Pacing the 2022 Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run
Two magnificent stories about two amazing people pressing on and doing incredible things
The beauty of volunteer pacing at the Umstead 100 is that you never know who you’re gonna get. It could be her very first 100, like Bernadette’s during my time pacing here last year, or it could be a much more seasoned 100-mile veteran just trying to make it to the finish one more year.
For this year’s event, I began pacing promptly at 2:59am as if a predetermined pacing plan was followed precisely; in reality, that’s just when the next runner came through in need of a pacer, and when I was next in line to start. This runner was Mike Smith. My initial questions - to help gather what was expected of me - was naively “have you run this race before” and “do you have a goal to beat?” Mike humbly responded saying he’s “run it a few times.” Today, he wanted to finish under 24 hours.
The clock read 21:00:10. Exactly 3 hours left for one last lap of 12.5 miles to finish all 100 within a single day’s worth of time. Not knowing hardly anything about Mike thus far, I guaranteed to him that we’d do it, a display of utmost confidence from my part, but worth the risk.
He needed to average at least 14:20 per mile for 3 hours, a tough challenge having already gone 87.5 miles. We started strong, the beginning miles of the loop are easier, leading way to a much tougher back half. I was, after 5 miles nearly certain we’d make it.
Mike was running the downhills and flats remarkably well but we started loosing time by mile 7. Every chime of my watch that signified another mile, Mike would check his time. I could tell he was doubtful but I never gave up. “This is where sub-24 is made” I shouted from a few feet ahead up a hill as we pressed on. Mike’s face was of grit and determination.
The finish got closer as the time drew nearer. We stayed ahead of pace the entire time, but it wasn’t until mile 10.5 (Mike’s 98th of the day) that he finally realized we were going to make it. “Do you believe me know?!” I asked. His smile in return said it all.
Mike crossed the finish at 5:56am for an official time of 23:55:59 and it could hardly have been any closer.
It wasn’t till after, that I realized not only had Mike run Umstead “a few times” but this was his 21’st finish of the race. Umstead was his first ever 100 in 1999, and has run it - and finished - EVERY year since 2001.
In total, Mike has completed nearly 200, 100-mile+ races. He’s one of the most prolific 100 milers out there, and it’s incredible to have helped him, of all athletes, finish under 24 hours.
By his words “I made it only cause you drug me through that course. Definitely couldn’t have pushed that pace without you.” What an awesome experience.
Having just paced and ran with Mike for the past 3 hours, there was still a lot of the overall race left, so I hopped right back in line in hopes to have another chance to get someone else across that finish line. In this next part of the story, I will talk about the humbling opportunity it was to pace Mr. Ray “the K” Krolewicz, age 67, from South Carolina.
Ray started his 8th and final lap already with a substantial lean - a sign of complete depletion of core muscles, among other things. Myself and John, who I met at the Uwharrie 100, set off with Ray on what was soon to become the most special 6 hours we’ve ever gone.
Ray, as we quickly found out, is a pioneer and absolute legend in the ultra community. While I won’t ramble off many of his successes, to name a few: He’s run ~600 ultramarathons including over 130, 100mi+ events, his fastest in 13:58 (or 8:20/mi average), held the American 48-hr record with 224 miles and ran a 2:48 at the Boston Marathon!
Over our time with Ray, John and I received running advice from one of the greatest, becoming wiser by each ticking hour. By 10:00am Sunday morning, it had become evident that Ray would not finish all 100 miles by the 30-hour, 12pm cutoff.
Ray assured us,
“I don’t care how long it takes me, I’m still going to finish.” We’d proceed with him like the time didn’t matter cause “cutoffs are just recommendations” he told us. “Keep going no matter what, every race you learn something. I’m in a lot of pain, more than I’ve ever been [in all my racing], so I’m exploring that too. The only way I’d stop now is if Rhonda [the race director] asked to pull me off the course. Out of respect, I’d do that.”
Ray’s attitude and commitment was extraordinary. We finished the loop just shy of 2pm; which meant 31 hours and 56 minutes after Ray began. There was no finish line to cross under, no award, no cheering crowds, just the cleanup crew packing away the last of the tents in preparation for next year. None of that mattered to Ray, He made it, he went the distance, and he persevered; I’m so truly grateful to have run with him.
It’s been said:
“If Ray the K ever gives you advice on ultras, take it to the bank cause it’s as good as gold.”
Till next time Ray, it was a truly a pleasure.
The Umstead 100 will always be a special event for me. The community, the atmosphere, and the experiences I’ve gained so far out of just my first two years surrounding this race have been profound. I will forever try my best to help volunteer at this race for as long as I’m in the area. April 2023 can’t come fast enough.
My first marathon was at Umstead! Enjoyed reading this piece. Thanks