Javelina Jundred 2024 DNF Report
In the words of the immortal bard:
“Me mind on fire. Me soul on fire, feeling hot. Hot, hot. Party people all around me feeling hot. Hot, hot.”
The immortal bard in this instance is former New York Dolls frontman David Johansen, otherwise known as Buster Pointdexter.
The 2024 running of the Javelina Jundred in Fort McDowell, Arizona was the hottest on record. It was the end of October and still temps were in the 90’s by noon.
I was not prepared.
I was fit, however. I felt strong and ready going in the race. I had travelled to Arizona several days prior to avoid dealing with any kind of jet lag and to get some exposure to the heat. My three friends, Chris, Brian and Frank all came out on Friday, 10/25 from different origins to crew. This was going to be my 4th attempt at running 100 miles and with Sunday being my birthday, the fates felt aligned to ensure that this would be my first 100 mile finish.
Ho, how I was mistaken.
Saturday morning started out in typical race morning fashion. I hardly slept a wink; my guts were all knotted up and the excitement was palpable. Having friends there to cheer me on just sent the adrenaline into overdrive.
At this point in time, I was equipped with a Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) measuring my interstitial glucose levels – there will be a dedicated post detailing my experience and opinions about CGMs – however the Dexcom Clarity app does not keep historical records beyond 90 days so I can not reference that data completely. I do remember going to bed the night before with a high glucose reading but still in range. We had pizza for dinner and I had an IPA.
In the morning, I had half of a chocolate coconut PROBAR Meal bar (about 25g of carbs, 10g sugar, 3g fiber) with my drugs and supplements including some extra electrolytes. The cot that I slept on in the Javelina Jeadquarters Camp was comfortable enough, though I had forgotten to pack both a pillow and a sleeping bag. It got chilly at night but I had layers and used a pile of clothes as a pillow. As I finished getting ready for the start of the race, I also consumed an entire Kyoku smoothie (another 20g of carbs, 4g sugar, 8 g fiber)– a personal favorite for recovery but felt appropriate to start a 100 miler. Additionally, during all this breakfast and prep time I consumed nearly a gallon of water.
Just before toeing the line, I grabbed a quick check of the CGM and was minorly hyperglycemic already. Not great but probably wasn’t going to be a determining factor in whether or not I was going to finish.
The early stages went quickly. Really quickly, actually. I had been analyzing the course profile and I was planning on hovering around 15:00-16:00 pace for the “uphill” first half of the lap. The course profile was deceptive and what appeared to be a decent climb sustained over 11ish miles was mostly quite flat. maintaining a controlled pace was a struggle. I found myself running more like 13:00-14:00 pace with a few miles sub-12:00. Normally, that might sound and feel great but it was too early to be running too fast and the heat was only rising.
Being completely exposed, there was no reprieve from the sun and it was well into the 80s by 10:00 am. I began to take on a more controlled pace during the “downhill” back half of the lap but found it felt essentially just as flat. I was really hoping to let gravity do some work here.
The problems really came around mile 20 when the terrain of the first lap really began to roll a bit. I’m really feeling like I’m physically melting while praying for a shade which will not come until getting back to Jeadquarters, and mentally I’m starting to check out.
Approaching the camp and beginning to hear the crowds injects a little bit of positivity and enthusiasm and laying out the course to wind through the whole camp area and come back out the same way did have a revitalizing quality to it. Although, I have to admit, I was confused by it. The trail into camp also intersects with the starting corral but you don’t go through the starting corral, you go straight to an aid station at the edge of camp. Then, you loop around camp to cross the Finish line, turn around and hook back around to the aid station again before heading back out to the trail.
Maybe it was the heat, but I was confused. I didn’t know there was a finish line turn around, so I went from the aid station straight to my crew site in the camp. I was supposed to do the Finish line turn around first, but I didn’t know that was even there.
Fortunately, my crew set me straight. In camp, I drank a lot of water, ate some jerky and plain Triscuits and checked my CGM. Hyperglycemic still, but only barely. There was very little fluctuation in glucose over the last 22 miles. A slow and steady consumption of Heed 2.0 – one bottle always had Heed 2.0 , the other bottle always had Nuun and I made sure to down the Heed 2.0 first and then the Nuun before reaching the next aid station – as well as handfuls of these little refried bean wraps provided at the 4 aid stations seemed to be a sustainable strategy.
After giving me an ice bath, refilling my water bottles, and slathering a fresh layer of sun screen on they sent me on my way for lap two. Bolstered by the cheering crowd, the initial start of lap two was energetic and felt promising. However, as soon as I got back out onto trail and the cacophony of camp faded away, reality came roaring back. The ice packed into arm sleeves and a neckerchief lasted barely a couple of miles in the hot desert sun. Additional problems began to mount as I tweaked something in my back.
4 miles into lap two and I don’t want to be done. I try not to be done, but I’m done for. My last mile split was over an hour. About half of that was sitting at the aid station in contemplation, occasionally standing up with a wince and walking around trying to work up the strength only to to get hit by sunbeam and feel everything get sapped away. When I did finally call it quits, one of the aid station volunteers who helped me to a ride back to camp, commented that I had repeated that routine at least 3 times. I was in rough shape and there was no denying it, as the day had already claimed a lot of other runners.
Once back in camp, the relief from the heat wasn’t coming. There was no breeze to speak of, so even the shade the heat was unbearable. I took my long sleeve sun shirt and threw that bad boy in the cooler, drenching it with ice water and putting it on. Unfortunately, my crew had more faith in me and they had left to go get lunch. That ended up being okay because after a beer I eventually fell asleep in the chair in my icy shirt.
When my crew returned, they had tacos and we celebrated my birthday with balloons, flowers, and sugar free ice cream. It was fantastic. I can’t thank them enough for flying out there to be with me and for lifting me up when the heat dragged me down. They’re the best.
The silver lining to quitting was that it meant I got to party Saturday night in camp and watch David Roche’s victory, nearly breaking the course record just 7 weeks after he broke the 19 year old Leadville course record. That was truly momentous.
Plus giant party robot!
Javelina is a 14/10, would do again. Even if it I’m not the one running, you’ll definitely see me back there again someday.
Type 4 Fun! 
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