April 8
It is Friday afternoon, the day before I attempt to run my eighth Bull Run Run 50 mile race. Rick Holloway is with me as he will be my crew tomorrow. Rick crewed for me in Wisconsin last year, and for some reason, has decided to do it again. Rick’s son and my son are in Scouts together, and we have begin good friends over the last several years as we have done Scout trips to Canada and elsewhere.
We arrive at Hemlock Overlook around 4:30pm, check-in for the race, and get our cabin assignment where we will be sleeping tonight. After talking with Anstr Davidson (who is the race director), Gary Knipling, and Quatro Hubbard, Rick and I decide to head for some food. We drive north into Centreville and feast at Carrabba’s. After dinner, we top off the crew vehicle with fuel and head back to Hemlock for the night.
In our cabin, I meet Randy Dietz. Randy is one of the old gray beards that continues to run these ultra races in Virginia. Despite reading about Randy in other people’s race reports, I had never personally met him. We talk quite a bit about running and whether Frank Probst is going to have a fast day tomorrow. While we talk, Randy consumes three beers as he is clearly finishing his carbo loading. All the fun and conversation ends suddenly when Randy (obviously ready to go to sleep) gets up and turns off the lights. I read my iPad for 10 or 15 more minutes and then go to sleep.
April 9
I get up at 4:30am as I do not want to be pressured in the bathroom. After taking care of business in the bathroom (which includes reading my morning devotional and solving a Sudoku puzzle), I head down to the chow hall to eat a couple of pastries. There I find Frank getting a bite to eat as well. He is fully ready to run, but I am still wearing jeans as that was the easiest thing for me to put on at the time. He looks at me quizzically as if I might not be running, and I respond by stating that I still have an hour and a half before the 6:30am start. As usual, Frank is downplaying any possibility of him running a good time today.
After getting dressed and ready, I wander over to the start around 6:15am. There are many old friends to see and greet before the start of the race. I also try to see my other three teammates on the 40-Somethings; however, I fail to find Rande Brown before the start. The race starts promptly at 6:30am.
Mile 7.2 1:17:47 (10:48 avg./mile)
Centreville Road(1st time)
Centreville Road(1st time)
As with most of my races, I like to start off conservatively. David Snipes and I are running together early in the race. At first he doesn’t seem as talkative as usual, but then he “wakes up” and starts his usual banter with a few other runners. We are within shouting distance of each other as we get to the first aid station. Rick is there, and I grab some Conquest to drink, and then I am off.
Mile 11.6 45:35 (10:22 avg./mile)
Centreville Road(2nd time)
Centreville Road(2nd time)
These four miles are an out and back section to the upstream turnaround. I am still trying to run within myself as it is very easy to go out too quickly since these miles are relatively flat. At the turnaround, I see that Gary and Frank are about 200 yards ahead of me. Zeke Zucker is also out in front of me, and I want catch him today. This time when I come into the aid station, I grab some more Conquest and half of a bagel.
Mile 16.6 55:58 (11:12 avg./mile) Hemlock Overlook
The weather on this day is overcast and cool. It rained most of yesterday, so the trail is muddy in most places. Other than slipping and sliding a little, it is not a big problem. Coming back to Hemlock, I have put a little distance on Snipes, and I have managed to catch and pass Gary and Frank. I drink some chocolate milk and take another half of a bagel for the trail.
Mile 21.1 51:44 (11:30 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina
My pace has settled in well, and now I just have to maintain things until I get through the Do Loop. Then it will be time to see if I have a good push for the finish. I definitely am not pushing the pace too hard right now. At this aid station, Rick is here and I grab some more Conquest. I don’t get anything else from Rick, but instead get a sandwich quarter and some potato chips from the aid station food table.
Mile 26.1 54:03 (10:49 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals
This and the previous section of the course are gently rolling hills where I just try to let the race come to me. Although at this point in the race, I might be able to run the more gradual hills, it is wise not to. It seems like there are about four or five of us trading places back and forth as we roll along these hills. I am satisfied with my pace so far, but I don’t think I will have enough to go under 9 hours this year. This aid station is one where crews are not allowed. I drink a couple of cups of water and grab some chips for the trail.
Mile 28.1 28:33 (14:17 avg./mile) Fountainhead
This two mile section is one of the longest two mile sections I have seen. If this was a Horton race, everyone would say that there was an extra “Horton” mile in this section. However, I can’t complain as the rest of the course seems right on based on my consistent pace. Just before arriving at this aid station, Frank Probst catches back up to me. I come into the aid station slightly ahead of him, but it is only by a slim margin. Rick is here, and I drink some chocolate milk and take half of a bagel for the trail.
Mile 32.5 49:51 (11:20 avg./mile) Do Loop (start)
The first two miles leaving Fountainhead are on the dreaded white loop trail. I follow Frank and try to keep close, but when we come within sight of Fountainhead and make the turn towards the Do Loop, he leaves me behind. I still feel like I am making decent time. At the aid station, which the crews can’t go to, they have pizza. I pass on the pizza this time as I really don’t feel like eating much. I have been drinking liberally, and with the cool conditions, peeing a lot. I take a few cookies and head into the Do Loop.
Mile 35.5 33:36 (11:12 avg./mile) Do Loop (end)
As soon as I start on the Do Loop, Mark Prescott catches up to me. He says he has been doing a 10 minute run, 1 minute walk schedule. He also mentions that he just wants to stay in front of Gary who he thinks is only a few minutes behind us. This surprises me as I would have figured Gary wouldn’t be that quick today. The first third of the Do Loop is mostly downhill to the water. Then the course turns back and goes through many steep short ups and downs. Mark is ahead of me when we get close to the water, but then I start hammering the uphill section with my power walk. Soon Mark and I have Frank in sight up ahead. I go ahead of Mark and start to make my move on Frank. He says he felt really good when he passed me after Fountainhead, but now he doesn’t feel as good. I get about a 50 yard lead on him, and then I take a fall going down one of steep hills. Fortunately, I fall in a nice soft pile of leaves. I have tweaked my right ankle a little, but I think it will be okay. I manage to haul myself out of the leaf pile and stay just ahead of Frank. By the time I get to the aid station, I have put a gap between me and Frank again. This time through this aid station, I take a thin slice of pepperoni pizza.
Mile 37.9 31:19 (13:03 avg./mile) Fountainhead
It feels like I am starting my push for the finish, but with the muddy conditions, my time isn’t showing it. I passed a few people on this section, and I met a ton of people heading out to the Do Loop. Getting into Fountainhead, Rick is here and I drink some chocolate milk and take another half of a bagel for the trail. I need to try to keep the calories in me so I have plenty of energy for the final push to the finish.
Mile 39.9 26:52 (13:26 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals
Leaving Fountainhead, I try to push really hard. I even run some of the uphill sections, but I quickly regret that and revert back to power hiking the uphills. It doesn’t seem like I have really found my groove today. As I come into Wolf Run Shoals, I am not feeling wonderful, but know that I have only about 10 miles to go. Knowing that they have ice cream sandwiches, I ask for half of one. Margie quickly fills that request, and I take it and head up the trail.
Mile 44.9 58:56 (11:47 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina
During this section, it dawns on me that I can average 12.5 minute miles on the final climb at Hellgate. Therefore, if I can do that on the uphill sections here and then do 10 minutes or better running on the downhills then my pace should be pretty good. Of course, the final uphill at Hellgate is the final uphill, and I don’t make that kind of speed the whole time. However, I need to get into that mode here. I come into the last aid station ready to throw down the hammer. I grab two cups of Coke and a few chips. Rick, my always reliable crew, is here waiting with chocolate milk and a bagel, but I will pass on it and head for the finish.
Mile 50.4 1:05:22 (11:53 avg./mile) FINISH!
My legs feel okay, but not great. My pace today has been okay, but not great. The mud has moderated everything it seems. As I near about two miles to go, I catch up to a girl from Ohio. I find out that she is only a junior in high school. She runs cross country, but decided this spring to run this 50 miler instead of the track season. I am definitely impressed with where she is in this race today, but I still pass her and someone else on my way to the finish.
Official Finishing Time 9:39:36
112th out of 344 starters (313 finishers)
All of my eight finishes at this race have been 9 hours and change. This is my first one in the 9:30-9:39 range. I thought I was prepared to run faster today, but whether it was because of the mud or who know what my time will not be my best. Instead it is right in the middle of my eight times. Rande Brown and Jeff Best (two of my teammates) finish ahead of me, and David Snipes will be behind me a little bit.
The rest of my spring will be consumed with watching Nathan and Amy run track meets. I am signed up for Leadville in August, but may fit in a 50k or two this summer if the schedule allows. Until then…
Never stop running,
Darin
