Racing the Umstead 100 this year I had two goals. One was to break the USATF Record for 60-64 year olds which I have done twice but not on a certified course. Two was to enjoy a trail race which I have heard was fun and welcoming. As Spencer and I set out to return back to North Carolina we were excited. I did work all day and changed out flight to Thursday Night so that got us into Raleigh at 1:00 am. We were so tired because our normal bedtime is 9pm! Off to the rental car and hotel and in bed at 2:30am. We were up and ready to shop for all the necessities for the race. At 4:00pm we were at the Race Packet pickup where I met Elis Cellan Schaasse {another Topo Ambassador } and we spent about 15 minutes chatting and getting to know each other. She was vibrant, beautiful, and full of joy. It was such a pleasure to meet her! Then I picked up my race packet and we went to the race briefing. Back to the hotel for a good nights sleep. Saturday, I awoke at 3:15 and started getting ready. The park opened at 4:45 so off we went. Then the doubt about the race set in. It was 45 degrees and raining. Not sprinkling but raining. I hate running in the rain and I hate the cold. Most people are fine with the cold but I am not. The race started at 6:00am and off I went with a woman I had been talking to shouting to me as I went, “have fun”. Being an, “older” athlete the vision I have at night is not very good and the rain made it hard to see. I had decided I was going to take my first 12.5 loop easy and get to know the course. I was able to hand off my head light after the first loop and I looked at Spencer and said, “This course is hard”. The course is a total of 8,000 feet of climb, with crushed gravel, bridges {wood}, horse, bike, and running trail. The rain continued and poured at points. I remembered thinking, “I am not having fun”. When my mind starts to go into the negative mode I stop myself and try and find the positive side. Just then I had run 42 miles and the first positive thing that came into my head was how dry my feet were. Even though I was wearing a rain proof jacket it had started leaking and all my clothes wear soaked. My feet however were dry. I had a pair of waterproof Topo Shoes called hydro venture and yes they did the trick! Until 48 miles into the race the mud and water went over my ankles and that was the end of the dry feet! At mile 50 I came into the check point and had been on schedule with my time but I was extremely hypothermic. I changed into the,” Runventure 2 ” shoes until 75 miles and then my,” magnifly 2″ shoes to finish the last 25 miles. The temperature had dropped to 33 with rain turning into sleet and snow. It took me 45 minutes to change clothes and warm my body temperature. I then knew I was not going to break any records and my only option was to do the best I could with the conditions. The aid stations were full of wonder volunteers and the red cross volunteers were the best. The director Rhonda Hampton was a doll and periodically in the rain I would see her pass me on a bike yelling good job, don’t quit!!! I also saw the assistant race director Joe Lugiano taking pictures and timing. I finally finished under 24 hours which qualified me for a special buckle. My time was 23:58:03. I came in 6th overall female and 40th overall racer. This was the worse weather ever. Did I have fun?????????? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a 42% finish for the hundred milers. The worse finish rate ever in this race according to the statistics. I think I will stick to the warmer climate races!!!!
ORAL I.V.’s Athlete of the Month
Pam on Synchroknit Socks
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ultrapam100.comhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3PhPmcD5-0
here is a new video on my youtube channel! Interview from The National Running Show.ultrapam100.com shared a post.Pam Chapman Markle (ultrapam100.com) spoke at the National Running Show on Sunday. It was lovely to have a chat with her afterwards.
In her fifties Pam chose a 100 mile ultra as her first marathon in 2011. She ran two ultras each year for the following three years, then she began to run more, often setting course age group records. She specialises in 100 milers or more and in 2016 got a place at the Badwater 135 setting an age group record. She has run Badwater every year since, setting an age group record each time and improving her time by nearly 7 hours since 2016. Now 64, if she gets a place in 2020 she will become the oldest woman to have completed it.
On her website Pam says "I want older women to look at me and realize that they can still accomplish whatever they set their heart and their mind to."ultrapam100.comWhirlwind of Races in 2019
*****posted January 10, 2020*****
Wow! What a whirlwind I have had in running in 2019! My first race was Badwater Cape Fear completing 51 Miles on a Beach in North Carolina. My time was 10:02, overall: 22, GP:5. The weather was beautiful and it was a great way to start my 2019 Races! My intention was to do as well as I could so I could compete in the, “Badwater Ultra Cup”, consisting of three Badwater Races run by Chris Kostman.
My next race was less than 4 weeks after, “Mad City Ultra” where I competed for 100K Age Group Road Race held in Maddison, Wi. which I received USATF Age Course Record with times of 11:30:52, Overall:14, GP:3. The Race Director Timo Yanacheck was wonderful and the race was extremely cold for me but I tuffed it out and finished!
Read more on all my races in 2019!
http://ultrapam100.com/whirlwind-of-races-in-2019/ultrapam100.comHoping you all have a Merry Christmas. Enjoy this holiday with your family and friends.