Rim to River 100

I went into Rim to River feeling less prepared than I ever have for a big race. I only signed up on a whim last New Years Day, and got on the waitlist. Hellbender was supposed to be my big race for the year, this was just icing on the cake. Then I dropped at Hellbender for the hellacious weather, which kind of threw me into a running funk. Between that, and typical summer travel, and heat, when I finally found out in July that I would be running Rim to River in less than four months, I was feeling pretty undertrained and unmotivated.

Between travel, renovating a townhouse, and this general lack of motivation, I struggled to get back into race shape. Finally got a few good long training runs in during October, did strength work a couple times a week, and figured I’d just have to run this one powered by hopes and dreams and good intentions.

During the year I’d fallen in with a group called the Womens 100 Miler Project, a grassroots effort aimed at helping women train for and complete their first 100 miler. Even though I’d run one before, it had been a few years and they graciously let me join, and I was so thankful for their camaraderie. I loosely followed their training plan, modifying what I had been doing, adding more interval work and less but more efficient strength training. As it turns out, Rim to River was the big race for several ladies in the project, and there would be a whole group of them out at the race.  I met the ladies in person for the first time the night before the race and during the hour or so before the race start. So fun to meet the people I had been chatting with for weeks as we made our plans! 

Race start was upon us and it was already an unseasonably warm 65 degrees. The first 27 miles had been billed as fast and easy to underestimate the rest of the course, and I found that to be true. A friend of a friend found me at the start and we ran the bulk of the first half together, occasionally leapfrogging and meeting back up. We passed the miles with great conversation and swapping stories of races we’d both done, and tried to keep ourselves from going out too fast while our legs were fresh. We enjoyed a beautiful sunrise in this section, and some nice views as we ran along the river. We also got to run through ruins of some old mining towns, which was really interesting! I was so grateful for her company through these miles.

By about mile 30, it started to get really hot. There were biting gnats all over the place, and it was in the 80s and sunny. I slowed down because I was feeling really hot and finishing my water at an alarming pace. This was a long section, 12 miles, and I ended up drinking all two liters I had with me before the next aid station. We went out to a really pretty overlook in this section, and there were lots of day hikers and climbers in the area who knew about the race and encouraged us.

I rolled into the mile 43 aid station feeling pretty solid, still ahead of my expected pace even though I had been slowing down for the heat. I saw the group leaders again here, who said everyone was still running hard, even though the heat was making it challenging. I picked up my light and some food and headed out to the turnaround. This is a big out and back section so I got to see a lot of people. One lady from the group was WAY ahead of me, she looked so strong! She went on to finish 8th female as her first 100. Amazing!

Reaching the turnaround was a big milestone, since now we get to be counting down miles instead of counting up! And we knew that we were getting closer to the finish with every step. I ran with several other ladies for this section, as we maneuvered our way back to the previous aid station. It looked so different in the dark, running the opposite direction, that it was hard to spot landmarks even though we’d just been there. Finally we hit the road and ran down to where we crossed the old bridge back to the aid station at mile 58.

I changed my shoes here and headed out alone, losing my buddies at the aid station. I wasńt sure if they had left before or after me, it was so busy and dark there. Off I went into the night. I expected this section, from about 58 to 80, to be the toughest section mentally, between the darkness and the point in the race, late enough to be tired but not almost finished. I intentionally used this section to focus on things I was grateful for: the ability to run and see these beautiful places, the rain that had cooled things off, the nearly full moon lighting the sky, the cheerful volunteers at the aid stations, my husband and kids who support my running, the financial means to buy shoes and race entries and hotel rooms at the start, my local running community I train with, this new running community who had welcomed me with open arms, arriving at the start healthy…there was no shortage of things to be thankful for and this kept me in good spirits during this section. There is something so quietly peaceful about running through the woods at night. 

I was happy to arrive at mile 80. I got some food & drink and then promptly alarmed some volunteers when I lost said food into the nearby bushes, but assured them it wasn’t the first time and I was fine. I sat down for a few minutes with some mashed potatoes that I dumped a bunch of salt in, and let my stomach settle for a bit to get some food down. I knew I still had twenty miles to go and needed the calories more than I needed the minutes I’d save. Once I’d eaten some potatoes and enjoyed some Dr Pepper from my drop bag, I thanked the volunteers and headed out.

Less than six miles later we hit the next aid station, and here the real countdown started. Next would be sunrise, then the last aid station, then the finish! However, I majorly underestimated how tough these last 15 miles would be. My legs still felt pretty good, but the trails were more rocky and more uphill than I was expecting. It seemed like I’d run for just a short bit before encountering a large rooty section that I just didn’t have the agility to skip over anymore, or a short and steep climb. I did see a beautiful sunrise in this section, and cheerful volunteers at the last aid station. And then I saw one volunteer and his dog three times as we ran in crazy circles past the finish, then around the finish over and over. I must have seen/heard the finish line five different times. This was a bit maddening and a big mental challenge to stay focused and positive. On the final section of trail, I passed a runner and his pacer and commented about how we just need to get off this trail and onto the road to the finish, and the pacer glumly said, “I don’t think it’s possible. We’ve been running in circles for nine miles. I don’t think there’s a way out.”

Of course, there was a way out, and we finally hit the road. I knew from here it was only about a half mile downhill to the finish, so I took off and ran as hard as I could to the bottom. I finished a little over 29 hours which I was very happy with. The first finisher from our group was already there, and one of the coaches, and a few others. It was so special to have people cheering my name at the finish when I had traveled there alone! I was not expecting how sweet it would be to still have a community of people cheering for me and swapping stories of the day at the finish line…I love that part of our local races and thought I’d just be a lone duck at this one, but it turns out I didn’t have to be. Such a gift!

I got to stay at the finish line and cheer for so many more ladies from the group who finished, including one who finished with less than a minute to spare!! Such an incredible moment at the finish. The entire campground just erupted into cheers as she made it across the finish line. I’m so glad I got to see that! It was a huge moment for the group and those ladies who have been training together all year. They are amazing!

This race was such a great experience. The course was beautiful and the volunteers were fantastic, but the best part was the unexpected gift of this Womens 100 Miler Project community. As I’m looking at next year’s race calendar, I’m definitely looking for more opportunities to run with those amazing ladies. I can’t wait to see them tackle more courses-some to finally get that first 100 mile finish, some to get another, all of them showing grit and determination and heart. I am so grateful for running and the communities I get to be a part of!

Meeting everyone prerace

Prerace meeting with race director

Go time!

Start line

Sunrise

Creek crossing

Running along the river

One of several waterfalls

View from one of the bridges

One of the bridges we crossed

Entering the old mining town

They thought we were crazy

Therés the big bridge

Selfie time

Headed over the old bridge to the turnaround

Famous view of the New River Gorge bridge

Yes, that is the finish…but we are 6.5 miles from being done

I made it!

Group finish line photo

My swag

Garmin finally thinks Ím productive!

Ten years of ultrarunning

 “Kim Weatherford? What?? I never gave you a chance to finish!!”

Those were Dr. Horton’s words as I reached the finish line of the Hellgate 100K in 2015, my first attempt at running the race. I was just as surprised as he was that I managed to complete that very challenging race, seeing less than fifteen minutes remaining in the 18 hour time limit. Ultrarunning is a series of explorations where we try to find our limits and push back at them. That first Hellgate brought the highest highs and lowest lows of any race I’ve ever done. It was every bit of challenge, suffering, and satisfaction you hope for in a race. I didn’t imagine I’d ever do it again.

But then one day in 2017, my mind wandered, and I calculated that if I completed both races every year, I could complete 10 Promise Lands and 5 Hellgates before I turned 40.

Both races are David Horton specials, with lots of tough climbs and beautiful scenery. Promise Land 50K was my first real ultra. I had technically done Holiday Lake first in 2012, but between being grossly undertrained and mildly injured, there was very little running involved. When I showed up at the start of Promise Land 2012, I saw it as my first ultra. That year did not disappoint. Beautiful 50 degree temps gave way to a surprise temperature plummet, with hail, lightning, freezing rain, and 30 degree temps for the climb up Apple Orchard Falls and the five mile descent to the finish. It felt crazy, wild, dangerous, and exhilarating. I arrived at the finish feeling like I had really accomplished something, that I was stronger than I thought. I wanted more.

So I kept running. I ran various races over the years, but Promise Land was the one that I kept coming back to, the one race that I ran consistently every year. It was like homecoming every year, with new friends and old, the course feeling homey and familiar no matter the weather.

A stress fracture in my foot and Covid conspired so that I missed Hellgate in 2019 and then Promise Land 2020 was cancelled. The goal was accordingly revised to finishing 10 Promise Lands and 5 Hellgates the year I was 40.

In December I finished my 5th Hellgate with a huge PR and earned my coveted Eagle trophy. And yesterday, I finished my 10th Promise Land.

In appropriate fashion, it did not come easily. Our first day this year over 80 degrees (a few days ago we had an overnight freeze), the temps hit 86 in the afternoon, plus humidity. The weather was clear and the trees are just getting their leaves, so many portions of the course were exposed and sunny. Especially tough when we trained in 40 degree weather for months. I felt like I was running strong and well, but my watch showed that I wasn’t moving as fast as I’d expect for the effort. Still, my legs felt strong, I was able to pace myself well, avoid cramps, and never feel dead. I didn’t hit my goal time, but it wasn’t my worst time ever. I earned my ten time finisher polo.

After a few years of covid cancellations and modifications, it was a joy to sit around the camp at the finish with friends, sharing stories of the day, and cheering for those who were coming in. Everyone had to work hard for a finish yesterday. And the volunteers had their own stories to share of what they’d seen. So good to see Rhonda, Blake, Sam, Todd, Alexis, Bailey, Chelsie, Gina, Alissa, David, Mike, Wade, Caroline, Helen, Rebekah, and so many more. Congratulations to those of you who finished and thank you to those who volunteered!!

Ultrarunning has given me a chance to accomplish things that went from sounding outlandish, to improbable, to possible. I’ve learned and passed on lessons to my kids about perseverance, problem solving, consistency, and goal-setting. I’ve processed life events with friends out on the trails. We’ve walked (and run) through aging parents, broken relationships, injuries, disease, moves, new babies, job shifts, children growing up, and countless smaller events. We’ve run through 95 degree humidity and wind chills below zero, through thunderstorms, blizzards, and ice storms, through mountain creeks and past countless waterfalls. We’ve seen gorgeous sunrises, countless deer, several cows and horses, and a handful of bears, owls, and foxes. We’ve taken in the beauty of the world around us and encouraged each other that no matter what life throws at you, it never always gets worse.

I’m so grateful that I get to run, that I get to be a part of this community, that I have the support of my husband and children, and that I live in such a beautiful place. Here’s to celebrating a decade of ultrarunning, and hoping for many more.

Hellgate finisher pic with Dr. Horton

Eagle trophy for 5 Hellgates

Apple Orchard Falls (mile 29ish of Promise Land)

Promise Land stairs

Party at Promise Land finish

Promise Land finish line photo

Some of our running community

Unofficial squirrel trophy

Handmade squirrel trophy