Hellgate 100k 2015 - As hot as hell!

December 12

Another year has passed, and I am another year older.  Seasons change.  Our lives change.  Many things change.  However, for the past 12 years I have always been at Camp Bethel the day before the second Saturday in December.  Since December 13, 2003, the Hellgate 100k has been as consistent as the sun coming up in the east.  And, five guys have managed to be here running this race every year.  For some reason, we all have managed to finish every one of these 12 years.  This year is the 13^th year.  Aaron Schwartzbard, Jerry Turk, Jeff Garstecki, Ryan Henry, and I are streakers.  We don’t know how to live our lives in December without a finish at Hellgate.

I left my house this morning, drove to the airport, and flew my plane to Atlanta to pick-up my son, Nathan, who just finished the fall semester of his junior year at Georgia Tech.  He will be my faithful crew for another year.  We eat lunch at the 57^th Aero Squadron and then fly onto Roanoke.  We load all of our gear into a little Kia Forte and drive the familiar route to Camp Bethel, arriving around 4:30pm.



Waiting for the start

It is a nice homecoming every year.  The race director, David Horton, greets every runner warmly and can even remember most veterans’ names.  He still makes us put on name tags and indicate how many finishes we have at Hellgate.  I talk with several other runners including Aaron, Jeff, and Justin who I don’t think I have seen since Leadville in 2011.  Nathan and I eat dinner with Bob Anderson and his wife as well as Bob and Janice.  Mr. Anderson is 68 years old and attempting to be the oldest finisher at Hellgate.  Janice will be one of the sweepers—people who come along after the last runner picking up streamers marking the course and making sure that no one gets left out in the woods.



The big story this year is how warm it will get tomorrow.  I have already decided that I am going to start the race in a short sleeve shirt.  The only question is when I will take it off?  The temperature is in the mid-50s at the start, and I am cool, but not cold.  We sing the national anthem and then we are off for our grand adventure at one minute past midnight!

Mile 3.5      44:23 (12:41 avg./mile) FSR 35

This past week, my left knee flared up and was somewhat painful and stiff this week.  It has slowly gotten better through the week, but is still bothering me now.  I am running rather cautiously when around two miles into the race I roll my right ankle.  This is not too much of a concern as I do this often, and there is an added benefit that my right ankle will hurt worse than my left knee for the rest of the day.  It always feels like I am getting left behind as the faster runners pull away, and I become a back of the packer at Hellgate.  There are no slow runners that get into Hellgate anymore, and this year is no exception.  Three miles into the race, I attempt to rock hop across the creek, but slip and get my feet wet anyway.  At the aid station, I drink a cup of water and turn to start up the hill.

Mile 7.5      1:01:21 (15:20 avg./mile) Petites Gap

The run/walk goes well up to Petites Gap.  There are more than a dozen runners behind me, but I need to stop and change my shoes.  This takes a couple of minutes, and a few more runners slip by me while I am doing this.  My left knee has warmed up nicely, but I am still concerned about it.  I drink about half of a pint of chocolate milk, and then take a bagel with me to eat on the way.

Mile 13.1    1:40:53 (18:01 avg./mile) Camping Gap

I take the initial downhill from Petites Gap slowly with caution.  My right ankle is a concern, and I am not sure about my left knee yet.  I manage, though, to make it through the initial rock garden.  There are a couple of runners near me at this point who are trying to finish the Beast series.  This is their last race, but also their first time at Hellgate.  They might have finished Grindstone, but Hellgate offers its own unique challenges.  One of these challenges is keeping my feet dry on two more creek crossings on this section after changing into dry shoes and socks at Petites Gap.  The last three miles of this section contain one of the toughest climbs in the race.  We follow a dirt road all the way to the gap.  When the aid station finally appears, I am relieved and take a peek at my watch.  This is not my fastest time on this section, but I guess it will have to do.  There is no time to waste; however, getting some food at this point is essential.  Crews cannot get to this remote aid station, so I feast on pb&j sandwich quarters and some potato chips.

Mile 21.9    2:32:26 (17:19 avg./mile) Headforemost Mountain

Leaving Camping Gap, I am in the company of a couple of other guys.  After a mile or so, they leave me behind, and I am left to stay focused on making steady forward progress by myself.  The first half of this section is an old grassy road.  It is rolling and mostly nice, but there are potholes where the possibility exists to turn an ankle.  I am also trying not to get passed by any more runners!  There is one runner behind me that I can see every time I glance back.  Fortunately, they don’t catch me before we turn off of the grassy road and onto a challenging single track trail.  I get a little boost from the change in scenery and manage to slip past two other runners who missed a turn.  They quickly catch back up, but it gives me a chance to talk with someone a little bit.  I am also telling them where we are and how much further we have before we drop down to Overstreet Falls to start another climb up a dirt road to the aid station.  I eat more sandwich quarters, refill my Camelbak, and drink a small cup of Coke.  It is about 6:05am when I leave this aid station.  I am 35 minutes ahead of the cut-off at this point.

Mile 27.6    1:42:41 (18:01 avg./mile) Jennings Creek

Early in this section, I get into a really nice rhythm.  I pass a couple of runners and have another close behind me.  I am making really good time, I think.  At some point, there is an old guy hiking back towards us.  It is still before dawn when I see him, and it seems very odd that someone would be out here just for a hike at this hour.  When the trail becomes more technical, a few runners slip past me.  I just cannot bomb down technical downhills like I used to several years ago.  Regardless, I am still feeling good when I roll into the aid station.  Nathan is here with an egg, bacon, and cheese grilled sandwich.  It tastes absolutely wonderful!  While I am sitting there, a race official mentions that there are only six more runners yet to come into this aid station.  I am sitting in 136^th place at this point.  Only three runners have dropped out so far.  Nathan says the temperature is already 60 degrees.  I decide to leave the shirt on for now.

Mile 34.5    1:48:27 (15:43 avg./mile) Little Cove Mountain

Running an ultra is running until you are exhausted and then continuing.  The body makes some weak attempts at trying to tell you it is tired, but ultra-veterans have learned how to ignore the less serious signs.  I leave Jennings Creek and start looking for the proper tree to duck behind in the woods in order to relieve the pressure building in my lower backside.  About 10 minutes out, I find a place that will work.  My effort is not as rewarding as last year, but it is still effective.  After taking care of business, I power on up the hill, and then start bombing down the other side.  I pass several runners while on a dirt road, and then entering a single track trail again, I pass one guy and then two ladies.  I am moving well and making good time.  After passing the ladies, I catch a toe and take a slide, but bounce back up quickly without skipping a beat.  When the course dumps back out onto a road, I see a guy in front of me that looks like he might be slowing down.  It is big Mike.  He says he is having a rough day, sweating profusely, and unable to keep food down.  It is definitely warming up, but I am feeling good, so I push on ahead towards the aid station.  At the aid station, I eat three grilled cheese sandwich quarters and drink more water.  I refill my Camelbak again as I have been sucking down the water.

Mile 42.5    2:22:16 (17:47 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap

In addition to drinking copious amounts of water I have been taking an S-Cap every hour or so.  It is now blazing hot climbing well into the 70s.  I pass a few more runners before deciding that I need to back off of the pace since it is so warm.  I was running so well and was hitting the pace that I wanted.  However, I know that the most important thing now is not to blow up.  I have a comfortable margin on the cut-off times, so I will throttle back a little.  I watch as several runners that I had previously passed, come back by me.  I hope that my wise pace will pay dividends and I will see them again.  When I get to the aid station, the air is still and heavy and hot.  I sit down and eat a grilled ham and cheese that Nathan has perfectly cooked.  I wash it down with an ample amount of Conquest.  I leave the shirt behind as I leave to start the final third of the race.  I have almost a 45-minute cushion on the cut-off.

Mile 49.5    2:04:45 (17:49 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap

As I leave Bearwallow Gap, my stomach is full—mostly of Conquest.  I am also very warm, even shirtless.  I hope that there will be a breeze as I climb higher.  My climb is very warm.  I am suffering and in need of some cooling of some type.  When I near the top of the climb, I decide to lie down beside the trail on a patch of moss.  I lay there for a couple of minutes and when I hear another runner approaching, I get up and start moving again.  The two minutes was just long enough to let my stomach get ahead and my body to cool off slightly.  I am also newly motivated to stay ahead of the runner behind me.  She stays close, but then we pass another runner, and my pace begins to quicken.  I definitely don’t make great time on this section, but I am moving forward fast enough.  When I finally get down to the dirt road, I walk the mile uphill into the aid station.  Nathan is ready with a nice cup of Ramen.  He finds some ice, and I am able to gobble most of it down.  I drink a little chocolate milk and a little Conquest before heading out.  It is almost 2pm so I have over four hours to make it to the finish.

Mile 56.1    2:12:42 (20:06 avg./mile) Day Creek

I run well down the dirt road from Bobblets Gap.  The dirt road section is 2.5 miles, and I cover it in 31 minutes—my fastest in a number of years.  When the course transitions back to a single-track trail, I catch up to a runner and his pacer who are taking a break.  They decide to tag along with me, and it is nice to break things up with a little conversation.  An interesting question the pacer asks me is what year of Hellgate was my favorite?  That is a very good question and a tough choice.  I have fond memories of every year because each was different with its own challenges.  They stay with me for most of this section, and I am in good shape entering the aid station.  This is another section that I didn’t cover as quickly as I would have liked, but it will have to do.  My stomach is slightly queasy from the heat and all of the drinking I have had to do.  I drink a little Coke and stuff some potato chips in my ever so dry mouth.  Nathan offers me a bagel, but I decline.

Mile 62.4    1:24:09 (13:21 avg./mile) FINISH

The other runner and his pacer are with me for most of the climb.  Again I don’t set any land speed records, but I make it to the top in about 45 minutes.  Now, I have over an hour to get to Camp Bethel.  I am ready to run, but it soon becomes obvious that the other runner who has been with me for the past two sections is ready to run faster than me.  He and his pacer quickly leave me behind, but all of us are passing several other runners as we make our way downhill into the quickly approaching darkness.  I pass a couple of people and then the group of four runners who have been together all day—I think they are related somehow.  My pace is quick enough, and as I make the turn into Camp Bethel for the 13^th time, I am glad to be here!

Official Finishing Time          17:34:03

119^th out of 145 starters (131 finishers under 18 hours)

I had a nice second half in this race.  My stomach queasiness will continue past midnight—nothing terribly wrong, I just don’t feel like eating at all.  Nathan and I order a pizza in our hotel room, and I don’t even touch it until after midnight when I eat one cold slice.  The next morning, I feel much better and eat some eggs, a biscuit, and gravy.

The most interesting part of this year’s race is that my left knee was a great concern for me before the race.  I couldn’t use full range of motion, and it was tender to walk up or down steps.  After the race, it doesn’t bother me at all, and I again have full range of motion.  This is directly in line with my 20 mile rule.  If something bothers you that you think you might want to see a doctor about, run 20 miles and then and only then if that same issue is the thing that hurts the most then maybe you should see a doctor.  However, in all of my experiences something else hurts worse or the original issue has gone away entirely.

My next race is going to be the Mountain Mist 50k on January 23.  Until then,

Never stop running,

Darin

Return to Darin’s Running Page.

Georgia Sky to Summit 50k - Good Climbs

November 7

This race continues my discovery of new races to run since I have moved to Alabama.  I chose this race as it is five weeks before Hellgate.  Last year, I ran the Paris Mountain 50k in Greenville, SC, but that race is a week later this year.  So, this year I am tackling a race that is reported to be a little more difficult.  My last race was five weeks ago at the Cumberland Trail 50k, and since then my running has gone well.  However, my left knee has been causing me some pain sensations.  Then two weeks ago I realized that I had cut back on my Dove Dark Chocolate eating and when I started eating it again—just a piece every day or two—my knee pain greatly subsided!

Now I am looking forward to this challenge.  I flew my plane into Franklin, NC, rented a car, and drove south to Dillard, GA to the race packet pickup.  The weather was forecasted to be rainy and overcast, but when I landed it was mostly sunny.  Then at the packet pickup it clouded back over and stayed that way the rest of the evening.  After picking up my race number, I went to dinner at a BBQ place and thoroughly stuffed myself, enjoying the fries, pork, and slaw, along with some lemonade.

In the morning, it was raining (as forecasted), and the temperature was in the mid-50s.  I ate my granola and drove to the start.  There was an early start option for those that thought they needed more than the allotted 10 hours.  They set off at 6:30am during the heaviest rain of the day.  The rest of us started at 7am, and about half of the runners were wearing jackets.  I ran in just shorts and a short-sleeve shirt with a buff on my head and my Camelbak.

Mile 2.5      24:03 (9:37 avg/mi) Beegum Gap #1

The rain is light but steady at the beginning of the race.  We start in the heart of the Sky Valley community and begin running uphill.  Most of this first section is on paved road, but before we reach the aid station, the course transitions to a gravel road.  I don’t get anything at this aid station as there is mostly just water and drink.

Mile 8.0      1:19:39 (14:29 avg/mi) Wilson Gap #1

Now the climb up the mountain begins in earnest as the course transitions again, this time to a single track trail with switchbacks.  It is a tough climb.  The wind is blowing hard, but fortunately the rain has nearly stopped.  I work up quite a sweat on this section and am thankful that I don’t have to remove a jacket or any clothing.  After we reach the top, we begin a downhill section that I flat out fly down.  I pass a few runners, and there are several more behind me.  We make great time, but the downhill doesn’t last all the way to the aid station.  The last couple of miles are rolling terrain.  At this aid station, I grab a few PB&J sandwich quarters and a handful of potato chips.

Mile 12.0    42:15 (10:34 avg/mi) Darnell Creek

This section begins an interesting part of the course.  There is basically an out and back with two spurs off of it, I think.  There are also a couple of creek crossings.  When I crossed the first one, and then we turned around, I thought I was hitting the same creek crossing, just from a different direction.  However, there was a branch of the course that I didn’t notice (fortunately, I took the correct branch).  This aid station is at the end of one of the spurs, so I grab some potato chips and head back the way I came.

Mile 15.0    46:12 (15:24 avg/mi) Wilson Gap #2

The spurs were interesting, and I got to see most all of the runners either coming or going, but I am glad to be back at this aid station.  I grab a couple of sandwich quarters and try to determine where I am in relation to the rest of the field.  The spurs prevented me from sizing that up and no one here seems to have a good grasp of positions either.  So, I push on readying myself for the climb back up the first mountain.

Mile 22.0    1:59:38 (17:05 avg/mi) Three Forks

There are a few of us climbing together leaving Wilson Gap #2.  I am really working it hard coming up the climb as I think I am further along in the race than I actually am.  The switchbacks are tough and relentless until we clear the initial peak, and then cross a small saddle before starting the ascent up Rabun Bald.  The final section up to the top is pretty steep, and my legs are starting to get a little tired.  At the top, I am blessed with a beautiful view, but this is not the aid station.  I now get to descend down the backside of Rabun, which we were warned about during the pre-race briefing.  It is a lot of solid rock, covered by wet leaves, and very steep.  Actually, the footing isn’t too bad, and I managed to keep my feet underneath me.  However, the activity completely wipes out my tired quads.  By the time I finally get down to the aid station, I am ready to be finished.  The only problem is that there is still nine more miles and one more climb!  I fuel up on some more sandwich quarters, refill my Camelbak, and drink a small cup of Coke.

Mile 29.5    2:10:13 (17:22 avg/mi) Beegum Gap #2

The climb from Three Forks wasn’t terrible or very hard compared to the previous climb, but at this stage in the race, it takes perseverance to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  There were a couple of waterfalls on this section that were quite sizable, especially with the rain from last night and this morning.  When the climbing ends, there are just a couple of miles of nice single-track trail to get to this aid station.  At the aid station, I start talking with a guy who was just behind me on the last section.  He is wearing running sandals, and I ask him about those.  He says he had to go to them as a foot injury ruined his arch and any shoe aggravates his arch.  This is his first 50k, so he is thrilled to be almost done.

Mile 31.2    19:29 (11:28 avg/mi) FINISH

Sandals guy and I talk the whole way done the hill back into Sky Valley.  I am in no hurry, and he seems content to talk with me.  I mention several 50 mile races for him to consider.  We keep running down the hill, finally rounding the last turn, and crossing the finish line.

Official Finishing Time          7:41:29

74^th out of 167 finishers (18^th of M40-49)

After crossing the finish line, there is a tent setup with a barbeque lunch.  I fill my plate with barbeque and slaw.  They also have a keg of beer, but I can’t have any as I have to fly home after this.  Although the rain definitely dampened the course, the race director and volunteers have done their best to keep things lively.  After filling my gut, I head for my car, but not before I spy a creek where other runners are wading.  So, I jump in and the cool mountain water feels very good on my sore ankles and tired legs.

Overall this race effort met my primary goal—get in a lot of hill work in preparation for Hellgate in five weeks.  However, this is definitely a race that I want to do again.  I think that I could make up significant time now that I really know the course.  It is a very fun course with some serious climbing.  The race director claims 7,000 feet of climbing.  Now, I just have to recover and prepare for Hellgate.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

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Cumberland Trail 50k -- A True Test

October 3

When I decided to run this race, I liked the date as it is 10 weeks before Hellgate.  This would allow me to run another race on November 7—5 weeks before Hellgate.  Initially, I was looking at the Stump Jump 50k in Chattanooga, but that filled up very quickly so I found this race and decided it would be good.  The field is small, and it is a point-to-point race.  Since the race is on the Cumberland Trail, the thought I had was that it would be of moderate difficulty.

Yesterday afternoon, I drove from Huntsville through heavy traffic around Chattanooga and Knoxville.  I made it to the packet pick-up at Cove Lake State Park just as the race director was packing up.  I got my t-shirt and asked about race numbers.  He said they would just write our number on our hand in the morning.  From there I ate a quick dinner at Fazzoli’s and checked into my Budget Motel Inn, which was truly a cheap place, but it would suffice for just me for one night.

There are 42 people signed up for this race, and 33 of us get on the bus in the morning to ride to the start.  I find out on the bus ride that many of the runners are first time ultra-runners.  It should be interesting as the low parked off of South Carolina will keep us wet all day.  The temperatures are in the mid-50s, and I am going with just a short-sleeve shirt and buff, of course.  I don’t think crews are possible with this race, but then again it is just a 50k.

Mile ~6       1:38:01 Lick Creek Mountain

We depart the bus.  I find the race director and he writes my number on my right hand.  Then most all of the runners water the bushes before the race director blows a whistle to start the race.  We immediately turn onto the single-track, Cumberland Trail.  It is morning twilight, and many of the runners have headlamps, but I didn’t want to bother, and I can see well enough.  There are about 7-8 runners on the trail ahead of me, and then I am leading a chase pack of another 7-8 runners.  After the initial climb, about two miles into the race, most of the runners behind me finally decide to pass.  I am more than happy to let them pass so that I don’t push the pace too hard early.  Most of this first section is uphill, comprising of two long climbs.  When I arrive at the first aid station, a couple of the front runners are passing through having already completed the three mile loop.  I grab a cup of water and a PB&J sandwich quarter before starting the loop.

Mile ~9       43:13 Lick Creek Mountain

I read that the loop was 2-3 miles, but obviously, it was at least three.  It is a lollipop loop so I get to see another runner returning as I am heading out.  After the stick portion, the loop starts a very steep, but short climb.  I hike up that, but run most of the rest of this section.  It feels like we aren’t getting shorted at all on mileage today.  As I return to the aid station, I meet a few runners heading out on the loop.  Then at the aid station, the sweepers are there.  These are volunteers who run behind all of the runners picking up the streamers and such that mark the course.  They also represent in some form the pace the runners need to be ahead to finish under the cut-off time.  So, I have about 45 minutes or so on the cut-off time at this point based on the sweepers’ position.  I grab another PB&J sandwich quarter and start down the hill towards the next aid station.

Mile ~12     45:37 Norma Road

As I begin my decent, another runner comes up behind me.  I let him pass, but then re-pass him at one of the stream crossings after we get down in the valley.  However, when I stop to take a leak, he goes by me again, and I never see him again during the race.  Thus begins a long stretch where the only people I see are the aid station workers.  I will not see another runner for over three hours.  At the aid station where two ladies are volunteering, I grab a couple of sandwich quarters and a cup of water before I start the next climb.

Mile ~17     1:38:32 Lower Elk Field

This section begins with a long climb to the top of a bald mountain.  It feels like I am climbing forever and thus not making great time as the climb is steep in many places.  While the trail is in great shape and the footing is good, it is not runnable in many places due to the steepness of the terrain.  I finally make it to the top of the mountain and proceed to pick my way across the bald.  The markings are about every 200 yards or so, but I am in the clouds and visibility is 200 yards at best.  The trail continues through high grass, and it is difficult to follow at times.  Just about the time I think I must have missed an aid station or something, out of the fog a blue pop-up shelter appears.  There is a couple working this aid station, and I know they have to be chilly on this day.  It has begun to rain steadily, but this couple is prepared with good jackets and such.  I thank them for being out here on this miserable day, and then I eat three sandwich quarters.

Mile ~23.5 2:00:20 Carroll Road

After descending off of the bald, the trail then starts another climb.  I have been running by myself for so long, it seems like all of the other runners have quit running.  I miss a turn at one point, but quickly realize my mistake as the trail just sort of ended.  I trace back about 100 yards and find the place where the true trail turned to the right and uphill.  As I finish another section of hard climbing, I finally make it to this aid station where there is another runner!  The first one I have seen in almost four hours!  As I am putting a little more water in my Camelbak, two more runners come into the aid station.  The aid station workers say it is about 7 miles or so to the finish from here and that this is the last aid station.  I fuel up with three more sandwich quarters and a cup of Coke to start the final stretch.

Mile ~31.5 1:56:13 FINISH – Cove Lake

I basically leave the last aid station with a guy right in front of me and two runners just behind.  One of the runners behind me is a female, and I think there is only one more female ahead of me.  I will do my best to try and keep her behind me so that I only get “chicked” once today.  I pass the guy ahead of me, but then he stays with me as we start to descend.  We are pushing each other hard until we realize we haven’t seen a trail blaze in a while.  We make the wise decision to turn around to find the turn we must have missed.  We lose about 10 minutes on this detour, and when we find the missed turn, there is the female runner just ahead of us.  However, she is stuck at a blown down tree trying to find a way around it.  I spy a blaze below us, and launch down the side of the mountain to regain the trail on the other side of the blown down tree.  In the process I open a gap on the guy that I was running with and the female runner.  I take the opportunity to push the pace down the hill, pushing the edge of control going down difficult, technical trail that also happens to be wet and muddy.  I manage to continue my pace all of the way to the park and the finish.  The female runner and the other guy finish a few minutes after me.

Official Finishing Time          8:41:42

17^th out of 42 entrants (4^th of M40-49)

I mention to the race director that this felt as hard as the Barkley Fall Classic, and he says it is harder than the BFC course from last year.  When the two runners finish after me, I thank them for pushing me to the finish.  I partake of a couple of pieces of cold pizza and a cup of Coke at the finish area, before walking to my car.

This race was wonderful!  I had a great time running by myself, mostly, on a rainy, cool day in the mountains.  The climbing was butt kicking, and I find out that it was about 8,400 feet of climbing.  What a day!  My legs will be sore for several days, but I am happy with my performance and hope that my legs will recover quickly.  My left knee was hurting on the steep up and down sections today, so I am also hoping that it rebounds well.  My next scheduled race is the Georgia Summit to Sky 50k on November 7.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Return to Darin’s Running Page.

Bighorn 100 miler

Bighorn 100 miler

June 17

This race came onto my radar when the VHTRC ambassador (Gary Knipling) declared it the destination race for 2015.  I think I had previously considered this race, but had rejected it because it was too far from Virginia, and it did have some altitude.  The first excuse was minimized due to the fact that I now live in Alabama, and I could make it to Sheridan, Wyoming in my plane with only one fuel stop.  And the second excuse faded from my mind when David Snipes told me he was going to enter the 100 mile race.  So, I also entered the 100 mile race figuring that 34 hours was plenty of time to finish a 100 mile race.

For a 100 mile or 100k race, I like to have a crew to ensure I have my grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, chocolate milk, and Conquest.  Despite its popularity with many runners, the first two do not seem to be staples at most aid stations.  The third item, Conquest, is no longer available, and I am down to my last two canisters of powder.  My son and daughter have crewed for me most recently, but neither of them was available for this race.  So, I began trying to recruit from my co-workers, and the summer intern volunteered.  His name is Andrew, and he has just one more year left at the University of Alabama.



Setting sun on the way to Shenandoah, Iowa

We begin our trip on Wednesday afternoon by stopping at Buffalo Wild Wings for the two day out, pre-race meal—15 wild wings, onion rings, potato wedges, celery, and blue cheese dressing.  I had to forego the beer as I would be piloting my airplane soon.  We manage to depart the Huntsville Executive Airport around 5:45pm.  Our destination for today is Shenandoah, Iowa.  Along the way, we divert around a couple of thunderstorms, arriving safely after 10pm.  The airport is closed, but coordination earlier in the day told us where the key for the courtesy car was hidden.  We retrieve the key and drive the retired police cruiser into town for night at the Shenandoah Inn.

June 18

The Thursday flight into Sheridan was mostly uneventful.  We had to divert well north to avoid an early morning thunderstorm, but otherwise, we had an enjoyable flight seeing some of the Badlands along the way.  At the Sheridan airport, Avis has our car waiting for us on the tarmac.  Our vehicle for the weekend is a Toyota Rav4.  I requested a four-wheel drive vehicle because it can be useful getting into aid stations.  We get checked into the Best Western and meet up with Snipes.  We all then go to packet pick up where we see Gary, Zeke Zucker, and others.  The day is a nice, warm, beautiful summer day here with the temperature in the mid-80s.  I am hoping that tomorrow will be a little cooler.

After getting our race packets, Snipes, Andrew, and I grab lunch at Sanford’s, which turns out to be a most excellent establishment for a burger.  We stuff ourselves, and then Andrew and I head back to the room to organize and plan for tomorrow.  I list out all of the items I think I might want at each aid station where I will see Andrew.  He gets a feel for all of my gear, including my white gas backpacking stove.  My other stoves are in the possession of my daughter, who is in Virginia.  For dinner, we go to Ole’s and feast on some pizza and pasta.  It is decent, and I stay up until past 10pm so that I will be able to sleep as late as possible.

June 19-20



All of the VHTRC runners

The pre-race briefing is at 9am with the 100 mile race starting at 11am.  Did I mention that Snipes has decided to drop back to the 52 mile race?  Now, I will not have the opportunity to try and beat him for the first time at the 100 mile distance.  The briefing is good and thorough.  Afterwards, all VHTRC associated runners gather for a picture.  There are many of us, although only a dozen or so of us are running the 100 mile race.  The other race distances are 52 miles, 34 miles, and 18 miles.  We drive towards the start, park along the south side of the road, and then walk at least a half mile to the starting line.  It is nice and warm already, and I hope it is cooler at the higher altitudes.

Driving towards the start

Mile 1.3      13:10 (10:08 avg./mile) TR TH out

This first section is along the dirt road on which the race started.  I glide along, feeling well, but also realizing that it is a warm day.  The field of runners is over 300, and we spread out nicely during this first stretch.

Mile 3.5      34:08 (15:31 avg./mile) Lower Sheep out

The course switches to a single-track trail that begins the climb up beside a river.  The other runners are jockeying around a little bit, but most of us are content to just try to keep up with the runner in front of us.  When I come into the aid station, I click my watch, but don’t even look at the time as I am not concerned.  This pace is still comfortable and quick enough, but the climb isn’t too steep yet as we are still beside the river.

Mile 8.5      1:44:02 (20:48 avg./mile) Upper Sheep out

This section leaves the river and continues the climb up steeply, but still inside the canyon.  It is quite warm (probably in the mid-80s), and there is no shade at all.  The air is thinning as we climb, and I begin to feel my lungs working harder to provide the needed oxygen.  I am also sucking water often, and my Camelbak runs dry a few minutes before reaching this aid station.  I hadn’t topped it off at the earlier aid stations as 45 ounces of water is usually plenty for 15+ miles even in warm weather.  However, as hard as I am working and sweating, I guess I am not surprised that I have drained my Camelbak in about 8 miles.  I fill my Camelbak at this aid station, grab half of a turkey and cheese sandwich, and eat a handful of potato chips.

Mile 13.4    1:15:45 (15:28 avg./mile) Dry Fork Ridge out

Leaving the last aid station, I run beside Jaret Seiberg.  He says he is feeling the effects of the altitude and is going to take it easy.  I am also feeling a little light headed, but otherwise I feel okay.  We are well over 7,000 feet elevation at this point.  Regardless, Jaret pushes on ahead of me after a mile or so.  Another mile or so after that and Boots Nickle catches up to me.  She is truly enjoying herself, and I see her off and on for the next few miles.  Around mile 11, the course descends about a 1,000 feet dropping us into the first aid station with crew access.  Just less than 7,000 feet, and I feel like I have covered about 25 miles at this point.  Andrew is all set up with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, a refilled and ready Camelbak, and plenty of Conquest.  Andrew tells me I am only 15 minutes behind my own projected pace.  I drink about a pint of Conquest and eat half of the sandwich before I take off.  I will eat the other half of the sandwich while I walk down the trail.

Mile 19.5    1:37:37 (16:00 avg./mile) Cow Camp out

Simply beautiful scenery!

I take it easy at first leaving Dry Fork while I eat the other half of my sandwich.  Then I begin to pick things up.  I thought at this point is to just keep moving forward.  This section is up and down rolling without any real loss or gain in elevation.  I feel like I have adjusted to the elevation, and I like the time I am making.  There are even a few short sections in the trees.  I roll into Cow Camp with my Camelbak again needing to be refilled.  I accomplish that and grab a granola bar and some chips.  I also drink half of a cup of Pepsi to try and jump start my pace and maybe help my light headedness.  So far, my time is decent, but I need to keep moving.

Mile 26.5    2:00:41 (17:14 avg./mile) Bear Camp out

I think I am pushing harder and picking up the pace, but my time does not reflect it.  This section is still more of the rolling hills around 7,000 feet elevation.  I refill my Camelbak again as I don’t want to run out of water again.  It is time to push to the next aid station where I will see my crew again.

Mile 30.0    1:07:37 (19:19 avg./mile) Sally’s Footbridge out

River beside Footbridge aid station

Most of this section is sharply downhill.  For the first part, I am on quite a roll as I pass several other runners.  Then we have to navigate a sucking mud section and after that I am not able to run quite as fast as I was before.  I still feel like I am making good time, but the aid station takes forever to get to.  Incredibly this section is almost as slow as the section with the steepest climb.  Much of the downhill is equally steep, and I think this prevented me from making great time.  At the aid station, Andrew is there with all of my stuff ready.  I eat a full bowl of Ramen, washing it down with chocolate milk.  Then I take a black long-sleeve shirt and my Houdini jacket with me as the sun will be setting soon.  I also strap on my headlamp.  I am now a full hour slower than my own projection, but the projection was based on a 30 hour finish, so I have time to spare.

Mile 33.5    1:16:43 (21:55 avg./mile) Cathedral Rock out

This is the first aid station that surprised me.  I didn’t know how far it was to the next aid station, and I was just power hiking up the mountain when here is an aid station.  I again feel like I am keeping up a decent pace, but as can now be seen my pace is continuing to slow down.  I look over the assortment of food at this aid station, and the only thing I want is another little chewy granola bar.  I devour it and then head on up the mountain.

Onward and Upward

Mile 40.0    2:41:53 (24:54 avg./mile) Spring Marsh out

After leaving Cathedral Rock, I start running with a lady named Kim.  She is from Denver, and this is her first 100 mile race.  We chat a little, but mostly just keep each other company as we try to persevere against this almost 5,000 foot climb.  Kim has a GPS watch, and she says at one point we have just covered the last mile in 18 minutes, which sounds like a really good time to me given the steepness of the climb.  Then it gets dark, Kim stops for something, and I push onward.  My spirit is good, but I know that I need to reach the 48 mile mark before 2am.  This aid station, unlike the last one, takes me forever to reach.  It is just past 11:30pm at this point, and I need to pick up the pace if I am going to make my 2am goal.  My original goal was to be at mile 48 by midnight.  I grab a few snacks, and head on out to continue my trek to the top.

Mile 43.5    1:48:25 (30:59 avg./mile) Elk Camp out

It is now past 1am, and I am starting to not like my chances of staying ahead of the cut-off times.  There is now a stream of runners heading back towards me.  The leader met me just before mile 40, and now the runners coming towards me come in bunches.  Many of the runners have pacers with me, so it is difficult to count how many there are.  At this aid station, there are several runners who are really hurting.  This is another aid station that was packed in on horses, so there really is no option to drop out at this point.  One guy’s headlamp has gone dead, but it is a rechargeable so the aid station can’t help him.  They have fresh batteries, but these are of no use to him.  I get some soup and eat more chips before heading on up the mountain.  As I am leaving the aid station, there is a hammock already setup and just waiting for me to lie down in it.  It is extremely tempting, but I resist the temptation and press on towards the next aid station where my crew should be.

Mile 48.0    2:02:59 (27:20 avg./mile) Jaws Trailhead

As I watch the clock tick through the 2 o’clock hour and towards 3am, I realize that this is not going to be my day.  If I were to leave mile 48 at 3am, I would have to run an even split pace to finish within the 34 hour limit.  As it is, the time is 3:23am when I get into the aid station.  I tell Andrew it is time to call it quits.  I report into the aid station workers that I am dropping out.  Then Andrew and I get into our vehicle and head towards Sheridan and our hotel.

Quitting Time      16:23:00

It takes over an hour and a half to drive back to Sheridan.  It felt like we were driving downhill forever.  It is daylight when we finally get into the hotel.  I leave my mud caked shoes outside the door as I will throw them away tomorrow.  They have nearly 500 miles on them, and the tops have a couple of holes.  Like all DNFs this one stings a little, but I am not disappointed in my effort.  This is a tough course that was made a little harder by the warmer weather this year.  My main thought is that I need to acclimate at least a week at 5,000 feet or higher before running a race like this again.  In 2011, I was in Colorado for 10 days before Leadville, and I think it was key to my finish there.

Saturday evening finds me and Andrew back in Dayton in the park with most of the rest of the VHTRC.  There is nearly a steady stream of runners finishing, and we enjoy fellowshipping with the whole gang.  Gary is making sure everyone is well hydrated, and Scott Crabb gives us an extra meal ticket.  I talk with Zsuzsanna Carlson for a while.  She is very disappointed that she had to drop at mile 66.  I also talk a bit with Sophie Speidel, who ran the 52 mile race.  She thinks this was a hard long course, and her race with downhill the majority of the time!  In the end, it is a very nice evening.

I am not sure at this point what my next race will be.  Stay tuned!

Never stop running,

Darin

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SweetH20 50k - Wet, muddy, soggy conditions

April 18

Looking dry before the start

Another month brings another new race for me.  Amy and I drove over to Atlanta yesterday afternoon, picked up Nathan from Georgia Tech, and enjoyed some good pizza at Rocky Mountain Pizza.  It was a fun evening catching up with Nathan and seeing Amy enjoy the company of her brother.  We stayed in a Days Inn in Douglasville, and it was acceptable.

This morning went well.  I ate a bagel and drank a pint of chocolate milk.  Nathan and Amy tried the fruit loops that the motel offered with the breakfast, but apparently they were a little stale.  It is damp and a little rainy this morning.  It has been raining all week, but it currently is not really raining at the start.  I don’t know how many started, but I heard that the race reached its capacity of 150.

Mile 1.4      17:55 (12:48 avg./mile) The Bridge

The first quarter of a mile is on paved road and then we get on the trail.  It is a little slow at first as the trail is wet and muddy, and the pack is not yet spread out.  I feel okay this morning, but my legs don’t feel overly fresh.  I know it is going to be wet and muddy, but so far the trail is okay.  Also, since it has rained so much the river crossing will be avoided this year as the water is too high for safety.  I pass through this first aid station and keep on trucking.

Mile 5.2      51:03 (13:26 avg./mile) The Apartments

The trail down by the river has decent footing, and I feel like I am making good time.  I have been running near to a 65 year old man who looks pretty strong.  There are two ladies behind me that are chatting away, and I vow to try and stay ahead of them for as long as I can.  At this aid station, I grab a cup of water and a few potato chips.

Mile 9.5      49:31 (11:31 avg./mile) School

Leaving the apartment aid station, the course entered an extended section of ankle deep mud.  Rick (the 65 year old) and I play cat and mouse through the mud slop.  It is rather slow going, but my legs are still fresh so I make good time.  After the mile or so of deep mud, the course follows a gas line cut through.  It is a steep rolling section of hills with mud, of course.  The last hill before exiting the gas line cut is terribly steep.  This race is getting fun, and it continues all of the way to the aid station.  Nearing the school, we traverse around the outside fence up and down another muddy hill.  I am surprised that I am only at 9.5 miles.  I grab another cup of water and a fist full of potato chips.

Mile 12.9    39:34 (11:38 avg./mile) Jack’s Hill

After getting away from the school, the mud abates somewhat.  Then the course follows a power line for a brief section before returning to the trail beside the river.  This is some of the best footing on the course, and I make good time even with the climb up Jack’s Hill to this aid station.  During this section, I start running with the third place woman—Lauren—and we make good time.

Mile 15.4    31:52 (12:45 avg./mile) The Bridge

Lauren hangs with me as we finish up the first loop and come back to the bridge.  This is where the river crossing would have been, but instead we get to run across a foot bridge to the east side of the river.

Mile 18.2    24:20 (8:41 avg./mile) The Bridge

Lauren and I hammer the trail hard until an uphill section, and then we introduce ourselves to each other.  This is her first official ultra. Then she asks me how many ultras I have run, and then I have to try to remember all of them.  Near the top of the climb, I start running again and leave Lauren behind.  Now there are only two women ahead of me!  I am starting to feel the effect of the fast miles as my left hamstring starts to talk to me.

Mile 22.0    54:36 (14:22 avg./mile) The Apartments

I am feeling good as my hamstring seems to have calmed down.  I figure I will be just fine if I stay ahead of Lauren.  However, halfway through this section, two other ladies (Rebecca and Linell) come up behind me.  They get ahead of me briefly, but I am able to pass them back on a stream crossing.  Once again, I find myself pushing the pace hard as I try to stay ahead of them.  We come into the aid station together.  Nathan and Amy are there, and I grab some Conquest, gulping it down.  I pass on the bagel and get out of the aid station ahead of the ladies.

Mile 26.3    1:02:18 (14:29 avg./mile) School

After the apartments is the worst mud section.  Rebecca comes by me, and I remark that I am surprised her side kick is not with her.  She says they just met today and had a good time early on running together.  The mud seems to be worse this second time through, but our legs are also more tired.  After the mud, I continue to make good progress, but Linell still catches up to me.  As we near the aid station, we see Rebecca coming towards us, and she tells Linell that she is 4^th place female.  This excites Linell quite a bit, and she wonders how far back the next female is.  At the aid station, I two cups of Coke and grab a handful of potato chips.  I quickly leave, encouraging Linell to follow quickly.

Mile 29.7    45:08 (13:16 avg./mile) Jack’s Hill



Just after the finish

Linell hangs with me, and we mark the next female at 6 minutes behind.  There is no time to spare, so I set a good hard pace, and Linell matches it.  Whenever I open up a gap between us, she is quick to cover and close it back down.  We both make it down the powerline slide without any trouble and make quick work of the last riverside trail.  We walk up Jack’s Hill to the aid station.  I grab another cup of Coke and off we go.

Mile 31.2    19:51 (13:14 avg./mile) FINISH

This last part is basically flat.  We have one guy come past us, but there are no women in sight behind us.  My legs are heavy, but we push it all the way to the finish, not stopping to walk at all.  Obviously, we aren’t running very fast, but it is fast enough.

Official Finishing Time          6:36:07

21^st out of 85 finishers (150 signup starters)

This was a neat little race.  I think it runs like a mini Bull Run Run, and it would be interesting to see how fast it runs when the trail is drier.  I am happy with my time, and thrilled that I came in 21^st place!  I am the 4^th 40-49 year old male to finish.  It is a great day, and I was supported by my veteran crew of my two kids.  It is another flawless performance by them.

Now, it is time to recover and begin the training for the Bighorn 100 miler in June.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

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