Subject: Rocky Racoon - Race Report Date: Tue, 06 Feb 2001 18:19:04 -0700 From: Byron Chikinda ROCKY RACOON - 100 MILE TRAIL RUN FEBRUARY 3 - 4, 2001 After running Le Grizz 50 miler for the fourth time, we though it was time to try a 100 mile trail run. We read many good reviews about the Rocky Racoon 100 Mile Trail Run outside Huntsville Texas. The only problem was that we would have to train in the winter. It gets cold in Edmonton, Alberta Canada but we decided to give it a go! The training in December was brutal! We had to breakup our 6 hour runs into 2 hour sections because it was - 30C (-22F) to -40 C (-40F). After running for 2 hours, we would warm up, dry out our clothes, dressed again and head out. After Christmas and through January it really warmed up and we got lots of good training runs in. PRE-RACE: We showed up for the weigh-in at the race start about noon Feb. 2. It was cloudy, windy and cool. The first sign we see "Please do not harass or feed the alligators". Hang on here ... no one said anything about alligators! We came to run 100 miles, not mess with alligators! We ate a very light breakfast so we could weigh in a light a possible. Every 20 miles they weight you. If you loose to much weight, they will make you sit, eat and drink until your weight is up again. You never know when a couple of pounds might make a difference. If you loose to much weight, you can be pulled from the race for your safety. We came back at 4:30 PM to hear Mickey Rollins (Race Director) instructions and the pre-race meal. This will probably be the last Rocky Racoon at Huntsville. Mickey is retiring from his job and the race may move to the mountains at Bandera Texas. Mickey mentions we don't have to worry about the snakes. The copperheads and water moccasins are hibernating. The alligators should be dormant. More about that later. All we should encounter are raccoons, armadillos and coyotes. He stresses that you pay attention to where you put you feet or the tree roots will make you "kiss mother earth"! There are 137 runners registered for the race (34 women & 103 men). We got to the start of the race about 5:00 AM. Rocky Racoon is a 20.2 mile loop around Lake Raven. You do it 5 times for a total of 101 miles. Suppose to be a 100 mile run, not 101 miles! I parked the rental car close to the trail and laid out all our extra clothes, food and gear in the trunk. After each loop, we can change clothes, shoes, get flashlights for running in the dark, etc. It was cold, about -4C (24F) about the same temperature as the 2000 version of Rocky Racoon. We read about the runners complaining about the cold. Being from Canada, we thought, what a bunch of wimps, -5C is not cold. Well, we will eat those words! With the very high humidity, -5C is darn cold. It chills you to the bone! LAP ONE: Mickey started the run promptly at 6:00 AM. It was dark and all the runners carried flashlights. It was quite a sight to see all these lights moving up the trail! The trail parallels the road into the park for 1.5 miles and then you cross the road into the woods. While Rocky Racoon is not in the mountains, it is hilly with about 8000 feet elevation gain/loss. It does present another challenge. Roots, roots and more roots. These roots will get you if you are not paying attention as we found out! The trail runs into a sandy jeep road. Here is where you can really get going up the "out & back" to aid station #1. The runners were really bunched up and the volunteers were having problems recording everyone's number. We turned around and headed back down the road. The sun was finally rising and we put away our flashlights. After about 1.5 miles, we headed back into the woods again. The trail was marked with yellow tape and plates. Like most trail runs, if you don't pay attention, you will miss these markers and get "extra running"! The trail started to get muddy in places. Mickey mentioned they are having a very wet winter. We watched out for the roots but still hit some. The roots are covered with leaves and the toes sure feel it when you hit them! After this part of the course, you go back out to the jeep road for a mile and then you come into aid station #2-3. There is a 5 mile "out and back" and you came back to the same aid station. That is why they call it "2-3". Joy is feeling nauseated. It is getting warm now, we strip down to just shorts and a singlet. We load up on water and off we go. This "out and back" is very pretty but lot of roots. There are also logs on the trail and a number of muddy sections. These got worse as the runners went around / through them. There are two trees leaning over the trail like an "X". You have to be careful getting by them or you will really hit your head. I make a mental note to watch out for this when it gets dark. One runners coming out had a fall. He is limping and bloody from the knee to his ankle. We get back to aid station #2-3. A volunteer mentioned the forecast for today is sunny and high of 68F (20C). This will be warm for us and we focus on hydrating. You go back to the sandy road again and then off into the woods. You run by the spillway at the dam and into a heavily wooded section. There are tree stumps and many roots here. Despite trying to be careful, we stumble, hit our toes, fall, and have a tough time with this 5 mile section of the course. Back home were we run, out tress are "neighbourly" and keep their roots in the ground where they belong! It is hilly in the section and you came out at the end of the lake where it is swampy. They have several long board walks here and you can make good time running. You go along the lake to aid station #174. Yes it is suppose to be #4, but it is called #174 as it is the number of the camp site where they put this aid station. We load up on water and food and it is 2.5 miles to the start - finish line. You go up over several hills and then a long downhill to aid station #5 (start - finish line). Three hours and 50m minutes for the first lap. We weigh-in with Joy up 5 pounds and me 4 pounds! We must be hydrating very well! The volunteers couldn't do enough for us! They were great! With them, there would not be a race. They cook for you, fill your water bottles, make sandwiches, bandage your feet, etc. LAP TWO: We start off on the second loop. I take a disposable camera to get a few pictures. It is a very pretty run! We want to really get familiar with the course so we can find our way when it gets dark. At the pre race meal, we met Michael and Margo Riggs. This is Michael's second "Coon". Margo is incredible. She supports Michael through the whole race. She was at aid stations #1, #5 and #174. She was not only helping her husband, but all the runners! She was helping out by filling up water bottles, dishing out soup, etc. Margo and Michael real Texans! Very friendly and helpful! The world need more people like them! This lap goes well except Joy is getting some bad blisters. She hurt the top of her feet two weeks ago and they are still quite sore. She runs with her shoes done up loosely and her feet are sliding back and forth. We stop at aid station #2 - 3, drain the blisters, put Compeed Band-Aids on them. We also put duct tape over the Band-Aids to hold them in place. Off we go. Every now and then you hear a "thump" and a few choice words as another runner falls on the roots. In the section just before the swamp, I was busy talking to another runner and not paying attention when I "kissed mother earth". That hurt! Joy notices that I cut my right chest and to put first aid cream on it when we get back to aid station #5. We also see alligator foot prints in the mud. Looks like they are not that dormant! We finished this lap a littler slower in 4 hours 15 minutes. We weigh-in with Joy staying up 5 pounds and me 4 pounds LAP THREE: Before we start off, we get some running pants and a shirt. We carry these over our belts as it will be near sunset the later part of lap three and it will get cooler. This lap goes fairly well but Joy's feet are getting very sore and she has another bout of nausea. I am also getting diarrhea. One thing we learned about running Ultras, if you have a problem, work on it right away before it consumes you! We finally figured out the problem. We train with Gatorade. At some of the aid stations they are serving Poweraid. You always eat and drink what you train with! I left powder Gatorade in my drop bag at aid stations #2 -3. For the rest of the race I mix our own drinks. The nausea and diarrhea go away. There are a group of woman from California and they are great! Every time they come into an aid station, you hear "California girls rule"! First time I have seen women wear makeup running an Ultra! Blake Wood (winner) is lapping us now. The man is incredible! He must be part deer! He runs a fast pace, smooth and with a smile! I make room for him to pass and try to "hitch hike" a ride. He waves and continues on. We left two flashlights at aid station #2 -3. We change into our shirts and pants. It is getting cooler now. Joy's feet are getting worse but she will wait until the finish line before tending to them. She runs behind two other runners with me leading. I have to keep stopping and waiting for her. Hmmmm .... OK message received, I slowed down! This is where we got to know Sarah Gallazin and John Little. They are also from Canada. The sun has set and it is getting dark. We hear a very loud splash! Either someone fell into the lake or it was one of those alligators! You can't miss aid station #174. It is lit up like a Christmas Tree. We have some soup. We finish this lap is 4 hours 45 minutes. We weigh-in with Joy staying up 2 pounds and me 3 pounds. LAP FOUR: We decide to change and into warmer clothes on. We realize that we won't be able to run as much in the dark. Those roots will make it very difficult for us. We also need to tend to Joy's feet. I peel off all the old bandages, drain all the blisters, put Compeed Band-Aids on them, and duct tape over the Band-Aids to hold them in place. Joy also changes shoes and I cut the toes open in the shoes as her toes are very swollen. We loose about 40 minutes but it is time well invested. Joy will never make it to the finish without getting these problems addressed. Poor Joy, she hobbles out on the trail in a lot of pain! She try to run and hopes the toes will go numb after a while. The girl has courage! We talk it over and decide to walk the trails with the roots. Both of us have fallen, hit our toes, scrapped our shins in the day. Our ankles and knees are swollen and can't take much more. We will run the sand covered roads. It really is a different course at night. There are glow sticks hung at key parts of the course but you still need to pay attention! The moon is out and this helps find out way. We both carry flashlights and headlights. You learn the "flashlight" code very quickly. When another runner approaches you, you lower you head and flashlight so you don't blind them! The white sand on the road really reflects the light and you can turn off your flashlight when you run. We also learn to stay away from the fires at the aid station! You are cold and the fire is so inviting! I am getting very cranky and frustrated with walking the trail sections of the course. I came to Texas to run ... not walk! Most of the other runners are doing the same by walking. It is the safe thing to do. When we came into aid station #2 - 3, one woman had to drop as she sprained her ankle. The volunteer mentioned she was one of the front runners! Even walking, we are still stumbling and tripping. Many of those roots are hidden by leaves! Oh well, at least we are still making progress. Michael mentioned, he found lap four to be the toughest mentally. Fortunately, we at a good time with it. We can hear the coyotes off in the hills. I am walking and talking to Joy but Joy is not there! I turned around and run back a few hundred yards. Joy has a bad spot here as she almost falls asleep. I left the caffeine pills at the car! Then I remember, we have the espresso Hammer Gel. Joy does not drink coffee. Well, she try some and within two minutes and she was a new woman! In fact she picked up the pace and I had a tough time keeping up to her. We remember the muddy spots and walk wide on them. At the board walk (swampy end of the lake), we almost run into a hole. A board is now missing. I hope no one else runs into it. The noise from the wild life in the swamp is loud! It sounds like a an out take from the movie "The Creature From the Black Lagoon"! The humidity is very high. When you breath, it just hangs in the air. You can get spin your breath with you finger. I must be getting "punchy" now, playing with the air!. We come across another runner limping very badly. We ask if he needs help. His running buddy has gone up to aid station 174 to get help. The roots got another runner! We finish this lap in 6 hours 40 minutes! Ouch, I never thought we would be this slow! We weigh-in with Joy staying up 4 pounds and me 4 pounds. LAP FIVE: It is getting really cold now. Two runners have dropped with hypothermia. We get some more clothes before heading out. I know it is only 20F (-7C), but it feels like 7F (-20C). The moon has set and it is really getting dark. I changed batteries in the flashlights. This is no time have a flashlight go on you. We went through aid station #1. It is really cold now. John Little, is going through his drop bags to find more clothes but has doesn't have any. Sarah finds a pair of bright pink running tights. Man, what a fashion statement John made, wearing those bright pink running tights! What a guy won't do to stay warm! We are having a more difficult time finding our way. Someone has taken down some of the glow sticks. When we get to aid station #2 -3, I have to wake up the volunteers to take down our running numbers. They mention that some other volunteers did not show up and they are doing a double shift! The 5 mile "out and back" was the longest 5 miles of our lives. It went on forever! I heard some very interesting language from Joy! Here is when I hear "I never run another 100 miler in my life"! More about this later! Someone took the glow stick down from the two trees leaning over the trail like an "X". Hope no one hits their head! After heading out of aid station #2-3, I see two lights coming up from the dam! They are coming the wrong way! It was a runner and her pacer and they are lost! Instead of running from aid station 2 - 3 TO #174, THEY MISSED THE TURN AND WENT BACK TO #1. Now they are trying to find the trail to #174. We got they going the right way, but she will not make the 6 AM cut-off for the last lap. The sun finally started to rise. We ran the last 4 miles. There was no way we were going to go over 26 hours! After all that walking, we had energy to burn now! We finished in 25 hours 52 minutes. It was slower than we had planned but we finished! POST-RACE: We went back to the motel, showered, changed and came back for the awards ceremony. They race was still going on, and heard cheers as runners continued to finish. I helped Mickey put out the belt buckles. Joy goes over to find out many silver (finishing under 24 hours) and bronze (finishing 24 - 30 hours) buckles to put out. She come back with 48 silver and 40 bronze. She has this big smile on her face . She finished 10th women over all and 4th place women's master division. Of course she is planning to do another 100 miler! Thank-you to Mickey, Margo and all the other volunteers. You were fantastic! Byron & Joy Chikinda