Mountain Mist 50k - A Quagmire of Water and Mud

January 27

Happy Birthday to me!  Yes, it is my birthday today, and I have been living on this Earth for 55 years.  This is the sixth time I am running this race.  I finished in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020.  I dropped out from the lingering effects from the flu the week before in 2017.  The last time I ran this race in 2020 was a month or so before Covid shutdown most of our lives, including races, for many months.  It was interesting re-reading my blog entry at that time, I had plans and goals for several races in 2020.  Of course, the races from March through September were cancelled that year, and then the races that were run after September, were changed to protect us all.  Enough with the reminiscing, and on with my race report.

My goal today is to finish within seven hours.  Four years ago, I accomplished this with only three seconds to spare.  This year, I feel ready, but there is only one minor challenge—the amount of water (and mud) on the course.  Two weeks ago, Huntsville experienced a winter apocalypse that left three inches of sleet and ice.  This didn’t melt until earlier this week, and now this week we received five-plus inches of rain.  On top of that, it is currently raining and is supposed to continue raining for several hours.  Here’s hoping none of us get washed away!  The temperature, however, is a moderate 50 degrees.  I start the race with shorts, long and short sleeve shirts, and a buff on my head.

Mile 4.3      46:16 (10:46 avg./mile) O’Shaughnessy Point

I press the pace early while the running surface is not bad.  Part of this section is on the road to allow the field to spread out some before getting on the trails.  The early trails are wide and in good shape considering all of the water.  It isn’t until the last mile before the aid station that the trail starts to get slick.  My shoes were soaked very soon after getting on the trails.  I am glad I have the second shirt on as the rain is very cool, and I think I would have been cold without it.  I pass through this first aid station without stopping.

Mile 11.4    1:29:18 (12:35 avg./mile) Bankhead

Through the Cuts

The trail on this section gets progressively worse.  The rain continues to fall and with over 100 runners in front of me, the trail is really getting chewed up.  The downhills are treacherous and the uphill sections are challenging as each foot plant slides back some.  At the trail junction which takes us out around Logan Point, there are a handful of people cheering for us.  These brave souls really lifted the runners’ spirits, especially mine.  Coming back from Logan Point, we pass through the dark, wet, and very slick cuts.  I have managed to keep myself upright so far as I make it to this aid station.  I eat two PB&J sandwich quarters as I move out on down the trail.

Mile 14.0    30:14 (11:38 avg./mile) Oak Park

My quick early miles have allowed me to run freely out in front of most of the middle of the pack.  Going down the trail to Oak Park, I follow a couple of runners, and we make our way past a couple of others.  Near the bottom before we get to run the last quarter of a mile on a road, we get held up a little by a lady that we can’t manage to get around.  However, she isn’t running too slow, and I think I am still in great shape for my sub-7-hour pace.  My time stands at 2:45, which is great as my goal was to get here by 2:48.  This gives me a chance to hit my goal time.  I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter and scarf down two Oreo cookies before thanking the nice aid station workers.

Mile 20.0    1:34:23 (15:44 avg./mile) Old Railroad Bed

The climb up from Oak Park is a mess.  The rain mostly stopped somewhere during my descent to Oak Park so that is nice, but the mud and water is significantly impeding my progress.  Where there is water on the trail, it is mostly ankle deep.  Where there is not standing water on the trail, the mud is very slick.  After the climb, we get on the High Trail where for about 100 yards I think the footing is going to be better up here.  That is a fleeting idea as the trail turns back into alternating between puddling water and greasy mud.  Finally, I make the turn onto the Bluff Line, and it is now a direct path to the next aid station.  I am slip sliding down the trail over wet, muddy rocks when I take a quick seat when my foot slides out faster than my body is moving.  No harm and just a little more mud on me.  I make it the rest of the way to the aid station, but just before the aid station there is a steep little downhill piece that is just sliding mud.  Going down wasn’t too bad, but we have to turn around and go back up this.  I grab another PB&J sandwich quarter and a handful of potato chips before heading back towards the mudslide.

Slick downhill into the Aid Station at Mile 20

Mile 25.0    1:19:43 (15:57 avg./mile) Trough Springs

I navigate going up the mudslide well enough only getting my hands in the mud once.  Coming into the aid station is Tony, who is a friend of James.  Tony is engaged to James’ wife’s sister, Sandy.  And, Tony and I crewed and paced James last year at the Endurance Hunter 100 miler in Georgia.  I am surprised he is running this well in these challenging conditions, but it is great to see him.  I proceed on the Railroad Bed trail, which is as challenging as ever with the rocks.  The one positive is that there isn’t as much mud, just the slippery, pointy rocks.  Somewhere in this section, I take my one and only S-Cap of the race.  The temperature has stayed in the 50s, and I haven’t been sweating much.  Just before the course makes the turn off Railroad Bed, a man and woman pass me moving at a good clip.  When we turn onto the Alms House trail, I still have them in sight so I pick up my pace and follow them most of the way to the Waterline trail.  We are making great time, and I catch back up to a couple of runners who I have been trading places with all day.  The climb up Waterline is not too bad, but we are all very careful with our footing and handholds.  Fortunately, there isn’t anyone in front of me for most of the climb.  After catching my breath from the toughest climb in the race, I shuffle the last mile into this aid station.  An aid station worker helps me add a little water to my Camelbak before I drink two small cups of Coke and eat one PB&J sandwich quarter.

A little stream crossing into McKay Hollow

Mile 29.5    1:12:43 (16:10 avg./mile) Rest Shelter

By my rough estimate, it is about a mile and a half on relatively flat trail that is underwater before we get to the Natural Well and begin a sketchy, tricky downhill section that of course has the added challenge of slick mud.  I am following a guy in orange, and we are making decent time when a lady moves by us.  She seems to be in her finishing kick.  However, after crossing the swollen stream at the bottom where the water is above our knees, I still have her in my sight.  So, I set out to begin my own finishing kick to see if I can catch back up to her.  Within a half mile, I pass her and then proceed to leave her behind as we make our way through McKay Hollow.  Usually, McKay Hollow is the worst part of the race, but this year it is just like all of the rest of the course—muddy and mostly underwater.  When I start the final climb to this last aid station, my watch shows 6:36, which means I have 24 minutes to finish before seven hours.  The climb takes me about 17 minutes, so that eliminates a sub-7 finish.  However, as I near the aid station I see Tony right in front of me.

Mile 31.1    16:25 (10:16 avg./mile) FINISH – Lodge

I don’t even pause for a second at the aid station.  Rather, I make the left turn and head towards the finish.  Tony is right beside me, and we chat for a minute.  Then I wish him well, and push the pace once again.  I might not be able to finish under seven hours, but I can still pass a handful of runners between here and the finish.  Each runner I catch gives me more energy to catch the next one.  I cross the line, and James, Daisy, and Sandy are there.  Sandy is Tony’s girlfriend (maybe fiancée?), and I tell her that Tony is only a couple of minutes behind me.

Official Finishing Time 7:09:02

141^st out of 389 finishers under the 9.5-hour cut-off

I am elated at the finish.  I congratulate other runners around me that I ran with all day.  It feels great to finish this race again, and even better to finish it with a huge kick—not quite good enough to salvage a sub-7, but definitely solid on any day.  At the Hellgate 100k last month, my kick wasn’t there when I needed it the last three miles, so I am focusing on that in this new year.  I take my number into the table in the lodge where the finisher awards are handed out, and not only do I get another hand painted slate, but I also get a beer glass as I am the fourth-place male, 55-59.  It pays to be a year older since I would have been tenth if I was in the M50-54 age group.

The next race I have planned is the Mount Cheaha 50k on February 24^th.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin