MMT100

MMT100 Race Report, George "I didn't do Massanutten, Massanutten did me''...(103.7 miles)

That was my first FB post after finishing at a time of 34.21 and I still find it appropriate.

I first decided to enter the MMT lottery after looking at Spring 100's and coming up with a list of races that scare me and I have no business doing. Being a mostly back of the pack runner who is low on ability, but high on attitude, I entered the lottery. Upon getting into the lottery, I actually spent the next 10 weeks training with mostly high mileage weeks. This doesn't make me any faster, but it does give me a chance to finish. I'm still on a learning curve as far as drop bags, pre-race diet, and just getting a good night sleep before the run. These were problems I had before the start at 4 a.m. with 2 hours sleep.

The run starts typical enough with a 4 mile road uphill road section in suprisingly chilly conditions. After 4 miles we turn on to a rock uphill section of Short Mtn. This was basically a slow congo line hiking to the Edinburg Gap Aid Station. Still early in the race, I thought this section was not bad, but I could tell the day was going to warm up quickly. By the time I got to the next aid station, Mile 20, I was already starting to feel dehydrated and switched to a double bottle pack and focused on watermelon and liquids to minimize the damage.

 I don't remember much of the next 2 Aid Stations until I get to Elizabeth Furnace at Mile 33. Let me stop here and give the Aid Stations a big shout out. They were some of the best, most professional, well equipped Aid Stations I have ever encountered. For not the first time, I will make note I am getting schooled on how to man an Aid Station. I am now 33 miles and it was already past 8 hours on the course. The next miles went by uneventful until I reached Hebron Gap at Mile 54. I remember thinking to myself, if this was a 50 mile race, it would stand alone as a very tough one. Little did I know, this was the easy good time section.

From Hebron Gap you have a 10 mile section to Camp Roosevelt where Annie was waiting for me with a bag of miscellaneous gear very little of which I would ultimately need. This section and the next section all I can remember is when you left the Aid Station you are hit with a rocky never ending steep climb and darkness and night were here. I just concentrated on keeping moving no matter how slow it felt. Heading from Gap Creek 1 up Kern Mtn. where you switchback on the rocky ridge trails was a slow process for me, but it ends on a downhill section that takes you into the Visitor Aid Station at Mile 78. I was 2 1/2 hours ahead of cut offs and feeling pretty good about being 3/4 done. Once again, another top notch Aid Station experience. This is the only time I will sit at an Aid Station and change my socks and have a cup of soup. I notice that many people are deciding to take short naps and enjoy some of that 2 1/2 hour buffer. A little voice inside me told me this would be a bad mistake for me and not to let my guard down. So off I go up to Bird Knob which is basically a 2 1/2 mile rocky climb finishing at 81 miles with a power walk to the Picnic Area Aid Station.

The day is getting hot and I am starting to feel dehydrated again, but I am mentally in get it done mode. The next 6 1/2 miles section was one of my better parts of the second 50 miles of this run. My feet were in alot of pain and my quads were trashed, but except for some steep climbs I ran this entire section to the Picnic Area Aid Station. This section was where the wheels fell off. My feet were shooting pain with every step. I was having a total system melt down. No hallucinations or any drama, I just could not will myself forward in anything but a drunkard stumble. This 9 mile section of pain took 3 hours and 15 minutes with finally at Gap Creek II with 1 more climb and section to complete I experienced a little rebirth. Though I still had plenty of time on the cut offs, I felt in panic mode after that last section. I gagged down 2 Expresso Gu's and vowed to finish no matter how much pain or damage. I started out on the last 2 mile climb up and over Jaw Bone.

The next 2 miles were basically a rock jumping downhill which went by pretty good because I knew the finish was close. The last 4 miles are a repeat of the road section we started out on only downhill this time. It hurt the same to run slow as run full sprint, so I would play a little game and sprint for 10 breaths and walk for 10 breaths, finally turning into the road which lead to the field area and finish. I am walking at this point but I notice a runner flying down the road behind me. I decided not to be an easy pass, I start sprinting with all I have down the hill, over the bridge and to the field. I fell short by 2 seconds, but would have it no other way, I was 100 at 100, ran across the finish and all in good fun. We embraced and took pictures of each other and had a good laugh.

Special thanks to Annie for basically picking up the pieces. Stephen once told me that MMT is very hard and there is nothing like it for rocks. I also remember asking him if he ever takes a nap during the night and he told me to just keep moving even if it is a crawl...these were very wise words. I had a great time at MMT, the whole race has a great feel and is very professional without feeling corporate. The support is unparalleled and I am looking forward to next year. I experienced alot of death during this race, but also some rebirth and hidden in the rebirth were little bits of magic and sometimes a wee bit of magic goes a long way.

Once again, a top notch experience.

Bradbury Blizzard

Shoeing!

The Bradbury Snow Series was outstanding! The amazing part of this series was for a Winter with not much snow, Ryan actually was able to carve out a course for each race. Almost by divine intervention, we actually did have a blizzard on Thursday. Although it rained Saturday, Ryan and Ian found a great course!

As always, I lined up at the back of the pack, happy to be wearing, my Emma lended TMR shirt! I started happy and as I finished George told me to channel my ''inner Emma.'' I did the best I could channelling and was pleased and finished to a great group of cheers from a special group of people of which all I admire and they each inspire me in so many ways!

My usual company along the way at some points in the Bradbury races, dirt and snow, seemed to be on the chase to beat Jerry and I think they were all pretty successful in hanging with him most of the way. I ended up running the race by myself which was great training for Pineland. Although my legs at times didn't seem to want to go ''fast'', I just kept pretending I was at the last loop at Pineland. George as promised showed up at 4 miles or so and ran with me to the finish. His constant encouraging was welcomed today and he said he was surprised, I didn't whine a bit. I had fun throughout and was totally amazed and enjoyed the absolutely beautiful course. The great day, was topped off by an awesome Blizzard Tee Shirt, a Bada$$ Atayne shirt, good fun chatting with Linda, Bob and others after and a last minute decision to stop at Edna and Lucy's for the best of best sammies. George of course ate his sandwich as we drove down 95 and split mine with me when we got home.

Big Kudos to Kate, Blaine and Erin for taking amazing pics. Congrats to Emma for winning the woman's race. I did for a short second on the course see her as some of the leaders were in eye range somehow as I looped through the course. She looked strong and fast! Also, I am hoping Danielle is feeling better. I was so sorry to see this morning on FB she wasn't going to make the race. She is truly one Bradbury Bada$$. As always, Linda, Val, Mindy and Bruce (Rick) and others, RD Ryan and Ian make it happen. I am so grateful! Thanks for a great day!

A great way to end the winter..now for spring!

Keep dreaming!

Annie

Bradbury Blizzard

Perfect timing for a Blizzard!

Today is the last of the Bradbury Snowshoe Series!

I feel nervous, 'nuff said. Glad I got that out of my system!

Keep Dreaming!

Annie

Virgil Crest 100

This is a race report of George's incredible weekend accomplishment. It is written and reported by him following is his awesome experience. I am so proud and in awe of his amazing determination and focus!!

Keep Dreaming!

Annie.....now on to the report!!


Virgil Crest 100 Race Report


First off, congrats Emma and Ian for a fine race on a super tough muddy course. Emma, wow, first 100 and second woman. It was fun sharing this race and seeing them on the course. Simply great peeps.

I never planned to do the VC, but after I quit on myself at VT, I felt the need to do a Fall 100. My two choices were VC or Grindstone. I went for the shorter ride and went for VC.

The course is an out and back once for 50, twice for the 100. The course had a whole lot of muddy, twisted trails, if you lost your focus you were going to do some serious damage by falling off a cliff or steep incline. Each leg was basically 25 miles which was broke down into 5 sections. The first section was the most runnable with basically access and double track trails. The second section starts off mildly enough, but then turns into this crazy up and down ''O'' trail, crossing through brooks where you had to, because of the mud, crawl down and crawl up. It ended with about a mile of road section down hill (uphill on the way back) to the second Aid Station, Lift House. The third section runs you up down, up down, the Greek Peak Ski area with many 35 degree ups and down which were very muddy. This reminded me of the Loon Mtn. Race which is fun once. Torture 4 times. After completing the first Alpine Loop, I ran into the RD from the Finger Lakes 50, who I had met at his race, StoneCat and Pinelands. After some small talk, he asked what I thought of the loop and I jokingly told him, "that's not a hill, in Maine we consider that a speed bump." You can add that to the life long list of smart remarks I would pay for later. After doing the Alpine Loop, you head to Section 4 which rewards you with another muddy single track climb up the back side of the mountain. From there, you continue on all single track. With many sections, you had to watch your footing or pay dearly. The last section to the turn around is alot more of the same except for one section it climbs up a mountain where you need ropes to get up and get down. This wouldn't have been so bad, but the trail was very greasy and not giving this respect when you were tired or at night would have been serious. So to sum it up, slow goin'.

I knew from the onset, I was in for a fight. The first 50 went by pretty uneventful except for one time where I was sent down the wrong path by an aid station worker resulting in an extra 2 miles and a loss of 25 minutes of time that I would have liked to have at the end. I am not totally without blame, I should have known I was going back down the trail I came from, but I was at a low point and trusted the aid station worker. Putting that behind me, I came into the 50 mile mark at a jaw dropping 16 hours. Here I vented a little to the RD who was very nice about it and picked up Annie for some night running. She kept me company for the next 2 sections until Alpine loop #3, where I convinced her to go back to the hotel and get some sleep because I knew I needed her more the next day to pick up the pieces. I was not going to be in as good a shape as after the McNaughton 100. The rest of that loop was pretty uneventful. I bumped into Ian and Emma who had about 20 more miles to go and they looked great. This part of the race was just about keeping forward motion and getting through the night. I was moving toward the turnaround, day light was coming up and all and all I was not feeling too bad. I got to the turnaround mile 75 and was informed that I was a few minutes from being cut off. At this point, I had to go back on my attitude that I wrap my mind around going into this race before I started which was finish or hospital. I know this sounds crazy, but for this distance, I have to be all in with no wiggle room. I didn't come all this way to be cut off because of my slacker running habits. With renewed vigor I set off, on the final 5 legs. First part, I actually felt good and was running like it was mile 1. I got to the aid station and was informed I just picked up a good amount of time on the Aid Station cutoffs. Energized by that, I started heading off on the second section passing people, and feeling OK, but fading fast. About half way through this section, (83 miles) I noticed, I was starting to see things that weren't there. Ferns looked like tent sites and logs looked like people until I got right up and focused on them. Nothing too crazy, just things that weren't there. I wished I had some tunes, so I could fully enjoy this diversion. A couple of squirrels crossed the trail and I started asking the squirrels if they knew Mindy and if they would keep me company. I was riding on the crazy train, but still moving OK. On to the last Alpine Loop. At this point, it was about 12:30 sunny and 80. Starting up the climb, I had nothing. Not only was my mind starting to get wacky, but my body was at it's lowest point. The sun was making me sweat profusely, dizzy headed and nauseous. I was in trouble and in danger of passing out. Being a man of loose beliefs and not comfortable with asking for help, I started asking, begging and praying for help. I repeated that I need some help. This went on for about 10 minutes. Finally I started to come out of it and continued with the climbs and even more painful descents. At one point, I stepped in a muddy section and lost my shoe. When I pulled it out, it was full of mud. Scooping the mud out and rinsing it with my water bottle, I jammed it back on my swollen foot. For some reason, I actually thought this was funny. That fourth loop was flat out painful. Ever aware at any moment on the 30 degree decline a cramp could seriously hurt me. Getting done with that 4 1/2 mile loop in a jaw dropping 1 hour 40 minutes, I was actually still moving OK and I was OK on time. Back to the final 4th leg, you walk about a mile of uphill road to the Finger Lakes Trail, which again, you are rewarded with more time zapping wet twisted trail. Finally, making the last Aid Station in OK time, I knew I had it. The last section which is the most runnable, I was in get it done mode. Running as much as I could despite my feet causing me sharp pain from 35 plus hours of wet shoes, blisters (which I ignored to the point they broke apart on their own) and pounding. The course finishes with a wrap around the lake walkway where I could hear Annie, Ian and Emma cheering. It was over. I never thought, it would take 35 plus hours, even for a back of the pack slacker runner like me. Kudos to you guys running 100's with more than 20,000 feet, that was plenty for me. All and all, a good race though I am definitely more beat up than from McNaughton. The course was well marked. The Aid Stations were well stocked. The RD had it together.
I would actually like to do it again under drier conditions. I feel good about my performance, because I know I spent it all. Next up Stone Cat 50, where you may find me putting some effort into it or dropping to a fun run marathon and hanging in the woods by the keg. 100's are crazy events, but I definitely get something from wrapping my mind around a goal and not giving in. But be forewarned when you are sitting on the couch reading the blogs and it all seems so doable. I was so trashed after this one, I had to curl up on the bed still muddy where I shook uncontrollably for about an hour. Thanks to TM Nation for all the help and positive vibes. Maybe they came through for me on that fourth Alpine Loop.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo

''O'' for the O Trail and for Old unpublished Bradbury Breaker Race Report


OOOOOOOooooooooooh, I should be so happy I am the proud owner and wearer of a Bada$$ hoodie, but why didn't I feel happy. Could it be I didn't feel Bada$$. I didn't fall and get bumped and bruised in any of the races? I for some reason felt I don't know what. It's taken me awhile to come full circle, but everything finally comes around.

The Bradbury Breaker fell on 9/11 this year. A few days before the race, the company I work for published some stories from associates who were working in our New York office on the 30th Floor of the North Tower 1 of The World Trade Center on 9/11. One in particular really made an impression on me. I've never met anyone who was actually there, his story was incredible. He described how he stood there holding the door and taking a head count and a sweep of the floor to make sure everyone was out. As he got to the 27th Floor he stopped and was asked to wait with a coworker and another coworker who was a quadriplegic in a wheelchair who were told by security to stay put and they would come get them. He wrote, ''nobody knew what was going on and we just thought it was a fire drill...I was happy to help.'' After receiving a frantic call from his wife who was watching CNN pleading with him to get out, he had to make a decision. He offered to carry his coworker down with the help of the other coworker. But because security told them to stay put they wouldn't leave. He had to let them know he was leaving. Shortly after getting out the building, as he was walking away, he turned around and saw the building collapse. As I finished his story, I reached out to him via our company IM and thanked him for sharing his story. I silently vowed I was going to run my race in tribute of this man.

Before the series started, George let me know he would run this race with me due to my fear of the ''O'' Trail. He had Virgil Crest coming up and was just fine to run with me. I really felt safe and secure and wasn't nervous at all. I was pleased when Ian took a few moments of silence in tribute to 9/11 before the race. I appreciated having the time to focus on my 9/11 survivor. We were soon off and we jumped in at my usual back of the pack and it felt great running. We seemed to move along and the twists and turns felt fun. I continued to have fun and felt great throughout. And then, ''O''. The first few ups and downs were great. At some point, Kate popped on by and then she was gone and then were we lost, we were seeing people, I heard Linda yell and then we saw or heard no one. Oh wait, there's Natasha, what????? Seeing her strained face and she was walking was shocking, she had been lost for an hour or so, horrors! Were we going the right way, had we circled the same taped area 2, 3 times? I whined. Poor George. He said something at the end like, ''usually I'm following someone''...This made me chuckle..because I'm usually never following anyone. :)

Although I was a few minutes faster than in the past, I felt defeated by the ''O'' and frankly not Bad at all. I kind of felt like I let my 9/11 survivor down by whining.

Still searching from my feelings of defeat of the ''O'' Trail, my thoughts shifted to Cortland, NY a few weeks later. George was running the Virgil Crest 100. Ian and Emma were also running. Adventures!!

I played spectator and planned to do some miles with George. The plan was to meet him after his first 50 and provide another set of eyes for night running. The glow sticks can get a bit memerizing at night. VC used reflective tapes which were better than glow sticks and as the race director described enviromentally friendly as they can be reused. George came into the 50 mile point later than expected and he was a tad worked up due to some extra miles he did through direction of a volunteer. I could tell he was at a low and did my best to run with him but most of all to get his thoughts shifted away from the mix up. I told him how Val had a bad fall at Bradbury that day. He asked if she hurt herself and what happened. I also filled him in on TM Nation and how everyone was following the run. I told him about Ryan's funny posts and everyone else's support and comments. I think this really helped him work through things. We got to an aid station and I was looking forward to going up the ''hill'', although typical George style, he was worried about me getting back to the start area to get to my car, so I could get some sleep and as he said, ''pick up the pieces in the morning.'' He sent me off with some kind relay runners who were heading back. As I left him, he was stuffing his foot into Inov's with a great grip, but really not the best width for his beat up feet. I was sad to leave thinking about him running by himself. Although he took great pains to ensure I had good directions getting to and from the hotel, I took a wrong turn back to the hotel and drove up and down 81 hoping no drunk drivers were out. I finally figured out how to get back, although I felt like the town sign for Marathon, VT was mocking me in a wierd way

I headed back the next day and it's hard to describe how inspirational and emotional it was to see Emma and Ian finish. The end of the run is both toture for the finishers and for spectators. There's tons of anxiety waiting for a runner to pop out of the woods and then to loop around the lake to the finish. I could barely take pictures of Ian and Emma as I was chocking back tears.

As I waited for George, it started to really heat up, the temps were maybe in the 80's. I somehow got in my head, they were shutting down the aid stations and he would have no water. Of course this wasn't the case. I paced, I moved my chair to about 10 different locations, took to standing on the picnic table for an ariel view and was even getting special delivery updates from the kind computer timing guy and a kind woman volunteer. I FB'd a special friend and told her I think I was going to die waiting. Thanks special friend for your encouraging words, I didn't die waiting. I finally saw him coming from the woods and he was on the final loop around the lake. I yelled and yelled that he had it and he got into get it done mode and finished! I was so happy and quite surprised he didn't look as beat up as I imagined. Note to self..''gotta have faith.''

So my full circle is, I'm really not a Bada$$. I realized this when I was talking to some home schooled kids out doing a science project in our neighborhood and felt the need to fold my arms to cover the Bada$$ on my hoodie. Maybe the ''O'' will always terrify me. I know I'll always cry when I see others accomplish an amazing challenge. I'll also continue to think ridiculous things when George is out there. And I'll always be humbled by stories of folks who are really Bada$$. But how can you not love it, trail running rocks! It's always filled with adventure and fun. It's about being in the moment and most of the time for me, surviving the challenge whatever it may be. I guess maybe, I'm a little Bada$$.

Keep dreaming!

Annie

Luckily the stick broke

Luckily the stick broke!


Sunday we ran the Bradbury Breaker. The race capped at 160 and a friendly and excited sell out crowd was on hand. It was great seeing everyone prior to the race. I even purchased my first pair of Inov's from Ian. Hopefully, I'll be running like Emma soon! :) It was also nice to see Diana and Syn from NH. I introduced myself to Diane at Loon Mtn. after seeing her at the Mountain Series races and I mentioned to her the Bradbury Dirt series. I was pleased to see they made the trip to Maine to run!

After a week with a weird motion sickness thing going on, I was told by my drs. office not to run. During the week, George volunteered to run with me because of it. Fortunately, it was gone by Friday, so running it was. It's also important to note, my drs. office called back Monday, my regular dr. wasn't in last week. She advised as long as I was feeling better I could run and didn't realize the race had past.

Luckily the stick George found to swat me with when I slowed down during the race broke before we started. We started back of the pack and coincidentally finished the same. :) We ran with Kate for awhile. She and George talked about their trip to PEI and the exciting year ahead for her and Jamie. The first loop seemed to go by pretty well and I was surprised I recognized some of the course from the Snow series and past years.

The second loop was a bit tougher, wishing I had remembered Gu or something because I felt like I could have used something during that loop. Although I was thinking more a sandwich and a Coke, Gu probably would have helped. The most fun on that loop was running with Linda and especially her cries to George to carry her up the mountain. Unfortunately he didn't hear her yelling for him. If he had heard her, he would have happily carried her up! I don't think there are any rules against muling in this race, so I'm sure it would have been fine. :) Towards the end, despite George's urging to run faster, I seemed to be out of anything that could have fit into that category, but was happy to finish with no bumps, bruises and particularly no bee stings. Poor Kate, she was for sure attacked by an angry bee!

As all the races in this series, it was a great time and challenge. Many peeps had really great runs that day. Thanks always to all the work that goes into to putting on the race and providing the best tee shirts of any races around! Maybe next time, I'll run like Emma! :)

I did eventually get the sandwich and Coke after the race at the famous Edna and Lucy's. Totally yum and totally fun to spend time with best of the best people!

Keep dreaming!

Annie

Wicked Awesome Sandwiches, Wicked Awesome Tote

Wicked Awesome Sandwiches, Wicked Awesome Tote

My wish for today was to remain upright. I accomplished this.

We ran the Bradbury Scuffle today. Capped at 160 trail runners, it was a sell out crowd. Ian and Ryan put on, as always, an excellent race. In the past, I've had some decent bumps and bruises at Bradbury. In 2009, I was contender for the best bruise on this course. During the Bruiser in 2008, I got so lost. Only after begging the park ranger by telling him my husband would be worried, he agreed to drive me to the finish line. So I was pleased today to walk away today bruiseless and making it to finish line. I ran today for a while with some great running partners, Chandra and Kate. Kate powered up hills with a vengence and Chandra consistently picked away at the course. Overall, I finished after them and back of the pack, but the race couldn't have been any better. George won a Wicked Awesome Bradbury Series tote which he immediately gifted to me Yay me! And randomly, we swung into Edna and Lucy's and got Wicked Awesome Sandwiches.

Next up in this series is the Breaker.


Keep Dreaming!

Annie