tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17627974380516841682024-03-29T05:16:32.076-06:00Fast CoryCory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.comBlogger813125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-59755585988180257792022-12-22T15:46:00.002-07:002022-12-22T15:46:51.393-07:00The Annual Reese Family Christmas Letter - 2022<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcJYkCP2SOMBevujScMWQK7ZqOKTDyIsQ1L5HzBO92QbG4i3TvTlFa-Qbzy_dex9KAPJupJSgnNAhEi2M6br3pw62oMFMWLw9NMaRjQ0rMgscbTFZrlnni05_28-a2G74FY0vLzi55aVnUESgMNS69PK7-PPoIM-zlaqP1qHOfUNflw-EZfUezzg/s2464/Family%20Picture.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="2464" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcJYkCP2SOMBevujScMWQK7ZqOKTDyIsQ1L5HzBO92QbG4i3TvTlFa-Qbzy_dex9KAPJupJSgnNAhEi2M6br3pw62oMFMWLw9NMaRjQ0rMgscbTFZrlnni05_28-a2G74FY0vLzi55aVnUESgMNS69PK7-PPoIM-zlaqP1qHOfUNflw-EZfUezzg/w640-h424/Family%20Picture.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Hello
friends and family! We wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays
from the Reese family. This time of year, you can safely predict an
obsession with pumpkin spice, obnoxious arrangements of Christmas songs from
Mariah Carrey on the radio, and grocery stores becoming so crowded that they
trigger anxiety attacks. You can also safely predict the Annual Reese Family
Christmas Letter. <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">2022 was quite the adventure for our family.
Here's a brief rundown for you.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Kylee<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Ky
graduated from Hurricane High School in May, and became an official adult in
July. I'm honestly not exactly sure how this happened. I swear it was only last
week that she was playing with Barbie dolls and decorating bedroom walls with a
Sharpie marker. While in high school, Ky began the 1.5-year Graphic Design
program at Dixie Tech. She's on track to graduate this April. The projects she
has been working on, including illustration, animation, photography, and web
design have been incredible. She is a seriously talented artist. Kylee has had
a paralyzing fear of needles her entire life. But with ANOTHER knee surgery on
the horizon, she decided to face her fears. I worked with her on some therapy
exercises, and by the time her surgery date arrived, she was able to get her blood
drawn and get an IV. You have no idea how huge this is. In November, she had
her fifth knee surgery at Primary Children's Hospital, and the doctor said it
went great. (We were able to sneak in an impromptu Lizzo concert the night
before surgery.) Thankfully, she is now on the road to recovery following
her sledding accident two years ago. She continues to work at Bumbleberry near
Zion National Park while she is going to school. This year, she graciously
allowed our Great Dane, Little Debbie to start sleeping on her bed with her.
Debbie now assumes that this is </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">HER</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">
bed, but will usually permit Kylee to have a small sliver of the bed to sleep
on.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Danica<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Dani
spread her wings this year, moving out of the house and into a dorm with some
new friends. She is currently in her sophomore year at Utah Tech University in
the Bio Science medical program. Over the course of the year, her class
projects included dissecting a squid, a frog, a lobster, a fish, a shark, a
starfish, and a pig. Pardon me while I run to the bathroom to dry heave.
Okay....I'm back now. She played water polo every year of high school, and is
now playing on the school team which she loves. She is also Vice President of
the college water polo team. I don't know exactly what the duties of this position
entail, but I can only assume she is in charge of tasting the pool water before
each game to ensure adequate chlorine levels. Earlier this year, she took
advantage of an amazing opportunity to travel to Guatemala with a friend to
participate in a medical service mission, where she made friends with other
medical students from all over the world. While on the trip, she was able to
practice her Spanish speaking skills. In fact, this year she reached a 365-day
streak of Spanish lessons on Duolingo. I seriously admire her persistence and
determination. She had tickets to see Elton John's last concert in Las Vegas a
few months ago, but unfortunately had to miss the show because of complications
with her celiac disease. She did manage to go to Aerosmith and Reggae Riseup
though. She somehow survived working the holiday season at Target, but is
thankfully set to begin a new job at Ovation, a brand new assisted living
facility in the area.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Jackson<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Jackson
is in his senior year of school at Southern Utah University. He will be
graduating in the spring with a degree in Chemistry. Among his current classes,
he has courses in biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and analytical chemistry.
(Apparently you can put any word before the word “Chemistry” and call it a college
course.) Every time he tells me what he’s learning about in his classes, I have
to actively resist my eyes glazing over because I can’t understand anything he
is talking about. His goal all throughout college was to set himself up to be
in good condition to apply for medical school. After a year of rigorous
studying for the MCAT (the placement exam for medical schools), he took the
test a few months ago and totally rocked it. He’ll start applying for medical
schools in the spring. He has also been really involved in volunteer work for
Southern Utah University’s Healthy T-Birds Coalition. In March, he was part of
the first group of people who were allowed to shadow medical providers in
clinics throughout the Navajo nation, and was also able to participate in a lot
of their cool cultural activities. Earlier this year, he released his first
piano album called “Fresh Page.” Go check it out on Spotify or Apple Music. It
is absolutely stunning. Somehow, in his miniscule free time, he is already
writing music for his next album. He continues to be obsessed with the Utah
Jazz, World Cup soccer, and destroying me at pickle ball.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Mel<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Mel
has somehow managed to continue her 44-year long streak of being seriously
awesome. She has been the project manager for some gigantic construction and
landscaping projects we’ve had going on in our yard over the past year. The
first major project we finally completed was getting a pool in the backyard. We
had been on a waiting list for almost a year and a half. Mel loves the water so
much that I swear she has gills, so she has been in seventh heaven. She has also
transformed our back yard around the pool into a true oasis. But the second
gigantic project that she spearheaded is a new tiny house in our back yard! We
bought a shipping container and Mel oversaw almost all the work that was needed
to transform it into a sweet tiny home that we plan to rent out. At various
times throughout the year, our yard has looked like it was nuked by North
Korea. But as of this month, it is FINALLY done and it looks incredible! I am
so proud of everything she has pulled off. I think she finished both seasons of
Ted Lasso for the third time. In April, we traveled to Minneapolis to see one
of our favorite musicians, Trevor Hall. We were ecstatic to be in the right
place at the right time after the show and were able to meet him. Then, we made
a spontaneous trip with friends later that month to Colorado to see him again
at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Then we traveled with friends to Salt Lake to see
him again last month. We clearly have issues. She continues to work as a nurse
practitioner for Intermountain Healthcare. I regularly hear from our mutual
patients what a great medical provider she is.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Cory<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I
am just about to begin my 19</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> year as a dialysis social worker.
Over the past year, I’ve been able to grow a thriving private practice on the
side doing therapy. Being able to help people work through hard times is
something I love so, so much. In January, I spent a week in Kentucky doing an
intensive training to learn EMDR. This form of therapy has completely
revolutionized the way things like trauma, depression, and anxiety are treated.
In June, Mel and I went on vacation to Austin, Texas where I gained 8 pounds
worth of tacos. I’ve been writing a little bit of piano music, but currently
I’m working on learning a piano arrangement of Toto’s song Africa. I can only
imagine that playing this song on the piano will immediately make me a babe
magnet. (Or not.) (Don’t worry, Mel.) </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">For
the first time in 14 years, I didn’t run a single race the entire year! I
really miss racing though, and have a few on my radar for next year. A few
other concerts I didn’t mention earlier: Mel and I loved Reggae Riseup in
October. We also saw Imagine Dragons and Macklemore in concert with a great
group of friends in Vegas. We both absolutely LOVE Macklemore. You can’t
imagine how shocked we were while sitting out on some couches before the show,
when suddenly….out of nowhere….Macklemore showed up in our portal to say hello!
We got pictures taken with him, and I can’t confirm this for certain, but I think
I heard Mel whisper to him “I want to have your baby!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In
other news……</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Earlier
this year we had to let our big, fluffy poodle, Aunt Jackie go to the great dog
park in the sky. We miss his cold, wet nose digging into our arm for a pet when
we’re trying to do…literally anything. We suspect that this will be the last
Christmas for our Great Dane, Little Debbie. We’re trying not to think about
it. (And I’m deeply sorry if that last sentence put the earworm song “Last
Christmas” by Wham! in your head. The only thing worse than that toxicity is
Paul McCartney’s simply dreadful “Wonderful Christmas Time.”)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In
January, we went to Cancun for a slightly late family Christmas present. There
is nothing better than chilling on the beach, taking a nap whenever you want,
and having access to all-you-can-eat ice cream. And I had to buy a bigger belt
when we got home. We also renewed our wedding vows and exchanged new rings on
the beach with our kids which was so cool.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">As a
family, we saw OneRepublic in concert in Salt Lake City. And for summer break,
we went to Arizona to go to a Coldplay concert, and a Diamondbacks vs. Cubs
baseball game. Mel bought us all matching Cubs tank tops. And we suddenly
became the coolest, or, depending on who you ask, the nerdiest family in the
ball park. Oh. Also, the bathroom at our AirBnB displayed a large photo on the
wall of a nude Burt Reynolds, and his highly enviable moustache. So, there’s
that.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We are
so thankful for YOU, our treasured friends and family. We feel so fortunate to
be surrounded by people we love. Here’s to an epic 2023 for you and your
family! Sincerely<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Cory,
Mel, Jackson, Dani, and Kylee</span></p><br /><p></p>Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-39163540870287359132021-12-14T14:21:00.001-07:002021-12-15T10:31:41.029-07:00Happy Holidays from the Reese Family!<p>Merry Christmas
and happy holidays from our house to yours! For our family, 2021 has been like
eating a dozen donuts: really awesome, but also super challenging, and something
you absolutely never want to do ever again. Here’s a brief rundown:</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Kylee<br /></b>Ky is finishing
her senior year at Hurricane High School, and is in the process of applying to
Dixie Tech for their Digital Media Design program. I am constantly stunned by
her artistic abilities. In her graphic design classes, she makes the most
incredible album covers, logos, prints on clothing, images, and posters. She is
also an amazing painter and chef. Over the course of the year, she became an
invested fan of the Real Salt Lake soccer team and went to many games. Kylee
had an incredibly difficult year. In January, she was in a traumatic sledding
accident where she broke her knee, shattered her ankle, and tore the ligaments
in her knee. After almost one year, three major surgeries, and countless
physical therapy, her knee has only gotten worse. She has constant pain and
swelling. We took her to get a second opinion at Primary Children’s Hospital,
and the doctor confirmed that it hasn’t healed right, and he will need to
“start over” with a completely new knee reconstruction. It was a devastating
diagnosis, and lots of tears were shed by the whole family. But we are hopeful
that her new doctor will be able to get her back on track. She just had her fourth surgery with the new doctor on December 9th, and is beginning recovery. A friend set up a GoFundMe to help with
college expenses since she hasn’t been able to work and save college money for
the past year. If you’re interested, that website is <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://gofund.me/bcb34df9">https://gofund.me/bcb34df9</a></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Danica<br /></b>This past year,
Dani graduated from high school and went on a senior trip to Disneyland. She
said their motel was so sketchy that she shared a bed with a sewer roach. I
chose to not ask any more questions. She went to State as part of the high
school swim team, and made the 2021 Women’s Allstate Water Polo Team. I’m certain
that somewhere underneath her hair, she has a pair of gills. Dani started her
first year at Dixie State University. When I look at some of the science and
math stuff she is working on, it looks like pure gibberish. She went to lots of
RSL soccer games and has fallen head over heels in love with their goalie,
David Ochoa. She went on a college service trip to Best Friends Animal
Sanctuary which, she reports, solidified how much she loves dogs, and how much
she hates cats. This year, Dani got diagnosed with Celiac Disease and is no
longer able to eat wheat or gluten. Understandably, this has caused a gigantic
shift in her lifestyle. She says the hardest part was having to unfollow Crumbl
Cookies from social media because their videos brought too much pain. When
she’s not at school or water polo, Dani works as a CNA at a local skilled
nursing facility, including spending time working in their COVID unit.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Jackson<br /></b>Jackson is in his
second year of classes at Southern Utah University. He is working toward a
degree in chemistry, and is trying to do everything he can to be in a good
position to apply for medical school. His girlfriend is named Organic
Chemistry, and they spend ALL their time together. I think this organic
chemistry class has taken three years off his life. The fact that people find
this stuff enjoyable is unfathomable to me. He uses his expertise and education
by working part time in the SUU Water Lab. They do water testing for all of
southern Utah, including local national parks. Prior to working at the water
lab, he worked for a community support program where he coordinated activities
and job opportunities for teenagers with disabilities. He loved the job…though
he came home on more than one occasion with deep indentations in his arm from
being bit by one of his kids. He is the treasurer for the SUU Pickle Ball Club.
He thinks that this sounds nerdy, but I’m confident that this makes him a
certifiable babe magnet. In super exciting news, Jackson has recorded a solo
piano album which will be released in 2022! I have listened to the whole album
and it is mind blowing. When it comes to playing the piano, his talent is off
the charts.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Melanie<br /></b>Mel has managed
to continue her 43 year streak of being seriously awesome. She continues to
work as a nurse practitioner for Intermountain Healthcare. She provides care at
a few skilled nursing facilities, and, like Dani, has had her share of time
working with COVID patients over the past year. She truly loves her job and the
people she works with. Her favorite hobbies are doing puzzles, and cooking. She
has really stepped up her cooking game over the past year. Our family joke is
that Mel’s most common phrase after she makes a meal is “I could sell that.”
And you know what? She’s right! Minestrone soup. Pasta primavera. Potato salad.
Stir fry. You name it….she could sell it. In October, Mel had a work conference
in Asheville, North Carolina. I went along because her training went until noon
each day, then she had the rest of the day to explore. We took a tour of
“America’s largest home,” the Biltmore Estate. We also spent a lot of time
sight-seeing on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and did some incredible hikes. We loved
checking out the River Arts District, and trying to eat our weight in Mexican
food. Mel has become quite the bird enthusiast, and had a blast visiting the
Bear River Bird Reserve to see countless great blue herons. Our favorite Sunday
morning tradition is to walk to a wildlife pond 5.5 miles away to feed the
ducks, look at the herons and egrets, then walk back home with a stop at a
coffee shop conveniently located on our route.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Cory<br /></b>In June, I
released my third book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stronger-Than-Dark-Relationship-Depression/dp/1736966405/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=stronger+than+the+dark&qid=1639516601&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Stronger Than the Dark: Exploring the Intimate Relationship Between Running and Depression</a>. I was honored to have it listed as
one of the 20 Best Books of 2021 by Men’s Journal. I decided to retire from
writing for UltraRunning Magazine. After being a monthly columnist for the past
six years, this month’s column is my last. I have loved working with the
amazing people at the magazine. This year, I ran the Hennepin Hundred, and the
St. George Sizzler, a solo 100 miler I did in July. After working for the
University of Utah Dialysis Program for almost 17 years, our program was bought
out by DaVita Dialysis, one of the largest dialysis companies in the world. So
I am now officially a social worker for DaVita Dialysis. My other big news for
the year is opening my own private practice for mental health services called
Bright Way. <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.brightwaytherapy.com/">www.brightwaytherapy.com</a></span>
Earlier this year, Mel and I took a brief trip to San Antonio. We loved
exploring the River Walk, going to the Alamo, and eating our weight in Mexican
food. (Are you sensing a theme in our lives?) Last month, I checked a big item
off my bucket list when I met one of my favorite authors, David Sedaris.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As a family, we
went to see OneRepublic in Las Vegas. Even though we’re some of the last people
in the country who have discovered the magic of the TV show Ted Lasso, we’re
now on board with the rest of you fans. And have you seen the one-man Broadway
show on Hulu called <a href="https://youtu.be/_62BeXxd_jo" target="_blank">In & Of Itself</a>? It’s one of the most moving, powerful
things we saw all year. Please. Go watch it. It’s a family favorite as well.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Our poodle, Jack,
and our Great Dane, Little Debbie, have somehow managed to remain among the
living. They are old. But they still find so much joy going on walks, and
stealing cookies off the counter. Honestly, their favorite thing in life is to
be petted by Mel when she is going to the bathroom. As soon as they hear the sound
of a toilet seat, they go running like Pavlov’s dogs to get some affection.
We’re not sure how much longer Jack will be around. We don’t want to be
unprepared for burial after his passing. So we have a large, empty box sitting
in the garage ready for when he passes away and we need to have Jack In The
Box. (Sorry, too far?)</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So here we are on
the brink of 2022. The New Year stands before us like the chapter of a book
waiting to be written. I love the idea of a blank page. A fresh start. I hope
the next chapter of your book includes overwhelming heaps of adventure, hope,
love, and happiness. Oh, and donuts. Lots of donuts. <br /><br />Love, <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cory, Mel, Jackson, Dani, and Kylee Reese</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnbIHykaZz6HdLiulEYVtJ12UeewLbHsBJDu-8mOmZTvXhdYSENCfBc4M4TBnC75jgBTuaX94UHWTZ8lJk64q2a4yc12Phg4zdAE1qgS3K-sHqAAI9kuiQZZqAnv02iTQjN7q7S8-sTl6g6jSdFNJ7qfCr6VEr6KAGEa78CcyX-4iD01ErDsFUeIM=s1800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnbIHykaZz6HdLiulEYVtJ12UeewLbHsBJDu-8mOmZTvXhdYSENCfBc4M4TBnC75jgBTuaX94UHWTZ8lJk64q2a4yc12Phg4zdAE1qgS3K-sHqAAI9kuiQZZqAnv02iTQjN7q7S8-sTl6g6jSdFNJ7qfCr6VEr6KAGEa78CcyX-4iD01ErDsFUeIM=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-78965454268529095362021-05-17T15:00:00.000-06:002021-05-17T15:00:30.041-06:00Upcoming book: Stronger Than the Dark<p>I am so excited to announce the upcoming release of my latest book, Stronger Than the Dark: Exploring the Intimate Relationship Between Running and Depression. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhG8QvILThfCyyTt1xv2-jbe3tqrsR6iS0DZg_pumtkPWOSoc7K05sLbimlrjqgAOXWrgmbGPPUHyb7N87b9zXDCpUcukgwZJmBqR78_jEm6R4Jr0bI2oEhURWdSuymNahSWdGSzWQLYI/s2048/Cover+Announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhG8QvILThfCyyTt1xv2-jbe3tqrsR6iS0DZg_pumtkPWOSoc7K05sLbimlrjqgAOXWrgmbGPPUHyb7N87b9zXDCpUcukgwZJmBqR78_jEm6R4Jr0bI2oEhURWdSuymNahSWdGSzWQLYI/w400-h300/Cover+Announcement.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The book will be released on June 8, 2021, and is available now for <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stronger-Than-Dark-Relationship-Depression/dp/1736966405/ref=sr_1_3?crid=ECJ0YSK1UUW2&dchild=1&keywords=cory+reese+stronger+than+the+dark&qid=1621281714&sprefix=cory+reese%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-3" target="_blank">pre-order from Amazon</a></b>. <br /><p>Stronger Than the Dark is unlike anything I've written before. I've been working on the book for three years. It is raw, personal, and vulnerable. Here's a brief description:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">In
his gripping memoir, Cory Reese offers a compelling and vulnerable insight into
the pervasive destruction of depression. Drawing on lessons learned over a
decade of ultramarathon running, <i>Stronger Than the Dark</i> offers
a powerful new approach in the battle against depression: the willingness to
embrace suffering. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
a moment of physical and mental crisis during a 314-mile race across Tennessee,
he realizes with clarity life’s ultimate purpose. We are here to endure. We are
here to help others turn pain into peace. We are here to be a beacon of
kindness and compassion. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cory’s beautifully broken
path of healing speaks to anyone feeling lost in insecurity or despair, and
gives hope that even in life’s darkest moments, we can find the light. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I can't wait to share the book with you!</p>Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-72619609818514173512021-01-10T14:05:00.000-07:002021-01-10T14:05:39.853-07:00Happy New Year from the Reese Family!<p> Hi.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ideally, this
would have been the annual Reese Family Christmas Letter. But, like everything
else in 2020, those plans went up in flames like a fire in the dumpster behind
Denny’s. Then I thought, “That’s okay, I’ll just make it a ‘Happy New Year’
letter.” At least I finished it by January 21<sup>st</sup>, National Squirrel
Appreciation Day. (Nope, not making that up.) Here’s a summary of our crazy
year:</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">AUNT JACKIE and
LITTLE DEBBIE<br />For those of you
not following along, Jack is our senile poodle. Debbie is our Great Dane, and
resident food thief. If you’re eating dinner and turn your head for a split
second, Debbie will have your piece of pepperoni pizza in her stomach faster
than you can say “Seabiscuit.”</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">KYLEE<br />Ky got her
driver’s license this year, which required lots of time driving with a parent.
On a related note, my blood pressure medication was increased this year. She
worked at the city pool over the summer, and has been busy with school. She
continues to excel with art, and made some amazing screen printing designs for
tee shirts in one class. Ky got her wisdom teeth out, which led to an
interesting ride home from the surgeon afterward. Through uncontrollable
sobbing, she begged for a penguin and a baby koala bear. When I asked why she
was crying, she said “Because baby kola bears are just so, so cute.” She
recently started working at Papa Murphy’s Pizza, and now we get a family
discount. #blessed A few months ago, she bought a fish, and fish tank, then
snuck it up to her room hoping we wouldn’t notice. He only looks dead 60% of
the time, but comes to life whenever we think it’s time to scoop him into the
toilet.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">DANI<br />Speaking of fish,
Dani must have rainbow trout somewhere in her family tree. She is happiest when
she is in water. On the evolutionary chart, she is dangerously close to growing
gills. Over the summer, she worked at the pool as a lifeguard and taught swim
lessons. As a high school Senior, she remains active on the swim team, and
keeps getting faster and faster. She has also continued playing water polo, the
equivalent of WWF Wrestling in water. Her team even moved up to Gold Division
this year, and she received the team’s Sportsmanship Award. She loved going on
a white water rafting trip. She passed the college courses she was taking in
school, and completed medical coursework to earn her CNA certificate. But these
things pale in comparison to her proudest achievement: sitting down to binge
watch a whole season of Impractical Jokers. The show is basically like a weak
attempt at Candid Camera for millennials. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">JACKSON<br />Jackson returned
home from his Mormon mission to Oregon in March. It was the time when
Coronavirus was just taking off. Because of issues with his immune system, and
weekly infusions, there was a collective decision that it would be best to
return home after six months of service. Since then, he completed an advanced
EMT course. One of the course requirements was to start 30 IVs on friends and
family. To me, the idea of sticking IVs into people sounds worse than attending
a Nickelback concert, but he loves it. He has volunteered at a few veterinary
clinics in Shiprock, New Mexico, and Chinle, Arizona. He moved to Cedar City,
and finished his first semester at Southern Utah University. He works at an
assisted living facility in Cedar City, and loves to destroy me at pickle ball
in his spare time. He is taking his brilliant piano playing abilities to the
next level as he finishes up work on a new album of piano music.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">MEL<br />Mel has managed
to sustain her 42 year-long streak of being awesome. She continues her work as
a nurse practitioner at Intermountain Healthcare. She works in a rehab facility,
directly with COVID patients who aren’t sick enough to require hospitalization,
but are too sick to go home. With all her protective gear, and tubes connected
to a ventilation system, she looks like the 2020 version of Inspector Gadget.
In February, we went to New Orleans with a big group of friends to enjoy amazing
music, amazing tours, and amazing food. February feels like twelve years ago.
Before putting our house up for sale, Mel did most of the work remodeling our
bathrooms. The force and precision with which she used a gigantic sledge hammer
was equal parts inspiring and terrifying. This year she got shingles which she
gave a Yelp rating of 0/10. She also just received the COVID vaccine. Her
proudest achievement was completing the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee
1000k, running 621 miles in less than four months.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">CORY<br />I just finished
my 16<sup>th</sup> year working as a medical social worker with the University
of Utah. In May I ran a solo 100 miler doing loops around the block that I
called the Co-Run-A-Virus 100. This is proof that social isolation warps mental
capacity and makes you do dumb things. Mel and I went to Virginia where I ran
the Yeti 100, then we headed to Nashville for a few days. If someone abducted
me and moved me to Tennessee, I don’t think I would try to escape. I have the
Headspace app, and have tried to be more consistent doing daily meditation.
This helps me manage the intense rage that gets triggered when Little Debbie
steals my food. I read/listened to 77 books this year. I continue writing a
monthly column for UltraRunning Magazine, and have been devoting lots of late
nights and early mornings to working on a new book.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">FAMILY<br />In January,
before COVID shut everything down, we took a family vacation to Calgary, and
Banff, Canada. We happened to arrive during one of the worst cold snaps in
history. It was -29 degrees Fahrenheit when we arrived. I can confidently
verify that absolutely nothing is enjoyable when it is -29 degrees. Then COVID
hit, which was particularly concerning for our family, considering that Jackson
and I both need weekly infusions for nonfunctioning immune systems. We’ve been conscientious
of social distancing, but you know you’ve been cooped up too long when you
realize you’re having conversations with the toaster. We also have COVID to
blame for watching Tiger King. I’ve never been so tempted to grow a mullet. Our
family did lots and lots of hiking together during the year. It was fun to show
the kids some of the trails that we’ve been running for many years. In our most
spontaneous activity of the year, we drove to Page, Arizona. The night before,
we learned that illusionist and TV star David Blaine was planning to hold on to
43 weather balloons that would carry him 25,000 feet into the sky, before he
would disconnect from the balloons and parachute down.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2020 welcomed in
a new chapter for our family. After living in our home in Hurricane, Utah for
17 years, we moved to St. George! The move happened right before Christmas,
which is why this became a Happy New Year letter. We had planned to build a
house, but things kept falling through. Then we found a stunning house that was
almost done being built. The house stood at the base of a towering mesa that
glowed red in the sunset. The neighborhood was quiet and established. The front
door was modern and stylish. And it would turn our 30 minute commute to work
into a 5 minute commute. We immediately fell head over heels in love. We made
an offer that night, and were ecstatic when it was accepted. So here we are in
St. George, in the process of turning a house into our home.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Despite all the challenges of 2020, we still have so much to be thankful
for. May the New Year bring you and your family happiness, peace, and a new
season of Tiger King. Love, the Reese Family</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh4RZ45113S0_kAguDHSu75FWIH2Vzz4Wgpk0yUnH-ct5Q_kBbStQjK6RVEc9YiOrEP2rtrDFxKnxsJjhZUZ4ZcfwT0J2Ig_reFHT2VuYe_HLkk_eCM-UudaE86ea7WFyH1NEblY-CH4/s1750/FB+Family.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1750" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh4RZ45113S0_kAguDHSu75FWIH2Vzz4Wgpk0yUnH-ct5Q_kBbStQjK6RVEc9YiOrEP2rtrDFxKnxsJjhZUZ4ZcfwT0J2Ig_reFHT2VuYe_HLkk_eCM-UudaE86ea7WFyH1NEblY-CH4/w400-h300/FB+Family.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-60051273824396833102020-05-13T12:54:00.000-06:002020-05-13T12:54:10.793-06:00Co-Run-A-Virus 100 Miler<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsuaSyJuvtXl2-dDNhGRMnx7CP-yAUj3qrNVEKvxRh6R6HoHQY6SJbffIAgUydB8BrYW4VkcwwqA9Nag2tay2Ga4dvEJJc80s08_luf_Xpm5g6bysXfsAHSpYYWo8a9EXS40LyIqBc1E/s400/IMG_0361.jpg" style="display: none;" />
It's a crazy time right now with this Coronavirus pandemic. People are quarantined at home.<br />
~ Days blur together. Is it April 92nd?<br />
~ Parents have been forced to do home schooling, and there are record sales of alcohol. Coincidence? Um....no.<br />
~ Salons have been closed so people have attempted to give themselves haircuts. That Jennifer Aniston hair style you were hoping for looks more like Cookie Monster. Ooops.<br />
~ When cooped up at home, eating distracts from boredom. No longer is weight gain referred to as the "Freshman 15." It's now the "Quarantine 15."<br />
~ The government has announced that lock down will not end until every man, woman, and child has watched Tiger King.<br />
<br />
In the midst of all this craziness, I had a few days off work. I had already met my moral and ethical obligation to watch Tiger King. Yes, Carole Baskin killed him. And I figured this might be the only opportunity I'll ever have to run a 100 miler during a pandemic. (Insert Fingers Crossed emoji here.) So I set out to run the Co-Run-A-Virus 100! (Thanks to Hollie Reina for the cool name.)<br />
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<br />
I decided to stay close to home and run a .9 mile loop around the block of my house. I set up an aid station on my porch with running essentials: Dr. Pepper, peanut butter M&Ms, Doritos, and Swedish Fish. Are you new to ultrarunning? Don't give up kids! With enough practice, you can run many miles fueled by Nacho Cheese Doritos too! Around lunch time, I stopped at home for a few minutes to vacuum up at least 2,000 calories worth of nachos.<br />
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<br />
My friend Leah Lister heard that I was out running around the block. She knows that at any given moment, my blood stream is likely 30% Dr. Pepper. I saw her pull up beside me with a cold fountain drink. I could have hugged her. But then I remembered that I had been running in the sun for many hours, and I probably smelled like a rotting armadillo. (Unfortunately, <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2019/07/last-annual-vol-state-500k-race-report.html" target="_blank">I know exactly how those smell</a>.) So instead, I gratefully took the drink and kept moving.<br />
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<br />
A few people asked about the mental challenge of running such a monotonous course. Thankfully, I don't usually get too bored, even on repetitive courses. #blessed Once I <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/04/running-100-miles-on-cruise-ship.html" target="_blank">ran a 100 miler around the deck of a cruise ship</a>. A few times I've run <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2017/08/running-100-miles-on-high-school-track.html" target="_blank">100 milers around a high school track</a>. Taking those into consideration, my .9 mile loop wasn't bad at all. As long as I have a good podcast or book to listen to, and an occasional sighting of a horse-drawn carriage, I'm happy as a clam.<br />
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<br />
Eventually I started to get sick of Swedish Fish and Doritos. Mel ordered some pizza for dinner, and I took a short break to indulge. I've eaten MANY pieces of pizza during long runs over the years. It ALWAYS tastes amazing. And I ALWAYS regret it. Before I knew it, four pieces of Little Caesar's sausage pizza had plowed their way into my stomach. This behavior will not rank anywhere on my list of Smartest Things I've Ever Done.<br />
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<br />
As evening started to approach, I could see some dark clouds brewing in the distance. If my legs are cooperating, I try to get a jumping picture during each 100 miler. This seemed like a good time to take care of that.<br />
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<br />
Once it got dark, my kids decided to join in on the "fun." (I use the term "fun" very, <i><b>very</b></i> loosely.) Talking with them was a good distraction from my legs that were starting to get a tad grumpy.<br />
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<br />
The level of "fun" decreased when a storm rolled in and decided to dump. No big deal. When life gives you lemons, just crack open another Dr. Pepper and loathe the fact that you're out in a downpour instead of getting into bed.<br />
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<br />
Later, the family went to bed. I started perfecting the art of sleep walking. I love sleep walking as much as I love cream of mushroom soup (exactly 0%). Sleep walking led to me almost stepping on a frog. It was time to change from an audio book to music.<br />
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<br />
Sometime way past the hour that a sane person would have gone to bed, my friend Josh Conner showed up. If you didn't know any better, you'd hang out with us and think "Those two are so quirky and nerdy that they must be brothers." As evidence of his athletic abilities, this man holds the <a href="https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2019/11/02/arh-st-george-man-breaks-world-record-for-running-fastest-half-marathon-while-dressed-as-a-cowboy/?fbclid=IwAR07IM7ILInLLxwH6rQmPib8u3X9dVwrPEoTjE-ja6ZP5cqIPjeGiA4MTgE#.Xrww72hKhPY" target="_blank">World Record for the Fastest Half Marathon While Dressed as a Cowboy</a>. Josh was patient with my slow nighttime pace, and kept me laughing for hours as I inched my way toward sunrise.<br />
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Then somewhere around 5:30am, my friend Turd'l Miller showed up. Turd'l has worked countless aid stations over the years, and he always seems to be at the aid station where I feel my worst. He has an endearing way of <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/featured/zion-100-race-report/" target="_blank">shoving food into my face</a> to make sure I get the calories I need. There has been some ongoing trash talking between me and Turd'l about who could eat the most McDonald's ice cream cones in one sitting. (<i>Spoiler alert: me.</i>) At some point this competition will happen. But in the mean time, Turd'l called a bunch of McDonald's and managed to find some ice cream before coming out to meet me. That ice cream was heaven. I loved the hours he spent going around that damn loop with me.<br />
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Finally, light began to spill over Zion National Park on the horizon, and we were treated to a beautiful sunrise.<br />
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Mel shared many, many miles with me during the first day, during the night, and during the second day of the run. Just how many miles? Mel finished an incredible <b>40 miles</b> during the time I was out doing loops around the block! I am seriously impressed.<br />
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At mile 98 or 99, we stopped for a minute and talked to Seret Rafferty who lives nearby. Later she shared this picture of me and Mel.<br />
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I finished the Co-Run-A-Virus 100 miler after <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/3318164740" target="_blank">29 hours and 32 minutes</a>. I really like these solo 100 milers where I can do my own thing, run my own course, and just have fun without the pressure of cutoffs. If my count is correct, I think I've done thirty five 100+ mile runs, and eleven of those have been solo 100 milers.<br />
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I bought myself a belt buckle for an award in case I finished the run. It is a handmade buckle by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/bykali" target="_blank">Bykali</a>. I have many race buckles that have been made by her, and her stuff is always incredible. I especially love this one.<br />
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So in conclusion, you can go suck a rotten egg Coronavirus. And I'm sorry if your hair looks like Joe Exotic because your salon has been shut down so you were forced to give yourself a haircut. And to Doritos, I feel like I might be single-handedly keeping your brand in business. And I can't wait until regular races resume so I won't be tempted to run 100 miles around the block. When social distancing eases up and we see each other at a race, consider me first in line to give you a hug.Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com122tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-83868268263977890062019-12-10T10:53:00.001-07:002019-12-10T11:15:04.431-07:00The Annual Reese Family Christmas Letter - 2019<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKowuB-iuNk-xhA2VJPanf36fxvpKwYXydzZbWTWQFE1lTRQQcK96h4IlGmF4Uki8_mEoUKnER0vXkNbwA8YgTw8KZVkEuqhVg2Zbt_4DeBENeu1o3t-Ke2X-xkDiwu9UgrE8r-SVbPhg/s400/DSC_6318.jpg" style="display: none;" />
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas
from the Reese family! I’m sorry to report that we weren’t able to achieve our
goal of teaching our dogs to bark the notes of The Twelve Days of Christmas. I
had this vision of how awesome it would be for the UPS guy to ring the doorbell
and have our poodle and Great Dane serenade them with a Christmas song. Maybe
next year. Here’s a little rundown of 2019 at the Reese household:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><b>Kylee</b> is a sophomore at
Hurricane High. I don’t know what kind of time warp I entered where suddenly
our youngest child is in high school. Early in the year Ky and I contracted
what was either the flu or the Bubonic Plague. We’ve never been so sick and I
legitimately worried that the Grim Reaper might pop out of the pantry and
snatch us. At least we got to suffer together. That wasn’t the only terrifying
adventure me and Kylee shared this year. We also drove five hours to the middle
of nowhere (also known as Tonopah, Nevada) to spend a night at the scariest
motel on the planet, The Clown Motel. Sleeping in a place surrounded by clowns
(and probably bed bugs) was pretty scary. In February <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2019/02/jackpot-ultra-running-festival-race.html" target="_blank">she completed an amazing 50 miles at the Jackpot Ultra Running Festival</a>. Ky continues to develop as an artist.
Her drawing and painting skills are exceptional. A personal favorite art piece
of mine was her rendition of Mona Lisa with the face of Homer Simpson. She went
to prom and Sadie’s. She spent the summer working at the local pool, and is
also on the high school swim team. Another highlight of her year was when we
discovered an amazing pizza place in Hildale, Utah. The first time we took a
bite of their pizza, we literally heard a choir of angels rejoicing. Strange to
hear angels at the pizza place, but whatevs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><b>Dani</b> is a junior at
Hurricane High School. She is counting down the days until she is a senior and
has the legal authority to shove kids into their lockers. She reached the rite
of passage every kid dreams about – getting a driver’s license. This involved
lots of early morning classes, passing a test, and getting lots of practice
hours with a parent. Mel went out with her once, but she was so scared that she
started levitating out of the seat. When she got home, she said “You’re going
to have to be in charge of doing the hours with her.” Thankfully Dani feels
much more comfortable behind the wheel now. Approximately 37% of Dani’s life is
spent in the water. It was highly disturbing when I realized that she is
starting to grow gills. She was a lifeguard at the pool over the summer. She is
on the high school swim team. And she was on the water polo team. She is a very
talented swimmer. She had a blast going to the BYU/Utah football game with her siblings,
and also went to the homecoming and Sadie’s dances. Earlier in the year Dani
and I drove to northern Utah to see one of our favorite musicians, Ben Rector.
We were pretty psyched to meet him before the concert. He didn’t propose
marriage to Dani like she was hoping, but whatevs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><b>Jackson’s</b> year has been
pretty insane in the membrane. During his senior year in high school, he also
completed coursework to become certified as an Emergency Medical Technician.
His classes went until 10pm, after already having a full day of school. He
finished his final year as the pianist of the school Jazz Band and had the
honor of being awarded Musician Of The Year. He was the Music Sterling Scholar
for the school and earned a nice scholarship, then graduated from high school.
Jackson chose to serve a mission for the Mormon Church and is currently in
Medford, Oregon teaching in Spanish. Before leaving for his mission, he gave a
farewell talk at church. The night before his talk, the whole family was in the
car listening to our favorite reggae band Rebelution. While listening to the
song “Celebrate” we heard the lyrics “I got your back at the worst set of
times, and in return know that you have got mine.” I jokingly said “Jackson,
those are cool lyrics! You should work those into your talk!” The next morning
we were sitting in church listening to his talk. He said “I’ve had a few health
problems over the past year. I received a lot of comfort from my dad when he
sat me down and told me ‘I know this is tough, but just remember that I’ve got
your back at the worst set of times, and in return know that you have got
mine.’” #proudparentmoment The family inside joke had all of us smiling from
ear to ear. After the talk, a few people came up and said “That was so touching
what you said to Jackson.” People didn’t know where the line really came from,
but whatevs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><b>Mel</b> has managed to
continue her 41 year streak of being pretty freaking awesome. In February she
ran her first 100 mile race! We were able to run every step of the Jackpot
Ultra Running Festival together and it was so cool to share that experience
with her. We went to Costa Rica earlier in the year. It was pure heaven hanging
around the beach, or lounging by the pool and trying to keep monkeys from
stealing our snacks. Mel could have started her own HGTV home remodeling show
this year by redoing all three bathrooms in our house. Her dad definitely would
have been proud of all her handiwork. We went on an awesome road trip together
in September. We spent time at Monument Valley, then headed to Ouray, Colorado
where we saw the most stunning autumn colors ever. We hiked to the
indescribably beautiful Ice Lake and Island Lake. Then we spent a day in
Durango before heading home. We feel so lucky to have an amazing group of friends
that we regularly get to spend time with. In fact, it was during one such
weekend with a group of friends that we went down to Vegas and had a chance run
in with Vanilla Ice. I’m relatively sure that seeing Mr. Vanilla Ice in person
probably wasn’t one of Mel’s highlights for the year. Mel has some big news –
she is starting a new job at Intermountain Healthcare! By the time you read
this, she will have started. She will be one of their nurse practitioners who
covers a skilled nursing facility in the area. She has been doing a similar job
already so it should be a smooth transition. Her only flaw is an occasional
chastising when I stop at the gas station to buy a soda, but whatevs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I’m beginning my 15<sup>th</sup>
year as a medical social worker for the University of Utah Dialysis Program.
After more time than I would prefer with doctors, I found out I have this thing
called Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) which basically means that my
immune system is as useful as a pet rock. I had to start weekly infusions of
Hizentra (kind of like plasma) and will have to continue doing them for life. I
love needles as much as I love Celine Dion music (somewhere around 0.000%), but
usually the infusions go okay. My friend Scott Kummer helped me complete a
lifelong dream of seeing a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. We sweated a few gallons
of fluid during the game, ate crappy nachos, and had the time of our lives. I
ran the Jackpot 100, Zion 100, and a race called Vol State. This little
adventure involved <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2019/07/last-annual-vol-state-500k-race-report.html" target="_blank">running/walking/crawling/crying across five states and 314miles</a>. Then I got home and entered therapy to deal with my PTSD. At the
beginning of the year I set a goal to read/listen to 100 books. It’s the
beginning of December and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/59793340" target="_blank">I’m at 116 books</a>. This goal really has been life changing.
But my ultimate highlight of the year happened on Halloween. At work I dressed
up as Bob Ross, complete with the big afro and beard. I ran across the street
to grab lunch at the grocery store. The guy managing the bakery said “Hey! Bob
Ross! Did you know that we sell Bob Ross energy drinks?” He told me where they
were. And suddenly…I was holding an energy drink with a big Bob Ross face on
the front…while I was dressed as Bob Ross. I think I made all the planets in
the solar system align in that moment, but whatevs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Then we have our two dogs
who create more than their share of mischief. Jack, the poodle, loves following
us around the house like a stalker, and chewing on Bully Sticks. Since this
letter is family friendly, I won’t describe what they are. Google it. (After I
Googled it, I no longer allow Bully Sticks in the house.) He’s old and we don’t
know how much longer he’ll be alive. Unfortunately he won’t be going to dog
heaven. He barks so much that he will be going to dog hell. Then there’s our
Great Dane, Little Debbie. She absolutely loves watching National Geographic
videos. She is a horrible demon of destruction and sneaks as much food as
possible. For example, this past week she enjoyed stealing a piece of pizza, a
bag of homemade caramels, and a full plate of cookies that were left on the
counter. Her general attitude is “I know I’m going to get in big trouble for
this, but man, I love cookies, so whatevs.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">We had a lot of fun
experiences as a family this year. We love going to concerts and saw Aerosmith,
Rebelution, The Strumbellas, OneRepublic, and Paul McCartney. We enjoyed a fun
family reunion at Sand Hollow Reservoir. We fell in love with Modern Family and
had fun watching episodes and laughing together. We had lots of dance parties
late into the night that included loud music and lots of mocking how terrible
my dancing abilities are. A few times we’ve spontaneously made the 3 hour
roundtrip drive to a dairy in Beaver, Utah that has amazing ice cream. The
drive home usually includes a stomach ache, and mild self-hatred for the vast
quantities of ice cream that were consumed, but whatevs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I hope I’m not implying
that our house is always a Norman Rockwell painting. We have had our share of
challenges and heartache and frustrations and discouragement. We also have our
share of fighting, arguing, whining, and complaining. But through it all, we
still love each other. At least most of the time. We are a blanket of flaws and
imperfections sewn together with love. I know. That last sentence sounds
cheesy, but it’s true, so whatevs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Thanks for your continued
love and friendship. Here’s to a wonderful 2020! Love, the Reese Family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-70883412811529650632019-07-23T17:40:00.000-06:002019-07-23T18:24:44.306-06:00Last Annual Vol State 500k Race Report - 2019<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyh3Ht16OkuWrSR1QIFoVTwuYsErb5R0jNkkgSmIbxqXyp3Zngv4TNEX5a5Vh7p6bF0Qu2qSp3S_gP8vQQXUcT8z1hJoc1bwKZzS_7I0LWDH1V9himhJbdLPNhNWybqnIo6_s3DV05dro/s400/IMG_0220.jpg%0A" style="display: none;" />
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During the race, I thought about how I would explain this situation to my therapist. Granted, I didn't have a therapist. But I was pretty sure I'd need one after this race. I could see myself sitting on the therapist's couch and saying:</div>
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"Hi. My name is Cory. I just finished a 314 mile race called the <a href="https://vacationwithoutacar.com/" target="_blank">Last Annual Vol State 500k</a>. It took me 8 days and 6 hours to finish. We started in Missouri. Then we crossed into Kentucky. Then we ran across Tennessee. This was followed by some miles in Alabama, before finishing in Georgia. I didn't have a crew or aid stations. I was not on a prisoner of war death march. I paid to do this. I think I might have PTSD from my blisters."</div>
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The therapist would then smile, imagining all the boat payments that my extensive therapy visits would be paying for years to come. </div>
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There are two divisions at Vol State: <b>Crewed </b>(with a crew and support), and <b>Screwed </b>(sorry, no help for you, good luck using gas stations to refill on food and fluid). I was Screwed. I had to carry anything I may need for that 314 mile journey. Here is what I took with me:</div>
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Shirt (the one pictured is the only shirt I wore the whole time)</div>
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Shorts (the shorts pictured are the only shorts I wore the whole time) </div>
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Injinji Socks (wore one pair, took one extra)</div>
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Ear buds</div>
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External battery charger</div>
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Camera</div>
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Toothbrush and toothpaste</div>
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Contact case</div>
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Reflective vest (didn't use)</div>
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Emergency blanket (didn't use)</div>
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Altra Torin shoes (wore same pair the whole time)</div>
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Blister repair kit</div>
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Epi Pen</div>
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Body Glide</div>
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Wipes</div>
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Direction Book</div>
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Mace</div>
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Head lamp</div>
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Patagonia Houdini jacket</div>
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Travel pillow (used once, just used my pack as a pillow the rest of the time)</div>
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Ice bandana</div>
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Cash for vending machines</div>
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UltrAspire Zygos pack</div>
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Not pictured: bug spray, sun screen, hat, $.99 poncho, and umbrella. The umbrella helped a ton with both sun and rain.</div>
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After the race, my shirt, shorts, and socks were transported to a nuclear waste incinerator. </div>
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We met at the finish line at 6:30am on Wednesday to load buses which would drive us on a day-long trip across Tennessee to the start line. Unfortunately there were some complications with the bus company and buses didn't arrive until 5:30pm. Despite the ~11 hour delay standing in the heat all day, runners still remained in good spirits.</div>
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<b>Day 1 ~ Miles 0-62</b></div>
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Bright and early on Day 1, we boarded a ferry that took us across a river and dropped us off in Missouri. Race director <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0CaKd2G7e4" target="_blank">Lazarus Lake</a> lit his cigarette signalling the beginning of the race, then we got right back on the ferry and went back to Kentucky. I love this little quirk that allows at least a few steps of the race to be in Missouri. </div>
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I ran many miles with my new friends Sharon and Cherie. We came across Laz on the course and they asked if I'd take a picture of them with Laz. (Gary Cantrell aka Lazarus Lake is also the race director of the <a href="http://barkleymovie.com/" target="_blank">Barkley Marathons</a>.) Laz put his arms around them for the photo. Then I asked if I could get a picture as well. Laz said "Sure, but I'm not putting my arm around you." I walked up to him and right before the picture he put his arm around me. I'm not going to lie. That made my day.</div>
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Late in the afternoon, Cherie, Sharon, and I caught a view of heaven up ahead and knew we had to stop. That's right kids, heaven looks distinctly like Taco Bell. After two cheesy gordita crunches, a bean burrito, and some Mountain Dew Baja Blast, I was on my way again.</div>
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We enjoyed a stunning sunset on the first night, though I was already starting to feel the beginning of a panic attack. We weren't even 24 hours into the race and I was already feeling so tired and sore. I truly couldn't begin to wrap my head around how it would be possible to continue doing this for up to 10 days.</div>
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In the middle of the night we got to a fire station that graciously was being used as a place for runners to rest. It was a tad disturbing when I first walked in. The place looked like a morgue. </div>
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<b>Day 2 ~ Miles 63-101</b></div>
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Day Two was indescribably brutal for me. The heat and humidity were utterly smothering. I stopped for breakfast at a little cafe in Huntington. I sat next to some other runners. One guy had chaffing so bad that he planned to drop from the race. He lifted his shorts to show me that he had bloody maxi pads taped to the inside of his thighs! That was certainly a "What have I gotten myself into???" moment. By the afternoon I still hadn't slept yet, so I found a great awning of a church and took a short rest. I spent many hours with my new friend Ed Masuoka. He is brilliant, funny, and humble. He is a NASA scientist, and this was his 6th Vol State race.</div>
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On the evening of Day 2, I got my first real rest. I stayed three hours at a Knights Inn motel. Even though my room had no soap or shampoo, it more than made up for it with hair. Hair in the sink. Hair in the shower. Hair in the bed. Whoever stayed in that room before me was shedding like a black lab. I took a quick shower, then worked on fixing blisters, then slept for about 90 minutes in my cozy blanket of hair.</div>
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Around midnight I met up with my friends Jeff and Carol Manwaring and we plunged into the night together. From that point on, we spent every single mile with each other.</div>
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The race is well known in Tennessee. Many people who live along the route will set out some snacks or a cooler of drinks on their front lawn. They are called "road angels" and their kindness was so, so appreciated.</div>
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Because of the suffocating heat, we tried to focus on getting most of our miles at night. My favorite part of moving at night was when we would start sleep walking, then find a cozy driveway to take a quick 20 minute power nap. Hearing the frogs croak and the crickets chirp while staring at a blanket of stars above was magic. It's crazy how rested you can feel after sleeping for 20-30 minutes.</div>
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<b>Day 3 ~ Miles 102-137</b></div>
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The morning of Day 3 was an inferno. You know that scene in The Wizard of Oz where the Wicked Witch of the West cackles "I'm melllltingggg!" as she drips into a puddle on the floor? I was the Wicked Witch. </div>
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We were kind of getting to a crisis point with the heat and were starting to get concerned. At that very moment we came across Pam Pratt who I swear had angel wings tucked under her shirt. She had chairs under a canopy, cold Dr. Pepper and water, and some pasta salad that I would have sold one of my kidneys for. (Notice the bubbled sunburn blisters on my knees. Yes. I was using sunscreen.)</div>
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Jeff and Carol brought a baby stroller to carry their supplies. They did this last year too and got stopped by police a few times to make sure they didn't have a baby out in the heat. The Manwarings only live a few minutes away from me. I've known them for many years. We even traveled to Tennessee together. I couldn't have guessed that we'd spend almost the whole race together, and how valuable their support would be.</div>
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We planned to sleep for a few hours during the heat of the day. They booked a motel room in advance and there weren't any rooms left. They graciously invited me to stay in their room with them. I can't express how thankful I was. Traditionally when you stop, you rinse out your clothes and hang them up to dry. (Spoiler alert: THEY <b><i>NEVER</i></b> DRY.) I told them I didn't have a second pair of clothes so I'd just wrap a towel around myself. Jeff said "I have a dry pair of underwear, you can just wear these while you sleep." Did I wear them? You betcha. Then we all sat there in our underwear comparing blisters. And after we woke up, I took off Jeff's underwear, then he put them right back on. That, my friends, is true friendship. When you're in the midst of a 314 mile battle like this, swapping underwear doesn't even register on the radar for bizarre things.</div>
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Our long slog through the night began with an insane flash flood. We were drenched. We got to know the smell of roadkill before we even saw the roadkill. Skunks smell terrible. Possums smell terrible. But the absolute worst smelling roadkill is armadillos. They smell like a combination of a clogged gas station toilet, moldy cheese, rotten eggs, sweaty armpits, bad breath, and vomit. </div>
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During the night we took a short power nap. Sleep comes within 60 seconds once your head hits the ground.</div>
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<b>Day 4 ~ Miles 138-174</b></div>
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We were blessed with some cloud cover which helped us get a few extra miles in the daylight.</div>
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One road angel said up some camp chairs in their garage with drinks and snacks. We caught up with my friends Sharon and Cherie and they immediately had me laughing with their hilarious stories. </div>
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Jeff, Carol, and I got a hotel room for a few hours in the afternoon. We planned to sleep four hours but I could only sleep three because my feet were hurting so bad. All my sorrows vanished in the evening though when I made my second Taco Bell visit of the race. </div>
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People were so interested in the race. The most common question was "Why are you doing this?" They expected to hear that we were running for a charity or something. For me, "Why?" is a difficult question to answer. It's a deep question wrapped up in a lot of thought and emotion. Instead of getting into the philosophical points of making a journey like this, I'd usually say something like "I had some vacation hours at work that I needed to burn." So many people stopped and asked us about the route, or our goals, or the experiences we had so far. People were genuinely interested and so amazingly considerate and thoughtful.</div>
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That night we took a power nap in my favorite place during the whole race: a post office! It was quiet and cozy and we slept like rocks for a glorious 40 minutes.</div>
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<b>Day 5 ~ Miles 175-202</b></div>
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Day 5 was kind of a blur ("Alex, I'll take Sleep Deprivation for $600.") We spent a few hours at a motel in Columbia and got FIVE HOURS of sleep! This was our longest period of sleep during the whole race. We felt <i><b>amazing</b></i> after waking up. After a few miles we were treated to one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. We all stopped walking and just stood there in silence surrounded by a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors. I took deep breaths. I wanted to breath in every ray of pink and purple and yellow and orange that my lungs would hold. It was a powerful moment.</div>
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As light faded to darkness, I fell into kind of a dark place myself. My feet were an utter mess. Blisters had erupted all over both feet and each step was incredibly painful. I'd consider myself fairly experienced on foot care, but I just could not get on top of this problem. I was overwhelmingly discouraged and frustrated. </div>
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During the night we made it to The Bench Of Despair. This is probably the most legendary spot of the Vol State 500k course. By this time, many runners feel as if they have met their breaking point. The discouragement I was feeling wasn't unusual. But the silver lining is that nearly every single person who has ever made it to the Bench Of Despair at mile 186 ends up finishing the race. I just needed to not give up.</div>
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A few miles after The Bench Of Despair, we made it to The Nutt House. Jimbo and Kim Nutt LIVE for the Vol State race each year. Their front yard is transformed into an oasis of love and support. They gave us chairs to sit on, cooked us some hamburgers, and even gave us some pie. It was so touching to see how important this race is to them. They truly love every runner who passes through, and it shows.</div>
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We had some really slow miles during the late night and early morning. We were all so tired. My feet felt like I was walking on molten lava, and Carol's ankle was causing lots of hassles. Around 4:00am we got to a gas station that was already cooking breakfast. We ordered some BLT sandwiches but it was going to take a few minutes to cook them. Our legs and feet were so demolished that we couldn't stand for a few minutes. Instead we just laid down to rest.<br />
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Our brains were FRIED. I think we realized the absurdity of laying on a gas station floor and we got the giggles. Then the giggles morphed into a complete outburst of laughter. We could have been arrested for public intoxication, and we would have failed the sobriety test of walking a straight line. Except that instead of being drunk on alcohol, we were drunk on exhaustion. This moment of pure misery may be my favorite memory of the whole race.</div>
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<b>Day 6 ~ Miles 203-225</b></div>
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We made it to Lewisburg, Tennessee and were treated to a jaw dropping sunrise.</div>
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My feet were in severe distress and I needed some medical supplies from Walgreens. I had to sit outside and wait for 45 minutes for them to open. (Jeff and Carol went ahead a mile to our motel where we planned to sleep for a few hours.) While waiting for the store to open, a kitten found me and refused to let me stop petting her. I'm surprised that any living creature would willingly get that close to me considering that I had been wearing the same clothes for six days in a row.</div>
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The rest of the day was just a typical Vol State kind of day. You know, sleep in a crappy motel for a few hours, see a dead horse on the side of the road, eat gas station nachos, enjoy beef stew from a different gas station, take a roadside power nap, dodge dead armadillos, see a rainbow. The usual.</div>
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Somewhere along the way I lost my Badwater hat. I may have set it down when I stopped to take a picture or something. I planned to buy another one at the next gas station. Selection was fairly limited, but when I saw the bedazzled hat that said BOY, I heard the hat whisper to me "I love you. Take me with you." So I did. We've been best friends ever since.</div>
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<b>Day 7 ~ Miles 226-267</b></div>
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It's difficult to describe how challenging Day 7 was for me. The heat radiating from the road was like a toaster oven. I SWEAR if you put a pepperoni Hot Pocket in each of my shoes, you could have set the shoes on the road for three minutes, then had yourself a couple of fully baked Hot Pockets. Between the heat and the fact that my feet were always wet, my blisters went from bad to worse.</div>
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We all experienced the brink of another crisis moment when we got caught in the heat of the day with no cover. This is a quick way to lose 15 pounds of sweat within one hour. My skin was withering like a dry raisin.</div>
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I just tried to hold on to hope that things would work out. I know I have the ability to keep fighting when things get hard. I recognized that this was one of those transformational moments when you realize that you are capable of more than you imagined. It's a blessing to recognize when you are living one of those moments.</div>
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In the evening we stopped at a Subway restaurant in Manchester. While we ate, I spent a lot of time trying to fix blisters. Once we started moving again, I knew I was in big trouble. My feet were in worse condition than ever. Carol said she has lots of experience fixing blisters and offered to work on my feet. I initially declined. I was being too prideful, and I was embarrassed at my condition. But my feet were at a crisis point. Something had to happen. So eventually I relented. In the lot of a car dealership she got my feet back into a condition that I could keep going.</div>
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At 2:00am we propped a phone on the baby stroller and watched the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. I'm not exaggerating. I know every single line of that movie. I've never met someone who knows and loves that movie as much as I do. That is until I met Jeff and Carol! Those couple hours of the movie were pure happiness.</div>
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<b>Day 8 ~ Miles 268-301</b></div>
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The focus of Day 8 was the three mile climb to Monteagle, one of two big climbs of the race. The bonus was that the scenery helped distract from our angry legs and feet.</div>
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Before the race, Carol told me that there are parts of the course that remind her of Hawaii. It seemed like a stretch to compare Tennessee to Hawaii, but now I finally understood what she meant.</div>
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Occasionally we'd get to a gas station or fast food restaurant and see other runners. Sometimes you get the luxury of sleeping in a motel for a few hours. Sometimes you just sleep on the side of the road. And sometimes you just sleep in a restaurant. My friend Cherie McCafferty took this photo during one of her stops. In my eyes, this is a perfect description of the Vol State experience:</div>
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We slept for a while in Monteagle, then I spent a while trying to fix blisters before we started again. As with the night before, as soon as I started moving, my feet were screaming with pain. I just couldn't keep going. Carol said "Sit down, let me help you." She took off my shoes and started working on my blisters.</div>
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This was my breaking point of the race. I'm not normally very emotional, but at that moment I burst into tears. When Carol saw the silent tears rolling down my cheeks, she started crying too. My feet were hurting so bad that I couldn't begin to fathom how it would be possible to go another 40 miles. It seemed absolutely impossible. But she again repaired them enough to keep going. Even now, the thought of her deep compassion makes me emotional. </div>
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That night was a dark time for all of us, literally and figuratively. We were all having a hard time, and we were all trying to help each other keep going. Our NASA friend Ed caught up to us! We were thrilled to see him. Ed was so tired that he was talking to trees. In that moment, all we could do was laugh as we thought back on what we had experienced over the course of those eight days.</div>
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<b>Day 8.5 ~ Miles 302-314</b></div>
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We made it through our last night of the race! We survived eight days! Now we only had the final 15 mile push to the finish line. A point of celebration for runners is when they reach the Blue Bridge around mile 304. By that point you can start to smell the finish line. That's when you know you're going to make it. I was ecstatic.</div>
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There are no words that could adequately express the gratitude and love I feel for Jeff and Carol Manwaring. Their compassion, encouragement, sense of humor, and grit radiate off of them. They said they were so thankful that I was part of their journey too. We talked about how we needed each other, we helped each other when times were tough, and the fact that we were with each other made the race experience so much richer. I feel so thankful to call them my friends.</div>
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We had the last climb of the race up Sand Mountain to complete. But we were determined and excited to make it to the finish.</div>
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In our final miles, we got caught in the fiercest flash flood of the race. Sometime I'll share some video from that point. It was pretty crazy. Right before the finish, Jeff, Carol, and I celebrated with a 312 mile jumping picture.</div>
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And then, after 8 days and 6 hours, covering the span of 314 miles, we made it to The Rock, the finish line of the Vol State 500k. I was swallowed with a sense of complete happiness and gratitude for the journey that I had just experienced.</div>
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Laz congratulated us at the finish line. He laughed at my hat and said he liked the creativity of buying a hat at a gas station after losing my first hat. He said "Let's trade hats for the finish line picture." I love this so, so much.</div>
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I could feel something changing in me during this race. The person who stood at The Rock after 314 miles is not the same person who stood at the start line. All the outside noise was quieted. It became so clear to see what truly matters in life. What matters is love. The world clutters our lives with responsibilities and due dates and meetings and to-do lists. They suck up our time and energy. But those things are completely meaningless. Relationships are what breathe life into us.<br />
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I saw just how powerful a simple act of kindness can be. On day 2, I started crying when a guy pulled up next to me and handed me a bottle of water. I needed that water and it meant so much to me. I regretted all the times I have passed up an opportunity to be a road angel to someone who may need something as simple as a bottle of water, or a hug, or some words of encouragement. I assure you that I will do my best to not overlook those opportunities anymore. It doesn't need to be something major. It's those small, simple actions that can make a world of difference. I will actively seek out opportunities to be a road angel to people in my everyday life.<br />
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I saw firsthand that we are capable of more than we know. I saw it in every single runner I spent time with. So often we take the easy way out in life. We choose comfort. We quit when it gets hard. But if we're willing to accept and embrace being uncomfortable, there really is nothing we can't do.<br />
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If you want to read more of my stuff, check out my books <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nowhere-Near-First-Ultramarathon-Adventures/dp/1537001809/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=nowhere+near+first&qid=1563924724&s=gateway&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><b>Nowhere Near First</b></a>, and <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Furnace-across-Death-Valley/dp/1987711580/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2/147-0476518-7312456?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1987711580&pd_rd_r=1561a3ae-7a77-4438-86fc-ec3522a0dd4b&pd_rd_w=yK9zP&pd_rd_wg=ehLO0&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=38PBMQM7R9XDV3KZ1DVT&psc=1&refRID=38PBMQM7R9XDV3KZ1DVT" target="_blank">Into The Furnace</a></b>. It's hard to summarize an experience like this into a single blog post. I don't have anything specific planned, but there may be more of this experience that finds its way to a book in the future.<br />
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Thank you to my sponsors <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a>, <a href="http://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra</a>, <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/" target="_blank">Tailwind Nutrition</a>, <a href="https://www.injinji.com/" target="_blank">Injinji</a>, and <a href="https://ultraspire.com/?uaa=52" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a><span id="goog_346981835"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_346981836"></span>. Thank you to the amazing road angels along the course. You always seemed to be there when we needed you most. Thanks to the amazing runners I was able to share miles with. I am so happy to have new friendships with you. Thank you Laz for pushing me to my limit and showing me that I can push even farther. And finally, thank you Mel, Jackson, Dani, and Ky for your love and support. Coming home to your love was the greatest finish line award of all.</div>
Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com161tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-6142780494971660502019-05-20T16:06:00.000-06:002019-05-21T19:51:05.045-06:00Zion 100 Race Report 2019<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5vm3uOw_o8ofEBUUaFQRjVK6_HOQXRi7on15rYhw9QpSy7CWNQX79X1VskirtXyrq2O0hj8Hqr9BJMGDuPkvdE2jlVpg4qT4Ii_yCepEyUMhTjjxiWEnPSoj3_2YfeOoghJqyCYON2I/s400/22+Zion+100.jpg" style="display: none;" />
Dear <a href="https://vacationraces.com/ultras/zion/" target="_blank">Zion 100</a>,<br />
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Hi. It's me, Cory. I just wanted to write you a little thank you note after this year's race. You're my friend, so I want to be honest with you. I wasn't sure I wanted to hang out with you this year. Because of these <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2019/02/life-got-little-messy.html" target="_blank">pesky infusions I've been doing every week</a>, I haven't been able to run as much as I used to. I wasn't sure how my legs would hold up. But I love you. You are beautiful. And I love sleeping in my own bed the night before a race, with the start line only a few minutes away from home.</div>
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Mel has paced and crewed me many times over the years and she knows you are pretty cool, so she decided to run the 100k race the day before packet pickup. </div>
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I don't know if you know this, but once the race started, you made some people cry. It's kind of rude to make people do a 1,500 foot vertical climb right at the beginning of the race. If you look closely, you can see ant-like runners going up the mountain.</div>
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On that brutal climb up Goosebump you made my wife say quite a few four letter words. She decided you aren't as cool as she thought.</div>
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I'm not trying to be rude, but Mel wasn't the only one spraying out four letter words like water shooting out of a sprinkler. That climb is never ending. And it HURTS.</div>
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Mel was cursing both me and you. I said "Whoa! Hey! Don't bring me into this! You're the one who chose to come and hang out with the Zion 100." I didn't say or do anything to encourage her to start a relationship with you. I did tell her that the view at the top was worth the miserable climb. I think once we made it to the top of the mountain she agreed.</div>
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Once we made it to the top, then it was time to run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Swear. Run. Run. Cramp. Swear. Run. Run. Run. Run. Walk break. Run. Run. Run. Cramp. Swear. Swear. </div>
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Then grand, sweeping views of Zion National Park opened up on the horizon. It made all the swearing go away. </div>
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With every single mile that passed, I felt so incredibly thankful to be sharing those miles with Mel. Though she's been a runner for many years, she only recently developed an interest in ultrarunning. To be able to share such a horrible and wonderful and painful and rewarding adventure with her is pretty freaking sweet.</div>
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I really, really like how you added Wire Mesa to the course this year! I've never been on that trail before, but that trail made me love you even more. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBxb8l787UNukHih3EPCMIjfTXNHp_il4naLuZSpjwe37cfwux4Y3zVjF0zi1pgs40MiBymv8xQe6Sl1FJ64biYQr4v9eNH3bhhmIffwXE1WSFxK5_gcK_Q3H58XzIxn5hS8gOSfVYYg/s1600/8+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBxb8l787UNukHih3EPCMIjfTXNHp_il4naLuZSpjwe37cfwux4Y3zVjF0zi1pgs40MiBymv8xQe6Sl1FJ64biYQr4v9eNH3bhhmIffwXE1WSFxK5_gcK_Q3H58XzIxn5hS8gOSfVYYg/s400/8+Zion+100.jpg" title="ultramarathon, race, Zion 100, Zion National Park" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had a difficult time running those miles on Wire Mesa because I had to keep stopping to take pictures. I've always told people that you are the most beautiful 100 miler I've run. Thanks for proving me right.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuMxOMqmQ6phyXThdYT9vW-eoKyDoPKCsmVfI_1_RyQT9rvGzff2uBc6kwep34UCHiovOdpeiGzFjXSCGjNu2Jz46odw9sv1BtJLzm0a-DmQGFQtV5waK3VlCFV3-ogi8NiTi4EsJ-wo/s1600/9+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuMxOMqmQ6phyXThdYT9vW-eoKyDoPKCsmVfI_1_RyQT9rvGzff2uBc6kwep34UCHiovOdpeiGzFjXSCGjNu2Jz46odw9sv1BtJLzm0a-DmQGFQtV5waK3VlCFV3-ogi8NiTi4EsJ-wo/s400/9+Zion+100.jpg" title="Zion National Park, ultramarathon, Zion 100" width="400" /></a></div>
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After about 20 miles running together, Mel and I split up. Those first 20 miles with her were my favorite part of the race. We gave each other a hug and kiss, then split up. </div>
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I then spent many, many hours mostly alone surrounded by your amazing scenery. I'd pass or be passed by an occasional runner, but most of the time I enjoyed the miles in solitude. </div>
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Of all the trails I've run in southern Utah, the view from The Point on Gooseberry Mesa is my very favorite place to be. I always feel a connection to home when I'm standing here because I can see Gooseberry Mesa from my driveway.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEGvGFvxZk5uhyphenhyphenXfypJfPPQk1BuZW8E6CP_cgv5E0rZZ8x5uM5Z1PWC9nRp6CJyJiIJEePOSKM4ecfBZKoRXv3l5O8slCTyp1KsSEseJSqHiA5CZ1zWdsN8usyOZtdwESH-7rsZiiMwQ/s1600/12+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEGvGFvxZk5uhyphenhyphenXfypJfPPQk1BuZW8E6CP_cgv5E0rZZ8x5uM5Z1PWC9nRp6CJyJiIJEePOSKM4ecfBZKoRXv3l5O8slCTyp1KsSEseJSqHiA5CZ1zWdsN8usyOZtdwESH-7rsZiiMwQ/s400/12+Zion+100.jpg" title="Zion 100, ultramarathon, Zion National Park" width="400" /></a></div>
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I can't thank you enough for the amazing weather you treated us to. You've thrown some downright horrific weather at us over the years. I swore I'd never talk to you again after <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2012/05/zion-100-race-report-my-2nd-100-miler.html" target="_blank">the sweltering inferno of 2012</a>. And you were a royal A hole <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/04/zion-100-race-report-2018.html" target="_blank">last year with that ridiculous rain and mud</a>. But you redeemed yourself this year. Thanks for that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8voJb1AOOL9FY39_YHaVNHdURWfR2UsfWwFL_e7YhDa-BTKjHsH5jCXp0WiuIM8SKdKzwP4Q3Tj6u76p5dV0E_46cpZLqoQti-SjifTMUJES4UhLigvGOJ5TCOBFmJJE6i5YEQHNlcjw/s1600/14+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8voJb1AOOL9FY39_YHaVNHdURWfR2UsfWwFL_e7YhDa-BTKjHsH5jCXp0WiuIM8SKdKzwP4Q3Tj6u76p5dV0E_46cpZLqoQti-SjifTMUJES4UhLigvGOJ5TCOBFmJJE6i5YEQHNlcjw/s400/14+Zion+100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was starting to sleep walk a little bit when I got to the Virgin Desert aid station around mile 53. I was thankful to see my friend Cherie Santiago who volunteered to meet Mel at that aid station and pace her to the finish line of the 100k. I gave her a big hug. Cherie is a bundle of light, energy, and kindness. </div>
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As I was talking with Cherie, I heard someone behind me say "Hey, I know that voice! Are you Cory Reese?" She introduced herself and told me her name was Cassidy Tinkoff. She said "I was listening to your book <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Furnace-across-Death-Valley/dp/1987711580/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=into+the+furnace&qid=1558127828&s=gateway&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Into The Furnace</a></b> during my flight over to this race!" We then left the aid station and enjoyed some fun miles together wandering through the dark desert talking and laughing. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1S48BlWkm-V5SwqEj9ihZmblKnBCJO_SWhlcCWT1VWd15kXqEguvegiIvaQNDzQ-80qRBe4ZqBlrw9HwSjn-thV2XBXVidSjRN3pE-ti4MzvxM1npeyk4O3pCLlidH2Ru_0o1Wjopyw/s1600/16+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1S48BlWkm-V5SwqEj9ihZmblKnBCJO_SWhlcCWT1VWd15kXqEguvegiIvaQNDzQ-80qRBe4ZqBlrw9HwSjn-thV2XBXVidSjRN3pE-ti4MzvxM1npeyk4O3pCLlidH2Ru_0o1Wjopyw/s400/16+Zion+100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was a LOOOOOOOOOONG night. It got super windy and the cold breeze pierced right through my clothes. And there was some sleep walking. And I nearly ran right into the back side of a cow who was standing right in the middle of the trail. (I was so surprised and scared that I let out a yelp that sounded exactly like a six year old girl screaming.) I was so thankful to make it through the night and see the sun lighting up the horizon.<br />
<br />
I started to see runners coming down the road from Guacamole Mesa making their way to the finish line. It would take me many, many hours to make it up the road, run the Guacamole Trail, and then make it back down the road myself. They were many hours ahead of me and they looked horrible.<br />
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When I was at the mile 52 aid station, I made a poor life choice and ate a big piece of pizza. From that point on, my stomach threw a gigantic temper tantrum. It was twisting and turning in knots. I thought to myself "You have about 15 more miles to go. Other than your stomach, you're feeling okay. Maybe you should just throw up and let your stomach reset."<br />
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I've never thrown up <b><i>during</i></b> a race before. I've thrown up many times<i><b> after </b></i>a race, but never during. It seemed like a good time to end my vomit-free streak. I knew that throwing up couldn't make my stomach hurt any worse than it was already hurting. I grabbed my camera hoping to get a sweet mid-eruption photo. Then I gave my stomach permission to exercise the demons out of my body.<br />
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My stomach started spasming. Then dry heaving. More dry heaving. But no eruption! Alas, much to my surprise, my vomit-free streak continues, and all I have to show for it is a picture of my dry heaving while a vein nearly pops out of my neck.<br />
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I made it up to Guacamole, ran the Guacamole Trail, then back down. I was at the point I had seen those runners hours earlier. I figured I probably looked as terrible as they did. I crossed the Virgin River and the cold water helped revive me a bit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZE8-Cqs1aJ6AxsSylpkyoxC840dtY5q6Rf9pl7rCujfk6i_5e0DoPOfhnzxzpnoJu8Vkop-X_pvrJ3TcaKqGlr-v6qfb160Py3SxxjqmIWRVskVCU1NEdfxPuxwOf2Cd2uuIninOQhTI/s1600/19+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZE8-Cqs1aJ6AxsSylpkyoxC840dtY5q6Rf9pl7rCujfk6i_5e0DoPOfhnzxzpnoJu8Vkop-X_pvrJ3TcaKqGlr-v6qfb160Py3SxxjqmIWRVskVCU1NEdfxPuxwOf2Cd2uuIninOQhTI/s400/19+Zion+100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UwTRbn3EqUsi0FG5xvwogzFZWBX6-WTtIpx9YHTzrt7bgpkPTGgq-n8HC_6UPjglpsHN75h9Zi5jufIsdioXh1RlLkqS7E8oYg5b3X7vCu9YZNHepbVaYavLMTG_a1FkB5-v9gzEojw/s1600/20+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UwTRbn3EqUsi0FG5xvwogzFZWBX6-WTtIpx9YHTzrt7bgpkPTGgq-n8HC_6UPjglpsHN75h9Zi5jufIsdioXh1RlLkqS7E8oYg5b3X7vCu9YZNHepbVaYavLMTG_a1FkB5-v9gzEojw/s400/20+Zion+100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I got a text from Mel during the night that she dropped at mile 53. Thankfully when I was at mile 99 I found a special award to give her since she didn't get a medal. She is basically amazing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eDp_vCDqi-tXZ9FvWUAbH-hl0GTArYq5y1NpgE7qidA5HiO9Lx7l-BcTHFhYsuV0RDykEp15F7pBxglw7Sa8NFLoaD1rZ8eeeNuXwKH4uWWQJTLTJvbJ4kkBbpMpn0ix6uqG_SxN61c/s1600/21+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eDp_vCDqi-tXZ9FvWUAbH-hl0GTArYq5y1NpgE7qidA5HiO9Lx7l-BcTHFhYsuV0RDykEp15F7pBxglw7Sa8NFLoaD1rZ8eeeNuXwKH4uWWQJTLTJvbJ4kkBbpMpn0ix6uqG_SxN61c/s400/21+Zion+100.jpg" title="Heart Rock" width="400" /></a></div>
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After 32 hours and 25 minutes I crossed the finish line. If you're willing to grant me a finish for <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2016/04/zion-100-race-report-2016-solo.html" target="_blank">2016 when I ran the Zion 100 solo</a> a few days before the official race, I've finished the Zion 100 eight years straight since the race first started.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5vm3uOw_o8ofEBUUaFQRjVK6_HOQXRi7on15rYhw9QpSy7CWNQX79X1VskirtXyrq2O0hj8Hqr9BJMGDuPkvdE2jlVpg4qT4Ii_yCepEyUMhTjjxiWEnPSoj3_2YfeOoghJqyCYON2I/s1600/22+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5vm3uOw_o8ofEBUUaFQRjVK6_HOQXRi7on15rYhw9QpSy7CWNQX79X1VskirtXyrq2O0hj8Hqr9BJMGDuPkvdE2jlVpg4qT4Ii_yCepEyUMhTjjxiWEnPSoj3_2YfeOoghJqyCYON2I/s400/22+Zion+100.jpg" title="Zion 100 Finish Line" width="400" /></a></div>
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I guess what I'm trying to tell you Zion 100 is that I love you. I mean, sure. There have been times during our relationship when I've hated you. I've wanted to break up and see other races. But when it comes right down to it, you complete me. (Said in my cheesiest Jerry Maguire voice.) Iiiiieeeeeiiiii will always love you. (Said in my cheesiest Whitney Houston voice.) I am crazy in love. (Said in my cheesiest Beyonce voice.) Everything I do, I do it for you. (Said in my cheesiest Bryan Adams voice.)<br />
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Thank you for another beautiful chapter in our love story together <a href="https://vacationraces.com/ultras/zion/" target="_blank">Zion 100</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IxoMIB9B79jXgJUaZw64is3yIvCeOtft4Edt9v2e1pP6f9DA_wtryfvCjvKwkFPYw01PK7M2DcGyJlaBD175mj1Y20UkZWQbOYnGSrMWaFYdNVyTyXOgBg8GiKept3_NS6AacqN-qKY/s1600/23+Zion+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IxoMIB9B79jXgJUaZw64is3yIvCeOtft4Edt9v2e1pP6f9DA_wtryfvCjvKwkFPYw01PK7M2DcGyJlaBD175mj1Y20UkZWQbOYnGSrMWaFYdNVyTyXOgBg8GiKept3_NS6AacqN-qKY/s400/23+Zion+100.jpg" title="Zion 100 Belt Buckle" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thank you <a href="https://vacationraces.com/ultras/" target="_blank">Vacation Races</a> for another stellar race. Thank you <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra</a>, <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a>, <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/" target="_blank">Tailwind Nutrition</a>, <a href="https://ultraspire.com/?uaa=52" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a>, and <a href="https://www.injinji.com/" target="_blank">Injinji</a> for supporting my running adventures. Thank you Mel, Jackson, Dani, and Ky for being the coolest family a guy could ever hope for. Thank you Jerry Maguire, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, and Bryan Adams for your cheesy sayings about love. </div>
Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-90156075564569714602019-02-19T19:02:00.001-07:002019-02-21T09:51:38.696-07:00Jackpot Ultra Running Festival Race Report - 2019<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbNf_nRuveD-QcYV2aO3wpCvKlTal2NecYrDWEWKOL_5K_Zf7UE_ngkt_mxlhR2IAC35_dMWcece1NZikWIlNqs1uRqTHEGL4sMBPeEeNjXVO52Gg-bG0nKlCf37co8pv86WGFY3rJCs/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+23.jpg" style="display: none;" />
My wife Mel has seen me run 100 milers. She has seen me <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2011/11/javelina-jundred-race-review-my-first.html" target="_blank">barf on my feet</a>. She has seen me sleepwalking from absolute exhaustion. She has seen my legs look like they need an exorcism as they twist into knots with cramps. She has seen me give birth to blisters the size of a Toyota Prius.<br />
<br />
My wife is a smart person.<br />
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So I have no idea why, after everything she has seen me go through, she would willingly choose to register for a 100 miler. And then she suggested I could run it with her. The only logical explanation I have is that she must have been high on LSD or something when she came up with this idea. But I agreed that this could be a fun adventure, so we registered for the <a href="http://www.beyondlimitsrunning.com/limitlessevents/JackpotUltraRunning" target="_blank">Jackpot Ultra Running Festival</a> in Las Vegas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjsTIsoddkDC0PeRe8Y0CvtiE8QLbnnudL7fXKiWh_us1OqTD5OuErg5jFGSVigukEa66o5R1Nlhuz-TRlCde5vhqOduqu68y9SVDNeZk3oCgZ_Sdmqbu52BL1uWXjotn0REIgJhYRnY/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="750" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjsTIsoddkDC0PeRe8Y0CvtiE8QLbnnudL7fXKiWh_us1OqTD5OuErg5jFGSVigukEa66o5R1Nlhuz-TRlCde5vhqOduqu68y9SVDNeZk3oCgZ_Sdmqbu52BL1uWXjotn0REIgJhYRnY/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+1.jpg" title="Jackpot Ultra Running Festival" width="400" /></a></div>
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We ran hundreds of miles together over the past few months to train for the race. Then this past weekend was time to race. The Jackpot course is a 2.5 mile loop around a wildlife preserve and we signed up for the 48 hour race hoping to complete 100 miles within that time frame. Our daughter Kylee came along to run the 48 hour race also.<br />
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From the very start of the race, the wind was kind of like that scene in Wizard of Oz where Dorothy's house gets picked up by a tornado. Thankfully no Terriers were on the course. Otherwise they would have been carried to a different time zone.<br />
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Around mile 20 I started to feel discouraged and frustrated. This is the first time I've tried racing since being diagnosed with Common Variable Immunodeficieny Disorder. (<b><a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2019/02/life-got-little-messy.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> is a blog post I wrote this little adventure.) A few days before the race, I had an immunoglobulin infusion in my leg and it was already acting up early in the race. I'll admit my eyes may have had a little moisture and I started feeling sorry for myself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySGIn5ALikdlbBfAiOuEgL46sENd499iBcXMQWEgl_yBv2v3sZilAwHx1qn89QhS9OglcN4_QkX3DWwzMEcahUBAZgdxmSko-87zw1k3dkIoDuwq2XmhqV5BDTs7x8UbYkkGkhMuMdGk/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySGIn5ALikdlbBfAiOuEgL46sENd499iBcXMQWEgl_yBv2v3sZilAwHx1qn89QhS9OglcN4_QkX3DWwzMEcahUBAZgdxmSko-87zw1k3dkIoDuwq2XmhqV5BDTs7x8UbYkkGkhMuMdGk/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+4.jpg" title="Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorder, infusion, Hizentra" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thankfully my leg mellowed out after a few hours and wasn't quite as sore. I really wanted to be able to run every step of Mel's first 100 miler with her.<br />
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The course goes around a lake full of ducks and geese that honk incessantly. All day and night it sounds like someone is riding behind you on a bike repeatedly squeezing a bike horn. You can't help but laugh.<br />
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The wind advisory continued all day and into the night. It was windy as hell. I used to think of Hell as more of a fire and brimstone kind of place. But after this experience I'm convinced that in Hell, wind just howls relentlessly (while Celine Dion music plays over the loud speakers 24/7).<br />
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As the sun set, I could hear Mel humming some music. I asked what she was listening to. She said "I'm listening to a book on Audible, but I really need some music, so I'm humming 'Maneater'."<br />
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During the first night we decided to take a little break and sleep for an hour or so. We did end up laying down but neither of us were able to sleep. Why? Two reasons. <b>1)</b> Our legs felt like they were being squeezed in vice grips. And <b>2)</b> The hellish wind. I remember going to Universal Studios as a kid. On the studio tour, the bus went into a large building, then the lights went out and King Kong showed up and shook the tour bus back and forth. That's kind of how our camper felt as we tried to catch a bit of sleep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-KNAsXDVRszFObWH4K3DgnkKPCAi22IiugM2GpUtiQIJWyn9tHQLFxAj4ky4OTHHJNINNPpvNZixML-532prPSXGWJqqxh2CBAIh2a0go0txZXTV7Zh_IXYX84n9TnW4XCp_f-Lsquc/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-KNAsXDVRszFObWH4K3DgnkKPCAi22IiugM2GpUtiQIJWyn9tHQLFxAj4ky4OTHHJNINNPpvNZixML-532prPSXGWJqqxh2CBAIh2a0go0txZXTV7Zh_IXYX84n9TnW4XCp_f-Lsquc/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately Kylee was starting to develop some Toyota Prius blisters. We helped her take care of them the best we could, but it was clearly making the miles more challenging for her.<br />
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Sometime in the middle of the night we decided to get a picture together and try to make it look like we were having fun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduOOWeLB4hCSZc2LHzsvvh5LGOV9wGwDDb6uPKuOp1DFDNChfep9LfkebrlGaAFcL5sBtyoytwEIRj3YL1EQFptqlXHUE29NwwnkCAvcmzJ3k7Vbo4BcRfoKk5xD9b41hHiuC47tvLgY/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduOOWeLB4hCSZc2LHzsvvh5LGOV9wGwDDb6uPKuOp1DFDNChfep9LfkebrlGaAFcL5sBtyoytwEIRj3YL1EQFptqlXHUE29NwwnkCAvcmzJ3k7Vbo4BcRfoKk5xD9b41hHiuC47tvLgY/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few miles later Mel sat down to dump some rocks out of her shoes. Kylee immediately turned the cement into a bed and took advantage of the 1 minute of rest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Mosx2Ww-9C6LUiAPfHTf4_S_JRH6pROoJxXFAQAh2DateBlX8UK72Nyhe2pMDLVKrb0QUTO0wuTnXF7KxgamsaZIHweZxSggcgSOMUAu3YKgoYpw1H8CF383vkucAvbfVfHAnfXi-IM/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Mosx2Ww-9C6LUiAPfHTf4_S_JRH6pROoJxXFAQAh2DateBlX8UK72Nyhe2pMDLVKrb0QUTO0wuTnXF7KxgamsaZIHweZxSggcgSOMUAu3YKgoYpw1H8CF383vkucAvbfVfHAnfXi-IM/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We hit mile 50 and Mel felt like she was in a boxing match with Mike Tyson. I tried to raise her spirits by doing a celebratory victory dance. You'll be shocked to learn that I have never had a single dance lesson in my entire life!<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WXMmCD8CXno" width="560"></iframe>
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The night of ultramarathons is always so difficult. The exhaustion and fatigue always catch up to you. But if you can keep going until the sun comes up, you almost always start feeling better. Thankfully that was the case for us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhew9dXUOWkpOn9_Qx8xAVQchy_dAUJL83pySOzdzyx5OshnP8u7dr1bU_cD_QBWRbOGsAxzDPryK1fCm_kw-xJI2sDdLPGoiFRhjmvllSKR0yG6BMDAqFdm0qwr-6oo68IrWZwoTm64iI/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhew9dXUOWkpOn9_Qx8xAVQchy_dAUJL83pySOzdzyx5OshnP8u7dr1bU_cD_QBWRbOGsAxzDPryK1fCm_kw-xJI2sDdLPGoiFRhjmvllSKR0yG6BMDAqFdm0qwr-6oo68IrWZwoTm64iI/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I couldn't help but stop to take a jumping picture at the 24 hour mark.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlheGzEJco8HaCX9S6l5tk4iirQ0DPfFaBGZeVhMacqc06EJ3Qm79ZL1P-nhNqWGFQCxnb_qdrSL4fDKidcC134f__0kW2M9ltnYgU1Wy0rsmBJpgT6fQeizzIHVTXGyzzOJDCpSWqRg/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlheGzEJco8HaCX9S6l5tk4iirQ0DPfFaBGZeVhMacqc06EJ3Qm79ZL1P-nhNqWGFQCxnb_qdrSL4fDKidcC134f__0kW2M9ltnYgU1Wy0rsmBJpgT6fQeizzIHVTXGyzzOJDCpSWqRg/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+13.jpg" title="Jackpot, Ultramarathon, race, jump, Cory Reese" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of the things I love most about races is the people who I get to share miles with. I am particularly inspired by people who don't fit the stereotypical runner mold. I'm inspired by people who have to fight because the miles don't come easy. I love when people who are a little older, or a little heavier, or a little slower still take on the challenge to race. Take for example my friend Gene Defronzo. Gene is <b>83 YEARS OLD</b> and ran his <b>745th LIFETIME MARATHON</b> at Jackpot! The guy is a true legend. Who says age has to be a limitation in running!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SKoBb-wrcB034bdQfHdlcf0VW5oOt4cn-FL6_HuDbg1f3JDrZX8M4QFDRUqkVDd_3qKn733O2ndENwu1Su-c6kUipZOcSXBM81ezh_l7HMu691zYX4oM6MswIIy-IYUsAZXn_9mlQ40/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SKoBb-wrcB034bdQfHdlcf0VW5oOt4cn-FL6_HuDbg1f3JDrZX8M4QFDRUqkVDd_3qKn733O2ndENwu1Su-c6kUipZOcSXBM81ezh_l7HMu691zYX4oM6MswIIy-IYUsAZXn_9mlQ40/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the other side of the spectrum, Jackpot also hosted the USATF 100 Mile National Championship so we got to see elite runners speeding around the loop. <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra</a> runner (and one of the nicest humans on the planet) Mark Hammond won the USATF 100 miler in 12 hours 58 minutes, averaging 7:46 per mile. I can't run one mile at that pace. Simply, simply incredible.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZD9STMGLNtihHagnT7K8_XAgG19KNJ-XEuBbqjOypqEBnNdnbYAMB1QuJIMtzM5LhUsyy4XQsGitI0KD_Gnb1fmv5h-3gxWtFNlQpMhSSuI6hcgfWja8lMC0fNA_eZRIlOnwrIcZAbY/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZD9STMGLNtihHagnT7K8_XAgG19KNJ-XEuBbqjOypqEBnNdnbYAMB1QuJIMtzM5LhUsyy4XQsGitI0KD_Gnb1fmv5h-3gxWtFNlQpMhSSuI6hcgfWja8lMC0fNA_eZRIlOnwrIcZAbY/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+15.jpg" title="Mark Hammond, Altra" width="400" /></a></div>
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Meanwhile, Mel and I kept plugging along. Mel was going through a low point when my friend Robert Manon passed by. He talked to us for a bit and told Mel "It's crazy, you'll feel horrible, and then you'll get a second wind, and later a third wind, and later a fourth wind. Just keep going and you'll start feeling better." Once Robert left, Mel told me she thought he was psychotic. "A fourth wind? Yeah right." Sure enough, about a half hour later I was sprinting to keep up with Mel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxG0Z7a4AGpy4_2Wqn74O96jxPE9Ji2UR7Wt0Kq8Pen5KRyTiTgjFy74s2L1anKrSw2e6fZPRmi9s5jsJc4xzXeRRkusH2JncljKoiv-bRj-lgxeFY8n7wO1Rk4GBkY6uGJ98HjPcBBM/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxG0Z7a4AGpy4_2Wqn74O96jxPE9Ji2UR7Wt0Kq8Pen5KRyTiTgjFy74s2L1anKrSw2e6fZPRmi9s5jsJc4xzXeRRkusH2JncljKoiv-bRj-lgxeFY8n7wO1Rk4GBkY6uGJ98HjPcBBM/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+16.jpg" title="Cornerstone Park, Ultramarathon, Jackpot" width="400" /></a></div>
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But what goes up must go down. Eventually another bonk came. Mel was stuck in a bonk for hours. This is the side of ultramarathons you don't see as often. For more than an hour quiet tears streamed down Melanie's face. We were around mile 70 and she said "I'm not sure I can do this." Around mile 70 is always the hardest part of a 100 miler for me. You've come so far, but you're so tired and spent that another 30 miles feels insurmountable. Emotions get fragile. Mel apologized for crying and said "You never cry during your races." I smiled and said "I wouldn't be so sure." This is the point when the race gets real. You dig deep and keep moving. And you discover that you're capable of more than you imagined.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXWjuCbW6RNxVdiQXj7yoksW317ERY3MRT-Ap3FXJ0nHVwNW4JjWbdNXkAmnW1uctJR__IiY52gEmucFt-aulF-JtTDEdRPa7ZQnrGwU2YCYO-UakkpPxaPVUjW9nBVoqcTESUjRrbes/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXWjuCbW6RNxVdiQXj7yoksW317ERY3MRT-Ap3FXJ0nHVwNW4JjWbdNXkAmnW1uctJR__IiY52gEmucFt-aulF-JtTDEdRPa7ZQnrGwU2YCYO-UakkpPxaPVUjW9nBVoqcTESUjRrbes/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+17.jpg" title="Ultramarathon, crying, tears" width="400" /></a></div>
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For me the biggest challenge was keeping myself steady physically and mentally. I didn't want my low points to get in the way of Mel's progress. I didn't want to let her know when I was feeling good and when I was feeling bad because I didn't want to distract her focus. I tried to maintain a positive, encouraging, optimistic outlook the whole time. I think it was helpful to focus on helping someone else because I didn't have time to wallow in my low points.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NAwlMcFeWb79WLjgcxvb0gB-2At3ZbNlXcGIDa-ml6FxG0IF6y-FNmvrtMZ7K3rQECCdYpNkZWXUZbB9jkZZhdkAXItxd6wGaBk-yIX_0X5nvi2tkvcRF1GiEnm-arDKz0B-HrGj9FM/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NAwlMcFeWb79WLjgcxvb0gB-2At3ZbNlXcGIDa-ml6FxG0IF6y-FNmvrtMZ7K3rQECCdYpNkZWXUZbB9jkZZhdkAXItxd6wGaBk-yIX_0X5nvi2tkvcRF1GiEnm-arDKz0B-HrGj9FM/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+18.jpg" title="Jackpot Ultramarathon, 100 mile, race, Las Vegas" width="400" /></a></div>
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The following picture has absolutely nothing to do with the flow of the story. Honestly I could take it out and it wouldn't matter one bit. But this duck looked so peaceful on the water that I told Mel "You keep running. I'm going to stop for a picture and I'll catch up to you." So here's the picture I took of the peaceful duck that has absolutely nothing to do with the flow of the store and that, honestly, I could take out and it wouldn't matter one bit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EFwEWx_gzHNVbSs6r6jop-FmWs3AFeG4v9fg4SbsSuwYrOipN2jbHaZOrGtQ-sVa_wLq3zPH97KQf8U1eMztj2CbhymYbsLMyScZWUXgy0cNWd-g83c93zJWmMVhkX98OoDcha4WGn4/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="660" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EFwEWx_gzHNVbSs6r6jop-FmWs3AFeG4v9fg4SbsSuwYrOipN2jbHaZOrGtQ-sVa_wLq3zPH97KQf8U1eMztj2CbhymYbsLMyScZWUXgy0cNWd-g83c93zJWmMVhkX98OoDcha4WGn4/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mel had the usual highs and lows. During one of her low points she said my favorite line of the race. "Your pep talks aren't working right now." There were a few more tears, but I knew she was pulling out of it when I heard her start humming. Maybe it was the song "Maneater" again.<br />
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Around mile 80, Mel came alive. She could smell the finish line and she started to push. And then at mile 90 she got that 4th (or 14th) life that Robert Manon had mentioned. She ran as hard as she did at the beginning of the race. It was such a beautiful thing to watch. I was both inspired, and panting from trying to keep up with her. And then a miracle happened. We reached mile 99! <b>Mile 99!!!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39YwL9GfZx5Za9h3h7ubs1TyOIe8kQ6CfFbAS3DNe1xhkiiQabeH7GAn4MfJP3Fg8dPWupUz51AZLk7xXdIWTyJQX-uQJmkTywahIlKAOo35WaZcvcMR00v7bBHIFTokQcZU8eItfVhQ/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39YwL9GfZx5Za9h3h7ubs1TyOIe8kQ6CfFbAS3DNe1xhkiiQabeH7GAn4MfJP3Fg8dPWupUz51AZLk7xXdIWTyJQX-uQJmkTywahIlKAOo35WaZcvcMR00v7bBHIFTokQcZU8eItfVhQ/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And then....we made it to the finish line! MEL FINISHED A 100 MILER! We were overcome with happiness. I was so proud of Mel, not just for the accomplishment, but for everything she pushed through to get there. I truly can't fathom that this actually happened. I ran a 100 miler with my wife. It doesn't seem real.<br />
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At the finish line, RD Ken Rubeli handed me a belt buckle and said "Here. I think you should present this to her." I got down on one knee and gave her the medal. She said yes! Ken took these photos:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxzVRZoF3h6PBPFzEeANoxQ7-Bm-wmizULSdKsddwWLKd1_uPwtUMn7RY9rLBRsDeBN7EH4mPid5xh9gDHJd_yliwPal46y7fvQjpE_3kWRakArX9fRLMWs-0tjW-V4Cmf0-U9qjM_rU/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxzVRZoF3h6PBPFzEeANoxQ7-Bm-wmizULSdKsddwWLKd1_uPwtUMn7RY9rLBRsDeBN7EH4mPid5xh9gDHJd_yliwPal46y7fvQjpE_3kWRakArX9fRLMWs-0tjW-V4Cmf0-U9qjM_rU/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But that's not all. Kylee finished a remarkable 50 miles! Considering the challenges she had with blisters, I have no doubt that her miles toward the end were harder than ours. She is so determined and has learned early in life the strength that comes from overcoming adversity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganVzMSgLCkExBmnNNe0FH_D00fTn_78PkcHo2pjKfw5nBwVbGjAcXMapywyBlnXQTQ7bQ27nVM_JjfW0glmRKtz0JDJmDfGrc3A3mVW8RMUZKzNELwv5JG5qCRWLF6dwWEqwPQrEJp-w/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganVzMSgLCkExBmnNNe0FH_D00fTn_78PkcHo2pjKfw5nBwVbGjAcXMapywyBlnXQTQ7bQ27nVM_JjfW0glmRKtz0JDJmDfGrc3A3mVW8RMUZKzNELwv5JG5qCRWLF6dwWEqwPQrEJp-w/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+21.jpg" title="Jackpot Ultramarathon Finish Line" width="400" /></a></div>
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After 40 hours and 17 minutes, Mel became a 100 mile ultramarathon runner. I finished my 33rd 100 miler. And we became the proud owners of some belt buckles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbNf_nRuveD-QcYV2aO3wpCvKlTal2NecYrDWEWKOL_5K_Zf7UE_ngkt_mxlhR2IAC35_dMWcece1NZikWIlNqs1uRqTHEGL4sMBPeEeNjXVO52Gg-bG0nKlCf37co8pv86WGFY3rJCs/s1600/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbNf_nRuveD-QcYV2aO3wpCvKlTal2NecYrDWEWKOL_5K_Zf7UE_ngkt_mxlhR2IAC35_dMWcece1NZikWIlNqs1uRqTHEGL4sMBPeEeNjXVO52Gg-bG0nKlCf37co8pv86WGFY3rJCs/s400/Jackpot+Ultramarathon+23.jpg" title="Jackpot Ultramarathon 100 mile belt buckle" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ken and Stephanie Rubeli put on great races. Go check out their website <a href="http://www.beyondlimitsrunning.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and run one of them. They are good people, and a huge asset to the running community. I'm so thankful for my sponsors <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a>, <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra</a>, <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/" target="_blank">Tailwind Nutrition</a>, <a href="https://www.injinji.com/" target="_blank">Injinji</a>, and <a href="https://ultraspire.com/?uaa=52" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a>.<br />
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T.S. Eliot summarized our race - and running - perfectly: "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."<br />
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Will it be easy? No. Will it suck sometimes? You betcha. Will you pray for a visit from the merciful angel of death? Probably. Will it be worth it? Without a doubt.<br />
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Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-71797518061634529112019-02-05T19:08:00.000-07:002019-02-05T19:08:28.610-07:00Life Got A Little Messy<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pqlDHtxEn0v0BKl04vG-dwRs5oGtub7HcKCCWGs_E3rETxqUhZXq3bGT26lV6N22R5ri-y96ttYYrRRccrRagXOX_eHm4GA98EmQT8wTwa-ehZ0lrrKoFKIgaqqqyZelo6TgPX2Rwuk/s400/CVID+Running+1.jpg" style="display: none;" />
Our local grocery store sells some amazing homemade salsa. It’s so delicious that gas stations could sell it as a fountain drink. One night I was eating some tortilla chips with that amazing salsa, when suddenly I could feel a hair in my mouth. I fished it out of my mouth, and then did what any red-blooded American male would do: I pretended that never happened, and continued eating my salsa.
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Much to my dismay, a few bites later I strung another long hair through my teeth. Okay, this is starting to get a little ridiculous. Two long hairs in one container of salsa?!? It was frustrating. But being an ultra runner has taught me to be determined. I don’t give up when things get hard. So I set that second hair aside and continued eating. Just because it’s hairy salsa doesn’t make it any less delicious. And then catastrophy struck. A third hair.<br />
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A four letter word probably popped out of my mouth. I grabbed the container of salsa and threw it in the garbage. I was livid. I mentioned this frustration to my wife later that night. While I was relating my story, my daughter piped up with a confession. She had been eating salsa earlier in the day and accidentally dropped the container of salsa onto the carpet. Not wanting to waste the salsa, she scooped it off the carpet and back into the container, then put it back in the fridge.<br />
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Needless to say, I didn’t need to floss my teeth that night.<br />
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Right now, my life is like that container of furry salsa. It is really great. Really great. But there are a few unexpected hairs in the mix. Those hairs are called Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorder. A few months ago I found out that my body has a glitch. Basically my immune system works as well as a Close Door button in an elevator…which is to say: not at all.<br />
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This isn’t great news. My primary care doctor seemed genuinely concerned and sympathetic when these results showed up in my blood work. Apparently this sets me up for some potentially serious health issues including pneumonia, bronchitis, and pulmonary infections. Since then there has been more blood work. More doctor appointments. And a few visits with an immunologist. I don’t dig the kind of diagnosis that shows up on the <a href="https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6140/common-variable-immunodeficiency" target="_blank">National Institutes of Health list of Rare Diseases</a>.<br />
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The only option for treatment is immunoglobulin infusions. The immunoglobulin is from people who have donated plasma, and this is supposed to help build up my immune system. The doctor said that these infusions will be needed for the rest of my life. The options I was given were to <b>1) </b>Do subcutaneous infusions once a week at home, or <b>2)</b> Do IV infusions at an infusion center once a month.<br />
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I selected option #1. Here’s the problem with all this nonsense: I’m terrified of needles. To me, needles are scarier than snakes, truck stop bathrooms, and Celine Dion music…<b>combined!</b> I have a bad reputation of passing out when I get my blood drawn. So the idea of needle sticks weekly for the rest of my life is super unawesome.<br />
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I had my first infusion two weeks ago. A nurse showed up, put three needles in my stomach, then an hour and a half later the infusion was done. The next day I tried to jog a mile, but couldn’t because my stomach hurt too bad. The day after that I tried to jog again. No go.<br />
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Last week Mel did the infusion. Three needles in my upper thigh. Ugh. 70 minutes later it was done. As Mel was taking the needles out, my world started getting fuzzy. As darkness started clouding my vision, I slapped my cheek trying to keep from passing out. Mel said “Hurry, let’s walk to the couch so you can lay down.” I knew I couldn’t make it that far. I was suddenly dripping sweat and ripped my shirt off. I barely made it to the dining room floor, clammy and sweating. But I didn’t completely pass out. WIN!<br />
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I tell you all this because I’ve been thinking about how life isn’t always 100% awesome. (Duh!) I tell you this because you can’t have a story of triumph without overcoming something. Here’s the thing: I don’t know if there even WILL be any overcoming! I want to run the Jackpot Ultra Marathon in two weeks with Mel who is going for her first 100 miler. I want to run every mile with her. I want to run the Zion 100 in April. I want to run the Vol State 500k in July. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any doubts. These hairs in the salsa are making things a little trickier.<br />
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Of course the priority is to take care of myself. Don’t worry. I’ll do that. Health is more important than a buckle. Maybe ultra running has prepared me for this point in my life. Ultramarathons have taught me to be strong and brave and determined. And now I’m at this moment where I can utilize those tools in a real life setting. I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge. Now is the time to fight.Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-64005682496165977592018-12-10T17:53:00.000-07:002018-12-10T19:07:48.229-07:00The Annual Reese Family Christmas Letter<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuE85CwcWr0sbDu8VoWnYDR4iOesZtU3a7uemorNtBk3dxtfMC0JTUnUWizVLobp41TPw5eARPb_Lvf0FlvXDOQtHLd_quj_xl_8S1hNORl4t3KsPw5vC7XJC_rrQSd7mTpdRhuxBFLU/s1600/FB+Jump.jpg" style="display:none;">
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Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the Reese family! I’m assuming 2018 has been exactly the same for you and your family as it has for us. Of course I’m referring to the fact that Despacito has been playing EVERY SINGLE TIME you have turned on the radio all year.<br />
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Aside from the unwelcome assault on our family from Despacito, here is a summary of 2018:<br />
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<b>Kylee</b> is in ninth grade. Her artistic talents have increased exponentially over the past year. She creates stunningly beautiful art and paintings. She is like a female Bob Ross. (Minus the dreamy bushy hairdo.) She is also a budding photographer, and is part of the middle school yearbook staff. Ky is attentive to details, compassionate, and a hard worker. These attributes have made her a coveted babysitter in the neighborhood, and she is quietly amassing a financial empire. In September, she came to Ohio with me and Mel when I ran the <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/10/how-to-run-100-miles-fueled-by-donuts.html" target="_blank">Donut Trail 100 miler</a>. Since this was a solo run, she designed my own unique belt buckle to award me when I finished. Whenever I’ve had a rough day and need the soothing of a gas station fountain drink, Kylee is always willing to join me.<br />
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<b>Danica</b> is in tenth grade, and this is her first year at the high school. To the best of my knowledge, she hasn’t been stuffed into any lockers. (Yet.) She is on the high school swim team and lives at the pool. I swear the kid has gills. She has competed in swim meets all across southern Utah and finished in first place in many of the events she raced. Dani recently completed her Driver’s Education training. She has become experienced at driving around the church parking lot. We’ll now be transitioning to city streets. Pray for me and Mel. A few months ago we took her to a big checkup at Primary Children’s Hospital to follow up on her rheumatic fever from years ago. Thankfully the cardiologist gave her heart a grade of A+. Her highlight was seeing the Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas.<br />
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<b>Jackson</b> is a senior in high school. He remains the piano player in the school Jazz Band and plays Billy Joel songs so beautifully that it could make you cry. This year the band even went to Holy Land of churros and long lines. That’s right: Disneyland. Jackson is like Rain Man when it comes to sports trivia. We’ve gone to three Utah Jazz games this year. Typically our seats are so high that they include a complementary bottle of oxygen. Jackson loves to play racquetball, pickle ball, and tennis. He was on the high school tennis team again this year, and relishes every time I go play with him. These outings usually result in me getting mouthy, then telling him I’m going to destroy him, then making bets, then losing bets, then owing him money. In September he ranked #1 for the Top 10 Most Active People for the month at the local gym.<br />
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<b>Melanie</b> got a new job this year that she loves. She works as a nurse practitioner seeing patients in rehab and assisted living facilities. She is so smart, and is so good at what she does. She is personable, caring, and her patients love her. Earlier in the year she went to a U2 concert with Jackson. We saw the play Hamilton. (Aaaamazing.) She has been doing a lot of running, including running the Baker’s Dozen Half Marathon this month. She has a big goal to run 100 miles at a race coming up in February. We celebrated our 20 year wedding anniversary with an epic trip to Banff, Canada. While there, we hiked some of the most beautiful trails on the planet, laughed until it hurt, and exceeded the Surgeon General’s recommendation on human pizza consumption.<br />
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I continue working as a medical social worker. I released my second book called “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Furnace-across-Death-Valley/dp/1987711580/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1544482061&sr=8-2&keywords=cory+reese" target="_blank">Into The Furnace</a>” about <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2016/07/badwater-race-report-2016.html" target="_blank">Badwater</a>, the 135 mile race across Death Valley. I also managed to run five 100 milers, including the legendary <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/07/western-states-100-race-report-2018.html" target="_blank">Western States 100</a> where I finished a comfortable (cough, cough) four minutes before the cutoff. I’m still a columnist for <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/" target="_blank">UltraRunning Magazine</a> which I love. I got some bad news a few months ago with the diagnosis of Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorder. (Say that ten times fast!) Basically my immune system works as poorly as a “Close Door” button in an elevator. This also resulted in one of my crappiest days of the year. That’s right. I’m now a member of the Colonoscopy Club. Soon I’ll be starting weekly plasma infusions which will continue for the rest of my life. I don’t plan on letting this slow me down. (At least any slower than I already am.)<br />
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Our Great Dane, Little Debbie, and our poodle, Aunt Jackie continue to rain down destruction and chaos in our house. Debbie chewed a hole in our wall, just because she was bored. She stole my rack of ribs off the table when I turned my head. They slobber. They wake us up early. They eat Mel’s ear plugs. If we have running clothes on, they won’t let us walk out the door without them. We mostly still love them.<br />
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We’ve always tried to place priority on experiences instead of things. Instead of buying stuff, we want to buy memories. We want to live for the moments you can’t put into words. This year, we’ve had some pretty awesome family adventures.<br />
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In February <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/02/jackpot-race-report-family-ultramarathon.html" target="_blank">we all ran the 48 hour Jackpot Ultra Running Festival</a>. The course is a 2 mile loop and you basically run as many miles as you can within 48 hours. In the end, I finished the race with 130 miles, Mel finished with 52.5, Jackson finished with 65, Dani finished with 40, and Kylee finished with 50 miles. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so proud of them for their hard work and perseverance. What they each accomplished is truly remarkable. I hope this is an experience they will carry with them for the rest of their lives, and fall back on it when times get tough. I hope it reminds them how strong they are, and that they can do anything they put their minds to.<br />
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In March, we saw one of our favorite musicians Mat Kearney in concert. In April, we went on a California Coast cruise, checking out San Francisco, Alcatraz, San Diego, Ensenada, and Monterey. Our time together walking through the redwoods of Muir Woods is a moment I’ll never forget. I decided to be adventurous (“adventurous” is just another word for “foolish”) and <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/04/running-100-miles-on-cruise-ship.html" target="_blank">ran a 100 miler on the deck of a cruise ship</a> which took 1,600 loops and almost 28 hours to complete. That helped justify all the soft serve ice cream I ate.<br />
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In May, we enjoyed an amazing road trip to Capitol Reef National Park. We continued our 4th of July tradition of inviting the whole extended family over to our house to watch fireworks from our front lawn while eating ice cream sandwiches. The past few years we’ve brought a huge speaker out to the porch to blast music during the fireworks. This year’s musical selections included “Party In The USA”, then “Thunderstruck”, then Neil Diamond’s “Coming To America” on repeat over and over again. Because nothing screams patriotism more than fireworks, ice cream sandwiches, and Neil Diamond on repeat. In September, we made a spontaneous decision to jump in the car, drive to Los Angeles, and go to a NeedToBreathe concert.<br />
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The greatest experience of the year was probably a few weeks ago when we took the kids bowling. We found out that $10 will buy 17 songs on the bowling alley juke box. So we bought 11 plays in a row of Toto’s song “Africa”. Then, just for the fun of it, one play of “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. Then 5 more Africas. After 8 Africas, an employee pushed something on the machine and skipped Africa. Then they skipped Africa again. They must have thought they fixed the juke box glitch when the sweet sound of Dolly Parton filled the air. Much to everyone’s chagrin, Dolly was immediately followed by the rhythmic drum beats of Africa. This earned a prompt skip from the employee. Then another skip. Then another skip. And we decided that this was the best $10 we’ve spent in a long, long time. I will NEVER hear the song “Africa” again without thinking of bowling with my family.
We are thankful for the love and support from you, our amazing friends and family. May you slip a $10 bill into every juke box you come across in 2019!<br />
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Love,
Cory, Mel, Jackson, Dani, and Kylee
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Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-34092269237147404152018-10-08T08:01:00.000-06:002018-10-08T08:01:02.011-06:00How To Run 100 Miles Fueled By Donuts<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DzEfnsVqjuYJ-9CGlyhyC8-1PJ0TWcY43lHWIAKBAfnTw03G0bVN83NVb3XJUQ_JRncyZJKozt5nFiqJW6ztd1XKBdxFejtdUk2xIR0bjxSdIgAlk442GwoDO0xlSDhmdUov9u_jrF4/s400/Ross+Bakery.jpg%0A" style="display: none;" />
If you want the Reader's Digest version of how to run 100 miles fueled by donuts, allow me to consolidate everything into five easy steps: <b>1) </b>Go to Ohio. <b>2)</b> Start running. <b>3)</b> Begin shoveling donuts into your mouth like a toddler who has just tasted sugar for the first time. <b>4)</b> Ignore the gag reflex when your stomach tries to tell you that it's already full of donuts and there is no more room at the inn. <b>5)</b> Stop when your Garmin beeps at 100 miles. <i><b>(Here's an insider pro tip: any time you burp for the next 30 hours, it will taste like a raspberry fritter.)</b></i><br />
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A few months ago <a href="https://www.facebook.com/delish/videos/10156984153942437/" target="_blank">THIS</a> video was released on Facebook about an 80 mile route in Ohio that hits 12 gourmet donut shops along the way. I had so many people send the video to me saying "You should totally run this! You love donuts more than your children! Okay, many not more than your children. But definitely more than your dogs. So you should totally run this!" (The video has more than 11 million views.)<br />
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Then over the next few months I began working with Amanda Ensinger and the <a href="https://www.gettothebc.com/donut-trail" target="_blank">Butler County Visitors Bureau</a> who provided a gracious invitation to come and run the Donut Trail. I can't thank them enough for their hospitality.<br />
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So a week ago, Mel, my daughter Kylee, and I headed to Ohio for the sugar-filled adventure. We started at Holtman's Donuts on Saturday morning. The sweet smell of donuts filled me with happiness.<br />
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The shops had a huge variety of donuts, including s'mores, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, cookies and cream, lemon meringue, Lucky Charms, and pink frosted donuts that looked like they had been delivered right from a Simpson's episode.<br />
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One of my favorites was this little morsel of heaven: a cheesecake donut. Let's just say, hypothetically speaking, that Publisher's Clearing House showed up on my porch with a human-sized check for one million dollars. I would promptly get on an airplane, go to Ohio, and purchase one million dollars worth of cheesecake donuts.<br />
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Some donut shops were nearby, within a few miles of each other. Some were more spread out, ten or eleven miles apart. I was really digging the small town vibe as I ran from town to town.<br />
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Almost all the donut shops had long lines. They start making donuts early in the morning, then when they sell out, they close for the day.<br />
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In the afternoon I was starting to get a little jittery from all the donuts. (Shocker!) I was ready for some real food. So Mel stopped and bought some mid-run pizza. Because if an ultramarathon fueled by donuts is good, an ultramarathon fueled by donuts and pizza is better.<br />
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When drinking alcohol, people try to walk a straight line to determine their blood alcohol level. When people are pounding donuts, they try to walk a straight line to determine their blood frosting level. I determined that my blood stream was now 60% frosting.<br />
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After running for many hours, I saw this big vulture or buzzard on the side of the road. Maybe it was just a coincidence, or maybe I was looking like I was about to drop dead.<br />
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Mel and Kylee were such an amazing support. They helped me with directions on the route, and they would drive ahead a few miles at a time, then wait for me to arrive where I could refill my water.<br />
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By the afternoon, I was in a pretty rural part of Ohio. Sometimes I'd go quite a while without seeing another person. The scenery was stunning.<br />
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The Donut Trail isn't actually a dirt trail. It's all on roads. The route isn't really designed for runners. Nobody had ever run the whole route before. Most of the roads had a pretty small shoulder so it would be tough to make this into a formal race.<br />
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I was very lucky to have nearly perfect weather for the run. I loved the simple beauty of the places I was running.<br />
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I wasn't feeling too great for the first 15 miles. My energy felt drained and my legs were stiff. I was apprehensive about how the rest of the run would go. Thankfully I loosened up after 15 miles, and felt pretty good for the rest of the run.<br />
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Because we knew we'd be hitting some donut shops in the evening or night after they were closed, we kept an extra surplus of donuts in the car for me to eat at the closed shops. In the evening my stomach was less enthusiastic about eating more donuts. Toward the end, I could only handle a few bites of each donut.<br />
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Around 6:00pm I was nearing a town. Mel had driven up ahead and called to ask if I wanted some ribs at the grocery store. I told her I'd pass, but then called her back and told her that actually, some real food sounded pretty good. When I caught up to her, she had ribs, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables. I ate every bite. Because if an ultramarathon fueled by donuts is good, and an ultramarathon fueled by donuts and pizza is better, then an ultramarathon fueled by donuts and pizza and ribs is best.<br />
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A few miles later, I was swallowed by a sky of pink, and purple, and yellow, and orange as a sunset lit the sky on fire.<br />
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I heard my Garmin beep when I hit mile 54 of the Donut Trail 100 in Ohio. I was in the middle of nowhere. I could see my breath by the light of my headlamp. And I'd see a porch light from the occasional houses I passed. Suddenly I heard someone yell "Hey!" I stopped as I saw the shadow of a man walking toward the road where I was standing. He asked me what my name was, and what I was doing. I explained that I was trying to run 100 miles. Then he said "Come here." I protested and said I needed to keep running. I told him I still had at least twelve more hours to go. (Not to mention the fact that I didn't want to be murdered by a stranger in rural Ohio.) He insisted. "I want to introduce you to my family!" I looked past him to the garage and saw a few people inside. They didn't look like ritualistic murderers so I agreed to go say hello. When I got to the garage, everyone was so intrigued and excited to hear about the run. They said they were so impressed. And they offered me a beer and a ride up the road. I politely declined. Then they gave me a hug and said "Keep going. Good luck! You can do this!" Their kindness and enthusiasm was just the boost I needed to keep moving forward.
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In the middle of the night, the cold air bit my face and I saw each breath evaporate in a cloud of steam. I was in a remote part of the state where I rarely saw a passing car. By 2:00 am I had perfected the art of sleep walking, so I found a perfect patch of grass fifteen feet off the side of the road for a quick power nap. I had been laying down for less than one minute when a truck drove down the road. And then the driver slammed on the brakes. And then he threw the truck in reverse. And then he rolled the window down. And the driver asked if I was okay. I was embarrassed, and sheepishly explained that I was trying to run through the night but got tired so I stopped to take a little nap. I got up and decided I didn't want to risk scaring anyone else by taking a power nap. I carried a big stick with me just in case one of the occasional dogs I passed decided to eat my donut-filled body for dinner.<br />
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By Sunday morning I completed the official Donut Trail. I decided that since I had already covered a bunch of miles, I'd keep going until I hit 100 miles. My friend Matt Garrod lives in Cincinnati and came over to run the last nine miles with me. I was laughing the whole time and he was a great distraction from the pain cave.<br />
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And after 29 hours 20 minutes I finished the Donut Trail 100! (Here's the route from my Garmin: <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3072620582">https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3072620582</a> )The Donut Trail has passports available that can be stamped at each donut shop. For the shops that were closed, Mel made a note of what time we arrived.<br />
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If you hit all the donut shops, you get one of the official Donut Trail shirts:<br />
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Kylee drew me this awesome belt buckle. Of all the buckles I've collected over the years, this is one of my favorites. We had an absolute blast in Ohio. I'm praying that Publisher's Clearing House shows up with a huge check so I can go back and buy a million dollars worth of cheesecake donuts.<br />
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Huge thanks to Mel and Kylee for coming to crew this adventure. Thank you Amanda Ensinger, <a href="https://www.gettothebc.com/donut-trail" target="_blank">Butler County Visitors Bureau</a>, and <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/" target="_blank">UltraRunning Magazine</a> for making this all possible, as well as my amazing sponsors <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra Running</a>, <a href="https://www.injinji.com/" target="_blank">Injinji</a>, <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a>, <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/" target="_blank">Tailwind Nutrition</a>, and <a href="https://ultraspire.com/?uaa=52" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a>.Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com116tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-6868233595329455872018-09-26T18:57:00.001-06:002018-09-26T19:00:54.514-06:0020 Life Lessons From 40 Years<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ5T163RvRxF5ppWy2u3lNKVrvcqs9TgOg39vcfYH6DL4jyhWTANNs9ylV2Y8vClsW8fy_0_D2-I29p8LZo1ByvXIlbUnBMwrOW-LEegs-F0NnOCVzJQl_OaLxroDXSr3S0h9X3lKusA/s400/Family+Silhouette.jpg" style="display: none;" />
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I have three teenagers. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??? I mean, I know how we got three kids in our house. I know what causes that. I just don't know how they were babies a few minutes ago, then I blinked, and now they're all...well...not babies anymore.<br />
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One kid will be out of the house in less than a year, and the other two won't be far behind. Knowing they will be flying on their own soon, I keep thinking about what I want them to take with them. I wrote down 20 lessons I've learned over the course of my life. These are the things I want to pass on to my kids. I figured I'd share them here too. Here are some of the most important things I've picked up during my time on the planet.<br />
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<b>1)</b> Find people with deep lines of crows feet around their eyes. These are the people doing the most smiling and the most laughing. The deeper the lines around their eyes, the better. Then work hard to develop some deep crows feet of your own.<br />
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<b>2) </b>Take pictures. And not just photos of the good times. Capture the good, the bad, and the ugly. Those snapshots are worth gold. Looking back on happy times will make you smile. Looking back on hard times will remind you that you are resilient, and that things will get better.<br />
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<b>3) </b>Speaking of pictures, Warsan Shire said “Document the moments you feel most in love with yourself – what you’re wearing, who you’re around, what you’re doing. Recreate and repeat.” I’ll stick this quote in the “Wow, I wish I’d written that,” file.<br />
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<b>4)</b> Get a dog. They don’t care if you’ve had a bad day at work. They love unconditionally. A dog is a powerful antidepressant.<br />
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<b>5)</b> The world will tell you that you’re not good enough. When you look at social media, you’ll see people who are cuter, or skinnier, or wealthier. Here’s the thing: being cuter, or skinnier, or wealthier won’t make you happier. What will make you happier is knowing that you are enough. <b>You. Are. Enough. </b><br />
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<b>6) </b>God made you. This guy knows what he is doing. You are perfect.<br />
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<b>7) </b>You can never know the silent pain and the inner battles someone is facing. But know this: almost everyone who touches your life is facing their own personal battle. That includes grocery store baggers. And fast food workers. And coffee shop baristas. So be kind to everyone.<br />
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<b>8)</b> Energy spent worrying about what others think is wasted energy. You’d be better off investing that energy into making chocolate chip cookies instead.<br />
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<b>9)</b> Take the path less traveled. Different is good. Embrace your uniqueness. The world needs more people who are willing to color outside the lines.<br />
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<b>10)</b> Enduring the Beverly Hills 90210 drama of high school isn’t just to make you smart and prepare you intellectually for your career. Enduring the Beverly Hills 90210 drama of high school is also to prepare you for the Beverly Hills 90210 drama you will experience in your adult life with coworkers, neighbors, and in-laws.<br />
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<b>11) </b>Choose friends who accept you for who you are. It is better to have a few close relationships than many shallow relationships.<br />
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<b>12) </b>The experience from childhood that haunts me the most was a day in first grade during recess. We were out on the playground and other kids were making fun of Phillis. She had red hair and freckles and worn out clothes and no friends. While the other kids made fun of Phillis, I didn’t join in on the mocking. Instead, I stood in the background looking on in silence. Since then, I’ve deeply regretted my silence. I learned from my mistake. If others don’t have a voice, be willing to be the voice for them. Have the courage to be a friend to the friendless.<br />
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<b>13)</b> Be frugal with your money. Credit cards cause short term happiness and long term headaches. Don’t waste money on useless stuff. There are a few things that are worth paying extra for: a warm coat, a comfortable mattress, and adding avocado to your hamburger.<br />
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<b>14)</b> Get good at saying “no”. It’s so easy to get roped into things you don’t really care about, and those things can suck up your time like a vacuum sucking up dust bunnies. Time is an incredibly valuable commodity. So unless it’s something you are deeply passionate about, it’s okay to say “no”.<br />
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<b>15) </b>Get good at saying “yes”. Say yes to adventure. Say yes to fun. Say yes to naps. Say yes to cinnamon rolls. Always yes to cinnamon rolls.<br />
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<b>16)</b> Be spontaneous. I’ve tried to guide my life after H. Jackson Brown’s sentiment that “When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.” So far I’ve found this to be completely accurate. Some of my happiest memories came from deciding on a whim to do something adventurous.<br />
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<b>17)</b> Exercise almost never feels good when you’re doing it. Exercise almost always feels good when you’re done. Your brain will come up with 4,871 excuses for why you’re too tired, or too short on time, or too sore to exercise. Patiently tell your brain to shut the hell up. Then put your running shoes on.<br />
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<b>18)</b> Be optimistic. Things will work out. They always do. If you look back at all the things that worried you or stressed you out, you’ll see that most of the time your fears were unwarranted, and you spent way more time worrying than needed.<br />
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<b>19)</b> You are never too old to crank up the music and have an impromptu dance party in the kitchen.
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<b>20) </b>A smile is like a glowing fire in a cold, dark world. Spread that fire as much as you can.<br />
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Love, Dad<br />
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Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-12621183244948777612018-08-21T10:58:00.000-06:002018-08-21T11:33:18.043-06:00World's Toughest Foot Race - A Glimpse Into Badwater<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidw-eygDdU5LMpAdCb-KPZYAelRXoRXbyaF9APL7Mz5XsNMaeO2JnSNxW2hUbw0N9dvqcSoFIrv_KdXIolMM9HbwydqFilrS0lPFwca2PxRE48eSfdp7Eu814bLcSbN91E2Gzwcaqy1wM/s320/DSC_0424.jpg" style="display: none;" />
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This year I had the opportunity to pace and crew Andy Lohn at Badwater. (Race report <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/08/badwater-ultramarathon-race-report-2018.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.) One of my fellow crew members was Luke Thoreson. Luke worked with me to write the book <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Furnace-across-Death-Valley/dp/1987711580/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534867077&sr=8-1&keywords=into+the+furnace" target="_blank">Into The Furnace</a></b>. Not only is he hilarious, but he is also an exceptional writer. I asked if he'd like to write about his experience with <a href="http://www.badwater.com/event/badwater-135/" target="_blank">Badwater</a>, and here is what he came up with, along with some more photos I took during the race:<br />
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I walked a few steps away from the van as the rain continued to pelt down. I was at that point where you can’t really get any wetter (besides the hail had stopped), so I walked over to the edge of the road, pulled off my Nowhere Near First hat, and tilted my head up to the sky, closing my eyes. Conveniently we were parked at my favorite spot on the Badwater 135 course, the first sweeping switchback after the Portal Road check-point where the road surrounds a raised circular peninsula of rock and sand. Just three more miles. With Andy and the rest of the crew waiting out the storm by eating cookies in the van, I was alone for the first time since the race began 43 hours earlier. I reached up and wiped a few rain drops off my face. Yep, just rain. 100% all-natural, free-range, gluten-free water. Nothing but good ol’ H2O.<br />
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Just kidding. I sobbed.<br />
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They were tears of joy, of relief, of being so tired that I didn’t really know what else to do. I sank down into a crouch and pulled the neck of my <a href="https://farmaste.org/" target="_blank"><b>Farmaste</b></a> t-shirt up over my face like a bandit in one of the western movies shot in the area. Andy was going to finish. I pulled my shirt off and threw it into the air, thrusting both arms skyward like Andy Dufresne at the end of Shawshank. Andy was going to finish! Emotions, especially fueled on two hours of sleep over three days and multiple cans of Red Bull – is this number 4…no, wait there was that one outside Darwin, so that makes this number 5 - come fast and furious. Like a toddler playing with a “See ‘n’ Say,” the arrow of emotions spun around again, this time landing on “The Luke says ‘Time to get back to work.’” I walked over, picked up my shirt, put my hat back on, and started thinking about how to rearrange the van to get all five people back down to Lone Pine.<br />
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This was my fifth-year crewing at Badwater, slowly morphing from a “one-in-a lifetime opportunity” as I tried to sell my wife Kelly on the idea the first year to an annual “run-cation” that I start looking forward to the moment it’s over. During racer check-in, as Cory signed copies of Into the Furnace and posed for pictures, I’d talk to the people waiting their turn (I was also coerced into signing two books – I’m sorry for ruining your resale value).
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“Wow, this is your fifth year? Crewing must be easy for you by now. None of us have been on a crew before. What advice do you have?”
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First off, nothing about Badwater is easy. Nothing. It is a race that is designed to be as difficult as possible, not only for the runner but also for the crew. An evening start causes sleep deprivation issues right off the bat. Four people stuffed in a van, along with a literal mountain of candy, soda, chips, and this year for the first time in my five years, vegetables. (Cory and I were on the same page as we dragged multiple carts around a Wal-Mart in Las Vegas the day before. I’d reach out towards the Swedish Fish, glancing back at him, and he’d nod. I grabbed two packages only to turn and see him grinning with two fingers raised. Two packages is clearly the right number of Swedish Fish).<br />
Much like Jon Snow, Death Valley likes to remind you “You know nothing, Luke Thoreson.” (Here is what Luke looks like trying to organize mounds of Wal-Mart stuff the day before the race.)<br />
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Intricately detailed pace chart where you’ve created a formula based on averaging each checkpoint of every runner from the past four years who finished between 32 and 39 hours? Cool, toss it in the trash when your runner starts vomiting. Carefully organized van with supplies arranged into multiple bins? We lost a bottle of sunscreen about mile 50 and it was never seen again. There was a show on MTV back in the early 2000s called “Diary” that opened each episode with a bunch of people saying “You think you know [what it’s like to be a professional clown, addicted to plastic surgery, etc]….but you have no idea.” Going into the race, my first year as crew chief, I thought I knew what to expect, my feathers peacocking even further out having literally co-written a book on the race.<br />
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As Andy emptied the contents of his stomach onto the still scorching hot pavement around mile 31, my first thought was for the safety of my water bottle which was…well, front row at a Gallagher stand-up special (“Sledge-o-matic!”). My second thought was that I had no idea what to do. We were less than 5 hours into the race, and already he was struggling to keep down food. I froze like the proverbial deer in headlights as the rest of the crew swarmed into action. Paul has extensive ultramarathon experience having run some of the toughest winter races in the world (and will add Iditarod, sans dogs to pull his sled, to his resume this year). Oh, and he’s also a registered nurse. If you’ve read this blog, you’re well familiar with the contents of Cory’s stomach and the variety of locations that he’s painted over the years. Finally, Erika, bringing a maternal – and spousal – truly, madly, deeply doooo (sorry, turned into Savage Garden there for a second) knowledge of her husband and unconditional love and support.<br />
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When someone asks you to be on their crew, they’re basically tossing you the keys to their dad’s vintage convertible and trusting that you’re not going to drive it into the city, pretend to be Abe Froman – the Sausage King of Chicago – and end up dancing on a float to Twist and Shout. They are trusting you with their hopes, and their dreams, and their safety. Nobody makes it to that finish line without their crew, and Andy had a great crew. Mostly, I just wanted to avoid screwing anything up too badly. Basically, I was a “Cameron” instead of a “Ferris” this year, constantly worrying, fretting, and planning on what to do and what needed to be done.<br />
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It didn’t help that Andy reenacting Pompeii multiple times left him chasing time cut-offs. As the “numbers guy,” I started checking and rechecking his progress every few miles as the buffer he had built up was shrinking with every cramp-filled step. After the explosion of joy of making the first cut-off, almost immediately I started looking at the next cut-off. It followed the van around like a black cloud following Eeyore that we just couldn’t shake. I don’t think anyone truly felt like he was safe until we made the turn onto Portal Road. It was finally time to exhale - Travis Rex even found the time to do some pacing - and the entire crew was able to relax.<br />
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Actually, let me talk specifically about one member of the crew for a minute.<br />
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“So how long have you known Cory?” my friend Derek asked as we stood around at pre-race check-in. I puffed out my cheeks in the international symbol of “well, let me think,” before announcing “Gosh it’s been…a little over 24 hours.” I didn’t meet Cory – none of us met Cory – until the Saturday morning before the race. Throughout the entire book writing process, we talked on the phone a couple of times, but mostly it was us exchanging drafts via email as I tried to sneak in as many pop-culture references as possible (“Where Al was going, he didn’t need roads” was my shout-out to Back to the Future). Feel free to blame/praise (but probably blame) me for many of those additions to the book.
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When Andy was looking to build out his crew, Cory’s name came up. Andy was the one who introduced me to Cory’s writing (and I remember him nudging me one year at Badwater and saying “That guy over there? That’s Cory Reese”), and thought he’d make an excellent crew member. I was more on the fence. Nothing against Cory personally – I was thinking about being stuck in a van with someone I had never met before. What if his breath smelled? What if he didn’t want to do any work? What if…<br />
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For those of you who haven’t met Cory in person, “live” Cory and “blog” Cory are very similar. Incredibly funny. High energy. Deeply passionate and caring. He truly is an amazing human being.
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And the dude knows everyone. Or more correctly, everyone knows him. Walking up to Zabriskie Point before the race, we heard a “Cory? Oh my gosh, so good to see you!” As he rejoined the rest of us, I announced “Cory Count: 1.” Trying to aw-shucks his way out of it, he explained that the only people who know him are from Utah. So when the Cory Count went to 2, I asked the person if she was from Utah (Nope). Same thing with Cory Count 3 and 4 - although to his credit 5 and 7 were both Utah…ians? Utes? Utahi? I stopped paying attention once the Cory Count hit 12.
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And as nervous as we were about Cory, I can only imagine his feeling of getting in a van with multiple strangers. We might as well have painted “Free Dr. Pepper” on the side of the van just to make it seem as sketchy as possible. But Cory was not afraid of Stranger Danger and at no point did we sedate him and harvest a kidney for the black market, which I’m assuming was his biggest fear (I did think about secretly switching out his Dr. Pepper for Diet Dr. Pepper – which I’m guessing was his second biggest fear - but never mess with another man’s favorite drink).<br />
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It took all four of us, working together, tirelessly, devotedly, completely focused on getting Andy to the finish line and to the slab of metal and a black “Official Finisher” t-shirt that waited for him there. For those of us in the van, we had a front row seat to something amazing. It truly is a captivating spectacle and there is nothing like being a part of it. During those few days, there is nothing but Badwater. You wake up on Monday, you go to bed on Wednesday. And in between is Badwater.<br />
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But Badwater doesn’t end on Wednesday.<br />
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Badwater never really ends.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhu-ynxlgIG5z6R01DbnODYUrKkuUYNooOhJb7W7lVSetI6Tgai3jf5XtMa-6oyh1zNbpzwW7Pu5uouuOIo8lkJMqtiAUNtRIr5MJSkYWl39nKJ9bRI-dnNIdgGL3ekP54zqiKduyER8/s1600/DSC_0904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhu-ynxlgIG5z6R01DbnODYUrKkuUYNooOhJb7W7lVSetI6Tgai3jf5XtMa-6oyh1zNbpzwW7Pu5uouuOIo8lkJMqtiAUNtRIr5MJSkYWl39nKJ9bRI-dnNIdgGL3ekP54zqiKduyER8/s400/DSC_0904.jpg" title="Mount Whitney, Badwater ultramarathon, Death Valley" width="400" /></a></div>
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Badwater is more than a race. It’s more than a place. For a week each July, Badwater is embodied by 100ish runners and 400ish crew members who are united in a desire to succeed, to push themselves, to be great today. Badwater is a dream. Badwater can be a nightmare. Badwater is a way of life. I got a message from Erika after the race that read simply, “I get it now.”<br />
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One of the things that I loved about being a part of Into the Furnace (besides ranting about Arnold Palmer in Chapter 2) was attempting to put Badwater into words, and sharing what Badwater means with a wider audience. My parents – who would just ask “How was it” after previous years - were suddenly full of questions after reading the book. “How was it coming across the Panamint Valley this year? Did you see any fighter jets? Did you say hi to The Jester?”<br />
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I’m so thankful to Cory for letting me be a part of the story of Badwater, and thankful to have made a new friend.
I’m so thankful to Erika, and Paul, and Cory for being part of the crew. And for Julie, and Mel, and Kelly for understanding what Badwater means to each of us and dealing with our week long absences.<br />
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I’m thankful to Andy for being great today. For showing grit and determination and focus and drive and fighting harder than I’ve ever seen him fight before.<br />
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I’m thankful for people like Al Arnold who dream and who inspire others – like Andy – to dream.<br />
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Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-8370835758814880562018-08-09T19:20:00.000-06:002018-08-09T19:20:10.387-06:00Badwater Ultramarathon Race Report - 2018Once when I was a kid, I went sledding on a steep ridge of snow banked down the driveway from my aunt's house. I remember thinking it would be extra fun to hit the jump at the bottom of the hill if I was riding the sled on my stomach. The first couple seconds of that ride were amazing. Then I hit the jump. It wasn't until I was soaring through the air that I realized what was about to hit me. And then I hit the ground, my chest slamming into the packed ice below me. The air got knocked out of me and my world started spinning. I couldn't breathe. I lost all track of time. "Wait. Is today...Wednesday...or August? I feel sleepy. Am I seeing things? Why are the Golden Girls standing there? Oh, hey Dorothy. Why are you always giving the stink eye? And thanks for the dating advice Blanche."<br />
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Then suddenly I became coherent. I saw my aunt hunched over me. She looked scared. "Are you okay Cory?" I had lost all sense of time. Everything was a blur. </div>
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Which is my round about way of getting to the point that the same kind of time warp happened to me recently while pacing and crewing at <a href="http://www.badwater.com/event/badwater-135/" target="_blank">Badwater</a> in Death Valley. (Sadly there were no visions of Golden Girls.)</div>
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For all you normal people who have a few more brain cells than the average ultrarunner, Badwater is a 135 mile run across Death Valley run every July. Because 136 miles across Death Valley would be just plain stupid. Two years ago I ran the race myself. You can see my race report (and a hideous picture of me wearing a cat unitard) <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2016/07/badwater-race-report-2016.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Then I paced and crewed for Ed "The Jester" Ettinghausen last year. You can see that report <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2017/07/badwater-135-ultramarathon-race-report.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. The experience was so transformative that I wrote a book about it called Into The Furnace. That book was just released on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Furnace-across-Death-Valley-ebook/dp/B07DK6Q4WZ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533785086&sr=8-1&keywords=into+the+furnace" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div>
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This year I had the honor of being part of Andy Lohn's team. I had never met anyone on Andy's crew. I prayed that it wasn't some kind of scheme to kidnap me and hold me for ransom. I could just see my wife with her best Liam Neeson accent whispering into a phone "I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you." Much to my relief everyone in the crew turned out to be awesome, and didn't bare the slightest resemblance to kidnappers. This is Paul Schlagel, Erika Lohn, her husband and our fearless runner Andy Lohn, Luke Thoreson, and me. (Proud to support <a href="https://farmaste.org/" target="_blank">Farmaste Animal Sanctuary</a>!) Luke was an invaluable resource and contributor with my new book, but this race was the first time we'd actually met. </div>
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I received a gracious invitation from race director Chris Kostman to do a book signing the day before the race. While there, Jennifer Nissen came up to introduce herself. She told me she was running Badwater the next day, and a little bit about her story. Less than a year ago she was diagnosed with cancer. Since that time, she trained to compete in the toughest footrace in the world, 135 miles across Death Valley. This amazing woman became the final finisher of Badwater! She is a fighter, and the embodiment of the Nowhere Near First spirit. Jennifer is proof that we can do whatever we put our minds to!<br />
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While Luke and Andy were at a pre-race meeting, Erika, Paul, and I explored the Mesquite Sand Dunes. This particular spot in Death Valley is a special place to me, and I loved watching them fall in love with the dunes as they visited for the first time.<br />
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Obligatory sand dune jumping picture:<br />
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Monday was race day. Here's how the day played out. 1) Breakfast at a casino in Pahrump, Nevada. (Which was every bit as glorious as it sounds.) 2) Organize inordinate amounts of soda, cookies, candy, and supplies in the van, 3) Try to take a nap but instead just stare at the ceiling, 4) Watch Andy nearly get arrested when a security guard gets angry about trying to take a picture of the crew walking through the casino like a scene from Oceans 11, 5) Luke plays Tetris with luggage in the crew van, 6) Dinner (at the same casino diner where we ate breakfast, and 7) Drive to Badwater Basin for the start of the race. We figured it was a good omen when "Funky Cold Medina" came on the satellite radio as we neared the basin. Then at 9:30pm, Andy's race began.<br />
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This is exactly the time that we went off the proverbial sled jump, got the air knocked out of us, and we entered a crazy time warp where time began to blur. We'd drive two miles, put a bucket out on the road so Andy could spot our van ahead of time, we'd swap out bottles of cold <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/" target="_blank">Tailwind Nutrition</a> with him, give him electrolyte tablets, tell him a joke or some words of encouragement (or find something to make fun of him about), send him on down the road, then drive two miles to start the process all over again.<br />
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Andy and I talked before the race. I brought my good camera along for the adventure, and he encouraged me to take pictures of the good, the bad, and the ugly along the way. At mile 31, the bad and the ugly showed up at the same time. During the first night, the temperature never dropped below 109 degrees. The heat and exertion caught up with Andy. Let's just say that the puddle at Andy's feet isn't from his water bottle. (His stomach provided a repeat performance one mile later.)<br />
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Andy was around the sand dunes when the sun began to rise.<br />
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It's moments like this when I was thankful I had more than just an iPhone. The sunrise was beyond description. You can not be surrounded by a scene like this and not fall deeply, madly in love with Death Valley.<br />
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We had a little garden sprayer full of ice water to spray Andy when we met him every few miles. Andy wanted to make sure we were offering to cool off other runners as well. The first climb over Towne Pass takes runners up and over a mountain range. It H U R T S. It was craaaazy hot. Andy's hips were being sassy and his legs were cramping and twisting like those big, chewy Disneyland pretzels. (This photo is a few miles before the mountain climb.)<br />
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Because of the sassy hips and leg pretzels, Andy just couldn't move as fast as he wanted. Andy is a talented, experienced runner. And yet as he neared a time cutoff at mile 50.5, we weren't sure he was going to make it. It was a tense hour as we neared the 10:00am cutoff and tried to grasp the reality that Andy's race might be over. With a few minutes left before the cutoff, our crew stood quietly watching him near the cutoff. I saw his wife Erika reach up to wipe a few tears from her eyes. Those solemn moments are difficult to describe.<br />
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With seconds to spare, Andy made it past the 50 mile cutoff. We screamed and cheered and squeezed each other in a tight, sweaty group hug. Now that he passed the cutoff, we had a few minutes for Andy to sit in the van and rest. This wasn't time for the crew to rest though. We reorganized supplies and coolers while Paul, with his wealth of medical experience, patched up a few blisters on Andy's feet.<br />
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Not only is the heat of Death Valley oppressive, but the course is incredibly difficult, climbing three huge mountain ranges.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9P_GaKgwZ8Px0XmbRpL-OZlLsBtRlGbHi6jRPfgGg3PhOv10c-cjd4SUK5fRaUJTUt0v33Mr3-ea9vhZpQ-ZgvA94y8f5Ve9o3OgoWefxf_n7e9w9Rg4t3ouT9tBEFrwVygjPU9ENX8/s1600/14+-+Badwater+road+Death+Valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9P_GaKgwZ8Px0XmbRpL-OZlLsBtRlGbHi6jRPfgGg3PhOv10c-cjd4SUK5fRaUJTUt0v33Mr3-ea9vhZpQ-ZgvA94y8f5Ve9o3OgoWefxf_n7e9w9Rg4t3ouT9tBEFrwVygjPU9ENX8/s400/14+-+Badwater+road+Death+Valley.jpg" title="Badwater runners, Death Valley" width="400" /></a></div>
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The second night of the race is grueling for crew members, and absolutely brutal for runners because of the extreme sleep deprivation. We blasted the Hip Hop station on the satellite radio which included "Push It" from Salt-N-Pepa three times during the race, and a variety of songs from 2 Live Crew that I won't name in order to keep the blog family friendly. I'm not sure why the radio stayed on the Hip Hop station for 43 hours straight. I don't think it's music that most of us typically listen to. But we were in the zone, and we were 2 Legit 2 Quit the station.<br />
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Paul spent many hours with Andy that second night which gave the rest of the crew members a few hours of welcome sleep. Once the sun came up, Paul twisted his body like a Tetris piece into the back of the van and slept for a few hours while the rest of us paced and crewed. It worked out perfectly. We were ecstatic to see the second sunrise of the race, and were now a comfortable couple hours ahead of the cutoff.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxG5UvRaAIr4sLlKjTiMd2rav0BFAB8sVNqlLM0pS0qGThu5fl5HuIinARvR9QWAPtoEP6TV2NGlkXm8jFvdKYLxPDsfNep0KfYEXaqvP9Xu3qz17HeXL2Ucy2F-byJV8mW5ixscrBTk/s1600/14.5+-+Badwatwer+Jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxG5UvRaAIr4sLlKjTiMd2rav0BFAB8sVNqlLM0pS0qGThu5fl5HuIinARvR9QWAPtoEP6TV2NGlkXm8jFvdKYLxPDsfNep0KfYEXaqvP9Xu3qz17HeXL2Ucy2F-byJV8mW5ixscrBTk/s400/14.5+-+Badwatwer+Jump.jpg" title="Cory Reese, jump, Badwater, Death Valley" width="400" /></a></div>
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As our crew chief, Luke kept us running like a well-oiled machine. His sense of humor is so dry you could cut it with a knife, and everything that comes out of his mouth is hilarious. For all of us, the whole week felt like a competition to make others laugh.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45trr-8CRnCCQEi28qPumvVYr2V5SuV58UKSkLuSofOOVHJGdL8tjiYQB_5TVSZJEUlwuCI_KAiOWHdGrZuSRFBdhNA_qsTR8K0Z7N2XjD3sBNUV61_TzKBHngZ1W116ZAPJQT7SPOSM/s1600/15+-+Badwater+Luke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45trr-8CRnCCQEi28qPumvVYr2V5SuV58UKSkLuSofOOVHJGdL8tjiYQB_5TVSZJEUlwuCI_KAiOWHdGrZuSRFBdhNA_qsTR8K0Z7N2XjD3sBNUV61_TzKBHngZ1W116ZAPJQT7SPOSM/s400/15+-+Badwater+Luke.jpg" title="Luke Thoreson" width="400" /></a></div>
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Finally Andy made it to Lone Pine and we began the final 13 mile stretch to Mount Whitney Portal. I cherished every mile I was able to spend with him during the race. Even when he was clearly in the pain cave, he remained optimistic and funny. Andy is one of the Top 5 Funniest People I know. He's in good company with other people I know such as Betty White. (Granted, I've never physically met Betty. But I feel like I know her because of that time we spent together during my sledding hallucination incident. She's a sweetheart.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PobJ8lG5m0nO2IElnSCPTvfRr0aHtApYj-C-Epp6a3eZ_TRKKAT0y7iiyvWlX_cfP_gEy8UiUwwoTJ2MTAYxjqhN9z2mHX4KiLiUbbn-WTQGBRUfPAejRUIK43f4CDgw-kgEWxopgGE/s1600/16+-+Badwater+Mount+Whitney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PobJ8lG5m0nO2IElnSCPTvfRr0aHtApYj-C-Epp6a3eZ_TRKKAT0y7iiyvWlX_cfP_gEy8UiUwwoTJ2MTAYxjqhN9z2mHX4KiLiUbbn-WTQGBRUfPAejRUIK43f4CDgw-kgEWxopgGE/s400/16+-+Badwater+Mount+Whitney.jpg" title="Badwater Ultramarathon, Mount Whitney, Death Valley" width="400" /></a></div>
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Near the finish line we had a terrifying encounter with a Tyrannosaurus Rex. (He said his name was Travis Rex. Coincidentally, whenever I saw Travis on the course, Luke was nowhere to be seen.) I saw some really funny captions to the following picture:<br />
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<ul>
<li>You can't run from the past.</li>
<li>I came, I saur, I conquered.</li>
<li>Do these <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra</a>s make my arms look short?</li>
<li>If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands....oops.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP8_wxWpfbby5hXzyo7sBytxvmV56J-EyqsuVMPOSome7lZwmteUhw41P71RaETPXBWKlVVpXQTf5GLn_CTyR3USHQPjRZCtqHLELHprg5YlaUgVswuQCz364G4G0L3syE53vTcMjzVU/s1600/17+-+Badwater+Death+Valley+Halucination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP8_wxWpfbby5hXzyo7sBytxvmV56J-EyqsuVMPOSome7lZwmteUhw41P71RaETPXBWKlVVpXQTf5GLn_CTyR3USHQPjRZCtqHLELHprg5YlaUgVswuQCz364G4G0L3syE53vTcMjzVU/s400/17+-+Badwater+Death+Valley+Halucination.jpg" title="Badwater, Death Valley, hallucination, dinosaur" width="400" /></a></div>
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As an added excitement, we got hit with a flash flood a few miles before the finish line washing mud and rocks into the road. Check out how incredibly beautiful this stretch of the race is!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXhZoSH1mKiw5gWJ8FjIjiJIxHQkbNA17ZbUz1HToQ-Uw7h-R7KCOYuKvyM-pusiA4ygfaXwbl9-_ELYOFviw1vIBw66gkKnaJSAvnOmvjvzhQOV5gPS64ElZm2-n8oviRLRLyK6fWRc/s1600/18+-+Badwater+road+to+Mount+Whitney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXhZoSH1mKiw5gWJ8FjIjiJIxHQkbNA17ZbUz1HToQ-Uw7h-R7KCOYuKvyM-pusiA4ygfaXwbl9-_ELYOFviw1vIBw66gkKnaJSAvnOmvjvzhQOV5gPS64ElZm2-n8oviRLRLyK6fWRc/s400/18+-+Badwater+road+to+Mount+Whitney.jpg" title="Death Valley, Road, Mount Whitney, Badwater" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27qVbY8_G0xi2Egxa-pWN3aMMMmSJuyz1VPuMelHPlow7ySLo9sXgCEkaMFW51hcSP5eVAQnB-dqwpZBVbx8s8RsAdBTxDNHq5OD9nzOlXWqSWjfsyuw9gxotzQNZtGfiyvXwC20wwiE/s1600/19+-+Badwater%252C+Mount+Whitney+deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27qVbY8_G0xi2Egxa-pWN3aMMMmSJuyz1VPuMelHPlow7ySLo9sXgCEkaMFW51hcSP5eVAQnB-dqwpZBVbx8s8RsAdBTxDNHq5OD9nzOlXWqSWjfsyuw9gxotzQNZtGfiyvXwC20wwiE/s400/19+-+Badwater%252C+Mount+Whitney+deer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />We unanimously decided that Erika needed to join Andy for the last mile of the race. She has such an infectious spirit and radiates with happiness and humor. (There is a video in the works where you'll fall in love with her happiness too.) Seeing her and Andy holding hands as they made the final push to the finish was a perfect ending to an amazing adventure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvkozoFNMGWbJINkmd1uX0jeYllk7hyphenhyphendRr2KkPB8SQXtlF30ukhV-x1-WhrRpxHXnNyGKZhI_cvsITqXq7aTppobxCmzoBQAibLR5h4tiKkRFdtB2TUL2HR_Z6e_3yWSLo-QhA2vxc7Y/s1600/20+-+Road+to+Mount+Whitney+Badwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvkozoFNMGWbJINkmd1uX0jeYllk7hyphenhyphendRr2KkPB8SQXtlF30ukhV-x1-WhrRpxHXnNyGKZhI_cvsITqXq7aTppobxCmzoBQAibLR5h4tiKkRFdtB2TUL2HR_Z6e_3yWSLo-QhA2vxc7Y/s400/20+-+Road+to+Mount+Whitney+Badwater.jpg" title="Mount Whitney, Badwater" width="400" /></a></div>
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And after 43 hours and 42 minutes, Andy made it to the finish line of Badwater! This was a moment he has dreamed about for years. Witnessing that triumph may have caused some wetness around the eyes for everyone. I felt so inspired.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEged9OQR3XzMfb6qg0GLIcMRJg95uzc1B8ge04Raiip9WmMgYc-Lte9xMTFOCn7zhcb3z-RSKBh9onkoi8GGgv6nrPUd6h0uaaLqs_f49yGWFnY9xZapbZJV8U53SEAvgYK3BlBdb0e9EY/s1600/21+-+Badwater+finish+line+belt+buckle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEged9OQR3XzMfb6qg0GLIcMRJg95uzc1B8ge04Raiip9WmMgYc-Lte9xMTFOCn7zhcb3z-RSKBh9onkoi8GGgv6nrPUd6h0uaaLqs_f49yGWFnY9xZapbZJV8U53SEAvgYK3BlBdb0e9EY/s400/21+-+Badwater+finish+line+belt+buckle.jpg" title="Badwater 135 ultramarathon belt buckle, Death Valley" width="400" /></a></div>
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The next day we hiked up to Lone Pine Lake. (How anyone can do this the day after Badwater, I have no idea.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP0oIbcKdxVOsGQ2tNbxRXjStA1TwifrbHvsheyLBGKKotnqpD5JACxWn6VvyOmw_5jao3Tz5mMFPzn8PIERs9gcdHBOdD7EnTLn6fk5aqfBeA2gvpwQ6w5NOUSlS0yRmHBk7XHb-uDw/s1600/24+-+Badwater+Lone+Pine+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilP0oIbcKdxVOsGQ2tNbxRXjStA1TwifrbHvsheyLBGKKotnqpD5JACxWn6VvyOmw_5jao3Tz5mMFPzn8PIERs9gcdHBOdD7EnTLn6fk5aqfBeA2gvpwQ6w5NOUSlS0yRmHBk7XHb-uDw/s400/24+-+Badwater+Lone+Pine+Lake.jpg" title="Lone Pine Lake, Mount Whitney, California" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jPpAiXPmQ83-ZehvnghQpuiW3joJEXCvjCTe7hkE3FWt7iJjGBudSkIHnmo4yBzOcPBcJ1y7nIKx_GV6M-80K_yb9i6l3Igs_wiViON7-wzSc86_AWgAYHmFwsW8objW_fihaF8SDGo/s1600/25+-+Lone+Pine+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jPpAiXPmQ83-ZehvnghQpuiW3joJEXCvjCTe7hkE3FWt7iJjGBudSkIHnmo4yBzOcPBcJ1y7nIKx_GV6M-80K_yb9i6l3Igs_wiViON7-wzSc86_AWgAYHmFwsW8objW_fihaF8SDGo/s400/25+-+Lone+Pine+Lake.jpg" title="Lone Pine Lake California" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately Paul had to leave early, but it was a great opportunity for the crew to swap stories, laugh, and talk about our favorite Salt-N-Pepa songs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHe7vAAtM1r_0cj-knoh5BNODxrTqP44PjpBFG8XzNs6ix_VtsdlhgDgPFYAmJj14NMuQbSvRfsrRRDoDS1ncHb0GbHZ35KirLbXiZ1Rw3FIpjHI8sxk44ZaGehIL07ZAq59XPKCulAI/s1600/27+-+Badwater+Lone+Pine+Lake+Crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHe7vAAtM1r_0cj-knoh5BNODxrTqP44PjpBFG8XzNs6ix_VtsdlhgDgPFYAmJj14NMuQbSvRfsrRRDoDS1ncHb0GbHZ35KirLbXiZ1Rw3FIpjHI8sxk44ZaGehIL07ZAq59XPKCulAI/s400/27+-+Badwater+Lone+Pine+Lake+Crew.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Out of the blue, Travis showed up again. He didn't bite.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM81wC6jb0p0wnF1BoCMzO3L3sKixXj42CCBhiYlaK4Fz8wBXzsppcJ4LbrEXKAOBNhjcmWiIe0EW1UhbkFkeoFkTYflpR3hJzV4mFlkRvZgwQCC1k4UKui0n7pXsS7TlJC-A-SMzBkPY/s1600/26+-+Badwater+Lone+Pine+Lake+Dinosaur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM81wC6jb0p0wnF1BoCMzO3L3sKixXj42CCBhiYlaK4Fz8wBXzsppcJ4LbrEXKAOBNhjcmWiIe0EW1UhbkFkeoFkTYflpR3hJzV4mFlkRvZgwQCC1k4UKui0n7pXsS7TlJC-A-SMzBkPY/s400/26+-+Badwater+Lone+Pine+Lake+Dinosaur.jpg" title="Lone Pine Lake Dinosaur" width="400" /></a></div>
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As we made our way back across Death Valley the next day to head home, we stopped at Father Crowley Point, mile 80 of the race. We had our own Top Gun moment as a fighter jet soared past us and into the valley below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIfxGTLntbVDkQZ3dsm51-JKo3uZPGj1UBy-8FPE46vpBPrrIToQf-AVn68h9zErPJ0IyPliTpV4dAz0clDgXNCO_HgkhJpUzD9U9M932GBUGW40UNM8rjrA1KWT0pxaSSs573i0hj-c/s1600/22+-+Badwater+Jete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIfxGTLntbVDkQZ3dsm51-JKo3uZPGj1UBy-8FPE46vpBPrrIToQf-AVn68h9zErPJ0IyPliTpV4dAz0clDgXNCO_HgkhJpUzD9U9M932GBUGW40UNM8rjrA1KWT0pxaSSs573i0hj-c/s400/22+-+Badwater+Jete.jpg" title="Death Valley fighter jet" width="400" /></a></div>
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We also stopped at the official thermometer at Furnace Creek. It was 130 degrees. Keep in mind, the hottest temperature ever recorded is 134 degrees. Ouch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMC0GEkaxAjwC6KY7YbbEU21Y6HpYht3QsiEZoBaUoxWvTE6uj76wIvWunab1OPzVouTy2loL6vKXFjzKQ-e-hfP7k-E2mOci1cqrEWVWyF_7vNL26ihlfmNh9koLdHaMk3oqyuXvIqLw/s1600/23+-+Badwater+Death+Valley+temperature+thermometer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMC0GEkaxAjwC6KY7YbbEU21Y6HpYht3QsiEZoBaUoxWvTE6uj76wIvWunab1OPzVouTy2loL6vKXFjzKQ-e-hfP7k-E2mOci1cqrEWVWyF_7vNL26ihlfmNh9koLdHaMk3oqyuXvIqLw/s400/23+-+Badwater+Death+Valley+temperature+thermometer.jpg" title="Death Valley thermometer, 130 degrees" width="400" /></a></div>
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The harder you work for something, the more it means to you. I saw runners face incredible adversity, embrace suffering, and keep going when that little voice inside their head was telling them to quit. It's amazing what people are capable of when they put their minds to something. When life turns up the heat, step boldly into the furnace and let your soul catch fire. </div>
Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-58892511040796198292018-07-02T17:00:00.000-06:002018-07-02T17:00:04.615-06:00Western States 100 Race Report - 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Listen up kids: </b>here's what can happen if you eat your Wheaties, drive home from work with the heater on as part of your heat training, and keep moving for 100 miles just to keep your pacer from barking at you:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI4fwhMaMQNBJvgodBoqst_q0W-sjk_SMELbYlr7DRhqKwzJdki01m_QKqGJ7X7JocBZbg5DiZ8BY1JLmA3rZTHjJAfkRuzhBWmAqBjDgNQhWZtOW5b4dITbQipKIBP3uoXBISWMLOSg/s1600/1+-+Western+States+100+Finish+Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI4fwhMaMQNBJvgodBoqst_q0W-sjk_SMELbYlr7DRhqKwzJdki01m_QKqGJ7X7JocBZbg5DiZ8BY1JLmA3rZTHjJAfkRuzhBWmAqBjDgNQhWZtOW5b4dITbQipKIBP3uoXBISWMLOSg/s400/1+-+Western+States+100+Finish+Line.jpg" title="Western States 100 finish line" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by the amazing Melissa Ruse / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sweetmimages/" target="_blank">SweetM Images</a></span></div>
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The Western States 100 is the most iconic 100 miler in the world. I've been dying to run it for years but had never been selected in the lottery. This year I received a gracious invite from Karl Hoagland and Cory Smith of <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/" target="_blank">UltraRunning Magazine</a> to run it! As a race sponsor, the magazine was provided with an entry they offered me. I was completely honored. </div>
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My crew of Mel, Jared Thorley, and owners of the <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a> Steve and Kendra Hooper headed to Squaw Valley a few days before the race to soak in the environment and festivities. Going to packet pickup the day before the race felt insane in the membrane. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxOcdEEWNC4_DWJriGlpHPJbXg7cQ4FtAsv9zWJyWD6zJSMJO1pa8FcpFxKHiVKvuBSP3AQgWBqGVG_NVGjatSRI8j9k5yDcEb3y03h3QBIOF1i9pqWz0DJZ3BLaR9RXiPs58pIVWoNQ/s1600/2+-+Western+States+100+Starting+Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxOcdEEWNC4_DWJriGlpHPJbXg7cQ4FtAsv9zWJyWD6zJSMJO1pa8FcpFxKHiVKvuBSP3AQgWBqGVG_NVGjatSRI8j9k5yDcEb3y03h3QBIOF1i9pqWz0DJZ3BLaR9RXiPs58pIVWoNQ/s400/2+-+Western+States+100+Starting+Line.jpg" title="Western States 100 starting line" width="400" /></a></div>
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At the pre-race meeting, they told us that there would be 24,000 pounds of ice on the course to combat the forecast for high temps. There would be 1,700 volunteers. We were also told "If things don't go well and you're having a bad day, try to die near one of the two defibrillators on the course." </div>
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The night before the race, we went out for pizza, then came back to the condo and watched Unbreakable while I pre-taped my feet. I always think about my kids while I'm running, so for a race this special, I wanted to take them with me for all 100 miles.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnRKWt4yOxLN3Glacyjm9wv6N6TfU1xJUKmqG09vL8g4e3sYVvYsxV6OD5kPy7f8MeyNTh0rSjNoJ6e0-Y3B2exaAcEucjj4eepTl6MjFv_oZrH9YjIsP6QOD8kucUy7rXNqij2BEGjg/s1600/3+-+Western+States+100+names.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnRKWt4yOxLN3Glacyjm9wv6N6TfU1xJUKmqG09vL8g4e3sYVvYsxV6OD5kPy7f8MeyNTh0rSjNoJ6e0-Y3B2exaAcEucjj4eepTl6MjFv_oZrH9YjIsP6QOD8kucUy7rXNqij2BEGjg/s400/3+-+Western+States+100+names.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I managed to get a few hours of sleep before the alarm started howling at 2:45am. 2:45am is as morally and ethically wrong as trapping someone inside an elevator then forcing them to listen to Kenny G music. But bags under the eyes be damned - I was standing at the start line of the Western States 100!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyi8llk1QRl5k7duu6hYvlfQUNhMgpb4zzRciYVDwIi9RQLSypRgD8APm-VFq2GSkeoNDjPUKqw13B1lBDHE_i5U-2DhsCF8g8Ra0HIsS6-LB3TVfsm5jPKDt4-4roGT0xihlT-MYu8k/s1600/4+-+Western+States+100+Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="660" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyi8llk1QRl5k7duu6hYvlfQUNhMgpb4zzRciYVDwIi9RQLSypRgD8APm-VFq2GSkeoNDjPUKqw13B1lBDHE_i5U-2DhsCF8g8Ra0HIsS6-LB3TVfsm5jPKDt4-4roGT0xihlT-MYu8k/s400/4+-+Western+States+100+Start.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The race started, and we immediately started climbing. Speaking of things that are morally and ethically wrong, a 2,550 foot climb to the top of Escarpment to start a race has got to rank up there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-8d847mvgh5imuyX2CudOWzJticTQ8iEW7RffnFqUAm9ax9vGuXIGsPlTB-9D5c0ZIPvgpF2mocmeWzJnuFd-dMF4Cm8J0l3b0rAuGbMhDx0vLajwmOIXYywcDE_TXAE005IPr-6ILc/s1600/5+-+Western+States+100+Mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-8d847mvgh5imuyX2CudOWzJticTQ8iEW7RffnFqUAm9ax9vGuXIGsPlTB-9D5c0ZIPvgpF2mocmeWzJnuFd-dMF4Cm8J0l3b0rAuGbMhDx0vLajwmOIXYywcDE_TXAE005IPr-6ILc/s400/5+-+Western+States+100+Mountain.jpg" title="Western States 100 mountain" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was one of what looked like hundreds of ants scrambling to the top of a mountain. This picture doesn't do justice to that sucker punch of a hill.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYYKlETKg4yngHEug0L3y4QM_OJMi0ZnNdB_p7AKGfuHIoa3XRkOZ32woyylmPgsX9GIBfMepDTW9c3mp03bjWRtewSengcCIb-8cO6GLu8pfpqaQh12nXiV8LYPBY7ZVjCN6i8IFKac/s1600/6+-+Western+States+100+Escarpment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYYKlETKg4yngHEug0L3y4QM_OJMi0ZnNdB_p7AKGfuHIoa3XRkOZ32woyylmPgsX9GIBfMepDTW9c3mp03bjWRtewSengcCIb-8cO6GLu8pfpqaQh12nXiV8LYPBY7ZVjCN6i8IFKac/s400/6+-+Western+States+100+Escarpment.jpg" title="Western States 100 Escarpment" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once we reached the top, we dropped down on an incredibly beautiful trail surrounded by wildflowers. I felt like I was running okay overall, but by the time I got to the first aid station at mile 10.3, I was already significantly behind the pace needed to finish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HS_UIpin_exJIH92wnW2lJOK3qoo29h1-3E2Iri6umqI0IRRQP0_4ZIQIm5sIYp_Irb3om4_dNICHfAFHBH8B4T4k7QtV4FC9AhmAomSIPe0GlBbaIoUmZ_CoQTy4ac_oWigeK3T6CU/s1600/7+-+Western+States+100+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HS_UIpin_exJIH92wnW2lJOK3qoo29h1-3E2Iri6umqI0IRRQP0_4ZIQIm5sIYp_Irb3om4_dNICHfAFHBH8B4T4k7QtV4FC9AhmAomSIPe0GlBbaIoUmZ_CoQTy4ac_oWigeK3T6CU/s400/7+-+Western+States+100+flowers.jpg" title="Western States 100 flowers" width="400" /></a></div>
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The race has a 30 hour cutoff. Then each aid station has a cutoff. There is also a pace guide for each aid station. For example, at the first aid station, average 30 hour runners arrive at 7:40am. I arrived at 8:01am. I hated that feeling of being up against cutoffs, but just couldn't seem to make up any time. The afternoon was brutally hot, and I feared that I wouldn't make the cutoff at mile 30. I knew my crew was waiting there so I kept pushing. I arrived at 1:45pm. (Although the 30 hour pace was 1:10pm.) Being so close to cutoffs, I only stuck around long enough to say hello, refill my hydration pack, and get a quick dousing of ice water. (The volunteers at the race were <b>STELLAR</b>. Each aid station had big buckets of ice water to soak runners with which helped a ton.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9iT6BBxcqNJDmpK0A7to4-GLWS24Af3tHC7wB4SMommV679URizfyu1EEDWtH2CahGK3gW-argUVyuvgF1liu6xHAStPblYeO9gKdDsJHOmhm01cHILIf0Nj0_0HvhKyS0W8nLXGUy0/s1600/8+-+Western+States+100+ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9iT6BBxcqNJDmpK0A7to4-GLWS24Af3tHC7wB4SMommV679URizfyu1EEDWtH2CahGK3gW-argUVyuvgF1liu6xHAStPblYeO9gKdDsJHOmhm01cHILIf0Nj0_0HvhKyS0W8nLXGUy0/s400/8+-+Western+States+100+ice.jpg" title="Western States 100 ice" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'd be lying if I said I wasn't fighting some discouragement. I felt like a scrawny boxer in a fight against Mike Tyson. And not just Hangover Mike Tyson. I'm talking Tyson in his prime. I just tried to get from one round (aid station) to the next without getting knocked out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBhqbpJdDH-aSmbvojr4P58uPnBi0or_0XILOYkdAx3yjYd3xm1hdD_liv-AG8AIffA_7r7spM3vzxsUZlU2ccH1OpTE1aK8UTIcQLK9WYZgkVw9JFWmlwgFyJqlH-eK6fg4dYJrl6Kg/s1600/9+-+Western+States+100+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBhqbpJdDH-aSmbvojr4P58uPnBi0or_0XILOYkdAx3yjYd3xm1hdD_liv-AG8AIffA_7r7spM3vzxsUZlU2ccH1OpTE1aK8UTIcQLK9WYZgkVw9JFWmlwgFyJqlH-eK6fg4dYJrl6Kg/s400/9+-+Western+States+100+trail.jpg" title="Western States 100 trail" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was going through kind of a low when I passed this sign just outside the Last Chance aid station. It helped give me a good boost. I later found out it was made by <a href="https://notthatlucas.blogspot.com/2018/07/western-states-and-last-chance-aid.html" target="_blank">Allen Lucas</a>. Clearly he thought I was moving so fast that I ran my feet right off. Thanks Allen!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-82jX1aL5m4Thb8gUNyINrBAOuhKG8tQQ3pPhfcxUfBz3LnYp37E_-SPbs8qqkb1ve2yxqMDzY1qKEhagTQEeo0CSseEJaP1AeBR2HFrl3B9GGAopu4U6kHNBCjsH5xdrjut6_aNyOKU/s1600/10+-+Western+States+100+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-82jX1aL5m4Thb8gUNyINrBAOuhKG8tQQ3pPhfcxUfBz3LnYp37E_-SPbs8qqkb1ve2yxqMDzY1qKEhagTQEeo0CSseEJaP1AeBR2HFrl3B9GGAopu4U6kHNBCjsH5xdrjut6_aNyOKU/s400/10+-+Western+States+100+sign.jpg" title="Western States 100 sign" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sometimes I'd see runners throwing up or runners with tear stained cheeks giving their absolute 100% to fight cutoffs. They were working so hard. I was working so hard. I felt so inspired by the people toward the back that I was able to share the trail with.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cFe6ehxK0xqELMXt_9lKlIqU0TRLucqxNQ5fOZIcJNIGzQrdIw4QbPYXGPc2UaH77VOD0QHijhzkxDpJN_L9IckMnTtzjrEjuyBnAbCEhsRKy9YMRlpOmQNugxiKTz5CnmJyl7sGf0s/s1600/11+-+Western+States+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cFe6ehxK0xqELMXt_9lKlIqU0TRLucqxNQ5fOZIcJNIGzQrdIw4QbPYXGPc2UaH77VOD0QHijhzkxDpJN_L9IckMnTtzjrEjuyBnAbCEhsRKy9YMRlpOmQNugxiKTz5CnmJyl7sGf0s/s400/11+-+Western+States+100.jpg" title="Western States 100" width="400" /></a></div>
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At Western States, what goes up must go really, really steep down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2h9gQSG2XhfpR4DJ8qOPHJMe_359OrRQosEmROTZNkGWHmcB6XNBcvYx2aH4dCZhW4nbDU9VIJYOePGAJVeBS37ERCtyHkNcM8pFSl6TZAM_9qYdYs0qyevOoPf0ZHIL9I_2UGK_QWeI/s1600/12+-+Western+States+100+Precipitous+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2h9gQSG2XhfpR4DJ8qOPHJMe_359OrRQosEmROTZNkGWHmcB6XNBcvYx2aH4dCZhW4nbDU9VIJYOePGAJVeBS37ERCtyHkNcM8pFSl6TZAM_9qYdYs0qyevOoPf0ZHIL9I_2UGK_QWeI/s400/12+-+Western+States+100+Precipitous+Trail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And then it goes really steep up again. (During the race, runners climb a total of 18,090 feet and descend 22,970 feet.) For most people, a section called "The Canyons" is the most difficult part of the course. The heat is engulfing and smothering, and there are some pretty rough climbs. But the climb to Devil's Thumb is the most fierce. I was pouring sweat by the gallon. Then the saddest thing happened. It was so hot that a runner near me spontaneously ignited and turned into a pile of charcoal. I <i><b>HATE</b></i> when that happens!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP0LKuaRQXISg_hXKhdlMuBvVma9NoS4VnP2-mtVoPNr-i6wEOlx1_LAUTz2DRauPt8mbOX74IgHzI2_ZoBLUj1Bm23gePxDjQpYMaeKQwsoR3SSXI9VE9lrijSfxisDAU-LpTao0ZV0/s1600/13+-+Western+States+100+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP0LKuaRQXISg_hXKhdlMuBvVma9NoS4VnP2-mtVoPNr-i6wEOlx1_LAUTz2DRauPt8mbOX74IgHzI2_ZoBLUj1Bm23gePxDjQpYMaeKQwsoR3SSXI9VE9lrijSfxisDAU-LpTao0ZV0/s400/13+-+Western+States+100+selfie.jpg" title="Western States 100 Devil's Thumb" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was still a few miles away from the Michigan Bluff aid station as the sun set on the horizon. By that time, runners were very spread out and I'd go quite a while without seeing another runner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdlQeY-40gyk9v1yIjB7O17In7CUz8qc3IkH9ee-RN_MT-5akB1w7r5saebiQjUxom20S-XkYEsMBNyTJJ9ublRmOf4slVu3mKR4ln75YMfIpZ3K20o2Lej0pNxcg61dZzdqNWOW8dEI/s1600/14+-+Western+States+100+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdlQeY-40gyk9v1yIjB7O17In7CUz8qc3IkH9ee-RN_MT-5akB1w7r5saebiQjUxom20S-XkYEsMBNyTJJ9ublRmOf4slVu3mKR4ln75YMfIpZ3K20o2Lej0pNxcg61dZzdqNWOW8dEI/s400/14+-+Western+States+100+sunset.jpg" title="Western States 100 sunset" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was dark by the time I got to Michigan Bluff. This will come as 0% shocking, but I was still uncomfortably close to cutoffs. At that point, my friend Steve Hooper joined the party to pace the next 22 miles. (The word "party" is used very, <b>very</b> loosely here.) Steve is basically amazing. He had open heart surgery less than a year ago. It's a longer story than I have room for, but running literally saved his life. Unfortunately I had let myself get behind on calories and just couldn't seem to turn it around. For the last 45 miles of the race, my stomach felt like I swallowed a honey badger. I was walking a tight rope where my stomach was begging to barf, and I was begging it not to. Steve and I kept a pretty good pace, and he was patient with me at aid stations when I turned my nose up at every single thing he offered. Humans should never eat honey badgers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUm8uw8ztBukSG5fXFWyHH_KdUp8zZ-T_mGEeKByqkL7tbujVIuzumxHdNm9Zlc7MJhYArV0R2kHQ7DguhssmJ3Pf5aJHkTEiJLEVTtfpHXbRpDpsLDD780tQqU1XY5AXh4HZSht54vGs/s1600/15+-+Western+States+100+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUm8uw8ztBukSG5fXFWyHH_KdUp8zZ-T_mGEeKByqkL7tbujVIuzumxHdNm9Zlc7MJhYArV0R2kHQ7DguhssmJ3Pf5aJHkTEiJLEVTtfpHXbRpDpsLDD780tQqU1XY5AXh4HZSht54vGs/s400/15+-+Western+States+100+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Steve saw lots of carnage out on the trails. We passed quite a few people heaving their guts out on the side of the trail. Eventually we reached the Rucky Chucky aid station at mile 78. I saw my crew for a minute, kissed my wife, then my friend Jared Thorley joined me to pace the last 22 miles. It was 4:13am when we set out to cross the American River. The river is wide and COLD. Every runner has to put a life jacket on and hold onto a rope as they cross. My friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EndorphinDude/" target="_blank">Tony Nguyen</a> caught this picture as I approached the river. It gives a pretty good idea of the toll that nearly 24 hours of forward motion had taken on me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXqU3g7zkU644FGuUr4Tx99TJk1kYzoNjqHsPR_yWR4lGfyZTKKfFdwbXqTGJUO_CM3GUyvU7Wue1F0NdwnwKe3lRgPBL0UlWLWZTj6rbOB9q0vHhKVV-FmHEgRMqGTQ58OgATelWFJ8/s1600/16+-+Western+States+100+Rucky+Chucky+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXqU3g7zkU644FGuUr4Tx99TJk1kYzoNjqHsPR_yWR4lGfyZTKKfFdwbXqTGJUO_CM3GUyvU7Wue1F0NdwnwKe3lRgPBL0UlWLWZTj6rbOB9q0vHhKVV-FmHEgRMqGTQ58OgATelWFJ8/s400/16+-+Western+States+100+Rucky+Chucky+river.jpg" title="Western States 100 river crossing" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by the amazing <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EndorphinDude/" target="_blank">Tony Nguyen</a></span></div>
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I didn't get any pictures with Jared because we were trying to hurry as fast as we could to stay ahead of cutoffs. We pushed and pushed. Jared watched his Garmin like a hawk. Whenever I started to lag he'd say "Come on Cory, you've got to go!" I heard that at least seventeen million times. I would have given anything for the strength to punch him in the throat. We'd get to aid stations and I'd stay long enough to fill my hydration pack, put some ice in my hat, and then start running again. When I saw my crew, I'd give Mel a kiss but wouldn't stay to talk. She later told me she broke down in tears near the end of the race. She knew Western States was important to me, and she saw how much I was struggling. She wasn't sure I could make it. I definitely wasn't sure I could make it. I'm so thankful for the support Kendra gave Mel during the race.<br />
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Jeff Kozak was a volunteer at the mile 90 aid station and wrote a touching article for UltraRunning Magazine about the encouragement he gave me as I passed through. Admittedly my eyes got a little wet reading his description of the desperation I was feeling. You can read his article <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/featured/destination-unknown-the-spirit-of-western-states-the-soul-of-ultra/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTjbbcoOMpN35ZxHWo1cLJyAsA1KEx7yqa_QLcXFsJAP_36yeavpHIOWHNajWDfSTTAy4w4vDyR1IqHq2_E3ABzbWy2LzwSOGN5PS3I4DPGF_2ZMPJQAjWLbsRmjj_KjdbjR8bRqj3hM/s1600/17+-+Western+States+100+aid+station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTjbbcoOMpN35ZxHWo1cLJyAsA1KEx7yqa_QLcXFsJAP_36yeavpHIOWHNajWDfSTTAy4w4vDyR1IqHq2_E3ABzbWy2LzwSOGN5PS3I4DPGF_2ZMPJQAjWLbsRmjj_KjdbjR8bRqj3hM/s400/17+-+Western+States+100+aid+station.jpg" title="Western States 100 aid station" width="400" /></a></div>
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At mile 96 I had accepted the fact that I probably wouldn't make it to the finish in time. There is a gigantic climb around mile 98 and I was spent. I had laid everything out on the line, and truly had nothing left to give. Jared kept pushing. Over and over I heard "Come on Cory, you've got to go!"<br />
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I managed to make it to the top of the climb. I had one mile to get to the finish line at the Placer High track. I was sure I didn't have enough time to make the 30 hour cutoff. Then out of the blue I saw my friend Paul Grimes. He hugged me and yelled "You've got this! You've got this!"<br />
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Later Paul wrote me this: <b>"When I set out from the track, my intent was to find the last runner who had a chance to finish and do anything/everything I could to help that person in. I was nearly 100% sure no one behind you had a chance... and that you did. It was such an overwhelming experience to see the fate of your run teetering on the edge there. I can’t imagine the feeling of missing the cutoff by such a narrow margin after such a long arduous and emotional journey. To go through so much and be so close! I wanted so badly for you to feel the elation of hitting the track in auburn and so badly for you not feel the agony of missing the cutoff.
You know the rest of the story and I’m so glad it ended the way it did!
It was inspiring to see you not give up and summon the physical and mental strength needed to move in a way that must have seemed impossible to you!" </b>I'm so thankful for his encouragement, and for the rest of my crew who encouraged me to keep going during that final mile. (Here's me and Paul at the finish line.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3stu_siHxAQv36jITxIz2hXWRCZbu1H6Xe7wUPhyphenhyphenHeLsSE-3LWoNDnP1myi-lolVx7mej5_z_nil9-6JyKXIy3add2i1RzLiPulBSNh8gelpFYvEf4kzSNG9IZID_kdlRlTylilN64g/s1600/18+-+Western+States+100+Fastcory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3stu_siHxAQv36jITxIz2hXWRCZbu1H6Xe7wUPhyphenhyphenHeLsSE-3LWoNDnP1myi-lolVx7mej5_z_nil9-6JyKXIy3add2i1RzLiPulBSNh8gelpFYvEf4kzSNG9IZID_kdlRlTylilN64g/s400/18+-+Western+States+100+Fastcory.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then as I got a little closer to the track, I saw my friend <a href="http://pixieninjarunning.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kaci Lickteig</a>. I look up to her so much. I admire her not only for her athletic abilities (she has WON the Western States 100!), but also for her radiating happiness, humility, and kindness. She gave me a high five and said she was so happy that I was going to finish. (This is a photo with Kaci a few weeks ago at Western States Training Camp.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZJQ9vUHITg0XYA_PhOXtVNbtJjStZzFYoVdbyNAWKMq3L4ZcBuPCZxqebUQNS6TCuY7dAGsGkqRvZWDAxEg_sRopZHTq_CRQyYcNHQqMkkWdZP1CtnSzF4xJyg7eH2TzHfAj-8xdQOs/s1600/Kaci+Lickteig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZJQ9vUHITg0XYA_PhOXtVNbtJjStZzFYoVdbyNAWKMq3L4ZcBuPCZxqebUQNS6TCuY7dAGsGkqRvZWDAxEg_sRopZHTq_CRQyYcNHQqMkkWdZP1CtnSzF4xJyg7eH2TzHfAj-8xdQOs/s400/Kaci+Lickteig.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I can't describe the emotions I felt when I got to the track. I just had to circle the track to get to the finish line. As I approached the finish line I heard Celine Dion playing over the loud speakers, courtesy of my friends John Medinger and Lisa Henson who were the finish line announcers. Suddenly my ears hurt as bad as everything else on my body. With less than 5 minutes left, I crossed the finish line of the Western States 100!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ugYARu5lSbGD7TVIpmBWlM1w7xSzOlBVgDWhUiK3oXuokrHLuZbDgbU3r5gx4q_thPu3sB-tQS3l11gNN9Frmqg7u-CQpfPbI0v09f13Fj4Ilyh0eJsm_RtDTZTva4xK46KfKEqPrg4/s1600/19+-+Western+States+100+jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ugYARu5lSbGD7TVIpmBWlM1w7xSzOlBVgDWhUiK3oXuokrHLuZbDgbU3r5gx4q_thPu3sB-tQS3l11gNN9Frmqg7u-CQpfPbI0v09f13Fj4Ilyh0eJsm_RtDTZTva4xK46KfKEqPrg4/s400/19+-+Western+States+100+jump.jpg" title="Western States 100 jump finish line" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by the amazing Michael Miller / <a href="https://www.maskorima.com/" target="_blank">Mas Korima</a></span></div>
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I knelt down on the track absolutely overcome with emotion. (And if we're being completely honest here, overcome with exhaustion too.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTPEo6Q2FpTqQivltYphUKt3An2tkslIl6HafYUjdL1DJSFyNv4CzPCsPS1gYMg642B5cNEuRFGHhJlTV7O0z8JKRf3n8PetIzJngAYfq3-2PUgSFtvxf6SiZWhUZW7JNBKQNDlbeEvw/s1600/20+-+Finished+Western+States+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="901" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTPEo6Q2FpTqQivltYphUKt3An2tkslIl6HafYUjdL1DJSFyNv4CzPCsPS1gYMg642B5cNEuRFGHhJlTV7O0z8JKRf3n8PetIzJngAYfq3-2PUgSFtvxf6SiZWhUZW7JNBKQNDlbeEvw/s400/20+-+Finished+Western+States+100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I really can't fathom the fact that I was so close to cutoffs for the last 90 miles (!!!) of the race. There were so many times when I wasn't sure I'd even be able to make it to the track. To finally make it to the finish line left me overcome with emotion. I kissed the ground below me. Renowned photographer Howie Stern happened to capture the image.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06XORGWK7QLWNWn2ZgEAS4NhNYWFjV29WDwS3CR5Ei17Ya2PTTYjlVwC1Uq-ItqyLaNS8XDpG63Qj5FYWqqYQAcqs2g3-zK8R4B-B1SfD01YRuu6x__Q3gGAWMiOdx6OabQ3Fau9sAnE/s1600/21+-+Western+States+100+kissing+the+finish+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06XORGWK7QLWNWn2ZgEAS4NhNYWFjV29WDwS3CR5Ei17Ya2PTTYjlVwC1Uq-ItqyLaNS8XDpG63Qj5FYWqqYQAcqs2g3-zK8R4B-B1SfD01YRuu6x__Q3gGAWMiOdx6OabQ3Fau9sAnE/s400/21+-+Western+States+100+kissing+the+finish+line.jpg" title="Western States 100 finish line Howie Stern" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by the amazing Howie Stern / <a href="https://www.howiestern.com/" target="_blank">Howie Stern Photography</a></span></div>
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I stood up and was hugged by Jared Thorley, the man who helped me along that final 22 mile grueling push. I've never had to dig so deep before. I've never wanted to punch someone in the throat so much. Once I saw this picture from Paul Nelson, I suddenly didn't care that I hadn't gotten any pictures with Jared along the course. This picture is a perfect summary of the experience we shared.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNPe9x0w5bxq3WtRdD68JXCHLd49CQiAf5ffAWN5VzKarF0-rJXxc1mi9Bkm3j1C8FWs05W89Sa0B89wXLJhucm6TD70P0VKJs32XGkGLB1sivH3apqBt94rASM2g-OhTGPDwnRr-8wM/s1600/22+-+Western+States+100+hug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNPe9x0w5bxq3WtRdD68JXCHLd49CQiAf5ffAWN5VzKarF0-rJXxc1mi9Bkm3j1C8FWs05W89Sa0B89wXLJhucm6TD70P0VKJs32XGkGLB1sivH3apqBt94rASM2g-OhTGPDwnRr-8wM/s400/22+-+Western+States+100+hug.jpg" title="Western States 100 finish" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by the amazing Paul Nelson / <a href="https://paulnelson.smugmug.com/" target="_blank">Paul Nelson Photography</a></span></div>
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I gave Mel a kiss. She has been my rock and my greatest support and my best friend. I'm so happy I was able to share this moment with her. (Sorry about the 90 mile long anxiety attack I caused Mel!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUnQKMlCyJVPMsvuIYSRn9OLZmaAHoluIjtL67USOlxw-YB8dryba-dogrKyqhQdkl9j7RHZI_SyaCzEYQxn0simewDqFFRmLQoierPYqjE50AtreHDTWPHRDLIF2uLHPuWOD8E2VpaA/s1600/23+-+Western+States+100+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUnQKMlCyJVPMsvuIYSRn9OLZmaAHoluIjtL67USOlxw-YB8dryba-dogrKyqhQdkl9j7RHZI_SyaCzEYQxn0simewDqFFRmLQoierPYqjE50AtreHDTWPHRDLIF2uLHPuWOD8E2VpaA/s400/23+-+Western+States+100+kiss.jpg" title="Western States 100 kiss" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by the amazing Paul Nelson / <a href="https://paulnelson.smugmug.com/" target="_blank">Paul Nelson Photography</a></span><br />
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After a minute, a nice man with an official-looking badge came over to say hello. Then he grabbed my arm and said "Let's go for a walk." Pretty soon I found out that "Let's go for a walk," means "You need to go to the medical tent." Don't worry. It was nothing that a can of Coke and a 90 second power nap couldn't fix. #imnotdead</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbkxnrboQwLGJ7SYckjVSw2w-mvQUNf0SL0CgDdAxc2CFAI9lI2wxj0Rx92ywSeoZ8_jIBCagmQFAVZMnZMyBlONahvGo_bq56KQ7inML7nArXwK82J0c7KISMHIg0mWkfLHTx3HshTc/s1600/24+-+Western+States+100+medical+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbkxnrboQwLGJ7SYckjVSw2w-mvQUNf0SL0CgDdAxc2CFAI9lI2wxj0Rx92ywSeoZ8_jIBCagmQFAVZMnZMyBlONahvGo_bq56KQ7inML7nArXwK82J0c7KISMHIg0mWkfLHTx3HshTc/s400/24+-+Western+States+100+medical+tent.jpg" title="Western States 100 medical tent" width="400" /></a></div>
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At the awards ceremony I got to spend a few minutes talking with Gordy Ainsleigh who, more than 40 years ago, was the first person to show that human beings are capable of running 100 miles. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AwYXNCIBUbEohCPcoVx5jLqbrtE77Y9fbUkgVwmXPBHxSvffXEeUKiaUrV-bbxe8Xg-XuiMbA3ucoxkKPXp31hWJaaS6zGNji5Q4P5FigDhPUttGeMKpdp1BTHKfyOCiKBTbs-1WUq4/s1600/25+-+Western+States+100+Gordy+Ainsleigh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AwYXNCIBUbEohCPcoVx5jLqbrtE77Y9fbUkgVwmXPBHxSvffXEeUKiaUrV-bbxe8Xg-XuiMbA3ucoxkKPXp31hWJaaS6zGNji5Q4P5FigDhPUttGeMKpdp1BTHKfyOCiKBTbs-1WUq4/s400/25+-+Western+States+100+Gordy+Ainsleigh.jpg" title="Western States 100 Gordy Ainsleigh" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by the amazing Steve Hooper / <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a></span></div>
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The volunteers at the Western States 100 were exceptional. They were kind and encouraging and helpful. Finishing Western States was the epitome of a team effort. My crew believed in me when I had a hard time believing in myself. They helped me find strengthen I didn't know I had. I deeply love each person on my team. Thank you Mel. Thank you Kendra. Thank you Jared. Thank you Steve.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UhgEdl9hRwfo7bfazD_TcR1cK2khGCQ5DE6M1VXYTNSPbLXTMqZp9Z9c203Kgdl-fwkfaOLGFb49umltl3vswA95Du1BxeXUAxRIiZ06yUWPGcYt-0UQcuTaYCWlfPrEzN377fn6fzE/s1600/26+-+Western+States+100+crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UhgEdl9hRwfo7bfazD_TcR1cK2khGCQ5DE6M1VXYTNSPbLXTMqZp9Z9c203Kgdl-fwkfaOLGFb49umltl3vswA95Du1BxeXUAxRIiZ06yUWPGcYt-0UQcuTaYCWlfPrEzN377fn6fzE/s400/26+-+Western+States+100+crew.jpg" title="Western States 100 crew" width="400" /></a></div>
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I can't express how thankful I am to <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/" target="_blank">UltraRunning Magazine</a> for the opportunity to run Western States. Thanks to my great sponsors <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra Running</a>, <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a>, <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/" target="_blank">Tailwind Nutrition</a>, <a href="https://www.injinji.com/" target="_blank">Injinji</a>, <a href="https://ultraspire.com/?uaa=52" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a>, and <a href="http://www.drpepper.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Pepper</a>. (Okay, that last one may be wishful thinking.) </div>
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At the finish line of the Western States 100, a dream came true. It was an experience I will always cherish. Running has taught me that we are capable of more than we know. We can do hard things. Being stubborn and determined can take you a long way. The harder you work for something, the more it means to you. Dream big. There is intense, deep satisfaction in knowing you gave your all.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_QDGdlorpiTsRGq-EoOJxxEgAIEb1NC2-6QdPiQj2KxWQ1dUgUU9tkY3-jEXF6P8LdLAmpqcDBcYPb2hIRIyTEClg0BZjtGX0jiKFrdMbT9XnVbizasJsB0nRr_H3L1FEcJ71z05zA4/s1600/27+-+Western+States+100+belt+buckle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_QDGdlorpiTsRGq-EoOJxxEgAIEb1NC2-6QdPiQj2KxWQ1dUgUU9tkY3-jEXF6P8LdLAmpqcDBcYPb2hIRIyTEClg0BZjtGX0jiKFrdMbT9XnVbizasJsB0nRr_H3L1FEcJ71z05zA4/s400/27+-+Western+States+100+belt+buckle.jpg" title="Western States 100 buckle" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you are a runnerd like me and like reading about running, I just released my new book "<b>Into The Furnace: How a 135 mile run across Death Valley set my soul on fire</b>." It's full of juicy stories about embracing suffering, facing fears, and how to look people in the eyes after you have just thrown up on your feet. You can find it on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Furnace-across-Death-Valley/dp/1987711580/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530308872&sr=8-1&keywords=into+the+furnace" target="_blank">Amazon, Kindle, and Audible</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD465RxWr5e00Q9uNlRDuaNg68GTpt4hJMmVi2C7lBKDYr8DiWHvGg6sCA03hHrqok4eliXg7OntdCFlRtBNYaXPKb0rhw2nGjVIqVpb2Ep4B9akok2EcT5S9p4B4xrd46vIPHsaITRE/s1600/FB+Book+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1600" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD465RxWr5e00Q9uNlRDuaNg68GTpt4hJMmVi2C7lBKDYr8DiWHvGg6sCA03hHrqok4eliXg7OntdCFlRtBNYaXPKb0rhw2nGjVIqVpb2Ep4B9akok2EcT5S9p4B4xrd46vIPHsaITRE/s400/FB+Book+Picture.jpg" title="Into The Furnace, Cory Reese" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-33164588372318766142018-06-17T19:00:00.000-06:002018-06-18T19:23:43.687-06:00My Training For The Western States 100<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The <a href="https://www.wser.org/" target="_blank">Western States 100</a> is coming up in Squaw Valley, California on Saturday! I'm more nervous than a pig in a bacon factory. I've applied for the lottery for many years but hadn't gotten in. Then in October I received an email from Karl Hoagland and Cory Smith at <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/" target="_blank">UltraRunning Magazine</a> offering a spot to run as part of their sponsorship of the race. When I read their email, I screamed. I am so thankful for this opportunity. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFGR52KMOSNbysM85TnQ6S6nSjLdrlDeAN0H34cdF71pWZs_L-sg5GGQVlpva6d406UiEYZDqiSqH08tvMZ4NGBLQmNxcxW0WHiAcNSaTq0bNZ-KRAYFN3ueEBLsyJXnxjja_hj9geps/s1600/DSC_9281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFGR52KMOSNbysM85TnQ6S6nSjLdrlDeAN0H34cdF71pWZs_L-sg5GGQVlpva6d406UiEYZDqiSqH08tvMZ4NGBLQmNxcxW0WHiAcNSaTq0bNZ-KRAYFN3ueEBLsyJXnxjja_hj9geps/s400/DSC_9281.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've tried to do everything I can to be prepared for this race. In February I <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/02/jackpot-race-report-family-ultramarathon.html" target="_blank">ran 130 miles at the Jackpot Ultra Running Festival</a>. In March I <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/04/running-100-miles-on-cruise-ship.html" target="_blank">ran 100 miles on the deck of a cruise ship</a>. (Proof that I sometimes make poor life choices.) And in April I ran the <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/04/zion-100-race-report-2018.html" target="_blank">Zion 100</a>. While those races got some miles on my legs, the difficulty of those courses was <i>nothing</i> compared to what I'll face at Western States. In my training, I've tried to do as much climbing and descending as possible. (The race has 18,090 feet of climbing, and 22,970 feet of descent. <b>O U C H. </b><br />
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I've worked on squeezing miles in between releasing my new book <b>Into The Furnace: How a 135 mile run across Death Valley set my soul on fire.</b> I'm completely honored that Oprah Winfrey ranked it as her third favorite book of all time, right behind The Da Vinci Code and Goodnight Moon. Thanks O! The book was just released on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible. You can find it <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Into-Furnace-across-Death-Valley/dp/1987711580/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1529274312&sr=1-1&keywords=into+the+furnace" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXednw76mBdTS0wWNz7e7QZcFwzw49DWyj0Gu-ADGKFtRGYR35bDBhhEIS8KMX7hu1X9RHHzxzQZjaFsFn88EGftG1dNm848QhNG9sZd0XGpgl8v65DqaPrqYARMf5_r6Wk0D2J1KuAc/s1600/Into+The+Furnace+Audio+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXednw76mBdTS0wWNz7e7QZcFwzw49DWyj0Gu-ADGKFtRGYR35bDBhhEIS8KMX7hu1X9RHHzxzQZjaFsFn88EGftG1dNm848QhNG9sZd0XGpgl8v65DqaPrqYARMf5_r6Wk0D2J1KuAc/s400/Into+The+Furnace+Audio+Picture.jpg" title="Into The Furnace, Cory Reese" width="400" /></a></div>
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Western States is notoriously hot. So I've tried to get my body ready for the heat by running in the heat of the day (around 100 degrees in southern Utah right now). I sometimes wear a sweatshirt and wool hat. Unfortunately the trailhead where I often run is a mile from my house. When neighbors see me in this apparel, they just stare in pity thinking I'm as smart as a bowl of Jell-O.<br />
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I start whining when there are clouds that tone down the heat.<br />
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I've been able to do some running in some of the most beautiful places on the planet.<br />
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I've also been able to share some awesome adventures with my family.<br />
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A week or so ago I spent a few days with renowned photographer and videographer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/derricklytle/?hl=en" target="_blank">Derrick Lytle</a> who is working on a project with <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra Running</a>. I'm not sure what he has up his sleeve but I think the video will come out sometime after the race. I had fun hanging out with him on some of my local trails.<br />
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My best training for the race happened a few weeks ago at the Western States Training Camp. Over the three days of the camp, we ran the last 70 miles of the course. I was amazed by two things: <b>1)</b> The beautiful scenery, and <b>2)</b> How freaking hard the course is. It's one thing to see numbers like 18k feet climbing and 23k feet descent on paper. But to actually go up and down those mountains was, well, a little intimidating.<br />
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There is a section of the course called "The Canyons" where the trail is SO steep and SO hot. I was melting and bonked so hard. The canyon heat was around 7,425 degrees. The forecast for race day says it will be around 8,425 degrees. Here is an embarrassing picture of what that epic bonk looked like. (I was pouring sweat and trying my hardest to not barf. It's one of my greatest life achievements that I finished the training camp without vomit on my shoes.)<br />
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I had so, so much fun at the training camp. We ran during the day, then did the things that normal runners do in the evenings. We hung out and talked, went to a film festival, and ate Taco Bell at 9:30pm. The last day of the training camp finished at the high school track in Auburn, CA where the finish line will be on race day. We were then treated to a meal that tasted like it had been prepared at the hands of angels.<br />
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A huge part of what made the weekend so fun was going with my friend and Taco Bell accomplice Jared Thorley. We ran into a bit of a dilemma on the last day of the training camp. After the run we needed to head to the airport. But it would be considered an act of terrorism to get on an airplane without showering considering how we smelled. So we found a hose near the finish line and made ourselves less like terrorists.<br />
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I'm excited that Jared will be coming to crew/pace at Western States. We've shared many absolutely miserable miles with each other over the years. Chances are we'll find a miserable mile or two (or 70) at the race this weekend. My friends Steve and Kendra Hooper from <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a> are also coming to join in the crewing/pacing extravaganza. Steve has talked about Western States as long as I've known him. I'm so glad they are coming.<br />
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And crew chief extraordinaire will be Mel. We just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and there is nobody I'd rather share the adventure with.<br />
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If you're bored this weekend, there is race tracking at <a href="https://www.ultralive.net/ws100#tracking/info">https://www.ultralive.net/ws100#tracking/info</a>. I'm bib # 316. The race starts at 5:00am Pacific on Saturday and the cutoff is 30 hours later at 11:00am on Sunday. You never know what will happen in 100 miles. But I'm hoping that despite the challenging course and oppressive heat, I'll be able to make it to the finish line before that 30 hour cutoff.<br />
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HUGE thanks to <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/" target="_blank">UltraRunning Magazine</a>, <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra Running</a>, <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/" target="_blank">Tailwind Nutrition</a>, <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a>, <a href="https://www.injinji.com/" target="_blank">Injinji</a>, and <a href="https://ultraspire.com/?uaa=52" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a> for their support of my running nonsense.<br />
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<b>See you in Squaw! </b>Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-32428686643728922962018-04-22T19:42:00.000-06:002018-04-22T19:42:29.851-06:00Zion 100 Race Report 2018<div>
I thought I'd mimic <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2017/04/zion-100-race-report-2017_11.html" target="_blank">last year's Zion 100 race report</a> by telling you about my experience in hashtags. I almost didn't run the Zion 100 this year. My legs were still kind of buggy from <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2018/04/running-100-miles-on-cruise-ship.html" target="_blank">running a 100 miler on a cruise ship three weeks ago</a>. The biggest issue is that with my limited time before the family wakes up or after they go to bed for the last three months, I've been completely focused on wrapping up my new book <i><b>Into The Furnace: How a 135 mile run across Death Valley set my soul on fire.</b></i> More info <b><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1860738459/into-the-furnace-a-book-about-the-worlds-toughest" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. Instead of taking that time to run, I've been working on the book. <b>#couchto100miler</b></div>
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Ultimately the night before the race I decided to give it a shot. I didn't want to be left wondering "What if...". I asked my daughter Kylee if she'd make a few baggies of wet wipes for me because <b>#iassumepineneedlesarescratchy</b> . When I came home, she had these awesome baggies prepared for my drop bags. I prayed I wouldn't have the kind of intestinal issues that would require this many wipes, but better safe than sorry. </div>
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At the start line I spent some time talking with my friend and #lumberjacklookalike <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2014/03/buffalo-run-100-mile-race-report-2014.html" target="_blank">Danny Widerberg</a>. Danny, the legendary <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnwWYrM6q2g" target="_blank">Pam Reed</a>, and myself are the only people who have run the race consecutively each of the 7 years since the Zion 100 started. This is generously due to the fact that Danny, Pam, and the RD were willing to count my <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2016/04/zion-100-race-report-2016-solo.html" target="_blank">solo run of the Zion 100</a> a few days before the actual race in 2016 because I committed to work at the finish line of the official race. <b>#iwouldkilltogrowabeardlikethis</b></div>
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It poured rain for hours making trail conditions similar to running on a Crisco-covered Slip And Slide. It was around 2.4% enjoyable. While running with friend Maria, she said she thought the rain was a fun challenge. <b>#shewouldnotpassaliedetectortest</b></div>
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There is always some kind of weather issue at races. Either we're pointing out how hot a race was. Or how rainy it was. Or how windy it was. Or how cold it was. Or how muddy it was. There is always something. Perfect race weather is like mermaids, unicorns, and enjoyable Celine Dion music. <b>#theydontexist</b></div>
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When we got to the first aid station we saw delicious snacks like these M&Ms. <b>#ithinkiwillpass</b></div>
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Then we had the distinct pleasure of going down the Flying Monkey Trail. <b>#criscoslipandslidesthatgoupmustgodown</b></div>
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As difficult as the trail conditions were, it does help keep you hyper-focused on staying upright and distracting you from grumpy knees and feet. Mercifully once we got off the mesa, the rain eased up and trail conditions became much better. <b style="background-color: white;">#icouldntthinkofawittyhashtagtoputhere</b></div>
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From there we traveled the long Dalton Wash dirt road to the trailhead of the Guacamole Trail. The trail is miles and miles of punishing slickrock that leave your legs feeling like guacamole. <span style="background-color: white;"><b>#puremush</b></span></div>
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The parts of the trail that weren't slickrock were still slick and slimy like creamy peanut butter. <b>#myshadowsaidhello</b></div>
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A couple of hours of slickrock brought us back to the Guacamole aid station before heading back down the road we climbed earlier. <span style="background-color: white;"><b>#nomorepeanutbutter</b></span></div>
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At the bottom of Dalton Wash Road, Mel and Kylee met me with a cinnamon roll and a cup of hat Ramen Noodles. They basically rock. <b>#everyaidstationneedscinnamonrolls</b></div>
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We crossed the desert floor between Smith Mesa and Gooseberry Mesa. It's always cool to look across the valley and think "Hey! I was up on top of that mesa a few hours ago!" <b>#whileslidingoncrisco</b><br />
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Next on tap is the punishing climb to the top of Gooseberry Mesa. The trail ascends around 1,500 feet in less than a mile. It. Is. <b>V E R T I C A L</b>. But the great views at the top make you forget that your lungs have filled with molten lava. <b>#okaythatsalie</b></div>
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Unfortunately, for some reason, I had the Beach Boys song Kokomo stuck in my head on repeat. I suppose it could have been worse. <b>#celinedion #spicegirls #backstreetboys #aruba #jamaica #ohIwanttotakeyoutobermudabahama "comeonprettymama #wellgettherefastandthenwelltakeitslow</b> </div>
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The top of Gooseberry Mesa is another hefty chunk of slickrock that puts your legs through a cheese grater. The twelve miles up here feel like twenty. But then you get to an overlook called The Point and all your hard work is rewarded. It's my favorite part of the whole course. <b>#themesakindoflookslikeacheesegrater</b></div>
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Many of my hours on Gooseberry were alone. By this point the miles were catching up to people. For some reason I was feeling pretty good overall. Every once in a while I would catch up with people who looked like they had entered the pain cave. <b>#whoknewpaincaveswerethisbeautiful</b><br />
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While running on Gooseberry I finally broke down, pulled out my phone, and started listening to some ESPN Dan Le Batard podcasts I had saved. <b>#kokomowasmakingmecrazy</b><br />
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I was almost to the Goosebump aid station as the sun was setting. Watching the sun go down was seriously beautiful. These are the times when you stop running and pull over to truly enjoy a magical moment. <b>#patrioticsunset</b><br />
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I ran almost all night by myself. I always suffer intensely at night while running 100s. I get so tired that I start sleep walking and the sleep monsters are absolutely suffocating. For some reason it didn't kick in this time and I was able to keep my steady pace going. Once I made it down the vertical descent off Gooseberry, the miles become much more runnable. The problem is that most of the time, my legs are fried by this point. This year I still had some energy so I was able to keep pounding. <b>#couchto100mileplanpayingoff</b><br />
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The last 24ish miles cover a variety of trails in the Virgin Desert. There is a red loop, white loop, and blue loop, all on different trails. While on the red loop I saw this beautiful sunrise over Zion National Park. <b>#herecomesthesun #doodoodoodoo</b><br />
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When I finished the red loop, I took off my night tights and changed into shorts. I didn't realize until ten minutes on the white loop that I forgot to remove the timing bib from my tights to put back on my shorts, meaning that it would show I didn't check out of the aid station. A few months ago an ultrarunner got caught cheating. I wanted absolutely <b>nothing</b> to do with that. Fortunately between my <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2645049015" target="_blank">Garmin tracking of the race</a>, volunteer Laura Western who checked me in after each loop, talking with friends during each loop, and a couple hundred pictures and videos I took during the race, I've got plenty of proof that I covered each step of the race. I pushed as hard as I could for the last five miles. It was so strange to feel so good. That NEVER happens! <b>#expertdeathshuffler</b><br />
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After 28 hours and 42 minutes, I crossed the finish line of the Zion 100. It was only the second time in my life where I felt like things clicked for the whole race. (The only other time was when I ran a sub-24 hour race.) It has been so many years since the last time everything clicked like this that I forgot what it felt like. I truly couldn't have been happier. I then went over to the awards table and looked at all the custom belt buckles. I waited until one said "I love you. I want to come home with you." <b>#iloveyoutoo</b><br />
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It was great to see Jackson who had been working at the finish line all day. <b>#isthisblackmailmaterial</b><br />
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One of the happiest moments of the day was waiting at the finish line for my friend Jared Thorley. He desperately, desperately wanted a sub-30 hour finish. I saw him a few hours earlier and didn't think he had a prayer. But with 11 minutes before that 30 hour goal, Jared made it to the finish line. He dug SO deep for that. His finish was a beautiful thing to watch. <b>#achievetheimpossible</b><br />
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I love how every race is an adventure. As you are standing at the starting line, you have no idea what is in store. I love the people and the atmosphere of the ultra community. An ultramarathon is an opportunity to see beautiful places, breathe fresh air, then breathe molten lava as you climb ridiculous hills that fill your lungs with burning magma, and be surrounded by people who are willing to dream big. This is a race experience I will always cherish. <b>#gettherefastandthenwelltakeitslow #thatswherewewanttogo #waydowninKokomo</b><br />
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I must thank Mel and my amazing kids Jackson, Danica, and Kylee. I love them so much and am so thankful for their support. Huge thanks to all the incredible race volunteers. And thanks to <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra</a>, <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/" target="_blank">Tailwind Nutrition</a>, <a href="https://www.injinji.com/" target="_blank">Injinji</a>, <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/" target="_blank">St. George Running Center</a>, and <a href="https://ultraspire.com/?uaa=52" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a>. I feel so blessed. </div>
Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-6326232622745154892018-04-19T09:31:00.000-06:002018-04-19T09:31:07.620-06:00Announcing My New Book - Into The FurnaceI am SO excited to announce the title and cover of my upcoming book! It's called <b><i>Into The Furnace: How a 135 mile run across Death Valley set my soul on fire.</i></b><br />
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It’s a book about taking chances. It’s about suffering. It’s about bravery and heartache and hope and courage. It’s a book about the Badwater ultramarathon, and the pure love of running. The book was co-written with <a href="https://lukegoestoolivegarden.tumblr.com/post/165742653191/day-1-olive-garden-ogs" target="_blank">Luke Thoreson</a> who is a phenomenal and enormously hilarious writer. <a href="http://www.ultramarathonman.com/web/" target="_blank">Dean Karnazes</a> wrote the forward for the book. Check out this clip about the book:<br />
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<b>The book (along with other fun rewards) is now available for pre-order!</b> I'm nearly bursting with happiness. Click <b><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1860738459/into-the-furnace-a-book-about-the-worlds-toughest" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> for a link with more book info and details on how to order. Thanks SO much for all your support and encouragement!Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-54323910258394024842018-04-10T08:06:00.000-06:002018-04-10T08:06:12.503-06:00Running 100 Miles On A Cruise Ship!I inhaled two ice cream cones like a vacuum sucking up dust bunnies. Then I kissed my wife and walked to the running track on the deck of the Ruby Princess cruise ship. And then I clicked the Start button on my Garmin to begin what I hoped would be a 100 mile run on the deck of the ship.<br />
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Why attempt a 100 mile run on the first day of a vacation? Well, mainly because that's the only opportunity I could think of to vacuum up as many ice cream cones as I want while running 100 miles. Thus far, none of the trail races I've done have had an all-you-can-eat ice cream machine at any aid stations. This was my view for many, <i>MANY</i> more hours to come:</div>
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Some creative friends came up with some great names for the run. Some of my favorites were:</div>
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<li>Andrea Bond: <b>My Run Will Go On </b></li>
<li>Colleen Rue: <b>Seasick 100 </b></li>
<li>Kristyan Williams: <b>Ship Happens 100</b> </li>
<li>Mike Beckwith: <b>You’ve Got To Be Shipping Me 100</b> </li>
<li>Hollie Reina: <b>Soft Serve 1600</b> </li>
<li>Andy Pearson: <b>The Dumb As Ship 100</b> </li>
<li>Rob Steger: <b>Finding Cory…yeah dad joke</b> </li>
<li>Sean Melican: <b>The Ship For Brains Challenge</b> </li>
<li>Howie Stern: <b>Chicken Of The Sea 100</b></li>
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We were on a California Coast cruise. We went with our friends the Coopers and lots of their extended family. This was a bonus because they were more than willing to be an informal aid station. Every once in a while people would kindly bring up some food or water or ice cream. </div>
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The first night and day were at sea. I didn't feel like the run took away from family time much. Mel was happy as a clam hanging out and visiting with friends. And my kids are teenagers so it's safe to say that hanging out with dad probably wasn't at the top of their priority list. But the running track was right next to the basketball court where they spent a lot of time so we saw a lot of each other.<br />
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Plus the kids were awesome about bringing snacks whenever they got bored.<br />
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The night was bitter, <b>BITTER</b> cold and it was so windy that it felt like trying to run inside a tornado. During the night whenever Mel brought up some food, she would stay out just long enough to hand me a plate, and then would dart back into the warmth. I didn't expect that it would be this cold so I didn't have as many layers as I would have preferred.<br />
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At 3:30 a.m. I was freezing cold and a fierce wind was tossing me around the track. If you think a gale force headwind is miserable, don’t worry. In 20 feet it will be a tailwind. Which will momentarily be blowing you sideways before becoming a ferocious headwind again. I hadn’t seen anyone for hours. And then a worker showed up with a hose. He told me he had to clean the track and I could come back in an hour.
I concluded that to continue my run, I’d need to succumb to some miles on a treadmill for an hour. I wanted nothing to do with Satan's Sidewalk, but I didn't know what else to do. Then I realized that the fitness center was closed. In an act of desperation, I ran up and down the long hallway of the cruise ship for an hour. </div>
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The absurdity of this scene was not lost on me. Fortunately I’m a licensed clinical social worker so I was able to give myself therapy for the trauma I was putting myself through. Eventually I headed back to that hamster wheel of hell called the running track.<br />
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Let me tell you about this hamster wheel of hell. The surface is hard steel. (As opposed to soft steel??) Do you know what feet and knees and legs <i><b>don't</b></i> love? Hard steel. And it takes 16 loops to make a mile. <b>SIXTEEEEEEEN</b>. To make this sound infinitely more heartbreaking, that means it takes 1,600 loops to make 100 miles. If that doesn't make you throw up in your mouth a little bit, nothing will.<br />
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By the time the sun came up, I was around mile 52. I was convinced that we had been tricked into getting on a cruise to the Antarctic. <b>#imnotrobbingabank #isthisworsethanprisontime #sanityoverboard</b><br />
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In the morning our friends Henry, Sid, and Mandy brought me an omelette and waffles that tasted like they had been made by the hands of angels. This may have been the only point in my life when I was so cold that even ice cream didn't sound appealing.<br />
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Around mile 72 I learned that Princess keeps an imaginary pain cave on board. This pain cave is worse than listening to Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" played on repeat. Now <b><i>that's</i></b> saying something. What made the pain cave even more of a mental challenge was looking down at the pool and seeing people relaxing with their drinks and books and happiness. Their eyes weren't looking glassy with big bags underneath them like my eyes were looking. Mel came up to join me for a few miles which helped minimize the sleep walking.<br />
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I actually felt fairly decent overall and ended up running the second half faster than the first. I don't think I've had a negative split during a 100 miler before. Finally after 27 hours and 47 minutes I finished the 100 mile run. My family was there with a belt buckle that we brought along just in case I finished the run. I basically love it.<br />
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I'm not aware of anyone running a 100 miler on a 1/16 mile loop of a cruise ship before. After this experience I think I understand why. I can say with certainty that I underestimated how challenging it would be, both mentally and physically. I used a Garmin foot pod to track my distance because I knew GPS wouldn't work on a moving ship. You can see my Garmin data <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2611194999" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>. Just for fun, I started Strava for my run as well. You can see that data <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1488137484" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>. I love how the route looks like I ran across water.<br />
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The brutal part was that after finishing the run, I had around 7 hours to sleep before we needed to get up for the adventures we had planned for the day, which included Alcatraz:<br />
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And heading over to the Golden Gate Bridge:<br />
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Though I was stiff as a board trying to walk around, I think all this walking around was incredibly helpful to loosen up my tight muscles. Two days later, I had absolutely no soreness and felt like I could run again if I wanted to. (I didn't.) I credit the lack of soreness to all the walking around we did.<br />
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I got to enjoy lots of family time for the rest of our vacation as well. We saw some awesome stuff in San Diego, Ensenada, and Monterey.<br />
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In Monterey we caught this jumping picture. It only took 13 tries to get a shot where we were all up in the air.<br />
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My highlight of the trip was being able to spend time with my family at Muir woods. Our family vacations aren’t 100% fun. Much of the time, siblings are wanting to strangle each other. Parents are wanting to strangle kids. Kids are wanting to strangle parents. But we are creating memories we will look back on with happiness. Exploring Muir Woods with my tribe felt like heaven.<br />
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Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure this is what heaven will look like. Except that there will be a trail side all-you-can-eat ice cream machine.Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com96tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-37425684941023946902018-03-24T17:00:00.000-06:002018-03-24T17:00:06.216-06:00My Comprehensive Athlete AssessmentYears and years ago (like....um....20 years ago) I had this awesome health teacher in high school named Tiffany Gust. I always admired how personable she was and her ability to engage students - definitely not an easy task with teenagers.<br />
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Tiffany is now an exercise physiologist at Intermountain Health Care in their St. George, Utah Health and Performance Center. I was psyched when she said they were starting up a new comprehensive athlete assessment program called the Sports Performance Package, and she asked if I would be their guinea pig to test the program out.</div>
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The program was designed for all athletes of any age or athletic level with the purpose of improving performance and preventing injuries. When they said "comprehensive" they weren't exaggerating. Here is the testing I did, my results, and their recommendations:</div>
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<b>A comprehensive lab panel</b></div>
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I'll fully admit that I'm a GIGANTIC baby when it comes to needles. I have a bad reputation for passing out. So I was pretty proud of myself for not passing out with this lab draw. The assessment checked a CBC, CMP, cholestorol, thyroid functioning, vitamin B12, vitamin D, testosterone/estrogen hormones, Ferritin, and Cortisol. The lab draw was the first thing we did, and most results were back fast enough for the doctor to review them with me. I learned that my vitamin B12 and vitamin D were low, both of which can effect athletic performance so I've started taking those supplements.</div>
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<b>Fitness Assessments</b></div>
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There were lots of tests that were part of the functional movement screening including a push-up test, sit-up test, wall-sit test, and sit-and-reach test. There was also a functional movement screening which helps identify weak areas that could be problem areas for potential injuries. My results in most of these: I SUCK. I had many weaknesses including core strength, hips, and glutes: all critical areas for runners. Fortunately they gave me conditioning exercises specifically geared toward improving my weaknesses.</div>
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<b>Bod Pod</b></div>
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This test helps determine body composition and the ratio of fat to muscle. This won't come as too much of a surprise, but it would be helpful for me to eat a few less Hostess cupcakes and eat a few more carrots. WHY can't someone genetically modify carrots to taste like Hostess cupcakes??? Why!?!</div>
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<b>VO2 Test</b></div>
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This test helps measure cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. My score of 45.5 put me in the excellent range here, but with some speed work and interval training (which I do basically none of), I might be able to move up to the superior range. I learned about my metabolic rate and how many calories my body burns during resting and during exercise.</div>
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<b>Dietitian Consultation</b></div>
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Prior to my appointment, I had to keep a food and liquid journal for three days. It was slightly embarrassing to have "Costco Cheesecake" on my food log for every single one of those days. I told Mel not to buy Costco cheesecake anymore because if it's in my refrigerator, I'm morally obligated to eat it. My dietitian Christie Benton reviewed my logs and said I need more protein and to drink more water. She also gave me personalized meal plans to help meet my targets.</div>
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<b>Physician Consultation</b></div>
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The final part of the Comprehensive Sports Performance Evaluation was meeting with Dr. Rhett Frei. He reviewed all my labs and made sure everything was in working order. Things like hormone levels and vitamin deficiencies can have a big impact on functioning. He also reviewed my running history and the longstanding problems I've had with my knees. His evaluation found that my knee problems stem from weak hips, weak VMO muscles, and weak Gluteus Medius muscles. What I really appreciated is that they gave me specific things to do to get these areas on track.</div>
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This whole process took nearly five hours. I feel like they looked at every level of my functioning and fitness. And beyond just figuring out areas that needed improvement, they actually told me what to do about it. </div>
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I wanted to give a few months of putting things into practice before I gave an accurate write-up of my experience there. Since my visit with them I've done the stretching and strengthening exercises they recommended. I made some adjustments with my diet. (I did not remove cheesecake or Dr. Pepper from my diet.) I started taking the vitamin supplements they recommended. And I feel better. I feel stronger. I still have LOTS of room for improvement. Despite having pretty good endurance, I still have lots of problem areas to work on for injury prevention. But it's nice to know the steps I can take to get better.</div>
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If you'd like more information or to schedule an appointment, call 435-251-3793 or check out their link <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/wellness-preventive-medicine/live-well-centers/st-george-live-well/sports-medicine-and-performance/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </div>
Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-84913917313823647792018-02-22T18:26:00.000-07:002018-02-22T18:26:08.639-07:00Jackpot Race Report - A Family Ultramarathon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: none; text-align: center;">
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Last year my wife and I took the kids to Disney World. Though the kids had a blast, Mel and I realized that we are allergic to standing in a line for two hours for a 90 second roller coaster. I'm pretty sure I'd rather have a spleen removal than go to another theme park.<br />
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After last year's trip to Disney World, you can imagine the abounding excitement the kids felt when we told them that this year we would be running a 48 hour race together. They were so thrilled that they hoisted me and Mel on their shoulders and shouted that we were the BEST PARENTS EVER!! (Or something like that.) (Or nothing like that.)<br />
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We like the <a href="http://www.beyondlimitsrunning.com/limitlessevents/JackpotUltraRunning">Jackpot Ultra Running Festival</a> in Vegas. I've run it a bunch of times and it is the only race where I've ever <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2014/02/jackpot-100-mile-race-report-new-pr.html">run a sub-24 hour 100 miler</a>. The course is a 2.5 mile loop so you get to know the other runners well, considering that you see them so often.<br />
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Going into the race, we told the kids we had no expectations of them except to go have fun. We didn't want to pressure them to go farther than they wanted. With a timed race like this, you just go as far as you want within 48 hours. (They have a 24 hour, 12 hour, and 6 hour race too.) You run when you want, you rest when you want. Since we brought the kids along, we decided to rent an RV for a few days so we'd have a place to rest when not out on the course.<br />
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I gave them a little talk about what to expect. In summary: don't get behind with fluids and nutrition. Start slow. A nipple with a Bandaid is a happy nipple. They have cheesecake at the aid station. Eat some cheesecake. I think that pretty much covers all the important things. Then we checked in.<br />
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I need to give a disclaimer: those first two pictures are us as a happy family. But those times were the minority. Usually we were wanting to strangle each other. Everyone would take their turns fighting, complaining, arguing, or giving the silent treatment. We just hoped that in the end, this would be a good experience.<br />
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The race started Friday morning. Run. Walk. Rest. Cheesecake. Run. Walk. Rest. Cheesecake. Hour. After. Hour. I truly loved seeing Mel and the kids out on the course and being able to give them a high five or a sweaty hug when we passed each other.<br />
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One of the biggest reasons I wanted my kids to have an experience at a race like this is to be surrounded by the amazing community of runners who are so supportive and encouraging. Take, for example, my friend Colleen Zato. I've known Colleen for years and always love the miles I spend with her. My admiration grew when I saw her work through some very dark times to finish Badwater. But I love her even more after Jackpot. Colleen and her boyfriend Alex kind of took Jackson under their wing and spent many, many miles with him. Getting lost in conversations with friends always makes the miles go by quicker.<br />
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A mile 34 jumping picture:<br />
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One of the biggest highlights of my race was being able to share some miles with legendary runner <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZszWslBd6qA">Ann Trason</a>. Among her many accomplishments, she has won the Western States 100 a remarkable 14 TIMES! She is the most accomplished female ultrarunner ever. It was an honor to finally meet her and get some miles together. (When I asked her why she added the red feather boa later in the race, she said "I was needing an attitude change.")<br />
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I also met Ann's crew/pacer Dill. One night he stood by his tent handing out happy stickers to everyone who passed by. Sometimes a sticker can help you forget how loudly your legs are complaining.<br />
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Around 2:00am on the first night, I received my formal invitation to the pain cave. I reluctantly accepted the invite. I did lots of miles in training but no amount of training can prepare you for those late miles in a race.<br />
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The race is held at Cornerstone Park which is a bird refuge. There are geese everywhere. They are gigantic. And fearless. For a while, one of them was parked right in the middle of the trail by the timing tent. He looked like he was just itching to take a chunk out of my calf.<br />
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It seemed like it would never come, but finally we made it to the second day of the race. I loved seeing and talking with so many amazing people. One of them was my friend Tony Nguyen. Before this race, Tony had finished five 100 milers. And...he had dropped out of 17. This is the kind of tenacity and stubbornness that I LOVE. (Here's something cool: after this race, Tony had finished <b>six</b> 100 milers.)<br />
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Race director Ken Rubeli was pestering me for weeks before the race that he wanted to see a lap with the hideous cat suit. I gave in. How To Question Your Masculinity In One Easy Step: Wear a cat unitard during an ultramarathon. (This picture could also be titled "The Dangers Of Peer Pressure".)<br />
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Is a family pity party allowed after running hours upon end? I vote yes. Here is a picture of our camper pity party.<br />
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Among the awesome people I spent time with during the race, one of them was my friend Clair Coleman. He was one of my crew members <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2016/07/badwater-race-report-2016.html">when I ran Badwater</a> and can attest that this man is a true saint.<br />
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On the second night I took a few breaks to sleep for 60-90 minutes, then got back out on the course to get in a few more miles. And then before we knew it, the race was done.<br />
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If you ever need proof that miracles exist, spend a weekend at an ultramarathon. I personally experienced many miracles. And I saw miracles with other runners. But my favorite miracles were with my family. From left to right, Jackson covered 65 miles! Kylee went 50 miles! Danica ran 40 miles! Mel traveled 52.5 miles! And I finished 130 miles. This is a weekend I will never forget.<br />
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Thanks to <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/">Altra</a>, <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/">Tailwind Nutrition</a>, <a href="https://www.injinji.com/">Injinji</a>, <a href="https://ultraspire.com/?uaa=52">UltrAspire</a>, and <a href="http://stgeorgerunningcenter.com/">St. George Running Center</a> for all your support of crazy adventures like this!Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-23380289997928694212018-01-22T19:01:00.000-07:002018-01-22T19:01:03.886-07:00Update On My Upcoming Book!AWESOME news! My new book about <a href="http://www.badwater.com/event/badwater-135/">Badwater</a>, the 135 mile run across Death Valley is getting close! It’s in the final stages of editing. And I brought on the amazing Luke Thoreson to help co-write! (Photo by Jud Burkett)<br />
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I was first introduced to Luke's writing when I came across his blog. His posts about buying a month-long all-you-can-eat pass at Olive Garden are so, so good. His writing is intelligent and hilarious, and he also has a deep connection with Badwater. You can check out his blog <a href="https://lukegoestoolivegarden.tumblr.com/post/165742653191/day-1-olive-garden-ogs">HERE</a>.<br />
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Here's how the process went: I finished writing the book. Then I sent it to Luke. He took my manuscript and added another delicious dose of spice, sass, and humor. I seriously <b><i>LOVE</i></b> how it turned out.<br />
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When I asked Luke why he loves Badwater so much, he said “As four-time crew member, I think the question of why is amplified for crew members compared to the runner. Janice from accounting can at least somewhat understand someone wanting to run a race ("My niece ran a marathon!") - but when you tell her that you're going to spend 24+ hours in a van with three other people, eating your body weight in cookies and Fritos (magical scoops of deliciousness), and driving two miles at a time to hand someone a cup of Coke and a fistful of animals from the genus "gummus" (my personal favorite is "scandanvianus piscus," or what the lay person calls Swedish Fish) is a bit harder to explain. Why is Badwater week the first PTO request I make on January 1st? Because. Because of the moments looking around the crowded, chaotic registration room and seeing someone's face light as they do the one arm shake / other arm hug to another runner who provided some much needed company at mile 74 of last year's race. Because it's turning off the headlamp, walking away from the hazard lights blinking, blinking blinking, and looking up into the sky hearing the far-away howl of coyotes and appreciating how a moment can be both humbling and intimate. Because it's a chance to wear a T-rex costume and entertain/make a runner question their sanity ("But where would a dinosaur even get a light saber?"). Because the moment you set foot in the basin, you're being entrusted with someone's race, their hopes and dreams, and most importantly, their safety as they - to quote the great poet Artis Leon Ivey Jr once wrote - "walk through the valley of the shadow of death."(Okay fine, yes, it was Coolio and yes that's his real name) It's like a Choose Your Own Adventure book writ large - you make the wrong choice and suddenly you're realizing how long it takes to walk it in from Darwin. (Answer: Long. So very long.). I didn't really understand what I was getting myself into my first year crewing for Harvey Lewis, which became progressively more surreal culminating in standing around Jake's Saloon watching Sportscenter's "Summer of Champions" segment about the race (holy crap, that's me running with him in that section - that means I was on ESPN!!!!). And there wasn't an ah-ha moment where I told the rest of the guys in the van "I get it now." Badwater becomes a part of you. It's a lifestyle, it's a family, it's a feeling. And the first year that mid-July rolls around and I'm not searching the horizon for the lights of Lone Pine, that part of me will feel empty.”<br />
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<b>NEXT STEPS:</b> From this point, the book has a few more edits to finish. It has been sent out to a few people for some advance praise quotes. A graphic designer will work their magic for the book cover, and then it will be available for pre-order. There will be an audio book too! Until then, you can check out my first book "Nowhere Near First" on Amazon and Kindle <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nowhere-Near-First-Ultramarathon-Adventures/dp/1537001809/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516666161&sr=8-1&keywords=nowhere+near+first">HERE</a>.<br />
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I <i><b>CAN NOT</b></i> wait to share this new book with you. Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-379386086374212062017-12-13T19:10:00.001-07:002017-12-13T19:10:35.407-07:00Our Overly Revealing Family Christmas Letter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: none; text-align: center;">
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Happy holidays from the Reese family! Whether you are celebrating Christmas, New Year’s, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just Taylor Swift’s birthday on December 13th, we hope this letter finds you well. #shakeitoff<br />
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It has been an exciting year at our house. I had a secret goal that I didn’t even tell my family about at the beginning of the year. For 2017, I wanted to really LIVE. Not just let the days pass by. Not just survive. But really LIVE. I wanted this year to be about buying experiences instead of things. It turned out to be an amazing adventure. #sorryabouthowthatsoundedliketonyrobbinsinfomercial
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Though our consumer purchasing was minimal, we did have to crack open the check book to buy a new air conditioner. I can think of at least 7,000 things I would rather spend $7,000 on. Just imagine how many Krispy Kreme donuts that would buy! #holycholesterolbatman Here’s a little update on everyone in the house who is now enjoying $7,000 worth of cool air:<br />
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<b>Jack and Little Debbie</b><br />
Our four-legged family members remain hell raisers. Jack, the poodle, is stubborn and barks at anything that moves. This drives me CRAAAZY. Our Great Dane, Little Debbie eats as well as the humans in the house. Mainly because her head is level with the kitchen counter so she helps herself to whatever she wants when we aren’t looking. She has been a demon of wrath and terror ever since the day she was born. #calltheexorcist She gets into the garbage can and makes a gigantic mess. She barks. She snaps at you when you try to push her off the bed. #thisisntYOURbed! She is annoying and wants you to play with her when you’re in the middle of something. She likes to drink out of the bathroom sink and learned how to use the door handle to open the back door. Of course she doesn’t close the door afterward. She causes nothing but trouble. But we love her anyway. #whensheisasleep<br />
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<b>Kylee</b><br />
One day I came home from work and Kylee had made enchiladas for dinner. She didn’t know how much enchilada sauce to use so she just poured the whole can over the top which made them a tad (or more than a tad) soggy. And it was wonderful. She loves to cook but has a tough time getting things to come out right. The cookies she makes are generally on the extremes of either being dough in the middle….or hockey pucks. And yet she keeps trying. She keeps cooking. I really love that. She got a 4.0 this past quarter in middle school! This year was her second year going to Girl’s Camp which she attended with Dani. In her year-end choir concert, they did a song from Moana and the highlight was the Coldplay song Sky Full Of Stars where they turned off the lights and did a bunch of stuff with flashlights. It may have been my favorite choir song ever. #seriousgoosebumpmoment. Her big thing right now is playing the ukulele. Recently we went on a road trip to Capitol Reef National Park for the first time. Our motel room smelled like a mix between a chimney and sweaty armpits. We had a blast immersing ourselves in stunningly beautiful scenery. #worththe15hoursofdriving<br />
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<b>Danica</b><br />
Dani has the strongest sense of Christmas spirit of anyone I know. #exceptchevychase She is so good about bringing us back to the meaning of the season when life gets crazy. She has been on the high school swim team and truly loves it. She is an amazing swimmer. She loves her biology class, including the day they got to dissect a fetal pig. She is an expert at Michael Jackson Just Dance, and despite my trash talking, she destroys me every time. Earlier this year we had a <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2017/05/taking-advantage-of-being-dad.html">daddy/daughter road trip to Death Valley</a> which is an experience I will never forget. (Think lots of hiking, lots of photography, and lots of Dr. Pepper.) On another road trip, I took her to Horseshoe Bend. She had fun (and I use the term “fun” somewhat loosely) going on a pioneer trek with our church group. She continues to get monthly penicillin shots to combat the rheumatic fever she had a few years ago. The injection is thick like Elmer’s Glue. The tradition EVERY time is for her to hold my hand and watch the song “What Does The Fox Say” on YouTube while Mel gives her the injection. I’m sick of “What Does The Fox Say”. She isn’t.<br />
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<b>Jackson</b><br />
Jackson has had his share of health issues during the year. He has done some pulmonary function testing, lots of labs, and now gives himself weekly infusions of plasma. He actually sticks himself with 4 needles in the stomach each week, and does the infusions himself. Seriously impressive. He has worked at the finish line of a bunch of ultra races this year. Afterward, I always get comments from people about what a hard worker he is and how he “has a heart of gold”. I think it’s cool how the ultra community is so welcoming and is so good to him. And it’s cool how he really likes the people in the ultra community. For Father’s Day he surprised me with a trip to Denver to go to Cubs games. He used the money he had saved from working at races. We went to March Madness basketball games, and I got to take him on his first trip to Observation Point in Zion National Park. He plays the piano for the high school jazz band and the church choir. And he got his driver’s license. #insurancepremiumkicktothecrotch<br />
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<b>Melanie</b><br />
This year has been a big one for Mel. After finishing her Nurse Practitioner degree, she was offered a great position in St. George. She really loves her job and her co-workers. She ran the Dirty Hurty Half Marathon this year, and….wait for it….<a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2017/02/jackpot-ultra-running-festival-race.html">she ran 50 MILES at the Jackpot Ultra Running Festival in February</a>. She has a love/hate relationship with running (statistically, more hate than love), so running 50 miles was remarkable. In June, Mel and I went on the trip of a lifetime to Iceland. Here is a video: <br />
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We spent 9 days driving around the whole country, eating crappy gas station food (Subway using the slogan “Eat Fresh” in Iceland is blatantly false advertising), sleeping in hostels (#hairintheshower), running in the middle of the night since it doesn’t get dark during the summer, and seeing the most breathtaking black sand beaches, glaciers, and waterfalls in the world. A few months ago we went to Seattle with Jackson to see U2 in concert. Who knew you could head bang to “Where The Streets Have No Name”. Just kidding Mel.<br />
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<b>Cory</b><br />
The highlight of my year was in October when I was playing a game of Clue with the kids and I guessed the killer, weapon, and room on the first try. I will continue to remind my family of this accomplishment every time we play Clue for the rest of eternity. #legend. In April I <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2017/04/zion-100-race-report-2017_11.html">ran Zion 100</a>, then a week later <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2017/04/lake-sonoma-50-race-report-news.html">ran the Lake Sonoma 50</a> in California. Mel and I had so much fun staying in the guest house of the race directors, John and Lisa, and spending time with them, their pup Zephyr, and our friend Rocket while we were there. I ran <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2017/08/running-100-miles-on-high-school-track.html">100 miles on the high school track</a>. #hamster This year I set a goal to run as many miles as I could on the 3.5 mile More Cowbell Trail in southern Utah, and finished the year-long goal with 422 miles. I’m finishing up a new book about <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2016/07/badwater-race-report-2016.html">Badwater</a>, the 135 mile race across Death Valley. I’m really happy about how it has turned out so far, and it will be coming out soon! I finished up the year with an exciting invitation from <a href="https://ultrarunning.com/">UltraRunning Magazine</a> to run the prestigious Western States 100 next year. Can. Not. Wait.<br />
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We had some great experiences as a family. In January we went to Florida. (Based on my observations, it seems that more of the US population chose to go to Florida in January than people who didn’t go to Florida in January.) A highlight was spending a couple days at NASA and we even had the opportunity to see a rocket launch. We hiked to Red Pine Lake with only minimal complaining. We hiked to Horseshoe Bend with only minimal complaining. We went to a NeedToBreathe concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver. And in September we had a family movie night that included a trip to Taco Bell and our kid’s first introduction to Dumb and Dumber. #journalworthy<br />
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We’ve had some really cool experiences this year. And we’ve had our share of challenges. Things haven’t always gone just right. We fight. We argue. We pull our ever-graying hair out when the kids don’t clean up after themselves. We want to put our dogs up for adoption when they steal cheesecake off the kitchen table or leave the back door open. (Yes, Debbie. I’m talking to you.) But in the end, we mostly love each other. And I’m pretty good with that. Happy holidays from the Reese’s. #happybirthdaytaylorswift<br />
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<br />Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762797438051684168.post-41420195992431941092017-11-28T19:05:00.000-07:002017-11-28T19:05:59.256-07:00Hi. My name is Cory.Hi. My name is Cory. I used to write a blog here.<br />
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There are a few reasons I haven't been quite as active on the blogging front.<br />
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<b>1) </b>I've been working on a new book! I CAN NOT wait to share this with you guys. It's about <a href="http://www.fastcory.com/2016/07/badwater-race-report-2016.html">Badwater</a>, the 135 mile race across Death Valley. It's about suffering. It's about passion and heartbreak and purpose. I'm really excited about the direction it is heading.<br />
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<b>2)</b> I've taken a few months off life to become a groupie for Justin Bieber's world tour. I've collected Bieber posters. And Bieber bobble heads. And If I hear "Despacito" one million more times, it won't be enough.<br />
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In between Bieber concerts, I've managed to get in some running as well. My feet have taken me to some incredibly beautiful places. Like some slot canyons in Arizona:<br />
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And an amazing waterfall in Arizona.<br />
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My goal this year has been to see how many miles I can get on the 3.5 mile More Cowbell Trail loop. My year is almost up and I'm closing in on 400 miles. After that many miles, I love the trail now more than ever.<br />
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In working on the new book, I spent some time in California with ultramarathon runner and bestselling author <a href="http://www.ultramarathonman.com/web/">Dean Karnazes</a>. His calves have the circumference of a minivan.<br />
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While in sunny CA, I discovered some of the most stunningly beautiful trails I've ever had the pleasure to run.<br />
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I spent some time on the trails of Muir Woods. After being surrounded by so much red in southern Utah, I loved seeing some green.<br />
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To compensate for my extreme lack of running speed, I've tried to up my jumping game.<br />
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I got to show my son Jackson around Observation Point in Zion National Park for the first time.<br />
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And I got to show my daughter Danica around Horseshoe Bend in Arizona for the first time.<br />
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And then, because I just can't get enough Horseshoe Bend in my life, I took the rest of the family there.<br />
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A few months ago I had the opportunity to do a book signing of my book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nowhere-Near-First-Ultramarathon-Adventures/dp/1537001809/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511905107&sr=8-1&keywords=nowhere+near+first">Nowhere Near First</a>" at the Outdoor Retailer Expo, and spent some time with the amazing people behind <a href="https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/">Tailwind Nutrition</a>. They know me well....as evidenced by the gigantic bowls of Hostess donuts they had at their table. I really love these guys and their product.<br />
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Did you know that Justin Bieber was only 16 years old when his song "Baby" hit #1 on the charts? And he has paid $750 for a haircut? And he has more Twitter followers than the population of Canada?<br />
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Over the summer I found a rare flower in the backcountry of Zion National Park.<br />
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<a href="https://pickybars.com/">Picky Bars</a> used one of my jumping pictures on the wrapper of their bar Moroccan Your World.<br />
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I did some running in northern Utah.<br />
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And in October I was asked to speak at Grand Circles <a href="https://www.thetrailfest.com/">Trailfest</a> where ~600 runners from all over the country came to run the trails of southern Utah. During Trailfest, I ran the Zion section and the Bryce Canyon sections.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIRvxh2ycF6u0wys4jdbQscZav8dUCYE3c1ea3Vl1UHc8E6wvG_fcXDe9on5ApNBeLrzBqsgUsij0RC03Kv5nOVRF6_KwJZJtGcUdH2uaMeOSmGrL0VMm-vazAoQIxLRV8H2iU_zaPMc/s1600/FB+Trailfest+Bryce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIRvxh2ycF6u0wys4jdbQscZav8dUCYE3c1ea3Vl1UHc8E6wvG_fcXDe9on5ApNBeLrzBqsgUsij0RC03Kv5nOVRF6_KwJZJtGcUdH2uaMeOSmGrL0VMm-vazAoQIxLRV8H2iU_zaPMc/s400/FB+Trailfest+Bryce.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So I certainly haven't been slouching. I feel so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area. I think Justin Bieber's lyrics perfectly describe my love for southern Utah: "You are my sunrise on the darkest day. Got me feelin' some kind of way. Make me wanna savor every moment slowly, slowly."Cory Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.com42