5am start to the Northface Endurance Challenge. The weather was just about perfect. If I had to guess it was probably 55 degrees at Start and worked it's way up to 70 throughout the race. The sun was shining all day, but most of the trails were shaded. The run took place Right outside of Washington DC in a place called Algonkian Park. It was really spectacular, if you live anywhere near this area and have not taken advantage, you really need to check it out.
The first 2 hours were run in the dark. When you are totally reliant on a head lamp to navigate your way through very dark trails that you've never run on before, it makes it a bit tough to stay on course. When you run in the trails, you point your light to the ground so you can watch your footing, but the trail markers are marked in the trees, so it's very easy to blow right by a simple turn on the course. Luckily most Ultra Runners are a very kind and considerate bunch and someone will usually yell out to you if you make a wrong turn. There were several times that I was saved from traveling into the abyss from a fellow runner behind me, and I was able to save a couple myself. I was off to a quick start as usual, it's kind of becoming my style......go out faster than I should and try to knock as many miles as possible out and then hang on for dear life later in the race. The way I look at it is that I'm most likely going to be hanging on for dear life later in the race anyway, so I might as well run strong while I can. Plus I also read that this first section of the course was very runnable compared to the hills that come later so I tried to take advantage.
There was a woman in front of me that appeared to be running by the light of the moon, I couldn't believe it because with all the tree cover it was basically pitch black. Turns out her Head lamp was low in batteries and she asked that I please take the lead. I gladly took the lead but warned her that just because my light was working does not mean that I will take us in the right direction! Boy did she pick the wrong guy to lead, I must of made 2 or 3 wrong turns with her having to yell out to me that I was going the wrong way. She was an excellent navigator using me as a light. hehe.
I knew I was going too fast and I was now leading a pack of people. I really didn't want to be leading, especially since I knew It was pushing my pace faster than I wanted, but I must admit I felt great so I just went with it. There was Gatorade, water, and a bunch of other goodies at every aid station. As far as Electrolytes go, I basically stuck w/ my Hammer endurolytes and gatorade. I think during the whole race I only ate one gel (Hammer banana) and a few pcs of orange Gu Chomps. I don't like taking in to much gels or chews during a really long race.
At about mile 13 Jason Eads blew by me running about a 6 min mile pace. Lol, ok maybe it was a 9 or 10 min pace and he didn't blow by me, we actually ran together for about a half mile or so., but I can tell Jason was feeling strong. He went on to finish in the top 10 percent.
The trails in Algonkian park are excellent, a lot of single lane packed dirt (my favorite) with just enough dips, logs, roots, and rocks to keep it interesting. When you run single file with a bunch of other runners behind you and you come across a fallen tree that you have to hurdle you yell out "tree" and then each person in line behind you yells it out also. "Tree", "tree", "tree", "tree". Lol, it amuses me every time. "Root", "root", "root". Ha ha.
When you reach the 16 mile mark (approximately) the 50 milers start a 6 mile (approximate) loop that you have to circle 3 times. It consisted of a bunch of hills, and a really cool section of a VERY HIGH rocky cliff that overlooks the Potamic River. Running through this Cliff section the sights were amazing, with many people repelling down the cliff, and many Kayakers down below.
Coming up one of the hills around the loop I saw my friend David Lee ahead of me. He looked like he was limping and struggling. I remember thinking how tough this guy was considering 2 days prior he told me that he had an injury to his upper thigh but was still going to give the race a shot. Sometimes us Ultra runners might not be the best decision makers when it comes to whether or not we should run. I walked w/ David for a couple of minutes and I could tell he was trying to stay positive, but he was hurting for sure.
For me, the middle part of the race went very well, I got into a comfortable pace and for many miles I just cruised along enjoying the run. I walked the steep hills, and later in the race walked all hills. Walking the hills slows you down, but you don't gain that much time by running them considering the extra energy it takes you.
At about the half way point I picked up a bottle of Hammer Sustained energy that I kept in my drop bag. It's basically liquid food. I love this stuff, because I really don't have much of an appetite for solid foods when I go long, so this stuff works wonders. The difference in energy for me is noticeable after drinking it. I did a good job the whole race of hydrating myself and taking my Endurolytes, I carried one handheld bottle all the way to about mile 34 and then picked up a second out of my drop bag.
There was one Aid Station on the loop that I forgot to fill my bottle and I had to make it all the way to the next aid station with no fluids. That hurt, I think it was only about a 3 mile stretch, but when you're at mile 30, with a lot of hills in front of you, and no fluids, it feels like 8 miles. That might of been the time I struggled the most for the day.
Once I completed the last loop, I had the same 16 mile stretch to go back to the finish that took me out to the loop, except this time it won't be dark! There were a couple of real hard hills in this section, but overall a much flatter section then than loop. I told the volunteers at the last Aid station of the loop that although I loved them, I was glad that I would never see them again! They said they were getting a lot of that.
This last section was most memorable for me. You finish the loops but still have to pull out 16 more miles to the finish, so you really have to dig deep. I pushed myself really hard to run this whole section. I passed many people through this part because a lot of people were walking, even on the flats. At about mile 44 I was running through a single lane dirt trail section, with 5 foot high grass on both sides. Coming in the opposite direction were 2 women walking their dogs. The first Dog looked like a cross between a boxer and a pitbull, he was black and white and strong looking. The dogs were both on leashes, but the first lady had the Dog in between her and me so as I ran by this pup decided to take a chomp on my thigh. I was completely in the zone at this time and getting bit was the last thing I expected. I jumped and said "What the ....."! She immediately grabbed the dogs leash tight to her, screamed at him, and gave him a wack. The 2nd woman asked me if I was all right, I replied, "I'm not quite sure and I really need to finish this race", and I just kept running. I had compression shorts on under my running shorts and I didn't want to pull them up and see until I got to the next aid station. ( Thats my dog Bandit in the pic, wish he was with me!)
I pulled into the AS and immediately looked at my thigh and yes, I had a bloody gash on my leg from the very scary and ferocious beast that attacked me on the course. Haha, ok, maybe he wasn't that scary and ferocious, but it makes for a better story. Lol It was actually a killer Chihuahua that had to jump all the way up to my thigh to reach me!
Haha Just kidding, the dog was just like I originally described it.
The medics at the Aid Station, sprayed it for me with some antibacterial stuff and bandaged it up. Overall I don't think the incident cost me any time on my race, it might of even helped me a little bit. There's nothing like getting a bite in the ass with 5 miles to go in a 50 miler. Lol
I pressed on and finished the last section strong passing a couple of more people that were walking the last couple of miles. I crossed the finish line w/ my wife and sister in law cheering me in (they both ran the half marathon).
Someone pointed out a tub of ice water to me and I imediately threw my shoes and socks off and jumped in. It felt really good and is probably part of the reason I am already running w/ no problems this week.
Amazing race for me, I was hoping to finish under 10 hours and I finished in 9:29:42. That gave me 38th place out of 212 runners. 21 DNF's.
I asked Jason and David if they had seen Dean K yet, and they pointed him out to me. He was meeting, greeting, and signing. He had just got back from running 100 miles in Brazil, broken ribs and all. As usual I got the warm smile and hello that I always get from Dean, and my wife finally got to meet him.
I ate some food, and waited around until my drop bag showed back up to the finish area and then we took off. We drove through Washington DC before heading home and took in the sights. I had never been there, it was pretty cool. Next up for me is the Steamtown Marathon on Oct 11th. It was originally supposed to be a BQ attempt, but I have not kept up w/ any consistant speed work since training for this Ultra, so I will see if I can atleast pull a PR out. 3:29 or better.
