pace for most of it. I had some low moments, but I always snapped out of them (big thanks to Jamie for Boom Boom Pow at 2am). I had some stomach issues, but I dealt with it OK. I also had moments of extreme joy out there. All in all, it was a great experience.

So how did I finish? 106 miles --- and the only mile that I ran the entire time was the very last loop. The run/walk plan worked out perfectly and I was able to keep a consistent effort most of the time. Overall --- great experience --- would do it again in a heart beat.

After the Race

The rest of the pictures are of the course -- just in case you'd like to do this race -- which I highly recommend!

The Run from the Ducks 2009

Let me tell you upfront, I love this race. This is my second year running it and I'll probably do it every year going forward. It is run on a roughly 1/2 mile loop through the Clark Botanical Gardens outside of Mineral Wells, TX. If you like unique trees, plants, and flowers -- you would be in heaven out here. And yes, there are ducks -- but none chased me. All of the race proceeds go to the National Vietnam War Museum and many of the race volunteers are veterans of the war.

Here is what I really love about this race - it is a loop course and you get to hang out with all of your running buddies all day long. In a regular linear race, I say hello to everyone at the race start and then never see them again (because they are usually so far ahead of me!) In this race, you see everyone over and over as you leap frog each other. You get the chance to spend a moment or two chatting about how things are going, future races, and just catching up with people. It's great. And you get to see the race unfold right in front of you.

RD Tony Mathison puts on a terrific race. He and his daughter run several miles during the race so no one will finish in last place. Tony's energy throughout the day was infectious. He and his daughter did cheers for us, they put up funny signs (which Tony rotated throughout the day), and he learned everyone's name on the course. He's a classy guy.

The lap counters were mostly veterans of the Vietnam War. They sat out in the heat all day long and gave us encouragement with every lap completed. Thank you Jim and Emelia!

My race was a more of the usual for me during a hot race. Stomach issues to battle mixed in with a little calf cramping. I finished with less miles than last year and I had to fight hard for every one of them after the fifth hour of this eight hour race. I tried a new fueling plan and ended up taking in too many calories for the first 5 hours of the race. I'm still struggling to find the right fueling mix for me during a hot race. The search continues.

There were several strong runners at this years race. Ryan, Chris, Matt, and Jeff battled it out all day long. It was really cool to watch it all unfold. In the end, Ryan ran something like 54 miles and smashed the record for the race. Very impressive -- he looked smooth all day long.

But my pick for the best race goes to my friend Josh. Josh has been battling serious back issues for the last year or so. He's had major surgery (you should see the scar on his back) and his running career is on hold for now. So he signed up as a walker for this race and did very well. It's amazing how many miles you can cover at a brisk walking pace.

Josh was struggling around hour seven (it was really hot and just about everyone was walking at this point) . He told me he was done and was going to sit down. I saw him head into the shade and sit down. I grabbed a bag of chips from my drop bag and ran with it a loop so I could throw it to him on my way back around. But when I got there, he was gone. He was back on the course. I am so proud of him for battling those demons and getting back on the course to finish it out. Congratulations, Josh!

Nate's First Trail Race

My best friend Nathan just completed his first trail race --- the Karl's Kanoe 30K at Inks Lake State Park in Texas. I could not be prouder of my friend.

Nathan has done a sprint triathlon and a few other 5K races, but this was his longest run to date. He didn't even bother running a half marathon --- he jumped straight to the 30K (18 miles) distance!

He did a crash course of training the last several weeks and was ready to go.

Nathan, Jamie, Hami, and Krewe Krejci at the starting line

Coming in after the 1st 10K loop -- looking strong!

Coming in for the finish -- the kids are pacing Uncle Nathan!

The Finish!

Terrific Job, Nathan -- we are all so proud of you!

And two days later, he's already signed up for his first marathon -- Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I told him it would be a walk in the park compared to Karl's Kanoe!

WS100

It's been a several days now and I've had much time to reflect on my WS100 attempt. I'll tell you up front that I did not finish. I made it 62 miles to the Foresthill A/S before I dropped out of the race. But like much in life, getting there is the story...

I've trained and raced the last 2 years with Western States as my focus. The fires of 2008 forced the cancellation of the race so I had one additional year to prepare. I made it to the starting line in the best shape of my life and was ready to run.


Western States is filled with history and I took it all in. It was the very first 100 mile trail race in the country. This is ground zero -- where it all started. On Friday afternoon before the race, I had to privilege of meeting the very first person to run the race -- Gordy Ainsleigh. He is a legend in the sport and paved the way for the rest of us.

Steve, Gordy, and Me (thanks, Gordy!)

Western States is a first class event (1500 volunteers), over a historic and beautiful course, and is a distinct challenge. I had a terrific friend and pacer lined up - Steve Bernhardt - who flew in from Wisconsin to run the last 40 miles with me. I had my Mother, wife, and best friend Nathan as my Krewe (we spell it differently - family thing). I had an amazing support team and I was primed and ready to run this race. I also had another ultra running buddy in the race -- Matt Crownover. He and I have logged many training miles together and have basically trained together for the last year and a half. It was his first WS100 as well - and I am proud to say he finished and ran a very solid race!

Drew (Matt's pacer and 2006 WS Finisher), Matt, Me, and Steve

The race starts in a very humane way. It sounds kind of crazy, but the first 3.5 miles are straight up the mountain to the top of the Squaw Valley ski resort. It took me roughly 1:10 to get to the top at Emigrant Pass. When I say it's a humane start, it's because if it wasn't uphill everyone would run out insanely fast due to all the pent up excitement and energy from the start. The climb to the top kind of gets you focused on the business at hand, which is to get to Auburn, CA in less than 30 hours.

Krewe Krejci - at the race start (Nathan, Me, V, and Mom)

Race Start -- ready to GO!

After reaching the summit at Emigrant Pass, I looked backwards towards Lake Tahoe for an inspiring view. The next 8 miles or so of the trail was literally amazing. Everywhere I looked was beauty. I tried to take it all in as I ran. It was something special that I won't ever forget. It was high country running and I loved it!

The Krewe - on the road - they drove roughly 250 miles supporting me during this race!

Lots and lots of waiting for the Krewe

Coming in to Robinson Flat - mile 30

The Krewe springs into Action!

I would love to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed this race. However, by 9am it was getting hot. We were in an exposed area during the mid morning and it was affecting a lot of runners. I saw many folks who were struggling by this point. I was determined that I would not be one of the poeple suffering. I just had to manage the heat of the day and then it would cool off at night. That was my plan anyway.

I started to get leg cramps about 25 miles into the race. I have not had leg cramps in over a year, and they have always been because I wasn't drinking enough or taking enough salt. My weight was still at my starting weight - 160 - but I felt that I must not be getting enough water and salt. So I started to really pound both water and salt trying to stave off the leg cramps. The good news is the leg cramps mostly stopped. The bad news is I was taking in way too much salt and fluid.

The race started to fall apart for me around the canyons. I had been taking 3-4 electrolyte tablets an hour. I also was eating 2 GU Roctanes an hour which contain the equivalent of 3 electrolyte tablets each. So I was probably taking about 8-9 electrolyte tablets each hour. This sounds insane, right? Well, I clearly was not making good decisions by that point. The cramping issues in my legs made me believe I wasn't drinking enough. So I started to pound even more fluid (taking in 5 bottles between each A/S). And when you drink that much water, you have to have more salt - or so I thought. Bottom line, I believe I took in about twice the amount of salt that I needed and my stomach finally said "you've had too much, Mike. I think I'll make the decisions for you for awhile". My weight went up 6 pounds, but I knew I wasn't anywhere near hyponatremic. I'd had too much salt for that to happen.

The puking started in full earnest after the Devil's Thumb A/S (mile 48). I was down in the next canyon and it all started to fall apart for me. The heat was getting to me and my stomach had enough. I was in full throw up mode every 10 to 15 minutes and could not keep anything down. The awful sounds that were coming out of me where echoing off the canyon walls. Other runners patted me on the head or shoulder as they went by - most giving sympathy - others encouragement to get it together.

I finally made it in to Michigan Bluff and picked up my pacer, Steve. The krewe knew I was in very bad shape, but were hopeful that I could get myself back together. At this point, I could not eat or drink anything. Ginger, tums, Rolaids -- nothing was working. Steve did everything that he could to pick up the pieces, but I was just too far gone by then. I distinctly remember sitting on the trail, throwing up between my legs, mosquitos swarming around me, and all I wanted to do was die. It got to the point where walking was almost too much for me -- let alone running.

We finally made it to the Bath Road A/S where my krewe was waiting. They were still full of encouragement and walked with me on the uphill road to Foresthill. I could hear the trail sweep riders on horses about 20 yards behind me. They were incredibly respectful. They'd stop when I'd stop and wait for me to do my business before I could continue on. My crew wanted me to push it to Foresthill and get in under the cutoff. They encouraged me to give it everything I had left and we could then try and get my stomach settled at the aid station. It became you have to run, Mike. You have to run right now. It took all that I had to run at this point, but I started to do it. My Mom was running behind me. I could hear her footsteps and I thought to myself, my mother has not run a step in years. She is doing this for me. I have to keep it up for her. So I continued running into Foresthill and made the cutoff by 15 seconds. I then sat down in a chair and my crew tried desperately to get me back together. But it was too late. By this point, I'd been throwing up every 15 minutes for 5 hours or more. I tried soup --- wretch. I tried more ginger and coke -- wretch. I tried gels -- super wretch. I just wanted to lay on the ground and die. The ground felt like the best place for me.

After 15 minutes of this, I told them I was dropping. I didn't have enough time to make it to the next aid station and I could not stop puking. I had to walk back to the A/S and let them know. It was only about 40 yards, but it felt like miles to me. They cut off my wrist band, and that was it. I walked over to the van and laid down in the road where I continued to puke. They finally got me in the car (more puking) and drove to Auburn to the finish line where there was a medical tent.

I am insanely afraid of needles. It goes back to my childhood. I've always been afraid of shots, but getting an IV or giving blood completely freaks me out. I don't even like someone touching the nook of my arm. It is just this weird hang up that I have. I wish I didn't, but I do. I knew exactly what they were going to do at the medical tent in Auburn - give me an IV. And I wanted none of that.

We pulled up to the stadium and I basically fell out of the car back on to the ground. The ground was my best friend at this point. I emptied my stomach again for probably the 30th time and made my way down to the medical tent. My crew told them what was wrong and they prescribed an IV. I refused of course - "We have a refuser!" - so they gave me some electrolyte drink. Of course, that didn't stay down longer than 10 minutes. After throwing up twice in the tent, they basically told me to either leave or get an IV. I finally relented and took the IV.

The nurses where great and really helped me out. After 5 minutes of getting the fluid into me I started to feel better. The puking stopped, but I was still nauseous. I got a couple of bags in me and finally felt the need to urinate (it had been at least 8 hours since I'd done that). It was 3am, and we decided to head to Reno where we had our hotel rooms. We checked into our hotel rooms around 8am and went to sleep for a few hours.

I woke up to the good news that my buddy Matt had just finished the race. I could not be happier for him -- he trained hard and ran a smart race.

A few days after the race, I woke up in the middle of the night. In my dream, I was climbing Devil's Thumb over and over again -- never making it to the top. I woke up soaked in sweat. It was so bad I considered changing the sheets. But instead, I rolled over to a drier spot and tried to think of sweeter thoughts before falling back to sleep. Western States is going to stay with me for a long time. I'll be back.