Intro
This race takes place at Hell Creek Ranch near Hell, MI. With a start time of 4 PM on September 5th. This is the only 100 mile race in the state and is the only race in MI that is a Western States Qualifier. You have 6 loops of 16.6 miles each to complete before the 30 hour time limit. There is an aid-station at the start finish and 3 others throughout the loop.
Loop 1
From my experience of going out too hard the last time I tried this race....my goal was to go real slow the first loop and walk literally every uphill. With the weather being around 90 degrees, I knew I had to go as slow as possible. I started near the back of the racers on purpose to slow me down. The first 30 minutes people were really close to each other, it was like rush hour traffic- stop and go. I thought it was interesting how people were going so fast and being impatient for the first mile or 2. The first 2 hours I was around people and feeling pretty good. I used Nuun tablets mainly for sodium replacement. I usually don't sweat a whole lot, but that first loop I was constantly sweating and I knew if I didn't control my electrolytes I would be in trouble later on. At the end of this loop, an absolutely ridiculous storm rolled in from nowhere. A siren sounded...it was so windy I covered my head because I thought a tree branch was going to fall on me. It gave me the chills and my adrenaline started pumping.
Time: 3 hours 29 minutes
Feeling: Good
Loop 2
This was my worst loop in terms of feeling like absolute crap. It was starting to get dark outside and starting to rain. As I took off I tried eating a cliff bar, but just couldn't do it. My stomach was so queasy from running the previous loop in such hot conditions. The thought of any food was repulsing. For 5 hours of running I ate a cliff bar and a gel....that's it. Definitely not good, I know from experience that not eating = bad. A combination of not being able to eat, getting dark outside, rain, and loneliness was causing me to have some negative thoughts. I was looking forward to seeing my wife and friends at the 2nd aid-station so I kept moving. When I arrived they weren't there...bummer. I quickly left and started walking up towards the road. I looked up and saw them standing by the road/trail entrance and was relieved. As happy as I was to see them, I was honest and said I felt like absolute crap...they were positive and moved me on my way. I continued to last half of the loop alone and in the dark. As bad as I felt I had to keep moving and find ways to entertain myself. One of the best things about running is having time to think about anything or nothing. Finally I made it to the start/finish...seeing my crew was so uplifting and exciting. I was still in a low place but glad that I made it 2 loops so far.
Time: 4 hours 3 minutes
Feeling: Decent
Loop 3
My favorite loop! To my surprise....my wife decided to accompany me on this loop. She knows me really well (better than I know myself) and had sensed that I was struggling. It was incredibly unselfish of her to run with me in the complete darkness for 4 hours...what a wife! She talked a lot the first couple of hours and it really did get my mind off of how crappy I was feeling earlier. It is amazing how being around another human being can affect your mood. We ran through the night as I started to get my stomach back I slowly kept eating more, being careful not to over do it. Just as we were approaching the 3rd aid station I noticed my battery was getting weaker so luckily I asked a volunteer and they had extras. About 20 minutes later my wife and I came up upon a guy whose light was all but out. Not thinking twice about it, I stayed behind him so he could see. This was a precarious situation now because my wife's light was getting real dim. Looking back on it, this situation is actually pretty comical: it's 3:15 in the morning, I'm sandwiched in between 2 people who have no light, and its muddy and rainy. We did our best helping each other out with rocks, roots, and stumps as we tip-toed our way to the start/finish area.
Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Feeling: Great
Loop 4
I ran with my good friend Jonathan Bartkus on this loop. I felt really good going into the loop. I knew that I was past the halfway mark and I would be seeing the sun in about 3 hours. We didn't come across a whole lot of people early on. We had a really good conversation on lots of different topics. I was power walking and mixing in runs for a couple minutes at a time. He kept me focused and on track. 2 years ago when I attempted this race, I limped through the entire 4th loop just to finish the 100K which was the drop down distance. I was so happy just to be moving, I think that really lifted my spirits and gave me great confidence.
Time: 4 hours 29 minutes
Feeling: Great
Loop 5
The sun was up, and I had a new hope and renewed motivation. I ran with my brother-in-law, Pat. I took this loop from aid station to aid station. I was starting to feel a lot of pain, but nothing that I couldn't push through. The main goal is to keep moving!!! I walked a good majority of this loop to save a little for the last loop and because I was in a lot of pain. We had a conversation that brought me to the realization that I was going to finish this thing!! I also knew there was a chance I would be seeing my 16 month old daughter at the start finish which was great motivation.
Time: 4 hours 24 minutes
Feeling: Tired, but good
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Loop 6
After seeing my daughter and mom at the start/finish area I had a renewed determination and purpose. Since my wife had ran 16 miles with me earlier in the night, my sister decided to jump in and run the first 8 miles of the last loop with me then my wife would finish it off. It was great catching up with my sister as she had been in Montana for most of the summer. We made it to the halfway point where my wife took over. I knew I was going to finish this race...there was nothing that was going to stop me now. I knew under 24 hours was out of the question which took a little pressure off. After doing some quick calculations I wanted to get under 26 and a half so we went to work. I tried running for as long as I could but my legs and body were screaming at me. Each time I thought about the finish, I started to tear up. I was at such an emotionally delicate stage those last miles it took everything I had to hold it in. The last mile or two, paranoia took hold and I started to worry about my time and others around me....so I simply gave Jess a thumbs up and said "let's do this" and took off. The last mile I felt like I was flying...there were so many thoughts and emotions going on, I just ran the best I could. I didn't care how sore I was or how many miles I had already ran....I was in the elusive "runner's high" and everything in that last mile felt PERFECT, like I was at the exact place and time I was destined to be at. This was meant to happen and I had worked so hard to get there...it was ultimate bliss. As we turned the corner and ran down the straightaway to the finish line, I saw my daughter and took her with me as I crossed the finish line alongside my wife.
Time: 4 hours 28 minutes
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| All geared up and ready to rock n roll |
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| Jess and I before the Race |
From my experience of going out too hard the last time I tried this race....my goal was to go real slow the first loop and walk literally every uphill. With the weather being around 90 degrees, I knew I had to go as slow as possible. I started near the back of the racers on purpose to slow me down. The first 30 minutes people were really close to each other, it was like rush hour traffic- stop and go. I thought it was interesting how people were going so fast and being impatient for the first mile or 2. The first 2 hours I was around people and feeling pretty good. I used Nuun tablets mainly for sodium replacement. I usually don't sweat a whole lot, but that first loop I was constantly sweating and I knew if I didn't control my electrolytes I would be in trouble later on. At the end of this loop, an absolutely ridiculous storm rolled in from nowhere. A siren sounded...it was so windy I covered my head because I thought a tree branch was going to fall on me. It gave me the chills and my adrenaline started pumping.
Time: 3 hours 29 minutes
Feeling: Good
Loop 2
This was my worst loop in terms of feeling like absolute crap. It was starting to get dark outside and starting to rain. As I took off I tried eating a cliff bar, but just couldn't do it. My stomach was so queasy from running the previous loop in such hot conditions. The thought of any food was repulsing. For 5 hours of running I ate a cliff bar and a gel....that's it. Definitely not good, I know from experience that not eating = bad. A combination of not being able to eat, getting dark outside, rain, and loneliness was causing me to have some negative thoughts. I was looking forward to seeing my wife and friends at the 2nd aid-station so I kept moving. When I arrived they weren't there...bummer. I quickly left and started walking up towards the road. I looked up and saw them standing by the road/trail entrance and was relieved. As happy as I was to see them, I was honest and said I felt like absolute crap...they were positive and moved me on my way. I continued to last half of the loop alone and in the dark. As bad as I felt I had to keep moving and find ways to entertain myself. One of the best things about running is having time to think about anything or nothing. Finally I made it to the start/finish...seeing my crew was so uplifting and exciting. I was still in a low place but glad that I made it 2 loops so far.
Time: 4 hours 3 minutes
Feeling: Decent
Loop 3
My favorite loop! To my surprise....my wife decided to accompany me on this loop. She knows me really well (better than I know myself) and had sensed that I was struggling. It was incredibly unselfish of her to run with me in the complete darkness for 4 hours...what a wife! She talked a lot the first couple of hours and it really did get my mind off of how crappy I was feeling earlier. It is amazing how being around another human being can affect your mood. We ran through the night as I started to get my stomach back I slowly kept eating more, being careful not to over do it. Just as we were approaching the 3rd aid station I noticed my battery was getting weaker so luckily I asked a volunteer and they had extras. About 20 minutes later my wife and I came up upon a guy whose light was all but out. Not thinking twice about it, I stayed behind him so he could see. This was a precarious situation now because my wife's light was getting real dim. Looking back on it, this situation is actually pretty comical: it's 3:15 in the morning, I'm sandwiched in between 2 people who have no light, and its muddy and rainy. We did our best helping each other out with rocks, roots, and stumps as we tip-toed our way to the start/finish area.
Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Feeling: Great
 |
| Quick kiss from my daughter |
I ran with my good friend Jonathan Bartkus on this loop. I felt really good going into the loop. I knew that I was past the halfway mark and I would be seeing the sun in about 3 hours. We didn't come across a whole lot of people early on. We had a really good conversation on lots of different topics. I was power walking and mixing in runs for a couple minutes at a time. He kept me focused and on track. 2 years ago when I attempted this race, I limped through the entire 4th loop just to finish the 100K which was the drop down distance. I was so happy just to be moving, I think that really lifted my spirits and gave me great confidence.
Time: 4 hours 29 minutes
Feeling: Great
Loop 5
The sun was up, and I had a new hope and renewed motivation. I ran with my brother-in-law, Pat. I took this loop from aid station to aid station. I was starting to feel a lot of pain, but nothing that I couldn't push through. The main goal is to keep moving!!! I walked a good majority of this loop to save a little for the last loop and because I was in a lot of pain. We had a conversation that brought me to the realization that I was going to finish this thing!! I also knew there was a chance I would be seeing my 16 month old daughter at the start finish which was great motivation.
Time: 4 hours 24 minutes
Feeling: Tired, but good
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Loop 6
After seeing my daughter and mom at the start/finish area I had a renewed determination and purpose. Since my wife had ran 16 miles with me earlier in the night, my sister decided to jump in and run the first 8 miles of the last loop with me then my wife would finish it off. It was great catching up with my sister as she had been in Montana for most of the summer. We made it to the halfway point where my wife took over. I knew I was going to finish this race...there was nothing that was going to stop me now. I knew under 24 hours was out of the question which took a little pressure off. After doing some quick calculations I wanted to get under 26 and a half so we went to work. I tried running for as long as I could but my legs and body were screaming at me. Each time I thought about the finish, I started to tear up. I was at such an emotionally delicate stage those last miles it took everything I had to hold it in. The last mile or two, paranoia took hold and I started to worry about my time and others around me....so I simply gave Jess a thumbs up and said "let's do this" and took off. The last mile I felt like I was flying...there were so many thoughts and emotions going on, I just ran the best I could. I didn't care how sore I was or how many miles I had already ran....I was in the elusive "runner's high" and everything in that last mile felt PERFECT, like I was at the exact place and time I was destined to be at. This was meant to happen and I had worked so hard to get there...it was ultimate bliss. As we turned the corner and ran down the straightaway to the finish line, I saw my daughter and took her with me as I crossed the finish line alongside my wife.
Time: 4 hours 28 minutes
Feeling: AAMMAAZZIINNNGGG!!!
Official Race Time 25 Hours 20 minutes and 56 seconds
1st in my age category
33rd overall
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Official Race Time 25 Hours 20 minutes and 56 seconds
1st in my age category
33rd overall
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| Kinley and Sarah giving high fives |
Gear List
Brooks Pure Grit Shoes
Nuun Tablets
Powerbar Gels
Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS
Oakley Sunglasses
Ultimate Direction Handheld
New Balance Handheld
Injinji Socks----> Amazing!
North Face Dry Wick shirt
UA shorts
