Mohican Trail 100 Miler 2004

June 17

It is Thursday, June 17, and I am two days away from making my fourth attempt at finishing 100 miles.  Three years ago, I went 68 miles at the Vermont 100.  Two years ago, I went 69 miles here at the Mohican Trail 100.  Last year, I staggered through the darkness all the way to 2:30 in the morning before dropping out at 76 miles.  This year, a couple of things are different.  First, I have a pacer who will be with me the last 35 miles.  Last year, my nephew was with me for about 12 miles before I dropped out.  That was all the farther he was going to go.  Another difference this year is that my family all came up with me today because Nathan’s baseball season ended last weekend.  Finally, I am currently devouring about two dozen Buffalo wings.  We brought the sauce with us from Buffalo Wild Wings, and Martha cooked them up to perfection.  I determined about a year ago that eating Buffalo wings two days before a race was advantageous.

June 18

It is now Friday morning, less than 24 hours from the start of the race.  I am driving down to Columbus to pickup my pacer, Brad King, from the airport.  My goal today is to stay relaxed and make sure I have everything planned and prepared.  After picking up Brad, we drive back to Mount Vernon and eat lunch at Arby’s.  I have two regular roast beef sandwiches and curly fries along with lemonade.  Then we head over to Kroger to stock up on all of our caloric needs during the race.  Here we meet our first problem—Kroger’s is out of Nestle chocolate milk.  This is a key part of my race eating as each pint delivers 400 calories.  Therefore, after going to a couple of other places, we finally find plenty of Nestle chocolate milk at a Sunoco convenience store.  We purchase 11 pint bottles.  We also got bagels, Cliff bars, Powerade, and a bag of chips.  Half of this stuff is for Brad.

We arrive at my parents’ house, put all of our stuff in the refrigerator, and take up residence on the couch and recliner.  About 5:00pm, we all pile into the Expedition and go up to Mohican for the pre-race meal and briefing.  The meal is the standard spaghetti and meat balls with bread and salad.  The pre-race briefing is a never ending stream of useless information.  The only thing I learned that was not know already was that the river crossing would not be happening this year because the water level is too high.  However, the various other stream crossings will provide plenty of wet feet opportunities.

June 19

I have my alarm set for 3:30am, but I wake up at 3:00am and go to the bathroom.  So, now I am up, and I start to fix my breakfast.  This morning, I am having oatmeal.  This is another change from previous year’s cereal.  However, I think it won’t hurt anything.  My dad, Brad, and I get into the Expedition about 4:10am and head for the start.  On the way to the start, we stop at Dave’s Place (a 24-hour convenience store) to buy ice.

We arrive at the race headquarters, and I check-in.  There isn’t much time to do much more than take another leak and put some sun screen on.  Then I saddled up my Camelbak and say good-bye to my dad and Brad.  I am wearing my oldest pair of trail shoes (Asics Traverse), shorts, and Cool-max shirt.  The temperature is slightly warm at about 60 degrees.

Mile 4.5    51:53 (11:32 avg./mile) Camp Walhonding

I am cruising along around midpack, just running the downhills and walking the uphills.  I take off my shirt at this aid station, and that is all I do here.  I think my excited crew is disappointed that I don't need more help yet.  Strangely, I have a slight hot spot just in front of my left heel.  I don't know why this would be happening, but it sort of works its way out soon, and it never causes me any problems.

Mile 10.7    1:19:31 (12:50 avg./mile) Rock Point

I am running smoothly, and I don't think it is too fast.  Most people are walking uphills faster than me, but that is quite okay because nobody is running down the hills as fast as I am (at least not the people around me).  I meet Brad at this aid station.  My dad is parked down the hill and his asthma is not allowing him to walk up steep hills.  I drink a pint of chocolate milk and grab a bagel.  It is always time to eat, and I need to stay ahead of hunger.  I also refill my Camelbak at this point.  The weather is cool and humid somewhere in the mid-60s, I guess.

Mile 15.0    50:33 (11:45 avg./mile) South Park

This is the first section on the trails, and as advertised, the trails are wetter and muddy than usual.  At one large mud bog, while a couple of runners were skirting the outside of it, I ran right through the middle and passed them both.  Some runners lose a lot of time trying to avoid mud.  On this day, avoiding mud will be impossible.  I don't think I got anything from my crew at this point.  I am cruising and making great time.

Mile 19.3    48:47 (11:21 avg./mile) Fire Tower

Wow!  This time is really quick.  It doesn't feel too fast to me.  I just think that maybe everything is coming together for this race.  I grab a cup of Conquest and change my shoes.  I am now wearing Asics Eagles.  Both my crew and I forget to have me drink a pint of chocolate milk at this point.  However, it doesn't even cross my mind until I am halfway between the Covered Bridge and Hickory Ridge.

Mile 21.7    27:25 (11:25 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

This is an easy mostly downhill section.  It feels as if the course is just coming to me.  I am still taking the uphills easy, and when I start to go downhill, the other runners let me pass easily.  Already in this race, I have gained the reputation as a hard downhill runner.  At this aid station, crews are not allowed, but I get to wave at them as I pass through a campground on the other side.

Mile 26.5    1:05:31 (13:39 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge

This section is about 3 miles of trail along the river and then a tough uphill.  I am really pleased with my time, and I still feel great.  This is another aid station sans crew because the race officials won't allow it.  I grab an apple, a bag of Fritos, and most of a PB&J sandwich.  I am hungry and wishing that I hadn't forgotten my pint of milk back at the Firetower.

Mile 31.9    1:07:27 (12:29 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

I get to see my crew twice on my way to this aid station.  However, before I get to them the first time, I roll my right ankle for the first time today.  It is not serious, but I rolled it on a root while I was eating my apple.  On most ultras I roll my right ankle, but I don't think I had ever done it here at Mohican before.  I am still feeling pretty good with nothing to complain about yet.

Mile 35.9    58:55 (14:44 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

This is the blue loop.  A single loop that brings us back to the Covered Bridge.  Every year this loop has been slightly different because of the access to the Big and Little Lyons Falls.  This year, I get to literally run up the creek bed of the Little Lyons falls and then climb up the falls themselves.  There is also a portion just above the dam that is pretty steep, and the sun is shining brightly on us.  I am feeling hot now, and my legs are starting to feel tired.  I hope that I am not losing my edge with my legs this early in the race.  This pace is slower, but I am still glad to keep this section under an hour.

Mile 38.4    43:47 (17:31 avg./mile) Bridle Staging Area

Being one of the shortest sections on the course, this is the toughest with this section being 90 percent uphill.  We climb and climb up from the river until we finally get a brief downhill before getting a little more uphill.  I am really happy with this time because it is the fastest I have ever covered this section.  At this aid station, I drink another pint of chocolate milk.

Mile 45.7    1:36:49 (13:16 avg./mile) Rock Point

Now the fun really begins because this is the longest, muddiest, and wettest part of the course.  We course the same stream three times and get to navigate through tons of mud.  Most of this is on horse trails.  I did not lose my legs from the last two sections, and near the end of this section, I get to run with a couple of other runners.  For being this early in the race, we are very well spread out.  As I come in to this aid station, I have beaten my crew up to the aid station.  However, my brother, a couple of his boys, Nathan, Amy, Martha, and my mom at this aid station to cheer me on.  They of course don't know that my dad and Brad are just down the hill.

Mile 50.0    57:35 (13:23 avg./mile) South Park

Halfway at I am under 11 hours.  Dreams of running a really fast race begin to creep into my mind.  However, I force them back out for fear that I might start pushing things too fast.  My time through this part for the second time is a little slower, but still right on target for where I want to be.

Mile 54.3    56:40 (13:11 avg./mile) Fire Tower

The elevation chart shows this section to be uphill, but it always goes quicker for me than the previous section.  I am making a definite conscious effort to stay smooth.  I am starting to think about a sitting restroom break, but I decide not to do it at this aid station.  I grab a slice of pizza and my chocolate milk.  I also change shoes for the second time into my third pair of the day.  I am now wearing Asics Eagle IIs.  The whole gang is here, and it is really cool to have a large group for me at this aid station.  Shortly after leaving the aid station, I realize that I should take my Advair medicine for my asthma now, so I come back up the trail and get that.

Mile 56.7    36:18 (15:07 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

Due to back tracking slightly to get my Advair, this time is not as fast as it would have been, but now I am almost set to run into the night.  I still feel good, and my legs are not worn out yet.  I know I am slowing down slightly, but I still have a little bounce left in my legs.  At this aid station, I get a bite of PB&J and some Conquest.  I also get a couple of pieces of paper towel to take with me.

Mile 61.5    1:31:29 (19:04 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge

The reason for the paper towels is for my stop in the campground on the other side of the Covered Bridge.  However, the outhouse is well stocked with TP, and I don't need to use the paper towels for that.  I spend over 12 minutes emptying my large intestines.  I am sure I am now five pounds lighter!  Now, I have to get my legs moving again after sitting that long. Getting started again isn't too bad.  Taking out the almost 15 minute stop, I completed this section is an hour and a quarter.  I sit down at this aid station and eat two slices of pizza along with a bag of Fritos and a couple of cups of Conquest.

Mile 66.9    1:26:02 (15:56 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

Fueled up and ready to go, I run down to the pacer meeting point around mile 64.  Now, Brad is running with me, and we start off making good time.  When I met Brad, I put back on a short-sleeve shirt.  However, I am soon sweating profusely, so I take it off again.  My stomach is revolting slightly, so we walk a little more than I would like.  We now leave the Covered Bridge for the last time in this race.

Mile 69.4    59:30 (23:48 avg./mile) Bridle Staging Area

Starting out from the Covered Bridge, Brad gets a feel for the thick, deep mud on the course.  This portion is also the steepest uphill section, so he gets to experience the best of both soon in his pacing shift.  We get into this staging area just before dark.  I eat two cups of soup to try and settle my stomach, and it seems to help.  Even with the sour stomach, we still made good time coming up the hill to this aid station.

Mile 76.7    2:14:33 (18:26 avg./mile) Rock Point

This is the really fun section with three stream crossings and a lot of mud.  We make good time considering it is now dark.  I am now at the aid station where I dropped last year, only this year I am here 3 hours earlier than last year.  It is still only 11:30pm, and I am not sleepy tired yet.

Mile 82.5    2:16:43 (23:34 avg./mile) Giffen & Beck

Setting out from Rock Point, Brad and I take it easy because I don't want to push anything and burn out.  We walk almost this whole section and coming into this aid station, we talk about climbing in the truck and warming up.  I also have convinced Brad that I should try and take a quick cat nap.  After 12 minutes, I give up trying to cat nap and try to get up to resume my trek.  However, my stomach feels worse than before, and I crawl back in the back seat of the truck.  I am laying there wanting to drop when Martha says that I better be really hurting if I am going to drop.  As a matter of fact, she says that I better not feel good enough to water ski tomorrow.  This puts things in perspective for me, and I try to get up again.  My dad hands me my first cup of Coke, and it helps do the trick of settling down my stomach.

Mile 88.3    2:12:57 (22:55 avg./mile) Turkey Ridge

We manage to get out of Giffen & Beck and keep moseying down the road.  The climb up to Turkey Ridge is steep, but the biggest thing is that it is now really cold out.  The temperature will drop to 49 degrees tonight, and this is really cold after your body is as tired as mine is.  I think I took in another cup of Coke, and we head on down the road.

Mile 93.3    2:01:29 (24:18 avg./mile) Brinkhaven Rd

This is my most tired stretch.  First, I keep nodding off and waking myself back up, all while continuing to stagger forward.  Then as the morning is just starting to show its first light, I keep thinking that I see a vehicle or two parked along side of the road up ahead.  But, each time, it turns out that I was just imaging things.  At this aid station, I am searching for some solid food while I munch on a couple of M&Ms.  Then one of the aid station workers says that he can cook me a grilled cheese sandwich.  I jump at that and also drink a cup of coffee.  Both of things are the perfect items for me at this point.

Mile 96.9    58:00 (16:07 avg./mile) Big Hill

Soon after leaving the last aid station, Brad encourages me to run some more.  We start slowly and amazingly I am still able to run for stretches.  Brad and I think we have made really good time, but the 3.6 miles still takes us 58 minutes.  At this point, we are not concerned because the finish line is almost in sight.  At this aid station, Martha is there handing me another cup of Coke, but my dad is fast asleep in the truck.

Mile 100.3    1:03:06 (18:34 avg./mile) Finish

The last aid station is called Big Hill, but the hill comes after the aid station.  This hill is not misnamed as it is one of the largest hills we get to tackle on the course.  The uphill is tough, but the downhill is even steeper.  I cannot run down it, and I realize that I will not be finishing in less than 27 hours.  However, after getting down the hill, we start to run again and then see the finish.  I round the final turn, do a 360 spin, and cross the finish line.  After 3 years of trying and 4 attempts, I have finally finished my first 100 miler.

Official Finishing Time  27:09:06

38th out of 110 starters (only 64 finished)

Amazingly, 38th is the same place I was in at the Hellgate 100k last December.  It is just after 8am on Sunday morning and brunch is being served.  I grab some home fries, eggs, and pancakes, but I am only able to eat about half of what I get.  I am really tired, but it is an awesome feeling, and I think I could sit for a long time.  I am still on the chilly side.

Brad and my dad head on back to the house, and Martha and I wait on my buckle.  I talk with a couple of people, cheer on a couple more runners finishing behind me, and then I get my buckle.  Martha and I hop in the car and head back to my parents' home.

Until next time, never stop running, or at least moving forward,

Darin