Leading up to this race I had trained hard, or as hard as I could being a busy full-time working Mom of three kids. It may have been May when I decided to run the Bear. I had just completed my first 50 k and 50 miler a couple months prior. I was feeling healthy, strong and motivated. Not knowing what the heck I was doing I set out and started to train for the Bear. Training went well for the most part. I kept injuries away, used a couple 50 k races as training runs and logged as many miles as I could with my busy schedule.
The week leading to the race I was unusually calm for knowing I had the biggest race of my life coming up in a couple days. Which to me meant, I was ready. Game on! I was ready to attack the Bear! Nerves never really set in. The night before the race I went to the pre-race meeting and got me a too big men's shirt (kinda bummed..guess they didn't order enough women's shirts) and listened to the race details, dropped my bags off and went to dinner with some HUMR's and Wrangler's. After dinner off I went to try and get some sleep and surprisingly enough I fell asleep and ended up with 6.5 hours of sleep (AMAZING). Got myself to the start line and was ready to get going on this thing!
Right before the start I found my friend who told me he would start with me..Phew! Someone to get me through this huge first climb. The climb to Logan Peak went real well. I knew it was an 'on' day. Some times days don't start off as an 'on' day, but this one did. I had heard to walk the uphills and run the downhills, so that is what I did. Legs felt strong and I went with flow. In and out of the Logan Peak Aid quickly I started to roll on downward. Chatting with various runners on the way and I realized trail runners are awesome! They are friendly and fun!
Coming into Leatham Hollow on the fun downhill single track I was greeted by a swarm of friends and my hubbs. I felt good! Ate some PBJ's and drank a Ginger Ale and off I went down the road. ROAD.....what? It was dirt, but it was exposed and it was warming up fast. Mentally started to struggle and I was hot! I pushed forward knowing the next aid was close and then my single track would be back.
Made it to Richards Hollow and stuffed ice wherever I could and filled my water. I knew keeping my core temp down was going to save me on this next climb. And climb it was! I pushed at my normal climbing pace and started to pass people. I knew all the training was paying off! Came up on some friends and chatted a bit while running through some amazing canyons with spectacular rocks and cliff bands. As I neared the top I felt the heat coming on stronger and knew I needed to make sure I was staying hydrated and I started my every hour salt routine. Running down the road was fast and fun towards Cowley (I don't mind downhill roads :) ) Once again I had an amazing greeting from friends and the hubbs.
Feeling great still but knew some caffenie (Red Bull its all my stomach can handle) was going to be needed for the next stretch. Drank up, fueled up with some Boost and fruit, refilled my gels, and once again stuffed ice wherever I could (sports bra's are awesome) and off I went. On the next accent 2.5 miles of dirt road I met a nice fella who I ran with all the way to Right Hand Fork.
Meeting new people on the trail is great. This community we have going on is how it should be. It takes your mind off of how far you need to go. Arriving into Right Hand Fork I knew I had a couple issues to deal with. Blister on left big toe, chapped lips, dry starting to chafe arms and I needed sunscreen. Took care of my issues and actually rinsed my feet off in the river, which felt awesome. Restocked my pack and off I went into the heat. Crap! I forgot my ice. The next climb was brutally hot. I had to use my pack water to try and cool down and was searching everywhere for water I could dip my hat in, but unfortunately it was all standing bug infested gross water. No way that was going to happen. Then the tree cover came to the rescue for a few minutes and then it shot us out on a dirt road. Which was warm, well maybe HOT! Continuing down the road I suddenly saw the jugs...water!!! Hallelujah! Wet down my hat and downward bound I went again to the single track next to the river. After crossing the river I made a visit to the river and splashed water everywhere. I knew I needed to cool down. Much better! Then I made my way to Temple Fork and was greeted by friends and my first pacer, Shane. Shane was prepped and ready to go, but I wasn't. I needed food, caffeine, and a small break after being on the verge of heat stroke the last couple hours.After a few minutes off we went I was now prepped with poles, coat and headlamp.
Once again I was off on a climb, moving a bit slower due to recovering from the heat. That soon changed when I started to feel better and clouds were coming in. The evening was beautiful, the fall colors were beyond describable and I had single track trail to run as I wound my self to Tony Grove.
Getting into Tony Grove I ate some soup, filled my pack with water and gels, for I knew this next stretch was a long one and it will get dark. Shane was kind enough to rub my calf out. It was screaming at me and pulling on my Achilles. The climb out of Tony Grove wasn't bad and there was a lot of runnable trail, which I tried to run as much as I could. Some of the downhills were rocky and that was where I became grateful I had my poles. I tend to twist my ankles a lot and the poles saved me from going down numerous times. Arriving at Franklin I was greeted for the first time by my three adorable kids. They were so cute and helpful and even saved me a slice of their pizza which I devoured. I changed my clothes, ate a lot and had to say good bye to my biggest fans (that was hard). I spent way too much time at Franklin, but this is my first 100 and my biggest goal was to finish it. Leaving out of Franklin my mind has seemed to misplaced the details of the trail and anything that happened until we got to the dirt road that led to the Logan River Aid Station. Then of course, leave it to me to fall on the road and give myself a large bruise on my outer thigh. Finally made it to Logan River Aid station where I think the night was getting to me and I was feeling silly. Is this what happens to me when physical exhaustion is setting in? Guess so! I had another blister on that same big toe and it was huge. I got that thing popped, cleaned and wrapped in duct tape. Logan River Aid had the absolute best grilled cheese sandwiches! Heading out of the Aid Station was an immediate river crossing which I was grateful at the time I did not have to get my feet wet. There had been sprinkles here and there and there was lightning all over up till now, but soon after leaving the river it started to rain in larger down-spurts and on the way up the climb towards Beaver Mountain is where the MUD started. Slippery, wet mud!! Poles were a necessity for me. For all of those without them you are amazing to have made it. It seemed to take forever to get anywhere in the mud, my feet felt like ten pound weights had been added to them and going down was harder than going up. As I got closer to Beaver I hit a road. The asphalt road felt amazing. It has been a long time since I have appreciated roads. Arriving in Beaver I was feeling tired and flustered. That mud had drained too much of my energy. I went in the Yurt where I was greeted by friends and my hubbs again. This is where I was picking up my second pacer, Jim. I warmed up a bit changed gloves and ate.
Then off we went. I felt extremely mentally drained even though my legs still felt super strong. I was so very sleepy tired!! This was the slowest section for me as we worked our way up the dirt road. I just followed Jim and did what I could to keep up. It was still raining lightly on and off and I felt like I was sleep hiking. I just kept going and as we arrived at Gibson Basin the sky let loose. The rain came down hard, the wind was blowing, lightning was everywhere and I was freezing. The roads all around us looked like ponds and rivers. I sat bundled in a blanket for a few minutes and drank some broth trying to warm up and this was where I had my one and only thought that I was done with this crap. I immediately stood up and told Jim lets go. I am not a quitter and even though I hate rain I am going to finish this thing! All I had was 18.5 miles to go and I knew I could do this! Jim came to the rescue and covered me with a plastic bag which kept me very warm. Off we went down the river, oh wait I mean road. It was pouring! I couldn't even lift my head up, the water was stinging my eyes. Trekking along, the rain slowed down a bit and I felt like running. I was on a mission to try and get done with this thing as fast as I could. Running where I could, jumping puddles and slipping on the mud I worked myself to Beaver Creek. I had been looking forward to this aid station since Logan River when I found out they had breakfast. I was craving real food and especially pancakes and meat. It was perfect timing as well, the sun had just came up about 45 min prior to arriving at Beaver Creek. The weather was holding off, but the sky still looked very angry. After eating, the trek began towards the last aid station. OH MY! I knew now, nothing would stop me and I was going to finish this thing. The daylight brought a whole new energy level. My legs still felt strong and when I could, I ran! Jim would push me on the uphills and maybe I pushed him on the downs. :) The rain started again within half mile of Ranger Dip and so did the sharp pain on my right big toe. I felt a blister there for miles but was toughing it out. The sharp stinging pain almost stopped me in my tracks. Crap, I think the blister popped. I knew coming into the aid station I would need to look at it. It bummed me out because I didn't want to stop here. Got in the aid station, wrapped that toe with duct tape and amazingly didn't burn myself since I apparently tried to burn other things on the fire they had going , Oops, getting a bit scattered brained! Five minutes later I was climbing up what I think may have been the steepest road ever! Pushing hard and fast we made it up and then the short lived fun began. Running fast down the road I felt like a kid. I was no longer dodging the puddles, but rather running and splashing right through them. Only 4 miles to the finish, who cared about the wet feet anymore. Coming out of the trees the lake looked beautiful, but that muddy descent in front of me didn't! Slippery, heavy mud had me sliding all over and it didn't stop for an eternity! (Well maybe a couple miles) The longer I was in the mud the more sour my mood was getting. I started complaining about every little thing that was bothering me and I hated it. The view was amazing and my mood was lifted when I finally saw the end of the mud! Worked my tired body down the gravel road slowly and made it to the highway. I could see the end! Oh my goodness, I did it! I ran 100 miles! A year ago I thought these people were crazy and swore I would never do such a thing. Now look here I was, a mid thirties mom, former sprinter finishing my first 100 mile race. Tears of happiness streamed my cheeks as I made the last sprint to the finish of THE BEAR 100!
Things to Remember:
1. Duct tape is amazing.
2. My pacers Shane and Jim are the BEST!
3. 5 hr Energy has the opposite effect on me
4. Whatever I did nutrition wise, do it again! I had no stomach issues at all!
5. The HUMR's and my family are the best crew ever.
6. Next time go faster!
Upon arriving at the Honaker Trailhead a little while later, we trekked out to find the San Juan River. It felt as though we were in the middle of nowhere. Well, maybe we were! The canyon and its layered walls were sure a sight to see. Never would have guessed after hiking on the flat desert to get here that it could dive so deep and be so magical looking. We hiked down only a little ways because I needed to get back to the race start so I could do some volunteering.
