Just a Finish: Zion 100 Mile

6 hours after finishing Zion.  I think I was out cold after typing two wordzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I'm typically fairly verbose when it comes to race reports and may opt to write more at some point.  Frankly, I'm luke warm with my run at the Zion 100.  I'm ok with a finish but really just felt out of it after the first 30 miles.  I essentially walked the last 25 miles.  My left knee was a mess (swollen on the side now the size of a grapefruit) and my left achilles was fairly painful.  I'm guessing that when my left ITB started firing up around mile 20 I altered my foot strike (toe turned in a bit) to alleviate the pain and that probably caused the other maladies throughout the run.  No excuses, everyone hurts in these things.  The final 17 miles were probably some of the worse miles I've spent in a race (aside from the 2011 Hardrock).  The pain in my knee(s) was so intense going down the paved 2,000 ft drop at mile 95 that I was grinding my teeth and audibly swearing through my clenched jaw.  I was popping ibuprofen like tic tacs and they finally caught up to me in the form of a very sour stomach, so I was unable to take in calories (other than a half pbnj sandwich) for the last 10 hours.  A guy named Jim had cancer and relapsed recently.  He went to Pine to Palm with us in September to crew and spectate and looked healthy.  He relapsed and was in the kind of rough shape that you don't come back from.  He was alive when I started the race Friday morning and I said his name out loud and thanked him for his strength and courage throughout the race.  I probably would've dropped from the race if not for him.  He passed away Friday while I was running and though we weren't close friends, he meant a lot to people I care about, so I cared about him too.

Though I'm very unhappy with my result, I'm pleased with the finish.  I can honestly say that I pushed as hard as I could right to the end.

Race Director, Matt Gunn truly cares about the races he organizes and it shows.  There are definite changes that could take place and I'm sure he'll tweak the process as he learns.  Overall, he does a tremendous job with the race.

Big thanks to Jill for coming with me and diligently crewing me throughout the long day (and then driving 6 hours to Grand Junction the second after I finished).  I deeply appreciate all her hard work over the weekend!

Thank you to Mary and Dennis for taking good care of Pippit and their kind friendship.  I value you both very much.

Dennis and Mary

Gear used (I was like Janet Jackson with the wardrobe changes - probably just looking for some small amount of comfort through change):
Shirts: GoLite, Patagonia, Asics
Shorts: Pearl Izumi Elite
Hat: Sugoi
Shades: photochromatic Rudy Projects
Shoes: La Sportiva C-Lite 2.0, Nike Lunarglide, old Hokas
Socks: Wright Socks, then compression socks later
Bottles: Amphipod
Race vest: Nathan
Fuel: VFuel (then stomach went bad with so much ibuprofen, so nothing over last 10 hours)

Damage:
Sharp strain in left quad
Left knee pain and swelling
Left Achilles strained
Left ITB pain
Both ankles, feet, knees swollen
Entire big toenail detached after smashing it into edge of slickrock
Lips cracked and bleeding from sun/wind
Digestive system out of whack
Left hip/glute sore
Nose raw and bleeding
Slight depression and inability to think clearly

I don't fall into the category of people who swear they'll never do another 100 and then soften their view over time.  I typically think fondly about my next 100 at mile 80 of my current one.  Not this time.  I didn't enjoy myself at any point and just sort of was going through the motions.  Seeing the effects on my body today reinforces my ongoing belief that running 100s is not healthy.  I have the Leadville 100 to get done but after that I'm not certain I'll ever run the distance again.

Hoping the warmer spring weather continues (considering it's nearly May), so I can continue my training.  Next up in two weeks: 18 Hours of Fruita MTB Race.  I'll be riding that one hard to make up for my shitty performance at Zion.