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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Mt. Cheaha 50k -- Simply Beautiful!

February 28

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.



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



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

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

56^th out of 296 entrants (19^th 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

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Mountain Mist 50k -- a little snow and a lot of mud

January 24



Now living in Huntsville gives me the perfect opportunity to explore a new set of regional races that I would never have traveled to from Virginia.  The race I have heard the most about in Huntsville is the Mountain Mist 50k.  Rick Gray highly encouraged me to run this race when I saw him at the Barkley Fall Classic, so I signed up as soon as possible.  I am not sure how many runners started, but the race entries were capped at 500.

Darin before the start



My daughter, Amy, has volunteered to come out and crew for me.  As we reach the top of Monte Sano, there is a covering of snow in the woods.  It looks like a half inch or so, and it is very beautiful!  I think the temperature at the start is around 30.  I decide to wear tights with a couple of shirts, hat, and gloves.  I see Rick Gray and Clark Zealand before the start.  It is good to see them, and I never see them after the gun goes off.

Mile 6.7      1:04:33 (9:38 avg./mile) O’Shaughnessy Point

These first few miles are on clean surfaces (roads, smooth trails) without much change in elevation.  This feels a little quick for me, but I want to push things a little to find out my true fitness level.  My hands were cold for the first mile, and then I warmed up nicely.  The early road portion allowed everyone to spread out well.  I feel good at this point.

Mile 11.9    1:01:05 (11:45 avg./mile) Aid Station #2

Nearing this second aid station, Charlie Taylor is close by me.  I hear him talk about beating cancer in the past year.  He seems to be a determined and lucky individual.  He has also completed the Volunteer State 300 a few times.  Right after the aid station, I talk with him briefly asking if he knows Rita Barnes.  Of course he does as she has also run the Volunteer State 300 a few times.  He also knows John Price from Virginia.  At this aid station, I grab a cup of water and a handful of potato chips.  My pace feels comfortable, and I think I am moving well at this point.

Mile 17.3    1:07:41 (12:32 avg./mile) Fearn Road

The course becomes more interesting as we traverse through the stone cuts and up and down several small climbs.  The trail has become muddier in many places.  My feet are doing okay, but my shoes are completely caked with mud.  Near the end of this section, I chat with Chris Redman, who is Rick’s brother-in-law.  We swap a few Rick stories before the aid station.   Amy is at this aid station so I trade out my Camelbak for a full one.  Then I drink a pint of chocolate milk, and drop off my hat and gloves.  In place of the hat, I put on a Buff.  It is still cool, but the temperature has warmed to the high 30s.  While this is more than halfway, most people consider it the halfway point for this race as the second half is apparently more challenging than the first half.  I hope I am able to maintain my effort.

Mile 21.0    57:36 (15:34 avg./mile) Old Railroad Bed

Challenging begins with a descent into an old railroad bed.  The trail is either a quagmire of mud or pointy medium size rocks.  It has my complete focus!  And, despite this section being mostly downhill, I am not able to keep up a quick pace.  Although part of this section is on the “Old Railroad Bed,” at no point could I image there being a railroad through here.  Apparently, old means it ceased operation in 1896!  Most of it is just a pile of rocks that we are forced to endure.  This type of trail is not conducive for making good time, and my pace suffers because of it.

Mile 25.0    1:09:10 (17:18 avg./mile) Hiker’s Parking Lot

I get into a better rhythm after the last aid station, but the trail is no better, and it is still slow going.  After a couple of miles though, things change, for the worse.  The course starts climbing up waterline trail.  It is a good hearty climb, very steep.  Then we continue up, climbing hand over hand up a waterfall.  It is a good, fun challenge, especially after 23+ miles.  Finally, I arrive at the road crossing just before the aid station.  Amy is at this one, but I don’t need much at this point.  I drink about half a pint of chocolate milk, and then wash it down with a cup of Coke.  I also eat another handful of potato chips.  The chips at this race are very good, kettle cooked, and well-salted.

Mile 29.5    1:15:39 (16:49 avg./mile) High Bluff

I leave the last aid station expecting to pick my pace back up.  The trail is nicely rolling for the first mile, but I am not moving very well, and the Coke hasn’t kicked in yet.  Then the course descends down a very muddy and steep trail.  I get passed by a couple of people before things started clicking for me.  I literally slide by the last person that passed me, managing to keep myself upright.  Then I pass the other person that passed me at the start of the downhill.  When the trail finally bottoms out, I am determined to stay ahead of them.  I push hard up the first part of the ensuing climb.  Then I run hard along a rolling section until the final climb starts in earnest.  I pass four guys powering up this final climb, almost catching a lady that I had seen about 10 miles ago.  At the aid station, I grab only a cup of Coke and have my eyes locked onto the two runners just ahead of me.

Mile 31.1    16:34 (10:21 avg./mile) FINISH – Lodge

The course is now back on top of the bluff, and it is mostly flat to the finish.  I always think that we must look like a bunch of geriatrics at this point—shuffling, huffing, and puffing—trying to finish strong and beat the other runners.  Despite my efforts, I am unable to catch the two runners in front of me until the finish line is almost in sight.  With a final effort, I push on past them, and run to the finish line.

Official Finishing Time          6:52:18

After the finish

162^nd out of 327 finishers

I am pleased with my overall effort today.  My time is not as fast as I would have liked, but given the mud on the course and my first time running this race, I guess it will have to do.  The best parts of today are that this was an interesting and challenging course that gave me an excellent workout.  My right ankle also held up very well despite the mud and technical trail.

At this point, I am not sure what my next race will be, although I have my eye on Cheaha 50k on February 28.  It is run on part of the Pinhoti Trail in central Alabama.

Never stop running,

Darin

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Hellgate 100k 2014 - Easy weather?

December 13

For the past 11 years, I have made my annual pilgrimage to Camp Bethel is southwest Virginia.  This year, I am making my 12^th straight, attempting to be one of five men to finish all 12 editions of this special race.  One difference this year is that I made the trip from Huntsville, Alabama as opposed to Glen Allen, Virginia.  The weather was good for flying, so I flew to Roanoke, rented a car, and drove to Camp Bethel with my son, Nathan, who is serving as my crew.

We arrived around 5:30pm, checked in, and then ate the pre-race meal.  It is quite an experience to meet up with old friends and be in the cozy confines of this camp.  The pre-race briefing is all David Horton.  He is in his element, embarrassing most, joking with many, and giving a little bit of important information.  The weather this year has been classified as “sissy” weather since it is only forecasted to drop to around 30 degrees tonight and is supposed to climb into the low 50s during the day.

The start is pleasant with very little wind and temperatures around 40.  I am going with shorts, and two thin shirts—one long and one short sleeve.  I also start with a watch cap and gloves as my hands get cold much more easily than they used to.

Mile 3.5      45:39 (13:03 avg./mile) FSR 35

Cruising the first section is fun, but this race with 150 starters is crowded for the first couple of miles.  The creek crossing at mile 3 is uneventful for me, but some lady close to me nearly goes for a complete swim.  Fortunately for her, I am close by to grab onto.  The water is a little chilly, but not bad.  I grab a cup of water at the aid station, and begin the climb.

Mile 7.5      57:36 (14:24 avg./mile) Petites Gap

I run about half of this section trying to strike the proper balance between making good time, but not expending too much this early in the race.  As the altitude increases on the climb, the wind picks up, and the temperature drops some.  By the time I reach the aid station, I estimate the wind is blowing 20-30 miles per hour with some gusts more than that.  The moon is about half full and doesn’t quite provide enough light to turn my headlamp off.  I change shoes when I meet Nathan, drink some chocolate milk, and take a bagel with me for the trail.

Mile 13.1    1:35:46 (17:06 avg./mile) Camping Gap

The rocks going downhill in the first mile are treacherous as always, but I do well with them.  After the rocks comes a rolling section of single track trail that I truly enjoy.  Running it in the dark is challenging, but I pass a few people and feel like I am moving quickly.  The climb up to the aid station is as hard as usual, but I like my time.  I know where I am by feel and time on a section.  The wind is still gusty.  At the aid station, I grab a couple of sandwich quarters, a cup of soup, and a stack of Pringles for the trail.

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

I run the majority of this section with a lady named Stephanie.  However, when it comes time to turn off of the grassy road, I put a little surge in and never see her again.  I think she dropped out as she is not listed as a finisher.  The running is going well, but the rocky, technical downhill towards Overstreet Falls really slows me down.  I twisted my right ankle five weeks ago, and it is still really tender.  I taped it for this race.  The tape is helping, but it can only help so much.  My time is okay, but slightly slower than I would have liked.  At the aid station, I grab a couple of more sandwich quarters and a cup of cold soup.  It isn’t the aid station’s fault as it is pretty cold out here, especially with the wind.  Did I mention that the wind is blowing about 30 miles per hour?  My hands go numb for the last 45 minutes of this section.

Mile 27.6    1:51:10 (19:30 avg./mile) Jennings Creek

With numb hands, but warm enough otherwise, I head down the hill towards Jennings Creek and breakfast.  Initially, I feel like I am moving well enough, but when the trail turns very rocky, my pace slows on the downhill portions.  I used to really like this section, but now it is a pain in the rear slowing me down getting to breakfast.  My ankle is very tender, but I am doing okay.  I think 7-8 people pass me on this section as daylight finally dawns.  This time is terribly slow, but I am still okay as I was 40 minutes ahead of the cut-off at Headforemost.  When I finally arrive at the aid station, Nathan has an English muffin with egg, bacon, and cheese all ready for me.  He also informs me that many people are dropping at this aid station.  Zsuzanna Carlson, who passed me coming down the hill, calls it quits, citing multiple nagging injuries.  Before leaving the aid station, I grab a paper towel for later.

Mile 34.5    1:59:03 (17:15 avg./mile) Little Cove Mountain

Later is only a couple of minutes away from the aid station.  I find the proper tree off of the trail to unload behind.  It was a wonderful and very quick (all in one smooth push) evacuation of my large intestine.  I think it only cost me five minutes total off of the trail.  With that bit of business taken care of, I can again focus on making good time.  Climbing is going well, and I make good time on the downhill section.  A lady passes me running up the hill towards the aid station.  At the aid station, the food is outstanding!  I eat half of a grilled ham and cheese, and drink a small cup of Coke.  It is a bit early to start the caffeine, but I don’t want to push close to the cut-off.

Mile 42.5    2:14:05 (16:46 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap

Leaving Little Cove Mountain, I link up with Kelly Golden.  He has run this race four times and is going for his fifth finish and the coveted Eagle trophy.  We push the pace a little, and I guarantee to him that we will run this in less than 2:20.  It takes us almost an hour to catch the lady who passed us on the last section.  Her name is Tammy Godin, although I only know this from the finisher list.  She hangs with us for a little while.  Turning onto the wonderfully rocky devil trail, I let Kelly know that we have 45 minutes to the aid station.  These intermediate checkpoints are a great help to my mental outlook.  This part is especially useful as I know I can endure this ankle buster for 45 minutes.  We end up taking 46 minutes, but we are still thrilled to see the aid station.  Joining Nathan is David Snipes, who dropped out at Camping Gap.  It is good to see them both, but I am disappointed that David won’t be getting his 10^th finish this year.  I drink a chocolate milk, change to just a short sleeve shirt, and trade in the hat for a buff.  I take a grilled ham and cheese sandwich for the trail, leaving slightly ahead of Kelly.

Mile 49.5    2:00:13 (17:10 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap

Ten minutes out of the Bearwallow Gap, Kelly catches back up to me.  We talk a lot, which might be slowing us down slightly, but it is making the course pass easily.  In hindsight, I probably could have pushed this a little faster, but I am still making decent time.  When we dump out onto a dirt road that is the last mile into the aid station, Kelly’s wife and friend meet us and walk with us up to Bobblets Gap.  His friend will now pace him, and they are out of the aid station very quickly.  I sit down and eat some soup while taking my time.  I leave with a bagel in my hand to ensure I have enough food to power me through the next section.

Mile 56.1    2:15:36 (20:33 avg./mile) Day Creek

Losing contact with Kelly seems to hurt my pace a little.  He must be feeling great because he will go on to finish 28 minutes ahead of me.  So, I spend my time trying to stay in front of Tammy.  She is behind me by about 100 yards on most of this section.  No matter how many times I do this section, it still takes forever.  This section has the most “Horton miles” in it of any section in this race.  About a half mile from the aid station, Tammy finally passes me again.  At the aid station, Snipes tells me he will pace me for the last section.  I drink some Coke and take half of a bagel to eat on the climb.

Mile 62.4    1:21:25 (12:55 avg./mile) FINISH

I begin the climb by making it my goal to catch Tammy as quickly as possible.  Just before halfway up the climb, I pass her and then spot three more runners to pass.  I quickly pass them before the final stretch of the climb.  Then Al Eder is up in front of me, so I pass him as well just before the gate and crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway for the last time.  Snipes keeps telling me to pace myself.  He will complain later that I tried to kill him by pushing the pace too fast on this climb.  Across the BRP, and it is time to run 3.5 miles downhill to the finish.  I run the whole way, but it is not fast.  The 2.8 mile climb took 38 minutes, and the downhill 3.5 miles takes me 43 minutes this year.  Tammy almost catches me before the last gate and a mile and a half to go, but after the gate, we are on a smooth gravel road, and I pick up the pace enough to stay ahead of her.

Official Finishing Time          17:32:59

114^th out of 148 starters (122 finishers under 18 hours)

The finish at Camp Bethel is always nice, and I am glad that I have survived another year.  How many more will I finish?  I don’t know, but I plan to be back next year.  The other four streakers—Aaron, Jerry, Jeff, and Ryan—all finish long before me, but I am still grouped together with them.

Nothing starts the Christmas season like running and finishing Hellgate!  I wanted a sub 17-hour finish this year, but it isn’t to be.  However, I have a renewed motivation to train hard and try again next year.  Who knows, I might even run another 100 miler in 2015.  But first my next scheduled race is the Mountain Mist 50k in Huntsville in January.  Until then,

Never stop running,

Darin

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Paris Mountain 50k - 2014- The Inaugural

November 7

I was looking for a 50k or 50 mile race on November 8, which is five weeks before Hellgate.  There was one in Huntsville, but there was also one in Greenville, SC.  Our best friends from the Marine Corps just happen to live in Greenville.  A quick email confirmed that they were going to be free and invited us on over—road trip!

Of course, for us, road trip means driving five miles to the Madison County airport, flying 1.5 hours east, and getting picked up at the downtown Greenville airport by Bradun and Elise.  We had a nice tailwind and perfect weather—fall beauty at its height.  We stopped by Paris Mountain State Park and picked up my race packet and then spent a wonderful evening with the Dunbars eating pizza and catching up.

November 8

Since the Dunbars live less than 15 minutes from the start and the race doesn’t start until 8am, I sleep in until almost 6am.  I have a bowl of homemade granola with heavy cream, and then Bradun and I drive to Paris Mountain State Park, arriving a little after 7am.  I quickly realize that I do not have my race bid with me, so we drive back to their house and then back to the park, arriving for a second time around 7:40am.  The race is small with less than 50 runners divided between the 50k, 50m, and 50m relay.  After a few final words from the race director, we are off.

Mile 7.5      1:20:06 (10:41 avg./mile) Start/Finish area

Right after the start, Byron Backer says something to me as we have seen each other at many ultra races in Virginia, but had never really talked before now.  So, for the first couple of miles, I stay close behind him as we chat about Hellgate and other races that are coming up.  Then I let him go on ahead as he is running faster than I care to at this point in the race.  This course is a fairly simple lollipop loop course.  We run out a mile or two, and then go around a loop that is several miles long before rejoining the out portion back to the start/finish line.  Going out is all uphill, becoming steeply uphill for the last mile before topping out and heading back downhill.  I think each loop has about 1,400 feet of climb and descent.  The first loop climb doesn’t feel hard at all, but I figure it will still be a good workout for me.  All is going well—I feel full of energy and the legs are fresh—until less than a half mile from the end of the first section when I roll my right ankle.  My right ankle is chronically weak for me as I typically twist it several times a year, often a couple of times in a race.  However, I hadn’t twisted it badly in quite a number of months.  This is a bad twist.  I go down not wanting to do any further damage by trying to save from hitting the dirt.  The slide is mostly on dirt (Pete Rose would be proud).  I only scrape the heel of my left palm, and my right knee.  But, the significant pain is in my right ankle.  I hobble into the aid station, wondering if maybe I should call it a day.  I quickly push that idea out of my mind, drink some of my chocolate milk, and head out for the second loop after shedding my outer layer of a long sleeve shirt.

Mile 15.0    1:38:52 (13:11 avg./mile) Start/Finish area

It takes the better part of this second loop before the pain deadens in my ankle.  Then I can carefully run decently.  I feel like my ankle has caused the majority of the time slowdown from the first loop.  Even so, I finish the second loop—almost halfway done—in a little under 3 hours.  I drink some more chocolate milk and trade out my Camelbak for a full one.

Mile 22.5    1:43:19 (13:47 avg./mile) Start/Finish area

Starting the third loop, I am sure that I am making better time now that my ankle is not hurting as badly.  However, I reach the top of the climb one minute slower than I did on the previous loop.  The slowdown continues as I complete the loop.  I am feeling okay, other than the ankle, but I am obviously slowing down.  Oh well, there is only one more loop, and I am leaving the aid station before Bradun, Elise, and Martha have shown up to see the finish.  Have I mentioned that the weather is absolutely perfect?  The temperature started around 40 degrees, and it has gradually warmed up into the 50s.  I was thinking earlier that I might take my t-shirt off for the final lap, but wisely decide to leave it on.

Mile 30.0    1:47:39 (14:21 avg./mile) Start/Finish area

The climb on this final loop seems to have gotten steeper!  There are many hikers out in the park on this beautiful day, and I have to work my way around each of them on the single track trail.  I finally reach the top of the climb and start heading across the ridge when I meet Bradun walking towards me.  They got to the park just after I started this loop and have driven to the top to see me halfway through my final loop.  It is motivating to see them, and it is all downhill from here.  I catch two people on the way down the hill.  One of them is a lapped runner, and the other runner was in fourth place.  I get into the start/finish area, drop off my Camelbak, and quickly head out for the last section of the race—a short loop around the lake.

Darin with 3rd Place prize

Mile 31.2    11:32 (9:36 avg./mile) FINISH

Feeling great now that the finish is almost in sight, I pick the pace up significantly.  I end up sprinting the last quarter of a mile.  It is a good thing that I did because the guy I passed a couple of miles earlier is only 2 minutes behind me.

Official Finishing Time          6:41:27 (race website says 6:29:35)

4^th out of 20 finishers (3^rd male)

This was a really nice, low-key race that made the perfect final tune-up for my next race.  If only I hadn’t twisted my ankle, it would have been perfect.  Fortunately, I have 5 weeks until my next race, and the ankle should be fine.  Finishing 4^th was just a bonus, and I got a “trophy” for being the 3^rd place male finisher in the 50k.

The climax of my running calendar year is the Hellgate 100k race.  The 12^th running of this special race will be December 13.  The very cool early fall weather points to a cold race this year, but one never knows what the weather will be like until a couple of days before.  Last year there was snow, drizzle, rain, and temperatures between 30-34 degrees during the race.  I would say it can’t be worse this year, but I know better.

Never stop running,

Darin

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Barkley Fall Classic 2014

September 19

Race Director Lazarus Lake and Darin

One part of fear is not knowing what lies before you.  This is what I am facing this weekend—the inaugural Barkley Fall Classic.  The Barkley Marathons is the toughest 100 miler in the country based on times run and how difficult it is to finish under the 60 hour cut-off.  It is famous, while being low key and secretive.  I have never attempted the Barkley 100 miler and have no plans to ever do so, but when the race directors announced this race, I had to give it a try in order to sample what the Barkley Marathons is all about.  The BFC is reported to be a 50k, but the course will remain a mystery until we pick up our race packets this afternoon.  The race director has said that less than 10% of us will finish under the 13 hours and 20 minutes allotted.

It is a pleasant Friday afternoon drive from Huntsville, Alabama to Wartburg, Tennessee.  I arrive a little after 4pm and pick-up the much anticipated race packet complete with topographical map of the course.  The first 10 miles look brutal on the map with switchbacks a plenty.  Other parts don’t look as bad, but a topo map can only tell so much.  For example, it gives no indication of how technical the trail is or whether the trail is easily followed.  This is going to be an adventure, and an adventure to which I am looking forward.

After picking up my packet, I setup my hammock and then proceed to the pre-race dinner complete with a Barkley documentary movie.  The movie/documentary is awesome, and the food was pretty good.  Afterwards I talk with Snipes and some other runners before climbing into my hammock for the night.  My sleep goes fairly well, and I think I end up getting about six hours of sleep.

September 20

In the morning over breakfast I learn that I apparently slept pretty soundly.  There were gun shots, a police chase, and nearly everyone camping behind the American Legion building was awake in the middle of the night.  I, however, didn’t hear a thing!  I eat a solid breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, gravy, and pancakes.  I don’t eat many carbs, but right before a race is the exception.  I drive to the start and am ready for the adventure of unknown course difficulty and whether I am quick enough to finish.

Mile 7.6      2:23:30 (18:52 avg./mile) Bald Knob

I link up with Rick Gray right from the start.  There are also a couple of ladies with us that Rick knows—Michelle and Glynetta.  We start rather conservatively, and the trail is nice and smooth.  The first mile was on a paved road, and we ran the whole first mile.  The next few miles were the first serious climb of the day.  My legs are fresh and conversations are flowing, so it passes easily enough.  At the top, we make a right turn and proceed to climb and descend for the next few miles until this aid station.  As can be seen, it is not a blistering pace, but it is a good steady pace to finish this race.  I grab a couple of PB&J sandwich quarters and head back onto the trail after topping off my Camelbak.

Mile 12.4    1:28:15 (18:23 avg./mile) Tub Springs

About two miles out of the aid station, we cross SOB ditch, and then pick up the trail on the other side.  Then we are following along, but it doesn’t look like we are still on the main trail.  This race only has “key” intersections marked with no confidence marking in between.  We are following a handful of guys who seem to know where they are going, but after 10 minutes or so, Rick, Michelle, and I decide to back track.  As we are coming back, we spot most runners going up a hill, so we cut towards them to rejoin the proper course.  We are very fortunate as there is a checkpoint soon thereafter where our bibs get punched.  Then the course proceeds on an old jeep trail, and Rick and Michelle pick up the pace to try to make up our lost time.  I let them go at this point.  I come into the second aid station feeling good, but also starting to feel the toll the climbing is taking on my legs.  There are no PB&J sandwiches (or any sandwiches for that matter) so I eat a couple of mini Slim Jims and a few cookies.  After topping off my Camelbak, I continue on down the jeep trail.

Mile 18.7    2:37:14 (24:57 avg./mile) Tub Springs #2

The first part of this section is an out and back portion, and I start to meet some of the leaders returning.  Jack Kurisky, Jeff Garstecki, and Keith Knipling are all looking good.  The turnaround is near the top of a hill, but not quite to the top.  The turnaround is just that and then I get to meet runners still heading out.  After crossing back over a pave road where Tammy Gray is cheering us, the course veers to the left.  This takes us down to the beginning of rat jaw—an infamous hill on the Barkley Marathons.  The climb starts through the saw briers straight up a hill.  I am climbing on my hands and feet, trying mightily to find foot and hand holds without grabbing onto a saw brier.  This is extremely challenging, but the “fun” is just getting started.  After about 200 feet of climb, there are options to pick your own route up rat jaw.  At one point, a few other runners and I climb up a large rock that involves actual rock climbing skills.  From there, I keep looking for signs of the route previous runners have taken.  After almost 50 minutes of climbing and finding a way forward, the top is in view.  At the top of the hill is a fire tower, which I now get to climb up as well in order to get to the next bib punch spot.  It is a gorgeous view at the top, but I only pause for a second or two as I have a race to finish.  After descending the fire tower, it is an easy half mile back to this aid station.  “6.3 miles” has taken me over 2.5 hours and has left me battered, bruised, and cut up from the saw briers.  My thighs sting when I put my hands on them to power up some of the steeper sections.  The sweat and dirt on my hands stings the cuts that now cover my legs.  With still no sandwiches to be had at this aid station, I fill up my empty Camelbak and start down the trail.

Mile 22.1    51:37 (15:11 avg./mile) Trailhead

I am on the jeep road for a quarter of a mile before the course turns left down a single track trail.  This trail is smooth and very runnable, and I feel refreshed to be done with rat jaw.  The problem is that the race is just a little over halfway done.  About halfway through this section, Rick and Michelle catch up to me.  They were way ahead of me, but somehow I got back ahead of them going up rat jaw.  Apparently, they didn’t pick as efficient of a route as I did.  I stick with them into the aid station.  Here I top off the Camelbak and start to get my light out of my drop bag, but then I ask one of the aid station workers if we have to take a light with us from here.  He says I have over 5 hours until darkness and that nobody is checking for lights.  So, I leave my drop bag alone and head out the trail for the last major section.  I am two hours ahead of the cut-off, but my legs have really taken a toll from all of the climbing.

Mile 27.8    2:40:04 (28:05 avg./mile) Spicewood

Rick, Michelle, and I are together for the first few miles.  None of us analyzed the topo map that closely as we think we are almost to the next aid station after about an hour or so.  We have been climbing switchbacks for 45 minutes when we start to descend.  After 15-20 minutes of descending switchbacks, we start climbing switchbacks again.  After 15 minutes of switchback climbing, they end, and we are all sure that the aid station can’t be far.  However, when the switchbacks end, the trail continues straight up the hill.  We pass a few weekend backpackers who are just standing there.  Michelle leaves me and Rick behind as we just aren’t climbing as fast as she is.  Rick and I start to take breaks as the top of this hill seems nowhere close.  This climb is brutal.  Occasionally, it looks like we are almost to the top, but we aren’t.  Finally, we get to the chimney tops, which are a series of rocks.  At this point, Rick starts throwing up.  He does this often enough in these races, and I have seen it before.  We make our way across the top, which again seems to never end.  After a mile or so the trail finally starts to descend, now where is that aid station?  This section is only “5.7 miles,” but I have run another mile about 10 times so far on this section alone, and I am still not at the aid station.  I ran out of water nearing the top of the chimney tops so now I am really looking forward to the aid station so that I can get some more water.  Just when I think the aid station is never going to appear, it does.  I tell Rick that we might not die after all.  I quickly get my Camelbak refilled, and start sucking down the water into my parched body.  Meanwhile, Rick decides to start throwing up again.  There is another group of backpackers here, but I tell them not to worry about Rick as he is a professional and does this all of the time.  When he stops throwing up, I grab some potato chips, and we stagger down a single track trail towards the finish.

Mile 31.1    49:17 (14:56 avg./mile) FINISH – Flat Fork Field

I am running, but Rick is able to walk almost as fast as my running trot is.  So, he runs a little and then walks, and I keep up by running most of the time.  The single track trail is all downhill, and we make decent time staggering down the trail.  We get back close to where the mile 22 aid station was, and I am ready hammer to the finish.  Rick is ready to as well, but we walk some more until we can hear the finish line.  Then we set off into nearly a full sprint.  We finish together, happy to be done with this impossible race that gave us a glimpse into what it must be like to run the full 100+ miler here in April.

Official Finishing Time          10:49:47

Darin's chewed up legs

58^th out of 240 starters (163 finishers under 13 hours, 20 minutes)

I have no plans whatsoever of ever trying the Barkley Marathons, so I am very happy I had this opportunity at the Barkley Fall Classic.  I finished with over 2.5 hours to spare, and I am satisfied.  I had a blast today!  Getting off course early wasn’t pleasant, but it didn’t cost us too much.  Rat jaw is brutal, but I loved the challenge and accomplishing the climb was fulfilling.  My legs will take a couple of weeks to fully heal, but it was all worth it.

My next race is going to be the Paris Mountain 50k on November 8 in Greenville, SC.  This will be another new race for me.  I am going to use it as my final preparation for Hellgate in December.

Never stop running,

Darin

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