Emerging from the sheer rock cliffs of the Tongue River Canyon I paused at the aid station to refill my water bottles and grab a couple handfuls of pretzels and M&M’s. An aid station worker sent encouragement “only five miles to go!” After a couple minutes, I nodded to Jake indicating it was time to get on with it.
I knew my situation and had thought about this moment for the previous six months. Ninety-five miles of green mountain sides, stunning wildflowers, and muddy trails were at my back. My legs were “smoked” from approximately 20,000 feet of elevation gain and descent. The sun was up and the strain on my body from the past 28 and half hours of racing was taking its toll. Five miles of flat road stood between me and the finish line. I did the math, what would normally take 45 minutes on a slow day was going to take twice as long. The voice in my head was on repeat “this is what you signed up for, you trained for this moment, put in the work and finish this fucker.”
The Big Horn 100 ultra marathon is held every June. Runners from around the world gather in Dayton, WY to tackle the hundred-mile course through the Big Horn Mountains. Known for friendly and helpful volunteers, beautiful vistas, and mud participants are awarded a 100-mile belt buckle for finishing in the allowed 36 hours.
Why would someone want to run 100 miles through the mountains? The short answer is “I wanted to see what it felt like.” I desired the experience of covering 100 miles on foot through remote Wyoming. If you find my logic crazy…I’ll point out the same principle applies to life. Comfort will lull you into everyday dullness. Growth requires curiosity and curiosity can be hard. Failure and looking like a fool are likely when pursuing something new and interesting. However, on the other end of tackling the unknown are life lessons that if taken to heart will improve your perspective of the world. These are the lessons I learned from The Big Horn 100.
Do We Even Have a Problem?
Ultra-races are simple. Complete the required distance in the allotted time and receive something shiny. What complicates these races are the issues (expected and unexpected) that arise over the course of 100 miles. My team is there to help solve these problems and ensure I stay upright and moving.
My dad (Rod), wife (Stephanie) and I were discussing potential issues that might arise during the race and I offered a three-point plan when the unexpected occurs:
1. Stay calm
2. Stay positive
3. Solve the problem
Wrapping up my soap box speech I shifted our focus to the VRBO property we were supposed to be checking into in a couple of hours. I casually stated, “I wonder what the check in procedure is for our place.” This generated panic and a flood of questions from Stephanie “What do you mean? You haven’t heard from them? Is this place even legit?”
I called the phone number…straight to voice mail. Stephanie continued “What are we going do if we don’t have a place to stay?” Doubt started to fill my mind and I reverted to the three-point plan fresh in my mind. Let’s stay calm, stay positive, and solve this problem. Rod replied, “Do we even know if we have a problem?” Pondering his inquiry, I summarized our situation. Check in was at 4 pm (it was only 1 pm) and I had the address. We could head to the property in a couple of hours and take it from there.
Arriving at the property I knocked on the door. No answer. Twisting the knob revealed the door was unlocked, so I stuck my head in and said hello. After no response my attention turned to the black binder on the table which had all the instructions. The owners (who lived next door) saw us pull up and introduced themselves. Everything was in order and there was no problem!
In business (and life) we discuss risks, threats, and other potential events (usually out of our control) that might impact the business. Exercises like this are important to ensure a strategy is in place to address potential hazards, but don’t get too involved in utilizing resources for problems that don’t exist. Ask yourself “Is this an actual problem that needs to be solved?” If the answer is “yes” start implementing the strategy to solve it. If the answer is no, limit the amount of energy you spend on something that may not occur.
Would Your Team Pick You Again?
Gathering in the trailer the night before the race I couldn’t help but smile. There was eight of us total. Jake, Byron, and Cody drove from Colorado to pace. Stephanie and Hot Rod made the trek from Nebraska to be my main crew at the aid stations. Sue Ellen (Cody’s wife) and Reka (Jakes daughter) joined to lend a hand where needed. The group didn’t need a sappy thank you speech or “win one for gipper” pep talk, but I wanted to make sure they knew the gratitude in my heart.
It is no small task to put your life on hold, drive to Wyoming, stay up for over a day, wash someone’s feet, deal with the highs and lows, and help someone else achieve their goal. Words can’t express how these people made me feel and there is no “gift” equivalent to what they did for me. What I told them the night before the race still holds true: if I had the opportunity to re-pick a team for my first 100-mile race and could pick anyone in the world, I’d pick them every time.
“Would your team pick you again?” is a tough question. Would your boss rehire you? Would your teammates want you part of the group if they had a choice? Would your significant other select you as their partner a second time? Live your life and treat others in a way that ensures if they had the opportunity to “choose you again” …they would.
Run Through the Mud
Light from my headlamp reflected off the pool. Water rose over my shin as I plunged into the ice-cold puddle. Jaws aid station was close and by now I knew the best strategy was “run through the mud.”
The Big Horn 100 is known for the mud, especially on the top of Jaws. Advice from others that have completed the race boiled down to four points:
1. Mentally prepare for the mud
2. Use trekking poles if necessary
3. Change socks at major aid stations
4. Run through the mud
The first three points were easy to digest and implement. Running through the mud was a little harder to adopt. Rain leading up to the race resulted in cooler weather, but it also meant more mud. Racers parted as we navigated large puddles of water on the service road during the first mile, but it didn’t take long, and the trail turned to sole (or soul) sucking mud. I quickly learned powering through the mud took less effort than tiptoeing around the edges.
A phrase that has stuck in my mind from early in life is “successful people do what other people aren’t willing to do.” It doesn’t mean the task is easier for some, it just means successful people do it. If I am faced with a hard task, I have found the best strategy is to complete it. Often it is not as bad as it was in my mind, and I won’t have the thought looming over my head. Embrace the mud and get to better ground.
The Last Five Miles
“Two sixteen out” I murmured leaving the last aid station. Jake quickly corrected me “Your one twelve buddy.” I nodded as the aid station worker marked me off the list and I started the final push. An eternity had passed since I last stood on this road at the starting line (the Big Horn 100 is an “out and back”). I was a different person, but I wasn’t finished.
My mind was frazzled (I couldn’t even recite my race number) yet the experience was one of the clearest moments of my life. I knew what I wanted, and I knew what I had to do to get it. Five miles stood between me and…
Fist bumping Jake before I reached the finish line. The person who instilled confidence I could finish 100 miles.
High fiving Byron and Cody. Two guys that kept me moving through the night.
Kissing my wife. My number one support crew who is willing to follow me to the ends of the world.
Hugging my dad. The man who taught me “never quit.” At 70 years old he is still willing to go on adventures and help me achieve my goals.
My vision, the one I had replayed over a thousand times became a reality. In 30 hours, 11 minutes and 30 seconds I completed The Big Horn 100 earning me 77th place out of 192 finishers and the coveted 100-mile belt buckle.
Anything is possible with a hard work and mental toughness.