IMTUF 100 Race Report
We had a race! When was the last time I was on start line and in person race with other competitors?
Answer: November 2019 at TNF 50.
So it’s almost been 10 months since I lined up with friends both old and new. Cray cray.
Well, let’s dive into the Race Report.
First and foremost, I’ll skip the whole lead up to the race as my taper was pretty standard. You can see my strava for what I did (https://www.strava.com/athletes/4815645).
Okay, so all was pretty good until all my crew bailed on me due to life circumstances 2 days before the race. I just rolled with the unexpected. Not to mention the crazy wildfires burning all over the West Coast, and within a few miles from my parent’s house in Vancouver, WA, I was definitely ready to race and release all this built up anxiety and stress.
Thankfully, my good friend, Eric Yan was running the race as well so we planned on driving out to Idaho together.
It was approximately an 8 hour drive from Portland and we made the drive Friday morning. Once we made it to the border, we took a pit stop in Weiser the first town Idaho. We then had another unexpected event happen. I won’t go too much into details but if you want to know, ask me in a message or in person.
After dealing with the BS, we made our way to McCall and Jug Mountain Ranch where the race was being held for runner check in/ camping for the weekend.
Check in was simple, socially distant and safe with all the Covid protocols.
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| Bib #45. All photos taken by me unless otherwise stated |
Eric and I then set up camp, we went for an easy 30 minute shake out and then took a pre-race ice bath in the creek before having dinner and shutting it down around 9pm.
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| Camp site |
Race Morning:
Woke up a few times in the middle of the night cause I had to use the restroom. Was a little too hydrated but was fully up at 4:45am to eat and do last minute checks on gear.
By the time I knew it it was 5:57am and I had to take a dump. Didn’t manage to use the restroom as I was starting in Wave 1, so I ran over to the start line and off we went to the countdown of 3...2...1.
The 100 mile journey begins. My pack isn’t even clipped on. I didn’t have my headlamp on. I was so disorganized and flustered but let the leaders take off. The real race wouldn’t start till mile 80.
So I got all my stuff secure and was then feeling chipper. Got to catch up with Yassine Diboun, Ryan Kaiser, Zach King during the first few miles while just trying to keep it relaxed and chill.
Then around mile 2.75 I rip off my gloves and I lose my HURT 100 bracelet and also one of my gloves that connects to my LEKI trekking poles. I was irked and went back to look for it for a minute or two before saying screw it and continuing on. If someone would find it later on great and if not, it’s just a glove and a bracelet that has some sentiment to me.
I again then refocused and started to get into my flow state. Staying really calm and patiently chipping away at the miles.
The first climb up Jughandle Mountain was stunning. It was a lovely sunrise. The climb was about 4000 feet and you could see the stunning peaks we’d be running on throughout the day.
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| Sunrise on Jughandle |
Dakota Jones caught up to me around this point going through a Boulder field on a fun descent down to the aid station.
I never knew my place but I figured from the headlamps ahead of me I was around top 20 by the first aid station at mile 12 (Louie Lake).
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| Photo by Martha Schoppe |
Stomach from the morning finally needed to be relieved so I popped off the trail after and let Dakota go thinking I’d see him later but he would end up smashing the race and placing second behind Nosaj Schlarb.
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| Fall Foliage! |
Going to aid station 2 (Lake Fork #1) was a fun downhill and I just bopped. Probably the most runnable section of the race. I again kept it very relaxed. Didn’t want to blow my quads out early. Masazumi and I ran quite a bit of this section together as well as a few other folks that tagged along.
About 21 miles into the race, I was now starting to feel warmed up. Legs felt smooth. I ate well at the aid station and then was out pretty quick onto South Crestline. A couple miles of forest road before we turn uphill for a 3000 foot climb. Super stunning trail with massive rocks and epic views.
Caught Anthony Jacobs in this section and we made our way down to the aid at mile 30. Not sure what I did here but I think I again had a smooth transition, downed a coconut water, had some coke and some other snack before heading up Crestline Trail for a big 17 mile section.
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Big rocks and epic views! WOW!
Prior to the race, the RD, Jeremy said their might be an unofficial water stop and some locals with some goats would be halfway up the mountain. This section was definitely brutal. It was in the heat of the day and this is where most of the carnage occurred. Thankfully I brought my filter and used it at every water source possible and dipped my hat/buff in to keep my body cool. I didn’t have any heat related issues or dehydration *whoop whoop* for self reliance.
Masa and I worked together during this section and we got to the unofficial water stop where goats were hanging out with the owners. They were so cute. Got a few photos while they licked the salt off our legs.
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| Masa and I with one of the four goats. Pic: Irene Saphra |
After refueling with some mambas/hi chews, we were on our way to aid station #4, North Crestline at mile ~47. In that 17 mile section, we climbed about another 4000 feet and descended another 2600 feet. Brutal but I was able to preserve. Caught a couple folks by the time I reached the aid and was having a jolly good time.
Shoved tons of watermelon and coke in my mouth as well as some chips and then took off down the nice forest road to start my hunting.
Not too eventful in this section besides getting passed by a 4wheeler that had some passengers that dropped from the race. They called out my name and before I knew who it was, Avery Collins and Ryan Kaiser popped there heads out and said “good luck and to keep it up.”
Made it down the forest road and then this river crossing before the next aid station at 55.5, Upper Payette Lake. At this point my watch was 3-4 miles more than what was said. I knew this course was long, I just didn’t know how long for sure given some previous runner’s experience and this being a new “SuperCourse”.
I eventually got to UPL and was really happy to see a familiar face. It was Trevor Fuchs and Luke Garten.
Caught up briefly with Trevor before he decided to drop from a rough day.
Luke took off as I was changing socks and eating, then Masa came in behind me.
After leaving this aid, Luke comes trotting back towards me and I was confused. He said he was off course. I look at my watch, we definitely missed the slight left uphill. A volunteer came running as we were making our way back apologizing for not being where he was supposed to be and directed us up to the road.
Masa passed us during the brief snafu but we then all three worked together for the next 11ish miles to aid station 6, Duck Lake at mile 65.5 bit more like ~69 for me according to my watch.
Sun was setting at this point and it was nice being able to work together to get through the next section. I was still very fresh. Legs felt solid and quads still intact.
After Duck Lake, it was the shortest section with about 5 miles to Snowslide Aid Station at race distance 70 (not really). Luke and I dropped Masa on the downhill during this forest road portion and I wouldn’t see Masa till the finish.
Luke and I then left Snowslide to head back to Lake Fork for a second time. I was ready to for the final 50+KM. Legs still in decent shape for having run 70+ miles up to that point.
Going back up and over to Lake Fork #2, the climb was something I really looked forward to. It was a ~11.1 mile section with ~2400ft climb in 2.5 miles before a choppy ~9 miles, 2800ft downhill to the aid. Luke and I just grinded. We would trade off a few times but we kept it honest in our effort. Eventually we made it to Lake Fork seeing the Lead women, Emily Hawgood from Zimbabwe for the first time and Bentley Reghlr with his pacer. My hamstring started to tighten up and I was kinda concerned. I definitely wanted to keep pushing hard but was worried if I’d strain it. I had to keep pushing know how close the next group of runners were to us.
After leaving Lake Fork replenished with Luke, a friend from Golden, David Hoff came up on us and passed. I went with David and dropped Luke as he was cramping.
Worked briefly with David and chatted with him as we were making our way up the last real mountain the ~11.9 mile section to Boulder Lakes aid station. This section I was really looking forward too knowing I had about 25 ish miles left and was smelling the barn. This part had a ~3800 ft climb in 5 miles before a “lovely” 6.9 mile TUF footing descent to the aid. David and I caught Bentley and Emily on the climb who were both bonking. Emily was dry heaving and we checked on her before we passed briefly. Then David took off on the descent and I wouldn’t see David till the finish.
It was quite comical for a bit as I thought Emily was Ruth Croft from behind and since they both are sponsored by Scott Running. Emily and I had a good laugh. I then worked with Bentley and Emily and their pacers to get to Boulder Lakes aid station. We were all cursing Jeremy’s name or complaining in some way or another, saying how this was some sadistic joke for the “trail” we were traversing.
Finally we made it down to the aid at mile ~92... more like 98 for me. Stocked up for the final push to the finish. The FINAL 10 miles. Bentley headed out before me and Emily but we caught up to him as he was having it really rough and then Emily with her pacer took off like a deer in headlights. It was a grind and rolling downhill with a few short punchy climbs back to Jug Mountain Ranch. I was so dusty and my nose so dry from the wildfire smoke I blew my nose too hard and got a nose bleed. Ugh you got to be kidding me. I didn’t stop. I kept going and seeing the signs that were put out saying the remaining miles felt torturous. Also thrown in for some extra feet pain were two more stream/ water crossings before the finish just in case your feet weren’t trenchy or trashed enough.
I tried to give it all I had with my hamstring feeling like complete crap but quads still intact but there wasn’t enough miles, Emily would end up 6th and I chased hard but would finish about 5 minutes after her. Done, dusty, bloody I crossed the line in 25:14:16 with 108.1 miles.
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| DONE! ✊ pic by Yoshi Fujioka |
Mind F*ucking Blown! What a unreal day in the Payette National Forest in the McCall Mountains.
Congratulations to everyone who started this monster “SUPERCOURSE”. Way to go Nasaj Schlarb, Dakota Jones and Richard Lockwood for the men’s podium.
Thank you to everyone who helped put on this race. Thank you to everyone involved in making this year’s IMTUF 100 possible. Thank you to masochist Race Directors who I’m now friends with Brandi & Jeremy Humphrery. Major thank you to you both for putting out such a wonderful race and allowing us to see how beautiful McCall is in a safe Covid environment.
Thank you to all the race volunteers that kept us safe as well and keeping us moving by kicking us out of aid stations! We couldn’t do this stuff without you and I know all of us runners are deeply appreciative of your time and help.
Thank you to Jug Mountain Ranch for allowing us to use their property to camp and for the race venue. Super amazing but hopefully next year we can have the race at the original start line, Burgdorf Hot Spring so we can soak post race!
Finally I couldn’t do this without endless support from my family. My mom & dad who I wish were there to watch me. Thank you to my loving siblings, Angie, and Andrew & their significant others, Matt and Elizabeth for their positive energy I felt them cheering from afar.
Endless thanks to so many friends who have been by my side from day 1. Thank you, Stefanie & Mitchell Flippin, Ash Matthews, Mary Beth Skylis, Keaton Spiller, Ben Christly, Andrew Thomas, Alyx Luck, Anna Albriect, Jacqueline Kraft, Zach Kuzma, Travis Lavin, Tara Warren, Jody Sanborn, Eric Yan, Caitlin Alexander, Brian Llamas, Isaac Jennings, Tim Olson and his family and a ton of other folks I could list off.
Thank you to my sponsors Woke Running, Honey Stinger, Suunto, Pure Power CBD, GoFar Shop in Boulder, CO, and my hometown trail family Vantucky Trail Runners in the ‘Couve, WA. THANK YOU FOR HAVING MY BACK.
Peace, Love and happy recovering everyone!
-Anthony
Final Stats:
Miles run: 108.1 miles
Smiles: endless except for the last 15 miles. 😂
Gels: 0
Bars: 20 Lara Bars and 30 Honey Stinger protein Bars
Waffles: 30 Honey Stinger Waffles (variety)
Water: A LOT from streams & filter; THANK YOU, Katadyn!
Coconut water: 7 bottles
Le Croix: 5 cans of Black Cherry
Electrolytes: a mix of Nuun, and Heed at aid stations
Coke: probably about 2-3 Liters
Candy: varieties (Hi-Chew, Mambas, Sour Patch Kids, War Heads)
Gear:
Hat: Bakline Running Original Cap
Buff: Javalina Jundred Buff
Tee: Salomon Sense Tank
Shorts: Patagonia Strider Pro Short 5"
Poles: LEKI
Shoes: TOPO MTN RACER
Socks: Smartwool with toe socks
Pack: Arch Max; RunMindful
Waist Belt: Ultraspire Race Belt
Watch: Suunto 9 Baro
Light: Petzl Nao+ & Tikka+
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