I signed up for Burning River 100 three weeks before the race. I really hadn’t even considered it initially, but I ran Eagle Up 100k in June and felt pretty good. I signed up to prove to myself that I could still do a hard 100 mile race on trails. I can run loops for days, but trails present a whole different set of problems to solve throughout the race. That scares me, which is exactly why I needed to do it.
With 3 weeks to go until race day, I knew I had some work to do if I wanted to go into the race feeling my best. I trained smarter and harder than I have in a long time. I pushed myself to embrace the heat and humidity and got in a lot of hill repeats with my friend, Kathy, who was training for an Ironman. It was those last few weeks that I really felt that fire for running long distances return. Going into race week, I felt calm and ready. I already knew that no matter what the temperature was, no matter what problems came up, I was going to finish.
The Start
Race morning, Dave and I were up at 2am and arrived at the race at 3:30am for the 4am start. The race started and we slowly started running uphill on the road. The first few miles felt comfortable and I focused on staying in the moment. About a mile in, I ran into Clay, Nick, Derrick, Mason and Cade, who I have been training for Burning River over the past 6 months. We all ran together at a nice, steady pace down the road and then onto the trail. Running together as a group was the perfect way to start off the race. I saw Dave at North Hawkins just as it started to rain. He handed me my bag of food, refilled water bottles quickly, filled my ice bandana and I continued on down the trail. In and out like clockwork. The guys caught up to me soon after just as it started raining hard. The trail quickly turned muddy and we fought to stay on our feet. In the moment, I didn’t think about how this might affect the rest of my race. I was just enjoying being out on the trails in the pouring run!
Botzum- Mile 13.9
The rain finally slowed as we headed into Botzum at mile 13. I saw Dave and again he handed me my food and water and pushed me to get in and out under a minute. The next section was a little more technical so I had to slow down a little to make sure I stayed upright. The next thing I knew, we were back on the road and and I pushed to make up time. It was starting to warm up, but I felt strong and was right on track with my hydration and fueling plan.
Oakhill- Mile 22.7
I hit Oak Hill at mile 22.7 just over 5 hours. I stopped to get a rock out of my shoe, ate the 2 ice pops that Dave handed me, refilled my ice bandana again and was on my way. In and out. About a mile down the trail, my legs slid out from under me in the mud and I was on the ground. Another runner saw me fall and graciously helped me up. I was a little more cautious for a few miles but still running steady.
Running into Pine Hollow at mile 34.3 Miles, it was really starting to get hot. I was running with Cade and Mason for a a few miles which helped me to take my mind off of the heat. After the aid station stop, I was on my own again. I popped out of the first section of trail and onto the first of 3 long climbs, one of them being the sound of music hill. It was right out in the open sun, I was rationing my water and the climbs felt never ending. I could feel the skin on my hands tightening up and I contemplated if I had too many electrolytes or not enough. I slowed my pace and focused on picking up my my feet. Eventually at the end of this grueling 6 mile stretch, I saw Dave waiting for me at the end of the trail.
Kendall Lake- Mile 40.3
Dave handed off new bottles, told me to take it easy on the electrolytes for the next section and sent me on my way. 10 more miles to go until Dave would be pacing me. We hit a part of the trail that is very rocky and crowded with hikers and I took a wrong turn. I got to the top of the hill and my tracker started to tell me that I was off course!
Frustrated, I turned back around a few tenths of a mile off the path. When I got onto the correct trail, thunder started rumbling. It was only a light rain but I think we were all hoping for another downpour to give us some relief from the brutal heat and humidity. Once I hit the Route 8 aid station at mile 45, the sky opened up and it finally started pouring. It started to thunder and lightening as I ran down the long, straight section of towpath. I passed Scott, one of my athlete’s running the opposite direction. I cheered him on as he ran passed. Seeing a familiar face lifted me up again for a moment.
I probably would have lost time here because I felt so overheated, but I met the oldest runner in the race at age 75 and we struck up a conversation. I told myself, if he can run this pace 50 miles into a hot and humid 100, then I should be able to as well. He kept me distracted with his interesting stories and we ran all the way into Silver Springs. Silver Springs
Silver Springs- 50 Miles
Dave and I immediately got to work to get ready for the second half of the race. I told him that I need to change my socks and re-lube my feet with Salty Britches. As soon as I took off my shoes though, I knew it was going to be bad. They were so swollen that I couldn’t remove my Creepers toe socks. It felt like each toe was being strangled. I rummaged through my drop bag but quickly realized that I only had a pair of Injinji toe socks! I am normally over prepared so I was surprised that I didn’t think to pack more socks, but I was just going to have to make it work. I forced my swollen, water logged feet into the toe socks and off we went. We did a body check right away to see what issues were coming up for me. When Dave asked me how my quads felt, I told him they were already shot. The mud from earlier had worked them hard and now I had to run 50 more miles. Nothing that I hadn’t dealt with before though. One foot in front of the other.
The 6 miles back to Route 8 were long. My stomach felt so bloated because I had forgotten to stop in the bathroom and my feet ached. We noticed a cooler with some ice pops and cold water next to the path. That gave me some relief. Dave suggested that we start to do walk/run intervals to get us to the next aid station more quickly. Once I made it to the bathroom and got a little food at Route 8, I was temporarily feeling much better! Historically, miles 55-65 are the hardest for me. This is when I start to question my life choices and wonder why I couldn’t just be happy sitting at home on the couch, instead of out here suffering on the trails. But that’s just not who I am and Dave and I both knew that once I got through this section, I would snap out of this low.
Kendall Lake- Mile 60.5
Once we got back to Kendall Lake at mile 60.5, I knew that I had some SmartWool socks in my drop bag. I hated to sit down and take the time, but the state of my feet was really weighing on my mind. One of the volunteers walking by took one look at my feet and asked what he could do to help. He gave me alcohol wipes to clean them and dry them out. He told me that I should put some Destin on them but I didn’t have any. He graciously started looking through the used drop bags to see what he could find for me. I was so appreciative of his kindness. I slathered my feet with Desitin, forced them back into my shoes, we grabbed some coke and were on our way back to Pine Hollow. My mind felt at ease knowing that I had at least attempted to take care of my feet.
Pine Hollow- Mile 66.4
A few miles from Pine Hollow, it started to get dark. We switched on our headlamps and I slowed my pace quite a bit while I got used to navigating the roots and many sets of narrow stairs in this section under the dim light of my headlamp. Once we reached Pine Hollow, we grabbed some mashed potatoes and more coke and refilled my bottles. The food revived me again. From here on out, I was running aid to aid station. I would eat as much real food as I could, feel great for a few miles. Then I would hit the wall hard an struggle to keep my eyes open. Repeat over and over for the next 34 miles.
After we got to the next aid station, Robinson Field, we were on the towpath for a long stretch. Dave pushed me to continue doing the walk/run intervals. My feet were burning but we ran all the way to the end of this path before heading back into the trails toward Oak Hill. At this point, each section felt slow and never-ending but I was able to keep my mind in check. I reflected back on the previous sections that felt this way. I reminded myself that before I knew it, the race would be over and the pain would be a distant memory.
Oak Hill- Mile 78
At Oak Hill we sat down and I changed my shoes and socks and tried my best to lube up my blister covered, very painful feet. The volunteers here were wonderful. They filled me up with pancakes, mashed potatoes and pierogis. After forcing my feet into a new pair of Topo Ultraventures, I yelled for Dave to wrap it up and get moving. It was time to finish this thing. 23 more miles to go. I could tell that Dave was really starting to feel the long day of crewing, so we made plans my my Dad to meet us at Botzum at mile 87 to take over pacing duties.
Botzum- mile 86.8
After a quick stop in the bathroom and water refill, my Dad and I set off at a fast hiking pace. I struggled to keep up, but I knew that he would get me back on pace. We chatted and he told me stories. Before I knew it we were back at the Chestnut Shelter aid station at mile 88.6. I grabbed some watermelon and we got back onto the trail. I shuffled along as we inched our way toward North Hawkins. I was ready to be done with the race at this point so I tried to focus my mind on being as efficient as I could be.
Finally we passed by the last aid station at mile 96.3 where I grabbed some fruit snacks and more orange Skratch. We counted down the miles, trying to figure out how many were left. The soles of my feet were searing with pain and at times a slight worry would cross my thoughts about the damage, but I focused on blocking the fear from my mind. I could worry about the rest later.
These miles always seem to take forever but by now I’ve run enough hundreds to know that even though it feels like time is standing still, you just have to keep pushing and staying in the moment. The next thing you know it’s all over and you’re reflecting back on the journey in the comfort of your own home. About a mile from the finish, I saw Cade up ahead and cheered him on. I was starting to get excited for the finish and I pushed myself to shuffle faster. We made a few more turns and then the downhill finish line was in sight. I ran it in those last few hundred feet and crossed the line for my 11th belt buckle!
Post Race
Later we found out that it was the lowest finishing rate ever at Burning River with just 41% finishing the race. Only 20 women finished. The conditions were tough, but we rolled with it. We managed the heat all day, dealt with the foot issues the best that we could and embraced the torrential down pours. In my mind, the worse the conditions are, the stronger I come out in the end.
I ran Burning River this year to remind myself why I I love the challenge of running on trails. The result was an even deeper appreciation for the community, my crew and for the strength that I continue to find within that drives me to push through whatever conditions that I face. I also had 7 of my runners out there with me. 6 of them finished, and the pride that I felt at their accomplishments was overwhelming.
The next challenge is Across the Years 6 Day Race in Arizona at the end of the year. I honestly have no idea what to expect. I’m approaching my training and the race with curiosity. To find out yet again who I will become on the other side of a goal so big that I will inevitably come out a different person than the one who went in.