Umstead 100 race report

Mike Mason · Umstead 100 race report

Read the full article for great advice:

Title: Jonathan Savage's Umstead 100 Race Report
Author: mday
Date: Monday, April 02 2007 @ 10:30 PDT

By Jonathan SavageA hundred miles is a long way on foot. I know, it sounds stupid to start off with such an inane comment, but let me try to explain. For those who do not run, a 5K (3.1 mile) race seems like a long way. For many runners, a 26.2 mile marathon seems like a long way. But most people who start those races finish them. The marathon requires dedication and training, but given the drive, it can be done by most people.
The 100 is different; it is a distance that experienced, well trained athletes fail to complete. Last year less than 50% of starters finish the 100, some intending to only complete 50, but many DNF (Did Not Finish). If you look at http://run100s.com, 75% completion is about average, with some races this dropping to nearer 50%. Given that these races require a qualifying finish to enter this should give a sense of the difficulty.
100 miles is far enough that it is hard to comprehend the distance, even after other long distance events. Fatigue is cumul!
ative, so 100
miles is not twice as hard as 50, but many, many times harder. 100 miles is far enough that it is very hard to train for; few people have time to do training runs of over 50 miles.
The miles go by so slowly on a 100. Instead of the usual 8-9 minutes, an uphill mile could take 20 minutes, stretching and distorting the distance until it feels like you are traveling much further.
The Umstead is a loop course – eight loops of 12.5 miles, allowing you to understand and comprehend how far you have come and how far it is to do. This comprehension seeps in slowly. You do two loops, 25 miles and realize you have to go three times further. At the half way point, the weariness of the last 50 balance in your mind against the huge weight of the 50 to come.
For me, many things went well, but my nemesis was blisters. I suffer from a rare genetic skin problem where the skin never fully recovers from injury, leaving my skin scarred and thin. Because of the care I take with my!
feet, I almost never suffer from blisters. Umstead was different. The first blister occurred by 37 miles, inconceivably early.
The simplistic approach of duct tape did not work and by 50 the blister had spread badly and had to be lanced. By 75 miles the original blister on the inside of the left heal was joined by a mirror on the right heel, another on the outside of the right heal, my left little toe and my two smallest right toes, for a total 6 major blisters, along with some extra minor blisters.
The last lap was the worst. By mile 87, each step was exquisitely painful, with a blister on the right toe starting to spread over the top of the foot. Each footfall required care not to spread the blisters further and all my mental energy went into dealing with the pain. I made up songs about the blisters, sang ruby songs and whimpered quietly. Even with only a few miles to go, I was not sure I could make it.
I struggle to describe the race, but I am at a loss to even attempt!

to describe the end. To be finished after nearly 28 hours – to understand, you’ll have to do it.

Read the full article at http://www.ncultra.org/article.php?story=20070402103011328

runningman

There is no mention of the hotel ! i dont understand ! is this normal practice ?