journey to grindstone starting line-- part 1

 hey guys! it's been awhile since my last post. Well, this summer was uh. interesting, bizarre, lots of extreme highs and lows, peaks and valleys.  and I'm happy it's fall and the summer is in my rear view mirror.

 I guess I'll pick up post highlands sky. Recovery went well, and my training resumed. I had a GREAT summer with my boys swimming, camping, having all sorts of little adventures and "field trips".  They got to hike a couple miles on the AT during tour de VA and that was such a big deal. We went to the beach 3 times this summer. Which was SO great to spend so much time with brock and the kids and have the family time we don't usually get.   while on vacation, decided to run a 5k for funsies , and  I was able to run a 21:15 5k at the brindley beach lighthouse 5k and was 4th overall female, which for me, that is a GREAT 5k time. I hadn't ran that fast since college.

 yay for running 5k's fast. fast =fun. 

 The kids with Rick and Rebecca during day 2 of the tour de va.  

CTR 10k went AMAZINGLY well.  over a hundred participants!!!! THANK YOU so much to ALL my friends in the running, trail running, and ultrarunning communities who came out ( yes, even while mumford and sons was in town) and supported my brother's scholarship but running, volunteering, donating.  I am always SO extremely humbled by how many kind people help me with Todd's race. Special thanks to all the race's sponsors. The race would not benefit the scholarship if it wasn't for the generosity of sponsors buying the shirts, awards, food etc. So all the money from the entry fees 100% goes directly to the scholarship. Thank you and big shout out to State of Franklin Track Club, Donna Bays, Matt and Maria Studholm for ALL their help with the run score system, timing, and course measurement, posting results etc...  You guys are amazing and I'm so blessed to have you for friends. xoxo

The recipient for this year, Eric Weaver, is a freshman at WVU and just such a bright, good person and has such an exciting future ahead of him. The race and the scholarship are such an important part of my life's journey. I can say that 5 years ago,  Both are something I never fathomed I would do: be a founding member of a  501c ( lil more complicated than is seems to set those up and do everything accordingly)  or be a race director, but life has this odd way of presenting things to you...  I had no choice but to accept what happened to my brother. Losing him easily was the most difficult thing I have had to go though. I did learn however, I had a choice in how I chose to deal with his death.  Even now, every day it's a choice.  I choose to celebrate the good memories and times I had with Todd, and to honor his memory by helping others. that, in turn, is healing for me. Love you, Toddy.

CTR scholarship recipient Eric Weaver. 

marlin yoder and his family came to the CTR 10k!!!

okay so after CTR 10k, the next day was when I went to OBX.  ran the 5k, got some good road running in, ate some yummy food, and really focused on spending time with brock and the kids.  Brock had been having some of troubles at work--really honestly and just being real. He's had a tough time.  It's was REALLY stressful this summer. With me trying to organize the race ( yeah, I do that pretty much solo and have a difficult time facilitating until I get my volunteers on race day-- no one ( unless you are a race director yourself) can understand just how much work goes into putting on a WELL ORGANIZED race. ) it's hard. With brock being so upset about his job,  taking care of my kids, my training ( had cheat mtn 50, blue ridge relay and a little 100 called GRINDSTONE on the horizon) ... wow.  Jenny was a little overwhelmed but I decided to just take it one day at a time, head down, get the job done and do it well. I ran, I ran hard.
 I ran too hard.  when cheat mtn came-- my achilles was feeling tweaky, I ran anyway.. it began to HURT-- I ran for 24 miles and decided I was stupid for running hurt and if I didn't stop, I'd have a long recovery and wouldn't make it to grindstone. yep, part of my pride was wounded-- first DNF in an ultra distance..  im a loser.  then I rationalized.  WHO was I doing all this for anyway? WHY am I doing this? WHY do I feel compelled to run ultras?  for other people's perceptions? NO, I DO THIS FOR ME.

so here I was when I was in peak period for training for grindstone and I wound up hurt.  taking time off...  BUT in the END I feel it was a good thing..

the better late than never highlands sky 40 2012 RR

 I have been such a busy mama this summer, my blog has been on the back burner somewhat. I'm so sorry to my one or two readers out there. Well, since umstead, I focused on recovery. I didn't run pretty much for 7 days, then SLOWLY resumed running and my resuming running I mean. I ran 10 min pace for 5k because my feet were SO trashed. I think I have some sort of weirdo nerve damage because the bottoms of my feet ( even though the blisters were healed) would start hurting SO badly if I ran for more than say 30 minutes. but that lasted for maybe a week and definitely about 30days after umstead, by may 1st I can say I felt "normal" when I ran.. I didn't hurt, I ran about the same speeds.. and if anything I felt strong.

Then I started training for highlands sky 40.. Well, I honestly had an issue with my long runs.. I never had what I felt was a great long run the months of may/ june leading up to highlands sky. I did them and would grind them out until I got back to the car.. never bailed,  but I would bonk hard and suffer. I assumed this was several factors: the heat, humidity ( that I hadn't really gotten used to yet) AND I was maybe still in a little debt physically from umstead.

However, I was quick to communicate how i was feeling to Grossman, and he helped me adjust my schedule. The week before Highlands Sky 40, We went to the beach for a family vacation. I felt that would be the perfect way for me to taper and get used to the heat and humidity.  I felt that both my taper and being in the heat and humidity for extended periods of time REALLY helped my race. BUT wednesday before the race, I got an earache and had to go to urgent care. EAR INFECTION.  they prescribed ear drops and they helped, but fast forward to friday the day before highlands sky--

I got EXTREMELY dizzy and car sick on the trip up. and puked several times. I was very dizzy ( did I mention that already?) and nauseated even after I puked. usually I feel BETTER after puking ( oh, wait that is only when I'm ultra running!)  so I pretty much stagger into the pre race meeting grab my race number do ZERO socializing.. which is SO unlike me.. but the smell of the pasta was rough and I was dizzy and had puke breath. :/ I did stop and talk to Adam Casseday for a couple min and explained my plight.  THEN I went back to the room, showered, laid out my clothes sipped on nuun PRAYING that it had super magic powers that would heal me and make me feel better the next morning. and ate 2 cliff blocks. not much of a dinner. :/
brock made me promise if I still felt bad in the morning that I would DNS. I hated the thoughts of driving ALL THAT WAY to Davis, WV and then not starting the race. but knew it would be a LONG LONG day if I started it feeling terrible.
I went to sleep and slept well. woke up at 4am.. and actually felt okay. I didn't feel I was bluffing myself either. honestly felt 20 times better than when I went to sleep the night before. so I got up, ate, got dressed and to the start line I went.

here are some pictures from HIGHLANDS SKY 40 2012

 It was great to see so many friends old and new at the race. I had a goal of running about an hour faster than last year.  I had a very tough race last year due to underestimating the toughness of this super challenging course and POOR, POOR shoe choice ( montrail rogue racers-- I lost 7 toe nails post HS last year) This year, I opted for MONTRAIL MTN MASOCHISTS and had a healthy respect for the course. I felt ready.  I started with my good buddy keith moore and I ran ALOT of the first 15 miles with him and rick gray, Keith was running awesome, and I lost him on a down hill section before we started climbing up to the road across the sky.  I have to comment on the sheer BEAUTY of this course. Roaring plains wilderness is amazing ( rocky and technical, but amazing) the mtn laurel was in full bloom and the weather was just perfect. sunny, cooler, and with some wind.  it was a fun morning. I worked well with Rick Grey and the miles just clicked by. I knew just getting to the road across the sky was a test in patience.  I also knew I had ALOT of work ahead of me the second half of the race and the mercury on the thermometer was raising and the road across the sky is full exposed 11 miles.   I was happy to see brock ( yay! for my sweet patient husband who is the best crew ever)  and tammy gray. i got to them in 4:20 however I was HAPPY to be off the single track and just got in gear and rick and I really worked this section  to make up time. We caught keith and I had a great time talking about yoga mats, bikram practice of yoga and stinky friends who shower but just have BO anyways.

 once we got back to the single track, guess what?! I was ELATED to be on the single track. HAPPY that I remember every inch of the course from last year, and really just started grinding  to get finished. I listened to my iPod and stayed within hollering distance of rick.  I really was happy to get to run so much of this race  with a good friend. Rick has really been there with me on some journeys: my first ever trail run on the AT,  my first 50k, first night run,  first 50miler, first 100k, first 100 miler. But as many of you ultra runners know, it is EXTREMELY hard to run an ultra with a friend. it just usually never ever works out because when you're bonking, they are feeling great, and vice versa. But for some odd reason, rick and I were in sync and on the same page for the majority of this race.  It made me feel good to get to share so much trail time with my "trail dad"

once we descended down and got back to the road we started smelling the barn and I listened to my iPod AGAIN. and focused on finishing I knew I was going to PR big. and I was happy to almost have it in the books. I was humbled by the fact, I was SOOO sick the evening before and I still had while not stellar-- a solid, consistent race.  I didn't feel fast... I didn't feel slow. did I stay in the same gear all day? yep. probably because of umstead still? maybe? maybe from not eating dinner and being a little dehydrated?  I ended up finishing 8:39 so my second half was one min faster than the first half.. 8th overall female. HERE ARE THE RESULTS FOR HIGHLANDS SKY 40 2012

 I feel just running the hour faster is testament to my training and just a good fitness indicator in comparison to where I was this time last year.  for that I feel grateful. so extremely grateful.

so what else?? since i'm cramming the past 3 months into one blog post?? I ran the bear! I was 15th overall woman and PRed by 4 min compared to last year. that was cool.  YAY!  love that race THE BEAR INFO/RESULTS

I'm working hard getting everything prepared for CTR 10k
This is my brother's memorial race and it's our 5th year. I feel each year I just meet the most amazing people and it's really been a positive, healing journey for me to RD this race. I never in my life thought that I would RD a race, but life is full of twists, turns, peaks and valleys, dark times, and happy times.  I think it's best to just embrace it all and be thankful for the journey and never take a second fore granted.

in addition to Todd's race,  I'm training for my second 100 miler, Grindstone 100.  This is a different animal than Umstead, and am greatly looking forward to this challenge on Oct 5th.  other than that,  I'm  having a great summer full of spending quality time with my two boys: going to the pool, camping, riding bikes, hitting golf balls,   catching fireflies,  roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories and their current favorite " you might be a redneck if: " jokes by the fire pit.  When I  hear their sweet giggles, I feel so extremely blessed to be living this life and having the family and friends that I have in my life.

                                             RD Dan Lehmann and I at the finish.

                                                 trail dad rick grey and I at the start line

                                           Me finishing my second highlands sky-

                                            healthy dose of post race sarcasm and reality checks courtesy of Dho

 over all winner and record holder Frank the tank and myself

 Dr Horton being HIMSELF!! love ya horty!! 

Well that brings us up to speed, i will definitely post more about CTR 10k as it draws closer, and my 

Training for Grindstone 100. happy trails y'all.  xoxo.

my first 100 mile race: UMSTEAD 100 mile 2012

where to begin? I guess at the beginning. THE BEGINNING.

Let me say first off, I can't even BELIEVE I registered, trained and ran a 100 mile race. Still at this point, it seems surreal; but here I am fat feet, blisters itching, eating like a horse and typing this out. It was REAL. It HAPPENED.

I deep down I always felt wanted to run  this type of race, but I was in denial for the longest time. would call 100 mile races "excessive", "crazy" and the people who ran them sadists and masochists.  but as I delved deeper and deeper into trail running and after having several 50 milers under my belt--like a moth to a flame I gravitated towards this formidable and daunting distance.  I knew I would eventually mature (somewhat) as an ultrarunner to where I would be able to run ( to finish)  , and the thoughts of having a 100 mile race buckle, well that in itself seemed very cool and amazing.  I feel just the general epicness in the accomplishment had a big draw for me. 

 So after hellgate 100k  training/race/recovery this past december,  I shifted gears, and I trained for a 100 miler. I ran alot, ate alot, I worked out hard, it was time consuming and alot of work.  More so than preparation from any of my past races. I trained with joyful enthusiasm because I didn't want to go in unprepared. I wanted to be STURDY and READY. My "coach" and good friend, Eric Grossman, ( who is a very accomplished ultrarunner in his own rite) helped me with my workouts and he made sure I was ready for this task. 

I'll flash forward.  UMSTEAD START. I'll break it all down into the loops breifly.

loop 1: MAN, post 100 miler taper, it felt SO GOOD to just be able to run!! I really struggled in reigning it in. I would try to go slow and be SO comfortable where it felt like a jog. I wasn't wearing a garmin, and then I'd figure out by mile markers on the course I was running 9 min pace. oops. too fast!  but then I would walk my walk breaks. YAY! time to run again. I decided to walk even on the first loop because there wasn't any point in me going nuts and running hard, then walking the last 30 miles. so I walked early. but I think I was so jazzed to be turned loose running and where umstead is all forest service road, I was just enjoying being out there, thankful for the rain. I ran alot with my friend,  Rick Grey this loop. I ate a gel every thirty min, and  had ultra ( an electrolyte drink)  in my hand held and then when I came in the end of this loop, I  drank an ensure.

loop 2-- ran this loop again with Rick,  its still raining. I'm  still feeling like I'm being super conservative and  the pace felt easy. It was warm ( high 60's) at that point it was 63F at the start of the race,  and it felt humid. I was sweating and salty even if it was raining, so I ate some nuun tabs, continued eating gel every 30-45 min or so. I met up with ronda  this lap, and got to run with her a couple miles. It was so great to get to meet her, such a cool and sweet person! and she has wonderful fashion sense!! and when I came in drank an ensure got another handheld of ultra and headed out.

loop3- Rick pressed on, he was feeling good and I was leery of going faster than what I was because I was starting to feel a little icky. and didn't want to blow my chances of finishing or suffering tons at the end because I went crazy at the beginning. The rain stopped and it was starting to get hot ( and very humid!) WELL, I think the ensure was a mistake because on loop 3 , I had MAJOR GI issues and I had to stop 4 times. yuck. not fun.

I came into headquarters to start on loop 4-- a little freaked out. I got imodium from brock and tammy grey kept telling me I was running great and to calm down ( but yeah, i was SCARED.. I felt dehyrdated.. it was getting hot, I wasn't taking calories in) THIS COULD BE IT for me. BUT I dismissed any thoughts of me getting worse, stoically took my imodium (:P ) and got another hand held of ultra ( no ensure) and pressed onward!

loop 4-- I had SO much fun this loop. my tummy settled but then I started getting blisters.. I stopped at the AS for about 20 min and  sweet Dorothy Hunter helped me lance the blisters and tape them up THEN things REALLY started turning around for me and I really started feeling good!! REALLY GOOD!!! it became way more FUN. I really realized: WOW. Im really doing this!! all the hard work, training, blood, sweat, tears coming to fruition.   What was more, was I was really loving the experience and the journey and really tried to focus solely on the loop I was on, nothing else, I was going to forget about the past loops i ran that morning, not worry about the future loops I had ahead of me, just be there happy on the loop I was on.  man, it felt ROCKIN. SO much of this race is mental. Having a positive outlook/perception of events is half the battle.   I rolled back into headquarters to see my best buddy beth on the road and I was SOO happy to see her.

I was at the 50 mile mark at 9 hrs something.. like 9:12 and I didn't even really feel that taxed at all. it made me wonder, hmm it would be FUN to run a runnable 50 sometime just to see what I could crank out because I was loving cranking out those miles. and I had stopped SO much and taken so much time at AS, I really wonder what it would be like to just go all out for a 50.

loop 5: GUY, my running buddy who is a sophomore at Virginia Tech,  jumped in to start pacing me lap 5.. and I think I did get a little too wild on loop 4, because I did get a little low energy wise for a little starting out, but then he made me eat half a gel every mile. By the end of loop 5. I was at mile 60 and it was 12 hrs and i was feeling good, but then tummy problems started again, and sadly, blister problems started again. my pinky toenail kinda ripped off on mile 10 of this loop.

So I worked on my blisters the best i could.  I really was ignorant about this subject and never had any problems with blisters prior. I guess the trail surface ( hard packed granite) was reeking havoc on my feet in addition to the fact of the morning rain. I was blistering on blisters and the duck tape was blistering/burning my skin. YEOW! BUT not to be the type to DNF because I was screwing up my pedicure, I pressed ONWARD. 

loop 6: back out with GUY, it was cooling off and starting to feel good temperature wise and getting dark we decided to try to reach mile 7 by 1:45 and we did with plenty of time to spare, then I decided I didn't want a head lamp and just ran by the light of guy's. Guy did such a great job pacing me. reminding me to eat and drink. :) making me run when i felt lazy:) So thankful he and beth drove down to help me! true friends are such a rarity and I feel I have so many in the ultrarunning community. 

loop 7: out with beth! we both had headlamps and really enjoyed just running and hiking and I still was feeling pretty okay, but knew I was slowing down. beth did great making me eat and drink etc. I was just excited for beth to see the course, but lamented it was dark and she didn't see it during the day about mile 5 of this loop, ( mile 82?) we saw a copperhead in the middle of the road! YIKES!! We yelled back to the runners behind us so they wouldn't step on it, as we pressed on we could hear the runners behind us yell "THANKS!!" because we had warned them about the snake. 

loop8: It was  midnight. As soon as we went out, all hell broke loose:  it came a BIG thunderstorm. lightening, pouring rain.. my feet were wet and getting worse. I looked and blood was running down the back of both shoes where they were rubbing, and I had HUGE open sores on both achilles. That is just great!! in addition to my feet. awesome. it turned from bad to worse, I didn't want to stop at the AS to get help for my heels and blisters, but they kept getting worse. I just wanted to finish at this point,  and I knew stopping would take like 20 min at the least.  I just wanted it to be over at that point because I knew I was SO close.  It was killing me to have clicked off those laps earlier so easily,  and to feel like I was crawling on this one-- this LAST lap.  Also it was bothering  me because my muscles felt fine, my joints felt fine, my blisters where just making running with any normalcy impossible. We stopped and the temperature was dropping after the rain ceased.  I had no extra clothes+I was walking so slow= beth and I got VERY cold. Teeth chattering cold.
 It took awhile to get dr-ed up and man, it was a strange experience. I think because I was on mile 95 of my first 100.   Everyone coming into the med tent looked really banged up and their eyes so hallow. I wondered to myself, do I look that scary?! We got some soup to drink on our way out, and I was shaking for the cold,  so bad I was I spilling my soup.. my legs were so stiff, I could barely walk, but after stopping and guzzling chicken and rice soup, then walking...after a couple min I warmed up and we took a turn into the trees and out of an exposed area/ out of the wind and it felt much, much better.  each step was just excruciating. I started timing miles. 20 min pace. awesome. I knew it would be way into 22 hrs before I finished. :(

my finish at 22:23 was anti- climatic to say the least. I was so happy to just be finished. I didn't want to sit down, I just wanted my sub 24 buckle. and to go take a shower! :) I was SO happy that I didn't quit ( even though that race really hurt and many things didn't go as planned)  I was proud that I was flexible and tried to solve my problems as they arose during the race and the end result of staying focused ( and tenacious)  is that I accomplished my goal. So many lessons I've learned with running are so completely applicable for the journey of LIFE.

 I was in the car on the way to the hotel when beth texted me " you just ran 100 freaking miles!" -- I don't know if it's still sunk in yet. happy to get back I showered, laid down exhausted and laid awake ALL morning. couldn't sleep and didn't sleep until 9pm april 1st.

post run reflection:

ensure was a bad idea. it totally worked at MMTR 50 miler, but fouled me out for umstead.

gels and juice plus gummies worked great though.

I am completely ignorant when it comes to blister care. I really need to study up on that because that really messed up my race. However,  I'm really super happy to have ran what i did, WHEN I did. and I really felt "race-ready" as far as my fitness. I'm elated to have a sub 24 buckle.

super thankful and humbled by the support of my family ( thanks brock for being the best race crew ever!) and friends ( guy, beth for pacing-- running with rick, bill gentry, bob) all the other cool friends I made at umstead. I'm still so overwhelmed by my FB page. I truly am blessed with so many great friends ( love yall!) it really meant so much to me during my low points to know that I had so many people thinking positive thoughts, and praying for me. :)

now, I'm contemplating my next step post recovery. I really *may* not 100% sure yet, run promise land 50k for funsies. I missed terrapin and I think it would be fun to see everyone. but FOR SURE my first race back is highlands sky 40 in june. :) and yes, I've signed up for my second 100 mile race. GRINDSTONE 100, oct 5th in swoope, Va. 


Really looking forward to training and running in the mtns all summer in preparation for these events!! happy trails, yall! :) 

reflecting back: all trails lead to umstead 100

hey! well, it's taper time, and most of my friends can identify with "taper-tandrums". You aren't running as much, have tons of energy, and where to channel it?! well, I've pretty much spent the past week obsessing over my box o junk and rick grey- type first aid/blister kit/tackle box. and packed for umstead. All ready to roll.

now what to do, I decided yesterday to scroll back through all my pictures on iphoto. and That is when I got the idea to just make one big slide show starting with my first 50k to present. it's everything, solo training runs, races, group runs. So many memories, epic stories and friendships foraged from having so much fun in the mtns, epic weather, suffering together, post run tailgating:)

I'm so thankful for this journey I'm on, and the people in my life. If you guys don't care, PLEASE think positive thoughts for me on Saturday, march 31- into april 1 and no, the irony is not lost on me that i'll get my first 100 mile finish on April Fool's Day. :)

Sorry for some of blurry pictures.. this took so long to upload I didn't have the heart to go back and edit them out! lazy! :) and also fat man's misery is in there twice but seeing out it took all the hide off both forearms at my first terrapin, and I missed the hole punch and had to go back at my second terrapin, it earns two spots:) grr!

PICTO BLOG LINK HERE

** the two songs are songs I LOVE to run to on my ipod.. the first is Leftover salmon "breaking through" love the lyrics in this song. favorite line is "careful watch you wish for, you'll never be the same, running through the wilderness while the moonlight calls your name."

and the second song is "zebra" by john bulter trio. :) JBT rocks:)

SAGE Umstead100 advice from ultra guru, Bill Gentry

above are pictures from my presidents day AT run in the snow with beth, dennett, joey and maverick. :)

I'm still training for umstead 100. I ran holiday lake 50k as a long training run on feb 12th. had near perfect conditions. Ran most of the race with Marc Guzzi :) ended up running 5:24 18 min PR and I never was really in a hurry all day. so I am pleased with where I am right now fitness wise as opposed to this time last year. and it was SO great to see all my friends and make new friends at this year's holiday lake. I love going to LUS series races because they really are like a family reunion to me now. :)

I've had ALOT of adversity thrown in my way the past couple months in the form of sick kiddos ( walking pneumonia, pink eye, ear infections, strep) and saturday I had a crazy sinus/inner ear infection episode. SO training for umstead itself has been a challenge. but on the days I couldn't get out in the mtns, my relatives helped watch the kids for me to run the roads, I did the spin bike, insanity, p90x.. in short if I couldn't go run.. I worked out hard. I really hope that pays off in the long run. but that being said, I sure have ran a whole heck of alot since january. :)

I have been imploring my good friend, Bill Gentry to share all his pearls of wisdom regarding Umstead 100. He has ran this race more times than any other ultra runner I know of. He was SO nice to type out his advice and sent it to me today, and I just felt it was selfish to keep this to myself. I feel that most of this advice can apply to ANY ultra distance. esp the bold face DO NOT QUIT ( and the start slow!! advice) I hope everyone enjoys it and I really feel all my readers who run can take something away from this. THANK YOU BILL GENTRY. YOU'RE MY HERO!! I'm so excited I get to run my first 100 with bill, rick grey and so many of my other friends. and so thankful for my dialed in crew who has volunteered to help get me to the finish line. :) without further ado:

• U100 is a temptress. Seems so easy, this loop. Lotsa flat stretches in the first 3 miles. No significant uphills. Not a rock in sight. And so much energy at that start, thanks to some 275 runners all gracing that still-in-the-dark starting line. Note: The largest finishing field in race history was last year's 130. Very nearly everybody goes out way too fast. So hard not to get caught up in that. Suggestion: Every mile is marked with a pie plate. Have a pacing plan. Stick to your plan.

• There is only one reason to DNF at U100: injury. Adam Bookspan walked the entire U100 in 27:11 one year. Every step. That's faster than two of my finishes. Here's a thing about U100: The fun factor takes a serious dip once the lights go out. Most of the 50-mile people are done. And lots of the other first-timers quit a lap later. That start-finish aid station feels like a M*A*S*H unit after dark. If possible, stay the hell out of that lodge unless you are rocking this thing. I have taken naps at the outbound manned aid station most years. One year, I slept 1 hour. Another year, I slept THREE hours. And one other year after blitzing the 9:25 first 50 in 91F heat, I walked from 70M to 80M, slept 2 hours, walked to 85M, slept 30 minutes, then shuffled in and STILL did 27:30. Message: This is not as hard as Grindstone or MMT, but it is still 100 miles. If you are not injured, there is no good reason to quit. Do. Not. Quit.

• Front Nine and Back Nine: I divide U100 into two parts. The Front Nine is pretty daggone flat. The Back Nine has some rollers and then one fairly long downhill (Mile 10) followed by a short, fairly steep uphill. The Front Nine features the pancake-flat Spur, an water/goo stop at about 3.5M, unmanned water stop at about 5.5M and then the manned, fully stocked aid station at 6.75M. That's where your drop bag can be. Dunno what you have in mind with Brock and the kiddos, but I would suggest throwing some warm clothes in a bag for here just in case. Maybe some spare batteries, too. Better safe than not. Back Nine includes water at about 8.5M and then at the crest of the "big" hill at just before 11M (the same stop as the one at 3.5M). Perspective on the "hill": you can see all the way to the top of it from the bottom; and it takes less than 4 minutes to run up it. From the unmanned water/goo stop, it's 1.5M or so back to the start-finish. The the start of the race, we go out the gravel road and skip the single-track and other gravel road. On the return and every loop after that, we do the gravel road/single-track option. You'll feel right at home on this stretch. :)

• U100 is the sneakiest one around. I have 11 100-mile finishes here. I also have 4 other times when I have bagged it after at least 50. Except for the Hurricane Year when I got as close to hypothermia as I ever want to come, I have quit because I went out way too fast, totally cratered and then was feeling really, really bad at exactly the wrong time ... when my car was within sight. Whew! It's the hardest thing about a 12.5-mile loop: those 2-3 times late in the game when you come past your car, your kids, that raging fire in the lodge, the showers, and all those lonely looking people who have given up. Suggestion: The local North Carolina Road Runners chapter has a plethora of volunteer pacers. Most are there itching to do one loop just to get a feel for what it's like out there. If you are hurting, take one. Jenny, taking a pacer for Lap 6 or Lap 7 has saved my *** three or four times.

umstead 100 training picto blog

views from the ridgeline of brumley mtn
frozen grossman
biggest hoar frost I've seen in my life
happy to be actually running in the snow
view from top of white top during my NYE run
view from buzzards rock NYE "over the top" run
me and my best buddy from high school hiking up white top mtn on the AT
snowy brumley mtn long run
post interval run on the creeper trail in my HG 100k T!
Sweet maverick the super Aussie during sunday morning long run
Robin Grossman running through the morning sunlight on treasure mtn
me and my puppy! love him so much
nice views during yesterday's morning run.

TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING. That is what is up with jennyd nichols right now. Little Jenny is running her heart out these days. I recovered from hellgate 100k, had a WONDERFUL holiday season full of time with family and friends. I shifted gears pretty much post christmas and started training officially for umstead 100 first week in january. ( even though I ran 24 miles on NYE with the IMTR's at over the top)

So far things are going well training wise. I'm just enjoying being super active and having a goal to work towards. I'm working out at the YMCA a couple times a week on my easy days usually before an easy 60 min morning run, spin biking, incorporating yoga once a week in my routine. and running wise: one day speed work, couple days later tempo run, couple days later back to back long runs ( weekends). I'm recovering from my workouts okay. Feeling taxed and labored while I'm in the moment, but pretty much good to go by the next morning. So I think I have a good balance there.

Little daunting after running 66.6 miles and knowing how much more I have to run for umstead. BUT I have tons of confidence due to the technical conditions of HG vs. how non technical umstead is--

but that being said : 1. 100 miles is a 100 miles, and 2. runnable courses offer their own special set of challenges that mtn 100's do not. I think mostly it's about self control and not being greedy at the start. making yourself be on a schedule and sticking to it from the start. I think for umstead I'm going to run 24 min and walk 4 min. and stay on that schedule. and starting slow etc. if any 100 milers out there have ANY advice to offer up, I'm MORE than all ears!

more than anything, I'm fairly confident I can complete the distance and am aware of the roller coaster ride it's going to be. I feel I've learned enough the past couple years, to just work through my tough patches and keep moving forward.

It's amazing the journey of natural progression my ultrarunning has taken me on. 3 years ago, a 50k was practically an insurmountable distance. I couldn't fathom running 50 miles, then 50 miles grew-- comfy in 2011. So I know 100 miles is going to kick my butt, but I would really like to think I can reach a point to be able to adapt, and it be my "new normal".

next up for me is HOLIDAY LAKE 50k! I'm using this run as a long run, going to have to run another long run the day after. Goals for this race would be to run it faster than last year, but as far as racing goals for HL, I have zero. pretty much the plan is like sophie had me run last year. start slow. sit in the first loop, then work hard the last loop. :)

okay, so any umstead advice, you guys feel free to comment, or email etc!

my first 100k: hellgate 2011

I'm sitting here on sunday afternoon with fat, blistered feet, sore achilles in both legs, wondering what would be the best way to describe this amazing journey I was fortunate enough to go on. It's really almost a surreal experience to be able to sit here and say "I'm a hellgate finisher.". Hellgate 100k in my mind was always the ZENITH of any of the ultras on the east coast. It's where VERY TOUGH ultrarunners test their metal against the elements, rocky leaf covered trails and 14,000ft of vertical climbing over 66.6 miles. oh, and the race starts at midnight. a little different!! I've read so many race reports from this epic race, and I'll be honest to say the race was vilified in my mind. I WAS scared of hellgate. When I was running Terrapin mtn 50k this spring I was with Marlin Yoder and Sophie and she said, " WOOP! HELLGATE COURSE!!" it literally sent a chill down my spine. and we were on the same section Friday night, I told sophie that had some one told me in march, that I'd be THERE running hellgate with her in December, I would of NEVER believed them. I am very happy that sophie convinced me to run Hellgate ( just like LUS and MMTR) She believed in my ability to finish HG, before i even believed myself that I could do it.

I came the evening before the race and stayed off exit 150 at the holiday inn. I slept in and laid around until check out, then came to Camp Bethel and snagged a bunk and proceeded to visit with all my friends and lay around all evening until it was time for packet pick up and dinner.

I have talk about dinner. It's always really special to see all your friends at packet pick up, but one thing I thought that was awesome about dinner was that rather than buffet, you are served family style. As soon as I walked into that dining room and sat down, At that moment the light bulb came on, and I immediately understood WHY horton likes to keep this race small. So Dr. Horton: I GET IT NOW. :)

There are "years": "ice year" "leaf year" "warm year".. no idea what this year will be called. I was fortunate with the weather. It had rained heavily for a couple of days the beginning of the week, so even though the course was a little wet and mucky in many places:) I'm sure it helped with the leaves. The forecast was for low in the 20's friday night and high 41 saturday. I think it was way colder than 20 on top of headforemost mtn. BRRR! but immediately descending I felt it was really comfy. it may have been in the 30's all night. I was never really cold. ( other than headforemost) but I'm getting ahead of myself.

JJ JESSEE was kind enough to come crew for me since brock had to work this weekend. He came after the race meeting and I gave him all my gear and bag o gels and snake oil. He gave sophie, donna and I a ride to the start. It felt a little cold at the start, and I was calm. I thought I would be terrified-- but I wasn't. We lined up sung "o, canada" and the "star spangled banner" and before I knew it was 12:01 and we were off! one thing i did differently this race: no garmin. my first race EVER without it. I just wore my timex ironman and never even set the chrono just looked at the time of day. I can't say it really made that big of difference. I was probably happy to not see how slow my pace was on some sections. :)

sophie and I before the start in our LUS jackets ( that barely got worn)

I guess for my race synopsis I can break it down in a few sentences for each section:

start to AS1: ran with Mike and Sophie-- did we cross the river before the first AS?? I can't remember.. I do remember a river though. I think that was how it went. What really sticks out in my mind is it being really tight and congested on the single track.. people right in front, people right behind you and it was a little nerve racking.

AS1 to Petits Gap:

started up the road and with mike and sophie and buddy, we RAN. It was awesome. finally got my elbow room.

Petits Gap to Camping Gap:

single track with glowsticks on trees:) thanks grattan and donna! I thought of you guys everytime I passed a glowstick. it was a little rocky and downhill ( not my strength) but I was really happy when rocks from the terrapin course started looking familiar. sadly lost sophie and mike once we got off the single track and were climbing on the road. ( just like terrapin!) Sophie is just a rock star on those big climbs. but I was totally okay because 1. I was starting to feel a little worked. so the run/hike thing was cool by me. I just turned on my ipod and got up to camping gap. the moon light was amazing on the road, and I was super happy to KNOW where I was and it be familiar.

CAMPING GAP TO HEADFOREMOST MTN:

okay so I left camping gap and started out toward the white oak trail/WOR loop and was again, feeling really happy that I was familiar with my surroundings and that i was getting ready to go on the promise land course, I leaped frog a bit with alyssa godesky ( who I think got 4th ) .

I was really loving the grassy road and thinking about my first promise land50k this year, how I was extremely sick with bronchitis that race and Rebekah stayed with me for a GOOD bit like an hour and cheered me up and pieced me back together to get me eating again. I knew she was out on the course and had a bad cold and I said I prayer that she was feeling better and having a good time. I spend ALOT of time reflecting on the past year of the races in the LUS.. and just how awesome it was to end my season this way it had all come full circle. started running with a really great guy who got 3rd in the IMTR 50 this year ( his knee was bothering him) I hope he finished but had a feeling he may have dropped at headforemost. So that was cool to get to talk about Mt Rogers and Damascus for a bit. I love where I train and all my friends there and feel so extremely fortunate to call those trails "home". Separated on the climb from the IMTR 50 guy up the mtn. and as I climbed I started to get cold

HEADFOREMOST to AS 5/jennings creek/ breakfast AS:

I got COLD quick up there.. I don't know what happened on that climb but when I got to JJ's trooper at 5:10AM I was light headed and slurring my speech.. JJ ( being the super crew he was) switched nathan packs, got me in my pink jacket and gave me ensure and off I went. once I started descending I immediately felt MUCH BETTER. and WARMER:) I listened to pink floyd and thought alot about my brother, Todd. I wore a locket with his picture in it to Hellgate. I knew it would help me in my rough patches because for some reason, alot of times during my rough patches I think of him, and how he wouldn't want me to quit -- he'd want me to overcome adversity and figure things out and keep moving.

Jennings creek AS to LITTLE COVE MTN:

I got to breakfast AS at 6:41. still dark, I couldn't wait to get rid of my headlamp but decided to keep it until I got to the next AS. Saw JJ. Then I got a cup and filled it with silver dollar pancakes, eggs, bacon and quiche. YES!! QUICHE!!!:) and I ran out of there and started the climb and I ate my yummy, yummy breakfast. MMMM. it was awesome. Then I found fellow IMTR Guy Love, he was having problems eating and drinking. I was sad he was having a bad day. I told him it definitely wasn't my greatest race either but to hang in there and keep moving. I continued on and met Nelson ( waves- HI NELSON) who said he read my blog before and we hiked up the mtn to little cove mtn.

me at the little cove AS mile 34

little COVE MTN to BEARWALLOW GAP:

What a big surprise to get on top of that mtn and see BOB and DREW ( go CATS!!) and JJ!! I was happy the sun was shining, and I was getting ready to drink a handheld of aminos on this section. JJ told me this section maybe a little tough I think it was 8 miles. happy to ditch my rudy project clear lenses and my headlamp and my gloves.. decided later down the trail I should of kept the gloves:) this section was FUN for alot of it, it was FS road then this cool section that reminded me SOO much of the dark side on the promise land course ( but I knew it wasn't the dark side just similar) THEN.. came the fun part.. the devils trail and just alot of climbs. I really had some rough patches. I went from the depths of despair to being SO happy to being alive. I thought the devils trail was unreasonably cruel to me, and then I decided it wasn't the rocks fault I can't run well on them.. I was just mentally not sharp on this section. so I came into bearwallow mile 42 at 10:40AM seeing bob, drew, jj, tammy ( I LOVE YOU GUYS!)

looking like this:

but after a hydration pack change, getting some gloves, sunglasses, lots of encouragement from tammy, bob and JJ and a CHEESEBURGER; I left looking like this:

42 miles down only 24 more to go

much better. I love friends! this picture is small but I'm smiling and RAVISHING a cheeseburger.

BEARWALLOW GAP TO BOBLETT's GAP:

7 miles . from what I remember there was alot of climbing and leaves and ridges. I was alone alot and just tried to run where I could and listen to music. I know i'm slowing down but knew I had PLENTY of time to even run 15:30 or 16 hrs. so That was okay. and so mentally, I just tried to stay positive-- how awesome the weather was ( 40 and sunny) and i was eating.. ( the fact I can get a cheeseburger and quiche during a long run really makes me think I'll be okay during 100's for the nutrition stuff) and what a great experience this was for me just BEING at hellgate and knowing I was going to FINISH hellgate. So I just tried to stay in the game that way even though i was REALLY starting to hurt BAD.

I get to boblett's gap and both my achilles are really really hurting. ( I think it was just all the climbing and running on the rocks)

shuffling into boblett's gap AS.

and Tammy called brock for me! that was SO awesome to get to tell him and the kids that I loved them.

BOBLETT's GAP to FOREVER SECTION

I was hurting bad. So I took 2 tylenol ( yep, I know). Jamie Darling was working this AS and asked me what she could get me to help.. She was so sweet. I asked her for a gun so I could shoot myself:) ( I was joking-- kinda- it hurt just to walk) JJ offered to jump in with me and run the forever section with me. before the race, had NOT even anticipated or thought of having anyone run with me, BUT JJ had on his montrail masochists-- at first I thought hmm maybe just the last 6 miles it would be great to have a friend to run with, but when he offered at bobletts-- I immediately took him up on it. so off we went.

we were LOVING that road down the mtn. so much that I missed the turn onto the single track. We spent about 20 mins ( me trying not to freak out because I had never gotten lost during a race before) finally found out after running back and forth 3 times looking for me 2 other guys were lost too. so apparently Im not the only one who missed this turn:) BUT I decided it was what it was.. and poor JJ I think he either thought I would be mad at him ( hey, i missed the turn not him! not his job to navigate me) or I was going to cry or something. because of the lost time and the couple of people who got ahead of me. nah, I just thought.. this is just life. things dont go perfectly.. you fix what you can, do your best and ROLL WITH IT. So I just decided to have fun running the forever section with JJ. He so selflessly worked all day friday, drove up to camp bethel, stayed up all night, all day and NOW was running with me! It was so much fun just trying to figure out where the forever section would end, laughing and making jokes and saying "HELLGATE!" because WOW. I was almost finished. and I'm SO happy I got to have this adventure with JJ. so thankful for his help, but running with him was the best.

DAY CREEK TO FINISH

it was ON. I knew i had 3 miles up and 3 miles down and I was ready to be done. JJ and I hiked up the first 3 miles to the parkway in 41 minutes. I was SO proud of myself. tylenol was kickin in:) feet felt way better. I crossed the parkway and thought of Gary Knipling who told me to really enjoy that moment knowing there was just 3 miles downhill to the finish on that nice dirt road. and so we made our way down happy to know I was going to run 16 hrs and something and the sun was still bright and shining ( I didn't want to finish in the dark) SO that made me happy!! and finishing this race... no, I didn't cry.. sometimes I do that at finish lines, I was just SO HAPPY to be there. HAPPY I finished Hellgate 100k. HAPPY it was 16:19. Happy I learned so much about working through rough patches and the highs and lows of ultra distance running. Happy to learn that I'm tough enough to get in there and dig deep when i have to. Happy I had the support of my family and so many friends. Happy I got to spend friday and saturday in the mountains with SO many old friends and I made many new friends! Happy horton let me in his race!:) I'll def be back next year.. if Horton, lets me in:)

Bob said it best: " I once was lost, but now am found."

Horton Hug makes all the pain from running 66.6 miles in the mtns all better