I used Twitter to update everyone on my progress throughout the race – just in case I got lost, they could send out a rescue squad! (I am @DocTalbott and you can follow me at http://twitter.com/DocTalbott)

I only got lost once – on the first lap with 5 other new “friends” – but we realized our mistake after about 3/4 of a mile – so we only added a “bonus” 1.5 miles to our day (boy, did I regret those extra steps in the last 10 miles)!

I was a little nervous the day before the event – but I knew that my training was good and my mental status was good (though many people would beg to differ – thinking that running 100 miles is plain crazy).

Here is a picture of some of my most important “equipment” for the race:

I knew that I would be able to benefit from the joint and cartilage support of XANGO Juice and the energy/mood/mental focus benefits of Eleviv – and I have to say that I felt more focused and balanced for this race than for any race in the past (and I’ve done lots) – so I’m pretty sure that XANGO and Eleviv are going to become permanent additions to my race bag from now on…

I have also heard great reports about XANGO Juice helping to alleviate various types of stomach complaints – so I figured I’d give it a go to help calm the gurgling stomach issues that befall many ultrarunners in the later stages of the event. This is me getting some refreshment at mile 20:

I felt strong and steady the entire duration of the race – and tried to keep each of the 20-mile loops in about the same range of times:

1st 20 miles = 4 hours and 15 min (with the 1.5 “bonus” miles)
2nd 20 = 4:03
3rd 20 = 4:33
4th 20 = 4:30
5th 20 = 5:44 (ouch!) I made the mistake of sitting down when I came into the aid station at mile 80 – big mistake because my quads got really tight and hurt like heck for the last 20 miles. Thankfully, my amazing wife Julie was all suited up and ready to run the last 20 with me – in the cold – and the pitch dark – did I mention the coyotes howling their heads off? (I think I owe her a night out)!

The last 20 was a combination jog, walk, shuffle, grumble – you get the idea – but we were able to cross the finish line in a shade over 23 hours (23:05) and claim that silver belt buckle for a sub-24h finish!

You would have laughed out loud to see a gang of Rocky Raccoon finishers watching the Super Bowl the next day at the local Mexican restaurant. We were shuffling around the place like a bunch of geriatric patients – it was hilarious that we had all run 100 miles the previous day and now could barely make it from the table to the salsa bar.

I have a number of other endurance goals coming up throughout the 2010 season – and I’m sure that both Eleviv and XANGO Juice will help get me thru each of them. Thanks XANGO!