I’m starting a series of open ‘Thank You’ letters to people that helped me finish the Tahoe 200 Endurance Run. These letters will be published in no particular order – just as people come to mind as I’m reviewing my race experience.
This first ‘Thank You’ letter goes to Eric Byrnes and Linsey Corbin.
Eric is an MLB Network Analyst, @diamond2rough, UCLA HOF, 10 X Ironman Triathlete, Western States 100 Silver Belt Buckler #LiveYourDash
Linsey is a Professional Triathlete. Ironman Champion. 70.3 Champion.
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Dear Eric & Linsey – I’m writing to say ‘thank you’ for some very valuable advice that Eric shared on the TrailRunner Podcast episode – “Eric Byrnes Hits a Home Run in Ultras”
I listened to Eric’s interview the day before the Tahoe 200, and he shared advice he received from Linsey at a triathlon camp –
“When it starts to hurt, pick up the pace.”
I was on the Tahoe 200 course, around mile 130 on Day 3. My quads were burning and my feet were throbbing. I’d just finished a long climb and was really starting to feel the distance I’d covered over the past two and a half days. I sat for a break and hit a low point, thinking about the 70+ miles still ahead.
I had targeted an 84-hour time for the 205.5 miles, and given where I was and how I felt, I was resigned to scrapping the 84-hour target and just getting to the finish line.
But… I was tired of being tired, and tired of my legs and body screaming at me. The noise inside my head was intolerable.
Sean and me after getting from the Spooner Summit (mile 123) to Tunnel Creek Aid Station (mile 140).
As we began jogging (er… ambling) a descent , I remembered the advice Eric shared, and I said to Sean, my pacer – “Let’s pick it up and see what happens.”
We did for the next mile or two, and it hurt. It really f*cking hurt.
But that spurt put my mind in control for the rest of the race.
I kept chanting to body – “You’re not in charge – I’m in charge. You’re not in charge – I’m in charge. You’re not in charge – I’m in charge.”
Even better, the next day after 3 hours of sleep at Brockway Summit. I headed out at 2:30am for a 20-mile stretch down to Tahoe City. I starting flying (all relative, of course…) down the mountain, covering the 20 miles in 5.5 hours, almost beating my crew to the Tahoe City aid station.
On the next stretch from Tahoe City to Stephen Jones – another 20 miles included a long climb and descent – again I picked up the pace on the downhills, hitting 7:00-8:00-minute miles. It was pure flow.
In the last four miles of the race, thunderstorms were cracking overhead and I sped down the mountain at Homewood, again running 8:00 min/miles after covering more than 200 miles already, to get to the finish.
My 4th day out there was my strongest of the race, covering 50+ miles in 15 hours and beating my personal target of 84 hours by TWO HOURS – a finishing time of 82:00:16, good for 36th overall in my first 200. (I’ve never even done a 100 before and I registered up for the race six weeks ago…)
I hit the wall and broke through it.
Eric and Linsey – Thank you for being who you are, and sharing what you’ve learned with everyone else.
-Scott Sambucci
P.S. Eric – You totally need to do a 200. It’s like a 4-day dream. I still can’t believe everything I went through, overcame and conquered.