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mubal4 · 4 years

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Black Canyon 100K – Race Wrap Up – Part 11

Last week I wrote about the upcoming race from last Saturday, and how it was the only race I was going back to for a 2nd time; “The Sequel” was the title and it was about the Black Canyon 100K put on by Aravaipa Running. Another big THANK YOU to Aravaipa, the staff, aid stations workers, volunteers, local and regional police, fire, and medical folks, fellow competitors, crews, pacers, and spectators. Seriously folks, if you are looking to do a race in AZ, and it doesn’t have to be an ultra, Aravaipa puts on one, it seems like every week, mostly trails, distances for everyone. They do a first-rate job with all components of the race, logistics, and making it safe and fun for everyone. I’ve done a number of their races since I moved here and they have all, yes ALL, been awesome experiences. Last Saturday at the BC100K was no different and yes, the sequel, for me, was better than the original 😊.

Last year’s race, as you can read in the linked post, was a challenge for me and I had to dig deep. Overall, it was a great experience and I learned a lot. This year, there was some slight differences. To begin, the start was at a different location, the original, Mayer High School in Spring Valley, AZ. We started with a loop around the track and then winded our way through the town of Spring Valley before picking up the Black Canyon Trail. At that point, it was roughly 60 miles south until we hit the finish line at New River, AZ! Last year, because of heavy rains the week of the race, the course was rerouted back up north from the mid-point and we retraced our steps for the final 22+ miles. This year, although we had a big rainfall last Monday, we were able to run the traditional, point to point course. It is interesting, I have done the final 25 miles of the traditional course a few times during training runs. I was aware of the terrain and the climbs; however, I had never done it before with 38 miles already on my legs. There were a few sections of that last part that I wad dreading going in because the first 38 is mainly downhill with a few small climbs and a bunch of flat areas. Whatever the case, I was excited to get things rolling last Saturday and grateful to be doing the traditional point to point course. I learned last year from going out to fast and not being patient and conservative the first 38 miles. It bit me in the ass last year and that lack of patience almost caused me to DNF!!! This year, I had my plan to go smooth and steady until I saw Robin at mile 38 and then it was time to pick it up a bit. Oh, the other thing that wasn’t in play this year was my crew. Isabella had gymnastics in the AM and Alaina’s soccer coach called a last-minute scrimmage for 4pm so, rather than have Robin driving all over the place, like last year, we bagged the idea of them being at a number of the aid stations. This was the 2nd year for us doing this race, I new the course, so there wasn’t that tremendous need. Of course, I always want to see them and have them there; it is certainly a pick-me-up, and this is a tough course, with the heat too, it was going to be another challenge, but, we decided Robin can just meet me at mile 38, roughly the mid-point aid station, and then she can gather the girls to see me at the finish. I also had my buddy, Jeff Beck, packing me for the last 11 miles so after discussing it, this made the most sense. Hell, I was going to be spending several hours running one of the most beautiful courses that I’ve had the great fortunate to run, with over 700 others on a beautiful February day. I was in my happy place 😊.

The 3am alarm went off and I actually had a good night’s rest. Got into my race day morning routine and Robin was gracious enough to drop me off at the shuttle, not too far from our house, to take us all up to the start line, about a 45-minute drive. On the bus, I had a cool conversation with a younger dude, from New Mexico, who drove over the day before, camped out, and was doing the same that night after he got done before driving back home in the AM. I will say it again but a thousand THANKS to Robin for supporting me through this wacky and wild sport. Well, and again to Aravaipa for hosting so many races close to our home 😊. We arrived at the high school and this was so much better than last year. We were in a big tent, with a few heaters last year prior to race start trying to keep ourselves sheltered from the snow. This year, although it was 32* at start, we were inside the high school gym. I was stretched out on the floor, getting a good rest and relaxing, shedding my layers about 5 minutes before heading out to the start line. I was in a calm and chill place which certainly gets your mind right before tackling 62 miles. With a few pre-race announcements, we were off taking our lap around the track, hearing cheers and support from the folks that were lining the course, and several minutes later, we began seeing the beauty that is this course. I shared a few pictures of my favorite, the Bradshaw Mountains; you can see a bit of snow on them from the storm earlier this week. At this point, so early in the race it was smooth, slow and steady. Even though there was a chill, I got rid of my long sleeve and gloves less than 20 minutes in and was feeling great in a t-shirt. The majority of this race is single-track; to a point where it is tough to get by one another. You have to be very patient or very polite to get by folks. My plan was to just stay smooth and steady and my fellow runners helped me with that plan. I kept coming up on groups every so many miles and hitching onto their train as the caboose, just keeping stride with them. This worked great for the first 25 miles or so then people started to get a bit fatigued and the passing began. Over the course of the first 37+ miles, I had the chance to run with a number of groups, most had cool stories to tell and their own reason for being out there. I did have the great fortune to run with a few folks running their first 100K and many from out of state, which was cool. Shared a few miles with a woman from Wisconsin that shares that same love for Spotted Cow beer as my wife. Even after running 62 miles, the sound of Spotted Cow beer doesn’t get my juices flowing; more on that later 😊. The first aid station is probably my favorite, just for the views. You get there, stop to fill up your water/hydration, maybe get some nutrition in and then look out over the valley you are about to run into. At this point, you are at almost at the highest point of the race and it is mostly downhill for the next few hours. It is an epic view. The next aid station, around mile 12-13 is worked by a running group out her, the Arizona Traileggars, that I have run with a few times. There are a number of great folks that we’ve become friends with over the last year + and it was great to see them there. Thanks Meghan, Brian, John and all of the Traileggars for being there. You guys, as always, were wonderful throughout. The next stop was Bumble Bee Ranch. This aid station last year, was the favorite of Alaina and Robin. It goes through a small ranch town (population 11) and the aid station is the actual ranch. It is beautiful and very, very western. This year there was no stopping or seeing the family. I basically ran right through, grabbed some water, and was on my way.

Heading into the second 3rd of the race, I knew the next aid station would have some more friends at it volunteering but this section was the toughest part of the first half. Although it is short, there are a few climbs and you are very exposed to the sun, just above. It was great to see Rich and Erin at the aid station. They got me in and out quick, fueled up, and on my way. I was excited to get moving because in another 13 or so miles I would be hitting Black Canyon City aid station and seeing Robin for the first, and only time, until the finish. Prior to reaching her though, there were a couple of climbs, and a water crossing. This part of the course we didn’t see last year because the rivers where to high. I will say though, crossing those this year, there were 4 totals, was fantastic. The highest was about just below the knee (well, for me, I am 5’6” 😊). These crossings gave us time to dip our head in the water, soak our tired knees and muscles, and cool down from the rising temps. It seemed that everyone I was running with at those crossings, at the time, were refreshed leaving them, at least for a few miles. 😊 At this point last year is when the dark spot, the pain cave, was reached. This year, although my knees where definitely sore and I can feel the pain coming; I knew, after a few more hours, I would be sitting down having a beer and sleeping in my bed. Seriously though, that was the thought going through my head. Yes, my knees where hurting, just like pretty much every race I do. There were some other inconveniences too, but nothing out of the normal for a race like this. And, in those races, I was fine; acknowledging that pain, but also realizing that pain would go away soon enough. Actually, I did learn, from a race in October, TO SLOW DOWN!!!! I slowed my pace quite a bit, even going down hills, did some hiking at some points, and after several minutes, my knees felt better. I would run for a few miles, the pain would come back, I would repeat the process. Before I knew it, I was heading into Black Canyon aid and seeing Robin. She was good to go with my hydration, had some suggestions for food, change of clothes, headlamp, and some more sunscreen. In and out quickly and the best part was the kiss and mental support. My mind was in such a better place at this point compared to last year. Robin saw it, fed off of it, and used it to keep me moving through the aid station. There were no thoughts about DNF-ing. We were discussing logistics and the potential meeting time at the finish line. We came to an agreement and said I would notify her once I picked up Jeff at mile 51 and go from there.

At this point, mile 38, the race was going along as best as I could have wanted. I was where I wanted to be timewise, and I was feeling good. However, the next 25 miles are the toughest of this course. And yes, although I had tackled these miles in the past, never before with that amount of mileage on my legs….and my knees. There are a few nice climbs, tough climbs, and much of the terrain is technical. My mind was running though a self-check just to make sure I was good to go. I had about 13+ miles before I was to pick up Jeff and my head was trying to notice the western sky as the sun began to grow closer and closer to the horizon. The next 7 + miles to the next aid station was smooth. I caught up to two folks, a man and woman, running at a nice pace so I tagged along. We had a conversation about where we were from, the girl was from Pittsburgh and went to Temple University, so we had a lot of PA stories to tell. The miles were ticking off quickly and before we knew it, we were at the aid station and I breezed in and out. Next stop was picking up Jeff and I was really looking forward to tackling some miles with him. It had been two months since he and I did the McDowell Mountain Frenzy 50 mile together and we also have good conversations on the trails. A little less than 2 miles from meeting Jeff at the aid station, there was another river crossing followed by a nice climb; one that gives you some time to think. After wading through the water, which felt great on my body….and knees, I started the climb up the mountain. As you climb, you can look back and see the canyon and the river, seeing people tackle the crossing. It was just getting to 530pm and my mind just thought of the folks that would likely be crossing that river, in the dark, at about 10-1030pm. Fortunately, the temps were not going to get lower than 50 or so, but still, once that sun goes down, the desert floor gets cold and that river was going to be frigid. My thoughts went out to them. Not sure where that had come from at that time but, your mind goes in all different directions during these races.

A few more steps up and some rolling downhills I was hitting the aid station, picking up Jeff, and, as a pleasant surprise, seeing his brother Greg. We caught up for a couple of minutes, checked our gear, and then we were off to finish up the last 11 miles or so. We would have one more aid station, a little less than 4 miles from the finish but once Jeff and I were together, in my opinion, we were hitting the toughest part of the course. There are two, long, significant climbs, almost back to back, before descending down to the last aid station. At this point the sun was behind the horizon, it was cooling down, and I was pretty damn tired. For the most part of the 51+ miles at this time I head my shit together and didn’t catch many toes and eat it. Others on the course didn’t fare as well. I can count about 20 folks that I actually saw fall during this race. I may see one, maybe two, but over the course, at this point of 50 + miles, I had scene about 20. And these weren’t soft falls, people got banged up, blood, bruisers, tears. It was brutal. Fortunately, I didn’t have a yard sale but did catch a toe a couple of times and had just about enough of that; so much so I was exaggerating lifting my knees. Jeff and I were making good time; yes, I had an idea of what I wanted to do and, although my watch battery died, Jeff was making sure we were on pace to cross the line when I wanted to. The slow and steady from several hours before picked up to a brisk pace. Less than a mile out from the last aid station, we hit a smooth jeep trail, and surprisingly, my legs and knees were feeling real good. We stopped real quick at the aid to top off some water, I sent a quick text to Robin, letting her know we were on our way, and……Jeff and I hiked, for a few moments. I am grateful for my friendship with Jeff. We haven’t done a ton of running and we’ve only paced each other a few times but Jeff man, he knows when to say stuff, and when not to say stuff. He gave me some words of encouragement and we were off to finish this thing. The next 2 miles or so is on that smooth jeep trail and we moved. We cruised into the single track again and Jeff gave me a “about 1.5 miles out,” included the time, and I knew we would be beating my time from last year easy. About a mile out, with a little climb, Jeff gave me an update and at this point, it was running into the finish line. I crossed to see Robin and the girls, got a great big hug from a friend giving out the finish awards (cools surprise and great to see him), hugs from the girls, and of course, a big thank you to Jeff. We did what we set out to do and for me, it was a great day, on a great course, with great people, creating great memories. My body feels very good and my recovery is great. Still feel some wonkiness in my knees but that is to be expected.

These races are weird, wacky, nutty, unwavering, unpredictable………for the most part. Yes, there were moments that I asked myself why I continue to do them but that feeling you get, and I am not even talking about the finish; sure, that part is great; but the other stuff. Robin at the Black Canyon aid station & Jeff the last 11 miles; saying what they did, not even knowing likely, that it is what I needed to hear at that present moment. A smile or laugh from an aid station volunteer. A high five from a spectator, you don’t even know, as you cruise into an aid station, saying “looking great runner.” That connection you have with someone out there suffering like you are and dealing with that pain cave like you are. Yeah, those are weird, wacky, nutty, and incredibly special moments that I have not been able to find elsewhere. And, I am not yet read to give them up.

Oh yeah, and the PBR’s that Jeff and I enjoyed waiting in line for the shuttle (and maybe drinking on the shuttle back to the car) were fantastic. Another perk of running 100K, ice cold PBR at the finish, and grilled cheese, fantastic grilled cheese. Until the next adventure, coming soon in a few months. Thanks again to Robin, Isabella, Alaina, Jeff, Meghan, Brian, John, the aid station volunteers, race volunteers, Aravaipa staff, fellow runners, spectators, and crews, pacers, all involved. Thanks for making the BC100K another awesome experience. See you next year!!

#gooutandgetit smoothandsteady BC100K keepmovingforward DFQ

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