I felt like I had been running for few days after I crossed the finish line. Running with severe blisters for 60 miles was not what expected for this day. I know there is no excuse because I made some bad decisions. I definitely learned from it!! I was trying to disconnect pain and mind, but it was truly hard to do. All I thought in my mind was pain on feet every steps I made. At the end of race, I finished in 27:32:52, and I am still on the game of Grand Slam 2015!
I decided to do this Grand Slam when I got into Western State 100. The purpose of doing this is not only my personal challenge but also dedicating this 100 Runs to dear friends who are fighting cancer right now right this moment. If I can contribute any courage and positive energy to these girls, it will be great accomplishment for me. Run 100s for Cure!!
I flew in to SF on Thursday morning. I got a day and half to organize everything to the big race. I was so happy to reunited to TEAM Junko. TEAM Junko for Western State 100 - Pacer and Crew: Hiro, Kei, Crew and emotional support : Yamamoto family- Yuki, Lisa, and Keigo. They have been a part of Team Junko since my 1st 100 race, They are the specialists of 100 mile Crews. They will be with me for Wasatch 100 in Utah as last race for Grand Slam. I am very thankful and excited to have TEAM Junko!
The Race started Saturday Morning 5AM. I felt very good at the start. I had no issues of my condition, as good as it gets physically and emotionally. The temperature was very warm around high 50s at the 5am. I did not need to layer of extra clothing, and I knew it would get hotter and hotter as the day went by. I got plenty of water in my Ultimate Direction Hydration pack, salt sticks, gels, Rice ball, and bandanna for ice on my neck! I got all advices from Veteran Runners Roost teammates( Abby, Amy, Ryan ) of this race. Thank you so much for saving my life.
As I started running up on the hill after the gun went off for start, I paced myself from middle of pack. I ran up on the hill with Yukihiko for a while. He is other Japanese runner who is in for Grand Slam this year. It was easier than I expected to run up on the Escarpment, since there were no snow at all, not like the movie "Unbreakable". When I reached to the top of Escarpment, I was ready and excited to go downhill. My favorite kind of run!!-I thought so at that moment! I ran down fast as I was having fun, I passed many people on this part. Mark, I met him at the registration, was ahead of me, and told me that I was slightly behind top 10 women's group!!. SHOOT!! I did it again, OVER-PACED! I have been running 100 miles for 5 years, I still have not learned the lessons. I need to pace myself!! I was running with lots of energy, and mostly having great time, but I slowed down little bit. I stopped briefly at Lyon Ride, Red Star ridge aid station. As many people mentioned to me before the race, the volunteers were so nice and helpful. Thank you and thank you!
My initial goal was to finish around 24-25 hours. I was still on the pace for 24-25 hours till Duncan Canyon aid station( 23.8). As I ran down on the hills with fairly fast pace to Duncan canyon, I already felt fatigue on my quads, and I realized that it was still early stage of the race. I took a gel, salt tablets, rice ball and filled up my hydration pack. Good news was that I had no signs of calf cramps, not like Leadville marathon a week ago. My energy and spirit were still good at Duncan. Canyon. Next aid station was Robinson Flat, and I was looking forward to seeing my crews there.
As I was reaching to Robinson Flat ( 29.7), I could hear many people cheering runners. I was so happy to find my crews there as first time since the start.
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| Thank you guys! |
From Robinson flat to Miller's Defeat, Dusty Corner, and Last Chance aid stations, the trails were almost all downhills, I could say the temperature was up high on 90's, I felt hot air blowing up from the bottom of canyon. The ice on the bandanna was so necessary to survive with this heat. Thanks to all volunteers at aid stations, I could get plenty ice at all aid stations. About 40 miles in, I was having a problem with my gaiters, the Velcro tape on the shoes came off, and small rocks and sands were coming into my shoes. I always have to have the gaiters when I run the trails due to sand and rocks. As I noticed there were small rocks in my shoes, I was thinking... "I have to stop... I have one small rock on my edge of foot, ....ok... I should wait till next aid station... I can wait.." Finally I stopped at the aid station, and stopped again few more times after that. I still felt there were few small rocks in my shoes, but I bet it already became BLISTER! (I usually never had to deal with blisters in the past). At this point, there was nothing I could do about it, but kept going.
After Last Chance aid station, there were a steep decent and a steep ascent to get to Devils thumb. It was really evil ascent like this name "Devils Thumb!!!!!", This steepness of this ascent reminded me of Hope pass back from Winfield in Leadville 100 course, (but this is lower elevation). There were couple of guys running in front of me and behind me, and I tried to keep up on their pace. In my head " keep moving, I have done Hope pass many times. Just don't think about feet pain, lalalala~~~" Thanks to these guys, I was able to reach to the top of Devils Thumb(47.8)..almost half way.
From Devils Thumb to Michigan Bluff, there was a huge brutal 5 mile decent waiting for me. I usually say.." I love downhill!!" At this point, I did not love it anymore... my quads were totally fatigued and sore, also heat got me. I tried not think about the pain of feet but they was hurting very bad. I was trying to disconnect mind from pain, singing in my head... "lalala~~"
I was still able to keep fairly good pace running down with 3 guys on this single track downhill for a while. However, I had to pull myself out one mile to the next aid station, knowing my legs and feet could be busted if I kept going with this pace. I slowed down and finally reached to the El Dorado Creek Aid station (52.9). I saw some runners were jumping into the creek to cool off the body but I had no energy to do this at this point. I felt nausea, and tingling on my finger tips so I decided to sit down for few minutes. I ate something (I don't remember), and got some more ice, re-organize my head " Just keep moving, then I will get there!" As I was leaving this aid station, a volunteer (I would say he was... 70 + age or more??) approached me, then he was walking with me for couple of minutes, and explaining precise description of trail ahead of me to the Michigan Bluff where TEAM Junko was waiting. He was so nice and kind and he gave me so much hope and encouragement to get to the next check point.
I was very looking forward to meeting up with my crew. My feet were hurting pretty badly, every steps I made gave me strong sting in my brain. In my head "keep moving, not too bad, this is short hill, I can see my crew when I get there, lalalala~~~ (singing...) "
I was already about 30 min behind 24 hour time splits at the Michigan Bluff (55.7).
From Michigan Bluff to the next Check point Foresthill was about 6 miles, where I could pick up a pacer. Kei was the first pacer from here to Rucky Chunky River Crossing. Kei lives at San Jose, he had been test running last 40 miles of the course to prepare for this race. He knows every details from this point to finish. If I asked something, he had an answer ( like iPhone Siri... ha!) Very dedicated friend!! Thank you Kei.
From Foresthill, ONLY (?) 38 miles left to finish. I would be with pacer. from this point to finish. What a relief!! I picked up Headlamp and flash light for the night, and prepared for the night running. I was little bit worry about sleepiness I always get. I had not been sleeping long enough lately before the race, and I did not cut out caffeine intake before the race. This was my regret that I did not do right to prepare for the night running. I should have known better..
Kei paced me for 16 miles from Foresthill. There were some good amount of decent and rolling hills to Rucky Chunky. I remember that I had some dry heaves along the way. The temperature got cool down little bit when sun went down, I did not need icy bandanna any more and I did not feel like drinking and eating as well. But as someone said 100 mile run is like eating contest, so I forced myself to eat something.
Then 1st problem happened. I have Garmin Fenix2, which the battery should last 50 hours with Ultra track mode. Because I did not set it up correctly to Ultra track mode so the battery lasted only 17 hours. Luckily, I was with pacers from this point so I could still keep track on time. Big mistake ! Lesson #1: Know how to use high tech equipment before the race!!!
Second problem happened after that. As getting dark, I was excited to use my brand new Petzl headlamp. I made sure it was fully charged many times before the race. It was nice and bright and I was almost confident that I won't be sleepy! Here was the problem. The Headlamp has a function to adjust the brightness by the distance automatically, but I was keep putting to high beam to get brighter view. As a result of this my mistake, the battery lasted only for couple of hours! I luckily had a flash light (so dark...) so I used it, and stay behind Kei until Rucky Chunky. The dim light got me so out of it, massive of sleepiness attacked me. I should have tested on night run with this device!! I chewed gum, ipod to get music etc... DID NOT work. Fatigue from heat and dealing with pain, looking at dim light made me so sleepy. at this point, I could not wait to get into river crossing, that would maybe wake me up??? Hopefully. In my head, " 眠い眠い-sleepy sleepy.. zzzzz"
Lesson #2: Do test running for couple of hours at least with headlamp before the race!
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| sleepy sleepy...zzzz |
At the Rucky Chucky Check point, Hiro took over to pace me for the next 16 miles to HWY 49. Hiro lives in Houston TX, flew all the way to CA to crew and pace me, and brought all family with him. Long time great friend!! I appreciate it very much, and he will be at Wasatch 100 last race for Grand Slam as well.
At the pacer exchange, I got Kei's headlamp since mine was out of battery. At this point I still had mild nausea, but I chewed down piece of banana and ready to go into River Crossing. The water level was not too high as I expected, it was up to little bit above my waist. I was glad that no risk of drowning! Nice cool water from the river felt so good to my fatigued legs. I was again overwhelmed by many volunteers who were in the water, holding the rope and guiding us where to put feet every step. There were tons of light to bright up the area so all runners could see it well.
After crossing American River, there was the drop bag area, where I had dry shoes and socks in the bag. Here was another mistake. I was debating that I should change shoes and socks or not. After all, I did not change shoes with couple of reasons... Oh well. My bad decision made my feet worse. Lesson #3: Change socks and shoes when they get wet.
We left Rucky Chucky area with my wet shoes and socks. My legs and feet felt ok for a while since they got cool off... However after for a while feet were starting to giving me more pain. Sleepiness was maxed out on me from Green gate to Auburn lake trail aid station. I was drifted right and left with half sleep on single track trail. Right side of trail was steep slope down that I could have fell off. I tried to stay awake by slapping my face many times but NOT working. In my head...." Did I take Tylenol PM again??? (Long story behind this.. ha), stay awake..zzzzzz~" Hiro noticed that I was close to getting into deep sleep mode, so he told me that I must take power nap for 5 minutes. I agreed. When I ran UTMF ( Ultra Trail of Mount Fuji in Japan), I power-napped for 35 minutes, and I was totally energized by that nap. At the 80 mile check point Auburn Lake trail, Medical staff took a look at my feet. He told me that looked bad, he could put powder to keep it dry. He said it would still be painful since my socks and shoes were wet. I guess I just had to bite my tongue and finish. I had plenty of time left to finish. There was NO word DNF for me! I got to fight with pain and must finish for these girls I am running for! I took 7 minutes nap, I felt 60 % better when Hiro woke me up! I only had 15 miles to go! I could do this but I wanted to finish under 28 hours!!! (new goal)
As we left Auburn lake trail aids station, despite of my feeling better, my feet pain slowed me down so much. It took me so long to walk/run for a mile. I was so glad that Hiro was there to pull me up to HWY 49. It did not matter either up or down, FEET HURTS! I managed to make it HWY 49. Sun already came out by then.
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| 100% fake smile?? |
At HWY 49 check point, everybody from Team Junko were here, Yuki, Lisa, Keigo, and Kei the next pacer.from here to finish. HWY 49 aid station was serving breakfast, pancake, bacon, coffee etc for runners and crews. I grabbed a piece of pancake and bacon. I needed to put some calories in me to finish strong! Finally home stretch, 7 miles from here to finish. Embarrassingly, it took me almost 2 hours to finish from this point. My rest of body felt great but feet.
It was a beautiful view from Hwy 49 to no hands bridge. I did my best I could do to run to Robie point. We were almost there. At the top of hill, Hiro and Lisa were waiting for us to finish together as TEAM Junko. Running into the High school track was unexplainable feeling and emotion after this 100 mile journey.
Finish! 27:32:52!! Not so good but not so bad! It sounds crazy butI loved every minute of suffering. Girls, I made it!! ONE done, 3 more to go!!! I am so thankful to have all friends supported me. Special thanks to TEAM Junko, I did not quite make it to my goal but I learned some lessons, and hope I will be stronger by last of 4 races.
I truly admire these people who can run this course that fast! They are absolutely strong physically and mentally at the different level from me.
Also I was so moved by Ms Gunhild finished strong on age 70. I would love to still running strong when I am 70.
Thank you Everyone who gave me lots of support, and checking on me all day. Thank you for my sponsors: Runners Roost, New Balance, Ultimate Direction Hydration. It was a great race experience, and I learned a lot from mistakes I made. I would love to come back to race WS100 someday to run better! This season I am running lots of Volume/distance . I as cancer survivor, dedicate all my challenge to my dear friends Yuko, Tomoko, Kristina, and Mary Jo, who are suffering cancer at this time. I am going to fight by running 4 hundred mile races. "Run 100 miles- Grandslam for Cure"
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| Finish! |
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| Thank you, Team Junko |
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| dirty.... |
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| With other Japanese Grand Slammer Yukihiko |
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| This is it! |
