Hellgate 100K Race Report

Hellgate!! A very special race, no matter who you ask. And it truly is.

Every year I like to sign up for something that I'm not sure if I can finish. Getting a PR isn't especially motivating to me, especially when I'm out in the thick of a race and I'm tired. Honestly, I can hardly remember what time I finished things in before, so I'm sure no one else remembers. But I do remember finishing so cutoffs are motivating. The first time I ran this race, the race itself was certainly something I wasn't sure I could finish. Much to my (and Dr. Horton's) amazement, I did finish in 2015. So this year, I ran Masochist 50 miler in November and signed up for this race a month later. I'd done each race separately but I didn't know if I could finish them both back-to-back, especially since I didn't have a whole lot of breathing room ahead of cutoffs at either race. This was my personal challenge for 2017.

Masochist actually went really well. I had trained hard for it. After the race though, I had no idea what to do for the five weeks until Hellgate. I ran 10 miles the weekend after Masochist and it was tough! My legs were so tired. I ran into Todd Thomas out on a run and he encouraged me to do less than I thought I needed to and to trust my fitness. The following weekend I went on a 22 mile run with friends. It was supposed to be my confidence-boosting run, but it was the exact opposite. I underestimated the run in every way. It was more climbing than I thought, my legs were more tired than I thought, it took far longer than I thought...I got to the end and was seriously questioning my ability to complete Hellgate. I focused on the fact that I felt better at mile 22 than at mile 13 and hoped I wouldn't get much more tired. And I decided that would be my last long run before the race. For the next couple weeks, I still did gym workouts, and I ran a few shorter runs (up to 10 miles), but I didn't go out on any more long runs.

I checked the weather a lot before the race, and it was actually looking great. This is from Dr. Horton's email a few days before the race:

Just over 50 hours, it's not long now. The weather forecast for Fincastle is a high of 45 and a low of 24 with 0% of precipitation. Yay yay yay yay. 

The day before the race, the chance of precipitation was up to 10%, still no big deal. Then Friday morning I wake up to find everyone talking about 3" of snow, and as the day goes on, the numbers get higher. It started snowing at my house at 11am. This was not part of my plan for the race. I was pretty nervous because I knew I didn't have a big time cushion at this race, and if any of the steep climbs were icy or the trails had deep snow, I doubted I would be able to finish. I went out and bought Yaktrax that morning hoping I wouldn't actually need them (I didn't).

I had told many people I didn't have any race goals other than to finish. That was true. When I ran the race in 2015, I had given myself about 50-50 odds and I did finish. Comparing the two, in my favor this time were:

• no broken toe (I broke my toe 3 weeks before the last Hellgate which was definitely unpleasant for running)
• no 80 degree temps (and therefore no heat exhaustion, I hoped)
• pacers for the end (who wouldn't let me have the same level of breakdown in the forever section)

Things that would make this year harder:

• snow
• running a 50 mile race 5 weeks prior and having no idea how to train/maintain between long races like that

I figured they probably averaged out and gave myself 50-50 odds again. And I figured if I could finish in the same time, this year would trump last time because Masochist. If I didn't finish, that was okay too. Part of the ultrarunning thing for me is testing my limits. I know there are races that are out of my league. I figured it was entirely possibly that back-to-back Masochist and Hellgate was out of my league, and I was completely okay with that. Of course I wanted to finish! But if I gave it my all and it was just more than I was capable of, that was okay too.

My kids had a Christmas program at church that evening. I only got to watch the rehearsal, but then Rhonda and Elizabeth picked me up and we headed to the camp, just in time to catch the pre-race briefing. I was really grateful we were able to arrive then because the snow meant the Blue Ridge Parkway would be closed, and that meant a few changes to aid stations and different driving directions for my crew. After the meeting, we arranged all our supplies (we probably could have staffed an extra aid station for all of the runners with everything we stuffed into Rhonda's car!),  finalized wardrobe choices, discussed changes in plans with the aid station closures, and got directions and maps squared away.

There was still almost an hour and a half before we'd caravan to the race. I spent that time nervously discussing the race with everyone. It's so nice to be a part of this community and see all the familiar faces-runners, crews, and aid station volunteers. Before long, we piled up and drove to the start. Honestly, it seemed like a long way in the car! I tried not to think too hard about that.

At the start, we had another 30 minutes or so to check in and then fidget nervously with our running gear while we sat in warm cars, postponing the inevitable adjustment to the cold. It was in the 30s at the start, warmer than I expected, yet still quite chilly and the temps were dropping.
We all gathered around the gate a few minutes before the start to sing the national anthem, then we were off to a chorus of cheers.

Rhonda, me, and Elizabeth...as seen by someone coming down with Hellgate eyes

Start to AS1 (FSR 35) 

Although it was cold, it wasn't TOO cold, and it didn't take long to get moving. I think I had run for all of 60 seconds when I started seeing snowflakes. For this race, like so many others, I had spent lots of time looking at course descriptions and elevation profiles and time goals...but when I actually got out on the course, I really wanted to spend the day focused on the positive. I had no idea whether I would finish the race, but I wanted to enjoy whatever time I had out on the course. I decided to focus on something specific that I was grateful for in each section. Here at the beginning, I was grateful that the roads were (so far) in good shape, that our crews should be able to drive safely to the next destination, and that I had a crew to support me on this whole crazy endeavor. I stayed with the pack and got to the aid station in about the same amount of time as I did in 2015. I managed to hop across the creek without wading in the creek, and that felt like I had won a huge prize-dry feet for the next 20 or so miles! Another thing to be grateful for. I grabbed a quick cup of water at the aid station and headed up the hill.

AS1 (FSR 35) to AS2 (Petites Gap)

This section is pretty much one giant uphill. I focused on run/walking, running for twice as long as I walked, and made steady progress up the hill. It wasn't really snowing here, and it was neat to see all the lights. (Some reports talk about all the lights going down the mountain...but I was more looking at them going UP the mountain. Somebody's gotta stay in the back to give those front runners the great views.) It really was a pretty night to be out, and I was grateful that my legs were still feeling good. In this section I thought about several good friends who are my age and are facing serious health conditions, and I thought about how grateful I am to be able to even attempt something like this, and to be out in the woods on such a gorgeous night.

AS2 (Petites Gap) to AS 3 (Camping Gap)

I saw my crew for the first time at Petites Gap. The other crews weren't allowed to leave until all the runners had come through, so I also got to see a few other friends who were crewing other runners. This was a pretty great aid station and I felt better than I expected when I got to it, and I was still on the same pace as 2015, much to my surprise. Elizabeth and Rhonda helped me refill everything and grab some food, and off I went.

I had some stomach issues in this section that started to really slow me down. Definitely not fun but I was grateful to be having stomach issues while it was still dark and therefore much easier to find privacy without hiking way off the trail. I started slipping behind my 2015 time, but I tried not to look at my watch too much because I knew I had had a major breakdown at the end last time and I wasn't planning on doing that today.

The climb up to Camping Gap was very long and hard. This is where I started to feel the fatigue in my legs and could clearly tell I wasn't recovered from Masochist. I kept on trucking with the run/walk, although the intervals got shorter, and tried to stay positive. I figured I needed to push hard for the first third, to Overstreet Falls (the new location for AS4). Although the aid station was now anywhere from 1 to 2 miles closer (depending on who you asked), only 10 minutes was taken off the cutoff so I figured it was more generous than a regular year. I figured the first cutoff would be the harder to make so I'd keep pushing hard to there, and then I knew there were a lot more runnable sections after Floyd's Field. In the meantime, I thought about how grateful I am to be a part of this running community, to have friends who come out in the middle of the night in the cold and snow to support runners, to know there would be familiar faces at nearly every aid station, and to share this experience with so many friends.

AS3 (Camping Gap) to AS 4 (Overstreet Falls)

This can be a really long section. In 2015, I don't remember seeing a single other runner in this entire section. I wasn't sure if I wanted to bust out music here or not-I wanted to pass the time, but it kinda freaks me out to listen to music in the dark. I want to be able to hear my surroundings. As it worked out, I didn't have to choose. I ran most of the grassy road section with a girl who was finishing the Beast series. It was such a gift to have some conversation to pass the miles. This section went by a LOT faster than I remember from before, even though it was still long. And I actually loved the new location of the aid station. It would have been awesome to see my crew but I was glad to have some hot food at the bottom of that hill. It snowed throughout this section and it was coming down pretty hard by the time I got to the aid station. There were a few patches where it got really foggy and I was scared I was getting Hellgate eyes, but it turns out it was really just fog. Whew.

During this section I was grateful for not being alone, and I thought about how grateful I am for my family-for my husband being so supportive of this crazy running hobby, and for my kids and the extra time I get to spend with them because we homeschool. I also thought about our good friends who live right across the street and how grateful I am that we get to live so close to some of our favorite people.

AS4 (Overstreet Falls) to AS5 (Jennings Creek)

My stomach was still giving me some issues as I left here, so it took me an extra long time to reach the top of the hill. The snow was coming down hard and while it's a cool experience to run by headlamp in a snowstorm, it's also a bit disorienting. I was really excited to crest the hill because last time, the middle section of the race was awesome for me. I remember a lot of running (as opposed to the hiking I'd been doing for most of the first six hours) and was looking forward to that.

Between the stomach issues and the tired legs, I'd been afraid to check how I was doing against 2015 me. I finally decided to take a peek on the little climb after crossing the parkway, because I knew there was plenty of running soon. I figured I was about 25 minutes behind and was preparing the pep talk I'd give myself. But I looked, and I was actually only about 12 minutes behind. That was fabulous news!! I could be 12 minutes behind, still have the same breakdown, and squeak in just under the 18 hours. Woohoo! (My 2015 time was 17:44.)

As daylight broke, the snow was just gorgeous in the forest. It really was. It's especially gorgeous going downhill. This was a magical, beautiful section where I was able to run and feel good, and enjoy the daylight. Sunrise hits and my body just magically forgets about the first 30 miles; it's like something resets and I just find myself at the beginning of my Saturday morning run. This was an amazing section. I was grateful for the snow, grateful that the trails weren't slick, grateful for the cold and how much better my muscles felt, and grateful for the exhilarating feeling of running through these beautiful snow-covered mountains. I will cherish the memories of running through this section.

This section went by quickly. The trail is very runnable, especially as it gets lighter, and it's one of my favorite sections of the race. Coming into Jennings Creek I knew there would be breakfast, and my crew, and several friends at the aid station. The Christmas lights didn't disappoint. As I came in, I checked my watch and I had actually gained time on 2015 me. I was only 7 or 8 minutes behind, and knowing that I had spent more time than that dealing with stomach issues, I was actually moving slightly better than before! I was so thrilled to be here as early as I was, seeing my running people, that I was actually a bit teary coming through the aid station. This was turning out to be a very good day indeed.

AS5 (Jennings Creek) to AS 6 (Little Cove)

Elizabeth, Rhonda, and the aid station gang loaded me up with plenty of food and fluids, and I switched out some gear here. I dropped off my headlamp and picked up my watch charger (because I wanted my watch to say 66 miles by the end!), and picked up a dry jacket, hat, and set of gloves. Everything had gotten wet with the snow and I was feeling pretty cold. After that I set off up the hill, still climbing with several other runners at this point. We chatted about this race, other races, running in general, balancing these long races with family time, lots of things. I so enjoyed the company of the other runners here. I had notecards in my pack with details about each section, how long the climbs were, how much was runnable-but I found it much more enjoyable to ask other runners what they remembered of the course. It passed the time and miles quickly.

I could definitely feel myself being more tired here. The climbs were getting a bit more laborious and I knew I wasn't moving as well here as I had in 2015. But I was still feeling better than I had expected and more optimistic about my odds of finishing-here, I would have upped them to about 60-40. During this section I was thinking more about how grateful I was to my crew, and that I wouldn't have to run alone much longer because I could pick up my pacer. I was also grateful for the snow-the trail sections here were gorgeous. Also, I was grateful that my stomach issues had mostly settled down and everything I had eaten had stayed down thus far. Eating was something I didn't do well at Masochist and I was trying hard to force down as many calories as I could, and I was so glad that my stomach was getting on board with this plan.

In this section there are several nice runnable sections, and then a very long climb up to the aid station. This was the first time I started to wonder if the aid station actually existed. The mileage was off (what's new right?) and even compared to my notes with supposedly Garmin miles, the aid station was 0.6 miles past where I was expecting. That doesn't sound far but trust me, when you are climbing up a loooooong gravel road it feels like a long way. Especially because I was alone for this climb. A few hunters' trucks loaded up with dogs whizzed by me on this road. They were probably surprised to see so many pedestrians out there. Eventually, finally, the aid station came into view. This aid station had bacon (rock on!) and ibuprofen (sore top of foot...something that had never bugged me on any run or race before) and friendly volunteers. I was very happy to see them!

AS 6 (Little Cove) to AS 7 (Bearwallow Gap)

Heading out of Little Cove, I made the short climb up and then started to run down, down, down again. This is such a pretty section too, and there are parts where the trees are really short and right up against the trail and I love those, because I feel like I'm running super fast, almost flying through the woods. I kept waiting for the Devil Trail, the part known for being so rocky and awful-but it was nowhere near as bad as I remember. In fact, there were long patches that looked like they had been freshly smoothed out with nice fine gravel. There were definitely some rocks but nothing terrible.

In this section I was thinking about how grateful I am to live where I do. I grew up in the flatlands of the midwest, so to be able to run in these beautiful mountains is an incredible gift! We moved to Lynchburg before I had ever heard of trail running, but when I fell in love with the sport it didn't take long to realize that I lived in one of the best cities ever to be a trail runner, and we really have a fabulous community here, especially because of Dr. Horton and all he has invested in the sport and the races he directs.

As we got closer to the aid station I started to get really excited. I was so happy to get dry shoes (mine were quite squishy wet by now) and see my friends, and especially to pick up Elizabeth as my pacer. We crossed the road and I was so excited! I knew we were close, we just had that short section that twists around before you get to the parking lot. And we had almost 50 minutes until the cutoff!! Even though I felt like I was doing so much worse, I had only taken a couple minutes longer to cover the whole section than I did before, and I still had plenty of time. It was in this section that I really started to focus on 20 minute miles-make sure no mile ever took longer than 20 minutes, even if it was really hard-and calculate how close I was to having 20 minutes for every mile left in the race. I figured when I got to that point, I knew for sure I could finish.

AS 7 (Bearwallow Gap) to AS 8 (Bobblets Gap)

At the aid station, I changed out all my wet gear-socks, shoes, jacket, gloves-for dry. I got plenty of food and tailwind and Elizabeth was ready to go. Yea! No more miles by myself. We headed out and I'm sure she was relieved at the pace I was taking. She was coming off a foot injury and was worried about slowing me down (HA!) but by now I was at the point where "running" was probably what she could do with a decent hiking pace. She was great company and I so enjoyed the conversation. It made this section go by much faster and I was glad to have her encouraging me and keeping me focused on moving ahead.

This section has a lot of short & steep climbs, and a lot of runnable trail. The climbs were definitely getting tough by this point in the day and I took comfort in knowing that if I fell backwards and rolled down the hill, at least I had someone to help get me back up to the trail.

During this section I was obviously grateful to Elizabeth pacing me, but I was also so grateful for the snow. Honestly, I never thought I'd say this but I think it made it easier. There was just enough snow to smash down the leaves (no more knee deep leaf piles to run through) and to fill in lots of those annoying little gaps between the rocks, but not so much for it to be an ice trough by the time we back-of-the-packers get through. Yes, there were definitely some slippery spots-but overall I think the snow made it easier. And this section too was just gorgeous in the snow. So much prettier than just brown everywhere!

AS 8 (Bobblets Gap) to AS 9 (Day Creek)

Bobblets Gap aid station

Because of the snow, this was no longer a crew aid station. It was a lot harder to tell we were getting close because it wasn't so loud with just the aid station volunteers and people so spread out. I was getting tired and every time we started to make a left turn I was hopeful we would be there! Finally we arrived and it was worth the wait. So many friends here encouraging me, and telling me I was doing great and had lots of time ahead of cutoffs (yea!!). They had lots of hot food and I spent several minutes here enjoying the buffet. It's moments like this that are why I don't run 5Ks. I like walking and eating and there isn't nearly enough of either in a 5K.

It was a bit sad to leave the aid station but off we went. It was so exciting to know there was only one more aid station until the finish! At this point I was pretty confident I could finish, and a few thoughts started rolling around in my mind wondering if I could beat 2015 me. I was only behind by about 14 minutes, and I knew that 2015 me was about to have a breakdown in the forever section and I might be able to pass her.

Once I had finished eating, we took off down the road. It was more level than I remember, although that could partly be because it was pretty snow-covered at this point. Several inches of snow had stuck and I'm so glad the aid station crew was able to get there safely! We ran down for awhile and I kept saying that I remembered more of a gravel road here...eventually we did come around a gate and there was the "real" gravel road. Before I knew it we got to the turn for the forever section.

I'd been anticipating this moment all day, because it was exactly here that I fell apart last time. But today I felt good! I was still smiling. I was enjoying being out there. I felt pretty good about my odds of finishing without any sprinting at the end. And I had friends with me! Elizabeth encouraged me to run more, and to eat, and even though this section still took a long time and I was tired, it was SO much better than last time. By the end I was ahead of the old me! Haha 2015 me, eat my dust!

As this section went on, I was just so grateful for feeling good! Of course I was tired (SO tired), but I wasn't dead yet! I was still running (some), my stomach was settled, and I was coherent enough to carry on a conversation and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Strangely the snow actually made me more relaxed, because if I didn't finish on a crazy snowy day, I wouldn't have even felt bad about it. As it turns out I was going to finish, and on a tough day, and I was going to do even better than when I had trained just to this race. What an amazing feeling!

Pretty soon my friend Tim came running up the trail. What a fun surprise! I asked how far to the aid station and thought he said "6 miles" which I just didn't have left in me. We clarified, he actually said "point 6 miles" which was WAY better news. And he said there was only one piddly little climb left, even better! Elizabeth, Tim and I ran down to the aid station where we found even more friends! This aid station was fantastic, equally because of the awesome people and the fact that it was the last aid station. A little more hot food, and I gave Rhonda my second bottle to make my pack lighter, and off we went!

I'm not dead yet! I can even still run!

AS 9 (Day Creek) to Finish

Tim hiked with me and Elizabeth all the way to the top of the hill. This was such a great time! I didn't bother trying to run at all, I just enjoyed hanging out with my friends and knowing that I was in great shape to finish well before old me. Tim has been injured and not running with us as much lately so it was nice to have him join me and Elizabeth for a few miles.

Eventually we saw the historical marker, and I was so excited because I knew that meant that the gate (and top of the hill) was just around the corner. Sure enough, a few minutes later, we were at the top. Woohoo! It really is all downhill from here! Tim headed back to the aid station and Elizabeth continued on with me to the finish. I was so glad her foot was feeling better and she was able to run the entire 20 miles with me!

I ran most of the way down the hill, just taking a few breaks to catch my breath. Of course "running" probably wasn't very fast at this point, but I was enjoying myself and just trying to take in the last section of the race, and wrap up the whole day in my mind. So very much to be thankful for. I had been training hard for months to get ready for Masochist and Hellgate and was looking forward to taking a break from hard training to spend more Saturdays with my family. I wanted to relish this last part of the race, the part where I was confident I would finish and was amazed at how much better I was doing than what I expected. I tried to soak in the views of the snow-covered mountains, the cold scent of the forest, the feel of the trail under my feet, and the sounds of steps in the snow. These moments are why I run. At the same time, the exhilaration of these moments wouldn't be possible without the struggle of the previous miles.

Gorgeous trails!

As we came close to the finish, I took my last walking break just outside the camp and then came in. Elizabeth pushed into a whole new level here, yelling at me not to walk and to push and that I only had three minutes to beat my time (she lied). Then there it was, the finishers' chute! Dr. Horton came out of the building and hollered, "Is that Kim Weatherford? What are you doing here?!" and then I got a huge hug from him at the finish. So many friends were there-it was a little overwhelming! And lo and behold, I actually beat my old time by five minutes!!

I went inside to get my jacket for finishing, and I told Dr. Horton, "Last time I finished this, you told me I was tougher than you thought I was. This time, finishing this race in the snow and after Masochist, this time it showed me that I'm tougher than I thought I was."

I loved this race. I loved the snow-and I never thought I would say that about any race. It was so amazingly, magically beautiful out there. I loved the time to pray, to talk to other runners, to enjoy the woods and the mountains, to allow other people to help me, and to to think. I loved feeling my body being pressed to its limits and conquering climb after climb, pushing through fatigue and exhaustion. I loved the beauty of the struggle of the race against the background of the peaceful snow. I loved it all.

I'm so incredibly grateful for everyone who was out there. I'm afraid to name names for fear of forgetting someone, but especially Dr. Horton for putting on the race and giving me a chance to run it, for Elizabeth and Rhonda crewing me all night and day, for Elizabeth pacing me, for the aid station volunteers who served me and encouraged me, for the other runners and crews who were there to celebrate with me at the finish-so many people had a part in this day. It is a gift to be a part of this running community and to be able to run. I'm already looking forward to the next race.

MMTR-Mountain Masochist 2017 Race Report

The Backstory

Before I talk about this year's race, let me explain my history with Masochist.

The first year I ran was 2012. This happened to be the year of a few major things-first, the course was completely changed so about 7 miles of the race was different than it had been. The first half took out several miles of road and added some single track, and the second half added the out-and-back to the summit in the Mt. Pleasant loop. Second, superstorm Sandy came through a few days before the race and dumped about a foot and a half of snow on the second half of the course. The race director noticed the front runners coming out of the Mt. Pleasant loop (mile 39ish) almost an hour behind the typical times, so the race was extended by 30 minutes for the first time in history. Sadly, sunset was not extended, and I had turned in my light early in the race so I ran the last four miles in the dark, with no light...and crossed the finish line about 15 seconds over the new time limit. I talked the race director into letting me keep my finishers shirt (he did try to take it away, lol) and was determined to come back stronger next year.

The following year, there was thankfully no snow, and I trained harder and was able to finish the course in 11:51, narrowly dodging the cutoffs along the way. (At Salt Log Gap, I ran past the aid station, thanking the volunteers-while they tried to pull my pacer from the race. Needless to say I picked up the pace for the last few miles.)  I declared the race conquered, swore I would never run it again, and during the 2013-2016 races I crewed/paced/aid stationed and thoroughly enjoyed not running. I'm not exactly sure how I signed up for this race. Can you accidentally register for a race?

I did train hard for this race. I met my goal of seeing every part of the course (except for Porters Ridge to the finish) at least twice, and five runs of 20+ miles, four of those around 25 miles. During the week I did speedwork and hill sprints consistently. Although I didn't get quite as many midweek miles as I would have liked, my long runs were on point, and I was optimistic that would be enough to carry me through the race, especially since so many workouts were in unseasonably hot and humid conditions. And I love data, so I figured out what time I had arrived at each aid station last time, and made a chart with the cutoffs, my 2013 time, and a very ambitious goal time that would get me to the finish in 11:30. Truthfully I didn't think I could make that time but I probably could beat my previous time.

Race Morning
On race morning, I was VERY nervous. I woke up many times with every sort of runner's nightmare-there was snow on the course, I overslept, I was wearing the wrong clothing/shoes, etc. I was so nervous that I lost half my breakfast and really couldn't eat any more, so my breakfast was mostly two Dr. Peppers. Not awesome. Elizabeth Rosser and I met Melissa Early and Mary Scruggs at 4:30am. They had agreed to crew us which was awesome. We piled in and drove to the start, stopping for coffee along the way, arriving around 5:40. We saw the busses pulling in so Elizabeth and I dashed to the port-a-potties before the lines got insanely long. Just in time! We talked to our crew about what was in our bags and what we thought we might need. I tried to eat a little more but I was so nervous my stomach was in knots. We checked in, chatted with other runners, and pretty soon it was time to gather at the start line. I asked the stranger next to me, "Do you ever have a moment where you question all your life choices that led to you be where you are at this point in time?" I don't think I have ever been so nervous at the beginning of a race.

The amazing crew-mobile

The Race

Off we went around the lake in the camp, and quickly we were on Pera Road. I was feeling good and ran hard on the road. It's so hard to judge because all those speedy people are zipping on ahead, but I felt like I was running hard and well and making good time. Except for the times I'd have to wait for congestion (single track around the lake, making the left turn from the road) I was doing about a 9 minute mile pace on the road which I thought was pretty good. Made some small talk with the people around me but mostly, I focused on running strong.

Race start (photo from Eco-X)

My goal was to run the first almost 3 miles, until we crossed the last creek and started to climb, other than when traffic made me walk or walking through the water crossings. I made that goal! I climbed steadily, did a lot of walk/run intervals, and pushed myself. I tried to eat some nuts but my stomach was still churning. The nerves didn't really settle down until much later in the day. The weather was beautiful-cool but not chilly, and aside from the occasional misty drizzle it stayed dry in this section. About a half mile from the first aid station I took a grand superman-style fall and scraped up my knees, elbows, and stomach on some rocks. Luckily nothing that would stop me from running, just made me a bit skittish on the downhills later in the day.  (The next day I was amazed to see some fist-sized bruises on each knee and several other places on my leg, so I guess I fell harder than I thought.) I came into the first aid station excited to check my time because I felt like I was running so well and thought I might be at my ambitious goal, beating my previous time by 3 minutes....nope. I was a minute ahead of my 2013 pace. That was kind of disappointing but I decided to be happy that I was at least a little ahead and focus on that.

Already my watch mileage and the official mileage chart were disagreeing, so it became apparent that my 2013 time would be more helpful in predicting how far the aid station was. I ran/walked the climb and then ran hard on the downhill, passing several people. Strange because I honestly think of myself as a better hiker than a downhill runner, but during this race I was being passed on the uphills and passing people on the downhills. I came into the Dancing Creek aid station focusing on my footing across the creek so as not to fall again and look up to see the photographer. This is why I never get good race photos, lol. I am terrible at spotting those cameras until it's too late. I came into this aid station a minute or two ahead of my previous time and it was pretty clear that barring an incredible second half, I wasn't going to be making 11:30. So I started ignoring that time and looking at my 2013 time as a "time to beat" and focused on that.

Coming in to Dancing Creek

For several miles Scott Jurek and his friends were leapfrogging with me, which was entertaining. They all shared stories about the Barkley or "the second AT thru-hike" or setting speed records...I have no idea why they were running way in the back with me but it was amusing to hear all their stories. They sure didn't seem to be working as hard as I was to be keeping the pace and all their banter was a welcome distraction.

The rest of the first half was much of the same. I kept trying to eat. After my nerves calmed down by around ten miles or so it got easier and I was able to eat a few pickles, potato chips, and pb&j sandwiches but nothing really substantial. Most aid stations had familiar faces with enthusiastic greetings, which was wonderful. One personal highlight was that Dr. Horton was at an aid station in his truck and a lady was talking to him about how she was having a hard time...he pointed at me and said, "Stick with her, she knows what she's doing." It's possible he meant someone else but I decided to ride the confidence boost and assume it was me...very flattering. I am not speedy but I almost always get the race done.

Coming into Irish Creek we were told that the Reservoir aid station had mistakenly set up an extra mile or more up the hill. I was glad for the heads up because these kinds of surprises mess with me during the race. As it turns out, it was actually kind of nice because lots of crews (mine included) were at the original aid station location, and then there was a small aid station breaking up the long climb up from the reservoir.

I was worried about that climb. Both training runs I did on the first half were nearly 80 degrees with 95% humidity and that climb was brutal. We'd be running strong and then the last mile or so to the top was just....hard. The weather was much cooler and I was counting on that helping me out. I had also promised myself that all day, even when I thought I couldn't run, I could still run while I counted to ten. It wasn't so much about trying to gain a few seconds as it was about keeping my legs stretched out and mentally proving to myself that I wasn't done yet. So all the way up this hill, whenever possible, I was pushing myself to run for short bursts. It actually helped a lot to see that I was stronger than I thought I was.

Coming in at Long Mountain Wayside-halfway there!

I rolled into the Long Mountain aid station at 5:38, a full seven minutes faster than I had my previous two times running this race and 22 minutes ahead of the cutoff. That was a great feeling! I still had some life left in my legs, my crew was there to meet me, and this is where Bethany joined me to pace me for the rest of the race. Until the week before the race I didn't think I would have a pacer so I was so grateful when she was able to come. We started off up the hill. It was long (it always is) but the time passed by much more quickly chatting with Bethany and eventually we did make it to the top. Mentally that's a huge landmark in my mind because the longest climb is over. I was also excited as we passed by the Buck Mountain and Wiggins Spring aid stations to see that I was still well ahead of the cutoffs. Still, it was really Salt Log Gap that I was worried about and I wanted to keep pushing hard to get out of the loop with time to spare.

On the way up to the loop it started to get pretty chilly, and it was raining harder. As we approached the loop we got a cold hard downpour and that just made the sweat run right into my eyes and my eyes burned so much I could hardly keep them open. I was so thankful Bethany gave me her glove to wipe my eyes with. It seems small but it's one of those mental moments where I was just having a really tough time and the relief was an immediate gift. At the loop I was able to get my jacket on and Melissa grabbed my warm hat out of my back. I grabbed a warm potato and headed out.

The loop is always fun because of the out and back. I saw lots of familiar faces. The summit was all fogged over so no great views today, but thankfully our training runs were gorgeous so I still remembered what it looked like. On the way back down I was nervous about the wet leaves and slipping on the rocks, plus I was oscillating between being nauseous and hungry. Bethany was so encouraging and kept trying to get me to eat. I was having a tough time though. My legs actually still felt really good, I was just so systemically cold and tired. I'd barely mustered 200 calories of solid food all day and that was obviously taking a toll. I clearly need to work on fueling.

We finally came out of the loop and I was now almost 12 minutes ahead of 2013 me, still 20 minutes ahead of the cutoffs. That was a tremendous relief. I knew for the next 4+ miles, we'd be on gravel roads so footing wasn't an issue, and I had plenty of time to get to Salt Log Gap. I remembered running this section in 2013, not being able to walk because it was so close to cutoffs and feeling so trapped by that. It was an awful feeling. This year I walked sections and relished it. I didn't really care that I was losing time, I was so excited to have the luxury of walking when I felt tired and dizzy and the road went uphill.

We rolled into Salt Log Gap well ahead of the cutoffs and I gleefully passed the busses for the hike up to Forest Valley. That mile felt more like ten because I was so tired, but Bethany kept me staying positive and I was happy to be there with plenty of time. At the top, we filled up our bottles since it was now the last aid station and we were on our way.

The next 4.5 miles or so of single track was tough. After a training run, I described it as "very pretty and mostly runnable." On race day, I would have described it as "One very long, rooty climb that seems to go on almost forever until you run down for a few minutes to get to the creepy camper and then climb a hill that's almost completely vertical." I know it's not actually that bad, and the wet leaves were not as treacherous as I expected. I was just so very tired by then. We made it up and over that final, impossibly steep climb, and what a relief that was to know all the toughest climbing was behind us. I started looking for the sign to the AT which lets me know it's about a mile to what would have been the Porters' Ridge aid station. We ran around for so long I was just about convinced that they had cut it down when we finally saw it. On the one hand, I was glad to see it, but on the other, I was secretly hoping they had removed it and we were closer to the aid station. Initially I had hoped we'd hit the aid station with a full hour to go, but we were a few minutes behind that pace. I wasn't sure exactly how far it was to the finish so I was nervous about the time but there wasn't anything to do but give it my all the last few miles.

Finally, we hit the dirt road and started running downhill. My legs felt far better at this point than I expected. Of course they were tired and sore, but I was able to run at a decent speed without anything buckling or cramping so that was exciting. I kept thinking, isn't there a gravel road somewhere? Oh my goodness I thought we would never get there. I was ridiculously happy to see each landmark on the way down-the gate, the gravel road, the fish hatchery. Bethany would tell me we were almost there and I kept asking her if she was lying, lol. I was so happy to see that highway, I would have hugged it if I could. She kept reminding me that my kids were waiting, but I didn't really think about it until after we crossed the road. I had no idea where we were going, and it was getting dark, plus it was very foggy and still raining off & on. We ran through a muddy field and crossed some sort of bridge and then there was a big white tent. My family was right outside the tent, and I heard Clark call out my name as I came through. Lots of friends were inside waiting and cheering. The next few minutes were a little bit of a blur. I was so exhausted and still a little out of it but so happy to be done and excited to have beaten my previous time, which was just icing on the cake.

My family waiting-my daughter's sign was my favorite award!

Finished!

After a few minutes of recovery and a fresh change of clothes, I was able to enjoy the dinner and hear stories from everyone else's race. Some had a great day, many had a harder day than they expected. I'm proud of each of them because everyone really gave their all out on the course.

Melissa, me, and Mary (my crew!)

Me and Bethany (my pacer!)

Family photo at the finish

I love her sign!

I am so grateful for all the people who came on training runs with me, for Melissa & Mary crewing me, for Bethany pacing me the second half of the race, for all the encouragement from aid stations, for my family's support and willingness to wait at a cold and damp finish line to see me come across. The running community is what makes this such a great event and I'm so grateful to be a part of it.

Sporting our new LUS finisher jackets!

I'm grateful for this year's run because it gave me a different attitude towards this race. I have been SO intimidated by this race, and considered it right on the edge of my abilities. I love the course but running under the pressure of cutoffs breathing down your neck is so stressful, it just wasn't fun. This year it was fun. Hard? Absolutely. Challenging? No doubt. But it was fun too. Just a little breathing room ahead of the cutoffs made all the difference. It was really satisfying to come back, a few years older, and run a smarter (and ever so slightly faster) race than I had before. Maybe I'll even do it again someday. Someday. :)

Mountain Masochist 50 miler-Course Description

Mountain Masochist is a special race. It's such a beautiful course and as a local runner, I've had the privilege to take many new runners to the course to see it for the first time on training runs. Both for my own memory preparing for the race and to help future runners, I want to write out a detailed description of the course.

Start to AS 1 Peavine Mountain (7.6 miles)

The course begins outside the KOA Campground in Monroe, VA. After circling the lake, runners quickly get to Pera Road and run 1.5 miles on pavement. This is followed by a left turn onto a wide trail/jeep road. After about a half mile of mostly downhill trail, there are a few small creek crossings and one large creek as you go through a tunnel under the parkway. No need to hop across the small creeks because there is no way to avoid wet shoes as you go under the parkway.

After the tunnel, the trail continues a gentle rolling, very runnable grade for almost another mile, at which point you make a sharp right turn across another small creek and the trail begins to climb. The next 2.5 miles are a gentle steady climb on wide trail. Around mile 5.5 in the race, the course takes a sharp left onto a the first single track section of the race. The section is mostly downhill but be cautious of rocks that can be hidden if the trail is still overgrown from summer. The single track continues for just over two miles until you reach the first aid station at the bottom of the hill.

AS1 Peavine Mountain to AS2 Dancing Creek (3.7 miles)

From the aid station, take a right turn and head up the hill. This is a gravel/jeep road that climbs for almost 1.5 miles, then goes steadily downhill to the next aid station which is immediately after another small creek crossing. This aid station is the first one accessible by crew and is always a highlight. As a note, crew can come to either the Dancing Creek or the Parkway Gate, but not both, because parking at both aid stations is very limited. They're so close together though that this is not a big deal.

AS2 Dancing Creek to AS3 Parkway Gate (3.55 miles)

After passing the aid station, you'll continue on the jeep road that is mostly rolling and runnable. You pass another tunnel under the Blue Ridge Parkway and this is about a mile before the aid station. The last half mile to the aid station is uphill but once again, crew can come to the Parkway Gate aid station so it is exciting to climb as people are cheering.

AS3 Parkway Gate to AS4 Robinson Gap (2.24 miles)

Immediately after the aid station you have a nice runnable downhill for almost 3/4 of a mile. At the bottom you'll cross a small creek (if it hasn't rained recently, you'll probably be able to step across) and take a left onto a gravel road. The next 1.7 miles are steadily uphill on the gravel road. It's monotonous and tedious but not that bad if you know it's coming.

AS4 Robinson Gap to AS5 Irish Creek (2.58 miles)

After the long slog up to Robinson Gap, the next section is a real treat. For almost five miles, the course is on a gravel road, almost entirely downhill, and very runnable. It's a welcome reprieve from all the climbing and a chance to bank some precious time before the long climb starts. The Irish Creek aid station is in the middle of this nice downhill section.

AS5 Irish Creek to AS6 Reservoir (2.24 miles)

The downhill continues after the aid station. Near the bottom, it starts to flatten out. You'll know you're approaching the aid station when the trail becomes flat and there is a creek on your right running parallel to the road. About a half mile after this creek appears, you'll be at the reservoir aid station, another crew stop.

AS6 Reservoir to AS7 Long Mountain (4.55 miles)

At this point, the real work begins. The next nearly four miles are primarily uphill. It's a steady incline with a few steep sections and a few runnable sections thrown in for good measure. You'll know you're near the top when you start to see signs about the national forest. On the left, there is a small cemetery-this is exactly 0.75 miles from the Long Mountain aid station. After you pass the cemetery, it flattens out and is very runnable again to the halfway point aid station. You can hear the cheers from a distance away and it is a great highlight of the race to arrive here. You can access your drop bag here. It's also the first hard cutoff of the race-currently you must arrive here in 6 hours to continue.

AS7 Long Mountain to AS8 Buck Mountain (2.83 miles)

When you depart the Long Mountain aid station, you are of course greeted by another long uphill section. The slogan for this race should be, "There's always room for another climb." The next 2.25 miles are entirely uphill, not even a foot of descent. The aid station usually has Rocky theme music playing to help you get up the last part of the climb.

AS8 Buck Mountain to AS9 Wiggins Spring (2.31 miles)

If you can find your running legs again, this section is rolling and actually very pretty. There's a nice downhill section where you can move very well and stretch out your legs again after so many miles of climbing. It's a refreshing change of pace (pun intended).

AS9 Wiggins Spring to AS10 The Loop (1.45 miles)

At the aid station, you'll turn right and head up (literally) to the loop. This climb starts out steep and stays that way for about a mile. When you're near the top, you'll start to see cars and the AT crossing. It gets pretty crowded with crew vehicles and local day hikers, especially if the weather is nice. The road flattens out for a bit and then you'll take a single track trail on the right for a very short distance into the aid station. The loop is a fabulous aid station. Lots of people, lots of excitement, and as you come in (unless you're a frontrunner) you'll see people coming out of the loop at the same time. Once again, this is a hard cutoff aid station-you must enter the loop by 7:55 (race time) to continue.

AS10 to AS11 The Loop (5.33 miles)

Ah, the loop. If you have talked to people who have run this race, you have certainly heard about the loop. It is the undoing of many a runner. I think this is due to a combination of factors. First, you've just run over 20 miles of mostly gravel road and suddenly you have technical trail that requires a lot of thought about foot placement and avoiding rocks and roots. You're now on tired legs and there's still a lot of climbing in the loop. And you're at that 2/3 point in the race that always seems to be difficult no matter the distance, because you're far enough to be tired but not far enough to be almost done.

At any rate, the first mile of the loop is runnable, so by all means run it. After a mile you'll cross a creek and the trail immediately becomes much rockier and more technical and running becomes noticeably more difficult. You'll climb for almost a mile and reach a sign about the summit. This is the out-and-back section of the race. On the bright side, you get to see other runners who are within a mile ahead or behind you, since it's a half mile each way. But that also means you have two-way traffic on a single track trail which is rocky. If there is snow on the course or wet leaves, this can go from annoying to treacherous. At the top is a gorgeous overlook where you punch your bib. Seriously, one of the best views in this region. Take a few seconds to soak it in. It really makes the last thousand miles of climbing worth it.

You'll retrace your steps for the next half mile down to the sign, where you'll now take a right and continue on the loop trail. You will be tempted to think that since you just came down from the summit, you will be going down to the aid station, but alas, that is not how it works. Remember, there is always room for another climb! In this case, you climb up and over Pompey Mountain. Just as high as the summit but no amazing overlook. There are some nice views off to the right as you run along the ridgeline for awhile though, especially if the leaves have fallen from the trees enough to see more of the valley. You'll climb steadily until you're at top, which is marked with a gigantic boulder next to the trail. From there it is almost completely downhill to get back to the loop aid station. Once again, this is a hard cutoff aid station-you must return to the loop by 9:20 (race time) to continue.

AS11 The Loop to AS12 Salt Log Gap (2.94 miles)

Have you ever been running an ultra and thought, "I should have run a 5K instead?" Here's your chance to do both! If you are close to cutoffs, you have about a half hour to make it to the next aid station. The first mile is downhill and then it begins to climb again to the next aid station. With around 40 miles on your legs, it will feel like 5K pace that you need to keep. Push hard here! Salt Log Gap is another hard cutoff-the busses will be there waiting and if you do not want a ride, you need to be there by 9:55. It's a gravel/dirt road the entire way so the footing is good, it's just the climbing that makes it a challenge on tired legs.

AS12 Salt Log Gap to AS13 Forest Valley (1.07 miles)

This section is short but I honestly think it's a bit longer than advertised. After the aid station you climb up a giant hill. It's not that bad on training runs but if you're tired it can be tough. You climb for about (or a little over) a mile and then there is a right turn. The aid station is very shortly after turning right.

AS13 Forest Valley to AS 14 Porters Ridge (4.1 miles)

After taking a left out of the aid station, you'll head a short way down the gravel road and then take a hard left on the AT. You'll only be on the AT for a few yards and you'll turn onto a different trail. This single track trail is very pretty and mostly runnable. It's known as the forever section because there aren't very many landmarks, you feel like you're running in circles a bit, and let's be honest, your legs are pretty tired by now. The one major landmark is affectionately known as the "creepy camper", although this year the camper was smashed by large tree so it know is more like the "mangled metal". This marks the beginning of this race's death climb. Just know you will be hating life for about 3/4 of a mile. The great news is that this is truly the last significant climb of the race. Not the last climb, but the last significant one. After this hill, you'll continue meandering through the forest for a few more miles. You'll see a sign telling you the AT is 0.4 miles to the right-this is less than a mile before the aid station so know you are getting close!

**For the 2017 race, the Porters Ridge aid station will not be offered.**

AS14 Porters Ridge to Finish (3.75 miles)

It's all downhill from here! Well, it almost is! You'll run down a road which starts out pretty rough but becomes a gravel road. You'll run down, down, down the mountain, past the fish hatchery, and out to the highway. Take a left on the highway and you are almost there! It's about a half mile down the highway to the finish line. This is such an exciting finish line because people can see you coming down the road, and you can hear them from a ways off. You'll see the finish line and the clock and hopefully you'll come around that corner and blaze through the finish in less than twelve hours! Across from the finish is the Montebello store which has great food and a place to change clothes.

**For the 2017 race, you will cross the highway and run to the new finish at Camp Blue Ridge.**

This really is a fabulous race. If the time limit was just a little bit longer, it would probably be on my list every year. The course is gorgeous-challenging yes, but beautiful. On a sunny, crisp fall day it really doesn't get any better than being out in the mountains!

Promise Land 50K

Promise Land 50K. My favorite race! I look forward to this race every year. It's the only one I've done every year since I started running in 2012. That was the year of freezing rain/hail/lightning and something about the craziness of that year got me hooked on ultrarunning, so this race holds a special place in my heart. Plus, it's one of Dr. Horton's races, which are always good. The course is my absolute favorite-it's so beautiful and has lots of variety. I really love this race!

Training this year had been less than ideal, due to illness, travel, kids' schedules, and other life craziness. I'd only managed one training run longer than 20 miles (well, unless you count Holiday Lake or Terrapin 50K) and I'd missed more gym days than any other year. I knew I wasn't in my best shape, but I love this race and had every intention of doing it anyway. When the weather forecast said a high of 90, it just confirmed to me that this wasn't a PR year, and that's okay. This was a year to make enjoying the race the main goal.

The last time I ran a race that was significantly hotter than training conditions was Hellgate, and at that race I started off okay but then lost it after 55 miles, and finished the race in death march mode. I didn't want that to happen this time. So I did everything I could to prepare for these challenging race conditions-I made an ice bandana (thanks Helen for the suggestion!), I wore a buff that I could soak in every creek, I slathered my feet with aquaphor anticipating very wet trail conditions, and I packed two more small water bottles in addition to my handheld.  I packed way more salt pills than I ever thought I would need (although I actually used or gave away all of them) and set an alarm on my watch for every 30 minutes to remind me to take them. And I even remembered to pack sunscreen. I felt as well-prepared as I could be when I headed out to the camp on Friday night.

Friday was crazy trying to get our four family members fed and off to three different places with all the appropriate overnight gear, so by the time I arrived at camp I was a little frazzled. I'm so glad we can camp before this race because I really needed that time to get into race mindset. I arrived early enough to get a good parking spot with a level patch of ground to set up my tent, and had it all set up while it was still light out. First goal accomplished. :)

Now I got to go to the prerace briefing and chat wth the other runners. Dr. Horton always seems like a kid on Christmas Eve at these prerace meetings. He is so genuinely excited to see all these people about to run this crazy race, and he loves giving his shoutouts to the various ultrarunning legends and incredible athletes who are always in attendance. It's so inspiring to see people still able to complete this race in their 70s!! Major life goals right there.

After the briefing I visited with lots of different running friends who were there to run or work aid stations. I love seeing so many familiar faces, and all the nervous/excited chatter about what to wear, how many water bottles to pack, race strategy, course discussion, goals, and so on. It's just so much fun! I made my final wardrobe decisions, got as much prepared for the morning as I could, and then Mary and I settled into the tent for a few hours of sleep.

At 3:45 I started to hear other runners moving around and chatting, and I was awake for the day. I got dressed and had my breakfast (chicken, eggs, and rice, plus almond butter on a banana), and checked in for the race. I had woken up with calf cramps which worried me, so I hoped the banana would help. I'm always amazed at how quickly the 45 minutes before race start zooms by. Before I knew it, we were singing the national anthem (with brass players this year! very nice!) and then taking off up the road.

It was a beautiful night for camping, but even as early as a mile up the road I could tell it was going to be hot. Usually at this point in the run I'm still fairly cold, second-guessing myself for not bringing gloves. Not today. I was already feeling quite warm in my tank top and shorts and the sun wasn't even up yet. Plenty of chatter about the weather, the course, how many times people have run, etc. made the miles go by quickly and soon we were turning off the road onto the single track.

I felt good about my place in the pack at this point. I passed a few people, but mostly was content to walk/run with the people around me. I probably could have run a bit faster but I like feeling like I'm holding something back for the first part of the race. I knew once we hit the grassy road we'd be able to sort ourselves out much more. And before long we were there. I was feeling great at this point-I always love this section, because the sun is up and your legs are warmed up but not tired, and it's the first point in the race where you can run long enough to get into a good rhythm. It was a gorgeous morning up there. Everything was so green! The wildflowers were blooming, and there were little creeks and streams all over the course. I had sort of mentally picked out sections of the race to push hard, and this was one of them, and I did push myself to run pretty well here. I passed quite a few people (strange for me in a race) and before I knew it, we were coming up to the next aid station.

I settled in to hike up to the parkway, since this was a section I'd planned for recovering. I still felt good though-all the right muscles were sore, and my preemptive salt pills seemed to be doing the trick since I had no cramps or swollen fingers. And while it was warm out, I didn't feel uncomfortably hot. So I pushed a little more on this section than I had planned, and enjoyed the beautiful flowers on the way up.


Shortly before the parkway there's a fork in the trail, and taking a right will lead back down the loop towards Camping Gap (which is the Terrapin course), and taking a left heads up to the Parkway. It seems like you can triple your time at this point and have a good estimate of when you will finish. I passed that spot at 2:40, which is right on the nose for an 8 hour finish. I was honestly pretty surprised, because 3 of my 5 finishes have been over 8 hours in this race.

Crossing the Parkway is always a highlight, because it means that you get to run downhill for a whole bunch of miles now. I ran decently hard on the road down to Sunset Fields, and saw a lot of familiar faces when I got there. The aid station crews were fabulous today and this one was no exception. After some cold drinks I headed off down Apple Orchard Falls trail. I didn't even make it an eighth of a mile from the aid station before taking a pretty good tumble, a bust your knee and elbow on the rocks then do a sideways somersault and knock the wind out of yourself by hitting your chest on a rock kind of tumble. Three people stopped to ask if I was REALLY okay, and I was, once I caught my breath. I now had an entry in the Best Blood competition at this race, which is really the only award I had a shot at going in, albeit one I didn't really want to win.

I slowed down quite a bit after that, and took the rest of the technical downhill much more conservatively. A lot of people passed me in this section but that was okay. I was just grateful that it was a lot of scrapes and bruises, but no twisted ankles or pulled muscles that would keep me from finishing the race. At the bottom of this section are the largest creek crossings, and never have they been so refreshing to come across. It must have been at least 80 degrees by this point in the day. Every time I crossed a stream with more water than mud, I used my buff to wipe my face with cold water and wring out cold water on my head and neck. And when I crossed the large creeks, I got as wet as I could. That helped a lot to cool off and I stayed pretty comfortable in this section.

We came through Cornelius Creek Aid Station for the first time, and that crew was ready for the heat. They had popsicles, ice, cold soda, and pickles-exactly what I needed. I filled my ice bandana for the first time and tied it so the ice was on the back of my neck, and also enjoyed a popsicle. Between that and the cold drinks, I felt very refreshed and headed off down the road. This section is a bit of a drag, but I pushed myself to run it solidly and not walk until the deer trail down at the bottom. It's mentally tough but the miles ticked by easily and the trail came before I expected. I think it was at this point that I realized I really was having a good day.  I'd been bracing for the part where it got crazy hot/miserable/tiring, and so far I felt really good. I hadn't once been counting down miles to a landmark or aid station. It was constantly, "Oh, I'm already here!" My last race at Terrapin was a mentally hard day, and it was so refreshing to have a day when I was genuinely enjoying every mile, every conversation with fellow runners, and every beautiful view.


I came into the Colon Hollow aid station at around 4 hours, still on an 8 hour pace and still feeling surprisingly good. Another great aid station crew with popsicles, smiles, and encouraging words for us. My main goal in this back section was to run where it was runnable, and hike with purpose the rest of the time. Secondary goal was to stop at every creek I could and douse myself with cold water. I still had some ice in my ice bandana here, and with the cold water and extra shade thanks to an early spring, it was still mostly comfortable. I was able to run quite a bit and passed several people who weren't having as easy a day. I tried to encourage them as best I could. In this section Helen and I ran together for awhile. She was also having a great day-not a PR day but a fabulous day in the mountains, and it was nice to have company for several miles. This section usually feels very long to me, and there has been more than one year that I walked the majority of it. But this year the miles were still sailing by easily, and I just continued to enjoy the scenery, the conversation, and the joy of running.

Just before we get back to Cornelius Creek there's a large creek crossing with a broken down bridge. Many runners were using it like a hot tub, only it was just the opposite, a cold tub. I splashed my way through, and dunked my head again before making my way to the aid station. Much to my surprise, we still weren't even at 6 hours on the race clock.

I have run many races and been through many aid stations, but this one was a cut above today. They had so much ice, and a giant bucket of ice water where Don used a sponge to wring the cold water over your head, and there were plenty of popsicles and ice cold drinks...aid stations are always an emotional and physical boost to your day, but this one was more than ever. Fresh ice in my bandana on my neck, popsicles in hand, dripping with ice cold water, I headed out feeling cool for the first time all day, ready to climb the falls.

I headed up the falls rejuvenated. There was no plan to rush, just to hike with purpose. I knew from previous years that leaving Cornelius Creek before 6 hours put me right on 8 hour pace. Obviously I knew the climb up the falls would be tough, and it was getting hot, and I didn't set out with any particular time goals in place, but there's something about finishing before that next hour turns over that is always kind of nice. I still felt good, way better than I had at this point in the race last year, and this was when I decided I would try to make that 8 hour mark. Climbing the falls went as well as it ever has. Honestly, it was better than a few training runs I've had out there this year. I still stopped at every creek crossing (and there were plenty!) which helped me stay cool. 

The trail was very wet in places, even water running down the boulders we had to climb. It was beautiful and fun!


Pretty soon I had reached the largest part of Apple Orchard Falls. It's always pretty, but today, the water was high and the falls were full and it was breathtaking. Absolutely gorgeous!        

After the falls everything in the valley was so green and beautiful. It was amazing!


Next come the infamous stairs...of course these are never easy, especially on a hot day. But one step at a time (literally), I made my way up, greeting fellow runners and day hikers and dogs on the way up.
 

After another dunk in a waterfall, I made my way up the last mile back to Sunset Fields. I love crossing that road with the 0.9miles sign, because that's when I know I really am going to make it! Back at the top, another top notch aid station crew was there with cold drinks. Those aid stations really made the difference in the race today, I was so grateful for them!

I headed out for the last five miles to the finish. It took a few hundred yards before I could really get my legs back into running mode after all the hiking. Still playing it safe on the downhill rocks, so a decent pace but not my fastest on this section. Soon we came to the road and knew it was 2.7 miles to the finish. My goal had been to get there by 7:30 and I made it with 8 seconds to spare! My legs still felt pretty good so I ran almost the whole road down. This was the first time I really started to feel hot-my bandana & buff had dried since I went through the last creek, and parts of the road were sunny and warm. But since it was the last few miles, I was able to push through. I ran part of this with Wade, who has been trying for years to get a sub 8 hour finish. It was great to see that he was going to make his goal!

I crossed the finish line in 7:55, enough for my second best time in six years at Promise Land. Honestly, I think it was my best performance, since the one time I did better by seven minutes, I was training much more heavily (for a 100 miler) and had far better racing weather.  I was absolutely thrilled with the day. This was my most enjoyable Promise Land ever, and my most enjoyable run in a long time. After my earlier races this spring I was feeling kind of meh about running, and not sure I'd sign up for anything in the fall...but I had such a great day out there it rekindled my love of running. It was like the first year I was running, when I was just out there having fun because I didn't know what I was doing well enough to make it a job about pace or training or nutrition. In some ways I'm grateful I've never been fast, and probably never will be. It really frees me up to enjoy the day in a different way. My fast friends inspire me and I do wonder what it would be like to fly through the mountains the way they do. But I get to enjoy many more hours out on the course, and it's okay if my goal is just to enjoy the day.

Many people suffered a lot more than I did in this race, and I don't want to make it sound like I have it all figured out. I just had a really great day out there. Yes, my preparations and attitude helped-but a lot of things just went right for me. It was one of those rare races where nothing really goes terribly wrong. The salt pills and Tailwind all day worked for me, and I didn't have to fight cramps or stomach issues. I braced for an awful day and was delightfully surprised to have one of my best running experiences of all. I'm so grateful for all the encouraging faces out there, both at aid stations and on the trail, for all the preparation that went into this race, for Dr. Horton directing it, and for the chance to see so many people finish a hard race under really tough conditions. It's always inspiring to see other people accomplish their goals! I'm so grateful I get to be a part of such an amazing running community!