December 12
It is 2:30pm on Friday, and I am picking up the latest person who will be my crew for this race. His name is Rex, and he goes to my church. A week and a half ago when I finally decided I was going to run this, I put out an email to several guys from church to see if any of them would be interested. Rex said he would love to help out. After picking up Rex, we drive out to Camp Bethel, which is serving as the race headquarters (this is just north of Roanoke, Virginia). It takes us over 3 hours because there were two accidents that slowed down traffic. However, we arrive right on time for the start of race check-in at 6pm. After checking in, most of the runners and crews just sit around watching as other people show up. While I recognize some of the names of people at the check-in, I really don’t know anyone. David Horton is the race director, and he talks every now and then. At 7pm, we eat dinner. Rex and I are sitting at a table with a couple. She is the runner, and he is her crew. After dinner, we move over to another building where the pre-race briefing will occur. When Rex and I get over there, only a couple of people are there. One of them is Bethany Hunter, who is not running this race. She is helping to mark the course for the night portions and will also be working at the last aid station. The pre-race briefing starts right on time at 8:30pm. David Horton spends most of the briefing describing in detail about all of the sections on the course. Also, whenever someone asks a question, he introduces this person to the group because they are someone everyone should know in the ultra community. The pre-race briefing ends at 9:15pm, and we are told that we can sleep until 10:30pm if we want to, but the caravan to get to the start is leaving at 11pm sharp. I lay down for about an hour, but I don’t get any sleep.
December 13
The trip from Camp Bethel to the start takes about 35 minutes. I finish my pre-race routine, and then walk from the truck to the starting line, getting there 2 minutes before David shouts go. The temperature is cold about 30 degrees, and I am wearing a pair of tights, a long sleeve Cool Max shirt, a long sleeve heavy cotton shirt, a wool cap, thin cotton gloves, my Camelbak with 50 ounces of water, and Asics Traverse trail running shoes. Let the adventure begin!
Mile 3.5 45:39 (13:03 avg./mile) FSR 35
The first two miles are totally uneventful. The pack from the start spreads out very quickly. Although it is cold, the wind is near still, and I start to feel comfortable with the amount of clothes I am wearing. David Horton has told us that near the end of this section will be the one place on the course where we will get our feet wet. With less than a mile to go to the aid station, the trail becomes very wet, and there are several places where my feet get wet. However, this is not yet the place that David was referring to when he said we would get our feet wet. Finally, I come to the Belfast Creek crossing and the water is at least knee deep in most places. Coming out of the water, my feet are soaked, but for the most part I am doing well. I come into the first aid station, which crews were not allowed in, and I grab a cup of Conquest, some potato chips, and head on up the road. I am told that we stay on this gravel road until the next aid station.
Mile 7.5 1:00:51 (15:13 avg./mile) Petites Gap
As I leave the aid station, the road goes uphill, gradually at first and then more steeply. As the road climbs in elevation, the temperature drops and the road becomes covered with snow and ice. My feet are cold, but I make it into this aid station, and Rex is there waiting for me with a dry pair of shoes and socks. Changing my shoes was not easy because the shoe laces are frozen. I am able to get them off without untying them all the way. The dry pair of shoes is dry and nice, but they were cold, and it will be a couple of miles before my feet warm up all of the way. I also drink a pint of chocolate milk.
Mile 13.1 1:35:27 (17:03 avg./mile) Camping Gap
This third aid station is the other one where crews are not allowed. There were no interesting things happening to me on this section except to say that the snow was covering the trail in most sections. Also, there was a spot early on where I once again got my feet wet. I think the streams are all a little higher than when David ran this in November. I was thinking at one point that it would have been very useful to have a set of skiis. My time isn’t great, but in the dark I am just glad to this much closer to seeing daylight. As I got to the aid station, I smelled soup, but they were just starting a pot of Ramen noodles, and I decided not to wait.
Mile 21.9 2:33:59 (17:30 avg./mile) Headforemost Mtn.
Now the section from Camping Gap to Headforemost Mountain was billed by David as the toughest section on the course. Therefore, I was prepared to be in for a serious challenge. It is still dark and heading uphill means it is going to get colder. Even though I am only early in the race, I will go a couple of miles without seeing anyone. Near the end of this section, a lady named Marty runs with me. I don’t know if she came up behind me or vice versa. Anyway, I think I hear sounds coming from the aid station, but each turn only reveals more trail ahead. Finally, I make it into the aid station. Rex is there with some chocolate milk. I go over to check-in, and I ask for some soup or something, but they don’t have any ready. So, I drink a pint of chocolate milk and head on down the trail.
Mile 27.6 1:47:27 (18:51 avg./mile) Jennings Creek
Now, let me warn you that if you are eating or just ate or are about to eat, you might want to just skip ahead to the next section and not read the rest of this one. Okay, still reading? Don’t say I didn’t warn you! I no more than got away from the last aid station, and my bowels decided it was getting time to move. So, I am slowing running along the trail trying to figure out what to do. There aren’t any leaves on the trees, so that won’t work in place of toilet paper. I think, maybe I can just maintain the status quo until the next aid station, but I soon realize that this is not a viable option if I want to keep running. Finally, I decide two things. One, I should do this while it is still dark, and two; I need to find a place where there is snow and just use that to clean things up as best as possible. So, that is what I do. As I am taking care of business two guys, who I passed before the last aid station, pass on by, but they don’t see me off the trail about 30 feet. After taking care of this issue, my spirits rise because now this is just one less thing that I will have to worry about the rest of the day (hopefully). Over confidence though, usually comes before the fall—literally. About a mile before reaching this aid station, I take my first tumble. I land on my left shoulder and skid several feet. Fortunately, I fell on some nice soft dirt and nothing else. After dusting myself off, I then make it into the aid station just thankful to be done with this section. The sun is now up, and it is a new day. Rex is here at the aid station, and I grab a bagel and a cup of Conquest before starting up the trail.
Mile 33.3 1:35:39 (16:47 avg./mile) Little Cove Mtn.
As soon as I leave Jennings Creek, I come up on Fred Pilon, who used to be the editor of ultra running magazine. Now he is an editor emeritus. We talk for a while going up this next hill. He has done a lot of these ultras, but he says he hasn’t been training enough for this one. When I get to this aid station, it really surprises me because I didn’t think I was going this fast. The original distance to this aid station from the last was 6.9 miles, which means I averaged 13:52/mile. However, as you can see, I only really averaged 16:47/mile. This isn’t bad; it is just I didn’t know at the time that the aid station wasn’t where it was supposed to be. At this aid station, they are cooking breakfast. As I am changing in my third pair of shoes and socks for the day, Rex goes over and gets me a sausage and egg sandwich. It is absolutely delicious! I wash it down with another pint of chocolate milk. I also take my Advair medication for my recently diagnosed asthma. This doesn’t have a dramatic effect, but it will keep the oxygen flowing in my lungs and prevent the fatigue that was starting to occur from getting less oxygen. The clock now stands at 9:19, so I have over three hours to make it the next 8.0 miles to the next aid station and the last cut-off time before the finish. I am feeling good (relatively speaking), the sun is shining, and I have a couple of old guys (Fred Pilon and Gary Knipling) around me to keep me motivated.
Mile 42.5 2:56:36 (19:12 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap
It was reported at the pre-race briefing by David that this was the second hardest section of the race. However, when he said this, he didn’t know that it was going to be 1.2 miles longer and all of that additional mileage was uphill! The really bad part is that I am just coasting along fat, dumb, and happy because I think I will most likely roll into the next aid station well ahead of the 12:30pm cut-off. About an hour and a quarter after leaving the last aid station, Marty Lindemann (who I ran with some in the middle of the night) comes back past me. Not being really competitive, but just trying to break up the boredom, I decide to keep her in sight. Soon the trail turns rough (hence the reason David said it was the second toughest section), and I am motivated to push the pace because nothing gets me going than running downhill over technically difficult, rocky terrain. Soon I am flying down the hill, but Marty is right behind me. We pass Fred like he is standing still (actually he was at the moment we passed), and we don’t know how far we have run or how far we have to the next aid station, and we definitely don’t know that it is 1.2 miles further than we would have thought anyway, but we are definitely making great time. The only problem is that two hours after leaving the last aid station, we are nowhere in sight of the next one. Marty and I start up this series of rocky switchbacks, which both of us assume will lead us to the aid station at the top of the hill. It is not to be and soon after this, she passes me. It will be almost an hour more before I arrive in the aid station. When I am about 15 minutes out of the aid station, I meet a woman walking out from the aid station, and she mentions how much farther I have. I can’t believe it, and she says it was over 9 miles from the last aid station. Needless to say, by the time I get into the aid station, with the clock at 12:15:40pm, I am little heated up because now I really want to finish this tough, longer than advertised race. Rex reads me quickly and tells me just to check-in and not to think about the time. He checks the mileage after I say something, but the sheet says that it was only 8.0 miles from the last checkpoint. Now, I know that I need to really crank it up if I am going to have a chance to finish under the 18 hour cut-off. I grab a bagel and head up the trail quickly.
Mile 49.5 1:50:18 (15:45 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap
I blast out of the aid station and practically run to the top of the next hill. It is mostly uphill at first, but I am only walking when it gets too steep. On the JFK 50, I have really gotten good at having a good finishing kick over the last 8 miles, but in this case, here at the Hellgate 100k, I have 20 miles to go. I don’t know if I can maintain my edge for that long or when my body will say it has had enough, but at this point all I am trying to do is get to the next aid station in order to give me a chance. I quickly catch up to a guy by the name of Tom Corris and pass him. One of the things motivating me is all of the good runners that are behind me that I know don’t have much of a chance to finish in time. I start to fade slightly, but I am able to maintain momentum on the downhill portions. I roll into this aid station in a really good position. Rex is here to meet me, and I decide with only 13 miles to go that it is time to start drinking some caffeine. I down two cups of Pepsi and scarf down another bagel. One of the people at the aid station says that it is all downhill to the next aid station.
Mile 56.1 2:18:55 (21:03 avg./mile) Day Creek
Heading out of Bobblets Gap, I run downhill on a rocky, but wide trail for almost 30 minutes. As I cruise down this hill, I start to think that I can nail this section in about 1:30 if it keeps going downhill like the aid station worker said. After the first 30 minutes, the route heads back onto single track trail that wanders around going up and down hills. I was not expecting this, but I still think that I will make good time because I probably did 12 minute miles coming down the hill, so that means I have less than 5 miles to the next aid station. However, after another hour and a quarter, I begin to wonder if the aid station is ever going to get here. Marty and another lady pass me as we near the aid station. Finally, after over 2 hours and 15 minutes I manage to finish this supposed 6.6 mile stretch and make it into the last aid station of the race. The overall race clock stands at 16:24:54, which means I have 95 minutes to make it through the next 6.3 miles. As I am getting my Camelbak filled up by Bethany Hunter (the female ultra runner of the year) and drinking some Coke, Marty Lindemann and Tom Corris start up the hill before me.
Mile 62.4 1:25:35 (13:35 avg./mile) Finish
With all of my remaining effort, I try to maintain eye sight of Marty and Tom. We all know that the time cut-off is close and that we need to have a good time on this section if we are going to be an official finisher. The first 2.8 miles of this section are directly uphill. There isn’t even a switchback where the trail levels out for a brief moment. Marty seems to still be very strong as she is in the lead most of the way up the hill. It appears that Tom is hobbling slightly, but he is still ahead of me going up the hill. We reach the top at 43:17. I am very confident that I can make it down the hill before the cut-off now. There are almost 52 minutes left to cover the remaining 3.5 miles. Hopefully, the information that it is now all downhill back to Camp Bethel, is accurate. As we reach the top, Marty and Tom pause, and I push on down the hill. It is starting to get dark, and I forgot to get my light from Rex at the last aid station. The first two miles are on a wide, rocky trail. Then we turn onto the final stretch and a nice smooth, gravel road. Marty briefly goes back ahead of me, but I re-pass her for good when she stops to tie her shoe. I push into the camp and head for the finish. There are all of two people at the line when I cross—Rex and David Horton. David thinks that I might be the last official finisher, but I tell him that Marty and Tom should make it. They finish 2 and 3 minutes later.
Official Finishing Time 17:50:31
38th out of 71 (only 40 finished within 18 hours)
For the record, I made it the last 3.5 miles in 42:20. This works out to a 12:05 average per mile. After finishing I take a quick shower, and Rex and I hop in the truck and drive back to Richmond.
This effort and accomplishment are very high on my list, and I think this ordeal will help me in my next 100 mile attempt. My recovery seems to be going well. I haven’t run yet, but I am planning on trying later this morning. I hope that your Christmas holiday is a blessed one.
Never stop running,
Darin
On Saturday, 22 November 2003, I competed in my sixth 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 of 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 40 degrees at the start, and the forecast today is calling for highs in the mid to high 60s. The temperatures at the start are just about right for the Polarbear (me), but the highs later in the day will probably slow me down. On the bright side, I have applied sunscreen to my face and shoulders to be ready when the shirts come off. I am wearing shorts and two shirts at the start (a short-sleeve and long-sleeve). Also, the wind is predicted to be basically nothing.
4.0 miles 34:46 (8:42 avg./mile)
This is all uphill, but it is mostly on a smooth surface, and I am still fresh. I see Vic Culp from Fredericksburg, and we talk as we make our way up the big hill to the start of the Appalachian Trail.
9.4 miles 1:00:10 (11:09 avg./mile)
These five or so miles are run on some of the roughest parts of the AT. The rocks literally grow out of the ground! I am in a pretty good position and nobody is holding me up. Passing is very difficult because of the rocks, but I only have to pass a few people during this section. My dad, who is crewing again for me this year, is waiting for me at this aid station. I drink a pint of Nestle chocolate milk, take off the long-sleeve shirt, and grab a bagel before heading down the trail.
15.7 miles 1:18:06 (12:24 avg./mile)
It is interesting running along, trying not to twist your ankles, and listening to all of the stories as people talk around you. There is a midshipman at the Naval Academy a couple of runners behind me who wants to take her commission in the Marine Corps. I also meet again, Rob Duryea, who was in my class at Quantico when we went through TBS. I eat my Access bar around the 2 hour mark. I manage to slightly twist my left ankle twice, but it doesn’t hurt anything, just sort of a little stumble because this is my good ankle. However, right after I bend my left ankle for the second time, I roll my (bad) right ankle. Fortunately, the twist isn’t bad at all, and I barely even break my stride. Coming down the Weaverton Cliffs, I start to catch some of the 5:00 AM starters. The race allows very slow people to start two hours early, so that they will have 14 hours to finish. So, here is a group of us, all bunched up behind two people (I won’t even call them runners) who think they shouldn’t let us by. Finally after several switchbacks, they move to one side, and all 7 or 8 of us that were stuck behind them, quickly pass and move on down the switchbacks to the aid station. I drink another pint of chocolate milk and grab another bagel to eat on the run. I also get a re-fill for my Camelbak water carrier. It holds 50 ounces, and I am most of the way through the first one.
16.4 miles 7:07
Now running this for the sixth time, I have almost figured out how the miles stack up in accordance with the trail markings every mile on the C&O canal towpath. Therefore, this is the first trail marker, and I think it is about at the 16.4 mile mark. It is always an interesting transition switching from running on the trail to running on the mostly flat surface of the towpath. Running on the trail puts a lot of strain on the inside and outside of the knees and ankles. Whereas, on the towpath there is just the strain of continuing to run for another six hours.
17.4 miles 9:50
Until the heat overtakes me, and I have to slow down, my plan is to try and run 10-minute miles. Therefore, I will start my meter by adding 10 seconds to the plus side since this mile is 10 seconds faster than 10:00. The mile markers on the trail aren’t exactly one mile apart, so this method will allow me to sort of average over the miles.
18.4 miles 9:57
This is another positive mile, and now my bank is up to 13 seconds! At this rate, I will have a little to give back on those “longer” miles.
19.4 miles 9:15
This is clearly one of the “shorter” miles based on the trail markers. However, I will take it along with the 45 seconds added to the plus side. My bank of seconds now stands at a whopping 58 seconds! I am feeling good at this point, but the temperature is probably already into the 60s. For those of you not familiar with me, I like the temperature on the JFK50 to be in the 40s!
20.4 miles 10:05
In the past without my bank calculations, I would see this split after the last one and have to decide whether this was a “longer” mile or whether I had actually slowed down. Now, I just will subtract 5 seconds from the 58 seconds, which leaves me with 53 seconds. This is a nice cushion, and I have nothing to worry about pace-wise, at least at this point.
21.4 miles 9:25
Obviously, the last mile was one of the longer miles because I am sure that I am not speeding up and slowing down this much. Give me another 35 seconds, and the balance stands at 88 seconds. I better slow down or else I will have to take off my shoes to keep track of all of this time. I am thinking that maybe this will be a great year for me even though the temperature is warm. In ’99 at the Pittsburgh Marathon, I set a personal best when the temperature climbed to 76 degrees.
22.4 miles 10:22
This is definitely a long mile because in past years, I have been slow on this mile also. However, this still isn’t bad, and the miles will balance out as the towpath continues. While we are on the towpath for over 26 miles, so far it seems like things are going by quickly. My dad was supposed to meet me at this aid station, but he misses me just as I am running by. The plus side is reduced to 66 seconds.
23.4 miles 9:31
So far all of the “long” miles have been evened out by the next mile. This is really good because it makes it easy to put the slow mile behind me. It is warm, and I think it is just a matter of time before the heat slows me down, but until then I will just keep putting one foot in front of the other. The plus side now stands at 95 seconds!
24.4 miles 11:15
After almost 9 miles on the towpath and building a good solid pace, most of the seconds on the plus side get wiped out by this one mile. Next year, I think I need to write down and carry with me the “longer” miles so that I don’t get discouraged by these slower mile times. The plus side is now down to 20 seconds. I am still ahead in the game, and I will ensure that I don’t slow down on the next mile.
25.4 miles 10:14
Well, this is better, but it really would have been nice to add time to the plus side as opposed to taking more away. Therefore, the plus side stands at a mere 6 seconds. Also, I am definitely feeling like it is getting too warm out here, and I need to get rid of my shirt the next time I see my dad.
26.4 miles 9:54
I push the pace after the last two miles in order to get back on the plus side. My efforts pay off, but in pushing I realize that the temperature is just too hot. The bank now doubles to 12 seconds.
27.4 miles 15:09
Now before you get upset about this slow mile and quit reading, let me explain. There is an aid station at mile 27. I take this opportunity to drink a pint of chocolate milk, change my shoes and socks, take off my last t-shirt, and eat a bagel. I also probably started to slow down because of the heat. The change in shoes and socks helps a lot because I was starting to get hot spots on the balls of my feet. Also, the shoes change from trail shoes (heavy) to my light weight training shoes. In addition, I make the strategic decision to slow down a bit so that I won’t overheat.
28.4 miles 11:38
The slower pace keeps me cooler, and when the trail is out of the sun, I actually feel cool. The time bank is shot, but there is no doubt I will finish. I mentioned to my dad at the last aid station that a personal best is out of the question today, but that I would try and keep my time under 9 hours.
29.4 miles 12:04
One of the slugs (affectionate term) that started at 5:00 AM is a friend of mine (Rob Chappell), who has run 8 of these in a row. Last year, I passed him around mile 25, but this year, I think he is moving faster and I just now pass him. I stop to walk with him for a minute, and he is looking good moving along at a nice walking pace.
30.4 miles 10:54
Even with slowing down, I think my pace is staying consistent proving that these darn mile markers aren’t very consistent. I start talking with the midshipman that was close to me up on the AT. She is in her last year at the Naval Academy, and we talk a little about her desire to become a Marine.
31.4 miles 11:14
At this nice and steady pace, I am not sweating too much, and I am glad that I put that sunscreen on this morning. Since I have given up the time bank, I am not really thinking about a time at this point. Believe it or not, I am not even trying to figure out how close I am to finishing under 9 hours.
32.4 miles 11:08
These 11 minute miles are good right now, and it just might be fast enough to bring me in under 9 hours. All of the people around me are basically about the same pace. Nobody is passing me and staying ahead of me. Instead at this time in the race, people pass each other numerous times.
33.4 miles 11:55
I am glad I didn’t set a goal of running 11 minute miles after I realized this wasn’t going to be personal best because I would be on the negative side. Well, a few more miles until the end of the towpath is within reach. We exit the towpath at mile 41.8 or so.
34.4 miles 12:19
I will just stay slow and steady so that I don’t overheat. It really is a beautiful day, but it is not a perfect day for running a 50 miler.
35.4 miles 11:03
The ebb and flow of the mile times continue. It will be nice to keep these around 11:00. I decide to push slightly to try and hold this pace.
36.4 miles 11:10
Holding my pace is going well, and I am starting to psych myself up for the kick to the finish after I exit the towpath.
37.4 miles 11:05
The excitement is building as another 11-minutes mile is in the history books (or at least in my log). I am continuing to suck down the water, and I have been drinking a cup of PowerAde at each aid station.
38.4 miles 10:25
The aid station at mile 38 is called 38 Special. For those who aren’t Rush (the band) fans, they have a song called this. I think the excitement of reaching the last aid station before leaving the towpath has caused me to pick up the pace a little bit. I also see my crew (dad) at this aid station, and I give him my Camelbak. It is empty, and after we leave the towpath, the aid stations are every two miles.
39.4 miles 10:14
After handing off my Camelbak, my pace picks up without much additional effort from me. The race time now stands at 7:10:14, which means I have to average about 10-minutes miles over these last miles to finish under 9 hours. Now for the dirty little secret, the JFK50 isn’t 50 miles. It is 50.2 miles!
40.4 miles 9:54
This mile really surprises me. I better not over do it, or I won’t have anything left when I get up on the roads after exiting the towpath. Just under 1.5 miles until dam #4, which is where we exit the towpath.
41.8 miles 15:44
In case you didn’t realize, this split is for 1.4 miles. It is a little slower because there was a runner who fell over the bank and into the river. I don’t know how that happened, but the ambulance is driving down the towpath, and I have to move to one side. Of course, I do a little rubber-necking as I pass the runner who is about waist deep in the river and clinging to a tree branch. The Potomac is higher than I have ever seen it. There is another runner in the water with him and several emergency personnel are already on the scene. At the aid station, a volunteer asks how I have run 42 miles and my hair is still in place. I tell him just to watch my finishing kick. I grab a cup of water and a cup of Coke as I head up the hill.
42.2 miles 5:58
When we finally get to leave the towpath after over 26 miles, there is a little uphill section. It is actually quite steep and all of us walk up the hill. The race time stands at 7:41:50 when I get to the 8 miles to go sign. This means that I will have to average about 9:45 per mile in order to finish under 9 hours. No sweat I think, putting the fact that I haven’t run a mile that fast in the last 18 miles out of my mind.
43.2 miles 8:41
Let the good times roll! As I begin passing people, I let them know that the warm-up is over, and it is now time to race. However, none of the runners I pass seem to be ready to run yet. I guess they need some more time to warm-up.
44.2 miles 9:20
The first mile ATT (after the towpath) was maybe a little too fast, so this mile is more in line with a conservative approach to getting under 9 hours. The thought crosses my mind that I could try and finish in 8:59:59, but I am not confident that I can just turn on and off this kick, so I better keep pushing as long as I can. There is another aid station here, so I drink a cup of water and a cup of Coke. I am now sweating profusely because the kick is heating up my body. I hope I can hang on and keep running fast.
45.2 miles 10:00
This mile is more uphill than down, and I am shepherding my energy for the last few miles. I am still passing people like they are standing still, which some of them actually are. Others are hobbling along. A few of us are running, but nobody is passing me.
46.2 miles 9:41
Back under a 10-minute mile. This is good, but I need to stay focused to bring this in less than 9 hours. My right forearm is starting to cramp, and I can feel my hamstrings, although they aren’t cramping yet. Another aid station and another cup of water and another cup of Coke go down my throat. The race time is at 8:19:32, so I now just have to run 10-flat minute miles.
47.2 miles 9:35
Do I have enough left in the tank to bring this in? I gain another 25 seconds on the 10-minute mile, but both forearms are cramping, and my stomach is pretty queasy as I continue to try to take in enough water and Coke to run this body to the finish. Running on fumes with a gas tank that might explode at any moment is a great analogy for how I assess things right now.
48.2 miles 10:20
Have I lost the bubble and the last fade of the race is beginning? Or do I have one more “match” to burn before I keel over? The last aid station is just around the corner, and from there I will be able to see the town of Williamsport where the finish is.
49.2 miles 9:07
I power myself up the hill, grab just a cup of water from the aid station, drink the cup on the run without even slowing down, and turn the corner to head into Williamsport. Half of the water makes it into my mouth; the over half down the front of my chest.
50.2 miles 8:36
With the “barn” in sight nothing is going to stop me now. There is no greater feeling than finally getting to see the finish line over 8 hours after leaving the starting line. I pass two more runners just about 200 meters from the finish. As I near the finish the announcer calls out my name, I check over my shoulder for anybody close behind me, and then perform my patented 360 spin just before crossing the line.
Official Finishing Time 8:57:10
127th out of 829 finishers
My finish is great! I am very satisfied with my effort on this warm day in late November. This is the third year in a row that I have had a good kick at the end. I guess repetition does make me better. My personal best still stands at 8:36, and it will last at least another year.
My upcoming running plans are not firm yet. I was considering running the inaugural Hellgate 100k on December 13, but Nathan’s and Amy’s first basketball game is scheduled for that day. This race was intriguing because it starts at midnight, and therefore, I would get almost 7 hours of night trail running practice. So, my next long race will probably be the Shamrock Marathon in March.
Until next time,
Darin
June 20
It is Friday, the day before my third attempt to complete a 100 mile race. For those that don’t know (or can’t remember), I attempted the Vermont 100 two years ago and dropped at mile 68. Last year, here at Mohican, I dropped at 69.2 miles. I feel confident that this year will be different. My training has gone well. I ran a spring marathon in March and finished within five minutes of my personal best. Since then, I have run well, and I have done more trail running. No doubt about it, this year should be better than last year. The pre-race meal is good, and I get to see two friends, who I haven’t seen in over a year and a half—Phil Young and Janet Vincent. My nephew Zack is up here with me as well, and he is going to pace me from mile 63 to 76.
Since my parents live less than 25 minutes from the start of the race, I get to sleep in their house the night before the race. Some runners just camp out, but the thought of trying to get up and run 100 miles after sleeping on the ground just doesn’t excite me. They of course get to sleep a little later than me, but as it is I don’t have to get up until 3:30am.
June 21
As soon as my alarm goes off, I am up out of bed. I take care of things in the bathroom, and then down a quick bowl of cereal. Zack had said the night before that he wasn’t going to waste any time eating breakfast, but he gets up to get a quick bite before we hop in the car at 4:05am. Half way there, my dad realizes that he has forgotten the chairs and camp stool. We quickly decide that he can go back and get them in between the first and second aid stations. I think I am ready to run. The morning is cool in the 50s, and the humidity is low. The forecast is calling for the high to be in the low to mid 70s. Unfortunately, I won’t have the weather to blame for any problems I might have.
Mile 4.5 57:43 (12:50 avg./mile) Camp Walhonding
I start off very conservatively. I am near the back of the pack as most people are taking advantage of the cool weather, I guess. During this stretch I start talking with a guy named David Hughes from Indiana. He is a Christian, and we talk for awhile about our faith and our current churches.
Mile 10.7 1:22:27 (13:18 avg./mile) Rock Point
This is going smoothly so far, and I am right about at the pace I want to be. During this segment I am mostly talking with Terry, a 60 year old lady from Hawaii. Since I was station in Hawaii for three years with the Marine Corps, we have a lot to talk about. Her last 100-miler was in 1997 at Vermont, and she said then that she wasn’t going to run another one. However, it is becoming harder and harder for her to make the cut-off times on 50-milers so she figures the cut-offs for a 100-miler are more generous. At this aid station, I switch my should Camelbak that rides in between my shoulder blades for my hip Camelbak that rides in the small of my back. This is one of the pictures that was in the article.
Mile 15.0 58:26 (13:35 avg./mile) South Park
This is an interesting aid station because it is two-thirds of the way down a hill. So, I actually have to stop myself at this aid station or I will blow right by it. My mom is here, along with my dad and Zack. Last year, she tried to meet me at a couple of aid stations, but missed me. So far so good, but this is slightly slower than last year.
Mile 19.3 50:35 (11:46 avg./mile) Fire Tower
This section of trail should be more uphill than down, but it never feels like it, and the fire tower always seems to get here before I know it. So, while this time looks quick, it isn’t really compared to my times for this section last year. We have crossed one stream so far, and of course my feet are wet, but I don’t think I will change shoes yet. I have four pairs of trail shoes, and two pairs of road shoes. I started with my Asics Eagles, which I am still wearing.
Mile 21.7 35:22 (14:44 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
This little section goes quick and is mostly downhill, but I think the mileage is closer to “as the crow flies” than the trail I followed. Still my legs feel fresh, my body still feels pretty good, and I can’t say that anything is going wrong yet. This is the first of five times that we see the covered bridge. This is one of the three times that we get to run across it (one other time, we have to run through the river, and the other time we just come back to it for the aid station, but don’t actually cross the bridge).
Mile 26.5 1:09:37 (14:30 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge
I feel good, and I pass and then run with Rita Barnes for awhile. She is from Columbus, Ohio and has run this race a couple of times. She also runs the JFK50 every year. My dad is somewhat surprised by the fact that I am in front of Rita when I get to Hickory Ridge, but he doesn’t know that she was eating her lunch the first part of this section. At this aid station, they don’t allow my dad to provide any help because it is technically not a handler access point. Last year, no one said anything, but I guess they have the rules for some reason.
Mile 31.9 1:15:11 (13:55 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
This is the second time that I see the covered bridge, and this time we get to cross through the river. Last year, this really motivated me, but this year doesn’t quite have the same effect. I probably should have dunked my whole body in the water at this point, but I didn’t. It isn’t really hot, but my body is not cool either. I am doing a good job of replenishing liquids, but cooler body temperatures help to keep the sweat rate down. It also keeps the blood from pushing out to the extremities too much. Blood in the extremities causes two draw backs. First, the blood is cooling off instead of working for your muscles, and second, swelling in your feet causes more blisters.
Mile 35.4 59:04 (16:53 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
This is called the blue loop, and I think I made pretty good time, but this time obviously doesn’t show it. Don is one of the two officials at the turn-around for this part (it is mostly an out and back loop) and notes that I have moved up in the field since sometime earlier. Of course, I was near the end for the first couple of aid stations. Coming back we have to make our way down a waterfall, or at least right next to it. I am passing people occasionally, and no one is passing me.
Mile 38.1 47:50 (17:43 avg./mile) Bridle Staging Area
These 2.7 miles are a tough uphill section. Therefore, I am not concerned that my time is slow. Anything under an hour is okay. I finally change shoes, and I might have waited a little too long. However, the feet aren’t causing me any great pain, and the foot is just a means of making contact with the ground.
Mile 45.4 1:48:49 (14:54 avg./mile) Rock Point
This section is the worst for me on the course. This time isn’t too bad because I am still in control of the situation, but I know things will be different in about 7-8 hours when I get here again. During this part, a guy says that I am walking too slow because on the uphills he walks past me, and then on the downhills, I run past him. He says that if I walked a little faster I would finish quicker (obviously a true rocket scientist!). Another guy says that I really look strong and asks me if I feel as good as I look. Then he proceeds to pass me. Thanks for the compliment. Anyway, my real goal for this section was to be able to use the restroom (sitting down) when I got to this aid station. I am successful, and I hope that I have eliminated one of the reasons I had to stop last year. I eat some pizza and then re-grease my body before heading on down the trail.
Mile 49.7 1:09:43 (16:13 avg./mile) South Park
My mom is here again, and it is nice to see her. While I have been running since I saw her last she went home and painted and cleaned everything up and then came back. However, she doesn’t look tired at all to me. The reason this time is slow is that it includes my time at the last aid station. I mark my watch when I get into an aid station, not when I leave.
Mile 54.0 56:26 (13:07 avg./mile) Fire Tower
This section from South Park to the Fire Tower is a gain in elevation, but for some reason I have always ran this part quickly. This time is no exception. I am tired, but everything still seems to be going okay. Another runner, Fred, decides that running a 100 miles is not enough, so while I am trying to eat and drink something, he climbs to the top of the fire tower.
Mile 56.5 48:36 (19:26 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
This is not good. Last year, I blitzed this part of the course, and I was making a mental note not to take this part too quickly, but I just don’t seem to have the pop left in my legs.
Mile 61.2 1:32:15 (19:38 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge
This isn’t a bad time considering the last section. I am staying focused and still running at times. However, on most of the flat sections, I am just walking. I am not sure exactly what the problem is.
Mile 66.6 1:57:56 (21:50 avg./mile) Covered Bridge
At around mile 63 or so, I get to pick up my pacer. Zack is waiting for me, and I am trying to motivate myself for the night ahead. At the pacer point, I stop to change shoes and while I am doing this, Fred slides by me. He apparently has recovered from his fire tower climb. Zack and I set off and running is really no longer much of a question. I am not sure if it is the low energy level/exhaustion or the fact that my feet are hurting moderately.
Mile 69.2 1:03:29 (24:25 avg./mile) Bridle Staging Area
Zack and I hoof it up to the Bridle Staging area, and I am excited because we cover this section four minutes faster than last year. There are times on this section that my mind is starting to want to think about dropping out. However, no one passes me on this section, so things can’t be all that bad. I drink a cup of soup and a cup of Pepsi, and Zack and I head down the trail, but first we have to find the trail. Thinking that I knew exactly where it is, I start off into the woods. Fortunately, the aid station worker quickly corrects me.
Mile 76.6 3:17:25 (26:41 avg./mile) Bridle Staging Area
Well, last year I dropped at the Bridle Staging area, so I will at least make it farther than last year. During this stretch, the forward progress I am making should not really be classified as walking. I am hobbling for two reasons—lack of sleep and pain in the feet. About two hours since the last aid station, Janet Vincent and her pacer, Phil Young, pass me. She offers me some No-doze, but I decline. I probably should have tried some. Anyway, during the uphill section on a couple of occasions, I tell Zack that I just have to sit down. So, I plunk down and rest for a minute or two and then get back up. It is amazing what two minutes off of your feet can do for you. With about a mile and a half to go, my mind has finally come to a conclusion—I am going to drop out. However, I will straggle into the next aid station. About a half mile from the aid station, I am passed by another runner and his pacer, she is relentless in trying to talk me out of dropping, but her efforts do not convince me.
It is 2:30am Sunday morning, and I hop into the car with Zack and my dad to head home. I am relieved to be done with the effort, but I am still wondering if I had it in me to finish this year. My cushion on the 30 hour cut-off has dwindled to 1.5 hours, and I was just too tired and needing sleep. Overall, my body doesn’t feel too bad. I wish I knew if I did something wrong or that it just wasn’t my day.
We get home around 3:30am. Zack and my dad are quickly asleep. I decided to take a shower and then I drink a coke. I had to search the house for a coke, but I eventually find one. It tastes so good! After four hours of sleep, I get up, and we go to church. Then I go to the awards ceremony and get to congratulate Janet on finishing. In the afternoon, I take a nap while I am watching the NASCAR race, and then in the evening we go waterskiing. It is always amazing that my recovery seems to occur quicker each time. It is the reason that I quickly start planning about coming back next year and trying to better this race.
Until next time, never stop running, or at least moving forward,
Darin
It has been a long winter, even here in Virginia. My training runs have not been too adversely affected by the weather, but I have battled a couple of hearty colds. One chest cold seriously curtailed several key training runs. However, everything is now behind me, and I am hoping for a good time today. The weather forecast is near perfect.
March 15, 2003
Start 0:09
This year the chip is being used to time the marathon here. Therefore, I don’t have to worry about getting too close to the front. The temperature is 42 degrees, and I am wearing just my shorts and a thin, short-sleeve t-shirt. I am not wearing my Oakleys today because I want to be able to wipe the sweat out of my eyes easily.
Mile 1 7:17
This is a very nice opening mile. I am running with a couple of friends for as long as they care to run my pace. My plan is to try to keep my miles in the 7:20ish range.
Mile 2 7:20
The temperature is perfect, and I am just barely beginning to sweat. My hands are slightly cold, but nothing to worry about. The only problem at this point is that my left groin is slightly strained. I tweaked it last Saturday while playing touch football with some guys from THE LIFE.
Mile 3 7:23
One of my friends, Brad, thinks that this is a perfect day—weather wise. However, there is a slight breeze, but then again we are right on the boardwalk beside the ocean. Anyway, both of my friends begin to peel off all of the layers they are wearing.
Mile 4 7:17
My running is comfortable, but I don’t know if I have a 3:10 marathon in me today. I think I better run cautiously. My friends drop off their extra layers when we see one of their wives and kids.
Mile 5 7:15
I guess I will stay with these two as long as I don’t have to push too hard. They both seem ready to run. This isn’t too fast yet, but any faster and it will be time to let them go. I am drinking a full cup of water at each aid station.
Mile 6 7:08
Now this is definitely too fast for me at this point. It is much better to save more for later. Even before I see my split at the mile marker, I have let my two friends, Brad and Tim, get ahead of me by about 20 yards or so.
Mile 7 7:37
I conscientiously slow down to see what kind of mile time I run when I am only coasting with no effort to push. This is a little slow, so I will push just slightly.
Mile 8 7:23
The past two years I have had to draft very closely because the wind was strong enough to effect me. However, so far this year, it is not a problem. There is some wind, but I think it is only about 5-10mph. My slight push gets me the mile times I want. Now I will get to see how well I can hold this.
Mile 9 7:27
Miles 8-11 are mostly uphill. This is the only real hill on the course, and this one is very gradual. I am pushing a little bit more in order to maintain decent mile times.
Mile 10 7:25
At this point, my time is 1:13 or so. I am probably averaging about 7:20 per mile. I am very satisfied with this effort so far. Thoughts going through my mind include staying hydrated and possibly catching Brad and Tim. I will get to see them at the turn around point around mile 14.
Mile 11 7:21
Things are going well, but about the time I decide to draft off of someone, they seem to slow down. So I am continuing to try to find the right person to pace/draft off of. I turn onto Fort Story and most of the time on this base, I will be exposed to the wind.
Mile 12 7:10
This mile is quick, but the reason it is quick is that I found myself in between packs of runners. I spend the majority of this mile pushing hard to catch up with the group ahead of me.
Mile 13 7:24
After the last mile which was a little fast, I settle back into my comfort zone pace. There are a few of us hanging around, but nobody seems to be setting a consistent pace. I am also being drafted off of by at least one runner.
Mile 14 7:33
My halfway split is 1:36:10. If I can run a negative split (2nd half faster than the first half) I can still get a 3:10 today. By the way, my best is 3:10:44 at Hartford in 1999. Either way, I am on a pace to finish under 3:15. I see Brad and Tim just before the turn around, and they are probably about two minutes ahead of me. They look very comfortable, and I doubt that I am going to catch them today unless they really crash.
Mile 15 7:42
I eat my Access Bar and prepare myself for the last 10 miles. On my long training runs, I always try to run the last 10 miles at a quicker pace.
Mile 16 7:26
Having finished my Access Bar, I get back to the pace I want to be running. Now, all I have to do is crank my speed up a little, and this might turn out to be a great marathon effort.
Mile 17 7:22
One more mile to go and then I will be off of Fort Story. I feel like my energy level is staying high, and maybe I can still catch Brad and Tim. Other runners around me are also starting to pick up the effort. Picking up the effort doesn’t mean that any of us are necessarily running any faster, but it is obvious that it is time to begin racing.
Mile 18 7:07
There are about four or five of us that are surging back and forth. I get on a good momentum roll and get in front of a couple of them, and then one of them will respond to get back in front of our little loose cluster.
Mile 19 7:20
This is another good mile, but I don’t feel like the race is “coming to me.” I keep pushing hard, but I am wondering how much more push is left in my tank.
Mile 20 7:50
I seem to have lost my focus for a minute and this is what happened. I am also still walking at the water stops as I drink. I think I will just take a sip on the go from now on—if I don’t have enough water in me at this point, it isn’t going to make a huge difference. Besides there are only six miles to go.
Mile 21 7:46
I am attempting to focus hard and push myself even harder. It seems to take me a while to get back up to speed. I also don’t know how much faster I can turn my legs over at this point.
Mile 22 7:36
Okay this is a good mile for this stage in the game—only four more to go. I start to do some mental calculations in my head to figure out if I can still make a 3:15. However, the 0.2 miles at the end really makes the equation more difficult.
Mile 23 7:52
Well at least I have kept it under 8 minutes! The hardest part is that nobody close to me is slowing down and so we are all maintaining our relative position with one another.
Mile 24 8:03
Now I am upset because I let myself slow down even further. However, the race time stands at 2:59:01 when I pass this mile mark. That means I have 16 minutes and 58 seconds in order to get a 3:15. See a 3:15 is anything under 3:16:00.
Mile 25 8:01
I turn off of the boardwalk, hit the last water station, and try to pick up the pace for the last mile and 2/10 (never forget about the last 385 yards). As I go through the last water stop with no intention of getting any water, I tell them just to hit me with the water. Several of them figure it out, and I get about six cups of water thrown at me. It is awesome!
Mile 26 7:24
Not a bad finishing mile. There is a guy that I am even with the last mile who has a friend pacing him on a bike. This of course is illegal, but it isn’t like we are winning any awards. However, I still can’t miss the opportunity to call someone out, but neither the runner nor the biker pays any attention to me.
Mile 26.2 1:25
As I make the final turn, I really start sprinting and I think I have finally passed the illegally-paced guy. However, about ten yards from the finish, he comes back up on me and ends up out leaning me at the line.
Final 3:15:52 officially.
I was 100th of 1,111 finishers. I finished 15th of 99, males 30-34.
I am very satisfied with my run. My clock time was 3:16:01, but my chip time, which takes off time before crossing the start line, is 3:15:52. Therefore, this is a Boston Marathon qualifying time because for next year’s Boston Marathon, I will be 35. The qualifying time for 35-39 year olds is 3:15. I try to look for Brad and Tim, but I am unsuccessful. Martha and the kids quickly find me, and we wander around the finish area for a while.
I think that on this day, in the shape I am in, this is a very good effort. I am still looking to improve on my best marathon of 3:10, but this year the focus of main effort is finishing my first 100. I have made two attempts at the 100 mile distance, but both ended with a DNF (did not finish). On June 21-22, I will make my third, and hopefully first successful, attempt at the Mohican Trail 100 in Ohio.
Never stop running,
Darin
