Subject: Bear 100 Race Report From: Ted Schuster Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 08:04:08 -0600 The Bear 100 Sept 27-28 2002 Well once again the weather cooperated for a perfect early fall run in the mountains. Partly cloudy weather gave us a nice temperature to run in both the daylight and the night sections. After the pre race briefing, my father and I set up camp at the race start, and had some dinner, after which I immediately went to bed, about 8:30. I felt excited and refreshed when my alarm went off at 4:55 the next morning. Quite possibly the best night of sleep I've ever gotten before a race. I began taping up my feet and toes, preparing them for the inevitable blisters. The morning was perfect; I was amazed that I'd be starting out in shorts. The weather prior to the race had me thinking that I was in store for a cold one, thankfully that wasn't the case. I felt great as the race started at 6 o'clock. Everyone started running up the dirt road that would take us to the campground where we would then hook up with the trail, which would be our first (but definitely not last) hike of the race. This first section of 9 miles went well. I think the flagging was better throughout the race, compared to last year, but I did hear some complaints. I think many of the course marking complaints were geared towards the fact that early on in the race, when the leaders are wanting to go out fast, the course should be much more self explanatory. After dropping off my headlamp with my dad, I left Maple Creek ready for the huge climb ahead. This would be my first reminder of how memories of the painful things get lost and forgotten over the course of a year! In the next seven miles we would gain over 2000 feet. As I plodded away on the relentless up hill Mary Workman, who now has the "power hiker extraordinaire" label in my mind, passed me. It was nice to get to the top and run downhill into Franklin Basin. At mile 16.4, I wasn't feeling great, but I just wrote it off, as being something that would pass quickly. By Beaver Creek (28) I was really hurting though. I'd never had any kind of stomach problems in a race, and was getting a crash course in how that felt. After arriving at the aid station I sat down, and was simply going to take a break to try and regroup. After sitting there for about 15 minutes, I finally talked myself into walking. I was frustrated because I was feeling bad so early, but also content with the fact that there was a lot of time to turn it around. After plugging on, feeling sub-par through the next ten or so miles, my body took a turn for the better, after leaving Danish Pass the second time, I felt incredibly good. I started flying on the ridgeline with the site of other runners way ahead in the distance. Heading into Bloomington I passed some of them heading out of the station, it was nice to see some familiar faces, one of which was Paul Ralyea who I'd ran some of the course with in 2001. Everyone looked good as we all had a nice chunk of miles under our belts. I continued to close some gaps, as I felt good. I cruised by about four runners between Bloomington and Paris Canyon (50). I actually beat my father to the aid station, and had to contemplate going on with merely my backup light that is always in my fanny pack. As it worked out I waited about ten minutes and he came driving up the road, and I grabbed my headlamp and took off. I love this part of the course, the running and scenery is great and it so nice to see this part at mile 50, because you know exactly what you have to work through at the end of the race. Although all the aid stations at the Bear are wonderful, Paris Canyon and Dry Basin are by far my favorite aid stations, there's just a feeling you get from the folks working them, that just gets your spirits right back up. After Dry Basin I was passed by Phillip Lowry, who I walked with for a while before he pulled away. Simply amazing what he and a few other did running the Bear only a few weeks after Wasatch. Everything really went uneventful, until the section between Danish Flat(66) to Copenhagen Basin Rd (74). This is the section that I had had trouble with last year, and it ate me up again this year. Last year I had trouble finding parts of the trail and never felt confident that I was on the right track. This year, I was much more confident, the markings were much better, but still I'd always say that during a section that most of the runners will go through during the latter stages of night, one could never have too many markers. During this 8-mile stretch I counted about twelve or so glow sticks. The most frustrating part of this section was how much I had forgotten about it since last year. I usually ask at the aid stations, how far till the next one, and at Danish Flat someone had said about five miles, when in reality it was eight. We all know how frustrating it can be looking for aid station lights only to realize it's still three miles away! Once I arrived at the aid station I sat down for some noodles and to change my batteries. A few minutes later Paul showed up and after a brief break, we took off up the road leading over the next short section of four miles. Once we got there we realized we were making about 4mph walking. I felt content enough with that pace that I figured I'd simply continue walking back to my favorite station, Dry Basin that was now our 82-mile point. When we arrived at Dry Basin, Paul was feeling well and didn't stay long. I had some more noodles and enjoyed the fire for a few minutes. I knew the next section would be a lot of ridgeline walking, with only the hope of the morning light picking me up. But I was on one of my favorite parts of the course and managed to run all of the runnable sections. When I arrived at Paris Canyon, I was in "full finish mode", just wanting to get done. I quickly took off my tites, and thanked everyone for coming out. I'd wanted to finish before noon, for a sub-30hr, but I knew if I hustled I might get in under 29. As I flew down the nice road to German Dugway I caught up to Paul and Allen Hadley, who was really stiffening up. He made an awesome recovery to come hammering in right behind me. I simply said thanks as I yelled out my number at the 93-mile mark. The sooner I got onto the deer trail the sooner I'd finish! This section went well, I think the trail is "slowly" getting more pronounced. It's still steep, uneven, and hazardous, but one can move much quicker through here than I'd remembered from last year. The one thing I hadn't remembered from last year, probably due to the numbest my body was feeling in my first 100 finish, was just how much farther you really had even after you dropped down off the side hilling ridgeline. I was really cruising here but it was much longer to the finish than my pace would allow for. All in all I was really surprised how quickly I ran the last section, I think someone said it was about an hour-forty or so after I left Paris Canyon, which would have me at less than ten-minute miles at the end, so I'm happy with that! I was able to accomplish my goal. The last thing I said last year was that I'd be back trying for the 30-hour buckle, and I'm glad I held true to it. Crossing the line in 28:40. Another great time in the mountains of Utah, great weather, incredible volunteers, and wonderful aid stations, and a great course for a race that's getting better and hopefully will grow with the number of people who may want to do it in the future. I do have a word doc with a handful of pictures from this year, if anyone is interested just let me know and I'll attach it to those who'd like to see them. Ted Schuster Missoula, MT