JFK 50 Miler 2005

November 18

Martha, Nathan, and I drive up to Hagerstown, Maryland for the JFK 50 Miler tomorrow. We get into our motel around 5:30pm. Just in time to pick-up my race number, chat with Doug Davis, et al, and check into our room. We meet everyone (Davis, Chappell, Faulkner, Jansen, Shannon, and John along with all of their friends and family) at 6:15pm to go to dinner. Dinner was fascinating, not because of the food (average), but rather because of the conversation. Rob (I don’t train) Chappell has the complete history of the JFK in one folder. Every time someone makes a claim on a past performance, Rob looks it up to see if it is accurate. Unfortunately, his records aren’t accurate, which only show that I have finished five JFKs. Kirk, Bill, and Andrew manage to drain two pitchers of beer compared to Doug, Rob, and Tom, who stop after the first pitcher. Kirk tries to bait me into a bet in which I spot him 40 minutes, but I am not biting.

We make it back to the room shortly after 9pm, and I am in bed asleep around 10pm. Fortunately, I have seven hours to sleep unlike the slugs (Rob & Doug) who have a couple of hours less to sleep because they need the 5am start to finish before 7pm.

November 19

My alarm goes off at 5am, and I am up like a light. I think that everything is falling into place for a good day. The temperature on weather underground is 28 degrees—warmer than it was predicted to be. I will wear shorts and three t-shirts, along with a hat and gloves for the start. We leave our room at 6am to go down and check-out and eat breakfast. The Comfort Suites where we are staying has a nice complimentary breakfast. Both Nathan and I have Belgian waffles hot off of the waffle iron. I also eat a cinnamon pastry.

We depart the motel parking lot at 6:35am after Nathan scrapes the frost off of the windows. The drive down to Boonsboro only takes a little over 10 minutes. We drive right into town, two blocks from the start. I take one last opportunity to get rid of extra liquid in my body, and then all of the racers start coming down to the start from the high school. The wind is calm, but the bank clock is showing 22 degrees. I barely have enough time to say hello to Vic Culp and Dan Huffman before the gun goes off. I think I touched my toes once.

Mile 9.3 1:35:53 (10:19 avg./mile) Compton’s Gap

I start fairly easy, talking with Vic a little and then mostly with Dan as we make our way onto the Appalachian Trail. He says he is about 20 pounds lighter than last year, so he is hoping for a better time this year. About a mile before I get to the first aid station where I will see Martha, I strip off my outside t-shirt. I have been sweating almost from the beginning, but hopefully not too much. I took one leak on this segment. When I get to the gap, Gary Knipling is slightly ahead of me, and I go by him at the aid station. Martha and Nathan are there with some Conquest and a bagel. I have decided to hold off on the chocolate milk until the next aid station. In addition to giving them my first t-shirt, I also leave my hat and gloves with them. Now, I just have on one long sleeve t-shirt and a short sleeve t-shirt.

Mile 15.5 1:16:30 (12:20 avg./mile) Weverton Cliffs

Shortly after leaving the gap, Kevin Sayers comes up behind me. He recognizes me, and I am actually surprised he knows who I am. He is the race director for the Catoctin 50k and I have run it three times, but I figured I was just a face in the crowd. Anyway, we talk about the fact a 50 mile race is kind of a betweener. A 50km race is a nice trail race that usually doesn’t kill you, and a 100 miler is a great challenge. However, the 50 miler is long enough to really wear you out, but not long enough to be a threat to us not finishing. I know this sounds weird to all of you who haven’t run an ultra, but now that I have finished two 100-mile races, I really have to agree with Kevin. As I get closer to the cliffs, I start to pass some of the 5am starters. In fact, going down the switchbacks, the slugs are really jamming things up. One lady is taking the turns in the switchbacks hand over hand, backwards! I know this is only going to cost me a minute or two, but there has to be a better way. I meet Martha and Nathan, and they have a pint of chocolate milk for me, and I take a quarter of a bagel. For some reason, I am not too concerned about eating a lot today.

Mile 16.5 9:42

I get down on the C&O canal towpath, and it is an adjustment, both mentally and physically. On the AT, I have to focus constantly on navigating the rocks and roots. Also, physically, there is quite a bit of side-to-side forces as I dodge around the rocks. Here on the towpath, I neither have to focus mentally on the path in front of me or dodge side-to-side. The only thing to focus on is hitting each mile marker and hoping that I haven’t slowed down or sped up too much.

Mile 17.5 8:44

My goal on the towpath will be to keep all of my miles just under 10 minutes each. Unfortunately, the mile markers are put in place by the park service and don’t seem to be accurate to the nearest foot, but they do provide a way of measuring how far I have to go on the tow path.

Mile 18.5 9:44

The mile splits range up and down for two reasons. The first one, I already described in the last paragraph. The other reason is that while the towpath is basically flat, it isn’t totally flat. We are heading up river beside the Potomac, and some miles are more uphill than others. I also might be speeding up and slowing down a little.

Mile 19.5 8:51

So far, so good, I like my splits at this point. The wind is very light. If anything it is out of the south, which makes it a slight tail wind. The temperature is in the 40s, and I guess I am feeling good.

Mile 20.5 10:18

My first mile over 10 minutes; this is okay, though, because these will fluctuate. I also know that my previous miles definitely made up more than the 18 seconds here.

Mile 21.5 9:09

I probably pick it up a little after the last mile time. My strategy at this point is to walk a little under a minute at each mile. So, I am running pretty close to 9:00 miles anyway.

Mile 22.5 10:14

Another mile over 10 minutes! I wish I wasn’t oscillating back and forth. This above and below 10-minute miles could really wear a guy out, mentally. I pass John just before an aid station, and then I see Rob and Doug sitting at the aid station waiting for him. I tell them to get him to at least mile 38, hoping that he will then be motivated to try to finish. While I am talking to them, I am walking backwards, and I trip over the edge of pavement. Fortunately, there is a guy right behind me who breaks my fall, and I am unscathed. Of course, the worst part is that Rob and Doug see me do this!

Mile 23.5 9:12

Okay, I don’t really have a clue if I will be able to keep averaging better than 10 minutes per mile, but I have nothing else to do except keep trying. In running a marathon (which I haven’t done in over a year and a half), I usually hit my miles within a few seconds of each other. I am obviously not as good at it on this surface.

Mile 24.5 11:02

Whoa! Where did that mile come from? This is never a good thing, but looking back over my splits from previous years, this mile has been over 11 minutes more times than not. I guess it is a long mile.

Mile 25.5 10:25

After an 11-minute mile, it would have been really nice to run a faster one than this. Maybe everything is getting to me, and I am just slowing down. I would really like to finish in less than 9 hours, but my main focus remains on the Hellgate 100k in three weeks. Although, I have finished in less than 9 hours in all but one of my JFKs, so I will probably stay focused on that. At this point, I don’t yet know if I have a shot at my personal record of 8:36.

Mile 26.5 9:46

I manage to regain my form and reel off a good mile split. The question is how much longer will I be able to hold his pace. My thighs are starting to feel the pounding, and my calves (particularly my left one) are tight. I don’t think they will cramp on me, though.

Mile 27.5 14:44

I meet Nathan and Martha at the 27-mile aid station, and I change my shoes. Off come the Asics DS-Eagle III trail shoes, and on come the DS-Trainer VI performance trainers. There is probably about three ounces difference per shoe, so now I am carting almost a half of pound less. I also take off both t-shirts and put on one single short sleeve t-shirt. The last piece of gear is to put on a yellow bandana on my head. This keeps the sun off of my forehead and is a decent sweatband. Of course, I drink a pint of chocolate milk and trade out my Camelbak for a full one.

Mile 28.5 10:04

Now that I have fresh shoes and socks on, the first mile rolls along well. Maybe, just maybe, I have enough left to make a run at my personal record.

Mile 29.5 9:59

Smooth and steady wins the race. Of course I am not going to win, but I could finish in the top 100, and in a race with almost 1,200 people that would be a good accomplishment.

Mile 30.5 9:35

I am cruising well. I pass the 30-mile mark so there are only 20 miles to go. It may sound weird, but mentally this is a huge mark for me because I always feel I can put a push in the last 20 miles.

Mile 31.5 10:32

Okay, this is not bad. I just need to keep moving forward. Hopefully, I can keep the average around the 10-minute per mile range.

Mile 32.5 10:26

This is okay, although it is starting to indicate that my personal record will be safe for at least another year.

Mile 33.5 11:23

Not good, not good at all! Although, if I am not setting a new personal record this year, then I only have to finish under 9 hours. On the other hand, I would still like to run as fast as I can without hurting myself for Hellgate in three weeks.

Mile 34.5 12:51

There is an aid station in this mile, and I walk through it. I should make the recommendation that they put the aid stations right at the mile markers on the towpath, but I am sure that it wouldn’t be favorably received. Anyway, I will begin to marshal my energies for the last eight miles on the roads.

Mile 35.5 9:49

After taking an easier mile, I manage to get another quick mile in the books. I am also down to only a little over six miles until I get off of this blasted towpath.

Mile 36.5 10:41

Staying focused and running well is difficult. I wish I could just be done with these last few miles on the towpath so that I could get onto the finish. This year, the Potomac River is a little low so many of the rocks out in the river are visible. It is a beautiful day with clear skies and comfortable temperatures in the 40s.

Mile 37.5 11:07

Another slower mile than I would have liked. I guess I will keep moving forward. Nothing is really hurting too badly, but fatigue is definitely setting in.

Mile 38.5 10:12

I put in a decent mile as I come to the next to the last aid station where I will see Martha and Nathan. The crowd at the aid station is quite large, and I get motivated. I drop off my Camelbak at this point as there will be aid stations every two miles once I get on the roads for the last eight miles. I drink some Conquest and take a bit of a bagel, but I forgo the chocolate milk. I don’t know why I did, and later I will find out that I could have used the calories.

Mile 39.5 10:11

I am propelled forward by the crowd behind me and the exit of the towpath ahead of me. Two more miles and then I will be ready to really push the pace on the roads.

Mile 40.5 10:02

I like these mile times. I only wish I could have run a few more like this earlier. I don’t think I can beat my personal record, but my second best time is 8:46, and that is definitely within reach.

Mile 41.5 11:14

For some reason, I cannot maintain my momentum all of the way into the aid station. However, I am now within sight of the aid station and the end of the towpath.

Mile 42.2 12:52 (18:23 / mile pace)

This seven-tenth of a mile stretch is all uphill coming off of the towpath. I walk up the hill and prepare myself for the unleashing of my kick over the last eight miles. I take two cups of Pepsi at the aid station and nothing else. I prefer Coke, but hopefully Pepsi will work as well.

Mile 43.2 8:23

This is a great first mile on the roads. It is awesome to pass people like they are standing still even if they are running. I feel really good after I get the legs stretched out.

Mile 44.2 8:10

What a mile time! Things are going well, and I might just have enough to get in under 8:46. I have done these fast last miles on the road before, but I always wonder if I will have enough left to get all of the way to the finish.

Mile 45.2 8:20

Now, I am running quickly and really haven’t slowed down, but three guys actually pass me. It is slightly humbling, but I guess I am not the only one who has a kick left. I was surprised that I still ran this one as fast as I did because they passed me and kept on going. I am guessing that they are running around 7:30 miles.

Mile 46.2 9:26

This mile is uphill to the next to the last aid station, but I have also slowed down some. It doesn’t really dawn at me at the moment, but I think later that I should have taken in something more than just another two cups of Pepsi. The Pepsi is really sweet, and I wish I had some Coke. I see Martha and Nathan for the last time before the finish, and I pass up my chance to drink some chocolate milk.

Mile 47.2 9:40

Okay, I am fading fast, but maybe I can hold the miles under 10 minutes each for a couple more miles. I know I will be able to dig something out for the last mile, so just two more miles and then the last mile.

Mile 48.2 11:21

The fade gets worse. It seems that I am bonking. My energy is low, but everything else still feels relatively okay. I just want to finish at this point as my wonderful kick is completely gone.

Mile 49.2 11:28

I take two more cups of Pepsi at the last aid station to get me to the finish line. My fade is complete, and I am down to a minimum velocity while still running on smooth pavement. Let’s see if I can find one last small bit of energy to burn to get me home.

Mile 50.2 9:11

With the town of Williamsport in sight, I begin to slowly turn up the wick and find one last burst of speed. As I turn the last corner, there is Nathan waiting about a quarter of a mile from the finish. He runs beside me as I try to pass two more runners before the finish. Nathan stays with me until I pass the runners and near the finish line.

Official Finishing Time 8:51:11

135^th out of about 1155 starters (951 finishers under 14 hours)

After a year off from the JFK50, I have returned and even managed to run a decent race. I was a little rusty on the mental focus on the towpath and getting all of the elements of the final kick lined up, but I am satisfied with my time. There was nobody for me to chase, and there was also nobody closely chasing me. I find out later that Kirk Jansen finishes about 20 minutes behind me. I think I could have held him off if he came up on me, but then again… Now my hope is that I have not worn out my legs too badly, and they will bounce back in time for the Hellgate 100k in three weeks. Other than my right knee hurting a little on top, I think everything feels okay.

Never stop running,

Darin