It seems strange to be writing a race report while we are still in the depths of a world wide pandemic. After my 2 big races of 2020 were cancelled - Western States 100 (postponed until June 2021) and Superior 100 (cancelled outright, will try again next year) I signed up for the Mines of Spain 100 miler in Dubuque, Iowa.

I didn’t talk much about this race leading up to it. There wasn’t a lot of buzz on social media about it, and it felt a little surreal to be preparing for a race when so many other events had been cancelled, postponed or become virtual. Up until race week, I was still partially preparing myself for it to not happen.

But it did happen. And it was wonderful. And there are plenty of lessons that we can take away from this event on how to do these events safely in the future. Honestly, some of the things the race did to keep everyone safe we probably should have been doing all along…. hello, hand washing stations outside of all the portable toilets…. seriously, I have never washed my hands so many times during a race as I did this one. No touch aid stations. Masks required at anytime you were near others.

Pre race photo compliments of Mile 90 Photography.

The race started Friday morning, Oct 16, at 8am. I was in wave 2, so we started at 8:05. There were 3 waves and 2 separate races - 100 mile and 100k. The course was a 20.2 mile loop, so 5 loops for the 100 mile & 3 loops for the 100k.

The course Start/Finish is at Murphy Park on top of a bluff, and from there you head down a paved bike path 3/4 of a mile downhill to a paved road that you follow for another 3/4 of a mile to the trail. The course is a combination of out and back sections and some loops, so a lot of the course you do 10 times for the 100 mile. The biggest issue I had with this section was you ran past the water treatment plant & the smell was so SO bad!!! You wanted to run to get past it quickly but you didn’t want to breathe too deeply, cause it was that bad 🤢!

Once you hit the trail it’s a few steep switchbacks to the top of the bluff and you are greeted with a view of the river and a short section around the Julien Dubuque monument.

Running around the monument on loop 1. Mile 90 Photography

From there you head across a parking lot and down the bluff, cross a creek and off into the depths of the loop. I won’t bore you with the minute details of the loop, but there are some really lovely runnable grassy sections, and some areas of wooded, leaf covered, singletrack. I loved the variety of the course and the aid stations were anywhere from 2-6 miles apart.

I don’t typically like loop courses as it is easy to play mind games and want to stop when things get tough as you pass through the S/F (start/finish) aid station. I never had that thought of quitting in this race. It certainly wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns, but at no point was I not going to see this through.

Loop one I explored the loop and tried to keep the effort level easy, to be patient and enjoy being out there. I found myself incredibly grateful for being able to do an event like this and have that shared experience with the other runners. Everyone was very friendly, and you’d pass other runners in the out and back sections and it was always fun to here the “good jobs,” “way to go,” and various cheers back and forth with other participants.

Cruising along on loop 1. Mile 90 Photography

Working on keeping my feet dry on one of the many creek crossings. Mile 90 Photography

I finished loop 1 feeling strong and happy. I cruised into the S/F aid station and did what I like to call “turn and burn.” Get in. Get out. Time is so easily wasted in the aid stations, that if I don’t need much, I don’t dink around. I grabbed a bite to eat, saw Matt, and got right back out. The nice part of this race is that there is cell service for the whole thing, so when I got back to that 3/4 paved bike path uphill to the S/F I could send Matt a text and let him know what I needed. That way it was ready and I could be more efficient in the aid stations. I was able to eat on the way back down the paved path as I started loop 2.

Loop 2 was off to a great start, the weather was pretty perfect, cool and dry, the sun was peaking out and I was happy and grateful. About 5 miles into loop 2, I was probably day dreaming, and caught my toe on some leaf covered debris and fell hard. And as dry as it was, that ground felt like cement when I hit it. I checked my self, and luckily I didn’t tear my tights or shirt, but my knees felt bruised and I definitely bruised my ego. “Dang it, stay more present,” I told myself. I walked a bit while I dusted myself off. That fall took the wind out of my sails. For the rest of loop 2 I just felt off. Tired. Lethargic. I looked at my watch, it was just after 2pm. Too early for the caffeine pills I’ll take to help me stay awake overnight. If I start the caffeine now, I won’t have a prayer come later. Just ride it out, I told myself, you’ll rally.

It took most of the rest of loop 2 to rally, but I finally felt my energy levels come back. By the time I hit the S/F aid station again, I was feeling pretty good.

The days are short in October, so I knew when I finished loop 2 that it would be getting dark part way through loop 3. I took a few minutes at the S/F aid station to change shirts, pack my lights and get ready for the sun to go down.

I had one more loop to go before I picked up my pacer, Chris, who would run loop 4 with me. I headed out on loop 3 feeling a little tired (I did have 40 miles and 9+ hours of running on my legs by then) but good. I knew I would put some music on this loop and start some caffeine a little later. I’d just need to finish this loop and then I’d have company for the rest of the race. Up at the monument, 2 miles in, I saw my coach, Jake, and that was a huge pick me up. I was feeling good, moving well, excited to be this deep in the race, and seeing a familiar face topped it all off. Into loop 3 I went, the sun started to set and the trail got more shadowy. I was hesitant to pull out my lights, but I was starting to have a hard time seeing the details of the trail when I caught my other toe and down I went. Just as hard as the first time. I caught myself primarily with my left hand and my wrist was pretty sore, and my knees and elbows were feeling bruised. I didn’t rip my pants or shirt, so I dusted myself off, and headed on down the trail. I did put my light on then! After two hard falls, I was feeling pretty beat up. I was worried about falling again, and as a result, my pace started to slow. It was dark, and things were starting to ache. My left hand swelled up and by the end of the race, I could no longer see my knuckles. Loop 3 was turning into a grind. But that’s why I was here. Time to dig deep and keep moving.

Coming in after loop 3. Mile 90 photography

Time to take care of the feet. A sock change before heading out on loop 4 with Chris. Mile 90 Photography.

Chris and I head out on loop 4. It’s after 11pm, and I’ve been moving for 15 hours. I’m not much for conversation, but Chris keeps me entertained and moving. It’s dark, I’m concerned about falling again and the sections with the stairs are really starting to get to me. Dig deep. Keep moving.

These stairs, while fine in the daylight, were not fun in the dark…. Mile 90 photography.

Chris and I finished loop 4, and I would be picking up my other pacer, Michelle, for loop 5 - aka the Victory Lap. At the end of loop 4, I was feeling pretty gross - beat up, and that sense of almost being jet lagged for having been up so long. I just needed to get through 1 more loop and I could rest.

Michelle and I head out on loop 5. I felt gross, but I knew I would feel better once it started to get light. I think by this time is was about 5am. We walked the first few miles of loop 5, as I just couldn’t quite get my legs moving enough to run. Once the sun started to come up, as predicted I started to feel better. There is something so cool about watching the day get light after spending the night in the woods. It is so magical and one of my favorite things about these events.

I wasn’t moving fast, but I was moving better and I checked off each of the sections of the loop as we finished them. There was something comforting in the loop format of this event - I started to really learn the course, the trail and the ebb and flow of it all. I found myself doing the same things each loop - pass up aid station 1 as it was only 4 miles from the S/F, eat something out of my pack between aid 1 and 2. Eat something savory at aid station 2. Use my drop bag at aid station 3 if I needed anything specific here and use the portable toilet. Aid station 4 I would add a bit of water to my pack and eat something savory. By the time I returned to the S/F I would fill my water completely and eat a bit more. I found myself eating a LOT of mini snickers bars between aid stations to keep my energy up. Other things I ate were peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese, mashed potatoes, chocolate covered pretzels, Scratch Labs chews, and an occasional Honey Stinger waffle.

Michelle and I wrapped up loop 5 together and soon enough were hiking up the paved bike path back to the S/F. This would be the last time I would make this hike up the hill. I was ready to be done. But the interesting thing is, I didn’t feel any worse this time than I did at the end of loop 4. In fact, given that it was light out, I almost felt a tiny bit better. And knowing that I was done, certainly put a bit more spring in my step. I could rest, nap and get off my feet.

Coming into the finish! Mile 90 Photography.

Mines of Spain 100 mile finisher! Mile 90 photography.

Mines of Spain 100 is my 7th 100 mile finish. This was a great event. Wonderful volunteers, quality aid stations, lots of swag, and a course that certainly keeps you humble. While I don’t need to come back and do it again (after 5 loops, I think I’m good 😉) I do highly recommend this event. And I’d be game to come back and pace and crew my friends here!

These events maybe “solo” but they really aren’t. They take a small village to put on and having a few folks on your team make it even more enjoyable. I would not have wanted to do this without the support of Matt, my number 1 fan and Crew Cheif; Chris, my Trail Sister, who is always keeps me moving, and keeps me humble; and Michelle, my dear friend who I have shared so many miles with due to the pandemic. And I can’t forget a shout out to Eric, who drove 5 hours just to hang out with a bunch of crazy runners! I love you guys. Thank you so much!!

Matt, Chris & Michelle. Y’all rock!!! Mile 90 Photography.

The icing on the cake with my finish was that I was awarded the top female masters award. A masters runner is someone over the age of 40 (growing older does have it’s benefits…) At 27:15 finish time, I was 9th woman overall and fastest in the over 40 crowd, this was a fun event and winning my age group was the cherry on top!

Thanks again to the race director, all the volunteers and everyone who toed the line that day. This is a 2020 highlight for sure. Thanks for reading this far & until next time…

Happy Trails!