Twenty six weeks prior to this race and never competing in any running race before, I decided to stop saying “some day” and signed up for the 2005 Desert RATS Race. Without any prior ultra distance running experience, I had no idea what I was getting into. My training went ok, but time flew by and before I knew it, it was three weeks prior and I was out on my last two days of back to back long runs. Then, I woke up one day and it was Saturday September 10^th and time to board the plane bound for Grand Junction.

September 11^th, 2005

Staying in Grand Junction with my family, final preparations were made and off to Moab for the pre-race meeting. The entire drive I was like a little kid staring out the window and looking for signs of the trail and noticing just how far away those La Sal mountains really were. Before I knew it, we were arriving at the motel. I was looking around for anyone who may be a runner as well and the first ones I saw were the two Italians, Davide and Mateo. Right then I knew I was out of my league. These guys just looked fast no question about it! During my flight from Denver to Grand Junction, I noticed a young, thin, very athletic looking guy on the same flight carrying a Leadville 100 bag and wondered if he was out here for the same race. Upon entering the check-in room, there he was! I was then starting to feel like I was in way over my head. During this process, I got to spend a little time getting to know everyone I would be spending the next week with and I was very excited. After the meeting and dinner, it was back to Grand Junction for me and a good night’s sleep. 

September 12^th, 2005

I lucked out a little and was able to get a little more sleep by staying in Grand Junction but I wasn’t doing much sleeping anyway. It was now time to head out for Loma and the starting line at the Kokopelli trail head. My stomach was a wreck. I threw my bag on the gear truck and took a few pictures with my family, kissed them goodbye and off we went. Today was a 19-20 mile stretch. I had before today, only ran one practice 50k in 6 ½ hours. Other than that, one 20 mile training run was the furthest I had ever run. So today was going to be a good identifier on how the week was going to turn out. Now, only about 5 miles into it, I was last and wondering, what the h_ ll was I thinking!!! In Ohio, there are no hills like this. Elevation isn’t over 1100 feet and the heat really isn’t an issue either, not like this. Even though I had a game plan of time running and time walking, that went out the window really quick. The views were amazing and all I really wanted to do was take it all in but I couldn’t. I had to stay up with these guys as much as possible. After about an hour I started to get in my groove and felt pretty good, but I just concentrated on hydrating and refueling. I bought a Garmin GPS watch for this race and it was at times a good thing, and some times a bad thing. It was great to keep an idea of rationing water and making sure I didn’t dry up to soon, but lord, the miles were just not coming as fast as I wanted them to. Finally, after a long brutal climb, I saw Marty off in the distance by Reid’s car. This was a welcome sight. After filling up, I took off down hill feeling rejuvenated listening to my MP3 player and the constant beat of the techno music setting my strides. I was getting pretty excited seeing I only had a few more miles to go, and by the looks of the passport’s elevation profile, there weren’t any more uphills. But what the heck is this? Another uphill? Oh yes it was, and it seemed to never end especially when I was becoming glycogen depleted and feeling pretty bad. There was no run left in me and about 30 seconds at a time was all I could run. Now I was really feeling bad and all I kept thinking was this was one of the “short” days. Finally, camp was in sight. Arriving in less than 5 hours though, I felt happy but dehydrated. After a little while, I called my wife for my nightly check in. Believe it or not, a cell phone actually worked out here but for me, it almost was a bad thing. I actually asked my wife how long would it take for her to come on out to pick me up. There was no way I could keep this up, but she talked me into staying. Oh well, it was for the best.

September 13^th, 2005 Day 2 39 miles

Ok, so yesterday wasn’t too great, so I go twice as far today?? Where’s the logic? Starting out today, my plans were…..well, they didn’t work yesterday so why try today. Run, walk, eat and drink was all I knew would happen. At some point I would cross the finish line. Crossing the finish line was the only goal I had since I signed up for this. We’re off!! And there goes Davide and Morgan. Little did I know at this point of the relentless battle taking place between these two new friends. The first couple hours of this run were just amazing. The temperature was cool and it was just perfect for running except for this over packed camel back sloshing around. I am a serious over-packer and I knew I would never eat half the stuff back there. After a bit of jockying back and forth with Gary, Austin and Jim, it came to light we’re all pretty much at the same level, and had the same goals in mind so we started to run more as a pack than individuals. The conversations we all had made the time go by pretty quick. Today’s goal was to make the time cutoffs. We all finally reached the first CP with time to spare so we were all pretty happy. After a few minutes refueling, Jim, Gary and I started to walk down the paved road to recoup a little and it wasn’t far before the next water drop. At the drop point, for me it was time to take care of a few annoying blisters. We headed out doing a little running mixed with walking along some pretty flat terrain. It then got really flat and wide open during the hottest part of the day. I could see for many miles ahead and it just didn’t seem like we were moving and boy was it getting warm. After a little more jogging and a whole lot more walking, the home stretch was in sight. God this day is getting really hot and dry!!! Welcome to the desert! The finish line was an awesome sight but after a few minutes of chair time, something was really going wrong with the body. I knew I was going to be sick so I walked over to a comfortable looking log and kneeled down but now everything was going black and I could no longer hear any sounds. Was this it? Was my race over? What’s happening? I hit the ground and laid there for about 15 minutes but never passed out or got sick but every muscle in my body started rebelling by cramping in places I never knew existed. I could no longer hide it and finally made my way to my feet limping over to eat the nightly feast. And what a feast it was! These guys went far beyond all expectations. Time to get some sleep but the night was cut short buy night sweats. I had never had night sweats before so they were pretty scary. Thank god tomorrow was only 9 miles.

September 14^th, 2005 Day 3, 9 miles

Waking up feeling like a new person was pretty surprising, but I recovered well over the night but the feet were a wreck. After a light breakfast, it was off for a short day. We started off once again, Gary, Austin, Jim and I walked for a few miles then decided to run for bit. Jim had felt really good and took off a lot quicker than we did and was quite a ways in front but after some fast pacing done by Gary, we all caught up again and finished out the day in good time and spirits. We were transported down to Dewey Bridge to camp for the night. The day was spent washing off in the river, eating, napping and recovering, all at the same time thinking about the next day. Studying the expedition journal over and over trying to get an idea of what was to come. This day gave us all a little more time to get to know one another. I was at first disappointed at the number of runners, but now I find it brought everyone a little closer. 

September 15^th, 2005 Day 4, 52 miles

Did I mention earlier about me over packing? Today was no exception. This bag felt heavier than some of my backpacking trips! Oh well, what can you do? Better to have it than not I suppose. Starting off once again in “the group”, slow going was today’s word along with “finish” and “20 hour limit”. The scenery was really nice today as always, but this time almost got us off the trail and to a disastrous result if it weren’t for Austin. He was behind us a few yards and we all of a sudden heard him yell that the trail was behind us! Yikes! Sure enough, there it was with not such a great trail marker. Next stop, Dewey Bridge and aid station #1. We all felt pretty good upon arrival of the aid station and after a bathroom break, some blister work and some refueling, off we went with the expectation of some brutal climbs ahead. For a while, I was pretty deceived by the rolling terrain and the climb to the next water drop. I really was feeling good. Fill up on water, drink an Ensure, and off again. Then the climbs started. Long and never ending these things came and all I could do is put the headsets on, the head down and let the music drive me over some of these hills. The talk amongst us sort of dwindled a little in this part but concentration was priority. “Remember to eat, drink, and take my Enduralytes” was the only thing on my mind. Winding through the canyons was pretty breathtaking to say the least. Here some downhill running was a welcome addition but going a little too hard would bite me in the butt later on. Here again came another point where the GPS was a menace. I thought the next aid station was at one spot, but it really was a lot further. The day was really heating up and in the valley it was even worse with no wind. I was starting to hit a bad patch a mile or so from the aid. Sitting for a few minutes, getting some fruit and some water and drinking the 6 hour bottle of Sustained Energy I had got me back on track. Off we went once again climbing out of the valley and with much higher spirits and conversation between the gang. At this point in the game, none of us were willing to jog let alone run so we knew we had a long way to go but having fun getting there. Then, the darkness came as well as the cold so out came the headlamps and jackets. Then, more walking and looking forward to the next aid station because we knew it wasn’t much further to the tents and the soup!! All still feeling well we arrived at the last aid station. Standing around for a few short minutes made me cold as h_ _ l, and I didn’t want to do this much longer. I needed to get moving, quick. Gary being out of water for some time made this aid stop a much needed one for him. The volunteers and the guides who manned these aid stops were great. Giving out hot chocolate at this last one was much appreciated by Gary and Jim but I didn’t take them up on it. At this point I wasn’t able to eat or drink anything including water so I knew my time was almost up but not much further to go. It didn’t take long and only about a mile down the road was my undoing. If it weren’t for Jim and Gary I would still be there somewhere. Their occasional rest breaks to stretch the legs were a complete road hugging session for me. I could not speak coherently nor could I keep my balance walking. Jim and Gary forced me to walk between them to keep from walking of a cliff. As we crested the highest elevation we would see, it would only be about 5-7 miles to the tents. As we descended I started to regain my composure a little and get some water down. The final descent into the camp was steep and brutal to the legs and feet but a welcome change to the constant up hills earlier. At last!!! The water jug pointing us into the campsite and what a site it was. Seventeen and a half hours since we started and we were over the hump. Nothing was stopping us now and we had all the next day to rest up and recover. The fire was warm as well as the soup. We had lost Austin some time ago and wanted to stay up long enough to see him in. Time was going by and no Austin. Reid was pretty exhausted but joining us by the fire in the wait. An hour and a half later, in he came as cheerful as he started. Nothing ever seemed to get to Austin and a 52 mile day was no exception. Sleep time!!!

September 16^th, 2005 Day 5, Rest Day!

Today was filled with food and rest and getting to know everyone a lot better as well as Morgan’s family (to include of course the two most hyper members….the canines). Today also included a much needed call to the family. Hearing my wife and my daughter’s voices was enough to motivate me for the last 25 miles of day 6. Some blister and foot care was also on the agenda. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many blisters in my life all added up at once on my feet. Day 6 was going to be painful.

September 17^th, 2005 Day 6, Marathon Day! Final Day!

Today started out by a group stretch which is displayed in Reid’s picture gallery. Being the youngest runner I was able to get a little further down than most but painful none the less. The day also started out with the front runner Morgan, running for his life as the rabbit with the goal of not being caught by Davide. Off we went and immediately uphill for miles to gain a few thousand feet in elevation. Here some headwinds were pretty brutal. There were a few change of events as this day unfolded. After some leg stretching and picture taking, Austin and I exchanged spots off and on drafting each other from the winds. The old gang sort of spaced out in distance as we moved along. After Austin and I reached the first aid stop, filled up and headed out, I was feeling unexpectedly good, and my favorite sections were yet to come…the downhills. The music was put back on and now it was time to see what I could really do. I started to actually run, not jog, but run for awhile. Then, I started to run faster without even breathing hard. Weaving down the steep sections and bouncing off the rocks as I ran was coming from somewhere and I had no idea where. Before long I was passing Marty. Was she hurt? How could I have caught her? A few more minutes, there was Mateo. Something was wrong because there was no way I was catching them. I looked down for the first time at the GPS and I was running at well below a 10 minute mile which was not in the plan but it was working. Mateo and I switched leads for a bit and then I passed him for the last time. I kept looking back and could see him back there a ways but he wasn’t alone. There was Austin! This guy is showing a different side today. I kept downing the gel and water and ran just that much faster. Finally the turn down the bike trail for a mile and a checkpoint to make up for some mileage. Here is where I could gauge where everyone was at. At this point I was still feeling strong with less than half way to go. Before getting back on the road, I picked up a gel, downed it and made a decision to only fill up one 20 oz bottle and not fill up the camel. I knew I had some water back there but how much was unknown. Hopefully this wouldn’t come back to haunt me. For the next few miles it was wide open and full of bikers and cars all looking at me like I was crazy, but motivating yells of “Keep it up!” and “Good job!” were enough for me. I kept looking back to see if I could see anyone and there was no one in sight. Could this be?? Was I actually going to come in 3^rd today? Would my family actually see me do this? Would I get there long before I estimated and not see them? What would the look on Reid’s, Morgan’s and Davide’s faces be when they saw ME coming in? Would they think everyone else got lost? A lot of thoughts kept me busy. Soon I could tell about how far I was by the road signs counting down the distance to the trail head AKA FINISH LINE!!! Four miles to go and I’m now sucking air. No more water and I was getting slower and so were the coming of the next mile markers. Then. rounding a bend I could see the finish line and tent over a rock formation and I couldn’t help but sprint the last couple tenths of a mile. Over…it was over! I wondered to my self how I could I have done if I did that every day. No matter now, I had accomplished my goal in a great way with a great finish. My biggest fear had come true. My family had not yet arrived but before long they pulled into the parking lot and what a great sight that was. We stuck around and cheered everyone in one by one. 

With each finisher you could just tell that it was more than a race. It was life changing event for some. It was an experience I will never forget. I had made some great friends and accomplished something most will never think of trying although something a lot could complete with some heart and a little training. I told myself something throughout this entire week most ulra-distance runners go through. I call it “I’ll never do this again…ever!!!!” syndrome, but like always, a week later I was already trying to recruit some friends to be pacers and crew for a 100 miler next year. 

I would like to thank Reid and everyone involved in making this race such a great “investment”. Investment in time and a lot support from my family. The crew from Sherri Griffith Expeditions, I couldn’t say enough, so thanks. Thanks to all the racers for the camaraderie and support from Jim and Gary on the LONG day. I couldn’t have done it without you two. Congrats to Morgan for your astounding win (give your dogs a stomach rub for me!). 

Anyone reading this thinking about accepting the challenge of the RATS Gemini Adventures hosts, don’t think twice. Take it…you will never regret it! 

Until next time

Eric Houser