Kettle Moraine 100 Miler - Dry Track, Warm Weather

 June 14

For the sixth time, I am in Wisconsin to run the Kettle Moraine 100 miler.  I dropped in 2010, 2018, and 2021.  I have finished in 2022 and 2024.  So, this year’s race will determine if I get my finishing rate to 50%.  Overall, my 100-mile race finishing stats are 14 finishes and 12 drops.

James is with me again this year to crew and pace me.  The plan is for him to start pacing me at mile 64.  The weather forecast has now settled on decent weather with no rain and a high temperature in the mid to high 70s.  A week ago it looked like it was going to be a rain event, but now it looks like the trails will be dry.

I start with a short-sleeve shirt and a buff for my head.  I have slathered sunscreen on my upper torso for when I decide to take off the shirt.  I feel good, and my training has gone well the past two months.

Ready for the Start

Mile 5.1      53:18 (10:27 avg./mile) Tamarack

I have decided to try to gently push the pace.  My legs feel fresh and springy like they should be well tapered for a 100-mile race.  I don’t have any extended conversations with anyone during this section.  The weather so far is overcast with temperatures in the high 50s.  I feel like it could be a fast day for me.  I drink a cup of water at the aid station.  Note, this is not a cup-less race so I don’t need to carry my own cup.

Mile 7.4      30:27 (13:14 avg./mile) Bluff

I settle into my pace nicely after the first quick section.  On this section I talk with Katherine from NC who is also 56 years old.  On the outbound leg, crews cannot come to this aid station as parking is rather limited.  Later this evening, crews will be allowed, but not this first time.  I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter and move on up the trail.

Mile 11.2    48:44 (12:49 avg./mile) North Tam

I pass through the last aid station much quicker than Katherine so I find myself around other runners.  One of them lives in central Ohio, so we have plenty to chat about.  After a couple of miles, I let her press on ahead as the sun has now burnt off the clouds, and the temperature is rising.  At this aid station, I grab a couple of cookies to eat.  

Mile 15.5    54:25 (12:39 avg./mile) Natalie’s

Katherine catches back up to me early in this section.  We run together for a mile or so before I let her go on ahead.  I am still running pretty quickly, and I don’t need to run any faster.  This aid station is run by a lady named Natalie, and her family helps her run it.  It is interesting to see how her kids are growing up.  I grab a handful of potato chips at this aid station and douse my head with cold water from an ice bucket with a sponge.

Mile 19.5    59:07 (14:47 avg./mile) McMiller

I think McMiller is at the highest point on the course and the climb up to the aid station slows my pace somewhat.  All of the morning clouds are gone, and the sun is really warming up the temperature.  So far, there is a light breeze, so I don’t feel too warm yet.  On this section I talk with Shane who is from Indiana and attempting to run his first 100 miler.  Last year, he said he ran the 50-mile race at Mohican and said that was hard.  I hope he is better prepared for this race and distance.  At the aid station, I get to see my crew for the first time since the start.  James is ready and waiting for me with a grilled egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich.  I eat the whole thing, which is unusual for me these days, and wash it down with a cup of chocolate milk and a few swigs of CR02.  CR02 is my homemade electrolyte drink that I have been using for the past two years.  With the rising temperatures, I decide to remove my shirt, but I stay with the buff for now and don’t go to the Iced Cap.

Mile 23.8    58:00 (13:29 avg./mile) Wilton Road

Initially taking my sweating shirt off feels really good.  The light breeze feels very nice on my exposed back and chest.  As I start across the prairie section, though, the sun is heating up the atmosphere and all of the ground water.  It doesn’t feel too warm yet, so I continue to maintain my nice and quick pace.  I just drink a cup of water as it feels like the sandwich I ate an hour ago is still in my stomach.

Mile 27.1    46:12 (14:00 avg./mile) Highway 67

I maintain my steady effort, but I am running conservatively in order to keep my core temperature from rising too much.  I am sweating quite a bit and drinking water every time I take a walk break.  I estimate the temperature is now in the 70s so it is going to be warm for many hours as it is not yet Noon.  I still feel good, and I like my pace at this point.  I just need to continue to run 15 minutes a mile or better until the sun goes down.  I take off the buff and put on the Iced Cap.  The aid station has plenty of ice, and James and an aid station volunteer pack my hat full.

Mile 29.4    34:54 (15:10 avg./mile) County Road ZZ

The immediate feeling with a head packed with ice is brain freeze!  Then I usually feel cool.  I guess I felt a little cooler, but not too much.  On this section, I banged my sore left toe not once but twice.  This hurt of course, but not as bad as it did last year when I would bang that toe.  I originally hurt my big left toe over two years ago, and it is still letting me know about it.  When I get to this aid station, James is just hanging out expecting that he missed seeing me.  I eat some potato chips and get my Iced Cap refilled before starting the Scuppernong loop.

Mile 34.5    1:31:52 (18:01 avg./mile) County Road ZZ

This loop comes right back to the same point so the elevation change is zero.  However, it feels like 70% of this section is uphill.  Now before you think that it is all in my head, it could be.  It is just a matter of the downhill sections being steeper and shorter than the gradual uphill portions.  I don’t know if this is true or not, but I mentioned it to a few other runners, and none of them disputed my view.  The good part is that starting in 2021 when the McMiller section was added, we only have to run this loop once.  Previously, it was run counter-clockwise and then back the other direction clockwise.  It is officially very warm—I won’t say hot because it is still in the 70s, but given the cool, wet spring that most of the eastern half of the US has experienced this year, this is quite warm.  I think I only got one good day of heat acclimation and that was only a week ago.  Thus, my pace is definitely slowing.  It is usually slower on this tough loop anyway so hopefully I can pick things back up heading back south.  At this aid station, James has some Ramen and a hash brown for me.  I eat the hash brown and about three spoonsful of the Ramen.  Then I get my Iced Cap refilled before heading out of the aid station.

Mile 36.8    34:14 (14:53 avg./mile) Highway 67

This section is more downhill than up going this direction, and I am able to run it 40 seconds faster.  This gets me back under 15-minute miles so perhaps I can hang on through the afternoon heat.  I get half of a bagel at this aid station and of course get the Iced Cap repacked.  Everyone has never seen an Iced Cap before, and they marvel at the design.  I saw these on the Western States livestream last year and ordered one.

Mile 40.1    57:07 (17:18 avg./mile) Wilton Road

Across the heart of the prairie, I am content to let the pace slow some.  I don’t feel overly hot, but I have lost a ton of fluids.  I have been drinking water liberally from my Camelbak and have refilled it several times.  I have also been taking an S-Cap every few hours.  In between S-Caps, I take a couple of antacid tablets.  At this aid station, I get four or five club crackers to eat as my stomach is not great.  The Iced Cap is again refilled, and I press on to the next aid station where I can see James again.

Mile 44.4    1:23:41 (19:28 avg./mile) McMiller

The climb back up to McMiller is tough, but I am happy to keep my pace under 20-minute miles.  Now I just need to wait to make back a little time once the sun starts going down.  I make a point of drinking a lot of water on this section, draining my Camelbak just as I am getting to the aid station.  I sit down and eat about half of the grilled ham and cheese sandwich that James has made.  It is good, but I don’t want to push my stomach.  Even though it is almost 5pm, I leave the shirt off and get the Iced Cap refilled once more.

Mile 48.4    1:19:30 (19:52 avg./mile) Natalie’s

I make slow and steady progress across the last prairie sections.  Coming down from McMiller I was hoping to make better time, but the culmination of the heat is taking its toll on me.  I grab a few more club crackers at this aid station after getting my Iced Cap refilled.

Mile 52.7    1:29:02 (20:42 avg./mile) North Tam

My slow and steady progress continues, albeit at an even slower pace.  I am leapfrogging with a couple of other runners who are struggling as well.  They start quickly from an aid station thus passing me, but then I have been repassing them later in the section.  As I near the horseriders parking lot, two volunteers are coming towards me on the trail.  They ask if I just left the aid station, and I tell them no it is the other side of the parking lot.  Actually, it is about a mile on the other side of the parking lot.  They hang with me for a few minutes before we get to the parking area where their car is.  They are supposed to go to North Tam to pick up a few runners that have dropped out of the race.  When I finally get to the aid station myself, I sit down and eat a bag of Doritos.  My thinking is that I need to keep eating, and I am ready to pick up the pace a little as it is starting to cool down slightly.

Mile 56.5    1:21:45 (21:31 avg./mile) Bluff

When I leave North Tam, I am moving slow and I know I need to pick back up the pace a little.  My original goal was to get back to Nordic and mile 64 before 10pm.  Now, my goal is to get there before 11pm, which will give me about an hour buffer on the cut-offs.  Given this, I decide to go to the whip—a caffeine pill to give me a little boost.  The caffeine does the trick (or at least it felt like it did) as I pass a few other runners.  I make it into Bluff just as dusk is falling.  James is ready for me with another bowl of Ramen and a hash brown.  I sit down and eat about half of the hash brown, and I don’t think I even touched the Ramen.  There is other good food at this aid station, but I can’t stomach any of it.  I trade out my Camelbak for a full one, put a shirt back on, and strap on a headlamp.  I also trade out the Iced Cap for a buff.  The time is now 9pm, and I need to make great time to cover the 7.4 miles back to Nordic if I am to get there around 11pm.  James reminds me that the cut-off isn’t until 12:30am, but that cut-off is very generous.  I need to be at or really close to 11pm if I have any chance to finish under 30 hours.

Mile 58.8    59:32 (25:53 avg./mile) Tamarack

I feel like a dead man walking at this point.  I can still shuffle the down hills, but obviously I am moving rather slowly.  There are dozens of runners coming towards me heading outbound for the last 36+ miles.  When I finally get to this aid station, I grab a cup of Coke and a few more club crackers.  While I haven’t thrown up, I know I cannot push the pace hard.  The time on this section basically seals my fate, but I cannot drop here as this is a non-crewed aid station.  So, onward I trudge.

Mile 63.9    1:53:56 (22:20 avg./mile) Nordic

The last five miles are a slog, but as the clock nears midnight, I know that I will be dropping out.  A few of the slow 50k runners that I passed earlier are now passing me back, and they are walking as well!  My overall time reads 17:55 when I get to Nordic.  I tell James and the race officials that I am dropping, but first they give me a 100k finisher belt buckle since I made it this far.

While I didn’t get any real heat training in for this race, I thought with the temperatures remaining below 80 that I could get it done.  Obviously, on this day, I could not.  The two times I have finished this race were both over 29 hours, so there really was not any time to spare.  Also, the forecast for tomorrow is a high of 82 degrees.  Last year, when it was in the mid 70s on Sunday morning, it felt extremely hot to both me and James as we made our way over the last couple of miles.  So, I will chalk this race up to needing more heat training and begin working on that as my next race is the Twisted Branch 100k in upstate New York in August.  I will need to finish that one for my qualifier for the Western States lottery in December.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Bull Run Run 50 Miler - A Father and Son Event, part 2

April 5

Last year, my son, Nathan, and I ran a majority of the race together.  He finished his first 50-mile race, and I was able to come in ahead of him.  Last year the temperature was very nice in the mid-50s.  This year, the forecast says it will be warm and humid with the temperature climbing into the high-70s, but the chance of rain is low so the trail should be mostly mud free.

Mile 7.2      1:24:15 (11:42 avg./mile) Centreville Road

The race starts, and I set out on a brisk pace.  The temperature is close to 60 degrees with near 100 percent humidity.  Before the clouds thin out and the temperature rises, I plan to run quickly to make hay while the sun isn’t shining.  Nathan hangs back a little, and I wonder if he will catch back up to me.  My legs feel very good so far, and I begin thinking if this is going to be a great day.  It probably won’t because of the warm temperatures, but so far, I feel great.  No worries about Nathan as he catches up to me as we approach the first aid station.  We are about six minutes slower on this section.  I guess it isn’t going to be a personal record setting day!  I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter and hurry through the aid station with Nathan right behind me.

Mile 9.7      26:34 (10:38 avg./mile) Bluebell Loop

Nathan and I run this section together with me in the lead.  The bluebells are in full bloom!  The fields of bluebells are extraordinary.  The field of runners this year seems very quiet compared to some previous years.  The overcast skies may be contributing to this, but I am not sure.  We get to the aid station, and I click my watch as we say hi to the volunteers as we don’t even break stride.

Mile 12.5    29:53 (10:40 avg./mile) Centreville Road

I let Nathan take the lead for this section, and we continue to roll along at a nice comfortable pace.  Unlike last year, we didn’t have to get our feet wet at the one stream crossing.  There were some strategically placed rocks that allowed a runner to keep their feet mostly dry.  However, there was one muddy section where my left toe got a little damp.  Kevin Sayers is still here at the foot of the steps welcoming us back to Centreville Road.  So many things change, but one thing remains constant—Kevin at this aid station.  I grab a few Pringles this time as Nathan stops to use the facilities.

Mile 17.6    1:03:59 (12:33 avg./mile) Hemlock Overlook

Once again, I have a little bit of a gap on Nathan.  I try to run quickly with a mind towards saving myself for the length of this race.  At some point, I twist my left (good) ankle.  It doesn’t hurt at all and I thank my good fortunes that I avoided doing any damage (or so I think).  Nathan catches back up to me near the end of this section.  I managed to keep my feet dry in the muddy section where I got a toe damp on the way out, but at another point, I got the left foot wet again.  All is good, but I can feel the ball of my left foot warming up as my left sock is damp.  Martha is here at this aid station, but she doesn’t have my shoe bag.  Instead, I drink some chocolate milk and CR02 and take a croissant to eat on the run.

Mile 21.9    1:05:32 (15:14 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

I get out of the aid station before Nathan, but he quickly catches up to me before I even get back down to the river.  He passes me, and I decide to run conservatively to see how things shake out.  I don’t want to overheat the ball of my left foot.  I meet and chat with a few runners along the way, helping one of them from making a wrong turn.  I come into this aid station and everyone is here—Martha, Amy, Gabby, Seb, Charlie, and Oliver.  Amy says that Nathan is less than five minutes ahead of me.  I sit down and change my shoes.  The fresh socks and shoes feel great, and I am hopeful that I can run smoothly with the rising temperatures.

Charlie, Oliver, and Sebastian

Mile 26.1    1:27:44 (20:53 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

Leaving the Marina, I find myself running with two other runners.  One of them ran the Western States 100 last year.  So, we spend a mile or two talking about that.  He had 64 tickets when he got in.  I ask where they stayed, and he said Tahoe City as it is only about 15 minutes from the start and an hour and a half from the finish.  I ask him about heat and altitude training, and he said he didn’t focus on those too much.  He said it didn’t cool off much at night although he was prepared with long-sleeve shirts in his drop bags.  After my Western conversation diversion, I let these two guys go as they are running up the hills and I prefer to power hike.  Then on the down hills, I am passing them.  So, we play leapfrog a couple of times before my ankle starts complaining.  By complaining, I mean the pain started at 4-5, and then all of a sudden, the pain pegs at 10.  Okay, maybe I should walk more.  Well walking is all I am able to do, and I am now in extreme pain.  Sometimes things hurt because nothing else hurts worse.  In this case, the ankle hurts bad, and I don’t feel any pain anywhere else, not because nothing else hurts, but because the left ankle REALLY HURTS!  Well, I guess I will take a caffeine pill to see if that reduces the pain level.  (I don’t carry any pain killers with me.)  In 10-15 minutes, I feel the caffeine kick in and the left ankle pain reduces to 9.5, for several minutes.  But that lasts for about 10 minutes, and the left ankle pain goes through the roof.  I can’t walk; I am hobbling just to move forward and get to the aid station.  At the aid station, which is not accessible by the crews, Quattro, Alex, and several other old friends are there.  I sit down, and the pain doesn’t get any better.  After about 10 minutes, I switch to a more comfortable chair and the pain stays pegged at 10.  At some point, I get some elastic tape and tape the ankle with the thought that compression on it will help.  Nope, the pain stays pegged.  I try to stand and think about hobbling the 2.8 miles to the next aid station.  No, that isn’t going to happen.  The pain is too intense.  So, after close to an hour, I decide to pull the plug on my race.  I borrow someone phone and call Martha.  Of course, she has never been to this aid station, so the guy with the phone has to email her the directions as this aid station is literally in the middle of nowhere and the road it is off of there are actually three versions of it.

Official Finishing Time DNF

214 starters (149 official finishers)

My ankle pain remains pegged at 10 for the next several hours.  Even after showering, eating lunch, and going to the Marina aid station to see Nathan, I am unable to walk without limping.  Fortunately, after 5-6 hours the pain lessens enough to allow me to walk, almost normally with significant pain.  We cheer Nathan through the last aid station, and then drive to see his finish.  He ends up crossing the line in 12:02, which is good enough for 93^rd place.

Before the ankle injury, I was planning on pacing James for one night on his FKT attempt of the Pinhoti Trail.  Now, my plans for that are scrapped, but he should have plenty of support.  So, my next race will be the Kettle Moraine 100 miler in June in Wisconsin.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Mountain Mist 50k - Fast Times on a Cool Day

January 25

The temperature this morning when I left my house in Meridianville was 17 degrees.  The challenge in today’s race will be about the temperature swing.  The forecast is for a high temperature of 49 degrees.  I am dressed a little on the cool side, but I hope it will be warmer up on the mountain, and that it will warm up quickly.  When I get into Huntsville, the temperature is 20 degrees, and as I drive up the mountain, the temperature continues to climb.  It is 26 degrees at the top, so I think I am dressed correctly for the start—thin tights, two long-sleeve technical shirts, thick hat and gloves.

When we line up for the start, I talk with Olly and James, who are both dressed much lighter than I am.  They both have shorts on, and James is wearing a short-sleeve shirt.  He thinks I am over dressed, but I think I am fine, and I have another friend, Caleb, meeting me at mile 14 with lighter clothing.

Mile 4.3      45:45 (10:38 avg./mile) O’Shaughnessy Point

I start quickly, and my hands are a little chilly, but not too cold.  Thus, I am dressed well for the early chill in the air.  In the first mile, I see Sally Brookings, and chat with her for a minute.  This is her 25^th time at this race, and she says it will probably be her last.  When we join the single-tracked trail, she follows me most of the way to this first aid station.  I don’t get anything at this aid station, and thus I manage to sneak by a handful of runners who pause at the aid station.

Coming through The Cuts

Mile 11.4    1:23:17 (11:44 avg./mile) Bankhead

On the technical downhill leaving O’Shaughnessy Point, I am following a couple of ladies.  Listening to their conversation, I hear one of them mention Sophie, and ask if they are referring to Sophie Speidel.  They are and then we figure out that I know one of the ladies.  It is Michelle Gray.  Her husband, Rick, and I have run many ultras together as I have run Hellgate 22 times, and he has run it 14 times.  Michelle says he is slower due to aging health issues, so he is quite a bit back.  I stick with Michelle and Liane for this whole section, which is good for my time.  They are running a quick pace, and I am almost comfortably keeping up with them.  When we get to this aid station, I grab half of a PB&J sandwich and eat it on the road down to the trailhead.  It tastes really good!  Just the right amount of jelly and PB on nicely soft bread.

Mile 14.0    30:27 (11:43 avg./mile) Oak Park

At the Bankhead aid station, I got out before Michelle and Liane.  I am running quickly down the hill trying to get to Oak Park before 9:45am, which was my time last year.  I hang most of the way with a man and women who are making good time, and we pass several runners on the way down the hill.  As I approach the aid station, I spot Caleb with my bag.  I change out both shirts for a lighter long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts.  I also change my hat and gloves out for lighter ones.  Next, I swap my Camelbak.  The Camelbak I started the race had the thermal sleeve on the drinking tube and cover on the bite valve.  This fresh Camelbak doesn’t have that, but it is now definitely above freezing.  Finally, I drink most of a pint of chocolate milk that Caleb has for me.  I thank Caleb, and press on.  What I didn’t know at the time was the Michelle and Liane passed me while I was changing clothes.  My time is now 2:39, which is a full six minutes faster than I was last year, when the trail was in significantly worse shape with water and mud.  So far, the trail is dry with only minimal ice in places.

Mile 20.0    1:27:18 (14:33 avg./mile) Old Railroad Bed

The climb up the hill from Oak Park is much easier this year than last year due to the better trail conditions.  I have lost my pacers, but I am still moving well.  There are plenty of other runners moving quickly, and I try to latch onto those that are making good time.  The second half of this race is much harder than the first half.  The trail is much more technical, and the three big climbs are on this back half.  I manage to keep moving nicely, but I have obviously slowed down some.  As I finally approach this aid station, I see Michelle and Liane coming out of it.  Maybe I can catch back up to them.  At the aid station, I eat a handful of potato chips, an orange slice, and drink a cup of water.

Rolling down Bluff Line

Mile 25.0    1:19:40 (15:56 avg./mile) Trough Springs

Leaving the aid station, I meet Lanier Greenhaw heading into the aid station.  As I make my way onto the Old Railroad Bed trail, a guy passes me, and then he slows down.  When an opportunity on the trail presents itself to pass him back, he speeds back up.  It takes me about a quarter of a mile to get back by him, and I never see him again, thankfully!  When the course finishes the Old Railroad Bed trail and turns onto the Alms House trail, a lady comes up behind me.  I tell her to let me know when she wants to pass, and she says she is fine for now.  So, we start chatting, and this is her first 50k.  She says she just wants to finish, and I tell her she better slow down then if all she wants to do is finish, as our current pace is about 2.5 hours ahead of the cut-off finishing time.  Karen stays with me all the way up the Waterline trail.  At the top, she asks me if I am going to start running (it is still somewhat uphill).  When I say I am going to walk a little more, she passes me and leaves me in the dust—I won’t see her again until after the finish.  I manage to run most of the way to the aid station once I started running.  The last mile on this section is gently uphill, and after the brutal waterline trail, running anything uphill is not pleasant.  At the aid station, I eat half of a PB&J and drink two cups of Coke.

A Smoother Section on Old Railroad Bed

Mile 29.5    1:12:24 (16:05 avg./mile) Rest Shelter

I start this section trying to stay motivated to finish under seven hours.  I walk and run a little until the course goes down the natural well trail.  This part is very tricky and technical, and thus there are runners taking it rather slowly.  I pick my spots and work my way around most of them.  Then I power hike up a short climb before dropping into McKay Hollow.  It is time to put up or accept a slower finish.  I push the pace, passing a few runners.  I know I have to make it to the last climb with at least 35 minutes to spare.  The climb last year took me 17 minutes, and then the last section usually takes me about 16 minutes.  My watch reads 6:21 as I make the turn to start the last climb.  I have enough time; now I just need to stay focused on this climb.  I am breathing as hard as I can while I power hike with purpose up and up and up some more.  Finally, I hear the music at the aid station.  I grab another cup of Coke at the aid station and thank the volunteers before heading to the finish.

Mile 31.1    18:55 (11:49 avg./mile) FINISH – Lodge

In my younger days (like last year), I would be able to get into a good rhythm and run hard this last mile and half.  This year, my legs don’t feel like they have it, but I push forward anyway.  A couple of runners pass me, but I am still running decently.  When I finally make the final turn and cross over the last foot bridge, a younger runner sprints up behind me.  Now, with the finish line in sight, I am ready to race this young whipper snapper.  As I raise my knees to shift into a higher gear, my right hamstring says, Not So Fast!  So, I kick it back into the lower gear, let the guy pass me, and settle for a finish under seven hours.

Official Finishing Time  6:57:46

Another Finish on the Mountain

155^th out of 426 finishers under the 9.5-hour cut-off (517 starters)

It was a good day on the trails.  The weather was cold and warmed up gradually.  The trails were as dry as they can be for January.  I had fun, met some old friends, and met some new ones.  When I finished, Rick Gray comes running over to congratulate me.  He had to drop just after halfway.  My primary goal of finishing under seven hours was achieved.

The next race I have planned is the Bull Run Run 50 Miler on April 5.  Before then I plan to pace James at the Southern States 200, where he will be defending his win from last year.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Hellgate 100k 2024 - Nice and Cold Hellgate Weather

Keeping Warm before the Start

 December 14

It is the second Saturday in December, so that means that I am in Virginia getting ready to start this race for the 22^nd year in a row.  Not even the
pandemic could stop this race.  And so far, nothing has been able to stop the Fearsome Five—Aaron Schwartzbard, Jerry Turk, Jeff Garstecki, Ryan Henry, and yours truly.  All five of us have toed the line 21 times and finished the race under the 18-hour cutoff.  Will this trend remain for at least one more time?  Keep reading to see if there are less than five still standing at the end of the day.

My training has been decent this fall, but not great.  I tweaked my right hamstring on the 1^st of October.  I spent the next three weeks babying it.  Then at a 5k Turkey Trot, I tweaked it again, but not as badly.  So, it is still talking to me, but so far, it has not limited me in the last two weeks.

My son, Nathan, is here crewing for me again.  This is the 10^th time that he has been part of my crew at this race.  The first five times he was helping my wife.  He was a mere eight years old when I ran this race the first time.

The weather forecast is clear and cold with a full moon.  The low tonight is projected to approach 20 degrees.  It is in the high 20s for the start.  I am wearing a short-sleeve shirt, two long-sleeve shirts, medium weight tights, hat, and gloves.  We sing the National Anthem together, and then we are off at about 12:01am.

Mile 3.5      46:23 (13:15 avg./mile) FSR 35

140 Runners Start

I am determined to start out quickly as I have run this section in 46 minutes the last three years.  The early pace feels very fast as I adjust to running on uneven ground in the middle of the night.  The crowd of runners thins out quickly, and I run most of this section with Dan Broom, who I know from past Hellgate races.  I feel a little warm, but I know it will get colder as the night proceeds and we climb to higher elevations.  The stream crossing at mile 3 isn’t quite as deep as advertised, but it is still deep enough that we all get our feet wet.  Despite my efforts, I still get to this first aid station in 46 minutes.  Well, at least I know how to proceed from here, and this was the time I projected for my splits.  This first aid station is non-crewed, and there is only water, so I drink a cup of water and head up the gravel road.

Mile 7.5      1:03:19 (15:50 avg./mile) Petites Gap

I run most of the road until the tight right turn.  Lanier catches up to me early in this section, and we chat a little bit before I let him go ahead.  The moon is nearly full and with no clouds it is a beautiful night.  As we climb higher and higher, the wind picks up a little bit, and I am thankful that I have as many layers on as I do.  About five minutes before reaching the aid station, Jeff Garstecki catches up to me.  True to his word, he is taking it slowly this year as he didn’t get in much training this fall.  It is almost 60 minutes before I see Nathan at the aid station.  I sit down and quickly change my shoes and socks, taking care to get the socks on cleanly.  Then I take a few swigs of chocolate milk and then take half of a bagel to eat on the run.  It has been six years since I was slower than an hour on this section, and I am now over seven minutes behind my goal pace.

Mile 13.1    1:37:01 (17:19 avg./mile) Camping Gap

I start this section with the motivation of being behind pace.  I push the pace as much as I dare as I make my way down a rocky, technical single-track trail.  After making the right tricky turn after about a mile, I am right behind two other runners that I pass on the next climb.  I am feeling good so far despite the slow pace on the last section.  The wind on this section is perfectly calm, and the view off to the south is beautiful on this cold, clear night.  I manage to keep my feet dry on both stream crossings and then pass two other runners on leafy trails before getting down to the jeep trail that climbs three miles to the aid station.  The last two runners I pass are Emily and Dan.  Emily joins me on the hike up to the aid station.  She is running this race for her seventh time.  The climb goes quickly with conversation, and we are soon at the aid station.  I check my watch and am pleasantly surprised that I have gained back a minute on my goal pace.  This is a non-crew aid station.  I grab a cup of broth, a cheese quesadilla, and two cookies.

Mile 21.9    2:30:18 (17:05 avg./mile) Headforemost Mountain

I stay with Emily the whole way on the 5-6 miles on the grassy road.  One of the things we talked about was that she had a root canal Friday afternoon, that is, a mere 12 hours ago!  She and her husband drove down from Baltimore Friday evening in time to start the race at midnight.  She says her only concern is eating something that will break her temporary.  I think we are making good, but not great time.  The air is completely calm, which is very unusual.  The only other time I can remember it being this calm was in 2013 when it was lightly snowing and 2021 when we had very thick fog.  When we exit the grassy road onto the single-track trail that takes us through Apple Orchard and down to Overstreet Falls, I feel an urge to squat in the woods.  However, I just stop for a pee break, and the need to squat dissipates.  Emily gaps me on this section, but I am moving well nonetheless as I catch and pass two other runners.  I make it down to Overstreet Falls unscathed, and quickly make the hike up to the top of the mountain.  As I near the top, Dan Broom catches back up to me.  At the original location of the aid station, I stop to get a piece of debris out of my left shoe and click my watch.  The time is 5:57, which is okay, but probably not good enough to get me a sub-17-hour finish.  I am 12 minutes behind my goal pace at this point.

Mile 27.6    1:34:24 (16:34 avg./mile) Jennings Creek

The new aid station location is at Floyd’s Field which is about a half mile further than where it originally was.  I have learned to not have my crew stop at this aid station because it is the coldest part of the course, and it is mostly all downhill to Jennings Creek.  I drink a small cup of pickle juice and grab two PB&J sandwich quarters before crossing the Parkway.  I am now following Helen MacDermott and her pacer.  Helen has been here often, but hasn’t finished since 2013.  When the course starts going downhill, I pass them and leave them behind.  I also pass Dan Broom and Lanier again.  I start to stretch out my stride, when the other Dan passes me.  I stay with Dan the rest of the way on the grassy road before passing him when he takes a pee break.  I navigate another stream crossing while keeping my feet dry, and press the pace.  It seems there is a solid group of runners not far behind me, and when I drop back out on a grassy road for the last mile to the aid station, Dan Broom catches back up to me.  The sunrise this morning was beautiful, and I make it into the aid station in good shape.  Nathan has a grilled egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich ready for me.  I eat almost three-quarters of it and wash it down with CR02 and chocolate milk.  I change out all three shirts for just two dry ones (one short-sleeve and one long-sleeve) as well as my hat and gloves for thinner versions.  It is still in the low 20s, but I know it will warm up some, and I won’t see Nathan again for 15 miles.  It is 7:31 when I leave the aid station at the same time as Lanier.  I gained a minute back on my goal pace and now am only 11 minutes behind.

Mile 34.5    1:53:46 (16:29 avg./mile) Little Cove Mountain

Lanier and I leave Jennings Creek together and spend the next couple of miles talking about cholesterol and statins and such things that most 50-somethings are dealing with.  After we crest the climb and drop back down to the dirt road, I stop to take a pee and let him get ahead.  Then about a mile later, I catch back up to him as he is taking a pee break.  Lanier and I stay together to the aid station where crews are not allowed.  However, Rosie is here manning this aid station, and there is some solid food.  I grab two wrapped little doggies and a small stack of Pringles.  The time is now 9:25, and I have gained back another minute towards my goal pace.  If I am going to have a realistic chance at sub-17, I need to finish the next section by 11:45.

Mile 42.5    2:33:20 (19:10 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap

Nathan with Signs from his Sons

I leave the aid station a little before Lanier and run the first couple of miles with Dan
Broom.  I am running fairly well, but my legs are tight and hurting in a few places.  My right hamstring, actually the whole backside of my right leg is talking to me.  My right quad is also not happy either.  Regardless, I know I have to keep pushing the pace.  After the grassy road turns back into a single-track trail, my energy fades.  The leaves are deep on the trail, and there is a tree down that I have to navigate around and through.  Along this stretch, Helen MacDermott and her pacer catch back up to me.  I decide to take my first electrolyte capsule of the race, and that seems to help things a little.  I have found that I just don’t need to take as much sodium in as I used to when I was younger.  Then Lanier and Dan are back with me.  I keep them behind me though as I push a little running downhill before we make the left turn onto the devil trail.  On the devil trail, Lanier and I just try to keep from busting anything.  We catch up to Jess as we near a stream crossing that is about a mile from the aid station.  We all rock hop across without getting our feet wet, and then shuffle on into the aid station.  Nathan has a perfectly cooked grilled ham and cheese ready for me.  He tells me the word is that the parkway is now closed so he won’t see me again until the last aid station.  At first, I think I have to take a light with me, but then I realize I don’t as he will definitely see me at Day Creek.  I switch out my Camelback for a full one and keep everything else the same.

Heading out for the last 20 Miles

Mile 49.5    1:56:25 (16:38 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap

I have held off taking any caffeine for as long as I could, but I had already decided to take a caffeine pill at Noon.  Since it was 11:58 when I left Bearwallow, I pop one as Lanier and I are making the climb back up to the ridge line.  The effect is not extreme, but is effective nonetheless.  Near the top of the climb, I gap Lanier and catch back up to Jess and Dan.  I had seen them in front of me for quite a distance and didn’t realize it was them.  Jess has her hat off, and I thought Dan was her pacer.  I pass them on the low steady downhill, but Dan stays with me.  I gap him on the next climb, but both of them pass me about a mile later.  I am moving steady and smooth, and I know exactly what is in front of me.  I carefully navigate the descent down to the dirt road that is the last mile into this aid station.  I hike the last mile as it is all uphill.  At the aid station, there is just a pickup truck with some stuff in the back.  They had to take down all of the hot food when the parkway was closing, and then they had to drive all the way around and come back up the dirt road we are now on.  Chelsea is working this aid station and starts running down the list of food items they have—brownies-no thanks, gummies-no thanks, pretzels-yes, and finally, little ham and cheese rolls-yes!  I eat one of them after a handful of pretzels and wash it down with two cups of broth.  The time is now 13:54, so my chances for a sub-17 are slim to none with slim running away from me.  Right as I am finishing eating, Lanier is coming into the aid station.  Chelsea tells me that Aaron Schwartzbard has “just” left, and is injured and walking.  Wow, I hope he is able to finish, but it would be nice to pass one of the other fearsome five.

Mile 56.1    2:26:37 (22:13 avg./mile) Day Creek

I start running down the hill, and I quickly pass Dan and then Jess.  As I near the 2.5 mile make on the gravel road, there are a few crews waiting on runners where we make the turn back onto the trail.  And, there is Nathan!  It is great to see him, but I tell him I am fine since they found the ham and cheese rolls.  He then wishes me good luck and says that his sister, Amy, and her son, Charlie, should be at the aid station.  This is great.  I might not be able to finish under 17 hours, but I am in good shape and feeling pretty good.  I power hike the next hill with Helen and her pacer, but they leave me near the top of the climb.  Then I am by myself for most of the rest of the section.  This is the forever section for a good reason.  I have taken antacid tablets twice so far in the race, and an electrolyte capsule once.  As the clock rolls past 15:00, I take my second caffeine pill of the race.  And then about 45 minutes later, I decide to take my second electrolyte capsule of the race.  I decided on the electrolyte because I only have two more antacid tablets, so if the salt doesn’t work, then I will have the antacid to take.  Unfortunately, as I am juggling everything, dropped the little bag with the antacid tablets in it, and I didn’t realize it until it had been a couple of hundred yards.  Well, I am not turning back to get that.  As I make it down to the evergreen bush section, I know I am less than a mile from the aid station.

Charlie and Amy

Warning:  the next paragraph has a little TMI, so if you don’t want to read this then skip to the next section.

Okay I warned you.  Now, the problem is that my bowels are wanting to move.  Okay, I pull off the trail, find the right tree to lean against, drop the pants, and do what bears do in the woods.  I am prepared with TP and after dropping a couple of logs, wipe and pull back up the pants.  However, I no more than get the pants pulled up when I realize that there is more that needs to come out.  So, I drop the pants again, squeeze out another log and then wipe with the one remaining square of TP I have left.  Then I pull up the pants, put back on my Camelbak and start to head back to the trail.  But before I can get to the trail, I realize that my bowels aren’t ready to stop moving yet, so I find another tree, and repeat except this time I wipe with just leaves as I am out of TP.  Finally, I think I can continue.  During all of this I guess about half a dozen runners, including Lanier pass me.  I shuffle into the aid station where Nathan, Amy, and Charlie are waiting for me with slightly worried looks on their faces.  This is my slowest time ever on this section, and I now only have 1:38 to get to the finish before 18 hours, which is the cut-off for official finishers.  Nathan asks if I want company up to the parkway, and I accept his offer.  As my GI tract is not exactly happy, I pass on eating any food, and only take a few small sips of Coke.

Mile 62.4    1:37:51 (15:32 avg./mile) FINISH

Almost to the Parkway!

Nathan and I power hike up the climb to the parkway.  He has gone with me on this section several times before, and it very good to have the company to distract me from my issues.  I pass the gate in 16 minutes, and then I pass another runner and her pacer.  I make it to the parkway in 43:44 and see on my watch that it is only 17:05; so, I have almost 55 minutes to run 3.5 miles downhill.  I tell Nathan I have it from here, and he turns around to run back down to his car at the last aid station.  I start my trot down the hill and figure I should at least be running 13-minute miles, 14 at the slowest.  However, it takes me 33 minutes to get to the gate, which is two miles from the parkway.  Okay, now I only have about 22 minutes to run the last 1.5 miles.  No problem, I pick up the pace a little and cover the next half mile in 5:59 to give me a comfortable 16 minutes for the last mile.  A few runners have passed me on this last part, but I don’t care; the only thing I care about now is getting in before 18 hours.  As I near the entrance Camp Bethel, a guy is running towards me and calls out my name.  I answer him, and he says that Dr. Horton sent him out to bring me in as he wanted all of the fearsome five to finish.  I tell him I have plenty of time.  As I round the last bend and the finish clock is in sight, it says 17:58:xx.  So, I pick my knees up a little and finish with David Horton congratulations.  He assists me into the building and announces to the remaining crowd, “Darin Dunham, 22 starts, 22 finishes, and the last of the fearsome five!”

Unofficial Finishing Time       17:58:35 (see below for the official time)

119^th out of 140 starters (119 finishers under 18 hours)

It is determined later that an error was made when the finish line clock was set.  It was set with an extra minute.  Before the results are posted, this is realized, and my official time is 17:57:35.  As people are offering their congratulations, I am trying to decide where to sit.  I see an opening on one of the couches and I plop down.  I do not move to get off that couch for an hour and a half.  My stomach is on edge, and I am not sure I can do anything without some bad outcome.  So, I just sit there.  Amy and Charlie say goodbye and leave to drive back to Ashland, and Nathan patiently waits for me to feel well enough to stagger to the car.  Meanwhile, there are many stories to tell and listen to from several other runners.  The best is Martha Nelson, who tells of seeing her husband, Aaron Schwartzbard at aid station 4, injured and moving slowly.  She throws up sympathetically for him before leaving him behind and finishing Hellgate for her third time.  In the end, all five of the fearsome five finish, although, Jeff, Aaron, and I all finish in the last hour this year.  How many more times can we finish?  I don’t know, but I plan to be here next year to find out if I can do it at least one more time.  Until next time…

Never stop running,

Darin

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