From: Pat Hinds Subject: (Long) VT100 Report Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 18:22:31 -0400 Vermont Race Report 98 First I would just like to say thanks to everyone on the list who was kind enough to answer my questions or provide information. Pre-Race Karin and I caught the redeye from Vancouver to Montreal. The plane arrived at 8:30 EST Friday morning and I had slept a total of 3 hours. Great way to start your first attempt at a hundred miler. Oh well, just a four and a half hour drive and we would be in Woodstock. I told Karin I would drive there as we both knew that I wouldn’t be driving back to Montreal. While driving there I noticed that Vermont is HILLY! This was what I sort of expected but it still seemed worse than described. After stopping for lunch along the way we didn’t make it to Smoke Rise farm until around 3:00 PM. My anxiety level was getting high as I was worried about not registering in time. (shouldn’t have been). Registered and than weigh-in. WHAT? ARE YOU SURE! I worried and complained to Karin about my weight. After she calmed me down we decided we didn’t have time before the course briefing to get to our B&B (Millbrook). Course briefing was helpful, especially for someone who is directionally challenged. But I was getting nervous as I knew no-one there and everyone seemed to know what they were doing; unlike me who was faking it. Sat at a table for dinner and lined up for food early as I wanted to get to the B&B and try to get some sleep. Met Max Bliss (Wasatch 5 timer) and his wife Mary who sat at our table. Thanks' Max for telling me I would make it as this calmed me down. After dinner we drove to our B&B in Brownsville. As we were getting ready for bed some of the runners and their crews arrived and introductions were made. Rest were made in the morning at breakfast. (Great group of people Washington - John Bandur, Lynn and her husband Steve, Janine and her mom, Larry who was pacing them from 68, and NC - Bruckner Chase and his wife Jennifer.) Asked if anyone could give me a lift to the start and was told it was no problem. This made Karin happy as she could sleep in and would meet me around mile 30; around 9:00 am. Race Morning After 5 hours sleep it was time to get up and eat before the run. Had a tough time deciding what to wear. Shorts for sure but should I start with a singlet? Decided to stick with a coolmax short sleeve and change when I met Karin at 30 miles. Kay, the owner of the B&B made breakfast at 2 am. Had oatmeal and apple juice, kissed Karin good-bye and caught a ride from John. We arrived at Smoke Rise at 3:30 for runners check in. No line-up. It occurs to me that I’m no longer nervous now that the run is here. Larry pointed out Rob Grant and I went and introduced myself and said thanks for answering my many questions. Wandered down the hill and Laura yelled go so off I went. Before the race I had set three goals. Dream goal was 20.5 hrs, realistic goal was under 24 hrs, and most important goal was FINISH. I tried to base this on my 50 milers which were both around 8.5 hrs. When I made my schedule for Karin I wanted to run 9.5 in the first half before I started to slow. The first hour running in the dark with a flashlight was quite neat as I had never done this before. The plan was to walk the uphills and run the downs and flats ( flats were few and far between). Once it was light I caught Joe Lugiano just as the first horses went past me. WOW, was that ever cool. All threw the race the riders were very courteous when passing and offered encouragement later in the race. The covered bridge was a highlight as I had never ran through one. The first thirty miles went by very quickly and I was right on my schedule. When I first saw Karin I told her I thought 20.5 hrs was a little too aggressive. She told me not to give up yet and helped me change into my singlet. She slapped some Sunscreen on me and I was off. This was consistent with my aid station strategy of filling my bottles, grabbing some food (potatoes - yummy) and getting the hell out of there. The weather was mid 80’s but the humidity wasn’t too bad as there was a light wind. Would see Karin again in 14 miles or so. I think the next section was where there was a trail section that once you climbed you had a spectacular view. The runner just ahead of me looked and said this is why I run. I couldn’t argue as here we were having just climbed for twenty minutes and we both stood there admiring the view. After this I hit a bad patch and struggled for 5 miles. Glad these patches do not last forever. At Camp 10 Bear (mile 44.2) I was about fifteen minutes behind and a little nauseous. I think it might have been the Conquest sportdrink so I was just going to stick with water and my Karl Kaps. It was around here that I started to run with Paul Vinci. As we were walking and running we started talking. Next thing I know a truck comes up and says do you guys realize you are off course. “How far” I asked. “About half a mile back”. Shit. I was disheartened while Paul was mad. He took off while I moped and walked back. Oh yeah, I am thinking, a hundred isn’t far enough. I have to add another mile. Once back on the trail I caught Seth Roberts and ran with him. He gave me a Tums which helped my nausea. Around the 51.7 aid station we caught up to Paul. The three of us ran together for quite a while and it made the miles go by quicker. At Tracer Brook (54.9) I was thirty-five minutes behind schedule but felt pretty good. Was in and out of the aid station after topping my bottles and grabbing a potato. From here to Heather’s (mile 60) included a long hill which we power walked. Just after Heather’s Seth pulled ahead but by Camp 10 Bear (68.2) he was back in sight. By my schedule should have been at Camp 10 Bear at 4:40 PM. Was there at 5:20 and knew that I was under a 12 minute pace so 20.5 hrs was still possible. Karin asked if I wanted to change my socks but I was scared to even look as I could feel the blisters. In hindsight this was my biggest mistake. With the sand on the course I should have changed socks at least twice. This might have cut down on the number and size of my blisters. (Live and learn). Paul was just ahead of me out of Camp 10 Bear station and soon we were running together. I pulled ahead powerwalking a hill and didn’t see him again till mile 94. Seth took a long break at the aid station. But by mile 75 he and his pacer caught up. I knew I was starting to struggle so didn’t try to keep up. This was the worst I felt. My quads were toast and my blisters were aching. One aid station at a time. I knew 20.5 hour finish was gone and if I didn’t start feeling better it would be a long walk. Mile 79 aid station I grabbed my flashlight and a changed out of my singlet and into a long sleeve coolmax. Left my tights and coat there as I didn’t need them because it was still warm. This was my longest aid station and it was tough to leave. The only thing that finally got me out of there was knowing that Karin would pace me from Bill’s (83.4). Just after this aid station Karen Provencher and her two pacers passed me again. We were leapfrogging each other depending on who was struggling worse through a section. Before Bill’s I needed my flashlight through a technical trail section. Caught Karen P. just going into Bill’s. Karin told me I was only fourty minutes behind schedule as it was 8:50 PM. Good I thought. This gave me 7 hrs to do the last 16.6 miles and finish under 24 hours. The dream of 20.5 hrs died just as my quads had. Was weighed and off we went (weight was never much off an issue as I didn’t loose more than 4 lb.). “Hope you don’t mind walking” I asked Karin. I told her that my quads were mush but never mentioned my blisters. She said she would keep asking just to see if I wanted to start running. It did not happen. So we walked from aid station to aid station. I swear that the miles got longer. Karen P. and her two pacers caught us and I said I could walk from here and still break 24. They gave me an encouraging whoop and off they went. From Bill’s to the 90 mile aid station was a grind. Don’t think I was holding a 20 minute per mile pace, felt nauseated again but mentally knew that I could tough it out. >From miles 90 to 96 they placed aid stations every two miles. These were attainable, the finish line didn’t seem to be. With Karin’s encouragement and back rubs we made it to mile 96. From Bill’s on I was faster on the uphill than the down. On the down I made this grunting noise to keep from screaming from the pain. Karin was worried about it at first but soon accepted it. Four miles left and 3 hrs to get the buckle. (roughly as somehow I reset my chronometer). Up we go. Karin keeps telling me that it seems to flatten just ahead as I’m swearing at the course and saying what a stupid idea this run was. Paul and his wife (who is singing) catch up and pass us just after the hill does level off. “Good job Paul” I say as he stumbles by. I know how he feels. I see the rocks on this part put can’t avoid them. It takes too much effort so I just trip every three feet. Karin tells me we made good time on the hill. I complain that they should have the last few miles marked so I knew how much further. About five minutes later we hear cheering. Karin says there is the barn. So I start running downhill for the first time in the last 16 miles. Karin is just a few steps behind telling me to be careful. I cross and give Karin a hug. If she wasn’t there I don’t think I would have made it. Don’t feel jubilation at finishing, more like relief that it is over. Post-Race Find a chair and congratulate Paul who finished just before me. Karin goes and gets me some water and a coke. She also tries to arrange a ride to her car at Bill’s. This seems important to me as I don’t want to deal with the car issue tomorrow. Take off my shoes and my feet are blistered, two are huge. With a dry sweatshirt on I feel decent. A minute later I am throwing up. The medical people help me to a cot and wrap blankets around me. After an hour I rise from the cot but after twenty feet I realize that was a mistake as I feel light headed. As I’m leaning against the massage table someone notices me. Once again the medical people help me to the cot. Just after this a runner who has finished after me, feeling much better, comes up and asks if he could get me anything. I’m thinking to myself what a nice guy but all I say is no thanks. Finally Karin arrives back with the car (a volunteer drove her to Bill’s to pick up the car). With the head Medical person (Ken?) helping me we make it to the car. The trip to the B&B goes fine but I have to tell Karin to slow down as I can’t handle the speed. 15 feet from the car to the B&B and by the time I make it my teeth are chattering. Take a quick shower (ended up getting sick again and found I couldn’t stand) before bed. You know what. I felt good the next day. Sore yes and still a little nauseated but okay. Final Thoughts I was on the bus going home from work on Wednesday and found myself getting emotional. A hundred miles. I did it. I finished. What a great feeling. VT100 has great organization and great volunteers. Enjoyed it immensely.