Burning River 100 2021 - What will the Weather do?

Before the Start

This race is all about the weather and finishing under the 30-hour cut-off in order to get into the Western States 100 miler lottery for 2022.  Six weeks ago, I failed at the Kettle Moraine 100 miler in Wisconsin as the temperature soared to 94 degrees, and I dropped out after 63 miles.  Since then I have focused on getting as much heat acclimation as possible.  The average temperature for Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio for this time of year is 82 degrees.

July 24

The latest forecast is a high of 86 degrees, which ironically is the same forecasted high in Wisconsin six weeks ago.  What will the temperature climb to today?  On the plus side, it is starting out cool in the high 60s with low humidity as the dew point is 61 degrees.  At 4am, 344 of us crazy people start the 100 mile race in downtown Cuyahoga Falls.

Mile 5.5      1:03:41 (11:35 avg./mile) Memorial

Right from the start with overcast skies, there is some rain spitting.  By 5am, it starts a steady light rain.  This was a 30% possibility by the forecast and shouldn’t last very long.  The first few miles are on streets as we make our way out of downtown.  I settle into a very comfortable pace and do not mind the light rain at this point.  At this first aid station, crews are not allowed, and there are only fluids at this point.  I click my watch on my way through the aid station as the course leaves the pavement for a section of the Erie Canal tow path.

Mile 10.0    1:01:29 (13:40 avg./mile) North Hawkins

Under the umbrella at mile 10

Tow paths are always interesting to me as they are either gradually going uphill or
downhill.  I am not sure it really matters, and I start my timed walk breaks every 15 minutes.  In general, I will run for 10 minutes and walk for 5.  I get through two cycles before the course leaves the tow path.  The rain continues at a light to moderate rate so the dirt trail soon becomes a muddy, slippery track.  The runners who aren’t wearing trail shoes have a tough time with it, but my La Sportiva Raptors are doing great at this point.  However, about a half mile before the aid station, I catch my toe on a root and test the firmness of the ground.  I arrive at the aid station and get a towel from my excellent crew (my daughter Amy and her friend) to clean off my arm, leg, and shoulder.  I then drink some chocolate milk and take a small bag of pretzels with me.

Mile 13.7    48:43 (13:10 avg./mile) Mingo Shelter

I start a conversation with a lady next to me while we are running.  Come to find out, Rhonda is a VHTRC runner, although she currently lives in Dubai.  And, Alan and Pam Gowen are crewing for her today!  Rhonda has run Massanutten 100 miler a couple of times, but has not done any other 100 milers.  What is funny to me is that she is worrying about the cut-off since it is only 30 hours compared to Massanutten’s 36 hour cut-off.  I tell her I don’t think this is going to be a problem since this course is not very technical, and Massanutten is beyond technical.  This aid station is not manned on the outbound, but the timing device is setup and registers our progress.

Mile 15.4    21:36 (12:42 avg./mile) Botzum

Rhonda decides to let me go ahead as I have a little quicker pace than her at this point.  I am enjoying my nice smooth pace, and the rain isn’t dampening my spirits even if it is dampening the course quite a bit.  At this aid station, I get to see Amy and Ed, and I consume a wonderfully made egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich.  I eat about 75% of it while washing it down with chocolate milk.  My little bag of pretzels still has plenty in it, so I only trade out my Camelbak at this point.  I also remove the shirt as I think the rain will stop soon.

Mile 20.1    1:03:05 (13:25 avg./mile) O’Neill Woods

The rain does stop at some point during this section.  I test my right ankle on a curb as I am crossing a street at one point, but it is fine.  I also encounter my first real issue of the race—the insoles in my shoes are scrunching up due to them being waterlogged from all of the rain and water on the course.  At one point, I stop, sit down, and take each shoe off to straighten out the insole.  The rain lasted about four hours, and at some point I had the thought that the forecast might be completely wrong, and I hope it will stay lightly raining all day to keep the temperature down.  However, the forecast seems to have been wrong a little, and now it has stopped raining and is clearing off some.  This aid station is non-crew access, but they do have PB&J sandwich quarters so I gobble down two of them.

Mile 23.8    49:31 (13:23 avg./mile) Oakhill

Leaving Oakhill after taking off the shirt

Since the start of the race, I have been playing leap frog with several runners, two of
whom are two ladies from Ohio—Michelle and Vanessa.  They are running their first 100 mile race and as I repass them on this section, they ask if I am using a run/walk strategy.  Yes, I walk all of the uphill sections, and then try to do 10 minutes of running and 5 minutes of walking on the mostly flat sections.  The mostly flat sections aren’t very long, but my goal is about the same.  I have typically found that I can still manage a 15-minute per mile or better pace with this strategy.  At this aid station, Amy and Ed are ready for me with a change of shoes.  I would have preferred to not change out of my first pair this early in the race, but with the insole problem, I decide to make the change now.  Hopefully, I will be able to keep my feet dry for a while.  I take half a bagel from my crew and head down the trail.

Mile 27.5    43:32 (11:46 avg./mile) Valley Picnic

With the rain stopped and still with relatively cool temperatures, I guess I got a little excited with the pace on this section.  That and I think it is mostly downhill.  I get into this non-crew access aid station and consume a couple more PB&J sandwich quarters before crossing yet another road.

Mile 31.1    45:38 (12:41 avg./mile) Robinson Field

My quicker pace lingers on a little as this is fast than I should be going at this point.  During this section, I strike up a conversation with Lyn, who is from Mars, Pennsylvania.  Since I went to school in Pittsburgh, I know that Mars is north of town and that there is an ice rink there as we practiced hockey there sometimes my freshman year before the ice rink opened in Monroeville.  She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii and her son was born at Tripler.  She refers to it as Crippler, and we trade our less than stellar experiences with Tripler.  My wife, Martha, is also a University of Hawaii graduate, and our son was also born at Tripler.  At this aid station, I grab two more PB&J sandwich quarters since crew cannot access this station either.

Mile 35.1    1:03:24 (15:51 avg./mile) Pine Hollow

At Pine Hollow

This section is mostly on single track trail with some relentless rolling hills.  Thus, my pace naturally slows.  Additionally, things are warming up with the clouds moving out of the way for the sun half the time.  I get into this aid station in good shape, and Amy and Ed have a grilled ham and cheese sandwich ready for me.  I eat most of the sandwich and wash it down with plenty of CR01.  I take a new bag of pretzels with me leaving this aid station.  I need to keep my salt intake high as I am definitely sweating profusely through the heat of the day.

Mile 40.9    1:30:23 (15:35 avg./mile) Kendall Lake

This section is probably the most challenging section of the course.  We run for about 45 minutes and then we can see the last aid station a couple hundred yards away.  That is unmotivating as the course essentially did a large loop without going anywhere.  This entire section has the largest hills on the course, and they are constant.  There are no easy flat sections of trail on this section.  So, I am glad to get into this aid station, which is another non-crew access point.  I eat a few dill pickle slices before eating another PB&J sandwich quarter.  I leave this aid station about the same time as Michelle and Vanessa, and Lyn is just ahead of me.

Mile 45.0    1:01:57 (15:07 avg./mile) Olde Route 8 (Tiki)

This section contains a portion of a tow path and a few hills, before the course dumps out on a paved fitness trail.  The pavement will take us all the way to the halfway turnaround point.  I leap frog again with Michelle and Vanessa, but Lyn has left us behind at this point.  On the pavement, I resume my run/walk strategy, although I am very tempted to increase the percentage of walking.  At this non-crew access aid station, I eat more PB&J sandwich quarters and then take a grape popsicle with me.

Mile 50.5    1:33:16 (16:57 avg./mile) Silver Springs

Approaching the halfway line

This fitness trail is mostly unshaded, and the temperature has risen into the mid-80s.  Initially, Michelle and Vanessa are ahead of me and one of them is playing Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer and belting out the line, “Woah, we’re halfway there…”  They are mostly walking so my run/walk rhythm quickly allows me to pass them.  I get to the halfway aid station, but first we have to traverse around three baseball fields.  I am not quite sure why we couldn’t go straight to the turnaround line, but someone wants this race to be more than a 100!  Just before the line, Amy and Ed are setup and waiting for me.  I change my shoes, putting on my last clean pair of trail shoes that I have with me.  I have one other pair, but they are road shoes, which I could use the last five miles, but shouldn’t before then.  They have also managed to dry out the pair of socks I wore for the first 23 miles.  I eat most of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, washing it down with copious amounts of CR01.  I then head towards the porta johns, but there are temporary fences and the aid station blocking my way.  Eventually, an aid station worker tells me to just duck under the rope in the back of the aid station.  Fortunately, the porta john is not too hot as it is mostly in the shade.  Business complete, I head back around the three baseball fields and rejoin the paved fitness trail for the trip back to the finish.

Mile 55.9    1:20:05 (14:50 avg./mile) Olde Route 8 (Tiki)

After a couple of miles on the paved fitness trail, Scott Lee catches up to me.  I had seen him earlier with his VHTRC visor on, and he has seen me with my VHTRC shirt on for the first 10 miles.  We run/walk together into the aid station comparing notes on who we know really well in the club.  He is from Haymarket in northern Virginia and is doing the grand slam this year.  The Vermont 100 is canceled this year, so Burning River is one of the designated replacements.  So, he did Western States last month and will do Leadville next month and Wasatch Crest in September.  While enjoying the conversation, I am surprised to see the aid station so quickly.  I don’t grab much to eat at this aid station as my stomach is not feeling great, and I am sure my last sandwich is still being digested.

Mile 60.0    1:06:13 (16:09 avg./mile) Kendall Lake

Two more miles or so on the fitness trail and then back to off road stuff.  I continue my good pace, managing to get to mile 60 in decent shape.  I am trying to find the right food to make my stomach feel better, but I am still going to eat.  I grab two more PB&J sandwich quarters.  I am really happy getting to this aid station with it only being 6:12pm.  Now, I just have to navigate the next tough section to Pine Hollow.  At some point on this last section, Scott let me go ahead of him.

Mile 65.8    2:09:17 (22:17 avg./mile) Pine Hollow

I really struggle on this section, but it is the toughest section.  I refilled my Camelbak at Kendall Lake, but regardless, I still drain it before reaching my crew at Pine Hollow.  But, when it is empty, I think I am close to the aid station, but I cannot be sure.  Also, it is really warm out here and any breeze is not penetrating into the woods and the single track trail.  Finally, with no water left, I make it out of the woods and only have a simple climb up a field to the aid station.  I make it to my crew, sit down, and begin taking care of several items.  First up is changing my salt-crusted shorts.  I wrap a towel around and remove the shorts and then quickly put on the other pair.  Next, I put a shirt back on for the first time since early this morning.  It is now 8:20pm, so dusk is coming soon, and hopefully the temperature will begin dropping although it is only supposed to drop to 71 degrees tonight with the humidity so high.  Finally, I eat some of the Ramen that my crew has made for me, and then I wash it down with over a cup of chocolate milk.  I mention that my stomach isn’t feeling great so hopefully the chocolate milk will do the trick.  Before leaving my crew and this aid station, I strap on my headlamp and plug in my ear buds to my iPod.  I am ready to take on the night!

Mile 69.8    1:58:13 (29:33 avg./mile) Robinson Field

I leave Pine Hollow with good tunes and a little refreshed from the break.  This lasts about 10 minutes when I feel hot again.  It is near dusk, but the humidity is thick, and I realize that I am not going to be able to drop the hammer and take this one home.  Rather this is going to be a slug all the way to the finish.  I walk quite a bit, and I am looking for good places to sit down and cool off a little.  The fallen logs are plentiful, and when I do sit down, the next runner comes by and asks if I am okay.  Finally, I get to this non-crew access aid station and sit down.  The wonderful aid station worker brings me broth and then a Coke.  I didn’t think I sat too long in this aid station, but now I think I must have been there for at least 20 minutes.  My time split reflects this time sitting in the aid station, but I don’t worry about that.  It is all about finishing, no matter how slow as long as it is under 30 hours.

Mile 73.4    1:40:37 (27:57 avg./mile) Valley Picnic

With my unhappy stomach, I try various solutions.  I have eaten a few Tums, and so now I turn to ginger chews, which I have been told will cure any stomach issue.  It doesn’t really turn things around, but it doesn’t make it worse either.  When I stagger into the aid station, I make my way to the porta john.  I do my business and as I am finishing up, I realize that I am about to throw up.  I stagger out of the porta john, hit the dirt, and proceed to heave twice.  At this point, an aid station worker comes over to ask if I am okay.  Then she asks if I feel better because sometimes people feel better after they throw up.  When I tell her that I don’t feel any better, she helps me over to a cot in the aid station.  On this cot, I will lay for the next hour.  During this time, the aid station worker checks on me several times, and a thunderstorm starts pouring down the rain and lightning.  After an hour and not feeling any better, I make the decision to drop.  The nice aid station worker calls my crew, who are waiting at the next aid station, and they come and get me.

170 out of the 344 starters finish under the 30-hour cut-off

I get back to my hotel room around 2:30am.  After lying on the floor of my hotel room for 30 minutes or so, I then throw up again, heaving several times.  It is only then that I am able to take a quick shower, mostly sitting down, before I crawl into bed for a much needed rest.

It was a nice muggy day in the Midwest on this late July in 2021.  This finishing rate is very low for most 100 milers these days.  The heat obviously had something to do with it.  For me, I think it was definitely a factor, but basically I was unable to manage my electrolytes as well as I need to manage them.  I have been experimenting with different salt supplements, and for this race, I didn’t take any.  Instead I tried to eat enough salty food and that wasn’t enough given the conditions.

My next race isn’t really a race.  Rather it is the Grand Canyon, rim-to-rim-to-rim in one day.  Martha and I will be in Arizona in September, and if the weather cooperates, I plan to run this by myself on September 22^nd.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Kettle Moraine 100 Miler 2021 - Early Season Heat

 June 12

I am walking out of the Tamarack aid station at mile 58 having consumed
a chewy granola bar, and now I am eating half of a grilled cheese sandwich when it hits me—vomit!  I don’t throw everything up just a couple of bits.  I throw the rest of the grilled cheese into the weeds and stand still for a minute to allow my body to recover from this event.

Before the start

I have failed to finish the Kettle 100 miler on two previous attempts—2010 and 2018.  This year, I am in very good shape, am healthy, have an excellent crew (James), and need this finish to keep my name in the Western States lottery in December.  The only problem is the forecast:  the high is supposed to be 86 degrees with moderately high humidity.  The day dawns cloud free with the temperature already in the mid to high 60s.  James has to drop me off as the COVID restrictions are limiting how many people can be at the start.  The fortunate thing is that all of us in the 100 miler (234) get to start at the same time.

I chat with Mike, who recognizes me from three years ago.  Mike and I did several miles together in 2018, including miles 62 to 77.  He dropped at that point while I staggered on for 4 more miles before dropping at 81.  I also talk briefly with Karl Meltzer, who says today is all about managing the heat on the prairies.

Mile 5.1      56:55 (11:10 avg./mile) Tamarack

While the weather is still moderately cool, I make good time on this first section.  I feel good, and I plan to run very conservatively with the heat.  All I need to do is finish within the 30-hour cutoff.  I grab a handful of potato chips at this first aid station as this one is crew restricted.

On the way to Tamarack

Mile 7.4      31:41 (13:47 avg./mile) Bluff

Soon after departing Tamarack, I strike up a conversation with Jim Treece, who is from Maryland and is a Virginia Happy Trails Running Club (VHTRC) member.  We swap a couple of David Snipes stories before continuing on at our own pace.  Coming into this aid station, the crowd is huge and loud.  It is great to come in an aid station with so many people making noise and adding energy to the race.  It takes me a few seconds to spot James in the crowd.  I drink some chocolate milk and take half a bagel with me.  I decide not to change out my Camelbak at this point.

Mile 12.3    1:07:53 (13:09 avg./mile) Horseriders

Leaving the Bluff aid station, I pass Jim Treece, who says he is not feeling well.  I guess the heat is already getting to him?  So far, I am feeling good and moving well.  The course to this point is nicely shaded, and the temperature is not too warm yet.  The forecasted early cloud cover has not materialized; there are very few clouds in the sky at this point.  I chat with a lady named, Magdalena, who is from Illinois and has a Mulberry tree in her yard that she has been trying to get rid of for many years.  I come into this non-crewed aid station and grab a cup of water and a handful of chips.

Mile 15.5    43:39 (13:51 avg./mile) Natalie’s New Station

My pace is nice and smooth.  While I am soaking wet from sweat, I still feel good at this point.  I am taking a salt tablet every hour or two.  This new aid station for the course is beside a dirt road and consists of just one pop-up canopy.  I get an iced sponge wrung out over my head.  The cold water is very refreshing.  I eat some orange slices and a few potato chips, and then get some water put in my empty Camelbak.  I didn’t expect to drain it that quickly as I thought I could get to the next crewed aid station before needing more water in my Camelbak.

Mile 19.5    56:12 (14:03 avg./mile) McMiller

The new section of the course has a climb or two and is mostly shaded.  I am still making good time, but it is rather warm out here.  There are a few more clouds, but nothing close to the forecasted, “mostly cloudy.”  James is waiting and ready for me when I get to this aid station.  I sit down for a minute and drink a good portion of Conquest (note, it is not Conquest, but rather CR01, which is my own recipe I dialed up from Infinit).  I trade out my nearly empty Camelbak with a full one, and I also change my socks, but not my shoes yet.  My socks were completely drenched, but I kept the same shoes for now as I only have three pairs and don’t want to trade out a fresh pair until after the rain that is supposed to happen this afternoon.  As I am leaving the aid station, I pass a porta john and decide to use it.  I carefully lay my Camelbak with a bagel on top of it just outside and quickly do my business.

Mile 23.8    1:00:33 (14:05 avg./mile) Wilton Road

Refreshed from the CR01 and the restroom break, I continue to make decent time.  I am walking 2-3 minutes every 15 minutes.  I pass a guy who is using this race to train for a 200 mile race.  He is looking good at this point, but he is a larger guy than me, and I wonder how he is going to deal with the heat today.  At this aid station, I get another ice cold sponge wrung out over my head.  Given that the cloud cover hasn’t really materialized as forecasted, I wonder if the temperature is going to climb higher than the forecasted 86 degrees. 

Mile 27.1    1:03:54 (19:22 avg./mile) Highway 67

The open prairie is bathed in mostly full sunshine, and it is broiling hot!  On this section, the leaders are returning back south.  The leader is a female, and she looks comfortable.  Before I reach the aid station, I meet Karl Meltzer heading south.  I think he is in fifth place or so, and he looks as hot and spent as any of us.  Wow!  I wonder how bad I look to him.  He is completely drenched and looks like the heat is taking its toll on him.  I meet James at this aid station and sit down to eat my grilled cheese sandwich.  I wash it down with copious amounts of CR01 and chocolate milk.  My slower time on this section is due to the building heat and the extra time eating in the aid station.  James informs me that the peak chance for rain has moved back from 1pm to 4pm.

Mile 29.4    31:20 (13:37 avg./mile) County Road ZZ

Leaving the last aid station, I start running with a 61-year old guy from Minnesota.  His name is David.  He says he has run over 180 ultras, but this will be his 10^th (and last) 100-mile race.  We banter back and forth about the advantages of only running 100km or less—no sleep deprivation, etc., etc.  I make good time running with David, and I get to this aid station surprised to see James.  This wasn’t supposed to be a crew accessed aid station, but James is here waiting on me.  I drink some conquest and take half of a bagel with me as I hurry out of the aid station to keep up with David.

Mile 34.3    1:32:45 (18:56 avg./mile) Scuppernong

David and I make good time on the first half the Scuppernong loop, but once the single track portion ends, I let David and a couple of other runners move ahead.  I am now feeling the effects of the heat so I switch into a true survival mode for this war of attrition against the elements.  I am still making good time, and I keep David in sight for a long time.  The aid station is fairly packed, but most of the crews are a quarter of a mile away on the other side of County Road ZZ.  James is still there, and I trade out my Camelbak for a full one while I drink more CR01 and take another half bagel with me.

Mile 36.8    37:47 (15:07 avg./mile) Highway 67

Back on the prairie, the temperature has risen even higher.  The clouds occasionally provide some shade, but not much.  With the peak rain chance moving back, it means the humidity isn’t dropping anytime soon either.  I walk more of this section and talk with a young runner named Keith.  I think he is 23 years old.  I roll into this aid station with a stomach that is not great, but not bad either.  I feel like I am moving slow, but it is about as fast as my body will produce in this warm weather.  I drink some CR01 and grab some potato chips from the aid station as I press forward hoping that the front will move south of us at some point—with or without a rain shower.

Mile 40.1    59:30 (18:02 avg./mile) Wilton Road

I manage to keep up a reasonable pace across the prairie, chatting with Keith at times.  We aren’t really keeping the same pace, but we keep leap-frogging each other.  At this aid station, I grab a cup of ginger ale and get a lukewarm sponge wrung out over my head.  The ice is gone, but it is still somewhat refreshing.

Mile 44.4    1:32:04 (21:25 avg./mile) McMiller

The heat is still ever present, and I am just hanging on waiting for the cooler temperatures to get here.  I am moving about the same pace as most of the other runners around me even though it is now a terribly slow pace.  I get into this aid station, and James is ready and waiting for me.  I sit down and change my shoes while another crew starts asking me questions about my airplane.  Her husband flies and is home working on the plane today.  She is here crewing for her coach, who I guess is behind me.  I eat another grilled cheese sandwich, and drink plenty of CR01 and chocolate milk.  I also trade out my Camelbak for a full one.  As I am getting ready to leave, James asks me if I want my headlamp.  My initial reaction is no as it is only 5:30pm.  He says it is 12 miles until I see him again and the sun sets at 8:30pm.  I consider my options, and then stick with not taking my headlamp.  I haven’t really been keeping track of my pace, but I still figure I can make 15-minute miles as the temperature should start dropping a little.  Plus, I need to start picking up the pace a little if I am going to finish this thing.

Mile 48.4    1:01:56 (15:29 avg./mile) Natalie’s New Station

With the new motivator of getting to the Bluff aid station before dark, I push the pace a little.  Additionally, I note that the wind is starting to shift from the southwesterly direction it has been to more out of the northwest.  The front is finally pushing through, and I note a hint of cooler air—or am I just imagining it?  Regardless, I average the 15-minute miles I wanted, and my legs feel really good.  Now, I just need to ride this surge to dusk.  I grab another cup of ginger ale for my not totally happy stomach and press on.

Mile 51.6    59:03 (18:27 avg./mile) Horseriders

My push on the last section causes me to slow down on this section.  My stomach is not happy, but I am making steady (if slow) progress.  I get into this aid station and sit down at a nearby picnic table.  The aid station workers are occupied with other tasks, so eventually I have to stand up and go over to the aid tables to pour my own Coke.  I drink a cup and grab some potato chips.  I press on as I don’t have time to waste to get to Bluff before dark.  It is 7:35pm when I leave this aid station.

Mile 56.5    1:59:10 (24:19 avg./mile) Bluff

Moving forward feels better than sitting on that picnic table in the aid station.  I am focused on the task in front of me.  For a while, another runner and his pacer (not really allowable yet, but who cares at the back of the pack) follow me for a couple of miles before pressing on ahead of me.  At some point on this section, I take my first caffeine pill.  I don’t have the luxury at this point to lie down and take a quick nap.  I get to the top of the bluff, which precedes the aid station, and the last sliver of sun is dipping below the horizon.  It is a beautiful evening!  I make my way down the trail as darkness engulfs the trail.  I can make out the trail decently without a headlamp.  Amazingly, I don’t stumble or trip as I make my way in the dark.  Finally, at 9:30pm I make it into the aid station, and there is James anxiously waiting for me.  On my planning sheet I said I just wanted a bagel and Conquest, but James has made me a serving of Ramen.  As I sit and rest, I try to consume the warm noodles as quick as I can.  I trade out my Camelbak with a full one and get my headlamp all set.  I feel decent enough.  The stomach is not happy, but hasn’t revolted yet.  So, I start my first full night section in good spirits.

Mile 58.8    56:10 (24:25 avg./mile) Tamarack

This section didn’t feel this slow!  I believe I stayed mostly even with the other runners around me—passing some and some passing me.  Regardless of how it feels, there is no denying it is slow.  At this non-crew aid station, I quickly consume a chewy granola bar, and then take half of a grilled cheese sandwich to eat as I walk out of the aid station.  Halfway through the grilled cheese sandwich, I throw up—not everything, but there is now no denying that my stomach is not happy.

Mile 63.9    1:47:02 (20:59 avg./mile) Nordic

With an unhappy stomach that isn’t getting better and temperatures still in the 80s, I mostly walk this section.  Several runners slowly make their way past me.  Most of these runners are 100k runners that started an hour after us 100 mile runners.  I am resigned to likely dropping at Nordic.  When I finally get into the aid station, I go to the nasty outhouse to try to go to the bathroom.  My effort is unsuccessful, and I leave the stench, rejoin James and announce my race is over.  The time stands at 12:17am, and there was a “soft” cut-off at this point of 12:10am.  Apparently, the race director would let you continue if you really wanted, but my race is not headed in the right direction.  The heat on this day has won, and I resign!

The forecasted high temperature was 86 degrees, but without the cloud cover early in the day, the temperature ends up rising to 94 degrees!  The finishing rate settles out at 28%.  Karl Meltzer also dropped out at Nordic some five hours ahead of me.  I also note that Jim Treece soldiered on, but also dropped out at Nordic a little behind me.

Weather happens, and on this day, I don’t think there was more I could have done.  I kept a slow and easy pace through most of the day.  These high temperatures this early in the year makes it all the more difficult to handle.  After recovering for a couple of days, I decide I will try once more this summer to obtain a Western States qualifier so that I can be in the lottery again in December.  Therefore, on the 24^th of July in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, I will toe the line of the Burning River 100 miler.  Here’s hoping that it will be cooler than 94 degrees!  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Return to Darin’s Running Page.

Cooter Creek 50 Miler - The Inaugural Event

April 17

What is that?  It sounds like my phone just said, “Off course, please check the map.”  Oh crap!  I must have taken the wrong fork in the trail about 200 yards back.  Now I have to back track and lose the momentum I had going for this last section!

Ready to begin

This race course was on the TerraQuest app, and the race director required all runners to have the app on their phone.  My phone is a little long in the tooth so I wasn’t sure if its battery charge would last the whole race.  I downloaded the course, hit start just before the race, and ensured my phone was in airplane mode.

The day prior, Tim Harwick and I flew down to Charleston for the inaugural running of this race.  The weather for the flight was perfect, but there is rain in the forecast for tomorrow.  I wake up Saturday morning, and the rain is going to stay south of us.  It is supposed to be cloudy in the morning and sunny in the afternoon with a high in the mid-70s.  The temperature at the start is in the mid-50s.

Mile 7.0      1:15:56 (10:51 avg./mile) Cane Gully Road

The race begins and nobody wants to lead out of the gate, so I surge to the lead of the 27 runners in the race.  At first, I am deluded to thinking that maybe there aren’t any fast runners in this race.  Then 2.5 minutes into the race, as I am running about a 10-minute mile pace, the first runner passes me.  Then a few more runners—well actually several runners pass me over the rest of this first section.  I think I was about 12^th coming into this aid station.  All is going well except I realized that I failed to apply any Body Glide before the race.  Tim fetches the Body Glide, and all is good now.  It is still overcast and nicely cool.  I drink over half of the pint of chocolate milk and take half of a bagel to eat on the run.

Darin takes the lead at the start

Mile 12.0    58:33 (11:43 avg./mile) Witherbee Road

A couple of more runners pass me, but I am quite content to let them get out in front of me.  I am feeling good and making good time so far.  The course is nearly completely flat with the trail being very runnable with only the occasional root to miss (or trip over).  Apparently coastal SC has been a little on the dry side, so the normal muddy sections are not on this day.  Thank goodness the rain is staying south of us.  Around two hours into the race, the cloud cover clears off.  Here comes the sun!  At the aid station, I drink several chugs of my personal beverage mix from Infinit.  I call it CR01 for Conquest Replacement, formula 1.  I also take another half bagel to eat on the trail.

Mile 17.0    59:09 (11:50 avg./mile) Witherbee Ranger Station

Coming into mile 17 aid station

Some point during this section, Kyle and I start to leap frog each other.  During one of these passing events, we introduce ourselves.  Kyle is a fast runner, but seems to be taking a lot of walk breaks.  I am on a run 13 minutes, walk 2 minutes rhythm.  It appears to me that Kyle is on a run for a minute, walk for 10 seconds rhythm.  At the aid station, Tim is ready with my chocolate milk and another half bagel.  My time so far is really quick, but I figure I will have to slow down as it warms up.

Mile 25.0    1:39:19 (12:25 avg./mile) Irishtown Road

Kyle and I stay in range of each other, and then at one point there is a female runner that comes up behind us, but never passes us.  I ask Kyle if he has seen her as he is passing me.  He says he has not.  Near the end of this section, I pass Kyle again and come into the aid station ahead of him.  I drink more chocolate milk and grab a stack of Pringles to eat on the run.  I have looked at my phone a couple of times, but mostly I have just kept it in one of the side waist pockets on my Camelbak.  Of course, I have to ensure I move it when I get a newly filled Camelbak from Tim.

Mile 32.0    1:34:40 (13:31 avg./mile) Dog Swamp Road

This section is the hardest yet in the race.  The course is somewhat muddy with plenty of roots.  The trail is tight with many turns.  The easy running has ended for now.  The good news is that there is decent shade.  But, when the technical trail ends, so does the shade.  Now it is very warm with no shade, but fortunately, there is a breeze.  My watch passes 1.5 hours since the last aid station, and I wonder how much further I have when it appears right around the next corner.  Tim tells me that I have gained on the people in front of me, and that everyone had a tough time with this section.  I drink a decent amount of CR01 and grab half a bagel for the trail. 

Mile 37.0    1:14:48 (14:58 avg./mile) Halfway Creek Road

Leaving Dog Swamp Road, the course has a couple of long straight trail sections.  I keep thinking that I can see other runners well down the trail.  I actually catch one of them, but then a runner with trekking poles comes by me.  At some point in this section Kyle flies by me, and I never see him again.  It is very warm, and I have changed my rhythm to run 10 minutes and walk 5 minutes.  I figure this should keep me under 15-minute miles and, most importantly, keep me from overheating.  I drink some more chocolate milk and take yet another half bagel for the trail.

Mile 43.0    1:27:43 (14:37 avg./mile) Willow Hall Road

I stay focused on making steady forward progress.  There is a runner in front of me, but I just can’t seem to catch up to him.  I have been tracking him for the last two sections.  I feel like if I put a good surge in that I should be able to catch him, but there are plenty of miles left to catch him so I stay on my pace.  I come into this aid station ready to get this thing to the finish.  I finish off the CR01 and take another half bagel.

Mile 46.0    35:33 (11:51 avg./mile) Whilden Road

Leaving the last aid station, it feels like the high temperature for the day has passed.  I increase my rhythm by running for 12 minutes and walking only 3 minutes.  I finally catch Carl about a mile from the aid station.  I am feeling good, and Tim comments that I “crushed this section.”  I drink a majority of the small bottle of Coke to keep me on this surge to the finish.

Mile 52.0    1:40:23 (16:44 avg./mile) FINISH

Less than a half mile out of the last aid station, I come to a fork in the trail.  The Palmetto trail appears to go to the right, and I can see a blaze for the Palmetto trail.  There is a lone streamer that seems to indicate left, but I go with the blaze.  200 yards later, I hear my phone for the first time today, “Off course, please check the map.”  Shoot!  Obviously, I chose the wrong fork to take.  I retrace my route back to the fork.  When I get to the fork, here comes Carl.  I make the turn on the left fork and put a little surge in as I don’t want Carl to get any ideas on passing me.  I was hoping I could maintain my faster rhythm to the finish, but after 30 minutes, I revert back to running 10 and walking 5.  The trail is full of roots and is winding in and out along this never ending marsh.  Eventually, I give up running and just walk until one of two things happens, 1) I see the finish is near, or 2) Carl comes up behind me.  Actually neither happens.  My ideas on a sub-11-hour finish come and go.  Finally, the finish is near, and I run to the finish.

Finish!

Official Finishing Time          11:26:04

14^th out of 27 starters (21 finishers under the 14-hour cut-off)

Carl finishes 18 minutes after me.  Apparently, I wasn’t the only one that had a tough time with this last, never ending section!  Tim tells me that the aid station worker at mile 46 told everyone except me to stay left at the fork.  Of course, Tim didn’t tell me either.  I don’t think that ended up costing me more than a couple of minutes, but I used up my last bit of motivation backtracking.  I eat a hot dog and drink a Coke at the finish before Tim and I head to the hotel.  For the inaugural event for this race, it went very well.  Chad is a quality race director, who has plenty of experience with other races.

My next race is the Kettle Moraine 100 miler in June.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

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Hellgate 100k 2020 - The Year of COVID

 

December 12

Due to the environment we are in, I have only run two races so far this year.  The first was the Mountain Mist 50k in January, and the second was the Stump Jump 50k in October.  I was scheduled to run a 50 miler in November, but life intervened, and I went to my aunt’s funeral instead.  I started the year slightly damaged from last year’s Hellgate.  There was nothing acutely wrong, just a few lingering, nagging issues.  With the race cancellations in the spring and summer, I took a few back-to-back easy weeks that brought me into May back to full running health.

My training this year (after April) went well, but several times, work curtailed some of my long runs.  Many times, I shortened my long run to only 20 miles so that I could get on a morning conference call.  I have perfected being on a conference call while playing golf, but I have yet to do this while running.

A pre-race nap

So, here I am at Hellgate for the 18^th time!  My daughter, Amy, is crewing for me.  We get to Camp Bethel and check in, but it is definitely going to be a different year.  For starters, the check-in and pre-race briefing are going to be in the gym instead of the Heritage Lodge.  And, of course, we are all wearing masks and keeping our distance from each other.  I fist bump a few other runners, but that is the extent of physical greetings.  I chat with Lanier Greenhaw, who is from Athens, Alabama.  He is rather reserved in his prediction for this year and doesn’t think there is any chance he will see me as he is starting in the last wave, and I am in the first.  I suggested to David Horton that the fearsome five should start in the first wave with the top 10 men and top 10 women.  Each wave has 25 runners, and the waves are spaced every five minutes so that we can abide by the Virginia governor’s order.

Dinner is not bad as I eat a large piece of lasagna along with green beans, salad, rolls, and one cookie.  At the pre-race briefing, I am the only one from the fearsome five in attendance.  I don’t know what the rest of the guys were doing, but they were all at the starting line a few minutes before midnight.  David says a prayer, and we sing the national anthem before he sends us off at 12:01am.

Before the start

Mile 3.5      45:44 (13:04 avg./mile) FSR 35

The weather this year is downright sissy-gate this year.  The temperature at the start is in the low 40s and if anything it is supposed to rise slightly during the rest of the night.  I start with shorts and short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts—no hat or gloves—just a buff on my head.  The top 10 men are gone within the first quarter mile, and then there are us fearsome five and the top 10 women running in the same vicinity.  I settle into my usual pace and before the first aid station everyone else from the first wave as left me behind.  Then the faster runners from wave two catch me before the stream crossing.  A few of them pass me before the aid station.  The creek crossing was typical depth with no way of keeping my feet dry.  My pace on this section is spot on my goal pace, which I have planned to get me in just less than 17 hours.  Okay, so maybe my pace is a minute slow as I wanted to be at or below 45 minutes for this first section.  Regardless, section one is now complete.  I grab a cup of water and start the climb up to Petites Gap.

Mile 7.5      56:44 (14:11 avg./mile) Petites Gap

I run a fair bit of this section when the road is not too steep.  The men from the second wave passed me just before or soon after the first aid station, but the women from the second wave do not catch up to me until about three-quarters of the way up the mountain.  Sophie Speidel comes by me, and we chat about running her 11^th Hellgate.  It was only a couple of years ago that she said she was content with 10.  Her excuse is COVID as this is the first race she has run in over a year.  My goal on this section was less than an hour, and I am thrilled that I am back on pace.  Actually, I am now 2.5 minutes under my goal pace at this point.  My crew is not allowed to come to this aid station due to the staggered start, so I will get no dry shoes, no chocolate milk, and no bagel from Amy.  Instead, I grab two PB&J sandwich quarters and a small bag of potato chips.  The wonderful aid station workers have these all pre-packaged in small Ziploc bags.

Mile 13.1    1:32:36 (16:32 avg./mile) Camping Gap

The warm-up is now over, and it is time for some night-time technical trail!  I make good progress down the rocky trail and then continue to run well until the course comes out onto Hunting Camp Road, which is a dirt jeep trail that takes us back up, up, up to the next aid station.  During the climb, I talk with Janet Hausken, who is from Minnesota.  I only run a couple of times going up the hill, and I am pleasantly surprised to find myself at the aid station so quickly.  I guess good conversation does make the effort easier.  Rosie is working this aid station, so I know there will be some good food.  He does not disappoint as he has little cheese and sausage poppers each wrapped in tin foil.  I grab one of those along with a bag of Fritos and head down the trail.  My goal on this section was 1:35, so I am now five minutes ahead of my pace.

Mile 21.9    2:28:08 (16:50 avg./mile) Headforemost Mountain

I run conservatively on this section as I want to ensure I don’t press the pace too quickly.  Janet and I play leap frog a couple of times, but then she gets ahead of me for good when I take a squat in the woods.  Now, ordinarily this is not a critical event, and I have only had to do this at most one time during a Hellgate race, but this year I have been afflicted with hemorrhoids—there it is out there for everyone to know.  Therefore, I have to be careful not to over exert myself and cause bleeding.  That’s right:  my hemorrhoids like to bleed often.  For this dump, I complete it successfully with no bleeding.  I have not bled since November 13^th.  For most of this year my hemorrhoids have bled every week or two.  So, not bleeding for a month (insert jokes here) has been a true accomplishment leading up to this race.  I finish this section in great shape.  My run down to Overstreet Falls goes quickly as I led a bunch of runners through this tricky, rocky, downhill scramble.  My time at the spot of the original aid station is two minutes faster than my goal pace.  So far, this race is going as planned.  I grab some more PB&J sandwich quarters at this aid station, which is now a half mile further than the original location.

Mile 27.6    1:47:43 (18:54 avg./mile) Jennings Creek

Eating breakfast

Leaving the top of Headforemost Mountain, I get attacked by a huge sleep monster.  It is all I can do to keep from laying down and taking a nap.  Eventually, I take another squat in the woods (blood-free) and then link up with a couple of runners in order to get into some semblance of a flow.  As dawn emerges from the night darkness, my sleepiness subsides, and I roll into this aid station ready to really attack this race.  I finally get to see my crew, which means I get to eat a scrumptious, grilled bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.  I wash it down with chocolate milk and in between bites and gulps I change into dry socks and shoes.  Life is grand!  My pace is seven minutes slower than my goal for this section, but this just puts me right back on my number overall.

Mile 34.5    1:54:47 (16:38 avg./mile) Little Cove Mountain

As I begin the climb out of the Jennings Creek valley, I catch up to Anne Pike, who lives in Crozet, but clearly started out her life in England.  We chat some as we move up and over the first climb on this section.  When we get to the downhill single track, I push it out a little, but Anne eventually catches up to me on the climb up to the aid station.  I am feeling pretty good at this point, but my time is not as quick as I would like.  My goal pace for this section was 1:50, so I am now a few minutes behind schedule.  At the aid station where Rosie is again working, I grab two of his sausage and cheese poppers and decide to give the Tailwind beverage (raspberry flavor) a try.  The raspberry flavor has caffeine in it, and that is the only caffeine choice other than Mountain Dew, Code Red. 

Mile 42.5    2:17:47 (17:13 avg./mile) Bearwallow Gap

Coming into Bearwallow Gap

Leaving Little Cove Mountain, I find myself running next to Justin Peake.  He is also trying to get in less than 17 hours, but he started 20 minutes after me.  So, he has a healthy 15+ minute cushion, whereas I am a few minutes behind.  Such is the reality of the wave start.  I am going to lose to every runner that I finish close to because almost all of them started after me.  The caffeine kicks in nicely, and I start rolling.  I am careful once again not to push the pace too hard.  Caffeine is awesome and has a definite effect on me since I rarely consume any.  The drawback is that I can only use it so much before the effects start to diminish.  I make my way through the devil trail unscathed and roll into the aid station having gained back a couple of minutes on my goal pace.  At the aid station, my wonderful crew has a grilled ham and cheese sandwich ready for me.  I wash it down with some more chocolate milk along with some CR01 (my own recipe from Infinit).  Then I make my way over to the aid station food table trying to find some more of the caffeinated Tailwind.  The aid station workers find a mostly empty pitcher that they pour into a small cup.  I hope this continues to work as well on the next section as it did on this one.

Mile 49.5    2:05:43 (17:58 avg./mile) Bobblets Gap

Soup at Bobblets Gap

Justin and Anne are just ahead of me as we leave Bearwallow Gap, but quickly they pull away from me.  I figure I just need to let me stomach digest a bit and allow some time for the caffeine to kick back in.  Unfortunately, it is a slow process for both the food and the drink.  I get to the top of the climb, and I feel like I need to squat in the woods again.  As it is now daylight with no foliage on the trees, I have to go farther from the trail.  My effort this time is fruitless, and that is not good at all.  Oh well, it is time to slug this section out and see where I am when I get to Bobblets Gap.  While I try to keep moving at a respectable pace, I catch my toe and hit the ground pretty hard.  I don’t think I have drawn any blood despite smacking the side of my face on the dirt.  I had caught my toe several times today, but was always able to save it.  Several minutes later, I roll my right ankle for the first time in this race, and I find myself on the ground again.  It hurts a fair bit since I haven’t rolled it in several weeks.  Picking myself up, I manage to finish the rest of this section without hurting myself anymore.  This section was not good, and I lost 10 minutes to my goal pace.  At the aid station as I eat the Ramen Amy has cooked for me, I lament that 17 hours is no longer in reach.  Amy tries to convince me not to give up hope, saying it is still possible even if it isn’t likely.

Mile 56.1    2:11:08 (19:52 avg./mile) Day Creek

I run all of the way down the 2.5 miles leaving Bobblets Gap.  I make this section in 31:12, which isn’t a bad time, but isn’t blazing either.  As I leave the nice dirt road and get back on a single track trail, I realize that I am leaking—blood of course and not from anything other than my rear end!  The back of my shorts are completely soaked in blood at this point.  Hemorrhoids are a literal pain in the rear, but that is not my main problem.  My main problem would be getting to the finish line before I lose too much blood.  Fortunately, as I hike and run through the forever section, the bleeding seems to not be getting worse as none of it is running down my legs and my shorts are not getting any wetter.  Also, it is nice to be wearing black shorts.  I struggle into the Day Creek aid station in not too bad of shape.  I actually ran this section only six minutes slower than my goal pace.  I sit down and let my rear end calm down a little while I drink some Coke and empty a rock out of my left shoe.  Now, I have exactly two hours before the 18 hour cut-off.  It is time to practice mind over matter—if I don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.  That is a great mantra, but everything still does matter!

Mile 62.4    1:39:33 (15:48 avg./mile) FINISH

Congratulations from Dr. Horton

I make the climb for the last crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway in a decent time of 47:25—not bad for 2.8 miles up a steep climb.  As I cross the parkway, I start to trot down the hill, but my body and legs are not going to let me run freely at a good clip.  Instead, I am in a survival shuffle that is barely faster than a brisk walk.  It takes me 52:08 to “run” the last 3.5 miles!  However, that is good enough to get me across the line, under the cut-off for the 18^th time in 18 tries in the 18^th edition of this classically epic race.

Official Finishing Time          17:39:53

115^th out of 134 starters (118 finishers under 18 hours)

This year was almost ideal weather, although I like it a little cooler.  Despite the weather, my race this year provided a few other challenges.  First, I was not in as good of shape as I would have liked, and second, the hemorrhoids.  When I finish, I am in absolute pain.  Even after showering and changing into clean clothes, the pain is still rather intense as Amy and I drive to our hotel for the night.  I make it through the night without losing too much more blood.  I will ooze blood for two more days.  Yes, I did see a doctor on Tuesday so I have finally sought medical attention for the malady.

Given that health issue, I am not sure when I will race next.  The Mountain Mist 50k is in January, and the Mt. Cheaha 50k is in February—both in Alabama.  After that, I hope that Kettle Moraine is going to happen in 2021.  I have rolled over my 2020 entry to 2021.  So, maybe I will run a 50k or two or even a 50 miler this winter and spring.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Stump Jump 50k - A beautiful day without a crew

October 3

What a difference a year makes!  Last year, I ran this race for the first time with my son, Nathan.  He is a Navy helicopter pilot, and he drove through the night from Jacksonville, FL to run the race.  He was able to catch an hour or two of sleep in the back of his vehicle before the start, but his tiredness may have helped me finish in front of him by about 30 minutes.  This year, I haven’t run a race since January because of COVID, and Nathan is deployed on the USS Philippine Sea somewhere in the Middle East.

I have trained well this year, but there is no substitute for actually racing.  Initially in March I kept training, but due to nagging issues I took a few easy weeks.  Since May I have trained well, but I haven’t done many very long runs (30+ miles) this summer. I still feel good, and I have done a little taper for this race.  Of course, the taper was going well until my hockey game six days ago found my team with only eight skaters.  So, I skated very hard that night, and my legs might not be as fresh as they could be.  Regardless, the point of this race is training for future races.

The start is staggered—every minute 10 runners begin the race.  I am in the 11^th group of 10 runners, and we start at 7:41am.  The weather is cool in the 40s with clear skies.  I think it should be a great day!

Mile 4.9      59:35 (12:08 avg./mile) Edwards Point

I wear my mask for the first 20 yards and then stick it in my pack.  I am in the vicinity of a couple of runners, but never for long.  The start is actually nice as last year there was a lot of jostling during the first couple of miles.  Not so this year as I settle into a good pace.  I hit this first aid station right on time.  There is nothing except water and PowerAde at this aid station, so I don’t even pause as I pass through and continue on down the trail.

Mile 8.2      49:15 (14:55 avg./mile) Mushroom Rock #1

This section is more technical than the opening section, and as mentioned above, my legs are not as fresh as they could be.  It seems that my race rust is showing in my slower pace through this section than last year.  I am over three minutes slower than last year.  This aid station has pre-packaged food—mostly small bags of chips.  I grab a bag of potato chips and proceed to run down the hill out of the aid station.

Mile 14.2    1:40:13 (16:42 avg./mile) Indian Rock House

My slower pace on the technical trail continues for this section.  Actually this section is one of the hardest (if not the hardest) of the course.  There are a couple of climbs and two stream crossings.  Usually, there are bridges across both of these streams, but the bridge over the second stream was washed away a couple of weeks ago.  However, the water in the stream is low enough that I am able to cross the stream without getting my feet wet.  Regardless, my time for this section is almost eight minutes slower than last year.  Still, I am enjoying the day on the trails and getting a great workout in for my legs!  I grab another bag of chips at this aid station—this time Fritos as I quickly pass through the aid station.

Mile 16.7    38:15 (15:18 avg./mile) Snoopers Rock

I eat my bag of chips and make my way quickly to this next aid station.  This section is not too technical, and it is more downhill than up.  This is roughly the same time I had last year, and I hope this loop back to the Indian Rock House goes quickly.  I don’t grab any food at this aid station as I didn’t finish the bags of Fritos very long ago.

Mile 19.4    59:05 (21:53 avg./mile) Haley Road

Unlike the last section, this section of trail is definitely more uphill than down.  I am working hard to try and keep people from passing me.  Last year, I ran this section six minutes faster.  So, it is a hard, slow section, made even slower this year.  My lower legs are really feeling the fatigue.  I do manage to pass a runner or two on the last uphill section leading to the aid station.  I refill my Camelbak at this aid station.  The aid station worker has a pitcher in his hand that looks like water, but it has a little blue tint to it.  Apparently, the pitcher had just a little bit of PowerAde in it. 

Mile 22.8    50:10 (14:45 avg./mile) Mullins Cove Parking

Leaving the Haley Road aid station, I try to keep pace with a couple of other runners around me.  I am still running okay and am mostly keeping up with two of the runners around me.  However, when we enter the rock garden section, I slow down more than my fellow runners, and they leave me behind.  I focus hard on my foot work and keeping upright.  My goal is to not roll my ankle.  I do well in that regard, and soon another runner and I reach the Mullins Cove parking area.  I grab another bag of chips and drink a small cup of Coke.  I am hoping a little caffeine will help me keep the pace going.  My pace on this section was only 31 seconds slower than last year, so this was a good section for me.

Mile 29.3    2:12:22 (20:22 avg./mile) Mushroom Rock #2

Leaving Mullins Cove parking area, I smoothly and quickly get back to the Indian Rock House.  Now, it is a straight shot back towards the finish—I just have to retrace my steps from this morning.  A routine for this section occurs:  a few runners catch up to me.  I listen to their conversation until they pass me.  Then they quickly leave me behind.  I don’t think I caught any runners on this section.  Rather, it feels like I am drifting backwards in the field of runners.  While I am struggling to make good time, I am enjoying myself out here on this trail on such a beautiful day.  It is peaceful, and I am working hard.  My legs start to think about cramping before I make this final climb back up to Mushroom Rock.  I relax and steadily push each foot in front of the other.  I get to the aid station just before another lady coming up behind me.  I grab a cup of Coke and push out of the aid station quickly before she does.

Mile 31.2    16:17 (8:34 avg./mile) FINISH

I walk out of the last aid station and get about a minute of walking in before I hear the lady starting to run behind me.  I am not going to let her pass me without a fight.  I start my running and push the pace as much as my cramping legs will allow me.  In my effort to prevent her from passing me, I catch and pass three other runners.  By the time I make the final turn onto the paved road for the last few hundred yards to the finish, the lady is nowhere to be seen.  I push hard to the finish, not to improve my time, but rather to look good.

Official Finishing Time          8:25:12

138^th out of 223 starters (4^th of M50-59)

Last year when I finished, Martha was waiting for me, and I figured Nathan would only be about 15 minutes behind me.  It turned out that he was 32 minutes behind me.  This year, Nathan is deployed somewhere in the Middle East, and Martha stayed home as she wouldn’t have been able to go to any aid stations.  I manage to collect my complimentary beer and burrito, and then find a nice patch of grass to sit down and eat.  My final time is 32 minutes slower than my time last year, and it is 45 seconds slower than Nathan’s time last year.  It would have been a fun race if he were here.

I definitely had a lot of trail racing rust to knock off my legs.  My hockey game last week also didn’t help anything either.  However, this was still some great training.  Other than a few bumps, abrasions, and sore muscles, I am no worse for wear.  Hellgate is going to occur, and I need to focus on getting myself ready for that annual tradition.  In preparation for it, I am going to run the Natchez Trace 50 miler on November 7^th.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

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