Subject: VT100 / First 100 report (LONG) From: "Anthony C. Humpage, BUR" Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 20:02:22 -0700 My VT100 and first 100 ----------------------- My 2002 VT100 race story started on the Monday before the race in my gym. Following Ultralist advice, differentiating a 100 from 50s, I took particular care in my tapering, including adjusting my strength training periods. Monday would be my last gym day before we left for Vermont on July 17th. I couldn’t get to the back extension machine so elected three sets of Good Mornings using an unloaded bar to replace my back extensions. A big mistake. On Tuesday morning my hamstrings were screaming, and loudly. Panic was close, but I set to a vigorous stretching and icing routine – even stretching on the aircraft to Vermont, to the amusement of the cabin crew. The improvement in my hamstrings was slow and indeed I was worried sick about them right up to the start line. Thereafter they weren’t a factor in my race, so I was lucky, but learned a valuable lesson from the unpleasant experience. A couple of weeks before the race I had downloaded and read all the previous VT100 race reports on Stan Jenson’s site. I marked up a copy of the race map from those reports, and in the two days visited all the handler aid stations and walked two of the hills that a number of the reports had commented on. This at least gave me some feel for the course with which I was otherwise totally unfamiliar. The pre-race dinner was – well, a pre-race pasta dinner. I was lucky to have been near the front because I would not have waited in the line that formed around the Smoke Rise Farm arena. My best experience was with the farm pig, a friendly enough beast even if it did try to take a nip at me when I scratched its ear! I only met one Ultralister – Jeff Washburn. The most memorable thing about the pre-race briefing I remember was being exhorted to pick up – doggie style -- after ourselves. I have to believe that this was for public consumption and only semi-serious. Were the race organizers serious about this they would put more portaloos out in the early sections of the course. As it was, they moved one to an early stage (good thing, too!) except I think they stole it from the Pomfret aid station where there was supposed to be a portaloo, but wasn’t. Up at 0200, start at just after 0400 to the ubiquitous and obligatory Chariots of Fire. I don’t remember too much about the first few miles except it was pretty crowded, and muddy. The field soon strung out though. I was happy to find the relocated portaloo (I think at Happy Valley) but was still not into my running groove. This took another visit to the woods just before the Pomfret aid station. Thereafter I could concentrate on my pace and things seemed to pick up some. There were a lot fewer horses than I expected. Most of them were past me by Pomfret. In my race planning I had calculated race splits based on a 27:00 overall time. This was slower than my training running pace, but I had also determined to walk all positive gradients as fast as I could, and run the flats and negative gradients. Being my first 100, I wasn’t at all concerned about time – just finishing. I reckoned a 27:00 goal would allow me time to screw up and still finish. As it turned out, I would be ahead of my goal times until Bill’s aid station at mile 84, but more of that later. My race plan included two 26oz bottles, one filled with Succeed (Kudos to the race for including my race drink and simplifying my logistics. I noticed Succeed was preferred over Conquest throughout the race.) Due higher than normal humidity for me, I planned – and DID – drink half a bottle every fifteen minutes. On the hour I took an S! cap, two E-caps Anti-Fatigue capsules and two Twinlab Amino Fuel tablets. In addition to aid station food I also took either a gel or a Balance Bar on the hour, alternately. My handler kept me stocked. In a note to a friend I have said that I “drank like fish and peed like a horse”. I may have had to make a lot of pee stops but credit my hydration/fuelling plans with keeping me mentally and physically strong. Also, to ensure I remembered my plans I wrote “Slow and Discipline” on my left forearm in indelible marker and “TWDQ” (Team Woofie Doesn’t Quit) on my right forearm. My plan should have had me into Pomfret at 0851 but I was twenty minutes ahead. It was great to see my crew for the first time. I might add this is the first race my wife Paula has crewed for me and she did a flawless job. Always where she was meant to be, with what she needed to have for me. Out of Pomfret towards Stage Road (I’m mostly referring to the handler access aid stations in this report) I teamed with a guy called Jeff from New Jersey. I’m proud of my weight loss and life change, but Jeff had me beat. At one time he was over 400lbs so my guess is, he had at least halved his weight. We stuck together until just after Route 12. Jeff put it into my head that making 40 miles in 10 hours was a good idea. It kinda stuck in my head. Kevin Setnes passed us along this stage on a litter pickup. I asked him if he was the trail sweep..hehe. On the way into Route 12 I nearly stepped on a little snake that got out of my way, but still required the obligatory yell of “SNAKE!!!” which quite freaked out a poor young lady who had (ill-advisedly) decided to run this section with us. I had walked the section into Route 12 two days before, when I had dueled with various ill-tempered dogs, but today we escaped unmolested. At Vondell reservoir –- no water – bummer – it was all gone. Just Conquest or Succeed. Through Lincoln Covered Bridge, smile for the photographer. Good aid station too. Home-made chocolate chip cookies. Really good. By my calculation forty miles went by almost exactly at 10 hours, and I rolled into 10 Bears for the first time 15:13, about forty two minutes ahead of schedule. I pressed on pretty hard to Tracer Brook. By the time I had got there I had gained yet more time – in fact fifty-eight minutes ahead, which allowed a planned rest stop without worry. This was also a powerful psychological stop as I was now running further than I had ever gone before. Change of shoes and off up the long climb out of Tracer Brook. I had read about this climb in the race reports, and had walked part of the hill on Thursday so knew that a pre-climb rest was in order. I was glad I had taken the rest, as the hill was indeed a long one, but rewarded us with great views from the top. And on into Cox’s (mile 60) at about 1930. I knew that at this point, failing an accident, I was going to finish. Still mentally sharp and aggressive, physical inventory good. Big treat here too – hot dog and hamburgers, which were just what the doctor ordered. The lady who fired up her barbeque will never know how good those burgers were. Into 10 Bear for the second time, now it’s dark. Weight check. Bad luck girls, I’ve gained a pound. Three cups of soup and six chocolate-covered espresso beans later I’m off. There was a great aid station between here and Bill’s, I think it was Yates Farm, maybe not, the gals had turkey sandwiches. No time for soup, on, on. The night really does things to you. (I am sooooo glad I ran a solo practice overnight 50-miler at the end of May so I would know what to expect.) Out of 10 Bears the trail was rougher and I just didn’t want to run in case I fell. This is where a pacer would have helped. But I was focused on staying whole as I knew I had a finish made, and was less focused on time in this section. I also think – being honest -- I just didn’t feel like pushing myself too hard. We had decent moonlight which gave the night an interesting feel in the deeper woody bits. I don’t have a “night fear” problem, even though I run on my own. I just put my Woofie the Bear head on and nothing’s going to mess with me. At Ashley aid station it said 1.5 miles to Bill’s. To which I say, “Bullshit!”. The longest most circuitous and tortuous 1.5 miles I’ve ever seen or run. I got to Bill’s nine minutes behind schedule at 0240, cranky as hell but in great shape mentally and physically. A lot of others at Bills were a sorry sight. I gather a lot of people dropped there. Off up Blood Hill, twisty and long. And did I mention steep in places? In one spot up Blood Hill I had my only crisis of confidence as there was a real gap in the race markers and glowsticks. But all the runners in trail were following me so I just keep going. Started seeing things and had my first hallucination when I would have sworn I saw a gate across the road, but there wasn’t one. The guys at Jenneville aid station win my “Best aid station” award. They were really hopping, great help and food but I wasn’t hanging around. I pushed hard out of Jenneville and really hammered myself down the hill (a mistake as I found later). Saw a white baby grand piano scuttle crab-like from the left to the right side of the road of the road but knew it was a mirage and got a good laugh out of it. By Densmore Hill I was paying for the foolish run from Jenneville and my quads were done. Totally. I also had to stop to grease up my left little toe, which was one huge blister. Its tape had come off, so it’s neighbour just ground it up. The toenail lifted off with the skin and rubbed under the blister, which was an interesting feeling. A big dollop of Aquaphor and I was on my way. >From South Woodstock anything downhill reduced me to waddling like duck but I sucked it up to run across the finish line. 27:45. OK. I snoozed for an hour on one of the cots then decided to miss the brunch and head for bed. Back at our motel my wife sweet-talked the guys at the Black Angus next door into opening the kitchen an hour early and making me a bacon cheeseburger and fries. God bless ‘em! I then slept until 1700 when I got up and showered and we went out to dinner. I may not be the fastest guy in the world but I am proud of going from my first marathon to my first 100 in fifteen months. Also, and I think it’s pretty significant, although my legs were absolutely shot at the end, I had a good time during the race and felt good mentally and physically. I felt worse physically after Zane Grey, but not as stiff. My legs are still stiff and I notice my strength is down a lot at the gym but all in all I feel pretty good. Hitting the anti-oxidants and protein hard, which I think helps. Lots of L-glutamine too. This being my first 100, these are the things I credit with a finish: -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. I could kiss my pulmonologist Dr. Chris Roberts. Some listers may recall that I suffered *very* debilitating exercise-induced asthma attacks at Old Pueblo and Zane Grey, although I dragged myself to the finish at both races. After ZG, I considered the outcome at VT to be seriously questionable. But Dr. Roberts worked on a program that has restored my breathing and performance and I felt great! 2. The six Ps. Proper Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance. I had a plan and ran to it. One has to be ready to junk the plan to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances but in this case good planning, a pace chart and a well-organized handler made a lot of difference. 3. Disciplined hydration, supplement management and fueling. 4. Foot taping. Paula has become adept at foot taping using Elastikon and the methods described by John Vonhof. I do my toes so I am responsible for the tape coming off my little toe. (Interesting point: had I repaired the loose tape, in this case I would have lost time, but for future races I will plan in time for a foot check/repair session). Other than the toe – no blisters. Products worthy of mention: --------------------------- Succeed drink. It’s all I’ll use if I can. Aquaphor. I really like BodyGlide, but for ease of application to problem areas or one’s nether regions during a race, I found that Aquaphor is hard to beat. Brooks Beasts. I wore two pairs during the race. One pair with about fifteen miles on ‘em, the second with about two hundred miles. They were great and ideally suited to the course and conditions. The race organization. ---------------------- All the volunteers were great. They always are and I try to remember to thank them at every aid station. I personally thought the food was very variable, but that’s much a matter of personal taste. At first we were told “no GU” so I took a box of Carb Boom sachets. (I usually use Hammer Gel but thought sachets would ease logistics). Then we were told Hammer would be on the course but we’d need a gel flask. I used one flask but otherwise gave up on it and stuck to my sachets. It’s not hard to stuff the empties in a Ziploc bag for trash management. (The only trash I saw was cups around aid stations towards the end of the race, and then not many) In general I’d look for more meaty stuff, less sugary stuff. But the cold spuds were there, good. I honestly think every handler-designated aid station should have a portaloo, if only for the handlers. I know it was an issue for them. Personally, and acknowledging that this race is a charity fund-raiser, I wouldn’t have a problem paying reasonable “handler fee” to ensure proper accommodations for them. On the subject of loos, although the race is rural it’s not depopulated. Quite the reverse in fact, so I can appreciate that runners taking a dump could raise problems for race management. So the race should put portaloos out along the first ten miles or so and keep the plastic bags and gloves to themselves. Could we get a topo race map? Software should make it easy enough, I would have thought. And finally, this weekend, I’ll be writing a thank-you letter to the owners of Smoke Rise Farm, whose generosity in opening their property to racers, campers and families is tremendous. The area. --------- The Woodstock area must place a lot of reliance on tourists. As we do in Arizona. However I thought most of the Vermonters we encountered in commercial establishments – restaurants aside – were a surly bunch. Reminded me of Devonians in England who rely on tourism but hate the “Grockles”. Otherwise the area is absolutely beautiful. Restaurants. ------------ Spooners Steakhouse, Woodstock. Very good value and service. Decent food. Better than Black Angus in Queechee, although under common ownership. But the Black Angus guys get honorable mention for rustling up my post-race bacon cheeseburger and fries. Wild Grass restaurant, Woodstock. Mid price range, outstanding food. Very imaginative, well presented. If hungry, go for the pork loin. Simon Pearce, Queechee. Higher priced but worth every penny. Top-notch food and service, beautiful setting. That’s it. Woofie. Anthony C. Humpage Team Woofie Ultrarunning, Scottsdale, AZ "Qui patitur vincit." mailto:woofie@teamwoofie.com