Hennepin Hundred – Fast and Flat… But Also, How Much Can You Endure?
I admit I took Hennepin Hundred lightly. I’ve wanted to run this race for a couple years now. Especially after last year when my good friend, Chris Stayman, ran the course in a blazing 13:09. He didn’t even win with a sub-8-minute pace, taking 2nd to Taggart Vanetten, who set the course record with a time of 12:46. I am nowhere near that but thought a sub-10-minute pace was achievable.
Due to scheduling conflicts, I had planned to defer to next
year and go for the 100 Mile OMR Series Slam in 2025. Unfortunately, I had 3
unsuccessful attempts to earn a Western States qualifier this year due to
injury and illness, so this was my last opportunity. Sometimes things fall into
place. The Chicago Marathon is the weekend after, so I focused on
that over Hennepin (I paid for that). However, Chicago
qualifying has changed, which now guarantees me a spot for 2025, despite the
tougher qualification times.
I struggled to mentally prepare and organize my gear for the race. I still had brain fog from BFC and dealing with a lot of stress and expectations from work. I couldn’t find the exact items I was looking for and had 2 new kitties craving attention and distracting me. I eventually decided to pack everything I needed and sort it out at the finish line during packet pickup. About halfway through the drive, I realized I had forgotten my soft flasks. I stop at an REI and Rock Creek along the way without luck.
I arrived at Colona, IL to packet pickup an hour before the
race meeting. Fleet Feet Davenport is set up there, so I hope I get what I
need. They don’t have a soft flask on-site, but Fleet Feet Phil calls the store
to check if they have any in stock at the store 20 minutes away. No luck. He
offered to check and see if he had a couple soft flasks at home and was willing to bring them to me Saturday morning. I was stunned by his graciousness.
I was undecided between handhelds and a running vest, so
after talking to Phil for 10 minutes about running, Fleet Feet, and the race. I got a 2nd handheld and organized all my drop bags before
the meeting. I felt ready to run unsupported with my gear and drop bags
all sorted out.
The night before and the morning went smoothly. I felt
loose and relaxed at the starting line, ready to go. I planned to get through
the 1st turn at the front to avoid the bottleneck of the several
quick turns. Right now, the weather is perfect. The temperature is in the
low-mid 50s, with a cool and steady breeze coming off the canal. The afternoon
will yield warm temperatures in the mid-80s, exposure to the sun, and the
breeze being blocked by the surrounding trees.
I make the decision to go out at a middling pace. I am
running at my base HR, rocking a pair of HOKA Skyflow shoes. I chose to go with
a balance of comfort, cushion, and speed. I was a horse running my race
amongst the front 50- and 100-mile runners. I reached the 1st drop bag
at mile 19 in good time, grabbed what I needed, and quickly headed out. The
temperature is slowly starting to climb, but I steadily made it to the 2nd
drop bag just past the 50k mark. I see a few runners in the down and back section.
My feet are starting to hurt. A lot of the front runners are wearing road-based
speed super shoes. I can only imagine how they are feeling right now.
I did not plan for this stop to be honest. I didn’t realize access to the same drop bag at mile 69 was also at 32. I only had
nutrition and hydration in this bag. My additional gear is at Mile 47. The
Skyflows are a bit too firm to my liking and my toes are taking the brunt of
the pain. I head out into a down-and-back section considered the hardest of the
course. The distance between aid stations ranged from 5 to 6.6 miles, the
breeze was restricted by the trees, and the exposure to the sun was at its peak, with
the hottest temperatures out there. I decide to continue progressing steadily
into the afternoon. I passed several runners who struggled in the
heat with dehydration and exhaustion. Just because the entire course is
runnable doesn't mean running all of it is the best strategy.
Just under 7 hours into the race, I reach the aid station at
Mile 47 with my drop bag. One of the aid station volunteers retrieved my
bag, but we discovered 2 bags with my name on them at this location. I’m quite
confused and ask what contents are in the other bag. I realize that bag was for
the final drop at mile 88. I asked if someone could move the bag to its
intended destination. They’re unsure, but the volunteer was more than willing
to see what he could do while I am out on an out-and-back section that should
take me just over an hour to complete. That volunteer went above and beyond my
expectations. I changed into a fresh set of clothes and headed out in a pair of HOKA
Bondi’s.
I struggled to regain pace, rhythm, and composure in the
blazing sun. I bonked and reduced my pace to a shuffle while I attempted to regain
my composure. I hit the turnaround point and aid station. I take a few extra
minutes to drink some extra fluids and wait for 2 delicious tacos that hit the
spot. When I arrived back at the aid station
with the drop bags, the volunteer had figured out how to
get my bag to its intended location. What a huge relief. I quickly refill my
supplies and head back in the other direction.
Shortly after heading back, I passed another runner going in
the other direction who seemed familiar and said, “Keep it
up Big Sexy!” I died laughing. I had a Rabbit dress shirt on with only 2
buttons and it got me out of my current funk. I now know that it was a
friend of a runner I coach. Thank you, Connor! He had a strong finish in the 100 miler and had a great attitude and mustache! The sun is high
in the sky, and the temperatures in the mid-80s. We are fully exposed, and
my strategy is to remain steady in the sun and recover in the shaded areas if
needed. I pass my runners, 1st David at mile 60, then Shawn approaching
the 100k mark. They both looked good and were in good spirits.
I arrived at my drop bag at mile 69 as the sun settled
behind the tree line. The temperature has started to cool off. I have hydration
and nutrition to grab, along with my headlamp. I saw 3 runners sprawled out on
the ground or in chairs attempting to recover. The heat during the day took its
toll on the runners and it showed visibly on their faces and by the aid station
crew. The crew did a great job checking in on me to make sure I was ready to
go. I quickly assured them I was in good spirits and chugged fluids.
After a couple minutes, I was ready.
Shortly after leaving, my stomach began to feel unsettled. It
was sore and grumbling. I pulled off the trail to take care of
the situation. I still felt uneasy, but the cooler temperatures were a welcome
change. I hung on and arrived at the next aid station at mile 74,
moments after twilight passed. I was close enough to the aid station where I
didn’t quite need a headlamp, but I probably should have put it on anyway. I desperately
needed to use the bathroom, and the aid station worker was trying to get me to
go a ½ mile away to the gas station. I laughed and said no thanks. Thankfully,
another aid station worker had a roll of TP to help me. They informed me that I was in 4th, 30 minutes behind 3rd. He appeared to be struggling,
and the workers were confident I could catch them if I stayed strong. I told
the aid station workers another runner was right
behind me since mile 50 which I was honestly more concerned about.
I was pleasantly surprised at that update. I estimated I was
10th-12th at the 50-mile mark and didn’t pass runners heading
back on the 2nd section. My plan remained unchanged, continued moving
steadily, focused on making it to the next aid station. As I headed out
of the aid station, the runner I talked about arrived. I said, “Great
Job! Keep it up!” and headed out. I started passing 50k runners at this point,
so it was refreshing to see other runners frequently. We all shared friendly
words of encouragement and moved on.
Things remained steady until arriving at the last drop bag site
at Mile 88. It was absolute chaos when I arrived. There were 15 runners from
the 50k just hanging out. Thankfully the aid station captain was on top of the
situation and identified that I was a 100-mile runner and had someone ready to help
me find my drop bag, and grab a couple things from the aid station, so I could
leave quickly. It was a 3-minute stop for me because the energy indicated
things were changing quickly. Little did I realize that 3rd-5th
arrived at the aid station 90 seconds apart! I was unaware the runner
behind had caught me at the time. I left alongside the 3rd
place runner I was chasing. I shared some early miles with him and wished him
well. He immediately took off while I was doing a quick body scan. I stayed
about 15 seconds behind him for about 2 miles before he slowed down. We
exchanged a quick conversation, and I kept going.
Things remained calm until I arrived at the last aid station
at mile 95. Only 4.5 miles were remaining and I was in 3rd. The
runner who had stayed in toe with me arrived seconds later. We both got in and
out of the aid station in about 90 seconds together. I tried taking off
with him, but I choked on some fruit while running so I quickly
let him go. I recovered in a minute and resumed running a low 9-minute pace,
but 3rd place was gone! He took off, running a sub-7:30 pace to the
finish including a 6:30 finish! I didn’t have that speed or any miles under
7:30 in the entire race LOL! I was close to my goal of 16:30 and a sub-10
pace of 16:40 to focus on.
I continued running steadily, but I wasn’t feeling good. There was a huge train across the creek that was
extremely loud with its whistle to encourage runners I believe!? I reached
the unmanned aid station, indicating approximately 2 miles remained and 20 minutes to finish under my goal time. I kept pushing the pace, seeing runners
behind me keeping up, and not gaining ground on most that were ahead of me. As
we made it into the neighborhood, seconds felt like minutes. I was ready for the
finish line and heard faint noises in the distance. The finish is
approaching, but I can’t see it yet. I approached the school where the pre-race
meeting was, and I could see a banner. I go down the hill and run through the tunnel to the finish. I cross the line with 16:26 on the clock and
100.06 miles on my watch. That translated to an average pace of 9:51 including
stops and unsupported without crew.
I am out of breath and quickly take a seat. I’m handed my
buckle and flannel for finishing. I also received an award for winning my age
group. I finished 4th overall, 10 minutes behind 3rd. Once
I recovered, I quickly found Andy who passed me at the end to congratulate him on
his 3rd place finish. He ran it in so strong, that I was thoroughly impressed.
He was worried I had a little bit left in the tank, but honestly just enough to
go slightly faster to the finish lol. I praised and showed my appreciation to all
the OMR crew and volunteers. I was tempted to go to my hotel room and
sleep, but I was heavily invested in my runners so I was determined to get out
there as quickly.
My legs seized up, so I was transported to my car via a golf
cart. I was stiff-legged all the way to my hip. I had 5 bottles of water, Mountain Dew, and a beer to help me recover. A young couple (18-21ish)
lay on top of the roof of their car parked next to mine whispering into each
other’s ear and staring at the stars. It was cute, oh to be young again and in
love. I changed clothes quickly and quietly and met everyone at the Mile 74 aid station.
David was through at about 1AM and Shawn at about 2:30. Both looked ok physically,
but mentally exhausted. I helped a few other runners that I knew in between
there. Most everyone looked ok but were moving slowly.
Leaving the aid station was a challenge I wasn’t ready for. A car was stuck in the ditch blocking traffic in both directions and preventing crews from entering and exiting the area. I assess the situation,
and it’s stuck deep. The rear tire on the driver’s side is about 3 feet in the
air. I come up with an idea to stand on the rear bumper near the tire, to
transfer weight back to the rear, and allow the van to back slowly to a lower
slope and dig out. Moving forward wasn’t an option. First, I stand on the
bumper, and it doesn’t work so I get 2 other people to stand on the bumper as
well. It gets slightly less stuck, moving only a couple inches back. We don’t
have the equipment to pull the van out of the ditch or move the vehicle safely
out of the way, so I asses the ditch on the other side and think it’s passable
if I stand at the edge and direct traffic. The 1st couple of cars in
line can pass, there is one spot in the other ditch that’s essentially a cliff,
so I stand there and have someone else help position cars, so they have the
correct angle to pass. Then my crewperson tries to get out. They hit the gas
and attempt to drive through normally. I scream and step in the way getting
them to stop. Luckily a minor steering adjustment was all needed to get
through. I help another 6 or 7 cars through, and the same crewmate is now ready
to drive my car past. I had a heart attack and told the other crewperson to
drive my car. The results were the same LOL! Ready to fly down the road with
only inches of clearance. It took a lot of careful maneuvering but safely made it through.
That setback made timing very tight. I needed to check out
of my hotel room since the plan was to pace Shawn the last 12 miles and he
wouldn’t finish until after checkout. We arrived at the next stop moments before David reached
the aid station. I gave my spare headlamp and sent
them on their way. Approximately 2 hours later, Shawn arrives as the sun is
coming up right at the 24-hour mark. He has ample time to finish, but he is
hurting. We replenish him with what he needs and lighten his pack before
walking off. We share stories and are moving at a steady 16-minute pace sharing
stories and jokes. When we reach the final aid station, he is really starting
to struggle. Determined to finish, we changed his setup. Went to a handheld,
provided pain medicine, and helped him get down food.
I can tell he is hurting, but we steadily continue. As we
headed in, we helped other runners struggling to finish. He persevered, and
finished in 27:40, earning his 1st buckle. As we approached the
tunnel, I ran ahead to capture him and finish with his wife, who
was waiting for him. It was a special moment for them to share. David finished
at 25:50 and was at the hotel getting some much-needed rest. We helped Shawn recuperate,
grab my car, and make the long trek home.
I was able to catch up with Coree out there. He was crewing
and supporting his good friend Kevin, who has photographed several of Coree’s
impressive accolades. I met them in 2020 when I lived in Wisconsin on the Ice Age
Trail. The hours I paced Coree, helped me discover my love for the
trails. It’s always a pleasure to see him since he’s left Chattanooga. Anyways,
Kevin finished as well, earning his 1st buckle.
Aftermath:
Looking back at this race, I am satisfied with my
performance. 16:26 and 4th place are strong accomplishments since I
didn’t specifically train for 100 flat miles. The heat affected everyone, but
those Tennessee summers helped me acclimate. I made several mistakes that chalk
up to a lack of preparation that I need to button up:
-
Forgot soft flasks for vest
-
Shoes and clothes in the wrong drop bag (I didn’t realize the drop bag was available at 32)
- The final drop bag ended up at the mile 47 aid station
(Not sure how this happened)
-
Bonked at miles 45-55
Everyone that supported this race really helped minimize my
mental mistakes. It also made me realize that sometimes I overprepare for races.
Reflecting on what gear is necessary and items that are nice to have
before/after/or leave with the crew. The limiting factor (if any) was my
legs feeling tired and lethargic. I continued running, but my HR and
pace slowed down consistently throughout the race. I couldn’t pick up
the pace at the end to battle for 3rd. Incorporating some additional
speed and interval work into my routine and at the end of runs is something I
am going to incorporate into training.
Finally, I want to thank Ornery Mule Racing (OMR), Race Director Michele Hartwig, Sid Wegener, the aid station workers who made sure to quickly get me in and out of the aid stations, and the rest of the volunteers for all their amazing work. It takes hundreds of people to put on an event such as this, and grateful for the opportunity to run Hennepin!
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