On September 14th of 2013 I set out for my 4th consecutive running of the Headlands 100. This race has always been special to me because on August 7th of 2010 it was my very first 100 mile race. I went back in 2011 and proposed to my girlfriend (now my wife, Lori) at the finish line, then returned in 2012 to give it one more go!!!
This is one race that I look forward to every year. I'm lucky enough to have my friends and family come out as my crew and support team, and everyone seems to really enjoy the beautiful course this race is held on.
This race would end up being my fourth 100 mile event of 2013, but it’s not my last for the year. My friend Rudy Montoya was out running the event with me this year. The course consisted of four 25 mile loops.
I went into the race with the idea of shooting for a 26 hour finish. My last few races this year have gone pretty good and I felt like this finishing time was realistic. I ran through the first 25 miles in the time I was shooting for. I hit mile 25 close to the 5 hour mark. At mile 25 I caught up to Rudy and we both got a bite to eat before we headed out on another 25 mile loop. Rudy told me that he was planning on sticking with me for the rest of the race. This was nice because this meant that I would have someone to talk to for the next 75 miles.
Rudy and I set out on our second 25 mile loop. It was nice having someone to run with and talk to. My goal for finishing up the second 25 mile loop was to finish in about 6 hours putting the 50 mile time at 11 hours. So far everything was going according to plan. Sometime during our 3rd loop Rudy started to mention that his leg was giving him some issues. He kept moving, often leading on the trail, and pushing the pace when he could.
Around mile 62 my friend Chris started running with us as a pacer. Chris has now been to 4 of my 100 mile races and has crewed at 4 of them and helped pace at the last 3 events. Chris stuck with us from mile 62 to mile 75.
Once we were at mile 75 Rudy told me his knee was bugging him too much and that he was going to have to stop running and drop out of the event.
I was still feeling pretty good at this point. I talked to John (the race director) briefly at mile 75. At this point I was 20 hours into the race. I told him I originally wanted a 26 hour finish and that I wasn't sure if this would be my day to hit it or not. He helped me get my bottles filled and told me, “You’re looking really good, get moving!!”
I said goodbye to Rudy and Chris, then headed off for the last 25 miles of the race. Chris was going to rest up and pick back up with me at mile 96 and run the last 4 miles in with me.
I headed off for my 4th loop and I was feeling pretty good. I was starting to feel tired, but not sleepy, and I really wanted to finish as close to 26 hours as I could.
I pushed on as best as I could, but fatigue started to slowly set in. I was getting sleepy, but it was about 6:00am and I knew that as long as I kept going I would feel better once the sun came out. When the sun came out it was amazing. My mood lifted and I was feeling re-energized about my run. By now I was getting closer and closer to a 27 hour finish, and I was fine with that. To be honest I’m just happy to finish events like this most of the time.
I saw my crew at mile 88 and I was feeling good. I was in good spirits and ready to finish this race.
I left my crew at mile 88 and was ready to jam out the next 8 miles on my own, and then the last 4 miles with Chris.
When I left mile 88 I was still close to a 27 hour finish, and I was hitting the trail right on pace. I was doing my best to run a little faster to make sure I had enough time to hit a 27 hour finish. I ran to the mile 92 aid station and I was running at a pace that would get me done in just under 27 hours.
I got to the mile 92 aid station and I filled up my water bottles and headed out as fast as I could.
One thing I did not anticipate was how difficult mile 92-96 would be. During the Headlands 100 there are very few flat sections of the course. Most of it is either up or down hill. This particular section had a good amount of climbing and some stairs. I ended up walking more than running in this section, and I was starting to feel very demoralized. My feet were starting to feel heavy and it was getting hard to make myself want to run the up and down hill sections of the course.
When I got to the aid station at mile 96 I was really happy to see my crew and I was happy to know that I only had 4 miles left.
I filled up my bottles for the last time, and Chris and I headed out.
In 2012 Chris crewed for my friend Kyle and I at the San Diego 100. He wasn't into running, and was basically going to the event just to help out. Chris planned on leaving the San Diego 100 before the event was even over. Then Chris discovered how exciting crewing was and really got caught up into the race. Shortly after the San Diego 100, Chris started running and is soon running his 3rd half-marathon. Earlier this year Chris went out to San Diego 100 with Kyle and I once again and helped crew at the event. When Kyle had to drop out of the San Diego 100, Chris decided to pace me for a few miles. Previous to the San Diego 100, Chris had not run further than a half marathon. At San Diego Chris paced me for 20.5 miles.
Here we are at the 2013 Headlands 100, and Chris is now once again pacing me. The nice thing was that Chris decided he was going to pace me months before the event so he was prepared to run that day, and we had even planned out what sections I would need him the most.
The last 4 miles with Chris were very enjoyable. It was nice running on the trail with my long time friend. We joked along the trail, talked about how the race was going, how I was feeling, and how awesome it was going to be to finish for the 4th year in a row.
We started getting closer and closer to the finish line and I was getting ready to end the day. I ended up finishing the race in 27:56:52 and I was very happy with my finishing time. I might have finished well over the time I had desired, but I think I ran the last 4 miles with Chris very solid and I gave it my all. I can honestly say that we ran the last 4 miles together as fast as I could.
I can’t wait to go back again next year and run this race!!!
A very cool thing that happened at this race was that I had some of my fellow trail runners recognize me from my blog and the videos I post. It’s cool to know that there are people out there that appreciate what I’m writing and the videos I’m posting.
Thanks for taking an interest in my hobby, and for all the nice conversations we have on the trail, and at the end of the races.
…and a special thanks to my wife Lori, my mom and dad, Chris, Zach, and Kelly for helping me out at this race… and for putting up with me when I’m tired and moody.
Until next time…
KEEP RUNNING!!!!
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| One more belt buckle for my collection!! |
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| Now I have to start drinking coffee. |
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