100 Facts & Realizations from the Summer of Slam
1. Four (4) oldest 100-mile trail races (Western States, Vermont, Leadville, Wasatch)
2. ~77,000 feet of total elevation gain
3. ~81,000 feet of total elevation loss
4. 11 week span from beginning to end
5. 17 work vacation days
6. 11 plane rides
7. ~80 hours of riding in a car
8. ~30 puking rallies
9. 1,000s of prayers
10. One (1) black toenail
11. One (1) left tingly foot and toes (lasted ~10 weeks)
12. Attempted two (2) 100-mile trail races in 2014, completed one (1)
13. Attempted four (4) 100-mile trail races in 2015, completed four (4)... barely!
14. 42 people started The Grand Slam
15. 25 people remaining after Western
16. 22 people remaining after Vermont
17. 16 people remaining after Leadville
18. 13 people remaining after Wasatch (Class of 2015, ~31% finishing rate)
19. 280 people to ever finish the Grand Slam
20. 315 times that the Grand Slam has been completed (multiple finishes by same people)
21. 30th anniversary of the Grand Slam
22. 100-mile runs are hard
23. Thankful for the countless new friends
24. Lifetime of memories
25. Mouthwash at mile 80 is heaven in a bottle... Thanks Jobie Williams
26. Nine (9) months of planning
27. The struggle bus is real... I rode it all summer
28. The Grand Slam is an expensive endeavor... especially living in the east
29. Capturing a photo of someone when they are battling through a dark low speaks a thousand words (Jobie is very talented)
30. You can run 40-50 miles on nothing but Coca Cola & Water... thanks Daniel Scott Hamilton
31. 1 expensive handbag for my wife (payment, aka "reward" for the Summer of Stress)
32. Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
33. I still don't understand this sick sport
34. I missed out not having a "mule" at Leadville
35. Not sure how Brian Costilow has run Leadville TEN times!!... mental issues
36. My favorite race was my most challenging... Wasatch
37. Realizing that the girl at Pinhoti who said it was just as hard or harder than Western was an IDIOT!
38. Wanting to punch Joshua Cole for ever talking me into my first trail race
39. Wanting to kiss Josh Cole when realizing I was going to finish the last race of The Grand Slam
40. No sunscreen and Breathe Right Strips make funny nose tan lines
41. Clothes smell really bad after 100-mile races
42. Clothes smell even worse when you leave them in a Ziploc bag, in the back of truck while driving across America, in the middle of the summer!
43. Eating ice cubes can fool your brain into thinking you're eating real food
44. Sleep is overrated
45. Trail runners are the nicest people in the world
46. Just because you run a "fast" 50-mile time does not mean you can do that two times in a row to run a fast 100-mile time
47. Finishing a 100-miler is a HUGE accomplishment
48. It's hard to breath above 12,000 feet
49. Poles are good for hiking and for leaning forward to hurl
50. Isaiah 40:31, "But those who put their hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will sore on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint."
51. Running Badwater 135 in the middle of The Slam is just insane... Joshua Holmes
52. Lots of different body parts hurt during and after 100-miles
53. A massage after a 100-mile race is worth every penny!
54. 100-mile races are humbling
55. The Rocky Mountains are one of God's most beautiful creations
56. Running with horses sounds cooler than it is
57. My family/crew work harder than I ever do during a race... I am so thankful for each of you!
58. Trying to pee and run at the same time is hard to do
59. People who don't live in the southeast don't know what real humidity is
60. New weight loss idea... run four (4) 100-mile races in 11 weeks or be the spouse of someone running those four (4) races
61. Pacers do a LOT of work with little reward or recognition
62. Crews do EVEN MORE for little reward or recognition
63. How to stay cool with a homemade Jimbo bandana and ice in arm warmers
64. That God truly does listen and answers prayers
65. The beauty of seeing two sunrises during one race
66. Sometimes smelling bad is better than bathing in a lake with a bunch of crawdads biting your toes
67. Taco Bell is an awesome post-race recovery food
68. Naked Stormtrooper dancing is acceptable at mile 80 @ 11,000 ft up and 25° outside
69. Finding the energy to run the last 5 mile stretch faster than any other miles in the race
70. Katy knows best!
71. Teaching life-long lessons to my girls even if they are too young to understand them now
72. The word "run" is very loosely based when speaking of a 100-mile run
73. Sometimes taking the time to stop and rest will save you more time down the road
74. There are not enough toys to keep kids from getting bored when waiting at aid stations
75. People look at you funny when you tell them you got into The Slam after only completing one (1) 100-mile race
76. Saw the; 'Cary Long in the headlights look' from some girl doing her business in the middle of the trail
77. It's really hard to keep going when your 4-year old is telling you it's okay to stop
78. Anything worth doing is not necessarily easy
79. I finally understand eating early and often
80. It's very, very dusty at Wasatch
81. The pre-race meeting at Leadville is almost better than most standup comedy clubs
82. Smiling does make you feel better no matter how crappy you feel
83. The only way out is through... (Billy Simpson)
84. Words of encouragement are the best medicine for a busted spirit
85. The love and support from my family means more than my family could ever know
86. A fresh pair of socks during the middle of a race can make a world of difference
87. I completed The Slam in 2015 in ~105 hours...
88. Ian Sharman completed The Slam in 2013 in ~69 hours (record holder)... mind blowing!
89. Despite swearing off 100-mile races numerous, NUMEROUS times over this summer, two weeks later I'm already scheming of my next 100-miler adventure
90. Seeing how strong people really are and what we are all capable of doing with the right mindset and determination
91. My crew is my greatest asset during any race
92. Without risk of failure we have no opportunity for success
93. Squirrels in Utah will in fact scream at you
94. Challenging yourself physically and mentally will only make you that much stronger for life's journey
95. PRAYER IS POWERFUL
96. Pain is easily forgotten
97. 100-mile runs are more mental than physical
98. Nothing tastes good after running and puking for 10+ hours
99. Rule of 3's... In any 100-miler you can expect at least 3 things to transpire that you weren't planning on (Ken Niemimaa))
100. The bald eagle trophy for The Slam represented in Isaiah 40:31 (see #50)
2. ~77,000 feet of total elevation gain
3. ~81,000 feet of total elevation loss
4. 11 week span from beginning to end
5. 17 work vacation days
6. 11 plane rides
7. ~80 hours of riding in a car
8. ~30 puking rallies
9. 1,000s of prayers
10. One (1) black toenail
11. One (1) left tingly foot and toes (lasted ~10 weeks)
12. Attempted two (2) 100-mile trail races in 2014, completed one (1)
13. Attempted four (4) 100-mile trail races in 2015, completed four (4)... barely!
14. 42 people started The Grand Slam
15. 25 people remaining after Western
16. 22 people remaining after Vermont
17. 16 people remaining after Leadville
18. 13 people remaining after Wasatch (Class of 2015, ~31% finishing rate)
19. 280 people to ever finish the Grand Slam
20. 315 times that the Grand Slam has been completed (multiple finishes by same people)
21. 30th anniversary of the Grand Slam
22. 100-mile runs are hard
23. Thankful for the countless new friends
24. Lifetime of memories
25. Mouthwash at mile 80 is heaven in a bottle... Thanks Jobie Williams
26. Nine (9) months of planning
27. The struggle bus is real... I rode it all summer
28. The Grand Slam is an expensive endeavor... especially living in the east
29. Capturing a photo of someone when they are battling through a dark low speaks a thousand words (Jobie is very talented)
30. You can run 40-50 miles on nothing but Coca Cola & Water... thanks Daniel Scott Hamilton
31. 1 expensive handbag for my wife (payment, aka "reward" for the Summer of Stress)
32. Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
33. I still don't understand this sick sport
34. I missed out not having a "mule" at Leadville
35. Not sure how Brian Costilow has run Leadville TEN times!!... mental issues
36. My favorite race was my most challenging... Wasatch
37. Realizing that the girl at Pinhoti who said it was just as hard or harder than Western was an IDIOT!
38. Wanting to punch Joshua Cole for ever talking me into my first trail race
39. Wanting to kiss Josh Cole when realizing I was going to finish the last race of The Grand Slam
40. No sunscreen and Breathe Right Strips make funny nose tan lines
41. Clothes smell really bad after 100-mile races
42. Clothes smell even worse when you leave them in a Ziploc bag, in the back of truck while driving across America, in the middle of the summer!
43. Eating ice cubes can fool your brain into thinking you're eating real food
44. Sleep is overrated
45. Trail runners are the nicest people in the world
46. Just because you run a "fast" 50-mile time does not mean you can do that two times in a row to run a fast 100-mile time
47. Finishing a 100-miler is a HUGE accomplishment
48. It's hard to breath above 12,000 feet
49. Poles are good for hiking and for leaning forward to hurl
50. Isaiah 40:31, "But those who put their hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will sore on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint."
51. Running Badwater 135 in the middle of The Slam is just insane... Joshua Holmes
52. Lots of different body parts hurt during and after 100-miles
53. A massage after a 100-mile race is worth every penny!
54. 100-mile races are humbling
55. The Rocky Mountains are one of God's most beautiful creations
56. Running with horses sounds cooler than it is
57. My family/crew work harder than I ever do during a race... I am so thankful for each of you!
58. Trying to pee and run at the same time is hard to do
59. People who don't live in the southeast don't know what real humidity is
60. New weight loss idea... run four (4) 100-mile races in 11 weeks or be the spouse of someone running those four (4) races
61. Pacers do a LOT of work with little reward or recognition
62. Crews do EVEN MORE for little reward or recognition
63. How to stay cool with a homemade Jimbo bandana and ice in arm warmers
64. That God truly does listen and answers prayers
65. The beauty of seeing two sunrises during one race
66. Sometimes smelling bad is better than bathing in a lake with a bunch of crawdads biting your toes
67. Taco Bell is an awesome post-race recovery food
68. Naked Stormtrooper dancing is acceptable at mile 80 @ 11,000 ft up and 25° outside
69. Finding the energy to run the last 5 mile stretch faster than any other miles in the race
70. Katy knows best!
71. Teaching life-long lessons to my girls even if they are too young to understand them now
72. The word "run" is very loosely based when speaking of a 100-mile run
73. Sometimes taking the time to stop and rest will save you more time down the road
74. There are not enough toys to keep kids from getting bored when waiting at aid stations
75. People look at you funny when you tell them you got into The Slam after only completing one (1) 100-mile race
76. Saw the; 'Cary Long in the headlights look' from some girl doing her business in the middle of the trail
77. It's really hard to keep going when your 4-year old is telling you it's okay to stop
78. Anything worth doing is not necessarily easy
79. I finally understand eating early and often
80. It's very, very dusty at Wasatch
81. The pre-race meeting at Leadville is almost better than most standup comedy clubs
82. Smiling does make you feel better no matter how crappy you feel
83. The only way out is through... (Billy Simpson)
84. Words of encouragement are the best medicine for a busted spirit
85. The love and support from my family means more than my family could ever know
86. A fresh pair of socks during the middle of a race can make a world of difference
87. I completed The Slam in 2015 in ~105 hours...
88. Ian Sharman completed The Slam in 2013 in ~69 hours (record holder)... mind blowing!
89. Despite swearing off 100-mile races numerous, NUMEROUS times over this summer, two weeks later I'm already scheming of my next 100-miler adventure
90. Seeing how strong people really are and what we are all capable of doing with the right mindset and determination
91. My crew is my greatest asset during any race
92. Without risk of failure we have no opportunity for success
93. Squirrels in Utah will in fact scream at you
94. Challenging yourself physically and mentally will only make you that much stronger for life's journey
95. PRAYER IS POWERFUL
96. Pain is easily forgotten
97. 100-mile runs are more mental than physical
98. Nothing tastes good after running and puking for 10+ hours
99. Rule of 3's... In any 100-miler you can expect at least 3 things to transpire that you weren't planning on (Ken Niemimaa))
100. The bald eagle trophy for The Slam represented in Isaiah 40:31 (see #50)
#TheGrandSlamofUltrarunning #N8_GrandSlam2015 #Holland2015#GodsGloryOurJoy
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| Grand Slam of Utlrarunning Award |
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| Grand Slam of Ultrarunning Class of 2015 |
