Notes
My first MiWok 100 was an incredible experience. I'm still flooding very high enjoying the moment.First up, I did not expect to be that difficult of a course. ZombieRunner Don suggested that I walk the first 10 minutes and all up hills including the small ones. I followed those suggestions and I am sure they helped me finishing the race.
At the start about 90% of all runners started running. I myself and a few others were walking the beach section and sure enough we caught up on them while they waited to enter the single trail section. It was so crowed that I stood there for about 3 minutes.
After the Tennessee Valley aid station (mile 11.9) I ran with Rajeev and Anil but they were, as usual, way faster than me so I let them go. Those guys are fast!!
The hills were killing me slowly and I was exhausted after the Pan Toll aid station (mile 21.7). I was about 40 minutes before the cut-off time but had to stop there for about 5 minutes (on the other aid stations I was in and out in less than 30 seconds).
I sat next to my drop bag and was so happy to have it. This was the first time I actually used drop bags. I changed my new Nathan wrist pack to my hydration vest because my lower back started to hurt carrying the weight of two bottles with me. Out of my mini cooler I took out an ice-cold Mountain-Dew and I drank a little of that. Next I took one of the homemade tuna sandwich and a cold Ensure and I was out on the course again.
For the next half mile I walked trying to eat the sandwich and wash it down with Ensure. I was a bit afraid that so much solid stuff would anger my stomach but I took it very well and it helped me finding some energy.
Then I started running again.
About 5 miles from the Randall Trail (turnaround mile 35.6) I suddenly crashed badly! I found myself in an amazing low which I never have experienced before; not even at the Rio del Lago 100. I wasn't hurt but I wanted this race to stop. I started walking, even the downhill and flats, and made up my mind that I'll drop at the next aid station. I walked for 4 miles and, for some reason, was really embarrassed if other runners were seeing me walking. I fought with a lot of emotional stresses and simply wanted to disappear.
About 1 mile before the turnaround point Rajeev walked uphill by me and he said that I'll be there in 18 minutes if I keep walking. Somehow I managed to start running again and arrived 10 minutes before the cut off time.
I felt tired but nothing hurt. I ate some water melon and talked to a paramedic. He was a really cool guy and said that the hard part is going up the hill and the rest will be "easy". I decided to believe him (how foolish :), turned around and started walking the very steep uphill.
And then it hit me. I suddenly felt great. I walked up that hill as strong as the first hill in the morning and my spirit was really high. On the flats I ran a very comfortably 10:30 minute pace and passed a few other runners.
Still nothing hurt; I felt no blisters and my legs were very loose. I was back at the Bolinas Ridge aid station (mile 42.8) 30 minutes before the cut off time.
On that aid station Barbara Elias came in after me. She had missed a turn and lost some time. From there on I felt strong and ran with her and her pacer most of the time. On the hills she normally pulled away and on the downhill and flats I managed to catch up.
Before the Pan Toll aid station (mile 49.5) I found some fresh strength and ran by her. She then caught up on me at the aid station since I took a little time getting another sandwich and Ensure, drinking some more Mountain Dew and sharing a Red Bull with her. I was so glad that I had the cooler because everything was still super cold, which felt great to drink.
From there Barbara took off strong and I found myself alone most of the time. I enjoyed the down hills and, surprisingly, also the up hills. I really have to give a lot of credits to ZombieRunner Don, because I believe that going out slow allowed me to find so much strength later on in the race.
At this year's American River 50 my single mistake was that I went out too fast and died after 30 miles slogging until the finish line. Not at Miwok. I even ran parts of the up hills to the Highway 1 crossing aid station (mile 54.7) and it felt great. I even caught up on Barbara right before the aid station.
There I took another salt tablet because I ran out of mine. For some reason I only took 12 tablets. The down hills to the Tennessee Valley aid station (mile 58.4) were very difficult with my tired legs and I wasn't able to run it so Barbara was gone once again. Nevertheless, at the aid station, she took a bit of time to dress up which I didn't. I hardly get cold on a run and wasn't concerned that I would need any jacket, which turned out to be the right decision for me.
We were ready to tackle the last section. I still felt good. Barbara asked me if I am happy that the race is almost over and I told her that I simply enjoying the moment, having a good time. Regardless, I truly underestimated the last 4 miles with its up- and down hills. I was able to stay with Barbara all the way and switched off my light where it was safe to do so I could enjoy the darkness. I tremendously enjoyed the beauty of the moment with Sarah Brightman on my iPod, the surrounding darkness and the stars in the sky. I was at peace with everything and found myself very centered. That was one of the highlights of my race.
The last downhill to the finish line was difficult for me. Without Barbara and her pacer I would probably walked that section, like the others we passed, but she kept me going. We finished in 15 hours 55 minutes. That was awesome because I expected to finish in 16:29:59 :). To my greatest surprise I did not have a single blister.
Huge thanks goes to all aid station people. They truly were amazing serving all our needs. A special thanks to RD Tia Bodington. And last but not least to all those incredible fast runners who were so supportive telling me 'good work' even though I was most likely the very last person in that race.
"I'll be back"