Hellgate 100k 2024 - Nice and Cold Hellgate Weather

Keeping Warm before the Start

 December 14

It is the second Saturday in December, so that means that I am in Virginia getting ready to start this race for the 22^nd year in a row.  Not even the
pandemic could stop this race.  And so far, nothing has been able to stop the Fearsome Five—Aaron Schwartzbard, Jerry Turk, Jeff Garstecki, Ryan Henry, and yours truly.  All five of us have toed the line 21 times and finished the race under the 18-hour cutoff.  Will this trend remain for at least one more time?  Keep reading to see if there are less than five still standing at the end of the day.

My training has been decent this fall, but not great.  I tweaked my right hamstring on the 1^st of October.  I spent the next three weeks babying it.  Then at a 5k Turkey Trot, I tweaked it again, but not as badly.  So, it is still talking to me, but so far, it has not limited me in the last two weeks.

My son, Nathan, is here crewing for me again.  This is the 10^th time that he has been part of my crew at this race.  The first five times he was helping my wife.  He was a mere eight years old when I ran this race the first time.

The weather forecast is clear and cold with a full moon.  The low tonight is projected to approach 20 degrees.  It is in the high 20s for the start.  I am wearing a short-sleeve shirt, two long-sleeve shirts, medium weight tights, hat, and gloves.  We sing the National Anthem together, and then we are off at about 12:01am.

Mile 3.5      46:23 (13:15 avg./mile) FSR 35

140 Runners Start

I am determined to start out quickly as I have run this section in 46 minutes the last three years.  The early pace feels very fast as I adjust to running on uneven ground in the middle of the night.  The crowd of runners thins out quickly, and I run most of this section with Dan Broom, who I know from past Hellgate races.  I feel a little warm, but I know it will get colder as the night proceeds and we climb to higher elevations.  The stream crossing at mile 3 isn’t quite as deep as advertised, but it is still deep enough that we all get our feet wet.  Despite my efforts, I still get to this first aid station in 46 minutes.  Well, at least I know how to proceed from here, and this was the time I projected for my splits.  This first aid station is non-crewed, and there is only water, so I drink a cup of water and head up the gravel road.

Mile 7.5      1:03:19 (15:50 avg./mile) Petites Gap

I run most of the road until the tight right turn.  Lanier catches up to me early in this section, and we chat a little bit before I let him go ahead.  The moon is nearly full and with no clouds it is a beautiful night.  As we climb higher and higher, the wind picks up a little bit, and I am thankful that I have as many layers on as I do.  About five minutes before reaching the aid station, Jeff Garstecki catches up to me.  True to his word, he is taking it slowly this year as he didn’t get in much training this fall.  It is almost 60 minutes before I see Nathan at the aid station.  I sit down and quickly change my shoes and socks, taking care to get the socks on cleanly.  Then I take a few swigs of chocolate milk and then take half of a bagel to eat on the run.  It has been six years since I was slower than an hour on this section, and I am now over seven minutes behind my goal pace.

Mile 13.1    1:37:01 (17:19 avg./mile) Camping Gap

I start this section with the motivation of being behind pace.  I push the pace as much as I dare as I make my way down a rocky, technical single-track trail.  After making the right tricky turn after about a mile, I am right behind two other runners that I pass on the next climb.  I am feeling good so far despite the slow pace on the last section.  The wind on this section is perfectly calm, and the view off to the south is beautiful on this cold, clear night.  I manage to keep my feet dry on both stream crossings and then pass two other runners on leafy trails before getting down to the jeep trail that climbs three miles to the aid station.  The last two runners I pass are Emily and Dan.  Emily joins me on the hike up to the aid station.  She is running this race for her seventh time.  The climb goes quickly with conversation, and we are soon at the aid station.  I check my watch and am pleasantly surprised that I have gained back a minute on my goal pace.  This is a non-crew aid station.  I grab a cup of broth, a cheese quesadilla, and two cookies.

Mile 21.9    2:30:18 (17:05 avg./mile) Headforemost Mountain

I stay with Emily the whole way on the 5-6 miles on the grassy road.  One of the things we talked about was that she had a root canal Friday afternoon, that is, a mere 12 hours ago!  She and her husband drove down from Baltimore Friday evening in time to start the race at midnight.  She says her only concern is eating something that will break her temporary.  I think we are making good, but not great time.  The air is completely calm, which is very unusual.  The only other time I can remember it being this calm was in 2013 when it was lightly snowing and 2021 when we had very thick fog.  When we exit the grassy road onto the single-track trail that takes us through Apple Orchard and down to Overstreet Falls, I feel an urge to squat in the woods.  However, I just stop for a pee break, and the need to squat dissipates.  Emily gaps me on this section, but I am moving well nonetheless as I catch and pass two other runners.  I make it down to Overstreet Falls unscathed, and quickly make the hike up to the top of the mountain.  As I near the top, Dan Broom catches back up to me.  At the original location of the aid station, I stop to get a piece of debris out of my left shoe and click my watch.  The time is 5:57, which is okay, but probably not good enough to get me a sub-17-hour finish.  I am 12 minutes behind my goal pace at this point.

Mile 27.6    1:34:24 (16:34 avg./mile) Jennings Creek

The new aid station location is at Floyd’s Field which is about a half mile further than where it originally was.  I have learned to not have my crew stop at this aid station because it is the coldest part of the course, and it is mostly all downhill to Jennings Creek.  I drink a small cup of pickle juice and grab two PB&J sandwich quarters before crossing the Parkway.  I am now following Helen MacDermott and her pacer.  Helen has been here often, but hasn’t finished since 2013.  When the course starts going downhill, I pass them and leave them behind.  I also pass Dan Broom and Lanier again.  I start to stretch out my stride, when the other Dan passes me.  I stay with Dan the rest of the way on the grassy road before passing him when he takes a pee break.  I navigate another stream crossing while keeping my feet dry, and press the pace.  It seems there is a solid group of runners not far behind me, and when I drop back out on a grassy road for the last mile to the aid station, Dan Broom catches back up to me.  The sunrise this morning was beautiful, and I make it into the aid station in good shape.  Nathan has a grilled egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich ready for me.  I eat almost three-quarters of it and wash it down with CR02 and chocolate milk.  I change out all three shirts for just two dry ones (one short-sleeve and one long-sleeve) as well as my hat and gloves for thinner versions.  It is still in the low 20s, but I know it will warm up some, and I won’t see Nathan again for 15 miles.  It is 7:31 when I leave the aid station at the same time as Lanier.  I gained a minute back on my goal pace and now am only 11 minutes behind.

Mile 34.5    1:53:46 (16:29 avg./mile) Little Cove Mountain

Lanier and I leave Jennings Creek together and spend the next couple of miles talking about cholesterol and statins and such things that most 50-somethings are dealing with.  After we crest the climb and drop back down to the dirt road, I stop to take a pee and let him get ahead.  Then about a mile later, I catch back up to him as he is taking a pee break.  Lanier and I stay together to the aid station where crews are not allowed.  However, Rosie is here manning this aid station, and there is some solid food.  I grab two wrapped little doggies and a small stack of Pringles.  The time is now 9:25, and I have gained back another minute towards my goal pace.  If I am going to have a realistic chance at sub-17, I need to finish the next section by 11:45.

Mile 42.5    2:33:20 (19:10 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap

Nathan with Signs from his Sons

I leave the aid station a little before Lanier and run the first couple of miles with Dan
Broom.  I am running fairly well, but my legs are tight and hurting in a few places.  My right hamstring, actually the whole backside of my right leg is talking to me.  My right quad is also not happy either.  Regardless, I know I have to keep pushing the pace.  After the grassy road turns back into a single-track trail, my energy fades.  The leaves are deep on the trail, and there is a tree down that I have to navigate around and through.  Along this stretch, Helen MacDermott and her pacer catch back up to me.  I decide to take my first electrolyte capsule of the race, and that seems to help things a little.  I have found that I just don’t need to take as much sodium in as I used to when I was younger.  Then Lanier and Dan are back with me.  I keep them behind me though as I push a little running downhill before we make the left turn onto the devil trail.  On the devil trail, Lanier and I just try to keep from busting anything.  We catch up to Jess as we near a stream crossing that is about a mile from the aid station.  We all rock hop across without getting our feet wet, and then shuffle on into the aid station.  Nathan has a perfectly cooked grilled ham and cheese ready for me.  He tells me the word is that the parkway is now closed so he won’t see me again until the last aid station.  At first, I think I have to take a light with me, but then I realize I don’t as he will definitely see me at Day Creek.  I switch out my Camelback for a full one and keep everything else the same.

Heading out for the last 20 Miles

Mile 49.5    1:56:25 (16:38 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap

I have held off taking any caffeine for as long as I could, but I had already decided to take a caffeine pill at Noon.  Since it was 11:58 when I left Bearwallow, I pop one as Lanier and I are making the climb back up to the ridge line.  The effect is not extreme, but is effective nonetheless.  Near the top of the climb, I gap Lanier and catch back up to Jess and Dan.  I had seen them in front of me for quite a distance and didn’t realize it was them.  Jess has her hat off, and I thought Dan was her pacer.  I pass them on the low steady downhill, but Dan stays with me.  I gap him on the next climb, but both of them pass me about a mile later.  I am moving steady and smooth, and I know exactly what is in front of me.  I carefully navigate the descent down to the dirt road that is the last mile into this aid station.  I hike the last mile as it is all uphill.  At the aid station, there is just a pickup truck with some stuff in the back.  They had to take down all of the hot food when the parkway was closing, and then they had to drive all the way around and come back up the dirt road we are now on.  Chelsea is working this aid station and starts running down the list of food items they have—brownies-no thanks, gummies-no thanks, pretzels-yes, and finally, little ham and cheese rolls-yes!  I eat one of them after a handful of pretzels and wash it down with two cups of broth.  The time is now 13:54, so my chances for a sub-17 are slim to none with slim running away from me.  Right as I am finishing eating, Lanier is coming into the aid station.  Chelsea tells me that Aaron Schwartzbard has “just” left, and is injured and walking.  Wow, I hope he is able to finish, but it would be nice to pass one of the other fearsome five.

Mile 56.1    2:26:37 (22:13 avg./mile) Day Creek

I start running down the hill, and I quickly pass Dan and then Jess.  As I near the 2.5 mile make on the gravel road, there are a few crews waiting on runners where we make the turn back onto the trail.  And, there is Nathan!  It is great to see him, but I tell him I am fine since they found the ham and cheese rolls.  He then wishes me good luck and says that his sister, Amy, and her son, Charlie, should be at the aid station.  This is great.  I might not be able to finish under 17 hours, but I am in good shape and feeling pretty good.  I power hike the next hill with Helen and her pacer, but they leave me near the top of the climb.  Then I am by myself for most of the rest of the section.  This is the forever section for a good reason.  I have taken antacid tablets twice so far in the race, and an electrolyte capsule once.  As the clock rolls past 15:00, I take my second caffeine pill of the race.  And then about 45 minutes later, I decide to take my second electrolyte capsule of the race.  I decided on the electrolyte because I only have two more antacid tablets, so if the salt doesn’t work, then I will have the antacid to take.  Unfortunately, as I am juggling everything, dropped the little bag with the antacid tablets in it, and I didn’t realize it until it had been a couple of hundred yards.  Well, I am not turning back to get that.  As I make it down to the evergreen bush section, I know I am less than a mile from the aid station.

Charlie and Amy

Warning:  the next paragraph has a little TMI, so if you don’t want to read this then skip to the next section.

Okay I warned you.  Now, the problem is that my bowels are wanting to move.  Okay, I pull off the trail, find the right tree to lean against, drop the pants, and do what bears do in the woods.  I am prepared with TP and after dropping a couple of logs, wipe and pull back up the pants.  However, I no more than get the pants pulled up when I realize that there is more that needs to come out.  So, I drop the pants again, squeeze out another log and then wipe with the one remaining square of TP I have left.  Then I pull up the pants, put back on my Camelbak and start to head back to the trail.  But before I can get to the trail, I realize that my bowels aren’t ready to stop moving yet, so I find another tree, and repeat except this time I wipe with just leaves as I am out of TP.  Finally, I think I can continue.  During all of this I guess about half a dozen runners, including Lanier pass me.  I shuffle into the aid station where Nathan, Amy, and Charlie are waiting for me with slightly worried looks on their faces.  This is my slowest time ever on this section, and I now only have 1:38 to get to the finish before 18 hours, which is the cut-off for official finishers.  Nathan asks if I want company up to the parkway, and I accept his offer.  As my GI tract is not exactly happy, I pass on eating any food, and only take a few small sips of Coke.

Mile 62.4    1:37:51 (15:32 avg./mile) FINISH

Almost to the Parkway!

Nathan and I power hike up the climb to the parkway.  He has gone with me on this section several times before, and it very good to have the company to distract me from my issues.  I pass the gate in 16 minutes, and then I pass another runner and her pacer.  I make it to the parkway in 43:44 and see on my watch that it is only 17:05; so, I have almost 55 minutes to run 3.5 miles downhill.  I tell Nathan I have it from here, and he turns around to run back down to his car at the last aid station.  I start my trot down the hill and figure I should at least be running 13-minute miles, 14 at the slowest.  However, it takes me 33 minutes to get to the gate, which is two miles from the parkway.  Okay, now I only have about 22 minutes to run the last 1.5 miles.  No problem, I pick up the pace a little and cover the next half mile in 5:59 to give me a comfortable 16 minutes for the last mile.  A few runners have passed me on this last part, but I don’t care; the only thing I care about now is getting in before 18 hours.  As I near the entrance Camp Bethel, a guy is running towards me and calls out my name.  I answer him, and he says that Dr. Horton sent him out to bring me in as he wanted all of the fearsome five to finish.  I tell him I have plenty of time.  As I round the last bend and the finish clock is in sight, it says 17:58:xx.  So, I pick my knees up a little and finish with David Horton congratulations.  He assists me into the building and announces to the remaining crowd, “Darin Dunham, 22 starts, 22 finishes, and the last of the fearsome five!”

Unofficial Finishing Time       17:58:35 (see below for the official time)

117^th out of 140 starters (117 finishers under 18 hours)

It is determined later that an error was made when the finish line clock was set.  It was set with an extra minute.  Before the results are posted, this is realized, and my official time is 17:57:35.  As people are offering their congratulations, I am trying to decide where to sit.  I see an opening on one of the couches and I plop down.  I do not move to get off that couch for an hour and a half.  My stomach is on edge, and I am not sure I can do anything without some bad outcome.  So, I just sit there.  Amy and Charlie say goodbye and leave to drive back to Ashland, and Nathan patiently waits for me to feel well enough to stagger to the car.  Meanwhile, there are many stories to tell and listen to from several other runners.  The best is Martha Nelson, who tells of seeing her husband, Aaron Schwartzbard at aid station 4, injured and moving slowly.  She throws up sympathetically for him before leaving him behind and finishing Hellgate for her third time.  In the end, all five of the fearsome five finish, although, Jeff, Aaron, and I all finish in the last hour this year.  How many more times can we finish?  I don’t know, but I plan to be here next year to find out if I can do it at least one more time.  Until next time…

Never stop running,

Darin

Twisted Branch 100k 2024 - Clear and Warm

August 24

The finish line is just in front of the wing

For the third year in a row, I am heading to upstate New York to run the Twisted Branch 100k.  And, Peter Lovassy is joining me to crew again this year for the third time in a row!  We flew up Friday morning, got our rental car, and went to our usual lunch spot in Penn Yan.  We placed our order and sipped on our drinks for about 45 minutes when our waitress comes out (without our meals) and tells us that she forgot to put our order in with the kitchen.  She is very sorry, but is putting it in now with a rush on it.  We get our meals five minutes later.  This wasn’t too big a deal except that I didn’t finish my lunch until almost 2pm.  As the race starts at 4am tomorrow, this could be an issue.

The rest of the afternoon goes without issues, and Peter and I are eating dinner around 6pm in the rental house.  I go to sleep at 8:20pm with my alarm set for 2am.  The morning all goes well at the house, and we leave for the start at 3am.  As we get about halfway there, the rental car tells us that it is low on fuel.  Low on fuel?  We just picked the car up yesterday!  Obviously, it didn’t have a full tank when we got it.  So, instead of getting to the start around 3:25am, we have to stop and put some fuel in the car and get to the starting area around 3:35am.  As Peter says, there is always something that needs to be solved that wasn’t in the plan.  Fortunately, I don’t need to do anything more than check-in and empty my bladder before the race.  I walk over to the start and meet Carl Bligan.  We chat briefly, and I learn that his dad, Kevin, is crewing for him today.

The race begins!

Mile 6.1      1:25:56 (14:05 avg./mile) Cutler

I get started fairly near the front of the pack of runners.  I am probably just ahead of middle of the pack.  I feel like I am pushing the pace somewhat and hope that I am not going out too fast.  At some point I bump a tree, and my cranky left shoulder complains for about a minute.  I will try not to do that anymore.  The other body part that is complaining this morning is my right quad muscle.  I strained it training five weeks ago, and it likes to let me know. I am trying out a new headlamp this morning.  It is the Petzel IKO CORE.  So far so good, but I will be using my other one for most of tonight’s section.  At this first aid station, I don’t take anything and press on through.

Mile 10.6    52:44 (11:43 avg./mile) Naples Creek

The first difference with this year’s course is this section.  Instead of this section being mostly on trails, it is nearly all on roads this year as there was some issue with the land owner.  I run all of the downhill portions, trying not to go too fast.  We enter Naples, and clearly, I am not going too fast.  I also time it well as I don’t get to this aid station until after daybreak so I can leave my headlamp.  Peter is waiting for me with a biscuit and chocolate milk.  In the past, I have eaten bagels or croissants, but when we were in the grocery store yesterday, there was a package of biscuits that looked delightful.  This morning, they are tasty and salty, but also very dry.  I eat about 75% of it before I toss it into the woods.

Mile 18.0    2:11:53 (17:49 avg./mile) The Sneaker

Powering up yet another hill

Leaving Naples Creek, the hardest and longest climb on the course begins.  I am followed by two guys from Maryland that I chat with for a couple of miles.  I never learn their names, and they were never ahead of me.  They have also trained in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia like I have.  At some point, I leave them and begin leapfrogging with a lady that lives in Ithaca, New York, but is originally from Long Island.  This section has a couple of extra miles in it to make up for the difference in the last section.  I was worried that the extra miles would be tough, but the extra is actually a pleasant rolling grassy trail on which I think I made decent time.  I am following a guy down a tricky downhill when we near a bridge crossing, and he starts hopping and shouting.  There are yellow jackets around, and he get stung a few times.  Somehow, I luck out am do not get stung, but as I am climbing up the hill on the other side, I hear several runners behind me shouting in pain.  So, while the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were swarming in Ireland, some yellow jackets were swarming on the Twisted Branch course!  At this aid station, I grab a pickle, two orange slices, and a handful of cookies.

Mile 22.3    1:02:28 (14:32 avg./mile) Italy Valley

Nicole and I run together for a mile or so leaving The Sneaker, and then she presses a little ahead.  Meanwhile, I keep up a nice pace on this mostly downhill section.  Near the end of this section, Mark catches up to me.  I heard him and Jason talking behind me for a while, so I greet him by name when he comes up behind me.  Mark is a medical doctor, whose son recently completed basic training at Parris Island.  His son is trying to get into Marine Recon, and we talk about that for a bit.  At this aid station, there is the same normal assortment, and I only eat a handful of potato chips.

Mile 28.9    1:48:59 (16:31 avg./mile) The Lab

Dr. Mark and I run this whole section together.  At some point while I was engrossed in conversation on a technical downhill portion, I roll my right ankle for the first time today.  It doesn’t hurt, but I need to try not to do that again.  The last part of this section is on a gravel road with a beautiful view.  So far, this day has been beautiful, cool, and clear, but it is now starting to get warm.  Last year at this point, the breeze still felt very cool.  This year, any breeze is nice, but it doesn’t feel cool.  At the aid station, Peter has a bacon, egg, and cheese grilled sandwich ready for me.  I eat most of that and wash it down with CR02 and a little chocolate milk.  Since the temperature is now warm and only going to get warmer, I put on my new Iced Cap.  Peter packs it with ice, my brain freezes, and I head out of the aid station.

Mile 35.3    1:49:31 (17:07 avg./mile) Patch

I leave the aid station just behind Nicole, and I stay with her for a couple of miles while the ice in the Iced Cap keeps my body cool.  In these moderate temperatures, the ice lasts close to 50 minutes.  I saw these Iced Caps on the streaming of the Western States 100 this year and figured it would be a good thing to have.  I tried it out three weeks ago while I was training on Priest and Three Ridges, and it is very effective at lowering one’s body temperature.  When all of the ice melts away, I make a concerted effort to slow my pace down.  This race is all about conserving my resources for everything that is still in front of me.  At the aid station, I grab a couple of cookies and get my Iced Cap repacked with ice by a nice aid station volunteer.

Mile 39.8    1:27:50 (19:31 avg./mile) Finger Lakes Camp Ground

Now past halfway and in the heat of the afternoon, I focus on power hiking not just the uphill sections, but also most of the flat sections as well.  I am still running very smoothly on the downhills as my feet are doing very well.  For part of this section, I run with Jason who lives in Colorado Springs but is originally from Long Island.  He says he knows Nicole and isn’t surprised that she is ahead of us.  Jason walks away from me on the steep uphill section after a gentle downhill road portion.  A few more ups and downs, and I am joined by Pete (not my crew) as we make our way to the aid station.  Peter is ready for me, but the only food item I asked for was another biscuit.  I eat about half of that and ask what the aid station has.  The only real food they have is quesadillas, so I get two quarters of those.  Peter repacks the Iced Cap with ice, my brain refreezes, and I head out for the next section.

Mile 46.8    2:21:30 (20:13 avg./mile) Glenbrook

I continue to run conservatively, trying to save my legs and keep my body at a reasonable temperature.  For this section, I am almost entirely by myself.  There is one guy a bit ahead of me, and I pass him at a creek crossing, but otherwise, it is just me and nature.  The two twisted trees are on this section, and I note that it is less than 30 minutes after I pass those two twisted trees that I reach the aid station.  As I enter the aid station, I see Nicole’s husband and daughters who are crewing for her.  I ask him if she just left, and he says she is in the porta-john.  Peter has a grilled ham and cheese sandwich ready for me, and I eat the majority of it washing it down with plenty of CR02.  I trade out the Iced Cap for a Buff as it is now 5pm.  I also get my Petzel headlamp to take with me as it will be 11+ miles until I see my crew again.

Mile 51.6    1:54:34 (23:52 avg./mile) Lake David

I track out of the aid station less than a minute after Nicole leaves.  There is a short trail section before we get back on a gravel road for a little bit.  On the road, I can see Nicole just ahead of me, but I never catch up to her.  Like the last section, I spend most of this section by myself.  It is good that I am not getting passed by anyone, but I am not catching anyone either.  A couple of guys do pass me near the end of this section as we are climbing up a stupid steep climb just before we traverse around a pond to the aid station.  This climb is one of a few climbs late in this race that really saps the energy and will out of the runners.  At the aid station, I eat two boiled potatoes and a pierogi and drink a small cup of Coke.  I am looking at one of the aid station volunteers when I realize I know the guy.  It is John Rynders, who I ran with some the past two years at this race.  He says he got injured in July and decided to defer his entry to next year.

Mile 56.0    1:26:55 (19:45 avg./mile) Mitchellsville

Leaving Lake David, we are told that we have to get to the next aid station before 9pm.  Initially, I think this should be no problem as it is just before 7pm, and this section is only 4.4 miles.  Furthermore, the tough climb and super steep decent on this section has been removed this year.  I get caught by the Smith brothers, Kirk and Nate, early on this section, and I tag along with them for a few miles.  It isn’t until about a mile to go on this section when they stop to water a tree that I get back ahead of them.  As I am making my way over the last mile, a small cloud decides to drop a couple of rain drops on us.  There was a zero percent chance of rain today!  However, it doesn’t rain more than the couple of drops, so I am not complaining.  I get into the aid station, sit down, and drink a cup of broth.  The broth isn’t very salty, but it tasted good otherwise.  I eat another boiled potato before heading out just behind the Smith brothers.

Mile 58.4    0:49:14 (20:31 avg./mile) Urbana

Starting this section, the headlamp comes on as it is nearly dark in the woods.  My legs aren’t wanting to turn over at all, and I go to a caffeine pill.  It takes a few minutes for it to kick in, but then I am back in business running down a nicely cushioned trail avoiding tripping on any roots.  The section seems a bit longer than I remember, but soon I am running across the field next to the grape vines and into the town of Urbana where the last aid station is.  I actually ran this section two minutes faster than last year.  That might be accounted for in the fact that I didn’t have a headlamp with me, but I was 40 minutes earlier so it wasn’t completely dark yet.  Peter has some Ramen soup ready for me.  I eat about half of a cup before I strap on my Black Diamond headlamp for the finishing section.  In hindsight, I should have sat and eaten more, but I was ready to get the race finished.

Mile 64.0    2:14:54 (24:05 avg./mile) FINISH

This last section starts with the second toughest climb in the entire race.  It is a brutal climb of almost 1,000 feet with close to 30 switchbacks.  The afternoon breeze is long gone.  It is cooler, but still warm and hiking up the incline gets the sweat pouring out of my pores once again.  Soon a lady and her pacer catch up to me near the top of the climb, and I stay with them for a couple of miles.  Her name is Susan, and she is from nearby Corning, NY.  When I mention I am from Huntsville, she says her son lives in Meridianville, which is the same town I live in—what a small world it can be at times!  After a couple of miles another lady passes me, and she and Susan press on ahead.  I have plenty of time on the cutoff, but I am starting to feel not so good.  I hold it together and manage to finish in decent shape.

Finally, I am finished!

Official Finishing Time 19:26:28

150^th out of 203 starters (156 finishers under 20 hours)

This race is not only hard, but is relentless with the climbs and slow technical trail.  So many times, the course pops out to a half mile road section, but then it goes back into the woods for slow technical trail, or a stupid steep climb.  I am glad I got it done, and it should translate into a good training effort and confidence builder heading into the fall.  Right now, the next race I plan to run is not until December and the Hellgate 100k.  So, it might be back-to-back 100k races.  But, before then I am pacing James at the Georgia Jewel in September, and I plan to pace my son, Nathan, for his first 100 miler in October at the Rim to River.  Until next time…

Never stop running,

Darin

Kettle Moraine 100 Miler 2024 - A Western Qualifier?

 June 8

The day before at packet pickup

Over the course of my ultrarunning “career”, I have toed the starting line of 25 100-mile races.  Today, I am toeing the starting line of a 100-mile race for the 26^th time.  My finishing record in 100-mile races stands at 13 finishes and 12 DNFs.  So, today’s race will determine whether I fall back to a 50% finishing rate, or whether I stay over 50%.  That fact aside, today’s race is all about getting a qualifier for the Western States 100 lottery.  Yes, there is a lottery as there are only 369 slots, and more than 7,000 runners qualify and want to run that race.

I was last at this race two years ago, and I finished in 29:23.  Brandon was crewing for me that year.  This year, James is going to crew and pace me.  The plan is for him to begin pacing me at mile 63.  The forecast is mostly good.  It is supposed to stay cool, topping out in the high 60s, but it is likely there will be rain.  For now, the skies are mostly cloudy with a temperature around 55 degrees.

Mile 5.1      56:11 (11:01 avg./mile) Tamarack

Ready for the start

At the start, there is a moderate backup, but we mostly move forward at the gun.  Then we all settle in with the large pack of runners.  I strike up a conversation with another runner, who is Scott from Seattle.  He met the race director when he ran Western last year and decided to come out to Wisconsin for this one.  He got selected in the lottery with only two tickets, and he had never run a 100-miler before Western.  He qualified with only 100k races, one of which was Leona Divide.  The aid station comes up quickly, and I grab a PB&J wrap and a blueberry donut hole.  Crews aren’t allowed here so I don’t get to see James.

Mile 7.4      31:57 (13:53 avg./mile) Bluff

After the opening section, I make a concerted effort to keep my pace in a comfortable place.  Scott is around me, but I meet another runner that looks like he has a good pace.  Drew is from Indianapolis, and this is his first 100-mile attempt.  At least that is what I remember, but now I cannot find any record of Drew in the results.  There is a Drew from Milwaukee, but his splits don’t line up with mine.  Anyway, I run with him for a couple of sections.  His stride is smooth and relaxed and easy to follow.  I also chat with Jeff, who has some fans out here.  A couple of guys are running around meeting him at several locations.  Of course, they can’t provide any aid outside of the stations, but they are there to cheer for him.  Jeff is from right here in Whitewater, so it makes sense that he might have some local fans.  He is wearing a Blue Angels hat, and we talk about that for a mile or so.  This aid station doesn’t allow crews until after 6:30pm, so James is not at this stop.  I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter, a little pickle, and a small cup of pickle juice.

Mile 11.2    52:04 (13:42 avg./mile) North Tam

I remain smooth, mostly following Drew for this section.  There is a lady that I will leap frog for most of the race around me as well.  Her name is Raquel, and we never have a conversation, but I picked up her name from her race bib.  There are times on this section when the sun is peeking through the clouds, and this makes it feel like it is warming up quickly.  I wonder if the forecast is going to be true or false.  I need the clouds for shade on the open prairie sections, but no rain would be nice.  This aid station sneaks up on me as it is a new location.  Previously, the aid station was at Horse Riders, but now it is about a mile sooner.

Mile 15.5    56:05 (13:03 avg./mile) Natalie’s

This section begins some of the open prairie portions of the course.  The clouds have returned, and the sun is not warming things up.  I imagine the temperature has climbed into the mid-60s, and while it is very humid, overall, the conditions are pretty good.  Since Alabama has been in the 80s most of the month of May, this feels good to me.  This aid station is another that doesn’t allow crews, so I quickly scan the table and grab a bag of Smart Food popcorn.  I eat about half of it before tossing it, and proceed forward.

Mile 19.5    59:09 (14:47 avg./mile) McMiller

There is a husband and wife that have been around me most of the race so far.  Her name is Mary, and his name is Brook.  They are working together and mostly running together.  He has run one 100-mile race, and this is her first 100-mile attempt.  On this section before we make the climb up to the aid station, there are a couple of muddy places on the trail.  As it hasn’t started raining yet, I am surprised since the trail has been pretty dry.  However, the ground across the prairie is soft and moist in places.  When I arrive at the aid station, I get to see my crew for the first time since the start.  James is ready for me with a grilled ham and cheese.  I eat most of it and wash it down with some chocolate milk followed by CR02.  CR02 is my own concoction that doesn’t have any magnesium in it.  I am not sure if magnesium causes me problems, but a drink that I loved (but is no longer made) didn’t have any in it.

Mile 23.8    58:22 (13:34 avg./mile) Wilton Road

Coming down from McMiller, I get a little boost in my pace.  I haven’t seen Drew anymore, but I continue to leap frog with Brook/Mary and Raquel.  I feel good so far, but I am running conservatively to keep everything in check for the latter portions of the race.  My goal is to finish, and it would be nice to do so with a couple of hours to spare.  Approaching this aid station, there is a volunteer with a bullhorn welcoming us runners.  I grab another pickle, and small cup of pickle juice, and eat a PB&J sandwich quarter.

Mile 27.1    49:02 (14:52 avg./mile) Highway 67

Coming into Highway 67 aid station

I settle back into my 14-minute per mile pace as I make my way across the prairie.  The clouds are hanging around, and it looks like it could start raining soon.  The prairie does not have any steep climbs, so I adopt a run walk strategy for these portions.  I will run for up to 10 minutes and then take a walking break of a few minutes.  I get into this aid station with damp feet from the moist ground, but I don’t want to change shoes yet with the impending rain.  So, I opt to just change socks.  It is a good call as my shoes are just damp, and the dry socks feel really good.  I have a minor hot spot off the outside back of my left heel.  I drink some CR02 and take half of a cheese bagel to eat as I walk out of the aid station.

Mile 29.4    33:10 (14:25 avg./mile) County Road ZZ

This short section is uneventful with the last of the prairies before we get to the loop at the north end of the course.  I am rocking the fresh socks, and I continue with my smooth pace.  I haven’t seen Drew or Scott since before McMiller so I am not pacing off of anyone else now.  James sees me again at this aid station, and I drink some more chocolate milk and eat another half of a cheese bagel.  I hadn’t tried a cheese bagel before for an ultra, but they looked good when we were shopping yesterday, so I grabbed them.  So far, they were a good call.

Mile 34.5    1:22:10 (16:07 avg./mile) County Road ZZ

This is the Scuppernong loop, which has plenty of pointless ups and downs.  Of course, that is true for most of this race, but it is doubly true in this section.  I stay ahead of Brook/Mary, but see Raquel a couple of times.  During this section at 1:00pm, the 50k runners start at Scuppernong.  They do a small loop before heading south.  I meet many of them, and then several of them come back by me.  The 100k runners started an hour behind the 100-mile runners, and several of them have passed me.  So, this is the point where this race becomes a three-ring circus with the different distances all running at the same time.  As I finish up this section, the rain finally arrives.  Now the question is how hard and long is it going to rain.  When I get to the aid station, James has the umbrella out, and I sit and eat a hash brown and some Ramen.

Mile 36.8    28:50 (12:32 avg./mile) Highway 67

With only 2.3 miles on this section, it is always a question as to whether my crew can make it before I do.  No worry this year as James is waiting on me.  With the rain and the psychological plus of running back to the start, I pick up the pace a little.  I quickly grab another cheese bagel half after drinking a little CR02.

Mile 40.1    45:27 (13:46 avg./mile) Wilton Road

Leaving Highway 67, I keep pace with Andrea, who is from San Diego.  She is a nurse and has some family (including a nephew) out here cheering for her.  She is wearing a turtle shell on her back as her nephew is a big Teenage Ninja Turtle fan.  I ask her if she has ever run the San Diego 100, and she has not.  I mentioned it because Scott Mills is the race director.  With the rain, the mud on the prairie is starting to get slick.  I make decent time on this section.  I grab a bag of Doritos as I press forward to get to the next aid station where I will see James again.

Mile 44.4    1:18:11 (18:11 avg./mile) McMiller

The mud on the prairie is now officially slick.  The rain plus all of the other runners has really turned the course into a mess.  I stay upright, but slow my pace as the rain continues to fall.  As I begin the climb up to the aid station, I mention to another runner that it would be great if the rain ended soon—like before I get to the aid station.  The rain was forecast to end by late afternoon, but forecasts seem to only be correct half of the time.  However, right on cue, the rain tapers off and ends about 10 minutes before I get to the aid station.  My shoes are completely muddy with mud throughout my socks.  I change my shoes and socks and wipe the mud from my feet as best as I can.  I also change out my wet shirt and buff.  I consume most of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich that James has expertly cooked for me.  Brook and Mary are in the aid station at the same time as me, and they are helping each other get their shoes and gear as they don’t have a crew.  I leave the aid station before them, hoping that the rain is indeed finished.

Mile 48.4    1:05:00 (16:15 avg./mile) Natalie’s

The rain has ended, but the prairie is still slick and muddy.  I keep my feet mostly dry, but the mud begins to ooze into the shoes.  I trade spots with Andrea once more on this section as she is feeling good.  I like this pace for now, but I don’t want to slow down more.  At this aid station, I grab another bag of Smart Food popcorn and eat about half of it.

Mile 52.7    1:12:33 (16:22 avg./mile) North Tam

At this point, the prairie is all behind me, so the damage from the mud is done.  Brook and Mary come by me on this section looking like they are on a mission.  I hadn’t seen them since McMiller, but it is good to see they are doing well.  I catch up to a 50k runner, Shane on this section as well, and we chat for a bit.  She says she should have run the 100k, so the 50k is within her range.  After she finishes her 50k race, she plans to work the aid station through the night at Duffin Road.  I pass through horse riders where the aid station used to be thinking that the new aid station location wasn’t too much past it.  However, it is a full mile further, and I get into this aid station looking for some real food.  Fortunately, there are some meatballs that are lukewarm.  They are okay, and I eat a few of them.

Mile 56.5    1:22:21 (21:40 avg./mile) Bluff

Before leaving McMiller, James joked with me about taking a light with me

Consuming calories

because in 2021 when it was very hot, I didn’t take one with me, and I had to run the last 30 minutes in the dark without a light.  This year, without any high heat, I am a couple of hours ahead of that pace.  Even so, the sun is getting low in the sky as I make my way up to the bluff and start my way down the other side to the aid station.  The trail is fairly technical coming down the bluff so it is good to do it in the daylight.  At the aid station, they have real food, hot and ready.  James has a bowl of Ramen for me, but when I hear there are barbeque sliders, I indulge in one.  I eat about half of the bowl of Ramen, and then I change my shoes again, just 12 miles since the last time.  I have this pair I am putting on and one more pair in my drop bag at Hwy 12.  Given that I am done with the prairie sections, I think I can keep my feet clean and dry the rest of the way.

Mile 58.8    48:53 (21:15 avg./mile) Tamarack

I take my small headlamp with me leaving the Bluff aid station.  At first, it will not turn on, and I have to fiddle with the batteries and tap it several times before it will come on.  I have had this problem before, but it is almost always reliable when I run with it in the predawn mornings.  As the sun sets, I am definitely fading.  I wanted to wait until Nordic before I started taking any caffeine, but I need to turn around this slowdown.  As I approach the aid station, I take my first caffeine pill.  At the aid station, I eat a grilled cheese sandwich quarter from the aid station.

Mile 63.9    1:38:38 (19:20 avg./mile) Nordic

The caffeine kicks in, and I pick up my pace quite a bit actually.  This section has the steepest of the pointless ups and downs of the entire race, and I press up and down them.  When I get to the start/finish, I head straight for the outhouse.  I am mildly successful, and then I sit down to eat my last grilled ham and cheese.  I trade out my Camelbak for a full one and put a long-sleeve shirt on as it is cooling down and after 10pm.  James is going to load everything into the car and then catch up to me.  As I start to step away, I reach up to turn on my headlamp and realize that I didn’t get it from James.  So, I call him back and get my good headlamp with the remote battery connection.  Now, I am ready to get through the night.

Mile 69.0    1:26:23 (16:56 avg./mile) Tamarack

It is key to leave Nordic motivated in order to displace any thoughts of stopping and settling for a 100k.  I also make a little game of it to see how far I can go before James catches up to me; I don’t think I made it a mile.  I have paced James at several races, most recently at the Southern States 200.  And, I have not used a pacer at a 100-miler since 2009.  However, since James and I know each other really well, I figured it would be beneficial to have him pace me.  The only issue is whether we still have stories to tell each other that we haven’t heard before.  We roll into Tamarack in great shape.  I grab another grilled cheese sandwich quarter.

Mile 71.3    1:02:07 (27:00 avg./mile) Bluff

I am not sure what all went wrong on this section, but I began to be tired and somewhat nauseous.  I am struggling, but still moving forward.  James is very patient with me.  I don’t remember what I got to eat here, but I had James find a couple of Tums for me.  I take these, and they seemed to help some.

Mile 73.8    1:01:53 (24:45 avg./mile) Duffin Road

James is leading the way and is telling me stories from high school.  They are interesting, but I am struggling just to walk with purpose in a straight line.  At some point on this section, I take another caffeine pill, but it doesn’t have much of an effect.  At this aid station, I drink a small cup of Coke and eat some crackers.

Mile 77.9    1:54:33 (27:56 avg./mile) Highway 12

The struggle continues on this section.  At some point, James realizes that he needs me to tell some stories as I move better when I am talking.  Raquel passes me on this section, and I know I am moving slowly.  We get into the aid station, and I visit the porta john with good success.  I put on a hat and gloves from my drop bag.  Since I am not moving quickly and the temperature is dipping into the lower 50s, I am getting quite chilly.  I drink another Coke in the hopes that it will help my stomach.

Mile 82.2    1:46:19 (24:43 avg./mile) Rice Lake

At some point on this section, James and I switch places so that I am leading.  And, I continue to tell my stories from high school.  It seems that my high school football stories are the best for me.  As first light begins to appear in the sky, I begin to rally.  I start running some of the downhills, and we roll into the southern turnaround point in full daylight, but I am starting to feel much better.  One more trip to the porta john, and we begin the trek back north to the finish.  The clock says I have 6 hours and 10 minutes to finish the last 18+ miles.  Three miles per hour will get it done.

Mile 86.5    1:23:00 (19:18 avg./mile) Highway 12

This section is more uphill than down, and the trail is moderately technical.  It doesn’t matter as I have my eye on the goal—3 mph.  I stay in front and keep my feet moving.  At the aid station, I drop off the shirt, hat, and gloves.  I had taken the hat and gloves off on the way to Rice Lake.  I drink another Coke and get another PB&J sandwich quarter.

Mile 90.6    1:22:23 (20:06 avg./mile) Duffin Road

Maintaining a 20-minute per mile pace is all that matters at this point.  We pass one runner on this section, and another runner passes us.  The runner that passed us was running with another guy, but his friend dropped out at Rice Lake.  So, he is making better time without his friend.  At the aid station, Shane is here as she said she would be.  I was too far out of it to notice her when I came through in the middle of the night.  There are pancakes available, and I am asked if I want syrup on them.  No thank you, just slather them with butter.  And, then the volunteers brag that they are vegan pancakes.  Give it to me dry, and I will choke one down.  I drink another Coke and then spy some Doritos on the table.  I eat a bag of them before we press forward.

Mile 93.1    46:43 (18:41 avg./mile) Bluff

I am rolling along at a good clip.  We pass a couple of runners on this section, and that is always motivating in my thinking.  It means I can’t be moving too slowly.  Unfortunately, it also means that the people we pass are not likely to finish.  We hustle down the hill into the aid station, and it is starting to get warm.  My first request is for a chair in the shade.  The very nice lady volunteering at the aid station moves a chair into the shade for me.  Then she starts asking me what I want to eat.  Unfortunately, they don’t have the barbeque sliders that they had last night.  Instead, she brings over a pig in a blanket (a little wiener wrapped in a pastry of some sort).  James grabs a bottle of mustard, and I wolf down two of these things.  I decline the nice lady’s offer for one more, finish off my cup of Coke, and we are off for the last 7.4 miles.

Mile 95.4    47:10 (20:30 avg./mile) Tamarack

On this section, we play leap frog with another runner twice.  He is trotting both up and down hills, and I am only running the downhills.  So, he passes me going up a hill, and I pass him back on the way down the other side.  As we near the aid station, James first asks for a chair to be put in the shade.  The temperature isn’t too warm, but the sky is clear, and mid-70s feels pretty warm after running for 28 hours.  I eat one grilled cheese sandwich quarter and wash it down with a cup of Coke.

One of the pointless ups

Mile 100.5  1:24:52 (16:38 avg./mile) FINISH—Nordic

James’ GPS shows that the previous section is slightly long, and this section is slightly shorter than advertised.  Either way, I am powering up the hills and still running quickly down the other side.  It is getting nicely warm, and I am looking for the finish.  It cannot come soon enough.  Eventually, it comes into view, and I manage to look good running across the finish line.

Official Finishing Time 29:33:26

145^th out of 209 starters (151 finishers under 30 hours)

I was seriously hoping to run this race faster than this, but in the end, I am glad that I persevered.  A few runners finish after me, and it is a great atmosphere at the finish line.  The race director puts on a high-quality race that is extremely well organized.  I sit at the finish line watching a few other runners finish and try to eat a hamburger.  I was eating it nice and slowly, and then the wind flipped my plate over and the hamburger met the ground.  I guess I didn’t need to eat it all.

My next race is not until the end of August at the Twisted Branch 100k.  What will the weather deliver for that race in upstate New York?  Time will tell; stay tuned.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Bull Run Run 2024 - A Father and Son Event

April 6

I am back at this race after finishing last year with only 15 seconds to spare.  This is my 15^th time running this event, and unlike last year, the weather is forecasted to be much more conducive for running.  Additionally, my son, Nathan, is running his first 50-mile race.  It has rained quite a bit this week, but the last two days have been dry.  I have differing thoughts on how I want to run this race this year.  One thought I have is that I could try and sneak out and push the pace early to make Nathan work to catch up to me.  The other thought is that I should just hang with him and see how long I can keep up.  The weather is dry and clear with the temperature at the start in the high 30s.  I am wearing a long-sleeve shirt with thin hat and gloves.

Mile 7.2      1:18:11 (10:52 avg./mile) Centreville Road

The race starts, and I get off quickly.  I wonder if Nathan got through the start congestion as well as I did.  I look over to my right, and Nathan is running right beside me!  We make the initial ¾ of a mile loop, and some runners are trying to go around the spillway.  I run right on through as the water is only an inch or two deep.  I don’t think I got my socks wet.  Nathan and I proceed down the trail to the main trail beside the river.  We are in a pack of runners that are all moving well.  We walk only when the uphill is steep.  I have a slight worry that I may be going too fast, but let’s see what happens.  Kevin Sayers is in his usual position welcoming everyone to Centreville Road.  I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter from the aid station and press on with Nathan right in front of me.

Mile 9.7      25:19 (10:08 avg./mile) Bluebell Loop

We are about a mile and a half into this section and the trail is not very muddy at all.  Nathan comments that he probably won’t change his shoes at mile 17.  Less than a half mile later we come to a small tributary that doesn’t have a bridge.  So, down and up through the stream we go with the water about knee deep.  I guess we will be changing shoes when the time comes.  The stream crossing doesn’t slow us down as we hit this aid station in quick time.  This aid station just has water so I don’t even stop.

Mile 12.5    27:18 (9:45 avg./mile) Centreville Road

Nathan and I continue to run at a very fast clip.  There are two midshipmen from the Naval Academy trailing us as we head back to the south.  So far, I feel really good, and the temperature is still rather cool.  I still have the hat and gloves on, but I have rolled the hat up one fold.  We are welcomed back by Kevin, and I again grab a sandwich quarter.

Mile 17.6    57:31 (11:17 avg./mile) Hemlock Overlook

My effort remains steady through this section.  The trail is drier on this section than the last, but this section has some climbs.  Nathan is leading the pace and a group of up to eight runners.  I am hanging on for now.  We cross the second set of pylons and then make the climb up to Hemlock.  Nathan is about 30 yards ahead of me entering the aid station, and none of our crew is in sight.  Nathan has a drop bag with shoes in it, and he proceeds to change them.  Since I don’t have a drop bag, I press on ahead after grabbing another PB&J sandwich quarter.  My time to this point is very quick at only 3 hours and 8 minutes.

Mile 21.9    55:07 (12:49 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

I leave the aid station before Nathan and the two midshipmen.  I run steady, but conservatively, and right before getting to the soccer fields, the midshipmen come by me.  They are moving quickly, and I don’t give any thought to hanging with them.  Soon thereafter, Nathan catches back up with me, and we run together to the aid station expecting to see our crew.  It turned out that while Nathan was changing his shoes at Hemlock, Martha and Seb made it to the aid station.  Gabby was still coming from the car with Oliver.  So, at least they knew we were through that aid station.  At this aid station, none of them are there.  We meet them just as we are leaving.  They had to park the car on the other side of Yates Ford Road and were dragging the kids towards us.  I sit down and change my shoes, and this time Nathan presses on ahead.  It is great to get out of my damp shoes, and since the trail was dry since the water crossing, my shoes should stay dry the rest of the way.  I also drink some chocolate milk.

Mile 26.1    1:02:36 (14:54 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

I try to push the pace a little to catch back up with Nathan.  At one point, I trip and fall, landing on my right side and shoulder.  I pick myself up and appear to be not injured.  My shoulder is fine, but I may have bruised the top of my hip bone.  I press on now more carefully.  I have plenty of time to catch up with Nathan, and if I don’t catch him that is okay.  I enter this aid station greet the aid station captain, Alex, and get some strawberries and a quesadilla.

Mile 28.9    37:20 (13:20 avg./mile) Fountainhead

About half way through this section, Kathleen Cusick catches up to me.  I ran with her for a mile or so at Hellgate last year, and here we are together again.  She is moving well, but says she is dealing with a few nagging injuries.  I manage to stay with her as she presses the pace and runs nearly the rest of the way into the aid station.  She is just ahead of me when we enter the aid station, and she gets a nice cheer from the crowd.  I get welcomed by the crew—grandsons Seb and Oliver, daughter-in-law Gabby, and my wife Martha.  Martha says that Nathan is about 10 minutes ahead of me.  I drink some CR02 and refill my Camelbak and then grab a few cookies from the aid station table.

Mile 32.9    55:42 (13:56 avg./mile) Do Loop

I keep a decent pace on the laborious white loop, which is 1.6 miles long and gets you nowhere.  Heading out to the do loop, I meet several of the front runners heading back.  It is still breezy and cool in the mid-50s.  When I get to the aid station, I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter and a handful of corn chips.  Since I haven’t seen Nathan yet, it means that he is less than 2.5 miles ahead of me.

Mile 35.5    38:04 (14:38 avg./mile) Do Loop

Decorated Nash Rambler (courtesy of Cathy Kovacic)

The do loop starts with the lollipop stem for about a quarter of a mile.  I still do not see Nathan coming back towards me so he is less than two miles ahead of me.  I pass a couple of struggling runners on this section while running well down to the water.  On the inbound part of the loop, there is a tribute to some of the VHTRC founders at the Nash Rambler—Chris Scott, Anstr Davidson, Scott Mills, Ed Demoney and Joe Clapper.  I finish the do loop still feeling pretty good.  When I get to the aid station, the lady checking in runners tells me that my son just left, and he was asking if they knew how far back I was.  Ah, it is now time to run him down!

Mile 37.9    32:25 (13:30 avg./mile) Fountainhead

I push my pace a little leaving the aid station and within a mile I spot some orange shorts way up ahead.  Unfortunately, this pair is on a female, who clearly is not Nathan.  However, it is only another half mile or so until I spot Nathan and his orange shorts ahead of me.  I close the gap on him on the way to the aid station, but he stays in front of me.  At the aid station, the crew is all there cheering both of us.  I drink a little CR02, refill my Camelbak, and grab another PB&J sandwich quarter.  Nathan and I leave the aid station together.

Mile 40.6    38:36 (14:18 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

The newer trail on this section is gently rolling, which is nice for mountain bikes, but not so nice for running late in an ultra-race.  Regardless, I maintain a slow run for most of the gentle uphill sections.  Nathan stays right with me, and we both make it to Wolf Run Shoals in decent shape.  I take a seat and drink a cup of Coke before rising and taking a cheese quesadilla to eat on the run.

Mile 44.8    1:04:02 (15:15 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

Seb cheering us on!

This section has more climbs that require power hiking.  On one of the climbs, Nathan presses on ahead of me, but then let’s me back into the lead on the next downhill.  Soon enough we can see the Yates Road bridge over the Occoquan River.  Nathan continues to help me push the pace, but says his stomach is talking to him a little bit.  I took my third S-Cap of the race on this section, and then about 10 minutes from the aid station, I pop a caffeine pill.  I follow Nathan into the aid station, hoping that the crew is waiting for us.  Sure enough, there they are.  Seb is sitting in his own little chair.  Nathan takes a seat, I say hi to Seb (and the others), and then I walk right on out of the aid station, leaving Nathan sitting in the chair.

Mile 50.2    1:15:11 (13:55 avg./mile) FINISH

It wasn’t my plan to gap Nathan at this point, and I wouldn’t have been disappointed to finish together, but the opportunity presented itself, I was feeling good, and I took it.  I pass a couple of runners and run when the course is favorable to running.  I run across the soccer field complex, and then run the meadow.  When I finally get to the spot where we came down to the trail, another runner makes the right turn and starts up the hill.  I tell him that isn’t the right way, and he thanks me for saving his race.  His name is Clay, and we chat as we make our way over the last mile and a half.  When we get to the top of the last climb, I leave Clay behind and push to the finish.

Official Finishing Time 10:47:22

Gary and Darin (courtesy of Keith Knipling)

53^rd out of 193 starters
(149 official finishers)

At the finish line, Gary Knipling is there to congratulate the runners.  It is simply outstanding to see Gary, and as can be seen in the photo by his son, Keith, Gary and I share a very warm embrace.  I receive my 15-year finishing award and my regular finishing award.  I am just sitting down when here comes Nathan completing his finish less than four minutes after me.  It is a great day!

Nathan and Darin after the Finish

I now have a short recovery as I am supposed to pace James Ebert for 36 miles at the inaugural Southern States 200-mile race next weekend.  On Sunday, Martha and I fly north in order to view totality in northern Vermont on Monday before flying home Monday evening/night.  After pacing James, my next race will be the Kettle Moraine 100 miler in June in Wisconsin.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin