24hr Vision Quest
Vision Quest............What else could possibly tempt someone to run for 24 hrs? The idea of running an ultra had been in my head since reading Born To Run. I had no grand illusions of winning but thought if I stuck to my plan I would be able to cover 100miles.
In retrospect with the training and preparation I had I was very fortunate to cover the distance I did. But still I am a stubborn sort and was hoping for more. Before the race the weather was unclear as it had been all week. Blustering wind was the norm for all but the deadest hours of the night.
I woke in the morning excited and scared. The uncertainty of the endeavor ate at me like the Mississippi eroding its shore. Did I train enough? Probably not. Did I plan well enough? After see the other veterans I knew the answer was no. Was I prepared mentally for the challenge? I thought I was. I knew this would be difficult but as I had in the past I felt relying on my guts and stubborn nature would serve me well.
Before the race began one of the events long time participants played the national anthem on a trumpet. All was silent except for the wind everyone filled with their own plans, aspirations and reservations. I quickly glance around to see if everyone had removed their hats, its just a habit from years of school assemblies, and I notice in the corner of my eye my father standing by the fence. He looks very happy and very proud and I hope to myself that I never do anything to change that. With the end of the Anthem the race begins with a gunshot.
This race is much different than any other race I had been in there is no jack rabbit sprint off the line. It is rather nice and laid back everyone simply begins nice an easy. Within several laps it was more clear to pick out the front runners. It was also easy to pick out the veterans from the rookies . Some runners had done this race more than 20 times! At the beginning I thought hmmmm? Perhaps I would run this again.
I began as I had planned 5mph and walk a lap each hr. This translates to 20 laps per hr. This plan served me very well for the first 8 hrs. But then things began to slow me. eating and bathroom stops. I was at 11:32 for the first 200 laps/50 miles. I still had aspirations of 100 at this point but doubt was creeping to my head at the same rate the lactic acid was filling my leg muscles.It took me until 15:16 to collect the next 47 laps to put me at 100k/62miles. This is when I began to have serious problems with my legs as in the next 8hrs and 45 min I would only complete an additional 26 laps.I finished the race with 69 miles completed. What an emotional roller coaster. The excitement of the first half of the race being on pace and thinking I would meet my unrealistic goal. And then the reality and gut check of the second half....as if a fall from grace. Several times my emotions got the best of me and I had to shuffle off to the restroom and compose myself.The solitude of being out there in the middle of the night experiencing and witnessing all the other runners deal with their hopes, emotions, realities. During the first 11hrs of the race I had lots of visitors so my mind was occupied and interacting with them and the other runners.
The race was a life experience I will never forget. I found myself alone again this time it was midnight and was going into a turn and I heard the bugle again. One of the competitors had stopped to play taps as the clock struck midnight. I stopped and removed my hat in respect as I gazed at our flag dimly lit against the cool night sky. I felt at times as though I was being visited by ghosts.....as my mind played tricks on me. I was on the back stretch of the track in the dark of the night and I swore I heard my grandpa Jensen’s voice and immediately several tears rolled down my cheek. His words were simple and profound “Do your best”. He always had little statements to me but when I would think of them they had much deeper meanings to me anyway. The final however was not a ghost....I was walking in the final turn as the time was expiring and I looked over and said don’t freak out, OK? My son walked the final two laps with me and I knew I would not be able to contain my emotions when I heard the gun. When the gun sounded I stopped on the track and my son came closer and wrapped his arms around me and said “Good job, Dad. I am proud of you.” All I could do was lean into his arms and sob uncontrollably on his shoulder. Someday I hope I can share with him the full extent of the emotions I was feeling at that moment and how much him being there meant to me. I finished the race in 15th place overall I had hoped for a top ten but once again that was unrealistic and I had not respected the distance. I am now an ultra marathoner based on the merit of completing 100k. Will I try this again? Not likely...but I did try and I did run for those who cannot....I am so thankful for the ability to run and for my great friends who came to see me run and especially to one who has always believed in me.
I completed this vision quest and I did get some answers...I found my limits physically and I know what is important in my life.
Last edited by runner87; 05-19-2011 at 05:34 PM.
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