The UltraRunning link for the U.S.

FANS 24 Hour Run 2000 Report: Bob Metzger & Chris Markham

One would expect a couple who has been together for 27 years to have a
lot in common. Three of our earliest years as a couple were spent
working abroad with the U.S. Peace Corps. In subsequent years, in an
effort to stay fit and to serve as good role models for our kids, Chris
and I developed and shared a passion for exercising, especially running.
As those two boys have grown into fine, young men, and allowed us more
time to indulge ourselves, we have taken that passion to a high level,
running a handful of ultramarathons each year. One of our favorite
running events each year has turned out to be the FANS 24 Hour run in
Minneapolis. Of all the ultras we do each year, FANS has the most
disagreeable running surface (asphalt and concrete). It has the most
boring and least attractive scenery (it is run on a 2.42 mile loop
around a crowded, urban lake). And, it generally has the worst weather
(Minnesota in late June is typically hot and humid, stormy, or both).
So, what's that attraction? The answer is simple. FANS is a fundraiser
for college scholarships for inner-city kids. It is a great opportunity
for Chris and me to take our otherwise self-indulgent passion for
running and use it to benefit the community.

This year, we each hoped to run 100 miles in the allotted 24 hours. We
had trained all winter and spring for this, doing numerous long runs
with our ALARC clubmates, supplementing those with many more with our
MN-DRS email list clubmates, and yet even more on our own. We had a
great run at this year's Trail Mix 50K, and I had also had a good one at
Collegiate Peaks 25 miler in Colorado. Having supplemented our running
with weight training and other cross-training activities, we felt
confident and strong when it came time for FANS, the last weekend of
June. The temperatures the week before the event were cool, and the dew
point was low. We enjoyed our taper, and slept with the windows open, a
warm blanket protecting us from the cool night air.

Race day dawned, however, with a temperature of 71 degrees, and a dew
point of 69. The forecast was for clouds, and a likelihood of afternoon
and evening thunderstorms. We, along with weekend houseguest and FANS
runner Nikki Seger, ate our breakfast, packed our own private aid
station into the car trunk, and arrived at Lake Nokomis bright and
early. We found the perfect parking spot, and backed into it so that
trunk was approximately ten feet from a spot on the running path that we
would follow around the Lake for the next 24 hours.

Well, the day was hot and humid, but we didn't get any rain. We did get
a few breaks in the clouds in the afternoon, and when the sun was out,
the heat was paralyzing. Many experienced runners struggled, and some
less known runners provided some surprises and excitement. I am pleased
to report that Chris and I provided some of that fun.

My lovely and talented wife, Chris, proved that her inaugural
performance in 1999, when she finished as the 4th place female, was no
fluke. She was on the leader board this year from the git-go, and again
took home the trophy for 4th place woman. While she fell heartbreakingly
short of the 100 mile benchmark, with 99.10 miles, she improved her
total from last year by more than 8 miles. She also placed 13th overall
in the event. While she may not have provided very much of a surprise,
she definitely provided some great excitement for the other runners,
friends, and volunteers, as they poured their hearts out to her as she
tried to beat the clock.

I suspect I provided more surprise than excitement, although I was also
on track for 100 miles until the last couple of hours. With a previous
best of just over 81 miles, I doubt anyone (including me) expected to
see my name on the leader board. But there, in the middle of the night,
was my name in 10th place on the men's leader board. I felt the way I
did last year when Chris' name had first appeared there. I felt a chill
go up my spine, and I missed a beat in my stride as my legs went just a
little wobbly. What a rush! I managed to lose and regain my spot by the
end, and finished with a total of 96.67 miles, 10th man, and 14th
overall.

We did a lot of things differently this year in preparation for and
during FANS, and we attribute our success to those changes. We trained,
in general, at a higher level of effort than in the past. We didn't do
more mileage, but the mileage that we did was of higher "quality", for
lack of a better description. This is not to say that we always (or even
often) pushed ourselves as hard as we could, but it is to say that we
eliminated the runs that fell into the minimal effort category. As I
said, we lifted weights, and cross-trained more than before. Once each
week, we did a speed session together, typically about an hour in
duration. We experimented with our hydration, electrolyte supplements,
and food during long runs, until we learned what worked best for us. One
of the revelations I had was that, under hot conditions, I tend to drink
more and more water in an attempt to cool down. This typically resulted
in nausea and general bodily discomfort. I had always put ice in my hat
on hot runs, but Chris came up with a brilliant supplement to this
scheme: we each carried a bandana, and kept it filled with ice as well.
This allowed us to constantly swab our faces, necks, and upper torsos
with icy, cold water. I found myself much less "thirsty" and suffered
none on the nausea and bloating that has typically dogged me in hot
weather.

Another big factor in our success this year was the presence and support
of many friends. If I could be sure I wouldn't leave anyone out, I would
list all their names here. I will, however, single out three people who
ran and walked with us in the latter stages of the race. The first is
Lynn Gannon, who ran for hours in the dead of night with us, lighting
the path with a flashlight the way an artist uses a paintbrush.  The
other two are Pete Smith and Scott Wagner, who kept me company and made
me laugh during those last, crucial hours when I was coming to the
realization that I would fall a little short of my 100 mile goal.
Likewise, we had many other friends who worked as volunteers, and yet
more who simply came out and had an encouraging word and a smile for us.
My lap counters were wonderful, especially Jill and Mark, who got me
through the second 12 hours without a single doubt that they had seen
and recorded each of my laps. A very special thanks also goes to our
good friends and training buddies, Maura Schwartz and Stan Nowakowski,
who shuttled us first to the awards ceremony and afterwards to our home,
having decided that DWE (Driving While Exhausted) was at least as unsafe
as DWI.

For those of you who find numbers interesting, here is a breakdown of
some milestones Chris and I passed along the way. I think it gives a
pretty good picture of the toll taken on us over a 24 hour (8:00 am -
8:00 am) period. With a 2.42 lap distance, the best I can do is
approximate standard distances like the marathon, 50K, 50 miles or 100K.
But I still think it is informative:

Mile    Chris   Bob
26.70   04:53   04:57
31.56   05:57   05:59
50.98   10:35   10:42
63.12   13:35   13:48
70.40   15:41   15:46
80.11   18:37   18:36
89.82   21:16   21:32
94.68   22:38   23:19

I fell behind Chris as the day got hotter, and then caught up to her as
the temperatures cooled off during the night. But, clearly, the heat had
taken its toll on me, and I could not stay with her during the last 4-5
hours. It was with about two and a half hours to go that it became clear
to me that I could simply not pick up the pace sufficiently to make the
100 miles. Chris, on the other hand, still had a good shot at it right
up until the last hour. The good news is that we both know we gave it
everything we had, and are very satisfied with our efforts and our
results.

And, we'll be back next year to do it all again!

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** Bob Metzger & Chris Markham
** Lakeville, MN
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