Twisted Branch 100k 2023 - Near Perfect Weather

August 19

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

Ready to go

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

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

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

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

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

Sunrise!

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

Coming into Naples Creek

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coming into The Lab

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The last mountain to climb in the background

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

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

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

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

Never stop running,

Darin

Catoctin 50k Trail Run - Plenty of Heat and Humidity

 July 8, 2023

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

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

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

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

Elevation Profile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Official Finishing Time          9:12:36

96^th out of 98 finishers (150 starters)

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

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

Never stop running,

Darin

Mohican Trail 100 Mile 2023 - Hot Weather

 June 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A little chocolate milk after the first lap

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

143 finishers out of 194 starters

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

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

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

Never stop running,

Darin

Bull Run Run 2023 -- Hot Spring Weather

April 15

Significant science research has been focused on endurance.  Much of it has investigated training, including the taper before the goal race.  Carbohydrate loading has become universally accepted as key to an optimal performance.  Equally important to fueling one’s body for an event is the proper amount of rest in the one to three weeks before an event.  Before I read any of Jeff Galloway’s books, I thought rest of a few days, maybe even a week, was more than sufficient.  Over time, I have learned that my body really prefers a three week taper.  The very hard, long training runs take a toll on the body.  It takes time for the body to fully recover and heal from the long runs.

I have been training hard this spring, along with playing hard as well.  The month of March started with six straight days of skiing in Big Sky, Montana.  A week later I was in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia training on Priest and Three Ridges.  Two weeks after that I was in the mountains of north Georgia pacing James at the Endurance Hunter 100 miler.  James and I rambled in the dark, up and down some steep trails for 11 hours and 37 miles in route to a fifth place finish for him.  Now two weeks after that, I am toeing the line of the Bull Run Run 50 miler.  Are my legs rested?  Not as much as I usually like them to be.  Am I mentally rested?  Nope, I worked on my airplane Thursday afternoon for four and a half hours and two and a half more hours on Friday morning before finishing and flying to Manassas airport.

On top of my less than ideal taper, the weather is forecasted to be a little warm.  The dew point is in the 60s, and the high is going to climb to the high 70s.  I guess I will take this race easy and see how it unfolds for me.  The cut-off is generous for a 50-miler at 13 hours.  This is my 14^th time running this race.  My fastest time was 9:07 in 2007, and my slowest was 11:47 in 2019.  Last year, I ran 10:37 last year in almost perfect temperatures with the high reaching 53 degrees.

Mile 7.2      1:27:41 (12:11 avg./mile) Centreville Road

Strolling outbound

This year the course is the low water course.  Not only are the stream crossings low,
but the trail is dry and rock hard.  There will be no slipping and sliding around this year unlike most episodes of this event.  I pass Mike Campbell before we enter the single track.  Kari Brown says she is going to take it easy this year, and she is true to her word and is well behind me.  Kevin is here at this first aid station with his bull horn welcoming all of us.  I climb the steps, circle the road construction barrel, and descend back down the steps to continue north.  I didn’t grab any food at this point, and I have plenty of water in my Camelbak.

Mile 9.7      28:42 (11:29 avg./mile) Bluebell Loop

I settle into a steady, relaxed glide as I float along this very flat section.  The field of 221 runners has spread out very well, and I find myself not in close vicinity of the other runners.  I am now at the northern lollipop loop.  It is time to head back south towards Hemlock.  Again, I click my watch and keep on rolling, not pausing for anything at the aid station.

Mile 12.5    31:37 (11:17 avg./mile) Centreville Road

It is warm and humid, but there is also a breeze with only a few drops of rain this morning.  In these conditions, I am making efficient time.  I let my mind wander for a second, and BAM! I catch my left toe and fall to the dirt.  There are a couple of problems here.  First, my left toe has been somewhat of a problem since Big Sky.  I have jammed it several times and each time the pain is very intense!  Don’t worry, it deadens out after several minutes.  The other problem is that I am dusty and have a scrape on my right knee.  I dust myself off and resume my running pace, although it isn’t as smooth as it was previously.  Back at this aid station, Kevin is still here with his bull horn.  I grab a PB&J sandwich quarter and a few potato chips.

Mile 17.6    1:09:13 (13:34 avg./mile) Hemlock Overlook

Alone with my thoughts

As the heat builds, I conscientiously back off of my pace.  I remain steady in the
field, and I hear Kari Brown behind me somewhere.  As I make my way back to the start/finish, I meet Lauris Trimble.  She is running this race for her eighth time.  She is an Army officer, so her finishes at this race are scattered from 2003 to last year.  I am thinking that I can keep a smooth, relaxed pace with Lauris.  At the aid station, I don’t need to change my shoes or socks as the trail is rock hard and dry.  This is most unusual compared to many years when it is a mud fest, especially for the early miles.  I grab two PB&J sandwich quarters and walk up the hill to start the “back half.”

Mile 21.9    1:05:01 (15:07 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

Leaving Hemlock, it feels measurably warmer.  I stay with Lauris most of this section as we chat away, but as we cross the soccer fields, I let her go ahead as I am thinking and feeling like I need to slow down some more.  I kick another root on this section with my left toe.  I don’t fall, so that is good, but the pain is intense nonetheless.  At the aid station, I grab a pickle along with a handful of potato chips as I walk through.

Mile 26.1    1:08:05 (16:13 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

The heat continues to build, and I keep my pace smooth and slow.  I kick another root with my left toe, and I almost lose it coming down a hill.  However, I hang on and stay upright as the intense pain flows up my leg.  I am running with Adam and Chris from Westminster, Maryland when we meet a lady out walking on the trails.  She says, 2 out of 3 is pretty good for shirtless runners.  Adam and Chris have their shirts off at this point, and I am the odd one out in this group.  I get into this aid station, and Alex and his crew are doing a fantastic job as always.  I eat several strawberries and then move on as the heat is building, and I don’t think I need to eat anything else at this point.  I took salt tablets at three and six hours into the race.

Mile 28.9    50:30 (18:02 avg./mile) Fountainhead

My pace continues to slow inversely proportional to the temperature.  I am thinking that I just need to maintain a reasonable rate to finish this thing.  Obviously, I am not going to set a personal best as my cumulative time is already 6 hours and 40 minutes, and I am not too far past halfway.  Amy, Edward, and Charlie are at this aid station waiting for me.  Charlie has a sign that says, “Go G’pa Go!”  It is great to see them, but it only slightly distracts me from the heat.  I take the shirt off, and they slather me with sunscreen.  I drink a little chocolate milk before grabbing another PB&J sandwich quarter from the table.

Shirt removed

Mile 32.9    1:11:29 (17:52 avg./mile) Do Loop

The course this year is the “normal” course, meaning that we run the white trail before heading towards the do loop.  The white trail is this curvy trail that goes nowhere for almost two miles.  Then we get to head out to the do loop.  At this point, there are many runners returning that are a couple of hours ahead of me.  I see Kathleen and many other runners heading back in as I struggle to keep moving forward.  At the do loop, the scene is looking grim, but not quite yet a mash unit.  I eat two quesadilla quarters and ensure my Camelbak is topped off before entering the do loop.

Mile 35.5    50:26 (19:24 avg./mile) Do Loop

I am thinking that I need to keep running all of the downhills to stay in front of the cut-off times.  The start of the do loop is mostly downhill to the river.  As I am running down the hill, my hamstrings decide they are going to start cramping.  I walk a little before carefully running the rest of the way down the hill.  At the river the course turns left and starts a series of climbs followed by short downhill sections.  The downhills are short, which is good as they aren’t long enough for my legs to cramp again.  At the old Ford Fairlane, there is a tribute to Chris Scott, who passed away a couple of weeks ago.  He was also one of a handful of guys that started this race in the early 90s.  When I get back to the aid station, I have less than 30 minutes on the cut-off time, but I can’t drop out here as my crew is at Fountainhead.  I sit, eat a quesadilla quarter, and then press on to the next stop.

Mile 37.9    44:44 (18:38 avg./mile) Fountainhead

Leaving the do loop aid station, at the bottom of the hill, there is a lady throwing up.  Several runners are standing around offering various words of encouragement (what else can we do?).  I, on the other hand, have nothing to offer and pass quickly on the side.  My thinking is that if she is truly hurting, she could crawl back to the aid station that is only a couple of hundred yards away.  As I pass, all of the runners that were standing around come to the same conclusion as me and proceed with the race.  Many of these runners then pass and leave me behind.  I am struggling as I can’t push any harder since my legs will lock up if I do.  As I approach the aid station, it looks like we might finally get a rain shower that was forecasted.  That would be very welcome at this point.  I see Amy and Edward again; Charlie is asleep resting up for me.  I put my shirt back on as I think it is going to rain.  I am clearly hurting, but I decide to press on.  I am 18 minutes ahead of the cut-off time, but I am steadily losing ground.

Mile 40.6    50:20 (18:39 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

The rain shower doesn’t actually grace my presence—it only spits a few drops of water before going somewhere else.  Kari Brown catches me, and we chat briefly before she leaves me behind.  She says, she told me that she was going to take it easy today, but she also says that she only has 17 minutes on the cut-off and doesn’t want to sweat the cut-offs any closer than this.  Sean Andrish and his sister, Shannon, come by me.  I had seen them very early in the race.  There is also a pair of runners who are mom and daughter.  The daughter is a fourth year at the Naval Academy, will be graduating in a couple of weeks, and then going to flight school in Pensacola.  Unfortunately, I don’t get a chance to talk with them.  I only overheard all of this information from a distance.  I manage to continue my pedestrian pace into Wolf Run Shoals aid station.  I get a few slugs of Coke in my collapsible cup and also get a handful of potato chips.  As this is a non-crew aid station there isn’t a cut-off here, but I am pretty sure I lost more ground.

Mile 44.8    1:10:43 (16:50 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

Shortly after leaving Wolf Run Shoals, I make the strategic decision that I need to go to the whip now.  I have to get into the next aid station before six o’clock.  I reach in my pack and fish out a caffeine pill.  I pop that and within 10 minutes or so the effects begin.  I repass several runners and make excellent time getting to the marina.  I still have to manage my pace to ensure my legs, which have been on the verge of totally cramping for miles, do not fully lock up.  I power into the aid station with seven minutes to spare on the cut-off.  However, the cut-off is when I need to leave the aid station, not arrive at it.  Amy refills my Camelbak while Bob Gaylord (helping at the aid station) helps me take my shoe off so that I can get a rock out of it.  In the process of doing that, my right calf spasms and cramps, and my torso cramps while I am trying to get the shoe all the way on and tied.  I drink two collapsible cups of Coke and leave the aid station with two minutes to spare on the cut-off.

Mile 50.2    1:31:13 (16:54 avg./mile) FINISH

I have five and a half miles and only 90 minutes to get it done.  I have done this section as quickly as 1:02 in 2006 when Gary Knipling and I battle all the way to the finish, and I have done it as slow as 1:32 in 2019 when I had over an hour to spare.  I walked with purpose most of the way, running when the terrain was conducive, i.e., downhill.  The last runners I had sight of were around the soccer fields.  I am by myself for the last two miles, but fortunately, I know the marks well.  With a little over 15 minutes left, I pass the Ed C. bench marking a mile to go.  Eddie passed away a few years ago, and he and I ran dozens of races together.  I push up the last hill as quickly as I can.  I walk across the grass field as I can hear the crowd at the finish.  When I get across the field, I run the last quarter of a mile to the finish.  As the finish line comes in view, Amy is there pushing Charlie in the stroller.  When I first see the finish clock it reads 12:59:xx.  The crowd rises as one cheering me on as I get in just in time.

Official Finishing Time          12:59:44

137^th out of 217 starters (137 official finishers)

Hanging out at the finish

I would like to say that it was never in doubt that I would finish, but I did a little soul searching at the Fountainhead aid station before deciding that I would press on and try to finish.  The last section was total purpose and keeping my eye on the clock.  Could I have run more, I hope so, but I don’t know.  In 1999, I finished the Hartford marathon with a time of 3:10:44, which qualified me for Boston with only 15 seconds to spare.  This had the exact same 15 seconds to spare.  This is my slowest finish at this race by over an hour and 12 minutes.

In the end, I am very satisfied at my effort, but not thrilled with my time.  I sit at the finish for over 30 minutes, sipping a little Coke, and receiving congratulations from many friends and family.  Edward walks over and retrieves my rental car, driving it really close so I don’t have to walk very far.  I get up, thank all of the volunteers that are left, and manage to get into my car and drive back to my hotel.  I now get to rest from racing until I run the Mohican Trail 100 on June 3^rd.  Yes, I am returning to the Mo for the first time since 2009.  We will see what I can do.  Until then…

Never stop running,

Darin

Eagle Ridge 50k 2023 - cool and wet

February 11 

Oliver with big brother and dad
in the background

I am running this race because a) I haven’t raced in nine weeks, b) I didn’t run Mountain Mist two weeks ago because we flew to Jacksonville, Florida to see our newest grandson—Oliver born January 21^st, and c) I am not running Mt Cheaha in two weeks because I have a Scout ski trip to Gatlinburg.

This is a low key race.  There are only 32 runners in the 50k.  A half marathon and
5k are also being run on this course today.  The half marathon runners will start with us at 8:00am, and the 5k runners will start 30 minutes later.  The temperature is currently 41 degrees, but it is supposed to warm up to about 50 degrees before rain moves in during the afternoon.  I start the race with shorts, long and short sleeve shirts, and a buff on my head.

Mile 2.4      24:02 (10:01 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

There are 80-some runners in the half marathon, so for these first two sections, the trail is a little crowded.  Also, there is basically no way for me to identify who is running which race.  Most of these first miles are downhill, and I am feeling good.  I don’t stop at this small aid station, instead I click my watch and press on.

Mile 3.2      10:15 (12:49 avg./mile) Start of South Loop

A quick stretch over a hill, down the other side, and then up and down beside a cemetery brings me to the second aid station, which is unmanned.  The half marathon runners just turn around at this point, and the 50k runners start a 3+ mile loop.  I met several of the leading half marathon runners as I approached this aid station.

Mile 6.4      38:28 (12:01 avg./mile) End of South Loop

I run with a younger guy from Georgia that is running his second 50k.  His name is Ty Smith, and he says it was about a two-hour drive from where he lives in Georgia.  He is following me for this section, but doesn’t talk too much or ask me many questions.  Usually, less experienced runners ask me tons of questions, mostly about all of my races.  We are making good time, and I like the pace so far.

Mile 7.2      9:12 (11:30 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

Ty and I make quick work of this short section that finishes the southern lollipop loop.  There are several runners/walkers still heading outbound as we are coming back.  I assume most of these are the half marathon runners because the 50k runners wouldn’t be walking at this point if they hoped to make the eight-hour cutoff.  At the aid station, Ty slides quickly past me as I say hi to the race director.  I again don’t stop at this aid station as I am carrying my Camelbak with 50 ounces of water.

Mile 9.7      24:43 (9:53 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

Ty pushes the pace on this section and gaps me as we pass several half marathon runners.  I guess it is five or six runners, but this section isn’t very long, and most of it is long switchbacks up a climb.  At the top of the climb, we cross a paved road and enter the one and only full aid station in the race.  They have warm quesadilla quarters, which are simply superb!  I limited myself to just one at this point.

Mile 14.8    1:02:56 (12:20 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

This is the sixth time this race has been run, but none of these aid stations have names.  So, I have made up my own names for each of the aid stations.  This section is the northern lollipop loop.  I meet several of the leaders in the half marathon as they are heading back towards their finish. I get to the split to start the loop, and the loop starts with a rather steep downhill section.  Braking while running down the hill is essential.  I pass a few half marathon runners on my way down the hill.  I hope that I can still run down this hill on the second lap, and I make a mental note to try to save my quads in order to be able to do so.  At the bottom of the hill, the course parallels the water for a half mile or so before the climb back up the hill begins.  This is an equally steep hill going up as it was going down.  At some point on this section, I passed a slightly fading Ty Smith and leave him behind.  When I get to the aid station, I grab another quesadilla—this one with some bacon in it with the cheese—and proceed the last mile or so to finish the first lap.

Mile 15.7    10:37 (11:48 avg./mile) End of First Lap

There isn’t a stop at this point, but there is a little spur off of the main trail that will take us to the finish after the second lap. The race director is at this point making sure each runner makes the correct turn for his/her race.  My halfway time is right at three hours, which is about as good as I could have hoped for a race with almost 5,000 feet of climb and descent.

Mile 17.6    21:57 (11:33 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

This section is quicker than the first time, but it is also shorter by a half mile.  The race started with a lap around the parking lot before entering the trail spur that is about three-tenths of a mile.  I pass one runner on this section and wish him well on his second lap.  Unfortunately, the rain begins falling, but fortunately it is a very light rain for now.

Mile 18.4    9:38 (12:03 avg./mile) Start of South Loop

I press hard on this short little section of trail, bettering my time from the first time going out.  It isn’t quicker than my return trip earlier, though.  I see one of the leaders finishing the loop as I make the right turn to start my loop.  I am still feeling pretty good, but I want to make sure I don’t push my legs too hard.

Mile 21.6    44:54 (14:02 avg./mile) End of South Loop

I pass another runner early in this section.  He stays close to me for a while, but then I am able to open up a gap and leave him behind.  I am running conservatively otherwise as I wait to get closer to the finish before pushing any harder.  The light rain continues to fall, but so far the trail is in good shape.

Mile 22.4    11:36 (14:30 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

Leaving the south loop, I meet a few outbound runners as we pass by the cemetery again.  As they are over three miles behind me, I hope I don’t see them again on the course, but I might coming and going on the northern lollipop loop.  At this aid station, I see the race director again.  I stop just long enough to refill my Camelbak for the one and only time during the race.

Mile 24.9    27:20 (10:56 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

I decided I would push this section a little more than I did on the first lap, but my time was over two minutes slower.  I think the combination of mentally knowing that it isn’t time to push all out and the lack of any other runners around me caused the lethargic section.  It is also interesting to me that the pace for this section is actually fast, which makes me think this section might not be as long as advertised.  At this wonderful aid station, I eat a quesadilla and a bite-size Twix bar.

Mile 30.0    1:06:06 (12:58 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

I run most of the way to the split, and then I run all the way down the hill.  My legs are screaming since I have to break due to the steepness, but it is go time, and this is the last real downhill for this race.  I make it to the lake, traverse around, and then start the climb.  The rain has started to pick up, and it feels colder.  I don’t know if it actually colder or if the heavier rain is making it feel colder.  The climb is tough, but when I get to the top I run to the split and then onto the aid station.  I grab one more quesadilla and wash it down with several gulps of Coke.  Let’s go get this race done!

Mile 31.1    13:14 (12:02 avg./mile) FINISH

I press hard, but the legs are heavy, and I haven’t seen another runner going my direction in over 10 miles.  I haven’t seen any runners to catch in front of me, and I have not seen or heard any runners behind me.  I hike the last small climb and turn the corner to run through the finishing arch in the steady rain.

Official Finishing Time 6:14:58

11^th out of 32 starters (25 under the 8-hour cut-off)

After crossing the finish line, I am given my finisher award.  My first question is what place am I?  They don’t know, and the race director is nowhere around the finish.  I eat a bowl of chili and chat with the volunteers while watching the weather deteriorate.  I am glad I am not still out there running!  When I get in my truck, the temperature is a cool 42 degrees.  My next race will be the Bull Run Run 50-mile race on April 15^th, but before that I plan to pace James at the Endurance Hunter 100-mile race on April 1^st.

Never stop running,

Darin