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. “
