The 500 Project
7:30 PM: Taryn and Jess have the car loaded and ready for the just over a mile jaunt to the race start. Marc busts out an 80’s style boom box and we have a mini dance party. Group photo and we are off. To be honest I have no idea how it all works from the crew’s standpoint right now. Someone must bring the car back because there is no parking at the race site and I feel no stress because Jess, Taryn and Marc have taken care of all of it. Hugs from friends I haven’t seen in a year or more.
8:00: Athlete briefing. Craig gets up on something super unsafe and makes his announcements along with last minute “do this not that”. It ends with one of my favorite parts… Please remember to be kind out there. More hugs from friends.
9:33: Ryan of Creative Revolver tells me is not able to open an email from Mary’s mother, so we give her a call. Mary shows up 😊 and we all cry a little. You can feel her at this point and for those of you who keep telling me it is the sun… it is very dark.
10 PM: 5-4-3-2-…….
The start of the insanity that is 10 mile loops over and over and over and….
I have struggled with how to express all the emotions surrounding the Washington Island Ultra for well over a week now. There are so many things that happened be them glorious, frustrating or incredibly sad. It has been a long road to 500 miles. I started doing 24-hour bikes 15 years ago and many times took extended periods of time off to do Ironman’s. In the end I came back specifically because of this race. When I did my 1st Mammoth event it wasn’t even Mammoth it was Lighthouse. But the venue was the same and the vibe, man the vibe, I wish I could bottle it up and pull it out of my pocket when I need a bit of soul soothing. It is like going away to camp. You have all this nervous energy and anticipation but when you get there the world floats away as you see old friends who you are fortunate enough to be reunited with year after year. For a few days we all come together for very different reasons but all with the same goal. To do our best and have fun playing in the water, on bikes and running. It feels like home for me, and it is the place my heart is most happy. As most of you know I did not enjoy childhood, but I looked forward to heading up to New Hampshire every year of high school to work at Camp Calumet. This has that same feeling which is why I am struggling with the idea of “quitting” racing here.
Why 500 and why go past the 36-hour mark? Mary and I had a plan back in 2020 but the reality is that my life after 2/14/2021 has not been the same so those goals had to change. Thanks to the race director, Craig Braun, I was able to do that at this event. He was all in when I asked if he would mind if I just stayed on the course if I didn’t hit 500 in 36 hours. Dakota Lithium came on as new partners for Mammoth and the start of a new project called Mammoth Films has begun. I am one lucky girl because Craig brought on Ryan Duggar of Creative Revolver to document the whole crazy thing for the first film. You could not meet a kinder more genuine soul. I will let him tell the story visually. I am sure it will be far more entertaining than any words I can come up with.
Highlights of the 500 from my point of view:
· My nutrition was SPOT ON! It took over a decade, but I was finally able to figure out a few things and make this all happen without feeling like I may die. Spring or Huma Gel every 30 minutes and Skratch bottle every hour. When it wasn’t enough, and I was getting weepy or angry I shoved a bar in my face. My favorites were Bonk Breaker Bars and Betty Lou’s Fruit Bars. Both are gluten free and vegan. This year the game changer was when I stopped being able to take gels or water anymore, we switched to Skratch Super Fuel. 400 calories a bottle and with half the water chased by a salt pill. It really was the best I have ever felt, and I know it was because of the fueling.
Chisel…. Chisel…Chisel
· Friends!!! My longest oldest friend Janine surprised me on the drive to the island by telling me she was going to be driving…DRIVING up from Boston to watch me finish. At some point just before sunset on Friday I heard someone yelling from a vehicle and I waved at them. It is not uncommon to have people cheer you on along the course, so I assumed that was the case here until Jess said she thought they called out my name. Sure enough it was Janine and Scott.
I am so fortunate that over the years I have been able to make quite a nice group of friends at this race. There is always a ton of support be it out on the course, in our pit area or at the turn around. One of my favorite moments was coming in for a lap and hearing “You have to dismount! Dismount NOW! Oh wait… Heidi…. Ok keep going” I felt like I had a VIP pass and I was here for it.
Marc, Greg, Taryn, Jess, Jodi and Kristin. I could not have done it without this group. Jess and Jodi rode many miles with me, Kristin packed up my bike to ship because I was cross eyed the next day and Marc (thumper), Greg and Taryn made sure someone was always there every lap to feed me if need be.
Rachel. RP. This is our thing. You fed me sandwiches during my 1st race here. We ate fruit gushers and cookies last year when we had barely enough energy to do anything let alone race after the worst 5 months of our lives. The only thing that sucked about this year is that I came in for 410 miles as you were finishing 100 on foot. As Craig said, THAT was super unfortunate. I am happy that my anger and your thought that we couldn’t withstand a friendship after that moment passed and we are still ok. I absolutely adore you and can’t wait to see what you do next.
There were many Mary moments where I could feel her out there, but I want to keep those memories close to my heart. Words spoken between friends that uplifted my weary brain and body will forever be a reminder of how fortunate I am to have found my people. My small group of friends that are incredibly supportive and loving. It is a blessing and I am incredibly grateful.
