Us At Mile Eight (Photo Credit: Kelly Gaines)

Is it really the end of April already?!  It must be because last weekend was our trip to Arizona.

The planning for Zane Grey 50 Mile started with Brian mentioning we should do a run to celebrate his birthday.  It took all of two seconds to get on board, what a fine way to celebrate a milestone birthday (or any birthday for that matter).  He promptly went about finding a race and soon announced to us that he had picked ZG50, I knew very little about this race but what I did know was intimidating to say the least.  One thing about Brian is that nothing scares him, I admire that!

Our training went well, we did a decent number of miles, threw in some hill repeats, and worked a few flights of stairs.  What I didn’t do was all the other stuff I’d planned on, leg strengthening, core exercises, speed work, etc.  But, on the whole, I felt in decent shape heading into last weekend’s race.

A couple of days before the race, we got an email from the race director, it started like this:  “Dear Zane Grey 50 Entrant, This weekend’s weather forecast is for exceedingly hot conditions on race day, 15 degrees hotter than the average high temperature.  Normally this race feels very hot to runners on a average day.  So with an added 15 degrees of hot Arizona sun, conditions will be BRUTAL.  Plan accordingly!” Oh boy!

When we touched down in Phoenix on Friday, it was hot.  As we left the airport, the car thermometer was reading 100 degrees but by the time we got to Payson, it was in the 80’s.  Saturday morning, the race got underway at 5AM, if it was going to be warm, it sure wasn’t evident at that moment.  Paige and I started toward the back of a relatively small group of starters (126 runners).  The beam of our headlamps cut through the dark exposing the large cloud of dust kicked up by the runners ahead of us.  We wound our way through the trees up a steady incline.  There was some chatter among the runners but we mostly ran silently in anticipation of the miles that awaited us.  It didn’t take long and we had run ourselves out of the cool valley and toward the edge of the trees where the early signs of a sunrise began to show and the temperature was also noticeably warmer.  We passed a few people before falling in with a couple of runners named Honey and Jon who seemed to be long standing friends with a lot to catch up on - it was a mesmerizing conversation to listen to with names of familiar people, places and races scattered throughout.  Time passed quickly and soon we were rolling into the Geronimo aid station at mile 8, Kelly and Caleb were there to greet us.  Brian was keeping with his plan to push hard early on to get some miles in before the heat got bad; he had been through the aid station 20 minutes before us.  We topped off our bottles and headed into the next section.

By now, the sun was up and it was starting to get warm.  We kept moving at a steady effort but the pace was slower than I would have anticipated.  The trail was tough with lots of rocks, some roots, and a perpetual up and down.  We were in pure unadulterated snake country and with the temperature now quite warm, I was on high alert.  Few things drum up the adrenaline like the potential for a snake spotting and this trail was 100% potential.  Every foot placement required some level of scan prior to landing, it was exhausting.

The course was strikingly beautiful and I often caught my glance wandering to the horizon, hung up on some feature of the landscape before catching myself and looking back to the trail in front of me, this trail wouldn’t be very forgiving if I drifted off for long.  The next AS was Washington Park (mile 17) and as we rolled in, I could see Kelly and Caleb sitting atop a small hill above the actual AS.  We waved as we passed to fill our bottles and as we started toward her, I could see Brian laying in the deep grass with Caleb.  The early push or the heat or the toughness of the trail or, more likely, a combo of all of these left him wondering how smart it was to continue on to the next section which was a long one through very hot and exposed terrain.  With very little convincing, he was on his feet and ready to roll - that’s what I’m talking about!

We spent much of the next 3+ hours trying to keep the pace up as much as possible but it was still slow going.  The footing combined with the steep and never-ending hills kept us hiking as much as running.  Several times we came across cool and fast moving streams which we fully took advantage of by rinsing off our faces, splashing water onto our arms and dipping our hats - it was really quite an amazing experience.  The heat was in full swing by now and when we hit the next stream crossing, Brian decided it was time for a plunge.  He laid himself down, right smack in the middle of the stream and started splashing around like a kid at the pool, it was hilarious!  Time was starting to get tight and we were keeping a close eye on the cutoffs.  Brian wasn’t feeling good at all and decided that the Hell’s Gate AS (mile 23) would be where he called it a day.  After a quick refuel, we said our goodbyes and got back on the trail, not wanting to waste any valuable time.

The next section was the hardest, hottest, and longest of the day - 10 miles of relentless hills, rocks, and sun.  We ran when we could, hiked when we needed to and tried to keep moving as best we could.  The streams kept coming and we never missed the chance to cool off.  Eventually, we made it to Hatchery (mile 33).  It was at this AS that one of my favorite memories of the day took place.  Paige, a normally quiet and gentle girl, has a most impressive ability to burp like a champ.  At the AS, she was drinking some warm soda and, as we were heading out of the AS, she let one rip which didn’t surprise me but it clearly took unsuspecting bystanders off guard.  One of those in range happened to be Joe Grant (an elite runner) whose head snapped toward us with a  look of shock.  Paige apologized but it was unnecessary, this chill ultra runner was more impressed than offended and replied with a chuckle and a “its all good.”  I just looked on with pride, that’s my wife.

The next section is a bit of a blur, very much like the last section except hotter, tougher and longer : )  Our pace was holding steady at something between slow and slower but, at this point, I was happy to be moving forward and making the cutoffs.  At home, we normally knock out 10 miles in 80 minutes, no problem.  It was a whole different story here, taking us more than double that amount of time.  I was trying to drink as much as possible and I ended up drinking all of the 90 ounces of water I was carrying with me by the time we got to the next AS.  When we did finally reach Canyon AS (mile 44), Brelly was there and full of energy - what a welcome sight!  We took a minute to sit down while volunteers helped get our bottles and packs filled.  It finally hit us, we were nearly done and no longer in danger of missing cutoffs so we could relax and enjoy the cooling temperatures and remaining daylight.  We put our headlamps on and got back on the trail.

It didn’t take long before I realized that my hopes to relax and take it easy over the last six miles were lost on Paige.  She is strong and when she gets focused on the finish, I know I just need to tuck in behind her and try to keep up.  As the final fingers of light faded, we reluctantly switched our headlamps on.  We were making pretty good progress and started passing a few groups of runners.  Soon, the “one mile to go” sign appeared and shortly thereafter, the sound of the finish line could be heard.  We had run the whole day together and finished side-by-side.

This is a classic, “old school” race that lives up to its reputation in every respect - well run, beautiful, and tough.  I love spending the whole day running through beautiful country and feel so fortunate to have such a compatible partner to share the experience with.  I’m happy to report that we didn’t see a single snake.  As is often the case, I can’t account for most of the day but the highlights were clearly coming into the aid stations and being welcomed by the friendly volunteers, seeing Kelly/Caleb (and eventually Brian too), and the contented feeling of having struggled through the ups and downs of the day to finish healthy and happy with my Paige by my side.  You can read her race report HERE, its got more pictures and is much more entertaining.

“For heights and depths no words can reach, music is the soul’s own speech.  Break out of your regular playlist and listen to new music today.”

Today’s adventure finally pushed me to open a Pandora account.  I’ve had the app on my phone for, literally, years and never opened an account.  But I took the 30 seconds required to do so and immediately started looking for something different.  First up, Cool Jazz - loved it!  Next up, Americana - not quite as much but didn’t quite hate it.  And so the exploration continues.  If you have any urge to open a Pandora account, I’d highly recommend it!

Sweet Potato Burritos

“The colors and aromas of ethnic cuisines from around the world can open us up to all kinds of adventure.  For today’s adventure, try a new food.”

I am definitely not opposed to trying new things and usually like almost everything I try but I’m also guilty of sticking with my favorites more often than not.  Paige, on the other hand, is always up for trying new stuff so today’s adventure was especially exciting for her (and I just piggy backed off her).  She found a recipe for sweet potato burritos, I was a skeptic but she totally pulled it off, they were delicious!  Thank you Paige!

“It’s often said that knowledge is power. What have you learned recently?  For today’s adventure, learn something new.”

Good timing on this one, I grew up in Iowa which doesn’t get much attention most of the time but during an election year, like this one, it becomes the source of great attention.  Yesterday was the republican caucus, you’d think that 1) being a “responsible” adult and 2) someone who grew up in Iowa, I would know something about this process but I didn’t, so today, I decided to learn something about it.

First of all, I learned that the caucuses are oddly informal.  They are hosted in public places (churches, schools, libraries, …) and begin at 7 PM with a representative for each candidate talking about why voters should vote for their candidate.  Once that is complete, voters write their vote on a slip of paper and stuff it in a box.  Once all the votes are in, they are counted and reported.  There may be a little more to it than that but not much.  The democratic caucuses are a little more involved but more similar than different.  While I still know very little about the whole process, I know more than I did.

Chicago Pedway

“For your daily adventure today, consider a different means of transportation to work, take a different (maybe more scenic) route and see what you discover.”

So, we normally walk to work and I generally zig zag my way to work walking with the lights as I hit them but I often end up on virtually the same route because the lights are timed so it just works out that way.  Today, we were running late so I went the fastest way possible to get to work, which happens to be my normal route.  But, on the way home, I took a different, more scenic, route.  Because it was the first really cold day of the year, I decided to try to figure out the “pedway” and, it was really fun!  I’d been through parts before but much of it was new.  The great thing is that on those days when it is pouring out or unbelievably cold or sweep you off your feet windy, I now have a route that will keep me out of the elements for nearly half my walk, pretty cool!  Not to mention, I saw a couple of lunch spots I need to try out too.

“Today’s adventure invites you to pause and notice the littlest things.”  Normally, I think I do a pretty good job noticing the little things but it never hurts to give it a little extra focus.  With that in mind, little things I noticed today: the way my legs felt tight as I got out of bed, the sound of the wind outside, the way the coloring of the lake changes as the sky changes, the way my wife’s bicep flexes as she reaches for her iPhone, the fading smell of pine as I water the Christmas tree, while laying there at the base of the tree, I also notice the delicate stitching of our handmade tree skirt, the heavy organic smell as we enter the grocery store, the exceptional sweetness of the grapefruit I ate for dessert, the subtle changes in mood as songs randomly stream from a playlist, …

So, our friend Gretchen posted a link on her blog the other day.  The link was to another blog which was offering 31 Days of Adventure.  To quote Gretchen, “The concept is essentially … [that] adventures don’t have to be huge in order to enrich our lives. Most of the time, in fact, adventure is all about perspective.”  So Paige and I decided to give it a go.  Here is today’s adventure:

“Take a photo of something familiar from a new angle: up close; upside down; from above; from underneath.”  I run past this view of the city virtually everyday but I have never taken the time to walk out on the pier and see it from a different angle… until today.  The view was different, not dramatically but different.  I was no longer one of the runners along the water, I was instead an observer of the runners along the water.  Looking forward to the rest of the month!

Chicago = Familiar, From The Pier = New Perspective

Every month, Ben interviews a CHUG member and posts the interview on our page.  This month, it was a “two for one” interview of Paige and I.  I thoroughly enjoyed thinking about the answers and hearing Paige’s.  The interview follows…

This is the latest in our “meet the CHUGs” interviews. Each month we get to know another  Chicago area ultra marathoner (or two). We hope these interviews continue to build a sense of community and help support the networking of local endurance runners. This month we have a very special holiday two for one deal. We will be chatting with Geoffrey and Paige Dunmore (aka the GnP).

There is a group picture featured on Geof’s blog that is fun for a couple of reasons. First the picture is from one of the very first CHUG group runs. The photo is evidence that Geof and Paige have both been active members of the group since the very beginning. They are both not only very talented runners, but they are also amazing supporters of the Chicago ultra community. They volunteer, crew, pace and organize every bit as well as they compete. Through their wonderfully written and well visited blogs they help promote Chicago’s endurance culture to the readers all over the country.

The photo on Geof’s blog is also particularly notable because in the photo, Geof and Paige are not standing next to one another. This snapshot was taken pre GnP. The picture predates their Chicago ultrarunning love story. Shortly after the picture was taken, Paige and Geof  began dating. Last spring they married. Marriage has certainly served them well. 2011 has been a banner year for the GnP with numerous personal records and constant stream of  age group awards. The year started with a couple of quick Boston qualifying marathons. After a summer of steady training, they posted blazing times this fall at both the North Face Endurance Challenge, and just a few weeks later at the Des Plaines River Trail 50. In November, Geof and Paige ventured to the deserts of Arizona. They ran side by side for a fantastic finish at the Javelina Jundred! Paige set a huge 100 mile personal best, while Geof just barely missed setting his.

Thank you both for taking the time to answer a few questions. Please start off by telling us a little about yourselves. Age, Job, Family.

Geof:  I was the oldest of three kids and grew up very close to my family.  After heading to the University of Iowa not knowing what the heck I wanted to do, I dropped out and worked for several years before returning to school and finishing up a B.B.A. in Finance.  After graduation, I moved to Chicago to work for a large bank.  I am currently working as a financial advisor on the personal side of our business.  I remain close to my family which is spread out around the country but with a concentration in Iowa, Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado and California.

Paige: I am the second oldest of eight kids, growing up in ye olde town of Oak Park, IL.  I went over the hill this year and turned 30, woohoo!  So far 30’s not too shabby.  I got my degree in broadcast journalism from Illinois State University, opting to graduate early and jump ship for my first job as a radio DJ on the eastern shore of North Carolina.  It was pretty sweet for a couple of years, then I accepted a programming position with 93XRT here in Chicago.  After losing my position to budget cuts I took a job as a legal assistant for a mid-size law firm here in the city and have been doing that for almost 5 years now.  Of course, the call of personal fulfillment and the need to do something that actually means something is summoning me back to school in physical therapy, hopefully in the fall of 2012!

How about a little background of how you two met.

Geof:  I first became aware of Paige through the Ultralist.  I remember her posting quite frequently and mentioning being from Chicago, I thought to myself, “she seems pretty fun!”  I hoped our paths would cross but was too shy to reach out to her.  In February of 2009, I joined the very new group formed by Torey Jones called The Chicago Ultra Runners (aka CHUGs) and quickly got involved in the socials and group runs.  Guess what, that fun girl from the list was there and she was every bit as fun as I’d imagined.  We formally met at a group run in Palos Hills on an April morning but barely spoke that day.  I was finishing up training for my first Kettle Moraine 100 miler and she was in training for her first, Vermont 100 miler.  When Kettle rolled around, Torey had volunteered to crew and pace me along with another CHUG named Gary.  During Gary’s portion of the night, we were talking and mentioned that he was pretty good friends with Paige and that I should ask her out.  I doubted that she would be interested but he assured me that she would welcome it and soon setup a night out where we would both be there along with his girlfriend (who also happened to be a good friend of mine from college, small world).  The night went well and the next week was the CHUG Beer Run from Chicago to Milwaukee, it was on that run I fell in love with Paige.  We were skipping rocks on Lake Michigan in Southport Park and I thought to myself, this is the one.

Paige: Wait, what?  That’s not how it went!  I’m kidding :)  I was pretty much gaga after rubbing elbows with him at the first CHUG social, at Wilde Bar, just days before KM100, where I volunteered at Nordic and got butterflies in my belly when I saw Geof come through at the 100k mark.  I may have batted my eyelashes, but I mostly hid in the tent, too nervous to actually talk to him.  The Beer Run sealed the deal for me.  I knew I was going to marry him as we skipped rocks on the lake that morning.  How’d I get so lucky?!

How did you each get into ultrarunning?

Geof:  As a boy growing up in Iowa, my family was very active with hiking, biking, running, canoeing, camping… all of this gave me an appreciation for the outdoors.  My dad would let me tag along with him on runs from time to time and we would often go to watch local races where my running juices would get flowing and I would do laps around the block.  My relationship with running varied over the years but was always there and when I moved to Iowa City, I fell in with a group of friends that ran marathons.  Soon, my love of going long didn’t seem quite as strange and I started doing multiple marathons a year.  In 2000, I got my first taste of the ultra distance at the Minnesota Voyageur Trail 50.  We rented a minivan and a whole group of us went up with two of us running and the others in tow as crew - it was an amazing experience!  The next month I did my second 50 mile race.  After a far too long hiatus from ultras, I ran the Chicago Lakefront 50k as my first race back in 2008, it felt good to be back.

Paige: Let’s see, I followed a route to ultras that I do not recommend to others.  Running has been a part of my life since I was a bag o’ bones freshman track runner back in high school, but it wasn’t consistent until my sophomore year of college.  After moving to North Carolina, I ran just about every 5k race I could find, then continued that once I moved back to Chicago in 2006.  I joined a running club where I met someone who was running a 50k.  I tagged along and crewed (it was the DWD Hell 50k), and got sucked into the ultra world instantly.  I ran my first 1/2 marry the following week, then signed up for my first 50k the next month.  After finishing the 2008 Stone Steps 50k (in OH) I wrote off long distance.  That lasted one week, and then I signed up for my first 50 miler, McNaughton Park 50M (in Pekin, IL).  I ran my first marathon a year later, at Tecumseh.  Again, I don’t recommend this route to newbs

What do you each most enjoy about ultra running?

Geof:  I love running, always have.  I love seeing cities and trails, one step at a time.  I love the feeling of my body in motion.  But, what I think I love most about ultra running is how it boils everything down to its simplest components.  It is so refreshing after all the things that typically distract us on a daily basis to just be out there taking in the surroundings with no responsibilities other than taking care of your body’s needs.

Paige: Ooo, yea, what he said.  I also love the extraordinary challenge it presents.  The feeling of setting sights on something, working hard towards it, and then accomplishing is unlike anything else.  Knowing what you’ve gone through to get to the finish line of a 100 mile run is a good reminder that the little challenges you face daily are really just nothing in comparison.  Ultras remind me that life is pretty much exactly what you put into it and make of it.  You get out exactly what you put in; there is no faking your way through something like a 100 mile run.  Deep thoughts, with Paige

What an amazing year of racing! Give us some highlights.

Paige: My first roadie (road marathon) back in April.  We signed up on a whim, two weeks out, toying with the idea of qualifying for Boston.  Geof’s run Boston before, but this was a totally new thing for me.  I’d never raced *anything* in my life.  This was going to be interesting.  We both ended up BQ’ing, and that day set the stage for the rest of our year.  Ice Age 50k was when I finally thought perhaps I was going to have a pretty good racing year.  My paradigm shifted and suddenly I wasn’t going out just to finish, I was going out to see how fast I could go.  DPRT 50M  reminded me I am a runner and not just a jogger/climber.  But the biggie came at JJ100.  Whooowee!  After not being able to break 28 hours in my first three 100 mile races, I thought sub-26 would be doable with my training, and sub-24 was stout but within reach with the right focus.  Running the smartest and most consistent race to date earned us a sub-23.  THE best way to close out the racing season.  And now I’m really thirsty for next year…

Geof: Surprisingly, my highlight of the year came at the Crossroads Marathon.  Its not so much that particular event but rather that it awakened my desire to race.

What do you think made this year such a success?

Paige: Actually training.  And a LOT of strength and conditioning exercises I’ve learned through volunteering at a sports medicine physical therapy clinic.  It’s my secret weapon

Geof: We didn’t over race and were very steady throughout the year.  I did a little core work which helped with my form later in the longer races.

What’s coming up on your racing schedules for next year?

GnP: We’ve signed up for Zane Grey 50M in April, but that’s all we’ve got on the schedule so far.  We are eying a spring roadie, and will sprinkle in some 50 milers to keep the legs fresh.  There could be a return to JJ100, but we’ll definitely have a 100 in there somewhere; which one just depends on lots of other life factors (moving, school, etc.).

Any dream races?

Geof: Badwater, Hardrock 100 and UTMB, but these are a ways off : )

Paige: Hmmm, not sure I have a ‘dream‘ race in mind, but I wouldn’t hate a jog around Hardrock   or Wasatch one day.  I do have a strong desire to run American River 50 for some reason.  I’ll be happy to crew for Geof whenever he decides to do UTMB, or Badwater for that matter

Do you have any favorite workouts or routes?

Paige: For all its lack of terrain variability or excitement, I love running on the Lakefront Path…it’s where I gained my racing legs.  But my heart really belongs on the trails of the Southern Kettle Moraine.  I really love training runs up there.

Geof: Most of our running occurs on the Lakefront and I love our ten mile route that incorporates Northernly Island.  I really enjoy fartlek sessions run by time (i.e. X minutes hard followed by X minutes of recovery).  I also love the trails of Kettle Moraine, no particular favorite, they are all good.

Do you have any favorite local races?

Geof: Kettle Moraine 100, Glacial Trail 50 - the RD’s are awesome and the races are well run.  I also love the NLUR fat ass events which are less races and more group runs.

Paige: Glacial Trail, Ice Age and the North Face 50M (Wisconsin), can you tell I love the Kettle Moraine?  I have a teeny soft spot for the Indiana Crossroads Marathon, too.

Do either of you have any special nutrition during training or racing?

Geof:  Adrian Belitu gave me some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten and I’ve stuck with it ever since.  We were talking nutrition one day and he said, “go liquid.”  That made a huge difference for me, now I get the far majority of my calories from liquid sources which includes gels, powdered drinks, and soda.  Favorites are Perpetuem, EFS liquid shot, GU, Starbucks Double Shot and Coke.

Paige: Honey Stinger waffles and chews.  Love those things.  But I’ve learned that my game plan needs to change after 50 miles.  At JJ100 this year, that meant switching to gels (CarbBOOM! was available at aid stations), Coca Cola and Starbucks Double Shot for the last 50 miles.  Oh, and a buttload of water.

The GnP is known for running together. What are the advantages of running as a team?

Paige: Two heads are better than one :)  I like the teamwork aspect of it that was sort of de facto employed during our races together this year.  We’re usually in different mental spaces during races and sticking together can be a huge help in keeping each other in line.  Geof could troubleshoot for me, and I for him, when things got a little foggy.  We are generally pretty quiet otherwise, so it’s more just enjoying getting to spend the day with my better half, doing what we love.

Geof:  I agree with Paige, its nice to have each other there to look out for one another.  And, it’s just such a fun way to spend time together.

It seemed to me that this year you both really transitioned from running to racing. Do you think that this transition is more of a physical (training) or mental (confidence) step?

Paige: I think it’s a scoop of each of those things.  Like I mentioned earlier, I actually trained this year, starting in July (with the focus of JJ100).  Prior to that, the transition began in the first half of the year with running with Geof almost entirely, forcing me to push myself more than I would have on my own.  I also believe that I fine-tuned the mental aspect of it along the way.  Those two things work in concert and you have to work on both in order to have consistently good results.  For me, I had to get over a lot of internal noise when it came to my running/racing.

Geof: I go back and forth with adding racing to my running.  I think I enjoy both equally, this year just incorporated a little more racing than some years.  Ultimately, my goals are: 1) have fun and stay healthy, 2) finish, and 3) race.  Racing is just gravy, I don’t see that ever changing.

What advice do each of you have for new ultra runners?

GnP:  Don’t feel a need to rush it, enjoy the process.  A lot of runners new to the sport want to immediately jump to the hundred mile distance, which is great, but there is a lot of fun to be had along the way too.  Relish the achievements building up to that distance.  Expect times during your races and runs where you will feel rough and embrace them, and know that it too shall pass.  Listen to your body and give it time to rest and recover.   Don’t compare yourself to others, ultra running is a very individual experience, enjoy it!

So, how is the recovery going?  Awesome!  We took a full week off from running, as we agreed we would do, and then started back to it slowly on Monday of the following week.  Normally, the first run back is odd.  By that, I mean it feels strange, like I’ve never run before; my legs don’t feel liquid at all, my stride is all off, and things generally hurt.  This time was different.  What do I attribute this difference to?  First of all, I was in much better shape after the race this time - no real feet problems, and nothing overly sore.  Second, it seems that with each race, the “damage” done is less and the recovery is faster.  I say this from a limited sample size but it was also true when I first started running marathons, the first one left me incapacitated but later on, I would be stiff but nothing terrible.  I suspect the same phenomenon is occurring with the longer races now and I’m okay with it!

What surprises me more, is how fast I have recovered mentally.  Normally, a long race at the end of the season leaves me feeling done for a while but this time is different.  I feel charged and ready to set my sights on next season already.  I know that my body is still recovering and that it makes sense to take it easy for a while but it feels good to be “hungry” again at this point.  I assume some of this is related to what I mentioned above, feeling better physically and getting more accustomed to the distance.

In other news, perhaps related, I’ve been eating virtually everything in sight for the past two weeks.  My appetite is starting to die down but it was quite impressive for a week and a half.  And, we just returned from Thanksgiving in Iowa.  My mom and Kev hosted a small group of us this year.  We stuck around for a couple extra days to enjoy some family time, it was great!

At The Pre-Race Dinner (Photo Credit: Brian)

Two years ago, I ran Javelina (read that report here) and absolutely loved it!  This year, when Paige and I were deciding what races we wanted to do, we quickly decided that Javelina would be our target race for the fall.  Well, its now fall and last weekend we ran Javelina Jundred.  Friday morning, we flew to Phoenix and met up with Brelly at the airport.  With Caleb entertaining us in the backseat, we drove to the hotel in Fountain Hills to check in and get some lunch.  Packet pickup and the pre-race dinner started at 4PM and we didn’t want to miss any of the action so we soon headed out to McDowell Park where Javelina Jeadquarters were already buzzing with activity.  The number of entrants was much higher this year versus the last time we were here but it still had the same awesome vibe.  We quickly found a few familiar faces and checked in.  After snapping some pictures and milling around chatting with friends, the Coury brothers provided a quick pre-race meeting chock full of info.  It felt good to be there.  After a most delicious dinner and some more socializing, we headed back to the hotel for our final prep.

Brian And I Doing Our Best "Juan" Pose (Photo Credit: Kelly)

Race day, the alarm went off at 3:30AM and, surprisingly, I felt pretty rested and awake.  By 5AM, we were on our way to the start of my fifth one hundred mile race and the second that Paige and I have run together.  After getting our stuff set-up and dropping off our drop bag, we took a couple of pictures and were soon underway.  The night was cloudy but the temps were perfect so I started in a short sleeve with arm warmers that could be removed if/when it warmed up.  Starting toward the back of the pack, it was slow going through the first two miles and then Paige made her move, the first of many throughout the day.  For the next several miles, she was pushing past clumps of people trying to get to a place where we could run our pace, I just followed, which would be a theme for the day.  As we made our way around the first loop, I was happy that it felt so familiar and was everything that I remembered - runnable  and beautiful.  They moved the aid stations around some and added one more for a total of three on the course plus the main one, this turned out to be a nice change.  We finished the first loop fast but it felt comfortable so I tried not to worry that we were going out too fast.  We didn’t stay long but made sure we had everything we needed before heading out on our second loop, counter-clock-wise this time.

Finishing Up Loop One (Photo Credit: Kelly)

In this direction, its a gentle up hill for the first several miles but it didn’t feel like it as we ran nearly all of it.  One of the many great things about this race is the ability to see everyone from the front of the pack to the very last runner multiple times throughout the day, so we got to say hello to all the Chicago peeps as we doubled back, everyone was looking fresh and in good spirits.  We cruised through the second loop nearly as easily and quickly as the first, again, my tendency was to worry it was too fast but it felt easy enough so we rolled with it.  Finishing up the second loop, we took a little longer to get in and out of the Javelina Jeadquarters with Paige changing her socks and me messing around with food choices.  It was fun to see some of our crew who were there to support other runners or pace later on in the day; they were a ball of energy and made us feel very cared for (i.e. Kelly and Caleb, Jen, Jim, Terry, among others).

Aid Station Fun (Photo Credit: Kelly)

The next couple of loops got a bit warm with the sun peaking out and the warmth of the afternoon reaching the mid-70s, it felt warm but never hot which made it very manageable.  As the day unfolded, we saw many familiar faces throughout the day and enjoyed being able to keep tabs on how everyone’s race was going.  We finished up a loop around 6PM and were given the news that the latest forecast was calling for significant rainfall after mid-night, not the best news we could have received but at least we could prepare for it.  The amazing Kelly, went to the car and got our rain jackets and had them waiting for us on the next loop.

Getting A Little Pep Talk From Caleb (Photo Credit: Kelly)

It was dark now and we were running with our headlamps on.  Running with a headlamp always creates an odd sensation, but not in a bad way.  The headlamp typically comes out after running all day, the temperature has started to drop, the pace has slowed, the sleepiness has started to set in, the legs are tired, … and today was no exception - I love it, all of it!  I don’t know why but my absolute favorite thing about running these races is the night portion.  Somewhere during the wee hours of the morning, I was thinking about this and I started to feel just a little sorry for the race winner, Hal Koerner, who finished so fast that he didn’t even get to experience running at night, poor guy.  I say this, of course, just a little tongue in cheek because I would rather set a course record than run through the night but I would miss the night portion.  Normally, I experience a period of extreme sleepiness around 1AM and it typically lasts for a couple of hours but it can be normally be managed fairly well with coffee or soda but I had been fighting this feeling periodically throughout the day and when it hit at 1AM, it was a force to be reckoned  with.  I could hardly keep my eyes open and my body was trying to force me to sleep, sort of like someone was hitting the manual override button and I no longer had control.  I have been packing 5-Hour Energy in my drop bags for a couple of years but have never resorted to trying it.  I decided it was time and within minutes of ingesting the life giving liquid, I was feeling significantly better - the stuff really works!

The rain came early and by 10:15PM, we were huddled under a tent at an aid station putting on our rain jackets and moving our headlamps under the bills of our hats for protection from the rain and thought, “here we go.”  Fifteen minutes later, the rain let up and we were able to take our jackets off for a while longer, though the next time we put them on, it would be for the duration of our race.  The night didn’t get as cool as it did the last time I ran this race and with the rain, that was a very welcome thing.  Still, we saw runners who hadn’t prepared for the rain and were unable to move fast enough to keep warm - that’s tough situation to be in but thankfully, we were both moving well and protected inside our jackets.  As we finished our sixth loop, we were given our glow-in-the-dark neckless which signifies the “bell” lap.  We headed out and, after shaking out the stiffness that had quickly moved into my legs during the AS stop, we ran most of the way to the first aid station.  After a quick bottle refill, we were back on the trail which had now been soggy at best and shoe sucking muddy at worst for the past several hours.  The next section was the rockiest section of the trail, it was still pouring rain and we decided to walk through the worst of the rocks to make sure we didn’t take a fall on the slick rocks.  Two runners came up on our left as we navigated this section, it was Daniel and our friend Jim who was now pacing his cousin.  We’d been playing leapfrog all day with Daniel.  We stuck with them for a while and then Paige suddenly picked up the pace and took off.  Jim look at me and said, “well, you better go with her,” or something to that effect, I knew he was right because she was feeling good and could ’smell’ the end was near.  I took off after her and I don’t think we stopped running until we hit the finish-line.  I had been doing some rough calculations in my head and knew I was close to my hundred mile PR but couldn’t remember exactly so I decided to keep it to myself and just keep pushing in hopes of breaking it.  As we crossed the line, several of our crew were there including Kelly and Caleb!  Jamil, the co-RD, came over and presented us with our buckles and congratulated us.  They Coury brothers put on amazing events but more importantly, they are just amazing people and this is consistently seen in every interaction with them.  As it turned out, we didn’t quite best my PR but it was within seconds and if you factor in that Javelina is actually 101.4 miles, I suppose it is a PR of sorts.  Paige, on-the-other-hand, broke her PR by 5+ hours, I was simply in awe of her all day, she went out there prepared and executed the run flawlessly.

And, We're Done! (Photo Credit: Kelly)

I want to send a shout out to Brian who had a fantastic race and shaved hours off his PR as well.  We had such a fun time with all the Chicago crew including some new friends.  A huge thank you to Kelly for being such an amazing crew person all day and for the others who stepped in to help as well.  Other than fighting with the periodic sleepiness and a slightly touchy stomach, I felt pretty good most of the day.  Despite feeling good, it was all I could do to stay with Paige for the majority of the day.  Two Dunmores ran Javelina this year and it is undeniable that my wife was definitely the stronger Dunmore … at least on that day : )  (You can read her race report here.)

Somewhere On The Course (Photo Credit: Vens)