Mohican Trail 100 Miler 2009

 

June 19

 

This morning’s trip to Ohio was made much more interesting by a huge thunderstorm that blanketed a majority of the state of Ohio.  Instead of a direct, less than two-hour flight, we took three and a half hours as we fly west into Kentucky, then north to Dayton, and finally northeast to Mount Vernon, Ohio.

 

The rest of the day is rather uneventful, except that on our way into the grocery store, it dawns on me that I have forgotten to bring Conquest with me.  Conquest is my preferred beverage during a race.  It is no longer made or sold, and so I will have to buy Gatorade that will have to suffice.  Nathan jokes that there goes my race now that I won’t have Conquest.

 

In the afternoon, I go out to Mohican to pick up my race packet.  Things are fairly wet since they had quite the thunderstorm this morning.  I meet several old friends, and even Maryann, who is from Texas and will be attempting to walk the 100 mile race within the 30 hour time limit.

 

That night for dinner, I have Spaghetti with meat sauce at a local restaurant.  It is very good, and I think I will be ready to run in the morning.  I go to bed about 8pm, and sleep decently well.

 

June 20

 

Rising at 3am, my dad and I depart for the start at 4am.  It is still raining lightly, and it has obviously stormed again during the night.  However, as we arrive at the start area, the rain finally decides it is done, and it doesn’t rain again during the race.  I check in and say hello to a few more runners.  Many of us cannot decide what we should wear to start the race.  There is everything from full tights with garage bags over torsos to bare-chested runners.  Just before the start, I decide that I won’t be cold if I take my shirt off, so I toss it to my dad.  The race starts, and we are off.  The temperature is 73 degrees with nearly 100 percent humidity as the dew point is 71 degrees.

 

Mile 4.9      56:02 (11:26 avg./mile) Landoll’s Castle

 

It takes me less than five minutes to begin sweating, so my decision to start without a shirt is a wise one for me.  The rain has provided a dust free environment for these first 10 miles on dirt roads.  I talk with Rita Barnes a while about her Vol State 315 mile race in July.  I feel good so far, and I grab a cup of Gatorade at the first aid station.

 

Mile 10.0    54:37 (10:43 avg./mile) Rock Point

 

The Mohican course is characterized by steep uphills and downhills that continue most of the time.  They even begin while we are still on the dirt roads.  I meet Linda, who ran this in 2006, and was around me most of the day that year.  She says her only goal today is to finish under 30 hours.  Unfortunately, I won’t be that conservative as I would really like to beat my best time at 100 hours, which is 25:51.  I ran that time here at Mohican two years ago.  I have made good time on the roads, and I haven’t pushed it at all.  At this aid station, I grab a sandwich quarter, and a few Fig Newtons to eat on the way.

 

Mile 14.3    49:32 (11:31 avg./mile) South Park

 

The trails do not disappoint any of the veterans at Mohican as they are nice and muddy, but not too much.  A little slip-sliding, but the stream crossings aren’t very deep.  Just deep enough to get your shoes a little wet.  I am still making quick work of these early miles as the temperature doesn’t seem to be climbing too quickly.  I feel great so far, and I grab a cup of Gatorade at this aid station and a couple of cookies.

 

Mile 18.6    51:47 (12:03 avg./mile) Fire Tower

 

This section is more uphill than down, but it always seems to go quickly.  The trail is in good shape, and there isn’t too much mud, so it is not hard to keep a quick pace.  I hope I am not going to fast at this point, but my training has been good this year, and I ran the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 just five weeks ago.  My body feels fully recovered from that adventure, so I am ready to push things today.  At this aid station, I get to meet my crew for the first time since the start.  My dad is still solo at this point, but will be joined soon by the rest of the family.  I change my shoes, drink a pint of chocolate milk, and eat a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.  I need to get some quality calories in the body now while it isn’t too hot.

 

Mile 21.1    28:59 (11:36 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

 

I have been running close to Jenny Chow, who says she is going to finish under 24 hours.  At this point, she is moving faster than I want to, but I am pretty comfortable that my current pace is quick enough.  (It is a good thing I let her go as she ends up finishing in less than 23 hours!)  This section is mostly all downhill, and I continue to run smoothly and confidently, although it is starting to get warm.  I am now finished with the yellow loop, which brought us to Rock Point, and the green loop.  Most of these aren’t actually loops, but that is how everyone refers to them.

 

Mile 25.1    54:58 (13:44 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

 

This section is the purple loop.  It takes us up Little Lyons Falls.  At the falls, it is a hand over hand short climb up to the top.  Once on top, the chalk markings have all been washed away, and I am guiding several runners in the correct direction at many intersections.  As the trail starts back down towards Big Lyons Falls, I am again pointing many runners in the correct direction.  At one intersection, some of my fellow runners doubt me with a few going the wrong way, but when I lead the rest of them back to the covered bridge I tell them they have nothing to worry about as this is easy compared to Land Navigation at Quantico.  Back at the covered bridge, I am very pleased with my time.  I grab some watermelon and some Pringles, while consuming at least two cups of Gatorade.

 

Mile 30.3    1:14:29 (14:19 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge

 

Part of this section is new to me, as an extra mile has been added so that we won’t have to do the ¾ of a mile loop behind the Grist Mill.  This section is all mountain bike trails as opposed to the horse trails that dominate the rest of the course.  Mountain bike trail designers like to curve back and forth across the ground while changing elevation often for no necessary reason.  Switchbacks on a steep climb have their purpose, but most of these turns don’t perform any function.  As you might be able to guess, this isn’t my favorite part of the course, but it is beautiful!  During this section, neuromas are acting up in both of my feet.  This is where a nerve is being pinched going to my toes.  It isn’t harmful, just irritating.  Fortunately, for whatever reason, it only lasts during this section, and then never again during the race.  My time isn’t as quick as before, but this section had some serious climbing to it.  I drink more Gatorade and eat a couple of sandwich quarters at this aid station.  I also fill up my Camelbak as I haven’t seen my crew since the Fire Tower aid station.  When I see my crew, I change out Camelbaks with a full one.

 

Mile 37.1    1:34:10 (13:51 avg./mile) Grist Mill

 

Leaving Hickory Ridge, we get 5+ more miles on mountain bike trails.  After the mountain bike trail, it is an interesting part of the course that confounds some of the runners who haven’t done this before.  We run south on the west side of Route 3, go under the bridge next to the river, then run north along the east side of Route 3, until we can run over onto the shoulder of Route 3, so that we can again run south on the east side of Route 3, over the bridge to the Grist Mill.  This eliminates the need for runners to run across the traffic on Route 3.  If you are a little turned around reading this, don’t worry, I have never messed it up.  However, most all of this along Route 3 is exposed to the sun, and it is now officially hot!  On this section, I have been joined by Matt, who is a 25 year old, RN in the Army, based in Kansas.  This is his first 100 miler, and he wants to run with me so that he doesn’t go too fast.  So, to his benefit, he gets to run the loop-d-loop around Route 3 correctly.  At this aid station, I greet all of my family (mom, dad, Martha, Nathan, and Amy).  It is a nice warm, humid day, and it looks like they are enjoying themselves so far.  I drink another pint of chocolate milk, and eat a ham and cheese sandwich.  Martha puts an iced towel over my shoulders while I am eating, and it feels very good.  I have slowed down slightly, but if I can keep my average mile under 15 minutes, I will do great.

 

Mile 42.3    1:15:32 (14:32 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

 

Matt and I reverse our course going along, around, under, and along Route 3 before getting on the north bank trail.  Just as we are getting to the trail, we come upon a 50-mile runner who missed the Grist Mill.  (After the Grist Mill aid station, the 50-mile runners take a different route back to the start/finish line.)  Apparently, he did the run along the Route 3, under the bridge and back, but at the point where you run along the shoulder to the Grist Mill, he crossed over Route 3, to come to where he is now.  We try to point him in the right direction, but I am not sure he understands.  Hopefully, someone else will get him to the Grist Mill.  This section gets quite warm because the air flow beside the river isn’t as much as it is up higher above the valley.  It is also afternoon now, and the temperature has risen well into the 80s.  With the dew point around 70 degrees, it is making for quite the warm day.  With me in the lead, I alternate running and walking along the river, trying to prevent overheating.  As we near the Covered Bridge this time, we get to go through the Clear Fork River instead of going over the bridge.  The water is cool, but no deeper than my knees, so it doesn’t cool me off much.  At this aid station, I drink two more cups of Gatorade, while eating more watermelon and Pringles.  The heat feels like it is starting to get to me, but I don’t feel bad yet, and I have my eye on my goal.

 

Mile 45.0    52:38 (19:30 avg./mile) Bridle Staging Area

 

The climb from the Covered Bridge up to the Bridle Staging Area is slightly different than the last time I ran this race two years ago.  It is 0.2 miles longer, but I think the steepest parts of the trail have been removed.  It seems to follow a new bike trail for part of the way, and I would say it seems like we lost the steepest part.  I am pacing myself conservatively at this point because it is plain hot out here.  I get to the aid station, and the kids are playing cards because the wind isn’t blowing here—good for them, bad for me.  I drink about a pint of Gatorade and take a bagel with me for the trail.  My time on this section isn’t bad, considering the heat, but I need to start pushing when we get into evening.

 

Mile 52.2    1:50:39 (15:22 avg./mile) Rock Point

 

Matt and I are cruising pretty well on this section.  There are three stream crossings, and the water on our feet is refreshing.  I am busy telling Matt about past ultra adventures as we near the mile to go mark for this section.  I comment that my dad one year got a picture of me running next to the cemetery that we pass, and then, the next thing we know, we see the whole family sitting out next to the church, across the street from the cemetery.  Unfortunately, we then run the last mile too quickly, and Martha isn’t able to make it to the aid station before I am.  Instead I refill my Camelbak myself, and eat a turkey and cheese sandwich.  The turkey is really salty, but that is a good thing.  Now, it is time to start the second loop.  When I return here next time, I will only have 10 miles to go!

 

Mile 56.5    1:00:03 (13:58 avg./mile) South Park

 

We continue on, and now Matt and I are joined by someone else.  They continue to let me lead, so I am not complaining.  I like the feeling that I am helping someone else’s race.  I pick the pace, and they seem very content to let me set the pace.  The mud on this section hasn’t dried up any in the past few hours.  We pass a couple of other people on our way into the aid station.  I tweak/roll my right ankle twice on this section, but I don’t think I did any harm to it.  This is typical, and for some reason, it doesn’t slow me down at all.  At this aid station, I grab another cup of Gatorade and a few Pringles.  My stomach isn’t great at this point, but that is to be expected with all of the sweating we have been doing today.

 

Mile 60.8    1:12:09 (16:47 avg./mile) Fire Tower

 

I actually arrived at this aid station in about an hour, but then I took a long break to change my shoes and eat more food.  We push it for a little while, and then the three of us are pretty content to walk the flat sections.  We still make decent time, and if I can start feeling better, I am sure I can begin to push things again.  At this aid station, I eat another ham and cheese sandwich, and drink some chocolate milk.  I also continue to drink the Gatorade, as well.  Matt is ready to go when I am, so we head out of the aid station, still together.  The third guy seems to have gone on without us, I guess.  Before leaving, I change my shoes and take my headlamp with me as it is now 6:45pm.  This is my third pair of shoes for the race, and so far, my feet are doing well.

 

Mile 63.3    46:15 (18:30 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

 

We don’t set any speed records getting down to the covered bridge this time.  I am not feeling great, but I think I need to keep going to see if things improve when it cools down some.  Matt gets his headlamp, which he put in a drop bag at this aid station, and then we are off for the “fun” section up to Hickory Ridge.  I am sure I grabbed something to eat at this aid station, but for once, I can’t remember what it was.

 

Mile 68.5    2:53:11 (33:18 avg./mile) Hickory Ridge

 

No, it didn’t actually take me almost three hours to get to this aid station.  It was more like 1:40 or so.  As I am going to this aid station, I decide that the root of my stomach issue will be solved with a bathroom break at this aid station.  So, when I get there, I make a beeline to the jiffy john and take care of business.  The only problem is that when I get out, I don’t feel any better at all.  I tell Matt that he better continue on because I am hurting big time and will sit here until I feel at least a little better.  I sit down, and quickly become a little chilly.  The aid station workers offer me a towel and/or a blanket, and I take the towel.  They also get me a cup of chicken noodle soup.  I doze off, and when I wake up, one of the aid station workers comments that “he is back from the dead.”  I am more chilled, so I then cover up more with a blanket provided by the aid station workers.  These people are awesome!  I spend about an hour sitting in the chair, sipping chicken noodle soup and taking catnaps.  Finally, I decide that I better get going if I am going to finish this thing.

 

Mile 75.3    2:42:23 (23:53 avg./mile) Grist Mill

 

I wish I could say that my time was padded by another extended stop, but unfortunately this is how slow I am moving right now.  It took me all of five minutes after Hickory Ridge before I was sweating again.  It is now well after dark, and it doesn’t feel any cooler at all to me.  I stop a couple of times just to sit down and cool down a bit.  I really don’t catnap, although that wouldn’t have been a bad thing if it happened.  On the interesting side, I see a deer and a raccoon along the trail.  Finally, I get off of the bike trail, do the loop-d-loop around the bridge and make it into the aid station.  Martha is none too please because she and Nathan have been waiting for about three hours, unable to get any rest because I might arrive at any time.  Fortunately, Matt told them that I was staying at the last aid station for awhile so they weren’t overly concerned, but it doesn’t make it any easier.  Now, they are experiencing the true meaning of CREW—cranky runner, endless waiting.  I eat another ham and cheese sandwich, and drink a Coke.  I have been drinking Coke lightly since the Covered Bridge, but now I am switching off the Gatorade and fully onto the Coke.  I decide to put a shirt back on in case I continue to go this slow.  I also hope that things will begin cooling off since it is almost 1:00am.  I get my iPod, and crank up the tunes for the rest of the night section.  I also trade out my headlamp since the darkness period is almost half over.  I use a half watt halogen headlamp that lasts for about 5-6 hours on lithium batteries.

 

Mile 80.5    2:01:36 (23:23 avg./mile) Covered Bridge

 

Unfortunately, (I seem to be using that word a lot in this story) the iPod doesn’t do the trick, and the Coke is minimally effective.  I don’t stop to take any catnaps on this section, but the going is definitely slow.  When I reach the aid station, I sit down and drink some water and Coke.  I am only feeling marginally better, but I also know that I need to keep going if I am going to finish within 30 hours.

 

Mile 83.2    1:16:55 (28:29 avg./mile) Bridle Staging Area

 

No recovery from the dead, but I am still moving forward.  The climb is again not too bad, but I do stop once to take a catnap for 8 minutes.  After the catnap, I am refreshed for awhile, and actually pass two other runners.  When I get to the aid station, Martha and Nathan are ready for me, and I eat a bowl of Oatmeal and drink more Coke.  I mention to Martha that I should be able to do the next section in about 3 hours, and Martha informs me that I better because I only have 3.5 hours on the cut-off!  I guess it is time to fish or cut bait.

 

Mile 90.4    2:28:24 (20:37 avg./mile) Rock Point

 

I make the first two of three stream crossings and then make the big climb on this section before I stop for another catnap.  This one lasts about four minutes, and while I am sitting down, a few other runners pass me.  Fortunately, they don’t see me sitting behind a tree so they don’t wake me up to ask if I am okay.  When I get up from this catnap, I feel refreshed as the sky brightens in the east.  I catch yet another second wind, and proceed to pass several runners as I get into the aid station a little quicker than I expected.  Martha isn’t ready for me, but after I sit down for awhile, she and Nathan come up to the aid station.  I quickly change shoes, and now Nathan joins me for the push to the finish over the last 10 miles.  My stomach seems to have recovered, and I eat a couple of sandwich quarters, but decide not to drink any Gatorade, just another cup of Coke.  I put on my Oakley sunglasses for these last two sections.

 

Mile 95.5    1:20:13 (15:44 avg./mile) Landoll’s Castle

 

Nathan and I make great time on this section.  I can still run the downhills pretty well, and we pass a few runners on the downhill sections.  It is now fully daylight, and I am ready to get this race done.  Each foot strike hurts, as my feet are tired of getting pounded.  The sections on asphalt are hard on the feet, and the sections on the gravel roads are better until I step squarely on a piece of gravel.  Not surprisingly, there are many pieces of gravel to step on, so it hurts more than not.  At this aid station, I talk with Art Moore for a few minutes.  He is working this aid station and is one of the guys who have finished at least 10 Mohicans.  I take my shirt off, and Nathan and I head for the finish.  I drink two cups of Coke and eat a few more Pringles before leaving the last aid station.

 

Mile 100.3 1:27:20 (18:12 avg./mile) FINISH

 

My lower legs are really starting to hurt from the pounding of the last section.  I am tired, and my energy is sapped.  When we make it to the top of the first hill on this section, I tell Nathan that I need another catnap.  I lie down on some dew covered grass for about four minutes, but don’t fall asleep.  When I get up, I am rejuvenated enough to run the downhill parts.  Most of these are on paved surfaces, but then we make the turn to big hill.  The climb up big hill isn’t too bad coming from this direction, and I am soon going down the other side.  The other side is very steeply downhill.  I pass another runner on the way down, as it appears that his thighs will not allow him to walk forward downhill, so he is walking backwards.  When we make the turn with less than a mile to go, there are a couple of people ahead of us.  I put in one last surge, and manage to pass them.  My primary motivation was not to be passed by anyone else, but the collateral benefit is that I pass someone else.  It is plenty warm again, as the midmorning heat is coming on, but it is not enough to slow me down at this point.  The finish is in sight, and I have my fourth Mohican belt buckle.

 

Official Finishing Time          28:52:06

 

52nd out of 139 starters (69 finishers)

 

The heat and humidity have taken its toll on most of the runners.  The winning time is rather slow at 19:52, and the finishing rate is just under 50%.  Matt managed to finish in 26 hours and change, but he says he threw up at least once along the way after he left me.  It is still awesome that he finished with a decent time.  I am not thrilled with my time, but I will have to be satisfied.  I am very pleased that I persevered through a very rough period with my stomach and overcame.  My next personal best time at 100 miles will have to wait for another day.

 

After getting my buckle, Martha, Nathan, and I head back to my parents’ house.  I shower, and then we eat lunch.  Afterwards, I rest on the couch for a couple of hours while watching some of the US Open.  Then we head out on the lake for some water-skiing and tube riding.  One might think that I must not have pushed my race hard enough if I can still water-ski, but I tell everyone that it uses different muscles.  Plus, it is like riding a bike—good cross training recovery.  The next morning, we go water-skiing again, and this time Amy surprises me by getting out and skiing.  This week with the grandparents is her first time water-skiing, and they all kept the secret from me until now—happy Father’s Day (the day after).

 

Never stop running,

Darin

 

 

Return to Darin’s Running Page.