Flashback to 7/10/21: Beaverhead 100K - aka "Does this Scree field EVER END???"

As I start to collect my thoughts around my recent 108K at the River of No Return, I took a stroll down memory lane to my first Mountain race - the Beaverhead 100K in 2021. I learned so much from this race experience; learning the most from all the hardest parts.

It's been quite some time since I've taken to jotting down some words about an epic running event in my life.  I'm fairly sure most people are familiar with 2020 having some "stuff" in it.  Well my "stuff" came with an additional move across the country from humidity filled Pennsylvania to higher altitude dry Montana.  And what better way to mark an epic move than to have an epic race on the horizon.   That race was to be the Beaverhead 100K.  Yup.. 100K..  and if I am going to do my first 100K, why not make it a super challenging Mountain race at altitude, where I can face my fear of heights and push myself way outside my comfort zone.  No crew, no pacers, just me and whatever this mountain race had to offer - which I later learned was going to be a LOT of ROCKS, sooo sooo many rocks in many shapes and sizes and for added fun the rocks MOVED!! 

Let me start by saying that while I complained a LOT during this race, I am in no way complaining about the race itself.  It was a very well run epic event that is worth the challenge (assuming you like that sort of abuse).  Things happen in races, especially long races and the longer a race goes, the more that can go right and can go wrong.  That is one of the reasons I have grown to love these crazy events.  It's when things go wrong that you really learn a lot about yourself.  When things get really hard what will you do?  Not only that but life would be no fun if it was always perfect - it's the difficult times that really make all the good stuff even better.

The Plan:  with an epic race I needed to put together an epic race training plan.  

My goals were simple:  Goal #1.Don't die  Goal #2. FINISH- make the cut offs!   Goal #3. Don't be destroyed after the race   I had some other soft time goals but I honestly had NO idea what to expect given the altitude and terrain.  Most of my training focused on a lot of miles at easy paces with lots of hiking and a gradual build up on total vert each week.  I cobbled together a few different free plans.  I obsessed over training for hills and long descents looking at the course.  

In the last few weeks I doubted my plans and reached out to anyone who'd talk to me about my taper.  The Monday prior to the race I ended up doing a short 7-15 mile hike that turned into an 18 mile hike, I will say I was proud of myself that I did NOT continue the hike longer and cut back when I did.   That hike was a story on it's own with some awesome wildlife and Epic views!  Anyway... 

The other thing I attempted to do was daily couch stretches to help my body with the massive miles and some breathing exercises each night using the WimHof method in hopes that it might help me with the altitude.  No idea if they helped on race day.. but I did find the breathing often was a nice way of just calming my mind before sleep each night. 

Epic Training in Montana

Excited to run trails in Montana but not really excited about the new critters I now had to be aware of - Black Bears, Brown Bears, Mountain Lions oh my!  Thanks to Bias Brew Run club, which I found on Facebook, I was able to make some great new friends and some of which were willing to explore the trails with me on weekends - Safety in numbers!  One of which decided to sign up for the 55K at Beaverhead and another who successfully completed several VERY snowy half marathons with me during training. Added bonus was the fact that some friends from back east decided to do the 55K also!  EPIC EPIC EPIC!!!  A podcast on trail running talked about how the race is merely a celebration of training journey and all our adventures leading up - it's so true and this race was one hell of a party and maybe part day after hangover too.  

Leading up to Beaverhead, I signed up for the St. Regis 50 miler as a B race.  The stories around that race should be a post all on their own!  Friends from Bias Brew and my neighbors all took part in the race, as it offered varied distances - something for everyone!   Truth be told I really wanted the finisher jacket:)   I ended up with that jacket and an amazing story filled weekend with my new found west coast friends. 

I can't forget - going into this race I was armed with my Survival kit from my friend Elissa - complete with instructions:

Fast Forward - Let's talk about the race - Beaverhead 100K

More Pre-race highlights: 

• Epic East coasters arrived in time to join me in the final days of taper which included some short hikes and more Glacier!  We all took care to hydrate well with our "Wooder"

• Connor loves us .... a LOT.  

• We all love each other. 

• We were all excited to see PBJ on the AS race menu!

• Day before the race included a short 5 hours drive

• Pre-race meeting didn't start until the rescue helicopter arrived.  To date they have never had to use it... will I be the first?   

• My early dinner was done by about 8pm. Montana moves slower in all things.  

• Read amazing sweet email from Husband.

• In bed by about 10pm, up every hour to count how much sleep I will get in when I wake up at 1am.  

• Bus ride at 2:15 am and enjoyed a nice talk with someone from New York.

• Checked in and off we go into the dark guided by headlamps and a conga line... 

• Here is what there was to tackle by the numbers:

The first 45 miles of the race were a great mix of trails.  Aside from the altitude which I let keep me in check, I felt like I was smooth sailing..  except when I wasn't!  

My first mistake was at Lemhi Pass (mile 27).  I've struggled off and on with a reoccurring issue in my left glute/lower back that was getting a little angry by the time I hit Lemhi.  I did a little stretching at Lehmi, opted to change my socks and then struggled going through my WAY over packed drop bag.  Despite what I thought the prior day, too many choices is a bad a idea - Keep it simple!  Maybe with crew they would have helped me but I spent too much time pondering my needs.  In the end, I neglected to take the bag of stuff I definitely wanted to take with me - which included some gels and a HotShot for cramps.  Somehow I did end up with my 12-hour energy drink I wanted.  Not sure what I was thinking - or was I thinking?  I did enjoy my love note from the EastCoaster Wooder drinkers:

It was getting hotter, so I did opt to fill up my neck ice bandanna which was a refreshing addition.  From there I proceeded to head off the WRONG WAY!  Not that the course wasn't well marked, it was that there was a camper in front of the flags and I mistakenly started down the wrong road.  By the time I was trying to figure out where on earth did everyone turn off to get to the top of the hill I saw them on - there was a car chasing me down.  Terrified I was cheating for accepting the ride - she reassured me I was fine and she'd just take me back to the AS where I missed the proper climb.  Well the ride itself was a bit of an adventure - she couldn't turn around on the mountain road, and finally resorted to just driving in reverse.  She apologized to me over and over again.  This stuff can happen!  I'm just thankful that someone saw me before I added even more!  It added about 10 minutes, after spending nearly 15 minutes futzing around with my drop bag - it felt like I just added an eternity to what I originally felt was a perfectly timed arrival.  It was now after 11am and my additional buffer was gone. 

My confidence suddenly shifted - my padding to make cut offs was now under 30 minutes and I struggled to shake that.  All my plans to live in the moment, run the mile you are in, enjoy everything were lost on that short detour.  That was my first mistake - not the getting lost or even spending so much time at the AS - it was the fact that I let it get to me so much.  Funny thing is that I knew I was being silly and I recall yelling at myself numerous times .. "Get over it already"  "GET OUT of your head and just move!"  "OMG what's wrong with you, shut up and move!"  I realize now that what I really needed was to just refocus on something else.  Redirect to something positive like look at this place you are in.  Instead I just obsessed with - I needed to get to Cutout by 2:30pm which I did without problem.   I had a nice sigh of relief, and set my mind on the next cutoff which was 5:30pm Goldstone Pass.  I filled my ice bandanna but this time I shoved it down my shorts to help my nagging glute/back pain.  Grab a few bites to eat and I overheard what I THOUGHT a volunteer say was 4.5 miles to the next AS.  So that's what I prepped myself for... not the 8 that it actually was.  Obviously simple things were eluding me by now.  Why it didn't dawn on me that 3 hours for 4.5 miles seems bit excessive?  I was actually in fairly good spirits for about 5 miles, despite the discomfort in my glute and the sudden ongoing attack from flies that seemed extremely interested in my iced glute.  I must have looks ridiculous at times - arms flailing.. yelling get the F*** off me!  As my food, water and electrolyte juice faded to none, I began to wonder where the F*ck is this AS?  I had been playing leap frog with a few others on this journey and I finally asked one of them who agreed it should be soon.  He didn't have a watch and "it should be about 8 miles soon".   Um.. excuse me?  8 miles?  well shit.   So I told myself, it's a 5k.  You have done plenty of 5k's without food and water - just move.  I argued with myself for the next 3 miles on whether it was better to go slow or go fast.  I ended up doing some of both.  I was sort of leap frogging with a few others,  one gentleman who seemed much stronger than me; I offered to let him pass - he said NO thank you.  Responding that his quads were destroyed and I hear him moan and say "oh hell no" at the top of every down hill we approached.  I did think to myself, well at least my quads feel great!

By the time I got to Gold Stone I felt terrible.  My stomach felt like it turned, my eyes felt unfocused, I felt a little dizzy and I just felt all around horrible.  I knew I just needed to eat even though the thought of eating made me sick.  They had cups of M&M's and Swedish fish (at least that's what I think they were).  The volunteer kindly filled my Ice butt rag for me and offered to make me a Peanut Butter Sandwich (out of Jelly).  I was once thrilled at the idea that PBJ was on the AS menu.. and now I could hardly fathom the idea of another one - let alone a Jellyless PBJ.  Knowing I had to eat something - I accepted the stale bread PB sandwich, shoved a cup of M&Ms in my pocket and willed myself to just keep moving.  One foot in front of the other I told myself. I shoved bites in my mouth of that awful sandwich and took every bit of will to swallow it.  "Just keep moving", "just eat that damn food and you will feel better". It's less than 20 miles left I kept telling myself - which kind of sounds insane but I was more than half way done - quitting was NOT an option. However, complaining was totally on the table.  

By the time I arrived at Janke I was definitely on the mend.  I was in the clear on my cut offs and I did something I don't normally do, I sat down the chair at the AS.  The volunteers were fabulous and asked me what they could get me, to which I said ANYTHING but a PBJ!  Two others nearby said, we agree!  They offered broth which was a FABULOUS change!  Not sure what else I ate, but they also offered OFF bug spray, which I bathed in.  They kindly asked how I was doing, and I offered that I was enjoying the sufferfest.  They reminded me that at least it's a FEST!  Good point.  If you are gonna sufffer - make a party out of it.  Worried that my glute/back situation would seize up if I stuck around too long, I topped off all my food, water and electrolytes and went on my way to face the next section - the infamous Scree and downhill to come.  

Once again I underestimated this course. Nervous about the upcoming downhill, it was the scree, it's plethora of OFF resistant Mosquitos and a drop that mocked me for what seemed like FOREVER!   To start with, I don't know why I was convinced the scree field was only 1-mile long but I later learned it was NOT (it was 3-miles)!!  No wonder why it seemed like it NEVER ended!!   How did I miss that in my prep?   My faith in the 1-mile scree was backed by  one kind man who I think just floated past me over the endless rocks pointing out that you just go up that peak and then you are off it.  As he faded away he offered the advice of using the big rocks, but don't trust them either.  And so I plodded along reassuring myself "you are OK" and made it to the peak only to find he lied.  And so I continued my Sufferfest with a party of Mosquitos (I guess the flies went to bed) for the Three - 1 mile section.  People passed me with such grace, while I carefully stepped over the wobbly rocks.  Eventually it was just me and the mosquitoes.  Several times I stopped searching for the course markers, convinced we HAD to be dropping off soon!  I ended up taking a wrong course, thinking I saw the flags below, only to find out it was wishful thinking and I had to climb back up!    Convinced that by now I was the LAST person left on this never ending course, I was totally surprised when I looked back over the ridge and saw these little ants dancing along the ridge behind me.  It had been awhile but I think I actually smiled again.  It was beautiful.  Realizing that sunset was coming, I did want to get OFF that ridge and to the next AS before I needed my headlamp again - so I didn't stop long. 

Somehow the scree sufferfest eventually came to an end.  It was a blur of rocks or all shapes, sizes, and colors.  I finally reached the "downhill" and it wasn't bad at all.  I did think..ohhh.. Quad guy he's not gonna like this!  As I made my way down, I heard a noise up ahead... "grrumph,  grrrrrumphhhhh"...  to which I immediately started to call out.. "Hey Bear!  Don't eat me!  Or maybe do, so this race ends"  ... as I cautiously rounded the corner I saw a young man puking relentless puking.  I hushed my gag reflex to check that he was okay...  and he reassured me to continue on and that he'd be fine.   And off I went...  A few minutes later I heard a different noise, an odd grunt or maybe it was pain?  And soon I saw a man screaming in pain grabbing his legs from obvious cramps.  He has a woman with him and I ask if I could help... she asked if I had any food or gels.  Unfortunately, once again I poorly planned a section and was totally out!  I offered to stay and help, but she insisted he'd be fine and again I was on my way.  Down and down I went until I finally reached the last AS which proudly exclaimed I survived the rocks and scree!  YES!  a feeling of I am almost there!!  

And so at Bohannon Creek AS I was lied to at yet another race.  After exchanging pleasantries and refilling my A**Ice Bandanna, I was ready to get this over with.  The volunteer told me I was looking at about 6 miles, it was now dusk and she checked that I was good with my headlamp.  I grabbed a banana, a delicious smoothy and headed out to what I was assured was mostly easy down hill with a small hill, 2 water crossings and then 2 flat miles to the finish.  Maybe it was easy, but all i know is that there were still so many F*cking ROCKS!  I don't know if there was 2 flat miles either, and I became very aware that I was in the midst of wildlife when my headlamp connected with two shiny eyes in the dark.  MOVE - I told myself!  Especially since it was past mosquito bedtime now and the moths were now dancing in my face under the disco headlamp I offered them.  I even ate a few - protein right?  I found myself texting with my Eastcoast gals begging for when this would EVER end!  One of them wrote me back the PERFECT response, "Less texting, more running"... sigh.. she was right.  Somehow that section ended eventually.  I heard music in the distance and just ran/ walked/ shuffled and moved forward until I made it to the end... and then the real end when it was pointed out it was around the corner.  

I did it.  100k.  Rocks, dust, smoke, dirt, rocks, rocks, rocks, etc..    I had no doubts I'd finish as long as I made the cut offs, but it definitely tested me.   I made many mistakes, but I endured.  It was Epic Shit.  Not only did I finish, but my friends doing the 55K all finished too!  Epic Shit all around!  So proud of them and thankful that I had them to commiserate in the days leading up and after.  And I'm especially thankful for the help driving home!  

Will I ever do it again?  My immediate response was "F*ck no"  but as time passes, I know I want to try it again.  See what happens with my lessons learned. 

Things I will do differently:

1. drop bag - STAY simple.  Less is more.

2. acquire Deer Fly combat gear

3. acquire Mosquito combat gear 

4. run faster before you see Moths

5. more core work, single leg exercises and anything to better tackle that scree/talus

6. Be more in tune with distance, time and terrain between aid stations.

7. Fine tune my nutrition plan (carry gels to augment AS).  

8. Move happier - no matter what the course presents.  I was miserable and frustrated and let that overcome me. 

9. I was so afraid of the distance that I picked a training plan that was 24 weeks long.  It was too long that near the end of my plan.. I was sick of the plan.   

10. More running, less texting

Are you still reading this?  Wow - if you are, you should consider Beaverhead 100K too!  It's pretty endless like this post:

Just when you think the race is over, you drive home to find that you have Epic neighbors!  I already knew that - but they went next level.  My amazing neighbors greeted us with music, food, signs, balloons and margaritas.  How cool is that?  

While I may have complained for several hours up there on the Continental divide - those complaints are fleeting and it's the reality of what happened that I can't stop smiling about now.   It's not just the Epic 100K shit... it's the amazing journey I took to get there.  My husband who does nothing but support me in my crazy adventures.  The people I have in my life from the East coast (even some crazy enough to come out and do this race too).  The support system and miles I've shared with new friends here in Montana.  I feel extremely grateful and blessed for all that I have and I am able to do.

....Until the next Epic Adventure... 

and if you need signs for an upcoming race check out some of the fun from our "sac" here in MT: