Sunday, October 23, 2022

Stump Jump 50k - Tumble and Roll

October 1

Darin & James before the Start
My feet begin to slide down the scree, and I start to fall downhill.  My foot catches on something, and I find myself hurtling downhill head first.  Ah, there is a small tree that I can grab in order to stop my decent.  Instead of catching the tree, I plow right through it with no measurable decrease in my momentum.  I make contact length-wise on a log with my hands and forearms taking the
brunt of the impact.  Sliding down the log, I finally come to rest in rocks and dirt.  Did I break anything?  Where do I hurt?  Can I continue this race as it is only mile 12?

This day started very promising.  The course is dry with temperatures beginning in the low 50s.  James and I drove over to Chattanooga yesterday afternoon.  I plan to try to finish in 7 hours flat.  It is going to take a push, but I think I am ready to push this race as this is my third time running this event.  My training has been solid this summer, and the only catch is my stomach issues that I hope are behind me.

Mile 4.9      55:42 (11:22 avg./mile) Edwards Point

This first section is nicely rolling terrain, and I run most of it in order to keep my place in the conga line of runners.  After the first few miles, the pack thins out, and I am able to set my own pace.  I wanted to get a quick start, and my time on this first section is faster than my two previous times at this race.  At the aid station, I don’t need anything so I pass right through passing a few runners in the process.

Mile 8.2      44:59 (13:38 avg./mile) Mushroom Rock #1

Katie, Christina
followed by Darin
Leaving Edwards Point aid station, I settle in behind two ladies that are setting a
very nice pace.  The lady in the lead for now is Katie, and Christina is following.  As we catch up to a runner, Christina will mention to Katie when it is time to pass them.  My effort on this section remains about the same as the first section, but the trail is more technical with rocks and roots and thus is slower.  At the aid station, I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter and a small handful of potato chips.  When I look up, Christina and Katie are gone.

Mile 14.2    1:31:50 (15:18 avg./mile) Indian Rock House

The trail is sharply downhill leaving Mushroom Rock.  I pass several runners going down the hill to the bridge across a creek.  I continue to run smoothly, only occasionally catching my toe on a rock.  I have fallen once with no damage, catching myself with my hands.  I cross Suck Creek and the road beside it.  After crossing the road, I catch up to Katie on the ensuing climb.  I ask her about Christina, and she says that she is a strong runner and always leaves her behind.  I chat with Katie a little bit, and then pass her near the top of the climb.  The trail on the ridge is mostly flat, but fairly technical.  It is difficult to get into a rhythm, but in attempt to try to stay in a rhythm, I am taking chances on the rocks and roots.  As was written in the opening, around 12 miles, I take one chance too many.  The fall was probably the second worst fall I have taken while running trail ultra-races.  The only one that was probably worse was my bloody chin and cracked fillings fall at Massanutten Mountain Trail 100 miler in 2005 in Virginia.  It takes me a few minutes of walking before I feel like I can run again.  When I arrive at the aid station, the workers are anxious to clean up my wounds, but none of the wounds are dripping blood so I decline their offers.  Speaking of wounds, here they are:  right forearm is scraped the worst from elbow to wrist, left forearm is lightly scraped, right cheek has a scrape that I don’t even feel and the scrape continues across the front of my chin, a gash in between the index and middle finger on my right hand, and the back of my left hip has a scrape and a bruise that is not visible as my shorts cover it.  Amazingly, my legs, ankles, and feet feel okay, so I press on after taking two PB&J sandwich quarters.

Approaching Indian Rock House aid station

Mile 16.7    35:35 (14:14 avg./mile) Snoopers Rock

After the sandwich quarters, I have a bit more energy and the pain in various places is starting to numb out a bit.  I gently push the pace and am rewarded with a decent time getting to this aid station.  There were a couple of guys that I chatted with during this section.  One is running his first 50k and didn’t hang with me for very long.  The other one is running this race for his third time and is trying to run nice and easy.  The past two times he has gone out too fast and blown up.  I grab a pickle and a handful of potato chips at the aid station.

Mile 19.4    57:07 (21:09 avg./mile) Haley Road

The guy trying to run a conservative race stays with me for this whole section.  At
some point he remarks that this is the farthest in a race he has gone without throwing up.  I guess everyone has goals!  I am in cruise mode and probably didn’t push my pace enough on this section, but my plan is to push after Mullins Cove.  As I am wondering when we will get to the aid station, we come out onto a dirt road that I remembered takes us to the aid station.  We hike up the dirt road for a few hundred yards and arrive at the aid station.  I grab another PB&J sandwich quarter and head out for the final section on this loop.

Mile 22.8    50:23 (14:49 avg./mile) Mullins Cove Parking

Navigating the rock garden
My goal on this section is to make it to the next aid station with something left in the tank for the last push to the finish.  I run most of this section with a lady who hasn’t done this race before.  I follow her through the rock garden that doesn’t seem as long as I remember.  I glide into the aid station and grab some potato chips and look to drink some Coke.  Unfortunately, this is a cup-less race so there is no cup to pour some Coke in for me.  So, I pour the Coke into my open mouth, fountain style.  I get two mouthfuls with this approach.

Mile 29.3    1:55:38 (17:47 avg./mile) Mushroom Rock #2

I press my pace leaving Mullins Cove, running the half mile to the steps leading down to the Indian Rock House.  I cover that half mile in six and a half minutes.  I am by myself at this point and feeling pretty good.  Two miles later, I mark the spot where I took my fall several hours earlier.  It doesn’t look that imposing if you navigate the trail carefully.  I catch and pass two other runners, but then I am passed by a runner as well.  When I think I am less than an hour from the finish, I take a caffeine pill to keep my energy up.  After this, I am still feeling good, but various muscles in my legs start to talk to me.  First it is my hamstrings that threaten to cramp.  Then as I near the downhill to the road crossing, my calves start to complain.  Just then Christina catches up to me and remarks that this is the last downhill.  I want to take it easy, but that isn’t going to help (much) my cramping legs.  We make our way down and cross the creek as I manage to keep Christina behind me.  As we are making the steep climb up to Mushroom Rock, my left calf seizes up.  She asks if she can help at all, and I answer in the negative.  It takes me about 10 seconds to resume my trek up the hill, and I make it to the aid station.  I grab a couple of potato chips as Christina pushes on through the aid station ahead of me.

Mile 31.2    21:06 (11:06 avg./mile) FINISH

As I watch Christina trot away from the aid station, I know I cannot run any uphill sections.  I would like to push this last mile or two, but I have to be careful to not cause my leg muscles to completely seize up.  So, I hike the slightly uphill sections, and try to run the flat and downhill sections.  About halfway to the finish, my right calf locks up.  It takes me the better part of a minute before I can do anything.  After that, I walk the majority of the section until I get to the final section of road to the finish line.  (Note, this section is not 1.9 miles!)  As I near the finish, I show the battle damage on my arms.

At the Finish


Battle Damage










Official Finishing Time          7:52:20

71st out of 220 starters (2nd of M50-59)

My time this year ends up being 10 seconds faster than when I ran this in 2019.  I pushed the pace and paid the price for it.  However, I am glad that I was able to test myself to that limit.  Falling as I did was never in the plan.  I am surprised to see that I was 2nd male in the grand masters category.

My next event is to pace James at the Pinhoti 100 miler on November 5th.  After that I have the 20th running of the Hellgate 100k in December.  Despite the fact that my races recently haven’t gone as I planned, I feel confident right now for Hellgate.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

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