tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36668960863276850512024-02-07T16:38:04.727-08:00Bob Runs UltrasBob Becker is a Florida ultra runner and race director. He is the oldest person to have completed Badwater 146 (original course) and the Badwater Double. Bob has raced distances of over 100 miles to 50km, the Grand 2 Grand desert stage race, MdS and Badwater 135 (3 times). Bob produces KEYS100 and EVERGLADES ULTRAS, each a distinct and memorable adventure in So. FL and the Keys.Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-19917764185066556932017-08-14T13:02:00.000-07:002017-08-14T13:04:44.071-07:00Bad Beaver Ultra, Gatineau Park, Ottowa, CA Aug 3-5, 2017<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
BAD BEAVER ULTRA<o:p></o:p></div>
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August 3-5, 2017<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gatineau Park, Ottowa, CA</span></div>
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A great race, as I see it, incorporates a high degree of
difficulty, a beautiful and memorable course and first-rate support. For an ultramarathon, for example, the race
route should be very well marked with flagging, signs and whatever other means
are available so that runners do not get lost.
(An adventure race is an entirely different species, when typically at
least some orienteering is expected.)
Last week’s “Bad Beaver Ultra” was a great race and I couldn’t recommend
it more highly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I like stage races a lot.
<i>Bad Beaver</i> is a 3-day stage
race in spectacular Gatineau Park near Ottowa, Canada. This national treasure covers 139 square
miles (301 square kilometers) and is a sports haven year-round. Our race traversed 150+ kilometers, yet runners
saw just a small portion of the innumerable trails found in Gatineau. This race was one of the toughest I’ve ever
run, especially the long second day. We
faced many different kinds of running surfaces and trails, with many steep up
and down hills that were quite technical--rocky, rooty, muddy and wet. The second day was over 70 kilometers—roughly
45 miles. It took over 16 hours for this
Flatlander to complete the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Canadian Ray Zahab is one of the world’s great
adventurers as well as a very accomplished ultra-runner. (See “Running the Sahara” for an account of
Ray’s 4,300 mile run across the entire Sahara Desert in 2008.) Ray lives near Gatineau Park and designed the
course, alongside his co-race directors Mat Lefevre and Sereena Trottier. When I heard that Ray would be involved, I
knew it would be both immensely challenging and first-rate in every
respect. I missed the inaugural in 2016
but made it this second year and am so glad for that opportunity.<br />
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“Bad Beaver Ultra” has started by design as a very small
race, to get the details right. Next
year the limit will increase to 50 or 60 runners. For this 2017 edition, the number of entries
was 20. Prior to race day, three people
dropped. Of the starting field of 17,
five did not finish. I was very fortunate
to have my friend and Fort Lauderdale neighbor, Tim O’Brien, compete with me in
Gatineau. Tim and I ran every step
together. We finished tied for 9<sup>th</sup> overall, very pleased to be among
the finishers and pleasantly surprised not to have finished last!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first day, or “stage”, was 53.5 kilometers and was
designed as an overview of the remaining days.
A little bit of everything was thrown our way, with the opening caveat from
the race directors to save a little for Day 2, which would be far tougher. Each day incorporated beautiful views from
mountain-top overlooks, lots of miles on single and double-track trails and
jeep roads and even a small amount of pavement.
Running on heavy, wet grass and mud, groomed and very technical
surfaces, over and through streams and downed trees and scrambling up mountain
escarpment was all part of the experience.
And the first day included a bonus called “Lusk Cave”. Upon arrival, a race volunteer was waiting to
keep an eye on your pack, shirt, hat and anything else you didn’t want to get
wet. With only running shoes and shorts
and a necessary headlamp, you scrambled up the rocks and then down into the
cave opening where very carefully you stepped on wet marble into the cold,
rushing water. Towards the end, 150
meters later, where it was completely dark, water was chest and then neck-high,
with about 12-18 inches of opening at the mouth of Lusk Cave to exit. You held on to any piece of rock you could
reach the entire distance, and carefully stepped and swam just a little to
reach the finale. The day was very humid
and warm, so the cold water was actually welcoming and refreshing. The experience was also, shall I say, <i>different</i>! We knew that the cave was incorporated into
the route so that it was no surprise.
But it was a first, to be sure.
Exiting the cave, we sloshed up some rocks to where our gear awaited us,
spent a couple of minutes shaking-off excess water, then donned shirts, grabbed packs
and trekking poles and continued the remaining 5 miles to the day’s finish
line. Yes, our shoes remained damp for
the balance of the race.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Damp shoes were not a particular problem, though. In our packs were changes of socks in
addition to food and electrolytes for the three days, sleeping bag, headlamp,
batteries and other required gear, personal items, warm clothes for nighttime,
rain gear, etc. Shortly after the start
of the second (long) stage at 6:00am, it began to rain. The forecast had called for heavy
thunderstorms all day, yet somehow we missed the worst. The rain kept up for an hour or two and then
backed-off. It remained very humid all
day. The most difficult terrain of the
entire race was the last few miles of the second day, which we ran at
night—after the rains began again. So,
our shoes remained damp, but hardly from Lusk Cave alone! Thanks to our running “partner” that second
day, Leeanne Richardson, who lives in the Gatineau area and knows the park
well, we were able to complete the distance by 10:30pm. Leeanne was our leader, set the pace, helped
navigate some particularly squirrely spots and got us “home”. Great flagging, signs and maps (in hand)
notwithstanding, confident and knowledgeable leadership is always a huge help
in the woods on a dark, rainy night.
Yes, Momma Bear with her two cubs in tow got us back safely to our <i>Bad Beaver</i> den. Leeanne finished 3<sup>rd</sup> female.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As with nearly all stage races, we expected to be
sleeping in tents on the first and second nights. Instead, we were pleasantly surprised to be
indoors, apart from the mosquitoes and deer flies that were plentiful in some
areas during the first two days. The
first night we all slept in a bunkhouse-type cabin, with half the space divided
into cubicles with two double bunks in each.
It was luxury, indeed, with real mattresses underneath our sleeping
bags. And “Bad Beaver Ultra” includes
dinner; fine food it was, too! We
had only to carry nutrition for during the day as a modest breakfast was also
offered. On the second night, when we
did not arrive until 10:30pm, hot dinner was still waiting for us inside a
large lodge at the base of a ski lift.
Here we slept on the floor in what would be a very large and
hyper-active bar area in season, using sleeping pads beneath our bags. (We brought sleeping pads with us from home. Race staff kept those for us until delivering
them that second night. It was a bonus
not to have to carry that extra weight for just the one night’s use.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The third day dawned dry and sunny, with a nice breeze
keeping the bugs away. It was a
spectacular day. At the highest point on
the entire course, at the top of King Mountain, the 180-degree view from the
overlook was truly incredible. We could
see all the way across the Ottowa River to the Capital at one angle, and lakes
and mountains of green and blue everywhere else. That was one of the many times I wished I had
carried my phone on this adventure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tim and I ran comfortably and well this last day,
making-up some time and looking forward to the finish where our wives awaited
with hugs and the further reward of a cold adult beverage! That third day was just 23 kilometers, or
about 14 miles. We reached the finish
line and also received finisher’s technical hoodies. Slipping-on that clean sweatshirt was a very
nice bonus. After the others finished,
we drove a short distance to Doozy Candle Shop, Old Chelsea Quebec, where we
were served lunch in a converted garage area.
All finishers received a commemorative candle, awards were presented to
the winners and we said our goodbyes until next time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I could not recommend this race more highly. It is a beautiful, exciting and tough event,
with a touch of luxury tossed in, including night-before hotel accommodations
at historic Wakefield Mill Resort for those who chose that option. Registration for next year’s race from August
2-4 is open now. Here’s the <span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">registration link: </span><a href="https://raceroster.com/events/2018/13853/bad-beaver-ultra-2018" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">https://raceroster.com/events/2018/13853/bad-beaver-ultra-2018</span></a>. And here is the <span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">website for all
the info: </span><a href="http://www.3beaversracing.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">www.3beaversracing.com</span></a></div>
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Finally, I would be totally remiss if I failed to give a
shout-out to my personal sponsors, <i>Skechers
</i>and <i>Nathan</i>. My <i>Skechers</i>
trail shoes were stellar on every surface I encountered in the race. My new <i>Nathan</i>
“Journey” pack held everything I needed for the full three days with easy
access to the items I used regularly. My
sponsors do provide me with shoes and hydration options, but I wouldn’t wear or
use them, never mind recommend them, if they were not the very best for
me. Toss-in the <i>Drymax</i> socks that kept me virtually blister free even in the wet, <i>Trail Toes</i> and <i>NipEAZE</i> to prevent chafing and I was 100% satisfied with my gear
choices for “Bad Beaver Ultra”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am proud to be an official “Bad Beaver”!!<o:p></o:p></div>
Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-6481226905181955072016-12-30T12:15:00.002-08:002017-01-04T14:20:09.829-08:00Mt. Gaoligong Ultra, November 18-19, 2016<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Mt. Gaoligong
Ultra</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">, Tengchong, China, November 18-19, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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RETURN TO YUNNAN<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was if I had been there before. Never have I received such a welcoming
reception from so many complete strangers, whose language I don’t speak and
whose life experience and customs are so vastly different from my own. But the connection was totally real, driven
by their individual and collective vision, and memories for the remaining few
old-timers, of a war fought on their doorsteps seven decades ago. It was the Americans, after all, who came to
China to fight alongside their parents and neighbors to liberate Tengchong and
the rest of Yunnan Province, turning the tide of World War II against the
Japanese for the first time on the mainland.
For these people, it was as if that history happened yesterday. More than seventy years later, here we were—13
Americans and another 5 Brits, Aussies and Canadians—standing on that ancient
soil. We were in China to run an
inaugural long-distance race upon their sacred “Mother” Mount Gaoligong and were
being honored as if it had been our own boots on the ground and planes in the
air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>”Badwater” people in City of Tengchong, Yunnan Province, China</div>
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Yunnan Province is in far southwest China near the
Myanmar border. It is rural and
remote. During the war the Flying Tigers
were based in Kunming, an hour’s flight away, and American bombers flew across
the Hump to disrupt Japanese supply lines, roads and personnel right there in
Tengchong and the surrounding mountains, home to the Burma Road and the ancient
Silk Road. Seventy-three years ago my
father, Mickey, and his crew flew through that sky in their B25 Mitchell,
somehow surviving 37 combat missions in that tin-can of an aircraft. The connection with my father was what inspired
me to race <i>Mt. Gaoligong Ultra</i> after
co-race director Chris Kostman announced it at <i>Badwater</i> in July. I just had
to be there. What I could not possibly
have known was the respect, the near reverence shown each of us during our
entire visit, and not just by senior citizens.
People of every age honored our entire group by cheering and encouraging
and asking to have their photo taken with us.
The personal history due to my
father, and my rather advanced age for such an undertaking, meant that I
received even more attention than most.
The race, itself, and entire visit to Tengchong, became one of the most
emotional and meaningful experiences of my entire life, and a very special
bonding with my father.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> Mickey Becker in cockpit of B25 Mitchell medium bomber, c. 1943</o:p></div>
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What closed this circle for me was that my wife, Suzanne,
after initial reluctance to travel so far, was there to share this extraordinary
week. Less than a month later, it is
a struggle to explain this experience in a meaningful way. It would have been equally difficult to
convey to Suzanne its importance in my life had she not been there to feel it
herself. How fortunate we are to have
made the decision to fly halfway around the world for this race. <i>Mt.
Gaoligong Ultra</i>, itself, was nothing short of a first-rate production
spectacle with not a detail missed.
There were 53 runners on the starting line on November 18, and nearly 600
staff and volunteers supporting us. (The
complete 104-mile course was marked with 15,000 stands of reflective tape! Additional signs and banners were everywhere,
including posters in the airport terminal.) Then there were the many hundreds
of local people, adults and children, in tiny hamlets and villages and farms,
who stayed awake most of the night to greet us along the way. With a bigger-than-life announcer sending us
off at the start and greeting us at the finish—this guy must have gotten his
training announcing professional wrestling matches in the U.S.!—to the beat of
drums, dancers in native costume, un-ending signage and banners, wood fires in
raised cauldrons to keep us warm and even fireworks to send us on our way, the
production seemed to take its cue from the Beijing Olympics. (As a race director myself, it was quite the
humbling, if not humiliating show of how to do it right!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> With Suzanne: joy, emotion, exhaustion</o:p></div>
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There were 14 checkpoints (“CP”), or aid stations along
the route. At each of them were many
volunteers and lots of local people with immense curiosity. In spite of the fact that rarely did anyone
speak English, they were so intent on helping us that it was nearly a fight to
fill our own water bottle! At every
stop, these warm and caring people wanted to savor those moments with us, to
talk and touch and have photos taken.
For me, this race quickly became far more than just a matter of
finishing time; I wanted to savor the entire experience. At CP-6, 39 miles into the race, runners had
the option to complete the long route (168km or 104 miles) or the shorter route
(124km or 77 miles). While I was nearly
two hours ahead of cut-off, I decided to go “short”, knowing there would be
plenty of time to finish, and plenty more to savor at each checkpoint and along
the route the friendship shown me, and to reciprocate as best I could. It was the right decision. After 10 or 15 or 20 minutes at nearly every
stop, I would finally break away to continue the journey along that very
difficult, mountainous course to the finish line in Tengchong. 29 hours and 24 minutes after our ceremonious send-off, I "broke" the tape. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And what a finish it was!
As we reached the paved and cobblestone streets of the city, a
motorcycle escort was waiting for each of us.
When I came into view perhaps 1/2 mile or more from the finish, there were
excited crowds cheering loudly. Many
local people simply joined-in behind to accompany me to the finish line. (I had no idea about that crowd until someone
told me to turn around and take a look!)
A quarter mile or so before the tape, a race volunteer handed me a large
American flag, which I draped over my shoulders and held aloft. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> Finisher medal--Mt. Gaoligong bell</o:p></div>
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Tired from the race and thinking of my father, I was an
emotional mess as I reached the old stone gate that marked the finish
line. The greeting was enormous, with
race officials and volunteers, other finishers and locals and my wife, Suzanne,
there to greet me. Announcements and
photos and presentation of the finishers medal and race sweatshirt were next,
followed by a few half-choked words of thanks from me, stopping after each
sentence for Chinese translation over the loudspeakers. I lost it and was thoroughly spent after
telling this story that highlighted and reflected more than any single thing
this entire experience: As I left the
last checkpoint, CP-14, a tall young man speaking broken English, perhaps 25
years old, asked if he could leave with me.
He wanted to tell me something and “give me a gift”. We proceeded down a dirt driveway, then
crossed a two-lane paved road with police stopping traffic for us. On the far side, we climbed a steep
embankment and entered a grove of trees where I stopped. This young man turned to me and said: “More
than 70 years ago your father fought here and helped liberate Tengchong. Now you are here to run ‘MGU’ and help save
our mountain.” Then he stood very straight and said, “I salute you”. With those words and that salute, the tears
just flowed. I bowed to him in thanks,
then continued to climb that long hill to bring it “home”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Chinese family up late to cheer for us</div>
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And so it was: profound honor and respect shown us on a
personal level, combined with an outstanding race experience on a beautiful and
interesting and difficult loop course. There
was elevation gain of nearly 29,000 feet and a similar amount of loss. We ran on every conceivable surface:
technical sections of rocks and roots, open pastureland, dirt, sand and mud, across
streams, on huge stone pavers and stairways, paved and gravel streets, and even
sections of cobblestone road that are part of the ancient Silk Road. Then there was the wooden floor of the very
long—and very old—swing bridge that moved in every direction at once as we moved
across it. We ran past tiny farms, around
expanses of rice paddies and through little villages and parts of the city of
Tengchong at the race start in order to reach the mountains. We finished at the gate to ancient HeShun
town, an active and preserved part of the city.
There were the lush forests of the Mt. Gaoligong preserve and open
fields along steep hillsides. Climbs
were straight up and down, with almost no switchbacks to lessen the pitch. Almost nowhere was it flat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> Thumbs up, for sure!</o:p></div>
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I've been asked many times about the gear I used in this race and I am pleased to share the details. First were my <i>Skechers</i> "GoTrail" shoes that handled everything thrown at me extremely well. In the spirit of full disclosure, <i>Skechers</i> is a personal sponsor, but I wouldn't be wearing their shoes if they didn't get the job done. I wore a <i>Nathan</i> "Elevation" pack with 2 liter reservoir and lots of storage for required items, food, extra clothes and personal items. Ideal! I used lightweight Black Diamond trekking poles--their ultra-distance Z-Poles. Socks were <i>Drymax</i> trail socks. (I've worn nothing but Drymax since 2008.) I prefer to carry a flashlight, but because I was using poles I wore an inexpensive <i>Shining Buddy </i>headlamp which worked fine. I used <i>Trail Toes</i> for lube, when needed, and protected my hands with very lightweight gloves. I wore an older pair of CW-X tights with running shorts over them, two shirts--one by <i>Smartwool</i> and the other a <i>DeSoto</i> "Skin Cooler" wicking shirt--a pair of <i>Dirty Girl</i> gaitors to keep out the grit and two Buffs. My trusty Garmin 310XT (I swapped-out two of them) was on my wrist, and away I went! I couldn't recommend more highly all of these items.<br />
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<i>Mt. Gaoligong Ultra</i>
is scheduled to be moved from November to March, with the next running in
2018. Apparently at that time of year the weather is more
reliably good, and flowers will be blooming in early Spring. For any ultra-runner, and with immense
enthusiasm, I highly recommend racing <i>Mt. Gaoligong Ultra</i> and visiting Tengchong and Yunnan
province, in this southwest region of China. Like all of us in the inaugural running, you will experience one of the most exciting, and meaningful journeys of your lifetime.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-80847749200950364132016-08-30T19:59:00.004-07:002016-10-04T14:02:43.804-07:00TransRockies Stage Race, August 2016<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Trans Rockies Six
Day Run</i> was a first-rate stage race event held August 9-14, 2016 in
Colorado. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>TransRockies </i>is
a race of 120 miles from Buena Vista to Beaver Creek, and includes a stop in
Leadville, the traverse of Hope Pass and one spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains
after another. This was the 10<sup>th</sup>
year for this race. It was extremely
well organized, challenging and fun for the 550 runners who competed. For me, the best part was sharing the venue
with my nephew, Adam Goucher and his best friend and business partner, Tim
Catalano, AND with Tim and Linda O’Brien and many other Florida running friends. A huge bonus for me was running every step of
the entire first five days with Tim O’Brien. We supported each other and kept ourselves
moving forward, with the occasional reminders to drink, eat and not to forget
the electrolytes. For us Florida “Flatlanders”,
the nearly constant climbing and altitude—the entire race was run between 7,880
and 12,536 feet—were great challenges that certainly reminded us of the value
of oxygen! (55% of the race was run and
staged between 9,000 and 11,000 feet.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>TransRockies</i>
was my third stage race. It was by far
the most “luxurious”, and the shortest of the three.
Unlike “Marathon des Sables” and “Grand 2 Grand” (which averaged 155
miles each), we did not have to carry all our gear, including food for the
entire week, on our backs each day. At <i>TransRockies</i>, breakfast and dinner were
prepared for us, and very good food it was, too! Further, the race transported all our gear from
one camp to the next, except for four required items and anything else we
wished to carry during that day. (A
2-liter bladder of water is one such item.)
So, my Nathan pack averaged about 7-8 pounds and not the 25-plus that
characterized my other wilderness stage races. It was perfect for holding all my stuff in a compact and efficient package that was a huge help in managing the inevitable roots and rocks on very steep and unforgiving terrain. Also, for the first time in a race I wore <i>Skechers</i> "Go Trail Ultra 3" trail shoes, and they were fantastic--very comfortable and never failed to grip on any surface! <i>Skechers</i> is now a personal sponsor, but I had never raced in their trail model. I certainly made the right choice! With my Black Diamond "Z-Poles" trekking poles, I had the right gear to meet each day's climbs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Each night we arrived at camp—either running to the
finish line there or being transported from the finish line to camp. One to 2-person tents were set-up and ready
for occupancy when we arrived. While nominally first-come, first served, my
nephew, Adam and buddy Tim, snagged a tent for me next to them since they generally
finished a couple of hours before me!
After grabbing our duffels, we’d hit the tents and lay out our inflatable
mattress, sleeping bag and other night gear, and a change of clothes. Then—and here is another MAJOR difference
between this race and other stage races—we would visit the hot-water showers
that were set-up at each camp for our use.
Luxurious, I said. Luxurious, I meant!<o:p></o:p></div>
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After clean-up, the goodies continued: “ChillVille” was
the big tent area where we could charge our phones, watches and other
electronics, help ourselves to snacks from the considerable offering tables and
even grab a cold beer courtesy of race sponsor, Crazy Mountain Brewery, Vail
Valley, CO, before finding a chair to relax.
After dinner there was live music and a campfire to complete the scene. Thirty or forty years ago I would have been
out there dancing every night too!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nights were cold—<i>very</i>
cold for this South Floridian. I wore three
layers of clothing from head to toe, climbed inside a sleeping bag on top of an
inflatable mattress and was still shivering most of the night. It wasn’t until fellow Florida resident, the
saintly Jessica Oldfather, offered me a fleece sleeping bag liner that she wasn’t
using that I finally warmed up! Jessica, IOU <u>BIG</u>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the morning it remained cold until the sun peaked over
the mountains and then it warmed-up immediately. Nearly everyone would wear jackets, pants,
gloves and hats until a few minutes before the start each day, then place everything
in a personal “drop bag” that would be transported for us to the finish line.
(Yet another race luxury.) Then off we
would go, running distances from roughly 14 miles to 24.5 miles, depending upon
the day. Daily elevation gain varied
from 2,500 feet to 5,250 feet. Climbing
up or running down was nearly constant. There
was one unbroken climb of 7 miles. The
fourth day featured running (or walking) for a full mile through a very cold
ankle-to-calf deep rocky stream. It was
unique and beautiful. It was also initially
very refreshing, then totally numbing before exiting the water. With three miles to go from there to that day’s
finish line, our feet actually had time to thaw before arriving and enjoying
that day’s special tradition-- Margaritas and fish tacos at the bar in the
little town of Red Cliff.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My trip to Colorado actually began a week before the
race. I spent those days in the Boulder
area visiting family, including daughter Meleah, son-in-law Greg and granddaughter
Adeline, sister Lois, brother-in-law John and quite a few nieces, nephews,
great-nieces and great-nephews. It was a
terrific week, but combined with the race, itself, was far too long to be away
from Suzanne at one stretch. We’re
actually pretty fond of each other. I
don’t think there will be any more two-week separations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Stage races in general are very social,
relationship-building experiences.
Runners spend many days together, often in close quarters, running substantial
miles in very challenging venues. The
camaraderie is palpable, and unforgettable. While <i>TransRockies </i>was neither the most difficult nor Spartan of the
genre, it was certainly difficult enough, and in a most beautiful setting. I highly recommend this race to any runner
who would like the challenge of a very different, and first-rate long-distance
racing experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-59251459814746005362015-08-24T14:17:00.000-07:002015-08-26T13:52:33.761-07:00<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Completing <i>Badwater 135</i>, <i>Badwater 146</i> and the <i>Badwater Double</i> </div>
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July 28 to August 5,
2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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Setting the age record for the "Double"</div>
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After completing the “Badwater Double”, a couple of days
to gather my thoughts became two weeks of increasing hesitancy to write about
it. Though I do so now, even the most
talented writer would be hard-pressed to adequately describe this
happening. It’s a given that people new
to this race as runners or crew will say that until you’ve lived it you just
can’t know how difficult and beautiful and extreme and ultimately fulfilling
this “Badwater” experience is. I’ve been
a runner or crew member for nine years in a row, and I still can’t do it
justice with pen and ink.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But there is both a desire and an obligation to explain
this thing, to tell my story as best I can to the hundreds of sponsors and
friends and supporters who made this such a gratifying and humbling
journey. I’ll begin by listing the
“facts” to explain why my 292-mile “Badwater Double” was really three races in
one. I’ll then tell “why” I decided to
attempt it, talk about training and describe my trial out there, including what
I considered to be most difficult segments or factors.</div>
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Originally, the <i>Badwater
Ultramarathon</i> began as a race to go on foot from the lowest point to the
highest point in the contiguous 48 states--during the two hottest summer
months. At 282 feet below sea level, the
start at “Badwater Basin” is actually the lowest point in the entire western
hemisphere. The summit of Mt. Whitney,
at 14,505 feet, is the highest point in the Lower 48. 146 miles separate these two points. That was the race route until the National
Park Service introduced a permit requirement to climb the mountain. With no guaranty that all competitors would
be able to get one, the race was shortened to 135 miles, finishing at the Mt.
Whitney “Portal” at the end of the paved road at 8,360 feet. As an unofficial homage to the race’s
origins, a handful of people each year obtain permits and continue to the
summit to complete 146 miles. Here are
the three components, then, of my “Badwater Double”*:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Badwater
135</i> Ultramarathon: 135 mile race
from Badwater Basin, Death Valley, CA, at 282’ below sea level to the end of
the paved road on Mt. Whitney at 8,360 feet—the Portal, or Trailhead for the
trail climb to the Whitney summit. Along
the way are two additional climbs to 5,000 feet at Towne Pass and beyond Panamint
Pass near the Darwin turn-off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Beginning at Whitney Portal, climb 11 miles to
the summit of Mt. Whitney at 14,505 feet, the highest point in the lower 48
states, thus completing the 146 mile journey from the “lowest to the highest”, followed
by the 11 mile downhill return to the trailhead at Whitney Portal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->From Whitney Portal, the 135 mile return to
Badwater Basin to complete the 292 mile “Badwater Double”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Death Valley is arguably the hottest place on earth. The highest temperature ever recorded was
there. During my effort the high temp
reached 118 in the Panamint Springs area during the “135”, and 122 during the
return to Badwater Basin. “Badwater 135”
includes approximately 14,600 feet of elevation gain and 6,100 feet of
cumulative descent. The reverse is true
for the return to Badwater Basin to complete the “Double”. Summitting Mt. Whitney adds 11 miles of
additional ascent to reach the top and 11 miles of descent to return to the
Whitney trailhead at the Portal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twenty eight (28) others have completed the “Double”, the
oldest at 59 years old prior to my finish at age 70.<o:p></o:p></div>
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*The “Badwater Double” does not have to include the <i>Badwater 135</i> race. As long as the effort is completed in
July-August, the “Double” may be done independently. Appropriate documentation to verify the
accomplishment is always required. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gfS64EqH-NDZMaW0bZI_xCTEk_bcDYhiCt82PphS-eE_7c9ym58HzaMG2g7IshksryWqegz2R4614QyEsuLDvII4o6xXlXKUO54drAa0wQ6XIEymdPKd5-kQY9KvhtzgwG_dULwN8Eo/s1600/Badwater+Basin+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gfS64EqH-NDZMaW0bZI_xCTEk_bcDYhiCt82PphS-eE_7c9ym58HzaMG2g7IshksryWqegz2R4614QyEsuLDvII4o6xXlXKUO54drAa0wQ6XIEymdPKd5-kQY9KvhtzgwG_dULwN8Eo/s400/Badwater+Basin+view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Badwater Basin salt flats</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSTkuRhKCWshe6LaCL-SONh5HO17Av2wva-yqABDRTN4g_hljNKV1EcwpaH4woBQv274XhjL1-O3X1uJsZgQ9luCQxMfDqpinaOUSISiUCnyxh_eHDs0fwzxs785ksJfcM1HMs1IAWf0/s1600/With+Marshall+Ulrich+on+Whitney%252C+DN+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSTkuRhKCWshe6LaCL-SONh5HO17Av2wva-yqABDRTN4g_hljNKV1EcwpaH4woBQv274XhjL1-O3X1uJsZgQ9luCQxMfDqpinaOUSISiUCnyxh_eHDs0fwzxs785ksJfcM1HMs1IAWf0/s400/With+Marshall+Ulrich+on+Whitney%252C+DN+pic.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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On Mt. Whitney with Marshall Ulrich and Kevin Grabowski </div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Bob’s “Badwater Double” timeline</span></u><span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 8:00pm: <i>Badwater 135</i> start<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Thursday, July 30, 2015, 1:30pm: <i>Badwater 135</i> finish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Elapsed time for <i>Badwater 135</i>: 41:30:21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Friday, July 31, 2015, 5:00am: Trailhead start to summit Mt. Whitney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Friday, July 31, 2015, 3:25pm: summit; completion of <i>Badwater 146</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Elapsed time for <i>Badwater 146</i>—67:25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Saturday, August 1, 2015, 1:20am: Return to Trailhead;
completion of Mt. Whitney summit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sunday, August 2, 2015, 8:00am: Begin return to Badwater Basin
from Whitney Portal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Wednesday, August 5, 2015, 4:48:00am: arrival at Badwater
Basin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Elapsed time for <i>Badwater
Double</i>: 7 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why</span></u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In 2014, I competed in the <i>Badwater 135</i> for the second time.
As the oldest runner I finished 50<sup>th</sup> out of 97 who
started. I’ve played sports, worked out
or run (in some combination) my entire life.
Looking ahead to my 70<sup>th</sup> birthday I wanted to accomplish
something different and difficult, and decided to attempt the “Badwater Double”
as a way to compete again in my favorite race while trying to set an age record
for this unique challenge. Most “type
A’s” are competitive, positive and social people. We quickly “forget” the pain and difficulty
of the last challenge or somehow move it to the back burner as we begin to say
to ourselves: “If I’d only done ‘that’ differently my time would have been 5
minutes faster”, or “I could have gotten to that crossing before dark”; or,
“Had I not eaten that new [untested] food at the aid station I wouldn’t have
spent the next three hours puking on the side of the trail.” Combine that with the personal challenge of
running faster, or farther, or in more hostile terrain, and the schedule fills
up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By luck of the draw—and where I live in South Florida with
very few off-road trails—I became a <i>Badwater</i>
junkie, involved in this road race as runner or support crew for nine straight
years. So, when faced with a big
birthday, it was totally appropriate to think about a <i>Badwater</i>-connected test. I
wasn’t fast enough to break Art Webb’s age 70 speed record for the “135”, had
already run sub-40 hours and finished twice in the top 50, so I began to think
“longer”. Heroes of mine, Marshall
Ulrich and my coach, Lisa Smith-Batchen, had already laid the groundwork with
their extraordinary accomplishments in Death Valley. I just followed their lead, if modestly, by
deciding that a “Double” was a reasonable thing to attempt, ideally in
conjunction with the “Badwater 135” race.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The next 12 months were devoted to planning and training (see
description below) and running other races to be ready on July 28th. Two of these were “Badwater Cape Fear”, the
51-mile race on Bald Head Island, NC, that includes 10 miles on road and 40
miles on the sand, and “Badwater Salton Sea”, the 81 mile (mostly) road race
that you run entirely with one or two additional teammates (not a relay). “Badwater Salton Sea” starts at the race’s
namesake and ends atop Palomar Mountain in eastern San Diego County, CA; it
mimics the low-to-high profile of the “135”.
As a personal bonus, by completing all three <i>Badwater</i> races in 2015, I also earned the “Badwater Ultra Cup”
designation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What is the “Badwater Double” all about</span></u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">At its core, like most extreme athletic challenges, it’s very
basic: just you, your body and mind attempting something very difficult. The goal is to run and walk and climb 292
miles through Death Valley and beyond to the summit of Mt. Whitney, then return
to the race starting line at Badwater Basin.
The extreme distance (292 miles including the competitive “Badwater 135”
ultramarathon), heat (we recorded 122 f), blast-furnace winds (steady 20-30mph
with gusts to 40, mile after mile), vertical climbing and steep descents (over
20,000 feet both up and down) and loss of oxygen at altitude (capping at 14,505
feet on Mt. Whitney summit) are the course’s components. I was certainly not alone out there. My four-person support crew** was absolutely
essential to success; I couldn’t have asked for more from them and couldn’t have
done it without them. But given all that
great help, it is still you, the protagonist in this drama, who must ultimately
move yourself through the pain and exhaustion to that magical finish line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">**During <i>Badwater 135</i>--Crew
Chief Kevin Grabowski, New Berlin WI, Beth Stone, Orlando FL, Roger Burruss,
Palm City FL and Marc Drautz, Boca Raton FL.
For the summit and return leg, Crew Chief Alene Nitzky, Fort Collins CO,
Roger Burruss, Ashley Heclo, Boynton Beach FL and Don Nelson, Cudjoe Key FL.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqF3LYBiyY9PqYX_lveHg9RxgFfTKz_rIb0Zm2acRKo-3n-d5qa6bXbKJ7GX04Wwm95Uo7lSVyZhfez1sPByPDmKgAoXmcZUcfocmi-vBAeOnb8RHUYgQb10LwGceZ7fbWZsKQXj72V8/s1600/With+Don+Nelson%252C+Kevin+Grabowski%252C+pic+by+KG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqF3LYBiyY9PqYX_lveHg9RxgFfTKz_rIb0Zm2acRKo-3n-d5qa6bXbKJ7GX04Wwm95Uo7lSVyZhfez1sPByPDmKgAoXmcZUcfocmi-vBAeOnb8RHUYgQb10LwGceZ7fbWZsKQXj72V8/s400/With+Don+Nelson%252C+Kevin+Grabowski%252C+pic+by+KG.jpg" width="367" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Don Nelson, Bob Becker, Kevin Grabowski at 14,505 feet</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Proper training and preparation for these conditions and its
duration are basic, as is executing your plan.
Figuring out and maintaining optimal levels of hydration, nutrition,
salt and mineral replacement, managing fatigue and keeping body temperature
under control by strategic use of ice are all vital. Great crew manages the plan for you and keeps
you on schedule. Members of the crew
take turns pacing you, too. There is
lots of banter and joking and light-hearted motivation along the way, and that
is all good. At the same time this is
serious business: there is no BS out there.
Runner and crew must be in sync, communicate accurately and
comprehensively and to the point, and adjust to conditions as necessary to be
ready for the next segment. The “Double”
is both an individual challenge and a team effort all the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u>Training</u>:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Elite ultra-marathoner and long-time trainer, Lisa Smith-Batchen,
coached me again as she had for my first ultra (Marathon des Sables), first
“100” (Rocky Raccoon) and all three “Badwater 135” races. She has always had me ready on race day and
this was no exception. Lisa’s coaching
philosophy is not just about long mileage; she tailors training to the age,
ability and condition of the runner and to the specific race goal, if there is
one. So training for “292” this year was
different than training for “Badwater 135” last year. I did a lot more cross training, for example--core,
weights, spinning-- and a lot more walking and tire pulling. Example: on a Saturday later in the training
schedule I pulled a tire for 5 miles, then crossed the 17th Street Causeway
back and forth for 25 miles. I'd power walk up and run down, turn around and go
back up and down. (Each crossing was ½ mile.) Then I'd finish the day with a 10
or 15 mile run. So, running specifically
was only part of the training equation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Running <i>Badwater 135</i></span></u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Runners have 48 hours to complete <i>Badwater 135</i>. My plan was to
use most of them, to conserve as much energy as possible for the Whitney summit
and return to the “Basin”. But I’m also
a competitive person and just can’t help wanting to pick-off a few of the
young-‘uns out there! So, my finish in
41 hours and 30 minutes was considerably faster than it should have been, and
finishing 60<sup>th</sup> was not very smart.
But, it was still the slowest and lowest finish of the three, which is
how I justified it to myself! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3JM0jbrs6vHkhfCNdqhFJ7M7Eat6O_KpWBlvqqnSyI_TOGOUoMKKyOwgjpcwNKc103ifsM3nO_uFTNLoeCbb-pGt1NlVEjoL5OhhyQsPA8qP7G0quYmz697MBKjcPVKg4AftXNIILkw/s1600/20096062502_9b7636fe75_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3JM0jbrs6vHkhfCNdqhFJ7M7Eat6O_KpWBlvqqnSyI_TOGOUoMKKyOwgjpcwNKc103ifsM3nO_uFTNLoeCbb-pGt1NlVEjoL5OhhyQsPA8qP7G0quYmz697MBKjcPVKg4AftXNIILkw/s400/20096062502_9b7636fe75_z.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Announcements and photos before our 8:00pm start</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As you proceed along the route, you inevitably settle into a
groove at roughly the same pace as a few other runners. (That is likely to happen more than once over
the long distance.) So you see them and
pass them and they pass you, often many times.
Longer or shorter stops to meet your crew every couple of miles or so
create those on-again, off-again passing opportunities, as do bursts of energy
or periods of slower movement. The rules
require pacers to stay behind their runners at all times, and for all race
participants to be in single file unless passing someone. Still, this format allows for plenty of
conversation. I had good company for
many miles from Shannon Farar-Griefer, Kelly Lim, Kim Budzik and Marshall
Ulrich, and the last quarter mile to the finish with Jason Romero, the
remarkable legally blind runner from Denver.
But, your focus as a racer is still <i>you</i>
and what you must do to beat the cut-offs and make it all the way up Whitney
Portal Road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-F4Z7XFu3li3z7X6lqGDmX3Afz_6MWXRxSybNwHWO3DuPauknY_-U-B-dfhTgTZnzUVZSXP_R2-CgOd9YTNTqE0rTxRy7xKRHa2RtQ6QUJr6qA208B7jEdUluAV0cY45_1i22nDRZIA/s1600/With+Marc+Drautz+heading+up+Whitney%252C+MD+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-F4Z7XFu3li3z7X6lqGDmX3Afz_6MWXRxSybNwHWO3DuPauknY_-U-B-dfhTgTZnzUVZSXP_R2-CgOd9YTNTqE0rTxRy7xKRHa2RtQ6QUJr6qA208B7jEdUluAV0cY45_1i22nDRZIA/s400/With+Marc+Drautz+heading+up+Whitney%252C+MD+pic.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">With Marc Drautz on Whitney Portal Road</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As a runner over 65, an option was to have a pacer beginning
after 3 ½ miles. I chose that
option. My pacer carried a walkie-talkie
and communicated with our crew in the minivan before we reached them at roughly
two mile increments as to what I would need at the next meet-up: always a fresh
water bottle with lots of ice. (Even
carrying an insulated bottle, water became warm very quickly.) The plan was to consume 200-300 calories
every hour. On the hour typically I
would drink a half bottle of milk chocolate Ensure, and on the half hour either
a gel or other item approximating 100 calories.
I’d also gulp some Gatorade or soft drink frequently, and take 2-4 <i>Endurolytes</i> each hour to help replenish
lost salt and minerals. I would wear an
ice-filled bandana around my neck and a smaller container of ice under my hat
to keep core temperature under control, changing these very frequently during
the day and even at night. With a few
exceptions, it doesn’t cool-off much out there.
The ground and rocks and road retain a great deal of heat and it
radiates slowly throughout the night, heating the air and contributing to the
windy, hot conditions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The heat and wind spawn a “dust devil” in Panamint Valley</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This year the race began at 8:00pm, and I was in that first
of three waves. While we did not have
the intense heat of the day at the beginning, there was plenty to go around,
and being awake for two full nights and most of two full days was all the
challenge anyone could want. Of the 100
registered runners, 97 started. An
extraordinarily high 18 dropped before finishing, including two previous
winners and many other elite runners.
Some went-out too fast, thinking they could bank some miles during the
“cooler” night hours. It was the
“cooler” part that really didn’t happen.
I approached Stovepipe Wells at dawn, roughly 40 miles into the
race. Shedding night gear, we began the
long and steady (18 mile) climb to 5,000 feet at Towne Pass, then down the far
side to Panamint Valley at 2,000 feet.
The valley floor and the next six miles to “Panamint Springs Resort” was
the hottest section of the 135-mile race, hitting 118 degrees. Passing Panamint Springs, the climb was on to
the next summit beyond Father Crowley Point at the Darwin Turn-off (5,050 feet)
as the second night closed in. The 8
miles to Father Crowley are particularly steep, feature very sharp turns in the
road and generally zero shoulder. And
there is plenty of traffic to keep you on your toes. Many sections of the roadway along the route
are built with very significant camber—i.e., sharp pitch to the pavement with
no flat section. Blistered feet really
love those sections! (It was actually
harder going downhill on the way back than climbing on the way to
Whitney.) The crew and I leap-frogged
the 50 miles from Panamint into Lone Pine at the base of Whitney where they
checked into our luxurious rooms at the Whitney Hostel—6 bunk beds in one room
and 4 in the other! After a quick break,
now in daylight, I began the 13-mile climb to the finish line up Whitney Portal
Road. I was struggling. For many miles I had been unable to stand
straight, with a lean to the left to complete this very attractive
picture. But I was moving well and knew
where to find that finish line. A
quarter mile or so from the end, we connected with Jason Romero, the legally
blind runner, who had completed my <i>KEYS100</i>
race in May. We grabbed hands, later
joined by our respective crews, and continued to 50 feet before the
“tape”. At that point we asked Jason and
his team to go first. After the
excitement welcoming him, the tape was stretched across the finish line again and
it was our turn for glory! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> With Jason Romero, approaching the finish line</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD1joiff-PVWI1t5LMTAy0bqrZPv5jXPp_k9WB5xjDiPt64beW45Q4htk8AGfQ740QHCSqDPIGDEwkmSyUxs_g5QM4aSCDzFKq0tNbM8BqicWF2lny1f59OqPyT01peUl25iXRzWNoFg/s1600/Crossing+the+line+at+BW+135.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD1joiff-PVWI1t5LMTAy0bqrZPv5jXPp_k9WB5xjDiPt64beW45Q4htk8AGfQ740QHCSqDPIGDEwkmSyUxs_g5QM4aSCDzFKq0tNbM8BqicWF2lny1f59OqPyT01peUl25iXRzWNoFg/s400/Crossing+the+line+at+BW+135.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Crossing the line in 41:30, 60</span><sup style="color: #222222;">th</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> place out of 97
who started the race</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The <i>Badwater 135</i>
post-race pizza party at the elementary school in Lone Pine is a race
tradition. Runners are recognized and
called-up for a photo op, and it’s the last time to see most of the runners and
crew until next time. There was also
recognition for completing the “Badwater Ultra Cup” for the 8 or 9 of us who
reached that goal. Final arrangements
were made there with Marshall Ulrich and Jill Anderson (who secured the permits
for all of us) to meet in the morning for the Whitney climb. Then there was a quick stop at Jake’s Saloon
to add this year’s finish note in magic marker to my little section of the
front wall before returning to the Hostel.
After completing gear prep for the summit, I got 3 ½ hours sleep, waking
at 3:45am to dress and head up the hill.
Kevin Grabowski and “new” crew member, Don Nelson, accompanied me on the
Whitney loop. We began at 5:00am with
Marshall, Jill and 4 members of her crew.
Jill was not feeling well and had to drop early, returning to the
Portal. The rest of us continued on. Kudos are in order to Mike Holmes whose gift
of two Excedrin knocked-out an intense headache after just an hour on the
trail; that was the last issue with obvious altitude sickness for the rest of
the climb. Three hours or so into it,
Marsh and Jill’s crew took off, as Don, Kevin and I were moving pretty slowly
and there was little reason to hold them back.
(We would later see them on their way down an hour or two from the
summit.) The three of us eventually
reached the top and signed the ledger there at about 3:25pm, took some photos
and then began the trek down. Kevin was
mostly spent, having had just 6 hours sleep in nearly three days. He had never been awake for that long a
period and it took its toll. Don was
“fresh” as he had arrived the previous day to crew on the return. Still, Don is a Floridian like me, so the
elevation affected him, too. The Whitney
trail is not “technical”—i.e., you don’t have to be roped-in or harnessed. But, it is extremely rocky, uneven and long,
with all the steepness you might ever want!
The trail is also not marked well and is, in places, very difficult to
follow even in daylight. Because so many
of our miles heading down were after dark—we finished after 1:00am—it was a
major challenge to find the way. With
Kevin and me not functioning particularly well, Don Nelson showed what
leadership is all about. He repeatedly
found the trail when we reached apparent dead-ends and lead us all the way to
the trailhead at Whitney Portal. Don
even drove us down the mountain, got us upstairs to the room and all but tucked
us in!! What a day it had been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Stunning scenery</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> On top!</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Early that morning, August 1, Kevin, Beth and Marc drove the
extra rental car we had stowed in Lone Pine back to Las Vegas to fly home. Roger Burruss continued on crew for the
duration. Don Nelson was onboard. Ashley Heclo, who had crewed for British
runner David Ross during the “135”, joined us for the return. Rounding out the crew for the return trip was
Nurse Ratched, herself, Alene Nitzky, who completed a double a few years
ago. The initial plan was to begin the
return on Saturday, August 1, late in the day.
Alene, who is an RN and has volunteered on the Badwater medical staff a
number of times, recommended that we take extra time to rest and instead leave
the following morning. She received no
argument from me. Alene worked on my
blisters and taped my feet as best she could—the worst blisters were too deep
under callouses to be accessible without the risk of infection. Ashley, a terrific massage therapist, worked
her magic, especially on my back, and applied tape to help with my posture. It worked amazingly well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Ashley Heclo massage; Alene Nitzky on the blisters</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">At 8:00am on Sunday morning, Ashley drove Roger and me to
Whitney Portal where the 135-mile return would begin. A big surprise awaited me there in the
persons of Dr. Ben Jones, CHP Scotty Wall and Bradford Lombardi. (Brad had also completed the “135” and was
resting for a solo, unassisted 146-mile crossing in two weeks!) What a great photo op and send-off. Ashley drove back to the hotel to prepare the
van for the return. Alene crewed from
her small SUV the 13 miles down Whitney Portal Road while Roger did the pacing
duties, providing his usual fine company.
I was quickly reminded how much more difficult and painful the downhills
are. Approaching noon we arrived in Lone
Pine, meeting the rest of the crew at McDonald’s where a cheeseburger and fries
sounded like a good idea! Then, with Ashley
pacing and Bradford joining us on foot to the ranger station at the edge of
town, the final 122 mile attack began.
The return was much slower than I had hoped it would be. The vast majority was power-walked as my feet
and legs, especially, wouldn’t tolerate much running. We stopped as needed, remembering that the
finish was the prize and not how fast we got there. At no time during the entire experience did I
ever think we wouldn’t finish. Yet we
had to be smart about fatigue and the unforgiving desert conditions,
especially, as Alene noted, being mindful of wear and tear on my 70-year old
organs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Roger Burruss, Bob, Brad Lombardi, Scott Wall, Dr. Ben Jones
at Whitney Portal store</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The majority of the course is gently rolling rather than
totally flat, except for the mountain portions.
We had completed the descent of Mt. Whitney. Next up was the 3,000 foot downhill from
Darwin turn-off and Panamint Pass into Panamint Valley, the 3,000 foot climb up
to Towne Pass and the final 18-mile, 5,000-foot downhill from there to Stovepipe
Wells. Once at Stovepipe, it was “only”
42 miles to the finish and with no more long, steep ascents or descents; that
marker was a big goal in my mind. But
the downhill from Towne Pass had extracted a price, so I arrived with a
screaming right anterior tibialis (shin) that continued for the duration of the
run. Proceeding in bright daylight, we
felt the wind gradually pick-up during the course of the day. The harder it blew, the hotter it was. A few miles from Furnace Creek the sun began
to set, but neither the wind speed nor wind temp got the message. By Furnace Creek it was blowing at a steady
15-20mph. After a break there, I
continued for a mile on Route 190 with Ashley Heclo pacing me, to Badwater
Road, where we turned right for the final 17 miles to the ultimate finish
line. I thought we’d be smelling the old
barn door and picking up speed, but the gods had a different idea! The winds kicked-up to a consistent 20-25mph,
increasing in intensity the closer we got to the Basin, with gusts to 40mph and
more. I believe the message went
something like: “So you think you have this done, huh? Well, watch this!” The heat from those steady headwinds made
this section the toughest segment of the entire adventure. What a way to finish! We reached the Badwater Basin parking lot,
and the crew joined me for those last steps to the “Badwater Basin” sign where,
at 4:48am, I lost it. With tears of joy
or relief or maybe both, I hugged that gang in thanks for all they had done to
get me home. It had been a very long
(nearly) three days of keeping this zombie moving ahead—relentless forward
motion, we say—without much if any sleep, themselves. What an outstanding job they did. Then it was back to Furnace Creek to our
rooms. Finally, my shoes could come off
after all those miles. (I hadn’t dared
change a thing along the way.) A shower
and a few hours of sleep never felt so good.
We checked out at 11:00am, drove to Las Vegas where we reserved rooms at
the “Hard Rock”, checked-in and collapsed.
Don Nelson and I were on the same flight, which he moved from 8:00am on August
5<sup>th</sup> to that same time on the 6<sup>th</sup>. That was the best change ever! It was great to have his company, and almost
equally good that we did not have to change planes at our one stop in Columbus
before reaching Fort Lauderdale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Badwater
Double</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">: DONE!</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We arrived in Florida and were greeted at the airport with a
surprise crowd as we left the secure area.
My best friend and biggest fan, wife Suzanne, was joined by good friends
Susan Jobe, Silvia Quinzani, Audrey Campbell (and her grandson) and Marcela
Todd. Some of my Thursday night running
(and beer-drinking) buddies were there, too: Tim O’Brien, Sandy Siegel and Cid
Yousefi. Someone suggested we grab a
beer before heading home, so the “boys”, Suzanne and I did just that. Buddy Mark Ehrenshaft joined us later on his
way home from work. Even Don Nelson
stopped for awhile before beginning his long drive home to Cudjoe Key, about 22
miles from Key West. Some food and a
beer, then it was home and lights out for this guy. What an amazing 12 days it had been! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One more note—most difficult</span></u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Final 17 miles down Badwater Road to the finish, with
unexpectedly high winds full frontal.
These were constant 25-30mph winds with gusts to 40 and more, blowing me
sideways at times. Although late at
night, the blast furnace-like winds result from the combination of temps still
in excess of 100 and the release of heat from the rocks and roadway around and
under you that accumulate from the previous day. Crossing from Stovepipe Wells to Furnace
Creek, headwinds continued to gain strength with heat the incessant
constant. Hot winds at night were a
major factor throughout this adventure.
With only brief respites, I wore ice around my neck and under my hat
nearly 24/7. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the “difficulty” category close behind was the summit of
Mt. Whitney for this flatlander. We
began after just 3 ½ hours sleep (in nearly 3 days), topping-out at an altitude
of 14,505 feet. It took 20 hours to go
up and down the total of 22 miles, with crew member (and first time Whitney
climber) Don Nelson taking the lead and finding the trail again and again, leading
exhausted crew member, Kevin Grabowski, and me back to the Whitney Portal
trailhead long after dark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Finally, the many long, unending stretches of sameness take a
toll, the best example being the road from the Darwin turn-off into Lone
Pine—and its reverse on the way back.
The 18 mile downhill from Towne Pass at 5,000 feet to Stovepipe Wells at
sea level on the return is another. This
stretch contributed damage to the right anterior tibialis (shin) and strain to
the lower legs. Altered gait from strategically
“placed” and painful blisters certainly contributed to these issues, even with
the subconscious (or unconscious?) effort at transcending the discomfort,
trying to normalize form and pace and just focus on the end goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Post Script</span></u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The bucket list is clear, at least for now. It feels a little strange, actually. So, what’s next: read a book? Okay.
Sit in a rocking chair and play checkers? Adventure gods, save me, PLEASE! </span></span>Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-87287451438963014742015-08-02T10:10:00.001-07:002015-08-02T10:10:08.877-07:00Beginning Again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLZo7YN_nNqaR_uPn1AI98VVJph0DYspEkdgzAgthsruL1frtdPKOkHVZ3PVPdIZAwWFWhWpruGGBdqsA0DmTYBf7fpwAQVWitdln5OQA1w6vemMPVuMmKk9YMmeA-9THNeoMunX8Sjsd/s640/blogger-image-908747299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLZo7YN_nNqaR_uPn1AI98VVJph0DYspEkdgzAgthsruL1frtdPKOkHVZ3PVPdIZAwWFWhWpruGGBdqsA0DmTYBf7fpwAQVWitdln5OQA1w6vemMPVuMmKk9YMmeA-9THNeoMunX8Sjsd/s640/blogger-image-908747299.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bob is moving like a maniac down the Portal Road, standing up straight and tall thanks to Ashley's magic spa treatment yesterday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ashley dropped Bob and Roger at the Portals this morning, and Bob got a surprise send-off by Bradford Lombardi, Scott Wall, and...wait for it...none other than the most famous Badwater family member of all, Ben Jones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7WYdHLQuy-j_NUpeWI9FXCyZn3VyTBhkzveBZO6ay_wBzCVo0eg2fW3VthKwqJPxTkthQPBnGWyLczrSZw3bX90gheq5mE0NImBDMhjrhpSeMs6lQ7tfi-vz_ZcFJL6bWI8d_OVs0Rf7/s640/blogger-image--24002957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7WYdHLQuy-j_NUpeWI9FXCyZn3VyTBhkzveBZO6ay_wBzCVo0eg2fW3VthKwqJPxTkthQPBnGWyLczrSZw3bX90gheq5mE0NImBDMhjrhpSeMs6lQ7tfi-vz_ZcFJL6bWI8d_OVs0Rf7/s640/blogger-image--24002957.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Needless to say Bob was extremely touched by the well-wishers and moral support as he starts the final leg of his journey.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am crewing Bob and Roger on their way back down to Lone Pine, then we'll proceed with the full crew and caravan into the afternoon and evening across Owens Valley.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIZNFcqG6yqLlqgFrW0kgx7Bfdj1aV9JcMRqddkqUkqfDYvYRYAOJR8f8Wpty5ropIDFxUxrU_3H55q2frX4yluzeeLDcdnytl1soI50Mnf4nuRUsmN1U350R9sWuEhccTKGsQO4F1ZwT/s640/blogger-image--415424767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIZNFcqG6yqLlqgFrW0kgx7Bfdj1aV9JcMRqddkqUkqfDYvYRYAOJR8f8Wpty5ropIDFxUxrU_3H55q2frX4yluzeeLDcdnytl1soI50Mnf4nuRUsmN1U350R9sWuEhccTKGsQO4F1ZwT/s640/blogger-image--415424767.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Internet connections will get harder to come by until we hit the Furnace Creek area in a few days. But I'll do my best to keep you posted. Again, Facebook is the easiest to share quickly, so check my page (alene nitzky) or Suzanne Becker's. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's a beautiful day for a run!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ratched, out...</div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-42703759893326022372015-08-01T13:16:00.001-07:002015-08-01T13:16:53.946-07:00Chill Pill<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O7oumxciPrHb7BVe69R-qsPsierQDa6J4ipU1z2m3mahG_3W_QpVV5oQOn8sdzlInim1ku66Hriw1Y_kcnWu-_9HPAEAydcCC52jv3477wXm_4I5rpEz_DtYB3YeEQAnzLznslgBoRE-/s640/blogger-image--456313215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O7oumxciPrHb7BVe69R-qsPsierQDa6J4ipU1z2m3mahG_3W_QpVV5oQOn8sdzlInim1ku66Hriw1Y_kcnWu-_9HPAEAydcCC52jv3477wXm_4I5rpEz_DtYB3YeEQAnzLznslgBoRE-/s640/blogger-image--456313215.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bob is catching some ZZZZZs while the crew does the tourist thing, laundry, and shopping before the trek back across the Valley starting tomorrow. The priority today is plumping Bob back up to his usual self, he is a bit dehydrated and hungry but also sleep deprived. I'm threatening to use my medical kit (above) if he doesn't comply.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Looks like Bob chose the right day to summit Whitney because today there's some nasty-looking stuff happening up there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwaR3wVPBkX812yK7XxqiyhPj9-4DgugM6NwOxHg2L1SJDI6s4e8hHIhSHcEdrS1I3DTn9Rg2IyVq4FS2IiwyS2uuLTMsH-ixUYveUlCy9lLeDXTyLRovimZB9ze_VX8LaLvzmPhRNp-r/s640/blogger-image--661301309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwaR3wVPBkX812yK7XxqiyhPj9-4DgugM6NwOxHg2L1SJDI6s4e8hHIhSHcEdrS1I3DTn9Rg2IyVq4FS2IiwyS2uuLTMsH-ixUYveUlCy9lLeDXTyLRovimZB9ze_VX8LaLvzmPhRNp-r/s640/blogger-image--661301309.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This morning Bob chowed down on some French toast and a special mixture of electrolyte replacement salts. Mmmm...breakfast of champions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJJXjehU4BwNEs3rnbUgsOcFQ5ejEa0sAuRgxOomxarndoeo6tE3onQMFLVzJTG0qBe2viEq8-F8QDuWDhTlfl9zIpe5PND2nJ_4UjdNimIcrYOk1ZMNDDOFarh9CsWiBhmKHOEfvH6Tb/s640/blogger-image-1444754434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJJXjehU4BwNEs3rnbUgsOcFQ5ejEa0sAuRgxOomxarndoeo6tE3onQMFLVzJTG0qBe2viEq8-F8QDuWDhTlfl9zIpe5PND2nJ_4UjdNimIcrYOk1ZMNDDOFarh9CsWiBhmKHOEfvH6Tb/s640/blogger-image-1444754434.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Marshall and Heather were very kind to donate additional food, drinks, and leftover supplies before they left town this morning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tomorrow we will take this show on the road again. Until then, we're enjoying some therapeutic air conditioning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ratched RN, out.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-3904875107655256002015-08-01T07:53:00.001-07:002015-08-01T07:53:26.291-07:00What About Bob?<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOlC7LQpg9ozrV5LPAoMk4K6f_bdZyTSR4bymDqWKl2UYnsZu2YruK2tuKsmtnV0dzF0MqCubYWuK8DNOcrB9PKuMagt-82PsuvAFuNgy0YWpi53ZCjGlei0-BB9OzDo90pMpgABEOwvb/s640/blogger-image--2008563082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOlC7LQpg9ozrV5LPAoMk4K6f_bdZyTSR4bymDqWKl2UYnsZu2YruK2tuKsmtnV0dzF0MqCubYWuK8DNOcrB9PKuMagt-82PsuvAFuNgy0YWpi53ZCjGlei0-BB9OzDo90pMpgABEOwvb/s640/blogger-image--2008563082.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Bob is sleeping soundly after getting down from Mt. Whitney around 2 am. We will take this day to rest and let his body recover. I told Roger last night to wake me up if there are any serious problems- thinking kidneys and lungs, or any other vital thing. Feet and brain we can deal with when he wakes up. <div><br></div><div>No one woke me and all messages from the crew point to Bob's doing well, just needs sleep. I will leave him to sleep and we'll regroup once he wakes up and starts moving around. </div><div><br></div><div>The double is hard enough on even the toughest athletes but here's where we have to take extra things into consideration: Bob is 70 years old. We all know he's nothing like a typical 70 year old but the reality of his body is this: while he's fitter than almost everyone of any age, his organs are 70 years old. And doing this sort of race taxes the body- not just the muscles, but the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, and other parts like nothing else. So that's what we will keep in mind as we watch Bob's progress. His body needs a little longer time to recover than someone 30 years younger. </div><div><br></div><div>So all is well here in Lone Pine, and I will update when we have a plan.</div><div><br></div><div>Ratched, out.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-72959982019590253482015-07-31T10:03:00.001-07:002015-07-31T10:16:38.041-07:00The Ratched Report...Greetings friends and supporters of Bob! I apologize for the lack of posting but the desert is not full of cell phone towers and fiber optics we take for granted in the city. Just to fill you in, Bob finished the race yesterday in 41:30 which is hauling @$$...and feet looking better than ever...<div><br></div><div>After a long drawn out post race party last night, Bob finally got some sleep and woke up to start his trek up Mt. Whitney at 4 am with Marshall Ulrich and his crew members. The sky is cloudy today, but that cools things off, and we can see the summit from town, a few blue holes in the sky are encouraging. I feel confident that Bob is in the best of company in the world on this portion of the trip.</div><div><br></div><div>The crew did a fantastic job, over the top, of caring for Bob on the way here. Even though Kevin Grabowski, crew chief, begged and pleaded with me not to look at the van when I first arrived, by the time he allowed me to peek at it, there was no evidence of whatever he was hiding earlier. </div><div><br></div><div>Marc Drautz, Beth Stone, and Roger Burruss made up the rest of the crew and Bob couldn't have been in better hands. </div><div><br></div><div>Today we are talk a day of active rest and preparing for tomorrow's jaunt, beginning our return to Badwater. The biggest challenge for Bob, I think, will be distracting him from the constants - pain in his feet. As I told him, that's a given and the key is to focus on everything else around you. Without the rush, pressure, and fanfare of the race, we should have a fun and relaxing time on the way back. </div><div><br></div><div>I will most likely be posting on Facebook from here on unless we have a stretch of solid wifi access, doubtful... So please feel free to check (Alene Nitzky on Facebook) and hopefully Suzanne will share to Bob's followers. </div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for being Bob's supporters and fans. He is such a wonderful human being, it's an honor to be on his crew. From here it will be Ashley Heclo, Roger, Don Nelson, and me...with the shared goal of getting Bob to Badwater to celebrate this already amazing accomplishment! </div><div><br></div><div>Ratched aka Alene Gone Bad, out.</div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2d34Kiyu827DHZN3DqDIm7L-GOTY49ZC9RR0sFKSoqiLHToFBB3B4RPYoXwW1sft-7aO5-tig5TNnWQSzOQAULQ4vBi8WvLeCmi40RiB6hfT_5xFd_1gvhDwanSCW_hrEcl36dkdx4uv/s640/blogger-image--548271817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2d34Kiyu827DHZN3DqDIm7L-GOTY49ZC9RR0sFKSoqiLHToFBB3B4RPYoXwW1sft-7aO5-tig5TNnWQSzOQAULQ4vBi8WvLeCmi40RiB6hfT_5xFd_1gvhDwanSCW_hrEcl36dkdx4uv/s640/blogger-image--548271817.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-25410957971316969042015-07-17T14:29:00.001-07:002015-07-17T14:29:45.381-07:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pursuing the “Badwater Ultra Cup”--2015</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">I admit it; I’m a “Badwater” junkie. Don’t know how it happened, but it did! I’ve been showing-up in Death Valley every
July since 2007, and have either crewed for another runner or raced <i>Badwater 135</i> myself. Maybe it’s that special camaraderie and race
culture; maybe it’s the allure of the desert and the mountains. Whatever that magic is, I’ve been
sufficiently hooked to be competing again in 2015, hoping to earn the “Badwater
Ultra Cup” distinction, and attempting the “Badwater Double” at race’s end--as
a bonus! At 70, I expect to “up” the
oldest-finisher “Double” record by a dozen years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">As a
Race Director myself, I know a “pro” when I see one, and no one does a
better job than Chris Kostman in directing and designing extreme events. Three years ago, when Chris announced <i>Badwater Salton Sea</i>, there was no way
I’d miss being at that crazy, exotic starting line on the crunchy shore of
Salton Sea. A two or three-person team
race that was NOT a relay, where mates had to run together for the entire 81
miles to the top of Palomar Mountain? 73
miles on road, 8 miles on rocky trails (mostly climbing), and a course that
mimics the <i>Badwater 135</i> route, just
shorter? I could totally buy into that;
Sergio Radovcic, Matt Nelson and I were there and had a terrific experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">When <i>Badwater
Cape Fear</i> was announced for March 2014, my reaction was the same—another
Kostman original! Racing a little over 50 miles on a pristine North Carolina
coastal island that doesn’t allow motorized vehicles—10 miles on pavement
through a beautifully developed second home community and 40 more on the
Atlantic Ocean sand beach? Spectacular
idea! And this not-to-be-missed ultra on
Bald Head Island met every expectation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">Now there were three: <i>Badwater 135</i>, <i>Badwater Salton
Sea</i> and <i>Badwater Cape Fear</i>, and a
new designation for completing all of them in the same year: the “Badwater
Ultra Cup”. So I threw my hat into the
ring for that inaugural chase in 2014. I
had a fine race in the desert in July, finishing 50<sup>th</sup> in 39:45 at <i>Badwater 135</i>. The first of the three events, <i>Badwater Cape Fear,</i> was a keeper, too—and,
BTW, I couldn’t recommend that event more highly. But the result for this returning veteran at
the second installment of <i>Badwater Salton
Sea</i> was not so pretty. Illness
before the race and charley-horsing calf muscles during it knocked me out of
the race at the halfway point. There
would be no “Badwater Ultra Cup” in 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">So, “Salton Sea” for me in 2014 was quite the
bummer, but being part of these races was so enjoyable that I set my sights on
giving it a go one more time in 2015. Besides,
I figured that earning the “Cup”--as well as completing the 292-mile “Double”--would
be fitting personal birthday gifts in the year when I could no longer deny my entry
into Senior Citizenship!! So, I returned
to Bald Head Island in March and actually set a PR for the 50 mile
distance. I had the distinct pleasure of
running as the teammate of Keith Straw at “Salton Sea”, and we nailed it! And now, with just days remaining, <i>Badwater 135</i> lies ahead, with that
proverbial Holy Grail known as the “Badwater Ultra Cup”, just sitting there at
Whitney Portal waiting for me to snatch it up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">Thanks,
Chris, for all the fun—and all the material for “What I did on summer
vacation”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">Bob
Becker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-90403158403279872602015-07-17T13:28:00.000-07:002015-07-17T13:29:51.827-07:00<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2015 </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">KEYS100</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Ultramarathon Race Report</span></div>
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RD Bob Becker<o:p></o:p></div>
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The competition was excellent and the views spectacular--as
always! The 8<sup>th</sup> Annual <i>KEYS100</i> race across the islands of the
Florida Keys was held on May 16-17. For
the first time, a 50 kilometer competition from Big Pine Key to Key West was
added to the event menu: 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West, 50 miles from Marathon
to Key West and our unique six runner 100 mile team relay from Key Largo to Key
West. Nearly 1,200 competitors insured
that the post-race action at the finish line on Higgs Beach kept rockin’! From 3:00pm on Saturday until 3:00pm Sunday, runners
crossed the finish line as 2,000 burgers, 7 kegs of beer, countless pizzas and
more began to disappear! And, a race
tradition continued as 700 pieces of Dion’s fried chicken were enjoyed,
too. At the awards program under the
huge tent on the beach at noon on Sunday, over 200 awards were presented, each
hand-made in the Keys. Picture the awards
presentation stopping each time someone yelled, “Runner coming”, and hundreds
of people stood and turned to cheer-in the last few of the 100-milers. With Gary Hempsey’s band playing “Buffett” on
the beach, or the post-race party at “Smokin’ Tuna” or sunset at Mallory
Square, the celebration was vintage Key West, and a great complement to the
stellar athletic performances along the point-to-point Overseas Highway
course. More than 75% of the race is run
on the bike paths, pedestrian bridges and service roads that make-up the
“Florida Overseas Heritage Trail” which parallels the roadway for most of that
100 miles. The balance is run on the
road shoulder, including historic Seven Mile Bridge.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Awards time!</div>
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Christy Johnson in the Lower Keys</div>
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170 people were registered for the 100 miler. 144
actually toed the starting line and 97 finished—a better than expected 67%
finishing rate in the sub-tropical heat of the islands in mid-May. Vanderley Pereira of Brazil beat last year’s
men’s champion, Grant Maughan of Australia, for the overall win in 16:17 flat. Women’s winner, Tammy Walther, of Little Rock,
Arkansas, returning to <i>KEYS100</i> for
the 6<sup>th</sup> time, finished 7<sup>th</sup> overall with a time of
20:16:18. There were exciting competitions
throughout, including 5<sup>th</sup> place Zandy Mangold beating 6<sup>th</sup>
place Will Glover by 17.8 seconds to take the Male Masters win. And Jason Romero, who won the 45-49 male age
range award and finished in 9<sup>th</sup> place overall. Jason’s time was 20:31:18; he is legally
blind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The 50 mile race saw Chris Van Smith of Weston FL cross
the finish line in 7:51:45 for 1<sup>st</sup> place. Top spot among the women was Caryn Lubetsky,
last year’s 2<sup>nd</sup> place finisher.
Caryn was 4<sup>th</sup> overall in 8:19:41. Tom Drummond of Chalfont PA, Male Masters
winner in 8:52:44, was crewed by last year’s 100 mile overall winner, Alyson
Venti, who reciprocated for Tom’s crew support of her 2014 record-smashing win
at <i>KEYS100</i>, and then again in July
2014 at <i>Badwater 135</i>..<o:p></o:p></div>
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The inaugural 50 kilometer race was added after a chorus
of requests to do so, and a consensus to make the heat a factor at that
distance, too. (No “easy” ultramarathon “introductory-distance”
race, this one!) The first 50 kilometer
competition began at 1:00 PM on Saturday.
David Kilgore of Palm Bay, FL, a <i>KEYS100</i>
rookie at age 23 and winner of this year’s 50 mile <i>EVERGLADES ULTRAS</i> trail race, broke the tape in 4:19:17 for the
win. Women’s winner and 2<sup>nd</sup>
overall was Fabiola Morales of Miami, FL. Fabiola’s time of 5:39:55 was only 17.4
seconds ahead of 2<sup>nd</sup> place female Caitlin Lopez of West Palm Beach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The 100 mile team relay race produced a spectacular example
of athleticism with the record-breaking performance of <i>Space Coast Runners</i>. The
team of Shane Streufert, John Davis, Steve Chin, William Vanos, Dan Burnett and
Chris Cacciapaglia completed 100 miles in 9:07:27, beating the old record by 9
minutes in significantly hotter conditions.
This was one of those records that most thought would never be
broken. But, Team <i>BT’s Road Warriors</i> “unbreakable” record stood for just one
year. This was an exciting race as <i>Space Coast Runners</i> and <i>BT’s Road Warriors</i> competed
head-to-head; “Road Warriors” finished 2<sup>nd</sup>. Overall, 136 teams, including 30 military
teams, raced simultaneously with the individual ultramarathoners. Many teams offered individual runners their support,
encouragement and camaraderie along the way while being inspired by the individual
effort they witnessed under a cloudless, hot and humid South Florida sky. Our unique 100-mile relay race remains an
important tradition and integral part of the <i>KEYS100</i> race experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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More than 30 states and 7 countries other than the U.S.
were represented this year. The 9<sup>th</sup>
Annual <i>KEYS100</i> returns to the islands
on May 21, 2016. Visit www.keys100.com
for all the details, and check out the official race video from 2014 (<a href="http://youtu.be/einciyU4Ric" target="_blank"><span style="color: #005a9d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">http://youtu.be/einciyU4Ric</span></a>)
for an excellent overview of the <i>KEYS100</i>
race experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-34692512341907163552015-03-05T11:52:00.000-08:002015-03-05T11:52:09.880-08:00EVERGLADES ULTRAS, 2/21/2015, RD Race Report<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">EVERGLADES
ULTRAS</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Race Report for 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u>Record-Setting
Race Day in the Everglades on February 21<sup>st</sup></u>: 4 of 6 Race Records
Broken!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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It was one of those near-perfect February Florida days: cool
at the start, reaching the 70’s in the afternoon. The course through the heart of the
Everglades was mostly dry, with bridges and work-arounds built over sections that
still had flowing or standing water. And
did runners ever respond to this opportunity!
235 people registered for this 4<sup>th</sup> annual <i>EVERGLADES ULTRAS</i>, competing in 50 mile,
50 kilometer and 25 kilometer races.
(The first two of these were also the USATF-Florida Association trail
championships at those distances.) First
time 50-miler David Kilgore, 22, of Palm Bay, FL, made it look easy as he blew
away the course record by an astonishing 1 hour and 10 minutes with a time of
6:02:43. (That time is even more
impressive considering the old mark was held by elite ultra-runner Katalyn
Nagy, who is a member of this year’s U.S. 24 Hour Team, competing next month in
Europe in the world championships.) In
addition, both 50 kilometer records were broken as was the men’s 25 kilometer
mark.<o:p></o:p></div>
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50 kilometer winner Cuche Alarcon, from Veracruz, Mexico,
was in South Florida for business and decided to compete in a race while here. Compete he did, beating the field in a time
of 3:49:47—and breaking the old mark by a full three minutes! Not to be out-done, 50 kilometer female
winner Natalie McLeod, Vero Beach, FL, finished in 4:53:44, beating the old record
by eight minutes! Tim Lyster’s 25 kilometer
record was set in the race’s inaugural year, but Jason Clark, of Chittenango,
NY, decided it was time to lower that standard, finishing in 1:42:16. That effort took 8 ½ minutes off the old
mark. While she didn’t break the course
record, 50-mile female winner, Michelle Matys, Boca Raton, FL, set a big PR as
she reached the finish line in 8:30:59.
1<sup>st</sup> place 25 kilometer female victor, Natasha Yaremczuk, was
thawing-out in South Florida before returning home to Ontario, Canada. Natasha beat the second place female finisher
by more than two minutes as she crossed the line in 2:00:14. It was truly a day of amazing performances
and personal bests.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our host and partner, the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve
State Park, is the largest state park in Florida. At over 80,000 acres, “The Fak” easily
contains these race routes, including the single loop 50 mile course, with much
of the park still to explore.
Competitors race along raised trails called “trams” above the swamp
strand, then through spectacular grassland prairies and wooded “upland”
areas. The park boasts the largest
variety of orchids and bromeliads on the continent and a wide array of animal
life: Florida panther, black bear, bobcat, deer and Florida mink, to name a
few. There are alligators and other
reptiles, to be sure, and an astounding array of bird life. On race day in this nature preserve, you
never know what you will see. Most
animals are not used to seeing or hearing runners or any other humans--and the
park rangers supporting them on all-terrain vehicles--so tend to keep their
distance. Still, there are always
stories of wild-turkey and deer and bear and Bard Owl sightings, and lots
more. What an exotic and unique location
this is for a trail race. Eoin Craigie,
who was racing from Montreal, said: “<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The race and the day were both incredible and I
couldn't have asked for a better event to attend. I came down from cold
Montreal to run the 50M and didn't expect such great scenery… I'll be back to race the Everglades and let
everyone know this is a great event.”</span> Or, in the words of 25
kilometer runner <span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Rebecca Kinzel: “It was a thrill to run in such a remote,
absolutely pristine place.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>EVERGLADES ULTRAS</i>
is particularly mindful of providing extraordinary runner support. 10 fully stocked aid stations and three
un-staffed water and ice stops are scattered throughout the venue, many in very
isolated locations that can only be accessed by ATVs and UTVs. Tents and tables and chairs, coolers with ice
and water, sports and soft drinks, a wide assortment of food and more are
driven out and set-up by park rangers and volunteers in this exciting
environment. Much of this is jungle,
folks!! All 70 plus miles of race trails
are opened or re-opened by hand, trimmed, mowed by tractor and flagged before
race day. It is this Herculean effort
that affords us all the privilege of experiencing this amazing place. On race day, all active trails are patrolled
by a large staff of park rangers whose job it is to fully support runners and
focus on their safety.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fifty mile age group winner Ashley Heclo commented that, “The
aid stations were amazing, the trails perfect, the rangers gracious and
helpful, timing on point.” She praised the ”</span><span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">…fantastically helpful and cheerful
volunteers”, and added: “Park rangers were active all day checking on runners
on desolate parts of the course and topping off water bottles… </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I've drank
the koolaide man, in large part because of meeting people who inspire me to
reach beyond.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Race veteran Stephen Roos, commenting on the course’s
technical areas, said: “<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Once you get
past the first three or four miles, which are easy and cute, you are lured into
thinking this race is gonna be a breeze. The next 10 miles are due north,
filled with Florida beauty you will probably not see anywhere else on
foot. Wild orange groves, wild grapefruit trees, ferns and orchids, with
swamp on either side. The next three miles are due west and are very
technical. Pay attention to where you are stepping or go splat.
During pre-race orientation race director Becker explains there are
"cypress knees". These are the root systems of cypress trees
that grow horizontal just underneath the surface growing nodules above the
ground that look like knees. …These things are the devil's imps! Imagine the arcade game "whack a
mole" in reverse. Instead of having a mallet and whacking the head
of the mole when it pops its head up, cypress knees will pop up when you are
not looking, grab you, and trip you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“After leaving the technical northbound and westbound trails,
the southbound route opens up to tall grasslands and trees as far as you can
see in all directions. Eventually there will be fewer trees and the trail
will open up to prairies that go on...FOREVER!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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“T<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">hen there is the beauty that is found all through this
event. Whether it was my good looks or scintillating smell, butterflies
flew within inches of my nose many, many times throughout the day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Then there are comments like these from first-timer John
Flynn. These alone are enough to make
old RD’s like me come back year after year:
“I ran my first 1/2 marathon on<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="aqj">October 26th</span>, my first marathon on 12/7 and my first 50K ultra
yesterday.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span style="background: white;">That was one
of the great experiences in my life. To be doing these things at 59 is just amazing
to me.</span> <span style="background: white;">I even get a medal and a beautiful picture on top of all of that! I am
walking on a cloud (softly, my feet still hurt).”</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="background: white;">EVERGLADES
ULTRAS</span></i><span style="background: white;"> is held each year in the
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park near Everglades City, FL. 2015 was a most memorable event. See you again next February.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-56466656747608710352014-07-30T17:18:00.000-07:002014-08-07T13:34:44.277-07:002014 Badwater 135 Ultramarathon, Race Report<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>BADWATER 135</i>
RACE REPORT<o:p></o:p></div>
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July 21-22, 2014<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bob Becker <o:p></o:p></div>
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Last Monday night, July 21, the big dipper above Cerro
Gordo Road, about 15 miles outside Lone Pine, CA, was so clear and big and
close that I could nearly grab it with both hands and take a drink. And so it was with my <i>Badwater</i> race: all the elements needed to complete 135 miles were
right there for the grabbing, and I went for it. Truly this experience could not have been any
better.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have been part of this event for each of the past 8
years, racing it in 2008 and crewing for other runners each of the other six
years. There is a special culture here,
a vibe that is hard to explain but that draws most people back year after
year. The “Badwater 135” Ultramarathon
is as iconic as a race can be, and known as the “world’s toughest footrace”. With a limit each year of 100 runners able to
compete, 26 countries and about as many states were represented at the starting
line. It was such a privilege to be part of this select
group. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>6:00am wave awaiting the start</u></div>
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<o:p><u>Ready: Let's go!</u> </o:p></div>
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When my application was accepted as the oldest runner this
year, race planning began and progressed with modest but realistic expectations. This is not a race where I would land on the
winners’ platform! The goal was to
finish, and maybe to pick-off a few runners along the way so as not to be dead
last. Next on my wish list was to finish
in under 42 hours, and finally to beat my time of 40:48 from 2008—admittedly a bit
of a stretch. My first call was to friend
and ultramarathon trainer, Lisa Smith-Batchen, who had gotten me ready for my
very first 100 mile race and again for <i>Badwater</i>
in 2008. We discussed those goals in the
context of my age and condition and time remaining before the race; I had total
confidence that Lisa would have me ready on race day. (For those who don’t know her, Lisa
Smith-Batchen is a 53 year old elite ultrarunner who has won <i>Badwater</i> twice. And this month, beginning on July 1<sup>st</sup>
and ending on July 15th, Lisa ran a most extraordinary route for an important charitable
cause. Lisa ran the traditional <i>Badwater </i>route to raise money to drill
potable wells in Africa and India. But,
after completing those 135 miles, she then summitted Mt. Whitney—the highest peak
in the contiguous 48 states—and then ran back to the Badwater basin where she
began, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level. That “double” was not enough, so Lisa
repeated the entire route, completing the 135 mile course again, summitting
Whitney a second time and then returning to Badwater. She traversed 584 miles, completing the “Quad”
crossing in 15 days, only the second person, and first woman, to ever do so.) Yes, I was in pretty competent hands. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Coach Lisa Smith-Batchen and 2<sup>nd</sup> place Badwater finisher Grant Maughan</u></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>With training spot-on, it was vital that many other
elements of this effort be in balance, too, as I would be on the road without
sleep for a long time. My nutrition and
hydration plan required 200-250 calories and 20-30 ounces of fluid per hour, adjusted
for time of day, and 2 electrolyte capsules every half hour or so. I can find it difficult to swallow solid food
during long, hot races, so caloric intake was primarily from Ensure, Hammer gels,
Gatorade and Coke, with odds and ends of fruit, cookies, soup and chips on
occasion. It worked. There was never any stomach distress and the
balance of fluids and salt/mineral replenishment held steady. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Throughout the race, except at the beginning and first
night, I wore an ice bandana around my neck and a buff containing
ice, tied at one end, under my hat to help control body temperature. These were replaced with fresh ice every
couple of miles. During the second day
when the heat became a much greater factor, I was sprayed with water from a
hand-held sprayer almost constantly while moving down the course. After the first 45 miles, we were allowed a “pacer”
to run with (actually behind) us. Each
member of my 4-person support crew took turns as the pacer, keeping me focused
and alert and in good humor. <i>Badwater</i> is a race that would be
impossible to complete without a crew of people meeting you every couple of
miles to replenish fluids, offer food and ice and massage and encouragement, a
change of socks and whatever else might possibly be needed. As with other factors in my race, my crew of
Bill Wenner, Kevin Grabowski, Bonnie Busch and Beth Stone was beyond
fantastic. I couldn’t be more grateful
for their outstanding care and concern and excellent execution. If there were any issues in that van, I never
knew about them. Their job was to keep
me focused and moving forward according to plan, to provide whatever help might
be necessary along the way and to cross the finish line with me at the Mt.
Whitney Portal. And they got it done
beautifully.</div>
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<u>The crew</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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As is traditional, there were three “waves” of runners
beginning this race--at 6:00am, 7:00am and 8:00am. We were allowed 48 hours to complete the
course. Badwater Basin, where the race
traditionally begins, is located within Death Valley National Park. A new park superintendent upon arriving in
the desert last year, decided not to approve <i>any</i> event applications in 2014 until after a safety study had been
completed. In spite of 25 uneventful
years for this race, not to exempt <i>Badwater</i>
from this action was ludicrous, but her decision stood. As a result, the course this year had to be
modified. “Death Valley” is part of the
greater Mojave Desert, so the revised route incorporated the 30 miles of desert
road from Darwin to Lone Pine NOT located within the national park—out and
back, actually, for a total of 60 paved desert road miles—plus the traditional climb
to the finish up Mt. Whitney to 8,500 feet and the road’s end at “Whitney Portal”. Instead of starting at the Badwater basin,
the route began in Lone Pine with a climb of 22.5 miles to Horseshoe Meadows at
9,900 feet, followed by an equally long descent. For a Florida flatlander, it was a most
interesting start! </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>The long and winding road down Horseshoe Meadow Road. Lone Pine in the background.</u></div>
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<o:p><u>Running it! </u></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA9p9f8krgmC2twlwaN2DeKHIZhvWp_NRlugjgZJVM3iOaPskQan9JbDbew5CTikphVJNwGcoCE4dRsnpBMUV94rYWx9El0C1yy-GRRynOwSsamSSeVdTsgy6vLF5rYo4YIR_TxndGak/s1600/Heading+down+from+Horseshoe+Meadow,+2014+BW,+M2+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA9p9f8krgmC2twlwaN2DeKHIZhvWp_NRlugjgZJVM3iOaPskQan9JbDbew5CTikphVJNwGcoCE4dRsnpBMUV94rYWx9El0C1yy-GRRynOwSsamSSeVdTsgy6vLF5rYo4YIR_TxndGak/s1600/Heading+down+from+Horseshoe+Meadow,+2014+BW,+M2+photo.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
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Passing back through Lone Pine at 45 miles, a 15-mile
stretch of desert road took us via a detour on Dolomite Loop Road to Keeler,
the small settlement at what once had been thriving Owens Lake. There, we made a left-hand turn onto a rocky
dirt road, leading up 7 ½ miles to the ghost town of Cerro Gordo at 8,152
feet. This off-road stretch was by far
the most difficult part of the race, with the grade reaching at least 18
degrees in some sections, and seeming to continue forever! When my pacer, Kevin, and I finally arrived
at the bright lights of what had been the “American Hotel” many years before,
we were too tired to check out the bullet holes in the old saloon walls inside. I sat for a couple of minutes on the porch,
then began the equally steep 7 ½ mile descent.
Had we been among the fastest elite runners who climbed Cerro Gordo Road
during daylight, we wondered if the experience would have seemed so daunting. On the other hand, they missed that crazy big
Big Dipper, so there is that consolation. </div>
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<u>Just off steep and rocky Cerro Gordo Rd.</u></div>
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At the bottom of the mountain, I took a left at Keeler on
Route 136 and ran for 17 miles, reaching the turn-around point at the Darwin
turn-off. What a welcome sight, knowing
that we had completed 92 miles, and that the finish was<i> just</i> 43 miles down the
road—including that climb to 8,371 feet—all straight ahead.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Between Keeler and Lone Pine</u></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>It is hard, grinding work out there. Yet it has its special moments that are exciting
and fun and motivating. Catching-up with
my crew every couple of miles was one of them. As trite as it sounds, hearing people yell out
their windows, “Go, Bobby, go!”, or “You’re looking strong”, and similar cheers,
were somehow very meaningful and became my unspoken mantras for awhile. And crossing the finish line at Whitney
Portal? As rewarding and exhilarating as any experience could ever be. Beating my goal by a lot. Finishing in under 40 hours. Just perfect.</div>
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<u>View across Owens Valley from Cerro Gordo Rd. to switchbacks on Horseshoe Meadow Rd.</u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAi-VcSEfj1TCqQWBkyqZPFBKQr_E2A1G_f3IVeHT-DqRPcy5P_ZK2bnwnXt1ekiEdmx218YrJBFVUxUF8jff-aawndHv7i99Ih6lwJFYNiavP9Q-1Z8pFTbXOIQxkhCcFgOYvjJ2lZOM/s1600/Horseshoe+Meadow+switchbacks+seen+across+Owens+Valley+from+Cerro+Gordo+Rd..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAi-VcSEfj1TCqQWBkyqZPFBKQr_E2A1G_f3IVeHT-DqRPcy5P_ZK2bnwnXt1ekiEdmx218YrJBFVUxUF8jff-aawndHv7i99Ih6lwJFYNiavP9Q-1Z8pFTbXOIQxkhCcFgOYvjJ2lZOM/s1600/Horseshoe+Meadow+switchbacks+seen+across+Owens+Valley+from+Cerro+Gordo+Rd..jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I ran <i>Badwater </i>this
year as something of a test. I have been
thinking about celebrating my 70<sup>th</sup> birthday in 2015 by running the “Badwater
Double”, and wanted to see how I’d do racing “only” 135. Yes, I got it done, but it does hurt—a lot! So, it will be awhile before I’ll think about
that decision, and lots can happen anyhow in a year. Come to think of it, sitting in a rocking
chair at the old age home with a slice of birthday cake in my lap doesn’t sound
so bad right now…</div>
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<u>Cooling spray from Bill
Wenner heading up Mt. Whitney Portal Road<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-35391286390015640412012-10-20T13:41:00.000-07:002012-10-20T13:41:34.825-07:00<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i>Grand 2 Grand Ultra</i> Race
Report<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Race Dates: September 23-29, 2012</div>
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<br /></div>
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The overwhelming beauty, diversity and sheer mass of the
Southern Utah and Northern Arizona portions of the Rockies is hard to
adequately describe. Rounding turns and
cresting hills, each vista seems more spectacular than the last. I rarely carry a camera when I race, and even
more seldom bother to take photos while out there. But, the inaugural <i>Grand 2 Grand Ultra</i> was the exception. I just hope that the mountain gods will
forgive the total inadequacy of my two-dimensional digital effort to do it any
real justice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This seven day, self-supported stage race was as
difficult as it was unique. To stay on
course, imagine climbing down a set of long ladders to reach the floor of a
slot canyon. Or, climbing a knotted rope,
hand over hand, to vault a vertical cliff.
Or, scrambling up technical rock faces to reach the top of the next
butte—or at least reach the next runnable/walkable section of that trail. Then there were those incessant stretches of
off-trail running through sandy fields of cactus, prickly piñon,
yucca and the like, each creating an obstacle course where you’d best be paying
close attention. For a mid-pack finisher
like me, traversing the famous steep and deep Utah Pink Sand dunes at night
under a full moon was as magical as it was daunting. On that portion of the “Long Stage”—47
miles—I was fortunate to have the company of Aussie Lynn Hewitt, a very
accomplished ultra-runner who had just returned from a trek in the Himalayas a
couple of weeks earlier. In one of the
most astounding feats of strength and will I’ve ever seen, Lynn managed these
dunes, and nearly every one of those 47 miles—wearing a pair of Injinji socks
and flip flops! It seems that Lynn’s
blisters were so bad that shoes were no longer an option. Talk about inspiration…<o:p></o:p></div>
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If anyone ever doubted that inland seas once covered much
of the Southwest, they have only to check out the <i>G2G</i> course to be completely convinced. There were more miles of running in deep soft
sand than I could have ever imagined.
For me, the difficulty of each step in this stuff was the greatest
challenge of any in the race—and it was relentless. 34,813 feet of elevation change? Running at altitude up to 9,200 feet? 167 total race miles? Piece of cake, by comparison! There was sand on the uphills, sand on the
downhills and sand on the flats. I live
in Fort Lauderdale near the beach and I’ve never seen anything like it. Every ultra has its distinctive challenges,
and sand was this event’s calling card.
All the more “grand” for having completed it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The “self-supported” nature of this race means that
runners carry in a backpack all required and optional items for the full seven
days, including food (<i>minimum</i> of
14,000 calories required), drink mixes, bottles and utensils, sleeping bag and
pad, additional clothing, safety and night-time gear, meds and personal items
and anything else the runner might want or need for the entire week. The “Race”
provides water in the morning, after arriving at camp at the end of each stage
and at each of the mandatory checkpoints along the route at approximately 10
kilometer intervals. Tents that sleep
8-10 runners are also supplied at each newly set-up camp at the end of each
race stage. The <i>Grand 2 Grand Ultra</i> included some unexpected luxuries, too: hot
water at night and in the morning, folding camp stools and campfires to knock
the edge off the night-time cold. Oh,
and the portable toilets, complete with mirrors and hand cleanser in each of
them. How truly civilized! And wonderfully supportive, encouraging and
friendly volunteers who were such a pleasure to see along the trail and at the
end of each stage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The race began at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. And I do mean the “rim”. Camp the night before the race began was
set-up in a wilderness area a hundred feet or so from the canyon edge, with
jaw-dropping views of the canyon walls beyond and the Colorado River a mile
below us. The first “stage” was 31
miles, followed by a 28 mile day. The
third stage allowed two days to complete the full 47 miles. Most runners continued straight through,
which allowed rest and recovery for most of the second day. Others took advantage of tents set up at the
6<sup>th</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> check-in sites to sleep during the night
before continuing on. The fourth and
fifth stages were of 25.5 miles and 25.7 miles, respectively, and the final
stage was 15 kilometers—approximately 9 miles, and brought us to the final banner
atop the Grand Staircase. I’ve never
seen a more spectacular finish line location than this one. At 9,343 feet, the views looking back toward
where we had come from were simply astonishing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fortunately, my stars were well aligned for this
event! I felt more comfortable and stronger
each day. I suffered no injuries and not
even one blister, although getting nailed twice by cactus thorns wasn’t
fun. My primary goal was to finish the
race. Being as competitive as possible
was important, too, but secondary.
(During my last stage race, I developed a fracture of my right femur,
and was not interested in a repeat at <i>G2G</i>!) I wore a pair of SALOMON XR Crossmax trail
shoes, moving up ½ size to accommodate likely swelling. Socks were heavy Drymax trail socks. I did not tape my feet nor use any
lubricants. Gaiters were custom made by
Matt Nelson, who finished well ahead of me in this race. They were fit to each shoe and permanently
glued to the sole, and did a great job of keeping the sand out. Zensah compression calf sleeves prevented
calf cramping (which has been a serious and perpetual problem for me in the
past during long races) and Zensah compression shorts helped quads and
hamstrings to behave themselves. My
fully loaded AARN backpack, made in New Zealand and designed for this type of
race, caused some problems the first day, but after an adjustment performed
well. One bottle held water only and the
other was mixed with Carbo-Pro, which added lots of calories with virtually no side
taste. I ate freeze dried Mountain House
dinners at night (particularly lasagna), regular breakfast cereal with skim dry-milk
and peanut butter crackers in the morning, and different types of bars, gels
and the like during the day. Organic <i>Honey Stinger</i> “Waffles” were of
particular importance as they were lightweight, packed 160 calories each,
tasted great and went down easily. As
with every ultra-distance race, I learned lots of tips from the many new
friends I made that I’ll be certain to use next time. And, what a wonderfully diverse and interesting
group of smart, fit, handsome people it was, competing here from all over the
world, with lots of days together to talk and bond and appreciate this very
special opportunity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Completing any stage race demands a commitment to a
different kind of training from even the “typical” ultramarathon: 167 miles
carrying 15-25 pounds is a long way to go on two feet! Certainly these races aren’t for
everyone. But, if a sense of adventure
calls to you for a closer look, for one of those life experiences that stand unforgettably
apart, consider competing in a future <i>Grand
2 Grand Ultra</i>. This race is destined
to become a true running race classic. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-66928171547589832732008-07-23T07:54:00.000-07:002008-07-23T07:54:07.492-07:00AdventureCORPS Presents :: Individual Time Data and Bio for Bob Becker, Bib# 63<a href="http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/individualTd.php?e=1178">AdventureCORPS Presents :: Individual Time Data and Bio for Bob Becker, Bib# 63</a>Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-89456518307574765442008-07-22T11:19:00.000-07:002008-07-22T11:46:01.140-07:00Hi, everyone! It's now Tuesday afternoon. I returned home very early Sunday morning and am finally catching up on e-mail and voice mail messages and more. Thanks to those who posted comments, words of encouragement and congrats. We had hoped to update this blog throughout the race, but technology and the pace of things in Death Valley didn't make that possible. The Badwater.com website did a great job of keeping the outside world informed, though. It included photos, video clips and commentary alongside the official times through each race checkpoint. That's what satellite phones and a big volunteer crew will do for you. If you haven't checked <a href="http://www.badwater.com/">www.Badwater.com</a>, please do check it out.<br /><br />This race was a fabulous experience. My crew was phenomenal, and kept me fed, hydrated, iced down and in good spirit throughout. Jared Knapp, Bud Petry, Nattu Natraj, Terri Pfeil, Ed Green and Dale Perry just couldn't have been more caring and supportive. (I wasn't always happy about getting food down, but they pushed and cajoled me to eat 200-250 calories every hour, so I lost no weight during the race.) Staying awake for 40 hours + was not a problem, except for a couple of hours of mild hallucinating that first night. I feel great, and even went to the gym for a light workout yesterday morning. Nothing broken, nothing overly strained. I feel good about my finishing time of 40 hours, 48 minutes, and 35th out of 80 overall. Frankly, as tough as the race was, I truly believe I could have finished in 38 hours or less had I not run into severe calf cramping early in the race--i.e., prior to Stovepipe Wells at Mile 42. That forced a change of shoes and these alternative shoes, in turn, caused major blistering, especially around my heels. Blistered feet for 90+ miles was no fun, and the discomfort, to use a nice word, reduced significantly the number of miles I could actualy run and the speed at which I could go. There are always the "what-if's" in these ultra races; no one is immune. Still, I might just have to try this one again sometime. Anyone care to join me?<br /><br />We will post photos soon and hopefully some comments from the crew. I'll add some stories, too. Thanks, again, for all the kind support.<br /><br />BobBob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-12761308114160260002008-07-16T06:29:00.000-07:002008-07-16T06:43:17.893-07:00BOB BECKER FINISHES BADWATER!! CONGRATULATIONS!<br /><br />Did we ever doubt he would? Of course not, but in a great time of 40:48:35, he has buckled in the most extreme running race in the world. This is a fabulous finish for a first time competitor!<br /><br />His journey the last 30 miles took him through Lone Pine to Whitney Portal which in 13 miles is all uphill to 4,600 ft. finishing onto the Mt. Whitney Trailhead. Bob was among the greats of the ultra running world and it was nice to see him finish among those who ran in the Inaugural Keys 100 just a short two months ago. <a href="http://www.keys100.com/">http://www.keys100.com/</a><br />Among those who have finished are Alisa Springman, Anita Fromm and Alan Geraldi!<br /><br />We look forward to hearing the details of his 40 hour journey and be encouraged by the 'JUST DO IT' attitude that Bob seems to have 24/7!<br /><br />Don't forget to donate: <a href="http://fox-foundation.org/home.asp" target="_blank">Richard J. Fox Foundation</a>Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-22731491575753579052008-07-15T20:21:00.000-07:002008-07-15T20:30:56.362-07:00"Before"Found Bob's Mug Shot!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyCFXdIXIQ9Pj49LKmqneRtIzjCnVLp7SO4tDL6Op6MEO6d-KILBP6lnsl-Gt7ylBhjSdDkSQbTstasY_DGwIESeH937l1hvN_F71lZaYREPxSZe2gpRYWzSEzo867ULJerZd26Q3Kpo/s1600-h/july14-bobs_mugshot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223447014627352722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyCFXdIXIQ9Pj49LKmqneRtIzjCnVLp7SO4tDL6Op6MEO6d-KILBP6lnsl-Gt7ylBhjSdDkSQbTstasY_DGwIESeH937l1hvN_F71lZaYREPxSZe2gpRYWzSEzo867ULJerZd26Q3Kpo/s320/july14-bobs_mugshot.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>In surfing Lisa Smith-Batchen's blog I found this great "before" shot! At <a href="http://lisasmithbatchen.blogspot.com/">http://lisasmithbatchen.blogspot.com/</a> you should also read about Badwater and if you scroll down a bit, has a nice blurb and video posting of Bob & Lisa!</div><div> </div><div>This Badwater Shot taken before the race shows off Bob's always optimistic smile and excitement! We will post "During" and "After" photos as well, but wanted you to be reminded that Bob's challenge isn't just for athletic purposes but also to raise awareness and monies for Prostate Cancer. If you can support him financially, please do so now, as this is such an encouragement to the runners who run with a purpose. As they see the donations come in, it makes their efforts lighter and packed with energy. You can make a difference even in a small contribution. Don't forget to post a note to Bob here as well!</div>Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-29850008293052416842008-07-15T13:53:00.000-07:002008-07-15T14:09:12.486-07:00Update from Day Two!The 31st Badwater Ultramarathon started yeswterday at Badwater, Death Valley, when 79 of the world's top ultradistance runners set off in conditions that favor fast overall times, with a slight tailwind and an expected high of 111F in Furnace Creek.<br /><br />Bob started at 8:00am and quickly made Furnace Creek's 17 mile mark in 3 hours and 36 minutes. The next 7 hours put him 41 miles in at Stove Pipe Wells for a time clocked in at 10:26.<br /><br />The next challenge was called Townes Pass (4956’), Mile 58.7 with a long ascent, then long descent, followed by approx. 12 long straight miles. It’s a steep and narrow road where vehicles, crews, and runners must be cautious and extra aware of the traffic. At 21:03 into the race, Bob acheived the 72 mile marker at Panamint Springs. GO BOB!!<br /><br />At this point, he is at a high altitude and almost a full 24 hours into the race as the road continues to rise to 5000’ over rolling hills, then eventually descends into the Owen’s Valley. Bob made the next marker, Darwin at 27:06. He is now heading into Lone Pine and the last 40 mile stretch to the end. We may hear an update from Bob's crew later at this point and more details of how he is feeling!! We are routing you on Bob!<br /><br />At Mile 122.2 Lone Pine offers the weary runner and crew all the amenities of a real town: fast food, pizza, restaurants, motels, gas stations, grocery stores, and more. Turn left onto the Whitney Portal Road to begin the final leg, the longest and steepest climb of the race. Temperatures will steadily decrease. They are prepared with extra layers of clothing and rain gear the final few miles.<br /><br />Until then, we send the florida energy to you!!<br />...over and out from friend Helene & Todd in South Florida!Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-69247048178901535942008-07-09T12:05:00.000-07:002008-07-09T12:21:44.766-07:00Updates from the road during "Badwater"Modern conveniences. What modern conveniences? Cell phone coverage and internet connections are unavailable in Death Valley. Nevertheless, we hope to post updates on this blog as to how I am doing during the race. There may simply be fewer of them than we'd like. On Tuesday, part of my great support crew will be taking a break in Lone Pine, CA, at the base of Mt. Whitney--many hours before my feet get me there. In Lone Pine we can reconnect to the world! Updates will be posted to this blog then for sure, although we still hope to figure out a way to post info earlier. The official "Badwater" website, <a href="http://www.badwater.com/">www.Badwater.com</a>, will also post times as runners pass through each of the five (5) checkpoints along the route.<br /><br />Please check-out this blogsite from time to time to see if we have figured out the technology--and to see how the race plan is going. I have 60 hours to complete "Badwater". A finish within 48 hours earns the coveted Badwater Ultramarathon belt buckle. I hope to finish in an aggressive time of 40 hours. Since the race starts on Monday, the 14th, we'll find out soon enough just how realistic that wll be!<br /><br />Thanks for the support,<br />BobBob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3666896086327685051.post-81301696199561504372008-07-08T16:45:00.000-07:002008-07-08T16:52:12.600-07:00Racing at "Badwater"--3 weeks until the world's toughest non-stop road race!<span style="font-family:arial;">Dear friends and family: <br /><br />Many of you know about my next athletic challenge, running in the 31st edition of the “Badwater Ultramarathon” (</span><a href="http://www.badwater.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">www.Badwater.com</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">) on July 14-15 in Death Valley. Badwater is named after the location where the race begins. “Badwater, California” is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level. 135 miles and more than a day and a half later, the finish line is reached at the Mount Whitney portal at 8,500 feet. Two mountain ranges are also crossed en route, with a race total of 14,000 feet of elevation gain. Air temperature highs range from 120-130 degrees. Badwater is run on paved black-top roads, which themselves can reach nearly 200 degrees F. Due to the extreme nature of the race, each of the 90 competitors is assisted by a crew that provides the physical and emotional support required to keep the runner focused, hydrated and fed, and core body temperature under control. This team is also vital in dealing with the physical and stress-related issues that inevitably arise during this 40+ hour challenge. Note that I’ll be one of the oldest runners at 63 to ever start this race, and certainly one of the few prostate cancer survivors. Thanks to advancements in prostate cancer treatment that weren’t available when my father suffered with the disease, I am physically able to make the choice to participate in an athletic event like this. I will be competing against some of the most elite ultra-distance runners in the world. This will be an incredible experience, actually fun in its own way, not to mention an enormous personal challenge. <br /><br />A year ago I committed to run this race if I could get in, and have been planning and training for it ever since. Death Valley National Park will only grant 90 permits each year to run the Badwater Ultramarathon, and you have to be chosen by Race Committee to participate. I was selected for 2008. During this past year, the real estate markets and my own employment situation have changed dramatically, but my family and I agreed that I shouldn’t give up my slot. There just might not be another opportunity to achieve this important personal goal. Direct costs of participation in Badwater are significant, however. Commercial sponsors in this market have been impossible to find. As in my previous major races, I will be raising money to benefit prostate cancer research, and once again I am asking for your help. 1 in 6 American men will develop prostate cancer; it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men. Real improvements have been made in treatment, but we are nowhere near a cure, still have not isolated the gene(s) that is (are) connected to the disease and have not developed a reliable test to definitively identify early-stage prostate cancer. If you or people you know are willing and able, fully tax deductible donations may be made to “The Richard J. Fox Foundation”, with whom I have worked since 2005 (</span><a href="http://www.fox-foundation.org/"><span style="font-family:arial;">www.fox-foundation.org</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">). For this race event, fifty percent of donated dollars will apply to offset my actual race costs until met, then 100% will fund the cause. The Fox Foundation has raised over $2 million to date to fight prostate cancer. Much of its funding has been donated to The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University for research and to local hospitals and clinics for educational outreach and free prostate cancer screenings. Checks payable to “The Richard J. Fox Foundation” should be mailed to: P.O. Box 2065, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33303. Thanks a lot for your consideration.<br /><br />Some highlights of my “late-in-life” racing career:<br /><br />2002—age 57—ran first marathon (“Grandma’s”, Duluth, MN)<br />2003—age 58—Boston Marathon (PR at 3:28)<br />2005—age 60—Marathon des Sables, 150-mile stage race in Sahara Desert, Morocco. Fully self-supported race, carrying own food and gear for 6 days. Discovered after 115 miles that I’d been running, then walking, then hobbling with a fractured femur. Upon return to U.S., surgery performed to insert steel pin and plate in right hip. Raised $30,000 for prostate cancer screenings and research in honor of my Father who died of the disease<br />2006 (January)—discovered that I had developed prostate cancer, too. Surgery to remove prostate in March. <br />2006 (May)--Climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,349 feet) at end of May, as planned with four others from Virginia<br />2006 (September)—completed first 50-mile trail race (Grand Tetons Ultramarathon)<br />2007—completed four separate 100-mile races (Texas, Florida Keys, Grand Targhee Resort (Tetons), Phoenix area); raised $40,000 for prostate cancer in connection with the Keys run<br />2007 (July)--crewed for friend at Badwater, then summitted Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states, at 14,496 feet<br />2008 (February)—completed 100-mile race in Texas—second year in a row under 24 hours<br />2008 (May)—created and directed inaugural “Keys Ultras”—100 and 50-mile individual races and 100-mile, 6-person relay, in the Florida Keys. Raised $50,000 for prostate cancer screenings and research<br />2008 (July 14)—age 63—to race the “Badwater Ultramarathon” in Death Valley, CA<br /><br />Thanks, again, and warmest regards to you-all,<br /><br />Bob Becker<br /><br />Cell: 954-439-2800<br />E-mail: </span><a href="mailto:bobruns150@yahoo.com"><span style="font-family:arial;">bobruns150@yahoo.com</span></a>Bob Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16586508546207191306noreply@blogger.com0