Pony Express Trail 100

Why run a 100 miles?  Before this year if you asked me if I would ever even attempt 100 miles, I would say that I didn't have any interest.  I was quite happy and content with the "shorter" distances of marathons and 50k's.  Plus, I thought what would be the fun in putting your body through that much torture.  But then again running and I have an interesting relationship.  It is like we get each other.  There are highs and lows, moments where you are flying high and others where you feel you need to be scraped off the side of the road.  Running is kind of like my empathetic friend.  It has gotten me through a lot of crap that I struggle with on a daily basis.  Running uplifts, humbles, and challenges me.  There are so many life parallels you can draw from running.  I love it!  So why 100 miles?  I guess I was ready to take our relationship to a whole new level - a level I wanted to only go once and check it off.  To prepare for this feat, I planned this year to build up and train for the race.  I completed the Moab 55k, Buffalo Run 50 miler, back-to-back marathons at Bear Lake, and the Kat'cina Mosa 100k all in preparation and threw in a few other races to mix it up. I had a few long back to back to back training runs (the longest being a half marathon, followed by a marathon the next day, and then a 50k to complete the third day).  Physically, I felt prepared to take 100 miles on and while training focused on mentally preparing as well which is equally if not more important when it comes to ultras. 

The race I chose was the Pony Express 100 miler.  It is a flatter and faster course than most 100's, but with this comes it's own set of challenges.  The strategy to complete an ultra is to run the downhills, jog the flats, and walk the uphills.  Most trail races have parts where you have to walk or climb, which breaks it up.  The majority of Pony Express is runnable.  And whereas mountain ultras have the challenge of climbs, they come with the beautiful views.  And then you have the Pony Express which is long, dirt roads where you can see for miles on end and there is not much to look at, an added mental challenge.   The main reason why I chose this race was so that my family could experience it with me.  This race required you to have a crew for the entire race.  Since this race was on a dirt road (58 miles out and then 42 miles back), Chad and the kids would be my crew, my mobile aid station.  They could jump out of the car and run with me anytime they wanted, which really isn't a possibility for an ultra in the mountains.

Race week came and I had crazy race anxiety and the self-doubt began creeping in.  I kept telling myself that I needed to stay positive and everything would be fine once I started running.  I was assigned a race start of 8 a.m. on Friday.  There were different start times, beginning at 5 a.m. and every hour until 8 a.m.  You were assigned by the race director a start time, based on what time he thought you could complete the distance in.  Those who would need more time to complete the distance started in the earlier waves.  Starting at 8 a.m. was intimidating.  There were 2 other 100 miler females starting at this time.  Lori from Canada and Sherry from Idaho.  Both were experienced ultra runners, Lori having ran over 200 ultras!!!  Yes, this lady was 55, running ultras and could keep a competitive pace.   Sherry, was 50, and had an impressive ultra background as well.   I was inspired by both!!  I hope I can be an awesome runner like these ladies when I am in my 50's and beyond.



 Before I knew it, the countdown began and then we were off.  I held back and ran with Sherry at the back of the pack.

100 miles is a long way, and you definitely have to start out slow and pace smart.  And even though we were at the back, we were still averaging below a 9 minute mile which after the first few miles, we both agreed was too fast and slowed it down.  About mile 4 we separated when Sherry briefly stopped for a moment and I ran a little ahead.  I caught up to Lori, the other lady who was in our group and talked with her a bit and then as she stopped to walk with the guy she was with, I kept going.  I tried to stay at a manageable pace and came into the first checkpoint, Simpson Springs (mile 16), in 2 1/2 hours.

I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going too fast and pacing smart, so the next section to Dugway Well I slowed my pace a little.  I talked with this guy for a bit who had completed the Leadville 100 twice.  He was going just the right pace so I fell slightly behind him and let him lead the way. 
On this section, there were some wild horses, pretty cool!   Something interesting to look at amongst the sagebrush.  There were drivers (not part of the race) that would drive by real fast on the dirt roads kicking up a ton of dust.  Running through dust clouds and trying to breathe definitely adds a interesting element to the race.  I hit the 2nd checkpoint, mile 33, 5 1/2 hours into the race.  15 miles to the next checkpoint, Blackrock.  I divided the race in my mind in sections and just focused on completing the section I was on.  It is easier to manage a long distance race this way.

A few miles from Dugway Pass, I started feeling it.  I was surprised that I was already having a low and I wasn't even a third of the way in.  Even though it was only in the lower 70's, there were no clouds and the sun was beating down.  My sweet Elise jumped out and walked up Dugway Pass with me (the only real climb in the race and it isn't too long).  This definitely boosted my spirits.  She ran down the backside with me and then my kids traded off running different stretches with me.  I loved that they could run with me.   The kids came in turns for a second round of running with me and I plugged my way to Blackrock.

8 1/2 hours and I was almost halfway done.  At Blackrock (mile 48.5), they had a huge BBQ for the runners, pacers, and crews.  This was also the finish line for the 50 mile race.  There was no way I could stomach anything they were grilling so I headed out to Fish Springs the turning point.  Chad stayed behind with the kids to get something to eat and then quickly caught back up to where I was at.  All day long, I was on top of my nutrition. 
I was well hydrated (my pee was the perfect color) and feeling pretty good all things considering.  The stretch out to Fish Springs I caught up to a lot of the runners who had started in the earlier waves.  I could see who was in front of me as I saw runners coming back from the turnaround point - there were 3 ahead of me all of which had started at the earlier times.  At this point I could feel that I had a huge blister on my big toe and knew I needed to pop it to relieve the pressure.  Chad stopped, I propped my foot on the back of the car and he quickly drained it, put some Neosporin on it and a bandaid and I was off again.  Ahhh much better!  Just before the checkpoint at Fish Springs there was a cattleguard (there were a few on the course).  It is quite the task to cross a cattleguard on wobbly legs.  I was extra careful!   I checked into Fish Springs (58 miles) only 42 miles left!




The sun was going down and so the temperatures were cooler - perfect for running.  This was my favorite stretch back to Blackrock.  I felt at my best at this part.  My pace picked up a little and I was thoroughly enjoying it!  As I was running back, I saw Sherry not too far behind, maybe 3 miles.  We yelled back and forth words of encouragement to each other.  I love the support that runners give each in these races!  Not too far behind her was Lori.  Both of these ladies were having a great run!   

I was looking forward to coming back to Blackrock because I knew my friends, Heidi, Liz, and Betsy would be meeting up with me shortly to pace me.   I came into Blackrock, mile 68, in just over 12 hours and 10 minutes.  They had soups waiting, so I downed a little and continued on.   2 more sections left!  A 15 mile section and then the final 17.  I knew what pace I had to keep for the next 2 sections to break 20 hours, which totally felt manageable.  I was leading the race and my legs were still feeling pretty good.  I was in good spirits, and then my stomach instantly became upset.  At mile 71, I was puking on the side of the road.  Initially, I felt a lot better after I threw up.  I knew I would have to start refueling quickly.  The moment after I downed a gel, I was sick to my stomach again.  A little ways down the road another visit to the side of the road.  And then I had other issues in which I won't get into, but let's just say I was definitely feeling depleted.  At about mile 73, my friends found me!  Yay!!  I was excited, thinking the overwhelming nauseous feeling would pass and I could keep plugging forward and this would be a minor setback.  For the next 6 miles, I did a lot of walking and a lot of puking.   Nothing would stay down.  This reminded me of my Ironman I did this year when I had the stomach flu the week leading up to the race and then puked a ton on the run.  But for some reason, I felt worse than I did in that race.  I felt really light headed.  It was suggested that I lay down to see if I could get my stomach to settle.  I jumped in Heidi's car and laid there for what seemed like forever, but was just a few minutes.  My legs started to cramp up and I was worried that I would not be able to get moving again.  So I jumped out and started walking again and puking again.  Walking up Dugway Pass, Chad was with me for a bit.  I told him that I didn't think I would be able to finish. He was surprised to hear me say it.  He knows that I can push through pain and that I am not one to easily give up.  I didn't have anything left and at that point still had just over 20 miles to go.  My friends knew that if I called it quits that I would have a hard time with it when it was over.  At that point, Sherry came by.  I told her what was going on and she offered suggestions, which we had already tried.  She said she was so sorry and I told her to keep on going.  She was looking good!   In fact, she ended up winning the race in just over 20 hours.  Impressive!!!  I finally decided to lay down in the car again.  I was way ahead of any cutoff point and if I needed to sleep for a few hours and give time for my stomach to settle than that's what I would do.  I still had that desire to finish even though I had that gut wrenching feeling that it just may not happen.  I laid down in the car and my nausea was overwhelming.  Even laying down I felt so sick and then it wasn't long before I was outside the car puking again.  Laying down, sitting up, walking - it didn't make a difference.    My body was rebelling and I had not control over it.  I was praying for a miracle, but sometimes things play out for a reason.  I was so frustrated and so discouraged.  My legs could go, but my stomach put any movement to a stop.   After a total emotional breakdown in the car, I told Chad I wanted to start walking again.  Liz and Heidi walked with me.  I felt extremely dizzy and then the next thing I knew it I was sitting in my car.  I had passed out and Chad told me that I was done.   Calling it quits was hard!  I was at mile 80.  Only 20 more miles left!!!  My body felt awful and I knew it was the right thing to do, but it totally sucked.  I felt horrible that my friends had come all the way out and I couldn't go on.  We were 3 miles from the next checkpoint.  Chad let them know that I was dropping and we headed back on the road to civilization, stopping every 5 minutes for me to get out of the car to throw up.  I just wanted to be home and at this rate is was going to take forever!  Heidi had a Big Gulp cup that became my throw up collector so we could keep moving.  There was nothing left in my stomach, and I was just dry heaving.  It took us hours to get to the Riverton Hospital.  The worse ride ever!  Finally, I got an IV of fluids and Zofran and started feeling a little better.  My blood work came back and my blood had high amounts of salt, electrolytes, and other crap.  The doctor said that I had became severely dehydrated because of the vomiting which was causing my kidneys to start to shut down.  Bottom line - the ibuprofen I was taking didn't mix well with my kidneys and caused my body to react horribly.  She said that it was a good thing that I stopped when I did or it could have gotten a lot worse fast.  After a lecture on how running long distances is bad for the body, in which I was too tired to share my perspective, I convinced her to let me go home.  I was so tired and stinky and just wanted to shower and go to bed.

And the aftermath!  I can handle the physical yuckiness, it is the emotional aftermath that is hard to overcome.   To be completely honest, I felt like I had totally failed and I was angry and frustrated with myself.  These feelings could easily swallow me whole, but I know deep down that I need to look at the positive.  80 miles is a long way to run!  That is an incredible feat in itself.  I am blessed that Chad and friends were looking out for my safety so things didn't end up worse.  It is important to listen to my body and take care of myself.  So the question is, will I be satisfied with 80 miles and check it off or will I attempt another 100 miler?  Right after the race, I said never again!  A little time has passed and there is no doubt in my mind that I will try again.