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| Before the Race |
I am in the Talladega National Forest getting ready to run my second
new ultra-race here in Alabama. Last
month, I enjoyed the surprisingly challenging and interesting Mountain Mist
race. This month, the Mt. Cheaha 50k
race is before me, and I have had a good few weeks of training. Three weeks ago, I blitzed an 18-mile tempo
run, so I am feeling confident coming into this race. My daughter, Amy, is again crewing for me
today. The weather is slightly cool this
morning with temperature around 34, but is supposed to warm up into the
50s. Therefore, I start the race with
shorts, short and long sleeve shirts, and gloves. At the last minute, I decide to start with
just a Buff on my head, forgoing the wool hat.
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| Race to the single track trail |
I injected a bit of excitement by losing my race timing chip. It was safety pinned onto my shorts, but fell
off when I went into the woods to take my final leak before the start. Soon thereafter, I hear the race director
announcing that a timing chip had been turned in. I looked down, and my timing chip was not
there, so I went up and said I was missing one.
They didn’t have a way to determine for sure that it was mine, but no
one else was missing one, so luckily it turned out to be mine. I didn’t know this until the finish as there
were no intermediate timing mats on the course.
Mile
3.3 33:09 (10:03 avg./mile) Chandler
Springs
The
race begins in a small parking area, and there is only about 20 yards before we
enter the forest on a single-track trail.
It is a tricky balance between getting close to the front on the
single-track trail so that I don’t get stuck behind slower runners and not
slowing down any runners behind me.
Since I pushed fairly far forward in the field, I feel obligated to run
most of this first section. I hope I
haven’t started too fast only to burnout later.
Amy and I had decided beforehand that she would skip the first aid
station and just meet me at the second one.
So, I grab a quick cup of water and head towards the second aid station.
Mile
8.5 1:03:07 (12:08 avg./mile)
Clairmont Gap
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| Pinhoti Trail Marker |
With
the field nicely spread out, I scale back a little bit on the pace. I also spend five minutes taking a wrong
turn. Just after crossing a dirt jeep
trail, I follow some streamers off to the right and down a hill for about a
quarter of a mile. However, the race
course is not marked with streamers, but rather with surveyor flags. When the streamers quit, I turn around, hike
back up the hill and find my error. Even
with my slight detour, I still made good time.
At the aid station, I drink half of a pint of chocolate milk and eat
half of a bagel. I also dropped off my
gloves and my long sleeve shirt as the weather is warming up very nicely.
Mile
14.9 1:25:15 (13:19 avg./mile) Adams
Gap
This
course is over 80% single track trail, and it is quite beautiful! There are some ups and downs along with some
ins and outs, but not many of them are pointless. Around mile 10 or so, a very young runner,
Duncan, passes me as he is blazing down a hill.
I wonder why he was behind me to begin with, but I will see him
later. This section also has the most
technical footing with plenty of rocks.
But I am feeling good and maneuvering over and around the rocks with
ease. The couple of race reports from
past races that I read last night alerted me to this section, and I take some
comfort that this is supposed to be the worst of it. I have pushed hard on this section, but my
time does not indicate this. I take
solace in the fact that I am maintaining my placing, or at least it seems that
way as I think I am passing as many people as are passing me. I drink some Conquest and then take a stack
of cookies from the aid station for the trail.
Amy has managed to navigate the back roads very well so far.
Mile
18.4 50:38 (14:28 avg./mile) Hubbard
Creek
I continue to keep my effort high as the course
climbs and descends. The sky is crystal
clear, and the views with no leaves on the trees are quite spectacular! This section takes me longer than I had
expected, but such it is during an ultra-race.
This section has the first stream crossing where I finally get my feet
wet. The trail has been mostly dry and
nice, but now my feet will be damp. At
this aid station, I again drink some Conquest and eat a couple of sandwich
quarters. Amy says that she has heard
she might not be able to get to the next aid station, so maybe I won’t see her
until mile 28.
Mile
25.3 1:30:03 (13:03 avg./mile) Silent
Trail
I
work into a very good rhythm on this section, and for the second half I run
with a lady from Columbus, Georgia. Her
name is Brenda, and she drove up here with her running club. She said there were 14 or 18 of them that
drove up together in a caravan. That
sounds like a lot of fun. There are two
major stream crossings during this section, and the water level is about
mid-calf deep. I navigate them
successfully only getting my shoes and socks wet both times. Around mile 23, I re-pass the young Duncan,
who looks like he might be hitting a wall.
At the aid station, Amy is there despite the rumors, and I drink some
Coke before heading up the road.
Mile
27.9 34:04 (13:06 avg./mile) Lake
Cheaha
This
section starts out on a dirt road and then continues on a paved road into
Cheaha State Park. Most of the section
is uphill, but I manage to run about half of it. A few people pass me, and I hope that I don’t
lose any more places before the end. At
the aid station, I grab another Coke and then press on towards the finish.
Mile 31.1 44:33 (13:55 avg./mile) FINISH – Bald Rock
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| Nearing the Finish |
The
final climb is rather brutal! The young
runner, Duncan, comes up behind me, and I ask him how old he is. He says he is 16, and this makes me more
determined than ever to try and stay ahead of him. The thought in my head is that I am 30 years
older than him. However, I have
experience and determination on my side.
Of course, he has youth and vigor on his side. Despite this advantage, I manage to open up a
gap as I relentlessly power up and over the rocks and boulders. When I think the climb ends, I start running,
hoping that the finish is not far.
Unfortunately, the finish is not close, and there is still some climbing
left before the finish. However, this
provides an opportunity to repass a couple of runners that passed me a few
miles earlier. I push hard all the way
to the finish, not wanting to see any more of Duncan.
Official
Finishing Time 6:40:49
56th
out of 296 entrants (19th of M40-49)
The day is
warm and beautiful. I have given this
race a very good, honest effort. I am
completely satisfied with my results.
Duncan also passed the last couple of runners and is the next to finish
after me—only two minutes behind. It is
his first ultramarathon finish, and I am sure I will not be ahead of him next
time. My crew (Amy) has provided more
flawless support for her dear old dad.
The extended
push, nearly from the start to the finish, gives me a ton of confidence going
forward. No, I cannot push like this on
a longer race, but it sure feels great to be able to do it on a 50k. My culminating goal for the summer will be
running the Bighorn 100 miler in June in Wyoming. Before then, I may enter the Sweet H20 race
in Georgia in April. It is another 50k,
but has a very good reputation. Until
then…
Never stop running,
Darin
Return to Darin’s Running Page.
