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
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