Grindstone

It is still hard to believe that two weeks ago I ran 100 miles. I have done a dozen or so ultramarathons, and numerous endurance multi sport events, but this one takes the cake by a long shot. As hokie as it sounds, I look back on it almost like it was an out of body experience. Even though it took me over 25 hours to complete the course, the days seems like a blur.

My buddy Bill Potts did the race also. We were both 'first timers' to the hundred mile distance. What this really means is that we are stupid enough to have raced half that distance many times and now thought we were 'ready' to bridge up to the true gold standard for an ultra runner. We were not exactly wrong to think this, but I look back and wonder is a person is even really ready for a 100 consecutive miles. What we larned was that it is a race of patience, a race ofstarting slow and finishing slower, a race of attrition, and most of all, a race where it is great to have family and friends nearby to support you. Bill and I have agreed countless times since race day that we will look back on the 2009 Grindstone 100 with smiles because of the people who shared it with us: David Mercer, B. Young, Gentry, Julie and The Gillanders Crew, Lisa Potts, Dan, Adam, Clark and so on.

The weekend really started with a bang because we went to the U2 concert in Charlottesville on Thursday night. In hindsight, pulling a 19 hr day before a hundred miler was not the recommended course but as joel said in 'Risky Business' sometimes you just gotta say "what the mailto:f*#@ concert was great and added to the overall experience.

Bill and I towed the pop up camper to Camp Shenandoah, set, checked in , rested, had a panic, and then hit the start line. Off we went at 6pm into the woods whihc were soon dark, foggy, and windy in no particular order. We had run half the course in August going in the opposite direction so it was all new to me. Running at night is quite an experience. Running off road in the dark is just nutty. The headlamps will illuminate the trail but do not give you much in the way of depth perspective. Translated this means that for the first 12 hours of the race I was forever kicking my toes on roots, tripping over rocks, and saving myself from doing a spread eagle on the trail by wrenching my back to stay upright. Ouch.

Aid Stations were placed every 6-8 miles so often you would have a serious amounts of time in between to run with fellow racers and chat. I ran with Elizabeth from NJ, Ben from Nova, and of course Bill Body Potts.

My goal was to get to the half way point in 12 hours which I nailed almost to the minute. Certainly having my buddy david as my crew chief helped immensely. When you are running all night, it is just nice to see a familiar face, and have someone to talk to, even if it is for just a minute. Thanks david.

The Grindstone was an out and back route so when I started on the second half of the course it was started to get light again. I was happy that I made it through the night without getting sleepy. The daylight was welcomed because after the above mentioned tripping/stumbling/bumbling etc, I was ready to see what the heck I was running over.

At the 66 miles mark, Bill and I came into an aid station full of the Gillanders crew. That was awesome! Really got a charge from that. We also picked up our respective pacers- for me that was Bill Young, and for Bill that was a man who needs no first name, Gentry! Between the two of them they had many hundred mile finishes under their belts so we knew that we would be in good hands. I picked up some trekking poles for the last 50km which i knew was going to be hilly. Of course, right, you do not cover 100 miles with 23,000 ft up and 23,000ft down with much that is called 'flat'. Off we went.

We got to mile 80 and I was really starting to feel it. I had been good with eating and drinking but realistically, at a certain point, you get tired. And emotional! At the aid station I had to really work hard to keep it together. It is not a pretty sight to start balling in front of your mom who thinks you are freaking nuts already. So, Julie pepped me up, reminded me that a warrior stays strong to the finish, and off we went.

Lydia Young was feeding us soup, mashed potatos, and mac n cheese to help us move forward over those last 20 miles. I finally settled in around mile 95 and was able to poke my way to the finish with a strong finishing Potts, gentry, and Bill Young.

The grindstone tradition is that you hug the totem pole at the finish and who was I to go against the grain.

As lucid as I was over the previous 25 hrs, the finish was a bit dodgy. I was immediately hypothermic and as goofy as ever. Bother John G helped me get to the showers and back to the camper. It was a lights out almost the instant I hit the bed. That is, after I warmed up and ate a variety of oatmeal, hamburger, chili and whatever Julie was spoon feeding me.

We woke to a beautiful day in the mountains, happy to have finished and earned a buckle. dan made a stellar breakfast which was shared with many smiling faces. After the awards, yeah, Potts first place masters!, we chatted with speedgoat and headed home. Thanks again to all those who supported team bobby potts. We could not have done it without you.

I can't imagine it could have gone much better which perfect for your first 100 milers. Keep your fingers crossed for Western States. We shall ride again!