Saturday, January 21, 2017

Loops for the soul.

     Across the Years. 6 days. 1.05 mile loop. Reverse direction every 4 hours. Mom, "not sure how much fun that would be... To each their own." I smiled at the notion knowing I wanted this challenge. Something I've never done before that was gonna challenge me, not just physically but in the upstairs. My goals were as usual, get some smiles and miles in, be myself, run/walk my own race, and most importantly... Be HAPPY!!
 
     Day 1 started out with great vibes and feelings. I immediately linked in with Daro Ferrara at the start, but only for a short bit. We were moving at different paces at that moment and figured we had some time over the next couple of days that we would lock speeds up together. I felt great moving along in my Lunas. I had never gone past 22 miles in them at one moment but knew I wanted to get my first Ultra in them. I had intentions of using the first couple of days to set in the conditioning of the feet, body recovery, and mind for the long haul so I wasn't going to push until the last two days at most.

     I was cruising along the first day and was able to meet some legends in the 6 day events, Ed Ettinghausen, Yolanda Holder, the Terminator Martina Hausmann, John Geesler, Liz Bauer, Andy Noise, etc... I was well into 20 miles and linked in with Yolanda for a couple of laps. Now this lady can hold a fast walking pace like no other. It was great to get to know her and take in some advice. Right away she said you gotta do your own pace. At that moment I was at her pace which put unneeded stress on my stride and feet. I knew I couldn't maintain that pace cause I could feel hot spots creeping up super fast. I ended up breaking off and moving at my own pace, but the damage had been done. I took a break for a couple of hours in hopes that my feet would calm down but they did not. I got back out on the track after that and logged in some night miles. I finished up the first day with 67 mile. Body wasn't stressed. Mind felt good. Blisters were on the rise and grown fast though.

     Day 2 was a bust. I moved early through the day to mid afternoon but feet were getting rough. I stopped in with the medics and they suggested that I kick the feet up for a bit and hopefully the blisters will go down. My right foot looked like I had a flat tire and was growing two new toes on the sides of my foot. I awoke 16 hours later into the next morning. Hobbled to the medics tent with shoes in hand to get work done. They couldn't do anything about my right foot blood blister so I just cut holes into them. They didn't hurt so I just let them be. The patched up my left foot and I headed back out onto the track. I finished up day 2 at a total of 84 mile. I was way off my high aspirations but still had 4 days to move.

     Day 3 wasn't much better than the last as in tracking miles. I put the rough movement aside to drink some beers, watch a movie on the phone (Despicable Me 1 and 2), and have a good time regardless. I can't quite recall my mileage that day but it was definitely nothing to write home about, haha. I got some more big rest that day and woke early at 630ish AM and began moving again. I was bound to believe that things would turn around. It's hard walking past your home every mile knowing you can stop and rest at anytime that you shall choose to do. Things will get better as in the low moments of life... They always get better.

     Day 4. I came into the day with thoughts that the end of the Year and the beginning of a new one would be better than the last two days. With a huge start of new runners beginning their race into the new year I felt inspiration to be out on the track with them. I moved along with the acceptance of my feet situation and smiled. It was good to see Katie Graff move along at her nice consistent pace with a smile. She seemed determined and on a mission. She would have to deal with the elements though and find her lane along the loop as it was full of puddles from the night rain. The same went for Jonathan Hart. He was on the mission of completing 100 miles in under the 24hr marker. He was also moving smoothly around the loop with good consistency and well ahead of schedule. I moved along and the laps passed by. I took breaks as needed and even watched a movie I believe and had some beers. Soon darkness was falling and I had at least moved about 30 miles by then for the day. I was planning to save some energy for the night time to try and accompany Katie and Jonathan through the night hours. I headed out onto the track and told myself I would run as much as I could with Katie or Jonathan as they passed by.

     I quickly ran into Katie as she was still moving swiftly. To that point we hadn't really spoken so we chatted for a bit. Told her that I'd keep her company from time to time. She was kind enough to share her race goal with me and it was a hard one. I don't think she'd have it any other way. With a tough goal seconds become very precious and doing your own work in the AS you can sure lose some of those precious seconds. I some what offered some assistance by grabbing some extra water bottles that I would fill up for her when I saw one empty so that could cut some time down. After about an hour with thoughts  in my head I just had the feeling that I should help out a friend. I figured what better way to end the year and bring in the new. I've never crewed for someone and on top of that someone who I barely knew. I think if I knew her better I would be able to know how to get better reactions from her as in how to push her past the hard times and bad thoughts. I would help fill her water, get some laps in, and support as best I could. As goo as my intentions were to try and lift some of the weight off of her, I felt like I was falling short. Before I knew it most of the runners gathered up and rang in the New Year together. This has probable been the first in a while since I was actually up and with others. We did a traditional first miles of the year, generally in a group. Soon there after was the first beer mile of the year and better yet run in your undies. It was fun to see but I was getting a bit sleepy and still assisting Katie, but I could see she was fading and fighting the bad thoughts. Then with the weather taking a turn for the worse that sure doesn't help someone trying to pull through a rough spot. She came into the tent around 2, maybe a bit prior, and just looked defeated. She was feeling aches that she was not used to ever getting during races. I tried to help and push but didn't know the right buttons. This is where I feel each race represents it's own challenge. One could be the terrain, another bad thoughts, injuries in another, blisters, etc.... She hit the wall and was ready to call it. She was unable to take fuel in and couldn't sleep just for even a bit. With her hovering over the heater she said, "I'm gonna head back to the car and sleep a bit." Yet she stood there and didn't move. I wrapped her up in my jacket to warm her up in hopes that that would get her to rest quickly and get back out on the track. I told her I was gonna get a couple of hours of rest in the van (house) and hope to see her out there when I'm up. As I made it to the van I happened to turnaround and there she was running with my jacket on and with her smile on... That made me so happy. She is one tough lady and just wish I could be half as strong. I woke up with daybreak I believe and saw her in the tent. She had passed the 100 mile marker already and about two hours left. She was down but still super competitive looking at her competition and how many laps she had to go to be in top three. With her being tied with another she mustered up the courage, as I mustered up some umbrellas for us, and headed out for a lap to break that tie. We chatted along the loop and felt so lucky to spend that time with such a strong lady. I found out during the night that things turned for the worst for Jonathan and he cut his race short of 100 miles. Super happy that he achieved a new PR though out on the loop. I ended day four with a shower (much needed might I add), 157 total miles, and on the way to the van for some rest.

     Day 5 was here and the clock continued to tick down and the end was in sight. I hit the loop and looked deep down inside and said, "it's time to set a goal (high) and suffer." Something that is achievable but by golly you are going to have to work for it. With about 44 hrs left I set the goal of 400K, I was at about 252K. The only way to get there is to be out on the track. As Ed told me as we walked around the track, "even if you are doing 22 minute miles you are getting miles and they all add up. The only miles that get left on the track are the ones when you are not on the track." Knowledge dropped. My demeanor had changed and I was now fixated on my goal. Gotta move more and rest less. I finished up the day at about 192 miles.

     Day 6 was gonna be rough. I had 24 hours to complete 90K. I just had to break it down into sections to make it easier and more manageable. I find it good to see progress. Things were moving along and it soon felt like the clock was on crack. I was in the medics tent getting some work done and then received troubling news... A childhood friend's mom had just passed away... Age 53... I was fixed up and hit the loop again. Then. It. Hit. Me. My childhood at their place just played on repeat through my mind. I was breaking down on the track. I was moving with purpose but man was I crying along the way. It's hard to imagine why for I haven't seen them in about 12 or so years. I no longer was doing this for myself, this was for Rhonda and the Zajicek Family... And I was gonna suffer. I continued to process all of this and move towards 400K. Something like that makes you realize how precious this life that we have is. I am well aware of my mortality and often accept death along my adventures up mountains. I just hope if I were to pass doing something of that sort that everyone would know I lived my life and was doing what I loved to do. Yet I see most and don't get that feeling from them. We need to wake up as a society and realize that things won't bring you eternal happiness. Loving yourself, being compassionate, pursuing your passion, walking through your fears... I believe those things can bring on lasting happiness. Stop saying tomorrow because tomorrow never comes. Well I need to get off of my box, back to the program. I hit 350K and 12 hours to go to reach 400K. I broke it down to my pace and time and knew it was gonna be close. I could probably only have about a 2 hour rest period. I continued to press forward and suffer every bit that I could. I was able to walk around with Andy into his 300th mile in the wee hours of the morning, just simply impressive that man is. Things were looking good and looked like I could finish with about and hour and a half to spare and then... This crazy blister came out of no where right on the ball of my left foot and the pain was sharp with every step. I hobbled into the medical tent just feeling broken and defeated. All I wanted to do was just rest for at least an hour but knew time was not on my side. I had 15K to go, just under 4 hours remaining and knew my foot would take about 30-45 minutes to patch up... I was about to call it but just at that moment my friend Daro saw me and sat in with me. Got me food and liquids. I'm sure he saw me on the struggle. Foot patched up and we walked around the track what felt like a measly pace, yet still happened to be under 20 minute miles. We hobbled around together without say much of anything to each other. I was happy to accompany Daro across his 300th mile, goal achieved for him. I still had 5 more laps to go and fully expected him to stop once he got there, but he did not. He stuck by me all the way to 400K. That's just what friends do for each other.

     My race struggle was with blisters, that's a true first. I've had blister before but never this many that affected me that much. I'll be excited to see what next year's ATY brings on. This time I'll be more prepared and possibly a bit more focused and a prior goal in mind... Currently thinking 300. Maybe more who knows, I might get froggy with it! It was a total pleasure of mine to meet every out on the loop over those 6 days, Barefoot Jake, Barefoot Alex, Sean, Sweeney, Andy, Ed, Colby, Martina, Yolanda, Kimberley, Jonathan, Katie, and good friend Daro. Also a big thanks to Roy and Virginia Roberts for stopping by, giving me company, and food (Subs and Chinese), everyone was jealous of the Lo mien. I may have only known your for 6 day but sure feels like I've known you all a lifetime. Until next time my friends.

     This was for you Rhonda. I would keep running/walking and suffering for the Zajicek Family if it would change things, but it would not. Thanks for the memories and being a good person.