GA Jewel 100

Georgia Jewel 100 mile

Race: GA Jewel100 Mile Ultramarathon

Date: September 16, 2022

Finish Time: 32:56 hours

Distance: 100 Mile

Elevation gain: 14,478 ft

About 6 weeks before the race, I got Hip Bursitis which stopped my training. I missed critical strength training and my last several peak weeks of running because of this, but ultimately I had to make a choice - keep training but stay injured which would likely hinder me during the race from the start. Or, stop everything and try to heal, go into the race undertrained (but well rested! LOL) and hopefully un-injured. I chose to stop training and allow my body to heal. I had been doing 30-60 minutes on the stair stepper every week after my weekly long run for strength training, one day of week of strength training like plyometrics or HIIT drills ect. all in addition to my weekly miles.This race started at noon which a lot of people thought was crazy, but I thought it was perfect! I was able to sleep in, eat a huge breakfast and start hydrating early. I was able to get dressed, adjust everything, change my clothing choices, and get dressed again with plenty of time to kill. We got to the start line around 11:30am, picked up my bib and listened to the prerace information from the race director. I had a tentative goal of a 30 hour finish, but really, I just WANTED TO FINISH. I needed to prove to myself that I could do this again, and my one 100 mile finish wasn't some fluke.

 The first 1-2 miles took us down Mt Baker, and through a neighborhood (mostly downhill). Miles 3-4 were up the Power Lines where we encountered our first aid station. Then we continued going up on pretty rocky trails for several more miles (this was known as the Rock Garden). On my way through this area was so pretty, neat terrain to be bouncing off rocks through the ridgelines. We summit 4 mountains from miles 2-18 (Dug Mountain 1800 feet, Hurricane Mountain 1550 feet, Middle Mountain 1500 feet and Mill Creek Mountain 1800 feet). The first 18.8 miles you basically run 1 mile up hill, 2 miles along a ridgeline, and 1 mile downhill. Then at Mile 18.8 we hit "Snake Creek Gap" aid station. This is a large aid station where I could access my crew for the first time. I was way ahead of pace here coming in at 4 hours 20 minutes (an hour earlier than I anticipated). I ate, drank and carried on pretty quickly not stopping for too long. The next stretch was to Keown Falls. This stretch was hard, long rocky ups and downs but ended with a mile around the ponds that was pretty run-able. We came into the Pocket Road Aid station here and went up into the falls. It was about a mile uphill hitting 20-30% grade climbs until hitting the waterfalls. 

We passed 2 or 3 of them in a short spacing then summited Johns Mountain. Johns Mountain was beautiful, I summited it right at sunset and had some spectacular views. Leaving here was roughly an 11 mile stretch into Dry Creek. We ran down Johns Mountain which was long not steep section of down hill, then we ran some service roads eventually coming through a pretty big water crossing, then coming into Dry Creek.

Mile 36! My husband and crew didn't make it to dry creek by the time I got there, so I carried on in my wet shoes. Fortunately the weather was beautiful and I had fueled well so I wasn't cold, just annoyed to be in my wet gear. I had so looked forward to "banking time" in the Dry Creek loops, but I HATED these 2 loops (which we run twice each). They were rolling ups and downs not steep, but very boring, secluded in the woods, and scary at night time! I picked up my brother as my first pacer at mile 50 around 1:30am and he ran the1st/ 3rd loop of 6.5 miles with me. I was so grateful to have his company. At this point I was hours ahead of my 30 hour time goal and holding 2nd place female. My husband joined me for the 2nd/4th loop of 7 miles next. I focused on eating during this time and getting fueled back up for the crazy climbs that were going to come upon me leaving dry creek. 

Mile 64 5:38 am heading out of Dry Creek with my mom! We brought a small dish towel to dry our feet off, and ran through the water crossing together but taking the time to take off our shoes so we could keep our dry feet. Then we proceeded to climb the long steady uphill to Johns Mountain Summit. I was using my trekking poles off and on at this point, trying to jog some but mostly hiking. We ran past the waterfalls again and came back into Pocket Road Aid Station where my mom took a short break to eat and hydrate and my sister came to run a few miles with me! I didn't remember this section being SO hard, but I decided this was a very hard section. We basically just hiked all of it. Steep long ups and downs and so many rocks. I didn't love this section as much on the way back lol. Having all the different people to keep me company made for a really nice mental breakup of the race. 

Mile 82.2 Snake Creek Gap I made it to the final section. As I came into this section, I was overwhelmed by emotion. My quads were starting to get weak and I was getting a little uncertain of my leg strength being able to make it. I felt amazing mentally, this was absolutely my strongest mental race I have done of any distance. Cardio was great, but my legs were shot. My mom joined me for the last 18 miles (she is a freaking rock star). We hiked 100% of this. My legs had no "go" for running anymore. I was so frustrated about not being able to run. This 18 mile section was brutal. The whole thing is SO rocky and rooted. I really struggled with all the rocks. We hit mile 90 and I just kept crying. My mom helped rub my quads some and get me loosened up and shaken out. I could go a little more, then would have to stop and stretch again. By mile 95 we had a long stop. I was unsure I could walk on my legs anymore. 5 miles to go! I was picturing having to be carried out on a matt, or left overnight until my legs would regain some strength. Mom gave me a great pep talk, and helped me get moving again. I depending on my trekking poles at this point. It was almost like I had a spinal tap done and couldn't feel anything from the waist down, which seems like it'd be great, but it meant when my brain said walk... nothing happened. I never had any cramping during this race, or pain, or soreness or fatigue... my legs just tried to quit working on me! Next time I will certainly be focusing much more on leg strength training!

 We FINALLY hit the last aid station, the power lines with about 3.8 miles to go to the finish line. I was PUMPED. We got off those god-awful rocky trails and were able to start running again once we hit the pavement! Unfortunately, the last 25 miles took me SO long, we had to wear our headlamps again because the sun had set. We approached mount baker, and having my mom by myself meant the world to me. As we (slowly) climbed up the 40% climb of Mount Baker, I could see my husband at the top. We were almost there! The emotion, excitement, it was all so overwhelming in all the right ways. Finally made it through the parking lot, into that beautiful finish line. I was so relieved to get off my feet! 

What no one talks about is after the race, we went to the hotel and I showered while husband picked up food, I couldn't lift my legs to step out of the shower, couldn't lift them onto the bed once I sat on the bed. They stopped working completely. My husband had to move them for me, adjust them and help me in and out of bed all night. He is amazing. 

I'll be back next year with strong capable legs, ready for this race!