Jim Garcia on the Mohican 100 Mile Race

Thanks for the congrats. Even those (most of you) who didn't send me any. I am taking the liberty of sending this to anyone who might be remotely interested. And I'd like to thank my Mom and ... I'd like to apologize if this note seems self serving, but up to now I have not had a good luck with 100 milers. Plus I want to brag about my run before before the Western States hype heats up.	And I'd like to thank my Mom
I was really happy with my race. I never even had any of the proverbial bad patches. After about 40 miles I thought I could run sub 16, but just ran too slow on the trails. I thought I could make up time once I hit the roads, but did not have the turnover. Still 16:11:22 is a best by half an hour.	16:11:22 is a best by half an hour.
I feel even better since I did it without crew or pacer. Now I don't have to thank anyone for helping me. The Mohican Trail 100 mile race takes place in and around the Mohican State Forest in central Ohio. The course is hilly, but not mountainous. The trails are a mix of woodsy paths, jeep roads and horse trails. There are a few stream crossings and a few miles of mud. There is 11 miles of roads (mostly dirt), 66 miles of trails (a couple miles of roads in there), then 23 miles of roads. There are a few loops, some of which one repeats. The last 20 miles are mostly paved. Courteney Campbell had told me the course record was soft. I learned that Clifton had broken it a week after breaking the CR at *Laurel Highlands 70 miler* a couple of years ago. Someone from the race told me Eric was toast halfway through that year. I figured I could go under the CR if things went well, but still might lose.	Mohican State Forest in central Ohio
Jonathan Strayer (5:38 50-miler, I think) and Mark Godale (USA 100 km Team, 2nd at the 100 km Nationals this year) were in attendance and kept things really interesting. Former 2-time winners John Geesler (96 24-hr national champ) and Terry Hawk, plus Steve Godale were also there if we cracked.
Mark led by about a minute through 33, but slowed up after 36. Jonathan and I played tag the whole day. Jonathan put me away temporarily at 48, but then bonked badly. I passed him at 60 and put 12 minutes on him by 67.5, but he hung tough the rest of the way finishing in 16:49. My race strategy was to run as comfortably as possible til the road section at mile 78, then try to hold pace.	I passed him at 60
My diet: In general, I ate more food and drank more straight water than in previous races. I did not feel as bloated as I did on my other races. I tried to eat 100 calories of something at each aid station (every 5 miles give or take a bit) This included banana, Zone bar, beans, watermelon, cantalope, bagel, PBJ sandwich. Sometimes I had to carry it and eat it over the next mile. At the aid station I drank a cup of gatorade early on and Pepsi later on. If I had a drop bag, I drank the sports drink I packed (CLIP or Carbo-Fuel) (Note that covered bridge aid station was at 22.5, 32.5, 36.5, 57.5 and 67.5. I also had a drop bag at 88.
I got excellent help from the volunteers. I dumped the contents of my bag all over the place, retrieved what I wanted, and they cleaned up after me.) I carried a 22 oz water bottle and drank that in between. I had the volunteers add ice when they could. I started off with baked beans, a roll and Metabolol before the start and carried 8 oz of Met with me. At 32, 57.5 and 88 I had a box of Resource drink (similar to Ensure) It is a quick 250 calories. Later on I did a GU halfway between stations. I popped a K-Kap every 1.5-2 hours. Took four 200 mg ibuprofin pills during the race. I dumped my butt pack and ran without it whenever I could, as I felt a lot better without the slight added weight on my hips. This was a first for me since I swore that carrying bottles in my hands would be more tiresome.	I got excellent help from the volunteers
I didn't get any blisters. I did have a hot spot with first pair of shoes. No purple toes. No quad pain. A bit of knee pain. I had dozens of small scratches on my legs and arms from brambles. My shoes: 0-22.5 Etonic 42K with doctored insoles 22.5-57.5 Reebok Inferno with orthotics 57.5-88.3 Asics DS trainers with doctored insoles 88.3-100 Nike Alpha (zoom air) with Sorbothane insoles. All shoes felt dead after 20 miles in them. All shoes are used, but not used up. Well, that's the story. Pretty boring, huh?	garcia@ll.mit.edu garcia100@erols.com