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Kettle Moraine 100 - RunUltra Marathon


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LaGrange, Wisconsin
United States
Sunny
Total Time = 16h 00m
Overall Rank = /
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

got picked up by Freezies at 4 AM, drove to Pick up JLT and Gina (those three were my first crew for the day)and drove out to the venue
Event warmup:

walked once around the parking lot. c'mon it's a freaking 100 miler, people are supposed to warm up for these things?!?!?
Run
  • 00m
  • 100 miles
  •  min/mile
Comments:

starter said go and off we went into the wild frontier!! bigger crowd than i was thinking there would be, not sure why i didnt think it would be crowded! so off we are going and i got caught in the back of the pack kinda at the start so just put my head down and "ran". first hill, blam-o, half the people stop and walked it. wasn't that bad of a hill at all so i didnt think many would walk it but sill me looking down at the ground almost ran right into someone! so quick side step over and then became kind of a dodge and weave pattern. hit the first unmanned-manned aid station and checked my pace and was waaaaaaaaaaaay ahead on time. found out later that the lead pack went out at like 730-800 min pace! ended up being with two guys for abit who had did the 100k in 2011. it was one of the guys birthday so we chatted birthday stuff.........not sure what that was all about! after a few mile of complete nonsense talk like only guys who are running and running in the woods can do, they stopped for a pit stop. never saw them again, hope they did alright. first crew accessible aid station came up and there was freezies, Janet, and Gina to help me out!! filled up the bottles, made sure i had two gels, and off i go! ended up running in a small group that contained two guys named josh after that. that was confusing.........!! the one josh, younger josh, was actually running without any hydration at all. nothing. i have hear ultra runners are odd and all but come on, no hydration??? the other josh, second place josh, had two hand helds and a camel back...........see the difference? younger josh...hope he finished....obviously second place josh, well, finished second! the next stretch was the part that contained the open exposed meadow and fields.........was good to get that part done before the temps starting rising. next crew aid station, there is Janet, Gina, Freezies, and Second Shift Crew, Deb/Sue/Kimmers!! was still feeling pretty darn good at this point but also knew that coming up was a stretch where there were some good inclines, single track, rocky, switchbacks that were going to be slower. also was a short distance to the next manned station as well. got to the next station and Crew 1 had gone home for the day (Gina, Janet, Freezies....all three had a race the next day so i told them they had to be home by 1 PM to rest up. Gina and Freezies did the Lake Mills Triathlon and Janet did a 75 mile bike event!). So quick stop a the station to top off fuel and off to hit the switchbacks. lived up to what i had thought as it did slow me down and actually put me into a bit of a pain cave. recoverd as i came into the scuppernong turnaround however. took a bit of break, topped off (still manned by crew 2, Deb/Sue/Kimmers) and off i go! i have heard that at this point i was in the top 10 overall, mile 31ish....

so now heading back to the starting area, back thru the woods and the single track with switchbacks. my middle toe (the roast beef piggy toe) had started bothering me some, but only if i raised my toe inside of my shoe and touched the toe nail. so basically knew that that toe nail was going to be a goner (more on that toe later....BEN). came into the ZZ aid station and had to sit down, and by sit down i mean had to use the bathroom. got yelled at by crew 2 for sitting to long so had to come out, get refueled, prove i had two gel packs and off i go (crews were to make sure i was topped off with fluids, always had 2-3 gels on me, and make sure i at least nibbled on some actual food at the crew accessible aid stations). got to 67 aid station and was going to be headed out back into the meadows and the exposed conditions. wind seemed to have picked up as well and was now also a head wind. so thru the exposed meadows, headwind, alone, with warmer temps than before. my plan had called for me not to lose any time on this stretch but also not to gain any time either, basically just conserve. but.....nope....started dropping time, was feeling low so decided to try a pick me up....and called home to talk to the lovely spouse and wonderful son. it sounded like they were driving so i asked where they were going and they told me they were coming out to see me on the course!!! AWESOME!!! only problem was that i was ahead of plan so told them the best spot to meet me was to be at the emma carlin spot and to contact pete for updates. came thru and into emma and there is my son waiting for me with a squirt gun! he totally started getting me and i loved every minute of it as i was in a pretty dark spot at that time and that picked up my spirits a lot!!! Crew 2 (Deb/Sue/Kimmers) were on their way out and Crew 3 (Pete/Webbies) was now crew on spot (both had competed in a 5k earlier in the day, webbies placing 4th in his age group and pete getting some hardware in his!!) fluids topped off, real food eaten, proof of gels, kisses to spouse and son, and away i go! dipped into another dark spot and was doing more walking than running at this point. came to the 50+ mile mark at an unmanned aid station and was still 30+ mins up on goal pace. went to the bathroom, collected my thoughts, topped off bottles and walked on. single track, rocky, switchbacks, and some good climbs. faded in and out of feeling good and bad. during this stretch on three different occassions my toe caught a root and i stumbled. never went down but on one of the down hill switchbacks where i stumbled if i would not have gotten my hand up i wouldve gone head first into a HUGE tree! that "woke" me up some and actually started feeling decent at that point. came to the next crew station and was greeted by Pete, webbies, his daughter, and of course my wife and son. Toby (my son)was getting cranky as it had been a long day for him at that point and he also wanted to run up the big hill behind the aid station and mommy wouldn't let him. he got excited to see me because he knows normally i would go with him up a hill, but i had to decline!! they left shortly after i left the aid station and i guess he fell asleep pretty quickly on the long drive home. so, got my fluids topped, proved the gel and 7.5 more miles until the second out and back section began..................or did it???

back on the nordic trails now, wider ski trails. alternating between feeling good and bad. have heard rave review about the next aid station and them having grilled cheese sandwiches there. was excited. so got there sat down and bit into one.....one of the coldest grilled cheese sandwiches ever!! ugh, tossed the part i didnt eat, drank some water and a half cup of cola then set off with another guy from chicago, Todd, who was hurting and finishing up the 100k. deal was to run the downhills and flats and walk the uphills. never realized how hill that 5 mile stretch was........just neverending it seemed, but soon enough crossed the 100k point and was just a few mins over goal pace. mentally felt great. physically, legs were tight but still good. Crew 3 still there (Pete/Webbies) and they were also joined now by a member from Crew 4 (Miami W/#s) and the first two pacers (Ben and Lisa). half cup of root beer, potty break, rinsing of the head with a hose, shirt change, proof of gels and I head on out with Ben as my pacer.

what a difference a half mile makes! just prior to leaving the aid station and after changing shirts (into a long sleeve), i caught a chill. well half a mile later i was still shivering and now my legs were not cooperating with running at all. things were turning sour and turning quickly. Ben was being awesome with it all as you could tell he wanted to run, was ready to run, but i just....couldnt. everything hurt and i was just...cold. soon by back started cramping and had to hunch to get that to feel better. tummy started revolting some and thought i was going to toss the cookies so to speak. those hills. oh....my.....lord....those hills weren't there on the begining miles were they?? they must have re routed the course for the second stretch right???? no way they were there. cold, still very very cold and not warming up at all. tried running some, nope. lights were going out in a big big way. the grilled cheese aid station was 5 miles from the start of each section (the nordic ski section was used for the beginning of each loop so you ran this part 4 times for the 100 mile event). at this point i knew that if something didn't change soon, i would be done. after about 10 years, or so it seemed, we FINALLY made it to the cheesy aid station and sat down. Ben brought me over some chicken broth while he sampled five of everything they had there! i think the only reason i did not drop at this point is because i figured all they would do would just cart me down to the next manned, crew accessible aid station, so i figured hey, if i am going that way, why not just try it and see if i can pull myself out of the dark hole and come back. so the plan was discussed, well, in my head anyway and off we went! yeah....more of the same! cold, shivering, tummy revolting, everything cramping.........and now its pitch dark! almost a full moon tho so you could actually see! being on the wide ski path helped out too, but hey, whats that? a race official is telling us we need headlamps on and actually brought some to us?? wow, they think of everything......wait, no, its pacer 2 Lisa who came up the trail to find us to give us our headlamps! she also was kind enough to let me put her size doulbe extra tiny jacket :) around my shoulders to try to warm me up! shortly after that (seemed like forever to me!) we saw the other pacers (Nic and Stacey) coming at us looking like intergalatic space monkeys or something like that.........they all walked me in and made sure i was alright.

got to the aid station (Mile 70), laid down and told Pete (more like mumbled) to take my chip off, i was done.
What would you do differently?:

nothing. 12 hours 40 some minutes to go 100k, 3 hours to go the next 7. all this to find out that i have the best wife, the best son, and the best friends in the world. i owe each of them my sincere gratitude for helping me out and making sure i was keeping safe.
Post race
Event comments:

100 miles. trails. nearly every turn was marked, and marked clearly. need i say more? top notch all around.




Last updated: 2012-01-30 12:00 AM
Running
00:00:00 | 100 miles |  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Average
Course: two out and back sections along ski trails/meadows, and single track through the woods. first out and back is 63 miles, second out and back is 37.
Keeping cool Good Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2012-06-05 12:39 PM

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Elite
3656
200010005001002525
West Allis, Wisconsin
Subject: Kettle Moraine 100


2012-06-05 3:26 PM
in reply to: #4245930

Iron Donkey
38643
50005000500050005000500050002000100050010025
, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100
Awwwwwwwwww, sh1t, DJ.  Next time, right?  RIGHT??
2012-06-05 3:56 PM
in reply to: #4245930

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Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100
certainly difficult to win them all.

So whatcha think went wrong?
2012-06-05 4:01 PM
in reply to: #4246408

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Elite
3656
200010005001002525
West Allis, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

not sure but i do bet its related to not getting enough calories in my system!  thought i was doing alright with that but can never rule it out!

 

2012-06-05 4:01 PM
in reply to: #4246334

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Elite
3656
200010005001002525
West Allis, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

1stTimeTri - 2012-06-05 3:26 PM Awwwwwwwwww, sh1t, DJ.  Next time, right?  RIGHT??

right!

well....maybe!

errrr....

2012-06-05 4:15 PM
in reply to: #4246416

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Master
1732
100050010010025
Delafield, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100
djdavey - 2012-06-05 4:01 PM

not sure but i do bet its related to not getting enough calories in my system!  thought i was doing alright with that but can never rule it out!

 

Yeah either that or maybe the fact you let me go home.  Sounds like things were great until I left and then they went to hell.

Seriously, this was a very impressive feat. Not just race day, but all the miles and hard work you put in to get there.  A little crazy, yes, but very impressive!!



2012-06-05 4:32 PM
in reply to: #4246416

User image

Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100
djdavey - 2012-06-05 3:01 PM

not sure but i do bet its related to not getting enough calories in my system!  thought i was doing alright with that but can never rule it out!

 



yeah. I am concerned about my 100 miler in september.....trying to figure it out. calories good.
2012-06-05 4:46 PM
in reply to: #4245930

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Expert
1121
1000100
Menomonee Falls, WI
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

Great job out there....very impressive!

2012-06-05 8:26 PM
in reply to: #4245930

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Master
1563
10005002525
Chicago
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

I could NEVER imagine running this far...you really are a superhero!!!

I am so proud of you and so glad I got to be a part of it!

Cool

2012-06-05 9:04 PM
in reply to: #4245930

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Master
1372
10001001001002525
Tosa, WI
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

AWESOME effort!  AMAZING job! 

I don't have any other way to describe it except maybe you are a "little" nuts? 

2012-06-05 10:59 PM
in reply to: #4245930

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Expert
944
50010010010010025
Waller County, TX
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

Hey, good job going as far as you did. 

Most days you win, some days the race wins.

Nutrition plays a huge part  in staying on the trail once you get deep into a race (70 or so miles, 20 or so hours). Unless you've actually experienced it, people just can't comprehend what a 100 miles feels like.

Every race is a learning experience; you'll come back stronger and smarter.



2012-06-06 6:58 AM
in reply to: #4245930

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Veteran
279
100100252525
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

DJ, I'm really proud of you - not because of the 70 miles (we all know you can run crazy distances - you didn't have anything to prove there) but I'm proud of the way you've handled this whole thing. You trained your booty off, put in countless hours and miles, spent months planning and thinking and dreaming about this race.... and, unfortunately, it didn't turn out the way you had planned. But your reaction to this whole situation has been admirable - you clearly realize what an incredible journey it was and that it was bigger than just finishing.

Proud to be your friend, buddy

2012-06-06 1:18 PM
in reply to: #4245930

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Elite
3518
20001000500
Madison, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

It felt like I was running with you while I was reading this.  You brought tears to my eyes.  So proud of you DJ!! You are an inspiration to us all and I wish I could have been there.  I could have thrown a few water bottles at you to keep alert...yes? 

Anyway, congrats! YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR!!

2012-06-06 4:43 PM
in reply to: #4245930

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Expert
932
50010010010010025
Madison
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100
Very impressive DJ!  So happy you can see all the positives about what you accomplished!  But, I'm still waiting to hear more about that toe......?
2012-06-07 8:44 AM
in reply to: #4245930

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Expert
1192
1000100252525
Oak Creek, WI
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

Nice work out there Dave...  You were definitely looking rough those last 7 miles though...  Was worried about you and glad you decided to pull the plug... more that you couldnt warm up than anything...  i definitely think that you werent taking in enough calories given what you were saying as we were out there... 

still...  very inspirational my friend...

2012-06-07 11:44 AM
in reply to: #4245930

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Pro
4528
2000200050025
Norwalk, Connecticut
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

totally proud of you!!! Still my running idol!!!!   EEEEEAAAAWWWWSOME job Dave Jesse!!!!!

 



2012-06-08 8:27 PM
in reply to: #4245930

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Expert
1105
1000100
Milwaukee, WI
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100

 

Waiting for you at those aid stations was very educational. It appeared as though most other runners were eating more than you. Calories might hold the key at yur next 100 miler.

Yes, I do believe that there will be another.

I am proud to call you a friend, and I was thrilled to be a part of your race day experience.

STUD!!!!!

 

 

2012-07-01 7:35 PM
in reply to: #4245930

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Expert
924
500100100100100
Western WI
Subject: RE: Kettle Moraine 100
DJ - you're the man, man!  Great RR!  And what a fantastic amount of effort you put forth that day AND all the days you spent training for this.  You are really tough and I'm in awe of your fortitude.  You kicked the out of those 70 miles - nice work.
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