Doom Runs Across the Years
Fred Dummar (aka Doom) celebrated the New Year by running the 48-hour race at Across the Years. Doom finished 7th overall with over 130 miles. Here is Fred's race report (with permission from Fred):
By Fred Dummar
Like many ultrarunners I had witnessed the growth of ATY and wanted to participate. Last summer, while deployed to Afghanistan, I decided to enter the lottery. Much to my surprise I was accepted into the 48 hour race. Once I was in the race, a friend suggested that I do a fund raiser for a foundation supporting the families of Soldiers killed or wounded in action ( http://www.kiawia.org/ ). This explains the shirt I wore during the race for those that wondered about the slogan, all gave some – some gave all.
The first test - A week after returning to the states I ran a great local 24 hour race at Hinson Lake. This was the first indicator of my falling fitness. After running 106 the previous year, in a head to head with Ray K, I was only able to manage 85 miles. I made some hydration mistakes and spent much of the night napping, but it was not a good sign.
The second indicator - I was able to run the JFK-50 mile in my normal range, and figured a couple months of moderate training would allow me to fake it through 48 hours at ATY despite having a lack of mileage base.
ATY –
I started the race on day one with some of the other 48 hour runners, some 24 hour runners, and of course all of the 72 hour runners. The
rest of the 48 hour runners would join on day two when I was in a steady freefall.
My goal was to run 171 miles. Nothing made me think this was attainable given my current level of fitness, but it was a perfectly outlandish goal for my first 48 hour to ensure that I went out fast enough to either crash in magnificent style or have a great race. Magnificent crash it would be…Hope may not be a method after all.
I had always planned on doing about 90 miles on day one and 80 on day two, but really had no strategy having never run a 48 hour. Running is
an escape for me so I rarely have a detailed plan. So much of the rest of my life (job) involves detailed planning that I rarely plan many of
the details in a run. Heart rate monitors, GPS devices, training logs, etc.. have all come and gone; good intentions to use them and train
smarter always end in failure. Just run.
My lack of plan would really be my undoing. I soon found myself running a 24 hour run pace, and had to force myself to slow down. Paul
Bonnet (the race director) would later comment that he wondered what the hell I was doing when they saw me cranking on the early miles (Paul
didn’t really say this, but I know he was thinking it). I was joined at this early pace by an outstanding runner named Ron Hamilton. Ron
would later pull out with injury with 108 miles, but early on he was a source of much encouragement. You have to love ultra runners. Here is
a veteran runner, whom I have never met, treating me like a long lost friend.
I attempted to stop for rest on night one, but only managed a 15 minute nap on one occasion and 30 minutes on another. Moderating the pace had
me hit 24 hours with roughly 93 miles and 100 in the range of 26 hours. It was at this point that my first real low spot came and I left the
track for roughly 3 hours. From this point on my race was more of a death march then a run. I could not mange a run for more then half of
a lap, and when I did run the following walk sections were pathetic.
The only way to make any significant forward progress was to continue to walk. 171 miles was obviously not going to happen, but I was
determined to continue moving forward. I did have trouble focusing on a new goal, and spent several hours off the track nursing hammered
feet. Not blistered feet, but you would be surprised what 240 pounds of Doom can do to a pair of feet after 100 miles. I finally decided that I
could at least make it to 135 miles. For some reason the Badwater mileage seemed like the minimum acceptable goal as I hastily determined
the limits of my downward spiral on day two.
What kept me moving, or in some cases got me back on the track.
- Mrs Doom: Many of you that have met the ever lovely Mrs Doom might wonder why she has not been upgraded to Saint Susan. Her performance
at ATY might push her over the top. She walked laps with me, encouraged me, read ATY mail while walked and just generally went above
and beyond. Being married to me is just one of her many burdens. I’ll give you a hint Ray K…She has a thing for a chubby Sasquatch. You
might have to get some shoe lifts.
- ATY Mail: Encouragement via the ATY mailbox was a huge emotional boost. Family, friends and my running buddies from the Mangum Track
Club were tremendous. Many of the e-mails hit me in a soft spot and they were very emotional. I could swear my eyeballs were sweating…
- Andy Lovy: Having been a Soldier for my entire adult life I have a tremendous respect for old soldiers. If Andy Lovy (72 years young) was
still moving around the track wearing his 101st shirt it would be nearly impossible for me to stop.
- Aid Station and Time keepers: ATY does a great job keeping runners fueled. It is hard not to be motivated when you can always get a hot
cup of coffee, cup of soup, pancakes, egg burritos, etc..etc… The “tent people” of timekeeping kept the projector going so all runners
could see their mileage totals as they crossed the mat. The mileage totals were a great diversion and incredibly motivating.
After 48 hours I had clocked 93 miles on day 1, and 42 on day 2. Sure I was 36 miles short of my original goal, but at least I know some
things to change for next time!
If you want to know “how not to run 48 hours” consider the following 50k splits (naps can really ruin a split time).
50k- 5:58
100k-13:20 (7:22)
150k- 23:53 (10:33)
200k- 44:05 (21:12)
All in all ATY was everything I expected it to be and we had a great time. All involved from organizers, to volunteers, to the Wrublik
family are true lovers of the sport. No other explanation but love of sport can explain the devotion to this event.
Next year Susan wants to run (probably to uphold some dignity for Team Doom) and we’ll be back if the lottery is kind.
The runners-
It is always a pleasure seeing ultra friends and meeting new ones; ATY has a heightened sense of family reunion given the format.
A special hello to the runners and supporters who spent time chatting, encouraging, or offering a friendly smile: Pete Stringer, Wendell and
Sarah, XY, Jim O’Neil and Sue Norwood, Lisa Bliss, Ray K, Mike Melton, Dave Combs, Rodger Wrublik, Paul Bonnet, Andy Lovy, Debbie
Richmeier(Winner of the 48hour day #1 starters), Ron Hamilton, Juli Aistars, Lynn Newton, DC and G.
The cause-
I did manage to raise $1,500 for KIA WIA inc ( http://www.firstgiving.com/doom-wia-kia ) on this outing. Some good
came from the run even if I had hoped to represent my brothers with a better effort.
Cheers,
Doom