100 Mile Ultras: Experience the "Middle of the Packers"
By: LOWA ambassador Cyndi Wyatt
Surroundings begin to take form as predawn lightens the sky. It’s been 9 hours of running through the night, seeing only the distance the headlamp allows. Excitement builds to see your new surroundings. The other side of night was 27+/- miles ago. Fatigue, mountain terrain, the sounds and gleaming eyes of animals heed way to the occasional pause and slower pace in the dark. Enduring and moving forward is the goal. Slipping to a 30-45 mmp (minute mile pace) is anticipated. This is the experience of a “middle of the packer.” A finisher.
Your second sunrise on a 100 mile Ultra is such a magical moment. The warmth. The views. The bird song. Knowing you made it through the night and you would finish today! I am typically a sub 30 hour 100m finisher, but typical and 100 mile shouldn’t even be in the same sentence. You can rarely compare 100 to 100, nor compare year over year. Mother Nature changes the terrain and weather makes it a different experience. The unknowing is what attracts me so much to Ultras, the adventure, the unpredictable, the letting go and the simplicity moving from point A to B.
For this article and mile references, I’m assuming the race starts at 6a. This puts me around mile 80 by second sunrise (first was the starting line). At mile 80, I start imagining myself at the finish line, probably before lunch. The thought of sitting with a warm meal holding a shiny buckle in my hand makes my heart take a leap. I’ll take that totem though with me well after the finish line, in daily life for strength. But, for now, at mile 80, I need to keep moving. Friends fresh from a (semi)rested sleep greet me at the next aid station. I’m covered in sweat, bugs, dirt and sometimes a little blood. The cheers are so energizing “you look great, doing great, everything’s great!” You feel the furthest from great, but being polite, always grateful for their sacrifice of being there. A quick wardrobe change from night time cold weather gear into finish line photo ready. Don’t forget a 15 second baby wipe bath and out again with a new pacer. Protip: put a disposable mini toothbrush to use just prior to the finish. It wakes up your senses. These are the type things a middle of the packer would do. Top competitors don’t have time for comforts.
There is no truer friend than ones that crew and pace you during an Ultra. It's a stressful, strenuous, detail oriented job that requires you to stay positive whatever comes. Come to think of it, isn’t that what any employer wants? Hire an ultra runner or 100 mile pacer/crew! It’s a one question interview process. Reliable, positive and holds up under pressure. Crew drive from aid station to aid station on dark and narrow mountain roads, never giving up to find their runner, pacers stay ready for hours, not knowing exactly when their runner will come through, or what condition. Will they even want to go on? Crew and pacers get them to the finish line.
Middle of the packers have breath to have conversations with new friends running the same pace. Those built relationships and conversations are so pure. All of the emotional armor is removed, you are stripped to raw humans with similar experiences, and “issues”. In no other group of friends would I ask, “What hallucinations have you had?”, or “Does your jog bra ever feel like it’s trying to crush and strangle your lungs?” Both of these could be their own independent blogs.
Let’s get to the finish line. Pacers are a bit of “insurance” for the Race Director, as night and delirium can make a runner go off course or worse. I choose my pacers that are 1st, faster than me, 2nd, comfortable to be around, 3rd, trustworthy to show up, 4th, always come prepared. Actually, if all of these boxes are not checked, they are not right for the task. At Angeles Crest 100, many dread the last 25 miles. But, because of my pacer, I had the best “last 25” of all my races. My pacer would do a flying karate chop everytime I passed a female competitor. He helped me climb the podium ladder. “Was that one or two we just passed? Double karate chop.” I finished 7th female and won the Rhino award at AC100. The Rhino award is 1st place overall, 40 years and older. I’m proud of this because it’s considered one of the top most difficult 100s because of its 23,228′ of elevation gain.
Ultra running flattens the curve of age and gender. In fact, it’s in our female DNA to endure, persevere, and push emotional and physical pain away to get the job done. Aside from buckles, bragging rights and bruises, endurance sports is excellent at managing stress, overcoming obstacles, and gaining confidence. I highly recommend it. You can do ANYTHING! You can shuffle your feet for 30 hours at a 20 minute mile pace to a 100 mile finish line. There will be pain, fatigue, tears, hallucinations, weather (lots of weather), blood and … strength. So much strength!
I love the clarity, peace and focus it brings.
Photo Credit: Left, Howie Stern. Right, DAHIYA.US.
How to get to the starting line?
I started with joining a local trail running group. Get to know the trails, learning that trail “running” is hiking uphills and shuffling the downs, it’s power hiking, it's putting in the miles. All just adding miles to your calendar, fueling your base. Whenever you are making a jump in distance, (Exp 50k to 50m) find that group. They all have to put in the miles too.
The most important is enjoy your time in the mountains, hiking, jogging, shuffling, appreciating the views and the gifts of mother nature. Balance your family, work, training, life and know that YOU and your goals are important. You can do this.
Here are some training charts to help you stay on track, if you want to pursue your buckle. Training logs Hit the long runs and doing long back to backs are key.
I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed reflecting on my 100 mile experiences.
Thank you,
Cyndi Wyatt
“Follow me for more adventures and share yours with me”
LOWA Ambassador Page
Insta: @cyndi_skyrunner_wyatt
FB: Cyndi Wyatt
Photo credit: Paksit Photos
