A P R I L 2 0 1 6 I R U N H O L E. C O M Runhole FEATURE Z U M B R O 1 0 0 BY JOHN MUNIS P H O T O : E R I K L I N D S T R O M
A P R I L 2 0 1 6 ZUMBRO 100 02 P H O T O : Z A C H P I E R C E Zumbo 100mi Quick Stats: Race Founded in 2009, 100% trail Race & Minimum Maintenance Gravel Roads, Located 1:45 South of Minneapolis / St. Paul MN, 6 x 16.7 mile loops = 100 miles, Elevation Gain 18,588 FT, Elevation Loss 18,588 FT, NET Elevation Change 37,176 FT, 29 Aid Stations, 34 hour time limit. If you're reading this race report because you hope to run a 100 miler: you can do it. If you're reading it out of curiosity, you're sick. My name is John, spelled with one n. I managed to misspell my name when I signed the finisher s banner of the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run. Maybe it was because wind was blowing the banner, but more likely it was the effects of 32 hours of ultrarunning. Those 32 hours and 23 minutes contained some low, dark, painful mental and physical points, but also snacks and incredibly nice people.
03 A P R I L 2 0 1 6 The race was 6 loops through hilly bluffs. There are advantages and disadvantages to a loop course, but I'd like to focus on the negative: It makes you want to quit. The terrain was rocky, sandy, and steep. The first 50 miles were filled with fun conversations with a friend, Tracy Harrison. We had agreed, the morning of the race, to run together until either of us wanted to go at a different pace. Talking kept our minds in the moment and distracted from the miles ahead. All of our training is solo, so it was fun to share the trail with a likeminded endurance runner. At 50 miles, close to midnight, we linked up with Scott Marshall, the best friend someone could hope to have. Scott had driven up from Illinois, woken up at 4:00 in the morning, crewed all day in the freezing cold, and then started to pace me at mile 50. We were starting loop 4, the loop that brought me to a very low point and tested every aspect of who I am.
A P R I L 2 0 1 6 04 After some initial conversations with Scott, Tracy and I fell silent from overall exhaustion. It was a dark, moonless night, and the temperature had dropped to 18 F. Every step hurt. I was miserable. I had planned specific things to think about when the inevitable lows came, but even thinking was difficult that night. I distinctly remember two thoughts: I looked at Scott and Tracy and thought how grateful I was to be with them, and saw myself as two possible Johns, and chose to be the stronger of the two. If you remember one point from this report, remember that it gets better. After the painful and mentally low night, the sun rose and I felt so much better. And I pooped. And ditched my headlamps, rain shell, and map. Adiós, ounces. The fifth loop, miles 66-83, was less mentally painful but more physically painful. We were moving at a slower pace than I had hoped, and as I discovered, it was significantly harder than my natural trail running pace.
05 06 F E B R U R A R Y 2 0 1 6 I started running the hills and found that I was in my element. My feet hurt less with a fluid stride. I knew that I had to run the last loop at my natural pace, because my feet were in bad shape from the high-impact power hiking. We agreed to continue separately, Scott and I at my natural running pace, and Tracy at a pace she knew would be optimal for her last loop. The end of the fifth loop was exhilarating, as Scott and I ran hard and quickly covered terrain that had been taking twice as long. The last loop, miles 83-101.7, was the best. I had a fire lit to run it as hard as I could, and it felt like I was conquering the terrain, instead of the terrain conquering me. I got light-headed toward the end of the loop, because our bottles were frozen, and I was getting dehydrated. The dehydration also made it challenging to eat. (First world problems.) I remember telling Scott that my legs felt like they were shutting down. He explained that my legs still had strength, and that simple statement was the anchor I needed. After leaving the last aid station, an incredibly nice volunteer, Benn Zubke, ran up a hill to catch up with us and say goodbye. You know why you should do endurance runs? So you can meet people like Benn Zubke. After that aid station, I ran the last miles as hard as I could. You always have more strength.
06 06 F E B R U R A R Y 2 0 1 6 I crossed the finish line, and was met by John Storkamp, the infinitely awesome race director, and my wife, daughter, sisters, and parents. I am sure every 100 mile finisher will tell you it was worth it. So, to be a unique snowflake just kidding. It was worth it. April, 2016 Check out Runhole @