Gear:
1 - Old and falling a part UD vest that I have only used it a handful of times. It didn't hold up to what I put it through very well.
1 - pair of Black Diamond Folding Z poles
1 - $5 white poncho from WalMart
1 - spare flash light kept on my belt
2 - head lamps, one is 1800 lumen the other is 250 lumen
5 - pairs of socks, one of which was compression
2 - pairs of Nike Wildhorse shoes. One fresh pair and one pair in a drop bag as a back up. #niketrailrunning
Spring Energy - lots of it! #springenergy
Training had gone well, I was as ready as I was ever gonna be. I had been putting in 70 to 75 mile weeks for about 6 weeks with one 80+ mile week. Two weeks out from the race I was wearing the wrong shoes for the conditions on the trail and ended up straining my hamstring. I was hoping that really didn’t screw up my race.
I arrived at Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp mid-afternoon after getting a good night sleep at my folks place at Smith Mountain Lake. I knew I wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight so Thursday night needed to be a good one. I got all checked in and drop bags to their correct spots for delivery out to the aid stations. Now just try and relax until the pre-race meeting and dinner.
The atmosphere at the start/finish was pretty chill everyone just hanging out in the drizzle/rain. The meeting was the usually here is what we marked the trails with and what they mean. They had printed out some extra turn by turn directions for newbies. It was really well marked. I had been concerned because I had read if you hadn’t run the course before you needed to get a map so you wouldn’t get lost. I didn’t get lost, didn’t need the map; there was only one section at night on rocks in which I had to take a bit more time to locate the trail.
After dinner I headed back to the Outback to prep for tomorrow. It looked like a Subaru Outback convention in the cabins area. I think every other car was a Subie. After getting all my gear ready for the morning I rested. I knew sleep would be hard to come by so I just laid down and tried to relax my body and settle my mind, the morning would be here soon enough.
Middle of the night it came. Rain, a heavy rain. I’m not sure for how long, nor when it started, but it was enough to wake me from my sleep. From that point on I dosed off and on until 2:30 when I got up. I was at the start an hour later, on time. Not like at Cloudsplitter when I woke up with about 40 minutes to get ready and to the start line.
At 3:55 they lined us up. Nothing fancy just the sign we would finish under on an open field. I didn’t know a sole here.
The race started on time, in the rain. The first 4 miles where road miles that was a rolling uphill climb. We had been told at the start that there might not be the water drop at the spot where we turned off onto the trail due to all the rain rolling over the road. I didn’t know what that meant until I saw that instead of bridges over the water, the water rolled over the road at about six different creek crossings. I didn’t think they were too bad and there was a car with water where we turned off the road onto the single track. I had successfully made the Moreland Gap water drop and turn.
On this road section I had met Kevin who was running his first Massanutten, but not his first 100 and a couple from Annapolis, MD. We had roughly a 2000’ climb over the next two miles covering some semi-technical terrain. We crested the top as the day was beginning to break over the Shenandoah Valley. The top was fairly technical but over the next four miles I was able to move fairly well over the rocky sections. We couldn’t see much due to the clouds hanging low. We heard the jet airlines overhead and someone commented on that fact. I mentioned that we were not too far from Dulles as I-81 and I-66 intersected not too far from where we currently were. I knew we would be getting closer to this intersection and closer to Front Royal, VA from my map studies of the course. The four of us kinda hung together until the first real aid station, Edinburg Gap. We were about 12 miles into the race I grabbed either some potato or banana and water and kept on going.
Coming out of Edinburg Gap we hit our second climb of the day; by climb I mean it was over a 1000’ up, none of the rolling stuff of up 100 to 300 feet then down again. Yea I had my poles out and I know how to use them to get up the mountain efficiently. The climb wasn’t too bad, I kept my head down and moved. I’m not sure when the four of us separated, was it at the last aid station or was in this section or at the next aid station, Woodstock Tower. By the time I had left Woodstock Tower Kevin and the Annapolis couple were gone. The distance between these to aid stations was about 8 miles, but the terrain wasn’t too bad, an easy downhill with a rolling, semi-technical section as you reached the Woodstock Tower aid station. I was moving fairly well and working very hard at not pushing my pace. According to my watch, which died around mile 30 even though it showed a full charge at the beginning of the race, I was pulling down a 15 to 16 minute mile pace. At Woodstock Tower I had a small drop bag of Spring Energy and jerky. I realized as I tried to pack in all the new food into my vest I hadn’t eaten as much as I thought. While I had eaten a lot, it just wasn’t as much as I had planned on eating plus I was eating as the aid stations as well. So I sent some of my food back because I didn’t have the room to carry it all. I had planned on drop bags about every 20 miles, thinking that’s how far I normally go in my training runs before heading back to the car to resupply.
The next section was one of the shorter distances between aid stations, only about 4 miles. This section was another fairly easy to move on section that finished with a downhill into the aid station. I’m now just over 25 miles in, my feet are soaked but I had my poncho on so the rest of me was dry. The rain had been a steady mist or a gentle rain most of the morning and was beginning to break up as the day went on. The weather reports had it ending by mid-afternoon, but the creeks were swollen and water was racing down path. I was glad I had planned on a several changes of socks along the course. Once I left Powell’s Fort I had an easy climb of 1000’ broken into two parts the latter of which was a bit steep.
It was another 8 miles to the next aid station and the death of the watch. It was in this section when two things happened one the watch stopped, while I did have a portable charger it would not track miles while being charged. The second thing was what allowed me to finish the race. Having been on the trail for nearly 30 miles at this point and seeing what the conditions were like I made the decision to treat this race like I did SCAR. I was going to power hike the rest of the race, I could out walk most folks when they walked and I could out climb most of the folks I was around with my poles and I knew I wouldn’t stress out my body too fast this way. So my paced dropped to around 17 minutes per mile. By the time I reached Elizabeth Furnace at mile 33 I was in good shape and good spirits. I had also picked up a new friend, Justin. He was amazing, this was his third attempt; one completion and one DNF. He was a walking encyclopedia of the course.
The next aid station was Shaw Gap about 6 miles away and where my next drop bag was located. To get there I had another 1000’ climb followed by some rollers. The trails where still filled with water running off the mountains so wet feet ruled the day. The rain was still off and on but persistent enough for me to keep the poncho on. The trail conditions hadn’t changed much a lot of rock sections and a lot of just good trail, typical trail for the east coast beast coast. If I had been of a mind to I could have at least done a slow run on most of the trail up to this point, but I wasn’t in that mind. I hit Shaw Gap and took on less food and at this point was definitely done with the jerky, 4 bars had been enough. So again I sent food back. One plus to this drop bag was my first change of socks, while I knew they were not going to keep my feet dry at least I would receive some comfort from a fresh pair of socks for a few miles.
The next four miles into Veach Gap were a mix of rolling downhill bottom land and a gentle climb. I was still making good time and wasn’t having any issues. I would eat what I could at the aid stations move on and eat my Spring Energy on the trail trying to keep to every 30 minutes as much as possible. Up to this point I had been picking Justin’s brain about what to expect in the next section. I had sat down at Veach Gap and talked with aid station folks about the trail ahead from what they had told me nothing new except that once up it was going to be a ridge run for about 5 miles. With a dead Forerunner 220 the only watch I had just kept time I had no idea my mileage in each section. I was making rough calculations in my head based upon a pace that was a bit faster than what I was currently doing. Since Veach Gap I had started to use my elevation map that I printed out, it had the aid stations on it and marks for the miles. This became my second most valuable piece of information, Justin was still the best source out here. I don’t remember when, but somewhere in the 20 miles Justin had picked up a pacer.
The distance to the next aid station was roughly 9 miles, a 2 mile climb, 5 miles of technical ridge trail on top and nearly 3 miles down to the next aid station. Those 5 miles on top seemed to take forever and it was still day light. I rolled into Indian Grave aid station mile 50, I was half way done! I think it had taken me 17 hours to get here, which if that is true that was fine I felt good. It was a small but efficient aid station. One guy was telling me I need to take in a lot of calories here because one of the biggest climbs of the course was coming up. They had burgers, so I took a plain one to go. I should have stayed there and eaten ½ of one and taken one with me because the next aid station 3 miles down the road really didn’t have anything. I think ate part of a small potato. It was on this road section that I was able to see the Shenandoah River. She was running high and brown. Being here brought back a flood of memories of cannoning on the river years ago. Then the climb. I hadn’t seen Justin in a while but knew he was behind me not too far back and would be catching up soon.
I hope and plan had been to make it to Camp Roosevelt aid station in the day light, this was where my big and bright head lamp was along with a change of socks, fresh shirt and more food. It didn’t quite happen that way.
It was three miles to the next aid station and then nearly 10 to Camp Roosevelt. I had my work cut out for me. It was here standing at Indian Grave that I realized my planning mistake. I didn’t have enough Spring Energy’s Hill Aid for all the climbing I was doing. I had set most of them for the end of the race, next time I’ll plan those better. The 3 miles out of Indian Grave where road miles to the next aid station. It was here and from Justin on our approach that I learned that after we left Camp Roosevelt that we would be in for a very, very wet climb. Reports had reached Justin and those in the aid station that water had been up to runners’ knees and that the water on the trail went on for miles. I was also told to be aware of a false summit on this next climb. When I looked at my profile I was really wishing for some Hill Aid. With none to be had I ate what Springs Energy’s I had with me and climbed. When I finally reached the top dusk was upon me. The top was crazy, it was only to be about 3.5 miles of ridge trail, but the number of short technical climbs and descents had me questioning how much farther quite often. I had seen a couple on the last climb out of Habron Gap and tried asking them how much farther they thought it was to the aid station, no reply. I then asked if they were okay and that got the yea we’re fine reply. Oh well, if Justin caught up I had him. Around the time I saw this couple I was debating when to put on my little head lamp, I knew I had some mile to cover and was afraid that this lamp would go out. I did have a backup flash light on my belt, but didn’t want to use it. Finally after running behind this couple for about 10 minutes I pulled my lamp out. Dusk is always a funny transition time as my eyes adjust I do okay in the fading light, but the lamp keeps me from tripping on unseen obstructions.
Finally Camp Roosevelt that section had been mentally tough but not the toughest. Here I ate several cheese quesadilla’s got my drop bag and restocked my supply. Again I sent food back as well as my poncho, a hat and the little head lamp. I picked up two pairs of socks changing into one and keeping the other in my pack for after this next climb. The report was that the water was still high, which meant my calves would get rinsed off. Yea that didn’t happen, the water had shed off enough that it was only ankle deep over the next 3 miles. With my bright light on, food in my belly and a general idea of the trail to Gap Creek I, I was off.
The next three miles where a climb in a stream bed. I reminded myself what I had discovered earlier in the day, the solid ground was under the fastest moving streams. So up I went in the middle of the streams, it was really a marked trail the water was just using it to get down the mountain. After that it was a much steeper and dryer climb.
It was 6 miles later when I rolled into Gap Creek I. I ate again and talked with one of the aid station volunteers. I asked him one of my more memorable questions of the race ‘Where am I?’ His reply was great ‘You’re at Gap Creek 70 miles into the race.’ I sat up at the news and proclaimed ‘I’ve got a 50k left!’ At that point I was confident I would finish the race. Little did I know what these last 35 miles would bring. I was ready to go and the volunteer walked me to the trail and reminded me to read the sign at the top of the climb. I was 8 miles from my next drop bag. Once on top the trail was very technical, one of the more technical sections of the course. With all the rock I was moving slow and I was constantly double checking my course, reflective ribbons where few and far between and while the standard ribbons where a bit more frequent I was still questioning directionality. With the slow pace and about 6 miles of ridge top trail I was definitely questioning when would it end.
I reached Visitor Center aid station and picked up more food and socks. Here as before I sent food back and here I changed socks. While my feet looked terrible they felt okay all things considered. Justin and his pacer, John, where here as well. I’m not sure who came in first but we left about the same time. I was told two things about the Bird Knob climb one was that it was steep and two was that there were some tall ant mound near the top. I asked John, who is about 6’6” if they were as tall as him. No real answer. So we climbed. I reached the top as the dawn was breaking and I turned off my lamp about 20 minutes before reaching the top, my one set of batteries had lasted at least 6 hours. As I near the top I see these mounds and wonder what they are, they looked like sand piles. I thought they had something to do with the park service. That’s when I realized that they were the ant hills I had been told about. They were 2.5 to 3 feet high and about 6 to 10 feet long along the top of the pile. I was glad I hadn’t stepped on one of these. I finally pop out on the road that will take me to the aid station, they were out of most everything by the time I got there. What they did have was some potato soup. So I took that, mistake. First I know potato soup, my wife makes great potato soup. Second this was more like spiced potato water. The minute it hit my gut I had to make a run for it. When the trail left the road I dropped my vest and poles and went down the road to answer natures call. When I got back to the trail Justin had just taken the turn on to the trail. We had two short steep climbs followed by a long descent into Picnic Area aid station.
When I hit the aid station it had been about 10 miles since Visitor Center aid station and my brain was fuzzy. I hadn’t eaten enough in the last 10 miles and it had taken its effect on me. A guy greeted me as I arrived asking what he could do for me. I wish I had gotten his name, he was incredibly attentive to me needs. I asked him about three questions ‘Where was I? How many miles to the finish? Did I have enough time to finish?’ While I’m asking him these questions he’s trying to figure out what I would eat. I give him my water bottle and Electroride and he gives it to someone else to fill up and makes and executive decision to start feeding me food. First it was a piece of French toast folded with bacon in the middle followed by a pancake folded with bacon ending with eggs with a good pinch of salt, plus coffee. While I’m eating he’s calculating and tells me ‘Yes you have enough time to finish.’ After we consult my elevation profile calculating the distance back to Gap Creek I realize I might not have enough food to make the journey, it was nearly 10 miles to Gap Creek. So he made me a to-go bag and told me all that food I just ate would kick in and I would start to feel better. So I asked him which way do I go and he walked me to the trail. I was off. I think Justin came in while I was there and most likely left before I did.
I had one of the biggest climbs of the race right in front of me. Two miles downhill then up with two or three false summits along the climb. Of all the things that happened during the race I can definitely say that my climbing was on point. It was on this last climb I met Bob and his pacer, Bob happened to be a friend of Justin’s. I’ve learned that Justin is a friend to everyone. On this section back to Gap Creek Bob’s pacer, Mara, told us that at our current pace we were 90 minutes a head of the cut off. I wasn’t really sure I had heard her correctly, so I said ‘You’re telling me that if I stick with you all I’ll get my buckle?’ Yup! Okay I didn’t need to hear any more I was just going to finish. The three of us out climbed Justin and John, they caught up to us again just before the last aid station and we all came in together. I grabbed my drop bag and had them fill up the bottle that was in the bag with water. I took the bag with me and was off. In here was all the Hill Aid and Canaberry I needed earlier, but they would help me finish well. One last climb back up to the sign and down to the finish. We came out of the woods on to a crushed black rock road section that gave way to black top. Justin had told us that this was the section we had started out on. According to Bob’s pacer we were still in front of the cut off. We were joined on this section for a brief period of time by friends of Justin and Bob’s. So for about a mile the 7 of us walked and jogged down the gravel/black top road glad to have this race almost done. Justin had told us that eventually we would take a left turn into the camp grounds where all the car where parked and take a short trail over to the finish. The last pair to join our group were the first to move off towards the finish a little bit later Justin and John could no longer be seen and when I turned around to look for Bob I couldn’t see him.
The finish couldn’t get here soon enough. While I felt great, I was ready to be done. Over the past 7 miles since the last aid station my emotions ran a bit raw as the realization of getting my first buckle began to settle in on me. I turned into the camp ground. Insult to injury. I’m thinking you have got to be kidding. A dirt road climb, steep and not too short. I took out my poles one last time to get up this hill. Once at the top I was about a quarter mile from the finish. I stopped to put my poles away, get down to the creek and let my feet soak in the water not really sure if I want this to end or not. A guy from across the bank shouts over the ragging creek ‘Let’s get this thing finished.’ I cross the little bridge and walk towards the finish. As I’m walking it in Kevin, the race director, gets on the horn and tells me that everyone runs across the finish, even if you did walk the whole thing. So I ran, 33:42:08 after starting I finished my first 100 mile race and not just any race The Massanutten Mountain Trails 100.
It’s hard to remember where all the creek crossing were on the course, but there where at least 4 that had a swift enough current that I had to use my poles for bracing. All of those where about thigh deep.
Over all the course was a great mix of technical and runnable trail. More or less it was just like the AT through the Smokies. My best estimate is that I power hiked 75 to 80 percent of the course and ran or jogged the rest. In a few years I might go back to see if I can go faster, I think I can.
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