Yeti 100
9/26/2024
7:00 AM
Abingdon, VA
TL/DR: DNF - I dropped at mile 63
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. A tale of two cities, Abingdon and Damascus. Three times out and back for this year’s modified version of the Yeti 100.
Three years ago I finished this race on the normal course from Whitetop to Abingdon, back to Whitetop and then back to Abingdon, and did the second half in a tropical storm. I still look back on that race and can’t believe I finished under those conditions.
I volunteered at the race in 2023 and was given a free entry for 2024. I trained and felt great going into that race only to have it canceled due to Hurricane Helene. My entry was rolled over to 2025. All I wanted was good weather at this race for once and we got it.
My training wasn’t perfect but I felt I had done enough. 12 days before the race I ran my final trail run and pushed the pace pretty hard. I ended up with pain in the ball of my left foot as if I had bruised it by stepping on rocks or acorns. I was so worried about how that would feel deep into the race that I didn’t run all week leading into the race.
As I started out, my foot felt fine. 20 miles in I felt great. After my first out & back was done and I set out for my second I realized that in my haste to leave my truck/aid station in Abingdon I forgot to change my shoes. I hadn’t decided whether I would change after each out and back or just after the second. Did this cost me my race? I’ll never know.
The first ~6 miles leaving Abingdon are mostly downhill. I ran as much as I could. It was warm, great weather, but I didn’t hydrate properly. Once I got over 40 miles the typical pains began setting in, maybe a little earlier than normal. I started texting with Summer who was tracking me on Life 360. Little did I know, she and the kids were waiting for me in Damascus which would be halfway through the race.
It was a great surprise and I was so happy to see them. She brought me some fluids which were desperately needed as I was dehydrated and didn’t feel safe taking Motrin in fear that something really bad would happen. George ran and walked with me to the aid station and I grabbed my gear that I would need as I headed into the night. I ate half a cheeseburger and got some pictures before starting the trek back to Abingdon.
As I began this section, the pain really started to settle in. At 50 miles, my feet were feeling like they did at the Outer Banks when I ran 100 miles on pavement at Blackbeard’s Revenge 100. I knew what the end result would be like if I kept going. Additionally, maybe due to the heat, I was chaffing in places that never bothered me before. Summer agreed to meet me at the next aid station, Alvarado. I was reduced to something that barely resembled running, but was mostly walking. When I ran, the chaffing did not bother me but I couldn't run more than 30 seconds at a time due to my feet. I would then walk and my feet did not bother me very much but every step caused the chaffing to make that almost unbearable.
When I arrived at Alvarado station, I sat down in a chair and told Summer and the kids I didn’t want to do this anymore. I quoted Bubba from Forrest Gump saying, “I wanna go home.” But, as always, Summer told me I could do it and told me I had been here before and I could make it. I had hydrated enough in the last few hours that I felt ok taking Motrin so I did while also applying some Vaseline to the chaffing area and then headed out into the darkness.
Unfortunately, I knew what was in front of me and that was 40 miles of walking. At 20 minute miles, if I’m lucky, that’s 13+ hours. Did I have enough time? Absolutely. But why? I had nothing to prove to anyone. I had already finished this race once, I had my Western States qualifier from my previous race, the Hellgate 100k, so I just didn't have the motivation to keep going. When it’s not your day, sometimes it’s best to listen to your body. There’s no point in doing more damage than necessary.
After leaving Alvarado I started texting Summer and told her I didn't think this was going to happen. I was unable to run more than 30 seconds at a time. I never felt any difference with the Motrin. My feet were waving the white flag. She agreed to meet me at the unmanned, water-only aid station, Watauga. I sent a text to the co-race director telling her the situation and confirmed it was ok to drop there. When I arrived, I stopped my watch at mile 63.1 after 14 hours and 49 minutes, took off my pack and got in the car. My race was over.
We made memories that night, albeit not ones we ever planned. We found a dog friendly hotel and the four of us + Marli spent the night. That was a first.
To all of you who viewed my pictures and videos on my Instagram story and sent me encouraging words, thank you. While I didn’t see them in the moment it was great to read all of them later and know you were cheering for me. After Summer’s first 50k last weekend and 100k for me yesterday, we’ll be hobbling around looking forward to a full recovery so we can get back on the trails.
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