From owner-ius-l@AMERICAN.EDU Thu Jul 24 16:50:15 1997 Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 09:50:52 -0700 From: Shannon Lyons To: ius.l@AMERICAN.EDU CC: bmarineo@be.ucla.edu, qarunner@themall.net, plachowski@aol.com, AMoore6150@aol.com, MCCANN1.com@iceland.it.earthlink.net Subject: Vermont 100 First, THANKS in advance to all the Angeles Crest Hard Core Ultrarunners who have trained with and without me throughout the past year and who ran with me on the VT, to all the rest of my ultrarunner friends in the LA area with whom I run on occasion, to my old running buddies with Trail Runners (you know who you are), to my ultralist runner friends, and to the New Orleans Hash House Harriers...without your advice and support I would not have made it "through the night"! As I look back on my experiences at VT100, HERE IS MY TALE which is mostly illuminating and never harrowing: I arrived three days prior to THE event which as most of you know by now was my first 100 miler. I acclimated well (visited VT with ex-companion several times, several years ago), enjoyed the ambiance of the Woodstock Inn & Resort and meals at various and sundry restaurants, the variety of shopping (esp. Scotland by The Yard) and did not really become very nervous because I am good at putting things away and not dealing with them. Even got my tent set up in the field so we could store lots of finish items there without the hassle of duplicate car keys or waiting for someone to come in. Got some sleep (about 5 to 5 1/2 hours) the night before which seemed to be enough, got up easily and met everyone with time to spare before IT began. The beginning was awesome! I will remember it as deftly as I remember my first 10K (Crescent City Classic) and my first marathon (LA) - the music straining in my ears to be heard above the murmer of the other runners and MUCH LATER, the MOON, the fabulous full moon shining down upon us and lighting up the sky like diamonds in the night. Off we ran, at a slow and easy pace, down a smooth sand/dirt/gravel road, across fields, through woods, often with whisps of mist rising out of the tall grass and early morning dew-ponds like curling smoke from a fire. Frogs frogged and birds birded as our run meandered past the picturesque and ofen awsome Vermont farms? & countryside. We passed cows grazing, horses munching, llamas looking and of course a few dogs doing what comes naturally. People smiled and waved as they went about their daily tasks, content with the knowledge that we runners were not a detriment, but an addition to the quaintness of the Vermont countryside they call home. For me, the run continued in this fashion throughout the day. I probably ate a little too much at the aide stations because in total I gained 2 lbs, but what the hay? I was told just to go, not to worry and to have fun. My favorites are Exceed, coke, M&M's, and potatoes w/salt. Also Pocket Rockets which were only available from your persona stash, but that's ok by me. As the run wore on, I tended to also take the chicken soup sans noodles. Yum! I am pleased to say that I packed into my 3 drop bags just the right stuff (probably by accident). They were stashed at Stage, 10-Bear my most stuff) and at Bill's (the medical check points). I didn't really have troubles to deal with until 2nd time into 10-Bear (blisters) but with the aid of our friends, Captain Compeed & Dr. Duct tape, I got well past that event. I also managed to run into 10-Bear II without my light and without putting any extra clothing on my body. That cute little bearded medicaL man was concerned that I didn't bring warmer clothing but of course his worries were unjustified. He just kept an eye on me since I only pulled the clothing out of my pack and put it around my waist. But, truthfully I did not need it until about 2 am, gloves first, then NY Tyvek and finally around 4 am I got chilled again so put on the last of mohicans, another long-sleeve coolmax. Thus armed against the night's cool air (also turned my kerchief to cover neck to prevent cold there), I proceeded. The night was, for me beautiful and exciting. I love running at night, especially under the moon and we with ACHC had practiced running with our Peztles along the AC trail to Mt Wilson at night several times. (Also practiced sleep deprivation here in New Orleans - yes, friends, IT'S JUST THE SAME) & had been wondering all year how it would be to run all night, what would I feel? what would I think? how would I deal with expected problems? and with the unknown? - I was more curious than worried. Running that night proved to be a wondrous experience. The moon was full and finally crept out from under the banks of clouds and so I turned off my light and cruised, through the woods, under the thick canopy the trees made, across the fields, along the country roads and past sleeping houses full of unaware people, past animals spying on the runners (shined a coon in a corn field trying to find his mate) but in the end the novelty did wear a bit thin. I got REALLY tired, just as I had been warned, and thank goodness, my friend, Walter had GIVEN ME PERMISSION to take a small break because, like most others, I began STAGGERING and HALLUCINATING. But this was within the realm of my expectations so for the remedy (I was really afraid if I didn't I'd fall into a ditch or over a guard rail into a creek or two) I sat down on several comfortable rocks and mentally counted to 60 x 2, then pushed on. Between 5 & 6 a.m. I began to sleep run and dreamed my friend, BABA, was alternately pushing on my muscled haunches up the hill, and carrying me along the road. Fortunately the sun finally crept over the trees' edges and this running draculessa awoke, checked her watch (naturally miscalculated) and began to panic. "Where, oh where did all my extra time go? It was eaten by the rocks, by the trees, by the moon, I know" " So I mentally figured that to finish within the big 30, I would HAVE TO RUN 12 MINUTE MILES FOR THE NEXT 12 MILES. Oh, great, Myself said, you can't do it just because you CAN'T. But then I got a REAL grip on that nonsense (my evil gemini twin that I can't rely on) and said, YOU CAN'T GIVE UP NOW; YOU HAVE TRAINED TOO HARD AND TOO LONG TO QUIT; YOU CAN DO IT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE TRAINED FOR, TO SUFFER THE PAIN, TO ENDURE THE HARDSHIP, AND TO FINISH AND TO FINISH WELL ( Also your friends will kick your butt!) So, somehow, after the sun came over the trees, I managed to pick up the pace and only stopped five or twenty times (it is vague) for coke & m&m's x 2, 2 pit passes and one 2-minute standing rest, with straight arms and fists holding me upright with the aid of fence post), did not run into any trees (unlike my friend, Vickie who finished 7th woman) or hallucinate any more snakes (like Greg Minter). And with the aid of my own personal hallucinogen, BABA, finished, PASSING, I SAY PASSING a few who had left me resting in the dark that long night. My time was 28:32:20. I have blisters on both feet (and I NEVER get them), have probably shortened my short body (5'3 1/2") to 5', and YES I WILL DO IT AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And that is my tale as told true from my ultrarunner's heart!! "Through the night, through the dawn, behind you another runner is born, don't look back, you'll be there, feel the mist as your breath hits the air!" Thanks again for support and help from 'yall!! Angeles Crest Chaennnon Angeles Crest Hard Core Ultra-runners or Las Diablas Carreras de las Sierras And soon to be more: Rocky Raccoon 100 Western States 100 E-mail to: Chaennnon@earthlink.net