HURT 100 Race Report

111 runners started at 6am on Saturday. 36 dropped, 43 made it to the 100k, and 32 made it the whole 100 miles.  I was one of those lucky 32 finishers.  I finished the HURT 100 in 35 hours, 19 minutes and one second. 26th overall, 7th place woman.  But chances are you already know that.  You're here because you want my race report.  How can I even begin to give a race report that adequately describes my experience?

First of all, let me tackle some questions up front.  A lot of you were asking about my nutrition.  Yes, I stuck to my GU strategy of one gel or 4 chomps every 30 minutes.  I had zero GI problems--zero.  Did I get sick of the GU? Not really.  At a certain point I was an automaton and just put a gel in my mouth when my pacer said "eat". I stopped really tasting anything.  I would supplement with a handful of "real" food at the aid stations.  I ate potato chips, my salted mashed potatoes, tater tots, pizza bites, and PB&J.  I never felt hungry and I only felt weak after mile 93.  Seriously, I felt strong up till then!  As far as nighttime and sleepiness, I never felt tired---not even once.  I think weaning myself off caffeine prior to the race helped.  I took in a lot of caffeinated gels and diet pepsi and mountain dew during the race.  Also being stressed with time helped too.  But enough of that...let's get on with it!

Pre-Race
Naturally I slept horribly the night before.  I got a cumulative 3 hours of sleep that was interrupted by lots of tossing and turning.  By the time my alarm went off I was bolting out of bed.  I scarfed down some oatmeal and headed to the start.  I was oddly calm--more calm than before any other race-- and spent time hugging other race participants and saying last minute goodbyes.

Before I knew it, it was time to line up on the bridge for the start.  Ryan (The Enabler) and I had a plan to start off at the back of the pack.  He warned me that unless we started at the back we would get sucked into a fast group and go out too fast and crash.  He assured me staying at the back was smartest.  The race began with a quick hand-holding and blessing of the course, and then with the blowing of the conch we were off!

The dots are the lights from all the runners at the start

First Loop, miles 0-20
The first loop flew by.  I was worried that we were going too slow, but Ryan kept reassuring me.  I talked a lot with other runners (and met @ericpurpus) and we spent a few hours talking about our personal lives.  If I'm feeling good, I'm quite the talker, and we were all chatting and laughing. We popped in and out of the aid stations and focused on keeping good time. I finished the first loop and felt good.  It was insanely hot that day and 95% humidity, so I tried to cool off in between loops.

Second Loop, miles 20-40

By now it was just after noon and boy was it hot.  The climb up Hogsback was brutal.  Ryan and I both decided no more talking and put in our ipods.  That helped tremendously.  It also helped when I had this epiphany to tuck my shirt up into my bra.  I swear, at that moment I felt like I was in heaven. 

We plodded along as the sun started to drop and it got cooler.  When we got to the Paradise Park aid station at mile 27, I saw a friend of mine (doing the race) sitting down.  I asked him what he was doing.  He said he was out.  He said he'd been puking and didn't have a light to get him through the next 13 miles.  At his pace he wouldn't make it to his light by dark.  Thankfully I was still carrying my headlamp so I gave it to him and said "no excuses".  He went on to finish the 100k.  What a trooper! We continued on and navigated the roots as we made our way to Nuuanu. 

By now the sun was starting to set...reality was setting in.  Time for the dark of night.

Third loop, miles 40-60

Before we headed out we did a quick clothes and shoe/sock change.  I tended to some hot spots with my fabric tape, which had worked well in the past:

We also picked up our first round of pacers and friends to cheer us on:

Again, I knew that climbing Hogsback would be a challenge for me so I rocked out with my tunes to help me get through the climb.  By the time we started descending into Manoa (Paradise Park) I was feeling much better.  There we picked up our next set of pacers:

And we headed back into the darkness

At this point we were about a half hour behind schedule, and I was worried.  I told our pacers that they needed to push us as much as possible while still making sure they don't destroy us.  Hats off to all of our pacers, as they were phenomenal (more on them later).  They also did a very important job of making sure we drank every 15 minutes, ate every 30, and took salt tabs every hour. 

I was feeling good and was chatting with this set of pacers.  Before I knew it, we were approaching Nuuanu stream crossing and the 52.8 mile aid station.  My roommates told me they would try to come out and support me, so I was hoping to see them.  As I crossed the stream I heard screaming.  I looked up and saw the following:

I was so happy to see my girls and they were ecstatic to see me (later they told me they were worried because I was so pale and puffy). I spent some time at the aid station refilling fluids and getting ready for the next leg.

Then we picked up another pacer and headed back out into the darkness

We gave our pacer the same instructions as before: push as much as possible.  He set his alarm to ping every 15 minutes, and kept us hydrated and well fed.  Before we knew it, we were heading back down to Makiki (Nature Center) for the end of loop three.

Loop Four, mile 60-80

Many people say this is where the race truly begins.  This is known to be the hardest loop.  The make it or break it loop.  For this loop (and loop 5) we picked up Billy, aka @LArunr.  He's an ultrarunner and a good friend of Ryan's.  

We didn't even have to talk to him about pacing.  He knew where we needed to be and how to get us there. For me, this loop wasn't as hard as I imagined.  I wasn't tired; I wasn't sore.  I just focused on timing and celebrating the small victories of getting to each aid station.

Before I knew it, we were back at Nature Center. A whole lap already? My concept of time was out the window.

Loop Five, miles 80-100s

Before the loop started, I decided to get my feet tended to.  I had some hot spots/probable blisters and thought that if I got them taken care of, it would help me run faster.  Big mistake.

Not my feet, but you get the idea...

The medics were awesome but they took 15 minutes to tape up my feet, and the foot that got taped was the one that caused me mega problems in the end.  So I learned my lesson.  But moving on...

As soon as we started the Hogsback climb I knew I was in trouble.  I was trying so hard to keep up but my heart rate had soared and the boys were getting further and further ahead.  I finally broke down. "Guys!" I sobbed, " you have to slow down.  I'm losing it. I can't keep up."  By the time I got to the top I was a mess. I said "you have to remember. You're taller than me and have a 6 inch leg length advantage on these steps." A friend who had joined us for 7 miles said "well I'm as short as you and I'm doing it okay." I snapped back "you haven't just run 80 miles buddy".  At that point, Ryan and Billy decided to have a conference behind me. They decided it was time to separate.  Ryan was climbing better and I was losing it trying to keep up.  Ryan would run ahead solo and Billy would stick with me.  I supported the idea full-on.  I had Billy push me on the runable sections, and we tore down into Manoa.  We were so far ahead that I felt great and started to get emotional.  I realized I was actually going to do this thing! 

The climb out of Manoa was difficult but Billy kept me motivated.  He had me double up on some calories a few times.  He basically functioned as my brain.  I started slowing down as I came into Nuuanu, but at this point still had a good time cushion.  I left the aid station at mile 93 proclaiming "I'm actually going to do this thing!"

As soon as the climb started my body began to shut down.  Every step was agonizing and I started to get dizzy and nauseous.  My heart was thumping wildly.  Billy kept just ahead of me.  I was moaning and gasping but he kept pushing me.  "I'm trying Billy, I'm really trying." I wailed.  He said "I know you're trying.  But you have to give me 10% more.  Find that 10%." On the worst part he told me not to look up and just focus on finding each foothold.  Before I knew it we had finished the last climb of the course.  I let out a primal scream when I got to the top.

Once we started descending I knew I was in trouble.  Each step sent shooting pain through my feet.  I think it was a combination of the blisters, the bruising, and the fact I had 94 miles on my feet.  Walking hurt. Shuffling hurt more.  I did my best to forge ahead.

By the time we got to Manoa cliff trail I knew I was in trouble.  I can usually fly down the trail but I tried to run and ended up screaming.  I'm not exaggerating, either. Apparently other runners heard me and thought I was in trouble.  My IT band started locking up.  I could feel skin ripping beneath my toes. I tried to shuffle, but it turned into a painful step by step.  The pain intensified.  Soon I was sobbing.  Uncontrollable sobbing.  The tears blurred my vision so I tried to focus on moaning instead.  I started heavy breathing/moaning and timed it to my footsteps which helped me keep going.  Billy did the right thing and just kept moving.  He knew if I stopped it would be the end.  I had only 4 miles to go but seriously wondered if I could make it.  Once I got to center trail and realized I still had an hour left, I knew I would make it.  Even if I had to crawl on my hands and knees I would make it.

When I crossed the final rock and started the gravel path to the finish, the floodgates opened.  Sobbing, sobbing....I told Billy that I was going to run it in so I gave one final push. I rounded the corner and heard the screaming. 

I was screaming. I was crying.  I found Ryan's hand and we went running to the finish.  

There was a massive crowd all yelling for me.  Cameras were going off.  I found the sign and ceremoniously kissed is signaling my finishing time. 

Then I hugged Ryan:

And yelled for Billy: "You...you saved my life!"

Billy told me: "I actually started feeling sorry for you.  You were hurting!"

My friend came and congratulated me and said "you had a lot of doubters, but I knew you could do it.  You proved them wrong!"

I was one happy, puffy, pale sweaty lady:

Here's a video Billy took of my finish:




Post-Finish:

First thing I did was get my finishers belt buckle:

And then I said: I need to get these shoes off pronto!

Bob helping me with my shoes:

Inspecting the damage:

I can't tell you how much the ice bath hurt

My roommates rubbed my shoulders and arms to distract me

Suddenly things started cramping to I needed to stretch and elevate

Lying down and diet pepsi helped

So did a beer with Ryan

While I was lying down Melissa from Nonstop Honolulu interviewed me.  As you can see I'm quite loopy!

Make sure to check out her coverage of the race here: Nonstop Honolulu:

By the time my roommates got me home things were going haywire.  I needed to shower quickly but also had rashes and chafe marks all over my body.  My roommates helped me strip and apply vaseline to all my open wounds.  They helped me in the shower and I cleaned as best I could.  By the time I came out I was shivering uncontrollably.  They wrapped me in warm clothes and helped me to the couch and cocooned me in blankets and heating pads. I tried to take in fluids and food but wasn't hungry.  I slept horribly and dealt with a nasty blister situation:

bottom of pinkie toe

top of same toe

left foot

Swollen toes, cankles, and swollen legs at the awards banquet.  I weighed myself and am holding onto 10 lbs of fluid.  Pants are not an option now.

And now I must take a moment to try to thank everyone for your help in this race.  I've said it once and I'll say it again: this race was a collaborative effort. To my pacers Diana, Trish, Deanne, Ryan, Gaston, and Casey-- thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I am so sorry I was grumpy/whiny/demanding/loopy.  You guys were awesome. To Billy-I know you say it's no big deal, but I honestly mean it that I wouldn't have finished without you.  You put up with a whole lot of woman during the race and you handled it amazingly.  I hope one day I can pace for you, and hope that in the future you'll be able to pace me again.  This victory was yours as well.
To the crew at HURT, especially Rex, Freddy, Jeff, PJ, John, Barbi and Bob-- you guys made this an unbelievable experience. You all gave me tips along the way and encouraged me and reassured me.  I am so proud to be part of the HURT family.  Bob--you get a special thank you for being my sports psychologist these past few months.  I feel like you're my trail dad and can't thank you enough for everything.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gillia, thank you for adopting me this weekend.  It was great to see you guys at each aid station and those towels were AWESOME!
Of course, I must thank my sponsors GU and Brooks.  Without your help and support I wouldn't have been able to afford this nonsense.  I hope I am a good ambassador for your products and am proud to represent you.
To my family, thank you for your unconditional love and support.  I knew you guys were all cheering me on.
To my friends, especially my roommates---you guys rock. My roommates took unbelievable care of me after the race and I am eternally grateful.  I am so lucky to have you guys in my life.
To Dr. C, I know you wanted to be here, but in my mind you were running with me. I love you.
To Ryan...oh Ryan, where do I begin? What a journey we had.  Thank you for believing in me and supporting me.  Thanks for the long weekends out on the trails. I can't think of a better person to do this race with.  I am so fortunate to have your friendship and treasure our time together. I can't wait for bar night this week!

And finally, to all of you guys...jeez, I'm tearing up writing this.  What a journey we've had together.  Two Ironmans and a 100 miler? Honestly one of my main motivating factors in everything is you guys and your support.  All your emails, all your comments, all your tweets...you have no idea how much it meant to me.  During the day Billy would read me the tweets you guys sent and it was a lifesaver. I knew there were so many people rooting for me and it helped make my journey that much easier. I still can't believe it--100 miles. 100 miles!  I can't imagine where I go from here. But I can't wait for you to follow me on another journey.  All the love and Aloha from the bottom of my heart.