As my first time out crewing and having personal contact with a ultra marathon, I did not know what to really expect, or what would happen.... boy did I not know what was going to happen.
Karen and I packed up the brand new Subaru Outback she bought a couple weeks ago and headed north towards Ashland, Oregon. My first trip to Oregon, my first ultra marathon involvement. Unsurprisingly Oregon looks a whole hell of a lot like Northern California, go figure. None the less, one more State checked off my list.
We meet up with Kate and surprise her with Karen's new car, which she did not know what purchased. Kate then proceeds to say how stupid of a purchase it was, and that it was a waste to buy a brand new car, and that she would shut up about it, and say no more, but that she thought it was a stupid idea (key moment to remember for later in this tale)
We drop off Kate's car, and head towards Grants Pass, check into the hotel, and decide to grab a bite to eat before heading out to check in and the pre-race meeting in Williams. As we sit down to eat, it starts to rain, at a fairly good rate... (little did we know, this was only the beginning of the rain to come)
We head out to check in, hoping to miss the first early bird check in's and catch the last minute announcements and get out of there to get to bed and rest.
We get the the Williams Grange, and sit down at a table with Russ and Gary both friends of Kate's that would be running the 100 miler as well. Russ would be attempting 100 #3 in hopes of a finish, 1 failed attempt involved medical issues, and 1 attempt he had called it quits around mile 60 (key point to remember for later).
After realizing the race director was just showing up (an hour after it was set to start) we chat and took some pictures just playing with the camera...
(Anne, Russ' Wife; Russ, Russ' Dad, Gary)
(Karen and Kate)
And documented the over crowded room with a line snaking around it to the shawag pick up table and physical check in...
Finally announcements started, and I tuned out after a few, as 1. I was not running the course (other then the last 17 miles, which I perked up at mentions of things after mile 83) and 2. It was more confusing then probably not listening at all. Basically the gist is keep your eyes open for markers and turns, you might miss some if you don't, hopefully you won't.
After getting through the line, checking in and announcements concluded we split and headed back to the hotel to finish prep and get to bed, the 6 am start was going to come early.
One bold rainbow in the sky as the sunset, documented hoping it was a sign of a great race to come the next day, and we all hit the hay shortly after arriving back to the hotel.
(If you look closely it actually became a "double rainbow" for awhile too)
5 am race day: Alarm goes off, waking Kate and me up trying to figure out how to turn off the hotel alarm clock, with no hope, Karen flustered, but to far way reminds us its her phone, not the alarm clock that was set and ringing bells off the hook, that were far too loud and quick for 5am wake up calls... but it did the job, so I can not complain... up and the start of the great Pine to Palm adventure begin.
5:20 Kate is dressed and ready with everything she needs to get to the first crew aid station at mile 31 where she will be seeing us. Load the car and off we go, back the Williams Grange where the race begins.
Doesn't she just look so excited to get this thing going?
Her pacer slightly more awake, and excited to see her off...
6am and they are off!
After we watched the 130 (give or take a few) starters head off into the day?!? (dark day) Karen and I returned to the hotel to pack the rest of everything up, make sure food for each stop was made and organized and labeled appropriately. Anyone that would like to argue that running is a "cheap sport" to be involved in and to, should take a look at what is all involved in crewing for someone running ultra marathons and then reconsider their statement.
Checked out of the hotel, we head off to the first aid station crews are allow at, Seattle Bar. As we arrive, and begin to wait, this is what the weather, and stop, look like...
We were told the race wound through those trees and then down and around to the parking lot we where at. This picture was taken in one of the moments of light rain, one of the only to be had that day.
After waiting a few hours, in came the front runner, Tim Olson, 40 minutes behind the approximated time for the 1st runner to come in, who would eventually win the race in 18 hours 38 minutes and 50 seconds (somewhat sick, I know) Note: if you are unaware, this is the 1st time this race has been held, and the 1st time the course will be run in its entirety, so true times are unknown, among many other things.
Awhile later Gary comes through and Karen patches up a hot spot and spends him on his way, about a 1/2 hour later and in came Russ... Karen goes to work....
Also note the rain gear is out again, it begins to rain again
which will not stop again for at least 8 hours
Moments before Russ heads back out on the course, Kate comes rolling in...
And boy was someone excited to see her, I think she might have squeezed her a bit to tight, or she is equally excited... (or she is wondering why the heck Karen has a parrot hat/visor on her head)
None the less, we get Kate through the aid station in less then 3 minutes, no shoe change, grabs some more fuel, switches out water bottles, and heads off.
We pack up the car and head to the next crew access aid station and wait...
Through came Gary, again missing any photo op's and then down came Russ. (notice the rain getting heavier)
Kate comes through and the camera was forgotten as we get some warm soup in her, and do a full outfit change from socks, shoes, shorts, shirt and hats, hand over a head lamp, because next time we see her, its going to be dark already and she is going to need it...
As we head out of this aid station we see Russ and yell at him that he looks like a girl in the poncho he is now sporting, hoping it will help contain body heat and keep him a bit warmer... I went running after him, but man was he flying down the road, so I snapped this quick pic.
Little did we know, we should of read the sign...
can we say foreshadowing...
We see Russ turn off the road and head off to repack the car, ditch some trash, the birthday cake and ice cream that went uneaten (and at this point was just getting in the way) ( It was Russ and Kate's birthday) then we head up to the aid station we think is Dutchman's peak, where Kate will pick up Karen and she will pace her til mile 83, where I will take over pacing til the end.
We park as we see a ton of cars all pulled off the side, and realize that we are not at the top, figuring that they decided it was too windy and rainy at the top for an aid station, and instead moved it down the hill.
The rain has continued to pour and pour more, and it is now pitch black dark as it is getting toward 10-11pm. At one point an ambulance comes up and continues up the hill/mountain, then within 10 minutes two sheriff officers cars pull up, get out and talk to another car for a few moments, and then jump back in and head up the same direction the ambulance went. Karen gets out and talks to a few people and finds out that they where looking for a hunter that had fallen and broken a hip up here some where.
She also comes to find out that we are actually at the aid station prior to pacer pick up and we are not at the right place. Karen asks if it is ok that she pick up Kate at this aid station, and she is cleared to do so. I take a quick nap knowing I am soon going to be alone and driving alone to the next aid station, mile 83.
I wake back up, Gary comes through the station and many runners head up the hill, cars start to disappear and then it is only us. (as most people are at the top of Dutchman's waiting for the remaining runners) Hal comes through in his truck and heads down the path runners have been coming from, and returns saying there are a hand full more and that the sweep is back there as well.
Russ comes through with a guy he has been running with pretty much since the first time we saw him, still in poncho attire, wet, worried about the time cut off and making it (it is set for 1 am at the top, which is supposedly 5 miles), but overall feeling ok. They head off and we wait, and wait, Karen's and I continue to build worry, as Kate declined to take extra batteries with the headlamp and flashlight at the last stop, because she would reach us before she needed more. It didn't help that the aid station crew is really hoping the sweep will come through soon so they can break down and go home. Karen decides to head off in the direction Kate should be coming from, two flashlights and a headlamp in tow. Not 5 minutes after she heads down, do we see the glow of lights coming around the turn... 2 lights, 5 lights, 7 lights????
Luckily Kate had picked up the sweep at the last smaller aid station she was at, and he was well equipped with lights, and was able to keep her company. Turns out Kate had missed the turn onto the trail coming out of the last aid station (off of the "narrow rough road" sign road) and had run an extra 4 miles. Hal had told her she could have a bit of extra time to get to Dutchmans peak's cut off since she was running well, and wasn't slow because she was slow, but because she had missed the turn)
At this point the pictures completely end... I apologize, but we are getting to the most insane part of the story/adventure..... the "good part" the "climax" if you will.
Kate grabs a sandwich, new batteries, her flashy light up vest, and her and Karen and Kelly (the sweep) head off up Dutchman's.
The plan at this point is for me to drive to the top and wait, Kate can get the rest of what she needs at the top, if she makes the cut off (at this point it is about 12:30). Rain is still pouring, wind is still hollowing...
I work my way up the dirt road, finally seeing a girlly looking poncho figure up ahead. I pull up next to him and try and figure out the window, no luck, I've locked them some how. I yell over the car to Russ to see if he needs anything, see how they are doing. He mentions being done, and just wanting a ride. Recalling how good he felt at the last aid station (probably about 2-2.5 miles back at this point) and how he hasn't finished one of these yet, and how this is his rough spot mentally before, I tell him he's doing great, and he'll be fine, just keep moving.
He mentions there is no way he will make the cut off... I reply that Karen and Kate and Kelly are behind them, keep moving "you can make it". I finally figure out how to unlock the doors at least and can at least be talking through the car and not over it... I ask one more time if there is anything he NEEDS... he says, no... just a ride... I decline and tell him to keep moving again, and head off up the hill.
As I continue to creep up this mountain it keeps going and going, I make a turn at point where two trees are markets with glow sticks to show the way, and keep climbing. I finally realize had I known how far it was still to go, I would have let Russ in the car... it was REALLY far still up this mountain to the aid station, and it was really cold and wet at this point, and hollowing winds.. and he was right, there was no way he was going to make the cut off... damn, can't go back now, the sweep and kate and karen will get to him and they will make it the rest of the way up... opps
I continue up this road as it narrows and climbs.. I finally get to another split, I remember there is a point where I am suppose to go one way and the runners another. I start down the right lane, and after a few feet decide that i was suppose to go up the left... I back up and start up the left path... I get about 20 yards and realize this path is very rough and in fact, I probably should have gone the way I started... I begin to back up slowly, with little visibility... as I think I am to about the split I hear the tire slide a little bit like I nicked the corner of the split and might have the cone under the wheel. I attempt to pull forward with no luck so just to be safe I put the car in park and hop out to see if the cone is just jammed or something....
This is when I realize, oh no, you are about 15 feet from the split, the right back tire is barely on any dirt... and its about a 5 foot steep drop to the road below I was suppose to take... I then turn to the right of the "right" right road and realize I have no idea what the drop is off of that.. but that it is far... probably very very far... this is when I go into shock and shear panic mode as I realize how close I really could have been to just throwing Karen's brand new car and myself off a cliff.
This would be a great point to have a picture of said situation, however, due to the emergency/panic/seriousness, taking a picture was the last thing I felt was necessary.
One female runner goes past me and the car on her way to the top (12:35ish) and asks if I am stuck, I say yes, I think so and asked her to let someone know at the top... she agrees and continues moving. I try one more time to see if I can drive forward, as all three of the other wheels are on the solid ground still... no luck...
within 10 minutes someone with a flash light is headed down towards me, "oh good someone to see what the situation is and to figure out an answer"... he comes down, evaluates the whole situation and says, yeah you are going to need to be towed out, he says he will let them know at the top and we help cheer on a runner that has only 15 minutes to make sure he clears the cut off time. He takes off with the runner.
I am alone, and begin to panic again slightly... realizing there is nothing I can do, nor is it a good idea to sit in the car to stay warm. Luckily I had switched into leggings and sweats and multiple layers before the last aid station. Rain jacket on of course I am walking in circles looking at the car.
Then headlights start to come down the path, "oh good" I think " they are sending a truck down here with a rope, I will be out before Karen and Kate and Kelly get to me ". Wrong, as the vehicle gets closer, I realize its not a big truck, its a volvo stationwagon type vehicle... they sit perplexed at the situation, as it doesn't look stuck unless you see the back wheel and try moving it, it just looks pulled off to the side. There is no way the volvo is going to get around me, so I agree to walk behind them as they back up the hill, there is no other option for them to get out.... I walk up the edge, making sure they don't make the same mistake I do going the other way up this hill... in the now sideways rain and hollowing wind. All of a sudden, down head more headlights... a samari... I explain the situation, and they look to see if there is a place for them to pull off to the side, allow the volvo to pass and allow them to go down to evaluate my situation, no luck... they back up all the way (mighty quickly I might add) and head down the other path. After awhile I realize I have left the car with the keys in, lights on, for quite awhile. Turning the headlights off, made me nearly invisible. I decide to head back down, if only to take the keys out and return to walk them up the hill. most of the way down I realize it was farther then I thought... they had more then 1 person in the car, they could manage...
I again begin to freak out as I am again alone, in the dark, and its now about 1:30am. The samari pulls up and looks, it was a father and son that had been marking the course with the glow sticks, to be seen at night. The son decided to try and move the Subaru again, my nerves going crazy, but realizing they probably new what they where doing, and more so then me... a few attempts later, no luck... and another set of headlights head down towards me..
A truck to the rescue you say...
nope, an older Subaru outback.. *sigh* I again explain the situation, and that she is going to have to back out. The risk of trying to go around is that the car going around slides, even just bumps Karen's brand new car, and over it will go... This lady responds when we say she should back up instead of going around is "its a Subaru" I still in shock, horror, and confusion respond " Thats a Subaru too".... we ask if she has a tow rope at all, and there is no luck, she took it out when she moved to the west coast, without the snow and potential to need a tow rope (damn damn damn)
She goes around me... I don't think I looked/watched... but in fact the Subaru outback made it around the hanging in the balance Subaru... it is now about 1:50 and we are all trying to figure out what to do... down comes more headlights... I am seriously hoping with all I have that it is a truck with a tow rope....
It is a Honda SUV thing... ssdrkj;uilhsjerhw!?
We explain the situation yet again, and that the car before had gone around, but we suggested backing up. The guy driving offers to try and help push it out, so we try again, the son in the samari in the drivers seat, the rest of us behind it... It doesn't even budge. The Honda decides to back up the road like the others... a few minutes after this the father and son that are still staying with me (thank goodness, I don't know what I would have done) realize that now the front drive side tire is lifting from the ground... only option right now, I sit on the running board of the drive side of the car... tire back on the ground...
Not something you should be worried about at all...
The father and son debate going to get the sons truck, he has everything we would need in it to get this thing out of there (which is somewhat of a relief) the part that was not a relief, is that that would be an hour and a half trip to do... and that would mean leaving me alone.
They ask if I would be ok if they went to get it... I wish I could have said yes. I truthfully say not really. I wish I could go with them, but know that I'm worried if I leave the car, it won't be there when I get back.
During this whole series of events I continue to look down to see what time it is, hoping I could get it unstuck before Karen, Kate, and Kelly saw it... (I still debate how I would have told the story had I gotten it towed out before they got there)
about 2:30 here come some lights.. I know its them... I start to feel like I'm going to puke... I don't think there is much in me to do so.. but I am going to...
I say it out loud without realizing it and Karen's reaction is to tell me to get up then and away from the car. I say I can't, which she replys why... and I realize she hasn't quiet figured out what is going on. I say something along the lines of "because your car might go over the edge if I do, I am weighing it down".... she moves on up the hill with Kate, who at this point is close to hypothermic and needing aid, which is right up the rest of this hill/mountain.
I say something about she can kill me now and later.. she keeps going.
Next time I see Karen, she has come down in the Honda with Kate, and the kind souls that put Kate in their car with the heater full blast, at this point the guys are deciding if they should take off, now that I won't be left alone, to get a tow rope and the son's truck... behold more headlights coming our way...
Dear lord, if we have to back up one more car.....
Its a truck.... a big truck.... and then it stops, gets out....
I hear something about no way he can back up (very true) and something about moving the god damn car... are you are part of those runners up here (in a much more selective set of words). It is a hunter, a pissed off hunter that isn't shooting anything because all these crazy runners are up on this mountain tonight with cars and lights, and ruining his hunting plans. We politely, and frankly tired and cold to our wits end explain "Sir, we would love to move our car, we truly would love to be anywhere but hanging off the cliff at 2:30am, however, we can't, until you pull us out, b/c you are in front of us, can't back out, and have the truck sent from some greater power to rescue us...
Next point, do you have a tow rope? well, that would just be too simple now wouldn't it, no, no tow rope... after searching and more words that sounded like a drunken sailor had landed in front of us, a small nylon rope emerges, it is agreed upon that this will have to be worth a shot, and they will double it up. Karen pulls out the tow bar (?) and proceeds to show the men where it goes, realizing we need something to get the cover off the spot it screws into... a panic looking for something resembling a screw driver to pop it off, and it somehow was removed (no screwdriver was found, but it was removed, so it is not important).
Next thing I know, I am told to remove my hinny from the running board, and the son jumps in... I join Kate in the door of the Honda... realizing at this point I am finally getting cold to the bone. Kate does make the point that "heather, she won't kill you, as long as we are all safe, its going to be alright" which is reassuring, although at the moment the car was still undecided about living or dying...
I cringe as they start up the engines... and bam... easy as that, the car is back on the road! I don't think anyone on that mountain could have been more relieved... we could finally get off of the damn thing and go to warm beds...
Everyone gets on their way very quickly, and we are off to try and find our way down towards Ashland... A moment after we start moving Karen says "one second, I think my cow bell is still out here, I am going to take one glance for it" and jumps out with a headlamp.. Kate yells after her, tired and over it "Karen, I'll buy you a new cow bell... lets just go" for a moment I say nothing, then I look up at Kate and firmly and clearly state "NO, I WILL BE BUYING HER A NEW COW BELL" ,one small chuckle after a long ordeal... and then, ah, the cowbell is found, next to a BOOST, which Karen toss at Kate knowing she needs it more then she knows...
Up the rest of the mountain and down the back side we go, Honda right behind us, after getting down a steep rocky portion, we run into 3 more vehicles, drivers out, with a map, looking lost. Ready to go, we decide to go on ahead down the road, and they follow, 5 car caravan at 3 am, hollowing wind, pouring rain... wonderful, but hey we aren't over the cliff anymore!
We get 3.5 miles down this road, which seems like an eternity, and get to a clearing with about 4 or 5 different options. With no clear direction everyone discusses options. As a car we decide that we know how to get back the way we came, it might take us forever and a day, but at least we know the way, rather than having an adventure through these back roads... we had enough adventure of the unknown already. We bid farewell and good luck, and head back...
I start to doze off in the backseat, in rain soaked, dirt covered sweats, the rain jacket still on, and the sleeping bag fairly damp draping my legs, head on the ice chest, 5 liter water jugs all around me (as everything was spastically toss back in the car once it was pulled out).
Next thing I know Karen says something about she is going to pull over because she can't stay awake any longer, Kate agrees, and I figure I am sleeping already anyways, ok. At 5 o'clock (am) we pull off into a parking lot (we made it to flat ground and pavement) and crashed out for 2 hours.. I think within 2 minutes we where all out cold.
Around 6:30 - 7 we awake, and get back on the road to Ashland, and arrive to a small breakfast cafe, requesting a booth far away from everyone else, as we are gross, dirty, tired, and smelly most likely. We ask our server if its been raining a lot in Ashland, he replied that it just started about an hour ago.
After breakfast we decide to find some place where we can unpack and repack the car...
It looks better then it was... the picture doesn't do it justice.
After we clean and repack we retrieve Kate's car and head to the finish line/race headquarters to check out whats going on there. We hang around and I agree to stay there while Kate and Karen take Grae (a runner from Nevada that had finished and whos car was at the start line) back to his car. I hang out and hear comments from those who finish.
Many comments included "I don't know what that was" "I've never seen any course like that" (in a disbelief and worried tone) " That out and back up the boulders should have taken my life, or at least my ankle" "That has got to be more like 105-107 miles" Many congrats, many recounts about where runners last saw each other, discussing certain turns, aid stations, and the songs they made up along the way.
We head off to check into the Manor Motel and to shower and take a short nap, then we head back to catch the awards ceramony, head over to Indian food, and take a good walk though the park. Then we head back and crash out for nearly 12 hours.
Wake the next morning, say our good byes and head home... half way home we get a call from Kate.. "Karen, I just wanted to call to tell you YOUR CAR ROCKS! I am sorry for whatever I said about it before, but I was thinking and not once while we where in the whole search for our way back down that mountain did I ever feel unsafe in that car, and I think it is probably the best purchase you've made, and it really does ROCK!" :) So much for being the stupid purchase ever that we started the weekend with, IT ROCKS!
In the end:
- 67 finishers under the 34 hour mark.
- Gary, Russ, and Kate all dropped at Dutchmens (Gary got could and was also having an issue with hypothermia and was pulled). All seem content with their efforts, and the defeat this course had on them. It was absolutely horrendous conditions, and they tried with all that they had, it just was not in the cards for this 100.
- The Subaru is alive and driving like nothing had ever happened, not even the alignment is off a tiny bit, its a miracle. Karen is considering writing into Subaru about the epic tale and the Subaru, as it seems like good potential advertisement for them, as they do those letters from Subaru owners bits... 3 women, rugged terrain, hurricane like weather, over a cliff, saved, Car is safe and looking as good as new.
- We have many affirmations from telling the tale (we invited all interested parties for diner Sunday night, to hear it in full length verison once, as we didn't have the time nor the energy to tell it over and over again) that it is in fact the craziest crew story ever known to date by any of them.
- Karens Garmin has gone missing, we believe it may be all that remains at the top of Dutchmen's peak as a reminder of what happened.. a new Garmin 405 is on the way... an upgrade from tragedy for Karen.
- Heather is traumatized, refuses to drive dirt roads up mountains solo while crewing anymore, just done. She is recovering but will continue to be the butt of all jokes about being able to back up straight.
- Heather has officially taken over the #1 spot for worst things done by a crew member at a 100 miler... moving Leslie to 2nd for locking the car keys in the car at an aid station during Western States, to have AAA arrive to unlock the car, and find out the key was in the folding chair, outside the car the whole time.
- I pray that I am done with near death experiences for awhile, and that the next 100 miler, isn't so dramatic and tale worthy...
As we pulled in the driveway back in Arcata I turned to Karen and said " You can't even imagine how excited I am to run pavement and roads after that adventure, I think I am set with doing that for awhile now..." she laughed..
and life returned to normal.
(if you are still reading, thanks, sorry it was long, it was an epic tale after all...)
Next up:
Run Like Hell! 1/2 Marathon in Portland October 24th... themed as Alice in Wonderland...
Kristen and I will hopefully be dressed as dwiddle-dee and dwiddle-dum.
