Kettle Moraine 100 Race Report - Part 1 - Bringing it all together
The Kettle Moraine 100 (KM100) would no doubt be my flattest, least technical, and fastest 100 mile race. As a result, this brought me into uncharted territory. How fast could I run 100 miles? The answer: 18 hours, 51 minutes. To put it into context, this is the 5th fastest women’s time in the event’s 26 year history! In this Part 1 of 2 blog posts on the Kettle Moraine 100, I share my inner thoughts on my goals and triumphs of the day. In Part 2, I share about the nuts and bolts of race day including the race course.
Bold predictions
I had predicted a 1-2-3 women’s podium and new course record going into the race. Knowing the weather would be on my side in the days leading up to the race, I figured my time goal was within reach. With at least two other high caliber women with a stronger race resume than I in the field, I figured I was racing for third (but I would seize an opportunity if presented). Sure enough, one key contender was a drop at the first aid station due to a health problem. As I predicted, the overall win was a woman, Michelle Magagna, in a blistering 16:58! I had the opportunity to enjoy Michelle’s company for several early miles and I was very excited for her to execute a great 2nd ever 100 miler! With a couple of out-and-back sections, I saw her running down the race leader and with how strong she looked, it wasn’t a surprise to hear she nabbed the outright win! She demolished the longstanding (24 years!) course record by over an hour!
Bringing it together
While scouting the day before the race, I found the lone downed tree on the course on the McMiller trails. I didn’t mind crawling under on my hands and knees alongside the overall winner, Michelle Magagna.
Knowing some variables are outside of my control, my top goal for the race was to finally put a 100 mile race together, rather than being locked into a certain position or time goal. In all my prior 100 mile races, I would get very conservative on the back half of the course and basically shut it down during the last marathon expecting to hold my place in fear of falling apart. With that approach burning me (I lost my runner-up position after being passed a mile from the finish at Leadville 2011), I wanted to push through the race.
My game plan was to start at 10 min/mile pace and not let it erode beyond 14 min/mile. I set a pace chart for 19:40 with a stretch goal of sub-19 hours if conditions allowed. To achieve my stretch goal, I’d need to execute my plan to race the second half of the course.
Breaking it down
At the first aid station 5 miles in, I realized my GPS watch was reading slow (my readouts were 11 min/mile despite covering 5 miles in 43 minutes…apparently my watch needed to warm up!) I’m thankful I did my homework on the course and knew to settle down despite electronics saying otherwise and many racers in front of me. I continued on at a comfortable effort, with confidence in my training that I wouldn’t crash and burn.
Based on prior experience I desired to chat with the other racers to keep me calm, however, there just weren’t a lot of people around. Also, my running style didn’t seem to match any of the others’ pace as I kept yo-yoing with them on the hills early on. In total, I maybe chatted with folks for about 10 miles of the entire course, which serves as good mental toughness training for Barkley. In the end, I was in no-(wo)man’s land with a 26 minute gap in front of me and 95 minute gap behind me. Nonetheless, I’m proud that I pushed to the finish line as I was chasing a personal time goal.
I managed never to lose more than a couple of minutes from my pace chart. Based on experience, I allowed some extra time once darkness set in on the trails. Sure enough, my slowest average over 5 miles was 13:07 min/mile after night fell. Going into the last aid station, I made up my mind this was the time to push to the finish. As I was did the math, if I averaged under 12 mph the final 8 miles, I could break 19 hours! I ended up covering the final leg 18 minutes faster than my pace chart, my biggest deviation of the day! Overall the day went well and my slowest mile was 16:04, which accounts for several minutes stopped in the aid station.
Near perfect
Confidently standing with my bib the night before the KM100.
My consistent pace without any major stops certainly led to meeting my stretch goal. Even though most people encounter lows in 100 miles (and sometimes multiple), I only had a slight brush. Between miles 45-55, my quads were getting sore. I also felt a hair off. My bigger concern was that there was a lot of racing to go and I needed to get both under control before it debilitated me. After a little ice, extra dose of electrolytes, and caffeine boost, I felt alert the rest of the race. Knowing my quads have impeded my ability to descend in each of my 100 milers, I was willing to try rolling them for the first time. A testament of the trail running community, I had three random strangers instantly offering me their roller when I asked my crew if we could roll my quads. Amazingly, it seemed to help. As a trade off, my time in aid stations would be several minutes longer, but the ability to run with a full stride paid dividends.
I wasn't trying to be too dramatic at the finish but my quads were super sore so sitting in a chair would have been a death sentence. I also hate standing (check out the start photo in Part 2 writeup, I'm the only one not standing), even if I can run 100 miles! Race director, Michele Hartwig, patiently waited with my belt buckle. Photo credit: Royal Hartwig
I have never had a major refueling issue with usually only a short bout of stomach distress. This race went even better and my stomach was perfect throughout the entire race, enabling continuous rehydration and refueling. My excellent crew rivaled that of a NASCAR pit crew, always ready with gear and ensured I never miscalculated nutrition or hydration before I headed back onto the trails.
Despite battling Achilles tendonitis since late March, I intentionally ran very little during my taper so I wouldn’t have a lingering injury going into the event. I cross-trained as much as possible and only ran key portions of the workouts. Despite coming off my worst ultra performance (read about that here) and putting in 15% less volume than I had a decade ago (pre-mom), I convinced myself I’m in better shape. I now have a lot more experience including the mental and physical resolve as an adventure racer. Also my Backyard Ultra experiences taught me I can hold a steady pace through 100 miles and cover the miles without a pacer (this was my first 100 miler without a pacer). It seems my placebo effect worked or I am truly in better shape than over a decade earlier while balancing motherhood!
Moments after crossing the finish line with race director, Michele Hartwig. Although I had covered 100 miles in under 24 hours during each attempt (a total of five times), I PR’d by 2 hours 22 minutes.
Many thanks
I felt God’s presence with me on the entire race course and used all the solitude to express my gratitude for the means and opportunity to partake in a day enjoying His creation.
Joel Flory did a spectacular job crewing for me, always flagging me down at each aid station with everything at the ready. He even brought his son, Bridger, as my personal videographer! Ornery Mule Racing ran a top-notch event and I’m proud to be a finisher in my first KM100!
Read Part 2 of this race report here.
Related: