Badwater Pacing Jen Vogel

... Report Coming

Fort Clinch Summary

The course was beautiful. You get to run along the beach and see a Fort, which has a lot of history. The trees create a very nice shade to keep you out of harms way of the sun. You also get to run along the beach. This year the rain from the day before made it easy to run and it felt hard packed. The navigation of the course is fairly easy. There are not too many obstacles to have to run over or under. However, it is not flat. The trail is either going up or going down. The one section of trail that is flat comes with warning signs for alligator crossing. I didn't get to encounter any alligators. The snakes where also missing for the 50 miler. They may have come out at night, I was passed out before then. The support was excellent. This included fellow runners/pacers/and volunteers. Find something you like about the pier. It is going to feel like the longest section of the race. You will do better if you don't dread it.

Florida has a great set of ultra runners, and I am thinking next year I am going to be doing a lot more in Florida. I am also going to include more Oleta trail running before the race. Running in the Everglades didn't cut it for running a hilly course. It sure helped with heat training. I didn't feel nearly as hot as Palm 100K in March.

Note for future races: DO NOT be on antibiotics if running a 50 miler that is over your limit. This is unless you think it is fun to spend a couple of days in the hospital for kidney failure and have nothing more than a DNF with 2.5 miles to go. Some may say the kidney failure was the heat. I am having a hard time with this, because I didn't feel hot and when I got ice, it didn't make me feel much better. I think my muscles where just beat, then adding a little dehydration didn't help the matter.

Fort Clinch Race Report

Fort Clinch 50 miler sounded like a good idea when I saw somebody post something about a fun race in June. It would keep me motivated to run my planned races of the year. I could have fun and get experience racing on a real trail. I have hiked and I have mountain biked single track. Many years ago I paced Andy on Wasatch 100, and I died at an 8K at Snowbird three years ago. Other than that I have not run on a trail that doesn’t mimic a dirt road. Why not try on a 50 miler?As a warning, if you don't like long winded race reports read my summary instead. I talk a lot here.

Since this race was not one of my pre-planned races, financially we took it to the minimum. We camped at the campgrounds close to the starting line. It was only $5.00 a person and it was beautiful. I think I would have done the camping method even if the choice of a hotel was available. Within the first ten minutes we where there setting up the tent, I had two ticks crawling up my legs. Scared me enough to run to the car and cover myself in two types of bug spray. Tick collection on the neck was avoided. The tent went up just in time for a lightning storm.

The first person I met at camp was Brooke while Brad was out testing the trails for a couple days before the race. There where there three days early. I loved chatting with her and her two little ones. Kenny made me a delicious chicken, white sauce, pasta thing. After eating, we drove to the starting to get to know where everything was the next day. We came back and everybody else at the camp site starting showing up. I got to meet a guy Matt that was running this race as he was moving. I met JJ and his girls. JJ explained how easy it is to trip on a stick once you get tired, and how suddenly it will hit at mile 40. I also met Ashley. Ashley was the first to head to bed and the rest of us followed at about 9:30 for a good night sleep, as the morning was going to start at 4:00am.

Race morning started and I was feeling pretty good. Not too nervous and full of energy. I was excited for a trail run. Met some more friendly runners that where just happy to be there. The race director was up and ready with everything a good hour before the race. The bathroom was nearby. Somebody left the sink running all night, they’re not very water conservative. I must have been a bit over hydrated, or more nervous than I thought. I can never tell the difference. Three bathroom breaks later with the final one being my monthly horror. Oh well, at least I will get experience racing with cramps because I’m not into having ibuprofen during a long race.

Three minutes to go so I made sure my watch was ready and my pack was on, then we where off to a slog. Second ultra event and I still don’t understand the whole delayed start and sure why not go the clock has started. Everybody starts off at an 11:00 pace for the first couple seconds then we settle into about 8:45 where I felt comfortable. I kept this for another two miles with Kellie and Ashley. Ashley pulled back about a mile and half into the run to a more intelligent pace. Once we hit the trail Kellie pulled back a tiny bit, and I kept about the same pace as the road. I caught up to two runners in front of me. I then remembered my coach saying keep it at 10:00 so since I got stuck at that pace I figured it was best for me to stay there instead of asking somebody to pull to the right and stop. About 15 minutes into the first trail there was a log in the middle of the trail. I was tempted to move the log because I didn’t see myself wanting to move it later nor wanting to walk over it later. I continued without moving it. This was a good choice because the race volunteers moved it before I hit the section on my second lap. The five mile water stop everybody stopped to refill. I was carrying enough for my 10 miles so I was back in front of this small pack of runners. I kept this spot for the remainder of this lap and the next lap. Everybody reassured me that they didn’t want to go in front and my jog was just right. I have the feeling they were thinking what I was thinking before. In others words, yes it feels too slow but it is probably the right thing. My problem was it didn’t feel slow for me. I would say it was more of a comfortably hard. Kenny greeted me at the end with a new pack all ready to go. He let me know that the other runners are carrying half the weight as I am carrying. I assured him that I wanted the water full but it was okay to drop the extra Hammer gel. The first lap was completed in 1:39:03 which puts me at a pace of 9:54/mi. This is exactly where I wanted to be on pace. Except, not what I wanted it to feel like. It was not the easiest 10 I have ever done. I was ready for my 5 hour energy shot to get my second lap in, and at this point I knew the 8 hour goal was not going to happen. Sorry coach, my legs just aren’t going to have it today.

Second lap in and we get to skip the pier. I was glad we only had to do on the first lap. Ten minutes into the lap and the 5 hour energy is doing its tricks. I could run fast and it would feel like a piece of cake. I lost a bit of energy trying to get my electrolyte pills out of my pack then swallow the four, but figured it was worth staying hydrated. Every time after this I will be taking my electrolytes from the aid station. Shortly after taking off on this lap Kellie and I realized that Krystle was behind us. We knew we didn’t pass her, so we came to the conclusion that the turnaround was wrong and we had to go further down the road to a second sign, and that we would make that up on this lap. When we got to the turnaround that said turn around we concluded that we didn’t need to go further. We didn’t cut the course, Krystle added to her course. I got to spend a lot of time with Kellie as we were still chatting during the second lap. We had a couple of entertaining chats, especially when she got to see me almost eat it several times. Yes, I tripped quite a few times even during my first lap. Being naturally clumsy I have the catching myself in my nature. I never fell to the ground. I didn’t even get to the point where I had to put my hands out. My foot always came around to catch myself. Sure enough every trip was my left foot and every catch was my right foot. I found my weak foot. My left foot big toe nail will be missing in another two weeks. At least they grow back. Hopefully, I didn’t affect the matrix (Brooke knowledge). Kellie and I also talked about how nice it was for Caleb to section off and groom the trail just for us. Running the first lap we made a note to walk down a steep section of cobbles, especially if it was raining. It looked rather dangerous to run down when tired. I walked it on the second lap as planned. Nobody fell. My excitement about not doing the pier was quickly smashed at the end of the lap. We had to do it twice in a row. Once for lap two, then right after for the beginning of lap three. Not cool. The completion of the second lap was much slower as I expected I finished it in 1:48:35 which is a pace of 10:51/mile. I guess you can call that running, but I wouldn’t. Kenny was again there to greet me with a new pack. I only drank 40 oz on the first lap and just 60oz on this lap.

I realized how badly my last lap went and knew that it wasn’t going to get any better. I also knew that Jen was going to be pacing me on the two laps after this one. I gritted my teeth and ran to the half way point. My head went through a bit of shock at the half way point. I thought no way can I do the second half faster, and I know I am not going to get any slack once this lap was finished. I did what I should not have done. I added walking into the steeper uphill sections. I needed to recover on this lap so I could pound out the last two with Jen. I knew I didn’t have any other choice in my future. I took advantage of my recovery moments. I walked in a 50, what a shame. Kellie was running with her pacer and was doing a great job. I was a little jealous that she had a pacer during the third lap. She stayed in front of me during this whole lap. I didn’t catch up until the end where I stayed right behind her for the last 2.5 miles. I got to run a section with Brad. He said Kellie thought I got lost. I informed him that it was just me going a lot slower and I haven’t gotten lost. Just thinking about me going slow made continued on my running and went through the hard section. I think the hardest section of the race is the last bit on the counter clockwise section. The hill sections are steeper and long enough to where my run real fast down doesn’t push me up the hill. It haunted me on my last lap. I should have never put this in my head. The completion of my third lap was 1:53:33 with a drastically slower pace of 11:21/mile. I did feel recovered and ready to run my fourth lap with Jen. It was nice to know two things. First, I knew Jen would be a great pacer and I would run just to avoid the embarrassment of lameness. Second, I already did the pier for this lap.

Start of the fourth lap began and not only did I have Jen, but I downed my second 5 hour energy. My magic potion was ready for use. I had another load of energy. The beginning of the lap I was in the lead (female 50) by 3 minutes or so, and I could tell that Jen was getting excited. I fell in love with the trail on this loop. I felt like I was riding a mountain bike, and got really into running. I didn’t look down at my watch for my pace because I wanted to feel like I was going fast, but I knew in reality I wasn’t even going fast enough for it to count as a jog. I think I only tripped once during this lap. I even had a squirrel moment. I think every time I see a squirrel it will always make me laugh. If you have ever seen UP, I am sure you are in the same boat. It is also funny if you have seen that utube video of horrible parents that let their kids play with a dead squirrel. I was exhausted before I started this lap. I couldn’t believe I was actually running at this point. Had it not been for Jen pacing me, I am positive I would have been walking by now. The end of the trail was coming and I was barely keeping up my slog. I was feeling really bad for Jen. I was destroying any attempt of a workout for her, but extremely grateful to have her there with me. I am sure she appreciated it, but since I was worked my talking was almost nonexistent. So I may have ruined her workout, but at least she didn’t have to listen to my chatter mouth. She alternated between being in front of me and behind me. It is pretty amazing how in tune she is with things. She quickly found that I did better with her behind me, without me saying a word. By the time we hit the end of the trail I was back to my third lap mentality. I started doing a walk run/ but not wanting to run. Jen again helped me focus. She had me keep my feet moving regardless of the pace. I settled into an easy pace. I even continued to run (pace of walking) on the uphills with my tiny baby step runs. It kept me from mentally having to start and stop. Everybody talks about how hard it is on your stomach to start and stop. I still haven’t gotten to the point where the stop wasn’t worth it. It is more of a mental issue for me. Once I stop I want to keep stopping. Starting again seems to be just fine. Or at least I will keep telling myself that so it never is an issue. I was able to keep this slow for another mile and half. Getting my mileage down was good because I ran out of water a good two miles before the aid station, which was at mile 36. I am still at this point trying to figure out how I ran out of water when I should have been starting with 70oz. I could easily have 70 oz last me two and half hours in hotter weather. Then we got on the road to the aid station, and I was told that I get to run the pier twice. Jen stayed back at the aid station with Kenny to get everything ready for my final lap. By the time I hit the aid station I had made a gain and was now over 6 minutes ahead. However, running the pier by myself didn’t work as planned. I walked. I didn’t speed walk. I slowly walked. My last mile was a stupid pace of 15:00/mi. This got rid of my lead completely. I was now in second and I didn’t care. Lap 4 done in 2:01:56 with an average pace of 12:11. There goes that fast pace I did at the beginning.

Final lap to go and I am in second, and again I didn’t care. I was toast and Krystle looked awesome, especially for having getting lost during the first lap for a good amount of time. I think she added like 3-5 miles to her first loop. As I was leaving my “I didn’t care” quickly changed. Kenny knew how upset I got when Ryan Hall would lose by like two seconds. I didn’t get it why he didn’t just push. At the aid station Kenny shouted out “two seconds”. That reminded me that I didn’t want to lose by two seconds, or lose by one lap. I start running to catch her. Then Brad was coming in from his fourth lap and he said something like “now this is getting interesting”. I interrupted that as yeah Krystle is going to win and you are going to lose. I quickly responded to him with foul language. Sorry about that again. Except, if you ever want to motivate me, be mean, or put me down. It will always get me going, and you never have to worry. Even if you do completely offend me and piss me off. I will be over it by the next day. I will come for anybody in the angry mental state regardless of how tired I am. I now cared. I was going to win. Second mental issue which got me going again is Jen wanted to get me out of the aid station as quickly as possible so she took off with my pack. I followed because I wanted more water. She was booking it fast, and I was thirsty already. I knew I would have to catch her if I wanted to drink. I got my pack back shortly after leaving the parking area, but I really thought she was going to make me chase her the entire lap for every drink. I was too tired to complain so I just went with it. I didn’t want to tell her that I was thinking that she would do that, because then when I got my pack back I thought she would take it back so I would chase her down for a drink. Off to the final lap with ambition.

Jen ran ahead to help me gauge my required performance. I would encounter a couple mountain bikers. After realizing she was gone for a very long time, I realized that Krystle must be way ahead of me and I was losing ground. I asked the next group of mountain bikers how far ahead the previous run was located. They said she was a good 100 yards ahead and that I would have to run fast if I wanted to catch her. I booked it as fast I could at this point. In other words, we are seeing some 11 minute miles going down. I got to the section where we are running along the beach and I could see Krystle just ahead of me with Jen running with her. If I ran for 30 seconds I could catch her. They then both turned around and realized I was just behind them. I was speed walking at this section because it was fully exposed to the sun and running this section seems to drain my energy the most, and since it was flat I could speed walk at a 12:00/mi. I deemed this as the best use of my energy. I know knew I was close to her and needed to push 100% at this point. I started getting wonderful calf cramps shortly after this. However, a couple seconds of running on it without caving to a limp would get rid of it quickly. Then I would start getting random dizzy spells. I drank more Hammer gel, and ate several peanut m&ms. The m&ms seems to revive me the most. Then I could not eat them anymore, they were disgusting and tasted like powder. We then got to a section where you cross the street to the trail. I looked down the road and Krystle was running off path. I shouted down because she was going the wrong way. I felt horrible. I wanted to stop and wait for her. Jen got me going forward on the right path. I was now in front and she was right behind me. Not only was she right behind me, but I knew she had a better finishing sprint than I could have. If it came down to a sprint finish I would lose. I had to create a pad. I ran as fast as I could. We then got to the half way point. I knew my water was almost gone at this point and that I should refill. However, I also knew that it would take time. I decided to try and make it last at least until two miles to go and I would start reducing my drinking. I should have handed Jen my pack and just go the one mile stretch without water and be greeted with a full pack passing the mid aid station again. However, that thought process came a little too late. I was still thinking go. Sure enough mile 6ish into the trail I was out of water, but this time four miles to go. I continued to drink my Hammer gel when I wanted water. My dizzy spells where no longer going away because I couldn’t drink it away. My vision was also not that cool. There was a tree that I loved going under. Every time I would laugh thinking about how others have to duck and I can run without ducking. Except this time it looked like it was going to hit me right in the face. I went with my mental state and decided not to duck. It was hilarious. This tree went from about to hit my face to over my head instantly. I started laughing and couldn’t really stop. This led to me a little hyper ventilating. It went away but kept coming back. Jen kept trying to tell me to control my breath. Take deep breaths instead of shallow. Yeah, I didn’t do a very good job at listening, but really I tried, except deep breath just led me to hold my breath.

Then my brain took over. Just as I saw the section in the road where you go down the road and back, you then have to enter what my head was telling me was the hardest section of the race. I decided I needed a break. I wasn’t getting a break from walking. I needed to sit for just a second. I have now learned that sitting is not a good thing when you are dizzy and out of breath. I later found out that I passed out and Jen had to slap me in the face to bring me back, then I passed out again and she dumped my ice on my face and brought me back again. Then she just told me to keep talking. My race was over with 2.5 miles to go. I officially suck. So what if I passed out. I still consider this giving up. I know what my mind was thinking. It was thinking about that hardest 2.5 miles of the race and I didn’t want to do it. It was going to be hard.

The rest of my evening and the next day where spent in the hospital getting 8 bags of IV into my arm. I ran myself into rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. I pretty much felt like that as well. If you are ever curious, you can have these issues without being nauseous nor have any pain in the back. I would think that if my kidneys where failing I would at least feel kidney pain. This isn’t true. Today is day nine after the race and is officially the longest I have taken off running in years. It sucks. It is worse, because I feel fine now and want to be running. However, what I want more than running now is being fresh for pacing Jen at Badwater. I can’t wait to be part of the best race with the best racer.

Pre-Race dealings

My training has had two focuses. Get ready for the heat and stay free of injury. I have been fighting an IT Band/something weird with my knee since beginning of May. Nothing that stopped me in my tracks, but don’t touch the knee, straighten completely, or bend all the way or I would get shot with a stabbing pain. No big deal I could run on it just fine as long as I was running at least a 9:15 pace. I even ran sections in the Keys relay on my bunk knee. Then one day after a self massage when I was attempting to self diagnosed something popped. That was good bye to knee pain. Whew. Except now that it was gone I was going to baby it and keep it happy. In other words reduce my mileage. This meant about 3 or 4 days off, then back to training. Except the timing of the days off was about two weeks before a 50 mile race. The fear of 50 was non-existent in my head, so no big deal.

Heat training for Badwater was going really well. I knew how much water and electrolyte pills I needed to take. The Everglades in the middle of the day could not be better training for the heat. I would take four pills every hour. I would drink 70 oz every hour and half and two 10oz Hammer Gel/water mix. I drank 90 oz plus my Hammer Gel once and I didn’t know you could puke that much water out. Beats stomach acid puke. Okay so 90oz is too much and 70oz is just right for an hour and half period. I went out one day in the afternoon and the guy that mans the airboat rides gave me a long lecture that I shouldn’t be running out there today because the temps where going to be above 92 degrees without any cloud cover and that ground temps will get above 120. I told him not to worry I was dumb enough to do this every day. Out of curiosity I took his ground temperature thing. Tested the ground and it was a nice cool 88 degrees and my head was 90. About an hour into running the ground temps went up to 126 degrees. I thought that was pretty cool. They stayed around this during the course of my run. My head got up to 94 degrees. I started feeling a decrease in energy right about 93. Too bad they don’t have ice chests in the middle of the everglades. I got home and bought myself the same cool heat thing. My other runs the temps routinely got to around 136F, and I could still run a 9:15 pace. Heat training has been a success.

Biggest deal breaker for training. Nothing to do with running, but can destroy your running. I encountered a personal issue with bladder malfunctions. I got a UTI. I am all about curing something naturally, which I attempted for a good three weeks. I finally caved a week before my race and went to the doctors for a urinalysis. He put me on Sulfameth/Trimethoprim 180/160, which is also known as Bactrim (antibiotics). I was to take them for 10 days. This was five days before my race. I checked with the doctor and the pharmacy chick. They both said it was okay to run while taking them. However, they said be extra careful and wear more sunscreen as I would be more sensitive to the sun. They also warned me that I would feel muscle fatigue and would not be able to run very well. I went on three different runs and agreed with the muscle fatigue. A 45 minute run at a 9:15 pace hurt. I guess I won’t be running Fort Clinch as fast. The thought never crossed my mind that it could cause kidney issues.

In summary, my injury was gone and I was ready for the heat, but I may have to run a little slower. The slower would be for two reasons. My daily trail running has the difficultly of none. I have even run it several times with my eyes closed when the training requires a bit of pushing. There is nothing to trip on and nothing to navigate. If you want to make it a little harder you can run in the sand areas on the edge, except be aware of startling a snake on the edges.