Infinitus 48hr 2016

Stolen from my buddy Rick

selfie with the best view on the trail

So, Infinitus is a race from the endurance society. They have many options: 8k, 88k, 888k, 48hr, 72hr, and marathon. The RD's know just how to make a challenging course, and reguardless of the terrain encouraging you to keep going, seriously, I have done many races from all kinds of companies, but this is a completly different feel. To have an RD make a course terrible, but yet see the best in you, is truly a memorable experience, and one I do not ever want to miss, EVER! Last year I only finished the 30 mile loop of the 88k, my feet were ruined by blisters, I no longer had the desire to continue, my feet were bad and I had no idea how to handle it, and was pushing for placement in racelocal. This year I wanted to do better than last year, I wanted a finish, I wanted to make up for not finishing (recap from 2015 here), I wanted retribution for my failure. I signed up for the 48 hour a wile ago, wile only the goal to put down high mileage, no real goal. But the monday before the race, I decided I wanted to get 100M, it has been a goal for a few years to get a buckle. Now I did not train for this like most people would train for 100M, and to make matters worse (better?) I raced each weekend, pr's a few runs, and the weel before I ran bonefrog in western mass, 2 laps of the full, that was a rough mountain course ocr, about 9 miles each loop. luckily I have learned the importance and usage of lacrosse balls and other medieval tourcher devises to fix sore muscles and move things around to were they belong. I was feeling as good as I could make it with the time I had before the race, I only ran once, an easy 5k to see how my legs were, see if I needed to do anything else to get my body as ready as I could for infinitus. This year the loops for all those that raced anything except the 88k (they had a 30 mile ish loop before the other 2 loops) were just over 7 miles, and then just under 20 miles.

best view on the trail minus me

 Back to the race, I had unfinished business with the course. The course was changed this year, no longer going through the swamp that ate people alive.Those bugs destroyed peoples legs through 2 pairs of pants in the night. So there was a bunch to get prepped for with the environment, last year the bug spray did not effect those mutant VT bugs. This year the weather was changing all the time, but it kept looking like rain and thunder storms most of the weekend, so that is scary, when it is also supposed to be brutally hot and muggy, so yeah, scary conditions to run for 2 days straight! Luckily for me, it did not rain at all! I am beyond happy that I have good clothes, I had a cooling shirt and hat, they lasted me for the first 50 miles, with no problems, and running shorts without underwear, it helps when you are in oppressive heat for that long. I changed my shirt and shorts at the 1/2 way mark, another cooling shirt, it makes a world of difference, I saw 2 people post they got readings of a high temp in the 100 range! My watch got me in the high 90's and average in the high 80's, I do not know the humidity, but it was high!

2 miles left on the big loop, what a treat!

just over 50m in Photo:Vince

So the course was fun, yes, I said FUN! The bugs were not as bad as last year. Right from the start I was in a great mood, I mean how can you not be? In the middle of VT, no cares at all, surrounded by many great friends, awesome people that are running ultras, they are some of the nicest, coolest people around, and the mountains, oh the trails are great, so many awesome scenes! All that, and I just knew that this was gonna be the race that I hit the 100M, I just knew it, and that carried me through 50 miles before midnight, we started at 8:08. After my 2 marathons, I noticed hot spots changing to blisters, even though I used the bandaid brand blister packs, they usually help, but they must have been to small for the spot. I asked another racer in the drop bin area if they had Leuko tape, it helps with foot care, she did not, I may have asked another person but nobody had any that was around. I wanted to make good time, so I left, when I came back and went to my drop bin, everything I needed was there, nobody around, and nobody knew who left it there. I needed it badly, I would have been bad if I could not properly treat my feet! And I completely forgot the foot are kit I keep in my trunk, back in Massachusetts! luckily there were several people to the rescue, and I knew just what to do, from last year when I had foot problems, I just asked the guys who fixed me up, and learned some basics on how to treat my feet! So I put my Home depot bucket back where it was with a thank you note, seriously, it was one of a few times where if I did not receive a little bit of help, I would have dropped before my goal of 100!

These were pretty cool to run by

After my third Marathon was completed I was not in high spirits, those that know me, know that does not happen often a friend even asked where my smile went! Well the heat got to me, pretty bad too. Though not as bad as others! Thankfully I stayed on top of hydration and electrolyte pills, they really saved me, I am not usually good in heat when it comes to running, especially this early in the season. But a few friends saw the look on my face, and I said I was unsure if I was going to continue, and I was told that I "would be thrown back on course" (Lisa, and probably Rick, and maybe more) and if I "wrote drop on the board it would be erased"! (Marc) and talked with ,y friends, not one questioned my ability to finish! I was just drained, and needed food, not the same pb&j double decker I made to eat at the start of each lap. Luckily, my friends took a drive to get food, and brought me back a sub! (Thanks again Marc and Vince) Just what I needed, new food, I also ate a double burger and then went out again to start my final marathon, only this time, I was running again, not fast hiking, but running a decent amount of the 7 miler! this is important to not, because the loop before, for about 10 miles, all I did was walk, slow hike, I was loosing my speed! Then after the short loop I fixed my feet again (Thanks to Tom for having everything I needed, and helping me out!). An important thing to note, I was offered to skip the 7 miler to go and do the 20 miler, that way I would still get my buckle, but there were so few people that were going for the 108 that I stood a chance to be place, I could not pass that up! Then the final 20 came, and I was booking it, I wanted to do good, and I had energy, I do not know how, as I woke up around 530 on race day, and no sleep, at all, for about 2 days, I have never done that before, but the right people, the right environment, and the right activity was perfect! I did not get any hallucinations like I thought would be cool for the experience, but I did see outlines of things that were not there in the dark, and in the daytime. Also, one of the few complaints I had, they moved one of the water stops about 1/2 mile back, and never said anything to those runners that had been out there. So when I ran out of water about 2 or 3 miles before I got there, I panicked when it was not there. Until saturday the aid stations were not manned except the last one. they move the first one because people were messing with it or something. Anyway, back to my freak out, luckily I had passed a camping area, I saw lights, and heard people talking. so I went off course, found them, the were very kind and gave me about a liter of water. enough  to get me going again. then trying to find the trail I got lost!! I had a mini panic attack as I circled the area all together about 2 miles, and added all the time I shaved off in the first 5 miles of the loop (I did 5 miles in an hour, I wanted to pass people). I finally find the road, but not before circling woods, and soaking my feet in wetlands. when I got to the road I texted my friend (oops sorry Hannah), and my phone said it never went through, luckily I followed the roadand found the trail and went back on, no more problems! the funny part is that I went over the course, but the markings for the catamount trail were not clear enough, and the trail was so narrow that I could not tell at 12 or 1am. Then I found where the aid station was, gave my bib and name, got more water and a snack and moved on, crisis averted! well kinda. Also, I have to note, that it was the only time I got lost, the trails were marked very well, and after so long on them I did not have to look up, even at night, it was great!

this doll was reposed a few times

I can not tell you how many tree stumps I thought were something else completely, sometimes elaborate others ordinary, but often they looked like something else. I had the crap scared out of me a few times, one of which, I was about a mile away from the main aid station, and I saw 2 cubs, running right at me, I froze, luckily they then ran in another direction, needless to say I ran the rest of the way back, because I was scared. Another one, somewhere around the climbs f mile10/11 of the 20 miler, I heard a noise, and looked into the woods, and saw eyes staring at me, again, I froze, they never looked away. I took a few steps and looked back, yup, still staring at me, and all I could see were the eyes, and a vague outline of a head, no idea what it was. All I knew then was I was hoping the trail lead away from the animal, thankfully it did! I could tell it was not something too small, I heard/saw countless chipmunks scurrying around course, and frog/toads as well, a few owls, and probably several other animals I have no idea what they were. For reasons like this I was very happy when my friend Jesse found his way near me about 4ish miles out and we kept each other company and had good chats, and payed less attention to the woods around us, when you are alone you can not help but let your imagination run wild, add in a lack of sleep, and yeah, it was great!

creepier at night, but still cool

Oh I almost forgot, They like to put weird stuff on course to mess with you, like clowns, dolls, masks, and whatnot, it is hilarious!

I can not tell you enough how happy I am with actually finishing my 4th ultra, after failing a shorter one last year, it really is all in your head! And I got all kinds of support from friends, it has been amazing!

There were a number of things I had that really made it possible to finish the race they work for me, it is not the only way, just my way.

GPS Watch: My garmin fenix is a wonderful, but expensive watch, I was able to set timers so that I remembered to drink water (every 20 min, and when thirsty) Food every hour of activity, and then also when I ate, I took a few electrolyte pills, I used both salt sticks and hammer pills, I can not tell a difference, they both helped, and I had no cramps, despite being in the 90's, and humid, muggy grossness for most of the weekend. it also helps to know your pace, so you know if you are going to fast or slow.

because why not?

Also the right gear, running gear that has a cooling effect and builtin spf, I had Nike shirts, and an outdoor research hat, they helped!

Carry a wide variety of food, it saves you, for on course food and in between laps, there really are only so many pb&j sandwiches you can eat in 2 days, and I never thought I would say that about Peanut Butter!!! I carried: Power bars, Cliff bars, Stinger waffles, Picky Bars, I had Nuun for in between laps, as I can not run with much other than water, one day I will try tailwind.

Also SOCKS!! All of them! I used 4 pairs of Injinji, and 2 pairs of darn tough socks, AND THERE WAS NO RAIN, but there was mud on parts of the course, my feet were mostly dry for most of it.

Stretch, between many of my laps when I marked on the board, I would do quad stretch against the wall, hip flexors, and calves.

Don't spend too much time at the aid stations, that is how trouble can happen, lack of motivation, or crams, or whatever can pop up. I kept it to food, drink, bathroom, resupplying my camelpak marathoner vest with pills water and snacks, and then out again.

ES Pic, this guys finishes 888k in style!

A GOOD ATTITUDE!!! I can not stress that enough! I am a decent runner, but my training is not crazy high mileage, I get between 80 and 100 a month, so serious, but not super high mileage. So I was underprepaired training wise, but something just clicked, and I knew I was gonna get 100, and as the race went on, I knew I had a chance to do it in good time. seriously, I just knew deep down that the bucle was mine, and I just kept pushing myself.

because at 12ish miles in, crawl

I swear it moved, with no wind, my eyes were playing tricks

Rely on the basics of running! so when you add a new distance or are new, you are supposed to jog flats and downhill, and walk uphill. well that is what I did for the first 1/2, then after all the downhill, I knew my form was off, so I decided to run uphill, it worked for me, but I love hills, and needed to switch the muscles I was pushing.

Also, for the stats, almost 4,500 ft of elevation gained over the marathaon. I got 7.13 miles for the first loop, and 1243 elevation. For the second loop 19.24 and 2,995 elevation fr the first laps. watches always vary, and I always got close to those numbers.

And to further the point I made about the heat. The VT marathon canceled to the heat, that has come up a few times since the race when talking with people. 

Also, one last thing to post, I was very ,uch surprised to learn that after finishing, the next day when results came out, I placed 3rd! that was a huge surprisem and makes my first 100 miler that much more special, now to firgure out the next one!

 I will be contemplating next awesome adventures and seeing what calls my attention, and where my friends go, I love the journey life takes me to, just remember to stay active, and have fun

Stephen

Infinitus 88k DNF Recap

Pre race

Post 30

So this past weekend I had my second shot at an ultra (the story of my first ultra here), it is called Infinitus, from the awesome people at Endurance Society. There were many options to run in this race. You could choose from an: 8k, 88k, 888k, 48hr, and 72 hr events. The 88k i think had about 10 days to complete it (and somebody actually did), the 88k had 24hrs, the 48hr had to complete 100 miles and you get a belt buckle, 72hr needs 150 miles or the buckle. There were 3 courses on the race, all centered around a figure 8 course. The figure 8 was a 10 mile loop, and a 16 mile loop closely connected, and centered around Blueberry Hill Ski Center (in Goshen, VT) where everything was set up from, it is where you had your drop box, bathrooms, tents, parking, and a grill set up for the after party. They also had water, and plenty of food at the base. This place was incredible, such a fun day. So for the 8k there was a shorter course, obviously, but I do not know much about that course as I did (or tried to do) the 88k.

 The 8 and 88k started with a bang, literally

The 88k course started with a 30 mile "run" through the mountains, starting on the catamount trail for a bit, and then to blood route and back to the inn. there were about 4 aid stops (2 you saw twice, one of which was only water), which were well placed through the course. From the Ski center it was 10 miles to the infamous bloodroot, then 10 miles in a loop, then back the 10 miles you ran there.

 There was one point early on were the whole field of runners got lost, just before the first first aid station, so there was about 50 of us, but we found our way back, it wasn't too bad, maybe about1/2 a mile. Luckily that was the only main course marking problem, and Andy was on trail, checking in on us, and he asked us at several times where we got lost, and he even went back and marked the course some more, he really is awesome, and a great reason to do any of the races that the Endurance Society puts on. Also seeing how some of those runners were going fast up the mountain, and then even faster down, was crazy! I was very jealous, my quads would not have lasted for too long if I tried to do that!

Then  once back at the Ski center, you o to the 10 mile loop, and then a 16 mile loop. Now around mile 15 or so, I felt hot spots on the balls of my feet. Then over the next 5/10 miles, with all the unavoidable mud and water on course, it turned into giant blisters. and on the last bit of road (about a 1.5 miles from the lodge to the trail) as I was hobbling back, one of them popped, yeah, that didn't feel good at all. But I new when I felt them miles before, as they grew in size that I would DNF (did not finish) this race, all I could think about was getting back to the Inn and getting my feet fixed! One of the many reasons I love ultra runners! They are the nicest bunch, and there were many conversations about how bad our feet were, and I got help from people that I had just met that race. Such support, and from some of the amazing people that were doing the 888k, and were hurting as it was. Runners continue to be some of the best people on the planet. I have noticed that the longer/harder the race the nicer they are. Road runners, trail runner, ocr, and then ultra runners, they just get increasingly kinda, and cooler attitudes and outlooks on life. It was pretty cool to be talking with some of them, and the way that everybody was talking about 100 mile races that they do on a regular basis was awesome.

Post 30 semi muddy miles later

And Something that was brought to my attention recently, there was a blogger out there that put out an entire post basically slamming anybody that has a DNF on record because he has never done that, and that he is some badass tri athlete according to his post. Now i only read part of it (it was long, and condescending) and i am no wimp, and truly believe that it is a part of our duties as humans to build people up! I personally love that i get the chance through racing and workouts to help people improve there self image, because it can be a hard thing to get, and harder to keep. I personally think that you can learn a whole lot from a DNF, I have now "Failed" 2 races, the first was hard to swallow at first, but with support from friends, I took it as a learning experience, and went into my second ultra with more prep, and more knowledge. Thanks to PLENTY of very kind friends, sharing the wisdom that I desperately needed for the race, and which also helped tremendously calm my nerves about the race! and even though I did not finish, and my feet were sore from giant blisters

a whole bunch of amazing athletes

So What I would love for you to take from this experience is this, you should always try to find some ways to get out of your comfort zone, regardless of what it is, an ultra, lifting heavier, whatever, just something scarier, it helps you grow as a person. And yes, being on a 30 mile loop was out of my comfort zone, largely because I wanted to do it fast, (I have a large history of hiking) as well as the other miles i had hoped for. But I did get a new distance record, probably just over 30, hiked mostly, ran maybe 1/4 and in about 10 hrs. For the record, i got a ride for about 1/2 mile from the Inn, in perfect timing, right when my blister had popped, thank god, it got way more painful then, and my hobbling got incredibly worse. But help came pretty quick, I got help from a new friend, in the form of epsom salt bath, and foot car, wile another friend shared her roasted chicken, to say I was in heaven is an understatement, going from pain, to relaxing, and back to chatting with my other friends. Then more foot care from a talented athlete, and just enjoyed the company in the lodge, wile the rain came down hard, and it got packed. So keep learning from each experience, and ignore all the negatives, running is a great way to do that, and the longer you run the more fun, with the right people, it makes a world of difference, as the miles pass you by, you can easily louse track of how many you have gone, it is by far one of the best things about running in my opinion.

So until next time
Keep pushing your limits
Stephen