Pre race story for the 2012 Tahoe Rim Trail 100

Since I started running long distances, completing the 100 mile race is one of my dream and aspiration for long time simply because it is beyond my comprehension to my body and soul for that kind of distance. Originally, I have planned myself to run Tahoe Rim Trail 100 at the end of year 2010 and entered to 2011 Tahoe Rim Trail 100. However, things did not worked out for me that year due to my hip injuries in early 2011, which captured me out for running few months. My left glut and imbalanced leg length from overuse resulted this hip injury. The second one of imbalanced leg length was even worse than the first problem. My pelvis was twisted upward to left side, and the symptom was started from my lumber vertebrae. The incident of injury was from overuse and ignorance to listen to my body requesting a rest. This overuse precisely came from the improper running form. I was once a short track runner for 100, 200, 400m in my high school days, but I stopped running after graduated. I  have never run the distance more than 13.1 miles ever before Sep., 2009. Two of my friends introduced me to trail running and long distance ultra in 2009. I was originally focused myself to challenge the distance of Marathon that year, but the one of friend was Co-RD for McDonald's Forest 50k at that point, and he let me in the McKenzie River trail 50k in the last minute. I thus run 50k trail race first then running Portland Marathon in 2009, and this event gave me an opportunity to enjoy the run in forest 100 times better than the road marathon with pure-pain event at mile 20. 

After experienced through myself with above-mentioned injuries, I appreciate learning correct running form for long distance. The body must learn a proper running form and must master the efficient biomechanics that are the two key components to be successful and endured running without troubling with unnecessary injuries. This also prevent the unnecessary overuse injuries like I did with my left glut and pelvis. Before I got my injury, my running form was more of up against the gravity-pull, standing straight up too much, over-stride, heel striker, lazy hip, no strong toe off, and you name it for typical gym runners. Consequently this bad form force me to do an over-stride, and the center of gravity pull is directly under my lower back and hip area to receive impact. This also contributed an overloaded force that my glut muscles had to take. The worst thing I've done myself was that I have never visited to any sport massage therapists, PT, and chiropractors in town for aftercare from running. I was very uneducated and stupid myself taking lightly about the long distance running.

In April, 2011, I stopped running shortly after 2011WTC50k race, which I ignored to listen to my body already in pain. I contacted one of very best PT in Eugene after the race. This appointment in April changed everything, and I stated correcting my bad running form and habitat for next 4 months. My body gradually understood what the "let a gravity works for your running" means. My habitat for before and aftercare from running also changed. I did include myself self-massages, stretches, and strengthening. I visited the sport massage therapist and the chiropractor in town regularly. Since I reeducated my running form, my hip and lower back pain entirely gone. I have not received any major injuries from running, expect an occasional ankle sprain on the trail. The new habitat also enhance myself to listen to my body more consciously, acknowledged myself what is wrong (pain) and needs to treat (massage & stretch) my body. Of course there are some costs involved in to maintain healthy running, but I think it is worth the cost to maintain what you wish to do for long time.              

Backing to the story of Tahoe Rim 100, I decided to forward my 2011 entry to following year of 2012 instead of receiving a partial refund. RD agreed about accepting my one-year carry over option. I thank RD for not paying increased fee in 2012 race ($20 more) too. The main reason that I chose my first 100 mile for the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 was running a 50 mile loop course for twice. I thought this would be mentally comfortable because I can know the course on the first lap and better prep myself for the second lap. However, it turned out to be wrong interpretation myself since the second lap was in the dark most of the time, which was completely different experience in the same course. 

My plan was switched to Zion 100 as my first 100 miler, and it was a right choice I made. After Zion 100, I felt more self confident about the distance of 100 mile and to know what it takes me to accomplish the distance mentally and physically. While I was on my recovery from the Zion 100s, my training was more of power-walking and slow & steady jogging for a month. I did run Beacon Rock 50 km race in mid June to see my body is recovered from Zion 100. The condition of Beacon Rock 50 km had approximately 7500ft vertical gain over 50km in PNW. It was good hilly climbs that could help me training for 19,000 to 20,000ft accumulative gain on Tahoe Rim 100. I was mostly on steady pace to jog uphill mixing with power-walk in steep sections. My body did not complain too much for downhill either, and I felt I can give go-sign to myself to the big race coming in month.

The time before heading to Tahoe Rim 100, I decided not continue my contracted job as an university research assistant position. The biggest reason to discontinue this position was that I cannot foresee myself as a lifetime career and being temporary worker. Secondly, I questioned myself that this research subject was truly contributing community members who seeks a solution to be solved this disease problem. My answer was that the result of this research only contribute partial solution and may or may not receive a full benefit to my end users (conventional and organic farmers). The third reason was my working-visa circumstance. My H1-B visa was only one more year left for legally working at USA. I soon or later have to figure out myself next career choice and seek for new job that at least favors to contribute my time. I felt my position was a temporary and replaceable job to anyone. It will never be compassionate myself to become a permanent career. I strongly felt that the time was right moment to moving on myself to seek for new chapter.  There is nothing to lose myself since there are no "permanent" and "forever" jobs. I think I will struggle first but eventually figure things out.  

As of July 1st, 2012, I freed up my mind and received my temporal freedom. I and two of my trail running friends joined me driving down to Tahoe on July 18th. My pacer and crew are set for Tahoe Rim 100, and I can rely on them since both run the Tahoe Rim course in 2008. I remember they showed me absolutely beautiful photos of Tahoe running above the morning mist and clear sky with back ground view of the Lake Tahoe at far-side. While we drove down to Nevada, we stopped by few microbreweries to enjoy there beers, (as always good American microbreweries!) discovering few new breweries. I love beer. I cannot say no to having a pint of good microbrews. We stopped at Ol' Republic Brewery in Nevada City, CA. This brewery specializes lager style beers than ales (though they have IPA, Pale, and Stout). I wasn't a big fun of lager before, but I changed my superficial mind for boring taste of lager after drinking its Schwarzbier (Bavarian Black Lager). I highly recommend it to stop by this brewery in hot summer days. 

We arrived Reno on Thursday evening (Jul. 19th) and stayed at the one of casino hotel on downtown area. Nevada was just "Interesting". We just cross the border of CA to NV less than 12 miles back on highway, but the town, atmosphere, and people seem to be completely different. I used to watch one of Comedy Central show based on Reno occasionally, and I thought it was such an over exaggeration; however, walking downtown after the sunset changed my mind. It is like a comedy central show! There are gals asking for serving men for money, crazy old man begging for money for drugs, old people spend their money on slot machine for vacuuming up their retirement money or else, and cops always be busy running around the city. We tried to spend a penny from the change we got after the dinner, but we gave up. There were no more good old penny slot. All slot machines are now with a magnetic card. We have to buy this magnetic strip card ($1) and then adding your money to the card to play slot machines. Since we weren't gamblers at all, we though wanted to spend a penny claiming ourselves gambling in the state of NV. The plastic card gimmick turns us off completely, we never even spent a penny on casino in NV for whole trip.  

Next morning, we continued driving down to Carson City. At this point, I was focus on what I should put in my drop bags and planned out perfect running race in my head. At in front of city hall, I registered, medical checked, and left all my drop bags, which were prepped earlier that morning. However, I learned myself afterward if you haven't run or study the course before the race, it was pretty difficult to comprehend with a big picture of 100 mile race to adjust myself putting my energy into the section or saving energy for upcoming "big section" of uphill or long downhills. Of course, if I can always put 100% energy into my run at every sections, I would be a super hero. The reality of long endurance race like this simply cannot push myself for whole time. I will take easy if I can take easy on trailing downhills. I know I will have great emotional and physical ups and downs. Hundred mile race is very different experience than 100km, 50 miler, and even 50km. Not only the distance, the experience of running in the dark has to do huge part affecting my body and mind like a "bonk". There are also required tremendous patient to your body, health issues, and recovering from bonk during the race. Since this was my second hundred mile race ever I have experienced, I was pretty much no clues what I have to go through with my body and experienced high elevation running during the race.

To be continued to Race day report.