Eagle Ridge 50k 2026 - A Beautiful Day!

 February 7

This is my second time running this race.  I ran it three years ago, but the course is different this year.  The race director sent out an email on Wednesday indicating the course would be different from what was posted on the website.  The course on the website was the same course I ran last time.  The good part of the change is that the first lap is 19 miles, and the second lap is shorter.

This is my first race since the Hellgate 100k in December.  Due to the effort required of me at Hellgate this year, my recovery has been slower than usual, but I feel good now.  The weather forecast is clear blue skies with temperatures warming to the high 40s.  The temperature at the start is about 32 degrees, and I decide to wear shorts, long and short sleeve shirts, a buff, and light gloves.  There is no opportunity to have a drop bag, so I have to keep what I start with.  I was going to start with a thin hat and bring the buff in my pack, but then I decided to just double up the buff to start wearing it like a hat.

Mile 2.6      27:07 (10:26 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

There are three distances of races today—50k, half marathon, and 5k.  The half marathoners started the same time as us 50k runners, and the bibs all look the same.  The only way to know what race someone is running is to ask them.  I am tracking behind an older guy, who I learn is running the half.  He asks me if I want to pass, and I state that I am quite fine with his pace.  I got a quick start with the beginning lap around the parking lot so I don’t have to pass anyone on this first section.  There were a few runners that passed me, but overall, I like my positioning.

Mile 4.1      16:46 (11:11 avg./mile) Start of South Loop

Another runner or two pass me on this section.  One of them was April, who I would learn later is running her first ultra.  I am running everything except the steeper uphills at this point in the race.  My legs feel great, and I am thinking in my head that a 50k is a “sprint ultra”!  Halfway through this short section, my big left toe finds a toe grabber and I hit the dirt for the first time.  Hitting the dirt is not bad, but my poor big left toe is killing me.  I injured it three years ago landing while skiing, and it still hurts, especially when I stub it.

Mile 8.3      51:48 (12:20 avg./mile) End of South Loop

I am still following the older half marathoner for the first half of this section, but then I leave him behind as he slows down.  No worry about being lonely though as there are plenty of other half marathoners to keep the two-dozen or so of us 50k runners company.  I run most of this section, continuing to push the gradual uphill sections.  There is only one full aid station on this course.  While this aid station is not a full aid station, there are two ladies working it, and they have fluids and some snacks.  Regardless, I haven’t eaten anything yet.

Mile 9.5      17:37 (14:41 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

As I started up this section, which is mostly uphill, April passes me again.  Apparently, she and a couple of other runners made a wrong turn and got to run an extra half mile or so.  One of those runners is John, who is running the half marathon.  He ran the 50k last year and says he finished in around 7:20.  I am not sure why he isn’t running the 50k this year as he says he is scheduled to run a 100 miler in April.  The aid at this stop is water and a few bottles of soda.

Mile 11.2    20:39 (12:09 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

John stays with me on this section, and we get to know each other a little better.  His first attempt at a 100 miler was last year, but he sprained his ankle and when it started significantly swelling, he dropped out around mile 60.  The conversation is a good distraction as this section is also mostly uphill, but it has gradual switchbacks that are very runnable.  John says he plans to hang out at the finish and cheer on most of the 50k runners.  At this aid station, there are freshly made, warm quesadillas.  I eat two of the quarters and say good bye to John as he gets to head to the finish.

Mile 14.7    43:03 (12:18 avg./mile) Spur Turnaround

I start this section, knowing that there are only 50k runners with me now.  Soon after I leave the aid station, I pass a guy who I was surprised went out as fast as he did.  Then a runner catches up to me and says hello friend.  It is April again!  She had to stop at the last aid station and tend to a blister.  She is a rather serious marathon runner with a PR of 3:16.  We run together for the next three miles until she finally decides to press ahead of me.  Along the way, I learn that she has three boys and totally understands why I am working my race schedule around my grandsons’ birthdays.  This is a long out and back, so we get to see all of the runners ahead of us.  The two leaders are female, and both of them look really strong.  I count that I am in 10^th place as I near the turnaround where there is just a jug of water.  The 9^th place runner is refilling a bottle, and I pass him at this point.

Mile 18.3    50:01 (13:54 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

I lost sight of April rather quickly after she passed me, but there is another runner ahead who I have seen most of the race.  He is carrying poles, but only uses them on the way back on this section as most of it is uphill.  I keep him in sight, but I am unable to catch him until after the climb.  We are about a mile from the aid station when he stumbles crossing a bridge.  After asking if he is okay, I pass him and think, I think I am in 8^th place!  Pride comes before the fall, and I fall about 30 seconds after I pass him.  So, he passes me back as it takes me a minute to get to running again.  I caught my big left toe on a rock, and the rock didn’t move.  The fall didn’t hurt too bad, but the pain in my left toe is excruciating!  At the aid station, the guy with the poles is just leaving and we share a laugh about our falls.

Mile 19.3    13:12 (13:12 avg./mile) End of Lap 1

There is no aid station here, but the trail to the finish branches off.  I mark my time mostly to know how long it takes me from the aid station as we run this same trail at the end of the race.  My overall time is 3:00:13, which I figure is about as good as I could have hoped for.  Now, I just need to keep pressing to keep my pace up.

Mile 21.4    27:53 (13:17 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

Early in this section, I finally catch back up to the guy with the poles.  I follow him, deciding to bide my time as we are keeping a good pace.  As we get to this aid station, there is a guy there telling us that we are in 8^th and 9^th place (This aligns with my count on the out and back section.), and that 7^th place is just ahead of us.  Okay, I need to be patient, but this is exciting to be “racing” this late in an event for a top-10 position.

Mile 22.7    19:58 (15:22 avg./mile) Start of South Loop

I passed the guy with the poles as we crossed the road starting this section.  Then the guy in 7^th lets me go by on the first climb.  I know there is another runner behind me that is stalking close as I have heard him back there the last few miles.  I see two of the front runners coming back from the south loop and then I go to the right and around the cemetery.  Then it is down a little dirt road to the aid station.  As I am striding down the hill, I roll my chronic right ankle really good for the first time today.  It really hurts for a minute, but then the pain quickly deadens out.

Mile 26.9    1:04:52 (15:27 avg./mile) End of South Loop

I start this section with the goal of conserving my legs and energy, but I also want to maintain 7^th place.  The guy who has been lingering behind me closes in, but doesn’t catch me.  I try several times to open a gap on him, but each time he covers my surge.  Finally, while walking an uphill section, I start up a conversation.  Andrew is running his first ultra and is just trying to keep a good pace off of me.  This is good.  I should be able to drop him as he tires given this is his first ultra.  He looks to be younger, and I later learn he is 36.  We stick together the rest of this section, and he decides to go to the aid station table while I pass right on through.

Mile 28.1    20:42 (17:15 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

As soon as I passed through the last aid station, I hear another runner catching up to me.  It is a lady and she catches and passes me very quickly on the first climb.  I didn’t even have a minute to consider keeping up with her.  I am feeling good though and feel like I am still making a decent pace.  I still think I am still in 8^th place when I stop to water a tree.  This pit stop allows Andrew to catch me.  I mention to him how quickly the lady went by us, and he didn’t even see her go by while he was at the aid station table.  This surprises him, and he decides to go chase her, leaving me in the dust.  I get to this aid station now by myself, take a gulp of Coke from the two-liter bottle and press on for the last few miles.

Mile 29.8    24:27 (14:23 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

I run most of the gradual switchbacks while power hiking the steeper portions.  A few switchbacks ahead of me I glimpse the lady at one point, but Andrew is nowhere in sight.  I guess he passed her, but the final results indicate she finished ahead of him.  My time on this section is four minutes slower than the first lap.  When I get to the aid station, I ask the kids if there is anyone ahead of me that I might catch.  Their response is just a laugh, saying the next runner is over five minutes ahead of me.

Mile 31.1    15:03 (11:35 avg./mile) FINISH

Okay, I am not likely going to catch 8^th place, so I just need to ensure I don’t give up 9^th place.  I run as much of this last section as I can, but I keep an eye behind me in case there is anyone behind me.  Fortunately, no one is back there, and I move with purpose to the finish.  Andrew is walking away from the finish as I approach the finish line.

Official Finishing Time 6:53:08

10^th out of 25 starters (19 under the 8-hour cut-off)

It is a beautiful, almost warm day, and I sit at the finish line for about 15 minutes cheering on the other runners coming in behind me.  John, the half marathon runner, is nowhere to be seen.  There is, however, one of the 50k runners that finished over an hour before me hanging out at the finish.  I eat half of a bowl of chili while chatting with the lady that finished ahead of me, and her two friends that finished behind me.  I was pretty sure that I won my age group, but this is confirmed by one of the volunteers, and I win a $20 gift card.

When the official results are posted, it shows me in 10^th place.  I guess I missed on my count, but the person around mile 21 had the same count.  Regardless, it is a top-10 finish, and I am the 6^th male finisher.

My next race will not be Cheaha as that is Sebastian’s 5^th birthday party.  Instead, it will be the Bull Run Run 50-miler in Virginia on April 4^th.  Until then...

Never stop running,

Darin

Hellgate 2025 - Snowgate

It is 3:30am on September 21, 2025.  I was timed out at mile 51 about six hours ago on the Grindstone 100k course.  I was 26 minutes over the cut-off and as I lay awake in the middle of the night, a thought strikes me.  The statin I am taking is making me slower!  It is a known side effect that statins cause muscle strains and fatigue, especially in runners.  I thought I had adapted to this and worked through the muscle strains, but laying here in bed, I am now certain that it is causing subtle fatigue that slowly over the scores of miles causes me to run slower in an ultramarathon.  It is crystal clear in my mind what I need to do.  I must pause my statin therapy for the next 12 weeks until Hellgate.

December 12

My training the last 12 weeks has been very good.  The muscle strain issues I have been nursing for the last year and a half have faded nicely, and I nailed several key training runs faster than I had in years.  Now I just have to execute the race.  This begins with my crew.  Crewing for me this year is a Hellgate rookie.  Although he has never been to Hellgate, he does have ultrarunning experience himself.  Jesse is a colleague of mine and jumped at the opportunity to help me finish this race for the 23^rd straight year.  He lives in Colorado, but we have been working in Suffolk, Virginia quite a bit this fall.  So, this morning, I flew to Hampton Roads, picked him up, and then we flew to Roanoke for the race.

The race briefing at Hellgate is quite the entertaining event.  David Horton is the race director, and he holds court throughout the briefing that lasts for over and hour and a half.  Unknown to all of us, he informs us that the race almost didn’t happen this year because of the snow at the higher elevations.  The Blue Ridge Parkway is completely closed, and several of the access roads are impassable as well.  The park service didn’t give final okay until this morning.  David covers all of the usual bits of information, but mentions the course will likely run slower this year because of the snow.  How bad do you want to finish this year, he asks multiple times.  One of the volunteers says the snow is 4-6 inches deep on the Promise Land portion of the course.  Due to the conditions of the roads, most of the aid stations are changed to different locations.  There will be one aid station between the usual AS1 and AS2.  The next aid station will be two miles short of where AS3 usually is.  There will be no AS4 so the next aid station will be at the normal AS5 location.  This means that we will be running over 16 miles between aid stations of any sort in the middle of the night.  And, the first time crews will be able to see their runner is AS5.  After that, AS6 and AS7 will be in their normal places, but AS8 will be two miles past its normal location.  AS9 will also be in its normal place.  Here is a chart with the aid stations this year.

Horton Mile Mark	Crews Allowed?
4.7	No
11.0	No
27.6	Yes
34.5	No
42.5	Yes
51.5	No
56.1	Yes

Thus, there are only seven aid stations of which crews can only go to three.

December 13

After the briefing, I quickly get ready, and we drive to the start to nap for an hour or so before the race.  Well, I napped; Jesse couldn’t get comfortable and ends up walking around and calling his wife back in Colorado.  The temperature is about 30 degrees at the start, and it is forecasted to drop to the mid-20s before dawn.

Darin & Jesse before the Start

Mile 3.5      46:46 (13:22 avg./mile) FSR 35

Note, all of my times are at the usual aid station locations so that I know how I am moving relative to my 22-year history of running this race.  This first section goes well as there isn’t much snow at this lower altitude.  I was hoping to cover this section faster than I have the last few years, but despite my effort, I reach the aid station point in the same 46 minutes I have the last five years.

Mile 7.5      58:04 (14:31 avg./mile) Petites Gap

This section is all on a gravel road and for the first couple of miles, I run it with Jeff Garstecki and Ryan Henry—two of the other Fearsome Five members like me who have finished all 22 of the previous editions of this event.  At the aid station that is around mile 4.7, I grab a few cookies.  After the aid station, the road continues to climb and thus the snow increases and the road is covered.  There are tire tracks nearly the whole way to the Parkway, and it is a little slick in places.  I decided to forgo wearing Yak Traks, but several other runners are wearing them.  This time is a solid time and puts me right on pace for a sub-17-hour finish.

Mile 13.1    1:44:02 (18:35 avg./mile) Camping Gap

After crossing the ice-covered Parkway at Petites Gap, I bomb the downhill section as it is fast with the snow filling in around most of the rocks.  I test my right ankle once, but it is fine so far.  When the downhill ends, it is a little slow going on the uphill sections with the snow.  However, I still make it to the jeep trail portion in 44 minutes.  In a normal year, I would cover the next few miles in 45-50 minutes.  It is all uphill and about a mile later, I come upon the aid station.  I eat a couple of quesadillas and a sausage pastry, and take a pack of Lance crackers with me.  Soon after the aid station, the tire tracks end, and all there is are the foot holes of the runners ahead of us.  The last two miles up to the gap are very slow going.  I cover these last couple of miles with Jesse Meadows.  He is running his eighth Hellgate.  My time at this point is about 10 minutes slower than average, and I have expended significantly more effort trudging through the snow that is up to six inches deep at this point.

Mile 21.9    2:40:04 (18:11 avg./mile) Headforemost Mountain

Jesse Meadows and I start the Promise Land part of the course, running as much as we can.  However, the first half of this section has the deepest snow yet.  It is about eight inches deep in most parts.  So, on the flat and uphill sections, it is very slow going, but on the downhills, I push the pace to try and maintain a speed that will get me to Jennings Creek before 8:00am.  Near the end of the Promise Land grassy road section, the lady running behind me asks me about my headlamp at which point I learn it is none other than Bethany Patterson behind me.  I think I have known Bethany since 2003 at the first Hellgate.  She didn’t run the first year, but she was here marking the course.  Bethany follows me through Apple Orchard and down to Overstreet Falls.  Once again, I make good time on the very technical down hill sections, but this hardly makes up for the slow going in other places.  After Overstreet Falls, I hike the mile and a half to the top of Headforemost Mountain.  Fortunately, the dirt road at this point doesn’t have too much snow on it.  I make it to the original aid station location at 6:09am.  This gives me over 20 minutes on the cut-off pace.  It isn’t as fast as I wanted, but it isn’t too bad considering the conditions.  My time on this section is a little over 10 minutes slower than my average the past several years.

Mile 27.6    1:36:07 (16:52 avg./mile) Jennings Creek

With little margin to spare, I run this mostly downhill section with focused determination.  I gap Bethany for a bit, and trade places with Sheryl Wheeler.  Sheryl is 62 years old, but is a very savvy trail runner who maintains a very consistent pace.  In contrast, my pace varies considerably depending mostly on whether I am going up or down.  As I descend down in elevation, the snow decreases, and I run the last two miles on actual dirt and rocks.  Before the start, I told Jesse to expect me here between 7:00 and 7:30.  It is 7:36am when I enter the aid station, and he is happy to see me.  I sit down and eat some of the egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich Jesse has cooked for me.  I also change both of my shirts, gloves, and hat into thinner versions of each one.  It is 7:45am when I leave the aid station.  Usually, the hard cut-off is at Headforemost Mountain, but since there was no aid station there, David set the first hard cut-off here at Jennings Creek at 8:30am.  I told everyone at the pre-race briefing that 8:30 was very generous, and they should be closer to 8:00 if they wanted to make the next cut-off at Bearwallow Gap.

Darin coming into Jennings Creek

Mile 34.5    1:57:19 (17:00 avg./mile) Little Cove Mountain

Darin leaving Jennings Creek

Leaving the aid station, I meet a new Hellgate runner.  His name is John Goldfield, and he is from North Carolina.  He is rather experienced, and the climb out of Jennings Creek goes by quickly as we chat.  I lead John down the single track, gravel road, and single-track sections before I let him go ahead as I need to water a tree again.  I think I peed once on every section this year.  On the climb up to the aid station, I have Sheryl just in front of me.  Before I finish this aid station, Bethany catches back up.  I grab several chicken nuggets and a meat ball to eat.  I wash these down with a cup of Mountain Dew, which is the first caffeine I have consumed so far.  Then I take a pack of Lance crackers with me to eat while I run. 

Mile 42.5    2:23:46 (17:58 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap

Bethany and I run together for all of this section.  We talk about our families and the Ohio State Buckeyes.  While Bethany graduated from Liberty University, her husband Mike went to OSU, and Bethany is a serious fan.  I run the rolling grassy road section at a steady, solid pace.  To ensure I don’t have a low as the Mountain Dew wears off, I pop a caffeine pill at the 10:30 mark.  This is a bit earlier than I would have liked, but this next aid station is a hard cut-off, and I want to be comfortably ahead of it.  Bethany and I trade places once or twice with each other, and we also trade places with Sheryl at least once on this section.  I get into the aid station, and Jesse has a perfectly cooked grilled ham and cheese sandwich for me.  I eat a majority of it, washing it down with my CR02 electrolyte drink.  I think about changing out of my tights as it is about 40 degrees at this point, but I decide to keep things as they are.  I leave the aid station at 12:06pm, 24 minutes ahead of the cut-off.  Other than the first year of the race in 2003, this is the slowest at this point for me.  Last year I was eight minutes faster, and I only finished the race with less than 2.5 minutes to spare.  I need to stay focused and make good time.

Darin coming into Bearwallow Gap

Mile 49.5    2:05:53 (17:59 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap

I follow Sheryl out of the aid station, and another runner, Tom, follows me.  Sheryl is quicker in the climb than us, and she gaps us.  Tom and I are chatting away and the company is good, but I am not moving too quickly.  At 13:15, I am really starting to fade and pop my second caffeine pill.  This turns things around to some degree, but it also prompts another item that I have to deal with.  My large intestine lets me know that it has some stuff it needs to move.  As I drop down onto the dirt road, I roll my right ankle for the third time.  The good thing is that it is my chronic ankle and the pain deadens out within a minute or two.  A little bit later, I spy the perfect location to squat in the woods.  There is a log about 20 yards off the course, and there is snow around it.  I take my time to ensure this will be the one and only time I need to do this activity, and then I clean up with some snow and the little bit of TP that I carry.  While I was taking care of business in the woods, Bethany and a few others pass by.  They don’t seem to notice me.  After that, I quickly finish the trek up to the location the aid station typically is.  My time is slower than average, and slower than I wanted, but I am hoping the 5+ minutes in the woods helps me run faster from here to the finish.  The race time is 14:12, which should be enough time, but this is 18 minutes behind last year’s pace.

Mile 56.1    2:23:05 (21:41 avg./mile) Day Creek

With no aid station at Bobblets Gap, I get to run down the dirt road on an empty stomach to where the aid station actually is.  I was hoping this would be right where the course enters back onto the single-tracked trail, but it is about a half mile before that point.  I sit down at the aid station and eat a little slider BBQ sandwich.  It tastes good, and I hope my stomach handles it okay.  Late in a race, I am never certain with different food items.  I don’t stay any longer and take a pierogi and a quesadilla with me to eat on the run.  I enter the forever section 38 minutes after I pass through Bobblets Gap.  Usually, I am at 30 minutes or less, but I did spend a couple of minutes at the ad hoc aid station.  The climbs on this section are not very long, but they are challenging on the single-tracked trail.  I struggle up the first one while two runners close in on me.  When I start down the other side, they are right behind me and ask if I am going to finish this year.  Well, I am ahead of you at this point!  They pass me, but I will see them again.  Soon after this, here comes Jesse running towards me.  He mentioned he was going to do this, and it is nice to see him.  He says it took him 53 minutes to get to this point from the aid station, but caveats that with he was taking it easy.  He thinks I can do it faster.  I work hard and stay focused, but I also know I am not moving that quickly, so I pop my third caffeine pill of the race.  I count the creek crossings and manage not to roll my right ankle in this section.  As we near a half mile from the aid station, Jesse runs ahead to get my headlamp for me so that I won’t need to stop at the aid station.  I run into the aid station and only pause long enough to drink a cup of Coke.  The clock stands at 16:35, so I have less than 85 minutes to finish.  This is the slowest that I have ever left this last aid station by over 10 minutes.

Mile 62.4    1:21:35 (12:57 avg./mile) FINISH

About a hundred yards from the aid station, I stop to pee.  As I am finishing that task, Jesse catches up to me with the headlamp.  I set my focus on power hiking as fast as my legs will carry me.  There is a lady in front of me, Rebecca Phalen, and I tell Jesse that we are going to catch her.  My approach in times like this is to breathe as hard as I can and then move my legs as quick as possible.  The climb is about 2.8 miles long, although some say it is a little shorter than that.  I pass Rebecca as we are getting to the first gate.  My watch on this section reads 16.5 minutes, which isn’t bad considering I stopped to water a tree.  The whole climb, my stomach is screaming with hunger; I will just have to ignore that part of me.  After passing Rebecca there are two runners in front of me.  I think these are the two guys that passed me in the forever section.  I catch and pass them before we get to the ruins.  Then it is just a short section to the Parkway.  Jesse was pumping me up the whole time.  At the Parkway, I give Jesse a fist bump, he wishes me the best, and I start running down the hill.  It feels like I am moving well, but then the two guys come by me.  After they pass me, Rebecca passes me, and both Rebecca and I pass the two guys back.  Rebecca and I are running mostly side-by-side when I roll my right ankle for the fourth time.  I barely break stride, but decide I will follow close behind Rebecca and let her find the ankle twisters.  We are flat-out sprinting at this point.  We pass a couple of more runners and one of them asks me how far.  My only answer is that when we get to the gate, we have a mile and a half.  Around the next corner is the gate, and I let out a cheer!  My watch says 16:44:01; I only have to run a 10-minute per mile pace from here.  A minor detail is that I just ran the last two miles in 24:38, but that was on a grassy road strewn with rocks.  Initially, I run side-by-side with Rebecca.  We cover the half mile to the mile to go line in 4:11.  Okay, now I just need to run the last mile in about 11 minutes.  However, neither Rebecca nor I slow down and actually, she speeds up!  She gaps me a little, but I track close behind her.  At some point in our sprint, we pass another runner, and he says, “Way to go Darin!”  Recognizing the voice as Dan Broom, I say thanks.  I make the turn into Camp Bethel and each of us has a volunteer to guide us to the finish.  I pass Sheryl Wheeler one last time and hit the finish line 11 seconds behind Rebecca, running the last mile in 8:50.

Official Finishing Time 17:56:41

117^th out of 143 starters (120 finishers under 18 hours)

After crossing the finish line and shaking David’s hand, I collapse on the ground.  I am completely exhausted and spent.  I lay on the ground in total exhilaration until Ryan Henry’s wife and a couple of others pick me up off the ground.  Ryan’s wife assists me inside, and I flop down on a couch.  Dan Broom finishes in 17:58 and is the last official finisher under 18 hours.

My time on this section is faster than I have run it since 2018.  I thought I was in shape to run the last section in 1:25, but that was all before the deep snow and sparse aid stations.  Let me just say this, for some reason, I am able to push myself harder than I do anywhere else.  This was true the first year, and it is still true 22 years later.  The cold or at least cool weather helps, but there is something else, something special about this place, the race director, and everyone that is and has been part of the Hellgate family.

Darin at Camp Bethel

This year was one of the more memorable ones, and there are a lot of memories at Hellgate!  All five of the fearsome five finished, but only Jerry and Jeff finish under 17 hours.  The rest of us are in the last hour.  Looking over the DNF list, there are many Hellgate veterans with multiple Hellgate finishes that were beaten by the conditions this year.

At this point I don’t know what my next race will be.  However, with my Western States qualifier, I don’t have to worry about that for the next 52 weeks.  I will have 128 tickets in the lottery next year.

Never stop running,

Darin

Grindstone 100k 2025 -- A UTMB Race

September 20

Ready for the Challenge

It is 5:25am when Caleb (my crew) and I pull into the race parking lot.  The race is scheduled to start at 6am.  It is about a 10-minute walk to the start.  I savor five minutes sitting in the car, mentally preparing myself for the effort that will be required.  I have never run this race, but it is known as a tough race in the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia.  This race started many years ago with only one distance—100 mile.  Then UTMB bought out the race and introduced three other distances—21k, 50k, and 100k to go along with the 100-mile race.  I chose the 100k distance because it wasn’t 100 miles, yet it still provided a Western States qualifier race for anyone that finishes in less than 18 hours.  I do not yet have a qualifier for this year’s lottery because a) I finished the Hellgate 100k last December over the 17-hour qualifying time (but under the finishing time of 18 hours), b) I dropped out of the Kettle Moraine 100-miler at mile 64, and c) I got timed out of the Twisted Branch 100k last month—a mere seven minutes over the cut-off time at mile 51.

This race has a required gear list that every runner has to carry with them.  It includes a pack with water carrying capacity, cell phone, collapsible cup, headlamp with extra batteries, food (recommended 800 calories), hooded jacket, and head gear (e.g., hat, buff, beanie).  Given all of this gear, one might think that there are no aid stations.  No, not really, there are nine aid stations with the largest gap between aid stations around 10 miles.  Right after the race handbook says we have to carry a cell phone, it says that crews are advised to download the local maps as cell coverage is very spotty on the course.  It all makes sense to me!

Mile 5.7      1:08:51 (12:05 avg./mile) Lick Run 1

The race starts on time at the top of the hour, sort of.  The 30 or so elite runners get to start at 6am.  The rest of us peasants get to file through a narrow gate opening one at a time.  This might have made sense if the course started on a single-tracked trail.  However, this is not the case as the first section is either on a gravel or paved road.  We have almost six miles to get ourselves all spread out before the tighter trail running begins.  I spend this time running easy, but focused.  I walk the uphill sections making good time to this first check point.  At this aid station, crews are not allowed, and I walk straight through without stopping.

Mile 11.4    1:23:37 (14:40 avg./mile) Wolf Ridge

A steep climb greets us as we leave the first aid station.  The single-track trail goes up steeply, and we are bunched in a conga line.  After the climb, the trail becomes the nicest, gradual downhill.  I make good time on this section with the clean trail.  I hope the trail remains this nice.  Near the end of this section, the lead 50k runners start passing us.  They started one hour after us.  At this aid station, I get my Camelbak refilled with chlorinated city water (why would I hope/expect that my $394 entry fee might get us bottled drinking water?) and grab a PB&J rollup wrap.

Mile 21.0    2:36:48 (16:20 avg./mile) Sand Spring

The serious climbing begins as I leave the Wolf Ridge aid station.  The climb is not too steep.  The climb is over 2,000 feet, but it is spread over six miles.  There isn’t much breeze this morning, but it is still relatively cool, probably no more than 70 degrees at this point.  I make the climb in great shape and run downhill for over 2,000 feet to arrive at this third aid station.  Along the way, I strike up a conversation with the runner behind me, Brendan, who is from Charlottesville.  Since he is from Charlottesville, I ask him if he knows Sophie Speidel.  Of course he knows her; all of the ultrarunners in town know her.  This is another crews aren’t allowed aid station.  I drink a small cup of pickle juice—wait I thought the reason I was required to carry a collapsible cup was because it was a cup less race.  Then I eat a handful of potato chips.  I also refill my Camelbak to about half full to ensure I don’t run out of water before the next aid station.

Mile 25.2    1:05:41 (15:38 avg./mile) North River Gap 1

This section is on a gravel road and the majority of it is actually downhill.  I had predicted that I would get to this aid station where I would see Caleb for the first time between 12:20pm and 12:45pm.  With the nice road on the first section, and now this gravel road section, I arrive at 12:08pm.  Caleb was planning on getting here at 11:30am, but miscalculated how long it would take and how far he would have to park from where the aid station is.  Therefore, he had just gotten to the aid station a couple of minutes before me.  The table and chair were set up, so I sat down on the chair and look over to see if he has a grilled egg, bacon, and cheese ready for me.  That would be a big no.  No problem, there is a nice aid station worker who offers to go fetch me some food.  He comes back with French toast sticks, bacon, and syrup.  I eat the four or five sticks, but only one of the several slices of bacon and wash it down with some chocolate milk.  While he was gone, I transferred my cell phone and headlamp to the other Camelbak that Caleb had expertly made ready for me, and I also change my shoes and socks.  I had a rock in one of the shoes and I figured it couldn’t hurt to change shoes and socks at this point.  I also add the ice bandana to my load, and the ice feels very cold, but that is the point after all.  I leave the aid station at 12:15pm giving me 45 minutes on the cut-off to this point.

Mile 30.9    1:51:51 (19:37 avg./mile) Lookout Mountain

The day is warming up quickly and is well into the 70s at this point.  It is supposed to top out around 80 degrees.  The ice keeps me cool, but I want to make sure I keep my pace smooth and steady.  This section has about 1,600 feet of climb with only 500 feet of descent.  Needless to say, my pace is slower on this section.  At the crewless aid station, I am looking for a porta john but there isn’t one.  I grab a few chips and proceed forward.  I figure I might have to squat in the woods someplace at some point, but for now, I am okay.  There is no cut-off at this aid station as it really is in the middle of nowhere.

Mile 38.1    2:13:43 (18:34 avg./mile) Magic Moss

Leaving the aid station, I ask a volunteer how far it is to the next one.  He gives me a full breakdown—it is about 1,100 feet up and then over 1,400 feet down with a total distance of 7.2 miles.  Perfect, let’s get down to Magic Moss so that I can then get to Camp Todd where the real work begins.  During this section, I chat some with Miles who is running his first ultramarathon today.  I make it over this section without having to dive into the woods, but upon arriving at the aid station, I proceed immediately into the porta john.  It takes me a few minutes to address that issue before returning to my Camelbak.  I refill the Camelbak with a little help from the nice aid station workers, but I don’t eat much as I know I want to eat solid food at the next aid station. 

Mile 43.1    1:26:24 (17:17 avg./mile) Camp Todd

Miles and I traverse this section together.  It is all on a gravel road, and we are content to walk most of it since only a little bit is downhill.  Miles is 33 years old and his wife is pregnant with their first child, who is due near the end of October.  His wife insisted that he had a crew person so that they could whisk him to the hospital quickly if she happened to go into labor early.  At this aid station, Caleb is well prepared.  He has a grilled ham and cheese sandwich wrapped in tin foil for me along with a perfectly prepared Camelbak.  I swapped out the phone and the headlamp.  I drink a little CR02 and about a cup of Coke.  This is the first caffeine I have taken in today, and I am counting on it to give me a boost for this next section.  I leave the aid station several minutes before Miles.

Filling up at Camp Todd

Mile 52.8    3:39:29 (22:38 avg./mile) North River Gap 2

The air is still and humid as I leave the aid station and make my way across a mostly dried up riverbed.  This is the only time so far that there was even a chance of getting my shoes wet.  On the other side, the trail begins its ascent.  The trail will rise almost 2,500 feet before I will see anything going down.  I left the last aid station at 5:46pm, which was over 13 minutes ahead of the cut-off time.  I have 3 hours and 13 minutes to complete these almost 10 miles.  The elevation gain occurs in the first three miles of this section.  Near the end of the climb, Miles catches up to me, and I figure we are in good shape.  It is now over 3,000 feet down and about seven miles.  Thunderstorms have been rumbling around us off and on for the last several hours.  As we get to the top in an hour and a half, the thunder is getting closer.  I turn on my headlamp and start the downhill portion.  I think I am making good time, but Miles is worried about making the cut-off so he presses on ahead as the rain begins to fall.  The rain started slowly, but picked up quickly.  Soon, the lightning is illuminated the trail and the thunder is shaking the ground beneath my feet.  A few 100 milers and their paces catch up to me, and they follow me down the trail that is now a creek.  Splashing through the water, I manage to keep myself upright somehow, but my feet do slide across and down a few rocks along the way.  As my watch nears the three-hour mark on this section, I am expecting (hoping?) that the aid station is just around the next corner.  At one point, I see several lights up ahead, but it is just other runners.  My hopes begin to fade as I see my watch tick towards the 9pm cut-off time for this next aid station.  I don’t look at my watch for several minutes hoping that the race official will be a little lenient on the cut-off time.  Finally, at 9:26pm I finally make it to the aid station.  The nice race official asks me how I am doing.  My response is that I am okay, just too slow.  He confirms that I am well over the cut-off.  I unpin my bib number and hand it to him, and he asks if I need a ride.  Nope, Caleb is standing right next to me with a cup of Ramen ready for me.

My drop point

Total Time 15:26:24—26 minutes over the cut-off time

263 starters (147 finishers under 18 hours)

Nothing wagered, nothing gained.  This attempt was all about trying to get a qualifier for the Western States lottery in December.  I have failed on my fourth attempt to get a qualifier, so I will not be in the lottery this year.  The good news is that I don’t lose my ticket status.  So, when I run a qualifier next year, I will have 128 tickets in the lottery.  I thought I had a good chance of getting it done today, but obviously I didn’t.  I learned more about my current physical condition at age 56, and I plan to apply that knowledge when I toe the start line at Hellgate at 12:01am on December 13.  This is the 23^rd year for the Hellgate 100k, and I will be going for my 23^rd finish!  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Twisted Branch 100k 2025 - Hot, but Dry

 August 16

Ready for the Start of the Race

This year has not been my best year for my ultrarunning results.  It started well with a good finish at the Mountain Mist 50k in January with a time of 6:57.  It is always good to finish a 50k under seven hours.  But then I dropped out of the Bull Run Run 50 Miler in April with a twisted left ankle.  In June, I dropped out of the Kettle Moraine 100 Miler when the temperature got warm and I was unable to maintain a fast enough pace.

So here I am in western New York looking for a finish, not just to regain my racing form, but also to get a Western States qualifier.  I am very well trained, and the only issue is that the weather forecast is calling for hot weather, possibly topping 90 degrees.

I have a new person crewing for me for this race.  Stuart has graciously volunteered to crew for me, and we plan to play a little golf on Sunday morning before we fly back to Alabama.  I brief Stuart on all of my plans, and we review the notes that Peter sent as he crewed for me the last three years at this race.  We eat an early dinner at the VRBO house and turn in early just after 8pm.  The race starts at 4:00am, so I have my alarm set for 2:00am.  We leave the house at 3:00am, arriving at the start at 3:35am.  The race starts promptly on time, and 192 other runners and I head into the dark woods.  The temperature is in the mid-60s.

Mile 6.1      1:23:59 (13:46 avg./mile) Cutler

With almost 200 runners in a conga line with no breeze, the air is warm and humid.  My plan is to take advantage of the cool morning before it gets warm, but early on, this feels warm already.  Last year, I ran the race very conservatively in much cooler weather.  I am doing well until about four miles in I trip over a rock and scrape my right knee, but manage to catch myself with my hands.  The knee hurts a little bit, but my big left toe caught the rock and it is throbbing.  My big left toe has been a chronic issue for 2.5 years now.  About a mile after that, I get stung by a wasp.  It hurts, but it is on the back of my left shoulder.  I arrive at the first aid station avoiding any more damage.  My time is almost two minutes faster than last year, and I am right where I want to be.

Mile 10.6    1:03:54 (14:12 avg./mile) Naples Creek

This section was changed last year to mostly road going downhill into Naples.  There was a landowner that no longer wanted us running on their land, so they shortened this section and lengthens the next.  Last year I ran this conservatively in 52 minutes.  This year, I plan to run the downhill quickly to build some time for the afternoon heat.  However, unbeknownst to any of us runners, the course has been changed again.  The fortunate part is that in the open air, it is nice and cool.  We start down the paved road and turn left onto a gravel road, but soon we turn off of that onto a single-track trail.  This feels different, and I realize it is different when we come into town next to the school, instead of Bob’s and Ruth’s café.  Okay, I guess we are taking a different route to the park where the aid station is.  It is definitely a different route, and it is longer.  We come into the park from almost the opposite direction after an extra 1.5 to 2 miles tacked onto this section.  So, despite running this section hard, it takes me over 11 minutes longer than last year.  Okay, I will have to roll with the punches.  I meet Stuart, trade out my Camelbak, drink a cup of chocolate milk, and take a croissant to eat on the climb.  What I don’t know is that I am only 13 minutes ahead of the cut-off time at this aid station.

Mile 18.0    2:19:39 (18:52 avg./mile) The Sneaker

The climb out of Naples is the hardest of this race, and this race has some tough climbs!  About a third of the way up, a female runner lays down beside the trail, just exhausted, asking how much farther is this climb.  I press on and manage to eat most of my croissant.  I would have eaten all of it, but I got tired of carrying it on the climb.  After the super steep and long climb, it is then several miles of gradual rolling hills.  A guy named Alex passes me for the second time in the race.  He says he had to visit the porta john at the aid station.  I learn he is from Cincinnati, and we chat about Ohio for a few minutes until he presses on ahead of me.  I make it to the aid station in decent time as I was just trying to average better than 20-minute miles.  Someone asks what the cut-off time is and the answer is 9:00am.  As I leave the aid station the time is 8:47am, so I only have a 13-minute cushion.  I eat a few potato chips at this non-crew aid station.

Mile 22.3    1:08:10 (15:51 avg./mile) Italy Valley

The course goes uphill after the aid station, but on a paved road.  Despite the pavement, I choose to walk, conserve my energy, and keep myself relatively cool.  After about a mile, John Rynders catches up to me.  He is the only person in the race that I knew before the race started.  He has run this race two of the three times I have run it.  We catch up on things as we make our way down the road.  When the hill flattens out, we run until the course turns back onto a single-track trail.  At this juncture, I take my first leak which tells me I am doing okay sucking down the water.  The course now heads downhill on the single-track, and John leads us to the aid station, making quick work of the distance.  This is another non-crew aid station.  I sit down, take a rock out of my shoe, and then get a couple of swigs of pickle juice.  I leave before John, figuring he will catch up to me at some point.  With the fast split on this section, I am 19 minutes ahead of the cut-off.

Mile 28.9    2:08:36 (19:29 avg./mile) The Lab

It is warming up significantly now.  The high temperature today will top out at 91 degrees.  I take the long climb from Italy Valley nice and steady.  Eventually, John catches up to me, and we chat a bit more on the climb.  However, when the trail flattens out and I begin to run, I leave John behind.  He had been saying that his ankle was hurting him even though he hadn’t twisted it or anything.  I run the downhills smoothly and walk the uphill sections trying to survive the heat.  There is a little bit of the breeze, and it feels nice when it blows on me.  I make it into the aid station, and Stuart has a grilled bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich ready for me.  I eat half of it, washing it down with several ounces of CR02.  We get the iced cap and ice bandana all loaded up with ice.  As I am leaving the aid station, I ask the volunteer what the cut-off at this aid station is and the answer is 12:15pm.  I look down at my watch and it reads 12:04pm.  So, I have given back eight minutes to the cut-off.

Mile 35.3    1:50:04 (17:12 avg./mile) Patch

The ice cools me down, and I start to run with purpose.  I realize that I forgot to take the wash cloth with me that I was planning on.  With the iced cap, the melting ice and sweat drips into my eyes.  Oh well, I guess I will have to suffer, but then right on the trail is a small towel that someone has dropped.  I pick it up, it looks clean, so I use it to wipe the sweat and water from my eyes for the next few sections.  I catch one runner and he says it is going to be close getting to the next aid station before the cut-off.  With all of the ice I am carrying, I am confident I can get there.  I continue to push the pace, passing 12 runners on this section.  About an hour and a half into this section, though, all of my ice is melted.  The ice in the cap lasted about 50 minutes, and the ice in the bandana lasted 90 minutes.  The last 20 minutes into the aid station are really tough with the heat and now no ice, and I expend quite a bit of effort getting into the aid station.  I grab only a few potato chips, but get my cap and bandana refilled with plenty of ice.  I leave the aid station less than six minutes under the cut-off.

Mile 39.8    1:35:05 (21:08 avg./mile) Finger Lakes Camp Ground

Leaving the aid station, I walk a fair bit waiting for the ice to take effect and cool down my body.  After several minutes it works, and I am again able to move with purpose.  There are about a dozen runners around me, and we are all chasing the cut-off times.  When we get to the paved road, I know we have 0.7 mile on the road downhill.  I run with a guy whose wife is also running but is behind us.  He figures she isn’t going to make the cut-off.  After the downhill, it is a steep little climb.  I take my second S-cap of the race as I begin the climb, and it takes me two tries to gag down the capsule.  While I am gagging a little bit, someone else is heaving.  I make it up the climb and move with purpose to the next road crossing.  Now, it is another short up and down and then I run down a dirt road to the aid station.  Stuart has a grilled ham and cheese sandwich for me.  I eat half of it and drink a good amount of CR02.  We get my cap and bandana topped off with ice, and I leave the aid station with only a minute on the cut-off time.  I gained two more spots on this section, and five spots in the aid station.

Coming into the Campground Aid Station

Mile 46.8    2:26:21 (20:54 avg./mile) Glenbrook

This section starts with a steady uphill for over a mile.  Some of the uphill is in a creek bed with all of the rocks and such.  I find myself beside a young guy, named Steve, who is from Brooklyn.  We chat all the way up the climb.  As we approach the top, I am not feeling fresh.  I tell Steve that if he is feeling okay, he needs to run to stay under the cut-offs.  So, he runs off, and then I start to jog.  I am able to run and keep him in sight.  There is a lady in our vicinity, who picked up a pacer at the last aid station who happens to be her husband.  She and I trade places back and forth a couple of times, but never catch up with Steve.  I am thinking I probably won’t make the next cut-off.  About 1:40 into this section, I pass a guy who is looking at his watch.  I ask him if he has determined if we will make the cut-off, and he says he thinks we are within two miles of the aid station.  I question this as it is almost 30 minutes to the aid station after we pass the twisted trees, and we haven’t seen them yet.  I pass the guy and press forward walking with purpose.  Just then, around the next turn, there are the twisted trees!  My thoughts of getting timed out turn to, I’m going to finish this thing.  My watch says 1:55 on this section as I go by the twisted trees.  I had 2:30 to cover this section.  I get to the aid station in 2:19 and spend seven minutes eating another grilled ham and cheese half sandwich.  While I didn’t see Steve, I learn later that he dropped out at this aid station.  I decide to take off the iced cap at this point as I have to take a headlamp with me.  I put a dry Buff on and tie the bandana full of ice around my neck.  I leave this aid station with more than four minutes on the cut-off giving me almost 1:40 to get to the next aid station.  On this last section I passed another nine runners on the trail and in the aid station.

Mile 51.6    1:47:50 (22:28 avg./mile) Lake David

Last year, I ran this section in 1:54.  Two years ago, I ran it in 1:42.  So, 1:40 is possible.  This section is longer than the 4.8 miles that is advertised, possibly close to a mile longer.  Regardless, I am determined to get under the cut-off.  I drank a cup of Coke at the last aid station, and I plan to ride that kick for about an hour.  At the hour mark, I will pop my first caffeine pill.  This should give me the kick I need to get into Lake David under the cut-off and continue on towards the last three sections.  I hold my own with the runners around me for the first hour.  When I get the additional caffeine in my system, I start running hard, passing several other runners.  This coincides with a gentle downhill section.  The last mile into the aid station is a steep climb and then a traverse around the lake.  I know from past experience, it would be good if I had 20 minutes to complete this part, but maybe I can do it in 15.  Regardless, despite my best efforts, I cross the road to begin the climb with only 10 minutes left.  I power up the hill and run hard around the lake.  The aid station volunteers are cheering and clapping for us, as we are past the time limit and done with our race.

Total Time 15:43:38—eight minutes over the cut-off time

193 starters (122 finishers under 20 hours)

In most years this is a hard race.  Last year on a shorter course, I finished with only 34 minutes to spare.  This year with a couple of bonus miles combined with the high heat, it just is not meant to be for me.  My only regret was not moving with more purpose on the section into The Lab.  However, it was very hot at that point, and I didn’t yet have ice on me.  Perhaps I should have taken the bandana with me leaving Naples Creek, and then I could have had it filled at The Sneaker aid station.

I am now in the position of not having a qualifier for the Western States lottery in December.  Initially, I am resigned to this fact and will focus on getting one next year.  Then I take a look at the races in September that are qualifiers, and I notice that one of them is Grindstone on September 20.  And at Grindstone there are multiple distance options.  I can run the 100k and get a qualifier.  So, that is my plan.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin