Tales From the Trails :: The Gore-Tex TransRockies Blog

Thomas Miller is a long time Ironman competitor who decided a while back to expand his suffering way beyond just swim, bike and run. He decided to givethe world of long distance trail running a try. What the heck was the guythinking? For the following week he’ll be keeping a blog for us on his andhis teammates experiences during the six day, 125 mile 2nd Annual Gore-TexTransrockies Run in Colorado.

Stage 6 - Saturday, August 30

With five days in the books and one final stage to go I'm quite certain that just about all of us are ready to rest our weary bones and tired old legs. I can only truly speak for myself and that is certainly the case with me. I'm beat....

One of the major changes the TransRockies organization made in 2008 was to move the race up a month from the third week in September to the third week in August. This was in part due to the fact that in 07 we began stage two on top of Vail Mountain in about six inches of fresh snow and a dangerously rain and snow soaked route. The most visible change in the race dates has been the improvement of the weather and that was no exception for the sixth and final stage of the 2008 Gore-Tex TransRockies Run.

We began our final leg at the base of Vail Mountain once again bathed in the warmth of that ever present rocky mountain sunshine with the final finish line just over 21 miles and 4600 feet of vertical ahead at the base of Beaver Creek Resort. We began the day weaving our way through the town of Vail heading for what was to be the one of the most demanding and rewarding days of the race. It was one of the three days we ran over 20 miles and this one packed the most vertical feet of the entire six day saga. Now, don't get me wrong here but from my perspective we had worked plenty hard already and had climbed and descended more than our fare share in the previous five days but I guess the TRR team had another perspective on that. They saved the biggest day for the last day and without a doubt we were all on the receiving end of their twisted sense of humor.

After we made it through town we took a pedestrian bridge over the I 70 and started up the first of several climbs ever slowly moving us closer to our final goal. We climbed in and out of tree covered single track and eventually emerged up onto the ridge top where once again we were greeted with epic views in all directions. We rolled along the ridge line and eventually had a gentle descent to control station # 2. After re-fueling on Gatorade, Bakers Breakfast Cookies, GU and SaltStick capsules we began a very steep, extremely narrow (11 inches wide and in places completely over-grown) single track that dropped straight down the fall line for just about four miles and dumped us out in the town of Avon. We then circumnavigated the roundabouts and street crossings until we made it to the base of one on of the ski runs. That is where things got ugly.

Control station # 3 was strategically located at the base of our final climb. With just about four miles to go to the finish I could not help thinking about the fact that we had just hit the 100 mile point in our little jaunt. I asked one of the medical support staff at control station # 3 "How much of the last four miles are climbing and how much is descending?" His reply "you got some climbing ahead of you". And with that I knew we had some meat left on the bones before we would cross that finish line and man was I correct. We left the refuge of the final control station and began the final four miles which immediately began to head up and up and up. We first worked our way up a mountain service road and after thinking it can't get any steeper, well it did just that. The service road ended in the middle of this ski run and it was at that point that I looked straight up the mountain and realized that was the route. So once again I dug in and used my arms and hands strategically placed on my quads to provide just a little more push to mount the final and steepest grade of the race. I just about finished me off as I thought it was never going to end.

It eventually did and as you might have imagined there was still a bit of climbing left before we arrived at the final short descent into the base of Beaver Creek. With quads blown and the cumulative fatigue of six days, 104 miles and just under 20,000 feet of vertical my body was screaming to be finished. So with everything I had left in my tired, old and beat up body I opened my stride and and let gravity due the rest. As I got closer to the finish I could faintly hear the finish line music and the always welcoming voice of Drew Bragg the events announcer and MC. It was music to my ears and legs.

Immediately after my teammate and I crossed the finish line I fell to the ground and just laid there felling terra firma and trying to confirm it was real and not a dream. I knew it was real when Cynthia Amon from WL Gore and Associates began dumping cold water on my head. Ahhhhh....... I knew then it was over and I had finished the most demanding and challenging athletic endeavor of my life. The feeling was overwhelming to say the least. I had worked so hard from day one that I had given all I had and more and there was nothing left in the tank. I guess that is how you should feel at the end of something as large as this. I can honestly say that I left nothing out on the course.

After what was probably the longest and most enjoyable shower of my life and some much needed calories the full sense of what we had all just accomplished began to overtake my thoughts and emotions. The feeling of total exhaustion was balanced by the pride of accomplishment and the sense of completion. In typical TransRockies style we had an amazing closing ceremony that night complete with delicious and abundant food and drink and one last time we were gifted with photo's and videos of the day. And as if we had not done enough damage to our bodies all week many of us shuffled over to the Dusty Boot to finish out the event and evening closing down the bar at 2:00 a.m.

In closing I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people who made this life changing experience possible. First and foremost my wife Monica who two years running has tolerated the impact the training and racing had on my body and my mind. The only way I can think to truly thank her is to take her with me next year and have her run as my teammate. Now that's love. Next would be the folks at TransRockies who are one of if not the best race organizations in the business. Their attention to detail and concern for the athletes safety and overall race experience is second to none. You guys rock. An event like this would be priced out of most of our realm if not supported by amazing sponsors and the Gore-Tex TransRockies partners are the best. Beginning with Gore as title and Salomon as the equivalent of a presenting sponsor we as participants could ask for nothing more. Your overwhelming support of the event and all of us competitors is nothing I have ever experienced before. After Gore and Salomon there are a number of other sponsors that made sure we got through the race intact. They are as follows, Beaver Creek Resort, Timex, Michelob Ultra Brands, Colorado Headwater Adventures, Nathan Human Propulsion Laboratories, Gatorade, Continental Divide Trail Alliance, SaltStick, Gu Energy Gel, Peet Dryer, Erin Bakers Wholesome Baked Goods, Zorrel, Kinesys, Headsweats and Oregon's Choice Gourmet Albacore. Thank you all for your unwavering support of the event and all the participants.

I would be remiss in not acknowledging and thanking my Teammate Mark Kaufman who not only tolerated me for the week but provided much needed encouragement to keep pushing myself beyond my self imposed doubts and limitations. Mark gave me the gift of a podium finish in stage four which as my first and only is burned into my memory for life. Mark, I may have not liked you in the middle of some of those long hard days but I will never forget what you helped me to achieve. Thanks again.

And finally all the athletes for which if you all were not driven by the fire to constantly test the bounds of your physical and mental limits there would be no TransRockies and no opportunity to see where that limit truly is. You all have inspired and motivated me once again to see and experience what is humanly possible. For that I am eternally grateful.

I hope to see you all back in 2009. Enjoy your well deserved rest and safe travels back to your homes and families.

Stage 5 - Friday, August 29

I'm so tired and my legs are so fatigued that if I needed to use any part of my lower body to type this I would have to take a pass on this blog entry. For those of you who have been following the blog I thank you and apologize for the interruption as we have just returned to civilization and broadband coverage. Thank you for your patience.

Day five began with another biting cold morning greeting the runners as they slowly and gingerly emerged from their tents. On our plate for breakfast was a little 23 miler with over 4000 feet of climbing to get us up to the top of Vail Mountain. The climb was long, slow and arduous for most of us. I'm sure the race leaders bounded up the grade as if it were a speed bump as they have all week. For us mere mortals it was another grind. And once again we were greeted with amazing views at the summit of Vail Pass of the Gore Range, Vail ski area and the Vail Valley. The stage began with about seven miles on a gravel road until we turned off onto some of the most scenic single track of the race. With Fir and Pine trees overhead to shield us from the sun we ran on soft pine needle covered trail until we came out of the trees close to the top of Vail pass. The last part of the climb pitched up so steep I had to pull myself up using trees for leverage. It hurt me good.

At that point we still had another couple of miles and about 1000 feet of climbing before we hit the top of Vail pass to begin our 10 mile descent to the finish of stage five at Vail Village. Man was I glad to see the village as we got closer. Today was another hard day for me as the miles we had run over the last four days were taking their tole. I was at the point of getting tired of working so hard and hurting so much. Of course my Teammate Mark Kaufman did not want to hear any of that. He, as he has done all this week just kept mentally whipping me to keep on pushing. So I gave it all I had and as we did not make the podium again we did pass the fifth place team in our category and put a few minutes on them as we go into the sixth and final stage of the 2008 Gore-Tex TransRockies Run.

As we approach the end of this epic event the athletes are experiencing a combination of joy and sadness. Joy that the pounding on the body is coming to an end and sadness that out little tribe of runners is about to return to their homes and families. There is an amazing bond that is formed by both the competitors, the incredible TransRockies staff and volunteers. We truly have become one big family sharing our meals together, running together and sharing tales of the days adventures around the camp fire each night. As with last year I will be sad to say goodbye to the friends I was able to see again and to the ones I have just met. That said, I can't wait to see my family and share with them all of my experiences from this years race. It feels like I have been away from them for way to long.

Before we get ahead of ourselves and begin our journey home the TransRockies Team has one more big day for us before we cross the sixth and final finish line. We will begin our day at the base of Vail mountain and will finish at the base of Beaver Creek Resort. Last years TRR finished with a nice easy 19 miler with a two percent grade from Basalt to Aspen. No such luck for this years competitors. Our final day will cover 21 miles and another 4600 feet of climbing. Are you kidding me? Apparently not.....

Stay tuned for the sixth and final entry.........

Stage 4 - Thursday, August 28

Please excuse me while I gloat. I promise to keep it short. Today, for the first time in my entire life I made it up onto the podium. Whoo Hoo!!!!. Thanks to the amazing support and unyielding encouragement from my good friend and amazing teammate Mark Kaufman we grabbed third place in the mens 80 Plus category. What made it even sweeter was we did it on one of the toughest stages of this years Gore-Tex TransRockies Run. Thank you MK, you are the rock.

The day began under crystal clear blue skies and our coldest morning so far. It was the first morning we actually had frost on the ground and on the tents. A rough way to begin a day that would take us up over 11,500 feet in five miles. With the sun shining on us at the start we began our journey up the 3000 foot ascent to the summit where we were greeted with some of the most stunning views I have ever had the privilege to witness. On one side we had views of Mount Holly cross and to the other direction we had views of Vail Mountain where we will end our fifth day of racing on Friday. After we crested the summit we began another blazing extremely technical descent to the small and charming town of Red Cliff. With three miles to go to the finish we not only had four knee creek crossings in a row we actually had to run in ankle deep flowing water for about 1/4 of a mile. The water was so cold that by the time we had completed the fourth and final crossing we could not feel our feet for about a mile. It felt like we were running on pegs.

The climb was brutal and pitched up to 45 degrees in places so it was a slow relentless grind that was quickly replaced by the rooted and rocky steep descent. The quads were so engorged with blood by the time we reached the peak that every foot strike going down was shear agony. I have never been so happy to be finished with a run in my life. The sweet reward waiting for us was our third place finish and a trip to the podium where we earned some serious Timex swag. It was a great day.

And then there is stage five tomorrow. We begin at Red Cliff and will run for 23 miles to the finish at the base of the world famous Vail Mountain. The total gain for the day will be over 4000 feet and we will top out at about 11,700. The profile looks much like todays stage with an additional nine miles to get us that much closer to our Saturday finish in Beaver Creek. As the days go by you can begin to see the signs of four days of racing at high elevation and many hard miles take it's tole on the field. We have been above 9000 feet now for days and so the bodies ability to recover and rebuild is drastically diminished. So not only are we beating our bodies up pretty good with the miles and the climbing we are also tearing ourselves down due to essentially living above 9000 feet for four days. Beaver Creek here we come.

See you after stage five...........

Stage 3 - Wednesday, August 27

Suffer Fest...... Todays entry is dedicated to Bryan Diekmann, MS.ed, A.T.C of the world renowned Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail Colorado.

Steadman Hawkins is on sight providing medical support to all the athletes for the entire week again this year. The one little piece I left out of yesterdays blog (partly due to pride and also because I was in total denial) is the fact that I took a good tumble in stage two while on that steep descent I was describing. The end result was a severe ankle sprain and some good old road rash to go along with it. It appeared that my race was over as my ankle swelled to the size of a grapefruit with some interesting shades of blue and magenta. Fortunately for me my new best friend (sorry Monica) Bryan, Athletic trainer of the highest caliber came to my rescue.

After the finish of stage two Bryan provided amazing care and was there bright and early before stage three to give me the tape job of the pros to get me to the start line. Did I mention he works on the US Ski Team, the Colorado Rockies and Avalanche? Yeah, he is the real deal. The amazing thing was that he told me I would be in pain until the end of mile two and then I would be almost pain free for the rest of the 22 miles I would be running. And that was exactly what happened. A little intervention from my good friend Advil helped as well.

So you are probably wondering why the suffer fest if there was no ankle pain? Well, that was the frustrating part of the days run. The cumulative effect of the first two days of racing above my ability level finally hit me like a Louisville Slugger across my quads. They were hammered and hurt from mile seven all the way to mile twenty four. It was torture and all I could do was be thankful that I was able to run at all due to the nature of the injury to my ankle. Ok, enough of that.

For the athletes who properly managed the first two days stages, today was an enjoyable run. We did have our longest day so far with some serious climbing early on after leaving Leadville but then it rolled most of the way to the finish at Camp Hale with the last ten being a combination of a seven mile descent into some flats for the last three. It all felt like it was uphill to me. The finish at Camp Hale was just beautiful with the warm summer sun shinning, bright green meadows and views for miles. The night was so pleasant that we were able to hold the evenings festivities under the stars as the sun was setting casting hues of pink across the skies. Each night after dinner we have an awards ceremony where the days stage winners in each category are swagged out with amazing product from our sponsors and presented with certificates worthy of framing. We then bring the GC leaders back up and they are presented with leaders jerseys that they wear for the next days stage. Following the awards presentation there is a photos and video of the day presentation as well. It is a great way to see all your fellow competitors doing their thing captured on film.

On tap for tomorrow is another short and and steep day. We will be running for 14 miles and will climb up to about 11,700 with a total of 3000 feet of elevation gain. The profile looks much like day two where we basically went straight up for the first half of the stage and straight down for the second half. Just 4 miles longer. That profile boded well for Mark and my strengths and will hopefully be the same tomorrow. We shall see. We are now right in the middle of the race and we still have some heavy lifting ahead of us. Each day we get ever closer to the race finish in Beaver Creek and the rocking finale nights celebration. Last years was wild to say the least. There will be much to celebrate.

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