In search of 100 miles - 3 Days at the Fair

There’s a scene toward the end of the movie, Pretty Woman, where the character named Kit asks some other hooker, “Do you have a goal? Cuz you gotta have a goal.”

I’ve had a goal that I set for myself two years ago. I wanted to run/walk 100 miles.

Sound crazy? To many this sounds like a crazy goal. I mean why run when you can drive a car. That’s what most people say. One guy I met this weekend even said, “That’s crazy. I drive my golf cart to the mailbox.”

Is it crazy? Maybe.

Is it attainable? Absolutely.

Will it hurt? Like hell!

Is it worth it? Beyond anything you can imagine.

Months ago, I signed up for a race called 3 Days at the Fair 3 Days at the Fair. You have the option of choosing pretty much any time limit you want to run; from 12 hours to 144 hours. Yes, that’s SIX days. And people do it! I went with the 72 hours or 3-day version. You read that correctly.

This weekend, with my SUV packed to the gills with food, fluids, canopy, chairs, blankets, running gear and a close friend for support I set off to attack my goal at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ.

Our home for the next 72 hours.

We arrived at the fairgrounds at about 7:30 AM on Thursday where we parked our car for the next almost 72 hours and setup our campsite. One of many at what I call tent city.

We get all unpacked and ready and at 8 AM I check in. This year’s swag was a rain jacket. I’m thinking the race director knew something we didn’t when he had ordered the gear weeks ahead of the actual event. Hmm.

Start time is 9 AM on Thursday for the 72-hour runners.

We are off!



It was a little chilly in the morning but quickly warmed up to the point of stripping down to a t-shirt. The plan for day one was to go 10 miles before taking a break. On my first day I met several people that I would run into again and again over the next three days.




One of Linda's signs.

One of those people would be Linda ( a police officer who loved to push herself) whose tent was across from us and who made these fun signs to make us laugh and keep our spirits up.

Linda and I did a lot of miles together day one. At about midnight I stopped for the day at 32 miles. That’s 15 hours in to the race.

It doesn’t seem like a lot, but remember, we have a lot more one-mile loops on pavement to go.

I started out sleeping night one in a zero-gravity chair then got cold enough to crawl into the back of the SUV and sleep where my support crew and friend, Renee was sleeping. It wasn’t comfortable, but it’s not supposed to be.

Friday morning, I woke up, greased my feet with some Squirrels Nut Butter– yes, it’s a thing and you gotta love the name. I tugged on clean socks and a pair of running shoes and got to 40 miles before 9 AM.

My goal was 40 miles in first 24 hours and I did it. Yea me! It is amazing how a few hours of sleep can refresh and repair the body.

After hitting my goal, I took a shower. The fairgrounds had real bathrooms and showers. After a quick shower where I felt almost human again, I dressed and started day two. On this day, my friend Michele showed up for her 48-hour event. I met Michele at this event last year where I did my first 48-hour run and we kept in contact.

Dead man walking ultra.

New runners show up not with just with fresh legs but with fresh humor. How a runner feels after 50 miles...a skeleton of him or herself.

My goal for my next 24 hours was to hit 75 miles. Could I do it?

At about 6 PM on day two, Renee decided that we needed real food and she left on a mission to get chicken tenders for us and Michele. I did another five miles while Renee ran the errand.

I haven’t eaten chicken tender in years and I swear this was the best - EVER! Either that or I was starving for anything that wasn’t prepackaged.

I was hitting a low point on day two where I wanted to put my feet up longer and not move. Blisters started on my feet and they only got worse. This is the one thing that is the death of my running or walking long distance. Due to a kidney issue (so the doctor thinks), my body pushes all my fluids to my feet, so they swell and then I get blisters and a heat rash. It’s not pretty and hurts like you would not believe. But, I refused to give up.

I was out on my last loops for the evening when the crew of another runner offered me a warm chocolate cookie. Can I just say that it was the best cookie – EVER! Okay, maybe not, but it was the sentiment behind the cookie, the incentive of the cookie, and the lovely gesture that made it special and rewarding.

I got to 65 miles about midnight and hit the sack…or in this case the bedroll in the back of the SUV where Renee had gone and gotten blow up mats that float in the pool to make the back of the SUV a little less hard to lay on. I wasn't picky and I was passed out in five minutes.

Saturday morning dawned beautiful. I got up and hit mile 74 (5 miles more than last year when I did the 48-hour event) just before 9 AM. WOOT! I was shy of my goal by one mile in 48 hours, but I was doing well.

Is it weird that I'm grinning?

The rain set in after 9 AM. Told you the race director knew something in advance. The rain jacket swag came in very handy on Saturday where the weather went from gorgeous cool in morning to drizzle to downpours to drizzle to a break in the late afternoon where there was no rain.

Here’s the funny thing – I love running in the rain. My body loves the rain. It’s cool and refreshing. On what was now my official start of day three I was moving really well in the rain. I took a break every 4 miles to change my socks and shoes out for dry ones. I was running more with the rain than without the rain. And this was after 48 hours. I felt fantastic!

Beware – what goes up, must come down.

How does one dry out shoes and socks during an ultra-running festival? Place the socks and shoes on the floor board of the car and turn the heat up full blast. I was tossing hats, mittens, even jackets down there to dry out and get them warm.

Then the rain stopped. When the rain ceased my feet got irritated again. They were not happy. I was not happy. I probably had more blisters during the rain, but my feet didn’t feel them. Maybe because my feet were wet and numb.

Because I was doing so well we were very excited and all Renee could think about was sleeping in a hotel. I wanted to get done so she could have a warm, comfortable bed. I mean how do you thank a person who blew off her anniversary weekend with her husband, drove 7 hours, and spent the last 48 hours waiting on me, supporting me, doing a lap or two with me.

I pushed myself, so she would have a bed.

Every 4 miles I was taking only 20-minute breaks instead of the 30 to 45 minutes I had planned and that was working the two previous days. I may have pushed a little too much. By late afternoon I hit another downturn. My feet were on fire. Legs felt great, body was doing awesome, but feet screamed, “STOP! STOP!”

I passed our tent and Renee instinctively knew I was not myself. Renee, being the amazing friend she is, tossed on her running shoes and a rain jacket and went in search of me on the course. She found me and did a mile with me until I hit my next break time.

By 8 PM I was mad. Mad at myself for changing the plan. Mad at myself for being mad. Mad because my feet refused to cooperate and because every step was like walking across hot coals and needles all at the same time. TORTURE.

I was no longer capable of running or walking. I was shuffling. For the last 13 miles (that’s a half marathon) I shuffled my way across the black pavement trying to just do 3 mile stretches before taking a break. Almost sixty hours into this event and all I wanted was to sit down in the middle of the road to hell and not get up. I wanted to curl up into a little ball and go to sleep. I was sleep walking anyway so why not.

As a matter of fact I did sit down in the middle of the pavement. But it was to put my socks back on that I had taken off hoping for some relief. Didn't work. As I'm sitting on the wet, cold pavement lacing my shoes up, a car coming from a wedding that took place at the event headed straight for me.

I held up my arms and three other runners who were coming saw the car and made sure they avoided me. Thanks, guys!


Flowers of encouragement.

Every lap there were people out there cheering us on. Offering words and even flowers of encouragement, of support and awe. That was great, but it could not cut into the haze of pain.

With 10 miles left I took a break, changed into what I thought would be my last shoe change and headed off.

Renee, with the help of the people next to us who were there crewing for a 24-hour runner had packed up the car. She was ready, and I was dragging.

Just when you think it can’t get worse; it can!

I wanted to sit, put my face in my hands and weep. Oh, yes, there were tears. You just couldn’t see them because of the drizzle.

Was I nuts? Why did I think I could do this? I will NEVER try this again.



Every time I passed the turn to the pallet bridge over a puddle and I had to lift my legs I cringed and wanted to yell and hit someone, anyone –most of all myself.

In my 97^th mile I text Renee and said I would need another pair of shoes when I got there. I felt bad because she had everything packed, but my feet needed a fresh pair of shoes if I was going to finish this beast.

I changed and slowly (Picture a large turtle trudging uphill through wet sand - that kind of slow) started off for my last 3 miles telling Renee I would text her when I completed mile 100 so she could do the last mile with me.

I don’t know how long it took, but it felt like forever; kinda like swimming through molasses before I completed mile 100.

When I FINALLY reached mile 100, a first for me, I texted Renee and got no answer. When I reached our tent area she was unpacking the car. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Was it a mirage?

I think my mind went berserk right then and there.

I wasn't focusing on the fact that I had reached an amazing goal. I had hit 100 miles on foot. As a matter of fact every mile past mile 69 was a new adventure, a new accomplishment.

I should have been celebrating that suckfest!

Instead, I was thinking what the hell was Renee doing? She wanted a bed. I wanted sleep. Why was she unpacking? When Renee reached me, she informed me that she had called 20 hotels and there wasn’t a room anywhere near.

Apparently everyone was getting married the same weekend as Prince Harry and Megan Markle.

Was she kidding me? No room? Anywhere?

No way were we not getting a bed in a hotel. No way was I not getting to sleep - SOON.

As we started the last mile I was on the phone to Hilton reservation number getting us a hotel room. Brenda, the agent was fabulous. I asked her not to laugh and told her I was finishing my hundred mile run and needed a hotel room with a bed, could she please find me one. She did!

Now remember, I am in the middle of a race with nothing on me but thank goodness I do have a credit card memorized. We had to drive 50 miles, but Brenda hooked us up.

Funny thing about this phone call – it took my mind off the pain. We were in the last quarter mile when I hung up and I didn’t feel every step. Pain no longer shot through me with every shuffle.

Moral of this interlude - Do NOT mess with a runner who just spent sixty plus hours trying to reach a goal, who wants to fall to her knees where she stands and go to sleep.

At 11:07 PM on Saturday I crossed the finish line for 101 miles. That’s sixty-two hours into a 72-hour event. GOAL! Ten hours ahead of schedule!!

Mile 101!!!

Renee took the finish line photo and then we hugged. Tears rolled down both our faces as the enormity of the accomplishment set in. I did it! We did it!

Then I read a text from a friend of mine who sent me a message before I finished as he wanted to be the first person to congratulate me. More tears!

I hurt so bad but felt so amazing.

I may not be fast, but I have heart. And it’s the heart that keeps us going. There’s a quote by Dean Karnazes, “Run if you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up.” I’d say Mr. Karnazes hit the nail on the head.

I never gave up.

At no time did it ever cross my mind to quit. To take a longer break – YES. To sleep – YES. To call it quits and give up altogether – NOT AT ALL!

Could I have gone more? Maybe. I wouldn’t have wanted to that night, but the next morning, I probably could have gotten in more miles if the hotel hadn’t been so far away.

I guess we will see the next time. 😊

Are ultra runners crazy? I don’t think so. They are a community of people, friends and strangers, out to push their limits and support others in their own attempts and accomplishments.

This weekend I had the pleasure of sharing the blacktop trail with hundreds of runners who all set out with various goals; most of which were accomplished through shear guts and determination as well as support from friends and strangers.

Sometimes you’d be running by yourself, but you were never alone. Sometimes you would run or walk in groups and the camaraderie would boost you up.

It didn’t matter that you arrived not knowing a sole person. By the time you left, you were all family.

101 mile buckle and 100 mile lifetime coin.

This was demonstrated over many hours, but even more during the awards ceremony. Many cheers, hoots of joy, handshaking, and picture taking. All while wearing sandals and pajama bottoms.

Everyone was happy for everyone!

Renee and I day two.

To my friend Renee, thank you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving up your time to spend a weekend in heat and rain, in daylight and darkness, during highs and lows. You were the reason I reached my goal ten hours ahead of schedule!

Happy Anniversary!

Tell Mike I said thank you for sharing you with me this weekend. I owe him.

To my new runner friends, I met at 3 Days at the Fair; You all are amazing, and I thank you for your time, your wisdom, your humor, and your camaraderie. That alone was worth the price of admission. Congratulations on your many achievements!

To the family and friends of all the runners; Thank you. Thank you for the warm cookie, the pep talk, the hoots and hollers, the offer of a cold beer. Without all of you, none of us would succeed.

3 Days at the Fair Race Director
and me looking oh so fabulous - right!

To the race directors; Thank you for an unbelievable opportunity to meet so many wonderful runners and new friends and for the path to a new accomplishment.

Will I do this again? Funny you should ask. The other night when I was at my lowest I said I was finished.

"One and done! NEVER again!"

The mind is a tricky thing. You know what they say. Never say never.

Two days later and I’m thinking, “Hell, yeah! I want to do it again.”

Why do I want to do this? Why do I like endurance runs?
It’s a good question that I’m not sure I have the answer to. The answer is probably different for everyone.

There’s a sense of community that comes from ultras and ultra runners that you can’t get from a 5K event or even a running group or maybe anything.

It’s the knowledge that you are pushing yourself to a new limit, to an edge of something that you have never done before and that not everyone would even attempt to do. It’s not just reaching the goal, but the ability to dig deep, very deep, to pull yourself from the pain and keep moving. You reach an awareness of your body and an inner peace in your mind.

You’re not reaching for a finish line, you’re experiencing life and all it’s challenges in every step along the way and it’s how you grow from that pain, those challenges. Embracing the suck and coming out better for it.

I’m not sure that’s an answer, but I can tell you this; My mind and body (all except my feet) are already clambering for the next adventure.

That’s truly what an ultra run is; an adventure that leads you to growth, awareness, and a peace that cannot be put into words.

3 Days at the Fair

Three Days at the Fair. We aren't talking county fair...although it took place at fairgrounds.

There’s a saying, “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

The expression that better suits this past weekend on my ultramarathon would be, “Embrace the suck.”

Don’t get me wrong, this was an amazing event and as much as I thought I would never do it again…well, let me set the scene for you.

First, 3 Days at the Fair is an event that takes place at the Sussex Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ. A beautiful area where not much exists except the fairgrounds where 300 runners converged for 6 days. Yes, you read that correctly. Some people went for 144 hours of running! Pretty much you could choose anything from 6 hours to 144 hours.

Me? Call me crazy, but I signed up for the 48-hour option.

We check in at the aid station that you will be passing every mile. Yes, this is a one mile loop course, so if you ever wanted to know what a hamster feels like running on a wheel…come to 3 Days at the Fair.

Along with your timing chip that you will wear around your ankle like a person under house arrest and will eventually chafe and add to the suck, you will get your swag. The swag was a T-shirt and a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. And yes, eventually you will see half the runners sporting one or both of those items during the run.

You then set up tent. This is not a figure of speech. As you will be spending as much time on your feet as possible, you do and will need some rest. This becomes what I like to call “Tent City.”

Everyone has their own version of tenting. Some folks will be in RVs, others will have tents, and others like me will have a canopy and/or their SUV. Either way, this becomes your home away from home, your respite, your place of worship as you swear to heaven you will never do such a stupid thing again.

As part of this setup you place all the items you will need in just the right spot for easy access so when you stop for a ten or twenty-minute break you can quickly find the Squirrels Nut Butter for anti-chafing, extra shoes, socks, or even sandals to change into when your feet become so hot you swear they are on fire. Or you must rummage through for sunscreen because you didn’t apply any before it hit almost 90 freaking hot degrees! Or you need a jacket because the sun has gone down and now your body thinks that even though the outside temperature reads 70 degrees, your body screams, “It’s 45 degrees, you idiot, put some clothes on!”

Setting up your temporary home is the first place you have an opportunity to meet you new neighbors and your best friends for the weekend and if you’re lucky for the future. This is where I met Mandy, another runner in the 48-hour event and her friends and support crew for the weekend; Sandy and Heather. My first outing with my canopy and the girls helped me get it set up. Thanks, Mandy, Sandy, and Heather!

At last the event you signed up for begins! 9 AM and off to the races. Time to have fun.

The first part of the event was hotter than Hell! Not that I know how hot hell is, but I imagine running on asphalt in 90 degree temperatures where there is no shade AT ALL in a one mile loop is pretty close to what the devil makes you live in. But hey, you have fresh feet, legs and clothes so you are good to go and smiling the entire way.

You get a rhythm and see various runners moving along; some have been there for 4 days and others for less. You can tell the ones that have been there for longer than you because when you take the first turn past tent city to no-man’s land you come across this slight (and I do mean slight) incline and the runner on your left says, “This damn hill.”

At this point you’re musing to yourself, “Hill? Really?” 24-hours later you are thinking, “Not this damn hill! This very steep hill, again!”

Late afternoon you’re feeling good, but the sun beating down on you is starting to have an effect. You can’t get enough fluids, you’re either pouring sweat or stopped sweat, either way, the chafing has set in. I hear one guy as one of the support crews (not his), if they had any Vaseline he could borrow and clarified his request by saying, “The kind where you don’t mind where I stick my hands.”

Yes, folks, there is no shame in chafing and we are all good friends in an ultra.

I met lot of great runners and their crew or friends who popped in for moral support. Besides several laps with Mandy and breaks with her crew, I shared laps and had conversations with Allen who was at the event with his brother. I hung with Michele and her friend Cathy for quite a few laps, and met a runner named John who gave me some of the best advice all weekend.

His advice? Since my goal was to get a 100K, that’s 62 miles, John suggested to get 40 miles in the first 24 hours so the next day when I was beat up I’d only have to get 50% of that the next 24 hours. BEST ADVICE EVER!! I got 42 in the first 24 hours and my feet had started to blister but not terrible, just enough to feel like a constant nag and require taping.

Another runner that I swear never stopped moving all weekend told me to take socks and shoes off at every break to let the feet cool down and swelling come down. Wow! Another great piece of advice. The only drawback to this one was the one time I was stretched out in the back of my SUV with a blanket over my and my bare feet hanging out the door when the temperature dropped. Talk about ice cube toes! But definitely a good idea from the perspective of dealing with my swelling feet.

Did we take breaks? Yes. What do you think they put all those benches outside the bathrooms for? Some folks did little to no running in the heat of the day and then kept moving all night. My first 24-hour routine went something like this: a 15-minute break every 5 miles and 30-minute break every 10 miles the first day. At about 11 PM I sacked out for 2 hours…until the FIREWORKS went off. NOT kidding! All of us were fully awake after that 20-minute display from the local baseball field not far away.

I was up again for another two miles and back down until literally the roosters in the poultry center RIGHT NEXT DOOR sounded the alarm at 4 AM.

Day 2 officially started at 9 AM on Saturday and was a little more interesting or frustrating.

You wouldn’t think that after getting in 42 miles with a conservative approach that 20 more miles would take so freaking long. I swear by early evening the second day I wanted to die. I took a break every 2.5 miles and tried to take a longer break every 5 miles, but my body kept getting me up at 20 minutes no matter what. I’d set an alarm for an hour and my body would be ready after 20 minutes. My body was, but my feet were NOT!

I was putting food and fluids in my body, including fresh made pancakes and bacon. Breakfast on the go for runners. But I didn’t want it. Well, I did, but it wasn't helping my energy level. And oh, yeah, I was freezing. Since the evening of day 1, my body temperature was just cold. No, not cold. FRIGID! So cold I wore a fleece top and jeans over my running clothes, a rain jacket (and at one point event a vest), and two freaking hats.

Hey! It ain’t all about fashion. Although, there were some beautiful outfits on some of the runners. One guy had an airy shirt. Basically, he took a dress shirt and cut holes in it to keep the sun off his skin and at the same time made it breathable. Genius! One woman, Pam, was all in pink (head to toes) all weekend. And let me tell you about Pam…she never stopped and she was always encouraging. Another runner was like me and at some point, she went from running shorts to Hello Kitty fleece pants and a winter coat.

Early evening on the second day I was at mile 57, ONLY 5 miles from my goal and I was ready to finish. Except for my mental breakdown. I could have sworn the timing mat counted lap 57 three times!!! Yup, I am not gonna lie, I told myself there was no way I was going to do this. I was mentally and physically finished.

Then I ran into Michele and Cathy. These poor ladies saw me at my lowest. They picked me up outside the beautiful ladies’ room (no porta-johns at this event), dusted me off and shuffled me along like an old cowpoke and his trusty old mule. Thanks to their conversation and camaraderie, I made it to mile 60.

Then I had to have a break. I planned to take a two-hour nap and instead my body decided one was enough. I got up and made mile 60 to 61 by myself. Then I ran into John. Okay, more like sleep-walked into him, but John encouraged me and said, “Come on, we’ll get you to that goal.” John moved me along to mile 61.5 where Mandy was waiting for me outside our tents to take me the rest of the way to my goal. Mandy and her family all came along for the walk. More like a shuffle.

I am in tears right now as I write this, just as I stared to tear up when I saw that goal and that start-finish line. And yes, ladies and gentlemen I rang that bell like I wanted everyone to know that I had FINALLY achieved a yearlong goal. And as much pain as I was in it felt AMAZING!!!

Thank you: Mandy and family, Sandy, Heather, John, Michele and Cathy. You were my saviors.

On the way back to our tents, I saw John again and he told me, “I think you have more in you. I think you have at least two-thirds of a century in you.”

My response? Besides my jaw dropping?

“Are you nuts? All I want is sleep.”

And to be honest, that’s what I thought. I had planned to go back to my car throw everything in it and head off to a hotel for a good night’s sleep and a private shower.

What did I do?

I packed my car and was too exhausted to drive anywhere so I curled up in the front seat of the SUV, ripped off my shoes, socks, and tape and literally breathed a sigh of relief. The heat that had been plaguing my feet suddenly dissipated and I felt some relief. I pulled the blanket over me and slept. Not exactly the sleep of the dead, but I slept enough until I got too cold. That came to be a total of about 6 hours and then the sun was up and so was I.

I ran to the ladies’ room and noticed that without socks and tape on my feet, I felt pretty good. I mean, I felt fantastic! Legs were never an issue. It was all feet, all the time.

Hmm. Why not go for another mile?

So I joined the night of the living dead; the folks who woke up and decided to go for a few more laps in their pajamas or whatever was handy, like the flannel bottoms from our swag. Only this time I wasn’t hobbling along, I was moving. I was moving well!

I picked up Michele and Cathy who came out for coffee and to get Michele’s last laps. We got Michele to mile 62 and we kept on going.

All total, the last morning of my 48 hours, I got seven more miles in for a total of 70 miles! That is 70!! Seventy, hard-earned, embrace the suck, miles!! With some of my new best friends!!!

Thanks to the McNulty’s (race directing team), volunteers who stayed out there making us breakfast, soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, and just generally anything you needed. Thanks to all the friends and crews who came out to support their friends and family, but also supported every other runner, and thanks to all those runners who I had the honor and privilege to spend so many one-mile loops with just talking and laughing, and even crying with. You made this event!

When it is all said and done then you have the awards and that camaraderie you shared with so many amazing people continues as you cheer on everyone who left their head, heart, and feet out on that unforgiving asphalt. (That's me sitting down in the back wearing only one of my hats and I'm sure my very smelly clothes.)

 

Did I say I would never do this again? Well, there’s another saying, “Never say never.” And if you are a runner, especially an ultrarunner, you know that adage holds very true.

Cuz, yes, I will do 3 Days at the Fair again. Only I will probably do 72 hours and I will “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

It’s not about the speed, it’s about the adventure!!! And this was one heck of an adventure.

Friends joined me on a morning walk

I have recently fallen in love with walking the Windham Rail Trail. This morning I decided to walk it from Salem to Windham then have breakfast at Windham Junction.

At about 2 miles into my walk I had to slow my pace because I ran into a few friends.

Can you think of a better way to start your Sunday than to walk on a path through nature enjoying the sights and sounds and encountering a few geese?

On my return walk I didn't run into new friends, but I did see the geese left their calling cards all over the trail. Wasn't that nice of them?

I didn't run into any more feathery friends. I did, however, listen to a couple of ground squirrels AKA chipmunks having a rather heated argument. Of course, they stopped chattering when I chuckled.

Then I heard this strange noise in the pond/swamp that was a tad eery. It sounded as if the Loch Ness Monster or a Slestak was rumbling beneath the lillie pads, moss, and brown water.

I kept looking for the creature that made the fire-breathing dragon noise and made the tiny hairs on my arms stand at attention, but alas, I did not find the culprit. Maybe next time.