914. Worlds End 100k Race report 

~ Joey D

I nixed the miles update on this race report to try something different. 

Instead, this article is going to cover:

  • TL;DR 
  • Post-race thoughts 
  • After action report
  • Pre-race notes 
  • Goal, strategy, and tactics for the race 
  • What was on my race cheat sheet 
  • Shout out

Let’s get into it!! 

TL;DR 

The race is hard but fun. 

Do multiple backstops, and always fill up at aid stations (water and calorie) 

Check out their website and facebook page for all valuable info, or the pre-race notes section. 

Knowing the goal, strategy, and tactic for each race helps me. 

Shout out to Cbomb

Post Race Thoughts

What. a. Race. 

Nothing like I ever experienced before and by far one of the hardest courses I’ve ever run. 

Brutal and rugged are two words that come to mind when I reflect back on this course. 

I captured barely any footage because all my focus was not rolling an ankle on practically every step or being in awe from the views. High knob at mile 38 was my favorite.  

This course took total concentration. The second half had a lot more climbs than the first half and had to stop to catch my breath multiple times. 

There were actually some decently runnable sections too. 

Would I do this race again? It was an experience and I am happy to get this one done. A lot of people DNF this race and I feel grateful to complete the course on my first shot. It was a beautiful course, and one I could definitely see myself going back to. When? Time will tell. 

The website isn’t as organized as I would like it, I felt like I was digging around. Their facebook page had loads of great information too. 

After action report 

This AAR is a review I do after every race to see what went well, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently so that I can improve upon the next race.  

What went well?

  • Mission accomplished: finished the race
  • Strong run, with no aches or pains throughout the entire run. Finished strong.
  • Crew was on point and this was a huge help (met at AS 7, 10, and 12) 
  • Fluid and calorie intake was on point. I fell a little behind on hydration after Aid station 7 and got back on track within an hour by taking a small sip of water every few steps. 
  • Carried things well/ what I needed. 2.5 Liters of water, battery bank, tailwind packs, extra calories, bandana, hair tie, chapstick, baby wipes (I used all this during the run too) 
  • Barely relied on race aid, just water fill-ups 

What didn’t? 

  • Getting lost and melting down because of that. I got lost at mile 61, three miles from the finish. What bothered me so much was that I was still on course, I was still seeing pink ribbons. I was checking the GPX, and the race profile too –  I just wasn’t going the right way. I wish there would have been a wrong way sign but – and this is a tough pill to swallow – it comes back to me to follow the course. 

What would we do differently?

  • Follow GPX file before the race and check strava route during the race – mainly figuring out if I double back anywhere on the course? (we double-backed on a small section) 
  • When things don’t go my way, take a second or two to breathe – ground that energy out. I went three miles off course and realized I was of course because I got to a familiar point along the course (the ladder) and knew I fucked up big time. It was a super steep and hard-hitting downhill section too. This frustrated me to no end because I was pushing it hard the last three miles, was running out of water and calories, and now had another 6 miles still to go with a steep uphill climb. Instead of fighting this, I need to embrace the situation (and after a few minutes I stopped sulking and finished up.) 
  • Always fill up at aid stations, and replenish calories – getting lost is real. 
  • Following intuition more closely, I felt like I was of course within the first mile of that wrong turn, however, I checked the GPX file and elevation profile multiple times and it seemed like I was on the course so I just kept hammering. 
  • Have the crew view GPX file, elevation, etc, and help give an update of what is to come for the next section – especially if double backing on course. 
  • New goal is always to just finish, with no time in mind unless it’s the second time going for a race and I want to beat my previous time. Another reason I was frustrated is because this race was part of the blacklist series and I wanted to put respectable times up for each race. The wrong turn added an hour and a half to my time. BUT it’s not even a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Jim Walmsey was going to PR the western states 100 course in 2017 and come in first – arguably the most iconic race in ultra running…. but he made a wrong turn at mile 93 and ended up coming in 20th place. I wasn’t going to win this event, PR it, and even if I did finish in my goal time, I would’ve placed 10th – and instead I placed 24th… Put in that perspective, people made these mistakes before, and besides that… there are bigger problems out there

Pre Race notes 

These are some notes I gathered before the race

Info: Saturday, June 3rd, 5 am start, 19 hour cut off (12:00am). 12k vert, 25k vert change. 

  • Race Check-in: Saturday 4:00AM to 5:00 AM (Mandatory check-in)
  • !!!Need 4 hours of service (fill out the service form and submit it to RD drop box on the website)
  • Crew/ pacer info:  all info at bottom of the page – review this w crew

Goal, Strategy, Tactics 

Goal: 

  • hit it hard but not too hard
  • Finish in 13:30 hours (13:00 pace) 5 am – 6:30 pm. 

Strategy:

  • Crew aid station stops: have protein shake/caffeine/lemon shot 
  • Wake up: two hours before start: 3:00
  • Head to start: 4:00 check in/ coffee
  • Backstops every so often. *check gpx file, race profile, AND strava* 
  • Pre-race: fruit  / L coconut water 
  • Post: Protein shake 3 / lemon pepper and turmeric mix

Tactic: gear and nutrition 

  • Gear:
    • Usual long run stuff (baby wipes, knife, chapstick, hair tie, plastic baggie) 
    • Hoka Clifton 8’s (yes I run these for trails, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!) 
    • Darn tough socks 
    • 2.5L water Salomon 8 vest with 1.5 L bladder in the pack and 1 L in front. 
    • Nutrition (tailwind, see below) 
    • Emergency calories (peanut butter packet, larabar, gu) 
    • Battery bank and charger 
    • Headlamp

Race cheat sheet

What’s a race cheat sheet? This is a list of aid stations, mileages, and possibly the race profile, crew meet up’s, and nutrition time/ list. I write this down on an index card, put it in a plastic baggie, and carry it with me. 

  • Food: Per hour intake 300 calories 1000 mg of sodium 1 L of fluids
  • Start at 5 am:
    • 5 – 7 LMNT pack/ oranges (3)
    • 7 – 7 tailwind (12 hours)
      • 3 x 12 packages = 36 scoops of tailwind Or 6 x 6 packages. Next time I will be going for 5 scoops in 6 bags. 
      • 2 LMNT packs + 6 
  • Aid station stops:
    • 10 
    • 19 
    • 28 
    • 36 Corie AS7 Protein shake, bottle fill up, caffeine 
    • 45 water only 
    • 50 Corie AS10 Protein shake, bottle fill up, caffeine
    • 58 Corie AS12 Protein shake, bottle fill up, caffeine 

Personal needed fixes from previous race:

  • Order chamois cloth / make ice bandana. This came in handy during the hot part of the day. The ice lasted for about 2 hours or so but the bandana stayed cool. 
  • Order K tape 

Shout out 

Corie really did kill each aid station stop and helped me move along the course quickly.

Cbomb, you put the time into preparing for these crew things and it really shows. The efficiency and thoughtfulness in each stop make things so smooth too. The smile you have during the aid stations helps turn any butt-hurt soul around. 

And the support before, during, and after each of these runs really is appreciated. 

Thank you mi amor

To the racers for pushing themselves 

To the race directors for putting this dope ass race on. 

And to all the volunteers. Although I didn’t use too much of the aid station stuff, the energy boost goes a long way. 

Thank you all! 

I appreciate you! 

LMK anything! How I can help, any questions, feedback whatever 

Go get your miles! 

peace!!

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Published by Joey D

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