WausaUltra Recap - Eluding a DNF Part 1
I signed up for the WausaUltra knowing all but one racer would DNF. (If you don’t know about the Backyard Ultra format, grab some popcorn and watch “Finding the Limit”) I figured how better to find my limit than a race that has a nearly 100% DNF rate! I didn’t care about my perfect track record spanning two decades of racing running, mountain biking, Nordic skiing, triathloning (if that’s even a word), and adventure racing. I simply wanted the opportunity to push my limits. Long story short, I failed (in a good way). And I have to admit, I’m still trying to comprehend running 162 miles over 39 hours.
There were several logs we had to jump over on the course. I’m glad they never took me down. I clearly am not a steeplechaser.
Years of training
After completing ten ultra distance runs, two 24 hour mountain bike races, and a handful of 24-30 hour adventure races, I figured I could draw on these experiences. My prior longest run was about 108 miles (thanks to a few bonus miles in the Marji Gesick 100), so I ended up spending many hours in uncharted territory alongside the rest of the field. When the four of us hit 100 miles, several spectators joked that we were “halfway there”. At that time, 100k more seemed daunting and 100 more miles seemed unfathomable, but with a lap at a time mentality, we managed around 15 hours longer!
Preparing for this race started long before the six months since I signed up for the event. The result is a testament of years of consistent training with some life experiences sprinkled in. And I have to admit, this challenge was much easier than enduring pregnancy!
A walk in the park
Having a pit area every hour to refuel, hydrate, and kick up my feet was a great perk.
Logistics are so much simpler than other ultras, since we are back at our pit every 4.16 miles with exactly the same stuff as the hour before and a crew guaranteed to be there. Even though I left without my water bottle for one lap, which could be catastrophic in other ultras, I was able to overcome my mistake without any ill effects as I explain in Part 2. I got to know the course so well, that as night fell the second night I used my muscle memory to navigate. Cell phone service and ample opportunities to swap out and even recharge lights left many anxieties by the wayside.
This would be my first race not being on the clock the entire time. This afforded me the time to be proactive with “hot spots” before they turned into raging blisters (ended up with a single blister and no black toenails!). With the frequent stops, I experienced no muscle soreness for the first time in an ultra. Although I had time to stretch and massage between laps, I didn’t need to!
Legs Up
I could only recall stopping at an aid station for 10 minutes twice before – once to massage my quads after raging down a 3,000 foot descent and another to breastpump (definitely glad I didn’t need to worry about that in this race!). I was concerned about sitting and then restarting after stiffening up. I hoped that stopping every four miles would provide some routine before stiffening became an issue, which was the case.
Drawing from past experiences…yet a new experience
With countless solo training runs, including overnight runs, without even music, I was ready to battle to my edge. Despite signing up for some hard races including Leadville 100 (55% DNF rate) and the Marji Gesick 100 (74% DNF rate), I’ve yet to find my limit. Of my three 100 milers, this would actually be my easiest (ONLY 12,000 feet of elevation gain per 100 miles) and slowest (24 hours for 100 miles), so I figured I could go beyond 100 miles, but I really didn’t know how far. I used this data as a confidence booster, and it worked. And with a focus on just one lap at a time, each lap was manageable. The hardest lap was lap 3 since I was overthinking everything: when to walk, how fast to run, what to eat. Once I settled into a routine for pace, eating, and hydration, I was set. The variety on the course kept me on my toes, especially during night laps, which I talk about in Part 2.
I spent a lot of the race in last place, which I had to be ok with.
The entire field was walking about 200 meters into the “race”. Quite a different feel than jockeying for position and hanging onto the rabbit in the field like all the other races I’ve done. Luckily the field was small, so I didn’t get stuck in a paceline when the trail narrowed to singletrack for more than a minute or two at a time. Once I started chatting, I was able to get into a rhythm. This was a nice mental relief compared to being in “race mode” from start to finish in other races. In fact, I had to switch off the “race mode” for the most part, allowing myself to putt-putt along at my own pace rather than picking off runners. In fact, I spent nearly half the race in last place. The first time I was leading, I feared there was a conspiracy with the other three runners against me. I only came in first to the finish line twice, but it only mattered on the final lap.
Another perk: I was really looking forward to having the opportunity to brush my teeth in my first ultra. I hate the gross feeling of constant sugar on my teeth for a day.
Community
Starting every hour together resulted in a community.
With a common headquarters guaranteed to have every (remaining) racer return to each hour, both the crews and runners bonded. Each hour we all lined up again along one another in the starting corral. Until there are only two people left, there’s no competition. And even then, no one wants to let the other person down.
The WausaUltra Backyard Ultra transformed the most boring sport into an exciting, on-the-edge-of-your seat all day and night and day and night affair. Not only did several non-running acquaintances tell me they were glued to their phones, but I found out about a friend’s neighbors that not only aren’t runners, but didn’t know anyone racing and were still glued to their screens! Many racers came back to the race to cheer the second day. The support from the community was an experience like none other.
The rest of the story…
There’s simply too much to cover for the 39 hour race in a single post, so check out Part 2 to find out more details!
All photos courtesy of WausaUltra unless otherwise noted.
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