Javelina Jundred 2017

My running season was supposed to peak with Pine to Palm 100 (P2P) the end of September. The timing worked out really well - Ross and I recently bought a house in Olympia that in many ways is our dream home, but is also an older home in need of a decent amount of work. The plan was to run P2P, then focus on getting the house ready for winter. Then the fires hit ... between horrendous air quality and the need to reroute the race, Hal (the race director) cancelled P2P this year. I totally supported his decision - those fighting the fires didn't need to add a bunch of crazy runners to their list of logistical hurdles. I also knew that if the race had been held in those conditions, my asthmatic lungs likely wouldn't have been able to handle the smoke.

While I supported the decision, it also introduced a new dilemma. P2P was supposed to be my Western States qualifier and there were few races left in the year that were on the qualifying list. I also really didn’t have a whole lot of time to keep training at the level needed for a 100 miler. After way too long debating my relatively few options, I realized that best was the one I was illogically avoiding -  going back to Javelina.

Besides still being open for entries, I know the race – I’ve figured out the logistics for the area, and I’m really familiar with the course. Since it’s relatively flat, it also allowed me to focus a bit less on spending a lot of time running hills, like I would for most other long ultras.

Meghan helped me put together a training plan that accommodated my life’s other obligations. I had two longer speed workouts each week (total run distance of 10-12 miles each). I ran my long runs on Tuesdays after work – because of the limited time, these ended up being mostly on roads, but I did try to get in as many hills as I could. These runs were usually after riding my bike to and from work, and using my standing desk all day; I figured it improved the training quality running on fatigued legs. My weekends were spent sanding, painting, and doing other work on the house (and fitting in shorter runs when possible) - maybe not aerobic, but certainly endurance-building. Over-all, the training went pretty well, though I’ll admit I really missed my long Saturday runs in the woods.

Enjoying the desert the day before the race

Come race morning, I was a bit more nervous than normal, especially given my slightly unconventional training. I told myself that there was no need to finish under 24, all I needed to do was finish under 30 hours, which I knew I could do. Though, I still really wanted to finish under 24 hours.

The race started pretty slowly – not unexpectedly given the hundreds of runners trying to fit on a narrow single track trail. The pace picked after we turned onto the wider double-track, and I settled into an easy rhythm. The sun came up fairly quickly over the dessert, and I allowed myself a moment to take a quick photo of the sunrise. I tried to keep my pace really easy, knowing it was way too easy to go out fast on this course. I was wearing my hot-weather clothing, and by Jackass Junction, started what would become my routine at nearly every aid-station I hit during the day: soak my cotton t-shirt in a bucket of ice water, sponge ice water over my head, and add a hand-full of ice to the bandana I wore around my neck. I was able to eat pretty well, and was getting 100-200 calories per hour. Best of all, I was actually enjoying myself.

Enjoying the sunrise

Loop 1: 4:10:21

Loop 2 is where I started to notice a few things were just a bit off for the day. My stomach was definitely off - despite taking an Imodium before the start of the race, it still didn't seem to be processing food correctly, and I had to make several pit stops. I also randomly forgot to do things at aid stations – I forgot to refill my water-bottle at one (I kept a bladder of electrolyte drink in my Camelback, and carried a small bottle of plain water in one of my pack’s front pockets – the water was good for both drinking and dousing my head between aid stations), and skipped sponging down my head at another (sounds minor, but made a big difference in how I felt). Worse of all, I realized that because I'd set my Suunto GPS watch on the lowest accuracy setting in order to have the longest battery life, my watch was doing a horrible job calculating my distance and pace; and at some point, I bumped one of the buttons and accidentally turned my watch off for 20 minutes or so. That all meant that I only had a vague idea of how fast I was running and how long I'd been running for. I tried to tell myself it was all okay, because I really just needed to finish under 30 hours, and I was certainly under that pace, but I couldn't help it - I knew I was capable of sub-24 and so I spent the rest of the race obsessively trying to calculate my pace and splits (which became harder and harder to do as the long hours on the trail took their toll on my ability to do even the most basic math).

Loop 2: 8:15:14 (4:05 for the loop)

Heading into Jeadquarters after loop 2, I knew I need to do a bit more to take care of myself before heading out for loop 3. To deal with some hot spots that were threatening to become blisters, I took the time to change socks and apply Squirrel's Nut Butter to the my feet. I’d brought a larger pair of shoes to change into, but my feet weren't as swollen as I’d expected, so I decided to not change shoes. Happily, the care I took with my feet paid off – I ended up with only tiny blisters under my big toes at the end of the race … a HUGE improvement over previous years (both here at Javelina and at other long races). I also took another Immodium, hoping that would fix my intestinal issues.

Happy runner as the sun starts getting lower in the sky.

I actually felt pretty positive heading into loop 3. Although it was hot at the start of the loop, I was staying pretty cool. My feet felt quite a bit better with the fresh socks and SNB. I was also still able to eat fairly well, so felt good about my caloric intake. Soon enough, the soon was getting lower in the sky, the temperatures started to cool off, and the stars came out in the desert. So pretty. I joined the coyotes in howling at the moon.

Loop 3: 12:43:55 (4:29 for the loop)

Back at Jeadquarters between loops 3 and 4, I changed out of my cotton t-shirt into my clean and dry Squirrel's Nut Butter shirt (seriously, that stuff rocks – enough that I’m more than happy to advertise for them). I tied my arm warmers, to my pack, switched from my hat to a buff, and put on my waist light. I don’t remember spending a lot of time at the aid station, but must have been there quite awhile – I crossed the timing mat around 12:44, but heard them announcing the front runner approaching at a record setting pace. Reagan Patrick ended up finishing in 13 hours and 1 minute – did I really spend nearly 15 minutes in the aid station???? …and seriously, he finished 100 miles in just over 13 hours ??!!?? I can’t even imagine maintaining that pace for that long.

I felt a bit low heading back into the night, so gave Ross a call as I walked up the trail, sipping on my cup of soup. Ross encouragingly told me that I was probably feeling a bit off because it had been so hot, and I'd likely feel better as the night cooled off. I started slowly jogging along as we talked, and yes, I started to feel a bit better. 

Unfortunately, the improvement only lasted for a few miles. I started having difficulty getting food down during the hike and jog up to Jackass Junction (the midway aid station). Instead of eating about 100 calories every 1/2 an hour, I started either taking small “sips” from a gel or eating one energy chew every 10 – 15 minutes. My other stomach issues still had not resolved, so I took my 3^rd Imodium for the day at Jackass. I also tried to eat just about every on the table at Jackass – and spat most of it out when it made my stomach lurch. Luckily, I could drink coke and eat a bit of ramen. I spent a lot of the rest of the loop obsessing over time – I still felt like I didn’t have a good sense of how well I was running.

Loop 4: 17:56:11 (5:13 for the loop)

Back at Jeadquarters, I tried to find something at the aid station that looked good to eat. Previously I’d downed a San Pellegrino each time I came through Jeadquarters (I find them super easy to drink and so an easy way to get both hydration and calories), but this time I skipped drinking my San Pellegrino, opting instead for a few cups of coke. Soda became my main source of calories the remainder of the race.

I would love to say I rallied for the last lap, and headed out of Jeadquarters at least at a slow jog. Instead, I found myself walking, telling myself I’d start running again on the downhill after Jackass. But once through Jackass, it felt like every time I tried to start running, my legs sent back a clear signal that no, they really did not want to run. I tried to power walk – and it turns out they weren’t too happy doing that, either. So I settled on simply walking. That wasn’t such a great solution either, though. The night had cooled off significantly, and my arm warmers weren’t enough to keep me warm at the slow pace. Worse yet, I let myself mentally indulge in negativity.

I was in such a bad, negative spiral. I started thinking about the possibility of sitting at the next aid station for awhile, trying to warm up. I knew it was only a few miles to the finish from there, but didn’t remember quite how far, and at my pace, even just a few miles would take forever. I recalled Stephanie Howe retelling how, as she was struggling at last year’s Western States, her husband, Zach, told her it was a nice night for a moonlit walk. I tried to embrace that attitude, and yes, it was a nice night, but I was tired and cold ….

And then a train of three men came behind me … “come one, sub-24! Join us! We’re running a minute, walking a minute! Join us!” I mumbled back that I didn’t think I could, but when they started to run on their next interval, I tried to join them. I couldn’t keep up. However, I found that while I couldn’t match their running pace after walking, once I kept running to try to catch back up to them, it felt good to just keep running. Instead of walking during the next walk interval, I just kept running.

Soon enough, I found that not only was I able to keep running, but I was running faster than the men who had been my inspiration to start moving again. As I passed them, I thanked them for giving me the much needed kick in the ass.

I tried to get through the last aid station as fast as possible. Another stop in the porta-potty, a quick cup of coke, then back down the trail. I still felt like I was running well. This certainly wasn’t my 2^nd wind … more like my 10^th … 20^th? Whatever. My mind had switched to “just keep running”.

3rd sub-24 finish at Javelina!

I only really slowed down twice in the last 6 or 7 miles; once when I hit a soft sandy wash, followed by a decent uphill, and another time when I didn’t recognize the trail and worried that I’d gone off course. But those were minor blips, and soon enough, I was back in Jeadquarters, crossing the finish line in 23 hours, 26 minutes, and 56 seconds (21st woman!).

In hindsight, there were a few critical areas where I messed up a bit…

1.    While I still think it’s good to have a few different levels of goals for a race, I went into this one almost convincing myself that I’d only be hitting my slowest, “c” goal. I should have believed more in myself and my training.

2.    Crew and/or a pacer would have really helped. Other than my one call to Ross, I didn’t have anyone to help me problem solve or pull me out of my negative spin.

3.    When I started struggling, I concluded my race was over. If I’d followed the advice I’ve given others in the past, I would have taken the time to figure out what was wrong and do what needed to be done to recover. In some respects, that’s what my long period of walking was … I think it gave my legs a chance to recover a bit, thus enabling my ability to run the last several miles.

To give myself credit, there were a few areas I did get right…

1.    I applied Squirrel’s Nut Butter anywhere I could potentially chafe and reapplied – and had no problems. Such a hug different compared to my experience with other products.

2.    Clothing – wearing a cotton shirt during the day definitely helped keep me cool and it felt great changing into a clean and dry shirt at night.

3.    Carrying both electrolytes and water. Having plain water was great for cooling off, rinsing my face, and getting a break from all the sweet liquids and foods.

4.    My feet – Before the face, I filed down my big toe nails, and taped my big toes. During the race, I wore a thinner pair of injijis, then ½ ways through, lubed my feet and changed socks. I ended up with only small blisters under my big toenails – a huge improvement compared to long races in the past.

Huge thanks to coach Meghan for the awesome advice, Ross for putting up with my crazy and the encouragement when I really needed it, and Squirrel’s Nut Butter for making an amazing product.