Bull Run Run 2005

April 8

Martha and I are driving up to Northern Virginia where I will run the Bull Run Run 50 Miler tomorrow. Our kids, Nathan and Amy, are spending the weekend with Martha’s parents. We make it to the race headquarters, which is at a recreation camp, by about 4pm. This allows us plenty of time to check in and meet people, as well as find our bunks where we will be sleeping tonight. The sleeping quarters are bunk houses, and of course, the men sleep separately from the women.

There are plenty of people I know, and I introduce Martha to many of them. At dinner, we sit close to David Horton and Bethany Patterson. David is talking about the adventure he is going to embark on in eight weeks. He is going to attempt to set the record for through hiking the Pacific Coast Trail—all 2,600+ miles of it. The record is currently 83 days, but he says that was set “unsupported,” and he will be “supported” for his effort.

Dinner is excellent as usual, and the conversation is always my favorite part. I talk awhile with Gary Knipling and then Janet Vincent, as well as many others. After the race briefing, I make another trip back to the truck and then turn in for the night. I try to go to sleep around 9pm, but I definitely wasn’t able to fall asleep until at least 10pm.

April 9

All of us in my bunk house get up at 5am for the 6:15 start. During one of my trips to the restroom, I meet an old friend who is still in the Marine Corps, Bill Shannon. The start is slightly late because they want to make sure we won’t need flashlights for the first few minutes. I think it officially gets going around 6:20.

Mile 9.2 1:43:09 (11:13 avg./mile) Centreville Road (2^nd time)

The course is slightly different this year. We go a mile past Centreville Road, before we head back down the river. So, this is my second time at the Centreville aid station. I started off somewhat conservatively as my time indicates. This part of the course is fairly flat, and I should have made a little better time. However, it is quite okay because there is a long way to go. The temperature so far is nicely in the high 40s, but the latest prediction is calling for a high of around 62. This won’t be bad as long as it doesn’t go higher than that. I have a short-sleeve shirt on, and I only put sunscreen on my head and neck.

Mile 14.2 50:17 (10:03 avg./mile) Hemlock Overlook

About a mile before returning to this aid station where we started, I catch up to Gary Knipling. He is my latest rival at ultra races. We each have beaten the other a couple of times. He usually starts a little faster than me, but I am surprised to catch up to him so soon. I have picked up my speed slightly, and it feels like my legs are starting to come to me. At this aid station, I drink my first pint of chocolate milk and then head on down the trail.

Mile 18.7 46:07 (10:15 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

There is a lady, who is very quick, that keeps passing me after I go ahead of her at the aid stations. Her name is Sophie, and she runs the downhills as hard I do. She comes into this aid station slightly ahead of me, but once again I leave the aid station a little sooner than she does. I wonder if I should just let her go and quit trying to stay with her.

Mile 23.7 45:31 (9:06 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

I come into Wolf Run Shoals very quickly, and I think the mileage could be off. Last year, they said that it was 4.5 miles from the marina to here, and this year over the same course, it is now 5.0 miles. However, I am feeling good and glad to be this far. I have only slightly rolled my right ankle once, and I didn’t do any harm or cause any pain. On this course, I shouldn’t have problems with it. I am still slightly ahead of Sophie as I pass through this aid station.

Mile 25.7 25:16 (12:38 avg./mile) Fountainhead

I am quite sure that I didn’t slow down after I went through the Wolf Run Shoals aid station. My personal opinion, now looking back on it, is that the 0.5 mile from the last section belongs on this section. Then my splits would have both averaged about 10 minutes per mile. About halfway through this section, I come upon three guys running together, and one of them is none other than David Horton. He says that Sophie and I are breaking the speed limit running down hills, and then he promptly stubs his toe on a root. His running partners think it serves him right for giving me a hard time. Soon after passing David, I pass Mike Campbell, who usually is far ahead of me. At this aid station, I change shoes and drink a pint of chocolate milk. While I am changing shoes, David, et al. go by me. I also decide to take off the shirt since the temperature is now well into the 60s.

Mile 30.1 50:53 (11:34 avg./mile) Do Loop (start)

I start out this section on the way to the infamous Do Loop with the intent of catching up to David. However, my right ankle has other plans, like rolling three times on this section alone. The first roll on this section isn’t bad, but each ankle roll hurts a little worse. This section is also a little more challenging with some good mud on horse trails and steeper terrain. Finally, I make it to the Do Loop aid station to begin my Do Loop.

Mile 33.1 35:58 (11:59 avg./mile) Do Loop (end)

The Do Loop is an interesting section where the trail passes by two old junk cars. The first one is a Ford Fairlane, and the second one is a Nash Rambler. The loop ends somewhat uneventfully, but I still manage to roll my ankle one more time before getting back to the aid station. Now, it is time to put the hammer down and see how well I can pick things up heading back to Hemlock.

Mile 37.5 55:31 (12:37 avg./mile) Fountainhead

This section doesn’t seem as bad as when I came the other way about an hour earlier. Also, I am meeting a good number of people who are still heading out to the Do Loop. This is always motivating in a relative sense. They still have all of that to do, and I have already done it. It doesn’t matter whether they are feeling better than me or not, I have several fewer miles left than them. At Fountainhead, I meet Martha again, but I decide to forego the chocolate milk. Instead I drink about a pint of Conquest. I ask her if she knows how far ahead David Horton is, and she doesn’t know. So, I ask her to try and figure this out for me when I see her next at Bull Run Marina.

Mile 39.5 27:48 (13:54 avg./mile) Wolf Run Shoals

This definitely makes a lot more sense if it is 2.5 miles instead of only 2.0. I don’t spend too much time in this aid station, and at this point, I am just trying to keep myself cool. The temperature isn’t too warm, as I think it tops out around 70 or so, but the wind is blowing and staying hydrated is a challenge.

Mile 44.5 57:20 (11:28 avg./mile) Bull Run Marina

Not a great time, as I stagger into this aid station. I am motivated to try a surge to the finish, so I take two cups of Coke and nothing else. I leave the aid station ready to push to the finish, while not wanting to make this an all out max effort because I have a 100 miler in four weeks. The aid station workers are impressed with Martha’s crew work as I switch out my Camelbak for a full one for the third time during the race.

Mile 50.0 1:05:25 (11:54 avg./mile) FINISH!

I run most of the way in from the last aid station. My legs are pretty heavy at this point, but the push isn’t too hard. The hardest part is that there really aren’t many good uphills, which I am supposed to walk on, so I keep shuffling along. I manage to pass Frank Probst about a mile from the finish. There is one guy closing fast on me, but I am able to hold him off without too much trouble.

Official Finishing Time 9:23:23

59^th out of 321 starters (281 finishers)

While this time was a little slower than last year’s 9:15, I am still happy with the time, but not thrilled. I have, however, gotten an excellent workout in and now will turn my focus totally towards the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 on May 7 and 8. The finish area is great. I am given a woman’s sports watch as a door prize, which Martha appreciates. There is plenty of food and drink, and I relax in the shade on the grass as I wait for Gary Knipling and several others to finish. Gary finally comes across the line just under 10 hours. David Horton ended up beating me by 20 minutes.

My shoulders and back are nicely burnt. They will peel in another week, and it takes about 4 or 5 days for the soreness in my legs to subside. Until next time, …

Never stop running,

Darin