Death Before DNF 100 - 2015

DEATH BEFORE DNF 100 MILER

Roughly one year ago I finally pulled the trigger and committed to my racing my first 100 miler at the inaugural Death Before DNF 100 held at Mount Mitchell in North Carolina. This particular race seemed to intrigue me due to the lack of athlete support and pure craziness of the course. The course itself was designed to have zero finishers and punish those who toed the starting line. Each marathon loop was to completed 4 times totaling just over 100 miles with a total elevation change of 68,000 on a very technical and mentally demanding route with only ONE aid station at about half way though each loop.

                                          (A small glimpse of the trails)

On Saturday August 15, the race began at 0600 with a staggered start of 10 minute intervals with the slowest runners starting first. At 0710 I officially started and was off running the first of many climbs to come. The first 4 miles were a rocky steady climb up the Mount Mitchell trail gaining 2,600 feet which I mostly was able to run up without much trouble. From there the course turned right onto Buncombe Horse Range trail. The horse trail was heavily overgrown which made it difficult to see your footing over a loose rocky trail and contained multiple mud pits that were unavoidable. After following the ridge line for a couple miles the trail descended over 3,000 feet to Colbert road where the first and only aid station was held. At this point I was roughly 13 miles into my first loop felling fantastic and I already had passed the majority of the runners minus the couple at the aid station and my brother Phil who ran the Marathon starting at 6:30, 40 minutes ahead of me. After refueling and completing the challenge at the aid station I left under 3:00 mark and began the ascent up Colbert Ridge trail which was about 4 miles. The first 2 miles were pretty steep and runnable then everything changed. The last 2 miles of this trail turned running into a  power hike up very technical terrain full of large rocks, trees and wet roots. On my way up I finally caught and passed my brother who was doing excellent overall but the steep ascent was taking its toll on him. After chatting with him for a moment and getting a boost of energy I pushed on to the top were I turned left onto the Black Mountain Crest Trail. At this point I thought the hard climbing was over and I began to pick up the pace again, but boy was I WRONG! The next mile was more brutal climbing up to the top of Potato Hill which was the highest point of the race at 6,440 feet above sea level. The next couple of miles were steep up and downs with little room to actual run. From there we turned left on Big Toms Gap Connecter and descended a nasty half mile of a run-out trail that had the potential to break your ankles at any moment. At the bottom, this connected back to the horse trail in which we descended roughly another 7 miles to the starting point via the Mount Mitchell trail. I arrived into the camp finishing the first lap with a time of 6 hours and 45 minutes which turned out to be the fastest lap of the day, even ahead of the marathon runners.

After swapping shoes to keep my feet dry and refueling I was off for the second lap with no other racers in sight. My goal for this lap was to keep my feet dry, slow down and run a consistent pace for the remainder of the race. That all went to shit once the rain storm came. On the first climb up the Mount Mitchell trail it started to downpour and the trail conditions become even more dangerous. This time the climb up Colbert Ridge started to take its toll and I questioned if I was going to be able to handle this for another 50 miles or so. "Could I really do this or should I call it quits after 50 miles?" But then I had another thought, I'M WINNING, this is what I signed up for and there is no turning back. Next thing I know, I was up Potato Hill and decided to take a moment to enjoy the many view points the course offered. I felt refreshed, just smiled and moved on. At this point my feet were soaked but I managed to run a solid lap time of about 7 hours and 45 minutes. Coming into the campground to check in after my completing my second lap I knew I was in trouble if I didn't take of my feet which felt raw from being wet for the last 14 hours or so. I stripped off my shoes and saw my feet all already starting to blister and my skin was starting to split.

Lap 3 turned out to the most difficult portion of the race for me. It was all at night under a head lamp and my feet were a mess. The descent on the Horse trail ripped open many blisters and I somehow bruised the bottom of my right foot, my quads were shot, and I every step was a painful reminder of just how bad my feet were. The long downhill on the Horse trail felt like I was walking on nails and felt never-ending. A part of me was happy to finally to be going up Colbert's Ridge only to fell defeated once again. Only this time the darkness played with my head and boom, my head light started to fade. For the next 3 hours or so I had to move pretty slow due to my feet and lack of visibility with dying batteries. Luckily the batteries didn't completely die until the sun started to rise on Sunday morning! It was such a relief to see the daylight and complete that ugly 3rd lap. My time for this lap drastically dropped to about 11 hours and 30 minutes to complete just 26 miles! Arriving at the aid station, I was thank full to get a warm welcoming from the 4 people including my brother willing to drop everything and help get me ready for last and final lap to complete my first 100 miler. I took off my shoes and thought, "FUCK, my feet are worse then I imagined". I just tried to ignore the fact, so I put one some clean socks, refueled and finally asked "how many runners are still out there?" Come to find out, ONLY 3 PEOPLE TOTAL and I about 12 hours ahead of the next runner. All I could think was WOW, I'm really going to complete and win my first ever 100 mile trail race. All I have to do is finish another 26 mile loop!

Beginning Lap 4 I felt great mentally, physically my feet were a mess and really holding me back from running with the shear pain of every step. This time Phillip decided to meet my at the aid station. My goal was to take the lap slow and just finish this race! The first half of the loop was brutal and a real mental challenge. The 7 mile descent on the horse trail couldn't have gone any worse. I was struggling just to walk and I wanted nothing more then to be off my feet. Finally arriving at the aid station an hour later then I had planned, I was thankful to see my brother still there. His boost of confidence gave me all I needed to endure the pain for the next 13 miles to the finish line! Climbing up Colbert's Ridge for the 4th and final time didn't seem as bad. Probably due to my offaly slow pace and the fact that my feet didn't hurt as much going uphill compared to down! When I finally arrived at the top Potato Hill for the last time, I sat down to take in the majestical view and thought "I did it! I'm going to win this race and be one of only two finishers! All I have to do is hike down and get though this last downhill portion! On my way down I started to pick up my pace and jog slightly, then I felt another blister pop and stopped that quickly. After returning to gingerly walking down the last 4 miles of the course I ran into Lauren! She was off on her 4th lap and would end up being the only other finisher of the race! We took a quick photo and I was on my way. At this point it was Sunday night and sun went down again. Finally I was DONE! I not only completed my first 100 but I had won the race on one of the most difficult courses I have ever run!

                                          (Lauren and I, The only two finishers.)

The results ran be found here: https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=29974

My nutrition for race was solely Hammer Nutrition products which consisted of Hammer Gels, Perpetuem, anti-fatigue caps and salt tablets. If could like to check out there amazing products here is a like for a 15% code off your first order! http://www.hammernutrition.com/affiliates/?customerid=195519

Many people have asked me "what drives you  to complete these ridiculous races"?  The answer is, I don't really know. I guess I like showing people what seems impossible is really possible if just you stick with it and tell yourself just to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Do I question myself and my ability at times? Yes, but I always find a deeper part of me that has no limits and I love reaching new heights!

I would like to thank my parents, Amanda and all my friends, family and the acidotic Racing Team who have supported me throughout this adventure. Most importantly I give a huge thanks to my brother Phillip who not completed the marathon on this brutal course but continued to crew for me while I was out running and I couldn't have done it without him!

People have been wondering what is next for me....I think it's time to submit my application for the 2016 Barkley Marathon.