HURT 100 Race Report – Tony Clark

I will start by saying that this race was the toughest thing I have
probably ever done up to this point in my life. For those of you who
do not know, it is a 20-mile course ran on the trails of a rain
forest about a rocks throw away from downtown Honolulu. With a 6am
start and having laid on the beach for 2 days prior, it was safe to
say that I was more than rested. Kyle Amos and I ran every inch of
this race together, but I will just give you my perspective and race
thoughts, I am sure Kyle will have a lot to say as well.

Loop 1 - You learn real damn quick what this race is about, not more
than a quarter mile in the race you start a climb that took somewhere
between 15 and 20 minutes on fresh legs. This climb showed you right
a way what was in store. Huge rocks that had to be climbed over,
roots that completely covered the ground, and the ever present
moisture of the rainforest that had everything slippery the entire
race. We managed fairly well through this section and then you begin
to skirt around the mountains and make your way to the top. Not to
bad so far, then the decent to the first aid station starts, a never
ending downhill of switchbacks covered with rock and roots. Quads did
well and we soon found ourselves at the aid station, quick refill of
fluids and gone. Now we had to climb back up that set of switchbacks
which still was no sweat this early in the race, making really good
time we found ourselves at the top and made our turn that lead us to
aid station 2. At this point we are on top of the mountain and
cruising down at a pretty good speed, talking a lot and enjoying the
views, then we discovered this nice downhill one local runner
called "the spine". We would learn to really hate the spine later.
Running down the spine was tricky, it was very very steep, and
dropped off to nowhere on both sides if you lost control. At the
bottom of the spine, we continued downhill with occasional rolling
hills in between. The course at this point got even more technical
and if you looked up for a second, you were going down. There were 3
or 4 ropes at different points anchored in mountain to assist you in
the controlled free fall we were calling running. At the bottom of
the monster downhill they had a rope anchored on both sides to assist
in our river crossing and then we were at aid station 2. No big stop
here, just fluids, grazed at the table a bit and outta there. Now
back up that enormous hill we just cruised down. I really do not
remember having any issues at this point still, the legs were great
and we were just cruising. Finally got back to the spine and found
out it was just as hard to go up it as it was to go down. Once at the
top we made our way back to the turn off and started back to the
start finish area. This section was super technical at points, but we
power walked well when we could not run. This leg of the race was
basically rolling constantly and then a major downhill to get you
back down the mountain. And wham!!!! 1 loop done. Met Angel at the
start finish, not a lot of changes, changed to a dry shirt, reloaded
my snacks, which were honey stingers and Twix minis, filled the
fluids and we were out.

Loop 2- Starting to get very hot for two guys who just came from 10
degrees a week earlier. It reached high 70's, but felt much worse.
That first climb felt a little longer for some reason, but we took it
steady and before you knew it we were at the top. Ran through all the
technical stuff and started the monster switchbacks, this is where I
started to seriously get hot. A lot of this was exposed and the sun
was cooking me, I drained my water bottles over a mile from the aid
station. Finally, get to the aid station, slammed 2 or 3 cups of
water, refilled my bottles reloaded the snacks, had a bag of milky
ways here, put ice in my bandana around my neck, aid station crew
gave me two ice pops sickles and we ate those walking out of the aid
station. The next leg just about mentally dropped me, from aid
station 1 to 2 is the shortest leg but for me was the toughest. Going
back up those switchbacks in the heat of the day was now really rough
on me, I developed a massive headache and was just bummed out in
general, knowing I was on the verge of a major bonk I just kept my
head down and pushed. Before I knew it, we were about a mile out of
aid station 2 and I did not know if in my current condition I would
be able to keep pace with Kyle. We talked about it and decided we
would just see how we felt coming out of the next aid station. I took
about 4 or 5 minutes drank water, ate a cup of romen noodles and a
bunch of fresh fruit and I was a new man. From this point on, the
discussion of us splitting in this race was never again brought up;
we were going to push through this thing together. We climbed back up
the spine, a little slower every time, but forward movement is what
matters. Next thing I knew we were back at the start finish, 2 down
and 3 to go. We had to get our night stuff ready, it was getting
ready to get dark, we loaded up lights and water, refilled my snack
pouch and changed my shirt and socks this time. Angel found a blood
blister about the size of a dime on my foot, popped it and I was good
to go.

Loop 3 – That first climb was a lot cooler this time and by the time
we reached the top the sun was fading and Kyle and I both found new
life with the falling heat. We found a sweet groove and just kept
with it, by this point in the race we knew the course well enough to
know where we were walking, where was a good spot to eat and where we
could run. By the time we got down the switchbacks it was dark and I
mean super dark in that rain forest. We both sat for about 5 to 8
minutes and this is where we really began to eat a lot to maintain
through the night. This is where I was introduced to potato soup with
hot dogs cut up in it. I ate two full cups of this awesome chow,
refilled water, refilled snacks and slammed a red bull and we were
out. Feeling like a million bucks, we talked the whole way up the
switchback climb, reaching the spine and taking caution going down it
we soon found ourselves crossing the river and into aid station 2.
Here we both sat back down, I ate 2 full cups of romen noodles, fresh
fruit and slammed a red bull. Refilled the snack pouch with quite a
bit more this time, I was finding myself really burning off the food
quick at this point, filled fluids and we were gone. Making our way
back up the spine we now knew we were over half way and mentally for
me the hard part was over, it was my feet I was concerned with, I was
feeling another hot spot and wanting to check it out. We climbed the
spine a little slower again, but made it nonetheless and started the
tricky traverse to the start finish in the dark. Making with little
or no problem, we cruised in and loop 3 was done. First thing I did
was ask Angel for food and asked her to investigate my feet. She got
me some very awesome chicken noodle soup and a doctor at the aid
station found my feet first. He broke out the draining needle and
went to work, draining fluid wherever he found it and wrapped it back
up. Angel grabbed me fresh socks and shirt reloaded my snack pack,
and fluids, slammed a red bull and we were out.

Loop 4 – Nothing really changed from loop 3 to 4 for me, we made the
first big climb and cruised into aid station 1, took a little more
time to eat, and of course I had to crush 2 more big cups of potato
soup and hot dogs. I also added some chocolate chip cookies to my
diet and downed another red bull. Kyle and I were still really
feeling great and talking to each other on the climbs, they we flying
right by, next thing I know we are at aid station 2 already. I of
course had another red bull, ate soup and refilled the water and
snacks. At this point, I realize we have one leg left on 4 and we are
on the final loop. We stayed true to our consistency and kept on
climbing, making it up the spine for the 4th time, we stopped at the
top and there was a look out bench. We changed out batteries in our
headlamps and handhelds and enjoyed the view for a sec, and then it
we were off. The sun was starting to slowly rise toward the end of
this last leg. I realized that I was burning through food faster than
I could eat it now. We both decided that our last stop at the start
finish we needed to eat well and prepare ourselves for the sun coming
back up. Once I reached the start finish, I ate a lot of romen
noodles and a bunch of fruit. Angel reloaded my snacks with all I
could hold and gave me a red bull. Angel had laid out a fresh pair of
shorts, a shirt and socks for me, this is just what I needed, fresh
clothes for the final loop and they felt great, 80-mile shorts start
to smell a little funky.

Loop 5- I left feeling great knowing that this was the last time I
would climb these hills. We made it to the top of the first one with
no problem and we were both happy that was the last time. I remember
noticing I could not keep my energy up anymore, I could not eat
enough food. W made it to aid station 1 just in time, I was really
starting to feel like crap and I was out of food and water. The aid
station had pigs in a blanket and I ate 2 or 3 of those, had a cup of
potato soup and hot dogs, Angel met me at this aid station for the
last loop and helped me refill all the bottles and food and we were
gone. We didn't even make it up the switchbacks and I was starving. I
had 12 Twix mini's which are 100calories a piece, I ate 12 of them at
the top of the spine and in the next 30mins, I was starving again. At
this point, my feet were killing me and I was hungry and tired. We
stumbled into aid station 2 and by the look on Angels face, I knew I
was fading fast. She got me soup and romen, I ate fruit and the aid
station made breakfast burritos. Refilled all the bottles and snacks
pack, drank 2 RED BULLS this time for a little extra kick and hoped
for the best. Kyle and I tried to talk as much as possible on the
climb up, but we were both getting worked over. We finally made it to
the to of the spine and we could smell home. The last 3 miles were
probably the worst 3 miles my feet have ever endured in a race. Every
footstep I felt my blisters rubbing and every downhill they felt
worse. I was pretty much walking on eggshells at this point and
trying to move forward. Before I knew it we crossed the bridge and we
were done. They had a sign set up you had to go touch, we walked to
it and touched it at the same time and then plopped in our chairs and
relaxed. Angel of course went way beyond the call of duty and washed
my feet and legs for me, then helped me wobble to the bathroom and
change clothes. What a day and what a race!!!!! 31hours and 48
minutes later we had conquered the HURT 100.