BOOM! 100-Mile Ultramarathon in the Books 5/18/2019 at BTR4DAY 2019!

On 5/19/2018, I was ecstatic at completing BTR 2018 60 Miles. One of the greatest accomplishments of my life. The very next day, I began wrapping my mind around BTR 2019 and 100 Miles. I wondered how adding another 40 miles to my 67 year-old body would look and feel. True to my character, I threw caution to the wind and started questing.

Meanwhile, on 1/27/2019, I was cooling down from a run when a bicyclist, racing at full speed, hit me head on. He spun me around 180 degrees, tossed me upside down and into the air. Witnesses said they saw my feet straight up and heard my head crack the cement. I landed upside down inside a tree on the side of the path. I was knocked unconscious. This was a Sunday at noon in a park, near a drinking fountain, filled with athletes, families and a horse! I sustained a concussion, a serious laceration on my right lower leg and numerous large and small abrasions and bruises. To this day, 4 months later, I have not fully recovered from the concussion and leg laceration. The wound on my leg is still open and disturbs my sleep every night. Every one of my doctors – neurologist, ENT, rheumatologist, endocrinologist and family practitioner – seem amazed whenever I am in front of them.

Since that day, 1/27/19, I have not ran a distance farther than 5K. I am leery of going out where there are bicyclists. Almost all my training since then  has been on my treadmill. BTR4DAY 100 Mile loomed. My concern mounted daily.

Our great friend and hero, Luis Escobar, shared his precious time and wisdom with me, drafting a plan of attack for BTR 2019. Ken Winiecki and I would rent an RV and attempt the 100-MIler at BTR4DAY!

Hammer Nutrition’s Nick Youngling and Steve Born supported me with nutritional advice while I was recovering from the bicyclist’s attack and for my 100-mile quest. I regularly take a variety of Hammer products, but planned to rely heavily on Race Caps Supreme, Tissue Rejuvenator and Recoverite.

My previous BTR ultramarathons taught me that I do not like my usual, go-to favorite food, chocolate, beyond the marathon distance. Also, I learned that no negative words, or even thoughts, should be on the trail. I added these lessons to the advice from Luis, Nick and Steve, and registered for BTR4DAY 2019, 5/15-19/2019. I was hopeful, but not expecting, victory on this attempt.

On 5/15/2019, Ken Winiecki and I began our quest with Luis’s famous shotgun start at 12 noon. We covered 30 miles on the first day, 30 miles on the second, 20 on the third and 20 on the fourth. On 5/18/2019, at 5:10 pm, we completed our quest for the 100 miles. We were ecstatic and in disbelief. We are still ecstatic!

Fifty-one athletes started BTR4DAY; 46 finished. I was the oldest woman. I placed 10 of 21 in my gender and 24 of 51 overall.

Let’s talk about issues! There were issues! Mine began after mile 40. Those of you who know me, know I have a terrifying and terrible lean to my left, right, front or back, depending on the race. This beast appears on SOME OCCASIONS, usually showing up farther than the half-marathon distance. This beast has materialized at the LAM, LBM, NYCM and on several long training sessions. At BTR4DAY 2019, it materialized as a lean to the left at around 50 miles. I fought it for the remaining 50 miles. I kept reminding myself that this was a tough quest, in itself, but I was tougher and would do it with a lean! It reminded me of Ginger Rogers dancing backward in high heels with Fred Astaire.

BTR4DAY 2019 introduced me to a new questing beast – swelling. I had severe face swelling with moderate swelling in my legs, ankles and feet. When I returned home from BTR4DAY, I weighed in at 10 pounds over my pre-race weight. Today, 5/30/19, my weight has returned to my pre-BTR4DAY 2019 weight.

Other questing beasts to be toppled were the dreaded runner’s trots, materializing from the start. Only two blisters developed: a large one on the outside of my left big toe, and one on my right second toe with the loss of the nail. Neither bothered me. Both popped on their own on the trail.

My take-aways from BTR4DAY 2019 100-Miler

• Don’t be what Luis told us not to be! Rules #1-4.
• BTR4DAY athletes and volunteers are true Brothers and Sisters. They never fail to encourage and inspire.
• No negative words or thoughts on the trail. I was surprised and delighted that this is actually possible! I was much more positive than I expected, and have ever been, in the past.
• Eat and drink whatever, whenever you want. It was fun! I kept myself busy thinking about what forbidden food I would eat next. I liked apple cider, bottles of Starbuck’s frappuccinos, cola, cinnamon rolls, fruit danish, croissants, cheese, chicken Cup ‘O Noodles, and the BEST EVER grilled cheese and avocado sandwiches and quesadillas, so lovingly and unfailingly served up at the BEST AID STATIONS EVER. When I am on a quest, all bets are off! I drank Pickle Juice for the first time and liked it! I never would have dreamed I’d be drinking Pickle Juice during a 100-mile ultramarathon, even though I was raised on pickles in Colorado.
• Rest and recover as much as you can between pink and yellow hills, and at any and all aid stations, as needed. It was fun being pampered!
• Have a great ultra partner. Mine was my husband of fifty years, Ken Winiecki. Help each other. Pray out loud.
• Greet, praise, love and hug other BTRers.
• Smile.
• BTR4DAY 2020!

	15-May-19	16-May-19	17-May-19	18-May-19	Total	Decimal Hours	Hours/ Minutes
Calories	2,346	2,460	1,225	1,450	7,481
Exercise Minutes	560	621	252	279	1,712	29	28 Hrs 32 Min
Steps	68,746	77,699	42,752	50,231	239,428
Distance Miles	30.77	31.76	17.39	21.23	101
Flights	166	197	118	93	574

Journey On!