DRINK MORE WATER, DAVID #SD100

Watch me turn red as over 200
 people sing happy birthday to me.

I had literally waited a year to run San Diego 100. I had settled on the idea after an impromptu pacing session with Greg Lanctot, but the main reason was definitely because it started on my BIRTHDAY so I would easily get my birthday mileage in. The only thing I did not know was that the race would be like Clint Eastwood's movie "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Well not really ugly).

Jack and I arrived at the Mt. Laguna Lodge to check into cabin 1. The cabin was huge with three bedrooms and lots of places to sleep, with the only drawback of ONE bathroom. I was stoked to finally be here, but disappointed that Ray "Fucking" Sanchez could not make it to the race. I definitely would have made sure he got the one bedroom next to the one bathroom. From Jack and I (mostly Jack) would start prepping the gear for tomorrow. Jason Healey would show up later and hang out; he would be volunteering at Pine Creek 1 & 2. Louis would show up later that night also, but I would be asleep by then.

THE GOOD

This would be short lived as I would crash sooner, I mean WAY SOONER, than expected. I took off with every intention to stay away crowd and run a pace that I probably shouldn't have, but wanted to test a couple things. I felt good running into Meadows and knew that I was doing exactly what I wanted when I heard Greg Lanctot's comment as I ran past him. Of course, Jack is telling me that I am running to fast to slow down. I tell him that I feel good and take off to Red Tail Roost. This part was mostly flat so I make sure not to speed up to fast and to be careful, but before I knew it I was at Red Tail Roost...What The Hell.

I walk up to Jack and once again he reminds me that i am running to fast and to slow it down. He then tells me to drink water before I leave because my skin was dry. I think that I am fine because I normally run in hot conditions where I live, but we all know where this is going. Chris Gilbert-chan lifts a jug of water to my face and says "DRINK MORE WATER, DAVID." I reluctantly grab the container and take three big gulps of water...not gonna lie, it was A-mazing. I then grab my stuff and take off at my previous pace, against the directions of my crew.

THE BAD

FACK.....not even a quarter of a mile after Red Tail Roost that I start to feel sluggish. I should have only had 1 big gulp and not 3 big gulps of water. This was definitely my fault because I didn't drink enough water and then I drank too much water at once... I'm such an idiot. I would keep trying to run until my stomach would start to hurt and then walk and repeat. The crappy part was that every time I took a in more water my stomach would be agitated, but I did not want to get behind on water. i was getting frustrated as about a million people were passing me and that the course was run-able, but my stomach....DAMMIT. I would finally pass by Erin and Jeff, oh the joy of familiar faces, and stop to sit and share my misery (Thanks for listening). By now I had my mind set on dropping when I got to Pine Creek 1, but first I had to get there. I eventually got to Penny Pines and sat down to see if I could get my stomach to calm the F down. After about 10 minutes I started to walk over towards Pine Creek. On the way I would see Brian and Jason, YES! more familiar faces, so I stopped and chatted with them a bit and let them know of my intentions to drop. Brian told me that he would kick my ass if I did so I told him later and continued on my journey. I then saw Steve pouring water into a container and decided to take a moment to use the water to cool down. He was kind enough to hold the lever down as I splashed water on myself. I told him thanks and took off to Pine creek. I still was not able to get rid of the stomach issue and continued with my run..walk..run, but mostly walking. I'm probably mind fucking myself by now because its hot and i'm walking which means it will take me longer to DNF and the chances of my water lasting is slim....SLIM. Oh Yeah...I'm still being passed by tons of people. I finally get to a stream that I use to cool down and it felt great. I have about a mile to go before I get to Pine Creek so I start to run more than walk and possibly the worst thing that could happen before you plan to DNF is to....FEEL BETTER.

Once I got into Pine Creek they douse me with the coldest water, wrap a handkerchief with ice around my neck and sit me down. They did an amazing job helping me out, cooling me down and getting me the necessary nutrition. I told Jimmy of my previous plans to drop and he said "No, to just cool down and keep going." I left that aid station feeling 10x better.

THE UGLY (Well not really)

I start the 5 mile loop feeling better and knowing that I had to be careful since this section is HOT and I do not want to back track. Surprisingly I felt that I took this section well as I was now running more than I was walking an before I new it I heard Kate and Jason's voice, I was already back. I got into the aid station and cooled myself off for the next ascent, which would be the toughest climb of the race. Jimmy told me to run it as we did at the Salton Sea and knew exactly what he meant. I reluctantly leave the aid station by my mindset is changing for the better. From here I would hike..run..hike..run..eat cold popsicle (dry ice cold)...repeat run/walk. Holy Shit, I feel good and I am RUNNING. The views here are spectacular, but I have to keep my eyes focused on the trail so that I don't fall.

Then my ears hear the beautiful sound of Chris Gilbert-chan screaming. I finally made back to Jack and Luis...things are gonna change for the better I can feel it. Jack and I talk about my nutrition and time as Luis gets me food and soda to drink. I ask Jack for two bottles with vitargo before I head out towards Sunrise and take off. I'm guessing that my stomach must have been sensitive because the mixture tasted so strong, that I had a hard time drinking the fluid. This caused me to slow down and fall back into my funk, but this time I knew that once I got to Sunrise Aid Station that I would get my pacer. Only one person passed me on this section so I didn't get in to bad of a mental funk.

Volunteer help cleaning my horrific feet.

I finally walk into Sunrise  and i'm happy to see my friends. I change out my socks, shoes and shirt. Jack helps me with my gear and send Luis and I off. I tell Luis to get in front and run and I will try my best to hold his pace. I don't know what made him decide to pick whichever pace he did, but it was the perfect pace for me....THINGS ARE CHANGING. Luis and I pass around a turn and I see Josh Specktor, so I yell at him calling him a "Sexy Beast" and telling Elan to make him run. I know that Josh is having a hard time, but read his blog cause he has an epic comeback. We would continue running until we hit Stonewall Mine where I would see Jimmy and Kate, both of whom will be pacing me later on. Luis and I take off from here and head off eventually making it to Paso Picacho where I Kate would take over pacing duties.

Kate and I leave Paso Aid Station and take off back into the darkness. I ask Kate to lead as Luis had done previously, letting her dictate what pace I should be running. Once again, I do not know what made her decide on that pace, but it was perfect. I am finally starting to pass other runners and we are making good time. The trail would make sure that Kate and I both pay the trail gods homage before we made it Sweetwater Aid Station. Thankfully we did not get hurt during the fall and were able to get on pace.

We arrive at Sweetwater and it is Mother F'n COLD. I talk to Jack as I try to get some soup down into my system and mentally prep for the next section. Kate and I take off at a nice pace and continue on our journey to Sunrise. We chat about our hilarious adventurous from the past. All of a sudden Kate looks to the right and starts yelling "Hey" repeatedly. I know that she saw something, but I we don't know what. Then she catches the glimmer of it's eyes and as it slowly crept side ways and turns it head toward us.. I FREAK OUT cause it looked like a mountain lion. My heart dropped as I looked at Kate and screaming that its a lion. Then the it turned its head more and we notice that it was just a dear. So we laugh about it a continue to the elusive Sunrise Aid Station.

We finally made it to Sunrise and Jimmy took over pacing duties from here. I let Jimmy dictate the pace, if anything was ugly about this section it would have to be how much it hurt to keep Jimmy's pace. I know that if I was by myself that I would have walked most of the 20 miles back. Jimmy taught me that I could continue running even though it hurts, a valuable lesson for my future races. Jimmy would keep feeding me positive thoughts as we passed a lot of people. Eventually, we would make it to the finish line of SD100 and my first completion of a 100 mile run in 24:23.

Jason, Jack, Kate, Scott, Me, Angela, Jimmy, Luis

THANKS JACK

LESSONS LEARNED

1. I will take a nice drink from my bottle every mile so that my bottle is empty by the time I get to an Aid Station.
2. Man up and still drink the vitargo cause it is mainly water, even if the taste is too strong.
3. Even if it hurts and my mind says to walk that I CAN keep running.

THANKS! for reading my recap and i'll see you on the trails.