Nanny Goat 100 Race Report

Introduction

I went into this race knowing it would be a challenge.  As a law student classes and particularly finals are my first priority.  May is the time of the year that brings flowers for most of the country and nervous breakdowns for 1Ls.  One final exam determines the grade for the class and spilling your brain onto the paper in IRAC form is the only way to succeed. (IRAC - Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion, then repeat for every issue/element…forever).  I was fueled either by frustratingly high amounts of coffee or decompressing with generous pours of scotch; or both.  Ultra training was disastrously low on the priority chart.  Regardless of the stress, 32 miles per week was my average going into this race.  Those miles were quality trail miles so my legs could reap the benefits of the hills and the subtlety of the terrain, but the race course on the other hand was deceptively simple.  A one mile loop 100 times.
 

Gear

Victory Design Bear Drop Bag (link)

Tailwind Nutrition (link)

Headsweats Visor (day) / Buff -(night) (link)

iPod Shuffle

Oakley Radar Glasses

Perl Izumi Arm Coolers (day) / MoBen Arm Warmers (night)

Patagonia Tech Tee (Capilene 1, silk weight)

NorthFace Flite Series 5" short (day) / Sugoi Tight Shorts (night)

Tevasphere Trail Shoes (25 Miles) Altra Running Lone Peak Trail Shoe (56 miles)

Garmin 910XT

Drymax Trail Socks (grey)

BodyGlide Anti-Chafe + BodyGlide Skin Glide (blister protection)

Fenix Headlamp / Black Diamond Storm Headlamp

Ultimate Direction Handheld (Review)

Nanny Goat 100

The one mile loop is on a horse ranch in Riverside, Ca.  It is deceptively easy as far as courses go which is the problem.  The first few miles I was cruising along at a relatively quick pace for a 100 miler.  Around mile 4 my knees began aching.  How could my knees hurt on a course with no elevation and not even a 10k into it?  The answer lay in the courses deceptively tricky flatness.  The temperatures at the start were perfect; high 50s-low 60s and overcast so everyone went out a little quickly to take advantage of the conditions.  That fact coupled with a grassy section about .2-.3 that sucked the unsuspecting runners into a false sense of security only to reward them with twisted ankles or in my case achy knees.  Shoes sunk into sponge like obscurity and before you realized it the pain sets in and its a patch job style race from that point on.  After 6 miles I began walking a part of this section and by mile 25 I was walking the whole grass section, lesson learned.

At mile 25 I took a break.  I felt great but knew I was running too quickly.  I had been running steady with no aches and pains after making the grassy section adjustment.  I began chatting with another runner named Arturo and  it turns out he is going to be taking on the Headlands 100 in September.  A few days after the race I got an email from him telling me he had to drop because his daughter, who was there to support him, fainted and had to be taken to the hospital.  At the time I was blissfully unaware the heat was crushing all of us.  I should have been more cognizant given I saw an older man fall backwards on his head in the middle of the afternoon, but of course you never think it could be you…so wrong.

But, by mile 10 I was not urinating on schedule.  Its a weird thing to talk about but in ultra running it's your personal tracking system.  I drink a lot of liquids.  My urination schedule is pretty regular and even on the hottest days out in Griffith Park I am clear with a slightly yellow tint, i.e. hydrated.  Sorry for the details.  Race day consuming copious amounts of liquids and still nada.  Approximately 4-5 hours into the run I noticed that my urine was an ice tea color; not a good sign that early into a 100 miler.  The overcast perfect running conditions heated up in a heartbeat and I missed the adjustment.  The next 6 hours I tried to consume more liquids and re-hydrate but the urine got darker and darker.  By the 50 mile mark I was not at coke color level, but pretty dam close to it.  I ran the first fifty in about ten and a half hours.  I was on pace to break 24 hours, which is the magical number for ultra runners but the hydration was a problem a bigger one that I thought.

Mile 60 Al joined me to pace for a few miles.  Al was there at my first hundred and was the first person to see me hallucinate from exhaustion (Rocky Road 100 - Report) live and in technicolor and has been one of my biggest supporters since I started running ultras.  He saw me drop 50+ lbs. and increasingly become healthier and happier.  We ran for a few miles and I told him my plan was to run hard from 1 am - 3 am and make up lost time.  He asked how my hydration was doing and I answered, fine.  I probably should have been more forthcoming but I did not want to have him come out to Riverside to walk a few miles in the dead of night.  So we jogged a little and he left me after midnight.  I did end up running from 1 am - 3 am, but that was all the gas I had in the tank.   

Mile 80-81

My body had not adjusted the hydration issue despite my best efforts  Throughout the day I met amazing people.  Everyone, as is typical in an ultra, suffered together and rejoiced in each others accomplishments.  It would be impossible to list everyone, but if you look at the Nanny Goat 100 facebook group you will see what I am talking about.  A solid group of people who are all about cheering for each other.  Despite all of these positive vibes I decided to drop at mile 81.

The body took a toll and I did not want to push beyond my limits.  I knew that my hydration was off and this was just not the day to push the red line any further.  Arriving at the main aid station and announced that I was dropping.  The RD told me I could walk a mile an hour and still make cut-offs, but I reiterated that I was done.  He suggested I sit for half an hour and decide after that.  I agreed...

I sat on a cooler leaned my head back and felt a tremendous weight come over me.  I woke up to a few people slapping my face asking if I was okay?  I asked what happened and the answer was "you blacked out."  My initial thought was; bull****.  There is no way I blacked out.  Blacking out it is a college drinking story not a seasoned ultra runner story.  I tried getting up and lost consciousness again.  Then it sunk in, my body was agreeing with my decision to drop and it was not taking any other answer.

The volunteers, particularly Jean, really saved me.  Knowing my personality I would have tried to keep moving and probably collapsed somewhere, but they brought a cot and had me lay down.  Once I laid on the cot my body was alternating between strip into nothing hot then shivering cold.  Jean placed a heater and placed it near me and then tried getting me to consume water.  I was so miserable and I could do nothing about it.

My breathing labored and naturally could not get comfortable.  My legs were complaining with the pain that sets in once you stop.  I went from feeling confused and disoriented to achy and cramping then back to confused.  It was akin to a boxer being knocked out.  It just came upon me in a flash and I had to ride it out.  Some time later, honestly I have no idea how much time because I was confused, Jean brought a pillow.  It was fluffy and white. 

I tried to complain that I was gross and would ruin it to which she answered, don't worry about it we are ultra runners.  I finally fell asleep. 

Finish 
I woke up feeling nauseous but years better than I had a few hours before.  I thought; what if I had sat somewhere on the course?  What if i had opted to keep going regardless?  The questions naturally will never have answers but just the thought of those answers is scary.  I learned a lot of valuable lessons, but more than that I am proud I listened to my body and decided to drop.  My body obviously overjoyed with the prospect of stopping (read as survival) showed agreement by passing out.  It took me a few hours to get back into a good mental place, such a good mental place that I signed up for another 100 in August.  I respect the Headlands too much not not dial in everything before it.  Most of my non-runner friends think I am nuts and should take the experience as my chance to retire from the ultras.  Giving up is not my style.  I look at the experience as a gift. I was given a lesson and a bunch of new friends with 81 miles thrown in.  Failing is only failing if you don't get up and I think its my duty as member of this community to get up and get motivated.

Nanny Goat 100 Pre Race Thoughts

My average training week has been 32 miles.  Generally it would not be a bad idea to even attempt a 100 miler with that low of volume.  The course is a 2 mile loop that each competitor will go around 50 times, yes you read that right; le hamster wheel.  Why?

For me this race represents a mental challenge.  I have completed a few 100 mile runs and recognize that  physically I am not in shape to compete for time; law school has made that impossible this year.  But I do have an insatiable desire to test my metal.  This run in particular lends itself to this test since I will neither have a crew nor pacers; the two things that have saved me time and time again during ultra marathons.   My thoughts and the prayers of those who know me versus the distance.

I will have some Victory Design Drop Bags, Tailwind Nutrition and hopefully a few votive candles from my mom shinning in my direction.  

A Hard Lesson In Kindness and Law

     I normally do not feel the need to share personal details as it is a blog about running.  But today I need to vent a little, I am sorry so feel free to stop reading now.  Monday I was waiting in line at the In-n-Out in Culver City.  I was meeting a friend on that side of town and famished after working in Orange County I really wanted a double double and a chocolate shake.  As I waited in line a man backed his suburban into the rear driver side of my car. 

     The first words out of his mouth, after pulling over; did I do that?  You sure, it looks like you can just pop it right out.  I said, sir you hit my car and there is blue paint on your bumper.  I snapped some pictures and honestly should have taken this as a red flag but didn't.  When I asked for his insurance and driver's license he asked if we needed one of those in this state.  I smirked and requested it again.  Rather than calling my insurance right there he asked if I could get a few estimates and he would rather write me a check.  I quickly copied his insurance and license information.  He then asked if I was the allowed to drive this car and if the damage had not been there as he wiped some of the blue paint off his bumper.  I know red flags, but he was older and I did not want to be rude.  I thought...if I'd hit someone and could pay to fix their car rather than have my premiums go up I would want someone to do that for me.  I consented to seek estimates.  

     I called him tuesday afternoon with estimates.  He did not like the sound of them and asked if I could go to "his" body shop.  Feeling a little frustrated I had wasted time I agreed.  In my head I thought, this is it.  If it does not get settled wednesday I am just calling my insurance and having them deal with it.  Again, do unto others...I thought.  

     I went to his body shop and their estimate was 2x everyone else's because they informed there may be structural damage.  I called him to inform him of the news and that I would be calling my insurer.  His response was that he would mail me a check for the estimates I had given him the previous day.  I told him I was not accepting his check and that I was calling him as a courtesy.  He proceeded to ask me the name of the other body shop so he could make the check, I did not repeat it.  He then asked if the address on my license was a good place to mail it and I again repeated I was sorry but that I was not accepting his check.  He stated that he was going to tell "his" body shop not to accept my insurance and that he would deny he had hit me claiming that as he backed up I refused to move.  I informed him that there are cameras that caught the scene reiterating that he backed into me.  He then said he would be mailing a check and that was it; and that it was illegal for me to be in Los Angeles and not report the address change to the DMV.  This last remark set me off. 

     The remark set me off because it reminded me of all the people that get abused because of their ignorance of the law.  I remember as a younger child listening to one race subjugate another with the statement; "well its illegal to...".  A statement that an immigrant or a non-english speaker would have generated the fear of God within them.  It infers some "other" knowledge and takes an authoritarian tone.  It was a threat veiled in law.  The law that is meant to protect everyone, especially the defenseless.  Instead it was used as a weapon to make others feel inferior.  He was attempting to impose his will on me without my consent, but it was not his words that angered me.  My anger came from the knowledge that this was probably learned behavior maybe used on those less knowledgable and not willing to take the risk.  I let him know I was lenient enough.  I had wasted 2 days attempting to help him out and that I was not going to risk my safety over this.  I hung up the phone.  He did not call back. 

     I share this story not as a "warning" but as a lesson.  Not everyone we meet will take our kindness and may try to abuse it.  Because of this man's actions I am not going to stop reminding myself to do unto others as I want to be done unto me.  But, I will set my boundaries much sooner.  Maybe through kindness we can change those learned behaviors that only serve to divide all of us.