This is my race report from last weekend's TRT 100 Mile run. I just wanted to decribe the race and focus more on technical details than attendant mental and emotional difficulties and hard times. The run takes place at elevations between ~7000' and ~9000'. This was my first trip ever to this kind elevations. Previously I have only run a marathon at 4000-5000 feet. This was a concern before going into the run. The Lake Tahoe area is exceedingly beautiful. Once again it was my first trip to Sierra and Tahoe so I did stop at different points during the run to simply take in the views. Another stunning view was of the night sky later in the run. The sky came into an almost complete 360 degrees view while climbing an exposed side of a mountain. The nearest source of light was far below and not a factor so literally millions of stars came into view helped along by dry air and cloudless sky.

The trail itself was very nice and smooth with only a few rocks here and there and very few places that required me to pick my way through, even during the night.

Weather conditions were quite bearable. It was never too terribly hot during the day. Temperature never dropped too much during the night which made it for a very comfortable run. Still, I was concerned with fluid intake due to dry air and UV rays at these elevations. Another thing I'd like to mention is that six weeks ago I had a DNF at Old Dominion. So going into this run I had a lot to prove to myself. Maintaining a positive attitude was at the center of my attention.

I chose following equipment items for this run: Columbia Sportswear Sun Protection log sleeve shirt, same model shorts and Montrail Hardrocks. I also had Deuter 3 liter water pack, which also contained other essential items like windbreaker, medication (ibuprofen, tums, etc.) and some food items. I carried a handheld water bottle for sports drink. All of the equimpment worked out really well. I think Hardrocks were a little too much of a shoe for this trail but the added protection was nice.

The race started at the bottom of the trail at Spooner Lake and I proceeded up the trail mostly walking until first aid station. This was a relatively easy 6 miles. I felt ok at first but then began experiencing difficulties breathing whenver the level of effort for a little higher, especially while climbing hills. These difficulties were to worsen significantly until the end of the run.

From mile 6 to 11 to Tunnel Creek AS I felt pretty good and miles passed by pretty quickly. After Tunnel Creek you have to do a 6 mile part that has been widely advertised as a tough part of the course. That was the Red House Loop. We were to do it twice in a 100 mile race. The Loop features a very steep hill, barely runnable because of it's pitch. Then there is quite a few hills to climb for about 3 miles until you come up to Red House. After that there is a quite nice flat two miles or so. However, mile 6 of the Loop features that same steep hill but now you have to climb it. Personally, I did not have many problems with this part of the course mostly because I managed to stay positive and in the moment while doing it and also since you lose a few hundred feet of elevation in this part it makes you feel a little better.


After re-visiting Tunnel Creek we were to proceed to the next full-scale aid station at Mt. Rose. That is a 9 mile stretch, mostly uphill which would prove to be my most difficult part of the course both times I visited it. On a first trip up there was Water/Gatorade station at 3.5 miles. I did not realize how long it was going to take me to get to Mt. Rose so I had no food on me except gels. By the time I got to the top I was very hungry and light-headed and needed rest. However, at elevation of almost 9000' I quickly realized that I'm not getting any rest so I ate as quicly as possible and left the aid station. With 26.3 miles behind me in about 7 hours and 30 min I began to get worried about my ability to finish and contemplated dropping out at 50 miles. I began to feel a strong headache and I also developed a persistent cough that was not making me happy. I decided to take 2 ibuprofen and see what happens.

Once I started on a 9 mile trek back to Tunnel Creek AS, I started to feel dramatically better and basically run about 7 out of those 9 miles. With finishing hopes restored in my mind I began to really move on the course trying to put some time in the bank that I may need on the second loop.

Climb back up the mountain from Tunnel Creek to Hobart AS proved to be very difficult for me mostly because of each breath hurting my lungs and producing long bouts of cough. I also realized that even though I climb relatively slowly I am working at a very high heart rate - in fact the heart was in my throat. So I was forced to take 1 min breaks often to catch my breath. This was a pretty long 5 mile stretch for me but once done I put it out of my mind until the next time, much later, when I would have to do it again.

From Hobart, we had to climb to the highest point in the race - Snow Valley Peak. It was only a 3 mile stretch but you gain ~1000 feet in about a mile and half so elevation again became a problem. But I knew that after I reach the top the rest is all downhill back to start area so I became very optimistic despite feeling really sick, coughing and feeling feverish.

From Snow Valley I descended 1800 feet to the next aid station six miles away. I was able to just fly down the trail making this stretch in only 1 hr and 20 min feeling better with every foot of lost elevation.

The final 1.7 miles to start/finish was no problems and 50 miles were done in less than 14 hours. I now had time in the bank and there was no question about dropping. I worked on my feet that started to develop some blisters, ate a fair amount of food and started on the second loop.

I mentally prepared myself for this protion of the run, most of which will take place in the dark. I immediately realized, just how much more difficult it will be to make it up the climbs now that I've been out there for so long. From the first hill on, I was moving significantly slower than the first time. I let my mind drift and think random but pleasant thoughts and slowly but surely I found myself back at Tunnel Creek about to start Red House Loop shortly after dark.

This time around it took me about 20 min longer to complete the loop but once it was done I gave myself a pat on the back and said I wouldn't have to do it again, ever.

Knowing now that it would take me a very long time to make it through the next 9 miles to Mt. Rose I asked a volunteer to make a turkey sandwitch and I loaded my pockets with candy.

I was moving slowly but steadily up the hill, without making any serious attempts to run. About two hours into it I sat down on a rock and had a picnic.

I finally reached Mt Rose AS at 6:25AM Sunday which made it a 10 hrs and 30 min to complete 26.3 miles the second time in the dark. But the important thing was that while I was dead tired I was not as sick as I was earlier in the run and I was still keeping it together within myself. With a generous cut-off I had plenty of time to finish so the priority became not to do something stupid like start pushing the pace.

I was able to run some portions of the 9 mile section to Tunnel Creek and braced myself of one more time climbing to Hobart. About half-way up I began to feel pain on the outside portion of my left knee and I immediately knew that IT band problem I had at Old Dominion six weeks ago that forced me to drop out is coming back. Fortunately this time a nice gentleman named Gabor came up from behind and found me sitting on a fallen tree massaging my knee. Upon our brief conversation about IT band he pulled out that IT band wrap you can buy in most running stores. I tightly secured it around the knee and while it didn't kill the pain it kept it manageable.

Of course I now had to be more cautious especially on the downhills so that slowed me down further. I started to slip into bad moods, get sick again and feeling hot from the sun that came up again and was a lot hotter than on Saturday due to lack of breeze. Eventually I made it to Hobart and got some rest. I was beginning to worry that I'm slowing down enough to not be able to make it. My mental calculations proved to be erroneus but it was hard to do math at this point.

With one last climb to go I summoned all my mental strength talking to myself explaining that I got it made after I'm done with that climb. Sure enough it was lung torture going up the mountain but eventually I was there. I was feeling so sick at the Snow Valley peak that I decided to get just a bite of food and descend as quickly as I can. I had constant ringing in my ears, pounding headache, swollen hands and very dizzy.

I walked for about 30 min after leaving Snow Valley and having lost a few hundred feet began to feel a little better and finally I was on my way to finish. It took me 1 hr and 45 min to go the six miles now and I lost my patience a few times because it seemed a lot longer.

I finally got to Spooner trailhead AS, 1.7 miles from finish and drank some ice water with some pretzels. At this point I was feeling a little less sick and really wanted to get it over with so I left the AS quicly and started walking to the finish. Few minutes later this very nice couple joined me and said they will take care of me on this last stretch and after I finish. It was unbelievably nice of them. Ultrarunning community is truly incredible in this way.

Soon enough (or not!) we were approaching the finish and the guy ran ahead to prepare some ice for my knee and some food for me. Few minutes later the finish line came into view and I couldn't wait any longer - I picked it up and jogged for about 50 yards to the finish. I was done in 33 hours and 23 min.

Truth be told, I was so tired and out of it I did not even feel the usual exilaration of finishing a big 100 miler. I felt more like, thanks God it's over and oh well, job well done.

I sat there at the finish while these wonderful people took care of me. They did everything from helping me clean up to taping the blisters on my feet. I even got a ice bath for my feet. Incredibly they gave me ride back to the host hotel and let me use their shower to clean up for my flight back home. Wonderful, wonderful people. I would've been in so much trouble without them.

It was a great awards ceremony but unfortunately I had to leave soon to catch my flight. I have met a great many old and new faces this past weekend. The ultrarunning community proved once again to be a warm and generous family.

TRT 100 is well organized race which has a lot working for it and it should become a classic. I'm glad I've been there in it's first year.

Finish photo.

Dmitry.