Jay Challenge Race

JUST A FAIR WARNING THAT THIS IS A LONG POST. JUST FAIR WARNING HEHEHE


Just to let you all know this is a before the race pic and deff not during or after the race pic. I am too clean for that. And as you all can tell Gary Knippling made it up for the race. I did not know untill I was in the parking lot the morning of the race and I saw him pull up in his truck with two other people.

Well it all started a while back when I was on the computer looking at all kinds of different races. And I don't remember if someone had mentioned this race to me or I happened to stumble across the web site. Either way I had decided awhile back that I was going to do this one. It had the makings of another great adventure on my short list of races. So I signed up for the race and quickly got my plane ticket and hotel reservation.

After CFA 50k I had planned on taking it easy knowing I had Jay's the following weekend. That lasted all of 2 days. Since I showed up that monday to run at the Kentlands. I actually felt great that night and was really happy I made it out for the usual 7 miles because I really felt it helped to loosen up my sore legs and quads. Then the next night I showed up for XMP's workout. I did take it a little easy that night but still got in about 6 miles.

Then I was off on my next adventure. The flight up to Albany was a short one and the drive back to my mothers was just as short. Of course we talked about how crazy she thinks I am for all the running I am doing. But she is totally supportive of all that I do which is deff awesome. We get back to my mothers and I start to sort out all of my goodies for the weekend. I make sure I have everything that I will want and more. For the next few days befor I leave for the race I am trying to read up on the race and checking the weather. The race has been known to have awful weather. And the last email before I left for JAY from the RD had stated that out of the last 30 days they had maybe 2 to 3 days of nice weather. And I said to myself I am in for a treat hehehe I mean long day.

So friday morning came pretty quick and I had my mothers explorer packed with everything but the kitchen sink. I also take more than I possibly could need for any race. But I am the beleiver that it's better to be over prepared than under prepared. So with directions in had I was on my the 4 hour ride it would take to get up to JAY Vermont from Salem NY (mothers house). The drive was wonderful with back roads and some very nice mountain roads. And very few boring highway roads.

I made it up to JAY in plenty of time and stopped at the Jay Country Store which was right next to the start finish of the race. I go into the store to hopefully get something to eat and gatoreade to drink. And boy did that hit the spot. I could not really get anything done at this point in time since they were still setting everything up for packet pick up and everything else. So I made my way up about 3 miles to where I would be staying at Jay Peak Resort Hotel. Little did I know that the MOUNTAIN right behind the hotel would be the same one I would be climbing up the next day. If I would have known that at the time I might have made a mess right then and there hehehehe. Well I had to wait about an hour or so to check in and so I just sat in the car and relaxed for a bit. So check in went smoothly and I made it up to my room. I could have fit everyone in that room it was huge. Well I unpacked everything and layed down to watch some tv before I headed back to the start finish where packet pick up was at 7. And sure enough while I lay down watching tv it decided to pour like no other. And that deff was an indication of how the race would go the following day. Well packet pick up went smoothly and I headed back up to the hotel.

Once back at the hotel I did my usual routine of pinning my number to my shorts and laying everyting out that I would be wearing for the race the next day. Along with putting together both drop bags for the race. Everything was going smoothly and I was off to bed.

Well race morning came quick and I had the car packed once again and off down the road to the start. So I pulled into the grassy parking lot and started to get ready. And that is when Mr.Gary Knippling pulls up. And I said to myself what do ya know. I did not think I would see any other VHTRC'ers up at this race. So we walked around a bit and I showed gary where the halfway point was and where we come out of the water and split off from everyone who could not handle the full 33 miles.



Well this is the start and if you tilt your head to the side it is basically an uphill start. Really only an ant hill compared to what we would be going up later in the day. But it was deff an eye opener to what the rest of the day would be. Well we started up this hill and basically headed right into the woods shortly afterwards. This first 4 to 5 miles was not that bad at all. We did have a few short climbs in the woods which we had to use a rope to help us up. But it really was minute again compared to what would be coming up later.

The first aid station came up really quick which was like 5 or so miles into the race. Here is a picture of what I think was the first aid station.



At this point I was not so tired yet. And still pretty clean an dry up to this point.

Soon after the first aid station we were back in the woods and we all got our first bit of mud. Actually it was alot of mud but what can you say most of the race had alot of mud. And shortly after that mud we entered out first brook which was actuall quite nice. I have been in the water before during a race but that was only to cross a stream or something like that. This time we actually had to basically hike/run/walk through the water which was actually quite nice. You really did have to be super careful and pay attention or else you would take a dip into the water and be soaked. Here is one of the pics from the water.

And as you can tell I am having a great time. We actually spent about 20 min or so in the water the first time. And as you can tell we had to hike up and over boulders and rocks the whole way. So no real running in the part at all. Well at least you did not catch me trying to run and face plant in the water. And since it was my first time at this race I was taking the cautious path through the water. Well I made my way through this first brook in one piece and ended up at Aid station number 2.



As you can tell in this picture I decided to sit down for a bit and change socks. This is Aid Station number 2 and our first drop bag. I decided on a change of socks and an ensure and some quick foot work. And on my way out grabbed a couple cups of gatorade and a few m and m's. And then we were off to what would probally be the toughest part of the race. And that is the climb up Jay Peak Mountain. Jay Peak is not nearly as technical as anything in the Massanuttens but it is one hell of a tough and very very very long climb. I thought I was going to die quite few times on the way up. I also thought my heart was going to explode it was working so hard to keep pumping the blood to my legs which were struggling to make their way up the mountain. But I was not alone in the struggles up the mountain. For quite a few of us it was our first Jay's race. Finally finally we made it up to the top of the mountain where the ski place is and Aid Station number 3 which is in this next pic.



Here I am at the Aid Station with the lovely Rene. I spent about half of the climb up Jay Peak with her and then a good part of the remainder of the race with her. She is an awesome runner and even better company. Well for me she was great company hehehehe. I was so happy to be finally up that damn mountain at this point. I deff had to catch my breath and take a moment to enjoy the view from atop the mountain. Then it hit me that we had to make our way back down the mountain which I knew was not going to be easy or any fun at all. And sure enough the trip back down the mountain sucked big time. You did not want to go too fast or else you would face plant. But you could not really walk at all because of gravity your body wanted to sprint down the hill. Somewhere after we made it back down the mountain we soon entered back into the water if I can remember correctly. I maybe wrong but I do remember getting this pic taken while in the water. So here it is. No promises on where exactly in the race I am at this point in time.

I know I know it looks like I am taking a shit break but I was really just cooling off hehehehe.

I was actually enjoying myself at this point in time. I really did enjoy running through the water. It was really quite refreshing.

Again after coming down the mountain and back into the water we were quickly out and running right into Aid Station number 4. This is where I filled up my Nathan Pack and had a couple cups of gatorade again. I also made myself another drink in my water bottle. Again I was running with Rene when some guy came up behind us and said we needed to get moving or we would not make the 6 hour cut off at the half way point. So off we started running again. And that is when I realized I was missing something. I had my nathan pack on my back and bottle in hand. But I was still missing something. And that is when I realized I did not have my camera in my other hand. And so I started to turn around and go back for it which was left on the table at AS #4. But then I soon realized that it was not worth it and I really did not have alot of time. And so I again turned around and started running once again. I was already beat down with that mountain climbing that I knew I was going to have to give it all I had to make it in time. So from that point on I was not able to take any more pictures which I was pretty bummed about. But I realized finishing the race was what was really important to me. Oh well that was that.

After AS#4 we had some more mud and water and lots of fun. Right up into AS#5 and the cut off we were running through one of the brooks again and I kept looking at my watching wondering how much time I had before the cut off. I was going to make it one way or another so I started running through the water which probally was not the smartest thing to do but I did not care at that point. So I made it into the AS with 20 minutes to spare. At this point we had run about 19 miles and some change. And we had another 6 hours to finish the race. I knew I had plenty of time even though I was exhausted at this point.

Soon after AS#5 we had a good stretch of running before we hit the water again which felt great since the weather was warming up. This next stretch of running was pretty long and tough. We had tons more mud and basically a swamp to run through which was quite interesting and did not smell all the great. Oh and I should mention the about knee high mud too which was not easy to get through.

After making it through the swamp we came to the part of the race that I had been looking foward to the whole day. And that was the river crossing. I knew this was going to feel great. So I make it to the river and notice the water did not look all that great but I knew it would feel good. They had a rope which assisted us across and I slowly inched my way over to the other side. Once there I decided to wait for Rene which I had left a few miles back. So I took a short break and chatted it up with the 2 volunteers who were there to help us out. And so a few minutes later Rene arrived and made her way across along with another guy who had been running with us for a bit as well. After that I had started to remember that I wish I had my camera at this time because I really wanted my picture in the river. I then noticed that one of the volunteers had a camera and I asked if they could take my pic in the water. So I quickly jumped back in and got my picture taken. And as soon as I get the pic I will post it online for everyone to see.

Within a quarter of a mile later came AS#6 and our second drop bag. This is where I had another dry pair of socks and a dry pair of shoes. Both of which I had changed out. And boy did that feel great to sit there and change both. Felt like I had new feet at that point in time. I also stayed in that chair a few extra minutes as I did not want to get back up. But I realized I needed to get going so up and off I went.

AS#7 was about 5 or so miles later. But during this time the thunder and lightning really started to pick up and it also started to drizzle. This is also where I left Rene once again who was having trouble with her knees. I now know I probally should have stayed with her hehehe but I just pushed on.

I finally made it to AS# and quickly had a seat where I never wanted to get up. Within a few minutes of sitting down the skies opened up and it started to pour cats and dogs. And I thought to myself this sucks but I have to get going and get out of there. So off into the pouring rain I went. From then on I did not do a whole lot of running but alot of walking. A few short miles later came a water only stop and the last one before the end of the race. Oh and don't let me forget the nice big sand pit/sand hill we had to climb up which totally sucked ass too.

Well I knew I did not need any water at AS#8 so I just kept on moving knowing I only had about 3 miles to go before I could finally finish this tough ass race.

Finally finally I came into view of the finished and I made one last spring to the little down hill that we had run up about 10 hours earlier. And I weaved my way down the hill trying to add in a little more work hehehe. Everyone thought that was crazy and funny.

FINALLY after 10 hours and 30 minutes later I had finished the JAY CHALLENGE race. This was one hell of a tough race. I mean I had been in a muddy race. I had been through a pouring race. And I deff had been through some climbs at races. But never had I been to a race where all 3 obsticles were on 1 race. This one deff has it all. And even though the race sucked ass I am so happy and glad that I tackled this challenge. And I will deff do it again in the future. So next year we all have to go back and have some fun up in JAY VERMONT. Hopefully a few more pics will follow in the future as soon as the RD lets me know.

Thanks for reading my novel. Hope you all enjoyed and plan on it next year.

Catherines Fat Ass 50k

Well this race started off great. I met Margie Hughes and Vicki I can't remember her last name and Farouk at the Park and Ride in Centerville for our little ride out to the 211 Aid station of MMT. The race started out great for the first mile maybe. And then the climb up Bird Knob started and I started thinking to myself this totally sucks even when it's at the beginning of the race. After the long ugly climb up Bird Knob we settled into some nice running.

The weather was totally agreeing with us so far. This I was happy about since I have heard that this race has been known to have some ugly hot/humid memories. Luckily we were not going to get that. It seemed like every 15 or so minutes we had a nice cool breeze which was awesome.

It really was awesome to be running with familiar faces again and such wonderful company. Doyle, Karen, and Rhonda from MCRRC made the trip out as well. And I got to run a good part of the race with them as well as Margie, Gerard and Lorrie of the TrailDawgs. Got used to running behind Margie since that is what I will be doing this coming weekend at the Burning River 100.

As usual the Aid Stations were awesome with more than enough food and drink to kill a horse. I had my usual Nathan Pack with water botel and Succeed Ultra with me. So I did not end up eating or taking to much from the aid stations.

Even with the nice weather we had the course is still a tough one. As most of you know having run in the Massanuttens it's pretty rocky and lots of ups and downs. So it was still pretty tough. The purple trail is deff a great workout.

Overall I was trying to take it pretty easy as much as I could since I knew I had Jay Challenge the following weekend. So I probally ran the last 6 or so miles from the last aid station and down Bird Knob by myself which was not bad at all. Although it did end up twisting both my ankles a few times. But I toughed it out and finished with a respectable 7:15.

Then as most of you know the fun begins. I totally love finishing a race and sitting down with all the VHTRC'ers and listening to the stories and eating some good food.

Overall all I was pretty happy with how the whole day went. Next year hopefully everyone can make it since it will be the 10th Anniversary of the race and they have promised to make it a special one.

Dans les montagnes

We just spent a few days in the Alsace region of France, drinking wine and eating smelly cheese, and got to drive in the Vosges mountains and take a short hike. It is gorgeous here! This hike (and I use the term loosely, it was more of a 40 minute stroll due to limited time…) was done off of the Route des Cretes, between Col de la Schludt and Col du Bonhomme. We’ve seen lots and lots of cyclists too! There are many, many beautiful small towns, and Paul is enjoying driving our little manual transmission Citroen too (though gas is 1.40 euros/L here!). As far as wildlife sightings, we’ve seen lots of quail-type birds as well as storks which nest on houses in Alsace this time of year. (oh, and ironically it's really difficult to follow the Tour over here!) Tout est bon!

Rattlesnake 50k

July 7, 2007

Why Rattlesnake?
MP: I could say ‘Amanda made me do it’ but that wouldn’t be true! I admit this one has always intrigued me; I’ve been hearing the WVMTR folks talk about it for years and have always been interested in going. I think the name sounds cool! All events conspired to actually make this the year I would do it when Amanda said she wanted to go. Not long after Highlands Sky I found myself sending in the completed Rattlesnake application…how does this happen?

Pre-race
MP: Normally before a race I obsess over possible splits, pour over prior year race results, worry about cut-offs, look at maps, plot strategy, etc. This time, there was no course map to look at, no excel spreadsheet with splits between aid stations available on-line, not even a list of distances between aid stations. In fact, the registration said there would be six well-stocked aid stations and there were actually nine of them. What I did have was a lurking fear of heat and humidity and bad memories from Catoctin in August 2006 where I just barely finished under the 9 hour cut-off. My strategy for Rattlesnake was simple - drink a LOT, eat what I can, take 1 endurolyte every 30 minutes, stay positive, and just run as best I can. Dan Lehmann, RD from Highlands and something like 8 time finisher of Rattlesnake, gave me the following details:

The Rattlesnake has ten climbs of approx 500 feet each. You climb a hill, run the ridge, then drop back down. The aid is situated in the hollow at the beginning of each ascent. It is not terrible rocky like HS or Catoctin, more difficult than Holiday or Capon, much shorter climbs than PL. You would likely run it a bit faster than PL. It was my first ultra and kicked my butt in 1999. It is all forested, well developed trails, can be humid, showers at the finish. The second half is tougher than the first.

The race site also said ‘one loop, 10 climbs, 5,500’ of climb’. This is pretty much it for what I knew about the race. Charleston, WV, here we come!

Amanda, Bill and I drove down on Friday afternoon. Let’s just say Charleston is a long way, it took us something like 7+ hours to get there on Friday due to traffic getting out of Northern VA and then stopping to eat along the way. Trip back was easier on Saturday afternoon, something like 6.5 hours.

The Race
MP: We arrive in the dark parking lot of Kanawha State Forest at 5:30 am. Check in and get a nice soft six pack cooler and race T-shirt without even running anything yet. And a race number, which I guess means I have to pin it on and run! We look at the map to figure out where Bill might meet us during the race, looks to be pretty easy since we cross the main road in the park a number of times during the race. Drop off our drop bags, they’ll be at aid #5 which is about half-way through the course. Visit with arriving runners, Dan Lehmann, Dennis Stottlemeyer, Brad Mongold, Mark Flood, Tony Morris, Jim Cavanaugh, etc. See Annette Bednosky, ultra star, arrive. I think it was in the low 60s, I try not to think about how hot it will get. Before I know it, we gather for the 6:30 am start and Race Director Dennis Hamrick says the ‘g-o’ word.

MP: Amanda and I didn’t plan to run together, she took off on the short road section, next thing I know we turn right on single-track trail and head immediately uphill. We are a line of ants hiking uphill, I decide this must be climb number 1 and vow to try to keep count so I have some clue what I’ve got ahead of me. Dan’s description is dead-on, we reach the top, run along a ridge and then drop down to a hollow to hit an aid station. This course is pretty much a blur to me, with all the climbing and descending, no knowledge of the Kanawha trails, and no idea what mile the aid stations were at, I really had no reference points. I only knew that aid station 5 was about half-way. So here’s my summary from what I remember.

AD: I have included what I remember as well, but some of it is definitely a blur. This was a mental challenge for me at times, so I am glad I finished.

AD: The first climb is tough, but listening to the line of people telling stories was fun, including how men keep various parts warm during a cold ultra - something to do with plastic bags. Maybe another use for a Wonder Bread bag? The first climb is about 1 mile and then there are about 2 miles of down hill on a dirt road, and I am having a great time flying down the hill even though I realize I will pay for this later. This suddenly changes when a group of us realize we have missed the trail and run too far down the road. We all run back up and sure enough there are two red ribbons on the tree. I had noticed the ribbon earlier but did not see that there were two, so I had followed the pack. I was just enjoying the downhill too much! This is the turn onto the Rattlesnake Trail. I am now behind several runners I had passed earlier and most ask about the excursion I took. I let this get to me and think I do not really need to be adding extra miles (I found this side trip on my Garmin data and it was about a half mile of total distance). I have finally arrived at AS 1 about 3 miles from the start, and I already feel tired. Just as I am convincing myself not to worry about the extra distance and running too fast down the hills, my foot hits the top of a rock and down I go. I am fine but it does not help my mental outlook. I arrive at AS 3, located in the parking lot where we started, and this really seems cruel. I just want to stop and stay with Bill. He is just looking at me like “what happened?”, but I know I will go on and try to forget I have only gone 9 miles.

MP: I measured my progress like this: climb 1, AS 1; climb 2, AS 2; climb 3, AS 3; you get the idea. I see Bill at AS 3, which goes through the start/finish area, he tells me Amanda has fallen, gotten lost and is grumpy. Somehow I know that won’t last for her.

AD: By the time I get to AS 4, I am feeling much better and trying to enjoy the beauty of the forest. Rays of sunshine coming through the trees are beautiful and I start running with some other runners and enjoying the company. Then comes fall number 2. This one is not bad, so I am able to quickly get up and continue. When I reach AS 5, I am in a much better mood from the natural beauty around me and the positive energy I am getting from my running companions. I hurry to get my new bottles and leave with my new found friends. They are much more experienced trail runners than I and provide some good advice on technical running.

MP: I hit aid station 4 at 9:10 am, I estimate that this is 10-12 miles into the race; I decide that 2:40 is not bad for this point and I’m moving along fine. I’m not running with anyone and am enjoying the day. It isn’t too hot yet. The course is in almost complete shade. I’m carrying my Nathan hydration pack with water and eating Hammergel (expresso with caffeine!). I also eat half a pack of Clif blocks on one climb, the other half on another climb. I hit aid station 5 at 10:10 am, I’m half-way there! I’m very happy and pleasantly surprised I’m under 4 hours here. About this time I realize that I haven’t been eating anything at the aid stations. I just wasn’t hungry running in that heat. I was very focused on drinking more aggressively early in each climb so I could absorb some water on the climb and then actually run on the flat and downhill without unabsorbed water sloshing around in my stomach and making me sick. At some point in the first half I know I ate two pieces of crystallized ginger because my stomach felt bloated and sloshy. I don’t know if it’s psychological or scientific, but it helped. I decided I wouldn’t worry too much about eating other food, I seemed to be doing ok without it.

MP: Leave AS 5, climb 6, AS 6, climb 7 and on it goes. Somewhere in here I remembered that Dan said the second half was harder than the first. I wonder if that’s because the climbs are actually harder (steeper??) or is it just because you’re tired? It dawns on me that the uphills have been hard but that my quads will also be trashed from all the descents. 5,000+ climbing also means 5,000+ descending! On each descent I would grab trees on the sides of the trails to try to help control my descent, I noticed on many trees there would be a wet smear mark from all those ahead of me doing the same thing. Funny!

AD: Once we arrive at AS 6, one of my new friends walks to the car where Bill has stood up out of his chair to hand me another bottle of Cytomax, and guess what...... He asks Bill if he can use his chair as he has something in his shoe and wants to take it off. Time has now slowed way down and Bill just looks at me. I have the good sense to say nothing, but we are both thinking the same thing - the HD pillow. Bill knows my friend has really helped me, and I can see the painfully conflicted look of that fact and the HD memories washing over his face, but he slowly and finally says yes and my friend successfully removes the rocks from his shoe.

AD: We take off and a short time later I proceed to fall again looking for the next red ribbon - this is fall number 3. Lisa, my Tennessean friend from Highlands Sky, caught up with me and proceeds to fall shortly thereafter. What is going on? Leaving AS 7, I am feeling strong, but this climb is brutal. Starting down a hill I feel better and take off. I am enjoying the run until Lisa falls and hits her knee on a sharp rock (she wins best blood). We make it to AS 8, and Lisa asks if there are any more climbs. The look on the AS worker’s face says it all, but she tells us after AS 9 there is a climb, but the last mile is relatively flat and the total distance to the finish is about 3 miles. This gives me encouragement, so off I go by myself up the hill. After this climb there are some large boulders, and I am confused about which way to go. I go around the boulder area twice and get frustrated as it seems the only way to go is the way I have just come from. After I wander for about 5 minutes, until Lisa and Sylvia arrive. Sylvia successfully follows the markers to get us on our way again.

AD: We arrive at AS 9; happily aware we only have 3 miles left. Lisa and Sylvia move ahead of me on the climb and I can not keep up. I do not think I will see them again, but once I hit the downhill slope, I pick up the pace and catch up to them. Lisa and I both fall one more time at exactly the same time. O.K., we are synchronizing our falls! We pick ourselves up finish the downhill and hit a flat section that runs along a creek. Suddenly we are off the trail and on grass running into the finish. We are relieved to finally have escaped the Rattlesnake, wounded but alive. I finished in 6:28:22.

MP: I see Bill again at AS 7, he said Amanda is fine, has fallen some more but is still going strong, says he’ll see me at the finish. I meet up with a guy in his 50s or 60s and run with him on and off for awhile. I learn this is his 8th Rattlesnake, that he’s from NC, and that he ran the race for the first time because he read a really good race report from Courtney Campbell (another ultra star). He is running strong, I decide to try to keep up with him if I can. He starts previewing each section of the course for me. We run into AS 8 together. The AS volunteer tells us that just about the longest distance between aid stations is next, she says it is 3-4 miles, others later say they believe it is closer to 5 miles.

MP: I think we leave AS 8 around noon, as we leave he tells me climb 9 is really brutal, that it really sucks, it’s miserable! I am staying positive, I say that at least we’ll know we only have one left after that!! Turns out it is brutal. I would hike to a point on the trail, stop and allow myself to take 5 breaths, and pick another spot to hike to, repeat. He loses me. I catch him again once we hit the top, we go through some big boulders where I have to lift my leg as high as my hip to climb up. I think, ‘bring it on’, this isn’t as hard as HS! We descend from the boulders and run for a really long time through a dark pine forest, we actually pass a few people here. We eventually get to AS 9, I think it’s about 1 or 1:15 pm.

MP: We start out for CLIMB 10!! Whoohooo! OK don’t get too happy yet, you still have to get up it. He tells me this one is the worst, it’s really awful, etc. He loses me on the climb again. Two others I’d passed at the aid station pass me. I finally reach the top. Tony catches up to me and we cheer each other on as we start running down hill. We pass one young guy walking. Tony disappears in front of me. I see a guy sitting down with a stick he has been using to help walk, he’s cramping badly, I give him an endurolyte and move on. We hit a flat area along a stream, I see the guy I had been running with, I’m pushing hard now. I ask him how far to the finish, he says less than a mile and I take off. He’s been very helpful and I want to run with him, but I also now realize that if I run hard I might make it in before 2 pm and do this thing under 7.5 hours. I’m gone! I really have no idea if I’m close to the finish or not, I just run as hard as I can manage. Soon I turn right and can see the finish line, I hear Dan, Bill, Amanda cheering for me and push for a hard finish. I shake Dennis’ hand and receive my nice blue glass medallion Rattlesnake finisher award. I don’t remember seeing a clock and didn’t ask what they put down as my time, but the results say I did it in 7:19:54. I am pretty darn happy!

Final Thoughts
MP: Rattlesnake results and pictures

MP: What is with the at least 3 people I saw running without any water, are they crazy or just newbies? I know there were 9 aid stations and that many could run this race with just one hand held water bottle, but to carry no fluid seems crazy to me. I wonder if they finished?

MP: Although the website may not have a lot of info on this race, it is not because the race director doesn’t know what he’s doing. It was a very well-organized race. I thought the course was very well marked and I never got lost. The aid stations had water, soda, either Gatorade or HEED, pretzels, cookies, bananas, grapes, cheese-its, etc. I still didn’t eat much, I think I had about 4 cheese-its and 6 grapes. Otherwise it was all water, Hammer gel and 2 packages of Clif blocks. I used the ginger remedy twice, it seemed to work.

AD: I also thought the race was well organized and all the AS workers were terrific.

MP: All the climbs seemed to be straight up and then straight down. They don’t seem to use very many switchbacks in WV!! For you mountain bikers, this park is big for mountain biking. As I was running down the Black Bear Trail I vowed that I would never ever ride a mountain bike on it. Naturally about then a mountain biker flies by me with no problem. I still ain’t doing it. Another mountain biker recommend the Middle Ridge Trail, said it wasn’t very technical, ummm, can he be trusted? Turns out there is a mountain bike race on these very same trails called the Black Bear 40k in August, I will not be participating!

MP: There were showers at the finish in the pool building, it felt really good to take a shower. Amanda and I had to laugh, they were close to the skankiest showers we had ever seen, but they had hot and cold running water, no line, and felt like the Ritz Carleton to us. They had Subway subs, chips and sodas for us to eat after the race. I have to ask, why do people insist on ruining perfectly good subs by putting mayonnaise on ALL of them? YUCK! We stopped for Blizzards at DQ in Lavale, MD on the way home, YUM!! Somehow a Blizzard makes it all worthwhile.

AD: Not to be forgotten is the interesting 13.5 hours we spent together in the car and the various topics of conversation one can wander onto with so much time. Besides some of the urban myth homework problems that Michelle took on, I felt comfortable (or disoriented) enough to tell my story about the time I think I ate ground hog roadkill stew. Appropriate conversation after such a grueling ordeal.

MP: Thanks Bill for driving us for all those many hours!!

MP: Dennis and all his volunteers put on a great race. The Kanawha State Forest people had the trails in tip top shape. You could see they had been out recently weed whacking and generally clearing the trails. Even with all their efforts, I still saw a lot of poison ivy which I did my best to avoid. I am hoping the several times I have now showered with Technu will keep me poison ivy free!