November
1
This
is my sixth time running this race. It
is not my favorite, but it is an outstanding tune-up for the Hellgate 100k,
which is six weeks away. I have not run
this race since 2010 as this date has been the central regional high school
cross country race in Virginia. Although
it is my daughter Amy’s senior year, the conference and regional races are on
Wednesdays this year.
My
wife, Martha, is crewing for me for only the second time at this race. We drive down to Lynchburg in the afternoon
and are staying in the Kirkley Hotel. We
eat dinner on our own at Famous Anthony’s restaurant. It is a simple, outstanding meal, and then we
pick up my race packet and listen to the pre-race briefing.
November
2
Since
Martha will be driving me to the start, I sleep in until 4:45am. We leave about 5:30 for the drive to the
start at the KOA campground. The weather
is cool around 50 degrees. I am going to
start with a long sleeve t-shirt over a short sleeve t-shirt. I see Sophie when I check in, and she comments
on my old school “away blue” VHTRC shirt.
I see many other friends at the start, and my goal is to enjoy this day.
For
the first 29 times this race was run, the distance was always the same. The only change had been a different road
section to begin the race. Last year,
the start was moved to a KOA campground from the James River visitor
center. The distance between aid
stations used to be defined as Horton miles as sometimes they were about right,
and sometimes there were some bonus distance.
The reason for Horton miles is that the course was measured from a topo
map. Consequently, the straighter
sections were closer to the true distance than the trail sections with
switchbacks. Now, however, Clark Zealand
(the current race director) took the occasion of moving the start to put the
first section on trails, whereas before it was on a paved road. Additionally, he decided to re-measure all of
the sections with supposedly more accurate GPS.
The problem with GPS measurements is when there are leaves on the trees
the measurements are less than accurate.
Furthermore, short switchbacks also cause a problem as the GPS
measurements are not all the time but rather at a certain interval. Therefore, the new mileage distances are now
Zealand miles, which I will comment on during some sections.
Mile
7.63 1:32:36 (12:08 avg./mile) Peavine
Mountain
At
the start of the race, I am close to David Snipes. We run the first several miles close together
and then he pulls a little ahead of me.
The recent rains have ensured that the creek crossings will get our feet
wet, and the first one is up to our knees in places. In the past the first hour of darkness on the
road didn’t require a light, but now on the trails, I have a headlamp for this
first section. My time on the trail in
the dark is good, and I feel good early in this race.
Mile
11.33 38:36 (10:26 avg./mile) Dancing
Creek
I am just sailing along letting the course come to
me. The downhills are great, and my legs
are feeling really good on them. I am in
the vicinity of Jamie Azuaje, who ran the Triple Deca Iron Man a couple of
weeks ago. For those that haven’t heard
of it, this is 30 full iron man triathlons in 30 days. He finished and spoke at the pre-race
briefing last night. Today, he is still
recovering so he is back in the pack. It
is awesome to hear some of his stories, but after a while I decide to push on
ahead. I see Martha at this aid
station. I drop off my headlamp, trade
out my Camelbak for a full one, and drink some chocolate milk. I also take half of a bagel to eat on the
trail.
Mile
14.88 48:00 (13:31 avg./mile) Parkway Gate
My
times on these early sections clearly indicate which sections are uphill. This is one of them, although it is not
entirely uphill. I am not paying too
close attention to my splits as I am just trying to enjoy the course and the
day.
Mile
17.12 32:53 (14:41 avg./mile) Robinson Gap
This
is a mostly uphill section, and I spend it power hiking in the vicinity of
Travis Wildeboer. Travis is the 15th
person to ever finish the Barkley Marathons.
He was second this year behind Nickademus Hollon. This is another fascinating story to
hear. He was in camp after the fourth
loop and started the fifth loop about the same time as Nick. However, they had to do the fifth loop in
opposite directions. He said he had
decided on a spot that he needed to be at before they met around halfway, but
he met Nick almost 45 minutes before he got to that spot and knew at that point
that Nick probably had him beat.
Meanwhile, I feel like I am making good time so far. This climb hasn’t been too bad, and now I am
ready to rock the next section.
Mile
19.70 22:18 (8:39 avg./mile) Irish Creek
I
pass through the Robinson Gap aid station very quickly only grabbing a few
cookies. The crews aren’t allowed there,
so there isn’t much reason to stay long.
This section is all downhill. I
pass many people as my legs are feeling great!
When it bottoms out, the aid station is not far, and I again pass
through quickly as crews aren’t allowed at this one either. My race has begun to warm up, and I am
picking up the effort some. Before I
started this downhill I was back ahead of Snipes, and I don’t think he is
running the downhill sections as quickly as I am today.
Mile
21.94 24:48 (11:04 avg./mile) Reservoir
Some
rolling hills lead to the next aid station, and I get to see Martha again. I am drinking plenty of water as the
temperature is in the low 60s. I shed my
long sleeve shirt a long time ago, and I am nicely comfortable at this
point. I drink some Conquest, trade out
my Camelbak, and take another half bagel to eat on the trail.
Mile
26.49 1:12:49 (16:00 avg./mile) Long
Mountain
This
section is mostly uphill, but the last mile is relatively flat. I roll into this aid station, which basically
marks the halfway point at 5:32. The
rule of thumb has been that this is generally your halfway time even though
more than half of the course has been completed. At this aid station, I change my shoes and
socks. I also drink more chocolate milk
and Conquest. Additionally, I eat a
grilled ham and cheese sandwich. I want
to be sure that I have plenty of energy for the second half. My time doesn’t leave me much to spare as I
only have about 35 minutes on the cut-off.
Mile
29.32 53:45 (19:00 avg./mile) Buck
Mountain
The
climb up Buck Mountain is a hard pull as usual.
I stay focused but the legs are starting to really tire. I start to wonder if my legs will have any
spring left in them after this hard climb.
Along the way I share a story or two about my experiences with pace
groups in marathons. Another guy is
close to me, and he is having a hard time with his ankle. Every 50 steps or so, his ankle gives way. My only thought is that I have to get away
from him in case a twisted ankle is contagious.
This aid station doesn’t have too much to offer, and crews aren’t
allowed here. So, I grab a few potato
chips and continue on my way. For my
efforts, I supposedly gain another seven minutes on the cut-off time.
Mile
31.63 29:20 (12:42 avg./mile) Wiggins
Spring
I
run most of this relatively flat section.
However, my legs don’t have the spring back to them yet. I am starting to really focus on the time
cut-offs as the 12-hour finish deadline is not going to be easy this year. At this aid station, I drink a little
Conquest when I see Martha. I don’t eat
anything else as I will see her again in 1.5 miles.
Mile
33.08 26:55 (18:34 avg./mile) Start of
loop
This
short section is another climb uphill. The crew vehicles are on the same dirt
road. I am over halfway to this aid
station before Martha finally passes me.
When I get to the aid station, she isn’t there. I see Tammy Gray, and she says she is
probably trying to find a place to park.
I am hungry and was looking forward to more chocolate milk, but instead
I grab some cookies and head into the loop.
Mile
38.41 1:39:04 (18:35 avg./mile) End of
loop
The
loop section used to be five good long Horton miles. Now a mile and a half out
and back up Mount Pleasant has been added, and this section is now 5.33 Zealand
miles! Let’s see 5 Horton miles + 1.5
statute miles = 5.33 Zealand miles. It
is a terrible equation, and it takes 26 minutes to do the out and back
portion. I am staying with everyone
around me, even passing some people with very few passing me. Just after I start heading back down from
Mount Pleasant, Martha Wright meets me.
She broke her ankle a couple of months ago, but is doing well today. Then as I am finishing the out and back
section, I meet David Snipes just starting the out and back. I know I have to hurry to meet the cut-off,
and he is really going to have to rally.
When I finally get done with the extended loop, I am told that I only
have 15 minutes on the cut-off. My 45
minute cushion has now evaporated. I
find out later that David Snipes didn’t make this cut-off and was dropped at
this point. I down a good bit of
chocolate milk and eat another half bagel.
I also get a full Camelbak and mention to Martha that she might not beat
me to the next aid station as she has to go the far way around.
Mile
41.35 35:49 (12:11 avg./mile) Salt Log Gap
Leaving
the loop, I catch up with a guy from Carolina who is running this race for the
first time. He asks about the sections
left, and I mention that the next to last section has a Horton mile in it. I also mention that once we get through this
aid station, they can’t drop us as this is the last aid station that crews can
visit. We make good time on this
section, but still manage to lose five more minutes to the cut-off. Our margin is down to only 10 minutes! I grab two cups of Pepsi, look around for
Martha and then head up the trail.
Apparently she was close by, but didn’t see me until after I left the
aid station.
Mile
42.42 17:30 (16:21 avg./mile) Forest
Valley
This
is another uphill section. I am really
hauling up this hill as the adrenalin is flowing racing against the
cut-off. While climbing up the hill, it
begins to rain or should I say sleet?
The temperature has definitely dropped some, and I only have a short
sleeve shirt on. But, now is no time to
worry about that. I finish the climb,
grab a cup of Coke from the aid station and continue on the trail. Apparently, I gained back five minutes and
now have 15 minutes to spare on the cut-off.
Mile
46.52 59:41 (14:33 avg./mile) Porter’s
Ridge
My
legs are feeling great again, and I know this section well as the course goes
back to a single track trail. There are
many runners close to me, and I am plowing forward passing many of them. I am not letting leaves, roots, or rocks slow
me down as I make my final push towards the finish. I only briefing walked up two hills on this
section and roll into the aid station with a head of steam. I have added 10 minutes onto my cushion ahead
of the cut-off. I ask for some Coke, but
the aid station doesn’t have any. So, I
just continue on towards the finish.
Mile
50.27 42:30 (11:20 avg./mile) FINISH
Shortly
after leaving the last aid station, I take my first fall of the day. I bang my lower arm really well on a
rock. The fall has drawn a little blood,
but nothing appears to be broken. Now it
is just a matter of continuing to run towards the finish. The last 1.5 miles is sharply downhill, and
my legs are still really decent. With
about a mile to go, I pass Travis Wildeboer, Andrew Thompson, and Jonathan
Basham, who are just coasting in with Bethany Charron. I finish with just under 24 minutes to
spare. My only comment to Horton is that
the cut-offs here are now definitely tighter than the ones at Hellgate when
there isn’t any snow or ice on the course.
He denies this of course, but I guarantee him that I will finish with
more than 30 minutes to spare at Hellgate.
Unofficial
Finishing Time 11:36:34
209th
out of 325 starters
The Mountain
Masochist has never been an easy race, and the cut-offs have always been a
concern for middle of the pack runners.
But, now the cut-offs are cutting off many of the middle of the pack
runners like David Snipes and Bill Turrentine.
These guys have extensive experience, but I guess everyone has to race
against the same time limit. I am
satisfied with my race. My legs had
plenty in them for the final push. My
speed work this fall seems to have given a renewed pop to my stride when I need
it. After the finish, I catch my breath,
and then do a maximum number of reps on the bench press with 135 pounds. I manage 20 reps this year, and then find out
that Mike Dunlop only did 32 or something.
Maybe I should actually lift again for the next time I run this race.
Martha and I
leave directly from Montebello and head home.
We stop at a pizza place in Lovingston, and it is outstanding! We make it home around 9pm; it is good to be
home and sleep in my own bed. I now have
six weeks until Hellgate, and I will use this time wisely. The five Hellgate survivors are all entered
to complete 11 in a row.
Never stop
running,
Darin
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