April
16
My dad and I leave Richmond about 2pm today. He is visiting from Ohio in order to crew for me during this race. We arrive at Hemlock Overlook, the race headquarters slightly after 4pm. After checking in, we head to the dining hall. While at dinner I talk with David Hughes from Indiana. I met him last summer at the Mohican Trail 100. For dinner, I feasted on lasagna, bread, salad, and some desserts. As we were leaving the dining hall, I met Gary Knipling, who ran the Hellgate 100k in December with me. My dad and I decided to stay right at the race headquarters in a bunkhouse, so we hang out for the rest of the evening, listening to the race brief and meeting other runners. I went to sleep around 9:30pm.
April
17
I wake up at 4:30am and get out of bed around 4:45am. The temperature outside doesn’t feel as cool as what was predicted. At the race start, the temperature is 44.8 degrees. I eat a bagel and drink a pint of chocolate milk for breakfast. Several trips to the bathroom, and I am now ready to run. It is supposed to get hot, but the weather is nice and cool right now.
Mile 7.0 1:12:01 (10:17 avg./mile) Centreville Road
The race starts with 301 runners. We circle around the camp once before heading down the single-track trail. I am just cruising along, taking it really easy. At this aid station, we turn around and head back to the start. The temperature is still really cool at 44.1 degrees.
Mile 13.0 54:55 (9:09 avg./mile) Hemlock Overlook
On my way back to the start, I run for most of the way with Marty Sullivan from Massachusetts. I am running the down hills really hard, while walking up the hills. My dad is at the start line, which also serves as this aid station. I drink some Conquest and trade out my Camelbak bladder for a full one. My Camelbak holds 50 ounces of water, and I am drinking liberally as the temperature is going high today. The temperature is up to 52.3 degrees.
Mile
17.5 45:31 (10:07 avg./mile)
Most of the course is easy rolling hills. None of the hills are very long, most are less than a quarter of a mile. I was told by almost everyone last night that the course is easier than the JFK50. At the Marina, my dad is there again, and I drink a pint of chocolate milk and a little bit of Conquest. The temperature is now 55.6 degrees.
Mile 22.0 49:19 (10:58 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals
Another 4.5 miles in the books, and things are going smoothly. However, the temperature continues to climb. It is now 61.5 degrees. When the temperature goes above 60 degrees, the conditions cease to be ideal for me. This aid station is in the middle of nowhere and crews are not allowed to meet their runners here.
Mile 27.0 48:29 (9:42 avg./mile) Fountainhead
Now the temperature is climbing quickly and stands at 66.4 degrees. I am sweating profusely and will have to begin to think about slowing down. I meet my dad and change out of my first pair of shoes. My shoes and socks were slightly wet from running through some mud. I drink some more conquest, and change out my Camelbak again.
Mile 29.5 30:50 (12:20 avg./mile) Do Loop (start)
I am finally at the infamous “do loop.” Three miles around this thing and then I will be heading straight back to the finish. The temperature is now 69.3 degrees. Kevin Sayers is at this aid station checking in runners. He is the race director for the Catoctin 50k. I was hoping to see Phil Young at one of these aid stations, but maybe I missed him and will see him on the way to the finish.
Mile 32.5 33:45 (11:15 avg./mile) Do Loop (end)
Probably the most talked about portion of the do loop is the Nash Rambler that sits out there in the woods on this portion of the course. I take the opportunity to relieve my bladder on the Nash Rambler. The temperature continues to climb, now at 72.1 degrees. I passed a couple of runners on this loop and feel like I can pick it up to the finish. However, I am hungry so I eat several pieces of cantaloupe and a few squares of grilled cheese sandwich.
Mile 35.0 30:23 (12:09 avg./mile) Fountainhead
I get back to this aid station, and my dad is waiting for me. Crews weren’t allowed at the Do Loop. I trade out my Camelbak and drink a pint of chocolate milk, which I hope will solve my hunger issues. The temperature is just plain hot at this point, and there is no relief in sight. The thermometer reads 74.2 degrees. This is the hottest day so far this year, and I know that the sun isn’t even quite overhead yet.
Mile 40.0 55:32 (11:06 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals
This portion loops around and back almost to itself. Mentally it is tough because I know that a straight shot between the last aid station and this one would have been about a mile. The temperature is now in a very high range as it reaches 80.5 degrees.
Mile
44.5 1:00:46 (13:30 avg./mile)
The high temperature is really taking its toll on me. Slowing down is not an option, it is essential to survival. I meet my dad for the last time at this aid station. Although there are only 5.5 miles left, I trade out my Camelbak one last time. My dad also hoses me down with some cool water. The temperature has now reached 82.7 degrees. I figure out that I can still finish in under 9 hours if I can run the last 5.5 in less than an hour. On the way out, I did this section at a 10-minute average, but that was almost 30 degrees cooler.
Mile 50.0 1:13:40 (13:24 avg./mile) FINISH!
I manage to keep everything together over the last five miles. The coolness from the hose wears off within a mile. My thighs are cramping because of the heat, but nothing severe. I am even motivated to push it into the finish because right behind me is a Marine Corps Colonel from Quantico. The temperature at the finish is 83.9 degrees.
Official
Finishing Time 9:15:12
57th
out of 301 starters (257 finishers under 13 hours)
This is my first effort at the Bull Run Run, and I am satisfied with the run. The heat was even worse than what was predicted, but I managed everything well. Now, I get to try and recover and begin focusing on my next race.
My dad and I collect our stuff, I grab a piece of pizza, and we hop in the truck to drive back home. My son Nathan has a baseball game that starts at 5:30pm, and it is 3:45pm when we drive away. We make it to the ball field right at 5:30, but the game before is running late so my son’s game doesn’t start until 6:10. My next run will be my fourth attempt at completing a 100 miler at the Mohican Trail 100 in June in Ohio.
Never stop running,
Darin
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