What an adventure! How does one sum up an experience like this? Overall, I’m happy with how it went because I FINISHED. It was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done (time to take a backseat, Ironman). I’m proud of myself for pushing through when it hurt, and I didn’t want to run another step; for coming back and doing it a year after dropping out with an injury.
Leadville was a special place before, and now it is even more special to me. It’s not just the scenic beauty that’s all around, it’s the atmosphere and the people: crew, pacers, family, and friends (who are often the crew and pacers), volunteers, spectators, and the other crazy runners. After pacing a (now) friend to the finish line back in 2017, I thought I might just want to do this someday. 5 years later, here we are! I now have a better appreciation of what you were feeling out there, Jodi!
The best way I can think to analyze it all is to break it down into sections, like a good race strategy. So, here we go:
Training
Training was a roller coaster, to say the least. That said, I think I was able to get back to a fitness level high enough to get ‘r done. There were times throughout training when I felt like I wouldn’t be ready, and times when I thought it was possible. I never really felt strong, as I was training through an injury – and eventually, injuries… and then having COVID two months before the race just added another hurdle.
After extended time off and minimal running last fall and winter, I was trying to walk (run?) the line of getting “enough” training in, while at the same time, not only avoiding injury, but healing the foot injury from last year’s race. The light brace I wore for a long time really helped my peroneal tendon heal (eventually), but it also restricted my dorsiflexion and ankle mobility – which I guess is why it helped the foot heal… leading to shin splints. I took quite a bit of time off in the middle of training to let the “shin splints” calm down but ended up with tibialis posterior soreness – at least on long and/or steep climbs. In the end, none of it bothered me on race day, but it made the training road juuuuust a bit bumpy.
Neal had me in such great shape last year, that I used last year’s training plan as a guide, modifying it to account for being behind to start, and keeping it very flexible/dynamic. Mainly, the volume wasn’t quite as high, and I couldn’t do as many of the speedier workouts. It worked well enough to get me there!
Fuel
I mentioned my gut issues on race day… I partially attribute this to a podcast where I heard that drinking some kombucha (or having other fermented foods) can help your stomach deal with the trauma of running 100 miles a little better. Great idea! Probably should have tried it out first. It’s not that I’ve never had kombucha before, but I wouldn’t say that fermented foods are a staple for me. I drank two bottles in the week before, which may or may not have contributed to the gut troubles on race day.
Generally, I had a decent, non-specific fueling plan for the race. During training, I was using salted chocolate cherry rice balls that worked pretty well over the last two years. At Leadville last year, I got tired of chocolate and needed more salt. So, this year I decided to make them a little heavier on the cherry and lighter on the chocolate – and take fewer (3-4 per section). I incorporated some saltier options in to my fueling and less of the chocolate. At aid stations, pretzels, mashed potatoes, broth/ramen, and flat Coke played a primary role. The biggest help on the sodium end, though, was mixing in the LMNT packets for my fluids.
For hydration, I did one bottle with water and one with some kind of mix – typically Tailwind (berry flavor). On a few refills, I used the LMNT packets mentioned above for some extra sodium. Throughout the race, I think I hydrated well. The goal was to have consumed most or all of the fluids in my bottles by the time I reached the next aid station. I didn’t run out of fluids at any point either, which is most likely to happen on the way back up Hope Pass after Winfield. In training, I tended to not drink enough, but I think what I did on race day worked for me.
I would say that I fueled well during the first 40 miles or so. I stuck to fluids on the way up Hope Pass, maybe a gel. I’m not sure what caused me to need a bathroom, but it would have been okay – or at least much, much better – had I stopped and used the toilet they had at the aid station before the top. This was my biggest mistake, I think. Not only did the pain of needing to go slow me down quite a bit on the way down to Winfield, it also made me very hesitant to eat anything for a couple of hours, and probably less than I should have after nightfall. Had I fueled better, I may not have struggled so much on the last two legs. Or maybe I would have – who knows! I have a strong feeling that I would have been a little faster there though.
Lastly, I was surprised that I was still okay with eating some solid stuff later in the race. Sure, they were just energy chews, but the word “chew” is what was surprising about it. Normally, I get tired of chewing food on a super long run. Chews and GUs (well, Clif Shots) got me to the end (outside of aid station goodies).
Aid Stations
I mentioned the fueling part of the aid stations already. My outbound aid stations went smoothly and quickly, I think (3-3-6 for crew spots, just a quick refueling at the others). Inbound (9-17-15) was a different story – longer was not unexpected, but I should definitely have spent less time in the last two. My crew helped me be efficient outbound. Winfield was long, for reasons made clear, and I was happy with single digits at Twin Lakes inbound, considering the shoe change. I don’t think I sat down at Outward Bound, but 17 minutes is way too long there. I know I changed some clothes, but I don’t even know what I did for 17 minutes…! Lastly, my little break down at May Queen while sitting for a few minutes is the obvious reason for the 15-minute stay. Thank you to my crew for all their hard work at the aid stations!
Mental
Discounting the toilet gaff, I felt like I was pretty strong mentally. I stayed calm and patient, happily tootling along early on. The aspen groves before Twin Lakes inbound is where I first started to really feel it, and while I was tired, I didn’t find myself in any dark places. From about halfway down Hope Pass to Winfield was tough, given my bathroom situation. Relieved (in more ways than one) after Winfield, I was back in business. I was in a good mood most of the way with Ben, from Twin Lakes to Outward Bound, despite a little bit of knee pain. Going up Power Line with Neal, I was hyper-focused on the climb and just being a machine. The way down was actually much tougher mentally. I was really starting to hurt there.
I can’t pinpoint when or where in the race – definitely late, when it was dark – but there were a few times that I had kind of a surreal feeling. Almost like an out-of-body experience; very dreamlike. I swear it had nothing to do with “Space Camp” on Sugar Loaf…
I would have been surprised if I made it through the race without hitting a rough spot like at May Queen. The last couple of hours had been quite painful, and I think the tears were not only releasing pain but also out of relief – and being so, so happy to see my family there. It was good to receive some comfort and sit for a couple of minutes. Through all of it, like I mentioned earlier in the report, there was still no question in my mind that I would continue and that I would finish. I’m proud of being able to get through that rough spot (with the help of my family and crew, of course!).
Some Numbers
Just some interesting notes looking back at my race data…
(Strava)
Time = 29:46:02
Elevation Gain = 14,683’ (+)
- Fastest mile = 10:10, mile 23, just before Outward Bound
- Slowest mile = about 30 minutes (not including aid station time), miles 43/44/55 on Hope Pass
- Average pace = 17:47 (average moving pace closer to 15:30)
- Pace for first 40 miles = 13:20, max pace = 7:21
- Outbound climb from river to Hope Pass (about 4 miles/3218’ gain) took me about 2 hours
- Max HR 174 (95% of max), average HR 132 (72%)
- I spent about half the time in Zone 3, below HR 150, and more in Zone 2 than in Zone 4 (makes sense, given all the hiking)
- I hit the first checkpoint (May Queen outbound) in 530th place out of 700+; 368 of us finished
- I apparently passed 166 people from May Queen to Outward Bound
- After my peak of 294th at Half Pipe inbound, I slowly dropped in the ranks
- Despite finishing 350th of 368 (and 87th out of 88 in my age group), I technically also beat the 350ish people that didn’t make it all the way
- My watch ran out of battery 85 miles and 25 hours in (have to figure out how to stop the light from turning on… that probably ran it down more)
Gratitude
There is so much to be thankful for with an adventure like this. I was certainly thankful for good weather. When I got a spot on the First Descents team back in January, I was apprehensive about how many people I could get to donate. Luckily, I have a lot of people in my life with good hearts, and I greatly appreciate each and every one of them who donated. Speaking of First Descents – thank you to them for allowing me to be a part of #TeamFD! I strongly believe in their mission and hope to get more involved in the future by volunteering on some of their adventures.
It was amazing to see and feel the love and support on race weekend from friends and family. People I knew (and some I didn’t!) from not only across the U.S. – but also in several countries! – were following my progress and awaiting the results. My brother and sister-in-law got back from a day on their African safari just in time to see my finish time appear. The well-wishes for Leadville, online encouragement on race day (unknown to me until later, of course), and words of congratulations post-finish… it is all very humbling and heartwarming.
Most importantly…
Courtney: I couldn’t do this without your love and support – and everything you did on race weekend. Thank you for living with (and marrying!) “someone like that.” 😉
Vicki: Sorry again for the grunting soundtrack… thanks for bringing me in on time! I did my best to listen to my big sister – LOL.
Neal: Thanks for pushing me through what I consider the hardest part of the weekend. And for whipping me into such good shape last year – I needed every ounce of what we built me into last year.
Ben: Glad your ankle was good to go – thanks for the company in the early (late?) hours and helping me survive the cow pasture from hell. Excited for your future ultra plans!
Mom & Dad: It meant so much to me for you both to be there and to share the experience with you! Thanks for your help the whole weekend and instilling in me that I can do anything I put my mind to.
Drew: a surprise crew member! Thanks for coming and taking good care of my feet at Twin Lakes. You inspired the beginning of this journey, and it was great to have you there for my first 100 finish!
Milo & Lily: Thanks for making the trip out to Leadville again this year – your presence was very welcome, and you are both always so helpful!
Last, but not least, I want to thank all race volunteers and Leadville Race Series staff (llamas included!). I try to make sure that I thanked everyone as I left aid stations because I know a lot of hard work goes into making this all happen, and the encouragement along the way is essential.
Several people have asked me whether I’d do it again. My answer right now is “I am not doing it next year” – which, let’s be honest, is basically a big ol’ YES.
I have had a couple of emotional finishes in my 25 years of racing, but this one almost surely takes the cake. Sure, finishing faster would have been great, but finishing in the last hour – the last 15 minutes – may have made it even more special. I finished in 350th place, but I finished, and the energy of the cheering crowd on 6th Street made it feel like I finished 1st.
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