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| Jonathan, Gretchen, Me, Michelle K, Erik K, Dat, Mama C, Fiona |
I had the absolute privilege of pacing my good friend, Greg Sisengrath for the final 20 miles of his first 100 mile race. I was very nervous leading up to this. I've heard stories of how bad-off people can get in those final 20 miles and I was worried about how I would handle him. Would I know what to say and what to do? Could I anticipate his needs? If he begged me to let him quit would I be able to keep him going? All these thoughts swirled through my head in the weeks leading up to the race. The only 100 mile experience I had was cheering/crewing Troy Pruett the final 16 miles of his 100 mile race at Lean Horse this past August. Troy was a maniac those final 16 miles. He was running 9 min miles, passing TONS of people, and just being an overall beast. He wasn't a beast the whole 100...he suffered greatly but it was in the heat of the day. Once the sun went down his body started to cooperate again and he finished very strong. I knew the heat wouldn't be an issue for Rocky so I expected Greg to take a normal 100 mile approach. Strong for the first 60 and then a gradually slow down with a walk to the finish.
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| My #kindredspirit MK |
Boy oh boy was I wrong. Greg did everything right. He didn't start too fast, he didn't rush through aid stations, he ate a TON of food, drank the perfect about of fluid, and always had a perfect balance of electrolytes. Once on the course he formulated a plan and stuck to it. To say that I was impressed by him is an incredible understatement.
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| FIGJAM Girls!! Fiona, Me, Mama C, Michelle K |
We start out on his last loop at 12:05 a.m. and he's just full of stories. Erik Kennemer had paced him from 60-80 and had said he was amazing, running so well. He was right. Greg's talking up a storm and we're running a really comfortable pace. He tells me his game plan, "This is where we walk...this is where I run...I go quick through this aid station...we take our time at Damnation aid station because it's a long 6 miles before we get back to it." He has a plan for the whole 20 mile loop, it's so awesome. We stuck to it. Walked where he had walked the previous 4 loops and ran where he was used to running.
After Damnation aid station he stopped for a bathroom break in the woods and Matt and his pacer, Jonathan catch us. Matt and Greg ran a lot together earlier in the day but Matt had a tough 4th loop and they got separated. It was wonderful to see them and it looked like Matt had really rallied and was in good spirits and could finish sub 24. I was thrilled for them both, unless something went horribly wrong Greg and Matt could almost walk it in and get their sub 24 hours.
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| Jonathan and Matt post 100 |
Every time Greg took a GU it was like a turbo boost. He would run and run and run and run. Uphill, downhill, flats, he was a running fool. I really couldn't believe that someone could run 90 miles, (90 MILES!!!) and still be running so well. When he would get in these running zones I wouldn't talk very much, I was running in front, and I just let us get into a groove. I was consciously trying to give him my energy. I know that seems so silly but I thought it would help and I knew it couldn't hurt. The more energy I had, even if I faked it (after all I hadn't slept in 24 hours, had been sick since Thursday, and had to GO to the bathroom) the more energy I could give to him. I willed my energy into him. I have no idea if it made a difference but it made me feel like I was doing something to help.
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| Mama C, Fiona, Sarah stocking up on supplies |
Greg's wife Fiona and Matt's wife Sarah were waiting at the last aid station. It was so awesome to see them. 4.4 miles left and 90 minutes to get it done. These last 4.4 miles I was in front of Greg the whole time. When we walked I would walk FAST and when we would run I was always pushing him harder than he could probably go. It occurred to me as I watched people pass us going the opposite direction (starting their 5th loop) that I was probably a bitch of a pacer. All the other pacers were right next to their runner or behind them. Here I am, always a good 10 feet in front of my runner. If I was the runner this might have really pissed me off. I can picture myself screaming, "I can't go that fast!!! Stop making me go that fast!!!" But it just felt like the right way to be with Greg. He's such a good follower, no matter the pace, and I think he would have said something if it was driving him crazy. Up until about the last 10 miles he was eating a lot but then it seemed like I needed to be a little more insistent about it. Again, I've heard stories of 100 mile runners refusing to eat and pacers & crew having to really get mean with their runner to eat. I'd tell Greg to eat the GU, he would eat the GU. Didn't once put up a struggle. Just once I said, let's try to run a little, and he said, I'm not quite ready but we'll try at the lake. His ability to compromise on this and not just cross out the thought of running was amazing to me. We're passing people who were just starting their 5th loop and Greg was finishing his. He was 5-6 hours in front of people who had decided they could no longer run, they were only going to walk. Greg never made that switch in his brain, he always thought he could try to run.
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Yeah...we have nicknames on our shirts. FIGJAM
Missed you Marci and Cherry and Erin!!! |
With a mile to go we encountered two notable runners. The first was alone and walking...kinda. He was swaying and each right step would send him into the trees and his whole body would sway to the right. It was so scary. Thankfully we had picked up a pacer who's runner had dropped so she stayed with him. Big wake up call here as I am again reminded how strong my runner, who is RUNNING upright and in a straight line, is.
Then we hear a very low, rhythmic growl coming from behind us. A runner with no pacer was passing us on his way to a strong 100 mile finish. It was amazing to watch. Every other step was accompanied by a Rafael Nadal grunt. Greg commented, "He's doing it." It was awesome and very inspiring.
We get within 100 yards and Greg says, "hold on a second." He stops and gives me a huge hug and we both just stand there crying. I feel like my words can't do this moment or this amazing athletic achievement justice. He looks at the remaining yards in front on him, does his own low grunt, and starts running for the finish line. We hear cheers for Ninja and see the clock well, well under 24 hours. He finished in 23:41:36. It was truly the proudest 20 miles I've ever run.
Random other pacer note: My initial reaction to runners that decide to walk the last 40 miles was one of frustration. I thought, how can you say you ran 100 miles, how can you give up on running? You walked 40 miles. I can't even tell you how ignorant and elitist these thoughts were. To be out there on your feet, for 30 hours, can you even imagine?? They never stop. Not ever. They just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Only 58% of the 100 mile runners finished, I have so much respect and admiration for those back of the pack runners that don't quit. I truly can't tell you I would have the patience to walk so many miles, to spend so much time on my feet, to see the sunrise TWICE. Greg and I would see runners starting their last loop when they knew there was no way they would make the cut off. But they still started their last loop!!! They didn't quit moving until they were made to stop. We all said no way we would do that! I was back home in Dallas sleeping when the final runners crossed. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G
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| Greg and his pacers!! |
Take the opportunity to be a pacer or be a member of an ultrarunner's crew. It's a life changing experience. Congratulations Greg, thank you so much for having me join in your day!!!
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Matt (finished his first 100 sub 24!!), his 80-100 pacer Jonathan, Me, Greg, Erik
we missed Matt's 60-80 pacer, Beth :(
Thanks Mama C and Sarah for the photos!! |
