HEARTLAND 100 MILE RACE REPORT

October 13th & 14th, 2007

By Chris Wile

 

Disclaimer- The attached race report I share with you based on the following understanding.  I have written this report for myself.  Someday, many years from now I want to remember this incredibly experience.  So I have included much information that may seem silly, insignificant, foolish, and cocky and leave you scratching your head and wondering what the heck I am talking about.  These are my thoughts, my feelings and my motivation that have helped to push me to my limits in an effort to complete this race.  I offer no apologies, only my story of a fantastic run.  I cannot imagine how I could pack more excitement, emotion and adventure into one day.  I hope that you enjoy this adventure as much as I have.

 

 

 

 

  “Once in a while you find yourself in an odd situation.  You get into it by degrees and in the midst of it, you are suddenly astonished and ask yourself how in the world it all came about.”

-Thor Heyerdahl,  Kon-Tiki

 

 

    On Saturday October 13th at around noon time, after having run continuously for six hours and a bit more than 30 miles, I found myself atop a ridge in the middle of Kansas, the highest point on the Heartland 100 Mile Race course.  It was pouring rain, hailing, and lightning was striking the ground all around me.  The thunder was deafening.  The winds were almost knocking me off of my feet.  And I still had 70 more miles to run to complete this race!  I thought of the quote by Thor Heyerdahl as I too wondered how in the world I ever came to be here attempting such a feat.  You really do get into these things in the smallest of degrees and it all seems rational and normal until something makes you wonder when you lost your sanity. 

 

  As many of you are aware, I ran my first 100 mile race in April of 2006 at the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run.  It was a perfect day.  I ran well, felt great, had a good time and enjoyed every minute of the race.  This is not how the typical ultra runner feels after running 100 miles.  It never seemed real and to this day it still seems like a dream or a fluke.  I was never convinced that what I had done was possible for me to do again.  I felt that it was a one time oddity that just happened and that I some how just got lucky.  I continued to train over the months and in the winter decided I would attempt to run the Umstead 100 once again in April of 2007.  As I continued to build my training miles the injuries started to occur until a stress fracture stopped me from running for two months.  I was almost convinced that I was in fact just lucky to run 100 miles just once and that it probably was not possible for me to do again.  As I started back running again I needed a goal and the nagging thought of attempting another 100 mile race was still in the back of my mind.  So at the beginning of July I decided that I would attempt running the Heartland 100 Mile Run in October in Kansas.  I sent in my entry form and set up a training plan.  I had enough time to train properly if I did not get injured again. 

 

  Over the next three months I would do a 10 -14 mile run each evening and a longer run on one of the weekend days.  Each weekend my long run would get longer.  Eventually I was going out for 30-40 mile runs most Saturdays.  As September approached I was feeling great and with two weeks to go before the race I made a spur of the moment decision to run the Vermont 50 Mile Endurance Race.  The course was very hilly as it wound up and over many hills in the beautiful Vermont country side.  I was running well and hoping to finish in less than ten hours.  With this over ambitious goal I pushed myself beyond my abilities.  I finished in 10 hours 3 minutes and had injured my foot with an injury called planter fasciitis.  This injury can take months or longer to heal.  I was panicked that I had ruined my chance of running Heartland in two weeks.  For the next two weeks I did no running at all.  I massaged the foot and leg muscles as instructed in the hopes that I would be able to run part of the race.  The foot hurt continually and was a constant reminder that I was going to have a tough time in Kansas.  It became very un-nerving and it was all that I could think about.  I was advised not to run the race as I could cause further damage to my foot.  So I decided that I would have to find another race to run once I was healthy.  I even went so far as to call the airline and started to cancel my reservation.  I stopped in mid conversation and said I would call back in a bit. 

 

  I decided that I was going to at least attempt this run.  I would go to Kansas and see how far I could make it.  I could not stand the thought of another injury stopping me a second time from another 100 mile attempt.  I came up with a motivational mantra- “Failure Sucks!”  I am not a big fan of failing.  Unfortunately failing is sometimes unavoidable.  I conceded that I would probably not be able to complete the entire 100 miles, but realized that if I did not at least attempt this run I was guaranteed to fail.  So for the next week whenever the foot would hurt I would repeat in my head “Failure Sucks!”, then I would stop and massage my foot. 

 

  The Heartland 100 Run is run across some of the last remaining tall grass prairie in the country over a very hilly course.  Yes, Kansas does have hills and lots of them!  The course is on gravel jeep roads over cattle farms.  It starts at 6:00 AM in Cassoday Kansas and winds through spectacular open range for 50 miles, then you turn around and head back to Cassoday.   There was also a 50 mile race that is run on the same course so we would be sharing the course with the 50 mile runners for the first 25 miles at which time they turned around and headed back.  There were about 70 runners starting the 100-mile race and about 50 for the 25 mile race.  This race is a very low key event and support and aid is minimal but sufficient if you plan ahead carefully.  There are seven manned aid stations along the course and you pass through all except one twice.  With this in mind we have an aid station about every 8 – 10 miles apart.  Runners can leave drop bags at the aid stations with extra running shoes, clothing, nutritional items or whatever we think we may need at the time.  When planning my run I would be attempting to complete the race in 24 hours.  This is important because I needed to decide what items would go in each drop bag at each of the four aid stations that I decided to use.  If my pace changed much, especially if it were slower, from what I had planned I could end up at an aid station at the wrong time and not have the items I needed.  If I had my flashlights, which I needed for the night running, in a drop bag that was eight miles away because I slowed down this would be a major problem for example.  Careful planning was critical if I was to have any chance for success.

 

  I arrived at the starting area at 5:30 AM on Saturday.  I had my hand held water bottle with my Accelerade drink.  On the side of the bottle I had laminated a pace chart, so that I would know when I should be at each aid station if I was on schedule for my sub 24 hour run.  This makes it easy, as no mathematical calculation is required on the run.  At a certain point in a long run your body is using all of your energy to make the legs move and the mind gets very slow and fuzzy.  Even simple calculations seem impossible.  So this was the simplest method to keep me on pace.  As it was still dark, I was also carrying a hand held flashlight.  The weather was cool so I wore an extra long sleeve shirt that I could drop as the day warmed up.  The weather forecast was for high temperatures in the low 80’s.   We were to expect a mix of sun and clouds with lows in the 60’s at night.  Based on the mid day temperatures in the 80’s I decided to change my strategy at the last minute.  I would start out running faster during the cool morning hours and then slow down a bit in the afternoon when it got hot.  I was anxious to start as I looked up at the millions of brilliant stars above.  As I stood there listening to the race director give us the instructions my foot was throbbing.  (“Failure Sucks!’)

 

  At the sound of a clanging cow bell the race started and we were off on our adventure.   The course starts on a paved road and in a couple of hundred yards we take a left hand turn onto a gravel road which will be our running surface for the entire race.  The gravel is actually flint.  Large chunks of this flint cover most of the road.  It is hard and sharp.  When I take a closer look at it I realize that flint is what many Indian arrowheads are made from.  Now it makes sense as to why it feels so hard and sharp.  Most runners attempt to run in one of the tire tracks as the flint is somewhat less concentrated there.  I am having quite a bit of pain with my foot each time I push off for the next stride.  After some experimenting I find that if I can change my stride to land and push off almost flat footed it does not hurt.  If I can remember to continue to do this I may be able to do this run.  (“Failure Sucks!”)  Each time I forget to change my stride I feel a sharp pain shoot all the way from my foot up to my lower back.  This painful reminder helps me to change my stride most of the time. 

 

  I am rolling up and over many hills and making good time.  As the sun rises we are afforded some spectacular views of the prairies.  From some of the ridge tops it sometimes seems as though you can see hundreds of miles away.  The area is desolate.  Except for the cattle which roam the range and the wild mustangs, there is no sign of any life out here.  There are no houses and no people other than the runners and the race volunteers.   Passing through the first aid station I only stopped long enough to drop off my flashlight that was no longer needed, and to grab a cup of water.  The temperature continued to slowly warm up.  The course was running from the west towards the east.  As I looked to the north I could see storm clouds and every now and then some lightning.  It seemed that the breeze out of the south would keep the storm away from us.  I was soon heading into the aid station at mile 25.  This is one of the major aid stations as the 50 mile runners turn around here and head back to Cassoday.  I realize that it will be getting even more desolate from here on out as the 100 mile runners are starting to spread out along the course and the 50 mile runners are gone.  At the aid station I get my drop bag.  I drink a bottle of Ensure and take another bottle of Accelerade with me in my hand held bottle.  Just as I am about to leave the aid station I realize that the course is taking a sharp left hand turn and we are heading directly into the storm!  I have no rain jacket and the temperature is dropping very fast.  I know that if I get wet without any jacket I will get hypothermic and be in serious trouble!  I ask one of the volunteers if they have an extra trash bag I could take so that I will be able to stay warm.  Instead the volunteer hands me a throw away poncho folded up in a nice little case!  A big “thank you” and I am on my way heading up the ridge right into one nasty thunderstorm. 

 

  My foot was painful, but bearable.  Having changed my stride was causing many other aches and pains as my body attempted to adjust.  No time to think about the pain because as I crested the ridge to the highest point on the course, running through an open range, the scariest storm I could ever imagine started to brew.  At first it was a fairly heavy rain and the temperature dropped to the 40’s.  I threw on the poncho to conserve heat and energy.  I was still soaked from the driving rain, but the poncho helped to keep me warm.  The wind started to howl, the thunder was cracking and the hail started.  There was so much thunder and lightning that I could not tell where it was all coming from.  One bolt of lightning struck the ground a very short distance to my left.  All the hair on my arms stood up.  I could feel my skin tingle and I could smell it in the air.  I kept on running knowing that my best odds for not getting hit were to get off the ridge as soon as possible.  Unfortunately this was a long ridge and it would be another four miles before I would be out of this storm.  Just as this lightning bolt hit the ground next to me, I wondered how I ever got myself into this situation.  “Failure Sucks!”  Yea, but it does not suck as much as getting struck by lightning would!  Time to get moving!!!!!!

 

  It took about another hour before I made it to the next aid station at mile 31.  The rain had picked up even more, but the thunder and lightning seemed to have passed for now.  This aid station was in a knoll atop of the ridge and the winds were nearly blowing the large tent away.  I headed inside for a cup of hot soup.  I was beginning to feel very tired and took a rest for five minutes.  I warmed up a bit and the thought of heading back out into that storm was depressing, but I knew that I had to get going.   It was 6 miles to the next aid station and most of the running would be along this same ridge.  After about a half hour the storm started to break up and almost instantly the bright sun was out.  Even though I knew it was going to warm up quickly I was thrilled to have the sun to help dry out all of the wet clothes.  Soon I was at the aid station at mile 37 I was really sore and feeling very tired.  It would have been nice to sit and rest, but I felt that if I did I may not get back up again.  I also knew that I had left a drop bag at the next aid station with an extra pair of dry sneakers and socks.  Just knowing that they were there would help me get to the next aid station, which was only 5miles, or about an hour, away.  As I left the aid station the course took another sharp turn towards the east and into a very strong head wind.  The wind was probably 30-40 miles per hour.  It made running difficult, but it also helped to keep me cool as the sun was pushing the temperatures up close to 80 degrees.  So with the head wind and the heat I slowed the pace down as I had planned.  I made sure to drink plenty of fluids as I knew that I could easily get dehydrated under these conditions without even knowing it. 

 

  For the last 75 miles of the race I was running mostly alone as the runners were all so spread out.  Every now and then I would catch up to a runner at the aid stations, but it got very lonely out there running alone all day.  There were plenty of wild mustangs and cattle roaming the range and many times I would have to navigate carefully around the cattle as they crossed the road.  This section of the course was very hilly with many long rolling hills.  The up hills always seem to be much longer than the down hills too.  When I finally arrived at the next aid station I grabbed my drop bag and changed into cozy warm and dry socks and sneakers!  It is amazing what a huge difference little things can make.   By now my entire body ached due to my new running stride.  But I could not complain as I was still running, making great time and had on dry sneakers!  A took a drink of Ensure, a cup of soup broth and I was on my way once again.  I have learned that when I get to an aid station I check my watch and carefully monitor my time at the stations.  It would be very easy to take 10 minutes or more at each aid station.  This would eat up a lot of valuable time and could easily add an hour or two to my race time.  Most of my stops were limited to three minutes, but I allowed myself eight minutes at this one to recover a bit before heading out once again. 

 

    The afternoon was a bit warm, but very nice.  The next six miles would be a long up hill grind into the head wind.  Somewhere along this long hill I started to see the lead runners who had already made it to the 50 mile turn around and were heading back in the other direction.  It was encouraging to know that in only a few miles I too would be at the half way point.  The only difference is that these guys still looked great and were running strong.  They all assured me that I would enjoy the long down hill and the tail wind very soon!  At mile 47.5 the course turns down a very steep decline and spirals around the hill.  Soon I arrive at the “Lone Tree” aid station, which is the 50-mile point in the race.   Although I am somewhat pleased to be at the halfway point I am almost overwhelmed to think that I now have to run another 50 miles the way I am feeling.  I was well ahead on my planned pace and arrived at the half way point in 9 hours 35 minutes.  That’s actually a rather fast 50-mile pace for me.  I knew I had gone out too fast, but also realized that I now had 14 hours and 25 minutes to run the 50 miles back in order to run a sub 24 hour race.  It almost sounded easy until I started back up the huge hill I had just descended!  As I was heading up this hill I caught up with another runner.  We chatted as we ran and I soon found out that I was running with Anita Fromm.  She is one of the more well know ultra runners and has completed the Badwater Ultra Marathon three times.  Badwater is the toughest ultra marathon on earth.  It is run is Death Valley at the end of July.  It is 135 miles long and ends near the summit of Mt. Whitney.  Air temperatures are typically 130 degrees and the road gets as hot as 200 degrees.  It is an amazing event and I was thrilled to have the honor and pleasure to run with Anita for a few miles.  Eventually Anita picked up the pace and I said goodbye as I knew that she was running faster than was wise for me.  I was now running on the long down hill (previously the long up hill) with the wind at my back.  My feet were getting very bruised from all of the slamming on the rocky surface.  It was hard to slow down though as the down hill was so nice. 

 

  I was soon back at the aid station at mile 58.  No need for much of a stop.  As evening was approaching I had left my flash light and hand held light at this aid station.  I would not need them for another couple of hours, but I had to take them with me now.  I inquired as to the weather forecast for the night and was informed that it would be clear and mid 60’s.  Sounded like perfect nighttime running weather.  Based on this, I made the huge mistake of not taking the jacket that I had left in my drop bag for the night if it was to be cool.  I took another bottle of Accelerade and was off and running quickly.  There was a long climb back up to the ridge where it was now clear and sunny.  What a nice change from the rain of only a few hours ago.  Unfortunately the head winds picked back up and this would slow my pace considerably.  As the evening approached and the sun started to go down it began to cool down quickly I could tell it was going to be a long chilly night.  (“Failure Sucks!”)

 

   When I arrived at the aid station at mile 64 the sun was almost set.  I grabbed my drop bag hoping that I had left a long sleeve shirt here, but I had not.   So I drank a bottle of Ensure, ate a cup of potato soup and was preparing to head back out.  I turned on my flashlights and was just starting to run when a lady asked me where my jacket was.  Theresa was a volunteer who had run this race before and ran to her car and grabbed an extra fleece jacket she had and gave it to me to use!  I could not believe how thoughtful she was.  If not for her assistance I would never have made it through the night run as it did get very cold out there.  She told me to give it to the race director at the finish and tell him it belonged to Theresa.  We joked at how nice I looked in her form fitting powder blue fleece.  Not a pretty sight, but very nice and warm.  As I mentioned earlier, your body is working so hard to keep the muscles going that the mind does not think clearly and I obviously had not been thinking very clearly.  Well at least I was not hallucinating yet as is common with many ultra runners late at night.  But there was still plenty of time for that to happen later.  I still had 36 miles to run and my running legs were just about gone.  I felt that I had used up almost all of my energy and knew I would soon be doing the “Ultra Shuffle”.  The Ultra Shuffle is very common late in long races with many runners exhibiting the same form.  It looks like a very slow run with the feet just about dragging on the ground as you go.  If it was not so painful, it would be funny. 

 

   The sun quickly dropped below the horizon and I turned on the flashlights.  My legs were sore, but I was able to keep running at a fairly good pace and I soon saw a runner ahead.  A few minutes later I caught up with Anita once again and ran the next few miles with her.  As she was slowing she urged me to head along at my own pace and soon I was running all alone once again.  I was not running alone for long though.  Soon I was hearing the howling of coyotes and I could feel them running along side of the trail with me.  I would swing my flashlight to the side to see if I could see the coyotes.  All I could see were the glowing eyes of 30-40 coyotes a couple of hundred feet away.  For most of the night I would continue to hear the howling and see the glowing eyes, but the coyotes never came very close.  It was very eerie, but kind of fun too.  My pace was getting much slower and I was getting very tired.  I kept feeling like I just wanted to lie down along side of the road and curl up for a short nap.  (“Failure Sucks!”)  Keep on moving- I realize that the faster I go, the sooner I will be done.  As I continued to run I could feel a hot spot on my left heel.  I was hoping that I would make it to the next aid station before it became a blister.  I had some tape and other items to fix blisters in my drop bag at the next aid station.  The constant pounding was causing all kinds of problems with the feet.  When I finally arrived at the aid station I grabbed my drop bag, sat down and took off my sneaker.  I was astounded to see my sock bulging at the heel.  So I guess I had a blister, not just a hot spot.  When I took off my sock I saw a huge blister on the side of my heel.  I needed to clean, lance and tape the blister to relieve the pressure and pain.  There were a few problems to complicate the situation.  My motor skills were completely lacking and I was very clumsy.  I could barely bend my leg to work on the blister.  I eventually had the blister lanced and cleaned and had a difficult time getting it taped.  The wind was still howling and the tape was blowing all around.  It kept sticking everywhere except on the blister.  After twenty minutes I was done and it felt pretty good.  Under ordinary conditions a repair like this should only take a couple of minutes.  I was frustrated, but felt that it was time well invested to fix the blister.  It made the running much less painful and bearable. 

 

  Only 25 miles left to go.  It looked like it would be close for me to complete the run in less than 24 hours.  I told myself that it did not really matter if I ran over my 24 hour goal, but did not want to be running to see a second sunrise.  I knew that I would not be able to deal with that emotionally.  I was exhausted, but just kept plodding forward.  Eventually I made it to the aid station with only 16 miles to go.  I was handed my last drop bag.  I had planned carefully for my nutritional needs and was stunned when I looked at the large clear Zip Lock bag.  My bottle of Ensure and my Accelerade drink were missing!!!  It seems that some other runner had taken the items from my bag; I knew that I was in serious trouble now.  I have no nutrition at all for the last 16 miles.  The aid stations had water and solid foods and I would have to make due with this. 

 

When running at night I did not see any other runners, but I could look back and see the light of one or two runners back a few miles.  With 10 miles left to go I could see one light kept gaining on me.  I really did not want to be passed so late in the race, but I knew that it was unavoidable.  This runner was really making good time.  With about eight miles to go this runner caught up to me.  He was a young man from Indiana and we ran together for a mile or so.  It was his first ultra and he had plenty of energy left.  As we ran together he encouraged and motivated me to run faster.  He knew he would finish with a sub 24-hour run and thought I should be able to do so too.  I enjoyed the company, the conversation, and the motivation.  Eventually I wished him well and he took off at a very fast pace.  Soon his lights were out of sight and I would be alone for the rest of the night.  His enthusiasm was infectious and I was all fired up and once again confident that I could run a sub 24 run.  I kept on pushing harder.  At one point I could see another one of the flashlights start to gain on me.  I did not want another runner to pass me.  I pushed on even harder and started to increase the distance between us.  Soon the light had faded behind me not to be seen again. In an instant I was approaching the final turn to the finish.  I could see the flashing lights at the finish line and started to sprint in.  As I approached the finish line I once again heard the cowbell as I was welcomed back.  Just as I crossed the finish line I heard a voice say”My fleece jacket just finished.”  It was Theresa the kind lady who offered me the jacket 36 miles back and hours ago!  I was presented with the traditional ultra running award, a huge belt buckle. 

 

  I finished the race in 22 hours 19 minute in 12th place overall.  I was completely exhausted, and every muscle in my body ached, but I felt perfect.  I had just completed one of the most difficult things that I have ever done.  I was elated to have completed this run when I really never thought I would.  I would have been disappointed if I had failed, but I would have been able to accept it simply because I had gone out and given it my best effort.  Many lessons were learned today.  Be prepared for the unexpected.  Depend on myself and have confidence in myself.  Never ever, ever give up.  Ultra runners are cool people. The fear of failure is greater than failure itself.  And lastly- a really cool belt buckle can instantly wipe away all pain.  Well at least for a few minutes. 

 

 

“Your biggest challenge isn't someone else. It's the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells 'CAN'T", but you don't listen. You just push harder. And then you hear the voice whisper 'can'. And you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are. “  

-Unknown

 

  All the best!

  Chris