Burning River 100 Crew/Pacer Report

Miles by car: 734
Miles by foot: 15.4
Continuous hours awake: 34 when I pulled over and took a cat nap.

http://picasaweb.google.com/dottie.okeefe/BurningRiver100August122009#

Way back soon after JFK I knew Rick was going to do this race and I told him I would love to help crew. Originally we thought his friend Mike would be there and I could go from AS to AS and meet them along the way. As it turned out Mike had a sfx that took him out of BR so now the plan was to crew and then pace during the overnight trail sections. My goal was to be enough of a distraction that the miles would pass quickly until the finish line.

I left Frankfort for NE Ohio at 5:45 am to meet up with Rick at the 36/43 mile AS at Station Bridge Road. This way I could see him twice and make any changes to the game plan if it became necessary. The AS was electric and exciting with families, volunteers, pacers and lots of non-race people out for a beautiful recreation-filled day. I am not used to running in areas with random people out for walks or bike rides, but Burning River takes place in a National Park, so there was a lot of bike and pedestrian traffic. Occasionally someone would ask if there was race "or something" going on and the looks on their faces when they heard it was a 100-mile race was priceless! Here I met a couple of people who were planning to pace their runners so we all had good company to keep while waiting. I had forgotten how much fun the AS areas can be. I took some pictures onmy cellphone and updated my FB page and texted several of you and even talked to Mike and Lee while waiting here.

Rick came through the first time looking strong and ready to ditch the road shoes for trail shoes and in a matter of 3 or 4 minutes he was gone again. 36 miles down- lots of time in the bank and he looked forward to the next leg.

I had time to re-arrange my car a bit- charge my phone and take it easy since I knew it would be a long day and night.

At 43 miles he came through 10 minutes ahead of his predicted time and fueled a bit before taking off again. We had decided I wold meet him at the Boston Sore AS at 56 miles because the next leg had no crew access and the ones after were short. I knew the Boston Store AS would be busy as the first pacer pick up and again, I wanted to have a chance to update and eat and hydrate for the overnight.

The Boston Store is neat. There were a lot of pacers getting ready and as much as I wanted to get in there and run I knew I was better off waiting longer. Rick came through here twice, too. The first time he checked in he had 56 miles done. He kept saying he felt great and couildn't believe how good he felt. He ate some food and drank and refilled his bottle and was off again with plenty of time banked, over 2.5 hours I think.

I ate and drank a Gatorade and talked with a pacer (I never did get his name) for an hour about other races and running histories and whether it would rain. His runner came in right before Rick so we said our "see you laters" and I waited for Rick. This next time he came through he told me it was a little harder but he felt strong and looked forward to the next leg. 60.6 miles done and I would see him at 70 miles. The next AS was at 64 miles and the one after that had no crew access so we hugged and I told him I'd see him in 10 miles or so. Since there was a nice (read: not a porta pottie) restroom I changed into my running clothes and headed over to Happy Days AS AKA Woodstock. It was a festival atmosphere, but there were also several drops from the race here. Several runners were taking naps here!

During this time Rick called and said he had a blister that was slowing him down, so I figured he would fix it when he got here. Well, he made some shoelace adjustments and when he got here he was ready to fuel up some more and go. I had my handheld light ready and we were off.

We start off down some built in stairs and through a tunnel and then the trail becomes more like a caving/spelunking trip than a run. We literally squeezed through and between huge rock outcroppings and ledges and ducked under overhangs and stepped up and over huge, wet, slippery boulders. I'll bet in the daylight it's a rave run.

Tom called me during this part- neat to talk to him and he said he'd update you all.

There's a lot of single track and mud. It's so dark in the woods, the kind of dark that wraps you up tight until there is nothing- not even sound. It was starting to sprinkle a bit and I was surprised at how hot I was already. We maintained a steady pace and talked and the miles went by and soon we were at the Sound of Music hill (think Julie Andrews running up that hill and singing) and at the top was the next AS, 75.1 miles done. We ate some grilled cheese sanswiches and refilled our bottles and I took a restroom break. There were a lot of runners here in chairs- some drops- some just resting. The drizzle soon was a steady light rain as we left there headed to the Covered Bridge.

The rain was steady and the mud was getting worse. At one point the trail changed directions, yet there was only one flag, (quite misleading) and we lost some time and put in some extra mileage. We soon find ourselves hiking through ankle deep mud and rocks and every step is an effort. As the mud sucks you in, the shins really take a beating while trying to get a grip on solid ground along the cornfields. I HATE CORNFIELDS! Finally we got to the covered bridge after passing a few people. This was a first for me- I never ever pass people in an trail race. 81.6 miles finished- still a couple of hours in the bank.

I met a couple of friends of Rick's at this AS. We are here twice, too. I also meet Tom Jennings who is the RD for a 50-miler I'm doing in October. We leave here for probably the most technical leg of the trail. The rain is coming down harder and after a while I realize the long drive, lack of sleep, elevated heartrate and muddy inclines are taking a toll and I start to fall behind. Rick keeps a steady pace and I keep his headlight in my sight for quite a while, but soon the trail is so winding and hilly I lose my footing and skid into a tree. The mud here is deep and so slippery and now my shoulder hurts where I grabbed the tree to stop my skid. I can see the cliffs drop off the trail here. Again I pass 3 more people and finally get to the covered bridge shortly after Rick leaves. 85.7 miles done and I feel so terrible that I fell behind. Pacer fail.

Ray texted me, Mike called me and I talked to him a while and finally found a ride to my car and then missed Rick at the next AS that had crew access. I changed my clothes and went to the finish line to wait. Here I talked to Tom, watched some runners come through and then read the Saturday and Sunday posts which was a lot of fun!

Finally I see him approach the chute, take a couple of pictures and then get the best ever finish line hug! x 101

Rick fell asleep for a while- I got some coffee and a little food for the both of us, gathered up his drop bags and made sure he had a ride on the way before I left for Kentucky. I did take a cat nap at a rest area just south of Columbus so my 5.5 hour drive was closer to 7 hours before I got home.

It was the best ever running weekend and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.