Since Nathan and Amy have school through June 14 and Nathan has a baseball game on June 15, Martha and I decided that I will fly up to Ohio today while her and the kids drive up Saturday afternoon/evening. Therefore, I have found a cheap fare on Delta leaving out of Williamsburg, Virginia. Obviously, I will have a connecting flight, and it is through Atlanta with a two and a half hour layover. The flight goes well, and my parents are at the Columbus airport to pick me up when my flight arrives around 6:30pm.June 14
My parents moved in April to Apple Valley, which is a private lake community and also happens to be about 25 minutes south of the start of the race. This morning, we went into Mount Vernon to do some grocery shopping for my race. I bought six quarts of Nestle chocolate milk, a box of muffins (which my mom has volunteered to make), a package of beef jerky, AA batteries, and some bagels. The rest of the day was spent mostly relaxing and waiting to go check-in for the race.June 15
Around 4pm, we left to go up to the race start through Loudonville. These were the directions the race gave us, but after getting to the start via their route, we were pretty sure that we could find a quicker way. Usually, at a 100-mile race check-in, runners get weighed in and looked over a little bit, but with the forecast for tomorrow not expected to break 70 degrees, they are not going to bother weighing people. The pre-race meal is of course spaghetti, and surprisingly to me, actually starts a little early! This would be just the first of many things that this race has down pat. My parents and I enjoyed our dinner, met a few new people, and listened to the race briefing. The most interesting portion of the race briefing is obviously the course description and how it is marked. This old guy, who is definitely past 60, gets up on a table and starts to tell us about all of the markers he and a couple of other people have put out on the course the past couple of days--there is the yellow trail, the green trail, the orange trail, the blue trail, the red trail, and the white trail. The green, yellow, and red trails are run twice because they are so nice and muddy.
The day of the race has finally arrived! I have waited almost 11 months to avenge my DNF (did not finish) at Vermont last July, and now I am well trained, rested, and ready to go. My dad and I leave the house around 4am and drive 25 minutes to the start. I get out of the car and check in so that the race officials know that I have shown up for the start. Then we sit in the car for 15-20 minutes because it is rather chilly outside. I decide to put on a long sleeve t-shirt over my short sleeve Coolmax shirt for the first hour until I the temperature and I warm up a little. Otherwise, I am wearing my patented red shorts, Asics Gel-Nandis, and a lot of Vaseline.Mile 4.5 54:17 (12:03 avg./mile) Camp Walhonding
This first part has been nice and smooth. There was one significant uphill portion, but everything seems to be starting off well. I am already 10 minutes ahead of a 24-hour pace. Near the end of this segment I meet a guy named Patrick, who is in the Alabama National Guard. He attempted the Rocky Raccoon in February and dropped out at mile 80. I drink about two-thirds of a quart of chocolate milk and take off my long sleeve t-shirt.Mile 10.7 1:25:33 (13:48 avg./mile) Rock Point
This is a little better pace for how fast I want to be going at this point. I am now running with three older gentlemen. One of them, named Don, helped lay out this course when it was first run 12 years ago. He seems to know where every tree root is on the course. The second guy is Regis, and he holds the course record for men over 50. He is trying to come back after being off for two years recovering from some mysterious illness he caught while fast packing the Appalachian Trail. The third guy is Norm, and he holds the course record for men over 60. He is quite the smooth runner and runs the downhill portion very quickly.Mile 15.0 51:38 (12:00 avg./mile) South Park
This is the first section totally on the trails. We are walking methodically uphill and cruising downhill. Things are going well, and I am now almost 25 minutes ahead of 24-hour pace.Mile 19.3 51:07 (11:53 avg./mile) Fire Tower
Another very nice split as the three old guys and I settle into a comfortable rhythm. The temperature at the start was in the low 50s and is probably now around 60. It is raining some, but mostly it is just a light rain. The majority of the trails on this race are on horse trails, which are nice and muddy. My wonderful crew is able to meet me for the second time in the race, and I drink most of a quart of chocolate milk. My dad is crewing for me, and my mom was supposed to meet us here, but I am a good 25 minutes ahead of the time I told her I would be here.Mile 21.7 33:39 (14:01 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
This is the first of five times we will see the covered bridge. Fortunately, we get to cross on it four out of the five times. The other time, we get to wade through the Mohican River. I am now 36 minutes ahead of a 24-hour pace. By the way, the reward for finishing under 24 hours is a silver belt buckle.Mile 26.4 1:10:44 (15:03 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge
This is an interesting portion of the race. The first two and a half miles are spent going along the river on relatively flat ground. However, it is along the river so the trail goes up and down a little and the footing is suspect because one wrong step can put you into the river. After the time beside the river comes "big hill" as Regis and Don call it. It is exactly that, going up for at least a mile. All in all, it isn't a terrible section this first time around, although I add a few minutes to the 24-hour pace. At this stop, I again get to see my crew and drink some chocolate milk. I got the idea of drinking chocolate milk from Eric Clifton via Melissa Belleman. It actually works well and I am not experiencing any adverse affects. I change out of my first pair of shoes and into a pair of Asics Traverse at this aid station.Mile 31.9 1:10:36 (12:52 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
This section starts with a mile on a dirt road, then a bit through a pine forest, and finally down a dam and back along the river. I had been feeling a little weird, but the downhill portions help me pick up the pace, and sweating a little on this cool day actually seems to help. At aid stations when I don't get to receive help from my crew, I usually consume a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a cup or two of Gatorade. However, I have decided to have no more than one cup of Gatorade at each stop. Right before this aid station, we get to cross the Mohican River, which I cross at a gallop. The water not only refreshes me, but also is a motivating factor.Mile 35.9 54:10 (13:32 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
Yes, this is not a typo, I am back at the covered bridge. This portion was the blue loop, which isn't really a loop this year. It is just an out and back portion. I run most of the way with Milton Webb, who is from Beckley, West Virginia. This is his second time doing this race. This portion included a climb up beside a waterfall and of course, we got to navigate that one coming back down, as well.Mile 38.4 47:47 (19:06 avg./mile) Bridle Staging Area
This section begins the red trail, which is probably the toughest portion of the course. These two and a half miles had a significant climb most of the way, and my time reflects the difficulty of the section, but I am rewarded at the aid station by seeing my crew and getting to down some more chocolate milk. Nestle chocolate milk contains 230 calories in just 8 ounces. So, by drinking a quart, I can consume over 900 calories very quickly. The rest of the time on the trail, I drink plain water from my Camelbak. I now stand 33 minutes ahead of 24-hour pace.Mile 45.7 1:36:33 (13:14 avg./mile) Rock Point
If you are paying attention, you will notice that this is the second time at Rock Point. I am starting the second loop, after which I will have less than 24 miles to go. These 7+ miles were marked with a lot of mud running, several stream crossings, and horses with riders to pass. It was interesting passing the horses because the last thing any of us wanted to do was get kicked. I cover the majority of this portion with Milton and a lady named Debbie, who is stopping at mile 54 so that she and her boyfriend can work the aid station at mile 97. At this aid station, they have pizza. I, of course, grab a piece and think about a second before I decide that I better wait and see how the first piece rides.Mile 50.0 58:58 (13:42 avg./mile) South Park
4.3 miles in between aid stations is just about right. An hour without seeing someone besides another runner or two is long enough. My legs are doing very well, and my plan of walking comfortably up hills and cruising down hills seems to be panning out. Occasionally, I catch myself daydreaming about a sub 23-hour finish, which might occur, but it is too early to start getting excited. My time at halfway is 11:15, so I am on pace to finish in 22:30. However, I guess I might slow down a little some where along the way.Mile 54.3 1:01:45 (14:22 avg./mile) Fire Tower
This was another nice steady clip and I seem to have lost Don and Regis. I don't think I have seen them since Hickory Ridge. I also seem to have opened up a little lead on Milton although I am sure I will see him again. At this aid station, I get another piece of pizza, drink some chocolate milk, and let some wives know how long along I last saw their husbands. I also change my shoes into my third pair of the day. This pair is my Asics Gel-Lyte DSs.Mile 56.8 33:49 (13:31 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
I take out of the last aid station with a little more pep in my step and quickly pass two runners. As I come up behind them, I tell them that I have on fresh tires so that is why I am running faster than them. In hind sight, I might have been going a little too fast on this section, but I was having fun.Mile 61.5 1:21:53 (17:25 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge
This is the first time I start to really feel like maybe this is getting old. The portion along side the river was tedious, and the "big hill" took a long time. However, I am not doing too bad, but I think a sub 24-hour race might not be here today for me. I wish I knew why things are not going well. My dad is at this aid station, and I take my time drinking some chocolate milk, getting an Access Bar, and putting a shirt back on.Mile 66.9 1:47:16 (19:52 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
Things continue to go south. My legs feel fine, but my body won't take the jostling of running at this point. I walk this entire stretch and console myself that 3 miles per hour will bring me home before the 30-hour cut-off. I get a Mag-lite from my dad, drink a cup of Coke and begin the long climb at the beginning of the red trail. I have just under 10 miles until I will be off the trails and on the roads until the finish. It is now dark and the going will be a little bit more difficult.Mile 69.4 1:08:01 (27:12 avg./mile) Bridle Staging Area
My goal starting this section was to make these 2.5 miles in at least an hour. Then I would know I could finish. Milton is again with me, and we walk most of the way together in the dark. With about a half mile to go, I can no longer even stay up with Milton as he walks. My walking is getting slower and slower, and thoughts about why I ever thought I could run 100 miles pass through my mind. I enter the aid station and decide that I have had enough. My abdomen won't allow me to run, and I am not looking forward to staggering in the darkness and mud for what may be 3+ hours. It is now just past 10pm when I withdraw from the race. I wish Milton good luck and hop in the car.I get home around 10:45pm, take a shower, and climb in bed. My legs still don't feel that bad. Martha and the kids arrive at midnight, and around 2am, I get up to go to the bathroom. I can't decide to sit on the toilet or throw up, so I just lay in the hallway. After about an hour I feel better and go back to bed. The next morning, I feel better, but not great. We decide to go to church at 9:30 in Mount Vernon. When we get back, I take a dump and feel much better, even ready to really eat something.
In hindsight, I think I either ate too much (close to 7,000 total calories on Saturday) or I should have taken time to go to the john and sit. I didn't realize it at the time, but I am quite sure that was the queasy feeling overall in my gut.
Until next time, never stop running, or at least moving forward,
Darin
