Bull
Run Run 2011
April
8
It
is Friday afternoon, the day before I attempt to run my eighth Bull Run Run 50 mile race.
Rick Holloway is with me as he will be my crew tomorrow. Rick crewed for me in Wisconsin last year, and
for some reason, has decided to do it again.
Rick’s son and my son are in Scouts together, and we have begin good friends over the last several years as we have
done Scout trips to Canada and elsewhere.
We
arrive at Hemlock Overlook around 4:30pm, check-in for the race, and get our
cabin assignment where we will be sleeping tonight. After talking with Anstr Davidson (who is the
race director), Gary Knipling, and Quatro Hubbard, Rick and I decide to head
for some food. We drive north into
Centreville and feast at Carrabba’s. After dinner, we top off the crew vehicle
with fuel and head back to Hemlock for the night.
In
our cabin, I meet Randy Dietz. Randy is
one of the old gray beards that continues to run these
ultra races in Virginia. Despite reading
about Randy in other people’s race reports, I had never personally met
him. We talk quite a bit about running
and whether Frank Probst is going to have a fast day
tomorrow. While we talk, Randy consumes
three beers as he is clearly finishing his carbo
loading. All the fun and conversation
ends suddenly when Randy (obviously ready to go to sleep) gets up and turns off
the lights. I read my iPad for 10 or 15 more minutes and then go to sleep.
April
9
I
get up at 4:30am as I do not want to be pressured in the bathroom. After taking care of business in the bathroom
(which includes reading my morning devotional and solving a Sudoku puzzle), I
head down to the chow hall to eat a couple of pastries. There I find Frank getting a bite to eat as
well. He is fully ready to run, but I am
still wearing jeans as that was the easiest thing for me to put on at the
time. He looks at me quizzically as if I
might not be running, and I respond by stating that I still have an hour and a
half before the 6:30am start. As usual,
Frank is downplaying any possibility of him running a good time today.
After
getting dressed and ready, I wander over to the start around 6:15am. There are many old friends to see and greet
before the start of the race. I also try
to see my other three teammates on the 40-Somethings; however, I fail to find
Rande Brown before the start. The race
starts promptly at 6:30am.
Mile
7.2 1:17:47 (10:48 avg./mile)
As
with most of my races, I like to start off conservatively. David Snipes and I are running together early
in the race. At first he doesn’t seem as
talkative as usual, but then he “wakes up” and starts his usual banter with a
few other runners. We are within
shouting distance of each other as we get to the first aid station. Rick is there, and I grab some Conquest to
drink, and then I am off.
Mile
11.6 45:35 (10:22 avg./mile)
These
four miles are an out and back section to the upstream turnaround. I am still trying to run within myself as it
is very easy to go out too quickly since these miles are relatively flat. At the turnaround, I see that Gary and Frank
are about 200 yards ahead of me. Zeke
Zucker is also out in front of me, and I want catch him today. This time when I come into the aid station, I
grab some more Conquest and half of a bagel.
Mile
16.6 55:58 (11:12 avg./mile)
Hemlock Overlook
The
weather on this day is overcast and cool.
It rained most of yesterday, so the trail is muddy in most places. Other than slipping and sliding a little, it
is not a big problem. Coming back to
Hemlock, I have put a little distance on Snipes, and I have managed to catch
and pass Gary and Frank. I drink some
chocolate milk and take another half of a bagel for the trail.
Mile
21.1 51:44 (11:30 avg./mile)
My
pace has settled in well, and now I just have to maintain things until I get
through the Do Loop. Then it will be
time to see if I have a good push for the finish. I definitely am not pushing the pace too hard
right now. At this aid station, Rick is
here and I grab some more Conquest. I
don’t get anything else from Rick, but instead get a sandwich quarter and some
potato chips from the aid station food table.
Mile
26.1 54:03 (10:49 avg./mile)
Wolf Run Shoals
This
and the previous section of the course are gently rolling hills where I just
try to let the race come to me. Although
at this point in the race, I might be able to run the more gradual hills, it is
wise not to. It seems like there are
about four or five of us trading places back and forth as we roll along these
hills. I am satisfied with my pace so
far, but I don’t think I will have enough to go under 9 hours this year. This aid station is one where crews are not
allowed. I drink a couple of cups of
water and grab some chips for the trail.
Mile
28.1 28:33 (14:17 avg./mile)
Fountainhead
This
two mile section is one of the longest two mile sections I have seen. If this was a Horton race, everyone would say
that there was an extra “Horton” mile in this section. However, I can’t complain as the rest of the
course seems right on based on my consistent pace. Just before arriving at this aid station,
Frank Probst catches back up to me. I come into the aid station slightly ahead of
him, but it is only by a slim margin.
Rick is here, and I drink some chocolate milk and take half of a bagel
for the trail.
Mile
32.5 49:51 (11:20 avg./mile)
Do Loop (start)
The
first two miles leaving Fountainhead are on the dreaded white loop trail. I follow Frank and try to keep close, but
when we come within sight of Fountainhead and make the turn towards the Do
Loop, he leaves me behind. I still feel
like I am making decent time. At the aid
station, which the crews can’t go to, they have pizza. I pass on the pizza this time as I really
don’t feel like eating much. I have been
drinking liberally, and with the cool conditions, peeing a lot. I take a few cookies and head into the Do
Loop.
Mile
35.5 33:36 (11:12 avg./mile)
Do Loop (end)
As
soon as I start on the Do Loop, Mark Prescott catches up to me. He says he has been doing a 10 minute run, 1
minute walk schedule. He also mentions
that he just wants to stay in front of Gary who he thinks is only a few minutes
behind us. This surprises me as I would
have figured Gary wouldn’t be that quick today.
The first third of the Do Loop is mostly downhill to the water. Then the course turns back and goes through
many steep short ups and downs. Mark is
ahead of me when we get close to the water, but then I start hammering the
uphill section with my power walk. Soon
Mark and I have Frank in sight up ahead.
I go ahead of Mark and start to make my move on Frank. He says he felt really good when he passed me
after Fountainhead, but now he doesn’t feel as good. I get about a 50 yard lead on him, and then I
take a fall going down one of steep hills.
Fortunately, I fall in a nice soft pile of leaves. I have tweaked my right ankle a little, but I
think it will be okay. I manage to haul
myself out of the leaf pile and stay just ahead of Frank. By the time I get to the aid station, I have
put a gap between me and Frank again.
This time through this aid station, I take a thin slice of pepperoni
pizza.
Mile
37.9 31:19 (13:03 avg./mile)
Fountainhead
It
feels like I am starting my push for the finish, but with the muddy conditions,
my time isn’t showing it. I passed a few
people on this section, and I met a ton of people heading out to the Do Loop. Getting into Fountainhead, Rick is here and I
drink some chocolate milk and take another half of a bagel for the trail. I need to try to keep the calories in me so I
have plenty of energy for the final push to the finish.
Mile
39.9 26:52 (13:26 avg./mile)
Wolf Run Shoals
Leaving
Fountainhead, I try to push really hard.
I even run some of the uphill sections, but I quickly regret that and
revert back to power hiking the uphills. It doesn’t seem like I have really found my
groove today. As I come into Wolf Run
Shoals, I am not feeling wonderful, but know that I have only about 10 miles to
go. Knowing that they have ice cream
sandwiches, I ask for half of one.
Margie quickly fills that request, and I take it and head up the trail.
Mile
44.9 58:56 (11:47 avg./mile)
Bull Run Marina
During
this section, it dawns on me that I can average 12.5 minute miles on the final
climb at Hellgate. Therefore, if I can
do that on the uphill sections here and then do 10 minutes or better running on
the downhills then my pace should be pretty
good. Of course, the final uphill at
Hellgate is the final uphill, and I don’t make that kind of speed the whole
time. However, I need to get into that
mode here. I come into the last aid
station ready to throw down the hammer.
I grab two cups of Coke and a few chips.
Rick, my always reliable crew, is here waiting with chocolate milk and a
bagel, but I will pass on it and head for the finish.
Mile
50.4 1:05:22 (11:53 avg./mile) FINISH!
My
legs feel okay, but not great. My pace
today has been okay, but not great. The
mud has moderated everything it seems.
As I near about two miles to go, I catch up to a girl from Ohio. I find out that she is only a junior in high
school. She runs cross country, but
decided this spring to run this 50 miler instead of the track season. I am definitely impressed with where she is
in this race today, but I still pass her and someone else on my way to the
finish.
Official
Finishing Time 9:39:36
112th
out of 344 starters (313 finishers)
All of my
eight finishes at this race have been 9 hours and change. This is my first one in the 9:30-9:39
range. I thought I was prepared to run
faster today, but whether it was because of the mud or who know what my time
will not be my best. Instead it is right
in the middle of my eight times. Rande
Brown and Jeff Best (two of my teammates) finish ahead of me, and David Snipes
will be behind me a little bit.
The rest of
my spring will be consumed with watching Nathan and Amy run track meets. I am signed up for Leadville in August, but
may fit in a 50k or two this summer if the schedule allows. Until then…
Never stop
running,
Darin
Return to Darin’s Running Page.