Old Man Still running

Cascade Crest 100

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Location:

Saratoga Springs,UT,

Member Since:

Jan 31, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

2016 Finished 12 100-milers during the year.  86 career 100-mile finishes, 9th in the world.   First person to do 6 consecutive summits of Mount Timpanogos.  Won Crooked Road 24-hour race. Achieved the 5th, 6th, and 8th fastest 100-mile times in the world for runners age 57+ for the year.

2013  First person to bag the six highest Wasatch peaks in one day. First and only person to do a Kings Peak double (highest peak in Utah).  I've now accomplished it four times. 

2010 - Overall first place Across the Years 48-hour run (187 miles), Overall first place Pony Express Traill 100.

2009 - Utah State Grand Masters 5K champion (Road Runners Club of America).  National 100-mile Grand Masters Champion (Road Runners Club of America). USATF 100-mile National Champion for age 50-54.

2006 - Set record of five consecutive Timpanogos Summits ("A record for the criminally insane")  See: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=42

2007 - Summited 7 Utah 13-ers in one day.  See: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=14 

Only person to have finished nine different 100-mile races in Utah: Wasatch, Bear, Moab, Pony Express Trail, Buffalo Run, Salt Flats, Bryce, Monument Valley, Capitol Reef.

PRs - all accomplished when over 50 years old

5K - 19:51 - 2010 Run to Walk 5K

10K - 42:04 - 2010 Smile Center

1/2 Marathon: 1:29:13 - 2011 Utah Valley

Marathon - 3:23:43 - 2010 Ogden Marathon

50K - 4:38 - 2010 Across the Years split

50-mile - 8:07 - 2010 Across the Years split

100K - 10:49 - 2010 Across The Years split

12-hours 67.1 miles - 2010 Across The Years split

100-mile 19:40 - 2011 Across the Years split

24-hours 117.8 miles - 2011 Across the Years split

48-hours 187.033 miles - 2010 Across the Years

Long-Term Running Goals:

I would like to keep running ultras into my 60s. 

Personal:

Details at: http://www.crockettclan.org/ultras/ultracrockett.pdf Married with six kids and six grandchildren.  Started running at the age of 46 in 2004.  My first race since Junior High days was a 50K. I skipped the shorter road stuff and went straight to ultramarathons.  I started as a back-of-the packer, but have progressed to a top-10-percent ultra finisher.  Wish I would have started running at a much earlier age.  Have had several articles published in national running magazines.  Check out my running adventure blog at www.crockettclan.org/blog

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Race: Cascade Crest 100 (100 Miles) 30:37:00, Place overall: 72, Place in age division: 6
Total Distance
101.00

I took a chance and went ahead and ran Cascade Crest 100 in Washington state.  Mentally I pepared myself for a DNF.   I would be fine with that.  All I wanted to do was run a few miles in the Washington mountains.  I would not be fine with setting back my recovery from my fractured leg.  It had been six months of healing.  The day before I hiked a little in a small canyon down to Puget Sound.  The leg pain was bad.  I was discouraged and worried that I was doing the wrong thing.

I camped for the night at Lake Kachese, very pleasant and convinced myself that I would be OK attempting the race.

It was so great to be at the start line again.  There were so many kind friends who greeted me and lifted my spirits.   I took it very easy and did not push it.   There is a massive initial climb and at the top I took video of a large group passing me at the top.  I was just having a good time.   The leg pain was minor, but on the descent, it wasn't good, so I took out the trekking poles.  Depending on the pace or the steepness, I used one or both poles for many miles.

At mile 11, I was in 126th place out of 144 starters.  Talk about "back of the pack!"  At mile 15 I overheard the aid station volunteers mention that there were only 16 more runners to come through.  I was shocked! I am instead used to being in 15th place overall at that point. Wow, I was going seriously slow.  I tried to work on my pace, but made very little progress passing people.

At about mile 18, two very kind runners, one from Vancover and the other from Boston, ran a couple miles with me.  We talked and talked.  This is something I rarely do in races because I'm so out of breath.  It was great fun and they totally took my mind off the leg pain.  It seemed to magically go down.   Other pains were worse.

At mile 34, Stampede Pass aid station, the only drop bags laid out were for those runners who were still coming.    There were only about 8 bags in the pile.  That got my attention.  I was only 1.5 hours ahead of the cutoff.   (There were actually 23 runners behind me, but only 5 of those would go on to finish.)

I decided that if I had any hope to finish, that I needed to try picking up the pace.  The trekking poles were put away and I truly ran.   I was shocked that within two miles all the leg pain was gone.   My theory is that the fracture is indeed healed and the remaining pain is from soft tissue, getting used to the callus bumps that have grown around the bone.  I think my body just remembered that I run crazy distances and decided to just live with it.

Over the next 18 miles it felt like I was flying.  (My pace for that section was about the same as last year when I was healthy).   I passed 20-25 runners and came into Hyak in 86th place.  The run through the tunnel was crazy fun.   I must of been running at about a 9:00 pace for those two miles, coming up on runners in the dark and blasting by them.   I was in high spirits at Hyak.  Buddy, Karl Jensen from Canada was there and we left together.  He was starting to struggle and would indeed DNF at mile 68.

The night continued to go well.   When I reached the "trail from hell" that goes by Kachese Lake, I was stunned that I was still running.  The day before I checked out the early portion of the trail because I doubted I would make it that far.   I ran that crazy rugged "trail" in record time for me, passing another bunch of runners, arriving at the next aid station in 69th place.  I was only 1:10 behind my pace for last year and if things continued well, I would finish in about 28:30.

However, during the next massive climb, I ran out of gas.  I could indeed detect that due to my lack of training, that I just couldn't push it hard.  But with my experience, I knew what to do in order to continue.  I took some key rests, and continued to eat pretty well.  The "cardiac needles" were brutal.  These are 6-7 steep climbs during a 7-mile stretch.  Each climbs up and over a ridge and half of them don't use switch-backs.  On one of them I yelled out to the trail that it was "nasty."  The runners ahead heard me.

With about 12 miles to go, I felt some sharp pain in my leg near the fracture line.  I knew I could easily break 30 hours, but it wasn't worth it.  I shut down the pace for good, took Ibuprofen, and the pain soon dissappeared, but I continued to go pretty slowly.  I had plenty of time, about 2.5 hours ahead of the cutoff.

The final miles includes a massive descent.  I got my feet wet and with all the braking I was doing, developed some fore-foot blisters.  Other than that, the Hoka Stinson Evos performed flawlessly.

At the bottom of the canyon, with 3.6 miles to go back to town, it was hot, approaching 80.  I was pretty delirious.  Ben Blessing was doing the aid station.   They gave me a popcicle that started to bring me back to life, but I didn't answer their questions right.  They asked if I needed my cammelback filled.  I said no.   But less than a half mile later, I discovered that I was almost totally out.  This was bad.  I knew I couldn't finish without more.  I decided to leave the course and hike to the stream nearby.  This was an emergency so I didn't worry about non-filtered water.   I soaked my shirt in the cool water and used a paper towel the rest of the way to cool my face and neck.   I also drank like crazy.  I avoided heat stroke and started to feel fine again.

The finish line came into view and Charlie the race director said some nice things about me over the loud speaker as I finished.   He handed me the buckle.  This one seemed extra special.  I really didn't think I would finish, but there it was in my hand.  It probably is valued as much as that very first one.   Five months ago I feared that I would never run again, and for sure never finish 100 miles again.  But there I was at the finish line.  I'm glad that I didn't burst out in tears.  All I could think about was getting into the air-conditioned car.

Victory!!!   I finished my 49th career 100-miler and continued my streak of 31 finishes without a DNF.

Hoka Stinson Evo Miles: 101.00
Comments
From Mikal Epperson on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 17:49:20 from 67.169.243.100

Awesome job, and great race report! You are incredible! 49 100's is just insane...in a good way! I'm about to attempt my first 100...Wasatch in less than two weeks. Any advice?

From crockett on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 17:57:05 from 75.169.250.48

Thanks Mikal. Seems like the biggest reason for DNF at Wasatch is heat and cold. Watch the weather forecast and do your best to prepare. If hot, don't under estimate it from Big Mt to Lambs. If cold and arrive at Big Water after dusk, don't sit around long.

From Mikal Epperson on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 18:12:03 from 67.169.243.100

Great advice. Thank you. I'll keep this in mind when packing my drop bags! As for not sitting around; it seems like that's an ultrarunner's big temptation in the late miles!

From crockett on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 18:14:16 from 75.169.250.48

Yep, I'm sure you have heard the Brighton stories. One year I had my crew just set up a chair near their car in the parking lot where they took care of me. I only went into the lodge to check in.

From Jon on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 19:04:52 from 98.71.131.64

The streak is alive! Nice job, Davy.

From Smooth on Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 19:22:36 from 75.165.251.74

I am so so so so so happy for you, Davy!!!!! :) :) :) CONGRATULATIONS on this monumental finish of your 49th career 100! You ran a smart and courageous race! YOU ARE BACK!!! 50th 100 here you come!!!! :) :) :)

From JimmySG on Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 08:35:51 from 67.172.232.21

Amazing race, having been tracking your progress the last few weeks. Shows the power of the human spirit.

From Dorsimus on Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 08:49:21 from 209.23.248.163

Awesome job Davy - glad to hear things are coming back together. For most people a 100 is a lifetime achievement - for you, apparently - its a 'recovery run'! :)

Great work.

From jun on Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 09:10:33 from 65.130.151.207

Great report. There is so much to be gleaned from this race - ability to run 100 miles on limited training, long distances as a form of healing(I believe in it), and the benefits of knowing the distance and how it can help, even when under-prepared. Congrats Davy, awesome finish.

From Kendall on Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 09:50:38 from 74.81.231.133

Congrats Davy! Incredibly brave--and a little bit crazy if you ask me. Well done.

From Bryce on Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 22:12:21 from 76.27.58.194

Congrats Davy! So good to see you back. Tough as nails!

From flatlander on Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 08:00:26 from 76.31.26.153

This is a monumental accomplishment, I just saw this but was very happy to read your report. Can't wait to tell Wade. We really hope you make it down here again next year. Congratulations.

From crockett on Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 08:50:35 from 216.49.181.254

Thanks all. I was really surprised how well it went. I'm already pain-free again and will start real training again for the first time in 8 months. I dropped out of North Coast 24-hour in three weeks but I entered Bear 100 in four weeks, my 8th run there.

From Russ on Fri, Aug 31, 2012 at 10:55:28 from 74.114.3.253

Wow. I'd been looking forward to this race report to see how far you got before you would DNF, hoping you'd get far. Amazing. Clearly you've done things right over this frustrating healing process. Kudos for being smart, and for finishing this one strong. Amazing progress! Congratulations.

From Dale on Mon, Sep 03, 2012 at 12:39:14 from 69.10.215.11

Congrats. Sounds like you should write a "How to run 100 miles on minimal training" plan article for iRunFar or UltraRunner...

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