[Day587] Rim to River Pacing

Past weekend, was one of those walking down on memory lane moments. I ran Rim to River in 2021 as my second 100 mile race, which now seems ages ago, having done now 5 100s. Plus a few attempts of some other ones but unfinished such as the Burning River and Grindstone.

I always wanted to go back and do Burning River again but the sign up had been difficult. You had to sign up the moment the race is open otherwise it filled up and you will ended up being placed on the waitlist. This year the waitlist had almost as many entries as entrants. It is crazy.

My friend Lynne (newly met this year) was lucky enough to snag an entry and I promised to be there to pace her.

Except, there was one problem. This weekend I already committed too to run in a 50K in Pembroke about 2 hours away.

No problem I said. I would do both. As it turned out, there was no way I could pace 50 miles and also having ran 30 miles several hours beforehand. It was ludicrous. Not sure what gave me the confident to do such a thing.

So the big weekend arrived and I drove down to Fayetteville, WV on Thursday afterwork. Actually, I stayed in Beckly, about 20 miles south of Fayetteville. The reason was I wanted to be tad closer to the Eastern Divide 50k I had planned to run on Saturday before my pacing duty at night.

Back story on the Eastern Divide, 50K. I ran it in June 2019 and always been wanting to go back to attempt it again. I was not happy with my time the first time I ran it. I felt I could get it closer to 6 hours. I just did not have the chance doing so because each year it conflicted with something. 2020 and 2021 was with Laurel Highlands. 2022 was I think was Grandma Marathon. 2023, too originally there were so many races on this weekend I wanted to do, but I blocked them all just to run Eastern Divide. Then until I met Lynn, at Grindstone, I realized I had to pick one or the other. I chose Eastern Divide of course. And this decision kept coming back — even the morning of, I kept asking do I want to still go to Eastern Divide?

Now you know, I have a policy of first-come-first-serve. Since I signed up for Eastern Divide, I had to carry it through. New River came second, so whatever energy I have left, I would give.

What I did not anticipate was getting sick early in the week. I caught a cold on Tuesday. It might have started Sunday after the Marine Corps 50k since I did not feel well after the run, as mentioned in my report due to the unusual hot day.

The cold just would not leave me. Maybe I was too optimistic that I could bounce back after a day. I was hoping for a day of rest and by Saturday I would be good. It was serious enough I had to be bed rested for 3 days. Even on Saturday, I was not in a running condition.

I also could not stand even tiny bit of cold weather due to my sickness. I needed the temperature around 85F to feel comfortable. My body had lost the ability to self regulate its temperature. I was thinking how could I even stand being outside for more than a few minutes, but my pacing duty would have me outside for 12-14 hours.

By Friday night my cold finally left me. I made it to the pre race meeting and met with Lynne. I was not confident. I said, it would have to be determine when I show up at the Fayette Station at 10 pm. If you see me there, then I would pace, if not, I wouldn’t.

By 3:00 AM Saturday, I had to get up to get ready for my own 50k at Pembroke, VA near Blacksburg. It was not that far away but still I planned for a 2 hour drive. I arrived race on time (5:30) because we had to take a shuttle to the start at 6:30. The race itself started at 7:30. Note, this was my race — the Eastern Divide that I was running first before my pacing duty.

The morning was as cold as it could be I think around 29 F and it got colder just before the sunrise. Anyway I ran the race. I was not fast. I felt weak. I finished as the last 3rd person on the course. It took me almost 8 hours but I met all the cutoffs even the last one by bare minutes (17 min pace on mountain, I was too trying to dial in the walking pace to pace Lynne at). I was hoping to be cut so I go get back to Lynne, but I made it. I have done this race 4 years before and that time I ran it in 7 hours. This year I finished around 3:00 pm. I rushed back to my hotel in Beckley, WV.

The time was around 5:00 pm, still Saturday. I could have and should have gone straight to Lynne’s race to see where she was at, but I decided to shower first to freshen up. Then I wanted dinner. I felt sleepy after. I think I did nap for an hour until 6:00-6:30 pm.

In hindsight, I should have gone to the course first. She probably needed me to crew her at mile 43 at Fayette Station when she passed around 5-6 pm. I could then still nap and get ready by 10-11 pm. It was an out and back course, so I could have remained at Fayette Station for next 5 hours and had plenty of rest. It would have given me enough time to sleep if wanted to. This was a miscalculation on my part to rest at the hotel.

I repacked my evening bag to take to the course while at the hotel. It was good I tried to reorganize, but it was totally unnecessary. I ended up over-dressed and left out my lighter clothing behind because I knew it was going to be cold and I wanted to be 100% ready. I over did it. I regreted after I had left the hotel. (next time, I should bring everything and leave them in the car).

When I was ready to set out, I made a stop at the finish place, which is at Ace Adventure Resort, Oak Hill, WV. It is nearby, but going in and out costed me an hour.

This originally seemed smart but ended up a time waster. No one was there. Originally, I was hoping they might have some sort of tracking board at the finish, maybe a message board or something about the runners progress. I was hoping to find out Lynne’s progress but there was no information available. Not online and not in person. I was hoping too some other families or crew teams being there and maybe I could get a ride to my location so I would not have to drive out. I wanted my car to be safe at the finish. Thinking too what if Lynne plans to drop, maybe I should bring my car, so in the end, I drove.

The time was still early. It was 7 pm Saturday. My expected meeting time is still a few hours away. Lynne should have passed by the Fayette Station going outbound already. My next safe bet was to get to Ansted at the 50 mile turn around point. It was only 15 ish minutes of driving from Oak Hill. I felt a bit hungry and decided to stop by a Walmart for some food. But after I made the turn into the Walmart’s parking, I was not that hungry any more. I decided only thing I needed was soup. I had cans of them in my car. I opened one and ate.

By the time I got myself to Ansted, it was around 8 pm, Saturday. The volunteers there confirmed Lynne had not arrived yet. So I waited. I knew soon she would come in. I made couple trips walking back/forth to and from car. First was I forgot to lock my car. Second was I felt where I parked I might get towed because I was double parking outside a Walgreen’s. Walgreen business had went under so probably I could park outside.

Anyway, the point was my mind was unsettled to commit to start pacing Lynne at mile 50 at 8 o clock, but I had to see her at least, in case she was planning to drop.

Also the distance was quite a bit longer than I was comfortable of doing that night. I know I just had to get her continue walking until the morning, and that could be at Cunard, mile 80 (7 am) or mile 90 at Concho Rim. Concho Rim would mean 40 miles of pacing. I was balking internally at the distance. I hope to negotiate with Lynne about starting pacing at a later location.

Lynne came in at 8:24 pm. It was not a bad time. There were about 27 runners behind her and we were 1:30 hours from the cut-off. The AS was to be open until 10 pm. Looking back, she had good chance to finish at this time, if I would just pace her from there!

So I knew while she is not as fast as I expected but still should be enough time to finish. (I had expect her to come in at 7:30-ish to 8:00, because she was stronger a runner than me, at least at later stage; I came through here at 8:00 the year I ran it). Coming in now at 8:30-9:00, she would still be in the game. Lynne’s chance of finishing was still good.

She gave me her status update. She was struggling with eating. Her stomach was upseting. She threw up her food. I gave her my status, I, though could pace her there, but prefer to start at Fayette Station mile 58. I would meet her in 2-3 hours. I felt she could make it back to Fayette Station in reasonable time on her own.

She had some warm broth at Ansted and left at 8:37. She was cold and asked for my jacket and I gave that to her. Note, in hindsight, she shouldn’t have eaten while at the station, but should have taken her food out with her. 10 minutes spent at the station was meaningless other than resting.

At first I was going to head directly to Fayette Station, which was only 22 minutes away. I could be there by 9:00. However, fearing the parking situation there to be crazy as the bulk of runners were arriving there at the time, there might not be enough room for me yet to drive or park. Roads in that part is on a one way/single lane, cliff side one edge and mountain the other. It was scary driving, with also runners running next to you.

So I decided to go back to Walmart in Fayetteville to do some shopping and sleep. I brought a gallon of water and a liter of Coconut juice because I was so dehydrated after my own race. I brought myself a new jacket because Lynne took mine. I would need something warm for the night. I planned to be at Fayette Station by 11 pm. I didn’t think Lynne could get there any earlier like by 10 or even 10:30. I had about 2 hours. I slept in the car a bit. At little bit past 10 pm, I started out heading back to Fayette Station. I arrived around 10:30. The overflow parking lot had plenty of spaces for me to park. Indeed, I wondered what if I had arrived earlier.

At the Aid Station I met my VHTRC friends John Hord and Charlene. They were crewing Toni. I never met the person. The year I ran this, I was already passed here around 10 pm. By 10:30 pm most runners passing through were seriously struggling. Toni did not look so well. Besides Toni, I saw couple other runners. One stayed for almost 30 minutes trying to bandage his foot. I think because of blisters. I was like that too the year I ran. I stayed maybe 30 minutes trying to wipe my butt that year. By the time I realized the runner might need my help, he was done taping. I told him, he has to leave the station soon for he has stayed there for too long. He knew. The guy said he was cold but I had nothing else to offer him. He was not looking for anything from me either, knowing he had to do with what he had. Poor guy. I wish he had a crew. I felt sorry that I was too slow to realize the poor guy was struggling by himself and might of needing my help. He didn’t ask and by the time I checked on him, he was ready to head back out.

Another runner came in at 10:45. He was older maybe in his 60s. His team of pacers and crew was ready for him. They let him sleep maybe 15 minutes. I think he wanted 2 hours, but his crew would not let him. I was next to them and hearing the exchange. The runner was tired but they were able to get him out. I didn’t know when because I decided to sleep on the ground. I had my sleeping bag with me, so I could sleep anywhere. I set my alarm for 11:10 based on Lynne walking pace she would arrive by then.

Lynne arrived at 11:05 pm. I didn’t see her but she saw me.

What happened next is a failure on my part as her crew and pacer. My mind was on pacing and I felt my shift hadn’t started yet. But looking back, my duty too should get her to be out at the station as soon as possible. She already stayed too long at Ansted I felt (long enough for her to be cold there). The same was going to happen here at Fayette Station. In hindsight, I should have rushed her out because time was critical. She had less than 1 hour from the cut and I walked around as if she had two hours (indeed in my mind she had the time).

She took a seat and started changing her clothing for warmer ones. She changed shoes. She requested food, and soup, and coffee. I forgot to even check for if she needed water. The soup was not good after she took one sip. Her stomach was not strong enough to take it. All these probably happened within first 5 minutes. As a pacer, I should have kept the time! As now every minute counts!

I don’t know what happened next but it was a long time she did not move. Then she said she was cold. I covered her with my sleeping bag. She actually asked for my jacket, but I was planning to use it for myself. Thinking back I should have given it her and immediately have gotten her on her feet and should have marched her out the station. This was my first tactical mistake of not doing so. I was tired or just waiting for her to say lets go! It should have been me pushing her.

Another Tactical mistake is to eat and drink in the station or get warm in a station. She did this at Ansted and now doing it again. Me, being her crew and pacer did nothing to prevent this was unacceptable.

A second mistake if readers have guessed is, I was only reacting to what Lynne was asking instead, those basic stuff should have been anticipated by me. I should got her a bunch of food and drinks and let her choose. Also I should have prepare her clothes, pants and and things to change out and in including shoes and socks. My mind was completely blank that night. I blamed it on my fatique of doing the morning run also my head cold I was still recovering from. It was not my first 100, but I was acting as if I never ran one before.

Third mistake is also obvious. We stayed too long, following the first mistake and also I was not helping her much by anticipating her needs and doing it for her. Usually a mistake is not an isolated thing but a compounded problem. Not taking care one thing let to another.

Fourth mistake was I let my runner get cold. This was a big no-no for night running. It was because we stayed too long, she had cooled off already. Also I didn’t cover her. This is a number 1 to-do is to wrap the runner with a jacket or blanket when they come in. Experience ditates, to stay no more than 5 minutes. Thinking back on this, I felt so guilty.

Fifth, doubts creep in. Also a big no-no. Runner’s worst nighmare. Also because we stayed too long. If we kept on moving there would not be time for doubts and second guesses. She was guessing if could finish because her pace has became slower than race pace. She was going at 20-22 min per mile. The race pace ditates 19.2 min mile. I did the calculation, it would be too close to call. We might make it to the final few miles before timing out. Of course, we could pick up our paces too. 40 miles is too far to predict. By now Lynne was convinced she was not going to finish. She was sick. She called her husband to tell him she was quitting. Because, I let her sit so long now, we were facing 30 minutes from the cut, at midnight.

Sixth. Letting the runner quit. This is a hard decision. Yes ultimately it is the runner’s choice. Yet many times a runner picks their pacer is that the pacer would not let the runner quit so readily. There has to be a challenge first. We were suppose to fight this. I did not fight with Lynne. Yes a hard choice on me — I paced her before at Yetti and I knew what she was capable of. I knew her speed and even without eating, she is capable of running once the sun is up! It is a weakness on my part that I could not bear the responsibility of what if she is really hurt. She said she rolled her ankle three times on her way from Ansted to Fayette station. This is the worst part of being a pacer is to take this decision: to fight or not to fight with the runner. How much trust does the runner rely on you for their safety. I chose the safer path – that is to let Lynne quit.

Seventh – I was pretty tired myself both due to my cold and my earlier 50k run. Thinking back if I did not run my race, I would have more strength and I would be more eager to do a night run with Lynne. But I was tired and wanted to head to bed if possible. I was not sleepy at the time, but I knew it would come in couple hours. My self-interest would be in favor Lynne to quit, so I don’t have to suffer myself. It is a reason, I quickly agreed with her.

Eighth – My mind was preoccupied with my pace chart I had set up. It had some bugs. I was trying to debug it before we heading out. Also my mind was on my car, like how will I get back to it after finishing. Also, what if my runner drop, how do we keep warm. I was thinking of carrying my sleeping bag along. Note, no one carry this much stuff on a run, but my mind was on what if we could not make it.

There were countless of things on my mind. We would go by my car, and I was thinking what things do I leave behind. I had a 28L backpack with me. I was debating to carry it or not (either to put clothes in it later or to bring more depending if I expect Lynne to be cut or to run fast). If she were to be cut, where would it be most likely? Those were some questions I was reflecting, when Lynne announced she was dropping here. My worries were solved.

It was now near midnight (11:37) when Lynne finally got up to turn in her bib/announced to the timer that she was quiting. Thinking back, this 32 minutes sitting around, plus the 10 minutes at Ansted, we could have used the time to get to to Longpoint, the next aid station, mile 63. We would definitely arrive there around 12:30 or 1 pm. I knew if I reach mile 60 by midnight, there is no way I would not finish a hundred miler. We were at mile 58, only two miles away at 11:37 pm. Yes too much time was wasted at the station to let Lynne have self-doubt.

It was a relief for her and myself once she made the call and we walked to the car. That was it for the weekend.

There’s not much to conclude. Lynne told me not to beat up myself. Ultimately it was her decision. She knew her ability and body best. She had tried her best at the time. Based on the available information at the time, it was the best choice to make.

I felt I was a good pacer at the Yeti 100. This time, the event ended even before I get to pace. I did not do so well from the initial to the final conclusion. There were some good lessons learned, even for my own race. I knew them before, but to see things blew up in that short span of time (probably about 15 minutes from coming in with a high expectation to zero) was a bit unpleasant and something I need to remember. Things can change bad very fast! I know it was not my race. I did not want my runner to feel bad just because I felt bad. Anyway, it was a good day. At least, I got to prepare and I can take away the lessons learned for my own race.