After nailing my goal at Western States earlier this year (see my Western States Sequel blog post), my most amazing wife suggested I run another 100 miler this year! I hopped on it before she changed her mind. I had this crazy idea to see what I was actually capable of in a 100 mile race under "ideal" condition and knew that Javelina Jundred was in a few months giving me some time to recover and train. I also knew I had my work cut out for me because Javelina (like any hundred) still had its set of unique challenges. Javelina is in the desert and its hot, like hot with no relief or shade! Javelina is a loop course that gradually ascends for the first half of the loop and descends for the second half, repeat 5 times and get an elevation gain of 7000ft. Loop courses give rise to its own set of issues; very easy to drop after a bad loop, seeing your loved ones and a big party going on every 20 miles is tempting. It is also very easy to pace yourself wrong and just go out too quick, don't believe me? just look at the high drop rate Javelina acquires every year (about 50%). Never running a race of this kind or format, I didn't really know what my plan/strategy would be and I was nervous about that. After all was said and done I got the job done, but not without learning some lessons along the way, so sit back and enjoy my guide on how to finish Javelina Jundred!
Loop 1 (How to go out way too fast): Still slightly dark but sun is just about to pop over the earth’s horizon, I have my flashlight even though I could probably navigate without. I start in the pack right behind the lead pack, I wanted to get out near the front, so I wouldn't be stuck in the inevitable conga line of runners going out to fast, but doing so I become the runner going out too fast, or am I? Still unsure how to pace a "flatter" loop course like this I ran an easy -for me- pace of 8:30 min/miles, it feels so slow, but I know I still have 99 more miles to go. As the sun starts to really wake up it shines a beautiful display over the desert, sun rise, and sunset are really a sight to behold in the desert! Now as the conga line starts to thin out and more room starts to open up I start to settle into my own pace and start to make friends with the other runners around me. Running an ultra, especially in the beginning where runners are still fresh and happy, can be a very social thing; as we all embark on what we know is going to be a long a painful journey one cannot help but form a bond with the other runners. I chat with a runner doing his first ever 100 miler I can’t help but to think he is possibly going out too fast and doesn't realize it, but who cares what I think he was still a good runner none the less. A chatty group of runners come up from behind running a slightly faster clip, so I let them go by, I recognize one of the runners being Andrew Glaze and decided to match his faster pace even though I thought it was too fast I wanted to chat with him for a bit. Andrew was a joy to run and converse with, a man of many stories he made the rest of loop one go by in a blink of an eye. I also had the pleasure of running a couple mile with Darcy Piceu, as we chatted about family, Hardrock 100 and AC100, I realize what an amazing runner and person she is, I am huge fan of hers. Loop one we have the pleasure of taking a trail we will only see once in the race (as opposed to 5 time). The trail was my favorite of the race, it undulated up and down some "technical" single-track through hills and cactus's, really wish this trail was run more than once. The last two miles of loop one the sun just started to give us a glimpse of the heat it was to unleash on us through the rest of the race, and my legs started to remind me I was running too fast for a 100 mile race and that I needed to slow down as fatigue was already setting in. 22 miles down in 3:08:34 (14th Place)
Loop 2 (How to get lost): My expert crew cools me off, shoves food in my mouth and sends me off to loop #2. I do my best to look like I’m a good runner until I’m out of the watchful eyes of the crowd, I begin to slow and even walk a little as the fatigue from going out too fast on loop one starts to set in. I'm beating myself up for going out too fast too early, I’m starting to doubt my goal, my strategy and the race in general; then like any ultra-coaster I start climbing out of my funk, I'm running and feeling good! Back to running a solid 8:30 min/mile pace, the influx of other runners starts to come my way, slower 100 milers and even some 100K runners coming from their first loop. This starts the trend of "good job" "keep it up" "looking good" that last the rest of the race save loop 5 when everyone is tired and ready to be done.
Thing are now really starting to heat up, both with the weather and the competition, I pass some runners, some pass me, and the real competition starts to show their true colors. After the halfway point of the second loop I start to fly all the way "downhill" as the pace starts to quicken and I feel great! Bring it! But as I cross the road coming out of Rattlesnake Ranch mountain bikers carelessly pass me, I was focused too much on how careless they were being and I followed them straight to a campsite missing a clearly marked right turn. I realize my mistake quickly (about 0.25 miles out), turn around and head back to the scene of the crime. Now I'm pissed, 3 runners pass me during my half mile detour but instead of letting it derail me, I settle into the pack and run the last 3 miles in to finish loop two in 3:07 (6:15 Elapsed) (10th Place)
Loop 4: (How to go blind): Well hell yeah! Is that a Strawberry Icee!? After a hot testy loop, the Icee was a god send, that and my pacers Keith and Brett showed up and were ready for action! Brett and I grab our water and headlamps as we head off to loop 4. During the start of this loop I got the pleasure of watching Jake Jackson fly by on his way to a 100K victory, congrats dude. It’s always great to run with company but even better running with Brett, however I quickly squash his enthusiasm as I tell him I need to walk some. I make a promise to Brett that once we hit the halfway point of this loop (mile 70) we will run the rest of the way in. It was brutal walk/run all the way to Jackass as my legs were begging for a break. As we leave Jackass I make good on my promise as I promptly start running and start to speed up, making great time only to be interrupted by my watch dying at mile 74. I make good use of this interruption as I put on my headlamp and continue down the trail at what seemed to be a fast pace at the time. Running a loop course with a headlamp just sucks, no way around it, I was constantly being blinded by other runners with insanely bright headlamps/waistbands pointed inadvertently too high. Despite being blinded for the remainder of the loop the temperature dropped and so did my pace for the rest of loop 4 in 3:42 (13:13 Elapsed) (4th Place)
Loop 5 (How to hallucinate): Another shirt change, I have never changed a shirt in a 100-mile run before and today I changed shirts twice, fashion show? 5 HR Energy, some nutrition and I'm off on loop 5 with my brother in toe pacing me to the finish. I give Keith the same BS lecture I gave Brett about walking some the first half and running the second half of the loop. That's how things got started for a few miles, run/walk until it didn't. Something just clicked! I started feeling good as I was running most of the uphill portion, not fast but at least I wasn't really walking. We pull into Jackass Junction again and the place was bumping, the party was in full effect. I thought I was hallucinating as I saw all sorts of people dressed up drunk and dancing including some pro runners like Jim Walmsley. I saw my friend Richard but he was a burger (Seriously he was in a burger costume) telling me to get out of Jackass and on to the podium. Off we run as I tell Keith its go time, we pick up the pace lured in by the downhill and the stench of the barn, I was just ready to be done. The closer to the finish I get the further away it seems to be, finally after what seems to be an eternity I heard music and saw lights as I round the last turn toward the finish. I saw Desirae and Brett as I entered the 1/4-mile-long finish chute, I felt like I was sprinting as the big crowd cheered me across the finish line! 4th place Overall in 16:46:13, finished the 5th loop in 3:33
Crew and support: Desirae and Zachary were there for me the whole trip to feed, crew and entertain me. They where both champs going out of their element by camping 2 days in the desert, love you both very much, couldn't have done it without you.
Pacing duties: Keith and Brett, thanks for driving 7 hours to run with me for 3 hours just to turn around and drive another 7 hours home, you guys kept me on track and entertained, thanks for being out there, I owe you one.
Clothing and support: rabbit running has the best clothes around hands down, they were also an official sponsor of Javelina! Not only did I get the pleasure of being the most comfortable person out there but I got lots of cheers and support from the amazing people behind the company.
Shoes: Seriously, no blisters, hot spots or lost toenails again, when you find a shoe that works for you stick with it, the Lone Peaks are my go to for any trail run, thank you Altra for your continued support.
Thanks to Naked Running Band for making it easy to stash my nutrition, trash and headlamp with ease. Thank you to everyone who followed me online and gave encouragement, your support means a lot to me!
Although running loops though the desert does not really appeal to me, I still had a lot of fun and I'm glad I got to experienced it! It was a good test to see what I am capable of while learning a lot lessons along the way. Would I do it again? I really don't know, not anytime soon but who knows what the future holds.. until then.... a beer to celebrate and another trail to run..
