Rocky Racoon = 100-Mile Trail Run, Feb 7, 2004

Rocky Racoon 100-Mile Trail Run, Feb 7,=20 2004 - Race = Report (by Ben=20 Holmes)

Vicki, (my = wifely=20 crew) and I flew down to Houston and made = the=20 drive

up = to=20 Huntsville without = major=20 problems. She had recently injured

her = knee and was=20 on crutches. This wasn't a factor on the way down,

but = turned out=20 to be tough on the way back, when I wasn't walking

very = well.

We stopped at an Italian place = in=20 Conroe, and I had = a=20 fantastic

veggie pizza at=20 about 4pm. I picked = up my=20 packet, but didn't stick

around for the=20 race dinner like last year. My goal was to be = asleep

by=20 9pm. At = 7:30pm, I stopped = at a=20 liquor store to buy 1 large

microbrewed beer bottle...Arrogant Bastard = Ale. When I=20 was going

into = the store,=20 I spotted a walk that I recognized. "Hey Raul", I

said. Raul=20 Flores (of Mission=20 Hills,=20 KS) was there = to do the=20 fifty,

(after he bought=20 some wine and got some sleep, of course). Quite = the

coincidence, I=20 thought. Raul won the 100-mile race 9 years ago as

his = FIRST ultra,=20 with a time of 16:32. He, Lou = Joline, and Mike

Schupp were my=20 inspiration for originally trying this ultra-crazy

sport in the=20 first place.

At the hotel, I realized that I = had=20 forgotten my gaiters and water

bottles for the=20 race. Thankfully, the ground on the course was of = a

consistency /=20 moisture level that didn't stir up much dirt/sand. = As

far = as water=20 bottles go, I went to the store and got two gatorade

swivel-top sport=20 bottles. Problem solved. I showered, put unscented

antiperspirant=20 on my feet & ankles (for the race the next day). = We

got = to sleep at=20 9pm, as = planned. I got up=20 at 4am and = performed=20 my

morning race-day=20 rituals. At 4:45am we went to = the=20 Denny's next door

for = some=20 breakfast. It took the waitress 20-minutes to get = me

coffee. I=20 thought that this was a bad omen, so I skipped = breakfast

and = we headed=20 for Huntsville=20 State=20 Park, for the=20 6am start.=20 I

figured I would=20 eat a banana, then start eating PB & J = sandwich

pieces at the=20 aid stations right away.

It was cold at the start, so I = decided to=20 run with my tights on. I

ended up leaving=20 them on the whole day and only changing my tops to

suit = the=20 temperature. The temps were between 27 to 51 degrees = F,

with = no real=20 wind. It was sunny throughout the day.

Course = Description:

The race consists of five laps = of a 20.2=20 mile loop course, with aid

stations about=20 every 4 miles. There are roots that grow on top of

the = ground in=20 places, but there aren't any sharp rocks. There = are

(boring) dirt=20 roads and pine needle covered trails, as well. = This

year = it had=20 rained pretty hard the week before, but the park = drains

well. It was=20 muddy in the usual boggy places, but during sunlit

hours it was=20 fairly easy to avoid wet feet. The mud there is = not

Missouri-type of=20 stick-to-your-shoes-forever mud, but it is a

penetrating,=20 sandy mud, which is not good to get on top of the = mesh

of = your shoes.=20 There are no major hills, and the course is very

runnable.

Loop=20 #1

I wanted to go out slow on the = first=20 loop. I ran at what I thought

was = a 4 hr, 30=20 min pace. I got my feet wet in the first 10 = minutes

of = running. I=20 had fun talking and getting to know some of the

runners around=20 me. One of them was Dan the Fisherman, from = Maine.

We were on the backside of the = lake, on=20 the single track trail

talking about=20 deep subjects, such as: how 100s are more a mental = and

spiritual=20 journey through a physical means. We got pretty deep = into

the = metaphysics=20 of "Ego-stripping", etc, and then Dan realized that = I

was = not running=20 according to my plan. He said, "what time did = you

want = to hit on=20 your first loop?" I said, "4:30"; then=20 he

said, "you're=20 doing more like a 3:30"; to which = I thought,=20 *oh chit*,

and = told him I=20 would have to let him go on ahead. I finished the

first 20.2-mile=20 loop in 3:40.

Loop=20 #2

For some reason, on this loop = my=20 hamstrings and muscles ached. I

felt = sluggish=20 and slug-like. Maybe it's because I'm a member of = the

SLUGS (St = Louis Ultrarunners Group). I'd probably have been = feeling

better if I'd=20 joined the St Louis Ultra Trainers, instead. If = you

run = enough of=20 these, you know that the rough spots will pass, = given

time. This one=20 did by the end of the loop, and I did it in 4:10=20 or

so.

Loop=20 #3

A fun = loop. I=20 always start feeling much better after 40 miles. I

kept = playing=20 leapfrog with a guy named Joel. He was a strong = runner,

but = tended to=20 spend more time in the aid stations than I did. He = was

always catching=20 up to and passing me right before each aid = station.

This went on for the next 40 = miles. I was=20 in and out of the aid

stations in 30 -=20 90 seconds max. He took a lot longer. Geez=20 Joel,

they're aid=20 stations, not hotels! ;-) It was getting dark by the = end

of = this=20 loop.

Loop=20 #4

This loop was completely in the = dark. I=20 felt great during this loop,

as = well. I ran=20 the single track trail parts very quickly. I think

the = loop took=20 4:15 or so. The = 1 hour /=20 once per week of night trail

running that=20 I've been doing for 15 months, has helped = tremendously.

I was trying to build up a pad = of time=20 for the last loop, so that I

could defineitely come in at under 24 hours. I used my = IPod music

player on this=20 loop and for 1/2 of the next. The music helps = inspire

me = at night, and=20 keeps my mind from being freaked out by armadillos

and = alligators=20 rustling in the bushes and swamps. I passed 19

runners on this=20 loop, and was only passed by 2 front-runners (on

their last=20 loop).

Loop=20 #5

I started this loop at = midnight. I felt = pretty good,=20 at first. I

started feeling=20 lackluster at the aid station that is 7 or 8 miles

from = the finish.=20 I would try to run all of the flats and downhills,

but = would start=20 walking after a few tens of yards. It was like I = had

lost = my LSD=20 (long-slow distance) speed. I turned off the music, = to

focus on my body=20 and the task at hand. At this point I started

playing leapfrog=20 with Hans Dieter Weisshaar. Finally, he = passed=20 me

and = he was going=20 pretty fast. I let him go. There was a guy behind

me = about 1/4 of=20 a mile with a green headlamp. I focused on staying

ahead of him at=20 all costs. This was a good thing, because it gave = me

something else=20 to think about besides feeling like doo-doo. When = I

got = to the last=20 aid station, it was like a convention. Runners = were

standing around=20 talking. I smiled, passed the aid station and

checked-off 4=20 more notches for the runners that I had passed. = The

next = 2 miles=20 were pretty grueling, but when I got to the part of = the

trail that is=20 about 1.5 miles from the finish, I decided to put = the

steam on. To my=20 surprise, that gear worked, and I was cruising = along

at = an=20 8 to = 8:30/minute = pace! I passed=20 6 runners in the last 1.5

miles, and=20 passed them like they were rocks or trees. Very = un-slug

like, indeed. I=20 never caught Hans, though. He was the only person

that = had passed=20 me on loop 5, and I had passed 19. 19 - 1 =3D 18

passed. I'm=20 going to try to run the last 5 or so miles at this = pace

at = my next=20 hundred. I think it felt good because I was using

different=20 muscles than the LSD muscles that I had used for = twenty-

some = hours.

The = Finish

When I got = to the last=20 200 yards or so, I lept into hyperdrive. It

felt = great=20 finishing 48 minutes ahead of last year's race time, = with

a = time of=20 23:04:20. Hans was = waiting for=20 me at the finish to

congratulate me,=20 just like he did last year. What a guy. I went to

the = car to rouse=20 Vicki, but she was already up and waiting. She

always had a=20 sixth sense as to when I would complete each loop. = We

drove to the=20 park's showers, and I washed up. We tried to sleep = in

the = car until=20 the 10:30am breakfast = and=20 festivities started. I had a

little trouble=20 walking. I thought I had blisters, but I did'nt.

Just = traumatized feet=20 and toes. At the awards ceremony, I was = 39th

out = of 148=20 starters, (with 113 finishers, total). I received = my

second Rocky=20 Racoon silver belt buckle (for finishing in = under=20 24

hours).

Race = Critique

The course was marked = incredibly well.=20 The glow sticks at night were

great for our=20 mileage-diminished minds. The race had incredible = food

quality.=20 Sandwiches, soup, coffee, potato slices, were = always

fresh. The aid=20 station volunteers were gracious, knowledgeable, = and

all-around=20 terrific. The water was great; it was bottled water. = The

aid = station=20 location at the end of the long out-and-back in = the

sticks was=20 fantastic. The logistics of getting stuff there had = to

have = been tough.=20 The RD (Joe Prusaitis) was everywhere at = once=20 and

always cheerful,=20 despite having not slept for 40 hours. Again,

enough can't be=20 said about the volunteer staff of this event. It = was

great. My crew=20 was terrific, also. Thanks, Vicki!

Website:=20 http://www.hillcountrytrailrunners.com/raceRockyRaccoon.html

Notes

What I ate during the=20 race:

I drank 2 bottles filled with = Clip2 per=20 20-mile loop, refilled with

water during=20 loop. I couldn't stand drinking CLIP2 after 75 = miles,

so = switched to=20 water only.

I ate a PB & J sandwich = square at=20 every aid station until mile 60.

Tried to eat whole wheat = breaded PB &=20 J, if available.

From mile 60 onward, I ate the = potato=20 slices offered (at every other

aid = station),=20 and had potato soup twice. Potatos have = fairly=20 high

alkalinity, so I=20 ate sparingly.

I also had a total of 3 drink = boxes of=20 Silk brand chocolate soy

milk, from mile=20 50 to 90.

I took a SUCCEED! (electrolyte) cap every 2 hours. In hot=20 weather

it = would be more=20 like 1/hr. I like the sodium-to-potassium mix in

the=20 SUCCEED-Caps, compared to Edurolyte-Caps.

I took 2 Alkaseltzer tablets at mile 50 or so for upset = stomach=20 and

inflammation=20 control. Alkaseltzer is high in=20 sodium.

I took a total of 3 ibuprophen (as Advil) during the race, after=20 50-

miles.

I ate 1 Hammergel packet when I was feeling hungry and=20 downtrodden,

at = about mile=20 55.

I had a total of 3 cups of = coffee at=20 8pm, = midnight, and = 2am,

respectively. I=20 used to drink Starbucks Frappacino, but I = don't=20 do

well = with dairy=20 on 100s.

I had some Snickers bars in my = drop bags=20 (for an emergency pick-me-

up, = but I=20 avoided eating them).

I ate NOTHING past mile 93 aid=20 station. &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; =20

That's about it, except for the = great=20 piece of peach cobbler that I

had = at the=20 start/finish line at mile 60.

Ben=20 Holmes

Kansas=20 City

Rocky Raccoon =
100

Huntsville =
TX

7 Feb =
2004

1       16:02:10       =
Rainer Koch           &nbs=
p;        23      =
GER

2       16:12:15       =
Paul Frost           &nbs=
p;         33      =
TX

3       16:55:32       =
Kirk Anderson           &nbs=
p;      32      =
IL

4       17:09:45       =
Ryan Loehding           &nbs=
p;      31      =
TX

5       17:37:22       =
Julie Fingar           =
F       28      =
CA

6       18:00:52       Ron Ely           &nbs=
p;            =
32      =
MD

7       18:03:46       Craig Robertson           &nbs=
p;    43      TX

8       =
18:04:29       =
Amanda McIntosh        F       =
39      =
TX

9       18:13:28       John Dove           &nbs=
p;          39      =
GA

10      18:32:44       Bryan Jones           &nbs=
p;        40      =
OR

11      18:53:55       Jeffrey Holdaway           &nbs=
p;   45      VA

12      =
19:31:06       =
David Bursler           &nbs=
p;      39      DE

13      =
19:52:22       =
Patrick McMurtry           &nbs=
p;   44      UT

14      =
19:54:18       =
Bobby Keogh           &nbs=
p;        54      =
NM

15      20:14:15       Randy Hunter           &nbs=
p;       35      =
BC

16      20:18:35       Kathy Pidcock          F       =
49      =
CO

17      20:23:28       Jay Yanovich           &nbs=
p;       49      =
FL

18      20:23:30       Neal Taylor           &nbs=
p;        41      =
CO

20      20:30:32       Michael Hernandez           &nbs=
p;  50      CA

21      =
20:30:42       =
Robert King           &nbs=
p;        42      =
TX

22      20:41:00       Justin Snow           &nbs=
p;        30      =
CO

23      20:41:46       =
Mark Buescher           &nbs=
p;      44      =
TX

24      20:51:00       =
Paul Schmidt           &nbs=
p;       52      =
CA

25      20:56:26       Joshua Calhoun           &nbs=
p;     25      TX

26      =
21:03:28       =
Maria Lemus            =
F       40      =
CA

27      21:06:57       Nathan Ochsner           &nbs=
p;     34      TX

28      =
21:23:24       =
Steve Varga           &nbs=
p;        51      =
WA

29      21:35:20       Dan Brenden           &nbs=
p;        52      =
AZ

30      21:41:10       Aaron Scrimager           &nbs=
p;    28      TX

31      =
21:58:58       =
Katy Cotton            =
F       37      =
WY

32      22:37:36       =
John Opalko           &nbs=
p;        42      =
TX

33      22:39:43       =
Dave Eitrheim           &nbs=
p;      46      =
WI

34      22:42:26       Matthew Watts           &nbs=
p;      47      CO

35      =
22:48:10       =
Robert Alexander           &nbs=
p;   49      TX

36      =
22:50:59       =
Don Ryan           &nbs=
p;           =
54      =
MO

37      22:56:56       Bobby Haier           &nbs=
p;        39      =
TX

38      22:58:00       =
Hans-Dieter Weisshaar          63      =
GER

39      23:04:20       =
Ben Holmes           &nbs=
p;         46      =
KS

40      23:06:20       Mike Wood           &nbs=
p;          44      =
TX

41      23:08:05       Letha Cruthirds        F       =
50      =
TX

42      23:09:00       Rolly Portelance           &nbs=
p;   62      =
ONT

44      23:19:01       Beth Simpson           =
F       45      =
WI

43      23:19:01       Rick George           &nbs=
p;        46      =
IL

45      23:23:32       Shane Sampson           &nbs=
p;      40      OH

46      =
23:28:50       Dennis Drey           &nbs=
p;        52      =
NM

47      23:34:05       =
Ernest Landry           &nbs=
p;      50      =
MA

48      23:36:36       Kerry Nino           &nbs=
p; F       41      =
CA

49      23:36:47       Mike Smith           &nbs=
p;         46      =
IN

50      23:37:36       Paul Stone           &nbs=
p;         42      =
TX

51      23:37:55       Rick Rochelle           &nbs=
p;      39      WY

52      =
23:42:15       =
Justin Vorel           &nbs=
p;       23      =
OK

53      23:49:58       Bill Nictakis           &nbs=
p;      43      MO

54      =
23:51:24       =
Walt Prescott           &nbs=
p;      50      NH

55      =
24:25:05       German Collazos           &nbs=
p;    45      TX

56      =
24:35:20       Joseph Lindberg           &nbs=
p;    42      TX

57      =
24:46:45       Dan Bratches           &nbs=
p;       34      =
ME

58      24:48:02       =
Nofal Musfy           &nbs=
p;        61      =
TX

60      24:57:20       =
William Hollihan           &nbs=
p;   73      WI

59      =
24:57:20       Mike Stabler           &nbs=
p;       44      =
CO

61      25:07:10       =
Greg Kleindl           &nbs=
p;       53      =
WI

62      25:09:50       =
Matt Crownover           &nbs=
p;     31      TX

63      =
25:13:00       Jeff Heasley           &nbs=
p;       36      =
CO

64      25:14:40       =
Rex Friend           &nbs=
p;         49      =
OK

65      25:16:44       =
Gregory Loomis           &nbs=
p;     29      TX

66      =
25:17:45       Edith Reyns            =
F       49      =
IL

67      25:32:55       =
Scott Demaree           &nbs=
p;      52      TX

68      =
25:34:23       Phil Wright               &nbs=
p;   59      CA

69      =
25:36:15       Robert Calabria           &nbs=
p;    62      NC

70      =
25:48:44       Marty Fritzhand           &nbs=
p;    60      OH

71      =
25:49:35       David Berdis           &nbs=
p;       45      =
TX

72      25:52:58       =
David Bliss           &nbs=
p;        41      =
WA

73      25:53:48       =
Chrissy Weiss          F       =
42      =
CA

74      26:05:13       =
Jay Barry           &nbs=
p;          50      =
PA

75      26:05:33       =
Anita Finkle           =
F       37      =
VA

76      26:05:33       =
Jay Finkle           &nbs=
p;         40      =
VA

77      26:09:54       =
Scott Olmer           &nbs=
p;        32      =
CO

78      26:12:19       =
Shan Rooney            =
F       31      =
TX

79      26:16:01       =
Jim Good           &nbs=
p;           =
45      =
AZ

80      26:20:00       =
Leslie Hale            =
F       51      =
TX

81      26:24:07       =
Rick Gastelum           &nbs=
p;      59      =
TX

82      26:43:56       =
Robert Botto           &nbs=
p;       54      =
TX

83      26:58:03       =
Maxwell McIntire           &nbs=
p;   50      CA

84      =
27:06:11       Kimberley Sergeant     F       =
45      =
TX

85      27:08:39       =
Sam Voltaggio           &nbs=
p;      52      TX

86      =
27:12:56       Bob Williams           &nbs=
p;       61      =
TX

87      27:21:32       =
David M Allen           &nbs=
p;      45      TX

88      =
27:21:44       Carol Schmidt          F       =
44      =
TX

89      27:21:44       =
Joel Du Bois           &nbs=
p;       45      =
TX

90      27:26:50       =
Geoffrey Palmer           &nbs=
p;    22      MB

91      =
28:07:16       Evan Groutage           &nbs=
p;      54      TX

92      =
28:07:16       Stephen McNeil           &nbs=
p;     46      TX

93      =
28:18:18       Linda Rust           &nbs=
p; F       44      =
TX

94      28:42:52       =
Grant Holdaway           &nbs=
p;     72      UT

95      =
28:48:23       Jake Elkins           &nbs=
p;        52      =
WY

96      28:49:11       =
Louise Mason           =
F       50      =
IL

97      28:52:02       =
Troy Pfeiferling           &nbs=
p;   41      TX

98      =
28:52:02       Daryl Lazauskas           &nbs=
p;    39      TX

99      =
29:07:59       Roger Bosley           &nbs=
p;       63      =
IN

100     29:07:59       Chris Migotsky           &nbs=
p;     37      =
IL

101     29:13:33       Laura Weber            =
F       45      =
SC

103     29:14:35       Cynthia Daniels        =
F       54      =
UT

102     29:14:35       Barbara Elias          F       =
41      =
UT

104     29:30:29       Dharam Paul Piplani            =
56      =
AZ

105     29:32:32       Jason Quinlan           &nbs=
p;      28      =
TX

107     29:36:42       Neal Yasuda           &nbs=
p;        53      =
HI

106     29:36:42       Marian Yasuda          F       =
43      =
HI

108     29:49:23       Gregg Rose           &nbs=
p;         45      =
IL

109     29:49:23       Jeff Riddle           &nbs=
p;        45      =
IL

110     29:52:50       Randy Andrews           &nbs=
p;      49      =
NE

111     31:28:40       =
Dalton Pulsipher           &nbs=
p;   26      =
TX

112     32:53:06       Michael Quinn           &nbs=
p;      39      =
TX

113     33:36:07       Toks Fashola           =
F       40      =
MD

148 =
starters