Western States Runner #271

Attempting the Grand Slam was an idea last fall.  The first step in the Grand Slam is getting into Western States.  It is difficult, because of so many applicants, that the process has been:  enter the lottery and if you don't make it the first year then apply again the second year, if you don't get in the second year then you are an automatic entry for the first year.  So I thought it would take me years to get in.  I knew I wanted to do the Grand Slam at some point so I thought I better start the process for Western States.  So I sent in my application October 2007.

Some time in December the lottery was held.  It was a Saturday and we were, of course, skiing.  When I got home, I got the message from Colleen........ with an 18% chance, I won the Western States Lottery on my first attempt!  She was a two time lottery loser and so she was an automatic entry.  Yeehaw, California here we come.  

Vermont and Leadville are not competitive to get into.  Wasatch had to start the lottery system last year, but the odds are better.

So I was in....next decision was to commit to the Grand Slam.  I knew I wanted to do it at some point in my life.  I had only done one 100 miler in a year, four seemed like a big jump, but this was my opportunity and I felt like I had to go for it.  

There are 35 Slammers this year, 8 are female.  Ages 31-63, most are in their 40's.  Check out my fellow adrenaline junkies on the Grand Slam website.

FYI, For 2009 it appears that there are too many two time lottery losers, so they are changing the process to open lottery.  If you don't make it in, then the next year you get two tickets, and so on.

Well there has been a major turn of events..... Skip forward to the next post for the next episode of rungeerun. 

I wasn't going to publish this post but I thought what the heck, it does contain some info.  I had intended to finish the post with exciting race preparation photos and details.  Here is a photo of the madness.  

Ooooh, idea, let's identify what goes into the drop bags (pile of 9 bags on lower left), start bag and finish bag.  Gray shoes with glo-green laces are the new laces that are like bungee.  Called Yanz, I was trying them out as I like my shoes loose which means I have to make tiny bows and knots with regular laces.  Antlers, check.  Nathan running pack, lower and upper screen.  Hold 1.5 liters water and has a zipper pouch on back plus two pouches on front, love my Nathan pack.  3 hats, options in drop bags along the trail.  Thin white silky shirt for the expected high temps plus a couple of shirts and one long sleeve for options.  Target shorts, cheap and love them.  Sport bras and sport panties (good luck charms during races).  Bandanas/snot rags, my nose runs a lot.  Socks, again, option to change along the race.  New gaitors, lighter/cooler by Dirty Girl but if they don't work then the old tried and true REI type.  Glide anti chaffing sticks.  Headlamps x3 with extra batteries.  Sunglasses (I did forget my clear lenses for running at night, that is now on my packing list).  Luggage tags to mark each drop bag.  Sunscreen, bug stuff.  Drugs (tylenol, motrin, tums, pepto,) usually don't need them but I have in the past.  Emergency rain poncho, hat, gloves after all these races are in the mountains.  Gum, not during the race but helps with nerves before and after.  Anti-blister powder, haven't ever tried it.  Empty clear plastic flasks are for mixing the Perpetuem, big jug behind them.  Yellow bottles are for extra electrolyte fluid during high temperatures.  Red Bull for most aid stations, magic potion.  Light blue oblong things are refillable ice bags,  aaah nice at the finish line.  Bottle of salt tabs, take one to 2 tabs per hour.  And, a gel or shot block for each drop bag.