In late October, Kari Griffin, RN, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, completed the Rim to River 100 endurance race in Fayetteville, West Virginia. “It was an amazing experience,” says Kari. “The race started at 6 a.m. on Oct. 26 and I finished 28 hours and 13 minutes later on Oct. 27.”
An out and back course covering 100 miles, the race consists of 84 trail miles, 6 miles of dirt road and 10 miles of paved surface with a 12,000 ft. ascent and descent at an elevation range between 823 and 2,015 feet. The varied terrain and elevation changes require some strategizing about when to run and when to conserve energy. Although some people may be able to run the entire race, Kari says that most people run the parts that they can and then slow to a hike for the big inclines. “You definitely slow down the second half of the race, so you do more speed walking and hiking the second half of the race,” Kari says.
Kari signed up for Rim to River 100 on New Years Eve, 2023. It customarily sells out in about 10 minutes for a mere 250 spots. “I basically started training immediately after signing up,” she says. “Training is like having a second job. It consisted of running five days per week in-town during the week, and trail running on the weekends. The furthest I previously ran was 54 miles at Black Hills 100 Ultra Marathon as they have multiple options for race distances. I feel like running in the Black Hills is great training because of all the hilly terrain we have.”
Rim to River 100 racers must finish within 32 hours, so there is no opportunity for sleep, which means racers keep going at night. “My husband, Gene, joined me as a pacer throughout the night, and tackled 43 miles himself. He did an amazing job, and his company was a delight throughout the night,” Kari says.
There are aid stations about every 7-10 miles to stop and refill water bottles and eat, when desired. While at an aid station, racers can also change socks and shoes. Kari tried to hurry through the aid stations, though, to make sure she kept up a pace to finish on time. However the aid stations could be very enticing. “They had the most delicious food ever! My new favorite is a mini pancake, filled with mashed potatoes, and bacon,” she says. “And who could pass up OREO Double Stuf cookies and perogies? They also had M&M’s cookies, warm, fresh, out of the oven.”
“I loved every single step! The countryside was absolutely gorgeous. We crossed so many beautiful bridges, including going across the New River at New River Gorge,” Kari relates. “I was so happy how it went, taking second place in my age group, given that my goal was to just finish in the allotted time of 32 hours.” Kari also finished a very impressive 15th in her division and 94th overall.
You might think the day after such a punishing endeavor would call for some customary rest and relaxation. But not so for Kari. “The day after the race I was pretty sore. I try to make my races into a vacation and I like to see as much as possible while we are away, so the day after we did some sightseeing and small hikes to loosen up. I find that keeping moving really aids in recovery.”
Not content to bask in the afterglow of this momentous achievement, Kari is already looking ahead to the next competition. “I race as frequently as I can. I am going to Colorado to do a 100k in April and then to do some 50ks and am planning another 100 this fall but have not decided which race yet.”
For those who might be debating undertaking a similarly demanding challenge, Kari has this advice to offer: “I highly recommend this race, and to push yourself to do things you never thought possible because humans are made to complete hard things.”
Story: Kory Lanphear