Two years ago I did this race (report) and I liked it a lot. Have I ever not liked a race? Last year I volunteered. This year, even with an overloaded schedule I wanted to runnit again. Maybe a bit of hubris on my part that I could finish it even right after a 100 mile race. It is a local race in my area on a trail now I have known like the back of my hands, having done couple hundred mile races there, i.e., the Devil Dog 100.
OSS/CIA is a kind of celebrity race in that I could brag about the OSS officers (precursor of the CIA) used to train there. There’s another place near our area that has a celebrity status, and that is Camp David, where there are trails nearby and which we will be doing a 50k the following weekend.
Don’t take my words, I don’t know where Camp David is before writing this (a quick Google search did show where), but some say it is somewhere near there and I did see security presence when we passed by the camp entrance as we drove from Owens Creek to Gambrill Park.
In this report, we will focus on the OSS/CIA 50. For me it was pretty cool to say I run in the Prince William Forest for the OSS/CIA 50.
This year like any other years, I did not get into Highland Sky, where many people I know went to, including my good friend David. I am happy for him to finish it. I was not sad to miss out on that race though and was glad to take this other race instead. Sometimes it does feel like this was the second best option. Some of my running friends including Charlie, Randy, Brian, Eric and many others were running in this one too.
I was nervous on days leading up to the race whether I would be ready in time. As some knew, I just finished a 100 mile (well nearly finished) and I was still recovering from it. From the 100 miler I injured my right foot, maybe pulled a muscle, or some kind of inflamation going on or shin splint. My take was I kicked a rock too hard and pulled something. My foot was swelling and it hurt even when while walking. I was hoping for a miraculous healing by race day so I could run it. By Wednesday, I felt it was like 50% better. Thursday, the pain went away but still felt a bit sore. And by Friday, I could feel I could have a bit mobility. I was hoping by Saturday, I could run again.
My friend who offered to pace me at the race checked in with me one more time on Saturday morning. The race was at night, starting at 6 pm and would continue till 8:30 am Sunday. I told him it is no good, it still has pain when I touch it and when I flex it in a certain position. I knew there would be no way I could run on that foot and finish the race. I told him not to bother coming out to support me because likely, there was no way I would be able to finish.
Still I held the hope maybe I could do just 1 loop (25 miles) and maybe still make the cutoff for a second loop. I showed up early at the race to get ready. Friends showed up, we chatted and when it was time for the race, I went out.
I was quickly became the last person a few minutes after crossing the start line. I was pretty much limping out. There were a father and son with a dog in front of me. Soon they let me pass. I did not think that was a good idea because likely they will pass me back. The son seemed strong but he waited for his father who was maybe in his 60s and either the dog too which was holding them back or they actually preferred doing it at a slower pace, I went on ahead.
The pain started to intensify after a mile. On a scale of 1-10, I put it reaching between 2.5-3. I still could bear it but it was not fun running while in pain. I could turn back, which would be the quickest way back. I knew the loop was long, and the point of no return is around mile 13-14.
I was moving at a constant pace, walking mostly, doing 3 miles an hour (20 min pace). I knew I need around to 14-16 min to have a chance of making the cut and finishing, especially the first loop, we had a tighter cutoff time of 6.5-7 hrs (a 16 min pace). The loop was closer to 26 miles. It was a long course 50 mile race (actually was 52 miles). When a race gave you 14.5 hours to do, you knew it was not easy.
By second hour, my pain subsided a bit, maybe down to 1. I felt it was numb and kind of had a warm pain. And by third hour, the pain reduced to a tickling sensation. I felt like my funny bone constantly being activated. It was a sensation of the leg being weak, that if I put weight on it, it might collapse under me.
By now, I passed the first waterpoint, mile 8. I knew exactly how much farther I needed to go. I could head back using the road or continue on the trail for the full 25 miles. I refused to give up.
Soon it was dark, now 9 pm. I had a pace chart on me. My slowest pace called for reaching mile 11 by 8:30, which I already missed and mile 13 no later than 9:30. I did not get to mile 13 until 10:00. I knew I was way behind pace. We had 3 hours to make it back and it took us 4 hours to reach halfway. I knew, there was no way for me to get back until 2 am.
Rain and storm came between 11 pm and midnight. Fog settled in. I treaded on. The father and son team had split. The father was still behind me and from time to time I saw his head lamp. The son had gone ahead before me. He wanted to make the cutoff and I was rooting for him.
The trail was mostly the same course and direction as the Devil Dog. I was making various comments to myself, here is the bridge coming up, here the Burma Road, and so on. We turned here for Devil Dog but we were not turning here today. Hmm, I wonder where this path would take me. It was pretty much entertaining myself.
I got to the Pyrite Mine trail and I knew we were close to the start. I could take a short cut to get back. By now, it was passed 1 am, the cutoff. There was no reason for me to be on the trail this long. My leg started to hurt again and I was wondering how long I could last. I felt I could make it back. The Swinging Bridge should not be too far away.
If I was healthy, I could run on the final road portion. After the Pyrite Mine Trail, we were on the Pyrite Road. I remembered last time I did this, I was running on this stretch to make the cutoff.
Soon I saw the Swinging Bridge and knew just a bit more. We had about jist couple miles to go. They would take us through the Laurel Loop and Birch Trail. It was uphill and long. Then I finally reached the Cross Trail, and in my mind like half a mile more. I finally arrived back at the finish at 2:22 am. On a normal day, this portion probably only take me 30 minutes but today, it was dragging on. I was second to the last runner to finish the first loop.
No words had to be said, I knew I did not make the cutoff (cutoff was at 1 am). I gathered myself and walked to my car to change and sleep till morning. The Aid Station volunteers were starting to make breakfast. So I had some pancakes and nice food before going to bed.
I had no idea how many people dropped or finished. As I slept I heard the first runner finished at 3 am. Then the second runner finished at 4. I woke up at 5 am and chatted with friends and watched the rest of the runners came in. Some of my friends who ran only the marathon only came in around 6 am. I had a long celebration with them. Eric, who ran the Old Dominion with me the prior week totally crushed this race. Randy also finished with a very good time.
I could also have done the marathon by starting at midnight instead of 6 pm and I would have considered myself a finisher. I did not. It was hard to reason why did I not. I wanted to do a 50 mile and I thought I might have a chance. That was all. I enjoyed the run (or walk) in a familiar park. It was not often we got to run it at night. Usually, it closes after dark (5 pm or something). I had an incredible time out there. There were no special thoughts, just me, the trails, and some friends. Of course, from time to time, I had to deal with my foot and its limitations. I felt proud I made it to the end (at least my finish point, not the race).
That’s my race report. A bit unusual from my normal ones. Usually I would like to include a nice lesson, (the moral of the story) is don’t run on injured foot. Rest and be smart. I can’t preach this to others since I don’t follow my own advices.
Update: My foot felt better now by the second week
In awe 
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