Testimonial - Karey Reese

     My name is Karey Reese. I'm a 58-year-old male.  I live in Grove City, Ohio, and I am an ultra trail runner. I started running in February 2008 at age 55.  I trained for and ran the Columbus Marathon that fall. I thought that would be the longest event I would ever accomplish. I was introduced to trail running in 2009 and after my first trail run, I knew trail running was my preference.  I completed three 50Ks and one 53.4-mile run in ’09. Brandon Huff, an accomplished ultra trail runner, asked me to pace him in the Burning River 100 mile ultra.  I gladly accepted the offer.  While running with Brandon, I decided I would like to attempt to run the BR 100 ultra the following year, in 2010.  Unfortunately, I had an injury that kept me from entering the BR 100. By January 2011 I had fully recovered, and decided this was the year to fulfill my dream and run the BR 100. I knew I would need help to prepare for a 100 miler.
I contacted Vince Rucci, a well-known ultra runner and owner of Vertical Running store in Hudson, Ohio, about being my coach and trainer.  Vince gladly accepted the role and began preparing a running schedule that would take me from January through the BR 100 in July.  We corresponded thru e-mail and by phone.  Vince insisted that I call him if I had any questions or concerns about my training.  I had several phone conversations with Vince, and he was very easy to talk with and very receptive to my inquiries.  Our conversations always resolved any questions or concerns I had at that time.  
The plan was well thought out and designed.  It included several races that I should run in preparation for the BR 100.  I followed the training schedule as closely as I could.  I may have missed  three or four of the short runs during the week throughout the entire schedule, but never a long weekend run. I totally believe in the long weekend runs.  The last race I ran prior to BR 100 was the Mohican 50 miler.  I ran it very strong and had energy left at the end.  I know the training prior to Mohican strongly contributed to the way I felt at the finish line. I went on to run the BR 100, but, unfortunately, my thighs gave out and I got hypothermia at mile 58.3 and had to drop.  I was not unhappy; I knew the training and prep did not contribute to my DNF.  I talked with Vince the next day and he asked me if I planed on running another 100 miler.  I said I would like to, thinking to myself, “Maybe BR 100 next year.” He responded by telling me to do Oil Creek 100, which is 10 weeks after Burning River.  He convinced me that now was the time, that I was in the best shape ever to do a 100 miler, and that I should not wait until next year and have to start training all over again after taking time off for recovery.  “REDEMPTION,” said Vince. At that point I could not get up or down stairs. I did not think I would be able to recover in 10 weeks, but I signed up for OC 100 anyway.  Vince put together another training plan to get me to OC 100.  To my surprise, I did recover, and began training eight weeks prior to OC 100, not missing a single training run.  Redemption was on my mind and Redemption it was.  I finished the OC 100 in 31:34:25 and received my first 100-mile belt buckle.
     There is no doubt that any runner who is going to run his or her first 100 miler should acquire a coach/trainer.  I am truly convinced that having Vince as my coach/trainer made it possible for me to complete my first 100 miler and obtain my first belt buckle. Many thank-you’s go to Vince for helping me attain my goal.