Hellgate 100k 2011 – Another benign weather year

December 10

It is midnight, and I am standing in the woods at the start of the Hellgate 100k.  First, a few Canadians sing O’ Canada, and then most of us sing the Star Spangle Banner.  Finally, David Horton during a quick prayer asks God for His protection over all of us.  Then we are off running through the cold, dark woods trying to convince ourselves that since there are 136 other runners doing the same thing we aren’t all crazy.

This year, the rest of my immediate family is off running races of their own.  Martha and Amy are in Myrtle Beach where Amy will run in the USATF Junior Olympics National Cross Country race.  Nathan is in Hampton, Virginia where he is running in the first indoor track meet of the season.  So, without my normal crew for this race, I have recruited my oldest nephew, Zack, to be my crew for the weekend.  I hope I have everything lined up for him correctly as I had only a couple of hours to explain all of the things I might need at each aid station.

The weather is rather mild this year, and the temperature is in the 30s at the start.  I am wearing a thin pair of tights, long and short sleeve shirts, a hat, and gloves.  I feel good, and I think I might be able to run a personal best today, but I am going to let the race come to me by not forcing anything.

Mile 3.5      45:35 (13:01 avg./mile) FSR 35

These first few miles are called the prologue, and I get warmed up after the first mile or so.  I got chilled standing around at the start for 10-15 minutes, but it doesn’t take too long to get the blood moving to overcome that chill.  I run with Aaron Schwartzbard for the first quarter mile, and then of course, he moves on ahead.  Then after about 2.5 miles, Sophie Speidel and another woman come blasting past me.  They look like they are on a mission, and I think they actually are.  The water at the stream crossing is swift and almost knee deep.  We walk across carefully, and then trot into the first aid station.  This aid station has only water, and that would be only gallon jugs of water.  So, I grab a jug and take a swig.  I guess they forgot to buy cups.  My time is a little slow, but only by a couple of minutes.  Everything feels good except for my left hip extender.  It is a little crampy for some reason.  Oh well, it will likely quit hurting as soon as other body parts start hurting.

Mile 7.5      1:08:27 (17:07 avg./mile) Petites Gap

I run some of the road section early, and then I settle into a nice pace.  Many people go by me at this point, but that is fine as I will likely see many of them again.  My power walking at this point doesn’t feel fast at all, and it isn’t helped with the number of people going by me.  The night is crisp and clear, and I turn off my headlamp at a couple of points.  On this four mile climb, I can just feel the temperature dropping as we get higher.  It still isn’t cold, but it might be around freezing now.  The creek flowing beside the dirt road we are on is raging.  I wonder if the other stream crossings will be feet wetting experiences.  At this aid station, Zack is waiting with my shoes, a full Camelbak, a bagel, and my chocolate milk.  I get my shoes and socks changed, drink some of the chocolate milk, and take the bagel for the trail.  My time is my slowest ever on this section!

Mile 13.1    1:37:34 (17:25 avg./mile) Camping Gap

I am carrying a bagel as I start down the hill on the first part of this section.  My rhythm is okay, but not as quick as I am usually.  I pass a few people on the downhill section, and then I finish eating the bagel as the course shifts to an uphill climb.  When the trail heads downhill, I start rolling on one of my favorite parts of the race.  This is a nicely technical downhill trail in the dark.  I pass a couple of more runners before the trail dumps us out onto a dirt road that climbs us up into the aid station.  This wasn’t a great time for me on this section, but I am not in too bad of a position at this point.  I grab two sandwich quarters and a cup of soda that I think is Coke or Pepsi.  However, when I start to drink it, I realize it is Dr. Pepper, which I don’t care for.  So, I ditch that cup and grab a cup of Mountain Dew.

Mile 21.9    2:24:32 (16:25 avg./mile) Headforemost Mountain

As I leave Camping Gap, I find myself running with a guy with a last name of Murphy.  He is from Colorado and says he has a lot of hiking experience.  It is interesting talking with him, but we soon discover that I am running faster than him, and I push ahead.  However, Murphy will catch me again on a couple of uphill sections.  The grassy road section seems to go on forever, and I see a lot of different people along the way.  Bob Hagan catches up to me at one point, and Jay Finkle is also in the vicinity.  When I notice the second false turn to the left, I know that it isn’t far until we get off the grassy road and onto single track.  I get a little motivation going and leave most of the guys behind as I blast into the single track section.  I am working hard at this point, and it feels good.  I make my way down to Overstreet Falls, and then start the last climb up the mountain.  For the power hike up the mountain, I find myself beside Monique from Calgary.  She asks if I am the Darin that Horton gave some much grief to during the race briefing.  I am, but it is all good natured fun with Horton.  My time up to the mountain is very good, especially compared to what I have been getting so far today.  At the aid station, I get a bagel and a little chocolate milk from Zack before starting the trot down the hill.  The wind is up slightly, and it is cold, so I have no desire to stay on the mountain any longer than necessary.

Mile 27.6    1:37:45 (17:09 avg./mile) Jennings Creek

I run a lot coming down from Headforemost Mountain, but I never really get into a good groove.  When the trail switches to a rocky, technical section, I roll my right ankle for the first time in the race.  It not only takes my breath away for a few seconds, but it also wakes me up.  In addition, I no longer feel my left hip extender.  So, all in all, rolling my right ankle at this point is more good than bad.  A group of us runs down the grassy road section making pretty good time.  At the aid station, Zack is waiting with everything.  I grab some breakfast from the aid station.  They just filled a large cup with various things like quiche, pizza pockets, etc.  I drop off my headlamp, change out my hat, and leave my gloves.  Hopefully, it will warm up quickly.  My time is not bad, and I leave the aid station with Jay Finkle.

Mile 34.5    1:54:06 (16:32 avg./mile) Little Cove Mountain

Jay and I talk all the way up the hill on the climb out of Jennings Creek.  It is amazing how long you can know someone and still learn something new during a short conversation.  We make good time up the hill, and then he leaves me starting the downhill when I stop to empty my bladder.  However, I catch him again when the course goes back onto a single track trail.  This part is another one of my favorites because it is technical downhill that is very run-able.  When I get to the aid station, my loyal crew—Zack, has everything ready for me.  I suck down the Ramen as quick as possible, and then change my shoes.  I am still drinking copious amounts of chocolate milk.  The temperature is still cool, but I am glad I took off the gloves.  My hands are a little cold, but doing fine.  As I go to leave the aid station, I stop by the table to grab a cup of Coke or Dew; however, all they have left is half of a bottle of Dr. Pepper.  Dealing with disappointment is part of the adventure.  Again my time at this point is okay, but I definitely won’t be setting any personal records today.

Mile 42.5    2:18:54 (17:22 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap

These next two sections are ones where I just have to stay focused and let the course come to me.  I roll through the grassy road section, walking the uphill sections and trotting down the other side.  When I get back on the single track, it is time to begin to push the pace.  It doesn’t feel like I am making great time, but then I make the turn into the devil trail before the 1:30 mark so I know I am not doing bad time wise.  I make it through the gnarly, rocky devil trail without damage, rock hop across the stream, and head into the aid station feeling good about where I am.  I have about 45 minutes on the cut-off, and maybe I will be able to get something going for the last third of the race.  Zack is again totally ready for me with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and more chocolate milk.  Bob Hagan comes into the aid station while I am sitting down enjoying my sandwich.  I was thinking that he might want to run some together, but he isn’t ready to go when I get up, so I leave the aid station a little ahead of him.

Mile 49.5    1:56:02 (16:35 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap

Near the top of the climb out of Bearwallow, other runners start passing me.  This is not a good sign as this is starting to feel similar to last year.  However, once the uphill section is over, I manage to push the downhill reasonably well.  Somewhere along the way, Bob and Horacio Ruiz catch up to me.  However, I manage to keep at least Bob behind me as we make our way into the aid station.  My time isn’t bad, but I am not getting any surge.  At the aid station, I decide to get a shot of my Advair, and I also have Zack fetch me a can of Coke from the car as the aid station doesn’t have any, but they do have plenty of Dr. Pepper!

Mile 56.1    2:18:39 (21:00 avg./mile) Day Creek

I leave Bobblets Gap with Bob and two other runners, but they leave me behind on the downhill.  Rebekah Trittipoe is close behind me, but I manage to stay to stay in front of her for now.  After 2.5 miles on the dirt/gravel road, the course gets back on a single track trail.  My body just is not up for the first steep climb on this section.  It isn’t as bad as last year, but it isn’t good either.  Rebekah and another woman come by me first, and then shortly thereafter Bob and Horacio come back by me.  They say they missed the turn off the road onto the single track.  I would love to stay with them at this point, but I just don’t have it at this point in time.  I continue my slow trudge through this section.  Later in the section, Joe Galioto comes up to me and asks if the time cut-off at the last aid station is firm or not.  I tell him that I don’t think so as I left Day Creek the first year after that time.  Either way, I manage to cross all 13 streams on this section and get in just before 4:00pm.  Despite my relatively slow time, I am in a good mood because the last section is fun.  It is also the only section that is the distance that it is advertised.  Zack has two cups of Coke ready for me.  I drink those and eat some chips from the aid station.  I then tell Zack and Craig Penrose, who is crewing for Bob, to tell Horton that I left Day Creek at 4:01pm.

Mile 62.4    1:22:55 (13:10 avg./mile) FINISH

Last year on this section, my daughter, Amy, paced me.  As I was trying to ensure that she would get a good workout, I pushed this section faster than I ever had before.  However this year, I have no such motivation.  Also, I might have drunk a little too much Coke.  My stomach takes a little while to get over the sloshing feeling.  I start off pushing it hard and then back off just a bit.  I catch three other runners on my way to the Parkway, and my time is 44:32 for the 2.8 uphill miles.  This isn’t horrible, but it is much slower than last year when I blitzed it in 35 minutes with Amy.  On the hill down to the finish, I pass four more runners including Rebekah.  She is focused, but clearly hurting and just wants to get the race done.  I feel pretty decent as I savor all that the last 3.5 miles (the epilogue) has to offer.

Official Finishing Time          17:24:29

97^th out of 137 starters (110 finishers under 18 hours)

The finish is all fun as Horton makes a huge deal about this last of the streakers to finish.  He says I cut it a little close this year, but have nonetheless finished 9 or 9 Hellgates.  My time is not as good as I had hoped, but it is another finish.  I think my training was solid, but I might not have been as well rested as I should have been.

I missed catching Bob by three minutes, but we talk for quite a bit after the finish.  The finish at this race is very intimate and some would say, special.  Zack and I are both very sleepy, and we crash at a Wingate in Lexington.  Overall, I came and accomplished what I wanted which was another Hellgate finish.  The personal record will have to wait for another year.  We are also due for some good Hellgate weather next year.

Never stop running,

Darin

Leadville Trail 100

August 19

I am in Leadville, Colorado to run my one and only attempt at a 100 mile race this year.  I have been here since Monday, and it is now Friday.  Before Monday, I was in Colorado Springs since last Thursday.  This has given me nine days of altitude acclimation above 6,000 feet.  The interesting aspect is that my step acclimation was easier on my body.  I didn’t plan it this way; rather it was just how my schedule dictated things.  When the event in Colorado Springs was announced, I looked up the date for the Leadville 100 miler, and the two complimented each other well.  My acclimation in Colorado Springs went well, and I had a good round of golf on Sunday.  Monday’s flight up here to Leadville was interesting as I had never had my plane above 11,000 feet before then, and as Leadville is at 10,000 feet, I flew up to 12,000 feet.  All of the physiological effects that occurred in Colorado Springs re-occurred here in Leadville.  Nothing dramatic with the acclimation, but the thirst is present, and any climb or brisk walk will make the breathing hard.

I spent the week here mostly working, although I did play more golf on Tuesday.  I was disappointed as the course wasn’t very nice, and instead of being a long wide open course where I could just hit it long, the course was a tight, technical course with very small greens.  I ran Monday morning in Colorado Springs, and then I did a short run on Wednesday.  I know that most people will do some hiking, but I was busy tapering and resting.  I wanted to make sure I gave my body every opportunity to be well rested for this event.

Yesterday, Rick and Snipes arrived here in Leadville.  Rick is my crew for this race, and Snipes will be running his seventh 100 miler this year.  Leadville is the third race in the grand slam of 100 milers.  He couldn’t settle for just that, but had to add in the other two races for the great last race.  In addition, he ran Massanutten and will run Grindstone.  Then he found two more 100 milers that he needed to run so that he can get an even 10 in this year.  Whereas I have done a reasonable amount of acclimating, he is not doing much of any.  So, this may be an interesting case study as we are close in our ultra running speed, except for the fact that he has a lot more 100 mile experience than me.

Last night for dinner we went to a bar that was only one of two places in town that serves Buffalo wings.  We get there, and I order a dozen as I had tried them out the night before and deemed them acceptable.  Then Rick goes to order some, and the waitress says she needs to check to see how many they have this evening.  She reports they only have a dozen, so both Rick and Snipes order buffalo burgers.  Despite this, and the fact that I had to slather on about half a bottle of hot sauce in order to make the wings the proper spiciness, we enjoy our evening and end it with a few games of pool.  After eating and pool, we stop by to see some British friends of Snipes.  They are interesting characters, and the conversation is most engaging.

So, this brings us to today.  We had already checked into the race yesterday, but today we had to go to the mandatory runners briefing at 11am.  There was a mandatory crew briefing at Noon, but after the first hour in a hot, stuffy gym, we felt we could skip that.  It wasn’t like we would be missed amongst the other couple of thousand people there.  For dinner, we went to the only Italian restaurant in town at which I had made a reservation earlier in the week.  Because of the high demand for this restaurant, I had to make the reservation for 4pm.  Another runner, Justin gets into town today and will be sharing our room with us.  He joins us for dinner, and it turns out to be a nice place, and we all stuff ourselves.  Stuffing oneself at 10,000 feet is much easier than at lower elevations as your body apparently doesn’t want to divert any extra blood to the intestines.  After walking the length of town though, we decide we have enough room for an ice cream cone.  Then it is back to the room, and we turn the lights off around 8pm.

August 20

Justin and Snipes get introduced to the human buzz saw (aka, Rick), and we all get some sleep before Snipes alarm goes off at 2:10am.  My turn in the bathroom comes at 2:30am.  The body is working quickly this morning, and I am out quickly.  All three of us are ready to roll by about 3:10am, but as we are only five minutes from the start, we sit there for another 15 minutes before we can’t stand it anymore and load in the vehicle and drive to the start.

As we all have timing chips on our race number bibs, there is need to check in before the start.  Rick takes our picture and then we all start to mingle through the hoard to get into the middle of the pack.  I think all of Leadville is out here to cheer us on.  The gun goes off precisely at 4am, and our adventure begins.  Did I mention that this is all at 10,000 feet above sea level?

Mile 13.5    2:38:45 (11:46 avg./mile) May Queen

The first three miles are downhill out of town.  As soon as we leave the town limits, I take the first opportunity I see to relieve the pressure inside my bladder.  Snipes and Justin are now ahead of me, but I have 622 other runners to keep me company.  I am rolling along nice and easy and making good time—about 10 minutes per mile.  Just past the five mile mark, there is a short, steep uphill section that really makes me question my sanity for wanting to run this race.  If this little hill makes me breath really hard, what are the other hills going to do?  After the hill, we start our way around Turquoise Lake.  We are now on single track trail, but there are still 625 of us, and we haven’t spread out that much.  So, it is follow the line in front for most of the way.  There are a few occasions to pass, but not many.  Still, I am into this aid station in a nice time.  Rick is here waiting for me amongst the other 500 or so crews.  I drink a good bit of chocolate milk and take a bagel for the trail.  I leave my long sleeve shirt on for now as it is just getting daylight and hasn’t warmed up any.

Mile 23.5    2:22:16 (14:14 avg./mile) Outward Bound

Leaving May Queen campground, there is a nice uphill section—first on the Colorado trail and then on a jeep trail to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain.  Then we get to go downhill on a power line trail to a road that then leads us into this aid station.  My climb up Sugarloaf went well as I passed a few people.  It is nice and cool, and I am really enjoying the early morning air (what there is of it).  The trail over Sugarloaf tops out a little over 11,000 feet, so things aren’t too bad.  I leave this aid station at 9:01am, which puts me almost an hour ahead of the cut-offs.  At this aid station, I drink some more chocolate milk and then some Conquest.  I try to eat my grilled ham and cheese sandwich, but my stomach doesn’t want to let much food in very quickly.  So, after eating about half of it, I start on down the road with the other half in my hand.

Mile 29.1    1:29:35 (16:00 avg./mile) Half Pipe

Leaving the Outward Bound aid station, the course is on a paved road for a couple of miles.  Then we turn onto a dirt road, pass the tree line where there is an optional aid station for crews, and finally get back on a good trail.  On the dirt road section, I catch up to Snipes.  He is moving well, and we run and walk as we continue to move forward.  This section is slightly uphill most of the way.  This aid station is one where the crews are not allowed to go, so I grab a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwich quarters and head up the trail.  Snipes has a drop bag with a Yahoo chocolate drink and some gummies in it, but he is out of the aid station just behind me.

Mile 39.5    2:16:13 (13:06 avg./mile) Twin Lakes

Somewhere on the climb up from Half Pipe I left Snipes behind.  This was not an intentional act on my part, but as I neared the top of the climb, I looked back and he wasn’t behind me anymore.  Obviously, I am climbing well today, and I hope that Snipes lack of acclimation isn’t hurting him.  When I reach the top, it is then about 3.5 miles downhill to the aid station.  I run down the hill making great time and come into the town of Twin Lakes feeling good.  With all of the crews in this small town, it seems like the whole town is basically the aid station.  I went through the official check-in point and then continued on through town until I see Rick.  I sit down and eat a cup of Ramen, some hash browns, and chocolate milk.  I am not able to eat all of the hash browns as my stomach just doesn’t want to accept food really quickly.  The chocolate milk tastes great, but I also have to be careful to drink that slowly as well.  The Conquest on the other hand goes down easily.  It is 12:46pm when I leave this aid station, so I am 1:14 ahead of the cut-off time.

Mile 44.5    2:05:49 (25:10 avg./mile) Hope Pass

At some point before Twin Lakes it dawned on me that going up Hope Pass would be about the same as climbing Baldy Mountain at Philmont.  With the Scouts, I did that in 4.5 hours.  This time, I will be moving up the hill in a race, and then turning around and doing it again.  Well, I always wondered how fast I could go up Baldy by myself.  Now I get to find out.  The first mile out of Twin Lakes is flat over marshy land.  Then I make the river crossing and begin the climb.  The river crossing was nice with the water about knee deep.  I start the climb and figure I just need to breathe as deeply as I can.  This works for the first mile or so, but then the trail gets steeper, and the higher elevation starts to take its toll.  I pass a couple of people feeding the bushes with vomit.  Having only salt capsules to offer them, I keep trudging up and up.  Before I reach the tree line, here comes the leader bounding down the hill with a female pacer in tow.  When I finally reach the tree line, the aid station is in view.  My lungs are burning, and breathing harder than I have ever breathed in my life doesn’t seem to help much, although I don’t have a choice.  At this aid station, there are llamas around as they were used to haul all of the aid station supplies to this point.  Crews aren’t allowed here either.  I get some Ramen with instant potatoes and sit down to eat it.  I also eat another PB&J sandwich quarter and then decided that the top wasn’t getting any closer staying here in the aid station.

Mile 50.0    2:06:29 (23:00 avg./mile) Winfield

After leaving the Hope Pass aid station, I only had another 500 feet of climb to the top.  As soon as I crested the pass, I had to start running down the other side.  My legs feel surprisingly great considering the climb I just did, but then again my pace going up was limited by my lungs, so I don’t think I actually stressed my legs too much.  Each step down the mountain takes me closer to a lower elevation.  Mike Priddy, who was back with Snipes, catches me on the downhill, and we push each other all the way down to the road.  Mike had to ask a few runners to get out of our way, but otherwise, we only had to avoid the ever increasing number of return runners.  When I got down to the dirt road, I was told that it was about two miles to the aid station.  As the road was gently uphill, I elected to walk most of it into Winfield.  At the aid station, it is an absolute zoo!  Rick had to park about a half mile away, and just about every crew is here right now.  A third are trying to leave, a third are waiting for their runner, and the last third are trying to get in so they can park.  In addition to the crews that have been out here all day, there are also pacers that are waiting to start running with a runner.  I sit down and eat a grilled ham and cheese.  I try to wash it down with some chocolate milk, but it is slow going with the sandwich and chocolate milk.  However, I know that I need to get the calories into my body, so I take my time.  In between bites and chewing, I change my shoes and socks.  My original goal was to get to halfway by 4pm (or 12 hours), but it is almost 5pm when I finally get away from Winfield.  I tell Rick that I hope I will see him at Twin Lakes in less than 5 hours, but I have no idea how long it will take me to get back over Hope Pass.  I take my headlamp with me and initially take my Houdini jacket, but then decide to leave it at the crew vehicle.

Mile 55.5    2:30:46 (27:25 avg./mile) Hope Pass

I run all the way from Winfield back to the start of the climb.  It is a gentle downhill, and I don’t feel like I can waste it.  About 15 minutes out of Winfield, I see Snipes heading towards Winfield.  He says that he has no desire, whatsoever, to go back up Hope Pass.  I tell him that he has to as he is going for the Grand Slam.  I start the climb up Hope Pass not expecting to see many runners still coming down, but for the first half of the climb, there are numerous runners.  Most are walking down the hill as they know they won’t beat the cut-off at Winfield.  The climb is nice and steep, but I continue to trudge up to the pass.  Every other switchback, I stop for about 30 seconds so that my breathing and heart rate can drop below redline.  Halfway up to the pass, I can see the top and the runners ahead of me.  Everyone around me is working hard, but we are all hurting.  As I catch my breath at one of the switchbacks, I let four people behind me pass.  Two are runners, and two are pacers.  One of the pacers is struggling much more than either of the two runners.  My lungs are burning, and I cannot wait to get to the top.  Finally, I crest the pass, turn around, look back down at the poor runners behind me, and let out a huge yell!  It might not be all downhill from here, but I can see Turquoise Lake and the town.  I shuffle down to the aid station and begin to suck down some calories.  I get some more Ramen soup and eat a few sandwich quarters.

Mile 60.5    1:46:17 (21:15 avg./mile) Twin Lakes

I make decent time coming down from Hope Pass.  I only pass a couple of runners, and before I get to the flat portion, I have to turn on my headlamp.  Making my way across the river and through the marshlands is challenging in the dark, but I am motivated to stay in front of the cut-offs.  I get into the edge of town just after 9:00pm.  Rick is there and asks me what I want first, and I say that I want to change my shoes.  He says he forgot to put a dry pair in the bag to replace the ones I put on at Winfield.  However, I ask him to go back and get a pair as it will be 16 miles until I see him again at the Outward Bound aid station.  While I am waiting, I eat my oatmeal and bagel.  I dry my feet off, get my iPod all setup, and then wait for Rick.  It takes him about 10 minutes, but it is fine as I am resting and have a chance to eat all of the food nice and slowly.  I get my shoes and socks on and then I am off up through the rest of town and check into the aid station.  It is 9:16pm when I go through the aid station, so I am only 29 minutes ahead of the cut-off.  I hope that Snipes is moving well down the hill so that he gets through here before 9:45pm.

Mile 70.9    3:03:20 (17:38 avg./mile) Half Pipe

After getting my shoes on and filling my stomach again, I am ready to roll.  I climb out of the Twin Lakes aid station on a mission to gain some time on the cut-offs.  I climb the 3.5 miles up out of Twin Lakes in an hour.  I am feeling good, and I pass several other runners coming up the hill.  One of the pacers asked me if I was a runner as I was moving so well.  The only time I run with music is at night during a 100 mile race.  It helps me delay the onset of sleepiness.  It is a nice night.  We have avoided any storms.  I am by myself for several minutes at a time before I catch the next runner.  I also get caught by a runner or two, but I am passing more than pass me.  Before I get to the aid station, I get pretty tired.  I don’t have any time to spare and push through to the aid station.  At the aid station, there are a lot of runners and pacers sitting around.  I grab a couple of sandwich quarters, choke them down, and then get some soup.  I was starving getting in here and feel like I could eat some more, but I know that I can’t stay too long.  As I am leaving the aid station, Snipes is just getting there.  I tell him that I am sure he will catch up to me quickly, and he says he just has to grab a Yahoo drink from his drop bag.  It is 12:19am when I leave this aid station, and that gives me 56 minutes on the cut-off.  So, I have gained time, but I cannot relax.

Mile 76.5    2:13:11 (23:47 avg./mile) Outward Bound

In less than a half mile from the last aid station, Snipes catches up to me.  We spend several minutes comparing how things have gone since we last ran together earlier in the day.  After that I again start to get sleepy.  Snipes offers me some No-Doze (caffeine pills), and I take two of them.  They seem to work as I manage not to fall asleep on my feet.  We run and walk all the way to the Outward Bound aid station.  There is the long, paved road section on this part of the course, and we end up walking most of it as it is slightly uphill to the aid station.  When I get to the aid station, I go up and check in, and then visit the port-a-john.  I would rather not spend the time sitting down, but what am I supposed to do?  I guess the caffeine pills kept all of my systems awake.  Feeling much lighter, I go back to Rick and eat a cup of Ramen and a couple of hash browns, while washing it down with Coke and Conquest.  With my extended break, I leave the aid station at 2:32am, just 28 minutes ahead of the cut-off.  Apparently, whoever made these cut-off times expected us to run the whole way from Half Pipe.

Mile 86.5    3:26:08 (20:37 avg./mile) May Queen

Leaving Outward Bound, I begin to do the cut-off math in my head and realize that the last section doesn’t leave much time to finish in less than 30 hours.  So, Snipes and I are motivated to keep moving forward and hope that we still have enough to push it to the end.  We start the climb up Sugarloaf Mountain.  This will be our last climb of the race, and initially I am climbing a little better than Snipes.  However, it doesn’t take him long to get back in front of me and lead us up the hill.  While this climb is nothing like the climb up Hope Pass, it is getting late, and it has been a long time since my legs were fresh.  I stay with Snipes all the way to the top, but when we start to go down the other side; he is moving better than me.  I tell him to go ahead and not to wait for me as he needs to finish under the cut-off.  I also figure that I will catch up to him as soon as my legs get going.  I shuffle down the dirt road, and it isn’t until I get on the single track that I start to find my stride.  On the last two miles into the aid station, I pass several other runners.  I get into the aid station just as it is starting to become daylight.  Rick is there with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.  I eat the whole thing, and then take the Coke with me.  I drink the Coke walking the next quarter of a mile.  I leave the aid station just before 6:00am, which is 30 minutes ahead of the cut-off time, and I have four hours to go 13.5 miles to the finish!

Mile 100     3:38:18 (16:10 avg./mile) FINISH

Now on fresh legs, walking four miles an hour on relatively flat ground takes some effort, but it is doable.  Add in that the trail around Turquoise Lake is very rolling and that I have been at this for 26 hours, and four miles per hour is hard.  As a matter of fact, three miles an hour is not a walk in the park.  I make good time coming around the lake.  At first I am passing many runners, but then a group of 4-5 runners comes by me.  Now it is just a matter of continuing to move forward.  After the lake portion, there is the steep, short downhill, and I run down it.  I can still run, but I don’t really know how much more I have left.  With three miles to go, the course begins the climb up to Leadville, and a lady named Kim passes me and is being paced by Roy Heger.  It is getting warm and the uphill seems to go on forever.  In addition, most all of the people cheering us on are congratulating us on finishing, but all I am thinking is that I can’t count my chickens before they are hatched.  I still have a good uphill portion left, and one never knows what will happen.  As I get into town, there is a little downhill and then uphill to the finish.  There are about five or six runners around me, and one of them starts talking about how great this is.  I agree with him, and then run to the finish.  I finish by myself, and the race officials hold up the tape for each and every runner to break.  I find out after I finish that Rick and Snipes were starting to worry about me finishing.

Official Finishing Time 29:37:07

302^nd out of 625 starters (347 finishers)

I was in very good shape coming into this race.  This spring my races have all gone well, and my body overall felt as good as it has in quite a few years.  I thought I had a chance to run a faster time at this race, but I didn’t have an appreciation of how difficult this race is.  The altitude is one thing, and then there is the fact that there are no easy 100 mile races.  This one was not easy, but I felt in control of the outcome most of the time.  Coming over Hope Pass the second time was the one point that I was not sure of the outcome.  I was close to the cut-offs, but I always felt like I could stay ahead of them.  The last section was a little stressful at first, but with five miles to go, I knew I had it.  Could I have finished with more time to spare?  Maybe, but that is easier to say after I finished.  Still, all in all, I enjoyed the race, am proud of my accomplishment, and don’t have plans to come back any time soon.

At the awards ceremony, Snipes talks with Kim.  She was around him coming back over Hope Pass.  She ended up finishing 12 minutes ahead of me.  When her name is announced, I find out that she is Kim Martin.  Kim Martin, that name sounds familiar.  Yes, I know her from the Mohican Trail 100 where she was a top female a few times.

My fall race schedule is empty as I will spend my weekends watching Nathan play football and Amy run cross country meets.  I plan to train hard for Hellgate in December, and I look forward to my ninth finish there.  My legs are good, but it is now a month later, and I can just now no longer feel the fatigue in my lungs.  Until December, take care and …

Never stop running,

Darin

Catoctin 50k

Catoctin 50k Trail Run 2011, July 30, 2011

It is Friday afternoon, and Nathan and I are driving to Frederick, Maryland for the Catoctin 50k tomorrow.  Actually, Nathan is driving, and I am reading a magazine and resting my eyes a little.  Nathan will be my crew tomorrow.  While Nathan has been part of my crew before, this will be his first solo crew effort.  The drive up is uneventful.  As it is already almost 6pm when we get to Frederick, we decide to go straight to Carrabba’s for dinner before checking into our hotel.  Dinner is excellent.  Our hotel room is adequate with no complaints, and we turn the lights off around 10pm.

For breakfast, we enjoy the continental at the Comfort Inn.  It includes a nice waffle maker.  I have a full waffle and a pastry along with some juice.  It is going to be warm today, but I plan to run it smooth so that I don’t hurt myself three weeks before the Leadville 100 miler.

The temperature at the start is a nice (and relatively cool) 75 degrees.  It feels almost nice after the 100 degrees we have seen several times the past week.  Today is supposed to be cooler—only getting to the mid to high 90s.  Kevin Sayers is his usual snarky self at the pre-race briefing.  At 7:55am, five minutes before the start, we are treated to a fly-over by a friend of Kevin’s.  I think it is a Bonanza, and he couldn’t have been more than 200 feet above the trees.  It was awesome!

Mile 6.0      1:22:42 (13:47 avg./mile) Hamburg Road

I start this first section as planned—nice and easy.  Kerry Browne and another lady are just ahead of me for most of the way.  Quatro Hubbard is around me as well.  At the aid station, Nathan is waiting for me, having negotiated the roads to this first stop.  I drink almost a pint of chocolate milk and pass on a bagel.

Mile 9.0      39:30 (13:10 avg./mile) Delauter Road

Quatro and I run this section together most of the way.  We catch up on the latest races each of us has run.  He says he is going to run Masochist this fall for the first time in a number of years, and I tell him about my adventure to run Leadville.  Crews are not allowed to be at this aid station, and Nathan accomplishes this crew assignment by not going to this aid station.  I refill my Camelbak at this aid station for the first time today.

Mile 15.6    1:27:39 (13:17 avg./mile) Manor Parking Area – TURN AROUND

There are three road crossings on this section, and some crews are at two of these.  One lady asks me how I am doing, and I say it is too early to tell.  I am running well, and I push it a little on the downhill sections.  I am still feeling good, and I don’t think it is too hot yet.  At the turn around, Nathan has found his way there and is waiting for me.  I drink some more chocolate milk, and then take a good pull on the bottle of Conquest.  I also take a bagel with me for the return trip.  Finally, I get a full Camelbak from Nathan.

Mile 22.2    1:46:22 (16:07 avg./mile) Delauter Road

On my way up the hill, I see the same lady that was there on my way down.  Now I am in a much better mood, and she notices the change.  I now have the majority of the course behind me, including the tough climb back up from the turn around.  I am still running somewhat reserved, but am pushing it just slightly more than I did on the first half.  At this aid station, I refill my Camelbak and also get an ice towel to cool me off.  All of the early somewhat cool air from this morning is now long gone.  It is hot out here, and the cold towel feels great.  I refill my Camelbak and then head up the trail.

Mile 25.2    52:50 (17:37 avg./mile) Hamburg Road

The key to these three miles is to save something for the last section.  My pace has slowed, but that is all due to the climbing temperatures.  I get into this aid station, and Nathan is again here waiting for me.  I take a little time and sit down in a chair while I drink some chocolate milk and Conquest.  I also eat two grilled cheese sandwich quarters that the aid station workers have prepared.  They are excellent, and with a full Camelbak from Nathan, I am ready to get this race done.

Mile 31.2    1:34:10 (15:42 avg./mile) High Knob – FINISH

There are a couple of nice downhill sections on this part, and I run them well.  I pass a lady, who has been in front of me a couple of times today.  However, she is not the downhill runner that I am.  After the first downhill, she catches me on the next uphill, but as it is just before the crest, I quickly leave her again on the other side.  I end up passing eight runners on this last section.  The last person I pass is a lady on the last uphill.  As I go by her, she congratulates me on a nice uphill climb.  However, as I near the hairpin turn that will take us around the hill, she has started running up the hill trying to catch me.  There are people there cheering her on saying that she can catch me.  After the hairpin turn, I pick the legs up and easily stay in front of her to the finish, although she did put a little scare into me.  At the line I am spent, but it is all because of the final push, and I am fine.

Official Finishing Time          7:43:13

46^th out of about 121 finishers

Kevin congratulates me at the finish line, and I find a chair to sit on.  Nathan has a Coke for me, and it tastes great.  The “official” thermometer says only 89 degrees, but the registered high today in Frederick is 99 degrees.  It was definitely hot, but I ran it well and feel okay. 

Now, I drained my Camelbak five times, which is almost 15 pints of water.  I drank four pints of chocolate milk and two pints of Conquest.  I also drank more water at aid stations.  So, my total fluid consumption was over 22 pints, or almost three gallons.  Interestingly, a recent Runners World article said that a person cannot absorb more than 24-28 ounces of fluid in an hour.  However, I averaged about three pints or 48 ounces each hour.  This fluid wasn’t jostling in my stomach, and it didn’t come back up, so I have to assume it got absorbed into my system.

Although Kevin had advertised that there would be bratwurst, there are none, and I settle for a cheeseburger.  The ride home is again uneventful, and Nathan and I eat again when we get there.  It was a fun weekend, and Nathan did a wonderful job as my crew.

Now, I have three weeks to recover, fine tune, and taper for the Leadville 100 miler.  I will fly my own plane to Colorado Springs on August 11.  There is a Cirrus Owners convention there.  Then on August 15, I will fly up to Leadville and spend the week doing my final altitude acclimation for the race.  Leadville is at 10,000 feet and on two different occasions the course climbs to 12,600 feet.  It will be my first time at Leadville, and I hope to have fun.

Never stop running,

Darin

Highlands Sky 2011

June 17

It is Friday afternoon, and I am flying to Davis, WV.  Fortunately, there is a little private airport near Davis that has allowed me to land and spend the night.  The controller lets me down through the cloud cover, and I am left trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack.  At first, I am searching for the airport about 30 miles to the west of where it actually is, but then I look at my iPad, and it shows that the airport is actually to the east.  Upon touching down on the runway, my front landing gear shimmies quite a bit from the bumpiness of the runway.  No issues though, and I tie the plane down and head up to the Windwood Fly-in Resort.  Note, resort should be in quotation marks, but it is inhabitable, and my room is fine.  It just isn’t a Hilton.

After checking in and catching up on emails and finishing up my work for the week, I rent a car from the resort to drive over to the race headquarters to check in and eat dinner.  The car that I get is a little bit old and well used, but it works for my few trips back and forth.  At the dinner, I sit across from Jay and Anita Finkle and next to Marty Lindemann.  Caroline Williams is also close to us.  Jay and Anita had their own adventures getting here as they had a flat tire, but were fortunate to find a shop to repair it so that they didn’t have to drive on the spare donut for too long.

During the race briefing, Dan makes me and Aaron Schwartzbard stand up as the two of us and Dan are three of the remaining six survivors that have finished all eight Hellgate races.  Dan has to mention that apparently I said he would be the next to not finish Hellgate, but I am not sure that is accurate.  Anyway, the food was outstanding, and I got plenty of it.  Then I drive back to the resort and turn in early.

June 18

The race starts at 6:00am and there is a bus to ride that leaves the race headquarters at 5:00am.  I make it with time to spare, although David Snipes did laugh at my “rental car” when he saw me pull into the parking lot.  Our bus driver to the start tells us all of the history of the area, which includes the logging towns that used to be here, but are no longer.  I debate whether to wear a shirt or not, but decide to wear one as it isn’t going to be that hot, there is a chance of rain, and I will only see my drop bag once at about the halfway point.  Before the start, it is a VHTRC reunion, and we even take a picture.  Snipes, Martha Nelson, Aaron, Caroline, and many others are there.  Aaron and I talk about Hellgate and whether Dan will be the next to drop.  Unfortunately, Aaron says he is in until the bitter end.

Mile 2.4      18:38 (7:46 avg./mile) Aid Station #1

Snipes and several others are with me.  Rick Gray is back about five or six people.  I am leading a line of runners down the road, and Snipes likes my pace.  We hit the first aid station, and I don’t think any of us stop as they just have water and such.

Mile 10.5    2:07:45 (15:46 avg./mile) Aid Station #2

This section begins the single track trail portion.  It is mostly a good long climb.  I have a large pack behind me for the first half until I have to take a leak.  There were about a dozen other runners close behind me.  There are stinging nettles on this part of the course, but I don’t think they are terrible—just a little annoying.

Mile 16.0    1:24:14 (15:19 avg./mile) Aid Station #3

Rick and I are together across the rocky plain.  There is some water standing but not too much.  Bushes are tight on both sides of the trail, and it is hard to see the rocks.  One guy is out of water as his Camelbak sprung a leak, but we are almost to the aid station by that point.  At the aid station, I grab more food and water.  I still have my original water in my Camelbak.  While I am in the aid station, Doug Blackford goes by me.

Mile 19.7    54:38 (14:46 avg./mile) Aid Station #4

My pace quickens as I push a little nearing the halfway point.  The bridges in this section are neat, but I almost slip passing another runner.  I climb to the top and the aid station with Ed Duval, and I ask him about Charlottesville.  We debate about changing shoes or not.  I decide to change my shoes when I see Ed changing his.  As I sit down with my drop bag to start changing my shoes, I remember the Conquest and bagel I have in my drop bag.  The Conquest is outstanding, and I take the bagel with me to eat on the next section.

Mile 22.7    36:08 (12:03 avg./mile) Aid Station #5

While I was changing my shoes, Rick went on ahead, and I don’t see him again until the finish.  I don’t think I was ever more than 5-10 minutes behind him, but we must have kept a very similar pace.  This section is just three miles on a dirt road.  For some reason they put the next aid station at this spot, but we aren’t even halfway done with the dirt road part of the race.

Mile 27.0    54:07 (12:35 avg./mile) Aid Station #6

This aid station (finally!) marks the end of the dirt road section.  An aid station worker says the next section is not marked as someone apparently stole the markers.  However, after the first half mile on the next section, there were plenty of markers.  I grab some more food and water as I am trying to stay ahead of my calorie and fluid needs.

Mile 32.9    1:33:33 (15:51 avg./mile) Aid Station #7

This section is actually marked and well marked at that.  Up and down my energy and course goes over the Dolly Sods.  I am glad that I changed shoes at AS#4 as they are dry until most of the way through this section.  Then the course gets muddy to go along with the rocks.  Boulder hopping is necessary near the end of this section in two different places.  When I get to the aid station, Dan’s children are working it.  I am spent, and I stay quite a while shoveling food and drink into my mouth.

Mile 36.9    1:03:11 (15:48 avg./mile) Aid Station #8

Down and down the course goes, and then up a ski slope.  Then the best section (in my opinion) of all—they call it the butt slide.  It is down through the trees in between a couple of ski slopes.  The ground is muddy and slippery.  I still have my legs and have a blast cruising down the hill and manage not to end up on my butt!  At this aid station, Kimba is here.  She is from Ohio, and I know her from the Mohican Trail 100.  I congratulate her on her Massanutten finish this year.  Before leaving the aid station, I grab a couple of Cokes and then am ready for the charge to the finish.

Mile 41.0    43:15 (10:33 avg./mile) FINISH!

With the Cokes and my legs still feeling okay, I am ready to roll.  I run most of the way to the finish.  I barely manage to finish ahead of Ashley Dolin and her friend that is running with her.

Official Finishing Time          9:35:29

85^th out of 210 starters (178 finishers)

17^th out of 38 Males, 40-49

This was a great, challenging race.  I am not sure how many times I will make it back to run it again, but it is definitely something that I would recommend to everyone.  The views in the West Virginia highlands are wonderful, and the course is an excellent challenge that runs like a 50-miler.

I am able to fly home Saturday evening, and the next day I start a four-day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail with Nathan and his Boy Scout Troop.  My legs are sore, but it is still a good time.  My summer has been extremely busy thus far, but I now have a couple of weeks until I fly myself out to Colorado for a convention and then the Leadville 100 miler.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Bull Run Run 2011

April 8

It is Friday afternoon, the day before I attempt to run my eighth Bull Run Run 50 mile race.  Rick Holloway is with me as he will be my crew tomorrow.  Rick crewed for me in Wisconsin last year, and for some reason, has decided to do it again.  Rick’s son and my son are in Scouts together, and we have begin good friends over the last several years as we have done Scout trips to Canada and elsewhere.

We arrive at Hemlock Overlook around 4:30pm, check-in for the race, and get our cabin assignment where we will be sleeping tonight.  After talking with Anstr Davidson (who is the race director), Gary Knipling, and Quatro Hubbard, Rick and I decide to head for some food.  We drive north into Centreville and feast at Carrabba’s.  After dinner, we top off the crew vehicle with fuel and head back to Hemlock for the night.

In our cabin, I meet Randy Dietz.  Randy is one of the old gray beards that continues to run these ultra races in Virginia.  Despite reading about Randy in other people’s race reports, I had never personally met him.  We talk quite a bit about running and whether Frank Probst is going to have a fast day tomorrow.  While we talk, Randy consumes three beers as he is clearly finishing his carbo loading.  All the fun and conversation ends suddenly when Randy (obviously ready to go to sleep) gets up and turns off the lights.  I read my iPad for 10 or 15 more minutes and then go to sleep.

April 9

I get up at 4:30am as I do not want to be pressured in the bathroom.  After taking care of business in the bathroom (which includes reading my morning devotional and solving a Sudoku puzzle), I head down to the chow hall to eat a couple of pastries.  There I find Frank getting a bite to eat as well.  He is fully ready to run, but I am still wearing jeans as that was the easiest thing for me to put on at the time.  He looks at me quizzically as if I might not be running, and I respond by stating that I still have an hour and a half before the 6:30am start.  As usual, Frank is downplaying any possibility of him running a good time today.

After getting dressed and ready, I wander over to the start around 6:15am.  There are many old friends to see and greet before the start of the race.  I also try to see my other three teammates on the 40-Somethings; however, I fail to find Rande Brown before the start.  The race starts promptly at 6:30am.

Mile 7.2      1:17:47 (10:48 avg./mile)

Centreville Road

(1^st time)

As with most of my races, I like to start off conservatively.  David Snipes and I are running together early in the race.  At first he doesn’t seem as talkative as usual, but then he “wakes up” and starts his usual banter with a few other runners.  We are within shouting distance of each other as we get to the first aid station.  Rick is there, and I grab some Conquest to drink, and then I am off.

Mile 11.6    45:35 (10:22 avg./mile)

Centreville Road

(2^nd time)

These four miles are an out and back section to the upstream turnaround.  I am still trying to run within myself as it is very easy to go out too quickly since these miles are relatively flat.  At the turnaround, I see that Gary and Frank are about 200 yards ahead of me.  Zeke Zucker is also out in front of me, and I want catch him today.  This time when I come into the aid station, I grab some more Conquest and half of a bagel.

Mile 16.6    55:58 (11:12 avg./mile) Hemlock Overlook

The weather on this day is overcast and cool.  It rained most of yesterday, so the trail is muddy in most places.  Other than slipping and sliding a little, it is not a big problem.  Coming back to Hemlock, I have put a little distance on Snipes, and I have managed to catch and pass Gary and Frank.  I drink some chocolate milk and take another half of a bagel for the trail.

Mile 21.1    51:44 (11:30 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

My pace has settled in well, and now I just have to maintain things until I get through the Do Loop.  Then it will be time to see if I have a good push for the finish.  I definitely am not pushing the pace too hard right now.  At this aid station, Rick is here and I grab some more Conquest.  I don’t get anything else from Rick, but instead get a sandwich quarter and some potato chips from the aid station food table.

Mile 26.1    54:03 (10:49 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

This and the previous section of the course are gently rolling hills where I just try to let the race come to me.  Although at this point in the race, I might be able to run the more gradual hills, it is wise not to.  It seems like there are about four or five of us trading places back and forth as we roll along these hills.  I am satisfied with my pace so far, but I don’t think I will have enough to go under 9 hours this year.  This aid station is one where crews are not allowed.  I drink a couple of cups of water and grab some chips for the trail.

Mile 28.1    28:33 (14:17 avg./mile) Fountainhead

This two mile section is one of the longest two mile sections I have seen.  If this was a Horton race, everyone would say that there was an extra “Horton” mile in this section.  However, I can’t complain as the rest of the course seems right on based on my consistent pace.  Just before arriving at this aid station, Frank Probst catches back up to me.  I come into the aid station slightly ahead of him, but it is only by a slim margin.  Rick is here, and I drink some chocolate milk and take half of a bagel for the trail.

Mile 32.5    49:51 (11:20 avg./mile) Do Loop (start)

The first two miles leaving Fountainhead are on the dreaded white loop trail.  I follow Frank and try to keep close, but when we come within sight of Fountainhead and make the turn towards the Do Loop, he leaves me behind.  I still feel like I am making decent time.  At the aid station, which the crews can’t go to, they have pizza.  I pass on the pizza this time as I really don’t feel like eating much.  I have been drinking liberally, and with the cool conditions, peeing a lot.  I take a few cookies and head into the Do Loop.

Mile 35.5    33:36 (11:12 avg./mile) Do Loop (end)

As soon as I start on the Do Loop, Mark Prescott catches up to me.  He says he has been doing a 10 minute run, 1 minute walk schedule.  He also mentions that he just wants to stay in front of Gary who he thinks is only a few minutes behind us.  This surprises me as I would have figured Gary wouldn’t be that quick today.  The first third of the Do Loop is mostly downhill to the water.  Then the course turns back and goes through many steep short ups and downs.  Mark is ahead of me when we get close to the water, but then I start hammering the uphill section with my power walk.  Soon Mark and I have Frank in sight up ahead.  I go ahead of Mark and start to make my move on Frank.  He says he felt really good when he passed me after Fountainhead, but now he doesn’t feel as good.  I get about a 50 yard lead on him, and then I take a fall going down one of steep hills.  Fortunately, I fall in a nice soft pile of leaves.  I have tweaked my right ankle a little, but I think it will be okay.  I manage to haul myself out of the leaf pile and stay just ahead of Frank.  By the time I get to the aid station, I have put a gap between me and Frank again.  This time through this aid station, I take a thin slice of pepperoni pizza.

Mile 37.9    31:19 (13:03 avg./mile) Fountainhead

It feels like I am starting my push for the finish, but with the muddy conditions, my time isn’t showing it.  I passed a few people on this section, and I met a ton of people heading out to the Do Loop.  Getting into Fountainhead, Rick is here and I drink some chocolate milk and take another half of a bagel for the trail.  I need to try to keep the calories in me so I have plenty of energy for the final push to the finish.

Mile 39.9    26:52 (13:26 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

Leaving Fountainhead, I try to push really hard.  I even run some of the uphill sections, but I quickly regret that and revert back to power hiking the uphills.  It doesn’t seem like I have really found my groove today.  As I come into Wolf Run Shoals, I am not feeling wonderful, but know that I have only about 10 miles to go.  Knowing that they have ice cream sandwiches, I ask for half of one.  Margie quickly fills that request, and I take it and head up the trail.

Mile 44.9    58:56 (11:47 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

During this section, it dawns on me that I can average 12.5 minute miles on the final climb at Hellgate.  Therefore, if I can do that on the uphill sections here and then do 10 minutes or better running on the downhills then my pace should be pretty good.  Of course, the final uphill at Hellgate is the final uphill, and I don’t make that kind of speed the whole time.  However, I need to get into that mode here.  I come into the last aid station ready to throw down the hammer.  I grab two cups of Coke and a few chips.  Rick, my always reliable crew, is here waiting with chocolate milk and a bagel, but I will pass on it and head for the finish.

Mile 50.4    1:05:22 (11:53 avg./mile) FINISH!

My legs feel okay, but not great.  My pace today has been okay, but not great.  The mud has moderated everything it seems.  As I near about two miles to go, I catch up to a girl from Ohio.  I find out that she is only a junior in high school.  She runs cross country, but decided this spring to run this 50 miler instead of the track season.  I am definitely impressed with where she is in this race today, but I still pass her and someone else on my way to the finish.

Official Finishing Time          9:39:36

112^th out of 344 starters (313 finishers)

All of my eight finishes at this race have been 9 hours and change.  This is my first one in the 9:30-9:39 range.  I thought I was prepared to run faster today, but whether it was because of the mud or who know what my time will not be my best.  Instead it is right in the middle of my eight times.  Rande Brown and Jeff Best (two of my teammates) finish ahead of me, and David Snipes will be behind me a little bit.

The rest of my spring will be consumed with watching Nathan and Amy run track meets.  I am signed up for Leadville in August, but may fit in a 50k or two this summer if the schedule allows.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin