Panthers and Gators and Bears... Oh My... The Everglades Ultras Running Experience

My first ultra in Florida, the 3rd Annual Everglades Ultras 50 Mile in the absolutely stunning Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, would prove to be more challenging that I had initially anticipated.  I mean how bad could it be- Florida is flat and well in February the temps should be ideal for running... ah ha this is where I was wrong-oh so wrong-but I will get to that in a little bit...

I slowly made my way up from the keys with Rippin', my trusted travel partner, on Friday and headed to the Race Headquarters for the briefing and packet pickup. The briefing was pretty informative in terms of what would happen the next day really explaining everything from the shuttle ride to the start, the aid stations, and the involvement of the park rangers (who were absolutely awesome) on the course and general course conditions to include cap rock and Cypress Knees.  The RD briefed us that there were some accommodations made so we wouldn't get wet or muddy really, and having run most of my races in the mid-west, West Virginia and Virginia the thought of making cut around for the muddy areas and 2x6 bridges across standing water seemed a little funny... but with the looming threat of the gators I held my giggles... Rippin' was a pretty big hit at the race brief- even Dennis the Volunteer Coordinator came up to pet him, and some others were taking pictures, but it was time to roll to the motel.

Yes, you caught that correctly, motel, Conty's Motel in South Naples- a quaint little place, and a reminder of "old Florida" and well it was pretty much dirt cheap and dog friendly. A winner in my book. Check-in, headed to Publix for some staples, then to Carrabba's to pick up dinner... a little Carrabba's Pasta and some cheap wine for dinner, and a little race prep before turning in early... everything from picking out the outfit (cute and functional), head wear, headlamp, sock and shoes to solving the age old issue of Butter Chamois coming in an enormous bottle... my ingenious solution- using a travel hand sanitizer bottle emptied, dried and filled with the magic cream- which was a life saver during the race.

Conty's Motel...

nothing like a jerry-rigged motel shower head to inspire genius 

The morning of the race I got up at about 3am to get my body going, ate a little breakfast and of course a walk for Rippin', as he was going to endure a long day sleeping and watching TV in the wonderfully air conditioned room... Hopped in Juan-Tiguan and headed to the park, it was an extremely foggy morning, not particularly cool with the temperature somewhere in the high 60s. Driving along Tamiami Trail eating a almond butter, nutella and banana croissant, I saw some glowing eyes ahead and promptly slowed, only to find a panther trying to make its way across the road. Super cool start to the day...

Making my way to the park, and the Race HQs, I gathered my stuff and got on the bus, meeting Debbie and Amanda, two girls from Key West sporting pigtail braids as well.  After a quick roll call we headed out on the bumpy road to the start- about 3-4 miles or so down the road, where we got another brief by the Race Director, Bob Becker, and then it was off the bus and ready for the start...

Story time with the Bus Driver

Getting ready to start

We were off... and I was running a little too fast- so I made an effort to slow my pace down.  I had a plan- go out at about 12min pace and then work from there and at this point knowing that it was going to get hot, I slowed myself down.  The goal of the race was to run steady, not bonk, and be able to run on Sunday, going out too fast could ruin my chances at achieving my goal. The first 10 miles went by quickly, especially since the part of the park we were running in was absolutely stunning...and it was still relatively cool...

Happy, Alone and Unafraid

the trail early on...

I managed to get myself back on pace, and I was moving through the aid stations pretty well; high-fiving the volunteers, taking in some coke, oranges, banana and getting ice water! At this point I was managing my fluids and electrolytes really well, I hit about 18 miles or so, and had been playing yo-yo with Debbie and Amanda (the Keys Girls) but they would ultimately pull away from me a little shy of 19 as I peeled off to use the "facilities" and by mile 20, it was starting to get hot... and the beloved shade was completely gone and I rolled into the next aid station-grabbed a sandwich, coke, oranges, banana, ice and water... and I was sure to add only moderate the amount of ice, as I had learned the insulation sleeve in the Nathan pack was so effective the ice wasn't melting fast enough!

How the girls in the Keys roll..

a little cap rock hidden under the grass

The next aid station was mile 25ish- or halfway- known as Gate 19, I was steady getting there, still rolling at about 12min pace, and right on target for a little over a 10 hour finish, but there was no shade- and did I tell you it was getting hot... so rolling into the aid station I was thrilled to see people, there were other runners- they were all looking a little rough from the heat, and all I really wanted was coke, some oranges and some more ice on my back in my sports bra... now I am not a picky runner, and I am pretty self sufficient, and I love volunteers but after asking for some cut oranges I was handed a knife... really- well I rolled with it- praying that my race wasn't about to end because I cut off a finger... so I cut a whole orange... one guy remarked that he was surprised at my dexterity... of course this was in line with the volunteers handing me full cans of coke- and having to pour it in a cup... god love them- but it ate a lot of time at aid stations... but back to the race- so I was off- eating away and speed walking like a champ to digest, and just when I start running look left... gator in the water... the cold cold water- damn even the gators know its too hot....

Gator sighting and not the dead one getting eaten by vultures

So after that I started running, with a walk break about every 15 minutes or so, and it was getting hot for sure at this point, and alone again I had to put an earbud in for a little musical motivation. Electrolyte and water intake was balanced and I was moving smoothly and feeling strong and not particularly overheated, rolled by an unmanned aid station and grabbed some ice-should have grabbed water-stupid, stupid, stupid.... but I was moving and feeling good.  I rolled up on Sam from the Bay Area, he was having some issues with the heat, and well I needed some motivation and company, so we started a run/walk movement keeping about a 13min pace, and at about a mile out from the next aid station I ran out of water- but luckily there was a ranger on a gator(the vehicle, not the animal) and he was kind enough to give us a little bit to keep us going strong to the aid station (Dan House Prairie) and we ate a little time but there was a real port-a-potty and we needed ice, water, coke, fruit, and etc...

Sam and Erin Selfie- remarking how fricken' hot it is..

We rolled out behind the volunteer gator, and were informed there was no to little shade for the rest of the course... 20 more miles of baking sun...yikes...  

Coming out of the Dan House Prairie AS

So we continued our Run/Walk strategy, and I was doing a little better than Sam at this point, he was having stomach issues-so I shared some Gin-Gins with him, and we kept moving, passing a couple of points of water caches, and Sam told me to move ahead and I did, although a little worried about my new friend...  It was about four miles to the Four Stakes Prairie Aid Station at mile 38ish where I ran into Hans (a 73 year old beast also from the bay area).  Four Stakes-Best Aid Station on the course by far.  I got cup of coke, orange slices, a nice man took my pack, a nice lady gave me salted potatoes (only ones on the course) and this was a huge morale booster as I hadn't seen any Pringles on the course- a normal ultra staple... and a lady on a bike who put an ample amount of ice down the back of my bra... so awesome... and I was off but not before handing a handful of Gin-Gins to a volunteer to give to Sam. I rolled over the timing mat (yes in the middle of nowhere) and was off to the next AS where I would be in single digits. I could see people in front of me... at this point it was managing body temperature and making sure all miles were under 14min on a walk-run plan.... 

somewhere around the mid 30 miles- just like the Serengeti and damn near as hot... 

I hit mile 40 and I was on target for about a 11:30 finish, but I was feeling pretty good, all systems were working- I was peeing clear, and about every 90 mins- annoying but happy to know I was not going to die. Then I hit the Mud Tram Aid Station, and more runners- Debbie, Amanda, Hans and two other guys I didn't know... but would run with one of them in the final stretches.... I got my standard fill up, and I was so excited to be at single digits to the finish, and well the volunteers gave some high-fives and we snapped a picture before headed on the last 9ish miles... they may have thought I was crazy and/or delirious...

Mud Tram AS and volunteers- 9ish to go...

So it was 1.5 miles down the tram trail- which was somewhat shaded, filled with Cypress knees, but  shaded... so I rocked on until I hit James Scenic Road- a dirt/gravel road with pot holes... It was about 8 miles to the finish, and I would bounce back and forth with Debbie and Amanda until about a mile to go, when they would pull away... I handed out some more Gin-Gins and made my way to the finish after a couple more Aid Stations- the lady on the bike was at one of them- I asked her for the ice in the bra service-she obliged- I grabbed a cup of coke and some orange slices and rolled out... There was an aid station four miles out- I chose not to stop- just needed to head in... so I kept a walk/run rhythm for the next hour and finish in 11:22, and 22nd of 36 overall...

I quick changed out of my soaked clothing, drank my magic elixir Ultragen post-run recovery drink,  grabbed a cheese burger while sitting through the awards ceremony, and then headed back to the motel quickly after noticing that my legs had broken out in hives- still not sure from what- but didn't get a chance to thank the RD and Volunteer Coordinator...

The hives drove a midnight trip to the Walgreens... and to the only open drive-thru at McD's for a snack wrap before getting back to sleep and heading back to the Keys in the morning. Driving down Tamiami Trail we stopped to check out the Skunk Ape research center (big foot of the Everglades) and the Clyde Butcher Gallery in Big Cypress....

Headed to the Keys with Rippin' post-race

Got home- and ran 5 miles after the sun went down... Mission Accomplished!

Next Up: Florida Ultra #2  Dances with Dirt Green Swamp 50 Miler on 8 March in Dade City, FL... excited to head to the Tampa area and see me old roomie, other half of E-Squared, and running buddy, Elise!