Pimp My Race

The Before Photo of my fiance Nick

I  met a man at Burning Man who had a unique tent. The tent looked like a simple, large, white-colored average tent from the outside. On the inside, however, the tent was a palace, much like what one would expect to see on Aladdin. The floor was covered in thick, Persian rugs. The bed was a four-poster wooden bed. He had running appliances, including a fridge. To top it off, he had constructed his own shower. Running water in the middle of the desert? That certainly is an oasis.

How to pimp an ultra run? Let's start with your own, personal, large changing tent, care of REI. This year, all the warriors who ran Rio del Lago a Western State qualifier, did so in pouring rain, up and down mountains of rock requiring technical skills. So having the option to change clothes is wonderful. Having the option to do so in your own, personal tent? That makes this a five star experience! All that was missing was a propane heater. :)

https://www.rei.com/product/101407/kelty-blockhouse-privacy-shelter

The gentleman featured to the left is from Sacfit Running Club, a unique club welcoming those of varying abilities, where even I, with my first 3 mile run under my belt, would be welcome. I stray from point. This gentleman kindly set up this tent and had a special stool with which to sit. He gave me permission to post this photo.

True to ultra form and ultra camaraderie, he offered my fiance the use of the tent. Nick, however, declined. He did use the stool and is very grateful to David and Kathy for this.

A number of other ultra families/crew members had erected different structures to make mile 44 and 74 more inspiring! One had constructed a shelter and had enclosed a cot with blankets and food. The cot was more then likely set up for the crew member, patiently awaiting their runner for 2-3 hours at a time.

Nick's dad and me are his crew. This is the first 100 miler I have crewed Nick for, so I learn intricacies from his dad, such as how to set up his gear. We have hours of entertainment. The more tired we become, the more entertainment in the form of mathematical calculations we have, estimating Nick's arrival time in correlation with sleep time.

This is Nick with his dad, looking very refreshed at mile 45

As Nick continues running all day and night through the mud and the rain, he begins to develop bilateral foot pain. 'It's probably a blister,' he tells himself. 'I can just run it off,' he assures himself. He makes it to Team Nick, located in his dad's truck next to the suave-looking-tent-featured-above, at approximately 11:15 pm. Mile 74. Hour 18+.

"My feet kind of hurt," he tells me. I encourage him to take off his shoes, as we had clean, dry socks and a change of shoes. "I think I should just keep going," he tells me."I'm kind of afraid to see what they look like," he adds. I didn't realize what he was afraid of until he finished the race, hours later: he may have seen something that would end his race. All the time, energy, and dedication could have been lost.

Runners Superstition: if you change your shoes, that could be bad luck. If you sit down or seek medical attention, that could be the end of your race.

At my urging- I'm a nurse so can you blame me?- he sits down and takes off his shoes and socks.

I know what the problem is instantly. This is not a blister. This is a deadly killer resurrected from World War I: Nick has Trench Foot. His feet have extreme pallor, are cool, and pruned. His right foot is bisected down the middle with a three inch non-bleeding but deep laceration, and his left foot has a problem developing over the right part of his foot. This is no good. I tell him what's wrong with his foot and tell him he is going to require medical intervention at some point. "I won't go to a doctor," he assures me. "You will require medical intervention though at some point," I advise. My sweet warrior has been running through rain and mud for 16 hours at this point. 

He doesn't want to waste any more time. See? Warrior!
We (Nick's dad and me) dry off his feet as best we can, get him into dry socks and shoes, and he continues on his way.

9 miles later at Rattlesnake Bar, his feet are really hurting him. His feet look slightly improved from mile 74, but the pain is too much. There is a medical aid tent and the nurse cleans and patches him up so he can finish his race.

And does his finish? Yes he does! His feet don't allow him to run as much as he would like, but he does finish his 100 mile race! Because that is what Ultra Runners do. They persevere.

Meanwhile, I nearly fail as his crew member. While his dad waits for Nick in his truck at the finish line, I go to my nearby hotel to sleep for two hours...and I sleep through my alarm...for two hours. The glorious sunlight through the windows jars me out of my coma and sends me running for the car to get to the finish line in time. Nick's dad had also slept through his alarm but assures me Nick hasn't crossed the finish line yet. Perfect! I make it to the finish line...three minutes too late to hear his name. Darn it! I am elated that his dad witnessed it and has taken a photograph of Nick.  I learned Crew Lesson 101: if you take a quick nap, make sure you set multiple LOUD alarms. Nick is happy I am with him and gives me a big hug. I am happy to be with him, and to celebrate his amazing success. 

The Finish line

Nick perseveres for 27+ hours without sleep for 100.5 miles. He amazes me.

[Some ailments are non-negotiable: GI related issues (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), falls leading to injury (fractures), etc. If Nick hadn't changed his socks and shoes at mile 74, the trench foot would probably have hindered his success. Thankfully, it didn't.]

Congratulations to all the Rio Del Lago Ultra Runners! You are all truly warriors!