The Pain
I remember the pain. After finishing the 50 Mile Bull Run in April last year I remember the pain. Pain in my quads, pain in my calves and pain in my shoulders. Pain was all over my body. I also remember thinking finishing a 50 mile race is an accomplishment in itself, I asked myself do I have enough in me to run twice this distance? Should I dare run 100 Mile Ultra marathon?
Yes.
At the very least I had in me the courage to try. Life is too short. We have to live it to the fullest and experience the things we may regret not doing. My thought process is while I still I can, I will. Or at least try.
After the Bull Run in April I had a couple events already lined up. There was the Syracuse Half IronMan in September and then Philly Marathon in late November.
It wasn’t until after both events that I answered yes to my own question, “Should I dare run 100 Mile Ultra marathon?”
The yes meant the 100 Miler was going to be the BIG one for me in 2011. I was going tackle this beast and hope to take it down by doing one thing. Finish.
Next came research. Which one was I going to register for? I put a lot of thought into logistics. For one, I wanted to just drive to the event in a few hours’ time. I thought about the time of year. I knew Summer was out because running 100 miles in the Summer time was not ideal for my first 100. I decided it was either going to be either in the Spring or Fall. Between the two I decided on a Spring mainly because I wanted to do it sooner rather than later. After a little more research on line, checking out registration cost, the course, and the facility I decided to register for the New Jersey Trail Festival on the weekend of March 19-20. The event was in Long Valley, NJ. The festival had five race distances. It starts with the classic and most registered distance, the marathon (26.2 miles). Followed by the 50K (31.1miles), 50 miles, 100K (62 miles) and the monster of all 100 Miles. Prior to registering my wife Rica asked me why not do 100K and build my way up to 100 Miles. For some reason I like miles and if I’m going for a big event then I’m going for the BIG one. I registered and now I’m one step closer into commitment.
Training
Training picked up where it temporarily left off which was after the Philly Marathon. I had 15 weeks to train for running 100 miles. The most difficult part about this particular training was training in the heart of winter (January to February). There were the early morning runs in low 20-degree temperatures. A few times I was lucky to be kept company by good running partners like my friend Colleen and her friend Chris. The tough ones were the lone and long Sunday runs that called for 20-35 miles every week for six weeks straight. But these were the days I had to make sure I was filled with focus. The target date was fast approaching and there is simply no time for excuses.
My friend John
Thursday, March 17th
My buddy John asked me to stop by his place. He said he would like to see me off since before we left. We were leaving the next day. He said he had a little good luck package to give me. When I got to his place he gave me a card, pack of lithium batteries for my head-lamp and a six-pack of Coca-Cola in glass bottles. I mentioned to him I love Coca-Cola in glass bottles. I had one bottle remaining from a case Rica got me for Christmas. Or maybe it was from Santa. Anyway, I was saving it as a means of a reward for me when I finish this event. I guess it’s kind of like a trophy. By the way, Coca-Cola in glass bottles is not cheap. $24.99 for a case at Costco. Maybe Santa gets it a discount price. We have to settle for wholesale. Heading out the door John’s exact words to me were “Good luck Vic. I’ll be thinking about you this weekend. See you when you get back”.
The Crew
My crew for this event was led by my wife Rica. Simply the best supporter I have. She never ceases to be there for me. And of course Noah, my 10yr old son who never wants to miss any of Dad’s events. Next is my friend John Martiello. When I emailed John back in December asking him if he was interested in being there for me his response was “F#%! yeah!” (I have the email to prove it). John also managed to borrow an RV from his sister for us to use as base camp for the weekend. I can’t even begin to tell you how much a difference this made. Rather than having to pitch tents in the open field, we were nicely set up in a warm RV. Plush set up. The rest of the crew consisted of two of my closest friends, Rob Stewart and Keith Stengel. Both volunteered to be there for me. The crew was set.
Friday, March 18th
Rica, Noah and I drove to John’s house, packed up the RV, said goodbye to his wife Carol who happens to be my BFF and their daughter Tia who happens to be my Goddaughter. Rob and Keith were driving up together in a few hours and join us.
We hit the road at 11:30am. Close to 3hrs later we arrived at Race Head Quarters located at Long Valley Presbyterian Church. We set the RV, got settled, attended the pre-race meeting and I picked up my race packet. Inside my packet were the normal items - timing chip, bib, safety pins and brochures. There was one thing that caught my eye in the packet that honestly gave me Goosebumps.
I literally said to myself “You have got to be kidding me.” It truly solidified my reason for being there. Let’s just say it was something that made me I realized I was meant to this race.
A few hours later Rob and Keith arrived.
After a great pasta dinner complete with salad and bread all prepared by Rica, I started to settle in around 10:00pm. We had a very early start in the morning. The 100 milers were set to go off first at 4:00am. Then the rest of the distances were scheduled to go off after us every hour. A runner friend of mine named Joe, who I met at the Bull Run was running this event. He was staying at a hotel a few miles down the road. The plan was he was going to meet me at RHQ at 3:00am and just like the 50-mile Bull Run, he and I made a pack to tackle this beast together.
Today, I will run 100 miles
Saturday, March 19th – Race Day
Wake up at 3:00am. I put my gear on. It was cold and windy. Two layers on top, gloves, Rica’s red burglar hat, headlamp to provide me light in the dark, favorite running shorts, compression socks and my trail shoes, Brooks Arcadia.
4:00am – All 82 of us100 milers stood there in the cold while Rick, our Race Director gave his last minute instructions and reminders.
His speech was something like this.
“The course is T-shaped, most of which will be run in the Columbia Trail. To complete the 100 miles you need to run the West side first. Go 8 miles out, you will see a volunteer who will have a marker and you must make sure he or she marks a slash on your bib. The slash is one way of proving you ran all the way to the turnaround point. Then, you run back to Race Head Quarters. That gives you 16 miles. You will repeat this process three more times on the West side. Do the math. Four 16 mile loops gets you 64 miles. Then you will run the East side of the trail. Go 4.5 out, get your slash at the turn around point and run back to RHQ. That gives you 9 miles. Repeat the East side course three more times and that gets you 36 miles. Do the math! 64 + 36 equals 100. At the end, your bib needs to have 8 slashes. If it does not, you will be disqualified because to me it means you did not run all the way to the turnaround point. You have 30hrs to finish. Any questions? No? Good. One minute countdown.”
Holy shit. This guy means business. Next thing I knew we were off into what I always call the mouth of madness.
Slow and steady. That’s the plan Joe and I had. Slow and steady. Forward progress. I suggested to Joe we try to maintain 4 miles per hour, around 13 minutes per mile. If we do this we can finish each of the four 16 mile loops under 4hrs. He agreed. He said I was in charge. “No Joe, we are in charge.”
At the first loop’s turn around point we made sure we got our slash from the volunteer. From then on, we referred to these volunteers as the “slasher”. Each time on our way to get our slash we’d say, “Got to go see the slasher”. First loop went without a hitch. I really enjoyed the experience of running in the dark with nothing else guiding you but the light from your head lamp and a little bit of the moonlight. It was very surreal. Seeing the other bopping lights in the distance was a very unique sight. We did the first 16-mile loop in 3hrs, 18min, right on target.
We took a 25 minute break and then off to take care of the second 16 mile loop. This too went without a hitch. The weather was perfect. The sun is up, the sky is blue. Second loop done in 3hrs, 28min, right on target. 32 miles down. I told Joe we now have covered two of the race distances today, the marathon and the 50K.
It was my way of puzzling the day together. I said to Joe “Look at this as one giant puzzle that requires us to run and retrieve the pieces and bring them back the Race Head Quarters. Once we put the puzzle pieces together it will reveal the number 100.” Joe liked that idea.
Exactly 24 minutes later at 11:15am, we set off to tackle the third 16-mile loop. When we complete this we’ll be at 48 miles – half way there. Unfortunately, there was hitch in this loop. A major hitch even at this moment I can’t believe actually happened. At mile 47, Joe dropped a bombshell. “Vic, I’m done.”
I was in disbelief, utterly speechless. I could only muster “Are you sure?” What I really wanted to say was “What the f-bomb are you talking about?” He said he was sure. He said his legs had nothing left in the tank and he only had a few hours sleep. I mean I knew he was struggling at this stage but so was I.
To me, he looked strong but it goes to show your mind and body can shut down when you least expect it. This really surprised me because to me Joe is an elite. He runs a marathon every week. He does so because he has a personal goal of running one hundred marathons in his lifetime. The truth is even the best will have bad days.
This news really brought me down in all angles. The selfish side of me thought “I can’t believe you’re going to leave me.” It was a scary thought. I had grown so accustomed to having Joe on my right side for almost 50 miles, stride by stride and now what? More importantly I felt bad for Joe because I knew how much we wanted this. But your health is more important. There will be another day for him. With a mile to go to complete the third 16-mile loop he was down to walking. He told me to go ahead and we’d meet back at base camp where he was going to pack it in. He insisted so I went ahead. In that one mile back to camp I lost it. My emotions hit me like a ton of bricks. I was crying and no matter what I did I couldn’t hold it back. Other racers witnessed me with tears and I didn’t give a shit. I’m not embarrassed to share it. I think it was a combination of being so tired, pissed off, disappointed and scared. It didn’t help either when I saw Rica and Noah waiting for me to finish this loop. Third 16-mile loop done in 3hrs and 34 mins.
I walked back to the RV and everyone asked me where Joe was. I told them he was right behind me. I didn’t feel right telling everyone that Joe was done. It wasn’t my place. I thought out of respect for Joe it was only fair that he shares the news with the crew.
The Crew Steps Up
At the beginning of the fourth and final 16-mile loop I set off alone. Joe was gone. It was 3:34pm. I was running almost 12hrs. Honestly, at this point of the race I was feeling depleted but with or without Joe I set a goal. The goal was to run and finish a 100-mile ultra-marathon. I put so much physical and mental training for this. Unless a lightning strikes me down, god damnit I was going to get it. Now stop crying, wipe off the tears from your wind burned cheeks and GO and GET it!!
I also came up with a couple mantras I kept repeating in my head.
There is a way if you are committed. I am strong and I am brave. I have so much power in me. These qualities will pull me through.
When I say the crew steps up I mean they stepped up. To help me complete the fourth and final 16-mile loop, John Martiello paced me and helped me keep my insanity. He and I ran 4 miles up to the aid station. As he and I were coming up the aid station I saw Rob with his video camera and also there was Keith. Next to Keith I noticed another guy standing with a camera covering his face and seemed to be taking a picture of me. As John M and I got closer I recognized the guy standing next to Keith. At first I couldn’t believe it. It can’t be. What is he doing here? It was my other friend John W. The one who gave me the Coca-Cola in glass bottles and whose last words to me were “See you when you get back.” John W is one of the reasons why I’m into endurance sports and to see him there for me broke me down again. It also gave a shot of adrenaline. It just meant so much to me.
Next up to pace me was Keith. I met Keith through my sister and brother-in-law. For whatever reason we just hit it off. Now Keith is one my truest friends. Keith gave me a total of 4 miles, 2 miles up to the slasher and back to the aid station. At the slasher point we picked up Lenny, a fellow 100 miler who was struggling and was just about to give up. We encouraged him to keep going and run with us and see what happens. Maybe he’ll pick up a second wind. He agreed and ran back to the aid station. Unfortunately, he never picked up that second wind. He decided his day was over. After brother Keith, Rob stepped up and gave me 4 miles. Rob is more than a co-worker to me. Rob is a big brother to me. I care for him deeply and for him to be at this event made the experience even more meaningful. Fourth and final 16 mile loop done in 4hrs, 11mins.
The East Side
I took what end ups to be my longest break, 33mins. I ate a half roast beef sandwich Rica made, some soup, packed more gels and changed my clothes. I was so happy to be done running the longer West side loop. I was looking forward to a change of scenery and to the much shorter East side of the trail. At this point I had done 64 miles (100K). The only distance remaining was my distance, the 100 miles. I was actually feeling pretty good both physically and mentally. No more crying!! As a matter of fact I felt good enough to insist that I do the first 9-mile loop on the East side on my own. The guys had stepped up so well. They said they were going to be waiting for me at every aid station and access roads to make sure I was okay. What a crew! My goal for this distance was to run it less than or around 2hrs and 30mins. It was 8:18pm when I took off. I’ve been running for 16hrs.
At the aid station I asked John M to call Rica and asked her if she’s up for running the next 9-mile loop with me. I thought this was a great way for she and I to share something special this weekend. A quiet and peaceful night run together, just her and me. I completed the first 9-mile loop in 2hrs, 29mins, right on target. When I returned to base camp Rica was raring to go. Striped burglar hat and all her engines were revving.
“I’m ready. Let’s go.” I had barely stepped into the RV when she said this.
“Give me a few minutes babe.” I said.
I just ran 73 miles. My speed was hearse speed. Rica looked like she was about to put on freaking Lamborghini speed. Would you believe this was my shortest break at 9mins? Go figure. It’s about the excitement. I understand.
At 10:56pm, Rica and I went into the darkness for our run. Only a mile into the run here it comes.
“Babe, are there snakes in the trails?”
“It smells like poop out here.”
“What if I twist my ankle?”
Screeching halt! I stopped us both in our tracks right there and then. I said, “Wait! Are you here for me or am I here for you?”
Then nothing. Silence. You could hear the toads from three miles deep in the woods.
“I’m sorry babe but I’m so damn tired, I feel like I’m losing my mind and you’re worried about snakes, poop and ankles.”
Some funny shit there. Well, it wasn’t so funny then but funny now looking back. I’m proud to say Rica gave me all 9 miles….peacefully. That loop with Rica we did in 2hrs, 28mins.
Sunday, March 20th
82 down and 18 more miles to go. Now I’m going after 91 miles. My crew continued to step it up even more. This is what I needed. Sleep deprivation was all over me. I just wanted to lie down and sleep. I’ve never been so tired in my entire life. John M was up for pacing me again. Keep in mind every time I got to an aid station the rest of the crew was there for support. I know for my other friend John it was killing him not to able to pace me due to a foot injury. But he was there comforting me, rubbing my back, massaging my calves and keeping me awake. Keith and Rob, always there asking how I’m holding up.
John M and I left for the third 9-mile loop at 1:49am. I had now been running for almost 22hrs. He gave me all 9 miles. John got me to mile 91 in 2hrs, 36mins. Next up to pace me for the beginning of the last 9-mile loop and final stretch was Keith. Brother Stengel gave 4.5 miles to the turnaround point where I got my eighth and last slash. From there, Rob stepped in and gave me 2 miles back to the aid station. From the aid station, John M stepped in again and gave me another 2 miles. Within those 2 miles the woods brightened and the sun came up…again. I have never seen two sunrises in row. These are the moments I will treasure from this event.
Let Me Take It Home
At the entrance/exit of the trail about 0.7 miles from the finish I told John M to let me have this one. Let me take it home alone. He completely understood. I was absolutely beaten and well beyond the stage of tiredness. But I was there. I made it there because of the people around me.
Thank you to my wife Rica. You not only took care of me but for taking care of the rest of the crew.
John M, thank you for the RV. It was our home for the weekend. It gave me comfort every time I ran my way back to it. It made a world of difference.
Rob, thank you for documenting our adventure and your never-ending belief that I was going to do this.
Thank you Keith for the time and effort. You continue to prove to me that you are a true friend.
John W, thank you for comforting me when I needed it most. Whenever I had my face buried in my hands you were there telling me to hang in there. Thanks to you now I can have a bottled Coke and a smile J
By the way, Babe that poop smell was from the chicken coup from the farm next door. I saw no snakes and I’m happy you didn’t twist an ankle.
I crossed the finish line with the sun guiding my way at 7:14am. Official time 27hrs and 14mins. Of the 82 100 milers that started the race the day before, 42 did not finish. Only 40 made it to the end. I was 32nd.
I mentioned earlier I was meant to run this race because of something that caught my eye inside my race packet and solidifying my reason for doing this event.