Day 3,981-2 —the Howard Aslinger 24 hour race: Windy with Tornado Warnings—

Before the Race 

There was a chance for a tornado the night of the race. It is annoying to run in the wind, but I was trying to think about it because there was nothing I could do. The race organizers sent out an email saying they had a plan in case there was a tornado warning. The race was taking place in what looked like a community center, so there was a huge gymnasium that could be used in the worst-case scenario.

         My car was getting pushed by the wind, and when I got down there I didn’t see anyone from the race, but I was 3 hours early. I walked to the official-looking building and a guy there told me where everyone was and let me use the bathroom inside.

         I parked a little closer next to a guy who was sleeping in his car. I decided that this was as good a place as any to set up. Seeing the cones close by, I assumed this was part of the trail. I had four heavy things I was going to use to help keep the tent secure: two coolers and two large batteries. I placed one in each corner inside while I tried to start setting up the tent. It was not going well, but I was making progress, but the tent kept flying around, and I didn’t have a hammer to stake it ground.

         The guy who was sleeping before asked if I needed a hand, and I didn’t want to tell him this was my first time setting up this tent by myself, so I couldn’t give him a lot of directions because I was just figuring it out as I went along. He eventually gave up on helping me and went back to his car. I slowly got to the point where I could put some stakes in, and I remembered that I had a metal nightstick in my car, so I got that out to use as a hammer.

         When I got inside my tent, I checked my email and saw that today was the last day to apply for a scholarship for the Parson Blewett, which is a scholarship I have used each semester to pay for school, and I had forgotten the deadline was so soon! I sat in the tent and used my phone to go through the application. I made it to the end, and I clicked to sign, and the display screen to sign wouldn’t zoom out, so I couldn’t hit submit. I refreshed the page, and it lost all the data I just entered!

         I tried on a different web browser and got back to the part to sign, hoping that maybe it would display right this time. It didn’t! I decided to save the application and then go into it. Possibly it would display differently? If not, I wouldn’t be able to take classes over the summer. Then, my password kept auto-populating incorrectly, and I couldn’t sign in! I tried a few more things and signed in and made it back to the page where I was having trouble before. I doubted it would work. I didn’t have any reason to think it would display differently, but I knew there was a chance, and I couldn’t think of anything else to do. At the same time. I am sitting in a tent that is barely staying on the ground, and suddenly my cooler falls over, and now there is a gallon of water in the middle of my tent.

         I get some of the ice that spilled out of the tent, but I don’t even know what to do about the water. I go back to the application and make it to the page where I couldn’t sign before, and it magically displays the submit button! I finish the application, and it is still about an hour before the race. I walk down where it looks like people are setting up. I figured I could go get my bib at least.

I am shocked to discover that everyone is set up under a large outdoor structure that is clearly used for animals. This whole area I soon realize is made to have animal shows (pageants?), the kind of thing you would expect to find at a fair where pigs get ribbons.

         So there are at least 4 of these huge outdoor covers. One is being used for the start/finish and the aid station, and runners are setting their stuff up underneath the covering. Most of the good spots are taken, but I am still excited this is now an option!

I ran back to my tent and decided to drag my mostly complete tent over to a covering and re-set-up over there. I start to do it, and Travis, thinking that my tent was flying away, comes to help. He helped me move it to an area I picked out that is to the right over the main area but has a little more extra protection because a bunch of stuff is being stored in the center, so I put my tent in the corner, which gave me the most protection.

         I slowly staked everything back to the ground and strategically placed my coolers and batteries to add stability. I used one of my two towels to mop up the water in my tent. I didn’t set up the cot but laid it strategically to add weight.

10 minutes until the Start

         They called us over for the meeting, and the guy talked passionately about Howard Aslinger explained that this was a family event, and pointed to all the family, including Howard Aslinger’s wife, who were all there supporting all the runners. They were the nicest and most generous people. They worked the entire race, cheered me on, and were always there, ready at the aid station.

They explained we would go to the gym if things got bad and that we switch directions every two hours.

7 p.m., the race Begins

         I started out going between 8- and 9-minute miles. I was going a little faster than I planned, but thinking they were going to make us stop for weather kept me motivated to run a marathon before we got pulled off the course.

         I wasn’t checking the leaderboard, but I was in the lead throughout this time and was the first person to hit a marathon. I talked some to this guy, Nicholas, who was only 22 and was attempting to run a total of 15 or 16 100-mile runs in one year. He said if successful, he would be the youngest person ever to do that. I told him I thought that was a great goal and wished him luck.

After we switched directions, I did a whole lap and missed the entrance back to the start. It isn’t marked, but there are porta-potties there, which I remembered to look for in the future. I knew I was at the end, so I was confused about how I could have just missed it but turned around and ran an additional lap back to the start. I was still in the lead but gave up at least 1.15 miles.

I didn’t hate the trail, and there was enough light I didn’t need to use my headlamp, so it was so nice to be able to run without water, without my headlamp. I just had my sunglasses and my phone.

The wind was getting worse and worse, and it started raining, but just for a short amount of time. The race organizers took down most of the aid stuff and were almost completely inside. They said we could keep running, but they were encouraging everyone to take shelter. Officially at 11:15, they pulled everyone off the course; there was a tornado warning originally until 12:15 a.m.

11:15–1:15 a.m.

         While everyone else went into the gym, I decided to sit in my tent. I knew it was risky, but I just really didn’t want to be in a big, open space. I wanted all my stuff and to be able to sit and relax.

I took off my clothes, put on my robe, and sat around, trying not to think about the storm. For a while, it was just windy, but then I could hear what sounded like hail and rain. I figured it would be 12:15 soon, and then I would be able to keep running, but as soon as it was midnight, the warning was extended until 12:30 a.m.

Now, the sirens were going, and the alert from my phone went off. It advised that everyone go to the basement and suggested taking shelter if you were in a car or any type of trailer. I figured that tents would probably go in that category too and thought maybe I was being stupid by sitting out here, but I just figured it was going to blow over any minute.

A little later, the warning extended to 1:15 a.m., and I went to sleep. Yes, even though it was windy and raining and loud! So loud! I went to sleep.

1:15–7 a.m.

I felt a little stiff when we started back, and there was this huge muddy puddle in one section that made walking through it the only option, but it was pretty, even gorgeous at times. I loved seeing the glow from the lightning echo in the background. The moon looked almost full, and it shined yellow.

Surprisingly, they diverted the course so we didn’t have to continue to get our feet wet!

I was still leading, so people were cheering me on, and everyone was calling me “Daniel,” which felt great to hear. So many people talked to me like we had been old friends like they had known me for so long.

After 12 hours, I hit about 58 or 59 miles, which minus the 2 hours I didn’t run is only 10 hours, and I thought that was pretty good. I was just trying to be between 5 or 6 miles an hour and I was doing it!      

7 – noon 

         I was slowly losing the lead. Nicholas, who I talked to earlier, was gaining on me. I kept having to remind myself that this was a training run and that I couldn't give it my everything because that would be stupid.

I started walking for about 30 seconds every mile and just focused on being around a 12-minute mile. I was going to hit 100K soon, and after that, it was hard to have clear goals. I was thinking I would try to do another update when I get to 74, but I stopped caring about taking pictures or making videos. I had been drinking mainly Tailwind, which I know is surprising if you have read how I hate it in a past post, but it tasted good and was hitting the spot. I was barely using my aid at all and just was getting a drink of water and Tailwind every lap and kept moving.

I was trying not to look at the leaderboard, but I hadn’t past Nicholas and he had passed me a few times, so I figured he had to be in the lead. He passed me excitedly. He was gracious enough not to brag, but I told him I was doing fine, just being smart, and encouraged him to keep moving. He was having a great race, and I was happy for him.

Noon–4 p.m.  

         I was struggling to eat any real food. I was eating strawberries mostly, and I had some pickles. I went ahead and drank some of my super hydration stuff because, even though I was drinking a lot, I was also feeling lightheaded. I was dealing with pain in all of my legs, but nothing that I was not used to.

I talked to this other guy who had done 5,000 miles in a year! I had never met anyone who had done more than I had in a year, but this guy had done it! He was inspiring to talk to. He said he was trying to streak 1,000 days with a minimum of 2 miles a day, which is awesome! He had a system where he was running a lot during the workday, so it didn’t take away from time spent at home. I met another guy who had done the 500K vol state! I told him that I have been wanting to do that race for the past few years. He said it was awesome. One of the people at the aid station joked and told me that she hadn’t seen me at any of the SLUG (St. Louis Ultra Group) events, but here I was in Cape Giradeau. She was so encouraging and told me she loved to see me run and how happy I was. I was smiling; I couldn’t stop smiling for most of the race.

I kept doing the math and realized that I could finish 100 in the next 3 hours. After getting in the 80s and then when I was at 92, I just kept telling myself, “There are only 2 hours left!” Nicholas got to 100 when I was at 94, I think, so way ahead of me. I didn’t have to feel bad for adding that mile.

At 97, one of the race helpers told me I only needed two more laps for 100! I was doing the math and I thought I required 3, but I was never sure when the tracker updated, so I thought I was 3 miles ahead on my watch (really only 1.85), but I couldn’t be sure.

I was hoping he was right and went through that next lap as quickly as I could. When I got back, he told me, “I’m sorry I cannot do math; you got 2 more.”

I kind of figured, so it was no big deal. I went through those next two as quickly as I could; my goal was just to be at around 14–15 minute miles. I was hoping to finish in under 21 hours, and to my shock, I did it! 20:58:26 seconds! Which is my second-fastest 100-mile time ever! If you take out the 2 hours I had to stop, it would be my fastest.

After the race

I sat in my chair for about an hour and a half after I finished 100. I thought I was going to get up and keep running, but I looked around and realized I could tear down my tent in the light and leave and be home for bedtime. I slowly took down my tent and moved all my supplies to my car. I got my gold buckle, which is by far the smallest 100-mile buckle I own. I wondered if this should count as a 100-mile race or not. They do give you a buckle, but it still feels different.

I thanked everyone I saw as I was heading out and talked to Travis, who had helped me put up my tent. He didn’t make it to 100, but had a good showing and finished 93 miles. Now, I was worried if I was going to be able to stay awake as I was driving, but it wasn’t too bad. I had some caffeine and stopped twice on my way home. When I opened the door to my house, my kids were still up and I still had enough energy to make dinner for myself: Life is good.

Today, it is almost 11 a.m. I have been up since a little before 8 and I feel fine. I am getting anxious to start my run for today, but I wanted to write this first and let the sun come up some.