On Saturday, 23 November 2002, I competed in my fifth JFK 50 Miler in a row. I also finished my fifth JFK 50 Miler in a row. Here are my thoughts and insights from this year’s effort. I hope you enjoy reading them.
The course begins with an uphill climb on pavement for about 3 miles. Then for the next 13 miles or so, the course follows the Appalachian Trail, which could not be rougher if someone planted the rocks in the ground.
The temperature is around 34 degrees at the start, and the forecast today is calling for highs in the low 40s. The temperatures are just about right for the Polarbear (me), but the wind is gusting quite a bit, and I hope it doesn’t slow me down anywhere.
4.0 miles 36:42 (9:11 avg./mile)
At the start, I see an old friend, Rob Duryea. Rob and I were at The Basic School together at Quantico in 1991. I haven't seen him since then, but we only get to talk about a minute before the gun goes off. This is his first 50 miler, so he is going to run this somewhat cautiously, hoping for a sub-10 hour finish. My goal is somewhere close to or under an 8:30. While going uphill the first three miles, I pass by Andrew Faulkner--a former member of my team--Natural Turbo. We chat briefly before he slows to walk for awhile.
9.5 miles 1:01:23 (11:10 avg./mile)
I reach this park in 1:38:05. I had told my dad that I would be here between 1:30 and 1:40, so I am right about where I wanted to be. I have rolled my right ankle twice, but nothing severe. I grab a muffin and drink some chocolate milk before heading on up the trail.
15.7 miles 1:20:01 (12:54 avg./mile)
This puts me at 2:58:06 getting onto the tow path. This is rather slow for me, but I was making sure I took it easy on the trail. The past two years, I have taped my right ankle, but then I had to stop and cut off the tape at this point. This process usually took me a few minutes, but I was still faster last year. Anyway, the trail is behind me, and I haven't broken anything.
16.7 miles 9:06
Okay, if I average 10 minute miles from here in, I will finish at 8:43. Not a bad time, and it would be my second fastest here at the JFK. However, if I can average 10 minute miles on the tow path and then 9 minute miles on the roads, I will finish in 8:35. And since my best is 8:36 that would be a new PR (personal record). So, this first mile on the trail of a 9:06 is probably a little fast, but maybe this will be the year that I really surprise myself.
17.7 miles 9:15
Okay, things are looking good. This year, the race directors decided that things needed to be a little different. In the past, the time cut-off was 14 hours at 9 pm. However, I guess people didn't like staying around that late, so they decided to end everything at 7 pm, but they wanted to still let the really slow people (slugs) still finish. Therefore, they let the slugs (an appropriate term) start at 5 am. Well, the slugs are starting to be caught by me. I passed about a dozen of them up on the trail, and now they are all over the place. Fortunately, I don't need much from the aid stations because the slugs are causing a crowd.
18.7 miles 10:13
Now these mile markers were put here by the park service and not the race director. Therefore, they probably aren't exactly a mile (as if they would be if the race director had put them there), but I have nothing else to keep track of how far I have gone, so I use them. All of this leads to my point that I don't know if I have actually slowed down, or if this marker is a bit farther from the last one than it is to the next one. Either way, a 10:13 after two quick miles is quite fine.
19.7 miles 9:05
As I suspected, I think the last mile was a little long and this one was a little short, but in the end, it all adds up to 50 miles, no, I mean 50.2 miles. Yes, that's right this is not really the JFK50 Miler, well it is, but it is really 50.2 miles. I have no idea why they needed those last two-tenths of a mile.
20.7 miles 9:44
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that I changed shoes when I came off of the Appalachian Trail. I started out wearing my Asics Eagles (a trail shoe), and now I am wearing my Asics Traverse (another trail shoe). I am planning on switching into my light-weight training shoes before I get off the tow path so that I can kick the last eight miles on the roads. Anyway, a 9:44 is right on target. It is just a shame that my cruise control doesn't work as well as the one on my car.
21.7 miles 8:28
Wow, I bet this mile is a little short, so the next mile should be a little long. By the way, my crew (my dad) is doing an outstanding job. He is right on target with all of my stuff so far. He keeps my Camelbak full of water, and always has chocolate milk when I see him, although I am not drinking much of that stuff today.
22.7 miles 10:27
As predicted, I will say that this mile was a little long. This prevailing headwind is starting to tire me out. As soon as we got on the tow path and headed north the wind has been in our faces. The temperature is on the cool side and with the headwind, the wind chill is probably in the 20s. However, I am dressed about perfectly for these conditions. I am wearing tights, two Coolmax t-shirts, and a watch cap.
23.7 miles 9:28
I have to say that things are going pretty well. I am ahead of my 10-minute per mile pace for this tow path section, and everything still feels good.
24.7 miles 9:28
As I mentioned earlier, I am passing a lot of the slugs who started at 5 am, as a matter of fact, right around 24 miles, I pass Rob Chappell, who is a legend in his own mind. Rob doesn't train for these 50 milers the way most of us do. He believes that training is a waste of time. Actually, Rob is a much better endurance athlete than I will ever be because I don't think I could finish one of these on six miles a week training. Anyway, I pass Rob like he is standing still (which isn't far from the truth). Therefore, I am now 2 hours ahead of him, and I wonder how far ahead of him I will finish this year. P.S. This will be Rob's eighth JFK finish in a row!
25.7 miles 9:48
Just over halfway and I am still holding really good splits. At this point in the race, it feels like I am more than halfway done, although 16 more miles on the tow path makes it seem like I will be on this part for a while longer.
26.7 miles 10:26
Hopefully, this is just a minor variance in my split times and not an indication that I am starting to slow down. The problem with the tow path is staying motivated and focused until the dam where we get off of this and onto the roads.
27.7 miles 10:17
The headwind is still blowing, but it isn't as gusty as it was earlier. My legs still feel okay, so I think I can make it with these 10 minute mile splits.
28.7 miles 10:09
Yes, I can make it on 10 minute mile splits while I am on the tow path (at least that's what I try to tell myself). I only have 13 more miles until the dam.
29.7 miles 8:50
I link up with a couple of guys who have passed me several times so far. Of course, I have passed them an equal number of times, but who's counting? Anyway, one of them is an art teacher in South Carolina. He looks the part with at least one ear ring that is visible.
30.7 miles 8:50
I am probably a little too motivated to stay with these guys this time, and my time for the last two miles is a little fast, but then again I don't feel like am really pushing too hard or anything. It would be really neat if I could run 9 minute miles from here in. That would give me an 8:23!
31.7 miles 10:33
Well, so much for that idea of 9 minute miles--back to the 10+ minute miles. I feel like I am just plodding along, hoping that I will be able to pick things up when I get on the roads.
32.7 miles 10:23
Now there are less than 10 miles to the dam, but that is still 10 miles!
33.7 miles 10:34
Nothing special with these times, although I need to get them back closer to 10 minute miles if I am going to have any chance to run a sub-8:30. Well, at least I will run another sub-9:00. This is my fifth JFK, and my times have been 8:53, 9:34, 8:36, and 8:54. So, anything faster than 8:53 is really a good time, especially given this headwind.
34.7 miles 10:41
These next four miles until the 38 special aid station are dull. I mean most of the tow path is dull because it looks basically about the same around each bend of the Potomac River, but these miles are especially dull because I happen to be going slower than I was earlier.
35.7 miles 10:10
Well, maybe there is life in these tired legs after all. I need to run some 10-flat minute miles and then see what I can do on the roads.
36.7 miles 10:16
10-flat, 10:16--who is going to quibble over a few seconds. I wish I could do something about it, but at this point, I am just surviving until the roads.
37.7 miles 12:14
I promise I will stop complaining about 10-something minute miles. This is down right pathetic to actually be running a 12-minute mile! This is two whole minutes that I let slip by because I wasn't focusing on maintaining my pace.
38.7 miles 15:54
Okay, finally the 38 special aid station is here and not a mile too soon. I change shoes at this point because I won't be able to see my crew (dad) again until mile 44. Therefore, since I want my Asics DS-Trainers on for the roads, I have to change into them now and just tough out the last three or so miles on the tow path. Not like the tow path is some rough road surface, but it is gravel, and those little pebbles take their toll after 26 miles, especially coming after 16 miles on the AT.
39.7 miles 9:28
It is the shoes, definitely the shoes! They make all of the difference in the world. Next year, I think I should change into the DS-Trainers earlier. I could have really used a few more sub-10 minute miles.
40.7 miles 10:23
Well, maybe the shoes aren't everything they claim to be. After all, if they were this slow mile wouldn't have gotten in here somehow.
41.7 miles 13:55
Now, I know I was running this mile, and I know I was looking forward to getting off of the tow path, but I don't know how this mile took so long. If I didn't know better, I would say that some distance has been added somewhere. Well, at least I am off of the tow path. Now let's see if I have a kick of any kind left. I drink two cups of Coke in order to get the body jump started. This last mile on the tow path is so slow that I look back on past year's times. Last year, this mile was a 13:05, but two year's ago, I managed a 10:26. So, I don't think it is really long or anything.
42.2 miles 8:59 *half-mile split (uphill)
This half mile always takes awhile. It is all uphill coming off of the river, and everybody walks it. So, I guess it is just something I have to live with.
43.2 miles 8:32
Now, I am cruising! Last year, I didn't really put down the hammer until mile 44. Then I was able to run fast the last six miles. This year, I am trying to extend my kick out two more miles. Only time will tell if I have enough gas left in the tank.
44.2 miles 8:07
I am cooking now. I am really leaning into the downhill portions, and I am actually able to power up the hills. The course at this point is gently rolling hills, and it is a very nice change from the boring tow path. I drink another cup of Coke to keep the fires burning.
45.2 miles 8:38
Okay, maybe I can't continue to run low 8 minute miles, but this is still looking very nice with only five miles to go.
46.2 miles 9:36
Now, this mile is more uphill than down, so I will claim that I ran this mile a little slower for just that reason. At this mile marker, we turn the corner and run straight towards Williamsport.
47.2 miles 9:23
Okay, I will just bide my time until the last mile and a half when I will really lay on the kick. The art teacher from South Carolina comes back past me for the last time today.
48.2 miles 9:58
There is a guy in a yellow jacket who tries to pass me. Actually, he does pass me, but I decide that I need to stay with him so that I don't slow down any further. When I make the effort to stay with him, I pass him back. However, the best I can do at this point is surge every 100 yards to stay in front of him.
49.2 miles 9:05
The yellow jacket comes back up on me as we make another turn to head into downtown Williamsport. I respond, but he is right at my side. We hit the mile to go sign, matching each other stride for stride. After almost 50 miles, running 9-flats feel like we are sprinting. Well, we are compared to the other runners we are passing at this point.
50.2 miles 8:14
I finally am able to open up a gap on the guy in the yellow jacket as we make the final turn with about a half mile to go. I keep pouring it on as I near the finish. With about 50 yards to go, I allow myself to take a peek back over my shoulder to see if he is close behind. He isn't even close, so I decide to do a little 360 spin right before I cross the finish line. This is just for show, but the crowd loves it, and remember, only one person wins, but we all have the chance to look good at the finish.
Official Finishing Time 8:46:43
112th out of 862 finishers
Not a bad time, and I am satisfied. Martha and the kids were unable to drive up and see me at the finish this year because Nathan had a play-off flag football game, which his team won 19-0. That win sends them to the championship on December 7. Also, I find out that Ohio State beats Michigan, so overall it is a great day!
My dad decides to pass on dinner and head on home. He has been fighting the flu since last night, and so he doesn't really feel like eating. He drops me off at my car, and I am able to drive on home.
Maybe one of these years I will get under 8:30, but if I don't it will be neat to see how many sub-9 hours I can string together. This finish today, puts me in the 250 mile club with 5 consecutive. Of course, I am three behind the great Rob Chappell, but I do happen to beat him by almost 5 hours, as he finishes in 13:41.
Until next time, never stop running,
Darin