68.11@16:57 (avg moving pace 14:59)
DNF'd at the Longhaul 100 race after completing 4 loops (16.7 miles per loop approx.)
Course was very muddy, lots of mud throughout but worst part was about a 4 mile stretch of deep shoe grabbing mud. Temperatures not terribly cold but cold enough combined with the wet mud to make it miserable (last year's race was colder).
Good times running with Daisy, completed first two loops in under 8 hours (7:50:22), so reasonably on track for 24-26 hour range. Toward's the end of the second loop we picked up Laura, so that was fun to have a little group.
After the second loop I stopped at my car for a little bit. Caught up to Daisy and Laura and continued on for the 3rd loop. Sometime past the campground loop, Laura started going ahead because it was getting colder and she wanted to move fast enough to stay warm. We continued on reasonably well, finishing the 3rd loop 12:36:34 into the race (or about 4:14 for loop 3, a little bit slower but still pretty reasonable).
After the third loop, sent Daisy ahead while I stopped at my car for a longer stop to change my socks and warm up a little bit. I got going again and felt pretty good going at a steady jog instead of run/walk to catch up to Daisy. Got to the camp area just as she was ready to start going again. We did the out and back from the camp. She was dragging a little, I was feeling ok but starting to get a little bit colder.
Got back to the camp area and saw Eric and Evan. After the camp loop we head over to the muddy out and back. I suddenly had trouble keeping up and started feeling more and more miserable. Air was getting colder and I didn't have gloves, was not staying ahead of the cold. When we got to the point where the trail turns right and goes through the extra mud I thought about going left and shortcut back to the start/finish area.
Slogged through the mud, the water, the cold, reached the aid station, was now by myself (Evan stayed back while I did the short extra muddy road to the aid station). Sat down by the fire and had some potato soup (heard someone say, hey that's just watery instant mashed potatoes - but no matter it was still good and warm). Andy B, the aid station captain came over to check on me. He said ok see you in four and a half hours? It was optimistic and encouraging and was more belief in me than I had in myself at that moment.
Got up after about 10 minutes, slogged back on the mud road to where Evan was then we continued until out of the muddy section and back to that intersection where I wanted to short cut back. The rest of the trail was nice and made it to start /finish just after 12:30 am. Got some food and drinks and continued the half mile to my car.
I told Evan I was going to sit and try and warm up but was also thinking about quitting. My friend Cynthia was heading out to meet me but I ended up telling her it was probably best if I quit. If she had come out would have most likely given it another go. I was also not thinking straight and did have some heavier pieces of clothing in my car.
Finally after about 45 minutes drove over to start/finish and told them I was quitting.
I had been sick at the beginning of the week and also had very poor sleep the night before so was worried about getting sick again. In general I had forgotten the 90% rule - that a 100 mile race can be 90% mental.
As for Daisy, she did go on to finish the race in 30:45, slogging through the 4 muddy miles two more times alone (she had pacers but they sat out the mud bath but were with her on other sections).
This report was written three weeks later which was enough time to try again so there does end up being a somewhat happy ending in the end.
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