Tahoe Rim Trail 100 mile in Heaven part

(Pre-race, short version, You can skip it)

It has been a year since I postponed my entry to run Tahoe Rim Trail 100 mile race in 2011 due to my glut injury.  Instead of receiving a partial refund, I decided to forward my entry to 2012 race, which RD was very cool about accepting me my one-year carry over option without paying increased fee in 2012 race ($20 more). The reason I chose to do this race was my first 100 mile race at that point. I thought looping 50 miles twice is bit more mentally comfortable to know the course in second lap. However, it turned out to be much different perceive in second lap, especially after the night fall. Also photos that I saw from friend who run in 2008 was absolutely beautiful photo of running above the clouds and clear sky with back ground view of Lake Tahoe. 

After completing my first 100 mile race in Zion, UT, I was fairly confident about the distance of 100 mile to finish. Since I was recovering from Zion 100, my training was rather slow and steady slow pace most of the time. However, I run one 50 km race to see my body condition at Beacon Rock 50 km on June 17th. The course had approximately 7500ft vertical gain over 50km, it was good hill climb training. I was mostly on easy pace to go uphill mixing with power-walking and some jogging. My body did not complain much and felt light enough to finish the race.

Before heading out to Lake Tahoe, I quit my job that always felt myself a temporary job at the end of June saying “Sayonara” to my boss. I mentally free up my mind and ready to take next adventure in my life. I was ready to run Tahoe Rim Trail 100.

To the Carson City, NV

I was able to accommodate with two running friends from Corvallis to be my crew and “safety runner”. We rent a car that can take up three of us with full of camping gears (Thanks to Mazda mini-mini van). We started to drive down to Ashland, OR on July 18th (Wed) evening. We, of course, stop by the local brewery named Standing Stone brewery, Ashland, OR around 9:30 pm. (It was a shame that Caldera brewery taproom was just about closing a night 30 min before the regular operating hour.) We had some snacks with good pints of beer before heading up to free camp sites at Mt. Ashland campground. 

The next morning of 19th, the temp drop down but no frozen dead body found in the sleeping bag. A word from Scott was “It was freezing cold after 4am!”. We finally woke up around 7:30 am or so and had a cup of coffee and breakfast. We drove straight down to Olive Pit, Corning, CA to pick some stuffed olive and continued driving down to Chico, CA for Sierra Nevada brewery for lunch and a pint. Road trip with boys aren’t so efficient when we decide to have good beers. We also stop by a fruit stand for picking up peaches. While we finally get on Fwy 49/20 to Reno, NV, we stop by for gas at the small town called Nevada City. This small town has new brewery called “ol’ Republic” serving good lagers like black lager and helles. We, of course, had another pint for a happy hour price around 4pm and another hour to get to the Reno. Soon we crossed the state from CA to NV,  the view changes quite bit, like unleash every human desire for everything in big Casino city. That night, we had so-so Thai food near the hotel watching people on the street to have a selfish imagination talking about who would be a lady in business. We quickly came back into the hotel. we though, tried to spend money in casino, we did not even put a penny to the slot machine due to the system change that we have to buy a magnetic strip card first and deposit your money in to the card. Forget it. Next morning, we left Reno and drove down to Carson City, an hour south of Reno next morning. I double checked my well organized drop bags and register/weight-in at the park next to City Courthouse. My weight was around 159 lb. May be too much of beer carb loading along the way to Carson City. Let’s get serious. 

The race day              

I was finally into the bed at Carson city plaza hotel around 9 pm but the noise of air condition fan was so loud that I could not go sleep at all. I am sure I was nervous about the race, thinking how I can be done first loop of the race. I probably had at least 2 hours of sleep and finally woke me up at 1:45am. I had leftover Thai fried rice from last night for more carb loading (bad idea), changing my clothing for running, and pit stop. The shuttle bus was supposed to be leaving at hotel’s parking lot at 3:15am. We ended up waiting for the bus to leave at least half hour late. I was impressed with some people who were maybe bit overexcited for the race to chat almost entire way up to the starting line. I wanted to close my eyes for bit while we were waiting the bus to leave. However, the young blonde girl sat next to me that kept my brain in patient. (Found out that was a gal who named Sofia Cantilo from Argentina that Todd and Scott kept talking about her all the time). 

Runners and spectators were gradually gathered at starting line, and one guy asked me if I have any BodyGlide. I was bit of shock of my head and replied in my mind “Well, Yes I do but I do not think I would like to share with you.” In short silence moment looking at his face, I remember that I had one brand new pocket size BodyGlide that I got it from goodie bags somewhere else from the different race. So I grab it from my drop bag and gave it to him "here, you can have it." He was, without hesitation, immediately applied it to his gentle area. He was thanking me and try to give it back. I thought in my head “dude, I am not going to share this body glide with you.” I said that “Since I have another one myself, it is yours, so you can reapply it whenever you want.” I should have ask that guy's name. He was a quite character. 

About 5 minutes before the start, 151 runners with 100 miler participants lines up the starting line. The sky was still in the dark, and I did not bring my headlight at this point. I can see the ground without it, plus I won’t be able to go that fast. At 5:00am, the RD yelled “Go” through his microphone, the hyped runners were moving forward, like a warrior. Within a mile of Jeep dirt road, the single track uphill started. At this point, some fast guy and gal were smoking in the dust already. I was bit confused thinking “are they really keeping this pace like a marathon for rest of the race?” My initial mile pace was at 9:25 min. per mile. Soon the steep single track uphill force me to power walk at 12:20 to 13:20 min. per mile pace. My max heart rate was often exceeded more than 166-171 bpm. Since I have no crew how my body actually reacts with high altitude race like this, I decided to listen an advice from Gary Gellin at Zion 100 to go extra easy with monitoring my heart rate to be under 80% of maximum effort. Although this sounds easy, it is hard to keep your heart in my targeted comfort zone for a long period of time. Whenever I see my HRM goes beyond 160 bpm, I was power-walk to catch up my breath and slow down my heart beat. I still had several peak to 171 bpm for first 10 miles of the race but able to maintain average HRM at 151 bpm for the first loop of 50 mile.   

Soon I approached to the Marlette lake, the morning sun reflect the lake clearing up the morning fog. It was beautiful, but I had to keep eye on the rough jeep road along the lake. Soon I get back in the single track at 5.2 mile point, with elevation of 8100 ft. The single track continued for another 0.8 miles with another 500ft elev. gain to approach the first aid station, Hobart. 

At this point, I felt very comfortable and settle down my heart rate. I ate PBJ, potato, and watermelon. Refueling with more gels along the way to next aid station which are another 5.5 miles or so. The first big climbing are finally done, and I can finally see the Lake Tahoe on my left side. It was just before the 7 am, and I am already sweat like a pig. The view from the top of ridge line was crystal clear and deep blue Lake Tahoe shines even better than you imagine. This section is mostly single track and traverse and nice switchback downhill near the Tunnel Creek Aid Station. I managed myself moving forward efficiently to approach the second aid station (Tunnel Creek Aid at 12.0 garmin miles) about 2hrs13min later from the start. 

I took more food from the station, gels, stoof waffle with maple syrup and off to the next 6.7 mile loop (to Red House Aid). As soon as I left the tunnel creek aid, the gentle downhill less than a half mile become a steep downhill, which was fun to let my body ride with gravity pull. My pair of legs are still in fresh, even did not care about wetting feet by creek crossing. As soon as reached bottom of hill, the steep uphill just awaited for me to regret my decision for the last downhill. Now I have a pair of heavy legs to move forward with small steps. However, this loop had a flat traverse section for a mile shortly after the Red House Aid to rest you tired legs before back up to steep uphill to the Tunnel Creek Aid (2nd time). Some runners hated this section, but I did like the section just enough varieties of terrains to rest your leg, short and hard uphill section, and so forth.  

From the second Tunnel Creek Aid, there was about 7 miles long, sustained, a single track uphill to reach near 8800 ft elevation that was far more tougher than the short and steep uphill at the loop I just went through. What I was frustrated most from this section was to be runnable uphills. The steepness of uphill weren't the issue, but the increasing altitude made my heart pounding quicker and breathing harder and shorter than regular. I never felt reaching maximum effort but could not bring myself to own comfort zone. Luckily, it was still in mid-morning like 10am, so the cool breeze dries sweaty tech-shirt quick. About 5hrs past from the start, I just complete full marathon length. Trail turns left to drop down to the next aid station (Diamond Peak Lodge aid), where ski resort was located at. A long 4.2 mile downhill was fun for mountain bikers’ heaven with many stump jumpers and sharp banked-switchbacks, and rocky steep drop-offs. Unfortunately for runners, the section was quite technical to pay attention for both far side and just in front of me to do precise underfoot control. I thought this section will be much tougher in the dark when I came back for a second loop. 

I approached Diamond Peak Lodge Aid around 5:37:05, 30.3 garmin miles. Scott and Todd were already there for me in full service like a NASCAR pit crews, giving me some coke coconut water mix drinks, s-caps, gels, stoof waffle, and ice on my legs. I felt good and relive again.Scott was excited to told me what place I was in at that point, but I did not care much about the place just because it was only less than one third done in the race. I said “see you at the start/finish aid station” and started walking out from the aid. As soon as turn the little corner, the two mile stretch of steep uphill awaited for me. I glanced up to search the top of the mountain, and tiny ant-like runners were wiggling on the steep hillside. I quit thinking anything about how steep and hard this hill would be and just power-walked. The first mile was familiar steepness at McDonald Forest in Corvallis, OR, but the second mile was even steeper (1000+ft elevation gain within a mile) than previous mile, and sandy soft ground made me battle harder to put my quads working. While I was moving my small step forwards to the top, I thought the top of the peak never gets closer. 50 minutes past from last aid station, I finally get back on the trail at the ridge line and found familiar drink/snack aid station (Bull Wheel Aid). The one of aid crews found me and said “hey, you were back already! see you again this evening!” That was right. I have another loop to complete.

Afternoon sun raised temp quite bit though I was at the area with 8500ft elevation. The last chin-scraper uphill made my quad tight and heavy, but gradual downhill at this time was nice enough to jog more than power-walking. I made to Tunnel Creek Aid (3rd time) with short stop to pick some gels and food and continued another five mile journey to the next aid station. I had to power-walk the switchback uphills where I run down this earlier this morning. I was bit confused myself from this section of forest with similar scenery for long time and fatigue was maybe affected my brain not thinking the course enough. I made to about 40.4 garmin miles within 8:13:17, and the first aid station became a full bar setting. Whiskey, Rum, Tequila, Keg of beer, Mix drinks, you name it. Aid crews can make anything you want. It was still in early afternoon but looks like the party was just started at Hobart Aid. “What would you like to have? beer?” that was such generous offer, but I had to turn down because I knew I had to do big ascend at the next section to peak the highest point of the course. Maybe later when I come back for second loop.

The next short 3.6 mile uphill section was tough in elevation, but the degree of steepness was still runnable mostly. The tree line suddenly disappeared after a mile into the course and appeared meadow (8,700ft). I did not see lake Tahoe side until the top of the mountain, but the view of Carson city far east was definitely in high desert area. The color of green disappeared, and rocky brown soil color dominated the view. The vista for westside was full of colors, like green from evergreen trees, gray from granite rock ridge lines, and shiny blue lakes, especially the lake Tahoe. I passed Snow Valley Peak Aid and jog down long 6.2 mile downhill with 3000+ elevation loss to the start/finish point. This section was the most fun out of entire course of Tahoe Rim Trail 100. Even though I was conservative enough to save my leg not pounding too much, the gravity pull let me ride the trail with good rhythm. 

I finally complete the first loop (50 miles) by 10:12:10, Scott and Todd was awaited for me to change my Montrail Bajada to Scott eRide shoes, dusty socks, and the tech-shirt. I got so hungry and asked a aid crew for 50 miler finisher’s bean/rice burrito. I munched gigantic burrito in seconds and prepared myself for second loop. Todd, as a safety runner, was already waiting for me to go. I stopped by bathroom for things to take care of and reapply Body Glide. My happy feet and uplifted feeling did not know at that point that my body was not so happy and receiving something weird and wrong. Entering the second loop was like a “welcome to the taste of hell”. The true challenge had just begun.

To be continued "Taste of Hell" part.