Sunday, November 9, 2014

#19-3 T.D.T 2014FW Result




みんなが居てくれれば、ビールのつまみなんて要らないね!
- Tomokazu Ihara



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SUB24 Finisher’s
Yoshikazu Amemoto
Tomokazu Ihara
Shinya Yamada
Shun Saito
Hiroyasu Tanaka
Ken Nakagawa
Jiro Ishiduka
Kiyoshi Ishiba

Fun Runner’s
Ryoko Kobayashi
Chieko Isomura
Tomoko Harada
Saiko Ishiduka
Yoshiaki Udagawa
Hisayuki Tateno
Takayuki Kugishima

MVP
Takayuki Kugishima

MVA (Most Valuable Aid station)
Yuji Suzuki
Junko Suzuki
Yoshimi Sasaki

TDTOF (TDT Official Food)
Gyoza
Beer

TDTOS (TDT Official Soup)
Dashi Jiru

Special Thanks to..
Hiromasa Kobayashi
Yukiharu  Kawamura
Kenta Masui
Hiroshi Taketani
Shiho Kawashima
Shinsuke Isomura
Dai Isomura
Yuji Watanabe
Manabu Miyagishi (+Ayachan)

If I have missed any other friends sorry about that!

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See you next year at T.D.T 100 2015!


































RD TOMO

Friday, November 7, 2014

#19-2 T.D.T 2014FW Project Team

楽しい人の周りには楽しい人が集まる。
- Yukiharu Kawamura

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T.D.T Project Team




















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~TDTイズム~


いい人であれ!

人に敬意を払え!

何事にも責任感を持て!

クールな人であれ!

でなければ、このコミュニティーに参加しないでくれ!

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19回目の100マイル。

さぁ!張り切って行きますか!!


RD TOMO

Thursday, November 6, 2014

#19-1 T.D.T 2014FW Roster

Behind everything that’s beautiful, there has been pain..
- Bob Dylan

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4th T.D.T 100 ~November 8th – 9th, 2014~




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Roster:
1            Tomokazu  Ihara (100M)
2            Shun          Saito (100M)
3            Ken            Nakagawa (100M)
4            Ryoko        Kobayashi (100M)
5            Yoshikazu  Amemoto (100M)
6            Jiro             Ishiduka (100M)
7            Kiyoshi       Ishiba (100M)
8            Hiroyasu    Tanaka (100M)
9            Shinya       Yamada (100M)
10          Takayuki    Kugishima (100M)
11          Hisayuki    Tateno (100M)
12          Yoshiaki    Udagawa (100M)
13          Saiko         Ishiduka (100M)
14          Chieko       Isomura (Fun run)
15          Tomoko     Harada (Fun run)

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何ともない鳥居をくぐり抜けて、24時間かけて100マイルを走り終えて戻ってきたとき、そこにはあなたが想像もしなかった世界が待っているでしょう。


RD TOMO

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

#18-2 Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run 31:19:27

Quotes

"Do your best, never give up, if you fall.. GET BACK UP!"   
-Hal Winton (Angeles Crest 100 Co Director)


"Facing my face on my puke was way more easier than standing up and just walk."
-2014 Angeles Crest 100 - Tomokazu Ihara (Just a runner)

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Photo provided by Mieko Morita
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Angeles Crest 100 Endurance Run August 2 - 3, 2014

I am now sitting on my seat flying back to Japan. I still cannot imagine that I am able to safely go back to Japan “alive” desprite to see my wife Sachi and my daughter Sakura.

When I ran the AC100 last year for my first time, I was 5th overall (Men’s 4th place finish) with a time of 22:28:35. I was happy with my result running on the course for my first attempt achieving a sub 24 on such a hard course, but in my mind, I thought I could do better if I had another chance. That’s why I registered for AC 2014 on the next day believing to run with a stronger and a better race this year. I trained very hard for this day. I was in great shape, I had no idea how I could do worse than last year that I could only think of doing better or much better.


Race day:

I was prepared, I felt great, my plans were all fixed, I had a great crew (Mieko and Eric). My plan was to do a sub 21 at the bottom line and aim for a better time if I was feeling strong after Chantry (mile 75). My plan was to take it really easy to Short cut (mile 60) and run the whole downhill and uphill to New Comb and cruise down to Chantry and the race would have had started from there. I really didn’t care what place I was during the race because no matter what place I was, I knew that I would of have gotten a great place along with a great time if I just sticked with my plan focusing on just myself and the entire course, and not running against the runners.

I felt solid and not tired at all till Chilao (mile 52) and just sticked with my plan. I ate my gels and salt tablets like a robot. I assumed I would eventually pass runners after Chilao and on to the finish and I did. I started passing runners and I could see in their eyes that they were pretty much exhausted. I couldn’t blame that because it is such a hard course. When I arrived to Shortcut and sat on a chair, I felt something wrong with myself. My legs weren’t tired at all but I felt weak in my body that I couldn’t eat anything. I thought that was a bad sign but my plans were counting down on me so I left drinking some Redbull and Gatorade and taking my gels with me thinking I will eat it running down the downhill to Newcomb.

I ate my gels when I started running down for a bit and right after running down for a mile or so, I puked all my gel. I thought "great!" I have reset my stomach so I can start eating gels again with a 30 minute window (30 minute is my gel eating routine). When I puke during a race, I can take gels right after I puke all the time but today I felt my stomach was still upset so I thought I will eat it 15minutes later and I did. After I took the gel, I felt strong again and ran the entire downhill and when we got to the bottom, I puked again but nothing came out other than my water I drank. And puking several times, the only thing that came out of my mouth was finally my acid (Gastric Fluid) in my stomach. Oh my god, I thought I was in a really bad situation, which I have never experienced during a race within my past races.

My body was not only refusing my gels, it started refusing water too. Since I had no energy, I was barely moving. I thought the uphill to Newcomb was a climb to Mt. Everest. But I didn’t want to give up here, because I trained so hard for this day for this moment since the day after AC 2013. I couldn’t fail on this race, failing is not an option for me, but on the other hand, something in my head started telling me to drop this race. After I got to the half way point on the uphill to Newcomb, runners behind me started passing me. I was laying on the ground closing my eye and I could hear they were passing me but I didn’t know who they were but knew that they were just passing me. Some people knew me and gave me kind words and I was happy about it. But, I couldn’t express my happiness on my face that I felt like hell, but I was waving my hand from my heart saying “Thank you”. I puked and puked and puked, but nothing came out from my body but just my acid. I thought my eyes were going to pop out everytime I was puking. Erik my pacer convinced me to take gels but I refused, puking was the best effort that I could do at that moment. I really should of taken gels but I wasn’t able to eat it at all.

Finally, going up that hill taking almost an hour, I arrived Newcomb. I told Eric, I wanted to sleep for 5 hours. Arriving at 8pm to Newcomb, my only goal for this race was to finish under 21 hours so my race was totally over. I still thought I could do a sub 24 but that wasn’t my goal and I couldn’t of felt happy even though I did. But on the other hand, my body felt worse and worse and worse until it got to the most worse feeling I have ever encountered within my entire life. I was laying down on a flat emergency bed covered with blankets. It started to rain and the winds made me feel cold and miserable. I was allowed to stay there for an hour and I tried to sleep thinking I would get better when I open my eyes next. When I opened my eyes, the miracle didn’t happen, that I was feeling just as worse as an hour ago. I then told Eric that I wanted to drop here. But he said that they will not allow me to drop so the only choice was to go to Chantry and then to think about it. I thought the only 6 - 7miles to Chantry would be an endless trip from Newcomb. I drank coke and soup, ate quesadilla, but I ended up puking them all. My friend JDF came into the aid station and told me "Puking is great" because it resets your energy level but to try and get my energy back by eating anything I can. It was getting cold and Eric told me to leave here but nothing was in my stomach so I tried everything at the aid station and finally the chocolate pudding worked for me so I ate two of them. I could feel my brains slowly started to work and my energy level was spreading through my blood and then to my body. Then I was able to stand up and walk. (I would like to say a big thank you to the aid station who let me stay there for such a long time)

But the best effort I could do was to walk and not to puke my chocolate pudding which was my lifeline. We walked and walked and walked thinking I was almost arriving at Chantry but all we moved was a mile and a half and I was devastated. I sat down on the rocks and finally I couldn’t hold my puke and I puked. Again, nothing came out other than my water and then the acid again. I was so annoyed to myself with what I am dealing with. I felt terribly miserable and useless over and over until I couldn’t think of anything that I think my brain stopped working. I just followed Eric and his light. Every single runner who passed me gave me a shout that if I needed anything which was so kind but I couldn’t even say a word “thank you” at that time and I felt miserable again about this. Finally, we got to the paved road which was a sign that we are almost there at Chantry. I tried my best effort climbing up that paved road but a quarter of a mile to Chantry, I fell down on the ground and puked. My face was covered with my puke but all I could do was to close my eyes laying on top of my puke thinking I wish somebody could take me to Chantry. But after a while, I stood up, I stood up because I thought if I was to able to make it to Chantry, I could quit and the day would be over and Mieko could take me to back to her house and I could take a nice hot bath and sleep forever.

When I arrived Chantry, I stopped my watch, took off my shoes thinking finally I can quit. A lot of people came by to me and said kind words but the only word that came out of my mouth was that “I am willing to quit here”. But surprisingly, no one said that I can quit. They said to me “You have time to take a rest and think about moving forward to the finish”. But I couldn’t imagine of myself moving an inch forward from how I felt and what I was dealing with. Mieko also encouraged me to move forward making me lay on the bed telling me to sip Gatorade little by little, telling me it will not feel good but it will make me better having something to start with. I closed my eyes thinking about my family, friends, and also thinking this was my first DNF ever in my entire past races. But I had no regret with my DNF that I did the best that I could to end up at Chantry and I was alive. But Mieko didn’t let me drop, she did everything she could to encourage myself to move forward. She brought her friend Nancy (Nurse and Mother of Bad water) for help willing she could help as well. Nancy heard all about what I was dealing with from Eric and she told me to puke everything from my stomach and watched myself until I couldn’t puke anything. Then she gave me a pill and told me to not throw up the pill. I did what I was told but in my mind, even though I ended up feeling better, I was not going out to the trails further more from here that this is my finish for today. After I got the pill, I woke up and an hour and a half had already passed. When I woke up, I didn’t have a clue where I was but looking around, I noticed that I was still in the middle of the race. All I could see and hear was people laying on the ground and puking looking as worse as myself or more worse.

After the sleep, I felt much better and Mieko cooked me some Miso soup with rice in it. It tasted so good and I had a couple of bowls. I couldn’t believe I was able to eat something. Looking around the atmosphere again, there were a lot of runners that looked worse than me and made me believe why should I drop?! If these runners were trying to move forward feeling worse than me, why should I quit? After having some solid food, I think I sat on the seat for a few hours that I wanted to move forward but on the other hand, I was really scared going up two big climbs and I still having 25 miles left to go. I told Eric that I don’t need a pacer from here that I wanted to face the trail just by myself. Nancy gave me Oral Hydration (like drinkable instillation) telling me to drink or sip it all the way. At 4am, Mieko and Nancy pushed my back telling me I can do it and that they will be waiting for me at the finish line. All I could do was to slowly walk trying to feel my energy level like I would see on my gas meter on my car not to push too hard. I concentrated not to use as much energy as possible but when it came to the climb to Mt. Wilson, I knew my energy was almost running out that I needed to take something to eat. I tried a lick of a gel and it made me feel bad that was going to puke again. I felt terrible knowing if I couldn’t eat, I will not even make it to a quarter of Mt. Wilson. After a while, I remembered Mieko put in a Stinger bar in my pack and I tried it. Surprisingly, I was able to take the bar not eating it but just licking it little by little and felt my energy level coming back. I licked the bar, sipped the instillation over and over and I walked.

When I got tired, I sat on a rock licking my bar and sipping the instillation and sometimes thinking, “Where is this? What am I doing?” and remembered that I was still in the middle of the race moving forward trying to get it all done. This happened over and over. I finally got to the summit of Mt. Wilson. By the time I got there, the sunrise started coming up and the view of the LA was beautiful. I looked at the entire course of AC to Wrightwood and thought "what a long day". The scene, the trees, the breeze of the wind encouraged me to move forward but sometimes thought I still couldn’t make it to the finish that I still have 20 miles to go. But like any 100 mile race, I tried to focus on every single mile or to the next aid station rather than visioning to the finish line which made me think sick and tired and it’s way too long. I sometimes cried along the way because of the toughness of the race, I cried because I was having such a miserable day, I cried because this was not what I planned to train for a year, I cried because I was happy that I am still alive,  I cried imagining maybe I could finish this race. I walked and walked and just walked going through Idlehour aid station, then to Sam Merril aid station, and finally to Millard Canyon aid station. I was able to sometimes run but that didn't last long that made my stomach upset again. Every single people at the aid station were so nice and encouraged me that I could finish the race. After leaving the aid stations, I cried feeling I am so fortunate having people encourage me, willing me to finish the race like they would. As I get closer and closer to the finish, my weak minds started to fade away and I was thinking that I can really get this done. I passed some runners and they all looked desprite like I did trying to finish their battle. We are all individuals trying to finish our own race but it didn’t feel like our own race that we were a team trying to finish our races together.

From the last aid station after climbing up the uphill, I was able to run slow so I put all my effort to run to the very end so I could say to myself that I gave everything I could do to this race. Eric was waiting for me at mile 99 and he ran the last 1 mile behind me. When I saw the finish gate, I couldn’t stop my tears and I couldn’t believe I made it, but I did. Mieko, Hal, and Jean were waiting for me at the finish line and also people at the finish line were clapping their hands as I got closer to the finish line shouting “Tomo!!”. I finally finished and shook hands with Hal remembering he said “Do your best, never give up, if you fall, GET BACK UP!” and I did. I was able to do it not because I was strong, it was because of all the people who encouraged me to move to aid stations to aid stations and finally to the finish. 

AC100 2014 was the most miserable race or day that I have ever encountered, but the most greatest race that I have ever had. I will say it over and over, again and again, from my heart and soul, I would like to say a huge “THANK YOU!!” to everyone out there and especially Mieko and Eric for supporting me all day long.

The question remains whether was I able to finish within sub 21 or not if I had no issues? I guess not, because total management is all about this sport. Being just fast cannot lead you to a good result, you need to be fast as well as tough, solid, calm, patient, etc, which you need to manage yourself with all these aspects. I am sure I was missing something that lead me to my result. I guess I need to train hard again believing failure will always teach you to success.

I am still sitting on my seat on the airplane back to Japan, thinking now I want to hug my wife and daughter as strong as I can.


-100 Miler Tomo


Thursday, July 31, 2014

#18-1 Speed Goat Tomo Odds, Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run 2014

Live Update: Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run Live Update August 2 - 3, 2014

(日本時間:8月2日21:00スタート)
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August 2 - 3に開催されるAngeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run。アメリカの100マイルの歴史の中でも5番目に古い大会で、今年が第27回目となる。今年はその歴史の中でも一番Competitiveになることは間違いない。Speed Goat Tomoによるオッズはこちら。


1.      Chris Price: HOKA契約選手。SoCalの中で知っている選手の中で一番強い選手だと思う。過去の戦歴は、Miwok - 100KM 2位、Angeles Crest 2012 - 100M 優勝、Hardrock 100 Endurance Run 2013 - 100M 4位、Bishop High Sierra - 100KM 優勝、Western States 2014 - 100M 12位。Dominicとの優勝争いが楽しみだ。Ultra Signup Ranking 94.3%

2.      Dominic Grossman: New Balance契約選手。Timothy OlsonWestern Statesで優勝したときのペーサーでもある。彼以上にACのコースを知っている人はいるのだろうか。2011年と2013年とAC2度優勝している。Bad WaterHard Rockでも素晴らしい結果を残している。Chris Priceとの優勝争いが楽しみだ。Ultra Signup Ranking 90.2%

3.      Jesse Haynes: 今年のWestern Statesでは見事にPodium入りの10位。過去の100マイルの戦歴は少ないものの、Western States2013年には7位やRun Rabbit Run - 100 Mile - Hare6位とトップ選手が集まる大きな大会で結果を残している。間違いなく優勝争いに絡んでくるはず。Ultra Signup Ranking 91.2%

4.      Ruperto Romero: ACの常連入賞者。ここ2年連続2位。過去に7ACを走っている中で全て7位以上だから走りにブレがない。昨年は19:38で走っているからWestern Statesで言えば16時間台の実力だからかなりのもの。毎年同様の硬い走りで5位以上は間違いなし。Ultra Signup Ranking 87.2%

5.      Jorge Pacheco: SoCalのレジェンド。Unbreakableでも有名な2010年のWestern StatesではKillianのペーサーを勤める。過去の戦歴は、Angeles Crest 2001200320042010 - 100M 4度優勝 その他にもPodium多数、Western States 2003 - 100M 2位、Rocky Raccoon - 100M 優勝、全てを上げたらキリがないくらい。ただ多くのレースでDNFするのも目立つ。DNFしなければTOP5には間違いなく入ってくるはず。Ultra Signup Ranking 94.1%

6.      Guillaume Calmettes: 過去の戦歴は、Chimera 2013 - 100M 2位、Gorge Waterfalls 50K / 100K - 100KM 優勝、North Face Endurance Challenge - San Francisco - 50KM 5位、Holcomb Valley - 33M 優勝。ピーク時のトレーニングで1週間で170マイルも走りこんでいるから、どんな結果を出すのか楽しみだ。Ultra Signup Ranking 90.5%

7.      Michele Graglia: イタリア人。過去の戦歴は、Palm 100 - 100KM 優勝、Virgil Crest - 100M 2位、UltraMilano-Sanremo - 282KM 優勝。100マイルの経験は浅いけどTOP10には絡んでくるはず。Ultra Signup Ranking 94.1%

8.      Pam Smith: 今年のWestern Statesでは女子4位タイムは19:10と素晴らしい結果を残してる。そして驚くのは今年のDesert Solstice 24 Hour - 100M14:11で完走して大会記録を残していること。100マイルレースは過去に11回出走していて、ほとんどが女子優勝プラス男子顔負けの結果を残している。ACでは女子大会記録を塗り替える可能性大。Ultra Signup Ranking 94.9%

9.      Andy Pearson: どの100マイルレースでも必ずPodiumに入ってくる。過去の戦歴は、Grand Mesa - 100M 4位、Mogollon Monster 100 - 100M 2位、Zion 100 - 100M 2位、Pine to Palm - 100M 4位、Grand Canyon Ultras - 100M 優勝。彼とはレース中に前後しそうだ。Ultra Signup Ranking 85%

10.    Tomokazu Ihara:  昨年は総合5位、タイムは22:28。今年の目標はSUB21。とにかく気候の暑いレースだから気温の下がる60マイル地点までは周りの順位など気にせず身体と対話しながら走りたい。60マイルから75マイルは昨年たくさん歩いてしまった分(下りも)、今年はゆっくりでも良いから進みたい。多くのAC経験者は75マイル地点のChantry FlatsからこそがACの醍醐味と言う。自分もそう思う。だからこそ75マイルまでは体力を温存して、ここから100マイルの醍醐味である、痛み、疲労、苦しさ、楽しさ、全てを味わいながら、出せる体力を全て削り出したい。Ultra Signup Ranking 86.6%

11.    Joshua Brimhall: スピードスター、過去の30戦の50K50Mレースでは常にTOP3。過去の100マイルの戦歴は少ないけど、San Diego 100 - 100M16時間台で2位、Grand Teton Races - 100M 優勝。彼にとって3度目の100マイルはどう転ぶか?Ultra Signup Ranking 94%

12.    Erik Schulte: 50KM50Mの中距離では常にTOP3に入っている実力者。100マイルの経験が一度もないから、初100マイル、しかもACでは結果を残すのは厳しいかも。Ultra Signup Ranking 87.8%

13.    Anthony Forsyth: 過去の戦歴は、Jackpot Ultra Running Festival - 100M 優勝、North Downs Way - 100M 2位。タイムはSUB1616時間台で完走してるから物凄くスピードがある選手。欠点と言えば、フラットレースが得意で山岳型ランナーでないこと。Ultra Signup Ranking 95.9%

14.    Tom Nielsen: TomSoCalの中ではレジェンドランナー。過去に9ACを走っていて、今回SUB24を達成すれば、過去10回連続ACSUB24することになる。これはかなり凄い。今回もSUB24をしてくるはずだから目が離せない。Ultra Signup Ranking 90.2%

15.    Ian Torrence: 22歳の頃からトレイルランニングを始め今は41歳。過去に100マイルレースを25回完走している超熟練者。レース戦歴も、優勝や入賞とかなり輝かしい結果を残している。ACは過去に3回走っていてベストタイムはSUB21Ultra Signup Ranking 91.2%

16.    Candice Burt: Bellingham Trail Running SeriesRDでもある。今年のHURTでも一緒に走ったけど、走力と気持ちの強さは間違いなし。過去に100マイルを6回完走していて、常に女子の入賞常連者。Pam Smithに続きKeiraとの2位争いが見ものだ。Ultra Signup Ranking 86.6%

17.    Keira Henninger: Ray MillerLeona DivideRDPam Smithに続いて女子2位争いをCandice Burtとするはず。過去の100マイル戦歴は、San Diego 100 - 100M 女子5位、Angeles Crest - 100M 2度優勝(女子)、Chimera - 100M 優勝(女子)。Ultra Signup Ranking 91.3%

★     Jussi Hamalainen: 67歳。過去全てのACを第1回から完走し続けているレジェンド・オフ・レジェンド。上位には食い込んでこないものの今回の27回目を無事に完走して欲しい。そしてこの先もずっと完走し続けて欲しい。自分にとっては憧れのような存在。Ultra Signup Ranking 87.1%

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Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run - 2013



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脚が速くなくてもかまわない。ただ、怖いもの知らずであれ!


-100 Miler Tomo


Monday, July 21, 2014

#16-2 Antelope Buffalo Run 100 17:17:12

Antelope Island Buffalo Run..
            Run where the buffalo roam...

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-Race-

2014/3/21 Antelope Island/Fist loop (0M – 50M)

Antelope Buffalo Run 100 (ABR100)のスタートラインに立っているときに心の中で準備は万全か?と自分に問いただす。正直HURT100から満足の行く練習も出来ていなかったと思う。でも今こうしてスタートラインに立っているんだから、もうそんな言い訳は通用しない。そして自分が練習をしてきたのか、してこなかったなんて、他の選手が知った事じゃないし、レースは常に自分対自分の戦いだから、自分対他人への言い訳を何万回考えても何も始まらない。もちろん結果というものは後からついてくるものだから、最終的には良い結果を残したい、勝ちたい、という思いもあるけど、まずは自分のレースが出来なかったら、いい結果すらついてこない。

レースがスタートして序盤にいつも考えることがペース配分。果たして今走っているペースを後半まで継続できるか。「80マイル過ぎた辺りで同じペースで走れているか?」そう自問自答をする。オーバーペースで走ってしまえば、後で必ずツケが帰ってくるもの。今まで100マイルを何度か走ってきたけど見事にミラクルなんてものは起きない。使った分は使った分だけ減ってしまう。

スタートして序盤は想定通りJeremyとVanがリードする。コース上には何回か折り返すTurning Pointがある。15マイルくらい走ったところでJeremy達から30分くらい差をつけられる。だけど離されたとしても60分以内に抑えておけば後半に何とかなると焦らずマイペースを貫く。19マイル地点までは、じろーさんと一緒に走る。順位はお互いに5位と6位くらい。このレースの半分以上はMountain View Aid StationからRanch Aid Stationのセクションを走る。ここのセクションは物凄く長いストレッチで、片道13.3マイルを往復(26.6マイル)する。ストレッチはほぼ平らなトレイルだから、歩く暇もなく走り続けなければならないのが意外とタフ。ABR100はABR50のコースを2周するコースだから、このストレッチを2回走らなければならないのも意外とタフ。でもこのセクションの見所と言えば、1頭軽自動車くらいのバッファローがたくさん見れること。たまに先行くシングルトラックを群れで塞いでしまってるから、群れを避けながらトレイルを迂回するところも見所だったりする。

序盤は身体が重く、なかなか調子が出てこなかったけど、この長いストレッチでようやく調子が出てくる。折り返し地点のRanch ADでJeremyとの差が15分くらいに縮まった。Vanとは変わらず30分くらい。このレースの楽しさは所々にTurning Pointがあるから、確実に相手との差が解るところ。すれ違い際には相手の鼓動、表情、ランニングフォームから疲労感も伺える。1周目の50マイルが終わりに差し掛かったところで2位のJeremyに追いつく。 “How are you doing Jeremy?”“I am having a tough time with my Achilles today” 優勝候補のJeremyは今日は調子が悪そう。Start/Finish ADに着いてNoodle Soupを2杯もらってJeremyより先にADを出る。この時Vanとの差は40分、順位は2位。

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2014/3/21 Antelope Island/Last loop (50M – 100M)

「今日の優勝は俺が頂く!」そんな気持ちでStart/Finish ADを出た。レースの半分が過ぎ、何時もだったら「まだ50マイルもある」とか「まだまだ先が長い」という嫌気は少なからずとも出てくるもの。でも今日は違う。あと残り50マイルを使ってどう先行くVanに勝とうかとワクワクする気持ちで一杯だった。Vanとの差は40分だから調子よく10マイル毎に8分縮められれば逆転も可能。相手との差を確認できるTurning Pointに全てのモチベーションが募る。

まずは一つ目のTurning PointであるElephant HeadでVanとすれ違う。“What’s your name?”“My name is Tomo. I will catch up with you soon!”この時Vanとの差は約30分。その後、じろーさんともすれ違い自分とは30分差。レースは残り42マイル。昨年このレースを走った時は氷点下。雪やら風やら横殴りな状況で垂れてくる鼻水を擦りすぎて鼻から血も出たっけ。それに比べて今年はT-Shirtで走れるから最高のコンディション。夜間になるとライトの光で相手の位置が良く解る。今の自分のモチベーションと言えば先行くVanのライト。でもなかなか先にライトが見当たらない。逆に後方のライトに差を縮められているのも解る。でも焦る事も無い、100マイルは80マイル地点がスタート地点だから。

再びStart/Finish ADに着く。スタッフにVanとの差を聞くと30分差。Elephant Headからここまで結構頑張った割りに差が縮まってなかったから少しショック。あと31マイルしかない。10マイル毎に10分縮めよう。Pinhoti100の教訓から100マイルは最後の5マイルまで何が起きるか解らない。だからまだまだ諦められない。残り31マイルの大半はMountain View Aid StationからRanch Aid Stationまでの走れるセクションをピストン。ここは最後まで潰れないようにキロ5分くらいを意識して淡々と進む。ジェルもロボットの様に確実に30分刻みで呑み込む。たまにすれ違う後続の選手からVanとの差を告げられる。“Your 10minutes away!””He is 20minutes away!”タイムの差にし、バラつきがあるから、もう他人事は気にしないようにして、見えない相手を見えているかのようにひたすら追う。

Ranch AD(83マイル地点)に差し掛かるところでVanの姿が見えた。相手の走る姿は弱そうだ。折り返し地点から逆算すると20分差くらいか。このセクションで10分縮めた。さー残りは17マイル、差は20分差。このままキロ5で行っても追いつかないかもしれない。かと言ってここからキロ4分台で最後まで持つとも思えない。でも相手が潰れたらこっちの勝ちだ。とにかく自分が出来る精一杯のペースで進む。昨年このセクションをこの辺りで走っていた時は後続に追われている恐怖心で一杯だった。差は200メートルくらいか。その後続というのが今まさに自分が追っているVanだ。この一年で自分も強くなったけど、Vanはもっと強くなったのか?そんな事がたまに頭を過ぎる。でも負けたくない。

Ranch ADから4マイル程過ぎたところでじろーさんとすれ違う。じろーさんはこの時3位。自分との差は1時間ちょいくらいか。表情を見ると少し辛そうだ。でも100マイルレースの真骨頂はここからだ。「頑張ってPodiumを目指しましょう!」そう告げて解れた。去年も月が綺麗だったけど、今日はもっと綺麗だ。Lower Frary Peak (88.7マイル)に着いたときVanとの差は20分と告げられた。結構頑張ったけど、Vanも必死に頑張っているようだ。差は残り11.3マイル。たった11マイルで20分差はきついな。でも諦めない。

残り6マイルのMountain Viewで前方にライトを発見した。Vanだと思って喜ぶ。でもエイドに着いてVanとの差を聞いたら20分差だった。なんだあれは幻覚か。残り6マイルで20分。Vanがキロ6で走ったとしたら、自分はキロ4で走らないと勝てない。今の自分にはそんなスピードは絞っても出せない。頑張ってキロ5だ。とにかく最終エイドまで力を振り絞った。96マイル地点の最終エイドに着いたときVanとの差は変わらず20分差と告げられた。この時点でVanに勝てる可能性は一気に消えた。でも今日はここまで精一杯頑張ったから悔しさは微塵もなかった。逆にVanがこの一年でどんな努力して強くなったのか気になった。ここからはペースに妥協もせず、程よいペースでゴールした。タイムは17時間17分。昨年より30分記録更新。そして16回目の100マイルが終わった。じろーさんは残り10マイルくらいで目が霞んでしまい、ほぼ見えない状況になりながらも4位でフィニッシュ。ゴールにボロボロになって帰ってきたじろーさんを見たとき、出し切った姿に感動した。削り出せることを削りだせた時の喜びは大きい。次のレースも全力で全てを削り出したい。


-Course Map/Profile-



-Aid Stations-
0.0:  Start/Finish
5.3:  Elephant Head
10.6: Elephant Head
13.6: Elephant Head
19.0: Start/Finish (Drop bag)
19.7: Mountain View
27.4: Lower Frary Peak
33.0: Ranch
38.7: Lower Frary Peak
44.0: Mountain View
46.0: Lake Side
50.0: Start/Finish (Drop bag)
55.3: Elephant Head
60.6: Elephant Head
63.6: Elephant Head
69.0: Start/Finish (Drop bag)
69.7: Mountain View
77.4: Lower Frary Peak
83.0: Ranch
88.7: Lower Frary Peak
94.0: Mountain View
96.0: Lake Side
100 : Start/Finish

-Wear/Gear-
Cap: Hunger Knock
Top: Pat Cap1
Inner: Fine track
Bottom: Pat Surf shorts
Socks: Drymax
Shoes: HOKA Bondai
Watch: Suunto Ambit
Pack: Advanced Skin
Water bottle: Amphipod
Light: Zentos Delta Peak DPX-233H, Zentos 閃 SG-329
Taping: New Hale

-Food-
Hammer Gel: Provided at aid stations
Boost: Top Speed
Hydration: Water
Soup: provided at aid stations

-Suunto Movescount-

-URL-
Antelope Island State park

Antelope Buffalo Run

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-Pictures-


































































***Pictures provided by Lori Burlison***

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Worakls - Bleu (Original Mix)



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-Notes-
・初めて100マイルが短く感じた。
・常に自分に対していかに正直になれるか。強くなるってそういう事だと思う。
・バッファローが夜間にトレイルをさえぎっていたら、ライトをグルグル回しながら照らしてあげる逃げてくれる。
・バッファローが集団で逃げると、かなりホコリっぱくなる。


-100 Miler Tomo