Mountain Masochist Trail Run 2007

November 2

Despite my casual attempts to recruit a crew for this race, I have none. This shouldn’t be a problem for two reasons—first, I ran it last year without a crew, and second, the aid stations are ridiculously close together for this 50 miler. This is my second time running this race, and I like it better than the JFK50 because it is five weeks before Hellgate and also is much more interesting. Furthermore, it is a good, challenging course with plenty of climbing.

There are some courses that are what they are advertised. The Masochist is not one of them. About the only thing that is accurate about this course is the fact that the finish is 2,000 feet higher in elevation than the start. Everything else about the course is subject to the infamous “Horton miles.” If Horton miles were just a simple multiple of standard miles, then calculations could be made, but as most people know, it is anything but a constant multiple. As part of my contribution to the art of ultra-marathons, I will try to note which section of the Masochist may have a higher multiple for the Horton miles then other sections.

On this afternoon, I find myself driving into Lynchburg near dusk because I left my house later than I planned. I was delayed by a conference call that went until 3:30pm, and then I tried to get one more task done in a couple of minutes that turned out to take a whole hour. All things considered, though, I got to the high school for the pre-race dinner around 6:30pm and had plenty of time to eat and then listen to the briefing. This is Dr. Horton’s last year of directing this race, and he talked as much as always about mostly interesting stuff, even though the vast majority of it is unnecessary to finish the race. I got to my hotel, checked-in, and hopped in bed around 10pm.

November 3

My alarm rings at 3:55am, waking me from a very restful night of sleep. I quickly take care of business and get ready. This year, I decided to spend Saturday night here in Lynchburg as opposed to driving back home on Saturday night. Therefore, I don’t have to bother with packing everything up and checking out of the hotel. I leave the hotel about 4:40am and drive to the high school where I get on a bus to ride to the start. The bus ride takes about 40 minutes. The weather is nice with the temperature in the mid-30s. I decide to start the race with shorts, two shirts (one short-sleeve, one long-sleeve), Camelbak, and a Buff for my head. Gloves are not necessary, as the temperature should rise quickly into the 40s.

Mile 3.3 28:50 (8:44 avg./mile) Parkway & 501

I start off fairly quick, but the first 5+ miles are on roads, and it is a time to make good time. This first section is also relatively flat, so I just glide along and have a good time. Note: this first section does not seem to have any Horton Miles multiplier at all.

Mile 5.7 33:11 (13:50 avg./mile) Cashaw Creek Trail

This section is also all on roads, but surprisingly, there seem to be some Horton miles. I have found that Horton miles seem to multiply on technical, windy trails that cannot be measured accurately from a map. This section is somewhat uphill, but I still run most of it. Therefore, I would have expected something like 10-11 minute miles. Therefore, I will put the Horton Miles Multiplier at 1.25, making this section at least 3 miles.

Mile 8.4 34:07 (12:38 avg./mile) Peavine Mountain

This section sees us leaving the roads and starting on the trails. The first trail is flat and smooth, but this section climbs most of the way. Sophie Spiedel passes me early on this section. I try to remind her to take it easy on the first half, but she seems to have her mind focused on this race. I think this section has a Horton Miles Multiplier (HMM) close to 1. At the aid station, I start my eating with a sandwich quarter and some cookies.

Mile 11.2 38:39 (13:48 avg./mile) Otter Creek

The course has a good trail for most of the first half. The course is mostly on dirt roads until the last 20 miles. I spend much of these next few sections talking with Kevin Townsend. He was in the Navy, and we have much we can talk about. We have also done many of the same races over the past few years. The HMM is a little over 1 on this section as the elevation map shows that this section was flat to downhill.

Mile 14.9 43:36 (11:47 avg./mile) Parkway Gate

Kevin and I talk away as the miles just roll by. It was nice that this section was longer than some of the other sections. It actually feels like we are getting somewhere! I am hungry so I eat a couple of sandwich quarters at this aid station. The HMM is again close to 1, which it seems like the first part of the course stays close to actual miles, except for the noted exceptions.

Mile 17.5 32:16 (12:25 avg./mile) AT & 607 & FS 311

At this aid station, we have only 35 minutes on the 12-hour cut-off pace. I am not worried, but Kevin decides he has taken it easy for long enough. That is actually fine with me because I like talking, but I never like to run someone else’s pace for very long. With the aid stations so close together I am trying to eat only at every other aid station. So, at this one, I just grab a cup of Conquest. This section was mostly uphill, so the HMM is probably close to 1.

Mile 20.2 20:30 (7:36 avg./mile) FS 311 & FS 315

This section is all downhill. Downhill is good, but after a couple of miles, I am usually ready for some flat or uphill miles. However, I pound the downhill and am able to make good time. I even catch back up to Kevin near the end of this section. At the aid station, I grab another sandwich quarter and a cup of Conquest. Again I think the HMM is about 1.

Mile 22.3 22:44 (10:50 avg./mile) North End of LR

There is more downhill on this section, although it is not as steep. I don’t know if I slowed down or the HMM has gone up. I will give Horton the benefit of the doubt and say that the HMM is still probably close to 1. At this aid station, I grab some more to eat since I didn’t at the last one. I really like the Conquest as a refuel drink, but it seems like the maker of Conquest is going out of business. So far, my legs are feeling pretty good, and my energy level has stayed up.

Mile 24.6 31:18 (13:37 avg./mile) Halfway between North End of LR & Hwy 60

The climbing resumes on this section. My plan is to work it hard up the hills and try to get to the next aid station in a good time. People say that your time at mile 26.9 is usually about your halfway time. My legs are good, and I only drink a cup of Conquest before moving on up the trail.

Mile 26.9 30:16 (13:10 avg./mile) Hwy 60

I push the pace uphill most of the way to this aid station. The last half-mile or so is basically flat, and I run that in order to get into this aid station in a good time. I have a drop bag, but my feet are doing well, and I have on the same clothes I started with and am comfortable. So, I just refill my Camelbak and eat a couple of sandwich quarters and a handful of chips. When I leave the aid station, the race clock stands at 5:15, which would give me 10:30 for the whole thing if I can keep things going.

Mile 29.5 51:08 (19:40 avg./mile) Buck Mountain

This is a really tough climb as the whole section is steeply uphill. Over 2.5 miles of uphill climb can take it out of even fresh legs, so this climb just after halfway really takes its toll on my legs. At the top of the climb at the aid station, several people are sitting down resting. I probably should have rested for a little bit, but I press on. The HMM for this section is again probably close to 1 as the climb was steep, and I wasn’t running on any of this section. A cup of Conquest, and I am back at it.

Mile 32.1 29:42 (11:25 avg./mile) Intersection of FS 48 & FS 520

This section is nice and level to downhill. However, it takes me a little while before I can get my legs going after the climb. I am also really feeling the effects of the elevation this year. We are now well over 3,000 feet, and I am sucking in air like the asthmatic I am. At this aid station, I don’t even stop because the next aid station is almost just around the corner.

Mile 33.6 24:56 (16:37 avg./mile) Start of 5 Mile Loop

This section was longer than the advertised 1.5 miles. How much? I am not sure, but I put it at least 0.3 to 0.5 miles longer than the stated distance. That would make the HMM about 1.2 to 1.3, or so. The runners use this aid station twice because we get to do the 5-mile loop and come back through this same aid station. I really fuel up knowing that I have at least five miles. I have a cup of Ramen soup, and I take a handful of chips to eat on the way.

Mile 38.6 1:10:16 (14:03 avg./mile) End of 5 Mile Loop

I make a very diligent effort to keep my pace up on this section. This is the first truly technical section on the course. It is also nearly all close to 4,000 feet elevation. David Snipes catches up to me on this section. I manage to hang with him into the aid station, where I grab a sandwich quarter and move on down the trail. David stops to talk to several people at the aid station, but then he quickly catches up to me. The HMM on this section is probably about 1.2, but since this is the first real technical section, the HMM is not as large as most people make it out to be.

Mile 41.5 38:40 (13:20 avg./mile) Salt Log Gap

After the last section, I try to get my legs back under me. I am still really feeling the effects of the elevation on my breathing. Not only is David Snipes running with me, but Jenny Deegan has also caught up. We spend a few miles chatting as we continue to move along the course. I am getting pretty tired, and I am not motivated to push it to hard into the finish from here. I guess the distance on this section is a little long so the HMM is probably 1.2.

Mile 43.0 21:29 (14:19 avg./mile) Forest Valley

Amazingly after several sections of Horton Miles, this aid station is close to the actual advertised distance. These 1.5 miles were all uphill, and we walked it up to the aid station. I was expecting this section to take at least five minutes longer than it did for us. David, Jenny, and I are still together at this point. At the aid station, I take in two sandwich quarters and a couple of cups of Conquest.

Mile 47.1 1:04:14 (15:40 avg./mile) Porter’s Ridge

Shortly after leaving the aid station, David and Jenny push on ahead of me. I can’t seem to get my legs turning over quickly. I guess the altitude has taken its toll. I continue to push hard running on all of the downhills. There is no doubt that this section is long. It is rocky, though, and I have been out here about 10 hours, but I would still put the HMM for this section at 1.2 or more! If you are reading this and have never run the Masochist, don’t let yourself get discouraged on this longer section.

Mile 50.0 42:49 (14:46 avg./mile) FINISH

This last section is all downhill and the last mile is on a smooth dirt road and then pavement. I manage to keep the legs moving until the trail becomes less rocky. I then hammer the last 1.5 miles and finish fast. My last mile is less than nine minutes. Now the truly amazing thing is that for the first time in recorded Horton history, he has actually admitted that a section is longer than advertised. He mentions last night that it is really 3.8 miles. However, I don’t believe that number either, and I think it is at least four miles. Therefore, the HMM on this section is a whopping 1.38!

Official Finishing Time 10:58:41

141^st out of 300 starters (221 finishers under 12 hours)

I am happy that I managed to hang on and finish under 11 hours. When I finish I tell David Horton that I think the cut-offs for Masochist are physically harder than the ones at Hellgate. Mentally, I will agree that Hellgate is harder, and the aid stations are far apart. He obviously disagrees, as do many other people. However, on a dry, non-frozen course Hellgate is not too hard. Now on a snow year, or a year like last year when we saw 12 degrees with 35 mph winds on Headforemost Mountain, then of course Hellgate is harder.

After I finish, catch my breath, and get a bite to eat, it is now time to see how many times I can bench press 150 pounds. Some guy, who is 6 ft., 9 in. and 250 pounds managed to do something like 32 reps. Last year, after carrying Vicky out of the woods, I was only able to do 16 reps. I get going on the bench press and manage 22 reps, but that is it. I think I had the third highest total, but only the top person is recognized.

Well, now it is time to recover and focus on Hellgate, which is in five weeks. I will be going for my 5^th in a row there, and there are only 9 of us that have finished the first four. What will the weather give us this year? I don’t know, but I am sure it will be interesting.

Never stop running,

Darin

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