The short version – I placed 7th. Here’s a link to the results – http://www.syllamo.org/3days/Results2009.aspx
There some pictures over there --------------------->>>
The trip down to Mountain View, AR is a long one for us. About 10 hours to be exact. But we made the most of it. Cortney came along with this time, as well as Aunt Peggy, Uncle Dale (Aslo running) and Cousin Mike.
However, ‘disaster’ struck early. As soon as we arrived I remembered that I had forgotten my Perpetuem (Liquid fuel for long races). Dale said he had some, but probably not enough for both of us. When we checked in I asked around to see if anyone had any extra. I was thinking that since the race was a Hammer sponsored event, they might have some there, but no luck. I was going to have to improvise. I have used Ensure Plus at races in the past, but only at aid stations, not as my primary source of nutrition for an entire race. But that was the plan. So we went and bought 3 cases of Ensure Plus and was going to have to try that for the first day at least.
Well, I have to say that Steve Kirk and the rest of the Three Days of Syllamo crew know how to make the best out of a bad situation. Back in February there was a major ice storm that brought many millions trees to the ground in the area, and many more millions of branches/limbs and large parts of trees to the ground as well. As we drove through the area and looked up at the mountains it looked like a tornado had slammed it’s way through the entire forest. Most of the trails that Steve had planned to utilize were not passable by the time race day came around. Therefore, Steve did the best he could to alter the course and still provide as much of that great 100% single trac course that I love. But due to the severity of the damage it was impossible to avoid using some forest service roads to get the mileage in.
The good news is that when we were there Steve heard that a crew would be coming into town soon and will try to have all of the trails cleared for the Syllamo 100 miler in October.
The weather was almost perfect for running for the entire weekend. Not too sunny, temps ranging from 40-55 over the three days.
Day 1 – 50k (Turned into 42k)
As I approached the starting area I recognized quite a few very friendly faces that I have come to know over the past few years. People like Paul Schoenlaub, Stuart Johnson and his wife, Dave Wakefield, Po Dog Vogler, Paul Turner, Josh and Ashley Nordell, Chris Block, Billy Simpson, Steve Kirk and his wonderful family of course, Chef Cal and many many more. It was great to see them all again. They are a great group of supportive and friendly runners.
I felt great all weekend. As the 50k started I went out pretty fast, my bottle filled with 2 Ensure Plus (Strawberry)….. This would be an out and back course mainly on single trac with a bit of fire road mixed in near the turn around. I tried to stay with Ashley Nordell and was able to up until the turn around. I was running up inclines that I hadn’t even tried to run up in the past. I feel like the training that I did on the stairs through the winter and a new weight program helped with this.
By the time we hit the turn around I could feel the affects of that taking it’s toll. I wasn’t used to the Ensure so I hadn’t been drinking it or hydrating as well as I should have been either. On the trip back I started to walk the steep inclines and run everything else as hard as I could.
As I returned to the middle aid-station Steve Kirk’s wife and Veronica Battaglia (ran last year) scolded me for not drinking enough Heed. They told me that I should not have made it all the way back with my bottles nearly 90% full. They were right! They made me drink up and sent me on my way.
I did start to feel a bit nauseous towards the end, but the Ensure did well enough to get me to the end of day 1 in 4 hrs 17 min. (10th place for the day).
I walked over to the creek afterwards and did the ceremonial soaking in the ice-cold creek even though my legs weren’t really sore at all. I knew I should do it just to be sure I wasn’t too sore for the next day’s challenge.
Day 2 – 50 miler
Uncle Dale was kind enough to give me enough Perpetuem for 2 bottles for the day. I estimated that I’d need three to make it, so I made sure to put some Ensure in my drop bag at the mile 40 aid station (Barkshed).
This day we would head the opposite way we had gone the day before for 5 miles on muddy rocky single-trac, cross a river that was ice cold and chest deep (This was fun!), run 100 yards to the first aid station, turn around and go back the way we came to the start, and head the way we had gone the day before up to the Barkshed aid station.
At this point we would head out the opposite way on fire service roads for 10 miles. The first portion of this part of the course was a BRUTAL continuous climb up a mountain for what seemed like 1-2 miles. I thought it would never end. For me this section was the most difficult. I don’t really enjoy running on forest service (gravel) roads as much, but I tried to make up some time where I could, running as fast as I could on the flat and downhill sections, and power walking up the inclines. When I made it to the turn around (Mile 30) I wasn’t feeling too well mentally.
I had been struggling with negative thoughts from at least mile 15 through to here (mile 30). I just wanted to stop. But this has been a pattern of mine for the past 2 races. After battling the quitter demons in my head for some 2-3 hours, I finally turned the corner when I saw Billy Simpson at the turn-around. He gave me a cup of hot noodles and broth, a coke, and I was a brand new man. This combo really worked for me at the Traveller as well.
As I made my way back down the forest service road, I began to feel better about things. I was past halfway and if I could just get back off of this road and into the woods, I would turn it back on and hammer my way to the finish. As I came up to the section of the road where before I had walked UP 1-2 miles, I was in a free fall back DOWN the opposite way. By about mile 35 I had run out of Perpetuem, so I was looking forward to being able to replenish at Barkshed and hit it hard.
As I came into Barkshed, I replenished all fuels, ate some cookies, slammed an Ensure and a Coke, more noodles, and was on my way. As I made my way out of Barkshed, I was walking and eating the last of the food I had scrounged up and a kid playing with a toy laser gun, maybe 7-8 years old, dropped what he was doing and was standing there staring at me. He said something and I didn’t expect it, so I had to ask him to repeat it. He said “Great job Mr.!” I kind of laughed and smiled, and said thanks kid! Right then a wave of emotions overcame me, and a few tears rolled down my face. I had just overcome a major battle in my mind (recurring battle lately), the encounter made me think of my kids at home and how I missed them, and it wasn’t more than a year ago that nobody would have said "good job" to me for anything other than for being able to drink the most whiskey in one night. That kid did more for me than he will ever know. That re-ignited my fire right then and there. As soon as I was able to gather my composure I told myself that I was going to run this last 10 miles as hard as I possibly could.
That’s what I did too. It was awesome. My legs felt very fresh and my spirit was sky high. I hammered my way to the finish in 9hrs 17 min. (11th place). Not a PR for me, but a pretty good time on this mountainous course.
Once again, I made my way over to the ice-cold creek and did the ceremonial soak. Thanks to Chef Cal we all ate some good food at the finish area and listened to the live bluegrass band for a bit before heading back to the cabin to rest up for the final day. Word on the street was that we might be going back across the creek again tomorrow! I couldn’t be more excited.
Day 3 (20k)
Steve confirmed that we’d be heading back through the wet, rocky, muddy single-trac and across the river again. Then past the aid station from the day before, up a monster incline out to a paved road, back down a monster decline, across a rickety bridge then turn around and head back the way we came. I was slightly sore but nowhere near as sore as I was last year. I was going to run this as hard as I possibly could.
That’s what I did. I kept my meter in the red for almost the entire distance. I also was able to chat with Stuart Johnson, Paul Schoenlaub, and a new friend Damian Nathaniel. Damian and I ran together quite a bit over this weekend, and have quite a bit in common. It was great to be able to meet him.
I really enjoyed this final day and pushed real hard to the finish in 1 hr 45 min. (5th place).
Overall
I placed 7th overall. My goal was to place in the top 10. I was minimally sore Monday, the day after the race, and back to "normal" by Tuesday. Not sure if the creek soakings helped with that, but I was amazed. Maybe I didn't try hard enough!
As I mentioned before, this is a great group of runners to be able to get to know. I’m so grateful to them all for sharing their passion for running, and being one of the most welcoming and friendly groups of runners out there. Thanks to Steve and his entire crew, including cousin Mike, who helped out on the first day. They all spent their entire weekend manning aid stations, cooking, working the finish line and assisting runners. I also want to thank Cortney for helping out when and where she could. It was very helpful, and she was able to get a vacation out of it at the same time. Also thanks to Mike. He drove the entire way home!!! And thanks to Peggy and Dale for everything you do.
Congrats to everyone who came out for Three Days of Syllamo 2009. Once again, an awesome event!
