Javelina Jundred Pacing Experience

Nikki and I (e) spent Halloween night into the early morning on Sunday pacing at the Javelina Jundred (JJ100). It was quite an experience running/walking/hiking through the desert, during a full moon, talking with runners who have such great determination to conquer 100 miles. I've often wondered what it takes to run such distances and how one would train for it (Okay, I admit that I might be thinking about doing an ultra as a future goal). I think I found the answers I needed.

After keeping track of our adopted runner, Tammy Massie, via the JJ100 webcast at home, I arrived at McDowell Mountain Park/Pemberton trail at 5:00 p.m. as I had calculated by Tammy's previous laps that she would be arriving about 5:40 p.m. When she arrived after 6:00 p.m., she was clearly going through an emotional swing and contemplating stopping. However, after she sat down and started going through her aid station routine, we started to talk through it. She decided to start the 4th lap and at least go for the 100k buckle a.k.a the "Wuss Out Award". Not a great name for that award as I feel that running 60+ miles is NOT for wussies. Tammy admitted that perhaps this desert environment was a bit harder for her than she thought. The Arizona afternoon sun beating down on you for a good portion of the day can suck the life right out of you and I think many of the participants that train in cooler weather found it difficult to complete the 100 miles. I'm sure that is a major reason that the JJ100 has a 50% finish rate. We got started on the lap and at the second aid station, Tammy had mentally decided that she would not be able to continue physically after the 4th lap (Each lap was 15.4 miles). We had downhill for the remaining 5 miles to the start/finish and this helped her get to that 100k mark.

After we broke the news to Nikki that Tammy was going to DNF, Nikki and I planned to meet Sunday morning to complete our marathon training run. Just as we were packing up our stuff we were asked if we would pace a couple of guys that had just come in from their 5th lap and needed some help. Nikki had already prepped herself to check off 15.4 miles so it took her about 15 seconds before she started making her way to the start. I decided to buck up and pace again since Nikki would be pacing the same lap. We went to the start and Nikki hooked up with Phil (a.k.a. The Puker) and I with Troy (#169) who was dressed in Indian garb for Halloween. Troy and I started off at a fast walk so he could get his legs going again and then worked it into a jog/run for a little over 2 miles. After that we did a run/jog/walk routine. We were ahead of Nikki and Phil (#205) but not far as we saw them coming into the first aid station as we were leaving. Phil was having some difficulty and per Nikki had to make stops to throw up. Thus... he is now known to us as "the Puker". Troy had talked with Phil earlier and he told me that Phil had run across the country for charity for 96 days and has been in countless ultra marathons including Badwater.

Apparently Phil was feeling better later because they passed us before the second aid station (aid stations were every 5 miles). I know Nikki was of huge help to him with her fresh legs and we all know she can keep a conversation. Both Phil & Troy completed the JJ100 and well within the 30 hour cut off time.

I got home at 5:30 a.m. and went to sleep feeling like I got a taste of ultra marathoning. I came to the conclusion from my conversations with both Tammy and Troy that there is one common denominator amongst these ultra marathoners: They are strong willed and determined to overcome both personal and physical obstacles. Troy told me that when he completes an ultra that he sometimes becomes emotional with the sense of accomplishment he feels afterwards. I think that's all I needed to know to make a decision to go a little bit farther next year.

Nikki, Tammy and I after she finished completing her 4th lap and with her 100k buckle.

Tammy resting and getting ready to finish out her duty as a research participant. She was part of a study on Hyponatremia and how much salt is lost and how much is really needed to replace it for endurance athletes. She had to leave a bagged urine sample in a box at each aid station. She also had blood draws every other lap and had to keep a log of everything she ate.

Inspirational Words...

"You're better than you think you are

and you can do more than you think you can!"

Ken Chlouber, Founder of the Leadville 100

With all the many events coming up in the next few months—and all the training for those events—I just wanted to offer up these words that I find truly inspirational.

Running can be a personal challenge and at the same time a personal triumph. Remember how far you've come and know that you can go even farther...

What Chicks do on Halloween...

Run through the desert at night with CRAZY running people!

Nikki, Renee and I (e) will be pacing ultra running chick Tammy Massie Halloween night as she runs in the Javelina Jundred. She'll be our East Coast "adopted" running Chick and we're going to pace her through the last 47-50 miles around Pemberton Trail at McDowell Mountain Park. Tammy is not a newbie to this ultra running stuff. Check out her blog "Life on the Run" and you'll wonder when she is NOT running. In fact, she'll be doing the Marine Corp Marathon this weekend as a warm-up for the Javelina Jundred.

I'm contemplating doing an ultra event next year, so this will be a good experience for me to see what it's all about. My full report and photos of this desert adventure to follow after.

Moab "Other Half Marathon"

Like I told my RC3 "Peeps" when I got back from Moab— only two words for the Moab "Other Half Marathon"—LOVED IT!!!

Things that made it great:

• Location, location, location... Moab is beautiful in October
• Fire pits and yummy hot chocolate at the start
  (they also had coffee, water etc)
• Super efficient shuttle system. We got their before the sunrise and seeing the sunrise over the red rocks was beautiful.
• Very nice tech tops!
• Finding a running buddy for the morning who helped make the miles go by quicker (Thank you Paula from Salt Lake City)
• Awesome scenery all the way
• Wicked fast downhill at the end

I did this race as a marathon training run. There is BIG marathon training mileage this week and so I enjoyed being able to ONLY run 13.1 on the weekend. It's so strange how I now think of that as a short run. Before the race I buddied up with Paula Nielson-Williams, a Canadian transplant in Salt Lake City. That was really great as we chatted the whole way and the miles seemed to go by much quicker. We made a pact to go all out on the last mile to the finish at Sorrel River Ranch. With the wicked fast downhill at the end that was not a problem. I finished 2 hours 8 minutes and 43 seconds by the "gun time". There were no timing chips in this race (the only bad thing) so I lost about a minute getting to the starting line behind the "shufflers". Lesson learned for next year. I'll get right up to the front pack—unless of course they do timing chips. My GPS has my start line to finish line time as 2 hour 7 minutes. I'm not going to be in the Olympics any time soon so no biggie. However, I now think that I might be closer to a 2 hour half marathoner since I still had energy left at the end. Perhaps I'll get more serious about meeting that goal at the Carlsbad half in January. For the moment, my focus moves on to the next event (more on that in my next blog) and running the Tucson Marathon December 13th.

At Sorrel River Ranch drinking from my sippy cup.

Blue skies and red rocks. Did NOT suck!

Race for the Cure

Here is a photo of Jamee, Kim and Renee U. at Race for the Cure this morning. It's a little "fuzzy" since it's a cell phone photo. Good job Chicks!

Are you listening??

As I got out of bed this morning, my conversation started with all my body parts, talking about what we did at Boot Camp yesterday and if a 5 OR 4 mile run would be best for me tomorrow..... (but are you listening??).
It's GREAT running weather right now and I have high hopes for long distance runs with little effort. As runners, walkers, sprinters OR exercise enthusiasts (take your pick) - this is our "Prime Time" to get out there and make some fitness breakthroughs (but are you listening??).
How many times have you ignored those little "aches and pains" - telling yourself "no pain, no gain?" How many of us have learned the hard way what those "aches and pains" are telling us? Do you remember last year at this time when we pushed through the pain and eventually it took you "out of the game" for days, weeks or even months (for some of us)?
Let me be that friendly voice to remind you to listen to your body when it tells you to slow down, take a little break OR STOP for a bit. It will be worth it in the "long run" (no pun intended)!
Be smart, be safe and take care of your body..... a very smart "Chick" always says; "If you don't take care of your body, where will you live?"!
Are you listening??

Massage Discount

For you achy or stressed out running chicks..Holistic Health Therapies has graciously offered to give us a discount on in-home massages. Just mention that you are an RC3 chick and Ginger will give you an hour massage for $70. She's a wonderful therapist and I know you ladies will adore her. She also offers reiki, cupping, reflexology and several other services. Hope you are all having a great week!