Twisted Branch 100k 2024 - Clear and Warm

August 24

The finish line is just in front of the wing

For the third year in a row, I am heading to upstate New York to run the Twisted Branch 100k.  And, Peter Lovassy is joining me to crew again this year for the third time in a row!  We flew up Friday morning, got our rental car, and went to our usual lunch spot in Penn Yan.  We placed our order and sipped on our drinks for about 45 minutes when our waitress comes out (without our meals) and tells us that she forgot to put our order in with the kitchen.  She is very sorry, but is putting it in now with a rush on it.  We get our meals five minutes later.  This wasn’t too big a deal except that I didn’t finish my lunch until almost 2pm.  As the race starts at 4am tomorrow, this could be an issue.

The rest of the afternoon goes without issues, and Peter and I are eating dinner around 6pm in the rental house.  I go to sleep at 8:20pm with my alarm set for 2am.  The morning all goes well at the house, and we leave for the start at 3am.  As we get about halfway there, the rental car tells us that it is low on fuel.  Low on fuel?  We just picked the car up yesterday!  Obviously, it didn’t have a full tank when we got it.  So, instead of getting to the start around 3:25am, we have to stop and put some fuel in the car and get to the starting area around 3:35am.  As Peter says, there is always something that needs to be solved that wasn’t in the plan.  Fortunately, I don’t need to do anything more than check-in and empty my bladder before the race.  I walk over to the start and meet Carl Bligan.  We chat briefly, and I learn that his dad, Kevin, is crewing for him today.

The race begins!

Mile 6.1      1:25:56 (14:05 avg./mile) Cutler

I get started fairly near the front of the pack of runners.  I am probably just ahead of middle of the pack.  I feel like I am pushing the pace somewhat and hope that I am not going out too fast.  At some point I bump a tree, and my cranky left shoulder complains for about a minute.  I will try not to do that anymore.  The other body part that is complaining this morning is my right quad muscle.  I strained it training five weeks ago, and it likes to let me know. I am trying out a new headlamp this morning.  It is the Petzel IKO CORE.  So far so good, but I will be using my other one for most of tonight’s section.  At this first aid station, I don’t take anything and press on through.

Mile 10.6    52:44 (11:43 avg./mile) Naples Creek

The first difference with this year’s course is this section.  Instead of this section being mostly on trails, it is nearly all on roads this year as there was some issue with the land owner.  I run all of the downhill portions, trying not to go too fast.  We enter Naples, and clearly, I am not going too fast.  I also time it well as I don’t get to this aid station until after daybreak so I can leave my headlamp.  Peter is waiting for me with a biscuit and chocolate milk.  In the past, I have eaten bagels or croissants, but when we were in the grocery store yesterday, there was a package of biscuits that looked delightful.  This morning, they are tasty and salty, but also very dry.  I eat about 75% of it before I toss it into the woods.

Mile 18.0    2:11:53 (17:49 avg./mile) The Sneaker

Powering up yet another hill

Leaving Naples Creek, the hardest and longest climb on the course begins.  I am followed by two guys from Maryland that I chat with for a couple of miles.  I never learn their names, and they were never ahead of me.  They have also trained in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia like I have.  At some point, I leave them and begin leapfrogging with a lady that lives in Ithaca, New York, but is originally from Long Island.  This section has a couple of extra miles in it to make up for the difference in the last section.  I was worried that the extra miles would be tough, but the extra is actually a pleasant rolling grassy trail on which I think I made decent time.  I am following a guy down a tricky downhill when we near a bridge crossing, and he starts hopping and shouting.  There are yellow jackets around, and he get stung a few times.  Somehow, I luck out am do not get stung, but as I am climbing up the hill on the other side, I hear several runners behind me shouting in pain.  So, while the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were swarming in Ireland, some yellow jackets were swarming on the Twisted Branch course!  At this aid station, I grab a pickle, two orange slices, and a handful of cookies.

Mile 22.3    1:02:28 (14:32 avg./mile) Italy Valley

Nicole and I run together for a mile or so leaving The Sneaker, and then she presses a little ahead.  Meanwhile, I keep up a nice pace on this mostly downhill section.  Near the end of this section, Mark catches up to me.  I heard him and Jason talking behind me for a while, so I greet him by name when he comes up behind me.  Mark is a medical doctor, whose son recently completed basic training at Parris Island.  His son is trying to get into Marine Recon, and we talk about that for a bit.  At this aid station, there is the same normal assortment, and I only eat a handful of potato chips.

Mile 28.9    1:48:59 (16:31 avg./mile) The Lab

Dr. Mark and I run this whole section together.  At some point while I was engrossed in conversation on a technical downhill portion, I roll my right ankle for the first time today.  It doesn’t hurt, but I need to try not to do that again.  The last part of this section is on a gravel road with a beautiful view.  So far, this day has been beautiful, cool, and clear, but it is now starting to get warm.  Last year at this point, the breeze still felt very cool.  This year, any breeze is nice, but it doesn’t feel cool.  At the aid station, Peter has a bacon, egg, and cheese grilled sandwich ready for me.  I eat most of that and wash it down with CR02 and a little chocolate milk.  Since the temperature is now warm and only going to get warmer, I put on my new Iced Cap.  Peter packs it with ice, my brain freezes, and I head out of the aid station.

Mile 35.3    1:49:31 (17:07 avg./mile) Patch

I leave the aid station just behind Nicole, and I stay with her for a couple of miles while the ice in the Iced Cap keeps my body cool.  In these moderate temperatures, the ice lasts close to 50 minutes.  I saw these Iced Caps on the streaming of the Western States 100 this year and figured it would be a good thing to have.  I tried it out three weeks ago while I was training on Priest and Three Ridges, and it is very effective at lowering one’s body temperature.  When all of the ice melts away, I make a concerted effort to slow my pace down.  This race is all about conserving my resources for everything that is still in front of me.  At the aid station, I grab a couple of cookies and get my Iced Cap repacked with ice by a nice aid station volunteer.

Mile 39.8    1:27:50 (19:31 avg./mile) Finger Lakes Camp Ground

Now past halfway and in the heat of the afternoon, I focus on power hiking not just the uphill sections, but also most of the flat sections as well.  I am still running very smoothly on the downhills as my feet are doing very well.  For part of this section, I run with Jason who lives in Colorado Springs but is originally from Long Island.  He says he knows Nicole and isn’t surprised that she is ahead of us.  Jason walks away from me on the steep uphill section after a gentle downhill road portion.  A few more ups and downs, and I am joined by Pete (not my crew) as we make our way to the aid station.  Peter is ready for me, but the only food item I asked for was another biscuit.  I eat about half of that and ask what the aid station has.  The only real food they have is quesadillas, so I get two quarters of those.  Peter repacks the Iced Cap with ice, my brain refreezes, and I head out for the next section.

Mile 46.8    2:21:30 (20:13 avg./mile) Glenbrook

I continue to run conservatively, trying to save my legs and keep my body at a reasonable temperature.  For this section, I am almost entirely by myself.  There is one guy a bit ahead of me, and I pass him at a creek crossing, but otherwise, it is just me and nature.  The two twisted trees are on this section, and I note that it is less than 30 minutes after I pass those two twisted trees that I reach the aid station.  As I enter the aid station, I see Nicole’s husband and daughters who are crewing for her.  I ask him if she just left, and he says she is in the porta-john.  Peter has a grilled ham and cheese sandwich ready for me, and I eat the majority of it washing it down with plenty of CR02.  I trade out the Iced Cap for a Buff as it is now 5pm.  I also get my Petzel headlamp to take with me as it will be 11+ miles until I see my crew again.

Mile 51.6    1:54:34 (23:52 avg./mile) Lake David

I track out of the aid station less than a minute after Nicole leaves.  There is a short trail section before we get back on a gravel road for a little bit.  On the road, I can see Nicole just ahead of me, but I never catch up to her.  Like the last section, I spend most of this section by myself.  It is good that I am not getting passed by anyone, but I am not catching anyone either.  A couple of guys do pass me near the end of this section as we are climbing up a stupid steep climb just before we traverse around a pond to the aid station.  This climb is one of a few climbs late in this race that really saps the energy and will out of the runners.  At the aid station, I eat two boiled potatoes and a pierogi and drink a small cup of Coke.  I am looking at one of the aid station volunteers when I realize I know the guy.  It is John Rynders, who I ran with some the past two years at this race.  He says he got injured in July and decided to defer his entry to next year.

Mile 56.0    1:26:55 (19:45 avg./mile) Mitchellsville

Leaving Lake David, we are told that we have to get to the next aid station before 9pm.  Initially, I think this should be no problem as it is just before 7pm, and this section is only 4.4 miles.  Furthermore, the tough climb and super steep decent on this section has been removed this year.  I get caught by the Smith brothers, Kirk and Nate, early on this section, and I tag along with them for a few miles.  It isn’t until about a mile to go on this section when they stop to water a tree that I get back ahead of them.  As I am making my way over the last mile, a small cloud decides to drop a couple of rain drops on us.  There was a zero percent chance of rain today!  However, it doesn’t rain more than the couple of drops, so I am not complaining.  I get into the aid station, sit down, and drink a cup of broth.  The broth isn’t very salty, but it tasted good otherwise.  I eat another boiled potato before heading out just behind the Smith brothers.

Mile 58.4    0:49:14 (20:31 avg./mile) Urbana

Starting this section, the headlamp comes on as it is nearly dark in the woods.  My legs aren’t wanting to turn over at all, and I go to a caffeine pill.  It takes a few minutes for it to kick in, but then I am back in business running down a nicely cushioned trail avoiding tripping on any roots.  The section seems a bit longer than I remember, but soon I am running across the field next to the grape vines and into the town of Urbana where the last aid station is.  I actually ran this section two minutes faster than last year.  That might be accounted for in the fact that I didn’t have a headlamp with me, but I was 40 minutes earlier so it wasn’t completely dark yet.  Peter has some Ramen soup ready for me.  I eat about half of a cup before I strap on my Black Diamond headlamp for the finishing section.  In hindsight, I should have sat and eaten more, but I was ready to get the race finished.

Mile 64.0    2:14:54 (24:05 avg./mile) FINISH

This last section starts with the second toughest climb in the entire race.  It is a brutal climb of almost 1,000 feet with close to 30 switchbacks.  The afternoon breeze is long gone.  It is cooler, but still warm and hiking up the incline gets the sweat pouring out of my pores once again.  Soon a lady and her pacer catch up to me near the top of the climb, and I stay with them for a couple of miles.  Her name is Susan, and she is from nearby Corning, NY.  When I mention I am from Huntsville, she says her son lives in Meridianville, which is the same town I live in—what a small world it can be at times!  After a couple of miles another lady passes me, and she and Susan press on ahead.  I have plenty of time on the cutoff, but I am starting to feel not so good.  I hold it together and manage to finish in decent shape.

Finally, I am finished!

Official Finishing Time 19:26:28

150^th out of 203 starters (156 finishers under 20 hours)

This race is not only hard, but is relentless with the climbs and slow technical trail.  So many times, the course pops out to a half mile road section, but then it goes back into the woods for slow technical trail, or a stupid steep climb.  I am glad I got it done, and it should translate into a good training effort and confidence builder heading into the fall.  Right now, the next race I plan to run is not until December and the Hellgate 100k.  So, it might be back-to-back 100k races.  But, before then I am pacing James at the Georgia Jewel in September, and I plan to pace my son, Nathan, for his first 100 miler in October at the Rim to River.  Until next time…

Never stop running,

Darin

Kettle Moraine 100 Miler 2024 - A Western Qualifier?

 June 8

The day before at packet pickup

Over the course of my ultrarunning “career”, I have toed the starting line of 25 100-mile races.  Today, I am toeing the starting line of a 100-mile race for the 26^th time.  My finishing record in 100-mile races stands at 13 finishes and 12 DNFs.  So, today’s race will determine whether I fall back to a 50% finishing rate, or whether I stay over 50%.  That fact aside, today’s race is all about getting a qualifier for the Western States 100 lottery.  Yes, there is a lottery as there are only 369 slots, and more than 7,000 runners qualify and want to run that race.

I was last at this race two years ago, and I finished in 29:23.  Brandon was crewing for me that year.  This year, James is going to crew and pace me.  The plan is for him to begin pacing me at mile 63.  The forecast is mostly good.  It is supposed to stay cool, topping out in the high 60s, but it is likely there will be rain.  For now, the skies are mostly cloudy with a temperature around 55 degrees.

Mile 5.1      56:11 (11:01 avg./mile) Tamarack

Ready for the start

At the start, there is a moderate backup, but we mostly move forward at the gun.  Then we all settle in with the large pack of runners.  I strike up a conversation with another runner, who is Scott from Seattle.  He met the race director when he ran Western last year and decided to come out to Wisconsin for this one.  He got selected in the lottery with only two tickets, and he had never run a 100-miler before Western.  He qualified with only 100k races, one of which was Leona Divide.  The aid station comes up quickly, and I grab a PB&J wrap and a blueberry donut hole.  Crews aren’t allowed here so I don’t get to see James.

Mile 7.4      31:57 (13:53 avg./mile) Bluff

After the opening section, I make a concerted effort to keep my pace in a comfortable place.  Scott is around me, but I meet another runner that looks like he has a good pace.  Drew is from Indianapolis, and this is his first 100-mile attempt.  At least that is what I remember, but now I cannot find any record of Drew in the results.  There is a Drew from Milwaukee, but his splits don’t line up with mine.  Anyway, I run with him for a couple of sections.  His stride is smooth and relaxed and easy to follow.  I also chat with Jeff, who has some fans out here.  A couple of guys are running around meeting him at several locations.  Of course, they can’t provide any aid outside of the stations, but they are there to cheer for him.  Jeff is from right here in Whitewater, so it makes sense that he might have some local fans.  He is wearing a Blue Angels hat, and we talk about that for a mile or so.  This aid station doesn’t allow crews until after 6:30pm, so James is not at this stop.  I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter, a little pickle, and a small cup of pickle juice.

Mile 11.2    52:04 (13:42 avg./mile) North Tam

I remain smooth, mostly following Drew for this section.  There is a lady that I will leap frog for most of the race around me as well.  Her name is Raquel, and we never have a conversation, but I picked up her name from her race bib.  There are times on this section when the sun is peeking through the clouds, and this makes it feel like it is warming up quickly.  I wonder if the forecast is going to be true or false.  I need the clouds for shade on the open prairie sections, but no rain would be nice.  This aid station sneaks up on me as it is a new location.  Previously, the aid station was at Horse Riders, but now it is about a mile sooner.

Mile 15.5    56:05 (13:03 avg./mile) Natalie’s

This section begins some of the open prairie portions of the course.  The clouds have returned, and the sun is not warming things up.  I imagine the temperature has climbed into the mid-60s, and while it is very humid, overall, the conditions are pretty good.  Since Alabama has been in the 80s most of the month of May, this feels good to me.  This aid station is another that doesn’t allow crews, so I quickly scan the table and grab a bag of Smart Food popcorn.  I eat about half of it before tossing it, and proceed forward.

Mile 19.5    59:09 (14:47 avg./mile) McMiller

There is a husband and wife that have been around me most of the race so far.  Her name is Mary, and his name is Brook.  They are working together and mostly running together.  He has run one 100-mile race, and this is her first 100-mile attempt.  On this section before we make the climb up to the aid station, there are a couple of muddy places on the trail.  As it hasn’t started raining yet, I am surprised since the trail has been pretty dry.  However, the ground across the prairie is soft and moist in places.  When I arrive at the aid station, I get to see my crew for the first time since the start.  James is ready for me with a grilled ham and cheese.  I eat most of it and wash it down with some chocolate milk followed by CR02.  CR02 is my own concoction that doesn’t have any magnesium in it.  I am not sure if magnesium causes me problems, but a drink that I loved (but is no longer made) didn’t have any in it.

Mile 23.8    58:22 (13:34 avg./mile) Wilton Road

Coming down from McMiller, I get a little boost in my pace.  I haven’t seen Drew anymore, but I continue to leap frog with Brook/Mary and Raquel.  I feel good so far, but I am running conservatively to keep everything in check for the latter portions of the race.  My goal is to finish, and it would be nice to do so with a couple of hours to spare.  Approaching this aid station, there is a volunteer with a bullhorn welcoming us runners.  I grab another pickle, and small cup of pickle juice, and eat a PB&J sandwich quarter.

Mile 27.1    49:02 (14:52 avg./mile) Highway 67

Coming into Highway 67 aid station

I settle back into my 14-minute per mile pace as I make my way across the prairie.  The clouds are hanging around, and it looks like it could start raining soon.  The prairie does not have any steep climbs, so I adopt a run walk strategy for these portions.  I will run for up to 10 minutes and then take a walking break of a few minutes.  I get into this aid station with damp feet from the moist ground, but I don’t want to change shoes yet with the impending rain.  So, I opt to just change socks.  It is a good call as my shoes are just damp, and the dry socks feel really good.  I have a minor hot spot off the outside back of my left heel.  I drink some CR02 and take half of a cheese bagel to eat as I walk out of the aid station.

Mile 29.4    33:10 (14:25 avg./mile) County Road ZZ

This short section is uneventful with the last of the prairies before we get to the loop at the north end of the course.  I am rocking the fresh socks, and I continue with my smooth pace.  I haven’t seen Drew or Scott since before McMiller so I am not pacing off of anyone else now.  James sees me again at this aid station, and I drink some more chocolate milk and eat another half of a cheese bagel.  I hadn’t tried a cheese bagel before for an ultra, but they looked good when we were shopping yesterday, so I grabbed them.  So far, they were a good call.

Mile 34.5    1:22:10 (16:07 avg./mile) County Road ZZ

This is the Scuppernong loop, which has plenty of pointless ups and downs.  Of course, that is true for most of this race, but it is doubly true in this section.  I stay ahead of Brook/Mary, but see Raquel a couple of times.  During this section at 1:00pm, the 50k runners start at Scuppernong.  They do a small loop before heading south.  I meet many of them, and then several of them come back by me.  The 100k runners started an hour behind the 100-mile runners, and several of them have passed me.  So, this is the point where this race becomes a three-ring circus with the different distances all running at the same time.  As I finish up this section, the rain finally arrives.  Now the question is how hard and long is it going to rain.  When I get to the aid station, James has the umbrella out, and I sit and eat a hash brown and some Ramen.

Mile 36.8    28:50 (12:32 avg./mile) Highway 67

With only 2.3 miles on this section, it is always a question as to whether my crew can make it before I do.  No worry this year as James is waiting on me.  With the rain and the psychological plus of running back to the start, I pick up the pace a little.  I quickly grab another cheese bagel half after drinking a little CR02.

Mile 40.1    45:27 (13:46 avg./mile) Wilton Road

Leaving Highway 67, I keep pace with Andrea, who is from San Diego.  She is a nurse and has some family (including a nephew) out here cheering for her.  She is wearing a turtle shell on her back as her nephew is a big Teenage Ninja Turtle fan.  I ask her if she has ever run the San Diego 100, and she has not.  I mentioned it because Scott Mills is the race director.  With the rain, the mud on the prairie is starting to get slick.  I make decent time on this section.  I grab a bag of Doritos as I press forward to get to the next aid station where I will see James again.

Mile 44.4    1:18:11 (18:11 avg./mile) McMiller

The mud on the prairie is now officially slick.  The rain plus all of the other runners has really turned the course into a mess.  I stay upright, but slow my pace as the rain continues to fall.  As I begin the climb up to the aid station, I mention to another runner that it would be great if the rain ended soon—like before I get to the aid station.  The rain was forecast to end by late afternoon, but forecasts seem to only be correct half of the time.  However, right on cue, the rain tapers off and ends about 10 minutes before I get to the aid station.  My shoes are completely muddy with mud throughout my socks.  I change my shoes and socks and wipe the mud from my feet as best as I can.  I also change out my wet shirt and buff.  I consume most of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich that James has expertly cooked for me.  Brook and Mary are in the aid station at the same time as me, and they are helping each other get their shoes and gear as they don’t have a crew.  I leave the aid station before them, hoping that the rain is indeed finished.

Mile 48.4    1:05:00 (16:15 avg./mile) Natalie’s

The rain has ended, but the prairie is still slick and muddy.  I keep my feet mostly dry, but the mud begins to ooze into the shoes.  I trade spots with Andrea once more on this section as she is feeling good.  I like this pace for now, but I don’t want to slow down more.  At this aid station, I grab another bag of Smart Food popcorn and eat about half of it.

Mile 52.7    1:12:33 (16:22 avg./mile) North Tam

At this point, the prairie is all behind me, so the damage from the mud is done.  Brook and Mary come by me on this section looking like they are on a mission.  I hadn’t seen them since McMiller, but it is good to see they are doing well.  I catch up to a 50k runner, Shane on this section as well, and we chat for a bit.  She says she should have run the 100k, so the 50k is within her range.  After she finishes her 50k race, she plans to work the aid station through the night at Duffin Road.  I pass through horse riders where the aid station used to be thinking that the new aid station location wasn’t too much past it.  However, it is a full mile further, and I get into this aid station looking for some real food.  Fortunately, there are some meatballs that are lukewarm.  They are okay, and I eat a few of them.

Mile 56.5    1:22:21 (21:40 avg./mile) Bluff

Before leaving McMiller, James joked with me about taking a light with me

Consuming calories

because in 2021 when it was very hot, I didn’t take one with me, and I had to run the last 30 minutes in the dark without a light.  This year, without any high heat, I am a couple of hours ahead of that pace.  Even so, the sun is getting low in the sky as I make my way up to the bluff and start my way down the other side to the aid station.  The trail is fairly technical coming down the bluff so it is good to do it in the daylight.  At the aid station, they have real food, hot and ready.  James has a bowl of Ramen for me, but when I hear there are barbeque sliders, I indulge in one.  I eat about half of the bowl of Ramen, and then I change my shoes again, just 12 miles since the last time.  I have this pair I am putting on and one more pair in my drop bag at Hwy 12.  Given that I am done with the prairie sections, I think I can keep my feet clean and dry the rest of the way.

Mile 58.8    48:53 (21:15 avg./mile) Tamarack

I take my small headlamp with me leaving the Bluff aid station.  At first, it will not turn on, and I have to fiddle with the batteries and tap it several times before it will come on.  I have had this problem before, but it is almost always reliable when I run with it in the predawn mornings.  As the sun sets, I am definitely fading.  I wanted to wait until Nordic before I started taking any caffeine, but I need to turn around this slowdown.  As I approach the aid station, I take my first caffeine pill.  At the aid station, I eat a grilled cheese sandwich quarter from the aid station.

Mile 63.9    1:38:38 (19:20 avg./mile) Nordic

The caffeine kicks in, and I pick up my pace quite a bit actually.  This section has the steepest of the pointless ups and downs of the entire race, and I press up and down them.  When I get to the start/finish, I head straight for the outhouse.  I am mildly successful, and then I sit down to eat my last grilled ham and cheese.  I trade out my Camelbak for a full one and put a long-sleeve shirt on as it is cooling down and after 10pm.  James is going to load everything into the car and then catch up to me.  As I start to step away, I reach up to turn on my headlamp and realize that I didn’t get it from James.  So, I call him back and get my good headlamp with the remote battery connection.  Now, I am ready to get through the night.

Mile 69.0    1:26:23 (16:56 avg./mile) Tamarack

It is key to leave Nordic motivated in order to displace any thoughts of stopping and settling for a 100k.  I also make a little game of it to see how far I can go before James catches up to me; I don’t think I made it a mile.  I have paced James at several races, most recently at the Southern States 200.  And, I have not used a pacer at a 100-miler since 2009.  However, since James and I know each other really well, I figured it would be beneficial to have him pace me.  The only issue is whether we still have stories to tell each other that we haven’t heard before.  We roll into Tamarack in great shape.  I grab another grilled cheese sandwich quarter.

Mile 71.3    1:02:07 (27:00 avg./mile) Bluff

I am not sure what all went wrong on this section, but I began to be tired and somewhat nauseous.  I am struggling, but still moving forward.  James is very patient with me.  I don’t remember what I got to eat here, but I had James find a couple of Tums for me.  I take these, and they seemed to help some.

Mile 73.8    1:01:53 (24:45 avg./mile) Duffin Road

James is leading the way and is telling me stories from high school.  They are interesting, but I am struggling just to walk with purpose in a straight line.  At some point on this section, I take another caffeine pill, but it doesn’t have much of an effect.  At this aid station, I drink a small cup of Coke and eat some crackers.

Mile 77.9    1:54:33 (27:56 avg./mile) Highway 12

The struggle continues on this section.  At some point, James realizes that he needs me to tell some stories as I move better when I am talking.  Raquel passes me on this section, and I know I am moving slowly.  We get into the aid station, and I visit the porta john with good success.  I put on a hat and gloves from my drop bag.  Since I am not moving quickly and the temperature is dipping into the lower 50s, I am getting quite chilly.  I drink another Coke in the hopes that it will help my stomach.

Mile 82.2    1:46:19 (24:43 avg./mile) Rice Lake

At some point on this section, James and I switch places so that I am leading.  And, I continue to tell my stories from high school.  It seems that my high school football stories are the best for me.  As first light begins to appear in the sky, I begin to rally.  I start running some of the downhills, and we roll into the southern turnaround point in full daylight, but I am starting to feel much better.  One more trip to the porta john, and we begin the trek back north to the finish.  The clock says I have 6 hours and 10 minutes to finish the last 18+ miles.  Three miles per hour will get it done.

Mile 86.5    1:23:00 (19:18 avg./mile) Highway 12

This section is more uphill than down, and the trail is moderately technical.  It doesn’t matter as I have my eye on the goal—3 mph.  I stay in front and keep my feet moving.  At the aid station, I drop off the shirt, hat, and gloves.  I had taken the hat and gloves off on the way to Rice Lake.  I drink another Coke and get another PB&J sandwich quarter.

Mile 90.6    1:22:23 (20:06 avg./mile) Duffin Road

Maintaining a 20-minute per mile pace is all that matters at this point.  We pass one runner on this section, and another runner passes us.  The runner that passed us was running with another guy, but his friend dropped out at Rice Lake.  So, he is making better time without his friend.  At the aid station, Shane is here as she said she would be.  I was too far out of it to notice her when I came through in the middle of the night.  There are pancakes available, and I am asked if I want syrup on them.  No thank you, just slather them with butter.  And, then the volunteers brag that they are vegan pancakes.  Give it to me dry, and I will choke one down.  I drink another Coke and then spy some Doritos on the table.  I eat a bag of them before we press forward.

Mile 93.1    46:43 (18:41 avg./mile) Bluff

I am rolling along at a good clip.  We pass a couple of runners on this section, and that is always motivating in my thinking.  It means I can’t be moving too slowly.  Unfortunately, it also means that the people we pass are not likely to finish.  We hustle down the hill into the aid station, and it is starting to get warm.  My first request is for a chair in the shade.  The very nice lady volunteering at the aid station moves a chair into the shade for me.  Then she starts asking me what I want to eat.  Unfortunately, they don’t have the barbeque sliders that they had last night.  Instead, she brings over a pig in a blanket (a little wiener wrapped in a pastry of some sort).  James grabs a bottle of mustard, and I wolf down two of these things.  I decline the nice lady’s offer for one more, finish off my cup of Coke, and we are off for the last 7.4 miles.

Mile 95.4    47:10 (20:30 avg./mile) Tamarack

On this section, we play leap frog with another runner twice.  He is trotting both up and down hills, and I am only running the downhills.  So, he passes me going up a hill, and I pass him back on the way down the other side.  As we near the aid station, James first asks for a chair to be put in the shade.  The temperature isn’t too warm, but the sky is clear, and mid-70s feels pretty warm after running for 28 hours.  I eat one grilled cheese sandwich quarter and wash it down with a cup of Coke.

One of the pointless ups

Mile 100.5  1:24:52 (16:38 avg./mile) FINISH—Nordic

James’ GPS shows that the previous section is slightly long, and this section is slightly shorter than advertised.  Either way, I am powering up the hills and still running quickly down the other side.  It is getting nicely warm, and I am looking for the finish.  It cannot come soon enough.  Eventually, it comes into view, and I manage to look good running across the finish line.

Official Finishing Time 29:33:26

145^th out of 209 starters (151 finishers under 30 hours)

I was seriously hoping to run this race faster than this, but in the end, I am glad that I persevered.  A few runners finish after me, and it is a great atmosphere at the finish line.  The race director puts on a high-quality race that is extremely well organized.  I sit at the finish line watching a few other runners finish and try to eat a hamburger.  I was eating it nice and slowly, and then the wind flipped my plate over and the hamburger met the ground.  I guess I didn’t need to eat it all.

My next race is not until the end of August at the Twisted Branch 100k.  What will the weather deliver for that race in upstate New York?  Time will tell; stay tuned.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Bull Run Run 2024 - A Father and Son Event

April 6

I am back at this race after finishing last year with only 15 seconds to spare.  This is my 15^th time running this event, and unlike last year, the weather is forecasted to be much more conducive for running.  Additionally, my son, Nathan, is running his first 50-mile race.  It has rained quite a bit this week, but the last two days have been dry.  I have differing thoughts on how I want to run this race this year.  One thought I have is that I could try and sneak out and push the pace early to make Nathan work to catch up to me.  The other thought is that I should just hang with him and see how long I can keep up.  The weather is dry and clear with the temperature at the start in the high 30s.  I am wearing a long-sleeve shirt with thin hat and gloves.

Mile 7.2      1:18:11 (10:52 avg./mile) Centreville Road

The race starts, and I get off quickly.  I wonder if Nathan got through the start congestion as well as I did.  I look over to my right, and Nathan is running right beside me!  We make the initial ¾ of a mile loop, and some runners are trying to go around the spillway.  I run right on through as the water is only an inch or two deep.  I don’t think I got my socks wet.  Nathan and I proceed down the trail to the main trail beside the river.  We are in a pack of runners that are all moving well.  We walk only when the uphill is steep.  I have a slight worry that I may be going too fast, but let’s see what happens.  Kevin Sayers is in his usual position welcoming everyone to Centreville Road.  I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter from the aid station and press on with Nathan right in front of me.

Mile 9.7      25:19 (10:08 avg./mile) Bluebell Loop

We are about a mile and a half into this section and the trail is not very muddy at all.  Nathan comments that he probably won’t change his shoes at mile 17.  Less than a half mile later we come to a small tributary that doesn’t have a bridge.  So, down and up through the stream we go with the water about knee deep.  I guess we will be changing shoes when the time comes.  The stream crossing doesn’t slow us down as we hit this aid station in quick time.  This aid station just has water so I don’t even stop.

Mile 12.5    27:18 (9:45 avg./mile) Centreville Road

Nathan and I continue to run at a very fast clip.  There are two midshipmen from the Naval Academy trailing us as we head back to the south.  So far, I feel really good, and the temperature is still rather cool.  I still have the hat and gloves on, but I have rolled the hat up one fold.  We are welcomed back by Kevin, and I again grab a sandwich quarter.

Mile 17.6    57:31 (11:17 avg./mile) Hemlock Overlook

My effort remains steady through this section.  The trail is drier on this section than the last, but this section has some climbs.  Nathan is leading the pace and a group of up to eight runners.  I am hanging on for now.  We cross the second set of pylons and then make the climb up to Hemlock.  Nathan is about 30 yards ahead of me entering the aid station, and none of our crew is in sight.  Nathan has a drop bag with shoes in it, and he proceeds to change them.  Since I don’t have a drop bag, I press on ahead after grabbing another PB&J sandwich quarter.  My time to this point is very quick at only 3 hours and 8 minutes.

Mile 21.9    55:07 (12:49 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

I leave the aid station before Nathan and the two midshipmen.  I run steady, but conservatively, and right before getting to the soccer fields, the midshipmen come by me.  They are moving quickly, and I don’t give any thought to hanging with them.  Soon thereafter, Nathan catches back up with me, and we run together to the aid station expecting to see our crew.  It turned out that while Nathan was changing his shoes at Hemlock, Martha and Seb made it to the aid station.  Gabby was still coming from the car with Oliver.  So, at least they knew we were through that aid station.  At this aid station, none of them are there.  We meet them just as we are leaving.  They had to park the car on the other side of Yates Ford Road and were dragging the kids towards us.  I sit down and change my shoes, and this time Nathan presses on ahead.  It is great to get out of my damp shoes, and since the trail was dry since the water crossing, my shoes should stay dry the rest of the way.  I also drink some chocolate milk.

Mile 26.1    1:02:36 (14:54 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

I try to push the pace a little to catch back up with Nathan.  At one point, I trip and fall, landing on my right side and shoulder.  I pick myself up and appear to be not injured.  My shoulder is fine, but I may have bruised the top of my hip bone.  I press on now more carefully.  I have plenty of time to catch up with Nathan, and if I don’t catch him that is okay.  I enter this aid station greet the aid station captain, Alex, and get some strawberries and a quesadilla.

Mile 28.9    37:20 (13:20 avg./mile) Fountainhead

About half way through this section, Kathleen Cusick catches up to me.  I ran with her for a mile or so at Hellgate last year, and here we are together again.  She is moving well, but says she is dealing with a few nagging injuries.  I manage to stay with her as she presses the pace and runs nearly the rest of the way into the aid station.  She is just ahead of me when we enter the aid station, and she gets a nice cheer from the crowd.  I get welcomed by the crew—grandsons Seb and Oliver, daughter-in-law Gabby, and my wife Martha.  Martha says that Nathan is about 10 minutes ahead of me.  I drink some CR02 and refill my Camelbak and then grab a few cookies from the aid station table.

Mile 32.9    55:42 (13:56 avg./mile) Do Loop

I keep a decent pace on the laborious white loop, which is 1.6 miles long and gets you nowhere.  Heading out to the do loop, I meet several of the front runners heading back.  It is still breezy and cool in the mid-50s.  When I get to the aid station, I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter and a handful of corn chips.  Since I haven’t seen Nathan yet, it means that he is less than 2.5 miles ahead of me.

Mile 35.5    38:04 (14:38 avg./mile) Do Loop

Decorated Nash Rambler (courtesy of Cathy Kovacic)

The do loop starts with the lollipop stem for about a quarter of a mile.  I still do not see Nathan coming back towards me so he is less than two miles ahead of me.  I pass a couple of struggling runners on this section while running well down to the water.  On the inbound part of the loop, there is a tribute to some of the VHTRC founders at the Nash Rambler—Chris Scott, Anstr Davidson, Scott Mills, Ed Demoney and Joe Clapper.  I finish the do loop still feeling pretty good.  When I get to the aid station, the lady checking in runners tells me that my son just left, and he was asking if they knew how far back I was.  Ah, it is now time to run him down!

Mile 37.9    32:25 (13:30 avg./mile) Fountainhead

I push my pace a little leaving the aid station and within a mile I spot some orange shorts way up ahead.  Unfortunately, this pair is on a female, who clearly is not Nathan.  However, it is only another half mile or so until I spot Nathan and his orange shorts ahead of me.  I close the gap on him on the way to the aid station, but he stays in front of me.  At the aid station, the crew is all there cheering both of us.  I drink a little CR02, refill my Camelbak, and grab another PB&J sandwich quarter.  Nathan and I leave the aid station together.

Mile 40.6    38:36 (14:18 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

The newer trail on this section is gently rolling, which is nice for mountain bikes, but not so nice for running late in an ultra-race.  Regardless, I maintain a slow run for most of the gentle uphill sections.  Nathan stays right with me, and we both make it to Wolf Run Shoals in decent shape.  I take a seat and drink a cup of Coke before rising and taking a cheese quesadilla to eat on the run.

Mile 44.8    1:04:02 (15:15 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

Seb cheering us on!

This section has more climbs that require power hiking.  On one of the climbs, Nathan presses on ahead of me, but then let’s me back into the lead on the next downhill.  Soon enough we can see the Yates Road bridge over the Occoquan River.  Nathan continues to help me push the pace, but says his stomach is talking to him a little bit.  I took my third S-Cap of the race on this section, and then about 10 minutes from the aid station, I pop a caffeine pill.  I follow Nathan into the aid station, hoping that the crew is waiting for us.  Sure enough, there they are.  Seb is sitting in his own little chair.  Nathan takes a seat, I say hi to Seb (and the others), and then I walk right on out of the aid station, leaving Nathan sitting in the chair.

Mile 50.2    1:15:11 (13:55 avg./mile) FINISH

It wasn’t my plan to gap Nathan at this point, and I wouldn’t have been disappointed to finish together, but the opportunity presented itself, I was feeling good, and I took it.  I pass a couple of runners and run when the course is favorable to running.  I run across the soccer field complex, and then run the meadow.  When I finally get to the spot where we came down to the trail, another runner makes the right turn and starts up the hill.  I tell him that isn’t the right way, and he thanks me for saving his race.  His name is Clay, and we chat as we make our way over the last mile and a half.  When we get to the top of the last climb, I leave Clay behind and push to the finish.

Official Finishing Time 10:47:22

Gary and Darin (courtesy of Keith Knipling)

53^rd out of 193 starters
(149 official finishers)

At the finish line, Gary Knipling is there to congratulate the runners.  It is simply outstanding to see Gary, and as can be seen in the photo by his son, Keith, Gary and I share a very warm embrace.  I receive my 15-year finishing award and my regular finishing award.  I am just sitting down when here comes Nathan completing his finish less than four minutes after me.  It is a great day!

Nathan and Darin after the Finish

I now have a short recovery as I am supposed to pace James Ebert for 36 miles at the inaugural Southern States 200-mile race next weekend.  On Sunday, Martha and I fly north in order to view totality in northern Vermont on Monday before flying home Monday evening/night.  After pacing James, my next race will be the Kettle Moraine 100 miler in June in Wisconsin.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Mt. Cheaha 50k - Very Nice Weather!

February 24

Ready to run!

The morning dawns clear and cool.  The temperature is near 40 degrees.  This will be the fifth time I have run this race, but the first time since 2019.  I am looking to get out quickly and see how good of shape I am in.  Martha drops me off at the start at Porter’s Gap.  I chat with Lanier and Dink, and then without warning the race begins.  Typically, this race starts with the playing of Sweet Home Alabama, but there was no music right at the start, just a yell and a cheer and we are off.

Mile 3.3      36:36 (11:05 avg./mile) Chandler Springs

I sprint up to the trailhead so that I am not stuck too far deep in the conga line.  I must be content to be where I am.  Only a couple of runners stop to walk any of the initial hills.  I run the early hills so that I won’t lose my position in the line.  It is only when there are steep climbs that we all stop running to power hike.  I find myself behind a lady who has a nice stride.  I match her stride all of the way into this first aid station where the music is blaring, Sweet Home Alabama.  Someone jokes that they need to make up for the lack of music at the start.  This first aid station offers only water, and the lady runs right through passing several other runners.  I follow her lead.

Mile 8.5      1:04:48 (12:28 avg./mile) Clairmont Gap

The lady and I start the first climb of this section, and she is following a guy that she clearly knows.  They chat back and forth, and I just follow behind listening.  At some point we all introduce ourselves.  The lady is Jessica, and she is running her first ultra.  The guy is Tony, and both of them are from the Birmingham area.  I stay with them until the dirt road, and when they slow down, I press forward.  This section ends on a nice, gradual downhill into the aid station, and I make the most of it.  I grab half a sandwich of PB&J at the aid station.  So far I feel good, and I am drinking a good amount of water.  The temperature has warmed into the 50s.

Mile 14.9    1:31:59 (14:22 avg./mile) Adams Gap

This section begins with a healthy climb—the toughest in the race so far.  I am following two guys that are talking about the number of times they have run the Pinhoti 100.  The older of the two is Bob, and he says he has run Pinhoti nine times.  The younger one, who is Kip, says he has run it 14 times—more than anyone else.  Kip is a firefighter and worked a shift last night.  He got off at 5:00am, drove straight to the race, and now is enjoying the challenge with the rest of us.  He says he got about four hours total of naps through the night.  I stay with Kip for most of this section.  The latter two miles on this section are fairly technical.  At some point, Kip slowed down so I push on ahead.  There is a short little trail spur that goes into the aid station such that we all get to see who is a couple of hundred yards ahead and behind us.  I grab two PB&J sandwich quarters, refill my Camelbak, and then I see Tony on the trail spur.  He is looking good, but I am surprised he is this close behind me given how hard I have run to this point.

Mile 18.9    55:55 (13:59 avg./mile) Hubbard Creek

I leave Adams Gap with the goal of slow and steady for this section.  It has now warmed up into the 60s.  I have been drinking copious amounts of water, but I haven’t peed since the start of the race.  My easy does it pace allows a handful of runners to get by me during this section.  I feel fine, but it seems like my motivation to push hard has left me.  I roll into this aid station thankful that I am over halfway to the finish.  I grab two Fig Newton cookies to eat at this aid station.

Mile 25.8    1:40:58 (14:38 avg./mile) Silent Trail

I need to stay focused on the task in front of me—finish this section and then the end will be in sight.  Meanwhile, more runners steadily come by me.  One of them is Tony.  He barely has time to say hi as he is moving well.  I navigate the two stream crossings just fine, but then in my attempts to hold off another runner passing me, I catch my left big toe on a root and hit the dirt.  Jimmy is the runner right behind me and asks me a couple of times if I am okay before proceeding.  I climb another hill and pass this building, which I remember is less than a mile from the aid station.  Sure enough, 10 minutes later I am into this fluid only aid station.  I get some water added to my Camelbak and push up the gravel road.

Mile 28.5    34:23 (12:44 avg./mile) Lake Cheaha

I run and walk the gravel road up to the paved road and find myself beside Jimmy, who helped me dust myself off on the last section after my fall.  I eat an Access Bar since the last aid station didn’t have any food.  When we make the turn on the paved road, I am feeling like I have more energy.  Another runner, Tommy, has joined us.  The three of us run into the State Park to the last aid station.  I walk right through the aid station, only grabbing two cups of Coke and drinking them.

Mile 31.6    53:05 (17:07 avg./mile) FINISH – Bald Rock

I power hike the early part of the climb that they call, “Blue Hell.”  There are blue blazes marking this part of the trail, and this section climbs about 1,500 feet in less than a mile.  When it starts getting steep, I am behind Andrew Cotter.  He is moving slow and steady, and for a minute I think about going around him.  However, I remain patient and keep my pace slow and steady as well with relentless forward progress.  As runners stop to take breaks, Andrew and I keep moving forward.  I think we passed 4 or 5 runners in this fashion.  My legs start talking to me as we near the top, but I manage to keep them from cramping.  Once the climb is over, we still have a mile and a half or so to the finish.  We are on the road for a bit and then turn back onto a trail.  In this part, a recent fire has burnt much of the underbrush.  As a matter of fact, it is still smoldering in places.  So, we get to run through a little smoke.  I managed to stay in front of Andrew, but just behind Tommy, and have a decent kick for the downhill finish.

Nice finish!

Official Finishing Time 7:17:44

78^th out of 211 finishers (16^th of M50-59)

This day was beautiful without a cloud in the sky the whole time.  The temperature could have been a little cooler, but then there was a steady breeze all day.  The only time I felt warm was in some of the valleys where I was sheltered from the wind.  I always want to finish faster, but this is a nice time on this course.  I have run faster, but that was seven years ago.  My next race is going to be the Bull Run Run 50 Miler on April 6^th.  My son, Nathan, is also running that race so we will see if father time favors the young or the old.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

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