Race report Kodiak 100 - 2014 - Let me begin with an apology, Im not the strongest writer, I feel its important to get down as much as I can to help spread the word about this tremendous race and to preserve the memory for myself. Ok, here we go. My Wife, Son, and I drove up the night before the race and stayed at the local Motel 6. The Kodiak 100 has a unique start at 12 noon, great in that it allows you time to actually find some sleep. Morning of the race I spent time foam rolling my calves as I had torn one at a race 3 weeks prior; they felt pretty good tho a bit tender. We drove to the start where I would see my good friend Diego Diaz and his great family. In my mind if I was placing a wager my money was going to be on Diego, Garry Harrington, or Harald Zundel, and of course there were a few other guys whos UltraSignup stats gave me reason to think they could find their way to the front. After checking in and enjoying the cool vibe in this relaxed but happening SoCal mountain town it was time to get started. The weather was perfect, low to mid 70s with a few clouds in the sky. Diego and I placed ourselves in the middle of the pack as theres a lap around the Village before we hit the trails so theres no reason to shoot out to beat any conga lines. Pre-race I though it was a bit silly to run a mile around town but once we were out there I thoroughly enjoyed it...I felt like we were at a marathon, where did all these enthusiastic people come from?! It was a shining example of how the RDs have already begun to weave the race and community together, what a treat for us runners to feel like heroes before we head into the mountains! As we leave the streets and head towards the first climb, I let Diego know I like to start slowly and work my way up. I can see hes already starting to inch away from me and as much as I want to run with him, hes a fast dude, and I like to stick with my plan for as long as possible. Looking at the course profile before the race, I set myself on a 5mph game plan. I also read a number of race reports and though I may have to adjust that at some point since everyone one of them indicated that the race was harder than the data would lead you to conclude. This would be a yes! There is a good degree of technicality. Moving up the jeep road I felt good about my strategy as I always was able to see Diego about 1 minute ahead. The jeep road would top at the first aid, I was told I was in 3rd and a couple minutes in rears of the leader. I was mildly shocked tho not overly concerned as I was on my plan and was in good position. My only cause for the pause was I like the feeling of chasing and loath the feeling of being hunted. But again good position, all systems were a go also as my calves were feeling better than they had in the previous 3 weeks. I began to close the gap on Diego and even saw a snippet of Harald in the early lead. As I caught up to Diego he mentioned to me that he was experiencing some calf pain as hed too been nursing something. I encouraged him and reminded him that hes very strong and that we were on about a 20hr pace and that he should just make sure to let it settle and I was sure once he did that hed not really lose too much in the big picture of a tough 100 miler. He took a short walk break and we separated tho not for long as a few switch backs later he was right on my heels looking so solid! As we neared the end of this trail I saw Harald again on a long section of trail that cut across the hillside, estimated he was probably about 40 secs ahead and as I hadnt speed up saw he was fading a bit. Coming down the trail to a short section of cabin neighborhood to the second AS both Diego and I caught up w/Harald, I was surprised it was Harald as I had thought it was Garry the whole time, but turns out 13 Champ was starting to deal with a bad case of PF that would force his retirement from this years race...Brief aside, Ive had PF and there really was no way for him to continue with 80-90% of the race before him, particularly with the technicality remaining. Hes a strong runner and Champion! As we three leave the 13 mile AS Harald takes a wrong turn and Diego and I call him back, Harald is starting to look a little rough. To be fair the man did just run a 70 plus mile race w/over 21k of vert in the TDS , just a little mountain event that crosses Mont-Blanc, ect...So, understandable after finishing 2nd American there he may be a bit toasty. We leave the cabins and hit the shortish climb that will lead to a very rocky fire road. I spot Harald through the trees power hiking and feel good about my easy running pace. Just as I round a bend I think I may have just seen a small black bear cut across the road into the trees. A good sign? Speaking of trees, if I only had the knowledge of a Leor Pantilat to put names to the varieties, there were so many beautiful trees throughout! Back to the rocks, oh so many, very thankful that I brought my Altras(thanks Scott Newton and Matthew Morales), I love the LaSportiva Bushidos but the Altras really took care of my feet and gave me the confidence to move quickly through the rubble. Next stop was the first Crew/AS, I was so thrilled to see my Wife and Son! So important to have that Spiritual and emotional lift, all you want to do is make them proud. We had a minor snafu leaving as I was first directed across the highway, but was quickly redirected in the proper direction as it was time to hit the first big climb, Sugarloaf Mountain that tops out just a few feet shy of 10k. Back up the rutted road I went crossing paths with the supportive if tired German Harald, Deigo and a few others...Felt I had a few good minutes on them as I had pushed the pace a bit on the road leading to the aid, even if I gave some back in aid, I felt I was moving better than the rest at that point and that it was sustainable. One of the RDs Michael drove ahead to make sure the signage was correct, which it was and I was appreciative of his efforts. Sugarloaf, what can I say, nice to hit the shade, views were tremendous once you got up high. Those views, well you better take them in very brief looks because it is a rocky little devil of a trail! I did a lot of hands on knees and drilled the climb as hard as I could without pushing my heart rate through the roof, that really worked well for me. I ran anything at all that had an easy grade. I knew if I stuck to that for the entirety of the route that Id reach the summit in good shape and that I would at least not lose any time. Again the trail was spectacular. Reaching the summit first gave me the KOM, a nice little package of premium supplements and $100 granted I would have to go on to finish the race to validate. Pausing for a pic and a time check 4:43. My favorite part of the early race began, bombing down the techy stuff! So fun and the incentive of reaching the relatively oxygen rich altitude of 7k was a magnet to my happy feet. This was also great because I was able to not only get a sense of where my competition was and to run strong where they could see me at my best, did I mention I love to let it go downhill. Each person I passed on their way up was so encouraging, a real blessing, I just hope I was able to match their greetings. My particular favorite was the Dirt Diva herself, Catra Corbett, pretty darn cool when shes on your side, shes a real light out there!! Passing through the AS/Crew for the second time after the Sugarloaf out and back, Im told I have about a 14 min lead and that the next section is pretty burly...I say I believe it after all the good, rocky climbing weve done already and Im through the first 50k fairly quickly still feeling strong. I wait for the Highway Patrol to take me across the the road and Im off pressing just a bit to put a little time into the field. This is where I meet Daniel on his motorcycle. Daniel informs me that a whole section of Deadmans Ridge has been vandalized! He leaves me with the words,Im going to remark the route, you should follow my bike track! My heart sinks as he rides off and disappears the way I just came from. So I do the best I can heading up the ridge until the rocks make it impossible to detect where he came from. Minutes are melting in front of me as I scout both sides of the ridge and I nearly panic and just head upwards away from the lake, everything up to this point has gone upwards after all. I stop and so many emotions start to well up and some pretty dark thoughts...Im losing my lead, my positive energy is is turning pessimistic, is Daniel coming back, do I gamble and take the chance of getting lost? After what feels like an eternity, I say a prayer, take out my cell and call my wife. Why isnt she answering? Finally, my Son picks up and I get my wife on the phone and I whine and lament, she pulls me together like only a spouse can...I hear Daniels bike, get off the phone and start yelling to get his attention as I head in the direction I hear him driving in. Thankfully, hes returned, tells me he remarked the course, and yep, I almost headed in the wrong direction. Its a very good thing I flew down Sugarloaf because I was sure Patrick the guy that had moved into 2nd had to be right behind me. I make my best effort to recapture my positive train of though and count on my fitness to carry me forward with out trying to gain everything I lost right away...Just let my pace steadily eat back what I lost to the field. I do end up running the ridge fairly aggressively, yeah Altras! A hard up and down, banking, evil melon-sized boulders everywhere type of ridge! RD Paul says its out and a 2 neighboring peaks will be traversed from Sugarloaf next yr!!! I somehow have the agility to make my way through this section unscathed and as I reach a tamer stretch, I want to look back up to the exposed ridge-line to see if anyone has closed...And I catch a toe on the only rock in the next 15 meters! I go down hard onto my right side embedding pebbles into my palm and cutting my right knee. I use the adrenaline to bounce back quickly, let the surge of anger go and move onwards. I jet down the next stretch, see Daniel, thank him for remarking and head left down a nice, smooth flat bucolic country type road, I should of known...About a mile goes by at 8:30per pace and I hear Dan coming...Youre, going to be mad but the turn goes right back there. Not mad but again, deflated for a moment. I tell myself, lifes never perfect, just have to keep overcoming. So I reverse course when Dan tells me to hop on the dirt bike! Ok, Ive never been on a motorcycle in my life and it was a wild ride back, capped off by my big toe jamming into a rock hard as Dan banked his bike around in an effort to get me back the mile back to the route. Back on route, Daniel, says hes going to remark that section to make it easier to see...Well at least the chase guys will have it a little easier. Now I do press and push everything up and down hard... The sunsets and I turn on my light anxiously looking back through each break in the trail. No lights behind, yet. Next aid, I met 2 really cool volunteers, get some Mountain Dew, a brief description of how the course is marked coming up...glow sticks, love it :) The next section is nice, its pretty smooth, the climbing is gentle and being night I find it very soothing. This is a long stretch between AS somewhere over 10 miles but, Im good on all the necessities and have been following a plan of a gel every 20 mins, Sportslegs every hr. and steady sips of Tailwind. About 5 miles out from the 3rd Crew/AS I catch up to the truck thats marking the course w/glow sticks and thats nice as theres no doubt or second guessing as to where to go...Not that there should of been, except the vandalism had made its way into my head at this point. Crew stop took a little while but thats all on me, I wanted to set up my charger for my watch so it would track and charge as I went...I find a Garmin to be a great tool to strategically plot a race. Good News!! Im told by the ebullient RD Paul Romero I have a 20 minute lead, the last they heard. Great despite my misadventures Ive not lost time but put about 6 mins into 2nd...I do tend to take everything at any AS with a grain of salt tho... Hooked up and ready to roll, I hit the next climb, that is an axel bender for sure! Tough but not overly long, I work the climb but it in turn does the same to me...I descend the other side and I finally start to hear it from the calf I tore a few weeks back. Scary little, muscle fiber twinges that are just daring me to step the wrong way...I alter my stride and rely more on my quads, I only mention this because, Im pushing hard through hear and this is where a cacophony of events collude to throw me into a world of discomfort that would lead to a miserable existence...My mind is telling me, you know Diego, the guys a legit athlete! So I push. My stomach decides were off the plan...Dont even reach for a gel or its vomit time. Theres about 20 or so miles to the next Crew spot and the next 2 AS are H2O only for the drinks, so calories are going to be tricky...My quads are starting to feel blown, I take a slight wrong turn despite it being well marked...Make my way back, get my bottle refilled and fast-forward to Betos AS before the logging road. Thankfully he was full of positive vibes cause I could use them, plus he told me 2 great things...1st Diego was second(love that guy, hes a Brother), 2nd that I had about an hr lead. But the good feeling only lasted for about a mile as stomach cramps really started to make anything past a fast walk a nightmare. I tried to just keep putting my best foot forward, until I just couldnt deny it any longer. I had to go, thus began the worlds stingiest bio break...Really stomach...a few mins later and feeling crappy, because, the situation was hardly alleviated...I know theres a long stretch to go, I can only power hike the ups, and gently run the flats and downs. Sure my time in the lead is coming to and end with my pace in the upper teens. I start to pray and thats all I can do is remember that Im small and theres a God thats bigger than anything I will ever face, that He cares for me...Im still in discomfort physically but in my heart Im good. I work my way to the next aid. I arrive and almost beg for real food, Im offered the usual aid fair, gels, pretzels, candy, potato, but none are appealing. I eat some potatoes and ask about a toilet. Im told theres one down a road about 100 yards. Ok, I leave my bottle to be filled and head towards relief, about a quarter mile down the hill I find the restroom, spend some time...Get back up the road, hoping against hope that no one has caught me, I moved like a sloth on the last section...They tell me no one has come while I was away, and that the next stretch is...Right back past the bathroom I just returned from, hehe, I had to laugh at that little turn. But, to their credit they did dig into their own personal stash and produce some chicken! Down the familiar road I went, it turns through a campground and cabin filled section that moves you fairly quickly. I make a turn and I swear I could of heard something that might of possibly been someone saying,there he is. maybe!! So I push it into a higher gear and truck up the dirt road that moves the race through a grassy single track that snakes then descends towards the next Crew/AS...Brief note on the trail, heavily flagged, very well marked. The downhill was so painful on my quads, I was wincing with each step, but bound and determined I pushed on. The next crew was very important as there would be no aid through the next 10 miles with about 5k of ascent/descent... I took some ginger chews! Got a fill up on Tailwind and a kiss from my wife...Also everyone at each AS was so good to me, really feed off that energy! I was off towards Siberia Creek! Siberia Creek has just recently been opened by the Kodiak Crew after 40 years of dormancy, and Id say its a real gift to the community. But I need to digress just a second...So, Im following the flags, when suddenly there are no more. There are some pink ribbons. I wander around looking for flags and in doing so step on a short rounded branch that rolls out from under me and smash my face on the ground. I get up more pissy than hurt and phone my wife to see if the guys at the aid can tell me if I need to be looking for ribbons now or flags...Ok, ribbons it is, seems the course had another flag thief. So once I get on the ribbons I feel the need to push again, remember, Im pretty sure someone is mere minutes behind me. I get to the top of a shoulder that turns to a 2k ft gorge that is recently cleared and for a long unused trail is well done, but its still something Id call a little sketchy! I have enough adrenaline and fear in me to push the down and run/dance, slide my way down the 2k ft...Now the #2 fun begins...Painful while youre going through it, but a wonderful memory that Ill cherish forever...Siberia Creek is called Hades, I get it, its like your climbing out of the very depths of Hell! Up I go, recalling what either Matt or Paul 2 of the RDs said about some people going 1 mph there last year...I wasnt going to let that be me. I was steadily between 14-30 mile pace going up in the beginning very loose soil with short steep switches that would lead to downed logs that were a bit too large to be cut. Did I mention the climb was 7 miles and 3k ft...Yeah! Its the real deal at about the 83 mile point in a race. The trail does steadily improve as you climb both in spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ridges and in the wonderful rock formations. The grade eases a bit during the second 3.5 miles. Course was marked exceedingly well. I am moving like a soldier through here riding on pure emotion. My calf is ready to explode(literally not figuratively, it wanted to pop), and the quads that Id been leaning on are now totaled. I find a stick and we are now buddies from here on in...My mood is improving tho as the sun rises and Im high above the canyon...I can see a good long way back down the trail now and theres not another soul. I didnt know but I had about a 2 hr lead at this point. I also am encouraged that Ive managed this far and am starting to feel pretty good about how Ive over-come a few trials in only my 2nd hundred and 1st mountain hundred. So the wince/smile returns...After all Ive only got about 10 miles remaining, I know the scent of the finish line is going to reel me in!! Quick check in at the top with the Paul, he tells me Im in good shape, I tell him, Im hurting and need calories, but that Im happy to be on the home stretch. I also relay to him how truly majestic this course has been, and I mean it, these mountains surrounding Big Bear are special. He tells me wait til I see the Skyline trail thats coming up. I shuffle off looking forward to Skyline and the finish. Skyline is the type of trail I would devour, smooth, playful single track, I was sad, my legs just had nothing but pain to offer. I trudge on, starting to again become concerned, Im walking high teens to low twenties, I dont know my lead, If someone is even shuffling at about 12min pace it wouldnt take long to overcome me. I reach what has to be the final aid, its about 95 miles in, I ask if he knows where 2nd is and hes not sure, I ask to confirm the direction and Im told down that road for 4 miles then back up a trail and down again for a total of 13 more miles to go. How can that be...I take a painful seat on a cooler, suddenly feeling how much warmer today is and I just cant imagine how I can keep going. at the rate Im moving, well...Up I go, all I can do is move and make the guys behind me earn it if theyre coming...I get a couple of miles down the road and RD Matt, catches up to me and asks what my GPS is at, I tell him were at about 97 and he tells me last he heard I have a 2 hr lead which makes the pain a little easier to manage...A few minutes later, RD Michael informs me that, the new routing they went with this year was longer than last with a few new sections and that they were going to modify the course to bring it down a little closer to a 100 miles. The route we were on would of measured 109! I was very grateful for their discretion (we still ran about 103 or 4), I loved the course but, Id seen enough :) So I managed to find a little bit more in the well and made it to the last Crew/AS, my wife was there and I could tell she was really proud. There was a nice energy as people were out to greet the runners. Gary Harrington was there! I was full of so much respect for him after his race was over he came out to volunteer, thats a good Champ! I spent a little time there, just to soak in the good vibes, but was ready to get to the finish. I was told the route was 5k(really 10k :) ), I got out on a sweet little hiker of a single track, feeling pretty good, my watch ticked off 100 miles I think around the mid 23 hr point, that felt good, despite me leaving a ton of time behind on the course. I reached a section that was marked really well but it was also a juncture and the trail didnt turn but it wound off to the side, so yes, loopy headed at that point I spent about way too many minutes deciding what the heck to do. I called my wife and described the trail, I heard her talk to super friend and Inside Trail Racing Teammate Catra Corbett, Catra was on the way to save the day! Then my wife says, Michael, Diego is in second and hes running!. Uh, ok, I need to get off the phone, stop loafing, ditch my walking stick and find something! I do what should of been totally apparent, if I wasnt so paranoid about making a mistake and followed the trail even tho it seemed to flow the wrong direction...Guess what Michael, you buffoon, trails sometimes switch back...Nuts! I get around the bend and RD Michael Scott is there and I power hike up the route hard and Im telling him I think Diego is right behind me, He assures me Im at least an hour and a half ahead...Am I? I dunno...Time to move...Catra arrives on the scene and all of a sudden I have maybe the worlds best pacer. I tell her, hes breathing down my back and Ive been running from his ghost all night. She looks at me like you poor loopy fool :) and calmly tells me how were going to finish this thing...The road goes on forever, but Catra has me talking, she gives me walk breaks and has me running when I though it wasnt possible, then were onto the road and running towards the Finishing Shoot. I had made it...Ran the first half so strong, then when problems arose, I was sure I hadnt done enough. But, I was able to find a well of strength in my faith, thoughts of my family and my friends. I won a race with our Sole 2 Soul Team at Badwater: Salton Sea and that was special, but this race despite its beauty really broke me down. It gave me thrills, awesome trails, time to be with my thoughts about family, friends, faith, and it physically challenged me like Ive never been challenged before. Ive learned a lot that I will steadily unpack as I think about this weekend. Meet some incredible people. Learned that this race is so awesome and destined to only get better, you have to see first hand to get a sense of the power of whats going on behind the scene, the RDs and crew are all about nailing it, and Id say theyre pretty close...Cant wait to see the changes next year...Pacific Crest Trail anyone?! Lot of love around the event. Its evident in the people, its real. I was really moved by the rather large crowd both at the start of the race and the finish. Tremendous all out festival at the awards ceremony. This area is just alive, and vibrant! Probably the most difficult thing Ive ever physically been through but, so, so rewarding! Thank you, for reading, if youve made it this far I hope it wasnt too tedious, again Im somewhere near woeful as a writer. Special thanks to My Family, all the friends that have stuck by my side, old and new. My friend Oswaldo Lopez who showed me how to run with heart, hes also one of my favorite people on the planet. Tim Stahler RD of Inside Trail Racing, thanks for believing in me. My Friend Joey Cassidy an inspiration.Scott Newton and our Badwater Crew. So many others, people that have taught me through their actions to dream and dream big...Those dreams are in our reach. Thank you all if weve ever connected, youve given me a way to be better. I like to think we are all teaching and learning from each other.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 23:35:15 +0000
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