When Friday rolled around, I was beat!  All day at work, I kept wondering if it was a good idea to spend a sleepless weekend running from Chicago to Milwaukee with a few of the Chicago Ultrarunners Group (CHUGs) - the short answer is definitively, yes!  My co-pilot for the weekend was Paige, you may have heard the name before and will undoubtedly hear it again.  When she got to my house, she immediately started poking fun at how much stuff I had packed.  I am a notorious over-packer and this time was no exception but, to my defense, I had packed lots of extra stuff just in case people forgot things (like a sleeping bag/pillow, right Paige?), I would have extra for them to use.  We loaded up the truck and headed over to meet the rest of the group at Goose Island Brewery.  On the drive over, the wind was really picked up, it started to rain hard, and then the lightning started but we knew it was supposed to pass quickly and we decided that a little rain wasn’t going to stop us.  When we got there, a good sized crowd was already there: Ian, Torey, Tony, Jim, Gary, Vishal, Chris, Adrian, Simone, Kelly, and Brian.  We had a beer as we discussed the upcoming night.  We had two runners who had decided to give the whole 100 mile distance a go - Tony and Jim.  The rest of us would run somewhere from 20 to 45 miles and drive the support vehicles along the route.

Torey Baked Us A Birthday Cake

As we finished our beer, Torey disappeared only to reappear a minute later with a candle lit birthday cake in honor of my, Adrian and Kelly’s birthdays all happening that week.  It was a sweet thing to do and absolutely yummy too (I had three pieces to do my part)!  Soon, the group was getting restless and wanting to hit the road.

Somewhere along the way, it turned into a costume run as well.  I missed that conversation until Thursday night and thus was completely unprepared for the costume piece and took some playful ribbing about it throughout the weekend.  Others were much more festive: Gary was Pimp Master G.  Adrian was a running budda.  Paige looked sporty as a beer cadet.  Torey was dressed as her alter ego, Gretchen.  Kelly was dazzeling in her Refreshinator outfit.  Brian kept us all safe as Captain Six Pack, which was complete with a cape and all.  And, Jim was a flashback to the 80’s with his Run DMC outfit.  After some pictures, the first group of runners were off into the evening.  Kelly, Gary and I drove the first two legs allowing the rest of the group to run some of that energy out of their legs.  By mile 10, everyone was good and warmed up and the costumes came off - time for some serious miles.  Everyone started taking turns driving vehicles while another group ran the next segment.

Jim and Adrian may have hatched the idea but Brian really took the idea and gave it wings.  He put together a most amazing race packet with turn by turn directions, color maps, distances, official crew stops - it was beyond anything I’d ever seen before.  As segments were completed, he would use his laptop and wireless broadband card to upload times and pictures to the website.

The time was passing quickly and before long, 30 miles had passed and we were into the far north suburbs of Chicago.  We would often meet up in commuter parking lots to fill water bottles and get some nutrition.  My truck was the “food” and water vehicle.  I had a cooler with all sorts of drinks, a 5 gallon insulated water jug, and all the food.  The other two vehicles had clothing and gear split between them.

Torey And Gary

Everyone continued to look good and run strong well into the night.  The rain had stopped quite early in the run and the temperature had cooled off a bit, the group was making good time.  Around 3 AM, I got my first real taste of fatigue and drifted off for 15 minutes before our runners started showing up.  We were in a pretty sketchy part of town and I had a fleeting thought that maybe it was best that I wait till the next stop before sleeping but I was out before I completed the thought.  After getting our runners back on the road, we headed to the next stop which was a parking lot of a small dinner.  I decided to take another short nap but only got about another 20 minutes or so, just enough of a “power nap” to take the edge off - it would be the last sleep I got until the following morning around 12:30 AM.

The Crew

On the way to our next stop, we passed a McDonald’s and my wheels began turning.  I was ready for some real food and fortunately, so were a few others but first we had to meet up with our runners and then we could get some food.  At the next stop, Karen (a CHUG who lives in the area) had found the runners and joined them on her bike.  She also brought a surprise of birthday cake and breakfast beer - thanks Karen, it was great meeting you!

Tough Decisions Had To Be Made At McDonald's

We got our runners off and headed back to get some breakfast.  For as early as it was, the place was hopping.  Sitting at breakfast, it dawned on me just how much fun I was having.  Everyone was getting along amazingly well and the rhythm of the run was fun.  As runners would approach the crew stops, everyone would start cheering for them “100 mile runner, coming in” or “looking good runners”.  And then it would turn to taking care of any needs they may have - filling bottles, finding food, getting drinks from the cooler, finding sunblock, etc.  It probably doesn’t sound like that much fun but it was, and you’ll just have to trust me on that point.  In between crew stops, we had about an hour to kill.  Some of that time was used to drive to the next stop, some was used to pick up more supplies, some was used for sheer pleasure and that brings us to my favorite stop of the day.

Kelly And Paige Rediscovering Their Inner-Five-Year-Olds

It must have been around mile 55 or 60 when the crew stop was at Southport Park in Kenosha right on Lake Michigan.  The park had a nice shoreline, a boathouse, some fields for soccer, and a playground equipped with swings and a monkey bar.  I immediately headed for the swing set.  It must have looked fun because before long, Brian, Paige and Kelly all joined in the fun.  I had not been on a swing in years and it was a blast!  The monkey bar didn’t escape my notice either.  Then it was off to check out the lake.

Nice Form Crash

Paige joined me in a heated rock skipping contest which was too close to call and then we walked down the shore for a ways to see some sea gulls lined up on an old dock.  The sun was shining, the water was gorgeous, we were playing like 5 year olds and I was happy.  Somehow, Torey and Gary were able to nap through all the fun - I suppose running 20+ miles and staying up all night can make a person tired.  Eventually, we had to leave the park behind and head to our next stop.

When the runners pulled into mile 60, they had picked up another CHUG somewhere along the way.  Debbie lives in the area and came out looking for us.  She wasn’t sure how far she was going to run but decided that a “worst case scenerio” would be that she would run all the way to Milwaukee and call her husband Craig pick her up - I liked this girl right off the bat!  At the next stop, I decided that I’d watched long enough and laced up my shoes.  At this point in the day, it was early afternoon and it was hot.  There was no shade and the runners were feeling it.

Tony After 70 Miles

Both Tony and Jim had run the entire way and were looking good.  Tony was having some chaffing but decided to put a little more Bodyglide on and see if he could keep going.  The next stretch was a tough one and by the time the next crew stop rolled around, the relatively stoic Tony couldn’t take any more of the chaffing.  He and Jim had a heart to heart but eventually Tony gracefully declined to go any further - he’d had an awesome run and set a new personal long run record of 70 miles, way to go Tony!

As we started the next stretch, the temperatures were in the high 80’s or low 90’s depending on which sign you read but either way, it was hot!  The trail had given way to an industrial neighborhood with a lot of concrete but we CHUG’d along.  Jim was like a metronome, his steps even and steady.  By the end of the segment, I only had ten miles in my legs and I felt done!  I kept thinking to myself, and was very careful not to say so outloud, but I was quite happy that I didn’t have 20 miles left in that heat!

Ice Cream Brought Smiles To Brian And Kelly

Paige and Torey left the crew stop with Jim as the rest of us headed into a little deli to get some food.  It was attached to a butcher shop and that was a promising sign.  The sandwiches were big, delicious and cheap.  I got a huge sandwich, chips, a soda, and a chocolate malt for less than $11 - what a deal!  We were all feeling a little more human after lunch and headed toward the next stop.

As we waited for our runners, we started to figure out who was running the final segments of the run since we wanted to make sure Jim had plenty of company.  We all discussed what we thought we wanted to do and by the time it was decided, I was thinking that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for me to have had such a large lunch : ).  Soon, the runners arrived and after a quick turnaround, off they were off again.  As I watched Torey and Jim head down the highway, I really began to think about the character of the group I was with.  Everyone had pulled together to make this weekend a reality.  There were those who had the idea, those who developed the idea, those who signed up to be a part of the weekend, those who came to support at the start of the run or somewhere along the route, those who brought food and drinks, those who were running, those who were driving… everyone played an important part to the success of this weekend.  I watched the care that Torey had in her eyes as she “watched over” Jim - she felt a personal commitment to get him to the next aid station, you could see it.  I watched how each person jumped into action when anyone needed something, giving readily of their supplies to assist another CHUG.  I watched how supportive everyone was of each other.  I watched how much everyone smiled and laughed despite a serious lack of sleep.  I watched how comfortably the group moved as a single unit made up of the individual members - we were there as one, with a single purpose.  To put it simply, I was in awe of what I was witnessing/experiencing first hand and, felt amazingly happy to be a part of it.  I knew that we were building lifelong friendships during that trip and I couldn’t have been more happy with my new friends.

Paige, Brian And Torey Awaiting Our Runners

At mile 90, I laced up and prepared to run the final ten miles.  Jim had finally started to feel the effects of the day so we took our time, running when we could and walking when we needed to.  I was able to convince him to take some ibuprofen (which has a bad rap and he resisted for several miles) but it works miracles, I swear.  He did seem to appreciate its effects within about 20 minutes and soon we were running again.  At the final crew stop, I shared my favorite drink which is more like rocket fuel than anything else - Starbucks Doubleshot.  I think he may have liked it.  Paige, Brian, Torey, Debbie, and I all ran the final five miles with Jim into downtown Milwaukee.  We got a lot of hoots, hollers and honks as people responded to the costumes - it was a blast.  The others were waiting for us at Water Street Brewery.  Soon, we were all with beer and food toasting a great day.  Torey had the idea to go around the table and have everyone say “a pro, a con, and another pro” about the trip.  It was a great idea and it was fun to hear what people thought about the trip.  The overwhelming feeling was that it was an amazing experience.

Jim After 100 Miles, Not Looking Too Bad, Eh?

After dinner, we met up with some of Jim’s friends for a while before hunting down the hotel.  We ended our day around midnight with all of us crashing in a single hotel room.  We had cots, sleeping bags, and Jim even crashed right on the floor but we all fell asleep with smiles on our faces.  In the morning, I needed to get to Iowa for Father’s Day and Jim needed to get home so we left around 7:45 AM with several CHUGs getting up to send us off.  I felt a little sad leaving this group after the experience we’d just had together but felt confident that it would not be the last!

Torey, thank you again for bringing this group together by starting and fostering the Chicago Ultrarunners - you are amazing!  Brian, your route and gear planning skills are unsurpassed and greatly appreciated!  Kelly, you ooze kindness and added such a wonderful element to the trip.  Gary, your humor (i.e. ‘light in a box’) continues to bring a smile to my face.  Tony, you had a great run and accepted what the day had to offer with the grace of a champion.  Jim, your awesome spirit and love of the long run are an inspiration.  Debbie, we may have just met you but you are definitely one of us.  Karen, that cake you brought was unbelievably good even at the end of a very long day.  Paige, I don’t know what to say but I do know this, you were the best co-pilot ever!

Me And Paige - Critical Mass

Friday was my second critical mass of the season and after me hyping it up so much, Paige decided she was game to give it a try.  I loaned her a “safe” bike and we headed down to Daley Plaza on a perfect summer night.  The crowd was huge though we never really got to see the whole crowd because we got there just as they were leaving so we pulled into the rear of the pack.  We could see that it stretched for blocks ahead of us but was so dense that we never really moved up much.  We rode for an hour or a little more and decided that was enough for the evening as we were both getting hungry and were tired from a long week.  I know I had fun and I’m pretty sure she did too.

Trash Run - There Were 8 Bags Like This

Paige started a group called Chicago Trash Runners.  They meet once a month at a predetermined spot to do a little running, a little trash collecting, and a whole lot of socializing.  This weekend’s run was on the southside in Washington Park.  It was a beautiful morning with the sun shining, very calm winds and warm but decent temps.  There were 7 of us and we picked up a LOT of trash!  I found many of the items you’d expect to find (i.e. bottles, cans, cigarettes, food wrappers, etc.)  but then I also found a bunch of stuff I didn’t fully expect (i.e. a shoe, some sort of tool shaped like a screw driver but with markings on it, lighters, a syringe, a spoon, etc.).  After we had our fill of collecting trash, we all headed over to Medici’s in Hyde Park for lunch.  We had a nice spot outside in the sun, the food was good and so was the company.  Thanks Paige for setting up such a fun event!

Me And Dad

Saturday night, I caught the Metra train up to Ravinia to meet my dad, Andrea, Brian, Kelly, Jen and Gary to see Diana Krall.  It was a gorgeous night (at least to start with…oh, that was foreshadowing).  Dad and Andrea got to the park early and staked out a great spot on the lawn.

Andrea, Me, Brian and Kelly

I got there around 6:15PM and quickly got comfy in my lounge chair.  They had brought some good eats and we wasted little time before digging in.  Brian and Kelly showed up shortly thereafter; Brian opened their cooler and revealed the treats they had brought - Blue Moon complete with a fresh orange!  Soon it started to spit and before long, we were glad we were under a thick canopy of leaves because a steady rain began to fall.

The concert was very enjoyable but the meat and potatoes of the evening was the company; it was so much fun to be there with a mix of my friends and my family - I love it when the best of both worlds collide.

Me, Jen And Gary At Ravinia

Palos Hills With The CHUGs

Sunday morning was a CHUG outing at Palos Hills.  The group consisted of Torey, Jerret, Jim, Debbie, Tony, Paige and me.  After some quick greetings, we headed out for a loop.  Torey took the lead with her trusty map in hand.  Debbie had driven down from Wisconsin to share in the fun - that is pretty hardcore if you ask me!  Jerret was doing his first trail run ever and took to it like a natural.  Tony was just a week off his 70 mile run and was running strong wearing his new tights - look out, the guy will be unstoppable now!  Jim was just a week recovered from his 100 mile trek to Milwaukee (don’t worry, the post is still on its way - no excuses) and he looked smooth as silk - what a running machine!

Me And Paige

Paige was doing her last long run before Vermont 100 and had a “character building” run, I was impressed with her ability to smile through a tough day.  Toward the end of the second loop, several of us were pretty wiped and looking forward to finishing up.  Inevitably, the conversation turns to food at this point.  I mentioned that a burrito sounded good and Jim quickly jumped on that idea.  It didn’t take much convincing to get the rest of the group on board for a little post-run Chipotle action.  I got my burrito and boy did it hit the spot!  Yet another awesome CHUG outing; thanks to those who made it out and to those who couldn’t make it, we missed you!

Torey, Paige and Tony

Debbie, Down From Wisconsin

I am still working on a post for the Chicago to Milwaukee run but for some reason, can’t seem to get it done.  Maybe because this week has been so busy?

Dad, Grandpa And Me

Sunday was Father’s Day and I made it to Iowa to see my family including my dad, grandpa and uncle Jim.  I was pretty sleepy from my Friday/Saturday but it was the perfect low key day of spending time together.  Monday, Paige and I went to see Year One - awesome!  We both laughed throughout the movie and even though I wouldn’t say our humor is exactly sophisticated, it was pretty funny.  Tuesday, was the Shedd which I already wrote about.  Wednesday was sushi night - twice in two weeks, yum!  I also booked a ticket to Vermont in July to pace Paige through her first hundo - woo hoo!  Tonight, I met up with Gary and Vishal for a little male bonding at Justin’s.  We had a lot to talk about - politics, business, foreign affairs, … okay, not really but we did talk about upcoming races and plotted a “stupid” movie night.  Have I mentioned how happy I am that I have met such a great group of friends through the Chicago Ultrarunner’s group (CHUGs)?

Jen And Gary

Before we left, Jen showed up with her friends and we ended up sticking around a little longer.  It was great to see her and meet the infamous Masha.  I lasted longer than expected (consistent with my ‘no sleep’ week) but was the first to leave.  Vishal caught a ride home with me since we live in the same hood.  A fun week so far and with critical mass tomorrow, a group run on both Saturday and Sunday, and Ravinia on Saturday night, my weekend is looking pretty great!

Vishal In The Middle Of A Great Story

The Shedd Aquarium has been undergoing a huge renovation that completely rebuilt the dolphin and whale areas.  During the renovation, they sent the animals on vacation to other zoos around the country.  Well, the dolphins are back from vacation and tonight, I got to see the newly renovated aquarium which included the new dolphin/whale show.  Susan is on the junior board for the Shedd and had an extra ticket to a “dress rehearsal” for the new show; I jumped at the chance to go!  As a side bonus, we got to leave work early to get there in time.

The new area was impressive.  They installed a large curtain around the entire outer window that not only darkened the room but also served as a movie screen during the show.  The show was much more than just dolphins, it incorporated actors, flying boats, projected images on the screen, penguins, and a hawk.  While I am a sucker for the straight forward dolphin show, I still enjoyed the updated version which they are calling Fantasea.  After the show, we got to stay and look around the aquarium which is always fun.  Thanks Susan, for the opportunity to see the new Shedd!

Note: I anticipate posting a recap of the weekend soon, but I’ll give you a little synopsis… it was awesome!

Dad, I’m not sure where to begin.  I often think of all the things we’ve done together over the years and how thankful I am for the varied experiences that you’ve exposed me to.  Whether we were hiking in Glacier National Park, flying a small Piper over grandma’s house, biking through the countryside, going to a piano recital, or just taking a drive, it was always fun.  You were never afraid to show your feelings and there was never any uncertainty that you loved me.  There are many qualities I love about you but one that stands out is the kindness and respect you show towards everyone you encounter.  Thank you for being such a caring and supportive father.  I love you!

Honorable mention:  Uncles Steve and Jim, who have both been there throughout my life.  Grandpa, who has always been up for a project whether its been helping build a ramp for my bike or showing me how to fix a watch.  My brother, who is celebrating his first father’s day as a dad himself - you’re gonna make a great dad.  Kevin, who has taken us kids in as his own and loves my mom unconditionally.

Anyone still looking for just the right gift for dad but not sure what to get, I would offer the below suggestion, its a slam dunk.

Friday night after work, several of us are meeting up at Goose Island Brewery to have a beer before setting out for Milwaukee, WI.  The original idea was to have a self-supported run from one brewery to another and to run the whole distance.  As the planning got underway, and the proposed date of just two weeks after my KM100 race, I knew that I wouldn’t be running the whole distance.  But, the idea still appealed to me and there were others who weren’t running the whole way either and if some of us weren’t running the whole way, support vehicles would be needed so… I’m driving and possibly doing a little running too.  After a busy week, I’m looking forward to the “down time” that I will have as a support crew and even more than that, I am looking forward to the time with the Chicago Ultra Running bunch.  We hope to reach Milwaukee sometime Saturday evening and head to the Water Street Brewery, spend the night downtown and then head out Sunday morning (me for Iowa to celebrate Father’s day with the family).  It should be a lot of fun and its not too late if anyone reading this wants to join!

It started on Thursday, Paige and I were exchanging rapid fire email and the topic of movies came up.  I mentioned that there were several new movies that were “on my list” including the new Will Ferrell movie Land of the Lost. She mentioned that she loved Will Ferrell and that she thought that movie looked hilarious - I couldn’t agree more.  We started plotting a plan for the following night.  She emailed Gary to see if he and Jen could join.  Friday rolled around and they were a ‘maybe’, Jen had been traveling extensively and needed a down night.  They ended up agreeing to dinner beforehand but decided against the movie.  Jen and I work just across the street from each other so we walked over and met Paige and Gary who where already at the restaurant.  After a delicious dinner, Jen and Gary headed home and we headed to laughfest 2009.

Unbelievably, the theatre was empty which made me wonder what we had gotten ourselves into but as the previews started, so did the laughs.  I won’t say that this was the best movie I’ve ever seen but it was certainly entertaining and  we both laughed throughout.  Paige, I’m not sure if there are many others who would have appreciated that humor as much as me but you definitely held your own and I am happy to have a new movie buddy for future slapstick comedies!

No alarm was set for Saturday morning, the first time in a while.  I finally woke up around 10 AM which was good considering I had plans with Mark that would likely run late.  I took my first run since KM100, just a short 4 mile run.  I felt pretty good but could definitely tell that I was still in the recovery process.  After an afternoon of errands, I was off to meet Mark for a beer.  He took me to his “go to” place, Hopleaf in Andersonville.  It was a nice night so we walked over and took a table on the patio, it was my second outside dining experience of the weekend (and of the season).  The beer was delicious, the food was tasty and catching up with Mark was fantastic!

It felt so good to sleep in on Saturday that I did it again on Sunday.  When I got up, I did some laundry and went for a run, another short one.  After lunch, I took a short bike ride and then sat near the lake for an hour or so.  I finally made it to the Apple store to buy a replacement battery for my computer (thank you mom/Kev for the early birthday present).  And with a quick trip to the grocery store, my errands were done.  I ended this most relaxing weekend with some dinner at home and a great movie called Off The Black with Nick Nolte.

Its been 5 days (depending on whether you count Sunday or not) since I finished my race and since then, I have been very diligent with my recovery.  I have not run the whole week, I’ve been icing each night, I’ve made sure to get lots of high protein snacks throughout the day, I’ve hydrated like a machine, and I’ve even taken the bus to work all week.  The result, I feel good.  My legs feel normal, actually they have for a couple days now.  And I have started to think its time to go for a run.  For good measure, I am going to take one more day off (today) but I think this weekend, my running shoes will see some action.

Last night, I caught myself looking at race websites and checking out other ultrarunner’s race calendars.  For what purpose you may ask?  I got bitten by something last weekend and my calendar for the rest of the year is remarkably empty of scheduled races.  I have a few ideas floating around up there and roughed out a schedule of events that look interesting to me so I would guess that my ‘2009 Events’ page will be getting an update soon.

Andrea, Me And Torey Getting Ready To Leave

Let me start by saying this, 100 miles is a long way to run.  Friday night went exactly as I’d hoped, we got to my dad and Andrea’s place shortly before 6 PM and finished dinner around 7:30 PM which left plenty of time to relax and still get to bed at a reasonable time.  My race day started at a little after 2AM on Saturday.  My dad would like me to say that this was because the neighbors’ dogs woke me up with their seemingly endless enthusiasm for barking but the truth is that I think it was nerves - I had been planning this day for months and now it was here.  I laid there for another 45 minutes before giving up on sleep and decided to get up.  I had already planned everything out, first at home and then again when I got to my dad and Andrea’s house, so there wasn’t anything left to do but think about how the day would go.  Soon, the rest of the house began to rise and Andrea made some coffee while I got dressed.

Final Gear Prep

Torey, Andrea and I left the house at 4:45 AM and drove to the start area for the 6 AM start.  The weather was perfect - sunny and 52 degrees with just a slight breeze.  I gave some quick instruction to my crew and then put my drop bags in the appropriate spots.  Somehow, I messed around long enough that I missed the pre-race group photo and got to the start line a minute or so late (of course, that was much better than last year, so I am happy with the progress).  My heart was racing from the outset and I knew this wasn’t a fitness issue, it was all nerves.  I slowly made my way through the crowd until I got to a pace that felt comfortable.

Bluff Road Aid Station (Mile 7.4)

The first several miles were rolling with some fairly steep hills thrown in for good measure.  I won’t pretend that they were mountains but they were definitely enough to encourage a cautious runner trying to preserve their legs for the remaining 98 miles of the race, to walk up them.  We would have the fortune of passing through this area 4 times before this race was through.  I tend to spend the first several miles of any longer race doing a full body assessment trying to determine if there are any areas that seem like they might cause a problem later and if so, try to deal with them before they actually become a problem - nothing specifically felt bad, yet somehow I didn’t feel that great either.  The first crew accessible aid station (CAAS) was at Bluff Road (7.4 miles) and it gave me the first glimpse of how nice it was going to be having a support crew.  Torey and Andrea jumped into action filling water bottles and making sure I was doing okay.

Emma Carlin (Mile 15.5)

The next section was one of the harder sections for me, at least mentally.  I still wasn’t feeling that great and I couldn’t get my heart rate down which worried me because it was far enough into the race that I should have relaxed by now but still early enough that I shouldn’t have been feeling that rough.  I got to the next CAAS at Emma Carlin (15.5 miles) and was in a supremely grumpy mood.  I wanted to be having fun and I wasn’t yet.  Torey and Andrea took care of me and gave me some words of encouragement and off I headed.  I couldn’t shake the grumpiness for the next 15 miles and rolled into the Scuppernong aid station (mile 31.4) feeling some relief that Andrea and Torey weren’t planning on meeting me there so I didn’t have to “be nice.”  What I hadn’t planned on was seeing Kelly there.  Kelly is part of the Chicago Ultrarunners and was there supporting Brian.  The other thing I hadn’t planned on was how good it would feel to see her friendly face, somehow that cracked my grumpiness and I started to pull out of it.  Then Vishal appeared from the woods and gave me another boost.  Vishal was also attempting his first 100 miler and we had run together at the Ice Age 50 Mile just the month before.  After using the restroom, and finally getting some cooperation from my body, I headed back out onto the trails with a much improved attitude.

The trip back to the Emma Carlin aid station was much more pleasant than the trip out and I was actually able to enjoy the scenery.  When I got back to Emma Carlin (mile 47.3), Torey and Andrea were waiting for me and probably happy to see that I was finally starting to have some fun.  I didn’t stick around long, knowing that if I spent even 5 minutes at each aid station, it would add 2 hours and 15 minutes to my day.

Nordic (Mile 62.9)

Vishal and I ran together for most of the next 15.6 miles.  We took turns feeling good and pushing the pace.  It seemed that one of us was feeling good while the other was feeling something less than good but together, we got through the miles at a reasonable pace.  At the Tamarack aid station (mile 57.8), we got our first glimpse of Ian.  Ian is a fellow Chicago Ultrarunner who was volunteering at the best aid station of the race and was a very welcome site!  From there, it was only 5.4 miles back to the Nordic aid station where Gary was waiting to pace us through the first leg of the evening.  This was also the first I chance I would have to see my dad.

Tending To The Feet (Mile 62.9)

Gary, Me And Vishal - Heading Into The Night

I did a quick change of clothing, took care of my feet, changed my shoes, put my headlamp on, swapped out my dark sunglass lens for clear lens, took a couple of pictures and then we headed off into the last 37 mile section of the race.  Vishal decided he wanted to take it easy for a bit so Gary and I ran ahead.  When we got to the Tamarack station again, I drank a Starbucks Doubleshot to perk me up for the night, it wasn’t dark yet but it would be soon.  It wasn’t much longer before I started to feel a little better and was able to pick up the pace.  Gary claimed his GPS unit was clocking 7:15 miles and while I’m not sure that was a completely accurate reading, we were definitely moving along much better than I had been all day.  The next 10 miles or so were a lot of fun with talk of running, 80’s movies, Seinfeld, and I don’t remember what else but we were having a good time.  The night running was not only going better than expected, I actually really liked it.  There is something that is both relaxing and exhilarating about running through a pitch black forest with trees zipping past and all you can see is what your headlamp is illuminating.

Consulting The Pacing Chart (Thanks For The Template, Brian!)

As we approached the Hwy 12 aid station (mile 77.1), I was still feeling quite good and was finally having the kind of run that I had been longing for all day.  With a quick reapplication of Bodyglide to some sensitive areas and a refilling of the water bottles, we were on our way to Rice Lake with just 4.4 miles to cover; turns out they were some of the toughest miles, at least technically speaking.  The trail was full of rocks, roots and “steps” that must be traversed.  It took a lot of focus to keep upright.  As we picked our way through the challenging footing, I began to rely more heavily on Gary’s lead, using his pacing as well as his headlamp for a preview of what I was approaching on the trail.  About an hour later, we could see the welcoming lights of the Rice Lake aid station.  When we got there, Torey was suited up and chomping at the bit to get running - what a trooper considering it was probably 1 AM by now.  Gary does the hand off to Torey and then hangs back to wait for Vishal who he will guide back to the finish line, talk about a trooper.

Torey Finally Gets To Run - Rice Lake (Mile 81.5)

As we head into the night, I catch myself thinking “I’m almost done, I have less than 20 miles to go.”  It then occurs to me just how silly this thinking is, 1) I have over 80 miles in my legs, 2) that is still a long way, and 3) it is over some tough terrain.  But, I guess that is just how the mind works on too little sleep and a lot of endorphins.  Torey was an amazing pacer with a keen sense of what I was capable of from minute to minute and just the right amount of “tough love.”  As the miles passed, I became increasingly dependent on watching Torey’s feet in front of me - when she ran, I ran (usually).  By 2:30 AM, I was really getting tired.  For years, I have heard this term ‘Zombie Runner’ and for the first time, I was beginning to understand because that is exactly what I felt like.

The day had been cloudy and it had even rained for an hour or so but right about that time, the clouds parted and a full moon graced the sky.  It was so beautiful sitting on the horizon above a field of waving grass.  Moments later, I glanced back for another look but the clouds had returned and it was gone.  

At the Bluff Road aid station, we had just 7.4 miles to go and it would be the last time we’d see my dad and Andrea before the finish line.  We stopped for a minute and I took the opportunity to sit down while my dad rubbed my shoulders - this was both good and bad.  It felt awesome, which was good but it also made it hard to get up, which was bad.  Fortunately, Torey recognized the situation and took action; before I knew it, we were back on the trail heading to see Ian at the Taramack aid station.  It was definitely cool and the breeze kept me on the chilly side but there were no mosquitos and no rain so that was good.  The aid station came into view and Ian was there waiting for us with a hearty welcome.  The volunteers took my water bottles to fill them and I sat down (again) and mentioned that since this was the last time we’d be seeing Ian, it might be nice to stay a while.  To this Torey responded, “you’ve got 30 seconds,” and looked at her watch to let me know she was serious.

As we left the final aid station and headed back into the dark, I was beginning to let it all sink in.  Here I was, in the final miles of my first 100 mile run and had been fortunate enough to have friends and family join me for the experience.  I had been planning this day for months and now I was in the final stretch.  I wouldn’t say I was sad that I was nearing the end but there was definitely a small part of me that was in no hurry for it all to be over, I was loving it… loving this experience, for all its ups and downs, for all its discomfort and for all its joy, this was a great day.

At The Finish

Getting My Kettle From Tim, The Race Director

The final miles were tough but as I crossed the finish line, all that faded.  My dad and Andrea were there beaming with pride.  Torey was there with a congratulatory hug.  Tim, the race director, was there slapping high fives and congratulating me on my finish.  The volunteers were there with warm soup.  What more could a guy ask for?  Much of the day had not gone as I had planned it but the way I felt at the finish line was exactly what I had envisioned and it was amazing.

We spent 25 minutes taking it all in and watching the sun come up before heading to the cars.  I had hoped to stay and watch others finish but didn’t feel up to it and I suspected they would understand.  I fell asleep more than once in the short drive back to my dad and Andrea’s place.  And, after a quick shower, I passed out for the next 3 hours.  By 10:30 AM on Sunday morning, we were back in the car heading home.  Eventually, my appetite came roaring back so we stopped to get a cheeseburger.

What surprised me about the day?

• It was tougher mentally than it was physically.
• Time passed quickly, almost without exception.
• Even in the middle of the night, the volunteers, who had been out there for 18, 19, 20 hours, made you feel incredibly important and cared for.
• Night running was awesome.
• My best miles were between 70 and 80 miles into the race.
• How great it was to come out at every aid station seeing familiar faces.
• How great it was to have company during the night.

A quick run down of some random facts:

• I changed my shirt(s) 3 times, socks twice, shoes once.
• I walked virtually all the uphills and ran nearly all the flat/downhills.
• I took in only liquid calories which came from 3 primary sources: 1) Perpetuem, 2) Ensure, and 3) soda (Coke/Mt. Dew).  I also had a few GU packets and one Starbucks Doubleshot.
• I took two Salt Stick electrolyte capsules per hour.
• I took 200 mg of ibuprofen every two hours.
• I finished with no blisters and only minor chafing.
• I finished in 22 hours 40 minutes and 21 seconds. (Click here for full results.)

FAQs:

1.  ”What was the worst part of the day?”  -The first 31 miles.  I couldn’t relax, my heart was racing, my mind was playing games with me, and my stomach was bothering me.
2. “What was the best part of the day?”  -The finish, of course.  But there were several highlights worth mentioning.  The care I got from my crew at the aid stations.  The miles of euphoria I felt from 70 to 80.  The moon.  Seeing my dad and watching him enjoy the whole experience.
3. “100 miles?!  Are you crazy?”  -No.
4. “Didn’t you get hungry?”  -Nope, the Perpetuem has a fairly thick consistency and is rather satisfying.
5. “Did you listen to music?”  -No, though I did have Gary to sing me a song or two.
6. “What did you think about for all that time?”  -I haven’t any idea.  I know that I spent a fair amount of time monitoring my body and how things were feeling but other than that, it remains mostly unaccounted for time.
7. “Did you know anyone else who was running?”  -Yes, thanks to the Chicago Ultrarunning Group.  Dom, Vishal, Tony, Ed, Greg, Jonathan, Brian, Jason, Mike and I know there were others but those were the ones that I saw, recognized and remember.  There were also several others up there supporting and volunteering.
8. “When will you run next?”  -Still figuring that out.  Probably in the next couple of days, I’ll give the legs a little test run but I am definitely not in a rush.
9. “How do you feel now?”  -I feel better than expected but definitely stiff. Sunday was the worst and each day has shown some improvement.  I’ve been icing my legs and my right ankle and heel remain a little stiff.  I got a massage last night and my therapist seemed to think I was doing remarkably well (though he may have been stroking my ego for a larger tip).
10. “Would you do it again?”  -Absolutely.

More pictures can be found on Snapfish, click here to view.

Finally, a BIG thanks to everyone who has supported me throughout this endeavor for your encouragement and your interest.  And a special thank you to all those who where a part of the actual weekend, it wouldn’t have been the same experience without you.  Dad, I know you had to juggle some things at work to make it happen and it is appreciated.  Andrea, you can crew for any race you want, you were amazing.  Gary, I can’t believe the generosity of giving up a Saturday night to pull a couple of guys through the night with your good humor and unbridled enthusiasm.  Torey, what can I say that wouldn’t understate the appreciation I have for your support throughout the weekend and making sure I got home safely.

Kettle Moraine 100 Mile is this weekend, it starts on Saturday morning at 6AM and with any luck, I will be finished by 6AM on Sunday morning.  I feel ready.  My body has held up remarkably well through 5 months and more than 1250 miles of training.  Mentally, I feel confident.  Gary and Torey are both committed to getting me through the night, if I can just get myself to the 100K point.  Torey has taken on the added responsibility of “crew chief” which means she will be putting up with me all weekend - good luck to you Torey, I hope to not be overly moody or needy.  My dad and Andrea are hosting a pre-race dinner, providing lodging, and planning to be out on the course with bug spray, camera, and lots of encouragement.  Several of the Chicago Ultrarunners, who have been so supportive throughout this spring, will be out there - many will be running but many will be there just as volunteers and support crew.  

This week, my small apartment has been completely overtaken with piles of stuff for the weekend.  I had a pile for each aid station drop bag.  A pile for my ‘morning of’ stuff.  A pile for ‘extras’ to put in the truck.  A pile for ‘the day after’ stuff.  The tough part of the planning was trying to figure out what I would want at each stage of the race, I tried to plan for a range of the most probable scenarios but only time will tell how well I have planned.  The forecast has been a moving target but, it looks like it is going to be cool and wet with a 60% chance for showers.

The plan for the weekend goes something like this: