Well I signed up for Rocky Raccoon about six weeks out and two weeks prior to completing Bandera 100K. I figured that if I was going to train up for a rocky, hilly 100k then I might as well attempt a flat 100 miler. Bandera 100k was easy for me to complete, but I know that the course could have definitely torn me up if I had pushed it. I went slowly on purpose so that I could get my Bandera buckle, train up for my 100 miler and enjoy Bandera's scenery (Also I got sick of running on the jagged trails). But Bandera is another story so I will get back to the 100 miler.

I am a Type 1 diabetic. I take two kinds of insulin and usually five shots per day in order to survive. I do not use an insulin pump. I use needles. I have never heard of a non pump using type 1 diabetic completing a 100 mile trail race. It has probably happened, but not that I know of. It is probably not a healthy thing for anyone to try to do 100 miles on foot in less than 24 hours and especially a Type 1 diabetic. So I do not recommend this to others, but I wanted to do it, so I did.

I had a fair amount of training leading up to the event and read a decent amount of literature about 100 mile runs and about Rocky Raccoon 100. A report by a good runner named David stuck in my mind. He had DNF'd the year prior and said that he did not go into the race with what I call a killer attitude. I thought about this a lot and went into Rock Raccoon 100 with the attitude that if someone was going to try and get me off the race course without giving me a buckle first there was going to be trouble. Nobody and nothing was going to get in my way (not nice, but effective). So I had a huge chip on my shoulder that I attempted to keep hidden from others, but that I am glad I had.

The week prior to the race we heard that it may rain or snow prior to and during the race. I have stressed over the weather prior to several of my other endurance events and refused to worry too much about the weather for this one. When we found out that it would be below freezing on race day with a high in the 50s I laughed. Perfect weather for someone of my build. I had been blessed. I knew at the start of the race day that this day was perfect for me. I have had many hot days for other endurance events lately and am thankful that on the big day I was so fortunate.

When running marathons and 50k races I try to run the same pace for the entire race. For this race my plan going in was definitely different. My goals for each of the 20 mile loops were as follows 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, and 5:30. If I could follow this then I would end up finishing in 22:30 and earn my sub 24 hour finisher buckle. This would also give me a cushion if I bonked out on the last lap. I also planned on never sitting down (never did) and spending about 2 minutes or less at each aid station.

So here we are at the start of the race. I do not see anyone I know yet, but I know that during the race I will see friendly faces, people I have run with before and some "old folks" that I admire and wonder if I can be like when I am old. The start of the race was weird, the first five miles were really congested and I felt like I had just started a marathon in the middle of the masses. Once the sun came up it was smooth running. I finished my first loop in 3:35, a little behind pace, but I felt good and this is what mattered most.

The second loop was beautiful. I ran and chatted with some folks and it flew by. My time for 40 miles was 7:20. Now I am 10 minutes ahead of schedule and feeling great and fresh.

The third loop was much like the second. I paced myself and felt good. I stopped chatting to people and this was due to some fatigue. I finished my third loop at 11:17. I was 43 minutes ahead of schedule. I told my girlfriend/ pacer Anne that I would finish my third loop no faster than 12:00. I had to call her and tell her, "sorry I am running fast today and I cannot wait to be paced". Things were going great (thank you cold day).

I took off on my fourth loop and met up with my pacer along the loop. I think we were both surprised how much I had in the tank. We ran and chatted for about 12 miles and then I left her at an aid station. She has since forgiven me. Anyways, around mile 70 I noticed that I had some pretty serious blisters that were getting somewhat painful. I did not want to stop because I was in a race and I was not sure if people at the aid stations knew how tough I think I am. I finished the fourth loop, 80 miles at 16:06. My feet were screaming at me. I was 54 minutes ahead of my goal pace. I could not believe it. My running has been so slow recently compared with where I was 12 months ago that I thought this pace was out of reach. The last loop was all mind games.

So here I am 80 miles into my first 100 mile trail running race. It is pitch black and I am way ahead of my goal pace for this event. My feet have huge blisters and every time I step down with my right foot it feels like I am stepping on a gel pack. As I walk along I am somewhat familiar with the 20 mile loop that I must complete in order to finish this race. I have already done this loop 4 times today.

Now the mind games start to kick in. I have almost eight hours to complete this 20 mile loop and earn my sub 24 hour belt buckle. This is what the lazy man in my head keeps telling me. I must have looked at my watch more times on this loop than the first four loops combined. As I walk along I try to make out the people that I pass or pass me. We have all changed cloths several times to adjust to the 30 degree variance in temperature so common in Texas. I can't tell who any of the other runners are anymore. Just people on the trail in pain. I see numerous runners who look disabled. Running lopsided, walking with limps, they look terrible. Some of them are a full loop behind me. The thought of how much further they must go in order to complete the race haunts me. I push on wondering if my watch is correct. Constantly calculating the time I have left, the time it takes me to get to each aid station. Am I walking because I cannot run, because I am taking a break, because I am so far ahead of where I thought I would be, because my feet hurt so badly? As I pass through the first aid station I am in a trance, not focusing on food, hydration or my feet. I cannot remember what I ate or did, just that the aid station is behind me now. I plod along reminding myself to stand up straight, wondering what my feet will look like when I take of my shoes. I will not stop or sit until my work is through. I imagine the sub 24 hour buckle that I have looked at for the last 4 years.

Finally mile 92 and my third aid station of the last loop. A gel, some painkillers, some caffeine and a flat section of the course. I try to run and succeed. 10 steps at a time, 20 steps maybe 400 meters all without stopping. At this point any running is success. This is the fastest section of the course and one I planned on running every loop. I am running, it's a good day. My mood picks up as the caffeine and pain killers start to kick in. I pass some runners walking. I sing the first line of "Eye of the Tiger" to them (and mumble the rest, what are the words?). I run into the last aid station.

Mile 95, the last aid station. Earlier today there were 50-100 people here. Now it is a ghost town. I check my watch again. Is my watch broken? I look around the aid station tent for a clock on the wall. Who hangs a clock on a tent wall? And I am off. 4.4 miles to go. I can see the belt buckle in my mind. I can feel the accomplishment. I want to run to get this over with, and so I do. For the last 25 minutes my running consisted of grunts with every breath. I saw that if I pushed I could finish in less than 22 hours. So I ran along making noises that would probably scare a javelina. I ran up hills that I had walked all day. I ran to the finish in 21:53!

The first 3 loops were really easy (60 miles easy?), yes easy. Miles 60-80 were slightly more challenging but still felt easier than some of my training runs and hikes. The race was great. Thank you Anne Kang (pacer/girlfriend/motivator/hiking buddy), The Prusaitis'(allowing me to run), all the volunteers, the other runners that I have been running all these Tejas trails events with, and especially my mom for letting me push mow her 2 acre yard(a killer workout).