Well the time is almost here. As I write this I am in Squaw Valley with the crew and we are one day away from the race. I feel that I have done all that I can do to get ready for the race but still have a great deal of nerves. A few weeks back Shannon and I came to Auburn to do a series of race sponsored training runs. It was really fun but a wake up call for what this race is going to be. And let me tell you, it is not a walk in the park. This race will be my biggest test to date, not only with the self imposed weight I have given to it but because of the share difficult nature of the race. I have always struggled in the high heat and with long downhill running. And that is something that this race has in spades. But, back to the training runs.
The Start Line (getting real LOL)
The commemorative plaque
So early Friday morning on the 27th of last month Shannon and I loaded up and headed to Sacramento for a three day running camp on the Western States course. For Shannon this would be just a chance to tune up, but for me this would be the first time that I would see any of the course. Needless to say I was super jazzed up. And with the early flights and time change we landed in Sacramento at about 9 am. So we headed straight to Auburn and this little place I read about on Yelp Katrina’s Kitchen. You know your man Stormy has to find the best places to eat. Otherwise what is the point of traveling. It was a small cash only little place. But let me tell you it is worth the trip. A great start to the weekend.
The art at the Sacramento Airport
Third Breakfast of Champions
Next we headed over to the Auburn Running Company to check it out. This place was awesome, if for nothing else just because of the Western States swag. Trophies from the race, all kinds of awesome photos and signatures, and just a mecca of California trail running. And the working the store were open and friendly, and as a bonus an endless stream of awesome runners who had just made it into town for the training runs were making their way through. Shannon pointed out Sage Canaday (up and coming ultrarunning superstar), and struck up a conversation. Sage is one of the favorites for the race and got in on a golden ticket (meaning he won a big race for automatic entry for the race). But if meeting him was not a thrill enough Shannon about lost his mind when Sage asked him for any advice that Shannon might have on the course. This is the kind of sport we are in folks, there just isn't this social gap between regular runners and elites like you see in other sports. Everyone want to help you and is more than willing to get advice if you have it.
Some important stuff in the window of this running store
Sage winning his golden ticket race
Well after all of this running history and royalty, I was ready to run, so we headed to the hotel to check in. Upon arriving we got devastating news. I messed the reservations up and booked Shannon and I in a king room, so one bed and two runners. And with three different weddings going on in the hotel that weekend it looked like we would be sharing a bed for the training camp. I tried to sweet talk the very nice lady TJ who was working the desk. But there was not a lot she could do. And since i am not one of those people who like to freak out at the desk workers for no reasons, especially if it was my mistake. So we joked around with her for while and finally said it is what it is and headed to the room. The room was nice other than the lack of two beds and we started unpacking. Just about the time we got unpacked the phone in the room started ringing. Shannon answered and it was TJ at the desk. She had a cancellation and had a double bed room for us. I mean we literally were in the room for 5 minutes, it is amazing how stuff just always seems to work out when you stay calm. I took it as a good sign for the weekend. And we also got a new friend out of the deal with TJ at the desk.
View from the run
I got my running clothes on and Shannon decided that he would skip this run and take the opportunity to do some work and get some supplies by checking out some local grocery stores. So he dropped me at the Robie Point Fire Break Trails and planned on meeting me back there in a while. My plan was to run down to No Hands Bridge and a little past to get 8 miles in total. I knew it was not going to be too fast as it was hot and I did not have any water. My plan was to carry my bottle with me and fill it up if I got the chance, but no water was to be found. The run was awesome and I promise you guys that the spectacular nature of what I was getting to do was not lost on me. Now more than ever I was ready to see what Western States would hold. Standing on that bridge and seeing the sign saying Squaw Valley was 97 miles behind me and Auburn was 4 miles ahead was pretty epic (and I hate using that word).
The no hands bridge sign.
The training weekend was set up like this. On Saturday we would meet at Foresthill Elementary School and be bused to Robinson Flats. From there we would run the 32 miles back to Forest Hill though the toughest part of the course known as “the canyons”. On Sunday we would meet again at Foresthill and run from there to a spot two miles up the hill from the Rucky Chucky river crossing about 18 miles of running and then we would be bused back to Foresthill. For Monday we would meet at the finish of the race at Placer High School and be bused to a spot about two miles up from Green Gate to run into the finish. About 20 miles for that day. So not an easy weekend. But a great opportunity to see a lot of the course.
No doubt the first day was designed to be a punch in the gut. This would be the part of the course that will make or break any runner’s race. This year’s race would be hot and the canyons would magnify this. We got on the bus full of excitement and before we knew it was were getting off at Robinson Flats and in a fairly unorganized fashion headed out on the snow covered trail. Pretty quick we crested the peak just past Robinson Flats and headed down and the snow was gone to be replaced by heat. The run from this point was very flat with a slight downhill. So I instantly made the mistake of going out way too fast. Like 7:30 miles fast. And all this running my butt off and skipping aid stations led me to missing a turn and running 3 miles off course. When I got back on track I was only motivated to run faster. So I hit the first canyon hard and pushed up Devil’s Thumb way too fast trying to run too far up the climbs. I felt like I was having a great day, but underestimating the hot dry weather badly. Now I was starting to feel it but I tried to keep it up. Here we are on a training run and I was trying to win the race, stupid move. By the time I pasted the next canyon and headed up to Michigan Bluff I was struggling a lot. Now it was on to Foresthill which included another smaller canyon and some climbing that should have been runnable. But I was blown up and paying for all the early bravado. And it became a death march with some bad cramping. I learned a valuable lesson for race day and it did not feel good. I crossed the finishing line for the day at Foresthill and found Shannon waiting for me. I made it about three feet past the finish before my calves locked up. I was toast and we had two days to go. Now it was time to try and recover for tomorrow. I knew we needed to get some calories down but I was way too overheated to eat then. I would have to cool down for a while before I could get anything down. By the time we got back to Auburn I was feeling a little better and we found some good eats for dinner. We hit the sack early, trying to maximize recovery for a better showing Sunday.
Before day one looking fresh faced and bright eyed, I was not motivated to take a photo after.
On Sunday I had a better plan. I was going to head out with Shannon and try and keep a more controlled pace. Also my plan was to hit the aid stations hard, and keep eating and drinking all day. This part of the course would be much easier. So I hoped this combination would make for a better day. And for the most part it did. I was moving really well and enjoying the amazing scenery of the course. Before I knew it I was at the river crossing. Now is the time when I will remind everyone who is reading this to listen to pre run instructions, because I was ready to get this run over with so after hitting the aid station I made my way down to the river to find everyone just sitting around in the river cooling off. I pushed my way across (which was not easy in the fast moving chest deep water) only to find no markings on the other side. So I yelled back asking which way to go. Only to be told that we were going up the road to take a bus back. Not crossing the river today. So I got to wade back across the river, and totally soaked make my way up to the finish for the day. Despite that blunder, the day finished well and I felt much better. Even good enough to have two veggie burgers at the finish line before getting on the bus and heading back to the car. I got changed and waited for Shannon to make it back to the car. A little while later a bus showed up with Shannon and he told me a wonderful story that made me wish I had hung around the finish line. I guess Shannon was almost done for the day when a lizard jumped out of the bushes and on to the trail. This made him jump back and right then his legs locked up and he fell into a nearby ditch. It just so happened that all of this happened right in front of Western States 5 time winner and 25 time sub-24 hour finisher Tim Twietmeyer. I bet it was an incredible sight. I can’t believe I missed it but that is what you get for leaving the finish early. In the end both of us had a much better day and both Shannon and I felt like eating much more than the day before. So besides all the food at the finish we stopped by In and Out Burger for fries and shakes before we got back to the hotel. And after we got cleaned up we hit some little Chinese restaurant for even more food and then just for good measure before we went back to the room we stopped at the grocery store. And there I got a big piece of carrot cake. Somewhere in all of that I met my demise.
After Day Two, feeling much better
Around 12 in the morning I woke up with the urgent need to vomit. And this continued for several hours. Finally I left the room for the 24 hour CVS down the street and got some supplies. Needless to say I got very little sleep that night but eventually my stomach settled down and for sure everything had exited. By the morning I was feeling slightly better, so we hit the breakfast buffet at the hotel. I was of course very hungry at this point and ate way too much. Still feeling ok I got ready for the run and we headed to the high school. All seemed to be going ok until we got on the hot bus and headed down the twisty roads to the start for the day. By the time we got to the start I realized that headed out that day might be a mistake. I made it a few steps down the road with Shannon before it was clear that he was feeling much better than me. So I told him that this was not happening. He was nice enough to walk me back to the start and headed out for his run. I hoped his day would be better than mine. I talked with the volunteer who was running the training camp and told him that I was not feeling well. He asked me what I wanted to do and I told him that I was not doing good but I hated to miss this chance to run the course. He suggested that I head out with the sweepers and see if it got any better down the trail. I thought this was super cool of them. And the sweepers and I took off down the trail. They were awesome. I mean really the best, their attitude was just what I needed.
Before the last Day
For the first bit I was not sure about it, but then I started feeling better. So I picked up the pace and took off for a while. But at mile 4.5 disaster struck and I lost all of my breakfast. So I walked a little and then finally just sat down on the side of the trail. Soon the sweepers picked me back up and were super cool about it. They kept reminding me that this was a training run and not to worry about it. Just be happy that this was not happening race day. As we got close to the 7 mile mark they called for a car and that was it for my day. I wish I could have done more but they were right it was just a training run. And being able to get back to quality running and finishing my total training plan was more important than finishing that day. So I came back to the finish and soon was joined by Shannon. He had made it much farther than I but at mile 12 he found himself plenty dehydrated and called it. Not the day we were hoping for, but when we got back to the hotel we at least would get a quality home cooked meal as TJ’s mom had agreed to cook us a meal for the week. Some of the best Indian food I have had in awhile and Shannon agreed.
The awesome sweepers
So all in all we had to find the best way to look at this training weekend. I took it just like McMurtry, this was the kind of kick in the ass I needed. I had it in my head that anything less than a 24 hour finish would be a failure at Western. But that is just not the case. This course is not a gimme. It is difficult and to just reach the finish will be a big win. I needed to realize that before the day of the race. So coming to this training camp was just what I needed. I think Shannon felt the same way. And I did make some changes to my training plan for the last few weeks to focus on more hills and heat.
Unnecessary Throwback photo from Shannon's Birthday in Eureka Springs Maybe 2011?
Fast forward to today. It is the day before the race. I have been in Squaw Valley all week with my crew. And at 5 am tomorrow I head off into the dark to face the challenges of the Western States course. I can only do this because I will not be facing it alone. Not only will I have all my great crew members, but I have all the wonderful people who have been a part of this six year journey that has lead me here. All those miles from that first day I stepped out of my house in Glenpool to run to Arby’s to the 3 miles I ran at the local pub run last night have lead here. And I finished those miles because of the people who helped me along the way. I talked about some of these people in my 2010 recap post a few weeks back, but I carry these people with me always. People like my mother who does not only embody everything I hope and wish to be as a runner. But also who I strive to be as a person. It is only with strength like her’s and her unending resolve that I know no course can break me. She in part has helped me to realize that the point of my running is not to become a better person. We are who we are, it is in these endeavors that we have the chance to remind ourselves of who we really are. That there is an endless well within you and no matter how deep you reach into it, if you believe you can find the strength you seek. She is the pillar that holds my house up and the reason for everything that I am. She will be with me on every step of the course.
My mother Jenifer with her new pup (the dog is now 1000 lbs)
I will also carry the memories of my late father Logan. His life was a struggle but his heart was good. And I hope his unending love for others will be with me as well on this journey. I carry a token of him with me always and it will be with me for each step on the trail.
My sister and my dad Clint will be in my heart too. I know that they don't understand all of these crazy things that I do. And the truth is I don't always understand it either. But, I think of them on every run and hope they are proud of the things I do.
My Sister Nicona
My dad Clint
Now before I lose it let’s talk about my crew. I decided to name my crew Team Coyote. I feel that the Foolish Coyote is my spirit animal. Never satisfied and always searching, I have just always had a deep connection with the ideology of that symbol. So it was only natural that it be the name of my team. Also as I have a deep superstition for wearing anything associated with a race before the finish it gave me a logo for our crew shirts. For each of my crew I have also selected a spirit animal base on their personalities.
The Logo Sarah Made
A photo of the crew Ame took
First is my crew chief for this race and my life. My wife Brynna. She is the Stubborn Buffalo. Her steady state and unwavering concern about me keeps me in line. She refuses to bend to crazy whims and keeps me on track. Even if we have disagreements about what track I should be on. Having her there means I don't have to worry about making decisions. I can focus on running. Also, if you are familiar with Native American folklore you would be aware of a deep connection between the coyote and the buffalo. It is only a bonus that as a Colorado grad she loves buffaloes anyways.
Coyote and Buffalo
In human form. LOL
Next is the Belligerent Badger Wes. He will take over driving duties. Western States is a point to point race over 100 miles of trail. But the roads that lead to the trail crossings are much further apart. You need someone you trust to handle the twisting crazy mountain roads in the dark, after being up for 30+ hours. There is no one that I would trust more than Wes. Wes has always been a great friend, and the first to stick his hand up for any crazy adventure. Not only needed for his driving skills, Wes brings great energy to the group. We are very luck he was able to come along.
The Badger
From many years ago
The Trailblazing Hare Jeff is next on my list. One of my oldest (and oldest) running friends. I have shared trails with Jeff for almost as long as I have been running. He will be first of my pacers. Taking me from Foresthill to the Green Gate. In his almost 18 miles of pacing he will get to experience some of the hottest trails and then cross a freezing cold river before hiking up a 2 mile climb only to get to sit in a car the rest of the night. I don't know why he agreed to this, but I will be forever grateful he did. This is not the first time Jeff has paced me and the last time we had a very successful race. So looking for that again. Jeff has completed several 100 mile races, so he understands what is involved. I am actually very lucky in that all of my crew (with the exception of Brynna who we are still working on) have completed 100 mile races.
The Hare
That is Jeff on the far left.
Philip has the nickname Pip, but we needed a spirit animal, so he is the Flying Turtle. Pip has long had a connection to turtles so this was a natural choice. I also think that it fits him well. Turtles are often considered slow, but you get them in the right environment and they can fly. Philip has come a long way in his running and I have been there for a lot of it. And for that I am grateful. In fact there is no runner that I have shared more miles with than Pip. I knew the day I got selected that he would be here. Philip will take me from the Green Gate to the Highway 49 crossing. Just under 14 miles. But I will need his help to keep the pace up so late in the race.
I am sure this is how Pip felt with me harassing him all of his last race
After the Broken Arrow Sky Race
This is Pip taking a photo of his food from Katrina's Cafe
At Highway 49 Sarah the Dancing Horse will be taking over. Sarah has an amazing energy and her everyday excitement is what I will need for that last 6.7 miles of the race. I will need to keep moving and keep my mind together. Sarah is the perfect choice to help me do this. Sarah is a fantastic runner. And if we could keep her off her horse (we can't) I am sure she could be winning some of these big events. Her natural talent for running is something to see, and will be a great motivator for me late in the race.
The Dancing Horse
Before Sarah's first 100
The Crew in Auburn
Ready to Race