Sunday 3 July 2011

2011 Western States 100

My first 100 miler!
....and for a while there it was definitely going to be my last!

Thanks to everyone for their messages of luck, encouragement and congratulations. It meant a lot to know that friends and family were cheering for me the whole time. My first 100 miler and what a feeling. Congratulations to everyone who finished this challenging event, especially the Aussie contingent comprising of Andrew, Beth, Robin and myself. What an amazing result we had, 4 starters and 4 buckles!

The Western States 100 (WS) is the event that got me started in ultra running. I've been running my whole life. Cross country, track, and road racing events, ranging from 400m to the marathon, but it wasn't until I read Dean Karnazes book "Ultramarathon Man" many years ago that I decided I absolutely HAD to run Western States. Many events and years later I was accepted and thus began my journey to the finish line.

My race preparation was as follows:
9th Jan - Bogong to Hotham 64km - Disaster. Felt like death warmed up and caused BJ and I to only make it to 35k. Felt so dreadful in the event I went and had blood tests. Everything was normal. Damn. I was just unfit.
16th Jan - Two Bay 56km - Fantastic run. This time it was BJ having a bad day so we took it easy and cruised the distance. What had changed in 1 week for me to suddenly feel good?!
20th Feb - Maroondah Dam 50km - Hmmmm. Started chatting to Nikki Wynd and we chatted all the way to Narbethong. Unfortunately Narbethong was not on route. Police car ride back to Dom Dom saddle and we ran the remainder, laughing all the way!
12th Mar - Six Foot Track 45kms - Loved it. Felt strong, distance was easy, and perhaps I was finally getting some form back. Hoping for sub 5hrs and did 4.54hrs. Phew.
18/19/20th Mar - Alpine Challenge. BJ and I covered a distance of 130kms over the weekend, course marking and sweeping. It was a very long time on the feet over challenging and stunning terrain. Perfect training for an event like WS.
1st Apr - Oxfam 100km. Fantastic day out with awesome Trails+ team comprising of Mal Gamble, Kerrie Bremner, BJ and myself. Finished in 12.20hrs and was first mixed team. Along with our crew Chilli, Brett, Rod, Claire, mum and dad, I couldn't think of a nicer team to be in!

It was after Oxfam that I started feeling pain in my right Achilles. I backed off the running and concentrated on recovering from the 100k and giving my Achilles a chance to get better. Unfortunately it didn't work. I managed some decent runs over the Easter break, but was hobbling painfully after about 45 mins each time.

I stopped running altogether and started physio treatment with Rob O'Donnell and Nathan Powyer from SSPC several times a week. This included needling, massage, and in my own time calf raises, ice massage and all the usual therapies. Unfortunately my Achilles did not respond to anything and I was referred to an Athletics Australia sports doctor at Olympic Park Sports Medicine. He did an ultrasound and immediately injected cortisone into the Achilles sheath. We decided the 24th May was decision day as to whether I could run at WS without an increased risk of Achilles rupture. I cross trained with some cycling (nowhere near as much as I should have done), swimming and weights.

Within 3 days of the cortisone injection the swelling had gone done and I could see my ankle. Wow, that was exciting! On the 24th May, the doctor gave me clearance to do WS with the parting message (realistic.... but ouch!) "You won't finish but give it a go. You're underdone and injured but your Achilles looks reasonably good now." Hrmph. I'll show him :-)

5th June - Swept about 45kms for the Trails+ Mt Macedon trail runs. BJ and I walked a lot, ran a bit, ate a heap, and oh gosh was I tired. But the great news was that my Achilles held up! With a very gradual program of recovery, I managed a handful of runs in the last 4 weeks before WS with 20k my maximum distance.

So that was my preparation. Perfect up until 12 weeks before the event! WS is one of the toughest events going around even when fighting fit, so I certainly knew that it was going to push me to my limits both physically and mentally. And indeed it did.

Our motor home for 10 days!
The lead up to the event was very exciting. The numerous information sessions the event organisers hold, the hike up Emigrants Pass on the Thursday pre race, the medical check-in, race briefing, free gear, and general buzz in Squaw Village was electrifying. I was travelling National Lampoon style with my mum Gale, sister Kat, sisters boyfriend Hoops, and BJ in a 31 foot RV. We all enjoyed the gorgeous surrounds of Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Squaw Valley.

Kat, mum and I doing some river reconnaissance. It was so cold!


A few days before the event we found out that as a result of high snow levels, we could not see our crew until Michigan Bluff which was 90kms into the event. Wow. That gave a whole new perspective on the day. We also had it confirmed that there was snow up until Dusty Corners aid station (the first 60kms), which meant that we would be running the snow course of 2010 plus another snow course invented in the weeks leading up to race day. The organisers estimated that they had spent over twice the time leading up to the race as they had in previous years due to the logistic nightmare caused by huge snow fall. So how could we possibly complain about not seeing our crew for a few extra kms?!

My race plan was to take it easy for the first 100kms, and leave some gas in the tank to try to run sections of the final 60kms. I had heard many times over from experienced WS runners Whippet and BJ to "save the legs". So that really was the extent of my planning. I call myself a "good time runner" at the best of times, let alone going into a run without the appropriate training and with an injury. I will usually prefer to chat and run easy with someone than push hard and be competitive. Maybe I just like to take the easy way out!

I found the hype in the village and talking to other athletes made me feel extremely anxious and nervous, particularly as I doubted my own ability to finish. I found I was more anxious than I have ever felt before any race, so I pretty well tried not to talk to anyone. LOL. This is not usually my preference!


Pre race, ready to get going
We set off at 5am with the sun about to peak over the top of the mountain. The 60 minute climb at the start of the race was tough but an opportunity to walk. Yippee! Once we got close to the summit we hit the snow. Literally. There were some sections that were so slippery people were skidding all over the place. I was scared about how to run in snow but it was fun! At one stage I looked up and saw 3 people on the ground and another 3 in various stages of slipping and sliding. This went on for 3 hrs until I reached Talbot aid station 15 miles (24kms) later. What a relief to finally reach solid dry ground. I had experienced my first "post hole" which is stepping onto seemingly solid snow and falling through to mid thigh so I felt like it was a learning experience in all regards!

The next 28 odd miles (45kms) comprised of 4WD track, single track forest trails and some road, with the most stunning lake and snow capped mountain views. It was absolutely beautiful and an opportunity to really enjoy the scenery and the course. Having run as a pacer in 2010 I had high expectations of the aid stations and they certainly did not disappoint. The selection of food and drink was amazing (think of a 4 y.o. birthday party spread... chips, lollies, biscuits, tropical fruit, cake, plus good carbs such as potatoes, soup, rice etc). The assistance by each volunteer was outstanding and they were friendly, supportive and incredibly helpful every step of the way. Being an Aussie and wearing a distinguishing Aussie outfit I was made a fuss of every step of the way and I thank each and every person who cheered and supported me out on the course. I certainly maximised my time at each aid station in the pursuit of enjoying myself and meeting people, and would estimate I spent a minimum of an hour at aid stations over the course of the day.

I reached Last Chance (43 miles: 69kms) and thought I should change shoes (I had bought new ones only the day before when I realised how significant the snow was going to be). My new shoes has served me brilliantly in the snow but I thought changing into my trusty and well worn Asics 2100's was a safer bet. How wrong that turned out to be.

Soon after this I commenced the quad shattering descent into a canyon before the lung busting ascent to Devils Thumb. I expected this massive climb to annihilate me and it was certainly tough but no more difficult than the average Victorian Alps mountain!  At the Devils Thumb aid station I weighed in heavy at the medical check. Bummer. I was basically told to "pee or be pulled". The doctors instructed me to walk the next section and I dutifully obeyed them, worried about whether my weight would be down again by the next medical check at Michigan Bluff. I had taken a salt tablet at every aid station (plus some) so was surprised that I was showing symptoms of water intoxication. For the next 2 hours I peed and walked like my life depended on it (ok so I did break into a gentle shuffle occasionally). I got to Michigan Bluff, weighed in and was 5 pounds down! Great! I could now also drink again as I was extremely thirsty having been instructed not to drink much, so I quickly downed 4 cups of water and gu drink.

When I saw my mum and sister waiting for me, 12.5 hrs had passed and all of a sudden a dust storm must have blown in and irritated me because I found my eyes were moist. Ahem. Interestingly this dust storm and subsequent moist eye phenomenon continued at Foresthill when I reached BJ, on numerous occasions in the last 60kms during the night section, when I saw mum and Kat in Auburn before entering the athletics track, and when I crossed the finish line. What an emotional sap I was.

Picking up BJ at Foresthill and a quick hug with Kat
By the time I reached Foresthill and BJ joined me I was feeling quite fatigued but still in great spirits. I felt that my fitness expired at about this time so was buoyed by finally having BJ join me and tell me all the stories about other runners and how the day had panned out for my family. We ran / walked until Rucky Chucky river crossing (78 miles: 125kms) at which point I decided that I really did prefer 100km races and what was the point of running for longer than that?!?!?! By the time we reached the river I was experiencing what was obviously blister pain in both feet but particularly my left one. I had no more shoes to change into as my other pair were in a drop bag somewhere at an aid station long before. For the last 20 odd miles I tried to run and despite inevitable 100 mile tiredness and soreness in my legs I knew I could, BUT I could barely put any weight on my left foot!!

Mum, Kat and Hoops gave me another boost with their enthusiasm, smiling faces and support at Green Gate aid station and I again thanked my lucky stars for having such an awesome support crew (aka family!).

We looked forward to the disco at the Brown's Bar aid station and could certainly hear the music before we saw the aid station, but where were the fancy dress volunteers and beers?! This was not quite the party we had experienced in 2010 and we wondered if the real ragers had already gone to bed :-)

When the sun rose BJ reminded me that I had been awake for 2 sunrises! Wow, that doesn't happen in 100km races. BJ made sure I kept eating and drinking and telling me that walking, not running, was best at this stage. I kept trying to break into a pitiful looking jog, wincing and whingeing at almost every step. We reached Highway 49 looking for some warmer clothes but alas where was my support crew? It turns out that they had been blocked in by other cars at the Green Gate car park and were unable to get out for another 2 hours by which time BJ and I had already passed by the Highway 49 station where they were due to meet us. Imagine the frustration of travelling halfway around the world and not being able to make it to 1 of only 3 aid stations that were accessible to them.

On the home stretch...
Aaaahhh the finish line :-)
When we finally walked into the Auburn athletics track at 7.10am, I have never been more happy to see a finish line in my entire life. I was completely shattered, sore, hobbling and utterly relieved to get my shoes off! I had desperately hoped to finish within 30hrs and was surprised to be well and truly within that barrier (26.10hrs). I was even more surprised that half the field was still to finish. Huge congratulations to everyone, its an incredible achievement. Caz

Finally smiling as I get my medical check after finishing
Ouch. The pesky blisters.
Happy with my bronze buckle!