What I learned from NOT finishing the VT 100

The last couple of days have been all about ‘putting away’ the remnants of the VT 100 – washing dirty running clothes, unpacking aid bags, separating salt tabs from Tylenol, and perhaps most important of all unpacking the experience in my mind.  After the initial sadness and disappointment, I have been feeling pretty positive about the experience.  I still don’t know anything about running 100 miles, but here is what I learned from NOT finishing the VT 100. 

1. I learned that perspective is everything….you can either celebrate the 25 miles you have completed or dwell on the 75 you still have to go.
2. I learned that when attempting to run 100 miles, a 50k feels like nothing but when running a 50K it feels like I’m running for a long time…how does that work?
3. I learned that unused race supplies can mock you and should be ignored!  Yesterday while attempting to cram all the unused GUs in a kitchen drawer the mocking began.  All those packages of Espresso Love and Mint Chocolate intended to be consumed during the miles I didn’t run were just lying there with their full little bellies, taunting me and reminding me of my failed attempt.  And later that morning when I went into the refrigerator for one of many snacks, I could have sworn I heard the multiple 6 packs of leftover Ensure snickering.
4. I learned not to ignore one of the basic rules of running:  DO NOT do, wear, eat or try anything the day of the race you haven’t done in training (like wearing ½ inch heel lifts!)
5. I learned that crews are amazing!  How many friends do you know who willingly sit around for countless hours waiting for you to arrive, drive miles and miles (often in circles), run out and get Imodium and applesauce just because you mentioned toilet paper, cry with you when you know you can no longer continue and slap your leg really hard so the hydrogen peroxide being poured on your open blisters doesn’t hurt so bad!
6. I learned that Jerry is truly an inspiration for all of us – crushing his VT PR from 2006!
7. I learned that trail runners are really good at sharing their toys…or headlamps…or water bottles…or pop-up trailers….or bras!
8. I learned that trail friends are forever friends.  One of our friends from Trans Rockies, Ken Sinclair, came to sit with us and talk after he unfortunately DNF’d at mile 85.  I hadn’t seen him in two years, but it didn’t matter one bit.
9. I learned that you have to really want something of that magnitude to make it happen, and even if you do, that is still no guarantee.
10. I learned that despite not finishing the VT 100, I am still very happy that I started. I learned that it is both a race and a life experience and like any other worthwhile running experience you learn things not only about racing but also about yourself.  I don’t know if I will ever be back at VT as a runner.  Part of me hopes that I am ‘one and done’ for my 100 mile attempts but part of me still has that annoying itch.  I guess I’ll have to wait and see.