The Bonk : Rocky Raccoon

Angelo reports on his run at Rocky Raccoon:

12,000 calories out, 3,000 calories in. At least that's the estimate of my crew buddy. And probably 2,800 came in the first 40 miles.

So, for those that didn't know I was going down to TX to attempt Rocky Raccoon 100, don't feel bad. I was very low key about it. Anne didn't even know until the week before. She knew I was visiting friends, didn't know I was attempting my first hundred. Brandon went with me to give Anne and Cruz some rest. That's my story …

So the race starts at 6 am and the first lap (20 miles) was done in about 4:30. Nothing really difficult. Fairly tame, what I expected, but I now knew that 24 hours was out of the question. Saw Anton Krupicka (didn't know it was him until today) and Jenn Shelton. Jenn had about 2 miles on me in the first 5, 5 miles on me by mile 7. She was rocking.

Second lap, I started around 10:45 to 11. About mile 27 is when Jenn lapped me (20 miles up) Julie Nelson and Rob Apple caught up with me then too. Julie started a half hour late. Julie was great b/c by mile 25, I was already slowing. Talking and running with her made the time fly. Mile 30 is when Rob pulled ahead. Got to mile 40 in about 4:45 and left around 4p.

Started getting cold and dark, but no real effects. Conversation makes the miles move. We saw Anton moving really well with a pacer. Akos was by himself and was down.

We talked to him at mile 50 and he was uninterested in how awesome we told him he was doing. He didn't even know he was at mile 90. We saw Jenn around mile 52. I thought at the time she had slowed down and was on lap 4. I didn't find out until after the lap that she was on lap 5. Was running and talking with Julie, but our conversations lost some steam around mile 53. I realized I was hungry and ate my lara bar. Sated me a little. Saw Frank Probst around 57 when he was one lap up. He said he had stomach problems and dropped. Got in around 5:30 and it was cold and dark. Prob. around 9:45 p.m. This is when my food consumption went haywire and I should have been eating high glycemic food and ended up eating meatloaf. That was dumb. Also had a coffee and ensure mix for the 1st time and that turned my stomach a little later. Plus, my sustained energy mix was a little too strong to handle so I wasn't even drinking that.

I waited around for Julie to get the right clothes, but my crew told me to get out of there since I had to be back by 6am or else I was cut. I listened and left around 10:15. I walked for a while waiting for Julie and she didn't catch up. Saw her around 5 miles in and she was only 1/2 mile back. She ended up dropping right after I saw her, but I didn't know that either. By about 67 to 70 is when I really lost my ability to move. It was very slow to mile 70. Tried to run with another lap 4 person but couldn't do that either. Got back to 73 and ran about 1 mile and that was it. Couldn't recover, couldn't eat. I quit then, which is what saddens me. The last 7 miles was walked in the dark and cold with some stops sitting on benches or staring at my feet. Watched one girl get walked by me with her pacer holding her by the arm while she was totally out of it. Passed a guy whose shuffle was about 2 inches per step. I wasn't that bad and convinced myself that I wouldn't allow myself to get that bad.

Pulled in at 80 just under 7:00 and 5:11 am and not cut, but no motivation to go out again. Sat down to eat and warm up and as I tried to run out, my legs were shuffling and hurt. So I walked to the scorer and gave her my bib. One thing I've learned. Never drop after you get up from a long break. Go out for 10 minutes or more. If you must, then turn around and go back.

It feels great knowing I did 80 really low key and no ill effects. But it's balanced by the bummed feeling of not carrying that buckle and not at least attempting that final lap. Scanning the results, I wish I had just tried to run with Grant. No idea when or if he passed me. I might believe nutrition stopped me, but I also know I lacked the will. Very, very sad. I've seen people on the dvds at WS and badwater. I've seen people in the last 10 miles of MMT. When I got back to MD, I watched a Veggie Tales DVD with my kids about perseverance. Boy it stung when those vegetables sang "just keep on keeping on".

Sure, other 100 mile runners understand, but they also know that they have conquered that demon. I believe I will conquer that demon in may, but it does give me pause.

Those last 7 miles in lap 4 I imagined dropping out of every race I was entered in. HL, Mitchell, MMT, Leadville. Just waiting until Rocky next year. But now I realize that's not what got me here. Each race is a lesson and each start is an accomplishment over the demons of doubt.

I'm in a deficit now, but I do intend to go out to HL. I told Jenn I would in the 2nd lap =). I know more failures are ahead but I strive to actually see those 2nd surises out on the course.