Burning Asphalt 35

BURNING ASPHALT 35
Friday, August 6th starting at high noon
Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg FL

In the spirit of the training runs that John Holmes used to do on the Pinellas Trail, please join Jon Wilson and Kathleen Wheeler for the Burning Asphalt 35.


August 6th, starting at noon. This is a fat ass style run......

Run, trek, crawl from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg .

At this point we plan to depart St. Petersburg leaving early in the day on a city bus to Tarpon Springs, Meet up with who ever might want to join us at TOULA ' s trail side café.
 We will probably have a mobile aid station. Then, run, walk or crawl the 35 miles back to St. Petersburg . Where we hope to indulge in some food and libations.

 Let me know if you are interested and I will put you on an e-mail list for updates and I will add updates here. 
Kathleen

Here is link to Toula’s website if you would like to grab a bite before the run.
http://toulastrailsidecafe.com/home

LOST 118 Finish

 I set myself up... saying that I would

 finish LOST, even if it took me until Monday morning.  So I had to finish.

I got a decent night’s sleep, which is unusual the night before a 100+ event. The early part of the race was cold. I wore my new scrap hat; almost left it in the car in exchange for a head band….good thing I kept the hat. I started out pushing myself. I wanted to stay with the Sullivans and others as long as I could. I didn’t really want to be dead last…. until the sun came up Sunday.
I wasn’t much company for anyone. Jim sensed it and let me go. Instead of running with anyone, I tried to stay in contact with the runners in front of me. That was a very good thing. It kept me moving forward with determination. If they got to far ahead I would try to push a little harder to try to make up the ground. 
At one point I looked down and saw the empty shell of a lake snail. I picked it up. If I finished that would truly symbolize my race; the “Lake Snail."

My dad started crewing me from Lakeport, around 22 miles. He was outstanding and met me at every stop thereafter. The rain began just as I was coming into Moore Haven (36 miles), where we get off the stones and onto the asphalt. I changed shoes, which felt very good! But the rain quickly became torrential and the wind was strong. It was cold. I had to move quick to stay warm.  After a while Mike, Sandy and Rebecca, came up behind me, they had been in front of me so it didn't make any sense. They had stopped for a hot coffee at a fish camp.  Boy that sounded good.
After about 4 hours the rain stopped, I put on dry shoes and continued pushing myself. As the sun went down, I put on my music and started felling real comfortable with my pace. That was the best I felt through the whole event.
I arrived at Pahokee (75 miles, where I dropped last time) about an hour ahead of my planned time to put the trail shoes and get through the next 12 miles of rock. I was relieved that it was more gravel and dirt then rock. But the wind really started to really pick up. I started to decline. The wind was relentless. I thought about just going off the levy just to get out of the wind, but I knew better.
It was well past bedtime and I felt fatigue. I could see lights ahead of me that really played with my mind.  I never seemed to get any closer to the lights. Once I did reach them; it was a construction zone; a surreal sight. Then I started seeing a wall in front of me (hallucination); literally a wall. I knew there wasn’t a wall, so I didn’t try to go around it. I figure if it was really a wall I would just walk right up to it and then find a way around it. At some point earlier in the evening , I started playing leap frog with Julie. She was also seemed to be having a bit of trouble with construction areas also. It was nice to know someone else was around. I think she felt the same.
At the 91 mile aid station, the boy scouts had set up tents, a shelter, warm food, and a fire. I fell apart. I told dad I couldn’t take any more wind. I thought I would try a nap. He suggested I get in the car, but I really wanted to lie flat. The boy scouts put me in a tent in a sleeping bag, I took a cat nap then just laid there. I did not want to go out in the wind. Finally, I to out of the tent explained that I could not deal with the wind anymore and announced that I was dropping. Suzi and the other volunteers encouraged me to think about it. Dad got me to sit in the warm car, out of the wind. That is when I realized that I was really cold. The heater was running, but I couldn’t feel it. My vision was blurred, so I tried rinsed them and putting in medicine. Eventually it helped.  I was also throwing up. Mostly just heaves, so I knew there wasn’t much in my stomach. I continued to sit in the car. Dad asked what I thought would help my stomach. I suggested potato chips. I ate a couple chips they stayed down well. Didn’t want to try too much. One of the volunteers had access to computer and told me that  the winds would die down a bit around 9 am, but that was 3 hours away. Could I take 3 more hours of the pounding wind? I came to my senses and realized I was just being a weenie. I had no real reason to stop. The chips had stopped the nausea, the vision  had cleared, my feet looked pretty good when I took of my shoes, only one blister and my neuroma area was bruised, hurt periodically, but not intolerably. My knee was sore, but I could try a wrap. So, I announced that I would go to the next aid station….7 more miles and decide there.  I loaded up with booste, heed and some other food, thanked the volunteers and I headed out. I still had more then a marathon

 in front of me. The additional hooded jacket helped block some of the wind.  But that next section was kind of a blur. I put on some music and just moved forward.

 

Julie caught up to me and we stayed together for a bit, she was seeing nonexistent alligators (hallucinations). I soon began having my own hallucinations,. For me, once a hallucinations starts, it does not stop. I saw alphabets carved into the asphalt, I realized that it wasn’t there, but once I saw it….the asphalt was marked with alphabet graffiti the rest of the way to the finish.

Suzi and dad both came out to meet me before the next station. I don’t think they  asked me if I planned to continue. As a result, I didn’t even think about it.  I sat on the ground and tried to stretch out a little, had my bottle refilled, got a 5 hour energy, and a little bit more food and headed out.

I was pretty close to the 100 mile mark, but was so stiff it was difficult to move, I took aleve and an S cap. That helped, but when I tried to run, my knee was so painful, I knew that I would not run another step.  But I kept pushing forward to

the next aid station and moved right through it. I was afraid to stop moving because I knew it would be difficult to start again.

I thought about just lying down on the asphalt and letting them come out and get me. I thought about crying. But I knew I didn’t have the energy. I just moved forward.

When I arrived at the next aid station, 9 more miles. Dad had a chair out for me. It was calling to me. I think that chair actually was possessed.  How could I possibly not sit in it. I don’t like chairs in a races. Why did I sit in it? I think I was hoping that I would be unable to get out of it. I swore not to do that again until the finish. Moving forward became difficult. I was so stiff, but my pace was consistent. I didn’t slowdown. I kept fearing I would start crawling along at a 20+ minute pace, but I never really did. Kept it between 18-19.

 I had two more stops before the finish. Dad kept pretty close tabs on me. He was concern when I had to get off the levee and out to the road to get around a canal. He bought a bag of ice at this late point so that my drink would be cold. That was awesome. 

I looked down at my feet and realized there was a bump on my right foot and blood appear to be leaking from a blood blister. I kept hoping that it wouldn’t open and start hurting. I looked down a little later and notice that I had the same blood seeping around my toes. Eventually, it appeared above all my toes. I kept wondering when I was going to actually feel the pain from those blood blisters. I hoped I would make it to the finish before they really start to hurt. The last 6 miles seemed like eternity.    I crossed the line in the dirt at 33:31:29.

Dad, Suzi, Scott, Mike and Stu were there to cheer me to the finish. It was over. 

 

I decided not take off my shoes off until I got home. I drove the 2:45 straight through.  Once home, I removed my bloody shoes. My socks weren’t bloody! How could that be! My feet weren’t bloody!  No blisters except the one I had at 91 miles and it was still in tact!  Hallucination! The bloody shoes were just a  hallucination.

 

Dad was incredible. He made sure I had everything I needed. He helped out others. Was positive even when I was down. He never pushing only encouraging.  Never complained about the cold, wind, rain or fatigue. I know that I would not have finished the race if he hadn’t been there for me.

 

Thanks to everyone!

The Lake Snail

Catching up on race reports

Race Report

MTC Ultradistance Classic 50K

Sarasota FL - 2/13/2010

I know this race is under the radar for most ultrarunners, but it is a must attend for me. The folks that put this on each year do such a spectacular job. Every year we get some sort of jacket, rather then a shirt. I had so much fun. Cameron and I drove down to Sarasota. He ran the 25K and I ran the 50K.

 The weather was about perfect. The course was in great shape. I got to run with ultrarunner turned long distance hiker Richard Smith, then Jerry and Jim Sullivan. Cameron won the 25K fun run in 1:41:35 and got to wait hours for me to finish in 6:13. That was a pretty decent time for me.  

 

Race Report 
Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50K 12/12/2009 

I love this race!. I have attended it for the better part of 12 years. This race is full of history. It is a certified course. Over the years quite a few records have been set there. Ann Burke and Gordy Hawking of Pinellas County were also there again this year, as they have been for many years. It was good to do some laps with each of them. Some of my fellow darkside runners were also there. The volunteers are so helpful and attentive. The race directors are wonderful people. Then there's the post race massage. 

I usually attempt the 50 miler. But I was unsure about my foot. So, I decided that the 50k would be sufficient. This year Cameron was going with me to attempt his second ultra. Being more of a mom then a runner, his race was more important to me than mine. In addition, Joe Burgasser was also attending. In my speedster days he was my coach and is now Cameron's coach. Last year at the TUDC, Joe set a national age record. Once we started looking at the world best for his age. I think he was trying to go for it. It was 7 minutes faster then he ran last year. It was to be an exciting day.

The race started at 7 am. The race conditions were low 40s and rain rain rain. It never stopped raining at any time during the race. 

I was running pretty strong. At half way, I was at 2:45. It was great to watch Cameron each loop running so strong. But when I was half way he was already at least 8 miles ahead and he was still running strong. Cameron lead for most of the race. But there was Jon who came up from Miami, I don't think he had ever run an ultra but had some really fast marathons. Apparently, Jon was keeping track of Cameron during the race. He had a separate watch on Cameron.

When Cameron came by me for the last time with about a mile to go, I knew he was really struggling. The Tallahassee folk have gotten to know him pretty well over the years and were really encouraging him. He was pushing hard to finish that last mile. But I saw Jon coming. He was strong, really strong. He caught Cameron less then a 100 yards from the finish. Cameron had nothing left to answer Jon's surge. So the win was not to be. Apparently, Cameron collapsed at the finish. He was spent, having run a 3:43:37 for his second 50K. By the time I finished up that lap to check on Cameron, he had already received his post race massage but was struggling with the pain, agony, and physical fatigue after the race. That's when the mom in me has to stop and take care of her kid. 15 minutes later, the race timer asked me if I was dropping or planning to continue. I told her I was planning to continue, but would let her know. But I really thought I was done. How could I leave Cameron. Well after another 10 minutes or so his smile returned and he said "MOM! Get out there and finish your race." Well at that point I was right next to the warm fireplace. It was very comfortable. The rain outside was coming down in buckets. What do you think I did? What would any sane person do? Well, I got back out and started running again! It was cold, it was wet, but I spent time in those next 5 loops with Ann Burke and with Gordy Hawkins so it was very pleasant and I finished the 50K with a smile on my face. 

Cameron was hoping to run an age record but missed it by a little over a minute. Joe Burgasser missed the world record, by a small margin. I missed the sub-6hr that I was hoping to run, but gosh I love this event! Next year I will be back to attempt the fifty miler once again….can't. wait.

 

Race Report

Oil Creek 100 Mile

Titusville PA - 10/10/2009 –DNF

I will be back to finish this race some day. However, I went into it barely able to walk. I now know what I had was a neuroma on my left foot which had a bursa attached. I ran for while, hiked for a while, then limped to the school at the 50K point and dropped out.   The course was beautiful but difficult. The weather was cool and rainy. The aid stations were extremely well stocked and attended. The race director was amazing. The volunteers were so helpful.