Racing the 2025 HURT 100 Mile – iRunFar

[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by ultrarunner and coach Alyssa Clark.]

Is that this what profitable seems like? I wryly ask myself in between emptying all of the liquid in my abdomen onto the path.

I preserve strolling, although, understanding every step ahead will take me nearer to the end line — which isn’t distant now — to perform my nine-year purpose. One, two, three large heaves, and I immediately really feel significantly better as all of the liquid sloshing round for hours is now not plaguing my insides. I take into consideration how damaged Courtney Dauwalter, David Roche, Jeff Mogavero, and so many greats usually have a look at the end line — making an attempt to not puke on the media and even simply stay coherent.

I entered the 2025 HURT 100 Mile understanding I’m able to put myself on this place. I’m ready to harm this badly to realize a sub-24-hour end. Simply seven miles left, Alyssa; you don’t must eat to complete. Simply preserve working.

The HURT 100 Mile course — 5 20-mile loops via Hawai‘i’s rainforest — begins on the Nature Heart (Makiki), runs to Paradise Help Station (Mānoa) at mile 7.3, to Nu‘uanu Help Station at mile 12.8, and again to the Nature Heart at mile 20. Every 20-mile loop has 5,000 toes of elevation acquire per loop, leading to 25,000 toes complete. The loop is technical, relentless, humid, and a lot enjoyable. With three help stations, two of that are accessible by crew, there isn’t a lot further gear to hold apart from fluids, vitamin, and cooling mechanisms.

A Lofty Objective

With two HURTs below my belt, coming in at 30 hours, half-hour in 2017 — my first 100 miler — and 24:35 in 2023, I’m psyched to attempt to break the 24-hour barrier and decrease the extremely quick 24:06 course document Tracy Garneau set in 2010, en path to her win on the Western States 100 later within the yr. To try this, I’ve to push the tempo and take a distinct strategy to my coaching and the way I run HURT.

As an alternative of the extra conventional emphasis on quick mountain climbing in coaching for HURT, my coach and I concentrate on many uphill working intervals and cardio threshold exercises. Coming off UTMB and the Puerto Vallarta by UTMB 100 Mile, we all know the quantity is there, however I must get snug using the sting and pushing that higher Zone 2 effort. Breaking 24 hours received’t occur if I don’t problem every uphill and ask myself, Is that this runnable? Can I push right here?

Main as much as the race, I really feel as prepared bodily and mentally as I might hope for. I discover I get calmer the nearer I get to a race I really feel ready for. My good friend says how calm I’m is sort of disconcerting, particularly as a result of I’m usually not like that. My psychological coach additionally feedback on how prepared I appear, however he warns me to guard it as there are certain to be hurdles.

He isn’t improper, as a few deeply unhappy and doubtlessly harmful conditions come up for my family and friends main as much as the race. Together with the 2025 Los Angeles space wildfires and seeing their impression, I really feel conflicted. How can I be so comfortable and enthusiastic about this foolish endeavor when individuals I really like face actual tragedy? How can I maintain these two items and be supportive and empathetic whereas guarding my happiness and staying optimistic?

It seems like I’m holding this fragility and armor side-by-side. I do know HURT will ask for a deep effort and emotion from me, however I additionally need to be there for individuals who want me. It helps me to realizet the promise I’d made to myself initially of the yr, to stay within the grey area and lead with love, is all I can do.

After a good sufficient sleep to get me via 100 miles, my husband Codi and I head to the race begin. With 10 minutes to go, three of the race organizers — Jeff Huff, Steve Villiger, and Carl Gammon — fill the air with comfortable chatter, throwing out names of who would possibly win. Lastly, the conch shell blows, and we’re off on the journey I hope will likely be lower than a day lengthy.

Loop One: 3:55 — Discovering a Rhythm

My purpose for the race is to remain within the four-hour vary for as many loops as attainable. I really feel robust up the primary climb, the notorious Hogsback, and attempt to journey the road between letting myself work out the joy and never cooking myself early. The miles roll by, and apart from the vitamin alerts, I’m not checking my look ahead to time or tempo. I’m stunned by how the fellows are rather more relaxed than in 2023. I can’t inform if they’re being sensible or I’m being dumb, possibly a few of each. I remind myself it’s not about profitable the primary two or three loops. Loops three, 4, and 5 are the place the work begins.

I battle with the beginnings of races as a result of it takes me some time to search out my groove and settle in. I really like the center and ends, so it’s at all times about ensuring I don’t let my thoughts go sideways for the primary 20 miles so I can get to the enjoyable half.

Popping out of the Nu‘uanu Help Station on the final seven-ish miles to complete the primary loop, considered one of my pals and fellow San Diego, California, runner flies previous me on the climb. It appears to be like like I’m standing nonetheless compared to his velocity. I really feel myself begin to panic. Am I going that slowly? How am I going to maintain up if I used to be dropped that rapidly? All of the locations I knew I might run; it simply felt exhausting to maintain the tempo I believed I might from coaching. I resolve to grit it out and reset on the prime. It’s too early to really feel this tough, and I would like to manage my feelings and energy ranges.

Topping out of Nu‘uanu, I attain considered one of my favourite sections, Mānoa Cliff, and inform myself to calm down, take a deep breath, and sluggish it down. Cruising the previous couple of miles has slowed my coronary heart charge, and I really feel rather more in management. I are available to see my crew, taking my pack off for our deliberate full pack swap. I at all times airplane arms down the cement chute into the help station to remind myself that is foolish and enjoyable and hopefully put a smile on everybody’s face.

The purpose is to be easy and environment friendly and never rush like I’ve earlier than in help stations. I need each help station to really feel like a celebration and to maintain doing my greatest for everybody round me. It’s time to catch a rhythm.

Loop Two: 4:17 — Shake It Off

The pressure of the primary loop melts away. I virtually don’t bear in mind this loop, as I felt like a marble in a groove. Till … THUMP, OUCH! I’ve Supermanned onto the path, as a root my massive toe caught despatched me flying. Properly, that’s my toe damaged, I believed, as I brush the dust off and take a number of ginger steps. I’ve adopted the mindset of separating points into, “Can I repair this? And in that case, how?” or “I can’t repair this. Neglect it and transfer on.” I knew there was nothing I might do to alter my toe, and admitting to my crew what I believed I’d accomplished wouldn’t assist anybody. If Marianne Hogan can run UTMB with a dislocated finger, I can run with a damaged toe, proper? Shaking the autumn off, I block the toe and transfer on.

Coming into the Nature Heart to begin loop three, I really feel proper the place I need to be — ticking off the miles, rising my lead, and staying inside my time targets. I are available rather more relaxed and comfortable, telling my crew and my good friend, Anna, “I do know that was slower on this second loop, nevertheless it felt proper. I can preserve doing that. That’s sustainable.” We shove ice down each nook and cranny with Codi yelling, “Yet another scorching loop [until evening]! Maintain it cool, after which you possibly can go!”

Loop Three: 4:31 — Correcting Hydration

It’s time to place the exhausting hat on and get to work. I consider loops three, 4, and 5 because the time to begin chipping away, taking the shovel and axe out and grinding. I’m bordering on dehydration, having solely peed as soon as, however taking place Crossover, I name my crew and say, “Refill a bottle of electrolytes, and don’t let me depart Mānoa till I drink all of it.” I concentrate on sucking ice cubes and ingesting the additional water within the baggage of ice I’m carrying.

I preserve myself in test. My physique continues to be feeling good, however I do know that if I don’t get my hydration again so as, I might jeopardize my subsequent few loops.

I come into Mānoa to my crew holding out a bottle, which I swiftly convey into the toilet for effectivity — pee and drink whereas sitting. As I end the bottle and prepared myself to move out, my good friend Jonathan yells, “Alyssa is my energy animal!” That phrase sticks in my head as I chuckle about what an influence animal even is and really feel like we’ve averted the pee disaster.

My purpose is to make it so far as I can on loop three with out placing on my headlamp, and I handle to maintain the darkish at bay till the final 45 minutes or so of the loop. It’s round now that I notice I’ve unintentionally saved my small headlamp from the primary loop in my pants all day and forgot to offer it to my crew to recharge earlier than the evening. Contemplate this foreshadowing!

Loop 4: 5:06 — The Nemesis Loop

Loop 4 has at all times been my nemesis. It’s the place I fell aside in my first HURT in 2017 and the place I misplaced tempo on the document in 2023. This yr, I get a bit misplaced and mentally a bit lackadaisical. I’ve time on the document and my opponents, however I can’t sit again and calm down. I must push to the tip.

Blink, blink, blink. The sunshine on my headlamp blinks to let me know its battery is low and about to modify to battery-save mode. Rattling it, I believe, how might I be that dumb? With how darkish the paths are and the footing challenges, I’ve been blasting my headlamp at full energy to run exhausting. I used to be planning on doing a full swap out in the beginning of loop 5 and didn’t contemplate I’d be hitting low battery with an hour left on this fourth loop. Properly, not less than I’ve my backup; that’ll work! Ten minutes later whereas working with the back-up headlamp, it begins blinking too. I scold myself, How did you overlook to cost this after the primary loop?

On the runner check-in, organizers Steve and Jeff informed us that the race founder, John Salmonson — or Massive John — who had handed away in 2023, had his ashes unfold close to Pauoa Flats. They stated if we would have liked assist, Massive John could be there to speak to us. I’d been checking in with John all through the race, however as my headlamps dwindled on energy, I stated, “Massive John, I would like your assist proper now. Please preserve my lights on, and I promise I’ll break the document.”

I can’t transfer fairly as quick with my dim lights, however I’m making progress. I drop all the way down to Crossover, a couple of 1.5-mile part that runners cross twice per loop. I see headlamps arising Hogsback as Tyler Juza, the second-place man, begins his fifth and ultimate loop. We trade greetings, and I clarify, “I killed my headlamps, so I’m working with what I’ve.” His pacer asks, “Tyler, do you need to cross?” And resoundingly, the reply, “No, we’re staying with Alyssa.” In my fatigued state, I didn’t comprehend what he was doing.

As I flip to move all the way down to the Nature Heart and he continues on his approach to full loop 5, I thank him and say, “You haven’t any concept how a lot you simply helped me, I might see so significantly better with you behind me.” His response is, “I do know, that’s why we stayed with you. Now watch out taking place and get that sub-24 hours.”

His gesture gobsmacks me. He has about 17 minutes on third place, which in a race like HURT can flip rapidly. His willingness to go my tempo for a short while blows my thoughts. I really feel that energy and know it’s time to end this factor.

Loop 5: 5:37 — What Profitable Feels Like

Codi and I set off up Hogsback, the final time I’ve to climb its spiny ridge. Earlier than the race, I’d informed myself if I began my final loop earlier than midnight, I’d have nearly as good of a shot at sub-24 hours as I might hope for. I’m proper on observe, however I really feel the burden of understanding my purpose is in attain whereas nonetheless having 20 miles left of attainable hiccups. Codi’s straightforward dialog retains my spirits mild as I share trails which have carved a lot of who I’m as a runner and human with the individual I really like probably the most.

Coming into Mānoa, I concentrate on working all the things I can, not letting up.

I’d initially solely deliberate to have Codi tempo me for 14 miles, so we determined he would step out at Nu’uanu, and I’d go the final seven miles alone. The cheers of everybody we crisscross on the course begin to break into my mind. Simply possibly, that is going to occur.

After the aforementioned puke and rally with simply seven miles to go, I do know nothing else goes into my abdomen. It’s not the primary time I’ve stopped consuming within the final drags of a race, however at this level, it simply doesn’t matter. I push up Nu‘uanu, remembering how in 2017 I used to be barely crawling upward, in comparison with this time the place, regardless of the dearth of energy, I really feel good.

The ridge of Nu‘uanu at all times collects these stunning wind gusts, cooling me down and transferring me ahead. My toes transfer throughout the roots, understanding every place to go as I’ll myself to remain targeted. I simply need to end, I catch myself pondering. No, be right here, Alyssa; you’ll by no means get this second again; don’t want it away.

Coming down the ultimate descent of Pipes and going over the past two bridges, I lastly let down my wall. I can crawl from right here and nonetheless make it below 24 hours. It’s accomplished. I’m pleased with you, I say to myself, one thing I’m not at all times nice at admitting, however feeling my emotions, seemingly for the primary time in 23 hours. You probably did it.

“That is what profitable seems like,” has grow to be considered one of my go-to mantras. My psychological efficiency coach, Tim, informed me this proper earlier than UTMB, and it’s been my go-to since. When my toe is smashing towards the tip of my shoe, once I can’t preserve something in, when my legs burn working uphill or my quadriceps scream pushing the descents, that’s what profitable seems like. Whether or not I’m really profitable the race or not, it’s placing my greatest on the market again and again.

Of betting on myself that, sure I can run that tough for 23 hours, 26 minutes, and 32 seconds, and holding on it doesn’t matter what. Of believing in my group and myself. I will be courageous.

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