Kettle Moraine 100 Mile RECAP.

 Kettle Moraine 100 Mile Recap:  

We didn't know whether the race was going to happen. As I lined up at the starting line, I was excited, nervous, and full of questions about what the next 24 hours would hold.

My crew would consist of Andy, Joe, Sarah and Sara. Joe drove out with us, but he was catching up on his beauty sleep for when I would need him later in the night. I didn't know when the gals would be here and the element of surprise gave me something to look forward to. 

Andy stood on the sidelines exuding the deepest love and support for me. We prayed together, hugged and he sent me into coral. 

It was so close to being a race that never happened. On the outside I meshed good with all the other ultra runners but on the inside I felt foreign. I was still gathering the idea that I had made it and juggled guilt. I had spent the last 6 weeks in turmoil as my father fought for his life the last several in a hospital bed at U of M Ann Arbor. The decision to show up in Wisconsin with over 200 other ultra runners did not come easily, and the confidence to go- came at the 12th hour. 

Joe, He would smile and be a lot more chipper on race day...

THE BLOWHORN went off

At 6am sharp, Michelle blew the horn as we all melted together into the woods. There was a distinct smell of bug repellent and Irish Spring-a clean scent I wouldn't smell again until another day. 

Race Details:

• My first CREW Encounter wouldn't be for almost 20 miles. I couldn't see Andy and Joe for 40 miles-two stints of 20 miles each, one in the beginning of the race and the other in the middle-ish.  I would be on my own, relying soley on the aid stations and myself. I found myself praying a lot in those 20 miles. My plan was to run through all the aid stations, briefly gathering food and high tailing it back out.
  
  
  

  

  Bertha!!

  
  I had to gather as much time during the day as I could because once the night came, I would be tapping into that banked time. I wanted to finish this race in under 24 hours. I wanted to fight hard like I knew dad was doing. To make this happen, I needed to run under 14:20 on average. This 20-mile stint I was aiming for sub 12min/mi. The weather was perfect, a cool 65 degrees. I ran on both a wide flattish two track and some gnarly trails, a good mix of everything.
  
  
  These 25 miles proved to be challenging. I had to eat, drink and keep my head space clean. Roughly mile 22, I heard the aid station, I couldn't wait to see Andy!! He had my white board already with a cute note and was waiting for me with a sweaty kiss!
  
  
  

• 27.1: Hwy67 Aid Station. 11:19am. I would see my crew again around 27 miles. I would fly in and fly out. I had eaten a couple turkey rollups, Noka smoothies, liquid energy, granola bar and continued to eat as often as I could to stay ahead of my calories. 
  
  
  
• 29.4: ZZ Aid Station. 11:45am.
  
  
  I was breaking my paces down by 20 miles. at almost a 50K I was consistently banking 2 minutes a mile or so I thought. My legs were beginning to get tired, and the weather was damp with rain in the air. When I saw Andy and Joe I wanted to sit but we made the choice to sit at the following aid station. They were great at getting me in and out.
  
  
  
• 34.5: Scuppernong Aid Station. 12:59pm. Just a few miles and I would get to see Andy and Joe again here. The trails were gnarly and I had tripped and flipped a half dozen times.  I found a guy that I ended up running behind for a while. We would go back and forth. We came to a very confusing intersection where he allowed me to navigate. He CLEARLY did NOT know my navigational skills! It was a good thing he had a fancy Garmin that had the course downloaded. He says to me as we are climbing a hill, "I am concerned we are on the wrong path..." Because we were and his watch confirmed it! He would stay together just a few more miles together but then I had to make the choice to leave him. I had put my music on hoping it would keep me in a good headspace. I found myself belting out Billy Idol through the fields making my own little karaoke party. I would see Andy again at 36.8 but I knew I had to hit it and get it. 
• 44.4 miles. McMiller Aid Station. 3pm. This was a bittersweet stop. I wouldn't see Andy for another 20 after this. I had to have a good head space. The trails were beautiful, but the elevation was kicking my butt. The uphill was long and rugged, and the downhills were even longer and rockier. I would find myself clenching my fists and holding my breath as I came down the treacherous path.  I had slowed my pace down, no longer banking as much time. I was hoping the next 20 miles I could just stay consistent and steady. But the rain came. The trails turned to a thick black muck. I was running in road shoes with NO traction. As I came to the hills, I found myself staring up in defeat before ever moving forward. My legs were slipping out from under me. I came through a thick slimy spot and as quickly as I tried to find the best line, I found myself sliding through it on my butt and side. I got up quickly, chucking at all the caked-on mud down my right side and headed back down the trail. My confidence began to deplete along with my footing. As I approached a significant incline all I could do was just stare at it. I knew I needed to get up it however it was so steep and scummy I didn't see it possible. This guy came up behind me and said, "Are you wearing road shoes?' I painfully admitted I was and rather than shame me he cut in front of me and reached his hand behind, gathering my hand in his and escorted me up that hill. It took everything for me not to cry. "Thank YOU" I yelled at him down the hill, and added "What's your name?"  He replied, "Jason".  I said it again to myself, "Jason, my trail Angel". 
  
  
  
• 63.9 miles: Nordic Aid Station.:7:25pm  

  

  Me looking for me crew, I was so depleted. 

  
  I was now back to the beginning, things were familiar. Those 20 miles were brutal. I tripped more, I fell more and my choice in shoes was really poor with 20 miles of rain. I just wanted to see Andy. I would finally get my pacer her. When I arrived I was so excited to see EVERYONE there! I knew I would get to sit, change my socks and shoes and get hopefully emotionally recharged. 
  
  
  The Sarah's were there with the brightest smiles. Joe was antsy to finally get to run and Andy was getting me changed. I sat down as they proceded to take my socks and shoes off. MY toes looked like they were murdered. I screamed, the pain was so vicious as they washed my nasty blistered and muddy toes down to replace my socks. As much as I wanted to hang out with everyone Andy was kicking me out. He would not tell me how much time I had banked, this made me nervous, my calculations had me at 2 hours.....or did it? 

  

  Sarah K looking for me

  
  
• 71.3 miles: Bluff Aid Station. 9:13pm. It was officially dark when Joe and I arrived. But I got to enjoy flamingos on this stretch even if they were only plastic ones, they made me smile. Truth is I felt like I had been hallucinating early the last 7 miles running with Joe. He was like running with Mr. Rogers. He was so polite and nice to everyone. He was cheering the runners on, encouraging everyone and quite delightful to run with. When questioned this ODD behavior I was told he had been told that he was to act like me because I wouldn't be so chipper! 
• 77.9 miles: Hwy12 Aid Station. 11:19pm. Joe and I were not moving fast, and conversation was mostly silent on my part. My light began losing its power and I thought "Thats not the only power going out..." Thankfully Joe came prepared with another light but even the extra light couldn't save me when I tripped so hard I busted my toe open. The pain felt like someone had taken a machete to my toes. I felt the blisters tear open as I tried so hard to get myself back up. I knew I was robbing my banked time quicker than I had made it, I didn't have time to cry about it. 
• 82.2 miles: Rice Lake Aid Station. 12:45am. I just wanted to curl up and die. My belly was trashed, I couldn't keep any food down and even water sounded like sewage. Everything hurt. I could barely keep my eyes open but I would get to see Andy. Despite the agony of nausea by  belly was overcome with I sat in the chair, hoping it would settle. My stomach revolted with waves of retching. Sara, with gentle kindness, brought me a cold rag to try and calm the storm inside me. All I wanted was to sleep and escape the torment, quitting wasn't an option.  As I leaned back in the chair with a blanket over my body, Andy set a timer for six minutes-just six minutes of rest. It wasn't much, and I was hoping for more. During those moments Andy massaged my legs and feet, offering a compassion that I needed. Those six minutes were a testament to the strength found in brief reprieves. But as the timer went off so did the compassion! Despite my pleas for a couple more minutes, Andy remained steadfast. "Let's GO.." he insisted, and with the support of my crew rallying for me I found the strength to rise. Andy was incredible. We venture into the woods together, each step a reminder how tough the journey had been and how much I had overcome this far. Andy was so patient with me, my falls were harder, and he would have to completely pick me up dead weight. This part of the trail was brutal, I was so afraid. My belly had finally settled down with a bug got caught in my throat. I attempted to gag the bug out only the bug won, the coughing triggered my gag reflex and I began puking the little bit I had eaten all over again. "That Damn BUG!" Andy shouted angrily.  We ran into this guy in the woods that I had seen with Joe on the previous loop. I might have thought it was a hallucination if I hadn't witnessed him again with Andy. He had a little station set up in the middle of the woods with essential oils and quartz and to be honest I think he had more going on there then I saw! "HI! My name is TURK..." I told Andy I had to stop. He was a kind man that swore by his oils and at this point what could it hurt, if anything the thought of smelling essential oils had to be better than the smells that clung to me of death and vomit. I can not say that I ran faster or stronger, that was only the Lords doing but we walked ran off smiling and Turk ran after shouting, "HERE HERE, I have some quartz for you to rub..." I said "Thank YOU" and took the stones and Andy and I had some good giggles to break up the miles. 
• 86.5 mile: Hwy 12Aid Station. 2:14am. Andy and I made it back and Sarah K. traded spots.

  

  Sarah

  
  It was so good to have some girl time. I didn't have much enthusiasm left in me. I wanted to enjoy my time with Sarah the way I always do, with deep conversations, with inspirations and laughter and I had a very empty tank. Sarah would keep me moving quicker than I wanted and faster than I thought I could go on that rugged and gnarly section of trail. But she brought with her something the boys didn't have, a strength I needed. She was tough keeping a tight rein on our pace and pushing me through the areas I was so afraid of in the dark. I didn't have time to question my abilities, she kept me moving through the terror I knew I was running in. 
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• 93.1 miles: Bluff Aid Station. 4:08am. I didn't know what time it was. I was no longer "mathing" well. Andy still wouldn't tell me if I had any time left banked. I began to feel like running a sub-24-hour was not going to happen. Joe was waiting to trade off. Andy looked doubtful. I felt doubtful myself. My crew pushed me out quickly, saying "You can still do it..." And like that Joe took off several steps ahead of me. I couldn't keep up, my heart felt like it was going to explode, and all my limbs were disconnecting. "JOE, I cannot run this pace, you're killing me..." I shouted from several feet behind him. I knew that I had to dig in. I just had to get through the next 7 miles. I had to be stronger than my voices. Stronger than my struggles. Stronger than my weakness.
  
  
  And stronger than my excuses. And Joes was not going to let up. This 7-mile section was the easiest part of the trail. I was back on the wide-open section without roots or rocks. I had been counting on this to pick it up and apparently so had Joe. He doubled down making me run faster and longer. When we came to the uphill's my legs were foreign. I discovered I could grab the pole loops on Joes back and he would pull me forward. I felt like I was cheating, and I asked if it was considered cheating, Joe matter of factly replied "NO, you're still using your own legs.." I didn't feel guilty about it again. When the sun began coming through, I felt my energy liven up. Every mile Joe told me what our split was and each mile I began to believe I was going to make it. Afterall, he had me doing 10min/ mi. With 2 miles wot go we see two runners casually walking. Joe believed them to be 100k runners, however; when we approached them Joe (still friendly), says " We are just trying to make it to the finish..." The couple responds "..Us too..." but then I notice they turn their heads to look at our bibs. Joe picked up the pace and we headed quickly down this steep hill, out of ears reach he says, "they are 100 milers..." This just became a race and Joe was not going to let them pass us. I found another gear. I moved swiftly ahead trying to pretend I was stronger than I was. Joe would look over his shoulder to see thier whereabouts. Soon they were no longer to be seen and with a mile to go I felt quite confident to take a phot with the morning light glowing and the Lords Glory awaiting. 
• 100.5 miles: Nordic Aid Station. FINISH. 5:41am. PARKOUR.
  
  
  Our finish for Sara was a goofy jump in the air and a big smile on my face! 
  
  
  

I was depleted in so many ways; It literally takes a crew to see you through. The genuine love was truly the fuel I needed. Knowing how far and how much everyone sacrificed to be there for me gave me the drive in my low moments to dig deeper. 

They each came with a different gift for me. Each of my crew offered a piece of the puzzle that fit perfectly to make this race victorious. I am so grateful to Joe, Sara and Sarah for loving me, sacrificing for me, believing in me and supporting my wild and crazy adventure. 

The Lord carried me when my spirit faded, and my strength weakened. Every fall, and I had many, He brought me upright without significant injury. It was truly a miracle how the Lord protected me out there. 

I looked forward to seeing Andy with kiss and a hug at the aid stations. To lock eyes together is so magical, when words are void a look, a touch, a smile says everything the heart yearns for. 

I dedicate this race to you, DAD. 

Just a few weeks ago, when your spirit was waning, I pleaded with you for one more mile. I begged you not to give up, to go another round, to dig deeper. I wasn't ready to see you quit. I still believed you had another mile in you. 

And then, the next morning, you embraced the light of hope once more. I am so incredibly proud of you. Throughtout the race, I dug deep, running with your strength in my heart inspiring me.  I ran knowing you were battling every obstacle, and I fought just as fierce, inspired by your courage. 

I am so proud of you. 

I ran the miles, But the Lord gets the Glory.  

Anita~

THANK YOU Erica!! I love my sign!!