2021 Tunnel Hill 100

Last Saturday, November 13, 2021 I ran my 4th Tunnel Hill 100 mile race; my 10th race of at least 100 miles.  This year, as was the case with my first race here back in 2017, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Metropolis, and until recently didn't know I was supposed to be looking for superman while there.  We rented a RV for 2018 (stayed onsite at the park, the best experience) and 2019 (stayed at the RV park at the Vienna exit) and unfortunately missed the sign up for COVID-19 2020 edition as I was probably in my best physical shape.  My goal is to eventually run 5 of these races as I really want the 500 mile buckle, but I digress.

Early this year I had decided to have a crew (Kelli and Stewart) in addition to my family to attempt my best effort to date; my results thus far were 21:01:39, 19:00:27, 17:10:24.  My wife and daughter have always been my rock and have worked hard to support me the best they can, but I've never wanted them chasing me from end to end in a vehicle, especially at night, so my support has always been limited to the start/finish area in Vienna.

This year we would stay in Metropolis, pick up the packet race morning then start the race.  Our  "A" goal would be to run a 15:50, with "B" being 16:30, and "C" just to finish.    

  

This year I was not going to use any aid from the aid stations and instead rely on what I could carry or what my crew could get to me.  We would only use a total of 5 aid stations during the first 50 miles and 11 the second 50 miles, although we ended up dropping the last Shelby Road rendezvous as it was just 2.9 miles to the finish and I would have a pacer with me at that point.

The morning wake up and travel was standard.  The family who came with mine was gracious enough to chauffeur me to the start.  They also provided me with a Redbull and some thick freshy baked sourdough bread lathered in an all natural crunchy peanut butter.  I had looked for a coffee and a biscuit from McDonalds, but they weren't open at 5AM; this probably worked out for the best.  They would watch the start of the race, then head back to Metropolis to pick up my family and go over to Karnak in order to exchange with me items that I didn't need any longer with what I wanted at that point.   

The race started out just like any other race; I squirmed up to the front of the pack, then fell in line for a half a mile, eventually coalescing with a group of  3 guys as we moved towards Karnak, around 11 miles.  We were probably around the first 20 runners at this point.  I had started out with a Marmot shell and an empty Solomon pack to help stay warm, as the starting temp was around 30 degrees.  At the first pass through Karnak I removed both these items and continued on to the Wetland Center turnaround.  At this point and for the remainder of the race, I would be wearing a technical Tahoe Rim t-shirt, with GSER running sleeves, bright pink Injinji compression socks (a give away from TRT) and my trusty Solomon shorts.  The running shoes I wore the entire race were Nike Alpha Flys.

As a runner, I have to have solid real foods, although most of it would be considered junk food.  The plan was to take in water as my primary liquid, and eat various foods in 250 calorie chunks every hour.      

At the point where I came back through Karnak, heading back to Vienna (mile ~25ish) I had held to this plan, the food intake at this point consisted of a frozen payday (which had to be eaten in small bites and held in my mouth to allow for it to heat up and soften enough to chew) and a pack of peanut M&Ms and 600ml of water.

At this point we were able to see the front 5 to 6 runners, with Bitter way out ahead and the others staying within eyesight of one another.

It is also here that I met up with a fellow 2019 Boston runner, Mr. Miguel; he was wearing his Boston jacket.  He was in the midst of running a virtual marathon on his phone, so we paired up and took off. We finished his virtual marathon in 3:37, 8:18 average splits.

Coming into Vienna #1, my crew provided me with what I wanted as I took off towards Tunnel Hill #1.  I had a half of a McDonalds bacon egg and cheese biscuit and a 20 ounce Gatorade.

Although you are running up a slight hill most of the entire ~10 miles, the run out to Tunnel Hill did not seem as taxing as in previous years.

Coming up about a mile outside of the tunnel, the front 5-6 were coming back towards the rest of the runners; I was in 10th at this point.  It was around mile 34, I had seen Bitter earlier, still with about a 2 mile lead, with an average split of about ~ 6:50/mile, he looked good and even made the effort to tell me and others he passed that we were doing good.  After Bitter came by and within a mile of the tunnel I saw the #2 man, he was walking and didn't look good, pretty sure he dropped.  The next man came up on him (Jacob) and checked in on him, but after a brief interaction took back off, then shortly after the eventual winner and last years winner can through discussing to each other what was ahead.  I was at about mile 34 and they were at mile 42.  They were there in just under 5 hours, splits being around 7:08/mile.

I got to see the tunnel just under 5 hours and was ready for aid within the aid station area, just after 5 hours (noon).  Now alone , I sped up ever so slightly with an overall average split of  8:16.  

During the second hour of this stretch I had half of a honey bun and finished off the Gatorade.

At the aid station I had parts of a Core protein shake, bud zero, and finished off the biscuit from earlier.  I took off for the out-and-back turnaround and then took on aid again as I exited tunnel hill towards Vienna.  The tunnel both times tripped me out as it was so dark.  I actually had to walk as I got towards the center so that I didn't either fall or toddle off into the side of the tunnel.

I made it to Vienna #2, mile 50 just after 2PM, 7:04:28 total time, 8:29/mile cumulative splits through 50.  I had indeed slowed down and both my aid transitions were moving transitions, but they were much slower than any before; however, I was still making good time.  I left Vienna #2 with a piece of homemade Alfredo pizza, a go to food for me at "The GA Jewel" and a payday.  I ended up gumming the pizza, but not swallowing a whole lot of it, the Payday ended up being most of my calories until Heron Pond.  

Generally this next section is where I lose daylight, I don't remember ever seeing Karnak the second time in the daylight, however, today was different, I saw Karnak, the wetland center, Karnak again and almost made it back to Heron Pond lake, mile 70.7 before I needed to use my headlamp.  I ate a serving of Ramen soup, a banana, RedBull, my usual water and some sprite.  I made it to Heron Pond, mile 70 at around 5:15PM, with an average cumulative split now at 8:47/mile.  At this point I had a possibility of running sub 15 hours, this new goal now began to bubble up in my mind.

My 3rd trip through Vienna, mile 76 came at 6:16PM, with an average cumulative split of 8:53/mile.  I got to mile 80 within 12 hours, my cumulative average splits finally hitting 9/mile flat.  In the dark I lost all track of those who were ahead of me, assuming the top 5 finishers were set in their order.  There was no doubt about the 1st place lady, she had looked the exact same the entire day, way out ahead hanging out with the 2-5 place men, running a steady 14 hour race, never once was their any variability in her stride, facial expressions.....etc.

The last 20 miles after Vienna, my pace dropped from sub 9 minute miles to sub 10 min miles.  The remainder of the race I fell back 1.3 sec\mile finishing with a cumulative spilt of 9:26/mile.  I only had one mile that was sub 10 for the last 20 miles; however, most were +10:30.  I never felt bad and my legs were rotating on que,  but the muscle contractions were just so weak that the push off just wasn't there.  I felt like I was running 9s, but basically never really put many miles under 10:30/mile.

I picked up my pacer (Stew D.) coming into Tunnel Hill for the final time heading towards the dreaded turnaround.  We took off and I immediately felt energized recording my only sub 10 minute mile during the last 20.  The pain in my right shoulder from carrying my handheld was extremely draining; my inner forearm from my wrist to elbow is still numb as I am writing this.  I had some Bud Zero, Sprite, Core Protein shake as we ran through, took a Redbull and a serving of Ramen in a Ziploc bag.  I ate the soup easily and early on our way out.  Stewart grabbed me a cup of sprite and a banana at the last aid station just a little under 3 miles to the finish, but otherwise it was him talking and keeping me moving and me breathing out the pain from my shoulder and answering with single yes's, no's, and indiscernible grunts, at least until we could see the lights and hear my family and Stewart's wife at the finish.  

In the end I finished 6th male, 7th overall with a time of 15:42:27.  There were hugs and champagne, (thanks Kelli for coming through for me with the bubbly).  I had previously  received a Sub24 and 2 Sub20 buckles, so I asked Steve D. if I could have a regular finisher buckle so I would have the whole collection.  He obliged my request, although he had to go find them as he hadn't unpacked them yet.  I also received an embossed 6th place male finisher railroad spike.  

This was one of the best races that I have ever run, something I felt proud of.  Seeing my family at so many places kept me both highly motived and happy.  Having Kelli and Stewart there gave me confidence that I would have someone directing me at each opportunity and also that they would be looking after my family and allowing us all to enjoy the moment.  There aren't a whole lot of people out there willing to sacrifice their own endeavors for others, although I seem to be extremely fortunate to be surrounded by many such people because of this sport.