Zumbro endurance race 2023 - zumbro 100

our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall - Confucious

2023 - i guess i will try this again

Zumbro is a 17 mile loop. To run the 100 you must complete the loop 6 times. In 2022 I successfully completed it 5 times before dropping from the race and ending in a DNF. At the time, I was ok with that as it was the longest I had ever run; but with a successful 100 at Superior last fall; I knew I had to go back and close the book on my first 'almost' 100 miler.

Fast forward to April 2023, a week prior to Zumbro we get the classic and semi predictable early Spring MN storm 1 week prior to Zumbro causing excessive flooding on course; and an email about a potential shortening of the course (Down to 6 miles) or a re-route of the 17 Mile course may take place. A re-route of some of the most flooded sections did take place resulting in a course for 2023 that was closer to 18 miles with about the same amount of elevation gain.

John the RD always says "Zumbro's gonna Zumbro" and 2023 was no exception. We were expecting tough trail conditions from melting snow and ice; but and upside of warm nearly perfect weather for the 2023 event with Friday highs in the upper 40s, Lows in Low 30s, and Saturday into the 60s.

This year, Michelle Came (My Best Supporter); and we drove 14 hours from Colorado leaving Wednesday afternoon in order to set up our 'tent' for a pit and be ready for an 8AM Friday Start. This year was special to me as we had my Dad also running the 17 mile. He sure picked a challenging course for his first trail race!

Tent Set Up (Top) Checking out the first Mile (Bottom)

Tent Area (top) Sunrise Race Day (bottom)

Coming off A Sucessful Superior 100, i felt ready, spite being a bit heavier than most 'ULTRA RUNNERS'.

I do not have a ultra runners body; but I have the body that will get me to the finish line. I put in the work, and I showed up to perform, to leave as a 100 miler finisher. I won't be the fastest runner out there; but I showed up with the right mindset; and that was getting to the finish line; running my own race, and running it 'smart'. As a 237lb Clydesdale; I can honestly say this may be the first race where my current weight being where it was didn't enter my mind as a distraction or outlet of self doubt. Progress!

Photo by Anna Woletz Taking it easy on climb #1 , i honestly felt like i was in last place at the time completely unware of the hoard behind me. Gloves were a poor choice and not needed.

THe First 8 Hours

The start line had familar faces; smiles and comfort. It seems like most people that sign up for Zumbro 100 know what there are in for. The start area has an eerie bit of calmness and joy to it. Ultra running folk coming out of hibernation from the long Minnesota winter or something. Race temps were just below freezing; (26 deg F); and this was the coldest temps we were going to experience in 2023. As for myself, I was super excited. I chose shorts knowing I would stay in shorts for the next 30+ hours. Wearing a light heat-gear shirt under a T-shirt, with shorts and long merino wool socks I was ready to slay (or survive...probably survive). Soon we were off running, and boy things didn't start off great. Maybe it was my unlucky #13 bib....but ten miles into the race I had weird foot pain on the top of my right foot. This pain was very unexpected yet very troublesome by mile 17. After lap 1 I did what I thought was right; I switched into a pair of shoes I hadn't worn in over 2 years. It ended up being the right choice as I would wear them for the next 50 miles.

Photo by Scott Rokis

Photo by Pat Lehnherr

lap 2-3 miles 19-54

Lap 2 - Much like lap 1, still 'fast' for me! I clocked in the first 50K just a bit beyond 7 hours. Switching shoes really was the right choice; as the new pair I was using had more grip for the snow/ice/slush and mud; but also a bit less cushion. This would eventually lead to me re-lacing my original pair and switching back around mile 70. I can't remember too much about lap 2; I guess that's a good thing. The weather was perfect for trail running; and the course conditions...well, they were a mix of everything. Legs were still good, feet ok and settling into my race I moved onward.

Zumbro is a course on paper that doesn't look like its too difficult. Some climbing, some flats; but reasonable. Its a course that is humble on paper; but raw and relentless in person. I don't know if its the sand, or the steepness of the climbs; or the uneven rutty muddy trails; but it's a course that will surprise most with the level of difficulty it presents. Its a loop you love, a loop that you hate, a loop that makes Zumbro what it is.

At the end of lap 2 I was able to meet up with some family before grabbing my headlamp and heading out of lap 3 and the long lonely night. My wife set out a bunch of stuff I would likely need after sunset. My family/crew were turning in the for the evening so they could run the 17M in the morning; so laps 3,4, and 5 were to be solo; alone in the woods with friends in passing. I had a goal to make it back to the start line after lap 5 before the 17 milers started at 9AM. This was a goal that would eventually fade from my grasp; but with 2 laps down I was still feeling good and optimistic.

Photo by Scott Rokis

Photo by Pat Lehnherr

Photo by Cary Johnson

The Long Dark Night

“You will fear the darkness only to the extent that you yourself are not providing light.”

— Marianne Williamson

Top Photo by Mike Wheeler. Bottom by Michelle Haupert

Zumbro is a dark course at night. the mud and rotting leaves absorb head lamp light; and those small hidden boulders amongst the sand dusted snow, leaves, and rot will sneak up and nip you if not diligent. Night time at Zumbro is a time to be careful. Its also a lonely time; at least until the 50M racers catch up.

Most of lap 3, was in the light; lucky for me. I remember Brian Corgand and his pacer Mark(1st Place 100M Runner) passing me at the end of lap 3; I couldn't believe he already lapped me; his pace was impressive ......get out of my head Brian..... wait back to my race.

I don't mind running at night; with temps down I can push a bit more as I am a person who runs hot. The air did cool and it must have gotten to down around freezing as I could see the moisture expunge with every breath as the night went on. Some of the greasy mud from the day dried a bit; with the slowing of the melt from the lowering temps. "Careful steps, avoid the bad rocks, avoid the bad mud, avoid the deep water...careful; but move, keep moving. "

Night running is tranquil; its focus. Just you and your headlamp, confined to a small visual box. Nothing exists outside that box, just you in the moment, moving, forward.

The mantra of moving forward with a purpose continually crosses my mind. Knowing where I can run; and where I must be careful as I continue though lap 3 and into lap 4. Lap 4, still no sticks as I was saving my upper body for trekking poles on laps 5 and 6. At the end of lap 3 I thought I still was going to make finishing lap 5 by the 17M start; but its funny how things can change. During lap 4 I slowed immensely. Blisters started to show up on my feet; I could feel them grinding against the inside of my shoe. This made the downhills more difficult as I was careful with every step. Movement was slower, a wrong step on a boulder or rock would send you sliding into a whole other mess of things you don't want to fall on; and some of the downhills at Zumbro are frustratingly technical.

Both lap 3, Lap 4 every time i hit the 2-way road running in (or out) i always crossed paths, saying 'hi' to Andy Lohn and whomever his pacer was. He was always a 1/3 or 2/3rds lap ahead of me (depending on the lap). It was always nice to see a familar happy face.

Photo by Christian Worby

After a slow lap 4; I made the decision to take my time to pit smart. Smart also means slow because my critical thinking had slowed from being on my feet for over 20 hours. In 2022 i felt good after lap 4 and dropped after 5. That wasn't going to happen this year. This meant new shoes, socks, lube, shirts, etc. Working solo in my tent trying to check all the boxes on the check list my wife left for me; it took a long time. Simple things like changing, a bathroom break, re-fill drinks; etc. eat up minutes; and for me this pit was close to 40 minutes total. To make the 17 mile start line in time it would have needed to be a 5 minute stop.

"Run your own race" I repeated to myself. Now donned with fresh shoes, the start of lap 5 I gratefully grabbed my sticks; feeling like a new person in the wee hours of the morning. As i left the start area I knew I would be seeing the sun on this lap which is always a welcoming site. A breeze had picked up, and i actually threw my wind breaker on for the start of this lap.

Once I hit aid station 2 for a 5th time; a sense of relief fell over me, as I knew I only had the hard section between aid station 1 and 2, a final last time. David Bitner had been the smiling face I looked for each visit to that aid station; and he was out there basically all day and night. I did most of my real food eating at Aid station 2 consuming pot stickers, quesadillas, pancakes; and my 'Haupert special drink' refilling my empty bottle of water with 'Coke and water' about 70/30. (Whatever works right?)....like rocket fuel!

Photo by Anna Woletz

ONLY 1 more lap

After seeing all the runners on course; my energy felt good finishing up lap 5; my body, not so much. I pitted relatively quick re filling my camelbak one last time. I made quick haste to get out of the pit area and back on course. At this point; i was chasing family, friends; and also being chased, by the clock.

Its funny how time blurs as you fatigue, what takes 30 minutes, feels only like a few; and what takes hours feels like minutes. Lap 6, it was hot out! The snow from day 1 had all but melted into a slushy muddy mess. Sheets of ice turned into pools of ice water; the shaded hills were greasy and muddy. I had all but given up running as my left hip basically quit wanting to work. i was struggling to lift my left knee so instead was leading a lot with the use of my right leg and poles.

Step by step i tried to maintain focus and walk at a pace around 3MPH. I knew that pace would get me to the finish line. I got passed by a couple other 100M runners on my last lap; my energy did not match theirs. I wished I had that gas in the tank. But grind, walk, move, forward.

Soon enough I was at aid station 2 for the last time, the sense of enjoyment and relief of seeing that aid station trumped the finish as I knew from there it was roughly a 4-5 miles hike on mostly road and wet flat trails to the finish line.

The finish line

When i finished Superior; i was hit with an overwhelming wall of emotion; as I felt I was accomplishing the impossible. It really hit me hard the last 2 miles of that course. That didn't happen here; I just wanted to be done. Inspired by the people around me, that's what kept me moving. I wanted to know how may Father faired on his first trail race (He ran the 17 mile, and crushed it!); I was running to the finish to see how others did!

As I approached the finish I stopped to toss my pack and sticks near my tent so I could attempt to 'jog it in'. With the best shuffle I could muster I crossed the finish line in just over 33 hours. I was exhausted; tired, happy but a bit lethargic. People wanted photos , I wanted to sit. People wanted to bring me food, i wanted to sit. People could have handed out money, i would have just wanted.... to sit. That course really did wreck me; I finished feeling more exhausted than I did when I finished Superior, (although i could have just forgotten how much it hurt)

I never thought I would run 'further' than Superior; and just 6 months later I beat that distance by 2 miles and by 2 1/2 hours. I guess that means Zumbro is an easier course; yet it sure didn't feel that way at the end.

As I look to the future; I don't know if running 100s is going to be a ongoing life 'thing' , its abusive. Its mentally rewarding, but the abuse taken from the long grind really wears me down for weeks beyond the finish line. I can say, for now I am so happy to achieve what I never thought I could; what was honestly impossible to me less than 10 years ago. (I almost gave up chasing the 100 dream 1 year ago after a failed Zumbro). Coming back, rising up, and returing sucessful is a humbling feeling, and I am damn proud of my preserverence.

The next big one, Sheep mountain 50 near Fairplay; Looking forward to only seeing the sun rise and set once for that one!

Finish Photos by Scott Rokis

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