Front Range Ultra Dayze (FRUD) 100M (Race Recap)

Loveland, CO

Saturday, August 31

100 Mile attempt #21

Weather - HOT, sunny

I was the very first person (again) to sign up for Ultraventure Supplement's newest race, the Front Range Ultra Dayze (FRUD) in Loveland, CO. While I love the organization and race directors, this race was basically all the things I do not like. A "looped" course, late start and in the summer. I was unsure of how the race would go without a ton of running since the Summit 200 DNF.

Race morning

I had been helping at packet pick up and with about 15 minutes before the race started I used the bathroom and got some selfies.

Me, Ben, Caolan, Maureen & Lisa

Other than finishing 100 miles, I didn't really have a plan. Ben had signed up last minute and thought he was going to win and/or do really well, so we didn't have any plans to run together at all. I lined up somewhere in the middle. Ben took off pretty quick and I put headphones in and planned to run at least a full loop before beginning my run/walk intervals.

The forecast was for low 90's and I knew it was going to be rough. I spent a bit chatting with Eric, a guy that I met at Happy Camper a few years ago, but he ended up hanging back and said I was going faster than he wanted (which no one ever says). 

I ran the first full 2 miles without walking and then maybe another mile before I started in on  my run/walk intervals. I started with 3 minutes running and 1 minute walking and that worked for a bit. The heat was making me a bit nauseous - and it didn't help that it was full sun! About the only thing that sounded good was watermelon and apple sauce packets. I knew that wasn't going to be enough calories for the day, but I was eating what I could and mainly worrying about just staying hydrated. It was so warm that doing a 2 mile loop meant that I was drinking an entire flask each time, which seemed crazy. I was briefly seeing Ben on an out/back section but we didn't run together at all. Finally, I sent him a message and asked him if he wanted to do a quick happy hour at the camper - Liz, who was doing the 12 hour, opted to join us.

At some point Ben and I did a loop or two together, but he was really struggling with the heat and decided to take a break at some point.  We finally got some relief from the heat when the sun started to set. 

I did more intervals for 3-4 loops and then decided to take a break. Not because I was tired, just because I didn't really feel like being out. I tried to take a nap in the camper but gave up (which again, since I wasn't really tired made sense anyway). Wasted more than an hour. Went out again and did more intervals for 3-4 loops. Back to the camper to try to sleep. I set an alarm for 75 minutes. Got REALLY cold, but did not sleep. Even though I was still awake, I set it again for another 75 minutes, telling myself I would rather finish when the sun came up. Stupid. Since I felt "cold," I first grabbed my new hoodie and figured I would do a loop in that - then of course after a few minutes I got hot. I decided for the next loop that I would try the R1, but same thing. Too hot. Then of course, the sun came up for real and it was a zillion degrees with zero clouds again.

Ben was awake after having taken maybe 8 hours off. He said he wasn't feeling great but he would head over to the start to finish the loop and decide what he wanted to do. I tried to remind him that with the race set up that he could literally walk the rest of the race and still finish. I switched to short sleeve shirt again, and headed out, thinking he would catch up at some point.

Turns out, he decided to drop at 44 miles. UGH, so I was going to have to do the rest of these miles alone. Although, to be fair, I had been doing them alone this whole time (for the most part). I was still doing some intervals, although they were getting shorter and shorter. At one point he did bring me a Ziggi's protein smoothie - and it was DELICIOUS. I had initially hoped to be done by lunch, but with my 4+ hour stop overnight, this was definitely taking forever. It was also a HUGE mistake to not do more miles at night. I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel when I had single digit miles. I switched into my crocs for the last loop because I was getting super tired of wearing shoes. Finally done.

Ben was at the finish line and got some pictures. I can't even remember what I did after finishing, but I think we stuck around to chat for a few minutes before going offsite to a brewery for a beer and food.

Overall Time - 32:31:09
Overall Place - 7/22

Gender Place - 2/8

Garmin Time - 32:31:32 (Run 10:46:22, Walk 1537:38, Idle 6:07:31)

Garmin Distance - 103.14

Elevation Gain - 1,985'

Miles 1-10 - 11:23, 11:33, 12:22, 12:08, 12:15, 11:59, 12:30, 13:19, 12:55, 12:40

Miles 11-20 - 14:36, 13:42, 16:08, 13:02, 15:38, 12:59, 13:42, 16:52, 17:29, 14:58

Miles 21-30 - 17:24, 13:59, 17:56, 14:03, 18:47, 17:39, 46:55, 17:36, 15:39, 13:00

Miles 31-40 - 13:20, 12:41, 14:49, 13:28, 18:26, 14:08, 15:58, 21:00, 16:42, 23:21

Miles 41-50 - 18:25, 23:25, 13:42, 20:49, 13:15, 13:31, 13:38, 15:06, 13:33, 13:17

Miles 51-60 - 13:37, 19:30, 13:29, 16:45, 14:55, 18:51, 16:34, 1:15:38, 16:48, 16:43

Miles 61-70 - 15:19, 15:50, 15:38, 2:37:37, 18:03, 14:22, 15:26, 14:13, 14:41, 16:53

Miles 71-80 - 16:25, 16:31, 23:30, 18:28, 17:57, 16:08, 23:42, 15:52, 27:09, 18:40

Miles 81-90 - 23:51, 18:59, 35:44, 18:16, 19:58, 15:19, 14:52, 14:52, 17:09, 16:00

Miles 91-100 - 21:52, 15:09, 17:21, 15:44, 20:15, 16:22, 17:32, 20:27, 21:44, 22:47

Miles 101-104ish - 20:48, 21:51, 19:17, 17:43

There was one girl who started the 100 mile on Sunday and was running really well, but based on the other finishers, I was actually looking to podium for the females. I had to wait until Monday to confirm, but the fast gal dropped and I got 2nd Female! I hate the coulda would shoulda, but if I hadn't spent so much time in the camper, I definitely could have won this one. But super happy with a 2nd place finish on a horrifically hot day.

Thoughts:

• I still do not like loop courses. I did this race to support the race directors. I will not run it again (unless I do a shorter timed distance), but I will come up and volunteer again. The event itself is fun!
• Good swag! Dry bag and beanie vs. a shirt, although they had them for purchase (both pre-sale and at the event), plus stickers, etc.
• Course was very well marked, never went more than probably 20 feet without seeing a flag and/or reflective. (I did assist with confirming markings were in place before day one of the race.
• Multiple distances for everyone! 200 mile, 100 mile, 100 hour, 72 hour, 48 hour, 24 hour, 12 hour and 6 hour (although the 6 hour will not be back for next year).
• One aid station, with lots of food options.
• Bathroom access on multiple parts of the course.
• Mix of sidewalk and packed dirt with a small section of rocky gravel. Terrain was fine, but man, it is very exposed, so on a sunny day it is HOT HOT HOT.