From owner-ius-l@AMERICAN.EDU Wed Jun 11 18:01:56 1997 Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 17:21:53 -0700 From: Suzi Thibeault <4suzit@neworld.net> To: IUS-L@AMERICAN.EDU CC: Ultra@caligari.Dartmouth.EDU Subject: KM100 run report XP I might as well admit, I had a great run, and yes I did train some. Karl=92s products were a great help, but I did have to do the actual running. I have found another use for the SUCEED Electrolyte capsules though. On my flight home from Chicago to Reno I was seated in front of a child with the =93terrible two=94 syndrome. She knew one word, NO, and said it repeatedly in a high pitched screech. One SUCEED Electrolyte capsule wrapped in cotton, placed in each ear, seemed to do the trick. The Kettle Moraine 100 is a very user friendly course and sure lends itself to risky pacing like I had in mind. With only a few hours before darkness, I started as quickly as my old ultra bones can handle. The chance to socialize at the start was minimal so I started meeting people as we moved down the scenic wooded trail. Met list members Maynard, Ed, Kevin, Mike, Bonnie, and lot=92s more. We talked and swapped lies, like =93I=92m just taking it easy, jus= t want to finish=94. About 10 miles in I realized I was getting a sharp pain down the back of my left hamstring. I started evaluating it, and figured the pain was starting right where my bottle in the fanny pack hit the point of my butt. It was bruising a nerve I=92m sure. I took the pack off, and took the buckle apart, taking out a piece so that I could tighten the waist more securely. Presto, no pain. I didn=92t figure that losing some weight would make the pack ride so much differently and decrease my chances of finishing the race! You must be a good boy scout in these things. My Weight Watchers group would have been proud though! The Hawaiian Ultra Running Team has a tradition which I recommend highly, and pass along to you here. They have a =93call=94, which goes =93oink oink=94. You can make up your own version= , but the idea is a simple means of communicating when you are not in view. We used =93oint oink=94 as I would be coming into an aid station, and that meant =93Hey Karl, heads up, I=92m here, where are you?=94 The replied =93oint oink=94 means =93I=92m over here and I=92ve = got your stuff, and what took you so long?=94 On the trail between runners, especially on switchbacks, or after dark, the =93oink oink=94 means =93I=92m here, and I=92m fine, where are = you, and are you OK?=94 An =93oink=94 reply of course means =93I=92m over her= e, and I=92m OK too=94. Maynard, Ed, and Jeff kept in touch with me, though I was alone on a section in the dark which was a little tricky to follow and we weren=92t certain we were on course. It can be pretty comforting to know you aren=92t alone, or that your prey is still within oinking distance! I didn=92t catch them, but I did find a raccoon up a tree in the dark, and heard a growling sound on the other side of the tree. I thought it might be a runner in distress, but nobody answered my hello. I shined my flashlight at the noise and found a pair of wild yellow canine eyes starring back from about 10 yards away. I was near a couple of guys at the turn around, but my pace kept me by myself as I headed back out in the dark at 3:20 AM. With all the runners on an out and back course, I tried to identify everybody I saw, by asking who they were, and offering encouragement when possible. The sounds of the big bull frogs, and the occasional running footsteps of the big lead dogs, were enough to keep me awake until dawn. Or maybe it was the caffeine in my CLIP. The mist rising on the ponds around us, and the sounds of so many birds, was just glorious. I was refreshed with the daylight, and the thought of my pacer at 68 miles. Just to pass the time until then, I started going for the trash collection Olympic record. Gu wrappers, power gel, candy bar, and power bar wrappers. 2 bike water bottles, 1 inhaler, 1 baggie of pills, several cups and cans. Left the 2 D cell batteries left by a big dog, and both the used condom and diaper that were probably not run related. The aid stations were great, and according to Gene=92s description from last year, they have improved as well. I did eat some of the offered goodies, but my main source of nutrition was CLIP. I carried one bottle of water, and one of CLIP at all times, and drank equal amounts. I took my SUCEED electrolyte capsule hourly by my watch from start to finish. I think this was either my 32nd or 33rd 100, and I know it was my first without vomiting. I think that says alot for the products Karl has created, and just possibly my inability to take a hint. Gregg Heinrichs jumped in to pace at 68 miles, and we motored along calculating the possibility of a sub 24 hour finish. I seemed much stronger than I would have expected, especially through the meadows, so I saw no reason to give up the idea. I took one quick break to tape a blister with compeed and elasticon. It was worth the effort, and I was able to run pain free again immediately. Only Bruce Mauldin passed me between the 50 mile and finish line. It took him about ten miles to get it done, and I think we both enjoyed the cat and mouse game. This must be what it=92s like up front with the Big Dogs, only slower. The sub 24 hour finish was a sweet reward for a job well done, and I felt like I deserved the hugs from my crew and pacer. We were a happy team and just needed some pork ribs to recover our energy. I would highly recommend the KM100, and thank all the people that worked so hard to put on an event worth savoring for at least 23:45. Suzi T 4suzit@neworld.net -- Suzi T for Travel http://users.neworld.net/2tbows