Thursday, February 7, 2019

Mountain Mist 50k 2019 - Generous Mud


January 26

It is the day before I turn 50, and I am sitting in my warm truck waiting for the start of a 50k race that should be run today.  I feel ready, but I did feel a bit off yesterday getting a chill at one point and a little warm later.  I hope I am not coming down with anything.  I woke with an ever so slight head ache, but it is not a factor now.  The temperature is currently 28 degrees, and it is supposed to climb into the mid-40s.  My initial plan was to start the race with shorts, a long-sleeve and short-sleeve technical shirts, hat, and gloves with another throw away shirt over the other two.  When I get out of the truck 12 minutes before the race start, the wind is calm, and I don’t think I will freeze without the third shirt so I leave it in the truck.

Mile 6.7      1:07:49 (10:07 avg./mile) O’Shaughnessy Point

Surprisingly, I see nobody I know before the start or during this first section.  I am relaxed and just trying not to go out too fast.  This may look fast, but this first section is all runnable and mostly flat.  My hands were cold for the first 20 minutes or so, but have warmed up okay, and I am glad I started with only two shirts.  I grab a handful of waving, kettle cooked potato chips at the first aid station.


Mile 11.9    1:01:35 (11:51 avg./mile) Aid Station #2

Martha is crewing for me this year as I am trying a new drink.  My drink of choice since 2003 has been Conquest, but they went out of business over 10 years ago. Fortunately, I bought a case of the canisters, and I only use it in races.  Finally, though, my supply is almost gone so I dialed up a mixture with Infinit to try to closely duplicate the Conquest formula.  I tried this new mixture (CR01) on a training run a week ago, but the true test will be during a race.  So, Martha was going to try and walk into this aid station so that I could drink some CR01 early in the race.  Unfortunately, she didn’t make it to the aid station before I blazed through so instead I ate a PB&J sandwich quarter and another handful of potato chips.

Mile 17.3    1:07:33 (12:59 avg./mile) Fearn Road

Coming into Old Railroad Bed aid station
My energy level is high so far, and I have been pacing well with several other runners.  While this is more than halfway mileage wise, it is considered the halfway point as the second half is more difficult than the first.  Martha is here, and I drink several ounces of CR01 before drinking some chocolate milk as well.  Here’s hoping the CR01 agrees with me!  I trade out the hat for a buff, but keep the gloves on for now.

Mile 21.0    51:22 (13:10 avg./mile) Old Railroad Bed

This side of the mountain is wetter than the other side, and sections of quagmire are encountered.  So far I am able to make my way through the quagmire without the mud coming over the tops of my shoes.  I chat up a young runner right behind me, who is running is second or third ultra.  He sounds really surprised when I tell him I am turning 50 tomorrow.  His dad is 54, and he says there is no way he would ever do something like this!  At this aid station, Martha is joined by Ben and Amy.  It is great to see all three of them!  I drink some chocolate milk and then a splash of Coke just to give me a little edge for the technical section ahead of me.  Then I grab another sandwich quarter and a handful of potato chips.  These wavy, kettle cooked potato chips are awesome.
Drinking some chocolate milk from Martha

Mile 25.1    1:03:16 (15:26 avg./mile) Hiker’s Parking Lot

Almost as soon as I leave the last aid station, a gray-haired lady lets several us pass.  I mentioned to a couple of guys with me that she will likely pass us climbing up Waterline trail.  I make good time on the railroad bed section as one guy points out that it is a slight downhill grade, but it is rocky and technical.  Then the left on the Alms House trail, and finally another left onto the infamous Waterline trail.  Just like a predicted, the gray-haired lady passes me almost as soon as I get on Waterline.  However, I am determined to climb this portion hard, so I stick with Sally.  We exchange first names and begin chatting.  Soon I realize that this is Sally Brookings, and she has tons of serious ultra-running experience!  I know we have run races together, but this is the first time that I know of that we have spoken.  I think usually she is way ahead of me!  Near the top of Waterline, I manage to slide by Sally and roll into the aid station about a minute ahead of her.  I drink most of the rest of the bottle of Coke and then grab another sandwich quarter and handful of potato chips.  The warm-up is over; now it is time to get this thing finished.

Mile 29.5    1:07:30 (15:20 avg./mile) High Bluff

But first there is quite a bit more quagmire mud to deal with.  I make it down Natural Well without much trouble, but I cannot get into much of a rhythm with all of the mud in McKay Hollow.  I hold my own, getting passed by a couple of people, but also passing a couple of others.  When I get to the final climb, I go into full redline lung breathing mode and pass six other runners on the climb.  When I get to the top and this final aid station, I just punch my watch and start running towards the finish.

Mile 31.1    16:00 (10:00 avg./mile) FINISH – Lodge

I manage to pass another handful of runners in this last section.  Parts of my legs have seemed to be on the verge of cramping, but I just adjust and focus on using the muscles that aren’t acting like they are going to cramp.  I make it to the finish is great shape and a PR on this course of over 10 minutes on my previous best!

Official Finishing Time          6:35:05

159th out of 374 starters

My surge at the end wasn’t quite as quick as last year, but I finished with my fastest time ever on this course.  I was waiting to try and see if Lanier was going to finish and somehow missed him completely.  The results show he finished 21 minutes after me.  Lanier and I have run many sections at Hellgate the last two years.  Not only is my time a PR, but I also gained significant places over the course of the race.  At O’ Shaughnessy Point, I was in 195th place.  At Fearn Road, I was in 176th place.  At the Hiker’s Parking lot crossing Monte Sano Boulevard, I was in 178th place.  So, I passed 19 runners (net) over the last six miles.

My next race is slated to be the Mt. Cheaha 50k in four weeks.  I dearly hope that it is not as hot as it was last year when I basically melted.  Until then…

Never stop running,
Darin

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