Day 3099 —Minnie Ha Ha: New Course Record— with the SUNRISE in a PARKING LOT

Prelude to the Race

I did not have high expectations starting the day out, not feeling great, going through the motions, giving myself a more manageable goal. I wanted to run at least 100K (62.14 miles), which I have done in 12 hours previously. 

I was not sure where that would end up placing me overall, but I figured I would be in the top 5. 

How it Starts 

The first 4 hours goes by, and I am determined to complete a marathon in under 4 hours. My watch said my heart rate was alarmingly high, but I didn’t feel like I was pushing myself. I promised myself a short break after the marathon, and I would indulge myself in looking at the leader board. I thought there was a good chance I was in the top 5. No one had passed me so far in the race, but it was possible a few people were still out in front pacing ahead of me. 

When, I looked at the leader board I was both alarmed and disappointed. I don’t remember exactly my placing but maybe 8th? But more importantly it was showing my laps were off. I knew there would be some milage discrepancy, but I was showing a 3-mile difference from my watch time and the board, so I thought something was wrong. 

I talked to Phil (the race director), and he investigated it, and was nice about it, but everything seemed right from his end. I was trying to figure it out, but mentally I needed a reset. I took a 5-minute break and sat and ate some watermelon. 

The next lap I was passing people that had passed me on my break. It was hard to see runners ahead of me at any point in the race; even if I knew I was beating them. I felt compelled to pass or catch up to them. It kept the race interesting. There was always someone seemingly ahead of me. 

This one guy was moving deftly, and I passed him for a moment, but he was really striding well, and soon passed me. He saw me getting a drink and asked my name. I ran the next lap with him, and I realized he was the Eric that had beat me at the Lighthouse 100! He was 3rd overall and I was 4th overall. 

He beat me about 45 minutes. I remember reading about him and feeling inspired seeing his success and longevity as an ultra-runner. This is the guy who Phil (the race director) told me was the likely winner. He had plans to put up close to 70 miles from what I heard. 

Eric told me the board where I checked my time was roughly 3 minutes behind, so I would likely not have seen my current lap. I felt relieved and foolish both at the same time. Eric also ran a marathon in under 4 hours, to start the race with a similar game plan, but he was moving a little faster, and he was a full lap ahead of me.  

I ran with Eric for at least two laps before we parted. I was thinking I needed to slow down, so I was honest with about my goals and let him speed ahead; however, within the next two laps I passed him. 

I had no game plan passing him. He was a lap ahead of me after all. I ran the next 30+ miles oblivious to Eric’s whereabouts. He was the only guy left I knew for sure was ahead of me. Everyone else I had passed multiple times. I was hoping that maybe Eric dropped out? He did say he might have broken a rip and was not feeling a 100 percent. 

I kept moving fast and passing more people. Sometimes I would see a runner who I had passed multiple times all the sudden pacing with me or moving faster than me, and that always motivated me to speed up enough to catch them and pass them. So, I knew I was making great time. I took super short walks occasionally. I knew there was a chance I would blow up, so I wanted to play it as safe. 

One Hour Left 

I drank some coffee and was attacking. Where is Eric I wondered? Is he still out there? I was going to ask someone by the board where I was placed and really (how far is Eric ahead of me? Or did he drop out?) And I noticed this nice guy who had a beard running back and forth and looking at the board every time I passed, so I was hoping I was doing well. He told me as I was going through that Eric was not far ahead of me! What?! I thought, and Phill was telling me, “Pour the gas on!” 

I did not catch him that next lap, but I tried. I kept imagining that I saw him up ahead. The next lap I took it up a notch and ran an 8:02 minute mile (on mile #70 according to my watch). I saw Eric up ahead. I was tempted to start putting on the breaks and picking my moment to pass him, but I wanted to give him a chance to catch me. 

I ran next to him for a moment and said, “I guess we are on the same lap now.” 

I smiled and said, “I was hoping you decided to stop. I knew your rib was bothering you.” 

He said, “I was hoping you had decided to stop! I thought you only were going to do 65.” 

Before I went ahead, I rehashed my thinking about waiting versus moving into the lead, so he would know I was trying to be fair. We still had about 25 minutes left in the race. I didn’t know how much I was going to slow down once I took the lead, so it was anyone’s race.  

I stayed about 30 seconds ahead of him. When the course changed at the end to an out and back, I lost some time being unsure of the directions even though it was obvious. I saw Eric going the other direction in that last 20 minutes. He first was gaining, but after two laps I regained the same lead I had. In the last 6 minutes he told me, “this is my last lap.”

Which means I won! For half a second, I thought why not slow down? But then I immediately said, “No, I have another lap in me.” I was going to feel bad if I ran out of time. If you don’t complete a lap in race like this, it doesn’t count towards your total milage. I went all out coming into the finish line. I heard Phil yelling “less than a minute,” and I saw my wife and daughter cheering. 

They had made it there in perfect timing to see me finish! I was so overjoyed to be able to share this moment with them. 

My daughter hugged my leg as I embraced my wife. Does life get any better than this? My official distance was 71.5182, a new course record.