February
11
 |
| Oliver with big brother and dad in the background |
This
is a low key race. There are only 32
runners in the 50k. A half marathon and
5k are also being run on this course today.
The half marathon runners will start with us at 8:00am, and the 5k
runners will start 30 minutes later. The
temperature is currently 41 degrees, but it is supposed to warm up to about 50
degrees before rain moves in during the afternoon. I start the race with shorts, long and short
sleeve shirts, and a buff on my head.
Mile
2.4 24:02 (10:01 avg./mile) Four-way
Intersection
There
are 80-some runners in the half marathon, so for these first two sections, the
trail is a little crowded. Also, there
is basically no way for me to identify who is running which race. Most of these first miles are downhill, and I
am feeling good. I don’t stop at this
small aid station, instead I click my watch and press on.
Mile
3.2 10:15 (12:49 avg./mile) Start of
South Loop
A quick stretch over a hill, down the other side, and then up and down beside a cemetery brings me to the second aid station, which is unmanned. The half marathon runners just turn around at this point, and the 50k runners start a 3+ mile loop. I met several of the leading half marathon runners as I approached this aid station.
Mile
6.4 38:28 (12:01 avg./mile) End of
South Loop
I
run with a younger guy from Georgia that is running his second 50k. His name is Ty Smith, and he says it was
about a two-hour drive from where he lives in Georgia. He is following me for this section, but
doesn’t talk too much or ask me many questions.
Usually, less experienced runners ask me tons of questions, mostly about
all of my races. We are making good
time, and I like the pace so far.
Mile
7.2 9:12 (11:30 avg./mile) Four-way
Intersection
Ty
and I make quick work of this short section that finishes the southern lollipop
loop. There are several runners/walkers
still heading outbound as we are coming back.
I assume most of these are the half marathon runners because the 50k
runners wouldn’t be walking at this point if they hoped to make the eight-hour
cutoff. At the aid station, Ty slides
quickly past me as I say hi to the race director. I again don’t stop at this aid station as I
am carrying my Camelbak with 50 ounces of water.
Mile
9.7 24:43 (9:53 avg./mile) Full Aid
Station
Ty
pushes the pace on this section and gaps me as we pass several half marathon
runners. I guess it is five or six
runners, but this section isn’t very long, and most of it is long switchbacks
up a climb. At the top of the climb, we
cross a paved road and enter the one and only full aid station in the
race. They have warm quesadilla
quarters, which are simply superb! I
limited myself to just one at this point.
Mile
14.8 1:02:56 (12:20 avg./mile) Full Aid
Station
This
is the sixth time this race has been run, but none of these aid stations have
names. So, I have made up my own names
for each of the aid stations. This
section is the northern lollipop loop. I
meet several of the leaders in the half marathon as they are heading back
towards their finish. I get to the split to start the loop, and the loop starts
with a rather steep downhill section.
Braking while running down the hill is essential. I pass a few half marathon runners on my way
down the hill. I hope that I can still
run down this hill on the second lap, and I make a mental note to try to save
my quads in order to be able to do so.
At the bottom of the hill, the course parallels the water for a half
mile or so before the climb back up the hill begins. This is an equally steep hill going up as it
was going down. At some point on this
section, I passed a slightly fading Ty Smith and leave him behind. When I get to the aid station, I grab another
quesadilla—this one with some bacon in it with the cheese—and proceed the last
mile or so to finish the first lap.
Mile
15.7 10:37 (11:48 avg./mile) End of
First Lap
There
isn’t a stop at this point, but there is a little spur off of the main trail
that will take us to the finish after the second lap. The race director is at
this point making sure each runner makes the correct turn for his/her
race. My halfway time is right at three
hours, which is about as good as I could have hoped for a race with almost
5,000 feet of climb and descent.
Mile
17.6 21:57 (11:33 avg./mile) Four-way
Intersection
This
section is quicker than the first time, but it is also shorter by a half
mile. The race started with a lap around
the parking lot before entering the trail spur that is about three-tenths of a
mile. I pass one runner on this section
and wish him well on his second lap.
Unfortunately, the rain begins falling, but fortunately it is a very
light rain for now.
Mile
18.4 9:38 (12:03 avg./mile) Start of
South Loop
I
press hard on this short little section of trail, bettering my time from the
first time going out. It isn’t quicker
than my return trip earlier, though. I
see one of the leaders finishing the loop as I make the right turn to start my
loop. I am still feeling pretty good,
but I want to make sure I don’t push my legs too hard.
Mile
21.6 44:54 (14:02 avg./mile) End of
South Loop
I
pass another runner early in this section.
He stays close to me for a while, but then I am able to open up a gap
and leave him behind. I am running
conservatively otherwise as I wait to get closer to the finish before pushing
any harder. The light rain continues to
fall, but so far the trail is in good shape.
Mile
22.4 11:36 (14:30 avg./mile) Four-way
Intersection
Leaving
the south loop, I meet a few outbound runners as we pass by the cemetery
again. As they are over three miles
behind me, I hope I don’t see them again on the course, but I might coming and
going on the northern lollipop loop. At
this aid station, I see the race director again. I stop just long enough to refill my Camelbak
for the one and only time during the race.
Mile
24.9 27:20 (10:56 avg./mile) Full Aid
Station
I
decided I would push this section a little more than I did on the first lap,
but my time was over two minutes slower.
I think the combination of mentally knowing that it isn’t time to push
all out and the lack of any other runners around me caused the lethargic
section. It is also interesting to me
that the pace for this section is actually fast, which makes me think this
section might not be as long as advertised.
At this wonderful aid station, I eat a quesadilla and a bite-size Twix
bar.
Mile
30.0 1:06:06 (12:58 avg./mile) Full Aid
Station
I
run most of the way to the split, and then I run all the way down the
hill. My legs are screaming since I have
to break due to the steepness, but it is go time, and this is the last real
downhill for this race. I make it to the
lake, traverse around, and then start the climb. The rain has started to pick up, and it feels
colder. I don’t know if it actually
colder or if the heavier rain is making it feel colder. The climb is tough, but when I get to the top
I run to the split and then onto the aid station. I grab one more quesadilla and wash it down
with several gulps of Coke. Let’s go get
this race done!
Mile
31.1 13:14 (12:02 avg./mile) FINISH
I
press hard, but the legs are heavy, and I haven’t seen another runner going my
direction in over 10 miles. I haven’t
seen any runners to catch in front of me, and I have not seen or heard any
runners behind me. I hike the last small
climb and turn the corner to run through the finishing arch in the steady rain.
Official Finishing
Time 6:14:58
11th
out of 32 starters (25 under the 8-hour cut-off)
After
crossing the finish line, I am given my finisher award. My first question is what place am I? They don’t know, and the race director is
nowhere around the finish. I eat a bowl
of chili and chat with the volunteers while watching the weather deteriorate. I am glad I am not still out there
running! When I get in my truck, the
temperature is a cool 42 degrees. My
next race will be the Bull Run Run 50-mile race on April 15th, but
before that I plan to pace James at the Endurance Hunter 100-mile race on April
1st.
Never stop
running,
Darin
