Mamba 100
November 8, 2024
Memphis, TN
28:19:18
74th hundred
482 race of marathon or greater
Sometimes you pick a race just because it happens on a date that works with your schedule. Jess found this race online and it looked good, so we went. Jess won and I had a good race. Nuf said.
The Mamba 100 is seven loops of 14.5 miles of mostly single track with roots and little ups and downs. So flat but not so fast as there are a lot of twists and turns on the trail and I feel like I had a good core work out to stay vertical, no falling allowed. It rained a few days before the race and this flooded some sections of the trail and when the race organizers sent out a video of the trail it looked bad, like we would be wading through water. On the first loop I kept waiting for the flooded section, alas it had dried up or we were able to run around it. So the feet stayed relatively dry for the race. There was one bridge that appeared to sink during the race. On each loop the approach to the bridge, a little wood section kept getting deeper and deeper into the muck, so if you ran on it you splashed water and my feet got a little wet.
There were about 180 participants in the 100 mile which started on Friday and then another 50 in the 100K which started twelve hours after the hundred mile. Some shorter races, 50K and 25K started on Saturday. Because it was single track we passed or got passed regularly and people were very good at this using the side of the trail to get by each other.
The event is only in its second year and they have some things really dialed in. The course markings were excellent. The aid stations were fantastic with food and supportive helpers. It seemed to be a “potato” day for me. First off I had tater tot’s, yum, so hot steam came out of my mouth, then curly fries with lots of salt, then the best potato soup ever, it seemed to be home made, yum, then later cooked potatoes with salt, then of course potato chips. Basically powered by some form of potato all day and night long.
Lots and lots of people set up pop up tents along the first part of the course for crew to support their runners. It was very encouraging finishing each loop as these crews supported any runner completing a loop. The swag was good as you usually don’t get a puffy coat for a race, not that I need another puffy coat, but I am now the proud owner of a purple Mamba puffy, yay.
I ran well during the day as I could see all the roots I had to avoid tripping on. Three loops during the daylight hours, then three loops at night. The night loops were a bit slower due to not wanting to fall. Then my final loop in the daylight and halfway through the loop it started to rain, but it was warm, no biggie. Short sleeve weather all day and night. We were lucky not to have rain throughout the race as it was a bit slippery at the end.
The moisture or humidity in the south is no joke. My shirt and shorts were wet most of the day from sweating. Extra chaffage in places where it is not usually found, hmm. I drank a lot and ate a lot of salt to avoid cramping. Also the moisture messed with my UCAN powder. Thankfully the volunteers were amazing as they got the UCAN out of the tube and into my hydration flask. Not sure what magic they used but it worked.
Looking at the results with 66 women on ultra sign up, only 30 finished, so many DNFs. I did not see many people on the trail, certainly not 180 plus 50 at night…curious…I wonder if having all those crews there to help is a hinderance or a help. It just seems like it might be too easy to stop with your crew right there to take you home. I do like running these races solo without crew and maybe this is why. No one is there to pick me up so I guess I might as well finish.
Grateful I still can do these thangs and feel good while doing them, positive attitude all day, all night and part of the next day, yay. Grateful for volunteers and race directors who put in quality effort to host a wonderful event, yay. Next up ATY, Yay!