Hellgate 100k 2023 - Sissy-gate Weather?

 December 9

Another year is coming to an end, and for at least one more time, I am competing in the Hellgate 100k on the second Saturday in December.  This is my 21st Hellgate.  My times have ranged from 15:53 in 2007 to 17:50 in 2003.  Last year I was able to finish under 17 hours and get an early qualifier in my pocket for the Western States 100 lottery.  Speaking of which, I had 32 tickets in the WS lottery last weekend and did not get drawn.

Ready for the Midnight Start

I flew my plane up from Huntsville, Alabama this morning to Orange, Virginia where my son, Nathan, picked me up.  He is crewing for me for the fourth time, but the first time since 2015.  At the pre-race briefing, Horton has me give a weather report.  I talk about how this is not going to be real Hellgate weather and might be the most sissy-gate weather Hellgate has ever had.  The low tonight is forecasted to be around 35 and the high tomorrow is supposed to exceed 60.  There is a minimal chance of fog.  What I failed to mention in my report was that there was only a slight chance of rain before the end of the race.  The rain is forecasted to develop after midnight on Sunday morning, which may be an issue for me flying back to Alabama, but will not affect the race.

A good weather forecaster seems to be wrong 50% of the time.  The temperature at the start is 30.  I am concerned that it may get colder, but the forecasts are still saying that the low is only going to be 35.  So, the forecast is wrong, but they are sticking to it!  Given all of my available information, I decide to stick with my clothing plan for the start—shorts, long & short sleeve shirts, thin hat, and thin gloves.  Surprisingly, I don’t feel too cold standing around at the start.  We sing the National Anthem, Horton says a prayer, and we are off for the 21st time!

Mile 3.5      46:44 (13:21 avg./mile) FSR 35

I run all of this first section with Jeff Garstecki.  He is one of us five that have finished all 20 Hellgate races.  His dad passed away on Tuesday, and he said it was looking doubtful that he would make it to the race.  However, due to scheduling conflicts that the cemetery, the burial had to be done Thursday.  We talk the whole section, mostly about the last few months with him being the primary caretaker for his dad in hospice care.   There was a fire around these first two sections, and Horton had great concern that the course would have to be changed for this year, but a week ago the forest service allowed the race to proceed on the original course.  Because of the fire, the fire break that the course follows for most of these first 3.5 miles has been regraded, and it is much smoother.  Jeff and I run comfortably, and I figure that we are making good time since the trail is so smooth.  When we get to the creek crossing around mile 3, I manage to rock hop across without getting my feet wet.  The water is still low and there is no ice on the rocks.  This is only the fourth time in 21 years that I haven’t gotten my feet wet.  I thought my time would be quicker, but this is the same time I have had the last couple of years.

Mile 7.5      55:12 (13:48 avg./mile) Petites Gap

I continue to run with Jeff as we start the climb to Petites.  We run the first half and then I take a walk break.  Jeff continues on, and I wish him well.  I see Lanier Greenhaw, who is also from Alabama, and we catch up a bit.  I power hike and shuffle into the aid station in great time.  Nathan is ready, but I only need some chocolate milk and half of a bagel.  The temperature is remaining in the 30s, and I am dressed perfectly.

Mile 13.1    1:39:41 (17:48 avg./mile) Camping Gap

I cross the parkway and begin the initial descent with half of a bagel in my hand.  The course is dry and the leaves are not too deep so I am able to run well.  My ankles seem to be stronger this year, and I don’t think I have twisted my ankle in the last couple of months.  Lanier passed me when I stopped to pee.  Then I returned the favor when he stopped just before we make the right turn off of the grassy, rocky road.  From here to the jeep road there are two stream crossings, which are usually challenging to navigate without getting my feet wet, but this isn’t the case this year.  There is no mud and little water.  At some point I do take my first fall of the race, but fortunately, I land in some soft leaves.  I make it safely the rest of the way to the jeep road that will take me 3 miles up to the next aid station.  There are several people in my vicinity as I start (mostly) power hiking up the road.  One of the runners is Jesse Meadows, who I had not met before today.  Other runners that I remember from this section are Dan Broom and Sheryl Wheeler.  I enjoy some conversation and before I know it we are passing through the gap and at the aid station.  I get some cheesy tots from Rosie, and they are awesome!  I scarf them down, and then grab a pancake as I leave the aid station.  My time on this section is a few minutes slower than my goal as I wanted this section time to be 1:35.

Mile 21.9    2:31:03 (17:10 avg./mile) Headforemost Mountain

I am munching on a pancake as I begin the grassy road section, which is part of the Promise Land 50k.  This section rolls up and down and goes on for a long time.  I am moving along with Lanier again when we see the moon rising off to our left.  The moon is only a thin crescent, but since it is just rising, it is a deep red.  It feels like I am making good time as I feel good.  I got a lot of good sleep this week, and I am not sleepy at all.  Most of the way through the grassy road section, we pass a lady that is running the race, but she is sitting on the side of the trail.  I think she is trying to take a catnap, but clearly she doesn’t have much experience doing this during a race as I have learned you need to get off the trail so each runner that comes along doesn’t ask you if you are okay.  When I passed her I was slightly distracted, stepped in a hole, and fall once more.  Fortunately, there is no harm done, and I am quickly back up and moving forward.  Around 1:31 into this section, I finally finish the grassy road section and begin the Apple Orchard section.  There are a couple of guys following me at this point.  I lead them up and over the Apple Orchard and then begin the technical downhill to Overstreet Falls.  I am moving very well, and I pass a few runners.  When I get to Overstreet Falls, I start the hike up to Headforemost, and Lanier catches up to me within a couple of minutes.  Dan is with me as well as I press the pace to the top.  I mark my time on this section at the location of the original aid station at the top as opposed to where it is now down the road less than a mile at Floyd’s Field.  I was really hoping to be under 2:30 for this section, but instead I have given up another few minutes to my goal pace.  Fortunately, I sketched out my goal pace at 16:34, so I have some wiggle room to still be able to finish before 17 hours.

Mile 27.6    1:38:19 (17:15 avg./mile) Jennings Creek

Breakfast at Jennings Creek

I run down the road to Floyd’s Field and the current aid station.  I don’t have my crew come to this aid station and instead have go straight to Jennings Creek after seeing me at Petites Gap.  This allows them to get several hours of sleep in before daybreak.  I also discovered that it helps me run faster down the hill to mile 27.5.  At this aid station, I grab half of a grilled cheese sandwich and grab a cup of water to wash it down.  The problem is that there is water and naked Tailwind.  The cup I grabbed was naked Tailwind which I realize quickly.  This is not good, but I think I have caught it quick enough.  I get a cup of water and throw out the rest of the cup of Tailwind.  (Tailwind, like all electrolyte drinks, contains magnesium, which I have found was never in Conquest.  Now I mix my own drink that my crew has for me, and I call it CR02.)  I cross the parkway again and begin the run downhill.  At first, I am running easily, but then I start to gather momentum.  When the course makes a left turn and begins the technical section, there is a lady behind me.  She follows my lead through the rocks, across a stream and up a short climb when we see the first hint of daylight.  At this point, we begin chatting as she follows me all the way through this section.  Her name is Sarah Wallace and while this is her first time at this race, she is a rather accomplished ultrarunner.  I learn that she has run Rim to River all three times.  This is the race that Nathan is going to run next year for his first attempt at a 100 miler.  I run smoothly and efficiently guiding us down to the aid station.  My time is decent on this section, but once again I have given time back to my goal pace.  I wanted to run this in 1:30 like I did last year, but alas it is not to be.  At the aid station, Nathan has a grilled egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich ready and warm for me.  I eat 80% of it and wash it down with plenty of CR02 and chocolate milk.  As I start to leave the aid station, I see Lanier stripping off his jacket, which reminds me that I should take something off since the temperature is forecasted to climb to 60 or more now that the sun is up.  I take off my hat and put on a buff, but decide to keep my gloves and long-sleeve shirt on for now.

Mile 34.5    1:52:06 (16:15 avg./mile) Little Cove Mountain

Hiking out of Jennings Creek, I join up with Don Knight, who along with 4-5 others (including Sarah) are from Pittsburgh.  I always enjoy meeting people from Pittsburgh as I went to college there at Carnegie Mellon.  He says Sarah is insane with all of the 100+ runs she has done.  We power hike together to the top and then I let Don lead going down the hill.  I catch back up to him on the way to the Little Cove Mountain aid station.  I feel slightly sleepy, but not bad.  The weather continues to be cool, probably in the 40s with clouds gently moving into the area.  At the aid station, I eat two PB&J sandwich quarters and grab a bag of Doritos to eat on the run.  I wash it down with a cup of sweet tea.  This is the first caffeine I have had during the race, and I figure I need to keep the sleepiness away and pick the pace up a little if I am going to finish within 17 hours.  On the other side of aid station, Rosie has some hot food, but I already ate so I pass on anything more.

Mile 42.5    2:21:38 (17:42 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap

The sweet tea takes effect, and I am running very well on the rolling grassy road section.  For the first 30 minutes or so, I see no one at all.  Then near the end of the grassy road section before it becomes single track again, I spy a runner ahead of me and two coming up behind me.  The two behind me are a surprise because I thought I was moving really well.  As the single track starts, the two behind me (I think they were Anne Pike and Sheryl Wheeler) get ahead of me, but then I stay with them for a while before I pass them back.  Around 10:00, rain begins to fall.  The forecast had rain developing after midnight, so this is only 14 hours early.  I left Little Cove Mountain at 9:23.  So that is when my caffeine intake began.  Now, an hour later, I decide to pop a caffeine pill as I want to maintain the pace I am on.  It is 10:27.  I leave the two ladies behind (for now) and press forward through the new section and towards the devil trail.  As I reach the devil trail, I catch Chad Cato.  He follows me through the terribly rocky section.  At times I can hear the other runners behind me, but I keep the pace as well as I can.  When I cross the creek at the end of the devil trail portion, there is no one close behind me.  I run most of the last mile from there into the aid station.  Nathan has a hot grilled cheese sandwich ready and waiting for me.  I sit down to eat it and drink a healthy amount of CR02.  Charlie Hesse comes over to chat, and we talk about the weather mostly.  He says it is supposed to stop at 1:00pm.  I hope this forecast is correct.  My goal pace was to get here before 11:30, so I am about 15 minutes behind schedule.  I am going to have to have a good last third to finish before 17 hours.  I keep the same shoes on since it is raining.  I haven’t gotten my feet wet during any stream crossings, but the rain has made them damp.  Before I leave the aid station, I see Lanier arrive.

Mile 49.5    1:56:09 (16:24 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap

There is a healthy climb leaving Bearwallow, and I conquer it well.  This is a great indication that my legs are strong and should be up for the challenge.  I encounter only a few runners on this section.  They include Chad and Dan Broom and a lady runner with a pacer.  Near the end of this section before dropping down to the road that leads into the aid station, I catch up with Kathleen Cusick.  She is struggling, but working hard.  Usually, Kathleen is far ahead of me.  I think this is the first time I have chatted with her during a race.  I stay with her into the aid station.  The rain does indeed stop at 1pm, and the sun even peeks through the clouds at times.  On the climb on the road into the aid station, there are several other runners in my vicinity, and I pop my second caffeine pill to keep the heart rate up.  At the aid station, Nathan has Ramen ready for me.  I sit down and eat the whole serving.  I leave the aid station, grabbing a donut hole from the table.  I am now 26 minutes behind my goal pace, and now have zero margin for getting under 17 hours.  It is going to be close, but only if I can run the next section faster than I have in years.

Mile 56.1    2:00:07 (19:02 avg./mile) Day Creek

With a full belly, I start the trotting down the hill on the dirt road.  I quickly catch and pass a few runners that snuck ahead of me while I was sitting in the aid station eating Ramen.  Then I really get the legs turning over as I try to catch back up to Chad.  It takes me most of this 2.5 mile section to catch up to Chad.  I cover this section in 27 minutes, which is as fast as I have ever run this portion.  After 50 miles, I can still run miles faster than 11 minutes when I have gravity helping me!  Chad follows me closely on the single track trail as we chat a little.  We pass Larry Huffman on the first climb and then roll through the in and outs, small stream crossings, and ups and downs.  We drop down into the little  evergreen portion which tells me we are really close to the end of this section, so I pop one more caffeine pill hoping to fend off any slowdowns.  We meet someone walking out from the aid station, and she tells us we are 0.2 miles away.  Heck, I can see the aid station at this point.  I finish this section faster than I have since 2008.  I strip off my two shirts and put on a short-sleeve thin gray shirt.  I pushed hard on the last section, and I will have to push really hard on this last section.  I leave the aid station at 3:41pm.  I have 78 minutes for the last 6.3 miles.  Last year I covered this section in 83 minutes.  But, my best time on this last section came in 2010 as I was paced by my daughter, Amy, in 64 minutes.

Mile 62.4    1:37:51 (15:32 avg./mile) FINISH

I drink several ounces of Coke and eat a handful of potato chips at the aid station.  I start the last climb power hiking, catching and passing four other runners on my way to the top at the parkway.  I hit the gate in 15 minutes flat.  This is about a third of the way to the top so I know I am moving well.  I continue moving well, but feel a slight fade as I approach the top.  I cross the parkway in 43 minutes, which is 3 minutes faster than last year, and now just have to run downhill at 10 minutes per mile.  Somehow I was able to do that last year.  I try to start running, but all I can manage is a slow shuffle.  Darn it!  There is no response from my body.  I shuffle the two miles to the gate in 32 minutes and know that under 17 hours isn’t going to happen this year.  At the gate with 1.5 miles to go, I am but a couple of minutes before 17 hours.  The four runners I passed on the climb pass me back on the descent.  However, I manage to keep running slowly all the way to Camp Bethel.  Even though I won’t have a qualifier for WS, I am easily under the cut-off for finishing this race in under 18 hours.  Horton does his usual announcements about 21 times starting, and 21 times finishing.  All 5 of the Fearsome Five have finished for at least one more year.

Official Finishing Time          17:18:50

106^th out of 140 starters (118 finishers under 18 hours)

21st Hellgate Finish

Before my ACL injury in 2012, I rarely took any caffeine at this race before Day Creek.  Since then I have found that caffeine does very well at keeping my energy up.  Unfortunately, there is a limit to how many times I can go to the “well.”  In hindsight, I went to the well too early and too often.  My legs stayed strong throughout, but I lost my edge at the end.  My training and racing were good this year, but I think I need to be more disciplined with the caffeine during races.

Despite not hitting my top goal, I am still very satisfied to finish this race once again.  I now turn my focus to getting my WS qualifier for 2024 at another race.  My targets are Kettle Moraine in June and Twisted Branch in August.  Before then I plan to run the Red Eye on January 1, Mountain Mist near the end of January, Mount Cheaha in February, and Bull Run Run with Nathan in April.  Here’s hoping my soon to be 55 year old body holds up!  Until next time…

Never stop running,

Darin

Stump Jump 50k - Smooth and Relaxed

 October 7

This is my fourth time running this race.  Last year in warm weather, I pushed really hard, cramped severely in the last few miles, and finished in a respectable 7:52:20, which was 10 seconds faster than my previous best time at this race.  This year, my plan is to go out easy and try to finish strongly.  I am solo this year with no friends or relatives running with me.  The weather is supposed to be absolutely perfect.  There was some light rain yesterday, but that has cleared out of the area.  The temperature at the start is a cool 47 degrees.

Mile 4.9      1:00:16 (12:18 avg./mile) Edwards Point

I get out of the starting line very well as there weren’t many people crowding to be in the front.  I settle in and allow many runners to pass me in the first couple of miles.  This first section is relatively flat with only gentle rolling hills.  I am taking it easy, but am still surprised that I wasn’t a minute or two faster in the cool weather.  I pass right through the aid station.

Mile 8.2      50:16 (15:14 avg./mile) Mushroom Rock #1

After Edward’s Point, I find myself leading a couple of other runners, who seem content to pace off of me.  They are chatty, and I enjoy their conversation for this section.  Their names are Madison and Nathan.  They talk about the 15 chickens that Madison owns and the layoffs at each of their companies.  While I was enjoying the conversation, we made okay, but not quick, time on this section.  I stop briefly at the aid station and grab a handful of potato chips.  When I begin to leave the aid station, Nathan and Madison are nowhere to be seen.  I guess they didn’t stop.

Mile 14.2    1:39:59 (16:40 avg./mile) Indian Rock House

I run down the trail, across the bridge and begin the climb up the other side.  After the initial climb, another runner, Drew, starts up a conversation.  This is his first ultramarathon, and he is trying to find someone to pace off.  I am perfectly happy to have another runner along.  I learn that he has a couple of middle school sons, but they aren’t into running.  This section has plenty of sneaky tough footing.  Last year, I took a serious fall and went quite a ways down the hillside, scraping up my arms and cheek.  This year, I make it through this section comfortably and without a fall.  About a mile before the aid station, another runner joins us.  His name is Steve, and he is another inexperienced ultra-runner.  He says this is his fourth ultra.  At the aid station, I grab two PB&J uncrustables and head down the trail.

Mile 16.7    41:02 (16:25 avg./mile) Snoopers Rock

It takes Drew a couple of minutes to catch me after coming out of the aid station as he took a little more time to eat.  Drew and I are making good time (I think) and get to this aid station in good shape.  Drew has never run this far in before in a race, so I am waiting for him to begin to fade at some point.  At this aid station, I grab some more potato chips and push on through, while Drew takes a minute longer to eat more.

Mile 19.4    59:15 (21:57 avg./mile) Haley Road

Drew and I press forward after the Snoopers Rock aid station, but we are soon joined by Darci.  Darci has run several ultra-races and is going to run the Tunnel 100 miler next month.  Drew terms us the triple Ds when Steve catches back up to us.  He stopped at the Indian Rock House aid station to attend to his scraped up hand, which is why he hasn’t been up with us.  All three of the runners behind me seem perfectly happy to let me set the pace.  We exit the single track trail onto a dirt road that takes us up to the aid station.  While I am topping off my Camelbak, Darci and Drew head out of the aid station.

Mile 22.8    51:36 (15:11 avg./mile) Mullins Cove Parking

Steve and I leave the Haley Road aid station together with Darci and Drew in view, but well ahead of us.  I figure we will catch them soon enough, but I am wrong.  Steve and I will not see either of them until the finish line.  Meanwhile, Steve continues to yammer away while I set a smooth and steady pace.  We manage to navigate the rock garden section successfully and then it is not too far to the aid station.  Steve’s wife is there, and I grab two cups of Coke and another uncrustable as I press on down the trail.

Mile 29.3    2:01:30 (18:42 avg./mile) Mushroom Rock #2

Feeling good with a little Coke in my system, I think I have left Steve behind for now.  It won’t surprise me if I don’t see him again.  Within a mile, I catch up to a lady who initially I think is Darci, but then realize it is a different woman.  This is Rebecca, and she lets me go by.  Then here comes Steve past Rebecca and stays behind me for only a minute before pressing on ahead.  He says something about getting in under 8 hours, which I realized at the last aid station was not very likely.  Then Rebecca passes me back looking very smooth and determined.  I am running decent, but obviously not as fast as Steve or Rebecca.  I want to press the pace, but I am careful to watch my footing on this tricky section of trail.  I make my way across the paved road and then across the two bridges before the climb up to the aid station.  At the aid station, I grab another cup of Coke leaving a few guys behind that I hadn’t seen all day.

Mile 31.2    19:41 (10:22 avg./mile) FINISH

I leave the aid station thinking that I can run most of the way to the finish.  However, within a half mile, I catch a toe on a root and hit the dirt.  No harm done, but I guess I will make sure it doesn’t happen again today.  As I am power hiking on an uphill section, a guy with a friendly dog off-leash, comes my way.  As I said the dog was friendly, but this slowed me down for a minute.  Then I am crossing the last boardwalk, making the right turn out of the woods, and running to the finish.

Official Finishing Time          8:23:35

70^th out of 130 starters (4^th out of M50-59)

This time is slower than all but one of my previous times at this race.  While I am disappointed in the time, I executed my game plan almost exactly as I had intended.  I wanted to stay conservative, run a clean race, and finish with legs left for my hockey game tomorrow night.  There are a few things I would have done differently, and I will tweak some of them moving forward.  One is that I don’t think I drank enough water as I only had to stop to pee once during the race.  The other thing is that I am going to try to up the salt tablets more than I have in recent years.  I am also going to switch back to S-Caps as I have been using just buffered salt tablets.  The S-Caps are more durable in my pack during a race, and they contain some potassium in addition to the sodium.  I believe that it is the magnesium that gives my stomach problems, and the S-Caps don’t have any of that.

My next event is now is Hellgate in December.  I was planning on pacing a friend at the Pinhoti 100 miler in November, but they didn’t get in and now have a conflict.  So, instead I will head to Virginia in early November to train on Priest and Three Ridges.  This will be year 21 at Hellgate, and we are due for a cold year.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Twisted Branch 100k 2023 - Near Perfect Weather

August 19

Last year I attempted this race for the first time.  The weather was warm, and I wasn’t prepared, mentally or physically, for the steep climbs and descents.  My buddy, James, ran the race as well and finished in 13 hours and change.  Unfortunately, I dropped

Ready to go

out at 50 miles.  My stomach had gone south after mile 29, and I was truly struggling on the climbs.

This year, I am considerably more prepared.  Peter is back with me to crew again, and I have done extensive climbing in the heat to prepare for this event.  Three weeks ago, I ran the Priest and Three Ridges in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with the temperature topping out at 95 degrees.  The other change for this race is that I am trying out a new electrolyte drink.  After trying most of the products on the market since I ran out of my supply of Conquest, I am now mixing my own.  This will be the first race I am trying this, but I have been using it for the past couple of months.

Today’s weather starts with temperatures in the mid-50s with strong winds.  It is rather chilly with the wind-chill probably in the 40s.  I bear the coolness, starting the race with just a short-sleeve shirt, shorts, and a buff on my head.  After a scare with my headlamp not turning on, I roll the batteries and get the thing to turn on.  It is just after 4am when the race director gives the start command, and 191 of us are off and running!

Mile 6.2      1:29:26 (14:25 avg./mile) Cutler, 141^st place

I run this first section in the dark following along with many other runners, who are just settling in for this long day.  The cut-off is 20 hours so we have to finish before midnight.  About four miles into the race, I stop to take a leak.  When I resume running, I am by myself, and it is very dark without any other runners and their lights.  I quickly catch back up to the tail of a line of runners and then we are to this first aid station.  There is only water and drinks so I pass right through after ensuring my number is recorded.

Sunrise!

Mile 12.6    1:27:51 (13:44 avg./mile) Naples Creek, 139^th place

Coming into Naples Creek

After the aid station, the course follows a road for a mile or two.  As I am running down the road, I hear another runner in the morning twilight talking about finishing last year in 19 hours and change with his daughter pacing him the last 20+ miles.  At this point, this sounds a lot like the guy I ran with quite a bit.  Sure enough it is John Rynders, a guy that I ran with most of the race last year.  He says his daughter will not be out to pace him this year, but he is aiming to finish about an hour faster this year.  We make our way back onto the single track, up and down a few small hills, and then begin the drop into Naples.  So far, so good, and I am within three minutes of my time from last year.  I find Peter waiting and ready for me, drink some chocolate milk, trade out my Camelbak for a full one, and take a croissant to eat on the trail.

Mile 16.7    1:19:49 (19:28 avg./mile) The Sneaker, 149^h place

Leaving Naples Creek begins the steepest, toughest, and longest climb of the course.  It starts with some reasonable switchbacks before the switchbacks end and the trail proceeds straight up the mountain beside a gulch.  It seems like the makers of this trail don’t really believe in switchbacks.  A climb will start with a few, but then toss the idea of switchbacks to the side like an old t-shirt.  On this section, I meet a lady running her first ultra.  Her name is Jackie, and she is from Pittsburgh, but now lives in Colorado Springs.  She is a good climber, but I usually get ahead of her on the descents, but we stick together for most of this section.  Meanwhile, John leaves us behind on the climb to the no-crew aid station.  My time was slow on this section, and I lost some places, but I am satisfied with how I feel so far.

Mile 21.1    1:00:20 (13:43 avg./mile) Italy Valley, 150^th place

Jackie and I make our way along the trail, and she learns about my ultra-history.  I introduce her to each runner we encounter along the way making sure that I mention that she decided to pick a nice, smooth, easy race for her first ultra (not!).  There is a fair bit of road on this section, and I am able to make very good time.  I lose Jackie on the last descent to the aid station.  I grab some potato chips at the aid station as they don’t have any PB&J sandwich quarters.

Mile 27.8    1:46:29 (15:54 avg./mile) The Lab, 147^th place

This section starts with a long climb, but fortunately it isn’t too steep.  Jackie catches back up to me before the climb ends, and we stick together for the rest of the section.  At some point on a road portion, there is a person in a blow-up dinosaur suit.  They were here last year, and I guess a little humor doesn’t hurt even though I am not sure why they come out in that outfit to cheer us on.  The weather is just perfect.  There isn’t a cloud in the sky and the breeze is steady and cool.  It feels like I am missing a college football game somewhere.  I get into the aid station, and Peter is waiting for me with a grilled egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich.  I eat about 80% of it and wash it down with my new drink that I am calling CR02.  I am slightly ahead of last year’s pace to this aid station, but the course is apparently a little shorter to this point.  The course changes slightly each year based on the availability of the private lands that some of the course uses.  Last year at this point, it was getting quite warm, and I took off my shirt at this aid station.  This year, I think it is still in the 60s so the shirt stays on for now.

Coming into The Lab

Mile 34.2    1:47:30 (16:48 avg./mile) Patch, 143^rd place

I find myself alone for the start of this section.  I am not sure if Jackie is ahead or behind me.  I am still running conservatively as I know there are plenty of tough climbs and sections come.  Also, I am not quite yet to halfway, although I am approaching it quickly.  About halfway through this section, I catch up to Jackie.  She stays with me for a little bit, but then I gap her on a downhill.  This is the last time I will see her in this race.  I am still feeling good as I get into this no-crew aid station.  I am looking for something to eat and grab some more potato chips.  They had some candy and such, but nothing more than that.  I have picked up a few places, and I am now nine minutes ahead of my pace from last year.  At this point last year, my stomach was heading south quickly at this point.

Mile 38.8    1:17:12 (16:47 avg./mile) Bud Valley, 136^th place

I leave the Patch feeling good even if I am a little hungry.  My pace is remaining smooth and steady while I start to catch and pass other runners.  There is another paved road section that is gently downhill for the better part of a mile.  I catch up to a couple that lives in New York City, but are originally from Poland.  Their names are Marcin and Joanna.  I talk with them a little bit as we are working hard up another steep climb.  After besting that climb, we descend quite a bit to the aid station.  Last year, I walked down the hill, but this year I am rolling along nicely.  Peter is again ready for me, this time with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.  Well, actually it is more toasted as he made the sandwich three hours ago in the house we are renting for the weekend.  In order to keep it from getting soggy, he didn’t grill it with butter and didn’t wrap it.  It is still edible, and I eat about three-quarters of it while washing it down with chocolate milk.  I trade out my Camelbak, change my shoes and socks, and forget to drink some CR02.

Mile 45.9    1:58:59 (16:45 avg./mile) Glenbrook, ? place

This section is the first place that runners can pick up a pacer.  So, many runners with their fresh pacer pass me initially.  After a couple of miles, I pass all of them back as their excitement of running with their pacer fades.  This section starts with a stupid climb up a dried up creek bed.  There is a jeep trail offset from the trail by about 20-30 yards, but I guess we need to struggle with the rocks and uneven footing in the creek bed.  When Peter gave me my fresh Camelbak, he comments that it is damp, but he thinks it is just from condensation as he says he checked to ensure the lid on the bladder isn’t leaking.  Unfortunately, I think there is a slow leak as it is dripping continually down onto my shorts, which are now drenched.  This section would be quicker, but there is a long portion in a low area that makes its way across several creek crossings with uneven footing.  About a mile and a half from the aid station I catch up to John for the first time in hours.  He has a pacer with them, and they are making good time power hiking.  But, I am making better time as I am running the flats and downhills.  There will be plenty of time to run hard later I am sure.  I have been taking a salt tablet every four hours as the weather is relatively cool.  Thus, I am just taking my third salt tablet about 30 minutes before I get to this aid station.  I also drain my Camelbak just before I get to the aid station, confirming that it was leaking.  Peter is ready for me with a full, dry Camelbak, and I take a croissant washing it down with several ounces of CR02.  As I am leaving Peter asks me twice if I want my headlamp, but I am confident I will see him again before darkness.

Mile 50.7    1:42:16 (21:18 avg./mile) Lake David, 120^th place

My thinking on not taking the headlamp was that it was only 10 miles to when I will see Peter again.  However, upon further review, it is actually 12.5 miles.  I still feel reasonably sure that I will make it to Urbana before darkness sets in as it is 4:07pm.  That gives me over four hours to traverse the distance.  Soon after departing Glenbrook, I catch up to Dave Sayers.  He is having a rough time, and I slow down to chat with him a bit.  He said he started out running with one of the top three women for the first 19 miles.  Then he slowed down and began throwing up, which he says has continued until now.  Dave is trying to qualify for the Western State 100 lottery, but he doesn’t know much about the lottery, so I fill him in on the details.  I still run the downhills, but keep a steady pace and walk the flats (and uphill sections, of course).  Dave and I stay together most of this section until the course makes the final downhill portion before a stupid steep uphill trek that figuratively killed me last year.  I gap Dave on the downhill, leaving him with a few other runners that had caught up to the back of our train.  When I get the road crossing, there are two runners coming back towards me on the road as they missed picking up the trail on the other side of the road.  I power into the stupid steep climb, topping it in about 10 minutes.  Then it is a nice loop around the lake to the aid station.  I eat a dried out cheese quesadilla at this no-crew aid station and top off my Camelbak.

Mile 55.9    1:51:03 (21:21 avg./mile) Mitchellsville, 124^th place

Leaving the aid station, there are a handful of runners in my vicinity.  Before too long, Dave catches back up to me.  I wasn’t expecting any more tough climbs until the last section, but there are two more stupid steep climbs on this section.  Neither is very long, but these things are getting rather old.  Dave is ahead of me when we begin a stupid steep descent leading to the aid station.  About two-thirds the way down the hill, there is a runner walking down backwards using a stick as a hiking pole.  Three or four of the runners in front of me, including Dave, stop to ask the guy if he needs help.  I pass right on by as I hear him say his IT band has flared up.  There isn’t anything we can do for him, and he is less than a quarter of a mile from the aid station.  I get into this no-crew aid station and sit down.  I decide to start with a cup of Coke and a couple of small potatoes.  I eat the first one, but then one of the aid station workers offers me a chocolate chip muffin.  I toss the second potato, gobble down the muffin, and then rise from the chair to go finish this race.

Mile 58.4    0:51:00 (20:24 avg./mile) Urbana, 125^th place

Sitting for a few minutes gives me a slight chill, but the chill fades quickly as I start moving.  The sun is setting and I have to make these next 2.5 miles quickly before darkness descends completely.  This section is mostly downhill on mostly smooth trail, although there are some roots on the trail, and most of the way there is a deep canyon to the left.  One good trip on a root could send a runner careening in the wrong direction!  After exiting from the trees, the course traverses a vineyard and then enters the town of Urbana.  It is mostly dark as I make my way into town, but I find Peter waiting on me at the aid station.  It is 8:30pm, and it is pretty dark.  I guess New York is nearer the east side of the Eastern Time zone than the west.  I drink plenty of CR02 and eat another croissant, while I get a full Camelbak and get my headlamp rigged up.

The last mountain to climb in the background

Mile 64.0    2:16:33 (24:23 avg./mile) FINISH

Beginning the climb, I catch up with Kim who is from Wisconsin.  She has her whole family out here crewing for her—husband, son, and daughter.  We had seen each other at various times today, but had never had a chance to talk.  As she is comfortable following my lead in the dark, we stay together for the majority of the climb.  When we get on top and begin a series of PUDs (Pointless Ups and Downs), Marcin and Joanna catch up to us.  They are content to stay behind us for a while, but then ask to pass.  When they pass, Kim decides to tag along with them, and I am left to stumble through the darkness by myself.  I don’t mind being by myself in the dark, but I do consider taking a caffeine pill that would give me more pep to probably keep up with the three in front of me.  However, I decide not to as my stomach isn’t feeling great, and I don’t see much purpose.  I am going to finish under 19 hours, and it doesn’t really matter to me if it is 10 minutes quicker.  Finally, I reach a dirt road that goes downhill that I think is going to lead me to the finish, but after less than a mile the course turns back onto a single-track trail.  And, this section is the most technical part of the race.  It is rocky and muddy, and there are more than one mostly dry creek beds that have to be traversed.  All of this time, we can see the finish area down below us!  Finally, I get to the last couple of switchbacks that then lead to the road crossing.  On the other side of the road is the finish after we run a wide loop through a grass field.

131^st out of 191 starters (158 finishers under 20 hours)

In case anyone reading this is wondering, this race is hard.  With near perfect weather this year, it was still a hard race that wore me out with the plethora of stupid steep climbs.  I was well prepared for the race this year after dropping out at mile 50 last year, but there were still some surprise stupid steep climbs that I wasn’t expecting.  I am nicely satisfied with my time.  Finishing this race in under 20 hours is a Western States qualifier.  I already had a qualifier from Hellgate last year, but I still feel good about finishing this one with over an hour to spare.  My next race is The Stump Jump 50k in Chattanooga on October 7.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Catoctin 50k Trail Run - Plenty of Heat and Humidity

 July 8, 2023

Our existence in this world is dynamic; it is ever changing; it is never static.  I am not the same person I was yesterday, and I am definitely not the same person I was 10 years ago.  Stop and think for a minute what you are doing today that you did 10 years ago.  Ten years ago was the last time I ran this race.  It was before I moved to Alabama.  It was before my son, Nathan, had left for college.  My daughter, Amy, was about to start her senior year of high school, and she was crewing for me for the first time solo.  Now, both of my kids have a kid or kids of their own—my kids’ kids are growing quickly, but fortunately still very young—two years old or less.

In the past 10 years, I have run scores of ultra-races—even a few with Amy or Nathan.  This year I am coming back to run this race because the timing is right, and I need it as training for my next race in six weeks—the Twisted Branch 100km in upstate New York.  I am hoping the climbs, descents, and heat will prepare me well.

My friend James decided to join me, and we are both optimistic about today.  10 years ago, I finished this race in 7:33, but it was moderate weather.  Today it is going to be hot!  Not the hottest it has been at this race, but still hot enough to test one’s heat training.  The forecast calls for a high temperature in the lower 90s, but at the start it is rather cool at about 70 degrees or so.  I meet several old friends including Rande and Kari Brown, along with Quatro Hubbard, and Alan and Pam Gowen.  One last piece of information from 10 years ago and then I will stop reminiscing.  Eddie C. was running this race, and we shared the trail for a good chunk of time that day.  Unfortunately, Ed passed away a few years ago from cancer—I miss Ed at these races in Maryland and Virginia—as I am sure many others do as well.

At the pre-race briefing, I see Kevin Bligan, who is going to work the aid station at High Knob.  I ask him if I can give him a bottle of drink stuff to have for me.  I go get my bottle of CR-2 (my own concoction from scratch) and hand it to him.  He looks at it and asks if it is water.  Nope, it isn’t water; it is just some maltodextrin and electrolytes with no magnesium.

Elevation Profile

Mile 7.0      1:43:17 (14:45 avg./mile) Delauter Road

Sometime in the last few years, the race director, Kevin Sayers, decided that this race would be better run in reverse.  So, the race now starts at the Manor parking area where the turnaround used to be.  Because of this this first section includes quite a bit of climbing.  I decide I am going to start off conservatively and see if I can run hard the second half.  Despite the fact that Kevin emphasizes that there is a sharp left turn less than 200 yards onto the trail, there are still many runners who miss this turn.  James started out well ahead of me, but here he is passing me around halfway through this section.  He says he only ran an extra half mile or so, but there were others that ran more bonus miles than that.  So, for the next several miles, the faster runners are coming back by me.  By the time I reach this first aid station, I have worked up a very good sweat (drenched actually), but I am feeling good as it isn’t too hot yet.  I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter and press on through the aid station.  This section is now at least half a mile longer than it was last time I ran this race.

Mile 10.0    45:44 (15:15 avg./mile) Hamburg Road

On this section, I am running with several other runners from the Hagerstown area—they are part of HURT (Hagerstown Ultra Running Team).  One of them is a formerly active duty Marine like me.  I stay with these guys for a mile or so and then let most of them slip away.  It is still early in the race, and I need to conserve myself for later.  I was hoping to run this section faster than this, but the clock doesn’t lie.  I eat two little cups of Fritos, and I refill my Camelbak.

Mile 17.0    1:45:45 (15:06 avg./mile) High Knob – TURNAROUND

Since I ran this race last, this section has been extended by a mile or so.  Also, more of this section is uphill than down, and it is quite a bit of work on these climbs.  The lead runners are now coming back towards me, and I lose count after 50 or so.  Rande Brown is in 13^th place and looking great.  James is around 20^th and looking okay.  When I meet him, he tells me it is less than two miles from here to the turnaround.  I was thinking (hoping) that it was closer to one mile as it is already 1:15 since I left the last aid station.  Unfortunately, James was really close, and it was about two miles.  I arrive at the aid station at High Knob, and Kevin Bligan is here, and he has my bottle of CR-2.  I chug the majority of the bottle—probably 10-12 ounces to put this mixture to the test in this warm, humid weather.  Kevin mentions something about it not being too hot yet, and I have to agree with him at this point.  However, the morning clouds are gone, and it looks like things will really start heating up.  It is 4 hours and 14 minutes since I started, and I am 21 minutes ahead of the cut-off—no problem.

Mile 24.0    1:59:51 (17:07 avg./mile) Hamburg Road

I cruise this section taking my time and only running the downhill sections.  I figure it is more downhill than up, so I should be able to cover this section at least as fast as I did going out.  As can be seen by my time, this is not the case.  I didn’t think I was going that slowly, but I was being conscious to keep my pace slow enough to manage the heat.  Apparently, the heat is starting to take its toll on me and my pace in this race.  I get to the aid station, refill my Camelbak again, and eat another PB&J sandwich quarter.  I took a salt tablet three hours into the race, and I took another one at the five-hour mark.  I am now only six minutes ahead the cut-offs.

Mile 27.0    57:00 (19:00 avg./mile) Delauter Road

With my cut-off margin down to nil, I really focus on making efficient progress.  I figure the cut-off for the last aid station will be 7:15, which will give me two hours to finish the last seven miles.  However, the cut-off is actually 7:10, but the aid station worker says I am fine since I made it into the aid station before the cut-off.  I leave with 2 hours and 3 minutes to finish.  I have to refill my Camelbak and take a rock out of my shoe.  The latter exercise was fraught with cramping legs.  I had aid station workers encouraging me to take some pickle juice, but I pass as my stomach is in a good place right now.

Mile 34.0    2:00:59 (17:17 avg./mile) Manor Parking Area – FINISH

Soon after leaving the aid station, Ade comes up behind me.  I had seen her at the turnaround where I was several minutes ahead of her, but now she is right with me.  I paced Ade at the Pinhoti 100 mile race in November of 2017.  We had only seen each other in passing since then, so we spend a couple of miles catching up.  At first it seemed like she was running a nice easy pace, but after a couple of miles, I let her go as I feel like I am pushing too much and getting warm.  Then a little bit later, Kari Brown catches up to me.  I heard a rumor that she had dropped at the turnaround, but alas she did not.  She said that she threw up and had diarrhea at the turnaround, but then she felt better and here she is.  So, she left the turnaround 20 minutes after me and has now caught up.  She asks me if we are going to make it, and I say I think we will.  She leaves me behind rather quickly just before we cross a dirt road that I know is two and a half miles from the finish.  I have 40 minutes to run 2.5 miles that is mostly all downhill.  At the road, I catch up to another runner, and I offer him encouragement.  At first he looks resigned to not making the finishing cut-off, but after I explain that we have until 9:15, he perks up and follows me for the next mile before he also leaves me behind—so much for encouraging another runner!  I begin to wonder whether I will finish or not given these other runners who are running away from me.  I press the downhills, but walk with purpose anything that doesn’t look like it is going downhill.  I cross a paved drive and know that I am very close, but I only have eight minutes left.  I cross the creek by wading through—not rock hopping to keep my feet dry like I did at the start.  Then it is one more short, steep uphill before the final drop to the finish line.  The clock reads…

Official Finishing Time          9:12:36

96^th out of 98 finishers (150 starters)

I have made it for my seventh finish at this race.  I never dreamed it was going to take me this long!  However, the course is a couple of miles longer than the last time I ran it 10 years ago, and I am 10 years older.  It was also quite warm today with the temperature topping out around 92 degrees.  I find a bench to sit on in the pavilion and some nice aid station workers bring me cups of water.  The first and second cups of water taste really good, so I have a couple of more cups.  But, then I don’t feel so well.  So, I sit there and try to relax and let the water be absorbed into my system.  Unfortunately, before that can happen, my body decides to expel the water in several heaves.  Now, people are worried about me, and it is mentioned that I might want to go to an emergency room to get an IV.  No, I now feel much better, and I have James here to drive me back to our hotel for the night.  I take a cup of Coke with me for the ride and only sip it very slowly.

This was much better of a training event for Twisted Branch than I had envisioned.  I got plenty of climbing in, and the heat and humidity were high and thick.  I now have six weeks to recover and prepare for Twisted Branch which is a 100k in upstate New York.  I dropped out of that race a year ago at mile 50, so I am looking to redeem myself.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Mohican Trail 100 Mile 2023 - Hot Weather

 June 3

I have four finishes at this race, but I have not been back here since 2009.  The course change after 2009 combined with the fact that this is not the best directed race discouraged me from coming back.  However, last year the race was moved up two weeks so I was intrigued to come back and give it another try.  The course is now four loops with the first two loops approximately 27 miles and the last two loops being about 23 miles.  My initial plan was to run this race unsupported.  However, last weekend, my mom said she wanted to drive up and crew for me.  Then on Friday, my brother said he would come up and help crew for the majority of Saturday.

The major factor this year will be the weather.  The forecast for the past week has predicted high temperatures on Saturday between 85-90 degrees.  Since my supply of Conquest ran out, I haven’t tolerated the heat as well as I used to.  My stomach usually goes south sometime after 50 miles.  That being said, I have given up sports drinks, and I have a careful plan to take in the right amount of salt supplementation.

My plan hit its first obstacle when I had to travel to Colorado Springs for a meeting on Thursday.  This meant that I had to take the 5:30pm flight back to Huntsville from Denver on Thursday evening.  When I got to the airport, I learned that my flight was delayed by two hours which meant that I wouldn’t be getting back to Huntsville until after 11pm.  Fortunately, my flight wasn’t delayed any further arriving at 11:15pm.  I was home and in bed a few minutes past midnight.  I slept until 5:30am and then got up to mow the grass and pack.  I had to pack for a full week as I will be going to Virginia after my weekend in Ohio.  I finally got packed, loaded the plane, and got airborne by 11:30am.  My mom, Brian, and I all arrived at the Mohican State Park Lodge by 4:20pm.  We checked in, went over to Loudonville to pick up my race packet, bought a few groceries, and returned to the lodge for dinner.  While we turned off the lights around 8pm, I didn’t fall asleep until after 9pm as the three of us settled in and got all of our devices silenced.

I got up at 3am—less than six hours of sleep for the second night in a row.  I ate my granola and drove to the start at 4am.  I relaxed at the start for about 20 minutes until I stretched and peed before the race started at 5.  The race director in his final comments said more than once that the weather was going to be perfect.  If hot and dry is someone’s definition of perfect for a 100 miler, then I guess it will be perfect.

Mile 5.9*    56:24 (9:34 avg./mile) Gorge Overlook

I start the race following a legend—Connie Garner.  She has won this race eight times and was recognized by the race director before the start.  She seems focused and not very chatty.  Furthermore, I don’t think she is trying to win today.  Rather I think she is focused on trying to finish her 10^th Mohican.  She is moving slowly, so when I get a chance I pass her and won’t see her again during this race.  I have a headlamp on for this first section, but within 30 minutes the morning twilight begins to take over the darkness.  On the first real climb of the race I start up a conversation with Ryan Floyd.  He is from Gahanna and when I mention that I grew up in Pataskala and graduated from Watkins, he asks me what year—1987.  He then asks if I know Randy Foor.  Heck yes I know Randy.  He was a year ahead of me and thus classmates with my brother.  I played football with him, and we went to the same church.  I then mention that I was good friends with one of Randy’s cousins—Dale.  To which he replies, oh Dale lives on my street—no way!  When we get to this first aid station, my tandem crew is nowhere to be found.  Now granted I was at least 15 minutes faster than I expected.  However, I don’t need anything except I was planning on handing off my headlamp.  As I am walking out of the aid station, they drive up so I hand my headlamp to Brian through the car window and press on.  *I will learn later that this first section of trail wasn’t marked correctly so it is over a mile shorter than it is supposed to be.

Mile 10.2    59:49 (13:55 avg./mile) Fire Tower

I stick with Ryan and a couple of his friends for a couple of miles, but then I get ahead of them a bit.  It is still nice and cool, and I am feeling great.  I am still running conservatively, but the pace is effortless so far.  The climbs are manageable and the downhills just flow for me.  The fire tower aid station isn’t actually at the fire tower for this version of the course.  Rather it is about a quarter of a mile away from the fire tower.  Crews have a choice to either park at the fire tower and walk to the aid station, or there is a mountain bike trail parking lot about a half mile after the aid station that the 100 miler runners pass through on the first two laps.  Brian and my mom have elected to meet me there.  Thus, I roll through this aid station without even stopping.

Mile 16.6    1:33:03 (14:32 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

A half mile after the fire tower aid station, I see my crew.  They are waiting and ready for me this time.  I drink some chocolate milk and take half of a bagel to eat on the run.  With the cool weather, I still have plenty of water left in my Camelbak.  This section is the longest of the sections in the race, and it is longer on the first lap then it will be on the subsequent laps.  We have the privilege of going down Big Lyons Falls canyon and then climbing up Little Lyons Falls canyon.  This climb is the signature climb for the race.  It is hand-over-hand climbing with tree roots for hand and foot holds for the last bit.  After that excitement, it is a short run across the ridge and down to the Pleasant Hill Dam where there is not an aid station, but crews are allowed to meet their runners.  So, Brian and my mom are again waiting and ready for me.  I trade out my Camelbak for a full one, drink some more chocolate milk, and place my Subway order for the next time I see them back at the start/finish aid station at Mohican Adventures.

Mile 22.2    1:25:53 (15:20 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge

I leave the covered bridge and start a tough climb out of the river valley.  It is no longer cool, but is not yet hot—at least initially.  Before this section ends, I feel true heat.  I am making steady progress, and I feel good so far.  I am willing to accept the fact that I need to slow down as the temperature rises.  This race has multiple distances in addition to the 100-miler.  There is a 50-mile race and a marathon.  The 50-mile runners are mixed in with us as they started only an hour after the 100-milers.  The one plus is that each race has a different bib color so it is easy to quickly tell which race a runner is in.  As I approach the aid station, I am being followed by a few runners from Middleton, Ohio.  Mostly, I am entertained by their conversation.  At the aid station, I grab a cup of ginger ale and eat two PB&J sandwich quarters.

Mile 27.2    1:18:58 (15:48 avg./mile) Mohican Adventures

A little chocolate milk after the first lap

This section is generally downhill to the end of lap one.  It is warm, but I still feel
good, and I think any time I save now can be used later when it is warmer.  Interestingly, there is another runner in my area that is running with sandals or barefoot.  He runs at times with sandals, but then takes them off and runs barefoot.  When I arrive at the aid station, Brian and my mom are ready for me.  I sit down on the grass and initially think that I won’t change shoes, but then I change my mind and go ahead and change them.  I figure it is better to change them now while I am not cramping.  My crew hands me a Subway sandwich, and I open it and begin to eat it.  After a few bites, I realize that there are ripe olives on it.  I start picking them off, mostly.  My mom says they must have mixed up my sandwich with hers.  They offer me the other one, but I have eaten most of it already and am ready to get going.

Mile 33.0*  1:12:25 (12:29 avg./mile) Gorge Overlook

Starting my second lap, I follow Mike Patton out of the aid station.  He tells me that he is the course designer.  Roy Heger was the person in charge of marking the course.  Mike confirms that the first section is marked incorrectly, and thus it is over a mile short.  My time at the end of the first lap was 6:14, and I was targeting around 6:55.  The short first section helps some, but so did the cool weather.  The weather is no longer cool as the temperature has climbed to 84 degrees, and it isn’t even Noon yet.  I let Mike leave me behind as I focus on running my own race.  The climbs on this section are really driving my sweat rate high.  When I get to the aid station, one of the volunteers is dowsing runners with cold water on their heads.  I line up and get dowsed, and it takes a little off of the body temperature for sure.  Since it has been less than five miles since I got a full Camelbak, I don’t trade it out at this aid station.  I pass on anymore food at this point and head towards the fire tower.

Mile 37.3    1:12:00 (16:45 avg./mile) Fire Tower

While the temperature has climbed well into the 80s, there is still a nice breeze most of the time.  I continue my slow and steady pace trying to keep my body temperature at a reasonable level.  When I get to the aid station, I pass right through as I am expecting to see my crew in a half mile.  I walk most of the level half mile to the parking lot where I don’t see my crew.  I look around carefully, asking where my crew is.  Now I have a problem.  My Camelbak is mostly empty, and I have a tough six miles ahead of me in high 80-degree temperatures.  Fortunately, another crew asks me if I need water, and I answer in the affirmative.  The kind gentleman empties two bottles of water into my Camelbak, and I couldn’t be more thankful!  I hope that Brian and my mom are okay.

Mile 43.3    2:10:40 (21:47 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

My stomach no longer feels wonderful.  I took a salt tablet at the 3, 6, and now 8 hour mark.  I have managed to digest the sub sandwich I ate at the turn, but I can still taste those ripe olives.  I am walking more and walking more slowly when I do.  I walk everything that doesn’t look downhill.  I am running the downhills for two reasons.  One is that I would like to make some decent time, and two I figure I provide more air cooling while I am running easily downhill.  As I pass by Big Lyons Falls, I go over and allow the water to hit my head.  It is cooling and has the desired benefit.  I still run easily down the rest of the valley where at the bottom I find Brian!  He is alive and well.  He explains that they were waiting at the aid station as they saw runners passing through, but after a while they realized that there were only 50-mile runners passing right be the fire tower and that the actual aid station is a few hundred yards away in the trees.  By this point, I had already passed through the aid station.  We walk up river towards the Pleasant Hill Dam.  Right before we get to the dam, there is a steep, tough climb on which I have to take a break about two-thirds the way up.  When I finally crest the climb, I am rewarded with a gentle breeze that feels really nice after the hot and humid climb with no breeze.  At the dam, I trade my Camelbak with a full one, and say goodbye to Brian.  He is heading home as he has to preach in the morning.  My mom will handle the crew duties from here.  I run down the steps on the dam, and then walk most of the flat trail to the aid station.  At the aid station, I use the bathroom and have success.  Now, I feel like eating again.  Unfortunately, there is not much of a selection.  I eat two PB&J sandwich quarters along with orange and watermelon slices.

Mile 48.9    2:12:20 (23:38 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge

On the climb out of the valley after the aid station, I take another salt tablet at the 11-hour mark.  My stomach doesn’t feel great, but it isn’t horrible at this point.  And, about 30 minutes after taking the salt tablet, I feel actually hungry.  I am sure I am still over an hour from the aid station, so I eat my first Access bar of the race.  It is melted and not great, but it gives me a little pep in my stride.  I talk with a 50-mile runner who is struggling telling him that we have about an hour to get to Hickory Ridge and then he can take a couple of hour to go the last five miles to his finish.  He says that sounds really good.  About the time that I am feeling decent again, the trail has an open section that is blazing hot.  I walk all of this part until the trail gets back into the shade.  Then I resume my running the downhill portions.  As I approach the aid station, I figure I can sit down, rest a bit, and allow my body to cool with a breeze at this higher point on the course.  I sit down in chair in the aid station, and a volunteer helps me refill my Camelbak.  I then eat a PB&J sandwich quarter but nothing else as the only other real food available was boiled potatoes and bacon.  I had some bacon last lap at this aid station, but I don’t think that would be wise with my stomach on edge.  After 10 or 15 minutes of sitting in the aid station, I do not feel one bit cooler.  Even though it is now 6:00pm, I am sure we are still in the mid to high 80s.

Mile 53.9    1:50:10 (22:02 avg./mile) Mohican Adventures

I walk all of the uphill and flat sections, and run the downhills smooth and easy.  There a many 50-mile runners around a few of us 100-mile runners.  The 50-milers might look as hot and tired as we are, but their outlook is completely different.  My stomach feels terrible, and the temperature has not really cooled off yet.  A thought enters my mind:  this will be a good 100k training run if I can go to the Fire Tower.  My mileage will be right at 64, and I can know that I should be able to survive Twisted Branch in August.  One view is that this sounds like a reasonable, common sense approach.  I have finished this race four times; do I really have to finish it again?  On the other hand, this will be another DNF in a 100-mile race.  My finishing rate in 100-milers currently stands at 13 finishes and 11 DNFs.  If I drop out of this one, I will have 12 DNFs.  Perhaps it will cool off before I get there, and my stomach will turn around.  When I get to this aid station, my mom is ready and waiting for me.  She even has my stuff at a picnic table, so I have someplace to sit down.  Actually, I lay down on one of the benches, as my mom puts a sub in front of me.  I don’t think I can eat much of it, but I take a bite or two.  She then goes over to the aid station and gets me a cup of Coke with ice in it.  It is not yet dark, and I am not tired, but I figure it should help my sour stomach.  Unfortunately, for the first time in my life, the first few sips of Coke actually make my stomach worse, if that is possible.  I trade out my Camelbak for a full one and put my headlamp battery pack in it.  I strap on my headlamp and then head out to start my third lap.

Mile 59.7    1:25:24 (14:43 avg./mile) Gorge Overlook

Almost as soon as I leave the aid station, I regret my decision to press on.  I am walking slowly, leading runners are lapping me at regular intervals, and other runners on the same lap as me are getting past me as well.  Some of them have pacers at this point.  My mom said it was cooler out as the temperature has fallen all the way down to 82 degrees.  I will learn later than it actually topped out at 89.  I slowly make forward progress, but am decided that I will drop when I get to the aid station.  As darkness descends I turn on my headlamp and continue now through the evening twilight.  When I spot a place to cut off an out and back portion I take it, making this section even shorter than it already is.  It is a very strategic decision because after a short climb and left turn, the aid station is right in front of me.  I walk into the aid station, pull off my ticket and hand it to the aid station captain.  She asks if I want to sit before making my decision final, but I have already cut the course.  At first I don’t think my mom is here, but then see that she is sitting in her car.  I am a little early, so that is reasonable.  I tell her I am throwing in the towel, and I climb into her car.

143 finishers out of 194 starters

I am one of 51 people that course beat on this hot day.  After climbing into the car, we have to drive down to the covered bridge to get my drop bag that is there that I never used.  The road to the covered bridge is curvy and slow.  We make it there, and I manage not to throw up.  Then we have to go back to Mohican Adventures to get the truck I drove to the start.  After that, it is only 15 more minutes back to our room at the lodge.

This performance and race is rather disappointing.  While I would have preferred cooler weather, I thought I was ready to manage it.  Instead it got the better of me.  A day or two later, I realize that Conquest might be a greater factor than I previously thought.  Before I discovered Conquest the first Hellgate 100k in 2003, I had failed to finish three 100-mile races (one at Vermont and two at Mohican).  For the next 15 years while I had Conquest, I finished 10 and DNFs five 100-mile races.  I also finished Hellgate 17 times, and only dropped out of one 50k and one 50-miler.  Since then my 100-mile finishing rate is three finishes and four drops.  I have tried Infinit, Tailwind, Long Haul, and Heed.  None of these seem to work for me.  Unless someone finds an old canister of Conquest, my next trial will be with LMNT.

My next race is the Catoctin 50k on July 8.  That should be a nice hot, humid race to test an electrolyte mix.  Then in August I am going back to the Twisted Branch 100k where I dropped at mile 50 last year.

Never stop running,

Darin