High Lonesome 100 -- High Altitude Fun and Pain

Wow is about all I can say about this weekend.  I'm still in awe of the whole thing.  I really wanted to run this race last year, but ended up deferring due to WSER.  My time volunteering at HL last year really solidified my desire to run it.  And boy, did the course deliver.   I won’t go into all the details of the race, but it’s 99.8 miles, at an average of 10,600’ elevation with a total gain of 22,500’ running along the Continental Divide and Colorado Trails. 

Mark and I started the journey out on Tuesday and arrived in Colorado Springs on Wednesday morning.  We played a round of golf at the Academy that afternoon.  A short shakeout run on Thursday morning before heading to Salida for the packet pickup and pre-race meeting.  But first, we had to make a quick stop to pick up Jason Koop's rice balls, that he and Liz had graciously made for me.  I didn't know it at the time, but Liz would be an angel throughout the race.  She was pacing and crewing another friend, but was there for me at crucial points throughout the race.

I loved getting to packet pickup and seeing Caleb and Kelsey, as well as the rest of the directors.  I had spent a lot of time with them last year, so it was like coming back to see old friends.  We then headed to the cabin that I had found for Mark.  It was on a llama ranch, so at least mark would have some company... and dinner options (llama steaks anyone?).

 

After that, back to the pre-race meeting.  I again saw Liz as well as Kelly from Real Athletes Diets in Boulder. I chatted with her husband, Morgan, from Ultimate Direction a bit, as I didn’t know exactly how to put my poles on the (relatively) new Halo Vest that I had and I had concerns about fitting all the mandatory gear.  He assured me that it should all fit.  I was amazed at how much gear fit into the pack and it still felt light.

The next morning, we arrived at the start line for gear check with plenty of time.  The race has 2 mandatory gear checks, one at the start line and one at Hancock for the night gear.  Chatted again with Kelly and it was time to get going.  The gun went off at 0600 and 125 of us made our way out of the field.  Temps were cool, but they were going to rise a bit and there was a chance a thunderstorms in the afternoon.

The race starts with a mile down a hill to Princeton Hot Springs, and a gravel road that would take us to the Colorado Trail.  I kept the pace really easy.  Chatted with a few people, to include one gal who was running this as her first hundred miler.  A couple of guys were telling bad jokes…’what’s brown and sticky?  A stick.’  I would see him again on the out/back section a few hours later and he told the joke to me as he ran by.  I had to laugh… 

I rolled into the first aid station, Raspberry 1, right on my anticipated time.  Topped off my handheld and took off for the longest climb of the race.  Five miles up Mt. Antero, to just over 13k. The first part was in the treeline, but slowly we continued to climb.  It was here that I started having some breathing issues.  It was different than what I experienced at Bear.  While I was healthy going into the race, my sinuses had been acting up a bit.  Combine this with the extra runny nose that I get when running, the post-nasal drip was crazy (sorry, too much information).  I couldn’t get enough air in my lungs to cough up the gunk, which would then cause me to gag.  It was almost as if I was throwing up.  This would continue the entire race and was probably really disconcerting to fellow runners (sorry).  I was paying close attention for signs HAPE, but everything was clear, so I kept going. 

The climb to Mt Antero brought us near the first of many snowfields we would encounter throughout the day and night. 

Getting to the saddle and looking around was spectacular.  My quad decided to cramp up just below the summit.  Luckily, a good swig of electrolytes relieved that.

From there it was down a steep and rocky jeep road.  A jeep coming up stopped and asked I had called for an Uber.  I wish…although, I’m not sure I would want to be in a vehicle on that road.  Rolling into the Antero Aid Station, I refilled my pack with water and electrolytes in the handheld to continue down the road and up to St Elmo Ghost Town and the next aid station.  We had been warned that this is where we would start getting our feet wet and sure enough, we did.  The normally low creek was almost to my knees.  My feet didn’t stay dry for the next 20+ hours.  About a week prior this creek had a flash flood and took out the road, thankfully the USFS and county got it fixed.

I got to St Elmo with a big welcome from people who had been there last year when I volunteered at this aid station.  I had a drop bag here and replenished my food.  I was eating well, having both the rice balls and ProBar chews, as well as chips and other food the aid stations.  I left for the out/back section to Cottonwood with a couple of perogies in hand.  This is one of the sections that I was sweep on the year prior, so I was familiar with it, although I forgot how brutal the climb up was.  Add to it, the distant rumbling of thunder and I was a bit concerned.  The first few miles are in the trees, but then you get above the tree line to crest the pass and drop to Cottonwood.  Luckily by time I got to the treeline, the thunder seemed to dissipate.  The clouds were still there and it was spitting rain, so I pressed forward.  It was here that the leaders started coming through on their way back.  I could tell I was toward the end of the pack, but well ahead of cut-offs, so I wasn’t worried.

Again, I got to Cottonwood on pace and feeling great.  Yes, I was tired, but I was also over 50k and 8.5 hours in, with quite a bit more to go.  Liz was there and helped get me refilled, put my jacket on (as it was starting to rain harder and I was getting cold) and got me on my way.  I ate some avocado and took off with more perogies.  Back over to St Elmo.  By the time I got to the top of the pass, the sun was out again…

Once again at St Elmo, I refilled, knowing that I had about 12 miles to the next full aid station, with one small water only stop between.  I ate some more and grabbed gloves and arm sleeves and my small headlamp, just in case I didn’t make it to Hancock before dark (I didn’t).  Arriving at the Tin Cup water stop, all of the folks were dressed in unicorn onesies (no I wasn’t hallucinating yet), so I had a good laugh.  A quick top off in my handheld and onto the Continental Divide Trail I would go to the ghost town of Hancock.  This was spectacular, with the sun setting over the mountains. 

It was here that we would encounter the worst of the snowfield crossings.  I am so glad that I was able to cross this before dark.  At the prerace meeting, they mentioned that the snow was too soft for spikes, so although I had them packed in a dropbag, I decided not to use them.  I’m not sure they would have helped, but taking it slow and steady, I got across the two steep sections. 

There would be plenty more snow crossings at dark, but most of them were on level terrain (except the climb up one, but since a lot of others had gone through, all I needed to do was follow the ‘stairs’). 

Sure enough, it got dark shortly afterwards and I pulled out my headlamp and settled in for a long night of running.

For once, I had a pacer meeting me at Hancock, approximately the halfway point.  Last year, I had met Dave Doran while at St Elmo’s aid station and he swept the course to Cottonwood and back with me.  He offered to pace me and I was grateful for that offer.  That was probably one of the smartest moves I made. Dave kept me moving and was very helpful with navigating the ridge lines at night. At Hancock, Dave and his girlfriend Renee, had my dropbag and were waiting as I came in.  They got me some broth and helped replenish my supplies. We went to gear check with the mandatory night gear and set out.  I gave Dave a rundown of my day so far and that I needed him to remind me to slow down on the climbs to keep my heartrate and breathing under control.  That would keep me moving forward rather than having to stop and catch my breath every few feet.  The course marking out of Hancock was a bit frustrating so I pulled the map up on my watch to follow.  I found out later that there were several portions of the course that had been vandalized…grrrr. 

We climbed steadily over the pass (although we couldn’t see anything but the light in front of us due to cloud cover and darkness).  The trails at times were running creeks and the between the snowfields and boulder fields, made for slow going, but we were still moving on time.  It started getting cold and my arm sleeves weren’t cutting it, so I pulled out my jacket again.  The last boulder field was crazy, but led to a road and a volunteer pointing us up a road for a short out/back section to the Lost Wonder Hut. 

Arriving at the Hut, I was told that they had a fire going inside, or I could sit outside at the patio.  I didn’t dare risk going inside, so sat down and Dave brought me some food and filled my water for the next 10 mile section.  The medical staff came out to give me the once over.  I was feeling great and in wonderful spirits.  At the last moment, I had decided to pack a dropbag for this location. I had placed another heavier wool shirt, a beanie, capris as well as heavier gloves here.  The ladies said that the wind was picking up on the ridge and that I should put the tights on.  I decided not to, change into tights but did put the beanie on and the heavier gloves.  I stuffed the tights into my pack, just in case. 

Note:  for the first time, I put notecards in my dropbags for two reasons.  One for motivation to remind myself that I could do this, the second to remind me of what I needed to do at each aid station.  I was really trying to keep my aid station stops minimized and focused.  At Lost Wonder, the ladies loved the idea.  Especially my comment that asked me if I was cold and if so grab the appropriate gear.  I was happy with this approach and I think the longest I stopped was 14 min at Fooses, when I was trying my hardest to get food in down as well as dropping all the night gear that we had been carrying.

The next nine-mile section to Purgatory was the most exposed section and for some reason the flagging was sparse.  It was rocky and wet with lots of climbing to start with.  We hiked out with another runner, James, who was pacerless and had asked if he could tag along with us over the ridgeline.  I was eating a quesadilla and moving onward.  Shortly after getting to the singletrack, all of that ended.  My stomach decided it had had enough and the nausea set in.  I had been occasionally taking antacid and gingerale to stave off any hint of nausea, but nothing worked the rest of the race.  I would eat a ProBar chew occasionally, but very little else.  Everything I ate upset my tummy.  It was frustrating to say the least. Especially since I had been diligent for once on practicing with nutrition.  However, looking back at the elevation profile, I had been above 10k most all day long, so it was most likely some issues with altitude.

As predicted, the winds on the ridge were cold, so I broke out my light merino shirt and put it on, as well as my jacket and second set of gloves.  I never did need the tights.  By now, the sky had cleared up and the stars and a sliver of moon shone. At one point, I stopped and had us all turn off our headlamps to just stare at the dark night.  It was spectacular! 

Purgatory finally came into view and I was elated. I ate some broth and noodles.  I gave someone my spare set of batteries, since I had just put fresh ones in my headlamp, plus had a spare waiting in 4 miles if needed.  In exchange, someone gave me a peppermint to help soothe my throat which was raw from all the coughing.  We had lost James on the last mile of the trek in, but he arrived just as we were heading out. 

Up and over the ski resort of Monarch, back to some single track down to Monarch Pass.  We arrived just before sunrise, so had to keep our night gear for a few more miles, but I was able to drop the tights and extra glove as the remaining portion of the race was a lower altitude and below the treeline.  Liz was waiting to pick up Meghan, who was about half hour behind me.  She gave me a big moral boost.

I was again on familiar territory, as I had also been the sweep from Monarch to Foose’s last year. And it was light out!  However, once again, my memory of the trail was less than correct.  I recalled the steeper sections at the top, but once we got to the bottom, the rolling and long road seemed to go on forever.  Finally, we got to Foose’s.  As mentioned before, I took a bit extra time here to drop gear and get some watermelon as well as broth, anything that could get a few calories in me.  Leaving Foose’s, the sun was up and starting to heat the day up.  The first part to Blank’s Cabin was a bit of a slog for me, but somewhere towards the end, I got a second wind and started running and moving.  I got to Blank’s feeling great again.  That feeling didn’t last long.  Walking out with food in hand, my tummy once again turned.  Damn… at this point, I no longer had a pacer, as Dave needed to stop at Blank’s, so I was on my own.   It was up to me to get out of my head and keep moving.  I will admit quitting at Raspberry 2 crossed my mind several times, but each time, I’d remind myself that I was well ahead of cut-offs and needed to keep moving.  There was no excuse not to finish.

The Colorado trail from Blank’s to Raspberry went on forever.  At one point a hiker came up the opposite direction and told me I had about 2 miles.  That was really demoralizing, since I thought I had less than a mile.  Finally, I arrived and Liz was there.  I cried and hugged her.  She immediately took control and got me to eat some watermelon and broth as well as a banana.  I walked out feeling good again…for a few minutes.  The sun was now in full mode and this last section was exposed for the most part.  I sucked it up and pushed forward.  I was hoping to run the last downhill section, but it was loose rock and sand, so I didn’t trust myself to go to fast.  I was able to run some of the gravel road.  Then for the last climb up to the finish line.  As I started up this road, a squall popped up.  The wind was whipping and there was a bit of rain.  I crested the hill and got to the field where I started to run again (why does it seem like all our troubles go away as the finish line is in sight?).  As I came down the finish chute, Mark was waiting for me.  As was Caleb and Kelsey and Kelly.  It was spectacular.  The wind was blowing fiercely as the squall threatened.  I had earned my buckle.  My official time was 34 hours and 2 minutes.   I had predicted my time would be between 32-34 hours, so I’m pretty happy.

After a quick shower, we returned for the awards ceremony.  High Lonesome presents every starter with a bottle of Law’s Whiskey.  The catch is that you get it after the race is done.  Last year, a storm arrived at awards time.  This year, the squall that hit while I was finishing was long gone and the sun was shining.  Such fun!

One final thanks to Coach Corrine Malcolm for getting me to the start line healthy and with the confidence needed to tackle this challenge.  I live at 1000 feet with very few hills, let alone a mountain at 12k with 5 miles of climbing.  Was I nervous, yes.  But, I also knew I had a good solid training base.  I had been to C-Springs twice in the past 2 months and had put some intense heat training in the weeks prior. Running when it was 95 feeling like 105 was tough, but I knew it would at least replicate the effort that the altitude would require.

I don't know what my next race will be, as I need to to get a thesis proposal done this fall.  Right now, I'm seriously considering putting my name in the lottery for High Lonesome next year.  And if not, I'm going back to volunteer.  I love this group of people and race.

#ctsathlete #highlonesome100