The Southern States 100
"Burn the ships!" - Hernán Cortés (1519)
I came across the above phrase early last week and something about it really stuck with me. The quote signifies that if you want to succeed, you must remove all safety nets or "exit doors." It is used as a metaphor in business and personal growth to stop overthinking, cease looking back at past lives / failures, and fully dedicate oneself to a new, often difficult, path.
After I completed the Tahoe 200 back in June of 2024, I really thought that I was invincible ... that there really was no challenge that I wasn't strong enough to mentally take on.
Then last year happened. Taking care of and ultimately losing both my parents took a very heavy toll and unfortunately collided head on with my last ultra, the Kodiak 100k, which I quit at my mile 46. Never in my life had I wanted to be anywhere else than running. The place that I have always been able to take solace in.
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| Pre-Race |
It was time to get back on the horse, reclaim that confidence that I had at Tahoe ... even if the only way to do it was to "burn the ships."
The Ramp Up
The training officially started during our vacation in Sedona, AZ the last week of the year with endless beautiful red rock trails.
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| Frigid January Training Run |
As luck (or maybe Murphy's law) would have it, we had the coldest and snowiest winter of the last decade with multiple snowstorms, lots of ice, and a few weeks where the temp was in the single digits. But with a great group of friends to train with (and a lot of coffee and croissants), I persevered, and will be forever grateful.
Key Training Runs
- 1/17 - The British are Coming (Battle Road / Reformatory Loop 50k)
- 1/24 - Quebrada Marathon Challenge (2 degrees out)
- 2/6 - 2/7 - Back to Back Marathons (Friday Fun and All Quiet on the Northern Strand)
- 2/28 - A Visit to the Castle
- 3/7 - 3/8 - Wet Feet and Pancakes
- Multiple treadhills (15% on the treadmill)
Building out the Crew
As with Tahoe, if I was going to survive this race, I needed a great group to crew and pace me.
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| Bradbury 50k w Jen (pacing) |
Becca, the person that I have run the most miles with in my life, who is always there for me, and whenever I ask if she wants to do anything simply replies with "in." Becca took on "the closer" role for the race.
Lisa, who I have now been running with for over 10 years as well, was excited to come back. After reminiscing about Tahoe while thawing out after a -2 degree run, Lisa simply said "I think I'm in." ... which was much needed as she was willing to take on the moon chaser role.
A few weeks later, we came to the consensus that we needed one more person to fill out the team.
"You think we need one more. Alright, we'll get one more." - George Clooney (Ocean's 11)
Eve, who I started coaching last year, was the last to join the team. She was fresh off a 28 minute PR at the LA marathon and is pretty much excited for everything. When I asked if she wanted to come, she replied within seconds "If you're not joking, I will do it." We were excited to have both some young blood to keep us energized and Neil was happy to have someone closer to his age than ours.
When in Rome
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| Dairy Queen |
The next morning the girls got in an 8 mile run around Berry (named after Martha Berry not Lisa Berry Engler) College (apparently has the largest campus in the world at 27k acres) while Neil had 8 slices of bacon for breakfast.
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| Lisa Berry College |
We arrived at the race start around 11am and chatted with the race directors and a few runners.
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| Family Photo |
A few minutes later a photographer walked over to Becca, Neil, Eve and I asked if she could take a family photo, and we just smiled and went with the flow.
At noon, the race started.
The First 28 Miles
The first two miles of the race were on roads and I took off running with James and we chatted a bit about various races that we have run. He considers this his backyard and runs here regularly.
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| Entering Alabama |
I reached the first aid station, Old Jackson Chapel, 8.5 miles at 1 hour 20 minutes (over 9 minutes ahead of the plan). This is when the race got real and you started the first of the climbs.
Leaving Old Jackson, it was already into the mid 70s. The next 3 miles were a grind. My heart rate jumped up into the 160s and I couldn't believe how much I was hurting this early in the race. What did I sign up for?
Thankfully a few miles later, I reached the top of the climb and regained my composure as I began to descend. I reached the next aid station, the High Point Trail Head at mile 20, still 4 minutes ahead of schedule.
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| With Neil at Mile 28 |
For some reason I thought the next section after this was 10 miles (it was 7.5). I reached mile 28, Low Point, around 6:20, still on target. Seeing my team a few miles earlier than expected brought a huge smile to my face. My team said I looked great, but little did they know my stomach was starting to turn.
Vomiting through the Night
There is a saying, never do something in a race that you haven't done in training. You would think after 227 races and 46 races of marathon or longer I might follow this advice, but I was struggling to get calories in and keep up with electrolytes. So first I drank a glass of Precision carb mix, chased it with a salt pill, and then kept downing LMNT mix ... all while maintaining a way too high heart rate.
By mile 35, I gave up trying to take in any nutrition and hydration, spent some time wallowing in self pity, then questioning everything that I should have done in my training. I have been here before. Having conflicting goals is hard. Knowing what you should have done and knowing you didn't do it is a hard pill to swallow (pun intended) as the sunsets and you are far, far from home. I should have spent more time climbing, I should have trained my gut with more food and electrolytes.
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| Sunset on Day 1 |
At mile 38, it went from bad to worse and I vomited the first time. Thankfully, I got some reprieve shortly thereafter and cruised into the mile 41 aid station. As I sat there drinking a ginger ale, one of the 200 mile racers joked that he would trade his stomach for my "fresh" legs. All I could do was smile.
Thankfully this was in the dirt road section of the course and I got a break from single track.
Between miles 41 and 56, I vomited 3 more times. Having had the norovirus last month, this feeling was all too familiar. In all my years of running and racing, I had never ever felt this bad. As demons closed in, all I could think was this can't be happening. I am stronger than this. Then I thought of the stories some of my favorite ultra runners have told, Stephanie Case (Human Rights Lawyer and All Star Mom / Ultrarunner) in particular, talking about triumph over nausea. I just kept saying to myself, I can do this. I can get past this.
At 2:30AM, about 2 hours off pace, I rolled into Coleman Lake Campground, mile 56, where I would pick up Lisa, my first pacer, the moon chaser.
Chasing the Moon
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| The Moon Chaser |
When we chatted about this race over coffee at the end of January, I knew I needed her to be here. That if I could get myself to her leg, I could get through.
I've said this before, but it bears repeating again. Amy always says, that "it isn't that you do these things that impresses me. It's that you find people to do it with you."
At 2:30am, Lisa was ready to go, probably even more chipper than a Saturday morning run. Becca was there too, in pajama pants, to root me on. After a quick (somewhat) break, and some Tums (why not), Lisa and I took off. We were on the back half of the course.
About a mile in we hit our first stream crossing and thankfully found a way across without getting our feet wet. Unfortunately, about 2 miles later we hit another one and this one did not have a good option across. Funny enough as we started this leg, Lisa had a pair of New Balance sneakers on. I had never known of her to run in NB before (She generally is a Saucony person). She really didn't want to get her feet wet and took her shoes off to cross the stream. I know Neil had NB shoes with him but didn't think much of it. Anyways, turns out she brought 2 right shoes on the trip and borrowed Neil's shoes for the run. I love that Neil was able to contribute in his own little way.
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| Day 2 Begins |
Around 7 am or was it 6, I don't know what time zone we were in, the sun began to rise. Similar to Tahoe, the feeling of relief and a new day set in. We were nearly at mile 70. A few more climbs and a few river crossings later and we arrived at High Rock, where I would pick up Eve.
The Young Gun
After arriving, Eve was nowhere to be seen. Panic immediately set in. Did we lose Eve in rural Alabama? I got some scrambled eggs and toast to think about it.
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| Eve bringing the Energy |
Once she arrived, we made quick time and were on the move again. Eve, who is only 24 and planning to go to med school in the near future is just a wealth of knowledge (very helpful in the world of Ultra).
I've known her now for about a year and half. She originally met Becca at yoga and started running with us off and on, more on over the past 6 months. Last summer, she told me that Lisa and Meg "influenced her" to ask me for a training plan, so we built her one for NY. Once I pick up an athlete, I tend not to let them go. I take as much (maybe even more sometimes) pride in their accomplishments as they do.
Two weeks ago Eve ran a 28 minute PR (4:12) at the LA marathon, in 85 degree weather, in early March. Her composure in adverse weather conditions was inspiring and her potential is so much more than she realizes.
As we took off, she said, "how do you want me to motivate you? Do you need tough love? Just to talk?" I smiled and said "distract me. " We had a blast over the next 11 miles chatting about everything and anything. Like clockwork, every 20 minutes she told me to drink and every 45 made sure I ate. I was overdue for some mothering and it was appreciated.
After what seemed to be way too many ups and downs on trails covered by leaves and pine needles, we made it to Fay's Blowdown, 82 down, 20ish to go. It was time to pick up the closer.
Closing it Out
I've said this before, but it bears repeating again. Becca is literally the toughest person I know. Having her as my wing-man, there is no way to fail. At one point she thought Lisa said I was quitting and yelled "NO!" at her.
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| The Closer |
Seeing Neil at Fay's Blowdown also brought a smile to my face. The fact that he was able to come on this trip and my friends were willing to include him as part of the team meant so much to me. We all agree that demonstrating to your kids, through action, what is possible is a huge part of their learning. Neil may even think running 100+ mile races is normal.
As Becca and I took off, the temps rose quickly. The trail was slow and my legs were totally shot, but we knocked out mile after mile getting just a bit closer.
About 7 miles in, we crossed a stream and I dipped my hat. About a mile later we saw a beautiful waterfall. Then we saw an Eastern Indigo Snake and it freaked Becca out.
A few minutes later the unthinkable happened and Becca tripped and fell and hurt her hip / hamstring. We slowly got her to her feet, but it was clear we were not in a good situation. Thankfully, we could hear a road nearby and we had cell phone service. As we got to the road, we called Lisa to let her know we needed to call an audibly. Neil was able to find us using the find my phone app and Becca assured me she would be good and I could take off. 11 miles to go. I was going to finish this for Becca.
Calling in the Understudy
About 15 minutes later, my phone rang. It was Eve and she said "I'm coming and I am going to track you down."
About a mile and a half later I reached the final aid station, and a kid asked me if I was going to run. I was able to stifle the "I'm 94 fucking miles into race" thought and replied "unlikely."
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| The Rescue Party |
A couple minutes later, Eve and I tackled the final leg; ~9 miles out to Bald Rock in Cheaha State Park, the highest point in Alabama.
With not much left to give, I soldiered on. We ran occasionally, we crossed more streams, we saw more snakes, and I even ate and drank a bit more. Slowly we progressed. Relentless forward progress is what I just kept repeating.
I had been up for nearly 36 hours at this point. Tree trunks and rock formations started looking like lions and RVs. I knew they weren't real and when I took a second look they were always gone, but they were so vivid.
Finally at 6:30pm (in whatever timezone we were in), we could see the finish. I mustered up one last effort, Neil joined us on the trail, said come on Eve, and we finished together.
Lisa and Becca were waiting and cheering along with the race staff.
-- 31 hours and 33 minutes -- 103.5 miles - 2nd Overall --
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| The Finish |
Never (well at least since Tahoe) had I been so happy to finish. After a couple of photos, I sat down. Like a hot coffee on a cold day or an ice cold PowerAid on a hot day, sitting down after a momentous effort just feels so good.
Unfortunately, our challenge wasn't quite over. We still needed to make it back to Atlanta (1hr 45 minutes away) and I was 6 hours late to finish. We picked up Texas Road House and a 6 pack of Corona on the way to the hotel and after dinner and toast finally got to bed at midnight.
Final Leg - Navigating TSA
Ultramarathons are more about enduring than they are about fitness. This race took me pretty close to my max; 42 hours without sleep, 16k' feet climbing, and many problems to solve including a super upset stomach. With some perseverance and an incredible support crew, I was able to finish.
We woke up at 3:30am to try and catch a 6:15 flight. There was (is?) as government shutdown and TSA was functioning at a fraction of capacity. After standing in line for 2 hours, we missed our flight and thankfully were able to rebook to the 10am.
We finally got home around 1pm. It just shows what you can endure when you really don't have a choice.
Recap
Looking back, I really expected (or maybe just hoped) that this race was going to be easier. While there is no such thing as an easy 100 mile run, narrow, leave covered trails, with non stop rolling hills, and some heat and humidity, definitely adds a challenge.
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| No Caption Needed |
As noted above, ultra running really is a team sport. I get that some chose to do it along, but I truly believe friendships forged over long runs bring us to a level that is hard to find any other way. I just hope that at some point I am able to return the favor and crew / pace others through what they once thought was impossible.
Finally, just wanted to note, that when packing for a race, always check to make sure the shoes are not the same foot.
What's Next
First, I'm off to Paris in 2.5 weeks. Some of my friends and I are racing the marathon and Amy and I are able to get away for a few days. Looking forward to a bit of relaxation and some good wine, baguette, and cheese.
After that, I'm not quite ready to share yet, but I'll tell you it is already in the works :). If you know, you know.
- Scot
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| See You Next Time |
And
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| 8 Week Old Penelope we met the day before the race |
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