October 1
 |
| Darin & James before the Start |
brunt of the impact. Sliding down the log, I finally come to rest in rocks and dirt. Did I break anything? Where do I hurt? Can I continue this race as it is only mile 12?
This day started very promising.
The course is dry with temperatures beginning in the low 50s. James and I drove over to Chattanooga
yesterday afternoon. I plan to try to
finish in 7 hours flat. It is going to
take a push, but I think I am ready to push this race as this is my third time
running this event. My training has been
solid this summer, and the only catch is my stomach issues that I hope are behind
me.
Mile
4.9 55:42 (11:22 avg./mile) Edwards
Point
This
first section is nicely rolling terrain, and I run most of it in order to keep
my place in the conga line of runners.
After the first few miles, the pack thins out, and I am able to set my
own pace. I wanted to get a quick start,
and my time on this first section is faster than my two previous times at this
race. At the aid station, I don’t need
anything so I pass right through passing a few runners in the process.
Mile
8.2 44:59 (13:38 avg./mile) Mushroom
Rock #1
 |
| Katie, Christina followed by Darin |
very nice pace. The lady in the lead for now is Katie, and Christina is following. As we catch up to a runner, Christina will mention to Katie when it is time to pass them. My effort on this section remains about the same as the first section, but the trail is more technical with rocks and roots and thus is slower. At the aid station, I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter and a small handful of potato chips. When I look up, Christina and Katie are gone.
Mile
14.2 1:31:50 (15:18 avg./mile) Indian
Rock House
The
trail is sharply downhill leaving Mushroom Rock. I pass several runners going down the hill to
the bridge across a creek. I continue to
run smoothly, only occasionally catching my toe on a rock. I have fallen once with no damage, catching
myself with my hands. I cross Suck Creek
and the road beside it. After crossing
the road, I catch up to Katie on the ensuing climb. I ask her about Christina, and she says that
she is a strong runner and always leaves her behind. I chat with Katie a little bit, and then pass
her near the top of the climb. The trail
on the ridge is mostly flat, but fairly technical. It is difficult to get into a rhythm, but in
attempt to try to stay in a rhythm, I am taking chances on the rocks and
roots. As was written in the opening,
around 12 miles, I take one chance too many.
The fall was probably the second worst fall I have taken while running
trail ultra-races. The only one that was
probably worse was my bloody chin and cracked fillings fall at Massanutten
Mountain Trail 100 miler in 2005 in Virginia.
It takes me a few minutes of walking before I feel like I can run
again. When I arrive at the aid station,
the workers are anxious to clean up my wounds, but none of the wounds are
dripping blood so I decline their offers.
Speaking of wounds, here they are:
right forearm is scraped the worst from elbow to wrist, left forearm is
lightly scraped, right cheek has a scrape that I don’t even feel and the scrape
continues across the front of my chin, a gash in between the index and middle
finger on my right hand, and the back of my left hip has a scrape and a bruise
that is not visible as my shorts cover it.
Amazingly, my legs, ankles, and feet feel okay, so I press on after
taking two PB&J sandwich quarters.
Approaching Indian Rock House aid station
Mile
16.7 35:35 (14:14 avg./mile) Snoopers
Rock
After
the sandwich quarters, I have a bit more energy and the pain in various places
is starting to numb out a bit. I gently
push the pace and am rewarded with a decent time getting to this aid
station. There were a couple of guys
that I chatted with during this section.
One is running his first 50k and didn’t hang with me for very long. The other one is running this race for his
third time and is trying to run nice and easy.
The past two times he has gone out too fast and blown up. I grab a pickle and a handful of potato chips
at the aid station.
Mile
19.4 57:07 (21:09 avg./mile) Haley Road
The
guy trying to run a conservative race stays with me for this whole
section. At
some point he remarks that
this is the farthest in a race he has gone without throwing up. I guess everyone has goals! I am in cruise mode and probably didn’t push
my pace enough on this section, but my plan is to push after Mullins Cove. As I am wondering when we will get to the aid
station, we come out onto a dirt road that I remembered takes us to the aid
station. We hike up the dirt road for a
few hundred yards and arrive at the aid station. I grab another PB&J sandwich quarter and
head out for the final section on this loop.
Mile
22.8 50:23 (14:49 avg./mile) Mullins
Cove Parking
My
goal on this section is to make it to the next aid station with something left
in the tank for the last push to the finish.
I run most of this section with a lady who hasn’t done this race
before. I follow her through the rock
garden that doesn’t seem as long as I remember.
I glide into the aid station and grab some potato chips and look to
drink some Coke. Unfortunately, this is
a cup-less race so there is no cup to pour some Coke in for me. So, I pour the Coke into my open mouth,
fountain style. I get two mouthfuls with
this approach.
Navigating the rock garden
Mile
29.3 1:55:38 (17:47 avg./mile) Mushroom
Rock #2
I
press my pace leaving Mullins Cove, running the half mile to the steps leading
down to the Indian Rock House. I cover
that half mile in six and a half minutes.
I am by myself at this point and feeling pretty good. Two miles later, I mark the spot where I took
my fall several hours earlier. It doesn’t
look that imposing if you navigate the trail carefully. I catch and pass two other runners, but then
I am passed by a runner as well. When I
think I am less than an hour from the finish, I take a caffeine pill to keep my
energy up. After this, I am still
feeling good, but various muscles in my legs start to talk to me. First it is my hamstrings that threaten to
cramp. Then as I near the downhill to
the road crossing, my calves start to complain.
Just then Christina catches up to me and remarks that this is the last
downhill. I want to take it easy, but
that isn’t going to help (much) my cramping legs. We make our way down and cross the creek as I
manage to keep Christina behind me. As
we are making the steep climb up to Mushroom Rock, my left calf seizes up. She asks if she can help at all, and I answer
in the negative. It takes me about 10
seconds to resume my trek up the hill, and I make it to the aid station. I grab a couple of potato chips as Christina
pushes on through the aid station ahead of me.
Mile
31.2 21:06 (11:06 avg./mile) FINISH
As
I watch Christina trot away from the aid station, I know I cannot run any uphill
sections. I would like to push this last
mile or two, but I have to be careful to not cause my leg muscles to completely
seize up. So, I hike the slightly uphill
sections, and try to run the flat and downhill sections. About halfway to the finish, my right calf
locks up. It takes me the better part of
a minute before I can do anything. After
that, I walk the majority of the section until I get to the final section of
road to the finish line. (Note, this
section is not 1.9 miles!) As I near the
finish, I show the battle damage on my arms.
At the Finish
 |
| Battle Damage |
Official
Finishing Time 7:52:20
71st out
of 220 starters (2nd of M50-59)
My time this
year ends up being 10 seconds faster than when I ran this in 2019. I pushed the pace and paid the price for
it. However, I am glad that I was able
to test myself to that limit. Falling as
I did was never in the plan. I am
surprised to see that I was 2nd male in the grand masters category.
My next event
is to pace James at the Pinhoti 100 miler on November 5th. After that I have the 20th running
of the Hellgate 100k in December. Despite
the fact that my races recently haven’t gone as I planned, I feel confident
right now for Hellgate. Until then…
Never stop
running,
Darin
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