Arrived in Lynchburg Friday night after a frustrating drive in traffic. Get to the dinner in time to pick up packets and get some food before the pre-race briefing. I recognize a girl from Buff Betty [October women’s adventure race] and we talk, she is is there for Odyssey Adventure Racing and is going to volunteer at the Loop. We talk about possibly meeting up for some training runs and I tell her to come try to run Highlands Sky next year.
Organize my stuff Friday night at the hotel- what to have in the van for after, what to have in a drop bag, etc. I sleep terribly because I’m nervous about the race and worried I’ll sleep through the 3:20 AM alarms. 3:20 finally comes, I get up, dressed and we meet Angelo in the lobby to go to the high school. Paul drives us to the high school and we get on a bus for the hour ride to the James River Visitor Center. Paul gets to go back to sleep for a few hours, but then goes for a Blue Ridge Parkway bike ride (he reported it was quite beautiful but nearly got frostbitten toes). We hang out on the bus for about 40 minutes after arriving. It’s cold- 22 degrees, we’re told. I had eaten a banana on the bus but realized I was starving and had not prepared for this. No food at the aid stations til 6ish miles. Oh well, I’d catch up on eating later. I agonize over what to wear, and decide on 2 thin capilene long sleeves (WVMTR shirt and Highlands Sky finishing shirt!!) with my lightweight but windproof Mountain Hardwear running jacket, and tights, gloves and earband. I carried 1 handheld bottle. We were warned if we were going to be late finishers to make sure to have warm clothing at the drop (26.9 mi) since we gain so much elevation and though we’d warm up in the middle, we would get cold later. I just planned to have my warm fleece and also a hat to pick up. I also packed an extra shirt and gloves, just in case. I figured it really couldn’t get much colder than the 22 degrees it was at the start.
We start w/ a 1.5 mi out and back on the Parkway. It’s dark but beautiful. We could see the Big Dipper on the way out, and Orion on the way back. Cool to see those constellations so low in the sky- I’m rarely out at 5:30 AM! Angelo and I were really in the back of the pack. The aid stations posted the 12 hour pace, and they give you a 10 minute grace period after that, or you are cut off. Except at mile 43, where there is an absolute 3:35 PM cut off. I just thought of the 12 hour pace as the cutoff and was happy to be ahead of that, and mentally kept track of whether I was “gaining” or “losing” time on the 12 hr pace. We were only 15-20 mins ahead of that pace for the first few aid stations.
After 6 miles you turn onto some trail, which mainly climbs to the next aid station. It was leafy but not technical. We walked (fast) most of it, as did most of the people around us. We were in with a pretty large group of people still. Angelo and I were mostly together, he pulled ahead at some points since he seemed better able to run the uphills, and I would catch him eventually. I made more pit stops than I would have liked in the first few hours so I kept falling behind the group we were running with, then I’d eventually catch back up. I met some interesting people during this stage of the race, including Masochist legend Tom Green who was going for his 24th finish. Everyone was friendly and fun to talk to and the veterans offered good advice about the course.
As far as how I was feeling at this point-- I wasn’t in a groove yet, and was concerned I was working too hard. But I knew that I couldn’t take it any easier since we were not far head of 12 hour pace. After the singletrack section, the course became forest service roads, which were leaf-covered and tricky in parts- rocky, mud puddles, slick in some places. The sun came out, my mood brightened, the views were beautiful, and I did start to feel much better.
Climbing up the long hill to the “halfway” point at 26.9, Angelo dropped back. I figured I’d see him again and that I needed to just go at my pace and continue on. I saw Anne at 26.9, left my earband and flashlight (which I hadn’t used), grabbed my fleece hat from my drop bag, and gave Anne my bag to transfer to Paul if I needed my warmer clothes later (I didn’t).
The next section is the climb up Buck Mountain. I was feeling pretty good, though getting annoyed I had to stop to pee every half hour or so (I swear I spent at least 15 minutes of this race on pit stops…). Halfway up Buck Mountain you start to hear music from the aid station blaring across the valley. It’s cool yet frustrating because you know you are a half hour or so from that AS. Finally got there and was quite happy to be done climbing for now! Had some soup and enjoyed running the next downhill section. Earlier in the day, I had figured if I felt bad I could drop at 27. I just woke up that morning thinking it may NOT be my day but I also felt like I came all the way out here, and Paul came out with me, for the weekend so I had to really try and not just give up. This was different than my normal race mindset- I usually go into races confident and wanting to run the best I can on the given day. Anyway, at this point in the race, over halfway, I became dead-set on finishing under 12 hours. I didn’t care about time (too much ;) ), I did NOT want to DNF, and I wanted that water bottle holder. The determination had set in!
Got to 31 and saw Anne again. No Paul yet, but I looked down the road and saw adventure van, so he was there. He had just gotten there but not gotten up to the course yet. He drove by me and we waved and chatted briefly as I made my way up the road- I was very happy to see him! Coming up, I had The Loop to face. I heard that this section, and the section from 43-47, are the most psychologically challenging so I was gearing up for it. I saw Paul and Susanna (my Buff Betty competitor!) as I came into the AS so got a boost from them. I was about 35 minutes up on the 12 hr pace and feeling good. Had some chicken soup as I walked through the AS, and Paul ran/walked with me for a few minutes as I started the loop.
Things seemed to start great on this supposed 5-mile loop- nice flat singletrack. Oh, then we start climbing. And climbing, and going over big and small rocks. I’m still not hating the loop though, still pretty happy. But we keep climbing, and when we are not climbing, it’s all rocky and leafy and slippery and I don’t have the strength to rock hop or keep myself from falling, so I don’t run much. Normally, I would LOVE this type of trail. Not now, not today. Finally, a downhill! But no, I can’t really run down this because I’ll fall and kill myself… now I’m hating it. And I’m getting passed by old guys who seem to be able to run this crap. OK, done with the tough downhill, only have less-tough downhill. Pass some hikers who tell me I have a half hour to go. ?!!!? I’m discouraged thinking I had to be close. I see Paul, so I must be close. No, he had hiked in ¾ mile, which sounded far at the time. Argh. OK, finish the loop, get a hug and cheering from Susanna again. More soup and I start off down the road after a hug from Paul, glad I’m back on “roads”. I had lost time to the cutoffs, was now only 20 mins ahead of 12 hour pace. That is frustrating! The Loop was pretty though, and truth be told, normally the kind of trail I like to run. Just at that point in the race, it’s not pleasant. Some people say the Loop is more than 5 miles, some say it just feels like more than 5 miles. Who knows, it took me a long time though!
Heading to the AS at mile 41, I talk with someone running his 18th MMTR. He tells me that he feels he needs to be at 41 by 3:00 PM or he won’t make the 3:35 cut off at 43. He tells me that the 1.5 miles from 41.5 to 43 is a big climb that usually takes him a half hour. Crap, I was not really worried about cutoffs but I now start worrying, and also worrying about Angelo because I’m hearing he’s 15 minutes back. We get to 41 by 2:50-2:55 so I’m happy, and I get to 43 by 3:18, so feeling pretty good about myself to finish before 5:30, since I’m not really feeling a major energy crash or much pain.
Oh, but the fun awaits after 43…. We start climbing and climbing and climbing on a leafy slick section (old section of the AT). It’s no fun. I’m still pretty positive I’ll finish though so not terribly discouraged, but wish I had more energy to run faster after it flattened out. I pass a few people. I did get to chat with some people who really helped keep the positive attitude- leapfrogged and chatted w/ a guy named Bedford who passed me on the road section at the end and finished a few minutes before me. And had a fun conversation with a guy from Michigan about beer and drinking, which helped pass a mile or so. This section seems to never end- no way it’s only 4 miles- and I get to 47 at 4:30. The sign says 2.9 miles to go, but it’s probably closer to 4. I try to run faster, thinking I can “kick it in” for this last downhill section. Everyone tells you this is section is very runnable. It is, if you can stand downhills at this point, and have something left in the tank. But I’m pretty beat so end up running VERY slowly with a few walking steps here and there. I got passed by some people on this section- strong runners who actually had something left to kick in with. I figured Angelo might come flying by.
With about a mile and a half to go, I see the group carrying Vicki down and see Paul walking up. He was planning to pace me in but ended up helping out up there instead. So, I get to the 1 mile to go sign, which is actually accurate, and am very happy. I finish by running it in slowly (race time is 11:49) and get a hug from Dr. Horton and my Nathan pack. Then nervously wait with Anne for Angelo to come in a few minutes later (11:56). Watched others finished- the group was really yelling for people to hurry as 12 hours approached! I find out that in the Iron Ho bench press competition that the reps to beat (75 lbs for women) was 23, so I give it a shot. I do 22, and let me tell you, the last 2 were a struggle. However, I don’t think the running affects the bench press THAT much. Next year, I’ll train for this high-rep bench press thing more specifically!
A few thoughts on the race…
I loved it. It was a fun weekend and very cool to be running with old school legendary ultra runners (I cannot imagine having run this race 18 or 24 consecutive times…these guys are impressive) and also people running their first ultras. The camaraderie was awesome. The course is TOUGH- more from a climbing standpoint than having technical trails. All that climbing over 54 miles wears you down. I think that I could run this in the 11-11:30 range but I have to get stronger over the long distances. I haven’t really been close to cutoffs in a race before but knew that was possible here. I also think this is a race that knowing what to expect on the course is very helpful, as far as the terrain and climbs.
Organize my stuff Friday night at the hotel- what to have in the van for after, what to have in a drop bag, etc. I sleep terribly because I’m nervous about the race and worried I’ll sleep through the 3:20 AM alarms. 3:20 finally comes, I get up, dressed and we meet Angelo in the lobby to go to the high school. Paul drives us to the high school and we get on a bus for the hour ride to the James River Visitor Center. Paul gets to go back to sleep for a few hours, but then goes for a Blue Ridge Parkway bike ride (he reported it was quite beautiful but nearly got frostbitten toes). We hang out on the bus for about 40 minutes after arriving. It’s cold- 22 degrees, we’re told. I had eaten a banana on the bus but realized I was starving and had not prepared for this. No food at the aid stations til 6ish miles. Oh well, I’d catch up on eating later. I agonize over what to wear, and decide on 2 thin capilene long sleeves (WVMTR shirt and Highlands Sky finishing shirt!!) with my lightweight but windproof Mountain Hardwear running jacket, and tights, gloves and earband. I carried 1 handheld bottle. We were warned if we were going to be late finishers to make sure to have warm clothing at the drop (26.9 mi) since we gain so much elevation and though we’d warm up in the middle, we would get cold later. I just planned to have my warm fleece and also a hat to pick up. I also packed an extra shirt and gloves, just in case. I figured it really couldn’t get much colder than the 22 degrees it was at the start.
We start w/ a 1.5 mi out and back on the Parkway. It’s dark but beautiful. We could see the Big Dipper on the way out, and Orion on the way back. Cool to see those constellations so low in the sky- I’m rarely out at 5:30 AM! Angelo and I were really in the back of the pack. The aid stations posted the 12 hour pace, and they give you a 10 minute grace period after that, or you are cut off. Except at mile 43, where there is an absolute 3:35 PM cut off. I just thought of the 12 hour pace as the cutoff and was happy to be ahead of that, and mentally kept track of whether I was “gaining” or “losing” time on the 12 hr pace. We were only 15-20 mins ahead of that pace for the first few aid stations.
After 6 miles you turn onto some trail, which mainly climbs to the next aid station. It was leafy but not technical. We walked (fast) most of it, as did most of the people around us. We were in with a pretty large group of people still. Angelo and I were mostly together, he pulled ahead at some points since he seemed better able to run the uphills, and I would catch him eventually. I made more pit stops than I would have liked in the first few hours so I kept falling behind the group we were running with, then I’d eventually catch back up. I met some interesting people during this stage of the race, including Masochist legend Tom Green who was going for his 24th finish. Everyone was friendly and fun to talk to and the veterans offered good advice about the course.
As far as how I was feeling at this point-- I wasn’t in a groove yet, and was concerned I was working too hard. But I knew that I couldn’t take it any easier since we were not far head of 12 hour pace. After the singletrack section, the course became forest service roads, which were leaf-covered and tricky in parts- rocky, mud puddles, slick in some places. The sun came out, my mood brightened, the views were beautiful, and I did start to feel much better.
Climbing up the long hill to the “halfway” point at 26.9, Angelo dropped back. I figured I’d see him again and that I needed to just go at my pace and continue on. I saw Anne at 26.9, left my earband and flashlight (which I hadn’t used), grabbed my fleece hat from my drop bag, and gave Anne my bag to transfer to Paul if I needed my warmer clothes later (I didn’t).
The next section is the climb up Buck Mountain. I was feeling pretty good, though getting annoyed I had to stop to pee every half hour or so (I swear I spent at least 15 minutes of this race on pit stops…). Halfway up Buck Mountain you start to hear music from the aid station blaring across the valley. It’s cool yet frustrating because you know you are a half hour or so from that AS. Finally got there and was quite happy to be done climbing for now! Had some soup and enjoyed running the next downhill section. Earlier in the day, I had figured if I felt bad I could drop at 27. I just woke up that morning thinking it may NOT be my day but I also felt like I came all the way out here, and Paul came out with me, for the weekend so I had to really try and not just give up. This was different than my normal race mindset- I usually go into races confident and wanting to run the best I can on the given day. Anyway, at this point in the race, over halfway, I became dead-set on finishing under 12 hours. I didn’t care about time (too much ;) ), I did NOT want to DNF, and I wanted that water bottle holder. The determination had set in!
Got to 31 and saw Anne again. No Paul yet, but I looked down the road and saw adventure van, so he was there. He had just gotten there but not gotten up to the course yet. He drove by me and we waved and chatted briefly as I made my way up the road- I was very happy to see him! Coming up, I had The Loop to face. I heard that this section, and the section from 43-47, are the most psychologically challenging so I was gearing up for it. I saw Paul and Susanna (my Buff Betty competitor!) as I came into the AS so got a boost from them. I was about 35 minutes up on the 12 hr pace and feeling good. Had some chicken soup as I walked through the AS, and Paul ran/walked with me for a few minutes as I started the loop.
Things seemed to start great on this supposed 5-mile loop- nice flat singletrack. Oh, then we start climbing. And climbing, and going over big and small rocks. I’m still not hating the loop though, still pretty happy. But we keep climbing, and when we are not climbing, it’s all rocky and leafy and slippery and I don’t have the strength to rock hop or keep myself from falling, so I don’t run much. Normally, I would LOVE this type of trail. Not now, not today. Finally, a downhill! But no, I can’t really run down this because I’ll fall and kill myself… now I’m hating it. And I’m getting passed by old guys who seem to be able to run this crap. OK, done with the tough downhill, only have less-tough downhill. Pass some hikers who tell me I have a half hour to go. ?!!!? I’m discouraged thinking I had to be close. I see Paul, so I must be close. No, he had hiked in ¾ mile, which sounded far at the time. Argh. OK, finish the loop, get a hug and cheering from Susanna again. More soup and I start off down the road after a hug from Paul, glad I’m back on “roads”. I had lost time to the cutoffs, was now only 20 mins ahead of 12 hour pace. That is frustrating! The Loop was pretty though, and truth be told, normally the kind of trail I like to run. Just at that point in the race, it’s not pleasant. Some people say the Loop is more than 5 miles, some say it just feels like more than 5 miles. Who knows, it took me a long time though!
Heading to the AS at mile 41, I talk with someone running his 18th MMTR. He tells me that he feels he needs to be at 41 by 3:00 PM or he won’t make the 3:35 cut off at 43. He tells me that the 1.5 miles from 41.5 to 43 is a big climb that usually takes him a half hour. Crap, I was not really worried about cutoffs but I now start worrying, and also worrying about Angelo because I’m hearing he’s 15 minutes back. We get to 41 by 2:50-2:55 so I’m happy, and I get to 43 by 3:18, so feeling pretty good about myself to finish before 5:30, since I’m not really feeling a major energy crash or much pain.
Oh, but the fun awaits after 43…. We start climbing and climbing and climbing on a leafy slick section (old section of the AT). It’s no fun. I’m still pretty positive I’ll finish though so not terribly discouraged, but wish I had more energy to run faster after it flattened out. I pass a few people. I did get to chat with some people who really helped keep the positive attitude- leapfrogged and chatted w/ a guy named Bedford who passed me on the road section at the end and finished a few minutes before me. And had a fun conversation with a guy from Michigan about beer and drinking, which helped pass a mile or so. This section seems to never end- no way it’s only 4 miles- and I get to 47 at 4:30. The sign says 2.9 miles to go, but it’s probably closer to 4. I try to run faster, thinking I can “kick it in” for this last downhill section. Everyone tells you this is section is very runnable. It is, if you can stand downhills at this point, and have something left in the tank. But I’m pretty beat so end up running VERY slowly with a few walking steps here and there. I got passed by some people on this section- strong runners who actually had something left to kick in with. I figured Angelo might come flying by.
With about a mile and a half to go, I see the group carrying Vicki down and see Paul walking up. He was planning to pace me in but ended up helping out up there instead. So, I get to the 1 mile to go sign, which is actually accurate, and am very happy. I finish by running it in slowly (race time is 11:49) and get a hug from Dr. Horton and my Nathan pack. Then nervously wait with Anne for Angelo to come in a few minutes later (11:56). Watched others finished- the group was really yelling for people to hurry as 12 hours approached! I find out that in the Iron Ho bench press competition that the reps to beat (75 lbs for women) was 23, so I give it a shot. I do 22, and let me tell you, the last 2 were a struggle. However, I don’t think the running affects the bench press THAT much. Next year, I’ll train for this high-rep bench press thing more specifically!
A few thoughts on the race…
I loved it. It was a fun weekend and very cool to be running with old school legendary ultra runners (I cannot imagine having run this race 18 or 24 consecutive times…these guys are impressive) and also people running their first ultras. The camaraderie was awesome. The course is TOUGH- more from a climbing standpoint than having technical trails. All that climbing over 54 miles wears you down. I think that I could run this in the 11-11:30 range but I have to get stronger over the long distances. I haven’t really been close to cutoffs in a race before but knew that was possible here. I also think this is a race that knowing what to expect on the course is very helpful, as far as the terrain and climbs.
Splits at some of the aid stations (by memory):
AS 1: :25, 3.3 mi
AS 2: 1:30-1:35, 5.7 mi
AS 9: 5:15, 24.6 mi
AS 10: 5:35, 26.9 mi
AS 11: 6:30, 29.5 mi
AS 12: 7:15, 32.1 mi
AS 13: 7:30 and 8:48, 33.6 and 38.6 mi
AS 14: 9:25, 41.5 mi
AS 15: 9:48, 43.0 mi
AS 16: 11:00, 47.1 mi
Finish: 11:49
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