100 Miles is a LONG WAY
Many things can happen when trying to run 100 miles. I made it through all the training with no injury. Unfortunately, my day was cut short by severe right knee pain. The whole entire experience was very rewarding and I learned a ton about how to run this type of race. I wish my body was as willing as I was on this day.
Start to mile 28. The start was in the dark for the first 45 minutes. I started conservatively and felt really good. There were many people to run with and everyone was very talkative. I was eating well and enjoyed seeing Kelli at 3 aid stations. It was starting to get hot and the race was spreading out a lot. From time to time some runner would come flying by and it would make you think what race they were running. I was in about 33rd out of the 190 or so starters at mile 28.
Mile 28 to 41. The main thing that I remember about these miles was the heat. It was over 80 degrees and thankfully we were in the tree cover most of the day. I came upon a large creek crossing and several people were laying in the 18 inches of water just trying to cool off. I was moving good still and passing several people especially on the uphill sections. At mile 41, I had moved up to 28th place.
Mile 41 to 55. There were some rough mile in here. My knee started hurting. At times, I felt like was trying to run with the flu and stomach virus all at once. From time to time, I hurt just about everywhere and my stomach felt most unsettled. I was still running pretty well on the flats and downhills, but all the pain began to all localize to the outside of my right knee. I was hiking the uphills really strong and amazingly was passing people really easy on the uphill sections. As bad as i felt, It seemed everyone else was just in just about as bad of shape. Everybody that I passed, would say how good I looked and how well I was moving, but i felt terrible.
Mile 55 to 68. By now I realized that my knee was not going to get any better. Walking was starting to get really painful and I realized that my time was limited. I suffered through these last few miles but was in a lot of pain. Amazingly, very few people were passing me. I was in 24th place when I had to quit. Except for my knee, I felt really good.
Start of the race and I was all smiles.
Aid station # 2 at mile 13 and still smiling.
Running the trail into aid station # 3 at mile 18. Very smooth trail here. Let me assure you it was not all this flat and smooth.
Leaving #3 feeling great.
Aid station #5 at mile 28. All that I could think about here was how hot it was. Over 80 degrees and I was feeling it here at the sun exposed aid station. Thankfully most all the trail was in the shaded canopy of the woods.
Headed out of #5. Not looking as fresh.
The boardwalk leading down to the overlook off Mt Cheaha -- the highest point in Alabama. The race runs right up to the top of Mt. Cheaha and down the boardwalk to the aid station at Bald Rock Lodge.
Aid station #7 at mile 41-- Running off the boardwalk. Really excited to see my family here. Seeing them provided a lot of motivation to get to the top.
Trying to rest and fuel up. I was here in exactly 8 hours and right on my goal pace.
Avi was feeling a lot better than me. She asked my dad "did he have to pay for this". She got a good laugh out of everyone.
Aid station # 10 at mile 55. Really starting to feel it here. Still on my goal pace at right around 11 hours.
Aid station # 12 mile 65. Rubbing my knee and trying to figure out how to keep going. I was using my hiking poles which really helped but the pain while walking was getting intense and it really hurt bad to bend my knee.
I changed shirts and tried to eat up. There was a 750 foot climb that awaited me in the first mile out of the aid station.
Walking into aid station #13 and hurting a lot.
Icing my knee and contemplating my withdrawal.
Conclusion: During the race, I said that I would never do this again. Thank goodness for short memories as I am already planning for the next one. I hated that I could not finish, but it has taken me about 10 days to even be able to bend my knee without pain. I am feeling a lot better now. I had diligently stretched, iced and rolled my left IT band to prevent this from happening again to my left knee. I never expected this to happen to my right knee as it did. At least I know how to rehab this injury although it did take about 6 months before I could run without limits again. Based on how things went, I know that I can finish 100 miles and likely still be running well. Thanks again to my wonderful wife for supporting me in my adventures.
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