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.