Rocky VI – 2020 Rocky Raccoon 100 Race Recap

The 2020 Rocky Raccoon 100 was a challenging event, but now that I’ve had time to recover and think about things, I’m really pleased with the end result; despite it being my slowest “Rocky” out of 5 finishes. The first 50 went well – lots of good company and everyone mindful of keeping it easy in the early miles. The legs felt fresh and energy levels were good thanks to Tailwind Nutrition endurance fuel at each of the aid stations. However, towards the end of the 2nd loop, I kicked one of the many tree roots on the course. Sharp pain shot up the right leg which in turn quickly irritated the torn meniscus I’ve been so concerned about for the last 12 months. I gingerly made it back to the start/finish area (7 hours 45 minutes), but in a fair bit of discomfort, and seriously doubting I could get through another 50 miles.

The support at the aid stations was first class as always. Just minutes after explaining the knee situation to one of the chirpy volunteers, I was quickly dispatched to a comfy chair, with a stool to prop up my leg and a bag of ice to calm the knee down. Julia was also there to offer support, grab me some calories and of course take the obligatory “feeling sorry for myself” pic. The other character that chimed in was “Tylenol Man” – who after learning I was chasing my 5th Rocky finish and the [coveted] 500 mile award, basically handed me some painkillers and told me to get back out there and get the job done. Okay then…

So, several minutes later I decided to grab some supplies (headlamp, long sleeve shirt, batteries etc.) and give it a go, even if it meant turning back at the next aid station if the knee deteriorated. I made it the 3.78 miles to the Nature Center aid station no worse for wear, but still in some discomfort. I also knew I was favoring the opposite leg by compensating for the pain in the right knee – no big deal, but the thought of another 46 miles on the trails was kinda disconcerting, and after missing several months of running in 2019 the last thing I wanted to do was jeopardize my 2020 season. Decisions, decisions. I could either walk the mile or so back to the start/finish and hand in my timing chip, or plod along to the next aid station at Gate (*just* 2.9 miles away) and make a decision from there.

This turned out to be the pattern for the remainder of the race – me basically convincing myself to get to the next aid station, reevaluate, then move on – a strategy that worked well to get me back to the start/finish (Mile 75) just after dark. It all sounds so easy, but looped 100 milers are really awful when the chips are down. Getting to 75 miles and knowing you’ve got to head back out for another 6+ hours is pretty rough, especially when the temps have dropped 20 degrees and all you want to do is curl up in a ball and sleep. The secret is to not think about it too much – just grab what you need and commit to heading back out before you change your mind. The good thing is (and trust me, it really is this simple) – every mile you run/walk on that last loop, is one less mile to the finish. I was hurting, I was struggling, but I wasn’t about to quit.

The last 25 miles is pretty much a cold, dark blur. I do remember the warm food at the aid stations. I also remember the hundreds of tree roots that seemed to multiply after dark. I also remember thinking how easy it would be to quit and ask for a ride back to the finish instead. Thankfully, my mind was stronger than my body, and a few minutes after 1am I finally crossed the finish line where I really could stop running.

6 days post-race and both knees seem okay (ironically the left knee was more sore and swollen after the race due to the compensation), so I don’t think I’m looking at any significant downtime in the coming weeks/months. The left ankle has also been a bit tender this week, but I think that’s just down to the sheer stress of running on trails. Incidentally, browsing through my training log, the number of trail runs I’ve completed since the torn meniscus episode at the 2018 Seashore 50K is in single digits. Big note to self – road running is not a substitute for trail racing.

Final thoughts.

• This time last year I could hardly run a mile without pain, so it’s cool to be back doing what I love. Racing 100 miles is one of the ultimate challenges and I definitely want more challenges for many years to come.
• I finally earned my Rocky Raccoon 500 Mile Award (a fleece jacket), so despite “Rocky” being an awesome event, I’m not in any real hurry to go back and fight the tree roots of Huntsville State Park.
• My feet were super happy for the 19+ hours I was out on the trails. Big thanks to Topo Athletic Ultraventures and Injinji Trail 2.0 socks – a great combo for a blister-free experience.
• Energy levels were good thanks to a steady supply of Tailwind Nutrition Endurance Fuel throughout the race. Bonus having it at all the aid stations!
• Chafing was minimal thanks to the awesome Squirrel’s Nut Butter all-natural salve. I say minimal as I forgot to pick up a small container at Mile 75 and went the last 25 miles without being able to reapply. Rookie mistake on my part.

Finish time – 19:02:42. 12th Overall. 2nd Masters.

Thanks again to everyone for all the support. It’s good to be back!

Photo credit – Julia Blakeburn & No Sleep Media