Subject: My HURT 100 Story From: "Ian Torrence" Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 17:02:50 -0700 Enjoy everyone! What an awesome race! Take care! Sincerely, Ian The H.U.R.T. Trail 100 Mile: A Trail Runner's Dream A Sunrise Worth Falling For Dawn was just starting to break in the Hawaiian mountains. I was moving well for already having run ninety-six miles. The end of the hundred-mile trail race was near and it was a good feeling to see the sun again after having run all night. Perhaps the first rays of light were what I was looking at when I lost my footing on a rain soaked rock. It was reassuring to know that I was following one of the all important, unwritten and cruelest rules of trail running. That rule being that if you are going to fall, you will bite it on the smoothest section of trail available. My feet left the earth, slid off the left side of the trail and down the slick slopes below. I don't remember the actual fall, but I did manage to catch myself before sliding too far. I laid horizontal to the trail with only my hands grasping the tread way. My flashlight was gone and laid somewhere down the slope below. Mud that had previously only covered my legs now covered my arms, chest and face. Krissy, my pacer, was amazed by the acrobatic display she had just witnessed. I assured her I was fine but knew that that was just the adrenaline talking. I climbed back onto the trail, borrowed Krissy's extra flashlight and quickly starting running again trying to shake out the kinks that had resulted from the fall. As if I hadn't learned my lesson after the first plunge, my eyes still drifted towards the beautiful sunrise over the ocean below. I couldn't help it. Where Are The Beaches? Not far from the bright lights, sandy beaches and busy streets of Waikiki Beach, Hawaii lay the steep, forested slopes of the island of Oahu. The green mountains rise quickly from the flat, densely populated lowlands that encompass the shores. Often these mountains are shrouded in clouds and remain hidden from the sunny, warm beaches below. Less than four miles from my hotel room was the Hawaii State Division of Forestry's Nature Center, the starting point of the H.U.R.T. (Hawaiian Ultra Running Team) Trail 100 Mile. While traveling towards the mountains and the Nature Center, the tourist shops and rush hour traffic of Waikiki and Honolulu gave way to an environment of moist, lush greenery. A myriad of plants surrounded me that I had never seen before. Huge fronded flora, ferns the size of large bushes and trees that reached high into the skies above formed a dense layer within the valley that surrounded the Nature Center. I had never visited our fiftieth state before and looked forward to the chance to see the islands up close. The second annual HURT 100 Mile offered a unique opportunity for me to escape Utah's winter weather and run in some warm, tropical forests. I eagerly accepted an invitation from the HURT race management to challenge their course. The mystical twenty-four hour finishing time has never been broken on this course. This was a statistic that made the race even more attractive. Like several other runners at this year's event, I would attempt the HURT 100 Mile in hopes of being the first runner to break the 24-hour barrier. I had read all of the reports and trail descriptions from last year's inaugural HURT race. Virtually every description told of tales of rocky, muddy and root littered trails. Every runner spent more time than they had anticipated between aid stations. Due to the trails' technical terrain, forward progress was very slow for everyone. I quickly succumbed to the fact that I would be in for a long day, night and, perhaps, second day of running in order to complete the entire 100-miles. I did, however, come away with the impression that I would be in good hands and well taken care of during the event. Every runner from last year's event complimented the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team for the excellent attention they showed to all entrants. Aid stations were stocked with all essentials and the course markings were plentiful and well placed. I chose not to scout any of the course before hand and decided to rely fully on the thoroughness of the race management to see me through the course safely. Off You Go Then Early on a mid-January, Saturday morning, between brief downpours, 58 runners, including myself, left the Hawaiian Nature Center in the hopes of completing the 100 miles of HURT before the official 36-hour cut-off. We began the first of five, 20-mile loops after an inspirational song, prayer and blow from a conch shell. We were instantly thrust upon the first nasty part of the course, the Hogback, where even the faster front-runners were slowed to a walk. The Banyon Trees' roots were gnarly, eroded, and stretched endlessly in every direction. Footing was difficult and walking was the only way to sanely negotiate the steep trail in the pre-dawn hours. I was now aware of what kind of run I'd be in for, one that would require patience and persistence. I found that the same multi-loop course allowed me to learn the terrain quickly. I memorized where I could walk, run, and descend steep sections safely. I was amazed at the diversity of the course. As I passed through bamboo stands that clanked in the wind, along cliffs laden with ferns, and ran under the towering Hawaiian pine forests I was constantly awe inspired. The trail passed along several ridgelines that offered sweeping views of beaches, cities and the ocean below. This course is far from boring. Several sections of the trail offered excellent running terrain, but there were those sections that I never looked forward to. The Nuuanu Trail descended steeply over grassy slopes and rocky sections. The race management supplied rope lines on several of these sections in order to allow safe egress. As the evening wore on the trails got increasingly wet from the constant barrage of showers. These grassy and rocky sections became very slippery. One wrong step would surely send a runner down steep slopes and into the rocks and trees below, ending their run and sending them to the hospital. The rain showers offered relief during the steamy daytime temperatures, but quickly cooled a motionless runner in the evening. The tread on the trails became muddier as the rain fell and runners churned over them. Every lap worsened. Two sections of the course doubled back on themselves. I enjoyed seeing other runners heading the opposite direction on the trail. We could pass on encouragement and I could keep an eye on the competition. The trail into the second aid station was a popular tourist route because it led to Manoa Falls, an incredibly beautiful and noisy waterfall that signaled the upcoming Paradise Park Aid Station. I found it challenging to pass day-hikers on the narrow trails while, at the same time, answering their questions on what I was doing, how far I was going, and why I was doing it. In the Company of Others Throughout most of the day I traded leads with several other runners. Peter Bakwin, from Boulder, Colorado would take the lead on the steep down hill sections, while I would catch and pass him on the climbs. We would seesaw back and forth for most of the race. Brandon Sybrowsky ran the 100-kilometer version of the event that covers three loops. He accompanied me for much of his 62 miles. After 60 miles, I gained the company of Krissy Moehl. She would accompany me in a pacer capacity for the rest of journey. I felt lucky to have Brandon and Krissy as running partners for the majority of the race. Their company and encouragement was worth so much. Many runners preferred to stick together or utilize a pacer for this event for reasons of safety and companionship. The three aid stations, spaced seven, five, and seven miles apart respectively per loop, were adequately staffed and offered runners all they would ever want in terms of food, liquid, medical aid, and encouragement. Scattered across the aid station tables were Hawaiian delicacies like lau lau, poi, Spam sandwiches, papaya, boiled peanuts and kalua pig. I was, however, lucky enough to be crewed by my girlfriend, Anne Raney, for the entire race. Anne supplied me with my race favorites: bananas, Coke, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Clif Bars, warm soup and turkey and cheese wraps. Her upbeat attitude, smiles and words of support made all the difference when my energy and enthusiasm waned in the late night hours. A Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ending The mental and physical ups and downs during an ultra are abundant. For eighty miles I had been running in water soaked socks and shoes. About 300 meters out from the Nature Center Aid Station and the beginning of my final loop I accidentally bashed the end of my foot into some rocks on the trail. Numbing pain worked up my leg, into my spine and into the base of my skull. I knew then I had really done a number on my big toe. I hobbled into the aid station to see Peter, now the leader, leaving. With the help of the aid station personnel I took off my shoe and sock. I had dislodged the toenail from the back of its cuticle. The aid station staff cleaned the toe, wrapped it in duct-tape and helped me don dry shoes and socks, something I should have done many miles ago. I was very uninspired. I was back on my feet, but now twenty minutes behind Peter. I knew I could keep going, but didn't know how far or quickly I could go. The pain slowly subsided and I began to loosen up again. I was back to a decent pace faster than I expected. At the second to last aid station and with thirteen miles to go, I caught up with Peter who was having some issues of his own. His body had "quit" on him. With encouragement he continued onward slowly. Personally, I was back on a wonderful high. Surprisingly, just as quickly as I had conceded the race, I had regained the lead. Krissy and I pushed the pace to the finish. I was surprised to see how much zip I had after having run so many miles on such a rugged course. After 25 hours and 18 minutes and seeing my second sunrise without any sleep, I crossed the finish line. I didn't break the 24-hour barrier, but had an incredible time in a beautiful place. I found the HURT 100 Miler to be a true trail runner's dream. There is roughly one cumulative mile of "road" running that runners must endure during the entire length of the course. Over the 100-mile distance the runners climb nearly 24,000 vertical feet. I often forgot that I was only several miles from the busy cities of Waikiki and Honolulu. A huge thanks and congratulations needs to go to the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team, a group who has taken a lot of time, a huge effort and has exhibited great generosity, care and hospitality in sharing their own trails with the rest of the trail running community. Web Site More information on the H.U.R.T. Trail 100 Mile can be found at http://www.Run100s.com/ht100.htm