(So it’s been nearly two months since this race, I figure it’s about time I get this report posted!)

“Remember, finishing is winning.” – Chrissy Ferguson, AT 100 Co-Race Director

I clearly wasn’t a winner in 2010 when back spasms forced me to DNF (Did Not Finish) at mile 73 of the Arkansas Traveler 100-mile run. After surviving the nightmarish ride back to the finish line in the box of the pickup truck where I laid with a couple of other runners who had suffered the same fate as me, I promised myself I would return to the Ouachita National Forest in 2011 to take care of unfinished business.

Last year during the pre-race briefing, co-RD Chrissy Ferguson shared a story about the time she dropped out at Leadville 100. She kept her race bib on her fridge as a daily reminder of her failed attempt at completing the race. Chrissy returned to Colorado the following year to successfully reach the finish line.  That same year she also eventually completed the Grand Slam of ultra running. Remarkably, her husband Stan Ferguson, also completed the Slam and the couple became the first husband and wife duo to accomplish the feat in the same year. Their story was featured in the July-August 2010 issue of Marathon & Beyond.

(Note: The Grand Slam consists of officially finishing the following four 100-milers in the same year: Western States, Vermont, Leadville, and Wasatch. The races take place in a span of just under 4 months.)

So following Chrissy’s lead, I pinned my 2010 DNF Arkansas Traveler race bib on the cork board in my office and was forced to reflect about the race practically every day over the course of the next 12 months.

Minutes before the start of the race all the runners gathered for the final instructions where Chrissy proclaimed: “If you have any questions…too bad, it’s too late”!  And the starters pistol set us off on our journey.  The first aid station is at Brown’s Creek just past the 5-mile mark. I remembered this place from last year because of it served bacon. I planned ahead and had an extra Ziploc baggie on me in order to load it up with a few extra strips and eat later on. You can never, ever have too much bacon!

At the Flatside Pinnacle aid station near the 9-mile mark, I caught up to my friend Monica Scholz who invited me to join her. For the next 7 miles the course follows the Ouachita Trail, the only single track trail on the Arkansas Traveler course. Most of the course is run on gravel and old jeep or ATV roads. Monica suggested that we take it exceptionally slow on this trail section. She felt it was the “prettiest” section of the race and said far too many people don’t enjoy it enough and go too fast this early in the race. Dozens of runners passed us easily but Monica believed that we would catch them later in the race. Who was I to argue? This was after all Monica’s 113th race of 100-miles (or longer) and her 9th go-round here in Arkansas.

We chatted and chatted, zipped in and out of the aid stations and put miles and time behind us. In fact, the first time I remember even looking at my watch we were already nearly 6 hours into the race. Every year over 200 hundred volunteers help make the Arkansas Traveler a memorable experience. Many of the aid stations even have themes, complete with decorations and costumes. At 39 miles, this year the Club Flamingo aid station was transformed into a replica of a M.A.S.H. set. Many volunteers were wearing army fatigues and there was even the ugliest (and hairiest) Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan I’ve ever seen. Clad in a tight white nurse’s dress and wearing red lipstick was none other than aid station captain Paul “PT” Turner. This guy is hilarious and it is the second year in a row I see him in a dress. This disturbing image only further encouraged us be in and out of that station quickly.

RD's with PT and AT100 champs

Smith Mountain at 43 miles was a 70’s party and you could hear the music blaring from far away and there was a luau and invitations to get “leied” by volunteers in grass skirts at B.M. Road three miles later. Before we knew it, we had reached Powerline (48.2 miles) and the first medical weigh in checkpoint. We both had drop bags here so we elected to grab a dry long-sleeve shirt and our flashlights because it would be dark by the time we get back to this point on our return trip. At just under three minutes, this was our longest aid station stop of the entire race. The next time I looked at my watch was at the 50-mile mark. The first half of the race took us 12 hours and 16 minutes. Monica predicted a 26-hour finishing time for us.

I’ve known Monica for nearly ten years, joined her and others at countless “fun runs” she has hosted with Phil, captained an aid station with her father Dieter at the Sulphur Springs many times, yet these hours together on the AT100 course allowed me to get to know her even better. Not only is Monica a remarkable runner, she is a fascinating person in many aspects and has accomplished many other incredible athletic feats from cycling to scuba diving to sailing. On top of it all, she has many interesting courtroom stories as she is an accomplished lawyer. Monica, you should really write a book!

About an hour after the turnaround we finally crossed Phil. On very little training, Phil was attempting to finish his 5th AT100. In 2010 Phil completed seven 100-milers and crewed/paced Monica at several others. He is one tough dude! The miles kept passing by and the thought of not finishing never once occurred to me. I once heard an ultra runner say: “the key to running a 100-miler is not to let the highs get too high, nor the lows get too low”. We kept an even keel and plugged along. I especially did not want to spend much time at Smith Mountain at mile 73. This was where my race ended last year and the U-Haul trailer which I had lied down in was once again parked there.

We got to see a second sunrise (I’ve never finished a 100-miler in the dark yet!) and shortly after that Monica picked up the pace quite a bit. She wanted to finish in enough time to allow her to drive back to her hotel room, take a shower and return to see Phil finish. My swollen and blistered feet couldn’t keep up and Monica faded out of view. As much as I enjoyed Monica’s company for all those miles, I also enjoyed my time alone. It allowed me to reflect on the magnitude of this Monumental Effort. These events really force you to dig deep both mentally and physically. Monica helped keep the mood pleasant and the feet moving. Not a single runner passed us from the turn-around at mile 58 to the finish, yet we managed to leapfrog a few, including one poor guy who sat motionless in the middle of the road for nearly three hours with less than a mile to go as his crew and pacers waited patiently for him to find the strength to get up and slowly saunter to the finish.  He eventually got there to much applause!

AT100 finish line

I had not completed a 100-miler in over two years and I was starting to wonder whether I would ever be successful at running this distance again. As I ran as hard as I possibly could down one last hill and up another one along the final mile, I was filled with joy and relief. I hollered a few (very loud) “whoo-hooos”, along with many fist pumps as I crossed the finish line. Awaiting the runners and offering handshakes, hugs and congratulations were Chrissy and Stan. I can honestly say that I had never felt happier upon completing a race before.

During the entire run I carried with me the DNF bib from 2010. At the awards presentation I gave it to Chrissy as she handed me my finisher’s buckle. I told her I never wanted to see that bib again and she promptly destroyed it. With my confidence in running 100-milers restored, this week I submitted my application to the Western States Endurance Run lottery. The draw will be held on December 10th. Fingers are crossed!

Gotta run,

Vince

(Photos in this post are from: www.endurance buzz.com…check out this excellent site)

My future events: JFK 50-miler, November 19th; Honolulu Marathon, December 11th.

« The race really only has one hill. » – Teresa Taylor, Barr Camp caretaker and winner of the inaugural Sulphur Springs 100-miler in 2001

Pre-race:   A different kind of “Mile-High” club

Prior to the 2011 Pikes Peak Marathon, the last time I was outdoors at 14,000 feet above sea level I had just jumped out of a perfectly good airplane high above Australia’s Gold Coast.  Although nothing compares to the adrenaline rush of skydiving, this race’s unique qualities make it a must-do for marathoners and trail enthusiasts alike.

Freefalling Down Under

Billed as “America’s Ultimate Challenge” the iconic Pikes Peak Marathon is North America’s third oldest marathon and the very first to officially allow women.  A race steeped in history and run on a challenging one-of-a-kind mountainous course in a State I had yet to visit…I just had to check this out!

Registration for Pikes Peak opens some five months before the race and usually fills up pretty fast.  Although the qualifying standards aren’t unreasonably tough, race organizers are extremely particular about how the online registration form is completed.  In other words, you cannot use a qualifying time that is faster or slower than what is required for the start wave you are registering for.  If you accidently submit the wrong time, your application will be denied.

I was vacationing in the Dominican Republic on the day that registration opened.  I had set my iPad alarm to remind me to get online in time.  Unfortunately, I had miscalculated the time zone difference and when I logged onto the site what I thought was a few minutes early turned out to be almost an hour late.  I was surprised to see that the first wave (410 spots for runners with a qualifying time of 3:45 or faster) had already been filled and that the second wave (430 spots for runners with a qualifying time of 3:45 – 5:30) only had a handful of vacant spots remaining.  Luckily I had qualifying times for both waves, so I promptly found the link to the results for a marathon I had completed slower than 3:45 and submitted my application just under the wire.  Now all I had left to do was train!

Being a “flatlander” presents many challenges for runners looking to run alpine races.  I tried to include as many hills as possible in my training but nothing in Southern Ontario is remotely close to the climbing I’d be doing in Colorado.  Perennial Pikes Peak Marathonwinner Matt Carpenter suggests that runners who don’t have access to mountains should do some long runs (up to four hours) on a treadmill set at the highest incline.  I tried this tactic and could only manage a 2-hour uphill treadmill jaunt before my calves felt like they were about to explode. 

Climbing at Creemore

My spring race schedule included nearby events that featured hilly courses like the Creemore Vertical and Limberlost  Challenges from the Ontario Ultra Series.  Furthermore, the new course design at Mohican 50-miler turned out to be excellent preparation for Pikes Peak.  Although not necessarily mountainous, the terrain of Central Ohio offers endless miles of technical trails and a relentless number of hills.  The early summer heat and humidity only contributed to making that race a Monumental Effort of its own!

I arrived at the Denver airport on the Tuesday before the race.  I spent the first day and night sightseeing areas north of Denver (lunch in Boulder, dinner in Estes Park, and a tour of The Stanley Hotel – Stephen King’s inspiration for The Shining) before heading back south towards Manitou Springs and the site of the race.  I had only been in the Rocky Mountain State for approximately 24-hours when I took the cog railway to the summit of Pikes Peak.  Although it was a bit pricey, the ride provided some fantastic vistas and our guide delivered a witty commentary about flora and fauna found on “America’s Mountain”.  At the top I snapped a few pictures and studied the view of the Barr Trail that zigzags its way down the mountain, the route I would be ascending on race day.  A few minutes later, the thin air (and perhaps a bit of anxiety) made me feel a bit light-headed and I even experienced some shortness of breath.  So I had to seek out a quiet corner in the restaurant to sit down and have something to eat and drink to gather myself.  If this was any indication of how I might react to the altitude during the race, I was in serious trouble.

Summit sign

The view from the summit

Part of my acclimatization plan was to spend some time on the mountain.  So on Thursday morning with my backpack loaded with gear and enough water for the next two days, I hiked the first six miles of the race course up to Barr Camp which sits at above 10,000 feet of elevation.  I had also booked a bunk at the camp where I would spend the night. 

My bunk at Barr Camp

Over the past few months I had read as much literature (and watched many videos) that I could about the Pikes Peak Marathon but hopefully this hike would not only help me get accustomed to the thin air, it would permit me to actually see the trail before the big day.  I resisted the urge to run and simply enjoyed the scenery.  I even took a couple of extended breaks during which I would pull out my copy of Harald Fricker’s book about the race to reread the chapter containing the detailed course description.  This turned out to be extremely valuable as it helped me plan my strategy for race day. 

I dropped off some of my gear at Barr Camp to lighten my load and continued my hike for an additional three miles (one more hour and just under 2,000 feet of climb) to A-Frame.  Now I had seen three quarters of the course.  I turned around here as I figured that the last section above the tree line would be a death march regardless if I had seen it or not before race day!  Besides, it was almost dinner time and I was famished. 

A-Frame

The staff at Barr Camp treated its patrons to a hearty spaghetti feast with some of the best garlic bread I have ever had.  After dinner about a half-dozen of us (including my new friends, the Andresen family from the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan) hung out in the cozy main cabin and exchanged running stories before hitting the pillow relatively early. 

Hanging out at Barr Camp

The next morning following another delicious meal (this one a scrumptious pancake breakfast) I gathered my belongings and hiked back down the mountain.  On my return trip I crossed dozens of volunteers who were making the trek to their respective spots on the mountain to set up an aid station and a campsite where they would be spending the next couple of days looking after runners.  I thanked many of them in advance. 

Like most marathons, Pikes Peak offered a race expo with its share of swag and discounted running apparel.  Here I had the pleasure of meeting ultra-running legend Marshall Ulrich who was promoting his book.  We had a short chat; I bought his book (hopefully a review will appear on M.E. at some point) and I decided not to linger at the expo too long.  I find there is too much nervous energy at these things which only heightens my own nervousness.  So I busted outta there!

Race weekend also features The Pikes Peak Ascent which takes place on the Saturday.  These runners race to the top of the mountain (a half-marathon) and are shuttled back down.  Pikes Veterans, those who have successfully completed the marathon in previous years, can also register for the “Double”…run the Ascent on Saturday followed by the Marathon on Sunday!  Absolute silliness!

Since parking would be limited due to the large number of Ascent participants, I opted to stay away on Saturday too.  All the excitement would be at the finish line on the summit anyway and I had absolutely no desire to spend the day up there!  So I ventured to an outlet mall only to be reminded of how much I hate shopping.  So back to my hotel room I went for a relaxing evening and another early bedtime.

The race:  The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah…

Before start

Although the registration has two different qualifying standards, all runners in the marathon depart at the same time.  The Ascent participants however have a staggered start for the two waves.  Minutes before the start, I picked a spot in about the middle of the pack and patiently waited for the sound of the start gun.  The race begins and ends in the quaint tourist town of Manitou Springs.  From where we were standing, runners can’t yet see the top of Pikes Peak.  The first sight of the summit will come at approximately the 3-mile mark.

Pikes Peak summit way off in the distance

3 miles up, Manitou Springs down below

Equipped with a better knowledge of the course thanks to my hike a couple of days ago, I dissected the ascent portion of the race into four 3-mile sections.  The first section has a short yet very steep road section followed by the first series of switchbacks (known as the W’s) on the Barr Trail.  In insight, I wish I had begun the race slightly closer to the front because there was a lot of congestion on this section.  Many race reports cautioned on starting conservatively, so the heavy traffic forced me to start slow, but I think I could have benefited from not being stuck in the conga line for so long.  However, I knew that the second 3-mile section wasn’t quite as steep as the W’s, had wider trails and even a few short down hills.  I did most of my passing on this section and before I knew it I had arrived at Barr Camp and approximately at the midway point of the climb.

The once quiet and serene oasis in the mountain was now quite the hustle and bustle of excitement.  The loudest cheerleader on the course was none other than Teresa, the ever-perky Barr Camp attendant.  Her voice was course, evidently from having cheered for all the Ascent participants the day before, yet she was out there again, manning the HAM radio and encouraging every single marathoner.  I topped off my water bottle, grabbed a handful of pretzels and continued on my way.

The third 3-mile section features the most technical part of the trail and another series of switchbacks.  These ones weren’t quite as steep as the W’s, but they were numerous and long.  Apparently there is a total of 15 of them, but I got confused when I tried to keep count.  It had taken me an hour to hike this section on Thursday, so I knew I could get to A-Frame a bit faster today.  It was on this section that you start passing runners who had evidently gone out too fast and were now suffering…and they were still a long way from the top.

Also on this section I got to see the lead runners bombing their way back down the mountain.  I still had a little over 4-miles to the summit but these amazing athletes were already cruising effortlessly towards the finish.  Doing some quick math I realized that they would be done the race before I even reached the summit.  Incredible!

Slow march above tree line

With A-Frame now behind me, I only had 3-miles before the turnaround.  But this section was unchartered territory for me.  The race’s website sums it up the best:  “There’s a reason trees don’t bother growing above 12,000′ on Pikes Peak. They can’t!  Makes one wonder if trees are smarter than runners.  Above treeline most runners take 30 minutes or more, some much more, just to cover a mile. What little air remains can’t satisfy the endless stream of zombies hoping only to survive their next step. It’s a death march right out of a scene from Dawn of the Dead. Adding insult to injury it might start to snow! Most runners are reduced to a slow march in the thin air.”

Surprisingly, I still felt pretty good on the final climb.  Sure I was sucking a bit of air, my hands were sore and swollen and my mind a little foggy, but I maintained a slow and steady pace.  I was still passing people, but now more and more runners were on their return and they get the right-of-way on the trail, so I was forced to stop often and allow down-bound runners to get by.

Happy to reach summit

I reached the top of Pikes Peak Mountain in 4:17:35.  Many of the reports that I had read suggested that the average runner should take their marathon time, add thirty minutes, and that will give a rough approximation of your ascent time.  Depending on the event, its course conditions and my training, my marathon times over the past couple of years has ranged between 3:30 and 4:20, so this formula seemed to be pretty accurate.

I did not waste any time refueling at the turnaround aid station.  There were a lot of spectators up there with friends and family meeting their runners, but I simply crossed the timing mat and headed out.  I had eaten a gel just before reaching the summit and I judged that I had enough water in my bottle to get me to the next aid station.  It was literally all downhill from here! 

Heading downhill

The 3-miles back to A-Frame zoomed by.  I was glad to be running and even happier that I wasn’t one of the poor souls still trekking upwards.  I even passed one runner who had decided to take a nap behind a rock.  I was extremely cautious on the technical trail to Barr Camp and as I approach that aid station I could still hear Teresa’s cheers.  Teresa informed me that she had gotten the news that her husband Neal had successfully completed Leadville-100 in a sub-24-hour time.  His best time on that course in 11 finishes!  Congratulations Neal!

I was having fun and running at a good pace.  I calculated that I had passed nearly 40 runners on the downhill portion.  Usually I’m the one being passed this late in a race.  As advertised, the unpredictable weather did not disappoint.  The sky clouded over and we got an interesting mix of rain, wind, and hail which forced me to pull on the jacket I was carrying in pack. I can’t imagine how brutal this weather must have been higher up on the mountain.  I believe some runners were also forced to turnaround before reaching the top because the conditions had gotten too dangerous…an unfortunate disqualification for them.

One mile to go!

Since 1998, the average finishing time for the Pikes Peak Marathon has been over 7 hours (7:10:52 for this year’s race).  With only a couple of miles to go, I realized that I could finish well under this time.  Even though the temperature had dropped and a slight drizzle was still falling, hundreds of enthusiastic fans lined the streets of Manitou Springs along the final mile of the course.  I crossed the finish line in 6:42:38. 

(Note:  Matt Carpenter won his 12^thPPM in a time of 3:48:08, nearly three hours ahead of me and he was this year’s only sub 4-hour finisher.  Matt also holds the mind-boggling course record of 3:16:39!)

Matt Carpenter, King of the Mountain

Post race:  Mr. Short-Term Memory

On this trip I was reminded of all the cool running events that happen in Colorado each year.  On this same weekend and only a few hours away, the Leadville 100-miler is also held.  Several years ago, the aforementioned M. Ulrich ran Leadville in under 24-hours, drove three hours to Manitou Springs in time to run the Pikes Peak Marathon.  Wowsers!  The Gore-Tex TransRockies stage race also takes place the week following Pikes Peak and this year another important sporting event that was happening in Colorado Springs on Monday was Stage 1 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.  I had already booked a room in Denver and was planning on seeing a baseball game at Coors Field, so I headed out of town bright and early Monday morning.  Later that day as I read the sports section of the Denver Post I realized that the top three finishers of the 2011 Tour de France (Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck & brother Frank) were all participating in this cycling event.  I guess I missed a once in a lifetime opportunity to see some of the best endurance athletes in the World in action.  Damn!

During my conversations with some Pikes Peak Veterans I was warned that the race has a funny way of calling runners back to the mountain year after year.  My intention was to run the race, check Colorado off my 50-States list, and start planning my next adventure.  Now that this race experience has simmered in my memory for almost a month, not only am I considering returning to Pikes Peak Marathon next summer, but the idea of doing “The Double” has also crept up in my mind.  What is wrong with me?

Monumental Effort has been quiet over the past few months as our respective busy lives have gotten in the way of our creativity.  We apologize for our silence.  Hopefully we will produce more material in the near future.  Better yet, if you have an inspiring story of determination and perseverance that you would like to share, please do so by clicking the “Submit your story” tab at the top of the page.  You can also comment below on this or any other post.

My next challenge:  Redemption at Arkansas Traveler 100…please stay tuned!

Gotta run,

Vince

« When your mind starts to wander, just return your focus to your breath. » André Grandbois, yoga instructor.

Exactly one year after doing the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim double-crossing of the Grand Canyon, two-thirds of the team reunited in Snoqualmie, Washington to run the Mt. Si Ultra. Due to injury, Wade was unable to join us, but Jackie was there, along with two other Vancouverites, Ryne Melcher and Kristin Ohm-Pedersen. Ryne (aka Rune) has run and won this event the past couple of years and holds a very impressive course record of 5:54:14 for 50-miles. He would not be lowering his time this year as a freak injury to his ribs (reportedly hurt while playing Wii tennis) forced him to run the shorter 50K event. Kristin was also entered in the 50K run whereas Jackie and I would test our mettle in the 50-miler.

I had never visited the Seattle area before so I was excited to run this race, check Washington off my 50-States list, and visit this area of the Puget Sound.

Sightseeing in Seattle

The race starts and finishes in the small town of Snoqualmie which rests in the heart of the Cascade Mountain Range about 25-miles east of Seattle. Surrounded by the snow capped Isaaquah Alps, 50-mile runners began their journey from a local elementary school promptly at 6:00AM. 50K runners would start two and a half hours later.

Mt. Si Ultra also offers a 59-mile relay option. There are 10 relay legs and runners on each team must run at least 2 sections. Seeing as there were nearly one hundred teams, this added greatly to the overall atmosphere of the run. Relay exchange points along the course had large boisterous crowds of spectators and runners awaiting their teammates. (Note: Last year, only one team had a faster time than Rune…wowsers!)

Relay exchange

The early miles of the race run through the quaint town before entering the trails. The race’s website describes the trails as “old railroad grade (which) offers a gentle elevation and is generally wide with some crushed rock, but usually is packed dirt and grass.” Moss-covered hemlock trees lined the trails and runners were also treated to spectacular views of many snow-capped mountains, ebbing waterfalls, and blissful rivers and streams.

Shortly after passing the first aid-station less than an hour into the race, the clouds opened up and the rain persisted for most of the day. This is after all the Pacific Northwest!

The race’s name is a bit deceiving since runners don’t actually run up Mt. Si. We actually only run past it (and sort of around it) on the different out-and-back sections. There was however one long and gradual uphill section between miles 25 and 36. What goes up must come down. After the turnaround, I was delighted to let gravity do its work and pull me back down to the final 4-mile flat section to the finish line.

On the early morning drive to the start of the race I had told Jackie that I felt my training had been adequate to grind through to the finish of the race, but I wasn’t sure if my speed was quite where I would like it to be. Although the rain soaked us to the core, I wasn’t about to let it dampen (pun intended) my spirit. Whenever I started thinking negatively, I tried to remind myself to practice what my yoga instructor had been preaching during his recent classes (see quote above). Also, to complement this meditative exercise, I spent most of the day singing (often out loud and to myself) and/or whistling my new favourite song, “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People.

“…better run, better run, out run my gun…”

So on this day I didn’t allow my lows to get too low or my highs too high. I took in the scenery and tried to maintain an even pace. In the end, I missed lowering my 50-mile personal best time by a mere 41 seconds. But that’s OK! It’s way too early in the season for PR’s!

As for the rest of the Canadian contingent, Ryne paced Kristin to her very first ultra win in a time of 4:37:12. Jackie cruised to a second place finish (5th overall) in 7:40:12 and lowered her 50-mile PR by over 90 minutes! We joked that the next time she takes an hour and a half off her time she’ll still be shy of Ann Trason’s World Record!

Kristin wins her fist ultra...more to come!

Jackie cruises to 2nd place finish

Two weeks after Mt. Si Ultra, I toed the line at the Jerseyville 100. This low-key “Fat Ass” event is hosted by Monica Scholz, Phil McColl and some of their friends and family. Eleven runners started and my intention was to run 50K and assess whether or not I’d push to 50-miles. Once again, the race began in the rain. I even ran the first 5K wearing an ugly yellow rain poncho. Although the rain didn’t last that long, the winds persisted throughout my run. After 50K I lost interest and packed it in. I tried to use the same tactics that kept the negative thoughts away in Snoqualmie, but this time to no avail. Someone once told me: “If you want to run 50-miles, you’ve got to WANT to run 50-miles!” The desire was simply not there on this particular day.

I’ve entered two races this month and both were wet ones. I guess if you run enough races, you are bound to get inclement weather. At this time of year in the past, I have had this misfortune at an extremely nasty Miwok 100K in 2009 and another slip-sliding muddy affair at Bull Run Run in 2006. But this April, with the exception of just a couple of days, I feel as though it has rained all month long. The April showers have been Monumental!

Bolinas Ridge aid station at Miwok 2009

How do you stay motivated on rainy days? Can you help me feel like Gene Kelly in this type of weather?  Please leave us a comment below.

Gotta run,

Vince

“I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” – Jackie Robinson

In November 2010 Monumental Effort published the story “The Bunion Derby – Part 1”.  On the eve of the 3^rd edition of The Mother Road 100-mile run, we briefly presented the history of the famed Route 66.  We talked about sports promoter C.C. Pyle’s pet project: “The First Annual International Trans-continental Foot Race”, we presented the eventual winner, Andy Payne, and reviewed Randy Ellis’s book “Running with Payne.”  This book is an account of the author’s personal journey as he retraced the steps of the original “bunioneers”.  At the conclusion of the post we promised a second part to this story in which we would offer more literature on this epic race and introduce different characters from the inaugural event.

The 1928 Bunion Derby

The idea for Part 2 has been on the backburner for quite some time and I thought it would be most relevant if I blogged about it before the end of February.  (Yeah, I know…just like my universities days, I’m getting this one in just under the wire!)

In North America, the month of February is Black History Month.  During this period we are encouraged to remember and honor African Americans and African Canadians.  The Immigration and Citizenship Canada website says it best:  “We take this time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation we are today.”

Jackie Robinson

Nearly two decades before the great Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, six black athletes toed the line of the original Bunion Derby to compete alongside their white counterparts in a time when racial tension was still very prominent.  Of these runners, five were African American and the other was a Jamaican-born Canadian.  A tailor from Hamilton, Ontario, Philipp Granville was in fact one of the pre-race favorites to actually win the race.  C. C. Pyle had recruited many proven and accomplished professional athletes from Europe, whereas most of the North American participants were unknown and untested.  They were adventurous and determined young men hoping to reach the finish line first and earn the $25,000 prize…money they felt would lift them from poverty or help them better feed and clothe their families.  Granville however, was an Olympian and the holder of several race-walking World Records.  In order to compete in the Derby, Philipp Granville had to give up something he cherished dearly:  his amateur status.

Philipp Granville

Over the course of their 84-day odyssey, the bunioneers endured many hardships.  In addition to the daily grind of all those miles on muddy, potholed and dangerous roads, runners had to contend with all kinds of weather conditions, from the 95-degrees in the Mojave Desert to the winter storms in Arizona’s high country.  Runners did not receive adequate nutrition to replenish their broken-down bodies and medical assistance was limited.   Many athletes suffered from stomach problems and other illnesses due to the unclean water that was supplied.  Thanks in part to C.C. Pyle’s extremely noisy travelling carnival that accompanied the runners across the country as a cash-grab for the event, sleep was difficult to come by despite the fatigue and the inhumane sleeping arrangements did not help the runners get the required rest.  Runner John Stone Jr. quoted:  “Our blankets and pillows were so filthy it was a disgrace to the race.  We did not even have our own.  We got different ones each night.  We undoubtedly slept with our head in one end of a blanket, where some other unfortunate had his sore bleeding feet the previous night.”  In addition to all this, the black runners were bombarded with racial abuse and even death threats.

As the runners made their way across certain Southern states, specifically in Texas where the Ku Klux Klan still had a dominant presence in legislature, black athletes were greeted head on with the racial tension.  As they crossed this part of the country, the black runners were no longer permitted to sleep in the same tents as the white runners, they could not eat their meals with them and were often refused service in many public places.  One African American runner, Eddy Gardner, was even followed for an entire day by a farmer holding a shotgun who was daring him to pass a white runner.  For nearly a month, the black runners endured a living hell.  As they finally crossed into Illinois, and with the help of the bonds they had forged with the white runners, the remaining black athletes in the race were finally permitted to focus on their running and no longer feared for their lives.  At one point, Philipp Granville even started referring to himself as “Jamaican Indian” in hopes of avoiding some of the threats.

As for Granville’s race strategy, he started the event conservatively by speed walking the early stages.  He actually only started running past the midway point of the race.  Had he made the transition sooner, many believe he would have challenged Andy Payne for the win instead of his (still very impressive) 3^rd place finish.

Two compelling books offer much more in-depth information about the characters and the issues of The Bunion Derby.  These books are Geoff Williams’ “C.C. Pyle’s Amazing Foot Race” and “The Bunion Derby – The 1928 Footrace Across America” by Charles B. Kastner.  Kastner is an independent historian; as a result, his book is researched in great detail.  He offers lyrical accounts of the daily routines and much background information is provided about the participants and organizers of The Bunion Derby.  Geoff’s book, on the other hand, reads more like a nostalgic narrative and is more light-hearted and entertaining.  Both books are equally enjoyable and offer a different perspective on this incredible event.  You can order your copies by clicking on the picture of the book covers.

Not only were the bunioneers exceptional athletes and a source of inspiration for their Monumental Effort, they were without a doubt the pioneers of desegregation in the world of sports.   Charles B. Kastner writes:  “The heroism of the black bunioneers was a symbol of hope and pride to black communities they passed along the way, and to black America as a whole… The derby also showed the nation that blacks and whites could compete against one another even if they were not yet ready to live together in harmony.”

Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave us a comment.

Gotta run,

Vince

“Only travel in an emergency.  If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case you become stranded.” – The Weather Network’s forecast for Jackson, Mississippi on January 8^th, 2011

The 50 States Marathon Club regularly presents to its members dates of back-to-back marathons.  These “Seeing Double” dates allow runners to knock off two marathons in one weekend, often in neighboring states.  If the marathons are within a certain driving distance, this permits would-be registrants to cut down on their traveling expenses while checking a couple of states off their list.  January offered the Mississippi Blues Marathon (Jackson, MS) and the First Light Marathon (Mobile, AL) on consecutive days.  Organizers of both races partnered and were offering a rebate on the entry fees and special awards to finishers of both events.  As an early gauge of my fitness level, and to kick-start my 2011 racing schedule, I eagerly signed up.

I wasn’t expecting to run any personal bests, but I was curious to see if I could indeed run two marathons in one weekend.  When I arrived in Jackson, I drove directly to the race expo to check in for the race.  This is a small marathon with approximately two thousand total runners entered in the three events: marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay.  The expo was very modest, but I did raid a booth that was selling Nip Guards.  Local running specialty stores don’t seem to be carrying this product anymore, so I loaded up and now have a year’s supply to protect my overly sensitive nipples!  For a small event, I was pleasantly surprised at the race swag in the gift bag: T-shirt, CD of blues music, Elvis sunglasses complete with sideburns (the marathon was celebrating what would have been the King’s 76th birthday), a harmonica emblazoned with the race logo and many product samples were all included in a nylon shoe bag/backpack.

Elvince has left the building

The host hotel was about 300 yards from the start/finish area, allowing runners to linger in their rooms until mere minutes before the start.  As I prepared for marathon #1 of the weekend, my television was on the Weather Network and forecasters were suggesting that a major winter blast was heading towards the area.  Since the storm front was still about a half day away, runners would enjoy sunny conditions, a bit of wind, and temperatures in the low teens (or low 50’s on the Fahrenheit scale).

Jackson, The City with Soul, is the State Capitol and largest city in Mississippi.  This city is named after the 7^th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, and has a fascinating history.  Native Choctaw roots, settlement by French-Canadian traders, civil war battles and civil rights movements helped shape this city.  During the run, what I found glaringly obvious was the disparity between economic classes.  I suppose this is common in many cities, but as we ran through different sections of Jackson, I was amazed that only a few miles separated some beautiful mansions on large properties and the boarded-up and dilapidated homes literally on the other side of the tracks.  Although the city is in a period of rejuvenation and growth, Jackson still ranks as the 23^rd most dangerous city in the U.S.

The Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi

Like most runners, I always make a point to thank the volunteers during a race.  Anyone who has ever race-directed will agree that without the help of these people, races would simply be impossible to organize.  What I found extremely amazing at the Mississippi Blues Marathon was the fact that the volunteers were the ones thanking the runners.  In all the races I have run over the years, I don’t ever recall volunteers thanking me, the runner!  Even police officers directing traffic along the course were heard saying:  “Thanks runners for coming out to our race.”  I guess the citizens of Jackson recognize the importance of the tourism dollars that the marathon generates for their city.

The course itself was one of the hilliest road marathons I have run.  There were no major climbs but there weren’t many flat sections either.  It’s all good since the rolling terrain forced me to walk some sections and save energy for tomorrow’s marathon…which I was still unsure of.  I still had a few hours to debate whether it was wise to make the four hour drive to Mobile after the race, run 26.2 miles in miserable weather on Sunday, then drive back to Jackson, potentially in a storm, that evening.  During the race I questioned a couple of locals about the forecast and most agreed that with any wintry mix, people down there panic and everything shuts down.

In addition to the super-friendly aid station attendants, marching bands and blues ensembles entertained the runners along the course.  At the 17-mile point, one particular blues band was performing and the lyrics that they sang as I ran by were:  “Oh Lord, you’ve got to get back home again”.  Were they trying to tell me something?  Of the dozens of bands out there, these are the only lyrics that stuck in my head.  Was this a sign?

I finished the race in a leisurely time of 4:16:38 (over 30 minutes slower than my time at the Hamilton marathon two months earlier) and received one of the biggest medals I’ve ever seen.  That sucker must weigh almost 2 pounds! After a much deserved shower, I checked out of my hotel and headed straight to the airport to see if I could catch an earlier flight.  I stopped at a gas station and even the attendant said:  “You ain’t from around here, right?  You headin’ out of town before the storm hits?” I took this as another sign that I should forgo the second marathon.  As luck would have it, I was able to board an earlier flight that was scheduled to depart in less than an hour.  I managed to save on my rental car because I was returning it 3 days earlier than anticipated; I cancelled my hotel reservation in Mobile and boarded the plane to Atlanta.  I was back at home, safe and sound, shortly after 10PM Saturday night.  As it turns out, my original Monday flight out of Mississippi and its connection in Atlanta were both cancelled.  I would have been stranded at the Harstfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, along with thousands of other travelers, for who knows how long!

On the journey back home, I decided that since I had signed up for two marathons but had only run one, I still had some running to do.  So to complete what I set out to do, I headed to the gym on Sunday morning to run marathon #2.  You read that correctly…the gym!  I had no desire to battle the elements outside and didn’t know any measured 42.2K (26.2 miles) route near my house, so I chose to run the distance on a treadmill.  I had run three hours on the treadmill in the past, but this was going to be the farthest I’ve ever run on one of these machines.

I went through my regular pre-race ritual at home, prepared a small bag of gels and electrolyte drinks, lubed certain areas of the body, got dressed and was out the door.  I never run with an iPod outdoors, but I knew I would certainly be in need of some distractions today.  At the gym, I took the treadmill placed directly in front of the big screen TV, set it to TSN and hit the START button.  My plan was to take a short break after every 5-mile section.  The short break would allow me to replenish my bottle and take a gel.  I tried to limit my break to less than 2 minutes.

The first five miles were excruciatingly tough.  I kept asking myself what was it I was trying to prove, but each 5-mile section after that kept getting faster and I was feeling stronger.  I rocked out to some 80’s metal music and played a little game to keep my mind occupied by altering the speed setting on the treadmill every five minutes.  As I ran, I got to watch/read “The Sports Reporters”, the first half of the Raptors game and the trailer for the Vince Vaughn and Kevin James “The Dilemma” way too many times!  Consequently, I have no desire to see that movie now!  The entire experience wasn’t as mind-numbing as I thought, and I finished my second marathon of the weekend in 4:26:27, a mere 10 minutes slower than the previous day’s result.  I didn’t get a finisher’s medal and there are no official results for this endeavor.  The weather didn’t permit me to run consecutive marathons in different states, but I improvised and did manage to run two marathons in one weekend.  A fellow 50-states club member is planning a “triple” on Labor Day weekend.  He claims:  three marathons, three states, one hotel….stay tuned!

Gotta run,

Vince

Happy New Year! In 2010 we witnessed many unbelievable feats…Monica’s 25 x 100-milers, Charlotte’s new Bruce Trail speed record, and Martin Parnell’s Marathon Quest 250 to name a few.  Monumental Effort is looking forward to sharing many more inspiring stories of determination and perseverance with you in 2011. If you have a story, or an idea of one that we could research, please send it to us.  We want your stories!  We need your stories!  Your tales fuel our creativity and motivate us (and hopefully many others) to train harder, run further, and give more of ourselves.

Nick Vujicic’s life of daily Monumental Efforts doesn’t need an introduction.  Watch this amazing video and be inspired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbX6mDnMwM

Congratulations to Moondoggy Dyatt for his submission of most original reply in our last post.  His submission has won him a gift card.  He wrote: 

Twenty-five 100-milers?  Most people don’t get up to change the channel that often in one year!

Gotta run,

Vince

“I’m not a dreamer, and I’m not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to.” – Terry Fox

During my latest race south of the border (Arkansas Traveler 100-miler, report to follow…), I ran a few early miles alongside a couple of American runners.  When one of them learned that I was Canadian, she informed me that she had recently seen the story of Terry Fox, “Into the Wind”, on ESPN’s  30 for 30.  This series of thirty documentary films depicts “issues, trends, athletes, teams, rivalries, games and events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009.”

Seeing as pretty much every school across Canada hosts an annual Terry Fox run at this time of year, I’d say most Canadians above the age of 4 know about our beloved hero.  However, this U.S. runner who was most certainly in her mid-30’s confessed that she had never heard of Terry Fox.  The other runner replied:  “Who is Terry Fox”?  At first I was stunned and wanted to scold them for their ignorance, but I calmly proceeded to educate them about Terry’s inspirational accomplishments.  “Into the Wind” was co-directed by another Canadian athlete, 2-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash.  Thank you Steve for sharing Terry Fox’s story with our U.S. neighbors (or shall I say neighbours?).

Below is the movie trailer for “Into the Wind”.  This film is set to air on Canadian networks in the near future.  Check your local listings.

Into the Wind

co-RD's: Vince, Shep, Scooty

Our tenure as Race Directors has come to a close,
So I thought I’d pay tribute with some poetic prose.
For nearly a decade we have organized the Iroquoia Trail Test,
With these duties behind us, it’s time for a well-deserved rest.

If you’ve ever staged a run, you can appreciate the work required
To get every runner across the finish line satisfied albeit tired.
Preparations begin several months before the event takes place,
With registration forms, website updates and advertising for the race.

One must obtain trail permits and insurance, purchase awards and gifts,
These are but a handful of the items found on a race director’s checklist.
We pride ourselves on all the personal touches that go into this run,
Hand-painted finisher’s rocks and a free kid’s race only add to the fun.

After loading up the truck with pylons, tables, water jugs and cups,
We head to Kilbride School the night before the race to start setting up.
The course must be marked and a finisher’s chute put together,
We’ll only get a couple of hours sleep as we hope for good weather.

An army of volunteers is the key to the success of any competition,
To the members of the Burlington Runners Club we owe much recognition.
Every third weekend of August we could count on this fine mass
For runner’s safety, hydration and to ensure the trail test is passed.

The race is a 32 kilometer trek along the rugged Bruce,
An escarpment trail lined with maples, pine and spruce.
This event was a labor of love for Shep, Scoot and me,
If we went back in time, we wouldn’t do it differently.

As we reflect back on our own race directing experiment,
We now fully appreciate RD’s and their everlasting commitment.
Without these organizers there simply would be no races,
They allow us to carry out our passion and put smiles on our faces.

With the gear back in storage and the truck returned to Discount Car rental
Our era as directors of the ITT is over, the Effort has been Monumental.

Please, leave a comment.

Gotta run,

Vince

Busy on race day

Another successful Kids Quiz

15 years ago, in a drunken fog I made a bet that I’d run a marathon before my 40th birthday.

In September of 2010, I turn 40.  I hadn’t forgotten my bet.  I’d began running a little in 2009 and managed to complete a 25K trail race and several shorter distances.  But the marathon eluded me.  I signed up for an early 2010 marathon in hopes of getting it over with with time to spare, but the winter training didn’t go well and I didn’t run the race.  With the clock ticking, I had to find a local marathon before September 2010, and fast.  That’s when I found the Endurrun, a remarkable 7-stage race in Waterloo, Ontario that offers single stage entry.  Lucky for me, Stage 7 is a marathon.  For added incentive, I concluded that if I could convince others to enter on a team with me, I’d have to finish Stage 7 or risk DNF’ing the whole team.

Enter Team Monumental Effort.  My partner in crime on this blog, Vince is an ultrarunner so I figured he was a no-brainer for inclusion on the team.  Not only did Vince agree to be on the team, but he decided to run 3 stages.  He ran Stage 3 (a 30K trail run) and Stage 4 (10 mile hill run) as a team member, and Stage 7 as a single stage entrant in order to pace me.

Vince after the marathon. Looks like he could run another.

Vince managed to convince two buddies, Martin Vallaincourt to run Stage 1 (half marathon) and Geoff Sheppard to run Stage 5 (25.6K alpine run).

Martin finished Stage 1

Shep about to start Stage 5.

I managed to talk my friend, Jonathan Finn into running two stages as well, Stage 2 (15K time trial) and Stage 5 (10K time trial).

Jonathan running strong in Stage 6.

Each team member ran like champs!  For every one’s results, see the Endurrun Results.

Which brings us to Stage 7, my first marathon:

The day did not begin favourably.  By 7:30am the temperature was about 30 celsius and very, very humid.  But I was a single stage runner, and the majority of the other competitors had already run 6 stages so how could I possibly complain.  As everyone gathered at the start line a fine mist descended from the clouds.  I hoped desperately that a light rain would fall throughout the race.  Following the ceremonial singing of the Canadian National Anthem the clock started and we were off.  Vince and I kept a slow, even pace as we chatted throughout the first 21.5K loop.  He had written down split times on the back of his race number and attempted to coach me through each one.  The splits would have us finishing in 4:30, my targetted time.  We completed loop 1 in about 2:10 and I dutifully ate Hammer Gels and gulped Gatorade and water as much as possible.

About 5K into the Marathon and still smiling.

Loop 2 began positively.  I felt pretty good and was happy with our loop 1 split.  But as we approached the 25KM markers I was really starting to feel the heat and my legs were beginning to ache.  Teammate Jonathan had warned me that during the second half I’d want to quit, that my brain would scream at me to stop but that I just had to push through it, that things would get better.  I hoped he was right.  I’m certain Vince could sense that I was sufferring a little as he mercifully suggested we walk a little, in particular up the hills.

The pain!

From kilometre 30 until 35 or so I was in agony.  Many of the runners behind us began to pass us and I was walking more and more.  Vince urged me to try running to landmarks in the visible distance so I did my best to comply.  I was beginning to feel nauseous as well and thought for sure I was going to be sick.  Oddly, in my head, I didn’t think I was trying hard enough but just couldn’t muster the strength to push much harder.  Then, around kilometre 37 I began to feel a little better.  My legs hurt less for some reason and I could run again.

As Vince pulled me along I began to realize that I might just finish this thing.  We ran past the neighbourhood where I live and I knew the finish was a mere 3KM away.  I wanted to sprint, I really did, but my body wouldn’t let me.  Vince urged me to push for a sub-five hour time but in my head, I just wanted to walk into the finish.  But I couldn’t do that, as I knew my wife, Trish and kids, Charlie and Lily had been waiting there for hours for me to arrive.  With 500m to go I could see Trish,Charlie and Lily running out to meet me on the road.  They cheered me on and gave me high fives.  It was all I could do not to cry.

Charlie and Lily running beside me near the finish.

Final time: 5:01:45.  Not quite what I’d hoped for, but I’ll take it.

Trish giving me a high 5 near the finish.

During the run I told myself I’d never run this far again.  But it’s been 4 days now and I’m already itching to run again.  I told myself that I’d give myself a week off, but come Monday, I’ll be out there again.  Looking back, I don’t think I tried hard enough.  I didn’t train as hard as I could have.  I didn’t push as hard as I could have.  I want to run farther, and faster!

Oh shit!

Leave us a comment, please.

“I bet many of you feel sorry for me.  Well, don’t.  Having an artificial leg has its advantages.  I’ve broken my right knee many times and it doesn’t hurt a bit.” – Terry Fox

Over the past couple of weeks we were focused on Charlotte Vasarhelyi’s successful attempt at breaking the Bruce Trail end-to-end solo speed record.  However in late June, we also kept a close eye on the developments at the prestigious Western States Endurance Run in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains of sunny California.  As usual, the WS 100 featured an extremely elite field. The top two runners, Geoff Roes (15:07:04) and Anton Krupicka (15:13:52) both broke Scott Jurek’s course record, and we were treated to many, many other Monumental Efforts.

Tracy cruising at WS 100

Any runner who even toes the line at this event has sacrificed much to dedicate hours to qualify, then train for the grueling run.  Of course, a bit of luck is also needed as only a small percentage of the entries get selected via the lottery.

Tracy Garneau became the first Canadian to ever win The Western States race, finishing in a very impressive time of 19 hours, 1 minute, 55 seconds.  In fact, I believe Tracy is the only non-U.S. runner, male or female, to earn the top spot on the podium at Placer High in Auburn, CA.  With wins at H.U.R.T. 100 and American River 50-miler earlier this year, Garneau has now proven to be one of North America’s best ultra-runners.  In the coming months Tracy will compete in the Canadian Death Race in Grand Cache, Alberta and The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France.   We will follow these events with great interest.

Other notable Canadian performances include top-10 finishes by Gary Robbins (6^th in 17:06:20) and Glen Redpath (7^th in 17:10:06).  Congrats to all runners!

Another amazing athlete that caught our attention was Amy Palmiero-Winters.  Amy became the first amputee to successfully complete this particular 100-mile trail run.  Amy crossed the finish line in a time of 27:43:10. 

Amy mangled her left ankle in a gnarly motorcycle accident in 1994.  Nearly thirty leg operations later, the leg was amputated.  Since 1997, Amy has been proving many naysayers wrong by completing (and often winning) many events, from 5km road races to Ironman competitions, and even trail 100-milers.  The Western States finish is most impressive because of the amount of downhill running this course offers along rugged and uneven trails.  Next week, Amy will compete in the Badwater 135-mile run in Death Valley. 

More about Amy’s amazing accomplishments is available at her site: http://www.seeamyrun.com/

You can track Amy and other Badwater runners, including Jerseyville 100 champ Iris Cooper, on the live webcast at:

http://www.badwater.com/2010web/index.php.

With summer full swing and so many events on the horizon, please feel free to share your inspiring Monumental Effort stories of determination and inspiration with us.

Gotta run,

Vince

P.S. After a four week hiatus due to a slight tear in her Meniscus, Monica Scholz is ready to resume her 3000-mile quest at Vermont on July 17^th…stay tuned!