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
97th 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
