Maine
66 runners started a 100-mile race in Maine. Only 19 finished.
Early within the morning of Could 14, a pack of 78 runners stood within the parking zone at Androscoggin Riverlands State Park in Turner. Twelve of these runners had been getting ready for a 20-mile loop as the primary of 5 runners in relay groups competing that day.
The opposite 66 runners had been getting down to accomplish a feat that few folks even dream to perform: working a steady 100 miles.
The Riverlands 100-mile race was dreamt up by Valerie Abradi and Mindy Slovinsky in response to a scarcity of 100-mile races to serve the colourful and thriving path and ultra-running neighborhood in Maine. (Riverlands 100 remains to be Maine’s solely 100-mile distance race.) The primary yr the race was held, in 2017, 38 solo runners began the race. Aside from 2020, when the race was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the race has been held yearly since.
Runners who efficiently full 4 25-mile laps earn a belt buckle imprinted with the Riverlands 100 brand, the traditional award in ultra-running tradition for finishing a race of 100 miles or extra. For a lot of, this buckle not solely represents 24 to 32 hours of working — by means of the night time, by means of the bugs, by means of nausea and sore muscular tissues — it additionally represents numerous hours of coaching within the months main as much as the race.
“My first purpose was to get by means of a rigorous coaching plan and begin the race unhurt,” stated Rachel Peck, who crossed the end line as the primary feminine with a time of 31 hours, 21 minutes and 42 seconds. “As soon as I completed that, I used to be principally simply actually excited to run and race once more.”
The beginning discipline was a mixture of skilled 100-mile runners in addition to first timers. Jason Tardy was one of many runners who introduced house his first 100-mile buckle at Riverlands in 2022.
“Shortly after working my first marathon a neighbor advised me in regards to the Riverlands State Park,” Tardy stated. “As soon as I began working on its trails I by no means wished to run on roads once more. Then shortly after that I heard in regards to the Riverlands 100 and knew I needed to be part of it!”
After working two 20-mile legs on relay groups for 3 years, after which conducting three 20-mile legs throughout the relay on the 2021 race, Tardy determined 2022 was the yr for his first hundred.
Whereas all of the runners with their sights set on ending Riverlands 100 knew they’d be in for the journey of a lifetime, nobody anticipated what mom nature would dole out for them. Because the day started the temperature started climbing rapidly, reaching 91 levels Fahrenheit at first and end assist station in the midst of the day.
“I feel most of us beginning Riverlands this yr had been taking a look at our climate apps in shock. I’m a cold-weather runner, and coaching for a spring race in New England sometimes means you do most of your coaching in 30 levels and under. So right here I’m after a winter of many single-digit coaching runs attempting to determine how I’m going to run in 90 diploma warmth. It was wild,” Peck stated after ending the race.
With 85 p.c of racers from Maine and New England, the warmth actually took its toll. Out of the 66 individuals who began the race solely 19 runners crossed the end line, a 29 p.c success fee, the bottom the race has ever seen.
In a sport the place everyone seems to be working laborious to perform the identical, seemingly unattainable purpose, such a excessive drop fee impacts everybody. “When somebody in entrance of us DNFs [did not finish] we don’t cheer that we moved up within the leaderboard, we really feel for them. Everybody on the market has put in numerous hours of coaching, preparation, and sacrifice earlier than they even begin.” Tardy wrote in his post-race report on Fb.
Abradi’s ardour for the Riverlands 100 race, its runners and the neighborhood round it’s apparent to anybody concerned within the race. “Mindy and I’ve each finished our personal 100s, however, in some way, [race directing] a 100 appears far more rewarding in that we’ve been part of all of our runners’ 100 journeys. As quickly as we are saying go, we witness every little thing that makes a 100 laborious, particular and rewarding.”
Each runner who toed the road on Could 14 confirmed an unbelievable quantity of power for attending to the beginning line, and the 19 who completed possessed an unbelievable quantity of grit. Congratulations to the winners, Israel Agront and Rachel Peck.
The race administrators and runners want to share a particular thanks to the Turner ATV membership, Turner Rescue and the quite a few volunteers who make this race occur.
When you’d prefer to study extra in regards to the Riverlands 100 you will discover the race at riverlands100.com or on Fb.