April 13-15, 2007
Early in the running season, I was faced with one of my toughest ultra challenges of the year, a 150-mile race near Pekin,
When I first heard about the race, I thought it was a crazy idea. But several months went by and finally I couldn’t resist the challenge. I signed up for it. With the loop course, I would be able to visit my car or drop bag every ten miles. That makes things pretty easy logistically, to always have what you need without a few miles. There also would be a couple of aid stations during the loop.
How do you train for a 150-miler? My warped mind considered that 50-mile training runs might do the trick. Throw in several 100-mile runs within four months of the race and I probably would be ready. That is what I did. I ran three 100-mile runs and three 50-mile runs. This was a pretty tough accomplishment during the winter. 800 winter miles total.
As race-day approached, I looked closely at the 49 extreme runners who signed up for the race. I discovered that the field would consist of some of the toughest ultra runners around. I only knew a couple, but I looked forward to getting to know many out on the trail. I was impressed to see how many 100-milers this field had accomplished. The average for each looked like around ten. Five had finished Hardrock at least once, Four had finished Badwater. Three had finished the Grandslam. Fourteen had finished HURT. Seven had finished Wasatch. There was Hans Bern Bauer, who won the 48-hour Across the Years race, and had completed a transcontinental run across the US. There was famed walker, Ulrich Kamm, who has finished Hardrock 10 times. There was Joel Burrows who ran 150 miles in Antarctica, a nine-time Ironman. There was Catra Corbett, who I ran numerous 100-milers last year and is running the PCT (
Weather was going to be an issue. A couple big rain storms were crossing the country and it looked like there would be no chance to avoid rain and mud. What should my pace be? Clearly I had to resist the urge to start with a fast pace. I read every race report I could find about the McNaughton Park course. Going out fast would be to run a 2-hour loop. In a 150-miler, that just isn’t needed. So I set my goal to complete the first loop in 2:15 and then allow for five more minutes, each loop thereafter, until the 15th loop would be completed in 3:25. My total time would be 42:5 hours. 42.5 hours! That’s crazy! My thoughts went back to my first Grand Canyon 100, a double-double crossing. I took my time, and was out there for over 39 hours. That was a grueling 39 hours and a very long time to be without sleep and to be on my feet.
Did I feel confident? No, just an anxious nervousness. I knew that 100 miles is tough enough. 150? Who knows, but I was willing to try. I flew out on Friday morning. My first frustration was getting my checked bag in Chicago. After an hour of waiting, none of the Salt Lake City bags showed up. We couldn’t get answers, so all I could do is put in a claim and try to explain to the confused bag agent that I needed the bag at McNaughton
Me and Matt Watts right before the pain started
At the start line, we all joked with each other, realizing what a crazy thing we were attempting. A 6 p.m. start was strange. The first loop would be in the light and then night would arrive. The start was counted down and we were off. 40 runners started the 150-mile race. About 200 more runners would join us in the morning running either 50 or 100 miles.
The 150-mile start
Sherpa John photo
Loop 1: Mile 0-10.
It felt great to be running again. I had not run at all for almost two weeks. I felt rested and ready. We first ran down to a big field and ran clockwise around it, giving us a nice view of the rest of the runners. I was shocked at how fast the front-runners were going. Didn’t someone tell them we were attempting 150 miles? I was content to run about 15th or so. For awhile I ran behind Diane Van Deren from
Me, looking good at mile 1
We climbed up to Tanners Pass, a short but steep climb through a forest, and then ran across a grassy area near the start/finish line. Many people were there cheering us on and joking that we were almost done. Next up was the first portion of the “red trail.” This single-track trail took us down in a drainage area where we had to make several crossings of small creeks. My feet got a little wet, but there would be plenty more of that wetness to come. For the next mile or so, there were short but steep climbs and descents and the trail winded through woods and went across fields, making its way to the Totem Pole aid station (about 2.5 into the loop).
After a fast stop at the Totem Pole aid station the course became very runnable with some descents in open areas, making its way through the Blue Bird section. I ran by several bird feeders. I was impressed by the beauty of the park, but also shocked at how many hills we had to climb. They were short but tough. I joined in with a couple other runners, James Howton and I think Joel Burrows, taking turns at setting the pace. I was usually content to be in the rear. One of my objectives for this first loop was to learn the course well. I knew that my second trip through the course would be in the dark and would be much more challenging to navigate. We arrived at Lick Creek and had to make our first crossing. I didn’t cross it in the shallowest spot this first time, got wet up to my thighs, but I did see the place to cross from then on which would be in only ankle deep water. With wet feet, I didn’t worry. I knew they would dry out fast and my feet usually did fine wet anyway.
The next section took us up and down several short steep areas before arriving at the steepest climb with a rope to assist us. The climbs felt good. My legs were starting to warm up. On the climbs I pushed on ahead of the others, but let them catch up after the top. I tried to push the descents fast, but some of them were very steep. Wow, how would these be once the rain started? (lots more about that later!)
We ran into several deer along the way. They had huge white tails. One kept bounding ahead of us, staying on the course, but finally went down toward the creek. This was great to be running where the deer played.
One of the many fields
Sherpa John photo
We neared a road and could see cars and people cheering us on. This was “Hairpin Turn.” The run up from there was very enjoyable. I pushed it hard and felt great. After arriving at the top, the trail spilled out at the edge of a large field. We ran on soft grass and it was pretty level. This was the Cemetery Loop section around a huge field. It passed by an old 19th century cemetery. This section was a nice rest after the tough ups and downs. As we approached the Heaven’s Gate aid station at about mile 5.8, I could see the front-runners, already a mile ahead, making their way on the other side of the Cemetery Loop.
The Heaven’s Gate volunteers were very helpful and encouraging. Next up was a one mile out-and-back loop that was my favorite portion of the course. It descended down into the river bottoms and then the trail winded back and forth through the trees. One runner commented that it felt like we were dogs going in and out of gates. I laughed. It really did. The trail then opened up into a field where I was able to increase the speed. Finally the loop finished with a nice climb back up to the aid station. Returning, other runners were arriving who were already a mile behind me.
Pond by the dam
Sherpa John photo
The final three miles back to the start/finish area first consisted of a long run on the other side of the cemetery loop and made its way through forests over ridges and across fields. There was another creek crossing of ankle-deep water to get the feet soaked one more time. Dusk was arriving but I still didn’t need to turn on my flashlight. The trail went through a Frisbee golf course, across an earth dam by a pond, and then ascended a hill back to the grassy area of the start/finish area. I arrived at 1:53, much faster than planned. So far, so good. I was feeling great and had no pains to complain about. At the aid station I asked for sports drink. The kids manning it, said there wasn’t any. I knew there really was some somewhere and encouraged the kids to find some Heed to mix up. It would be a long day with only water. Another disappointment was that there wasn’t any Coke, only Diet Coke (no carbs). I tried to use Mt. Dew instead, but I should have bought some Coke. Almost every ultra has Coke.
Loop 2: Mile 10-20
After refilling, and grabbing a quick bite, I headed out for the second loop. I had run the first loop in short sleeves, but it now was time to put on a jacket. All night the temperature would be cooler up on the ridges and warmer down near the creek. It finally became dark enough to turn on my light and it became easy to see the runners ahead and behind. But unfortunately it became somewhat difficult to stay on the course. I especially had difficulty after the Totem Pole aid station as the route crossed some fields. Several times I started going the wrong way but quickly found out my mistake. As I was struggling, I noticed the runners behind me were using me as their navigator. I picked up the pace, left them far behind, letting them have the fun of finding the route too. I concentrated on memorizing any challenging sections. What really helped me is that I turned on my red headlamp. It did a fantastic job in picking out the reflective clothes pins and made them look like glow sticks from far away. After that, I had no problems staying on course at all.
As I continued to make my way up and down the hills, I could tell that my legs were starting to struggle. Either they were tired from over-training or were tired from not enough hill training. I tried my best to keep up the pace but I was passed by several runners on this loop. We did start to spread out. It was fun to see lights moving up and down the forested hills and across the wide-open fields. I was surprised that the temperature still felt pretty warm. I kept my jacket unzipped and ran much of the night without wearing a hat to help keep me cool. I finished at 4:15, a much slower loop, but 20 minutes ahead of my goal pace. I also had already built a two hour cushion on the cutoff pace. If I did all 15 loops at a constant pace in 48 hours, each loop would be 3:12, a brisk walking pace. I was now two hours ahead of that pace.
Loop 3: Mile 20-30
I should have brought along my audio recorder because all the memories of these loops faded. I do know that it was much easier navigating this loop. I took a little more time at the aid stations. The guys at the Totem Pole station said they planned to go to sleep for the night but would leave out all the things we needed. We could help ourselves. The first half of this loop was fairly slow for me, but I really poured it on after Heaven’s Gate, feeling much better. I believe I was looped by the leaders during this loop. I recognized David Goggins. We were down on the out-and-back loop. I kept up with them for about a half mile, but had to let them go on ahead. I arrived back at the start/finish area around 1 a.m., right on my goal pace. I did realize that my pace was fading fast.
Loop 4: Mile 30-40
My night ran continued. I really enjoy running in the night, chasing lights, or pushing ahead to avoid being caught. It was a fun game to keep me amused. I also enjoyed singing to my MP3 in an attempt to keep my spirits high. After the river crossings, the trail was getting muddier and muddier from all the wet feet. We also were tearing up the trail in places, making the running more difficult.
As I was making the climbs near the end of the loop, around mile 38, I experienced my first major problem. I felt a tear in my left shin muscle. I had injured that shin pretty bad a couple weeks ago. I did notice that the tear was in a different location, so I hoped that it would be minor. But I could tell that the pain would remain with me for the rest of the race. I was careful not to stretch it out much. It slowed me down significantly. This really bummed me out.
Loop 5: Mile 40-50
During this loop, I just tried to ignore the shin splint pain and pushed ahead. After the Totem Pole aid station (about 2.5 miles into the loop), I noticed that two lights were moving at an amazing pace toward me. I hadn’t been passed by anyone for some time, so I set a goal to really increase the pace and stay ahead of these two. I guessed that they must be a runner trying to lap me with a pacer. For the next five miles I ran at a great pace and managed to stay ahead of this pair. Sometimes they were right on my heels, and other times I could get ahead by a long distance. Our pace was so quick that I passed a couple runners along the way. It was a great motivator. They finally passed me on the second visit to Heaven’s Gate aid station. I stopped, but they continued on. My motivators were gone and my pace slowed back down. As I was finishing up this loop, I noticed that 6 a.m. arrived. This meant that the 50 and 100 mile runners were now on their way. I knew that they would really literally tear up the trail, making much more difficult. They sure did!
Loop 6 Mile 50-60
One of the mud holes I went through over and over again
Team Sherpa photo
With dawn, the rain arrived. A steady drizzle descended on the course. It would last all morning. The mud became more difficult to trek through. The creek crossings were nice to clean off the shoes, but following those crossing we would at times go through mud a foot thick. Steep sections became very slick. I could see sliding marks all over from runners slipping and sliding. On some sections I slid down them and reached out to grab tree trunks on the way down to slow me down. The effort was taking its toll. I experienced my next major problem on this loop. I pulled a hamstring near the back of my knee. Oh, no! I hoped that I could run through it. I slowed down significantly to try to work through it. I made the mistake of worrying about it too much and not concentrating on eating. I soon was very low on energy.
On this loop, I was alarmed to watch a runner cheat. He cut off about a mile of the course by taking a short cut. I eventually caught up with him. He was moving slowly. He was just a highschool kid. He was attempting 100 miles, but said he would probably quit at 50. I thought “actually, make that 49.” He ended up quitting before the end of the loop. Another disgusting problem noticed was the amount of littering going on. People were throwing down cups on the course like they were at some sort of 10k or road marathon. Come on guys, we don’t do that at ultras!
When I reached the bottom of the rope climb, I stepped aside to let Karl Melzer pass. He was running in 3rd place at the time in the 100-miler. He was on mile 14 and I was on mile 54. I was amazed as I watched him scale the first part of the hill without touching the rope. He had amazing speed and energy.
At about mile 55, I caught up with the first of many slow moving 50 or 100 milers struggling in the mud. The rain came down harder and at some point I finally pulled out a garbage bag, tore some holes in it, making myself a nice rain jacket. When I felt warmer, I tore some more holes for ventilation. At Heaven’s Gate (second time), I saw Matt Watts for the first time since the start. He was about a mile behind me. I encouraged him to catch up with me. I hoped he would. I needed someone to motivate me.
This was my first loop that took over three hours. I knew that wasn’t good, but if I continued to stay faster than 3:12, I was doing great. I kept reminding myself that this wasn’t a 100-miler. I needed to have a slower pace. I was now 3.5 hours ahead of the cutoff pace. I took a longer stop at the start/finish area. I kept an eye out for Matt. I thought for sure that he would catch up, but I never saw him. I went to my car to call my wife. I said that I was doing fine but slowing down. She asked me if I was having fun. I hesitated because I knew that I really wasn’t having fun at this point. I lied and said I was.
Loop 7 (mile 60-70)
This loop was the most difficult loop I experienced. The mud was incredible. To help you understand, one runner, after he finished, weighed his mud covered shoes. They were eight pounds. For much of the loop I was anchored down by eight pounds on my feet! It really wore me down. On one steep section I again pulled my hamstring when I almost took a face-plant My shin splint hurt going down hills, my hamstring hurt going up hills. They both hurt on the flats. I couldn’t win. I slowed down hoping that Matt would catch up, but I never saw him.
As I was approaching the roped hill, I thought again about Karl Melzer. I did some calculations and thought that it was possible for him to lap me again soon. Sure enough, at the bottom of the rope, I looked back and there came Karl running along the trail. He called out and said, “didn’t I see you at this same spot?” I laughed. He had run two loops in the time it took me to run one! His pace was amazing. I should have said, “yep, I’m keeping up with you pretty well!” He told me to keep moving, that I was doing great. This time he used the rope to scale the hill. The mud was terrible.
When I arrived at Heaven’s Gate aid station, I asked them if Matt Watts had come through for the seventh time. They said he had and was already well on his way. He was probably well over a mile ahead of me. That was very depressing. I struggled to increase my pace. I was now being passed by many 50 and 100 milers. They were all very friendly and very encouraging telling me lies about how well I was doing. I had not been passed by a 150-miler for ages. Where were they all? Had they all quit? During this loop my other shin became a problem. Great, now two shin splints. I should have done much more hill training.
That loop was slow. I lost cutoff buffer. This wasn’t working. At the start/finish, I was shocked to see Matt. He told me that he was done. He did 68 miles and had taken a shortcut from Heaven’s Gate to get back. He said he knew he couldn’t finish, his pace was getting too slow. I tried to explain that we still could do it if the remaining loops were about 3.5 hours each.
I refused to consider quitting. I decided to take a half hour rest in my car to regroup. I changed into dry shoes, cleaned up, and did my best to eat.
Loop 8 (Mile 70-80)
I struggled through this loop. Karl passed me again only one mile into the loop. With my long stop, I had to catch up and pass many slow-moving runners who I had passed before. My dry shoes were a problem. My toes were wrinkled, water-logged and didn’t do well rubbing against dry socks. Hot spots started to be felt. I should have lubricated my feet. I solved the problem by finding a stream and got my feet soaked. That did the trick. My feet worked better wet. I started to become very sleepy and near the roped hill, finally stopped to sit against a big rock to take a cat nap. I felt much better after that. Many runners who passed me called me by name, “Keep it up Davy.” That was so kind of them. The most frustrating part of this loop was that I couldn’t run very much. The pain from my injuries would stop me each time I tried to push it. Near the end of the loop my feet started to ache. Near mile 79 it started to feel like a death march. But my pace was still OK. I completed a 3.5 hour loop if I subtracted the half hour at the start/finish line.
Something happened as I approached the start/finish area. My motivation was gone. I went to my car, took off my shoes, and wanted to quit. I knew that I could fairly easily do at least 20 more miles in the next seven hours, missing yet another night of sleep and beating 30 hours. Why? If I stopped at 100, it still would be a DNF. I reasoned that to finish 150, I needed to do 3.5 hour loops. I concluded that it would be impossible, because I needed a rest after each loop. Why kill myself, it was time to quit. I would wait a half hour before deciding.
I went back to the start/finish area and told the RD that I was done. I was firm on my decision and looked forward to a warm shower and a comfortable bed. I watched Anne Watts complete her 4th loop of her 50-miler and then bid goodbye to Matt and Anne.
I felt much better in the morning after nine hours of sleep. The sky was clear, the morning was beautiful. I thought about the runners still out on the course. The sting of a DNF hit me hard. I had quit. I had before vowed that I would never again quit. I would make the cutoff quit me, make the RD pull me off the course. I was mad. I had mentally quit. I should have continued on. I had lots of excuses. 1. Other tough runners quit, so could I. 2. My muscles were injured. 3. Going without sleep for two nights is stupid. 4. It was getting colder, very windy. 5. My pace was getting too slow, so 150 miles was out of the question. 6. It started to feel like a death march. 7. I was getting bored with the course. I had it memorized.
Whine, whimper, bellyache, complain, gripe, excuses. Give me a break! Even if I couldn’t have done 150 miles, I could have done 120 miles or more. When I quit I was still over two hours ahead of the cutoff pace. It had been a long time since I felt the sting of a DNF from quitting. The last time was at Vermont 100 in 2005, also at mile 80.
On the bright side, these depressing feelings are good for me. I’m now very determined to not quit on any more races this year. It was a wake-up call. It’s the same feeling that a winning team feels like after being crushed in a loss. I’m now mad and determined. I also know that I need to hit the hills hard. My winter flat-land training just isn’t enough for the mountain 100s ahead. Also on the bright side, my recovery will be very fast. If I would have continued, I probably would be out of commission for weeks. I now plan on running in a trail marathon next weekend.
Matt and I both agreed that we wished the race had started in the morning instead of 6 p.m. Sleep deprivation is a huge factor in attempting 150 miles. Start the race right after a good night’s rest. 15 loops can get pretty boring. I wish the loops were 20-mile loops. Even reversing direction would help.
McNaughton was an interesting race. The race director is super. Will I be back? I suspect I will….to get revenge.
Race results.
Of the 40 starters, 10 finished. The winner in 35.22. Every runner who went past 100 miles finished. All ten were ahead of me when I quit, but one runner, Phil Rosenstein, was only a half hour ahead. He finished in 46:55. His last loop took over six hours. Of the 40 starters, I came in 28th place.