Mountain Masochist Trail Run 2009

Year in Review

I started this year with some outstanding training runs in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the AT near Montebello, Virginia. I did the Priest-Three Ridges training run, which is about 24 miles and 7,000 feet of climb and descend, four times in the first three months of the year. I was excited about my overall conditioning, and now I had the hill climbing training that I usually lacked outside of races. However, when I came to the Bull Run Run in April, my knees were aching. I went out a little quick and finished with my slowest time at the BRR in 9:50. Next up was the Massanutten Mountain Trail 100 in May. Mother Nature tried to intervene and give me a good reason to drop out, but I was not deterred and staggered to my second finish at MMT in 35:40. Then I was off to the Mohican Trails 100 in June, but I forgot to take my supply of Conquest with me. That combined with a hot, humid day conspired against me, and I staggered to a 28:52. So, while I had finished two 100-mile races in two months, I wasn’t thrilled with my results. To finish off my summer, I ran Catherine’s 50k as a nice easy training run in July. Once again, I was reminded that nice and easy don’t go with many, if any, ultras. I then took two solid weeks off from running as I joined Nathan’s Scout troop for a canoe trip in Canada. It was an awesome break from running, and I came back stronger in most aspects and ready to run.

Two weeks later on a seven mile run, my right knee decided to cramp up on me. I took a few days off and gradually eased back into running. My training schedule was set back a little, but I still had time to get in one Priest-Three Ridges run and a 31-mile run on the roads before this race in November. Both of these long training runs went well, and I felt like I just might be ready for my fall races. Then a week later, and only two weeks before this race, my left calf decided that it wanted to cramp up, and it did so very tightly. I took it easy with only three mile runs for a few days and then tried a seven mile run on some trails. Everything was feeling okay when five miles into my run, my left calf again decided to cramp. Now, it was time to finally seek professional help, and I called on a sports therapist, who I had met on a plane coming back from San Diego in July. She worked on my calves three times in the last week before this race and thought that I should give it a go at the race, keeping in mind that my larger goal was the Hellgate 100k five weeks later.

November 6

I drive out to Lynchburg on Friday afternoon, arriving just after 4pm. I get my registration packet and then head out to a local restaurant to get some pasta to eat. The pre-race briefing was uneventful, and I went to bed in my room at the Kirkley Hotel around 8:30pm for a 3:10am wakeup. I felt ready, and my plan was to run conservatively until everything got warmed up sufficiently. I was hoping the calves would be okay until the rest of my body started hurting and I quit worrying about them.

November 7

The alarm goes off at 3:10am, and I methodically get myself ready. I board the bus that will take me to the start at 3:58am, and exactly at 4:00am, the buses depart the hotel. It is on the cool side this morning with the temperature around the mid-30s. I have a drop bag, which I will have access to at mile 26.9 and the finish. I will start the race with shorts, a short-sleeve shirt, and an old long-sleeve shirt that I will throw away after things warm up a bit.

Mile 3.3 28:47 (8:43 avg./mile) Parkway & 501

Beginning the race, my calves feel pretty good, considering everything they have been through the past two weeks. I don’t know how long they will last, but the start is encouraging. It is dark for the first 45 minutes as the race begins at 5:30am. This first section is mostly flat on roads.

Mile 5.7 34:19 (14:18 avg./mile) Cashaw Creek Trail

This section is also all on roads, but some hills are introduced. I walk the steep hills as I try not to put too much strain on my calves. I can feel them a little, but so far they feel good. The downhill portions are wonderful. My legs overall feel great. My time is slow as I am remaining conservative, but that is okay. I just want to finish under the 12 hour cut-off today.

Mile 8.4 34:39 (12:50 avg./mile) Peavine Mountain

Having tested my calves on the roads, it is now time to test them with a little trail. I cannot complain as I am enjoying a little bit of jockeying for position on the trails in the early going. Frank Probst is in my vicinity. I think I have only beaten him once in a 50-mile race, but he says he is much slower this year. All I can say is that it is about time he starts acting his age. Frank is 66 years old! I see Craig Penrose at this aid station. He is crewing for Bob Hagan, and he asks me if I need anything. I mention that chocolate milk would be nice, and he says he will have it for me at the next aid station.

Mile 11.2 38:17 (13:40 avg./mile) Otter Creek

My calves have warmed up nicely, and I am really enjoying the downhill sections. I think this is the best my knees have felt going downhill in over a year. I am able to really open up on the downhill portions, but then the runners I have left on the downhill catch back up to me on the next climb. This process will repeat itself many times this day. Craig comes through and has a pint of chocolate milk for me. I drink about ¾ of it. Chocolate milk is the best on an ultra because it tastes so good and provides a good balance of calories from carbohydrates and protein.

Mile 14.9 45:57 (12:25 avg./mile) Parkway Gate

A little uphill is followed by a little downhill. Things are feeling good. I am feeling my calves just enough to let me know they aren’t fully recovered yet, but so far so good. Bob Hagan, Frank Probst, and Janice Heltibridle are just some of the runners around me at this point.

Mile 17.5 32:11 (12:23 avg./mile) AT & 607 & FS 311

While my split times between aid stations indicate I am staying nice and steady, I am really pounding the downhill sections and walking the uphill sections. I guess the last few sections have been fairly consistent in the amount of uphill versus downhill portions. I can say I am actually having fun out here. At this aid station, I remove and discard the old long sleeve t-shirt I have had on since the start to stay warm. I guess the temperature is now in the 50s, so I will go from here in just a short-sleeve shirt.

Mile 20.2 21:38 (8:01 avg./mile) FS 311 & FS 315

Down another hill, and I think I might start to leave some of the people who have been hanging around me. I am just behind Frank on a fairly steep downhill when I roll my left ankle. Frank hears me do it and comments that he bets that hurt. The pain isn’t too bad, and my initial thought is that it will distract me from worrying about my calves for a few miles. I don’t lose a step, and I actually go in front of Frank briefly after rolling my ankle. Note, that my right ankle is the one I usually roll, and I deal with that during almost every race.

Mile 22.3 24:13 (11:32 avg./mile) North End of LR

Frank passes me back as the course levels back out some and starts to go back uphill. It is about this time that my left ankle really starts hurting me. The initial pain of rolling it is gone, but now it hurts somewhat differently. Like most things that hurt in an ultra, this too will probably pass. I just have to give it some time when something else will hurt worse. This is different though because usually a turned ankle will hurt really bad at first and then sort of dull out after that. However, this one hurt, then dulled, and now it hurts again, about as bad as when I turned it.

Mile 24.6 35:00 (15:13 avg./mile) Halfway between North End of LR & Hwy 60

The left ankle is still hurting, and now it is slowing me down. Thoughts begin to enter my mind that maybe I should just call it a day right here. After all, I didn’t think I would probably get this far with my calves. At the same time, I am hoping that the pain in my left ankle will dull out again. This is a mostly uphill portion, and the ankle doesn’t hurt too much as I power hike uphill, but as soon as the course levels off, everyone else starts running and leaving me behind as it really hurts to run on it now.

Mile 26.9 31:47 (13:49 avg./mile) Hwy 60

I stagger into what is basically the halfway mark. It isn’t exactly the halfway point as it is a little past halfway, but time wise for most people it is roughly halfway. I am glad to see the buses and our drop bags. If I drop out here, I can just hop on a bus and ride to the finish and then back to Lynchburg. But, before I do something crazy like that, I decide to get my drop bag with my supplies in it and tape my left ankle. At Hellgate in 2006, I taped my ankle at Jennings Creek (mile 27.6), and it allowed me to run much better after that. So, I try the tape again in the middle of a race. I also decide to change my shoes and socks since I have them off of one foot anyway.

Mile 29.5 58:50 (22:38 avg./mile) Buck Mountain

I head out of the Hwy 60 aid station ready to test my taped ankle and get a good climb in up Buck Mountain. This section is all uphill, and it is probably the toughest climb of the race. I make decent time going up the mountain as about 10 minutes of this time was spent in the last aid station. While the climb up has been good, I am starting to realize that my ankle isn’t doing any better, even with the tape. However, this aid station is not one to drop out at since there are no crews allowed here.

Mile 32.1 42:04 (16:11 avg./mile) Intersection of FS 48 & FS 520

After Buck Mountain, this part is a really nice downhill section. I test my ankle a few times by trying to run on it, but each time it lets me know that he really doesn’t like this. Rationalization is overcoming any remaining desires I have to finish this race. I know that I don’t want to do any harm that would sacrifice my chances in five weeks at Hellgate. I also know that this has been a good 32 miles worth of training, if nothing else. Furthermore, with the current severe pain in my left ankle, I doubt whether I would notice if I tweaked my calves at this point. As I finish up what will be the last section today for me, I mentally picture being in this position at Hellgate and how I would respond. I think (hope) that I will have it in me to finish at Hellgate if I have to face the same situation.

Official Finishing Time DNF

I pull my number off and report to the aid station that I am withdrawing from the race. This is the first time in 17 entries at the 50 mile distance that I have dropped. I am satisfied with my effort and glad that I started the race despite my calves. I spend the rest of the race riding around with Craig Penrose. We cheer on Bob Hagan as he finishes his race as well as many others who have a good day. It was awesome weather this year, and it is actually pleasant to sit around Montebello.

As I sit here almost two weeks later, my calves are feeling better, and my ankle is not causing any issues. I am on track to be primed for the seventh annual Hellgate in three weeks, and all we need now is some good cold Hellgate weather to really get into the mood. After an early fall, it seems like winter may take its time getting here. Until then, take care and …

Never stop running,

Darin

Return to Darin’s Running Page.