Forbidden Forest Ultra #35 100

After finishing Mohican 100, I had a 7 week break before my scheduled attempt to run the Leadville course in Colorado with my good friend Rhonda. Didn't feel too great about the gap because I don't want to put in any really heavy mileage training on my knee, so I thought Id try and find one more race to jump into this month. Pickings were pretty slim, basically had Western States which you have to win a lottery ticket to get in, or Forbidden Forest in Stanford Connecticut. I considered running a solo, maybe in upstate New York, but I really kinda wanted to do an actual race. There wasn't a lot of info about this race online. Just a small race that caps out at 50 runners, and you can do any distance you want in under 30 hours. I kinda waffled a bit, trail is much slower for me so trying to get in a 30 hr finish on a trail would be pushing it, but I thought...30 hr and all distances, it shouldn't be to hard, probably an easy course. I asked around and learned it had some roots and one tough little climb but that was all the info I had to go on. The weather was projecting to be in the upper 70s so I decided I'd just go for it, and if I didn't finish I'd just hit the road and wrap up the full 100 miles afterwards.

Jason had a ton of work to catch up on and we had old friends coming from out of town to stay the night so I had to head up to CT by myself and run w/o a support crew. I wasn't the least bit worried except for maybe the driving and a tedious course. This race was basically 44 loops, 2.2 miles long through a state park. Long 8 hour drive in Friday traffic. I went by the race and grabbed my bib & chatted a bit with the RD, an Vietnam vet who'd just gotten back from a trip to Normandy so that was neat. It was hot and stuffy I thought, at 6pm, as I headed off to find my motel. The area was a bit hilly so I figured I was gonna have some hills to run, but I was still feeling pretty confident.

I ended up staying at a really sketchy place, I mean, $80 a night in Connecticut, what should I expect? I admit I felt fairly nervous and intimidated when I had to slide my credit card under the protective glass in the motel lobby that was full of smoke, yikes! . There were quite a few druggie/prostitute/welfare case types wandering around. When I unloaded the car I grabbed the Marine KBAR and carried it to my room quite prominently in case anyone was eyeing me. After a quick trip to Walmart for some hairspray and snacks, and Wendys for dinner, I settled in for a hopefully decent nights rest on a rock hard mattress, "nonsmoking" smokey room, hoping I wouldn't be covered in bed bugs by morning. The room had the feel of a late 1970's crime show, down to the broken curtains Ha!

Definitely missing Jason and his ability to get us good rooms and the feeling of security and knowing he'd be around for the rough hours of my race. For loving 100 mile races, its funny that I get so much anxiety about traveling on my own so this felt like a hurdle to conquer. The room was clean, and I didn't see any traces of blood, though I did hear neighbors screaming F bombs and crying and yelling through the walls. After awhile listening waiting for a ball to drop in which case I'd call the police, I heard what I assumed was the mans car peel out of the parking lot and it got quiet, so I put on a movie, took some Tylenol pm and went to sleep with my knife in bed next to me and a chair propped up against the door, haha.

Got up at 6am, 30 min before my alarm. I figured the earlier I could check out of the motel the better off Id be. Maybe the murderers were still asleep. After a quick shower, taping feet and chafing prone areas (lol) and quickly packing the car I was on my way to the state park. sadly I accidentally left my favorite pillow at the hotel. That's what happens when I travel alone, sad day!

This was my aid station setup. Sadly a few feet the wrong direction off the course and I didnt have time to correct that, but right next to the porta potties, so I tried to only stop here every 3rd loop. I needed liquid fuel more often as the day went on, apple juice and choco milk, so I'd grab a few for each lap and drop them at the yellow cone in the background so that I wouldn't have to detour too much. I only sat down once to remove my knee brace and change shoes, put pain cream on my feet.

All the runners in a group photo. Race tops out at 50, there were around 16 women running. Nice 'local' feel, most everyone very friendly and chatty, though you always get those focused runners who don't care to acknowledge your existence even when you're sharing 2 mile laps for 30 hours, hah. I mean, I'm an introvert but I can still pull out a thumbs up or something even deep in a pain cave.

So I brought poles still counting on an easy trail, figured Id' pick them up late in the race...after the 2nd mile into the course I changed my mind. The first mile was really a fun run, a couple steep but runnable hills, a narrow swamp 'bridge' to walk on, but mostly mild rolling clear trail with few rocks or roots. Then, you cross a road and hit the opposite. The second half had several decent sized hills, one called the "OMG" hill because it really is kindof a steep whopper up and down, a ton of roots, and a couple muddy boggy spots that were also very rooty. You just couldn't work up a good rhythm the back half of the race through the woods. The last quarter mile or so had some decent rolling hills with rocks but it was runnable and a good spot to finish any drinks/food before hitting your supplies to refresh. There was also a big boulder along there that made a convenient pit stop which would come in handy after my hydration went all askew.

So, second loop I had grabbed my poles and felt more confident moving over the roots and climbs, but it was definitely more technical and hilly than I had planned on. I realized before 10 miles that it was going to be a constant push to finish 100 miles under 30 hours... still, there were a lot of miles to go and I was gonna make the best of it. worst case I knew I'd get in some good heat training and have a nice day in the forest. It was already warm at the start, 8:30 am. By 11 I was asking for ice. It was kind of laid out conveniently in that right on the loop at the start/finish line was a mini aid station with water, ice, electrolytes and gels. You had to climb the stairs up into the pavilion for the actual aid station, food etc. I realized I would lose significant time if i was making aid station stops, so except for 1 stop for a slice of pizza, I ran the whole race just from my stash and the drink/gel stop. I really really hate gels but I found I could tolerate getting them down so I ended up fueling largely on them. Thankfully the volunteers there were fantastic and helpful, they got me ice every loop and filled my bottle with electrolytes or water. I switched back and forth between my liquid IV and their grape GU drink, depending on how many calories Id managed to get down. I was also getting in at least 2 salt caps per 10 miles & some extras overnight.

It ended up climbing to almost 90 degrees and there was a lot of humidity, though we had a nice breeze in the shade of the forest. Every loop I had the guys volunteering at the AS pack a baggie with ice, I dumped half down my shirt, the other half into my hat. I was drinking 16 oz of electrolytes every 2.2 miles, plus drinking an apple juice or Nesquick drink and taking a gel. I ate a few oreos and licorice, but pretty much almost completely liquid diet & gels. I really felt good all day though the temps soared, I think because I kept my core temperature under control. I got in a lot more caffeine than I usually do which I think made my stomach a little off overnight. Fun sign before the planks section.

Runnable descents, quite a bit of this really was fun. I think my favorite trail running is mild to moderate technical hills with some roots to play around on, but when it slows you down to a walk, definitely not my favorite. This first pic with the race photographer at the bottom was the descent of the OMG hill. I actually enjoyed going up that climb for alot of the race. It took some pressure off my feet and let me stretch my calves, but it did slow me down and those minutes added up to being about 15 minutes short of a <30 100 :(

First 13, still smiling, not too much of a sweat.

A 'fun' climb that was not fun from after 30+ climbs.

27 miles, hat stacked with ice to keep me cool. Dripping water and sweat, I was completely soaked to the skin from early afternoon till late at night. I met a couple really awesome people on the course. One guy who was a really fast runner, slowed down to talk to me because he was a Marine and an ambassador for Mission 22 and had done some runs for veteran suicide awareness. He talked about wanting to meet up with me afterwards and seeing if we could get togehter and put together some kind of ultra, so that was pretty cool. When I was at 35 miles and he was 50+ he had a bakers cyst flareup so I think he stopped running and left, so I was dissapointed we didnt get to talk again. Another guy, Vinny I think was his name, was an RD for a race up in New York in October and he was so nice, he said he loved what I was doing and offered me a free entry into his race. I told him if it wasnt the same weekend that Im already running No Business 100 that I would love to do it. It was so kind! I meant to catch up with him after as well, but I dont think he stayed for all 30 hrs.

I hit 50 miles sometime around 10pm, around 14 hrs which for me is a pretty decent trail 50 time, just kindof a solid middle of the pack pace. BUT, cutting too close for a 30 hr 100. Typically the second 50 takes an extra 3-4 hours. It was stuffy in the woods, the temps cooled off but there was little breeze so I was overheating. I decided to keep the ice going. I had some really great runner high during the night and did some solid miles, but the heat of the day caught up to me and I was starting to feel dehydrated. I was still drinking just as much but was having to make pit stops every half mile, which for me is a 100% sign of dehydration. I started feeling discouraged that I wasnt gonna make the finish because the pit stops were really slowing me down. On my way to the race on Friday I listened to like 5 hours of a biblical Sunday School podcast about the kings of ancient Israel. One thing that stood out to me was that battles are won by trusting in God. We have to be prepared to fight but ultimately if we turn our battle over to God, he will be our fortress. "Be not afraid nor dismayed; for the battle is not yours, but God's." So I spent a good portion of the night praying. I was praying for the families, of Taylor, Jacob, Jacob, Nate and (my family) Dexter. I prayed my heart out for a special friend whose very young son has been hospitalized for a suicide attempt, and I prayed for a miracle, knowing I was falling behind on being able to finish 100 miles on the course, and that though this was my own private battle, if I trusted the Lord, He would help me fight it and accomplish the goal I set for myself, 100 mile finish at Forbidden Forest. I knew if it was within the realm of possibility, God would help me make it happen. Well there was one really spooky section when it sounded like a whole pack of coyotes were howling very near the trail, and then I spent an hour listening to haunting sad hooting owls and thinking of Nate & Sally. <3

There was a really great volunteer overnight named Paul. I was without any crew my brain was kindof fried. Paul made me eat some salty chips that he crushed for me, and take a couple gus when I didnt want to and keep hydrating. I asked his advice for what I should do...though I am pretty experienced at this and independent, I suddenly felt vulnerable and babyish like I needed some advice. I was dehydrated and sweating still with effort, drinking a ton but the fluids were just sloshing around wildly in my stomach. He told me I needed to just slow down for a loop because my stomach wasnt digesting. Just walk for a few miles and let my body settle down. It was probably the best thing I could have done. I took an extra 20 min to do that next loop and I did feel alot better and was able to pick up a pace again after that, though the 20 minutes lost did bite me. The skin on my leg was stinging so I took off my brace around 100k and saw it was turning into a big welt. It was around 3am, 18 1/2 hrs, still dumping ice down my back, losing hope of finishing 100 miles. I had to roll up my shorts, sweat was dripping onto the welt and stinging, I just tried to ignore it and be extra careful without my brace on the technical sections.

I decided at that point with some clear impressions to my mind, that I needed to dispense with all advice and go with what I know. Started filling my bottle with straight apple juice and a liquid IV packet. Sweet but tolerable, and fueled on that till well past dawn. alternated apple juice and chocolate milk each loop. Did away with the extra gu's and caffiene that I wasnt used to. I sang loud to stay awake and at one point completely broke down in tears, listening to a song that reminded me that I was in good company with my friends who I couldnt see, out there on the course. "We were soldiers Carried the war on our shoulders For our nations Is that why we bury our friends? We were all friends! And today we're all brothers Tonight we're all friends A moment of peace

in a war that never ends"

I just cant express the transcendant feeling you get when you realize you arent alone. My sweet Dexter, always watching over his mom but now with a good company of buddies to help him. <3 Well, that apparently worked, got me the calories I needed, hydration and salt, by morning I was finally back to a good place hydration wise, only 1 pit stop per loop. I put on some Sunday moring church music and tried to just take time to feel gratitude for where I was , how far Id come, and for the tender experiences I had had overnight.

I caught up on some time, but by around 9am the forest started heating up and I was pretty worried. I had 5 1/2 hrs to do basically a marathon which on a trail is a decent paced distance, but tough with heat, humidity and 74 miles on your legs. Unfortunately there was no wind in the woods, no clouds in the sky and by 10 am it was feeling suffocatingly hot.

The day before I left for my race I was out doing hive inspections on my beehives and Irremembered Id bought this $25 neck fan, I was sweating so hard in my bee suit that I tried the fan and it was amazing, so I thought, hey, maybe I should bring that to my race. Well, it was charged and not knowing how long a charge lasted, I grabbed it out of my drop bag and put it on low...wasnt sure how it was going to go but that fan was like a miracle worker. Even the small breeze on low kept the air going so that the heat really didnt bother me too much, as long as I kept ice going. Id just picked up some arm sleeves with ice pockets so I threw them on. It took the guy at the AS a loop or two to figure out how to fill them, but we got a system down pretty quick. Every time through a giant cup of ice down my back, in my hat, in my sleeves, and a bottle of water refill. Id grab a juice or nesquick and down that, and every couple of miles do a gel. ''

Still, despite my best efforts about mile 90, I had to come to terms with the fact that I was running over an hour behind. My feet were killing me, leg stinging, knee swelling, and though I was steadily moving forward there was no speed in my pace at all. Snapped a pic at my dissapointed face but resolute that I could still finish 100 miles...knowing if I had to head out on the road and do an extra 5 miles alone after the race was over it was going to be blistering hot and miserable. but, Id do it.

Shortly after this picture a runner came up behind me and asked me to tell him about my pack, so I told him the names of the men and pointed out Dexter my son, and that I was trying to finish up 100 miles for veteran suicide awareness. He introduced himself as Anthony, a US Marine veteran, and said that he loved what I was doing and that he was going to stay with me and help me get this done. I was a little intimidated because he was young and clearly a strong fast runnner, but he slowed down his pacea bit, and pressed me to move faster. He grabbed my bottle and refilled it at the aid station, he ran ahead to tell the volunteers to get ice ready, and he stayed with me and it forced me to pick up to a solid pace that I hadnt done since the first 10 laps. I had such a fun time with Anthony! He asked me all about my farm and about beekeeping, he talked a little about his own experience fighting to stay alive against the pull of suicide, finding a faith based veterans program that helped him turn to God, the strength he finds having Jesus in his life. This guy just radiated goodness and the light of Christ. for a minute I thought about asking him if he was a real person because he literally felt like a Marine Corps angel who had just appeared out of nowhere to help get me to the finish line. <3 We covered a lot of ground quickly and I pushed my body harder than I thought possible, my feet and legs on fire. He had to eventally go off and help someone so I was on my own at mile 96ish, which was ok because I was kinda dying and couldnt keep up with him anymore.

At mile 98.9, I went through the start/finish line with 5 seconds to hit the 30 hour cutoff. I broke down in sobs. I'd gone 99 miles and missed the cutoff. I asked if I could keep going and finish up my last 1.1 mile just so I could meet my goal of 100 miles. I felt immensely grateful Id' come close enough that I could get it all done on the course and wouldnt have to head off to find a place to finish up on my own. One of the volunteers, Sally, came with me and stayed with me while I did the last mile to round out 100. I laid down in the grass when I finished, and was both disappointed and happy and relieved. Sally gave me some bottled water and baby wipes so I could clean up, she left for a few minutes then came back with the 100 mile buckle. I broke down and just cried my eyes out. So grateful that they let me earn a buckle though I'd come up short. Im sure it was for the sake of my Marines and I just thanked them profusely.

I just layed on the grass while everyone packed up and left. I took a sponge bath in the nasty porta potty for the long drive home. I was all alone in the park when suddenly somebody called out my name. It was Anthony! After hed gone and helped someone he had run back out to try and find me and help me finish! I was so happy to see him. Big hugs and he asked if he could help me do a run in the future and he gave me a card and his contact info. It was pretty special and I got all teary eyed just realizing that he had been the answer to my prayers, I accomplished what I needed to, I got in 100 miles, I got a buckle, and I got to honor my Marines and my sweet Dexter, and spend time with someone who knew the struggle. Such a blessed time.

I had a miserable drive home. So exhaused, a 6 hr drive took me 12 hrs, had to pull over and sleep several times while my legs turned to tree trunks. The welt blistered pretty nastily but Im sure itll heal up fine.

I found this quote just before my run and I think it describes this journey I'm on amazingly.

All in all, I have no regrets. I laid it all on the line, was 4th place female, 12th overall, finished 100 miles on a hard trail in 30 hrs 15 minutes which is close to a personal best. Met amazing people and shared trail miles with Marine Corps angels, living and beyond the veil. Counting this as #35

Some of these races are "sloppy 100s", they arent going to get me into any record books, but they will get me to my original goal of 100 100s for Dexter and veteran suicide awareness, no matter how I needed to get them done. When I achieve that goal, I'll clean things up a bit if I can still run and pursue the "official" stuff.

'

These boys, Never forgotten. LCpl Jacob Crewson, Sgt Jacob Gray, PFC James Dexter Morris , SSgt Taylor Wilson & my buddy Nate Dogg