Author: Ultra Crazy Runner

Posted on

My FKT from South Haven to St. Clair Shores

# My Journey to 219 Miles

My journey to 219 miles was nothing short of incredible.

## Day 0

I arrived in South Haven in the evening, just in time to witness a beautiful sunset. After enjoying a bite to eat at Clementine’s, I settled in for the night in the van near the start line.

## Day 1

I kicked off my adventure at 7:44 AM on Friday, November 8th. The sunrise was stunning, but the wind along the lakeshore was a bit strong. Fortunately, it warmed up as I made my way out of South Haven and onto the Kal Haven Trail. Having participated in the Kal Haven Trail Ultra a few times, I felt familiar with the terrain. Running the first couple of miles solo was a perfect way to get my head in the game.

My first pacer, Lindsey—an athlete I hadn’t met in person yet—joined me for a couple of hours. The miles flew by as we chatted. After running solo for another hour, I reached Kal Haven State Park, where I took a short break and fueled up with chicken noodle soup. My husband, Derek, and friend, Kim, provided crew support, catching up with me every hour to offer aid.

Derek joined me on his bike for about 12 miles, guiding me through the Kalamazoo Valley River Trail and downtown Kalamazoo. It was a refreshing change of pace to get off the trail and into town. After nearly reaching the 50-mile mark, my second pacer, Fred, took over. Fred and I were only acquaintances, so we had plenty to talk about over the next five hours as we made our way through Galesburg, Augusta, and into Battle Creek.

The dark, long road miles during rush hour were a bit dicey, but we managed. In Battle Creek, my friend Christine joined us as my next pacer. We navigated through some construction and a dark road before arriving in Marshall, where I hit the 81-mile mark feeling surprisingly fresh. I grabbed some soup and headed toward Albion. The temperature dropped significantly in this section, and I started to feel cold and slow down.

When we reached Albion, I decided to call it a night, stopping at 91 miles. It was a solid start to my journey. That night, I used my MicroSport Pro with a PEMF adapter to energize and heal for the next day.

## Day 2

I woke up about three hours after falling asleep, around 3 AM, to a nagging niggle. Thankfully, I had the MicroSport to assist my recovery. After some time, I felt ready to start again and began with my friend and athlete Russ at 10:30 AM on Saturday. I started a little creaky but quickly found my rhythm.

We took some bonus miles navigating through Albion to Victory Park, then hit some back roads with rolling hills. Partway to Concord, my friend and athlete Des joined us, bringing fresh energy. The three of us ran along to the Falling Waters Trail in Concord, where my friends and athlete Barb and Randy were waiting to pace me.

I started feeling fatigue, so I told Des I needed a nap and some Tylenol. It was around 2:45 PM, but I knew I needed rest. After taking some Tylenol and running a few MicroSport programs, I fueled up and returned to the trail with renewed energy, running faster. Barb joined Des and me for the next section to Jackson. 

Once in Jackson, Randy took over pacing. I felt relieved to have him, given his good navigation skills. We moved well through Jackson, though we encountered a long stretch through the Jackson Prison that felt endless—mostly because I needed a bathroom break. When we finally saw Derek in the van, he suggested I stop for the night around 9:30 PM. I could have kept going, but I took his advice. We slept nearby in the van, and I ran the MicroSport PEMF during my sleep.

## Day 3

After a few hours of sleep, I ran some MicroSport programs. I planned to head out, but heavy rains prompted me to hold off until it cleared a bit. I finally started around 7:00 AM, enjoying some solo running to get to the Lakeland Trail. I was loosening up and feeling good when Jess joined me. Kim brought McDonald’s sausage egg McMuffins and Coke, my daily fuel during the journey.

Shortly before we reached Stockbridge, another familiar face, my friend Bjorn, surprised us by jumping in to join. It was exciting to be on “my home turf.” The three of us ran to Gregory, enjoying another beautiful morning. Once in Stockbridge, my friend Claudia joined us. We used a 3/1 run/walk strategy to keep a steady pace on the trail, which worked well.

Partway to Pinckney, we picked up surprise pacers Russ and Fred again. At the depot, it was fun to see our friends Curt and Leslie cheering me on—another great energy boost. Somewhere between Pinckney and the Captain Frosty Trailhead, my friend Kay hopped in with chicken nuggets, fries, and Coke from Kim. I craved salty, greasy food during my run, and it really helped boost my energy.

As I neared Zukey Lake Tavern, I started to notice some knotting in my left peroneal tendon, so we called in remote PT support from Liesle. She gave us tips, and we added some KT tape and moved on. As we approached Hamburg, the intensity increased, and my right side started bothering me too. Liesle came to my rescue in Hamburg and worked her magic. Kay and I continued on until we were almost to J.C. Penney, where my pain intensified.

I decided to use the MicroSport to calm it down and applied Tri-Covery CBD salve for pain relief. Ultimately, I was forced to walk with about 60 miles left. After some long, hard thought, I decided to come home for self-care, sleep, and an early start the next day. I took a nice Epsom salt soak, used PEMF, and applied CBD salve. After a few hours of sleep, I felt much better and was ready to go.

## Day 4

I started again on Field Crest, where I had left off the night before. I was solo for a short bit until my friend Jeff caught up with me. We moved well through Island Lake, but I started experiencing pain and swelling in my right foot again, so I did some treatment and continued on to New Hudson.

Along the way, we had a surprise visit from Toni, who joined us for a bit, providing a nice energy boost. The east side of the state was less familiar to me, making it fun to explore new areas. As we cruised along, I heard a familiar voice—my friend Curt was riding his bike to catch us for some miles. 

I had requested mac and cheese and a smoothie for lunch, and as the miles ticked on, my needs became more urgent. When we got to Wixom, Derek had my lunch ready, which really hit the spot and gave me renewed energy. Heading toward Novi, I was moving well, but just past it, I felt increasing pain in my right foot. I stopped for treatment and decided to walk a bit with the MicroSport for relief.

This area was tricky, with no sidewalks and highway entrances. I was grateful to have Jeff navigating us through. After another treatment stop, Bjorn joined me. Once I received treatment, I could move well for a while until the pain medication wore off. Bjorn kept me positive and moving as we worked through some painful moments.

I was determined to finish before midnight on Monday, so I kept pushing forward. I was still running, now with fewer walk breaks. Somewhere along the way, Fred joined again. When we reached Berkeley, my nephew Ricky joined on his bike for a few miles, raising my spirits and quickening my pace.

After Royal Oak, a group of friends joined me for the last ten miles: Jess, Jen, Kay, Bjorn, and Fred. It felt like a Saturday group long run, and the energy was fantastic. The final stretch along 12 Mile felt endless, but suddenly, I had a whole entourage of support! Liesle and her mom showed up, honking, ringing cowbells, and playing the Spice Girls. 

Next came Jeff, Ricky, his father-in-law, and Derek, who kept the party going all the way to Champine Park. I finished 219.49 miles in 3 days, 15 hours, and 14 minutes! It was an incredible journey, and I had an amazing time along the way, thanks to the support of friends and family. It may sound cliché, but it truly takes a village.

Posted on

Reflection on my 2024 Running Season

It’s been a long while since I have written a post and a lot has happened!  As October rolls in, I find myself reflecting on my running season for 2024. After struggling with some niggles over the past year, I decided It was time to switch my mindset and schedule in some fun races for the year ahead.
Raven 24 Hour Elite Track Invitational

I kicked off the year with the Raven 24 hour Elite Track Invitational, my most focused event of the year. After some recent procedures on my heel, I had to decline my invitation to Desert Solstice 24 Hour Elite Track Invitational in 2023, so I was eager to heal and be well for the Raven.  Representing Ornery Mule Coaching was a highlight, and I loved spending time with Coach Jacob and his wife, Riley. at the beautiful track in South Carolina.

The day started well for me, but due to my niggle I had to stop short of 24 hours. I managed to earn 2nd place overall female, though I fell short of my mileage goal. The thing about running ultra events is you meet so many amazing people and get to witness great accomplishments. That day,  I met Adam Popp who set some world records and became a friend and coaching collaborator. I ran near him for many, many laps and was inspired by his performance.

Thumb Coast Ultra Relay

 

After Raven, I looked forward to the Thumb Coast Ultra Relay. My running friends and I formed a female relay team named MILF (Miles in Life Friends).  The race was a point-to -point 50- mile relay with each of us running 2 legs.  Being part of a team is always a blast, and despite the cold and windy weather, we had an incredible time. Our team finished 1st place overall for females!

Cocodona 250 Pacing and Crewing

In May, I had the honor to support my friend, Randy at the Cocodona 250-mile race. Being part of his support team was a privilege and I cherished every moment of crewing and pacing him through this tough event. I began pacing Randy at Whiskey Row, around mile 78 and continued with a section at Dead Horse and out of Sedona over Mount Wilson. Each segment offered  an amazing experience from single tracks to roads, to steep descents and accents, to river crossings. My favorite part was climbing Mount Wilson, surrounded by breathtaking mountains. I love helping people and I am so proud of Randy for pushing his limits.

Glass City Marathon

In April, I unexpectedly signed up to pace at the Glass City Marathon in Toledo just a day before the event. This was my first time being a marathon pacer.  I paced with my friend Jeff. We had the 4:10 pace group which was a super comfortable pace. It felt rewarding to help others achieve their goals, and we crossed the finish line with 30 seconds to spare. Thanks to Jeff’s knack for numbers, our pacing was right on point!

San Diego Marathon and BolderBoulder 10k

Last minute, my son, Riley invited me to run the San Diego Marathon just three weeks out. I couldn’t resist.  Then my daughter,  Madde invited me to stop by and run the BolderBoulder 10k with her the weekend before. I was beyond excited for my trip to see both of my children and participate in these events.  BolderBoulder 10k is a super fun event with the streets lined with spectators, slip and slides, even shots and beer!   Madde and I embraced the fun enjoying everything from the slip and slide to mystery shots while running with the view of the stunning mountains surrounding Boulder.

Next was the San Diego Marathon. I was excited to run the same race as Riley and to see my friend Lindsay. Although I started the race with Lindsay,  the crowd made it tricky to stay together. I had a great first 20 miles, but the steep downhill triggered some heel pain which impacted the rest of my race. Still I managed to finish with a Boston qualification!

UP5k at Copper Mountain

In September, Madde invited me to run UP 5k at Copper Mountain in Colorado, starting out around 10,500 feet elevation. We took a ski lift to the start and the course climbed about 1,500 feet to a max elevation of 12,000 feet before we ran back down. It was the hardest yet easiest 5k race I have ever completed. Breathing at this elevation was a challenge for this flatlander, but was happy to finish 9th overall female, especially knowing the runners ahead of me were younger locals from Colorado.

Looking Ahead

After this fun time of races, I did some soul-searching. While I considered tackling a 100 mile race, I didn’t feel the pull. I know 100 milers are hard so my heart needs to be in it to get to the finish line. Since 2020, I’ve dreamed of running across the state for the fastest known time. Reflecting on my experiences running in the mountains and along my van life journey to Colorado and back in August, I realized one thing that I truly love about running is the freedom, independence and empowerment it brings.

So I am now planning for a fastest known time attempt starting November 8th in South Haven,  running the Great Lake to Lake Trail to Port Huron.The route is primarily rail trails with road connectors, covering about  270 miles with 5,000 of elevation.  I am excited to push my possible and become the first person to complete this route by running.

Overall, I can say 2024 has been one of my most enjoyable racing years in a while, where I took the pressure off and focused on enjoying the day and the company around me!  Sometimes, we just need to change our mindset and pursue what our hearts truly desire!

 

Posted on

Learning from a 24 hour Ultra-Every Race is a Learning Opportunity to Carry Forward

Over about a six month span starting in December 2020 just shortly after I retired from a long career in special education, I started delving into competing at 24 hour track events. I had longed to run one for a few years after binge watching Zach Bitter set a World Record at Six Days in the Dome and Camille Herron set her World Record at Desert Solstice. The events intrigued me and I thought to myself that I needed to qualify to run these races. So after winning Tunnel Hill 2019, my finish time was enough to qualify for Desert Solstice. I received an invitation from Aravaipa in late October to compete at Desert Solstice in Phoenix, Arizona.

After receiving the invitation, I started to focus my training on the event. I was able to spend some time on the track, but not much. We decided to drive to Phoenix as we were still in the thick of COVID19.  We converted our Jeep Grand Cherokee TrailHawk so we could stay in it and packed our food. We went a couple weeks early to account for the travel and to sightsee along the way.

I discovered Sarah Moore, a stand out Michigan runner, was running Desert Solstice so I reached out to her and we connected. On the day of the race I met Sarah and another awesome Michigan Runner, Ashley Truan. It was cool to have three female Michigan runners representing at Desert Solstice. 

On the morning of the event, I was so excited to have the honor to be running with such an elite field. Zach Bitter was there attempting a World Record and Marisa Lizak also going for a record among other amazing athletes. What is so awesome about the track 24 hour ultras is you get to watch the other participants. It is different from other ultras where you break away and don’t see anyone for extended periods of time. The ultra community is so supportive of one another. All throughout the day and night runners are encouraging each other. Zach was going for a World Record, but took time to encourage me every time he lapped me (which was too many to count). Marisa –who won the event –was so supportive with encouraging words. Nicole Bitter on the sideline cheered me on many laps as well.

My day started off strong. The track event being new to me came with many unknowns. This was also the first time I had run in an arid climate.  My first 50 miles went pretty well. I was hitting my targets and feeling good despite a few lows getting there. This is something I am accustomed to with running ultras. It is a roller coaster. I remember hitting a low and going past Sarah Moore she said, “Ride the wave baby you will be coming back up”. That is a statement I have carried through my next two 24 hour events. Around mile 50 I started experiencing some tightness in my adductors which eventually moved to my calf. I had little muscle knots which caused me to lose time stopping for massage and stretching. I was lucky enough to meet Erin Dial as she was crewing the runner right next to my tent. Erin is coincidentally a massage therapist. I wouldn’t have made it through without her support.  With Derek–my crew chief– and Erin’s support I was able to make it through.  Later we decided the muscle issues likely came from  dehydration. Running in the arid temps, the dehydration can sneak up on you.  As the day went on and my pain continued I persisted through 100 miles. I continued until about 20 hours where I stopped with 103 miles. I was feeling light-headed and low on my nutrition and decided to stop and rest. This turned into a bad idea as it was cool in the night and my legs tightened. I finished 3rd place overall female for the 24 hour race.

I walked away from Desert Solstice feeling a hunger to go back for more. I learned from my fueling and hydration mistakes and the mental games that came from a track event. It is both convenient and a curse to see your aid and crew every 400 meters. It makes it easy to support with nutrition, hydration and any other possible needs, but the temptation to stop too frequently also draws you in.  

I recovered quicker than ever after the race so I decided I would look for another opportunity. I was already signed up for Six Days in the Dome 24 hour race as it was a roll over from 2020 when it was canceled. I wanted another opportunity at a 24 hour event before running Six Days in the Dome.

I took about a week of somewhat down time and then started ramping my training back up.  

I signed up for the Alexander 24 hour race in North Carolina in May. This gave me a new goal. I felt strong through my training block. I reflected on my race at Desert Solstice and adapted my race strategy including my nutrition and hydration. I feel every race is a learning opportunity to carry forward so I took what I learned and was ready to execute it.

Derek and I traveled to North Carolina for the race. I went feeling strong and well prepared. I was excited for the last chance to qualify for the USATF24 hour team.  I went in with high goals and a new plan. The day started off great. My tent was right next to Whitney Richman so we started the day off chatting and ran some laps near each other. It was fun getting to know her. My first 20 miles I felt strong, but then I was dealing with some dehydration issues. I went to the restroom and discovered my urine was the color of cola and I thought this is way too early in a 24 hour to have urine that color. We started increasing my hydration and balancing my electrolyte intake. At one point, I laid in pain on the infield of the track thinking I was done. My body ached.  But I wasn’t ready to quit so I pushed on: then I started getting muscle cramps in my calves, then my hip, then my stomach. I was getting a bit concerned and I kept stopping so it didn’t go into a full blown charlie horse. As I was babying my cramps, I heard another runner screaming in pain and writhing alongside the track. Bob also was dehydrated and was experiencing a severe charlie horse.  I didn’t want this to happen as it could take me out of the race.  Luckily Derek worked to get me back on track with fluids and electrolytes. I was able to pull it together. My friend Kim Murray came and brought me some gummy bears which gave me a little boost of energy. It is always great to have some support especially when you start hitting a low.

The day was hot and the sun was brutally blaring down on us with no sun coverage for most of the day. Other runners struggled with the same dehydration issues. Some dropped and some continued on. I met Vicktoria Brown from Canada and watched her set a Canadian record that day.  It’s a fine balancing act during these long races to take in the right amount of nutrition and hydration. Too little or too much can leave you in a challenging situation.  I pushed through the race to about the 23 hour mark where I started feeling a bit under the weather and decided to stop. I finished Alexander County 24 hour first overall female.  

Again, I recovered quickly from the race. By day two I summited a mountain. I easily started putting miles in that week. I hiked and ran and then quickly increased my volume. I was able to get in a solid training block with only 7 weeks to the next race. 

Next up was Six Days in the Dome 24 hour. Six Days in the Dome is at the Pettit National Ice Center. There is a three lane track that runs around an ice rink. My race started on day two. When I got to the track, there were people finishing the day one 24 hour and people continuing with day two of a 48 hour race. Again I was at the track in great company of many elite runners. Marisa Lisak and Olivier Leblond were on day two of the 48 hour race both attempting records. Taggart VanEtten was starting the 24 hour race with me and attempting to break the 100 mile World Record.

Again the day started solid.  My friend Charles’ advice is to hit 50 feeling fresh and I did. In fact, I shouted to Derek to text him that I hit 50 feeling fresh. I was taking in my Gnarly nutrition and hydration on point. My friend Anna Bluma and her daughter came, which renewed my spirits. It was fun having someone I knew there supporting me. Other runners from the Ornery Mule Racing community were also there and cheering as I ran by.

It was exciting to watch Taggart as he weaved in and out of runners. I could hear him coming and would try to tuck in so he could get by easily. We joked as he passed me. 

Earlier on race week I had some GI issues and chalked it up to race day nerves. Throughout the race, I felt discomfort and around mile 70 I started getting some sharp cramping which caused me to stop a few times. Megan Veldkamp came to help crew me. She was awesome, staying calm and trying to get me through some struggles. She did rate me as grumpy at one of my aid stops, but overall she said I was in good spirits. Who knew I was getting graded?  Eventually, I went to the medic because of the stomach pains. He did some massage on my stomach and next thing I knew I was spending most of my time running from port a potty to port a potty and let me tell you those things were nasty. 

I insisted on continuing to at least 100 miles. Derek wanted me to quit, but I wasn’t done yet. I had a solid race. However, I was down to a walk at mile 85 with my GI issues.  Another runner, Angie Darbyson and I went several laps near each other as she was working towards qualifying for the Canadian 24 hour team. I ended up finishing 3rd overall female for the 24 hour race.  It was the longest 15 miles of my life, but I am glad I persisted! Texts and calls from friends and family got me through some tough spots that day. It’s always nice to hear some of the comments from supporters and words of encouragement when things get tough!  As the night went on I may have been seen on the video footage making silly faces or waving to my fans. 

There is something addicting to me about these 24 hour track events. What do I think about, people ask? Isn’t it boring? Why would you want to run on a track for 24 hours?  The thing is I just run and run and don’t think. It is the best feeling to be out there all day running surrounded by others who share the same passion. I get lost in the moment and lose all concept of the time of day. I only know the hour that I am in.  I love the challenge of running against time!

What’s next you ask?  I am asking myself the same thing. After completing 3 100+ mile races in about 6 months, I decided it was time for my body and mind to take some downtime. I’m letting myself recover so I can come back stronger. I’m changing up my training:spending more time on trails and strength training. I am speeding my recovering with having massages from Tri-Covery Massage & Flexibility and chiropractic care at Duncan Chiropractic. I still have big goals and dreams to chase. While I placed at all three events, I haven’t settled. I am stronger: I can do better.

For now I will work to encourage and inspire others through my own running and coaching: recently a friend shared a story with my husband. She went to work and her co-worker handed her the local newspaper with an article about my running. She said this is my inspiration. It is a small world as my friend told her co-worker, “Loretta.  I know her. “

 

Posted on

Ornery Mule Racing Coach- A New Journey!

As many of you know, I pretty much live, eat and breathe running.  I am excited to announce that I am now part of the Ornery Mule Racing Coaching Team!  When I saw that Ornery Mule Racing was starting a coaching program, I knew it was the right fit for me. I met Michele Hartwig, owner of Ornery Mule Racing when I ran my first hundred mile race, Hennepin Hundred. Michele made me feel like family from the beginning.  Her attention to detail, love for the sport and care of the participants, made me know that this is the team I wanted to be a part of! I reached out to Michele and I was honored as she  welcomed me as one of the coaches. 

This was perfect timing as I recently went through RRCA (Road Runner Club of America) coaching certification.  I am excited to share my love and passion for running with others. I have learned so much through the years through my personal experiences with running track distances through the 100 mile run. These lessons have taught me so much that I carry forward and love to spread my knowledge. My experience coaching children through adults will assist me in my new remote coaching journey.  Additionally, my life long career in education and educational leadership, has given me tools to be a supportive, collaborative coach! I am looking forward to this new journey and chapter in my running career. Please see the link to Ornery Mule Racing Coaching team if you are interested in a running coach who will support you through YOUR journey! We have an amazing team of coaches with a variety of experiences and backgrounds who are all ready to support you!I 

Ornery Mule Run Coaching
-SIGN UP HERE
Posted on

Rest, Recovery, and Nutrition

It’s been a long time since I have made a post!  I have spent the last couple of months recovering from Tunnel Hill.  I took the first couple weeks off and just let my body rest. I started with new coaches, Camille Herron and Conor Holt to gain new perspectives and strategies.  As I started off the first few weeks with them, I started getting some little niggles which caused me to take a bit more rest than I would have liked. I spent a good part of January listening to my body and letting my body heal. Which is not easy to do listen to your body while dealing with your mind nagging you that you need to run.  Running is such an integral part of my life and my mental health. It’s funny how many more hours in the day you have when they aren’t committed to running.  

While I wasn’t running, I spent time focusing on my nutrition and my recovery so I wasn’t making myself crazy thinking about not running. Nutrition is something I knew I really needed to improve and focus on to move me to the next level.  I consulted with a dietician who is helping me to get on track to be sure I am getting in the calories and nutrients that I need. I tend to live in a calorie deficit. So I am learning to pack more snacks and trying to fuel my body more frequently with well balanced choices and making sure to fuel before and after my runs. It’s hard to believe how much of a difference this makes.  I’m feeling great with more energy!  

I have also been experimenting with a variety of race and recovery fuels and hydration. I’ve found some products I am anxious to put to the test once I get into my peak mileage and races.  I tried UnTapped Salted Raspberry, Saturday on my long run. It was delicious!  I was looking for something with a more liquid texture than gel that would be easy for me to digest.  This was perfect for that. I also struggle a bit making sure to stay hydrated so I have been trying Liquid IV. I love the taste of passion fruit and it’s helping me to keep my hydration up!  I am also trying out cherry juice by Cherry Bay Orchards.  I am using this to aid in my recovery.  I will keep you posted on how these products work as I move through my training plan! The journey to elite is a learning experienc

Posted on

This Run Powered by Hops by UCR crew member, Jeff Hickman

 

My life as a pacer all started with a group message from fellow pacer Christine asking any and all to join in.  I thought it sounded fun, I had a rare open weekend on the calendar, and of course wanted to help out my running group friend Loretta in her quest to do something I could never accomplish myself.

I headed out Friday morning with my GPS aimed towards Tunnel Hill.  However it got confused by my choice of routing through Chicago. Surely it hadn’t forgotten I like good beer and my favorite regional brewery, Goose Island, was needing my company.  It is stout season after all. I arrived at the lakefront VRBO later in the evening, but missed Loretta as she had already turned in for the night. I guess she had some big run to do the next day or something.  So I followed suit shortly thereafter, plopping myself on one of the living room couches. I didn’t sleep much, if any, that night.  

We woke up at 5:30am on Saturday to begin the big day.  I was wondering what I got myself into. Why am I getting up this early?  We quickly gathered up our things for the day (IE threw everything I brought back into the car) and headed out to the race starting line.  Loretta seemed very chipper and full of energy. All I could think is “I’ll have whatever she just had.” Before we knew it the national anthem was playing and the ultra crazies were off!

I played navigator role sitting shotgun, guiding Derek to the various aid station stops that Loretta had all nicely mapped out in a spreadsheet timed about an hour apart.  Christine and Madde were in the back seat. It very much reminded me of the point-to-point game like Ragnar, having just running Michigan Road a couple months prior. You just have to make sure you are there before your runner.  Sometimes this doesn’t always happen. Ask me how I know. Anyway, we bounced around southern Illinois for most of the day, providing the aid that Loretta had again all mapped out. Time was quickly flying by. We eventually made our way to the infamous tunnel for which the trail got its name.  Teddy joined the group at this point. I took the time for a photo op in the tunnel as I could. I knew we would be back there again later in the race, but under darkness at that point.

As the day progressed we monitored Loretta’s pace as well as her overall placement.  She was knocking off her competitors one by one. One question on my mind as Loretta really did not know where she stood…at what point do we tell her?  The opportunity came at one of the aid stops just past the halfway point in the race, around mile 55. I asked Loretta if she knew where she stood. She said “no”.  I pointed down the trail to a woman still in eyesight. I said “that’s the leader….go get her and don’t look back.” Off she went. And soon after another competitor was picked off.  Our next task as crew was to determine if Loretta wanted pacers and how the five of us divide it up. Christine developed a plan that gave us each a leg of the race that fit our needs.  I was first so I geared up in my running clothes as the sun was setting. We gave Loretta a notice at mile 65 that a pacer could join her at the next stop. Her reply….”I feel awesome and I’m finishing this bitch on my own.  And I want a beer at the end.” So we put our pacing plans on hold for another leg. We were next approaching the final pass-through the start/finish area. It was not marked as a stop that Loretta wanted aid, but we collectively as crew decided to stop anyway.  It was good we did. Camille Herron, the current 100 mile world record holder, was hanging out with fellow runners and spectators. She was pointed out to me since I don’t follow the Ultra crowd. I had no idea who she was. But of course I was starstruck. Several of us got our pictures with her and a thought crossed my mind.  I knew Loretta was due into the stop at any minute. I approached Camille and told her the lead female was due in soon. “Give her some encouraging words.” I was overheard by the announcer so his ears perked up. Within seconds we see Loretta charging in. She got a quick hug from Camille, did a 10 second interview with the announcer, and off she went for the final out-and-back.  It was at the next stop, Shelby Road, where Loretta decided she would take a pacer. It was getting cold, dark, and fewer and fewer fellow runners on the trail. There aren’t many at the front of the pack. Even though this wasn’t our plan, I was the closest that was run ready so I borrowed Derek’s light and off I went with her. I’m nervous. I’ve never done this before. What am I supposed to do?  Just a few moments ago I was eating M&M’s and now I’m helping pace. Did I mention I’m running with the female race leader? I proudly boasted that fact a couple times as we approached other runners. We knew from the previous stop that Loretta had a fairly comfortable lead. I decided to stay a couple steps behind Loretta, letting her dictate pace. Being fresh, I didn’t want to pull her out of her comfort zone.  But yet I had to keep her moving, and help her stretch as she needed it. At this point…just keep moving and finish. You’ve got this! I kept her company, talking some, but also enjoying my run as well. I kept thinking the scenery would be beautiful, I just wish I could see it. At one point I found some eyeballs glowing just off trail. It was a nice little buck spectating the race. And then….the tunnel! I got to run through the tunnel in the dark!  So awesome! As we approached the end of my leg, I asked what she needed so I could text ahead to the crew. One thing caught me off guard….she asked if I could continue for the next leg because she wanted to run with me. I didn’t know what to do. I felt bad taking the spot of someone else who also made the trip to run with her as well. I contemplated faking an injury so someone else could run. But in the end I decided that this was her race and her request.  I felt honored to continue. I’m sorry Teddy!  

 

We made it to the final north turnaround and started back for the home stretch.  Every person we encountered we were trying to determine who was running the 50 and who was running the 100.  Most of the 50 miler’s were walking at this point. We encountered a few males who were running strong. “That’s a 100 miler.”  Then we came face-to-face with another woman running pretty strong. Woah! Who is that and where did she come from? That was number 2 woman in the 100 for sure.  I’m doing the math and figure she’s 2-3 miles behind Loretta. I changed my tactic a little and pulled a couple steps ahead of Loretta to help pull her a bit, but still stayed within her comfortable range.  But seeing number 2 gave her motivation to keep on moving. That was in fact Lindsay Phenix who ended up finishing second.  

As we pulled into the next aid station I relinquished my pacing duties to Christine.  And then Madde brought her home to the finish line. My Garmin had died prior to even running so I really had no concept of time or distance ran.  But I checked the mat times and I was out there around 2.5 hours. That was the quickest 2.5 hour run ever! It flew right by. I was honored to run with the champ!

As the race finished, Loretta wanted to get back to the cottage quickly to recover and relax.  It was nearly 1am at this point. She had been running for over 17 hours. I can’t even fathom that!  And she was the fast one! Other racers would be still out running into the next day. It’s unbelievable that people can do that!  Once back at the house we all sat around, told stories, and had that beer (or 2) that Loretta requested. Before we knew it the time was approaching 3:30am.  We had all been up for 22 hours, but it felt more like 12. No naps, minimal food, all supporting our running friend. Seeing Loretta with her crystal trophy made it all worth it.

The next morning some of the group did a short run.  We all went for a good group breakfast and parted ways back home to Michigan.  Again my GPS seemed confused as I instead aimed towards St. Louis and Perennial Artisan Ales.  I’m seeing a trend here. Silly GPS. It should know that I like turning 8 hour drives into 10 hour drives.              

Posted on

Cocoa Wheats, Crewing and Chicken Noodle Soup by Madde Horn

“This is the breakfast of champions,” my mom said, pointing to her microwaved bowl of cocoa wheats. It was around 5:30 am. In an hour and a half, the Tunnel Hill Ultra Marathon would begin. 

In the car she didn’t want questions. She didn’t want music. I think she just wanted to run: to move her legs and go (the previous day I had to discourage her from running too much on her pre-race shake out.

At 7 am, the race began and she went off with a smile. The rest of the day went by in a blur–for me and, I imagine, for her as well. We went to many stops (she was smiling nearly every time); we took a lot of pictures, recorded her splits, and were always ready with water and, occasionally, goldfish. 

I remember one of the other crew members mentioning we should be thankful that she was so fast, because we were all exhausted just from crewing that long.

In the chaos that is inherent to crewing an ultra, the day passed by quickly. Around mile 80 she began running with pacers, it was also around this time I could see the exhaustion hitting hard. “Is there bacon?” she asked groggily at a stop to which someone laughed and responded: “you’re at an ultra, of course there is bacon!” Yes, I knew before that running 100 miles was absurd, but it was then that I truly saw how much it challenged the body to its limits.

It was the last 3.9 miles that I got a chance to run along side my mom. Everything she had left was going into this last stretch of the race. Occasionally she had to walk a few steps and apologized (unnecessarily) to me each time. I told her that everyone was leaving her comments on the race tracking page and about the texts my friends were sending me about her. I texted the crew to have a bowl of chicken noodle soup ready (her favorite which the race luckily had available). For a while we didn’t talk, but then the finish popped up on us: she crossed the line and she got her soup (and a trophy too).

Posted on

Crewing Ultra Crazy Runner, Loretta Tobolske-Horn at Tunnel Hill by Derek Horn

Crewing Loretta at Tunnel Hill 100 was incredible! The field was packed with elite talented Ultra Runners, and Loretta had worked so incredibly hard and focused for a good part of a year to be in position to best them all!
 
The Crew/Pacers-
 
Crewing a hundred mile ultra can be a bit challenging but we had a great group that was up to the task!
 
Long time friend Teddy Foote, who has earned the nickname “The Loretta Whisperer” for slowly talking her back into a running pace from a walk at the eighty mile mark at Hennepin last year. Nearly helped her to a win as Loretta and the eventual winner traded the lead back and forth in the last miles of the race.
 
Chris Heckler, Talented runner herself looking to break into the Ultra scene competitively.
 
Jeff Hickman, Jeff just recently found out he had a natural running ability when he out paced his date in the spur of the moment half marathon. Also known for providing jello shots and fireball on training runs.
 
Chris and Jeff part of Loretta’s excellent running pace group from Running Lab in Brighton Michigan, ran hundreds of miles with her in training.
 
Maddelynn Horn, our awesome daughter was able to take a break from her psychology studies at U of M to help out. She has really stepped up her running in the last year on the M-Run club team. and is working towards her first marathon. This summer she joined Loretta on their first long run together, ending with her beating her mom the last mile with a campus kick!
 
Myself, co-conspirator of 28 years and fellow empty nester. Not a natural runner but able to barely keep up on short segments. At Hennepin I joined her at the fifty mile mark for 3 miles @ 9ish minute pace. A mile in to my segment we stopped to stretch her hamstring. She then decided that we needed to make up lost time with some 7:30 pace! I was about ready to drop dead when the next aid station came into sight. Loretta told me she wanted bacon and coke as we ran up. All the camera caught was me about dying and quickly getting bacon and Coke after running only three miles! It’s for my wife, really! After she got a quick stretch in she took off strong with her new pacer, as I finished her bacon and coke!
 
As a crew when not pacing our job was to try to anticipate Loretta’s needs without asking too many questions and get her a fresh bottle of tailwind about every hour as aid stations allowed. This sometimes resulted in cups of unwanted snacks getting thrown back at us, lol, (sorry Chris). Loretta’s aid station stops were extremely efficient! Most were non stop handing off of supplies while in motion. She came thru surprising fast and always smiling.
 
Our crew was like a moving tailgate party! We had snacks and beverages for ourselves and managed time between aid stations for Chris to cook us some coffee on her camp stove. 17 hours 21 minutes and 5 seconds went by extremely fast! I have set thru many professional football and baseball games that seemed longer! We followed her progress relative to other runners on my.raceresult.com. Which added to the excitement and helped with strategy.
 
Loretta went out really smart at her pace, running her race as planned. She was several places back early in the race. It was so exciting to see her close the gap and pass the other runners one by one as their pace faltered and hers did not. Between the 20 and 30 mile marks Loretta would go from 7th to 3rd.
 
Can she finish? 33 miles in her body began to protest, probably because it hadn’t had its usual post five hour training run meal at Zukey Lake Tavern of, “I am very thirsty and hungry! Please bring me ice water with lemon, Dr. Pepper, Bells Oberon, small pizza with pepperoni, bacon and pepper rings. Extra crispy please!” Once her race machine realized it was going to have to wait for its prize, she hit her second wind! Knocking off the next almost 50 miles with the same effortless stride and smile!
 
By the 50 mile mark she would find herself in first as she passed her competitors with a smile and a little pace pick up to let them know she was strong! The last 20 miles would prove most grueling as her pace dropped drastically interrupted with walks and stretching sessions. We could see on the live tracker that everyone else was also slowing and she just needed to finish. Despite a late effort by Lindsay Phenix to eliminate Loretta‘s 30min lead in the last six miles, Loretta would still win by more than 10 minutes!
Posted on

I Tackled the Tunnel and Won!

On Saturday, November 9th, I completed my second 100 mile ultramarathon.  This is the first race that I signed up for almost a year prior to the race.  I had ample time to prepare. I started my year off in January with training for the Bayshore Marathon using the Hanson Method.  Starting in January, I received coaching with Zach Bitter. He supported my Hanson Plan(Luke Humphrey Plan) through Bayshore Marathon and then started programming for me. He set my training using hours as the measurement instead of miles with a heavy focus on perceived effort or heart rate training. This was a change of mindset for me that really paid off mentally during the race.

We arrived in Venice, Illinois on Friday afternoon.  I was able to get in a run on the trail through the tunnel where Derek and Madde joined me.  Then we headed for packet pick up, watched a bit of Camille Herron and her husband, Conner’s presentation. This allowed me time to grab a quick selfie.  Then we headed for dinner: I wanted to get back to the airbnb early enough to be in bed by 9:00. I went home took an epsom salt bath and headed to bed.  While I slept, part of my crew arrived: Jeff and Chris.

We arrived at the start line about 6:30 a.m.  It was around 27 degrees with the forecast of increasing temperatures in the low 50’s during the day and then dropping back into the 30’s.  This made planning for clothing a bit difficult because I didn’t want to have to change my clothing. I settled on running shorts, a short sleeve with running sleeves, my Junk Headband, Nathan Hydration Vest and my smart wool mittens.  I kept my warm clothes on right until the start of the race. Madde, Derek, Jeff and Chris were there to see me off. Oh before I forget I met the chicken man waiting in line for the outhouse. He had a rubber chicken hooked onto his hydration pack with a sign that read “baby on board”.  I introduced myself and squeezed the chicken.  

I started the race feeling good about my preparation.  I went in with some pretty big goals: personal record from Hennepin (sub 19:34), run in the 16 hours, American Age Group Record (15:12).  Zach had advised me to have a few goals during my hundred mile race to keep a purpose and I found that sound advice. He had suggested a time range to strive for (8:53-9:07 mile pace): I loved this idea so I wasn’t stressed if I wasn’t on the dot. 

 

I started out hitting my numbers and feeling good. The nutrition plan was for me to refuel with Tailwind where my crew would meet me about every hour. I had a spare pouch of Tailwind incase my crew wasn’t able to meet.  We had spreadsheets and maps to show each aid station and when we would stop. My tactic for this race was to have less stops at aid stations, to keep moving forward (relentless forward progress) and less socializing during the race.  

 

Early in the race, I ran with a couple of guys from Kentucky.  This was nice to pass some miles by and keep on pace. There were places on the course that my GPS went haywire and I didn’t know my pace: This was a bit mentally challenging.  

My long runs were about 5 hours: At the 5 hour mark I had a bit of a mental dip.  I was used to stopping at 5 hours and grabbing Zukey Lake Tavern food, beer, pop and water.  That was a bit of a let down, but I got into my runners high shortly after and cruised on to mile 50.  At this point, another pacer, Teddy arrived and gave me some words of encouragement and some positive energy when I really needed it.

When I neared 50 miles, I hadn’t really thought about my race standing as I was so focused on my time.  Jeff shared at an aid station that I was just passing third place runner. This gave me some energy. 

As I was moving into the 50-60 miles,  I needed another focus so I started picking people who were supports for me to think of to give me strength to get through the next hour. I started with my dad in mind: He is very proud of my running and I used him to get me through those miles which worked because I slowly dropped my pace back down. Then for the next few sections, I picked different people to focus on to find strength to pull me through: I thought of my brother and a few other friends, my crew members and my coach.  

Then, I saw a lady ahead and decided I should focus on her to pull me in. It took some time, but I was able to pass her. When I got into the aid station my crew was excited that I had passed her as they had looked up her running resume and she had quite a resume.  I later found out her name is Connie Gardner: She has an impressive list of accomplishments on Wikipedia. When I was getting closer to 60 miles, I moved into second place. 

When I noticed the female runner ahead and knew the aid station was near, I dropped my pace and passed her.  She stopped for aid and I continued on. I really don’t remember when I moved into first place female.  

 

Around mile 60 I announced to my crew that I wouldn’t need pacers: I was planning to finish solo.  I was feeling great and really thought I could do it. I was heading into my last 5 hours which I was thinking, this is just another 5 hour Friday night run.  Then the miles from 68 to 76 got tough. I was starting to fatigue and when I came in to about mile 76 it is where the finish line is and you head to the tunnel one last trip.  My crew wasn’t supposed to meet there, but lucky for me they knew I needed support. They stopped and Derek handed me some chicken noodle soup: just what I needed. Jeff told me there was someone there for me and next thing I know Camille Herron is hugging me and cheering me on.  Her husband Conner handed me the mic asking how I felt, where I confidently responded, “I feel amazing.” Well might have stretched the truth a tiny bit.

At this point I called in back up!  Jeff started pacing me. He was so patient with me, but encouraging.  The first section he paced was going well so I requested that he continue for the next leg. When something is going well, I don’t want to change it up.  Luckily Jeff was willing to continue for another. He was excited that he got the tunnel leg. After we got through the tunnel and grabbed aid we were off to the end of the trail for the turn around. The crew was tracking second place to see how far she was behind me.  At that point the estimate was about 40 minutes back. We went to the turn around and headed back to the tunnel, I saw second place female. I knew I needed to stay strong and dig deep. Jeff told me they wouldn’t let me get passed. So I powered through, but my running had slowed and I need more walk breaks then I would have liked. My legs were feeling strong still but I was physically getting exhausted.   Looking back, I think I should have increased my calories. 

Back at the tunnel Chris took the next leg. It was a longer leg around 7 miles which is really tough when you’re nearing 100 miles.  Chris was awesome too she talked to distract me, but when I needed silence she respected that. At this point of my run, listening was taking too much energy.  She continued to track second place and we kept forging on.  

 

For my final leg, my daughter, Madde joined me.  I was excited for her to finish with me. She was so very caring and patient as she paced me through the last three miles.  She talked, was silent, and always encouraging: we were both ecstatic when we saw the finish line! We ran through the line together and I finished first place overall female for Tunnel Hill 2019 with a finish time of 17 hours 21 minutes 56 seconds!

When I finished, I was overwhelmed hearing about all the support I had from friends, family, my running family, and Riley and Madde’s friends on social media. The race tracker had blown up with over 100 comments cheering me on.  Additionally my Facebook page had went crazy! I was so honored that so many people had taken time to track me throughout the day: Now that is dedication!

So I ended up getting one of my goals, a personal record by 2 hours 13 minutes over my previous hundred: I also got a bonus, the win which is something I hadn’t really thought about.  Each race is a learning experience we carry forward to the next race: I am looking forward to my next race to apply my learning and try for my other two remaining goals!

 

Posted on

Stay in the Race.

Being an avid runner, I know how important it is to take care of my body.  With that being said, runners don’t always have time for stretching. I have learned that taking care of myself helps with injury prevention.  I have put in more miles this year than ever before so I know that, in order to continue to be successful with running, I need to be mindful of my body.  

So over the past year, I have purchased a variety of massage equipment.  While I already had several different types of rollers and lacrosse balls, recently I have discovered other products that are helpful in recovery. I have found Air Relax Compression Boots as well as Hypervolt extremely helpful in aiding recovery and lessening injury. The Air Relax boots help to aid in recovery by increasing blood flow to repair the muscles and reduce muscle fatigue.  The Hypervolt helps to increase circulation and blood flow thus assisting with recovery. Additionally, I purchased a cupping set which has also been useful in getting the blood flow and speeding recovery.  These tools have been a big component in improving  my training regimen.  

Aside from massage tools, I have found other methods excellent for muscle recovery. While I am not a person to take time to sit still, I have found that Epsom Salt baths are incredibly helpful in relaxing my muscles and aiding in muscle fatigue.  I also dabble a bit in Kinesio Taping which has come in handy for some short term relief in the case of muscle tightness and injury. Kinesio Taping helps healing while providing support and allowing for range of motion. Taping helps to lift the skin to allow for increased circulation to reduce the swelling and promote healing.

Even with all of these tools, I recently found myself with a bit of a pain at the back of my heel.  After trying my multitude of tools, I figured out that I had some tight muscles and the pain in the back of my heel was just a symptom–not the source– of the problem.  All muscles are interconnected, so it’s important to remember when stretching or massaging that where it hurts may not be the root of the problem. 

With this in mind, I decided to try Fascial StretchTherapy (FST).  FST helps to improve the mobility of your nerves and flexibility of your muscles and fascia. Sticky adhesions develop between the fascia lines: when your muscles are continually tight from let’s say running, the surrounding fascia tightens along with them.

So long story short…My 100 mile race is in just over a week and the last couple of weeks, I have tried FST paired with chiropractic support.  My tight muscles and spots that were a bit sore are feeling great! I am focusing on my taper along with recovery methods to help get me race day ready! Not to mention, I am making sure to drink a daily glass of Tailwind to get my gut prepared and keep myself hydrated! Key takeaway: make sure you are taking care of your body so you can stay in the race!