On the trail at the Oil Creek 100. Photo by Jeremy Lock
With my second attempt at the Oil Creek 100 mile ultra marathon 34 short days I had hoped to be at a place now where I feel somewhat prepared both mentally and physically for the challenge that I know is coming. As in the past, I have trained very, very hard for this race. It's been the dominant thought in my head for more than four months and I have been more disciplined with my training than ever before. My diet has never been more healthy and I have never been more strict with the food I put in my mouth. After the first month I was very surprised to see the scale not move at all. After the second month with no weight loss while burning twice or three times the calories I started to become concerned. Now, with four months of strict dieting and training behind me, I find myself at the same weight. I have been diagnosed with a thyroid condition. I have always been overweight. I am currently 30 pounds heavier than I feel I should be and I feel my entire life has been a struggle to get there. I can't remember anytime in my life when I have not struggled with being overweight. No matter how strict my calorie intake is, no matter the amount of countless hours I train, my weight does not move. If I stop my diet or take anytime off of training, my weight quickly climbs. It's been the most difficult challenge of my ultra marathon training. I admit, on more times than I can count I have wanted to quit. I almost did not run the Brazil 135 Mile ultra marathon because I could not lose any weight during my training. I ran that race 25 pounds overweight and I felt every extra pound while I ran for 57 hours and 50 minutes. I swore it would be the last time I ran overweight. But, here I am again, running fat, for countless miles every week while also spending hours a week on the stair master and elliptical machine. It doesn't seem fair. But, what in life ever is? I can't remember anything ever being easy. Everything has to be more difficult than it should be. Everything is a climb. I'm thankful that the extra weight hasn't caused any injuries. Every part of me takes a pounding on the trails and currently my long runs are longer than marathons once a week. Last week I ran 45 miles on Sunday during the Labor Pains 12 hour ultra marathon. I was careful with everything I ate before, during and after the race. I gained two pounds.
I'm hoping the thyroid medication is going to be the answer I have been looking for and I can finally get myself to a healthy acceptable weight I can live with. I'm currently 13 pounds heavier than I was for Oil Creek last year which was the only time in my life i successful lost weight. It seems my body has adapted to the training and refuses to budge. It holds onto everything. I have dreamed of running on trails and feeling healthy as I do it. I never have. I have always waited for the change to finally arrive.
I began training for Oil Creek with the mindset of becoming faster than I have ever been before. To finish the 100 miles with a time that would even surprise myself. Today, with 34 days until the race I am hoping to simply finish. That was a goal that once seemed impossible to me. I ran on faith and arrived at the finish line and it was a moment that changed my life. I'm working hard to know that feeling again.
I was terribly disappointed when I injured myself and could not run the Vermont 100. I was glad however that sitting the race out meant I could revisit a personal photography project I am passionate about. The project is a series of portraits of 100 miler runners at mile 0 and less than five minutes after crossing the finish line. My assistant Doug Stroud and I stayed awake for a total of 33 hours to capture images from the course and to be set up and ready to shoot after portraits 15 short hours after the race start at 4 a.m.We shot around 130 before and after portraits and ended up with a total of seven selects that I feel are strong enough to add to the series.
The ever talented and amazing Drew Geraci created a fantastic multimedia of the race. Check it out here!
Lisa Smith-Batchen and Sister Mary Beth Llyod the day before their epic journey for children in need.
I'm still amazed and I am sure I always be when I think about what my friend and running coach Lisa Smith-Batchen has accomplished. If you are inspired by her accomplishment please consider supporting Running Hope Through America and help make a difference for the children Lisa runs for.
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Top Runner Completes Record Cross-Country Journey
Lisa Smith-Batchen Conquers 50 Miles in 50 States...In 62 Days
The numbers alone are staggering: 2500 miles, 50 states, 62 days, 3 airline flights, 15 pair of shoes, and roughly 8 million footsteps. But however it's measured, one thing is for certain--Lisa Smith-Batchen's quest, named Running Hope Through America, has been successfully completed.
“I never strayed from the plan or the commitment to complete this mission. It’s been an amazing journey,” said Lisa upon completing the run in her hometown of Driggs, Idaho.
The ultramarathon champion, a veteran of extreme foot races worldwide, has multiple race wins to her credit. But nothing could prepare her--physically or mentally--for the strain that she faced during this recent cross-country odyssey. Logistics often demanded that she finish the day's 50 miles, jump into her support RV, and eke out a few hours of sleep en route to the next state. Crushing fatigue threatened to derail her efforts, but Lisa was undeterred from accomplishing her record-setting goal.
The beneficiary of Lisa's superhuman effort, Religious Teachers Filippini--a human-rights organization devoted to helping the poorest children and women survive--has received financial support from Lisa that tallies over $800,000 in the past five years alone. Using epic desert runs and bicycle rides, Lisa has inspired thousands of donors to support orphans and families affected by the worldwide AIDS crisis, malnutrition, poverty, and war.
For Running Hope Through America, the fundraising bar was raised substantially--to a goal of $1 million. Helping her accomplish that goal was Sister Mary Beth Lloyd, one of Lisa's support crew and longtime friend. Sister Mary Beth, who herself ran 20 miles each day during Lisa's journey, is a member of the Religious Teachers Filippini organization and served as one of Lisa's biggest supporters.
A crew of 4 kept Lisa on schedule and provided food, beverages, massages, and moral support. Along the route, countless people joined Lisa--some to accompany her on foot, and others to help raise funds and awareness for the needs of orphans.
While final fundraising tallies are not yet totaled, the goal of raising $1 million will continue, through the work of Lisa’s organization, The Dreamchaser Foundation. “People are seeing the goodness behind helping a child, and even a dollar makes a difference...and every one of us can make a difference,” says Lisa.
“This is definitely the most difficult undertaking I’ve ever done, and I can’t imagine I’ll take on anything more difficult. But at the end of the day, I feel absolute joy in the entire purpose of this,” Lisa explains. “The greatest lesson is we are all in this together. Each one of us is equally important and equally gifted individuals. When you figure out your talents and motivations, and go for it, magic happens.”
About Lisa Smith-Batchen Lisa's athletic resume includes a mind-boggling list of triathlons, marathons, ultra-marathons, and adventure races that span two decades. Wins at the legendary Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles through California's Mojave Desert) and the Marathon des Sables (6-day stage race across Morocco's Sahara Desert) top her list of running achievements. Eleven years after her Badwater debut, she decided to double the standard race distance, and is now the only woman to have completed the "Badwater Double,” also known as the "Death Valley 300.” In addition, Lisa has completed three Eco-Challenge (expedition-length) adventure races and multiple Ironman-distance triathlons and ultracycling (500+ mile) events.
Lisa's accomplishments in the fundraising arena mirror her success in sport. To date, she has raised over $4.5 million for Religious Teachers Filippini.
Stories about Lisa's achievements have appeared on the covers of The NY Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post, Running Times Magazine. Additionally, she has appeared in Runner’s World, Sports Illustrated for Women, ESPN Magazine, Outside Magazine, Ultrarunning and numerous other national and international publications. Television coverage has included segments on ESPN, Discovery Channel, ABC’s Wide World of Sports, NBC’s Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and Good Morning America.
Iphone pick shot the day before the Umstead 100 in Raleigh, NC
I have thought a lot about the Umstead 100 mile endurance run over the last two months. Umstead was my first DNF (did not finish) and it has been haunting me. I have been told by many experienced ultra runners that if you do this sport long enough you will DNF. I have also been told by many that they are part of the experience of ultra running. The thing about Umstead that keeps nagging at me is the simple truth that I could have kept running. I was battling some bad stomach issues from the beginning of the race and it was that excuse I used when I finally called it quits at mile 62. To be honest, It was probably more like mile 50 or so when I called it quits in my mind. The memory I will carry with me most from Umstead was how I convinced myself to quit. I was not feeling well, I was freezing, I had blisters again, I could not remember being even half as tired in Brazil at mile 120 as I was at mile 50, no matter how hard I trained I was still 20 pounds to heavy for this race. I was adding up all the reasons in my mind and making a case for myself to quit. The one that sealed the deal for me was the one that bothers me most. I did not have anything to prove. I ran 135 miles in Brazil, I sprinted to make the final cutoff at the Oil Creek 100, it's ok to drop from this one. There will be others. Today is just not my day. I remember the last six miles or so to the aid station where my car was. Some of the longest miles of my life. My mind knew the race was over and mentally I was in a different place. I know from the experience that once I quit in my mind it's game over. There is no going back. When I told the race volunteer that I was dropping I was humiliated. I knew I could keep going. So did he. I just did not want to. I remember watching runners from the warmth of my car before heading back to the hotel. I cried. I could not remember why I was there. I couldn't remember why I wasn't still running.
There is a memory from running the Oil Creek 100 I will never forget. A runner told me around mile 70 he was dropping at the next aid station. He said he was done. It just wasn't his day. I couldn't understand it at the time. I remember thinking to myself vividly "They will cart me away before I quit this race. There will be nothing of me. I will not quit."
I have learned many things from Umstead.
If I can keep moving forward, I will. If I DNF ever again it will be for a reason I can live with.
So all in all I am glad I ran Umstead. I needed the lessons. I needed the experience.
I will run Umstead again. But, there will never, ever, be another Umstead.
Lisa Smith Batchen and her best friend and Godmother Sister Mary Beth Llyod in Morristown, NJ, the day before they begin their "Running Hope Through America" journey of 50 miles in 50 states in 62 states to raise money for needy children.
I had the opportunity to photograph portraits my friends Lisa Smith Batchen and Sister Mary Beth Llyod the day before they began the journey of a lifetime and something that has never been done before. Running 50 miles in 50 states in 62 days.
Lisa Smith Batchen - one of the world's top endurance athletes.
Sister Mary Beth Llyod - "the running nun" and a woman on an international mission to help children orphaned by AIDS and living in households headed by children.
To support Lisa and Sister Mary Beth and to help the children please visit: http://www.runhope.com
A view from Eagles Peak the highest point in the race
For two days I have been thinking about what to write that could express just how I feel about completing the Brazil 135 Mile Ultra Marathon. The experience has changed my life. When I think about the race, I remember the mountains but they are not first in my mind. What I will always remember first is the relationships. I will remember the love.
First and foremost, I am proud that TEAM USA all finished the race while raising more than $15,000 to support Casa Nossa, a local mission that serves homeless and low-income girls, helping to educate them, teach them productive skills and keep them off the streets and safe from prostitution, crime and drugs. The funds will pay for the construction of a gymnasium to be used for education and sports activities.
I was fortunate to have in my opinion one of the world’s greatest endurance runners and two time winner of the Brazil Jungle Marathon, Jacqueline Terto, as my pacer for the race. She did not speak English. I did not speak one word of Portuguese. During the 57 hours and 50 minutes it took us to travel the 135 miles we became more than friends. We developed a bond beyond words because we didn’t need them. We are both the same and we knew each other’s hearts. I will always remember crying on the trail in the middle of the night. Both of my feet completely covered in blisters. I will remember Jacqueline praying for my feet and us moving forward – always moving forward. Jacqueline would look me in the eye, squeeze my hand and say “Focus, Finish.” I will remember Jacqueline always going ahead before me to make sure there were no Cobras in our path. I will remember us hugging and crying together surrounded by the mountains in the most beautiful place I have ever seen on earth. I will remember us laughing hysterically after we were chased by a bull.
The Brazil 135 is the most difficult foot race in Brazil, it is run on the hardest, most challenging segment of the Caminho da Fé (Path of Faith or Way of Faith), the most difficult Brazilian pilgrimage path. The primary objectives of the Caminho da Fé pilgrimage are the experience of moments of reflection and faith through the exercise of walking - the integration of man with nature and with religion. The Way of Faith is a route marked by yellow arrows and consists of
stretches of dirt roads, asphalt, trails within farms and railroad tracks. It takes, on average, 12 to 15 days to finalize the pilgrimage on foot, or, if you choose to participate in the Brazil 135, you have 60 hours. The course boasts about 30,000 feet of cumulative ascent and 28,000 feet of cumulative descent. With only ten flat miles in the race, by the finish line the runner will have completed a course that is analogous to climbing up and down Mt. Everest.
There were moments of clarity on the Path of Faith that will forever define me. My faith led me to run this race and it’s my faith that saw me through. It’s my faith that I take with me from the mountains of Brazil and it’s my fear of sharing my faith with others that I leave behind. My life is one of a constant seeking of God, but before the Brazil 135 many of my closest friends did not know this about me. It’s an area of my life I have kept private except for those that I have been drawn to share it with. I have never felt comfortable sharing my relationship with God with others. I am always in fear of turning others away from the greatest joy I have ever known. I believe a simple truth and it’s what brought me to run the Brazil 135. I believe Jeremiah 29-13 “If you Seek Me with all your heart and all your soul, you will Find Me.” That is what brought me to Brazil. It’s why I ran my first 100 miler in October. It’s the reason why I run. When I run I feel close to God. In the mountains of Brazil I felt connected to God in ways I have never dreamed but not just in the experience of the race. More so in the people I met. People like Ashley Loucks & Michelle Purcell who were meant to be part of my journey. I will always remember them praying for me as I began my descent to the finish line and our ride together to the start. People like Jimmy Dean Freeman who met me on the trail and ran the last five hours or so with me and who has a knack for knowing what you need to hear when you need to hear it. Jimmy gave me his socks off his feet to cover my blisters that were now in Crocs because the pain had become to much for my running shoes. My amazing crew Antonio and Christina who met to my every need and who also became like family to me. Pizza in the middle of nowhere is not easy to find but they found a way. I will remember them always. I will also remember the simple acts of love that moved me so deeply. Like Tony Portera and Jarom Thurston leaving my name in the dirt so close to the end of my journey. A simple gesture such as that will forever be one of the greatest memories of my life. These people and so many more were strangers a week ago but are now in my heart forever and I say with no hesitation that I love them all.
My name left on the Path of Faith by Jarom Thurston and Tony Portera
There are other moments from this experience that I am still processing. Like the giant Bible in the hotel lobby at the finish line opened to the book of Jeremiah and lit beautifully in the window light. The sight of it almost brought me to my knees.
When I began this journey I thought it may be a test of faith. Possibly to see if I had the courage to attempt what I thought was impossible but knowing for some reason God wanted me there. I thought it might be a lesson in humility and that I would fail miserably. It was somewhere during the race I learned that this experience was a celebration. It was once again me running with my friend. This time we had others along for the journey – something new to me and a new beginning.
So I guess, here I am making an open declaration of my faith and my love of God. There is nothing more important to me. That is my journey. It is one that will never end.
I’d like to end with the first thing I read once my eyes opened after being awake for more than 59 hours and moving forward for 57 of them and 50 minutes. I no longer believe in coincidences and I can never describe what reading these words did to me. But I can say this – God’s greatest joy is our company. It’s our reason for being and it’s a choice. I have made mine and I am moving forward.
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move."
Matthew 17:20
Me and my amazing pacerJacqueline Terto who got me through the race.
A video of me finishing the race shot by Tony Portera can be seen here.
