Badger 100

 

100 miles is never easy. And I’ve never gone into it feeling ready and well trained, until now.

Last January, Kelly Lyons and I DNF’d Long Haul 100. I thought I was at peace with the decision to drop (I was post-COVID and not well), but when Kelly told me that she had signed up for the Badger 100 in Belleville, WI, it only took a small amount of peer pressure to convince me to sign up with her.

This race is a special place for me. It’s a big family reunion of friends from around the country that I got to know during the pandemic. We were all scared and lonely and formed an online community that became real life friendships. I volunteered and co-captained at the Hollywood Aid Station (Monticello) every year and told myself that I would get that buckle, but not until the tunnel was finished. Kelly’s need for redemption got me to jump the gun on that.

I signed up in February and made it a point to focus on getting stronger and having the best training by race day. I took up lifting regularly at the beginning of the year and focused on nutrition. Adding that to my run coaching by Brian Frain had me feeling more prepared on race day than I’ve ever felt.

On Friday, Kelly and I drove up to Wisconsin, dropped off our stuff at the AirBNB we were sharing with our Florida friends (Shae, Kevin, Susan, Kelly, and Mandy) and headed to Dot’s tavern for the beer mile and packet pickup. Kelly got roped into doing her first beer mile (she drank NA) and ran in the Jamaican Bobsled team costume! We hung out with friends at Dot’s, grabbed our packets, then drove to home base to have dinner and get some sleep.

I woke up at 0300 when I started hearing the rest of the house stir. My sleep wasn’t too bad for pre-race and I was ready to go! We drove to the southern end of the course for the start and at 0600 we were off!

Badger 100 mile is an out and back and out again. It starts at the southern-most part of the course in Orangeville, IL, runs north 35 miles to Dot’s tavern in Basco, WI, runs back south to Orangeville, then back north 31 miles to Belleville, WI. Kelly and I started out together with the intention of splitting up when it felt like it was time. We ran together and strong to Monticello (mile 20ish) where we had a Casey’s cheeseburger (no hot food at the aid station). Our friends Lisa and Nicole crewed us and were on top of making sure we had what we would need. I ran into some chafing issues on my upper thighs early on and had to change into just liners at Monticello, but unfortunately the damage was done.

We left Monticello and decided to walk to let our burgers digest as the heat started to pick up. After a few miles we added back in a minimal amount of running until we hit the tunnel detour. Because the train tunnel is closed for construction (since 2020), there is a detour around on hilly country roads. This is a bit of a kick in the dick when you’ve been running flat for a marathon. I tried to use the opportunity to stretch my legs on the up hills and jog the down hills, but the sun was baking me at this point. The Tunnel Rd Aid Station (mile 26) came in clutch with popsicles and cold towels. Then we were off to Belleville! Kelly wanted to keep walking in the heat and I wanted to run more so we separated along the trail. When I got to Belleville (mile 31) I saw my crew, used the porta-potty, then noticed that Kelly hadn’t arrived yet despite being close behind me. As I left the park, Kelly was coming in hot and said that she missed the turn into the park.

My next stop was Dot’s tavern (mile 35) before turning around and doing it all again! I had my music jamming and was so excited to finally get to see Albrey as she had just made the trip up! After a quick turn around at Dot’s I ran back to Belleville (mile 39) and got to pick Albrey up as my pacer! I had had another pacer planned but family circumstances changed plans and he wasn’t able to come up so Albrey said she was down to pace me the whole 62 miles from Belleville and back! And in a pink tutu and fairy wings at that!

I was hot and I was starting to hurt pretty good. I didn’t want to take any ibuprofen until it cooled off and I could move faster, so we decided to take it easy back to the Tunnel Rd Aid Station (43) where I would take my meds and be ready to run on the other side of the detour. About a mile or so out from the Aid Station I got a strong case of the downtown pushdowns and didn’t think I could make it! I practically pushed Albrey out of my way as I ran into the porta potty. I was feeling much better after that release and tackled the detour. I started moving pretty decently again as the sun went down and I continued on my journey south.

I grabbed my headlamp at Monticello (49) and at Monroe (60) I grabbed a can of cold brew. Once I had chugged that I felt like I was on top of the world and I started flying! I was running so fast on my run intervals that Albrey told me to slow down so I wouldn’t blow up! On the way to the Orangeville Aid Station (70) there is a menu posted and you can order ahead for a late-night dinner. I ordered a cheeseburger. When I arrived, Josh the Aid Station Chef said I was way ahead of schedule but he had it cooking! I did what I needed to do then headed back north to the finish.

It had started to get cold (low was in the 50’s in August) and I was shivering when I left. But I didn’t want to turn back around to get my long sleeve so I started my walk/run again. I lost a bit of the pep in my step but kept up with the 2:1 run/walk. Within a few miles the wheels fell off. By the time I hit Monroe (80), I was suffering, but I had another cold brew waiting for me! I laid down for a few minutes while bacon was cooked for me and sipped on my cold brew. I drank the rest as we walked to the warm park bathroom a little way down the trail. Unfortunately, the magic of the cold brew only worked once and the sleepies had ahold of me. At Gutzmer (88), I laid down to try to take a nap but it wasn’t in the cards. So sleepy walking was the way for the rest of it.

Soon enough I reached Monticello (mile 91) and had decided that I had too much of my shoes, so I sat down to change into my sandals. I pulled off my socks and shoes to find a few blisters but nothing too crazy. I let my feet dry a bit and popped a blister that wasn’t going to play well with my sandal straps. I tried eating some pickles but everything was tasting terrible at this point and my anti-nausea tactics weren’t working anymore, so it was time to shuffle down the trail and finish!

Within a half mile of leaving the aid station I was having regrets about wearing sandals but I resigned myself to it. I was very sleepy and getting hot again. At one-point Albrey and I had a whole conversation while I slept! Albrey had gotten a little dark herself after over 50 miles (want to trip that marathon runner? :D), but took some ibuprofen and pulled out of it and cheered me down the trail. The tunnel detour was pure hot sunny hilly torture, but I was so excited to get back to the Tunnel Road Aid Station and be on my last 3.8 miles to the finish! Time slowed and this became the longest 3.8 miles of the race. I counted down by half miles and asked a million times if we were there yet. Eventually I made it, running into the finish line to get that big beautiful buckle that I had worked so hard for! I had knocked 3 hours off of my 100-mile PR with a time of 31:31.

At the finish line was a couch, and Albrey and I hung out on it while I shoved some pizza in my face. I went back to the AirBNB to shower and nap. When I woke up, I found out that Kelly was 3 miles from the finish so I had Lisa come pick me up and I was able to be there for her finish. I am so proud of her!

This was such a wonderful year of training and running with friends. I’m so happy it culminated in this time on the trail together. Thanks to Kelly for pushing me to do this, to Albrey for being along for the ride on training runs and for pacing me for 62 miles (crazy!), and to Lisa and Nicole for crewing us! Thank you to everybody that texted encouragement or chatted with me on the trail! I couldn’t have done this alone, and the best thing about the Ultrarunning community, is that I don’t have to. I love you all!