Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Mountain Masochist Trail Run 2013


November 1

This is my sixth time running this race.  It is not my favorite, but it is an outstanding tune-up for the Hellgate 100k, which is six weeks away.  I have not run this race since 2010 as this date has been the central regional high school cross country race in Virginia.  Although it is my daughter Amy’s senior year, the conference and regional races are on Wednesdays this year.

My wife, Martha, is crewing for me for only the second time at this race.  We drive down to Lynchburg in the afternoon and are staying in the Kirkley Hotel.  We eat dinner on our own at Famous Anthony’s restaurant.  It is a simple, outstanding meal, and then we pick up my race packet and listen to the pre-race briefing.

November 2

Since Martha will be driving me to the start, I sleep in until 4:45am.  We leave about 5:30 for the drive to the start at the KOA campground.  The weather is cool around 50 degrees.  I am going to start with a long sleeve t-shirt over a short sleeve t-shirt.  I see Sophie when I check in, and she comments on my old school “away blue” VHTRC shirt.  I see many other friends at the start, and my goal is to enjoy this day.

For the first 29 times this race was run, the distance was always the same.  The only change had been a different road section to begin the race.  Last year, the start was moved to a KOA campground from the James River visitor center.  The distance between aid stations used to be defined as Horton miles as sometimes they were about right, and sometimes there were some bonus distance.  The reason for Horton miles is that the course was measured from a topo map.  Consequently, the straighter sections were closer to the true distance than the trail sections with switchbacks.  Now, however, Clark Zealand (the current race director) took the occasion of moving the start to put the first section on trails, whereas before it was on a paved road.  Additionally, he decided to re-measure all of the sections with supposedly more accurate GPS.  The problem with GPS measurements is when there are leaves on the trees the measurements are less than accurate.  Furthermore, short switchbacks also cause a problem as the GPS measurements are not all the time but rather at a certain interval.  Therefore, the new mileage distances are now Zealand miles, which I will comment on during some sections.

Mile 7.63    1:32:36 (12:08 avg./mile) Peavine Mountain

At the start of the race, I am close to David Snipes.  We run the first several miles close together and then he pulls a little ahead of me.  The recent rains have ensured that the creek crossings will get our feet wet, and the first one is up to our knees in places.  In the past the first hour of darkness on the road didn’t require a light, but now on the trails, I have a headlamp for this first section.  My time on the trail in the dark is good, and I feel good early in this race.

Mile 11.33 38:36 (10:26 avg./mile) Dancing Creek

I am just sailing along letting the course come to me.  The downhills are great, and my legs are feeling really good on them.  I am in the vicinity of Jamie Azuaje, who ran the Triple Deca Iron Man a couple of weeks ago.  For those that haven’t heard of it, this is 30 full iron man triathlons in 30 days.  He finished and spoke at the pre-race briefing last night.  Today, he is still recovering so he is back in the pack.  It is awesome to hear some of his stories, but after a while I decide to push on ahead.  I see Martha at this aid station.  I drop off my headlamp, trade out my Camelbak for a full one, and drink some chocolate milk.  I also take half of a bagel to eat on the trail.

Mile 14.88 48:00 (13:31 avg./mile) Parkway Gate

My times on these early sections clearly indicate which sections are uphill.  This is one of them, although it is not entirely uphill.  I am not paying too close attention to my splits as I am just trying to enjoy the course and the day.

Mile 17.12 32:53 (14:41 avg./mile) Robinson Gap

This is a mostly uphill section, and I spend it power hiking in the vicinity of Travis Wildeboer.  Travis is the 15th person to ever finish the Barkley Marathons.  He was second this year behind Nickademus Hollon.  This is another fascinating story to hear.  He was in camp after the fourth loop and started the fifth loop about the same time as Nick.  However, they had to do the fifth loop in opposite directions.  He said he had decided on a spot that he needed to be at before they met around halfway, but he met Nick almost 45 minutes before he got to that spot and knew at that point that Nick probably had him beat.  Meanwhile, I feel like I am making good time so far.  This climb hasn’t been too bad, and now I am ready to rock the next section.

Mile 19.70 22:18 (8:39 avg./mile) Irish Creek

I pass through the Robinson Gap aid station very quickly only grabbing a few cookies.  The crews aren’t allowed there, so there isn’t much reason to stay long.  This section is all downhill.  I pass many people as my legs are feeling great!  When it bottoms out, the aid station is not far, and I again pass through quickly as crews aren’t allowed at this one either.  My race has begun to warm up, and I am picking up the effort some.  Before I started this downhill I was back ahead of Snipes, and I don’t think he is running the downhill sections as quickly as I am today.

Mile 21.94 24:48 (11:04 avg./mile) Reservoir

Some rolling hills lead to the next aid station, and I get to see Martha again.  I am drinking plenty of water as the temperature is in the low 60s.  I shed my long sleeve shirt a long time ago, and I am nicely comfortable at this point.  I drink some Conquest, trade out my Camelbak, and take another half bagel to eat on the trail.

Mile 26.49 1:12:49 (16:00 avg./mile) Long Mountain

This section is mostly uphill, but the last mile is relatively flat.  I roll into this aid station, which basically marks the halfway point at 5:32.  The rule of thumb has been that this is generally your halfway time even though more than half of the course has been completed.  At this aid station, I change my shoes and socks.  I also drink more chocolate milk and Conquest.  Additionally, I eat a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.  I want to be sure that I have plenty of energy for the second half.  My time doesn’t leave me much to spare as I only have about 35 minutes on the cut-off.

Mile 29.32 53:45 (19:00 avg./mile) Buck Mountain

The climb up Buck Mountain is a hard pull as usual.  I stay focused but the legs are starting to really tire.  I start to wonder if my legs will have any spring left in them after this hard climb.  Along the way I share a story or two about my experiences with pace groups in marathons.  Another guy is close to me, and he is having a hard time with his ankle.  Every 50 steps or so, his ankle gives way.  My only thought is that I have to get away from him in case a twisted ankle is contagious.  This aid station doesn’t have too much to offer, and crews aren’t allowed here.  So, I grab a few potato chips and continue on my way.  For my efforts, I supposedly gain another seven minutes on the cut-off time.

Mile 31.63 29:20 (12:42 avg./mile) Wiggins Spring

I run most of this relatively flat section.  However, my legs don’t have the spring back to them yet.  I am starting to really focus on the time cut-offs as the 12-hour finish deadline is not going to be easy this year.  At this aid station, I drink a little Conquest when I see Martha.  I don’t eat anything else as I will see her again in 1.5 miles.

Mile 33.08 26:55 (18:34 avg./mile) Start of loop

This short section is another climb uphill. The crew vehicles are on the same dirt road.  I am over halfway to this aid station before Martha finally passes me.  When I get to the aid station, she isn’t there.  I see Tammy Gray, and she says she is probably trying to find a place to park.  I am hungry and was looking forward to more chocolate milk, but instead I grab some cookies and head into the loop.

Mile 38.41 1:39:04 (18:35 avg./mile) End of loop

The loop section used to be five good long Horton miles. Now a mile and a half out and back up Mount Pleasant has been added, and this section is now 5.33 Zealand miles!  Let’s see 5 Horton miles + 1.5 statute miles = 5.33 Zealand miles.  It is a terrible equation, and it takes 26 minutes to do the out and back portion.  I am staying with everyone around me, even passing some people with very few passing me.  Just after I start heading back down from Mount Pleasant, Martha Wright meets me.  She broke her ankle a couple of months ago, but is doing well today.  Then as I am finishing the out and back section, I meet David Snipes just starting the out and back.  I know I have to hurry to meet the cut-off, and he is really going to have to rally.  When I finally get done with the extended loop, I am told that I only have 15 minutes on the cut-off.  My 45 minute cushion has now evaporated.  I find out later that David Snipes didn’t make this cut-off and was dropped at this point.  I down a good bit of chocolate milk and eat another half bagel.  I also get a full Camelbak and mention to Martha that she might not beat me to the next aid station as she has to go the far way around.

Mile 41.35 35:49 (12:11 avg./mile) Salt Log Gap

Leaving the loop, I catch up with a guy from Carolina who is running this race for the first time.  He asks about the sections left, and I mention that the next to last section has a Horton mile in it.  I also mention that once we get through this aid station, they can’t drop us as this is the last aid station that crews can visit.  We make good time on this section, but still manage to lose five more minutes to the cut-off.  Our margin is down to only 10 minutes!  I grab two cups of Pepsi, look around for Martha and then head up the trail.  Apparently she was close by, but didn’t see me until after I left the aid station.

Mile 42.42 17:30 (16:21 avg./mile) Forest Valley

This is another uphill section.  I am really hauling up this hill as the adrenalin is flowing racing against the cut-off.  While climbing up the hill, it begins to rain or should I say sleet?  The temperature has definitely dropped some, and I only have a short sleeve shirt on.  But, now is no time to worry about that.  I finish the climb, grab a cup of Coke from the aid station and continue on the trail.  Apparently, I gained back five minutes and now have 15 minutes to spare on the cut-off.

Mile 46.52 59:41 (14:33 avg./mile) Porter’s Ridge

My legs are feeling great again, and I know this section well as the course goes back to a single track trail.  There are many runners close to me, and I am plowing forward passing many of them.  I am not letting leaves, roots, or rocks slow me down as I make my final push towards the finish.  I only briefing walked up two hills on this section and roll into the aid station with a head of steam.  I have added 10 minutes onto my cushion ahead of the cut-off.  I ask for some Coke, but the aid station doesn’t have any.  So, I just continue on towards the finish.

Mile 50.27 42:30 (11:20 avg./mile) FINISH

Shortly after leaving the last aid station, I take my first fall of the day.  I bang my lower arm really well on a rock.  The fall has drawn a little blood, but nothing appears to be broken.  Now it is just a matter of continuing to run towards the finish.  The last 1.5 miles is sharply downhill, and my legs are still really decent.  With about a mile to go, I pass Travis Wildeboer, Andrew Thompson, and Jonathan Basham, who are just coasting in with Bethany Charron.  I finish with just under 24 minutes to spare.  My only comment to Horton is that the cut-offs here are now definitely tighter than the ones at Hellgate when there isn’t any snow or ice on the course.  He denies this of course, but I guarantee him that I will finish with more than 30 minutes to spare at Hellgate.

Unofficial Finishing Time 11:36:34

209th out of 325 starters

The Mountain Masochist has never been an easy race, and the cut-offs have always been a concern for middle of the pack runners.  But, now the cut-offs are cutting off many of the middle of the pack runners like David Snipes and Bill Turrentine.  These guys have extensive experience, but I guess everyone has to race against the same time limit.  I am satisfied with my race.  My legs had plenty in them for the final push.  My speed work this fall seems to have given a renewed pop to my stride when I need it.  After the finish, I catch my breath, and then do a maximum number of reps on the bench press with 135 pounds.  I manage 20 reps this year, and then find out that Mike Dunlop only did 32 or something.  Maybe I should actually lift again for the next time I run this race.

Martha and I leave directly from Montebello and head home.  We stop at a pizza place in Lovingston, and it is outstanding!  We make it home around 9pm; it is good to be home and sleep in my own bed.  I now have six weeks until Hellgate, and I will use this time wisely.  The five Hellgate survivors are all entered to complete 11 in a row.

Never stop running,
Darin

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