Subject: HURT II - Ben Cavazos
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2002 11:16:33

Aloha Ultrafunner,

Here's Ben Cavazos' account of HURT II.

He's real discrete about how he and his wife kicked
my butt that last lap.

Good going Ben. 

aloha,

aka

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Good morning,  

        Here's an abbreviated description of my 100 mile adventure (HURT II):  
        I think, for most of the year this race was the one in my mind the
most.  The training and racing I did during 2001 was somehow connected to
this race, which I considered the ultimate challenge for me, physically,
mentally, and spiritually as well......God knows how many times I asked him
for strength, courage,  and fait to make this race a goal more than a dream
as it was in the past.  Ten years ago, I could never muster the courage and
determination to think about an event of this magnitude, much less go
throughout the preparation process.

        Last year's attempt was hard for me.  With little or no preparation
I tried the distance knowing that with only six months since my knee
surgery this was not a good thing to do.  It was not going to be like doing
a marathon or any other endurance event.

        This time the training was slowly coming together, and although, I
was short on some of it, I was much more prepared than last year.  It was
hard doing all of those loooong runs; about one every other week.  I was
forcing myself to learn the patience it takes to be a trail runner.  It was
hard but I balanced my time and training as good as I possibly could.

        Running at night for training, or often, running home at the end of
the week was the only way I could do my training and allow my family to
have me for the weekend full of family activities.

        The week leading to the race was a very slow and hard one.  My body
started to show the signs of the long hard training exposed to during the
past months.  I comforted myself by knowing that my body felt that way
because it was going through a full recovery process making me stronger on
the day of the race.  

        The day before the race I organized my bags with all the things I
was going to need,  I did not concentrate on food, but rather those items
such as Vaseline, electrolyte tablets and particular drinks for those times
I needed a lift.  My heart rate monitor was a very important item for the
race and I'm so glad I wear it the entire race.

        Saturday morning my son B. J. and I left the house around 4:40 AM
to allow me plenty time for parking, check-in, and those never failing
trips to the restroom.  The energy was transparent around the Nature Center
as the runners arrived and made last minute preparations.  A very nice
Hawaiian prayer was performed and as we held hands I felt the final moment
arrive and pray not for me, but for all of us taking this very difficult
challenge.  58 of us full of energy and positive thoughts started the HURT
100 mile race at the trail head by the Nature Center. My friend and
training partner Ed Bugarin and I had done most of our training together,
so we knew how to approach this difficult course.  I also knew that the
course was going to present a bigger challenge for all of us due to all the
rain we had had during the past day or so.  I had picked Ed's brains since
he's a very experience adventure racer and being a former Delta Force
member, Eco Challenge finisher, and a participant of the first episode in
Combat Missions, he had a lot to share with me to make my body and mind
better than the average runner. Besides, Ed and I were in the same unit in
Ft. Bragg for quite some years, and he was also the Best Man at my wedding
in 1999.

        We wanted to do each loop (20 miles) in six hours, but as we follow
our plan to walk all the up hills and run the run-able sections, we found
ourselves in the comfort zone and finish the firs loop under 5:30. Many
runners were alone, we're working as a team, and as we departed for our
second loop we continue to eat and drink as often as we could. It was
during this loop that I forced myself to eat and drink so much, that it was
a time when I had no choice but to vomit some of it. I knew then that I was
doing the right thing and although the quantity of food I continue to
consume was less, nevertheless I continue to feed my system as much as Ed
was doing it.

        We finished our second 20 mile loop around 5 PM and it was a great
sense of support and positive attitude at the aid station as I asked for
Vaseline since I was felling the early symptoms of hot spots on some of my
toes and wanted to avoid blisters for as long as possible. Everything I
asked at the aid stations, I got...they were also my teammates helping me
get thru this thing.

        It was here at the finish of my second loop I was expecting MAJ
Kathy Derrick (SGS, HQ USARPAC), to be at the Nature Center waiting to go
out and do the third loop with us, but since we were one hour ahead of
schedule we missed her, but as we left the aid station 10 minutes later on
the trail we found ourselves being caught by her and as I introduced her to
Ed we moved on as the darkness was coming upon us by now. As we turned on
our head lights we also were forced to slow down our pace and to make it
even more challenging, the rain and wind made their un-welcome presence. We
pressed on and it was during this loop that Ed did not feel good and I was
not about to leave my friend and teammate behind to tackle this loop in the
dark alone. I had him take the lead and his pace was going to be my pace as
well, regardless. We continue to make progress and as I checked my heart
rate monitor, I found my hearth rate to be in the 120s for most of the
time; my goal was to keep it below 140 bpm, so I was happy with this reading.

        This loop was hard due to the rainy conditions and by now we had
logged over 12 hours on our feet. The rain made the loop more technical, it
drain the runners mentally and physically as well. It was here where many
runners made the choice to just do the 100 K option and my teammate Ed was
one of them as he announced it as finished our third loop.

        It was hard to go without him, but I just blocked it from my mind
and I was going to be just fine since my boss, COL Randy Stansfield was
ready to go with me on the fourth loop. He was not familiar with most of
the trail, it was not only night time, but was raining cats and dogs, and
very windy for most of the night. Again, I explained him the plan and just
directed him on the course as we were going to travel on different trails
for the next eight hours or so. It was at the beginning of the fourth loop
when I started to feel very dizzy and was having hard time concentrating on
the trail, and my body wanted to go to sleep. I told the Randy about it and
just as fast, he started singing some Airborne cadence, then some rap and
he went on and on keeping me awake and moving on the trail. As we started
our descent to Paradise Park I was very cold and signs of hypothermia
started to show; COL Randy Stansfield took out what at first I thought was
a large trash bag and put the thing over me allowing me to keep my body
heat in and bring my temperature back to normal. As we got to the aid
station by the Pali, around 0640 Sunday morning, I was moving like a zombie
and Greg at the aid station suggested I take a short nap. I got an Army
blanket and laid down on an Army cot until 7 AM; it was so cold that I
could not stop shivering, but just laying there allowed me to stop thinking
and sleep for a hand full of minutes getting up right at 7 AM. They offered
me scramble eggs and bacon, which I eagerly welcomed making me feel very
good. 

        We left the aid station enroute to the start/finish at the Nature
Center and it was a complete different feeling the entire segment, allowing
me to push the pace as Randy kept me focused and positive the entire way.
It was here, where we passed Lyman; one of the top runners in Hawaii. He
was mentally and physically defeated, and ended taking the 100 K option.
Made it to the aid station in great time and here I had my wife Beverly
ready with a complete set of clothes for me to change.  I wanted to feel
clean and dry, even if it was for just 10 minutes; mentally, it was a good
thing to do.  Bev was ready to do the last 20 miles with me. I was glad
Randy had his cell phone and allowed us to call her and have all ready for
me at the aid station.  At the aid station everyone was eager to help me
with anything I needed and when I asked John how much time I had before
getting to Paradise Park before the cut-off,  he just replied to me: "Ben,
you will make it, you're doing great".  I also knew that the last loop was
not going to be as hard as the fourth one and Bev will make sure I made it
back with time to spare.

        It was around 9:30 AM when Bev and I left the Nature Center on my
LAST 20 MILE LOOP. I had 8 1/2 hours to finish the last 20 miles and it was
within my reach....I could smell it.  I knew, it was going to be fun and I
was going to keep a good pace. By now my feet were numb and somehow my
right foot felt different, so I was wearing two socks on my left foot and
one on my right one. Could not explain how, but it worked for me and I knew
that as long as I applied Vaseline to my feet, I was going to be fine.

        The rain and wind did not stop during this loop, but it was not as
bad as during the night. The trail became a continuous flowing stream
between aid stations until the finish. It was on this loop were we closed
the gap on two runners....they were determined to finish before the cut-off
time.  I went fishing and reeled them in.  As Bev and I went by, they did
not attempt to come with us. We got to Paradise Park and got plenty of
fluids and a hot pancake sandwich to go. I thanked the crew there and told
them that I was so glad because I was not going to see them again here, but
at the finish line. We moved steadily towards our last aid station; it was
during this section, where I came up to another runner; once there, we got
fluids, something to eat, thanked the crew and moved out towards the finish
line about seven+ hard miles away. During this section my heart rate was in
the 120s, while my wife's was probably in the 140s. We started to celebrate
about 10 minutes from the finish knowing that no one will come from behind
and pass us at this time; it was here when I went down hard on my right
side; mud all over me.  Bev just told me to get up and keep going. About a
minute later she went down hard on her butt, but she got up just as fast,
moved slowly for a minute or two trying to get back into her rhythm.  A few
meters later I washed myself very good in a stream about knee deep; I
wanted to come across the finish line as clean as I could possible be.

        About 200 meters from the finish my wife told me to get in the
front; I said no!!. Lets run side by side....she just gave me a hug and a
kiss and told me how proud of me she was, that this was my race, it was
just right for me to be up front alone.

        It was the most wonderful feeling in the world having a bunch of
friends, my son B.J., and my daughter Lia at the finish waiting for me
after a very long weekend.

        I did it!!!!!....but I could not have done it without the training
and without your support...........thank you.

        Pain is temporary..........Glory is forever  
BenRunner