In awe

Author: Antin

  • [629] MMT 2024

    Wow, what a weekend! In my last post, I said I some hard races are ahead, I did not expect this one would be one of them that would need my 100%-200% effort.

    I knew MMT would be hard but I felt, with three years of preparation, I got it down. I was going in with 70-75% effort and believed I could get it done, thinking it would be just a bit tougher than my C&O 100 and the GSER 100k I just did.

    [MMT1] [MMT2] Reports from my previous years, showed the race was tough. This year was no different.

    While last year I finished, I can’t remember if I could walk to my car or not, I remembered thinking the race was easier than I expected, because I had adaquate training and I managed to get through to the hard sections and it was mostly smooth sailing afterward.

    Maybe that gave me a false sense of confident for this year. I came in feeling prepared and I was.

    Like last year, I hit all early aid stations on pace and some even ahead of pace. It would be my fastest time finishing if the second half was the same and I was aiming for a faster finish.

    I was not even struggling. In my mind, I was going at a very relaxed pace, and I was gaining faster time.

    This year trail condition was worse than last year. Most trails were flooded and muddy and we started under a steady rain.

    I had no idea, why I was ahead of pace by halfway. I had better shoes. I kept my feet better. It was not until mile 90 when my race fell apart. 

    I did not have sleeppiness issues like last year. My energy level was strong for most of the race except the final few miles. And the race at that point on became like my first MMT, struggle bus.

    I had a theory why my energy unexpectedly crashed. I think I drank too many cups of coffee and Red Bulls. That’s my theory. My body was probably over stimulated and final crashed.  I still managed a finish, since I built up enough lead time.

    That’s pretty much a summary of MMT 100 this year. I did have a good time. It was one of my best time out of all 3 years. It was the people I got to be with. More will be said below.

    As for race preparation, I did like what I did in the past. I did the training runs (and wrote about those) and looking back, just like previous years, while it seems my training runs were horrible, but by race day time, I was fully ready. This change always surprises me.

    I prepared a pace chart (I used the same one as last year, except updated it with my actual last year splits).

    I prepared my drop bags. They were much simplier than previous years. They were smaller and I put everything in a gallon size ziplock bag, except for shoes. I packed mostly a change of clothes and socks.

    I only used four drop bag locations this year: Elizabeth Furnace (50k ish), Habron Gap (55 mi), Roosevelt (65 mi), and Gap Creek (70).

    I had a crew (Cheryl, who was Wayne’s friend and crew person, I first met and ran with Wayne at MMT2). I was lucky to have a crew. She fed me well. She met me from midnight to end of the race. She was a new friend I came to know since the start of this year training cycle.

    As for training runs, I ran TR1 and TR2 but missed TR3 and TR4 due to being away for my Taiwan trip (and also the TR’ courses were changed at the time because of a forest fire!) 

    People were talking about the firewall/fire breakers they came across during the race. I was like scratching my head because this was my most run on trail for last three years and I saw no firewalls.

      I had forgotten about the recent forest fire there!  I even peed on a burned tree and was thinking huh, why was the tree like that. I had forgotten about the fire until now after the race.  It was only a month ago.  It was my big curiosity to go up to the MMT mountain after coming back from Taiwan to check out what the fire did to it.  Then I totally forgotten it.  Understandably, I had so many races the past month.  But wow. Now it made sense. There was a vast stretch seemed to be empty than before. Some trails like the Stephen’s Trail was bulldozed, I think for the fire fighting effort.  I heard Kern’s was burned but we went through it at night, so did not get to see it first hand.  wow!

    We were blessed to be able to run on the MMT race course without any diversion. I am so grateful.

    So I knew the course well except only the last 50k section.   (a few times, I dropped, such as during Waterfall 50k, I didn’t go up to Bird Knob, my memory escaped me what other events caused me to miss the Bird Knob’s section).

    This year, since rerunning MMT 100 again, I made many friends.  Caroline, a new friend and one I ran many recent races with since the last MMT, was my cheerleader from start to finish.

    Iris, too, my earliest fan and friend (from even before MMT1) and supporter was there cheering and volunteering with her husband.

    Plus there were many old friends and new friends I made. I could not named them all. Mike Ed was there, whom I ran with last year. I guess that what makes MMT special. It was like a family reunion. 

    The connections we made, some mentioned were why we ran 100 mile races. Many people I don’t know their names.  Definitely many volunteers put their hearts into making it a successful weekend.  You can tell when people, runners (past runners too), families and friends are enthusiastic about this event and making it feels like this is one and only one. We were under rain and cold for like 2/3 of the time, but seeing them warmed our hearts.

    Yes, this was my third time running it, and it felt like it was my very first. The atmosphere was different in a good way (at least to me). I think almost at all aid stations, there was someone who knows me. I got hugs and fist bumps and encouragements even in the dead of night. I felt special.

    And even when I could not see their faces. Thry said hi and gave words of encouragement. Gap Creek was loud! Amanda, also a friend I made during MMT 1 and 2, gave some personal greeting at 4 am (3:45 exact), something about she and I ran through this section and I look strong today, before I took on the trek up Jawbone, which also known be pretty hard and an ankle killer (Kerns is, but I always lump the both together). I was able to went through it rather quickly this year.

    Trail Con: we touched on earlier, The ground was well saturated. The top soil was slick as it can be. MMT trail is covered with rocks and this rich top soil. So it was treacherous conditions to be out there when is wet.  I took a few falls but nothing as a race ending event. My right knee was hurting and was bruised after the race morning but I did not realized which fall that injured it.  My hands and legs were cut by thorns and bushes (note the trails were trimmed a couple weeks before the race, but they always grow back so quickly). I lost a couple toenails (they were blackened, which will eventually fall off).

    For the record, temperature was like the previous year, around 50  F.  I could see my breath throughout the first 50 miles. Night and early morning was a bit cooler. The second day was better. Started overcast then cleared up.

    Anyway any of those falls could have weeded me out early in the race. I think many runners dropped because of the cold, wet, and muddy course, including some runners I highly respected and thought they could grunt it through.

    —-

    The rest of the post is my play-by-play account.

    Start to Edingburg: I ran from the back of the pack. rain. had a good rain poncho on but water did get through. I wore long sleeves so it helped keeping me warm. I was wet too. Climbed on the Moreland Road and Short Mountain was not as bad as during the training run. I was with a new friend Arun (whom I met during the first training run) and then with Jeff P. 8:00 am rain stopped. And later with Scott. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see them again.

    Edingburg to Woodstock. Caroline met me at the AS. I felt pretty good. I did not have a drop bag so I did not stay too long.  I was with Scott, a strong runner, and there I also met Kiran and Sunny. I pretty much stay at Kiran’s pace through most of the run, and I knew she was a strong runner. At the time, she did not introduced herself, and from time to time I saw her again and again at an aid station, most of the time I thought she was ahead of me but I caught up to her. I ran at my pace. I did realize it until after 50 miles.

    Woodstock to Elizabeth Furnace, passing through Fort Powell.  I met Charleen. There was Alex, and Brian, I don’t remember exactly where I saw them, but they gave me much needed encouragements. Brian’s wife, Ashley was running in it. Brian kept giving me updates how far she was behind me.  Ashley passed me during training runs, and I had expected the same.  I was not competing with her but it was fun being chased.  Ashley at the finish came and said hi! She finally overtook me on the last stretch. A friendly competition.

    And of course, where there’s Charleen, there’s John also who encouraged me. It is like having a crew without having a crew. Similarily, there were other families waiting for their runners, so I see the same people at every AS. Alex was waiting for his.

    Elizabeth Furnace, was where my first drop bag located. I changed socks and fixed my feet. Popped a blister. My right heel was cut from the back of my shoe digging in. A volunteer offered me black tape (duct tape) and a paper towel and so I created my own sport tape / bandaid with those.  It helped. Saved my race. I knew I was a bit tired here already. My legs wanted to cramp up, so I got up to get moving (last year I cramped up here).

    Shaw, Veach and Indian Grave. The Climb up to Shaw was not too bad.  I was with #125. She was a strong runner earlier but she had what she said was a heat flash halfway up on Shaw. She was half bending over, two hands on a tree breathing hard. Me and another runner stopped to ask if she was having a medical emergency. She said she did not need help.  Later she appeared quite strong again after an aid station. She and a bunch of people sharted running after Midford Gap (someone, Larry and friends, carried like 50 gals of water up from Veech to here), so I stopped to refill.  They did not. It was not an official aid station, but it saved runners like me who ran out of water.  Why I ran out of water, was I did not refill my water bag while I was at Veech.

    Getting down to Indian Grave was brutal for me.  This is at mile 49-50. My left knee started acting up. It was not pain but it was like not willing to extend and it had a funny feeling, like my funny bone is being tapped.

    It felt weak, momentary and every time when I put weight on it, I felt it might collapse under me.  Back of my mind was, uh-oh, I might have to drop from the race at the next aid station or a later station if it started hurting. Lucky, it didn’t hurt until near to the end of the race. I got down the mountain with a few close calls but did not fall. Indian Grave always is scary to me even on a good day because of the steepness. 

    I was moving slowly due to my knees while many people passed me.

    About a mile-ish to the aid station, I saw #125 again and I thought she would be long gone. So I stopped and asked her condition. She was clearly struggling and in great deal of pain. #105 (Melissa) also came by, we talked since we passed each other a few times. She also tried to help #125. Her issue was beyond our ability because she was suffering from chafing. Melissa offered her tapes, but it was probably too severe now to use. #125 ended dropping. Also, Melissa stopped and rested at the station, while I pushed on through as fast as possible. I did not see Melissa again until at the end of the race when she came in just couple minutes after me. I am very happy for her.

    In this section, I was with Ben and Charles. Charles was someone I met during a  training run and at Boyers 50K. Ben is from Boone and Asheville, NC. Ben is this year the longest time a runner spent on the trail also known as DFL. It was heartfelt seeing him come in later at the finish. Note, Ben has done some harder races like the Hellbender. Charles and Ben were real chill. I met Ben early in the race and now he was back here. I would see him again from time to time. They chatted a lot. Together, we got to Habron.

    Charles plans to run Old Dominion in two weeks, so like me this run is supposed to be an easy (joking) training run. Charles is a stronger hiker even without effort, he was passing ahead of me on technical sections and so on the road, he was flying to Habron. But he also waited for me a few times. I was surprised that later he tapped out.

    Habron to Elizabeth Furnace. Night came and settled in. Originally I was secretly hoping to get to Elizabeth Furnace (mile 65) before nightfall. I know it was a wishful thinking. Then I bargained it down to Habron Gap by nightfall.

    I took a significant time at Habron AS to fix my feet since they had been wet throughout the day. I was now an expert at this unlike during my first MMT. We had similar wet conditions this year. Feet were good. No blisters, but couple hot spots were forming. I knew I had to keep those under control.

    The trek up Habron was not as bad as I thought. I caught up to Kiran again. She had her pacer. Somehow, I was able to lead them up. They were pretty much on my heels. A few people passed us. From here on out, I was with her.

    When we went down on Stephen’s, Kiran led because my left knee was weak but apparently I could still keep up with her pace. Note, Stephen’s Trail was unlike during training. The whole trail was bulldozed, probably for the fire fighting effort. We hiked on clay and mud. We passed a lot of people (4-5 runners, but in my mind were a lot, none of them I knew or seen before).

    At Camp Roosevelt (Camp Roo), Cheryl, my crew, and who was also an aid station’s volunteer, helped me.  I stayed for a long time. I was ahead of pace so the long stay evened it out. I might have changed socks. I had a good meal.

    Normally I’d carry food out to eat while on the trail, but here, Cheryl had me sat down, covered me, and I took a breather. I told myself won’t argue with my crew chief since I appointed her to that position. She did me much good to get enough caffeine into my system and also food for energy for the following day. Kiran had her feet fixed by her team.

    Camp Roo to Gap Creek 1.  Everyone knew this was the worse section on the course. Or so they thought. I knew ahead of time how wet it would be and tough. For me, I think, the last section from 211 to Crisman Hollow road, was the hardest.

    Gap Creek is never dry even on a good day. We sloshed through river of mud and puddles. It was not unlike any trail we have been doing much of the day except a bit more muddy here. The cold water actually helped with my feet (since there were hot spots, the cold served as a numbing effect). 

    Many though did not expect the steep climb up to Duncan Hollow and then the long descent on the other side.  Many passed me while we ran up, but got exhausted at the top. I was exhausted too. My left knee might had given me some issue. Going downhill was fine for me.

    Kevin M. (I believe this was his 8th MMT) showed up out of the blue. He passed me long ago early in the day, but he said he got lost and went on a white trail at Roosevelt, not sure which trail he went to. We arrived at Gap Creek together. Of course, he did not need much at the aid station. He wore flipflops on the trail and his feet were fine. Interesting guy. He has been to  Western States and told me about Truckee. about weeds and booze at one of the aid stations but he said young people like me probably prefer sugary candies over those adult beverages.

    Gap Creek to Visitor Center.  I had my drop bag at Gap Creek with dry shoes. I changed shoes and socks. I might have taken a long time to get out. I thought it was before 3 AM but when I checked the clock on my way out it was closer to 4 am (3:48 or something), I was shock. I was not sure if I could get to Visitor by 7 like last year. So I was almost an hour late on my pace at this point.

    We had to go up Jawbone. I did not think it was too bad. I was with Ben. I led Ben through. I thought the whole time, he was behind me. It was until morning came I turned around, it was a completely different runner and their pacer.

    They, by the look, they were super strong runners and I felt embarassed, I did not offer them a chance to pass me. I called out a few times but now was not sure I was speaking to the same person.

    At Q view, when I took a pee break, the whole train maybe 5-6 runners ran/fast hiked passed me. Why did not anyone say anything!  The faster pace did help me get to the Visitor Center early.  I think I arrived around 7:10 but I was exhausted. In theory, I went through Kerns an hour faster than last year. Cheryl was there and helped me. I don’t remember what she did for me, but I let her fix me as best as she could and off I went. I think, I aslo stayed there quite a while, maybe 30 minutes. Kiran caught up again.

    Visitor Center to Picnic Area via Bird Knob.  In my mind, I dreaded this loop, mostly the climb up to Bird Knob. I remember I passed out here in a previous year (MMT1). Bird Knob was not as bad as Habron or Jawbone. Sure, there were some climbing, but I was on top in no time.  Kiran and Sunny came by.  Sunny passed us looking very strong. This was her first 100. I spoke with her Friday at the bib pickup but during the race I didn’t see her much except once at Edingburg and now here.

    I wanted to stay with Sunny, but her pace was beyond my ability to keep up. So Kiran and her pacer again were again setting my pace. They gave me a good pace. I laughed and talked. Kiran took a pee break so I went on ahead and lo and behold I saw Sunny, either she slowed down her pace or my pace was really fast. I thought she would have left me, but it seemed many times she waited for me. Her climbing was super strong but she was slow enough on the downhills and I was able to stay with her. This section had longer stretches of down than uphills.

    I could not be able keep up with Sunny once we arrived at the Picnic Area. Cheryl again met me. She did what she did. I was definitely beyond tired at this stage. There were about 10-13 miles left.

    I fixed my feet again. There was no med kit, and Cheryl found a tube of something that to me like lubricant, maybe vasaline but in a tube form. I put that on my feet after cleaning them. Glad, Cheryl had baby wipes. I had them too but they were packed away in my hydration pack. I took a cup of coffee. Cheryl gave me another Red Bull,

    I think it was my fourth but can’t remember. I knew I had too much sugar and caffeine in me, but I felt I had to stay awake. And of course, the caffeine crash came next. I also stayed here a long time (there’s a video on Youtube of probably 12 hours timelapse collapsed into 3 min, and I could see myself in it, meaning I stayed a rather long time).

    Picnic Area to Gap Creek 2. I promised Cheryl I would be at Gap Creek by 1pm.  I figured, I could do 6 miles in two hours. I knew there would be a lot of climbing. The mile section from Picnic Area to 211 East Parking Lot was shorter than I thought.  It was also wetter than I expected. But feet were wet most of the time any way, so it did not matter much. I just waddled through.

    Kiran and her new pacer (she swapped out after the Picnic Area) passed me extremely fast.  I had no intention to keep up with them like before. The two hard boiled eggs (soy sauced favored) I had and was about to eat one of them, dropped onto the trail. Nooo, I screemed in my head. Note, Kiran did not bump into me, she was probably still 50-100 ft behind. She asked if I was okay. I felt fine but it seemed my pace was all but gone. This stretch was shorter than I thought and soon I arrived at RT 211 Parking.

    At 211 Parking, I met many good friends, and couldn’t remember all but Marty gave me a big hug and told me to go get it.

    This section was my waterloo during MMT 2022. It still gave me nightmares. My energy level tanked just like that time. I reassured myself that God sent Elaina and Christian just at the right moment to pace me through Gap Creek that time.  Christian was at the Visitor Center AS earlier in morning and I told him it wouldn’t happen like in 2022. The thoughts of them gave me new strength to climb up. A mile at a time. It was a very long climb, first on the white trail, and that was like 2-3 miles in my mind and but got through them.

    We turned onto the Orange trail. I haven’t been on this part since last year, and all I remember was it kept going up. Maybe for 5-6 miles at least felt like that in my mind. I know in training runs we ran up on these hills. Now, it seeemed almost like Mt Everest. We came to creek crossing after creek crossing. I did not mind. This was the last ordeal and soon I knew we would be on the final road section.

    I think we got up on Duncan Hollow a second time. This part always confuses me. The course was well marked so we don’t usually pay attention but I had a feeling we’ve been up here. Anyway, we got to the downhill. My legs could move better. Earlier it was the downhill that hurts.

    On the Crisman Road, a few runners passed me, notably was KC. At the time, I was doubting my chance of finishing. My leg, especially the left knee obviously was not able to hike fast. It was slightly swollen. Luckily, I could still put weight on it. So I started to lock my knee and I started  limping.

    The Aid Station was still a long way. In my mind was a mile but it seemed like two as I started limping. I saw friends who gave out words of encouragement along the way. Some people I knew, some I didn’t but they knew me and some were completely strangers. Everyone was driving carefully. I arrived at at Gap Creek at 3 pm exactly as KC told me. She was then took off.

    Gap Creek to Finish.  Cheryl waited for me at Gap Creek since noon.  I was two hours late and was very late. I felt really indebted to her. This time, I tried to leave the station as quickly as possible. I couldn’t find my drop bag, but anyway, there was nothing I needed from it other than put away things I didn’t need.

    Mike Ed said I carry half a kitchen sink on me. True. I had two shirts, a rain jacket, a full water bladder, my head lamp, trashes, a can of Red Bull and many stuff include the two hard boiled eggs that were dropped on the ground.  I carried everything to the finish.

    Happy to have a crew in this late stage. My mind was zombie by now. Cheryl put a gel in my hand and out I went.

    There was only 3.8 miles left. Likely the road was about 3 miles and there was a 0.8 of trail at Camp Caroline, our Finish. I moved even slower than before.

    I tried to get an app to tell me how was fast I was moving and how far I needed to go. But those apps required me to log in. I did not have internet. I gave up. I hoped I would be making 2.5 miles per hour needed for a finish. Nothing stressed out more of than not knowing my pace.

    Once I entered the campground of Caroline Furnace, I was pretty sure I would finish.  The time then was around 4:30 and I had half an hour left and there was not much more trail. Katie K (the former Bull Run Run 50 co-RD)  passed me, plus many others.  Caroline came out to meet me, and joked with her that I would have to crawl in and get it to a time of 35:58, the exact time when she finished her first MMT.

    She then tripped over at a bridge crossing. I hardened my heart and not stopped. Got to get to the finish. 

    I wouldn’t be running. But then I did, when Dan looked at me and said come on, Run it in, with his hand beckoning me. To hell with the knee, I gave one final push and I stepped across the finish and in my mind it was the fastest run I could manage.

    Everyone was there cheering. Many more runners also came in (10 after me, totally 119 finished that day). Melissa came just after me. Plus Ben and Donnelly.

    Donnelly was like a legend at the club, but I did not know her, but I think she had one of the most finishes (20 finishes, second to Keith). There were many club VIPs around. I don’t know the whos who. Wheeler was talking to Caroline the whole time and from time to time engaged me in their conversation. I didn’t know she was also a VIP! She broke the women’s age group record that day. She could run this race faster than I could dreamed. All these runners are giants to me.

      Cheryl had me sit down, got me food and said she would look for my drop bags. We stayed until 5 or 6-ish. I lost track of time. Once sat down, I could not get back up, until two last sweepers came in and they sat at my table or so one over and they offered me advils and also a hand to get me on my feet.

    They started closing down the place. Many people came by to congratulate me. There were a lot of laughters. I saw people in their various states — some and many had already taking off their shoes, but some like me preferred to keep them on because we knew it would be painful and ugly to fix. I turned and saw Katie K foot, omg, the blister.  Yes, it probably took me an hour to just taking my own shoes off. I was wishing that somone would dress my feet for me. Time slowed down. I tried to get to my car and tried to sleep before going home.  It was like doing everything all at once. I did sleep first.

    To me, this was just a training run but a very hard one. It did not hit me until much later, what it means after waking up that it was a very important race, probably the one most significant race this year.  I avoided a DNF.

    Taking a DNF (didn’t finish) is hard. Almost all runners have encountered a blockage or a DNF at some points. Some might never getting over a race and MMT is such a race that is an impossibility to overcome for some. I know people were proud of me when I crossed the finish line.

    Q said, I was someone who got a redemption. My redemption was last year. I don’t mind to relive it again. It is a special feeling. Many themselves had run this race. They knew how tough and some too had experienced disappointments like me. For me to cross it, they either experienced the joy when they ran it, or the joy of overcoming this trail with me even if they never ran it.  I felt blessed that I received a gift of a body of capable to do this hard 100 mile run. I did not know, I was so loved by many.

    It was a very good challenge while on the trail.  I really think the last 50k ish of the course was fun. Sunny asked me why I love this race and why I love trail running, the answer is complex, but ultimately, I found doing hard things like this fun.

    Unlike at the end of my last report, I wrote there were many serious races ahead, now after MMT, I am not sure if I had the ability to do the next one. There’s a possibility I need to deregister myself on some. My knee is certainly an issue with no solution I can think of. Yes, see a doc, but. Can I still run at my level and how soon? I know there are many unknowns.

    I wrote a lot already, the question of why I run comes up from time to time. There are several levels. I just attended a prep meeting for a later 100 mile I will be doing not long from now and people in it said, if you want to finish a 100 miler, you have to find your Why. A strong Why will keep you going. I did it because it was fun. I did it to see how far I can go. I did it for people, to fun with together on the course. Rarely have I done a 100 mile race where I didn’t know anyone. I think I run to build a little treasure of memories, to look back on in the future and to relive it.  Nothing like a 100 miler, you get the ups and the downs and everything.  My friend told me something about changing the world with my running, I think that is too deep for me. Whether my runs will have a lasting impression, likely not, and do I need to? It is something to explore in future runs.

  • [628] GSER 100k, a third attempt

    TL;DR A Run in Atlanta. I had fun before tackling some more serious heavy races

    Sometimes, we run to accomplish a goal. Sometimes, we just want to go from point A to point B. As to why? who knows.

    Some might ask, why I am running in so many races.  I just want to be out there.

    Back in 2020, a lot of races were canceled due to the pandemic. Only thing that was available to me was run in my own backyard, and a lot of races were converted to virtual events.  One of them I did was the Virtual Race Across Tennessee. An event that led into knowing, I can run everyday everwhere.

      I remembered May 1st, 2020, I was working from home. Some friends on Facebook signed up and the event went viral. I signed up, FOMO, and by noon time, I was out in my neighborhood running, skipping my normal lunch period to run.

    Running in all my spare hours became the norm. I ran before I sleep. I ran whenever possible. Mostly around my neighborhood day after day for the whole summer and then for the next three years.

    Soon it became apparent I needed more places to run. So, not sure who gave me the idea to run across my city. It could have been a blogger. I started one early morning and followed the county parkway and reached the end of it then I turned around and came back home. That was I think about 100k.  Distance was not a big thing. Running was.  It was “fun”. It was epic to do something I never imagine I would. I  did it again through out the summer, adjusting the route, such as going from west to east or north to south.

    Soon things reopened. And my little adventure tucked away lost in the sand of time. I am sure I was not the first one who did this. Many runners across the world were in the same boat and we ran everywhere.

    This brings us to this past weekend race.  I call it a race but it is more of a fun run. What the different? To most nothing. 100k is a 100k no matter how you call it.  It is a very long distance.

    But to me, a run is more fun. A race gives the idea of running in a circle around a track but a run is when you want to go from point A to point  B. Again why?  I don’t know.  It is more a curiosity to know what beyond next corner or the next block.

    When I first signed up for GSER 100k, I too forgot why I was doing this. Yes, I wanted to go to Atlanta. Yes I love running. But ultimately it is to have fun. I have many more “serious” races coming up. If I were true to myself, I should not be distracted by other smaller races like this one, but I also would have missed out a lot.

    This brings me back to why I want to run in the first place. It is not to get a time on a sheet of paper. Yes, we race for an experience.

    Back on topic, why I wanted to run GSER is to in one day run across Atlanta as if I were to run across my own city like in 2020.

    As for the timing, that was a bit iffy. Every year, I waited for the race to open but each year, I already signed up something (MMT, which blocked out any other big run in May). This run and MMT always crash. I was hoping for the date to change, but it never would. I later found out the reason was it is fixed to the RD’s birthday weekend (race director).

    It came to a decision whether to continue to defer it for another year or suck it up and do it, to do what I like to call a one-two hit combo. As readers know, I did a lot of one-two punches this year already (that is running more races in a short span time than is wise). The Taiwan trip, the Roanoke, and the C&O. Basically, could I do one more, I asked myself.

    Indeed. That was a question I didn’t know the answer to even the night before I flew to Atlanta. I just finished the C&O 100 feeling all good but two days later, my achy back threw a fit. I had been in subtle pain since (over two weeks). I could not walk or sit comfortably except when I was laying down. I was in a half crippled state. It seemed rather serious.

    Thursday night after work, I tried to run about 100 yards to my car on the parking deck. My back seemed to hold up. It was a miracle. I am healed. So the trip was on. I would have gone there anyway since everything was paid for (I don’t buy travel/race insurance for my races and travel, so either I eat the lost, or go). It is a lot of money to give up if I don’t go. Pain did not come. There was slight discomfort of it being stiff. The feeling held throughout the weekend. I knew, I had the run in the bag. As long as it is not hurting, I would be able to continue.

    There was no doubt I would be able to finish this run, the Great Southern Endurance Run as long as I was healthy.

    I attempted it twice in summer 2020, GSER1, GSER2, both times I did not finish. Rereading the reports gave me a cringe. Yes they were valuable formative ultra experiences. They were miserable, frustrated runs, only later were surpassed by my experiences at the MMT and Devil Dog, equally frustrated, but all of which I now had redeemed.

    It was only natural now I tackled the GSER. Note, I wrote more about both the Devil Dog and MMT than GSER. But GSER was my first DNF. It doesn’t quite hurt as deep as MMT did, but still it was a chip I needed to deal with.

    Granted GSER in 2020 was a virtual run and 100 miler and not a 100k. I ran it solo and unsupported. What a difference it made when we had aid stations this time and with friends.

    This year, it was an in-person event (100k always has been an in-person event). It was pretty low key, meaning we could get aids from stores and the goal was more to enjoy a run with a friend. Many ran with a buddy. We had 4-5 official aid stations and some random ones (called pop ups) from runners’ friends and families who showed up at various points on the course (roving aid stations). They may or may not be there, there was no guarantee, unless you run at the pace of the runners they were supporting.

    There were no official course markings except for a few turns at couple parks and occasionally some chalks. I was not sure they were for our race or someone’s else and I didn’t trust them. RD said, if we get off course, there is no need to backtrack to where we first got lost to continue, just find the quickest way to get back on course. Cool. It is just a weekend fun run.

    We used the gps and a turnsheet to get to where we needed to go. Back in 2020, I had problem with my phone (a Pixel), but not this time around. My phone (Galaxy S22) was reliable and I had longer battery than 4-5 years ago and it lasted through my entired race. I still carried a spare portable charger, just in case. What a difference!

    There was no cutoff but the last one at the end, since Stone Mountain closes at midnight, we need to ascend and descend it before then. This gives a total of 19 hours, pretty much generous compares to other 100k, which usually allows 18 hours.

    I truly had a great time. 100k is 62 miles, and to me it is like running just half of the 100 miler before the real suffering begins. So it was still all fun and game. I needed some “light” running before my season turns serious.

    I flew in Friday evening. I had some personal issue with the car rental place. They ran out of cars and refused to refund me back the money.  I had a fit, but I don’t want to talk about it any more. It was not a great start.

    I spent the rest of the night sorting out the situation, in the end, I did not have a car and had to live with it. The reason I wanted a car was the cost of my ride share just for one trip equals to the cost of the entire day rental. Logically, getting the rental is more economic. I wanted to drive around town that Friday night. In the end, it did not happened.

    By the time I arrived at the hotel it was 11 ish and close to midnight.  I haven’t eaten dinner yet. I was not ready to bed until 2 ish.  Luckily, I picked the hotel near the start.  The race was going to start at 5 am.  I arrived at 4:55. I overslept. This was one of those rare moment I did not arrive to a race an hour beforehand. Before I slept, I already had everything ready. So even it was just, 5 mins, I was ready to go.

    We started off the run to the beats from Star War, since it was May 4th, an unofficial Star War day. Was it Darth Vader theme?  It was a cool experience. The two RDs (mother-daughter team) were being silly waving light sabers at us as we headed out.

    Cool story, my uber driver who dropped me off were surprised so many people were there in the desolate industrial park.  Before, he dropped me off, he turned and asked me if it was the right place, and then lo and below, the whole group of runners with their light appeared, light sabers and all. I said, those are my people.

    I was not fast, so I tried to keep up at least with the slower runners so that I didn’t have to look at the turnsheet to find when I needed to turn.

    Initially, I kept behind two women, Catiana and Michelle.  We stopped at a big tree to hug it. She has done this race before. She said if you hug it, you would finish. I did. So I knew I was in good hand. I don’t believe in those jazz but hey, it was fun. I finished and they also finished! It worked.

    Later, I was able to run a bit faster, so I joined another group of 5 runners. Also the women veered off to use the restroom and I felt bad standing around to wait for them. If I go, I knew they wouldn’t be able to catch up to me, which I also felt bad about. Catch-22. It was time to tag along with a new team. There were the husband and wife team and two older gentlemen.  They talked of local history as we passed some of the landmarks.  They were interesting tipbits.  We passed the Big Chicken (KFC) a local landmark. We were told the eyes and the beak could move. Wow! Fancy. Indeed, they moved! I love the Big Chicken.

    I did not take any pictures at the beginning because rain was coming. Here one taken by my fellow runner Ralphael.

    I would stay with them but a few miles later, I found their pace unsatisfying. It was not slow but it just did not feel right. I was able to join three faster guys in the front (Richard’s party).  I better tag along with another team for the long haul. There were no more people ahead of us as far as my eyes could see, but these three. We went by the first aid station at Franco’s house. There I grabbed some bacons. I was not sure who Franco is but I was sure I love the bacons. It written on the turnsheet to steal his beer and pee on his lawn and eat his bacons. I only ate his bacons. The station is known as Franco’s Bacons.

    I stayed with these three runners for the next 20 miles or so.  We passed some other runners, I think Alec and gang, who seemed to get lost from time to time.

    My runners were local runners who had done it before, so they did not need to look at the turnsheet. It saved us much time, through Sope Park and other parks. We went by the Braves stadium, Truist Park. I was glad the three of them led, otherwise, I would have gotten lost, since there was a reroute.

    At the OK Cafe, third aid station, the guys went for either a bathroom break or lunch at starbucks, I chose not to stop. Allison caught up, and I ran with her for the next 10 miles through Buckhead. We passed the Governor’s house. I did not remember this place from my past runs. The house was huge.

    At Morningside park, Allison was only 5 minutes behind the first female and she decided to give chase, so I dropped back.  I stayed longer at the aid station to replenish my fluid.  A runner, from Columbia, (Raphael) joined me for the next 5 miles. We ran along the Beltline together. Some runners decided to stop at Beltline for beer.  I wanted too but seeing the crowd, I did not want to waste too much time.

    I believed, we might have passed half the field here since I am guessing, many took a lunch break, but I did not.

    At Beltline, our pace was slow and we got lost (at least I did) a couple times.  Yes, how can you get lost on the Beltline, which was just one straight way.  I missed the turn at Irvin because the street was unmarked.  There afterward, I lost my Columbian friend too. Looking at his Strava, it seemed he followed me and missed the turn at Irvin too, but we got separated when I backtracked. He too backtracked, but we got separated in the process.  Beltline is where there were a lot of people.

    I was on my own after Beltline and ran through the city of Atlanta. Here many landmarks were familiar, since this was my third attempt.  I passed the Georgia Tech., the University. The Olympic Rings and torch.  I remembered the time when I gave up here in the middle of the night. Passing the spot, gave me the chill and also a thrill that today I was not stopping here.

    Running through Grant Park was new for me. Last time, I did not go through it but stay on the road. From there, we went to the Oakland Cemetery. It never gave me the spooky feeling. I took time to walk through it. Then to Krog St tunnel and beyond. There was a long stretch where people paint on walls. Mural art. I am not a big fan of graffiti art. I felt it is like desacration. To each their own.

    Then there were series of parks before we get to Sherwin-Williams aid station.  Probably it was around 3 pm. I was hot. At Ponce Ave, a car ran a red night and did not realized it as I was crossing the street. There was a car behind me making a left turn (on green), so the car blew through the intersection with his horn blaring.  They kept honking the other car thinking the car cut in front for no reason. Anyway, I was safe. I was expecting a crash at the time, but the car blew through the interection had slowed just enough. That was first rate Atlanta driving. People were speeding on Ponce.

    I got a bit lost in the park (not sure the name) afterward here. There was a volunteer/crew waiting for her runner. She offered me a can of Coca~Cola, and I was revived a bit and was able to reach mile 50 because of it. I love the generosity of the running community to share aids. There were several (unofficial) crew stops where they offerred me aids without regard that I was not their runners.

    I did not remember this long stretch from Ponce the firat couple time I attempted this race, passing the Columbia Theological Seminary and all, were new to me this time around. I was too sleep deprived the last time to notice it. So today, the whole section to the very end was new.

    I ran through Decatur.  It was not bad. It was just long and hot. There were a few high school graduation celebrations. One of the runners’ son was graduating, and we were looking for his name (Callan), this was earlier in the day before Sope Park when I was still running with people around me. Just mentioning here because, it was exciting to see young people reaching their milestone and taking their first step into adulthood.

    Now we were on the “Path” – Stone path mountain trail.  It was uneventful, we followed it for maybe 8-10 miles before reaching the town (Mountain Village) at the mountain foot. It was dull and boring run, and mostly slightly uphill. I remembered to eat and drink to prepared myself for the final big climb.  The first time I did this, I took an hour nap at the gate of Stone Mountain because I was so exhausted. Eventually, we could see Stone Mountain at far away, about 3 miles. The sun came out. It was 5 pm ish. I knew I had two more hours before finishing.  It was the last stretch. I came to the sign Stone Mountain Village!

    I finally caught up to a runner, Scott as we were half mile before reaching town. Scott and I ascended Stone Mountain.  We saw several runners (5+6 runners) descending as we were ascending. I know they were at least an hour ahead.

    They gave encouraging words. The sunset was amazing on top.  I stayed a bit looking around and then descended. Scott was trying to beat his previous time. He said he was an hour ahead. For me, I already beaten my old time, which was 24-27 hours last time, by a huge shot. There is really no check point at the top except an honor system that we reached it. I felt satisfied. A finish was not in doubt, I had about 5 hours left to make it down and I only needed about 45 minutes. When I saw my friend Franco-Ralphael, I wanted to climb a second time with him, but I did not want to slow him down. Instead, it was better for me to wait for him at the finish.

    Endless joy on top of Stone Mountain

    I could run down on the mountain like everyone else before me, but chose to play it safe. The race in my mind was over once I reached top of the mountain.  My quads too were about to give out.  I knew we had to get back to the Out Run Brewery where everyone was waiting before being considered a finish. I took my sweet time on the descent. Finished just before 8 pm. 

    I was happy to do a 100k.  It was my first 100k and the course was not hard, but because of failed previous attempts, I had expected to not finish until 9 or 10 pm. The computer predicted me at 18-19 hours. I finished in 15 hours. Finishing early was a plus. It meant I could go back to the hotel early. Several runners had their air bnb rear the finish. It was not a bad idea. I thought about it too but had preferred my hotel nearer to the start than at the finish. I also had considered Buckhead and near the airport as alternatives.

    After the past several races, the one in Taiwan, the C&O, the Roanoke Marathon, this one was much more fun.  I know I took other races as a fun run too, but some of them I always had to work to avoid cutoffs or I just was trying to run faster.  This one did not have a cutoff, at least one that I’d feel being pressured by. I was not in a rush. So it was just a long day of running and sight seeing.

    I was still nervous about finishing  late and did not stop at all along the way to eat.  I passed by many stores, where if I really believed in myself, I would have stopped to have a beer or a meal along the way. It ended up being fun regardless. The supports I got from the minimalist aid stations were adaquate. They were better than not having one (note, not a complaint, but this is a reality of these kinds of small scale races, for runners by runner – noting here for future gser’s runners). I was just happy there were volunteers out there for us.

    As with most races, it was like a fairy tale. We went there, ran it, and all the memories captured. It might not be the same next time. The next race will be different. Some runners I will see again, maybe, some I will not.

    My journey this year will bring me to many places, because I am doing the grand slam, and all. I am no hulk. Just feeling so grateful I could do it.  Some races will have a lot of pomps, and some will be low key. I don’t know what the next one will bring.

    Races do take a toll.  I finished this race like any other races at a very high point.  The highest of high also means everything else is very low.  Some knows the phase of the first day back to workweek as “Monday”.  My everyday is like a Monday morning, when everything is bland and “normal”. We don’t write about those, unfortunately. Thus, it has been taking me a while to post this.

    If you ask me which weekend is best one so far.  I don’t have an answer. The answer will probably the one at the present. I do think a lot about this too. Giving my limited ability, some races I will forget entirely and some I will remember forever.  If years from now as I look back at 2024, I wish, the run in Atlanta, GSER will be one I can recall.

  • [627] My two cents

    I went and ran the Toronto Marathon last year. I already did my race report, but coming across another person’s report just brought back all the negativities about this race. 

    It was one of worst marathon experiences I had due to it being “disorganized” and we runners were blamed of causing it to go out of control (being mob ruled). I only had couple bad ones but none was at this level of failure as the Toronto Marathon. I guess that was one improvement that no one was being trampled and there’s no more stealing of supplies. Everything else though was still the same.

    The organizer vowed to do better.  And guess what?  This year is as chaotic as last year or maybe even worse, with many similar problems, such as traffic, the course crossing over on itself, several events mixing in, finish line mayhem, post race chaos (of not water or food given, the illogical setup of making runners enter a “small” building for food).

    And again, the organizer came out to apologize. Luckily, I am not running it again.

    Lack of bathrooms – was not a new issue.  We went into the mall too to use the facility.

    Buses – what. I didn’t know they had buses. Oh yeah, I did not ride them. I was lucky to be dropped off

    Traffic arriving at the start. Not a new issue. But many running it first time might need a bit of guidance to arrive early.  This could have communicated better to tell runners the time they needed to get to the start. When 10-20 thousand cars showing up at a place at a given time, there’s bound to be heavy traffic.

    My year when I ran it was not the first year they had issues. I read reviews prior doing the race, and heard about them. I ignored it at the time thinking there always will be complaints.  But when it is year after year, and the community at large is frustrated by it, something needs to change. Toronto is not the only big city that has a marathon. This stuff can be solved.

    When are they gonna learned. And why the city continues to issue them the permits to host such a race just baffled me.

    a race report (not mine) [https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/the-toronto-marathon-a-series-of-unfortunate-events/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1pV3DM6dIAZfLMHNhFaO0NfTBvShpGUjcv_q-2Fm8y4gLAQ3LMquJP3lg_aem_AfpjT0YwcI8t2_5uHpDEgneQW6hvtGffOTMROpTUTMUXaJGNLfwD6mw0WExS3FA5a1w96OFSQ1nVnGxcUron2vZ7]

  • [626] C&O 100

    I had a good run. Here go, I would be having a few 100 mile races stacking close one after another.

    I wanted to say I am fine after the first 100 of this year, but as I am writing this, my back is killing me.

    Somehow, I have been ignoring my coach’s advice on foam rolling after each of my run, and now they come back to bite me.

    I have been resting. Force-rest through this whole week.

    As for the race, it went more than well. I ran my personal best time (PR’d).  Set a personal record.

    I finished 25:28.

    I did not intend to break my time of 26:17 from last year on a similar course. I set out to run a 28-30 hour race.

    There is no such thing as taking a race easy!

    I had a pace chart too but that went out the window early on.  My friend and started out 7 AM.  We took it “slow” at a 11-12 min pace but the rest seemed to took off at 8-9 mins pace and an hour later, we ended in the back of the pack, with only 25 runners behind us.  I think about 180 started.

    I was a bit worry that we would not able to keep up, but we were two hours ahead of pace!

    It was good to take the gain early and hold on to it.

    However, that was short lived.  Soon after 10 miles we switched to run and walk. Another 10 miles later, we switched to the dreaded dead walk.  We locked our knees and matched to mile 40.

    In the interim, rain fell the next couple hours.  My buddy, partner in crime, Lynne, didn’t bring her wet weather gear and was completely soaked. No shoe change and no extra socks.  So soon she had to bail on me.  I thought she would accompany me to the dead of night.

    She was struggling with possibly an IT band injury. Grudgingly, I told her to go home. I know it was not my decision to make. She was happy to step off the course and turned in her bib.

    By mile 40, we gave up all our earlier gains, but we were still perfectly on pace for a 28 hours finish (otherwise, we would be targeting at 26 hours or less).  Don’t be too greedy because night fall was about to arrive.

    Kind of PSA or runner wisdom here, I brought plenty of flashlights and headlamps for this run, but about three of them died.  The first one, after I put in some fresh batteries refused to turn on.  The contact points were corroded.  OK. Try the next one. The next one worked.  I didn’t carry fresh batteries on me, by 5 am, this also died and my cellphone as well. Luckily, daylight was only less than an hour away. I was saved.

    I planned to entertain Lynne and all other runners with my chest strapped neon lights, a $10 knock-off of NOXgear, and it was pretty. I put that on. I also had those blinking bike red led clip ons.  I snapped one on my pack.  It was 5:30 pm and it would get dark in a few hours. I was at mile 40.

    The night was quiet. The rain has stopped long ago but there were still puddles. I tried to avoid as many as possible.  

    It was my time to shine. Having walked the last five or six hours, I felt pretty fresh and so I began my chase.  Chasing who?  I had a few friends doing this race. One was probably 8-10 miles ahead.

    Midnight came.  The fast people already finished.  The first place came in 16:11, at 11:11 pm. We the slower folks would brave the sleepless night. 

    Temperature wise was decent around probably 60 degrees.  It was windy from time to time. I was sweating because I was putting in the effort to keep up. I was moving maybe 15 min pace, run-walk.

    I would like to have a bed to sleep in.  I learned a little close eyes would do wonder. I was too stubborn to stop. Time is money.  There was nothing much to do but press on.

    I got sleepy at one point and was moving / swerving from side to side. Soon that passed and morning came as I arrived to the last turn around point at Brunswick.  Emily, the co-race director was there. She and her staff sent me back out.  I took a coffee to go.

    Morning has dawned. My spirit was high.  I realized I passed all but one friend during the night. Only John H was left and he was two miles ahead and we had 6 miles left.  I said, there is no way I could catch him, but I had to try.

    We finished “together”, John was two minutes ahead and was still there at the finish when I came in. I did not beat John but it felt good I was not too far behind.

    Many other friends came. They either were supporting someone and waiting for them to come or just there for the fun. I could not keep track of who’s who. 

    We had good celebration. Caroline brought me a cake! They joked I must have found it at the side of the trail.

    Jana gave me a rock! One of her specialty is an eye for finding rocks in shape of a heart.  She said I have to carry it to the finish. Someone joked, to give “him” the 1 kg one.  Teeheehee, I probably would have refused.

    Anyway, the race is done.  This year we had one of the most finishers. 120 runners.  The last runner came in just as the clock about to turn 1 pm (30 hours).

    I am happy. Along with many others.  If only my back would stop hurting, I would say, this race is a resounding success for me.

    Thank you RD, and all friends and volunteers to allow us have a fun day on the canal.

  • [625] Roanoke Marathon

    I finished the Roanoke Blue Ridge Double Marathon. It was my third time at this event. It might seem so long ago when I did my first event there. Roanoke Marathon has it history and how it shapes me to be a runner indirectly at least. My friend was studying at Virginia Tech at the time and did it as her first marathon.  I wanted to run it too to test my own ability. Yet I was afraid of the course at the time and did not do it until 2019 after I was more confident as a runner.

    The year I did it, I found out there were people crazy enough to run it twice the same weekend. It was unbelievable who would do such a thing. I believe one of a few if not the only marathon in the whole nation that does that.  It started imformally and later became as a real event.  This year there were around 80-90 runners who attempted it.

    For those who know, I attempted it last year but did not finish (due to weather cancelation). This year, I got to have it done. 

    We had good weather. Optimal weather for running, 50-60F.  I could see my breath during the night but it was not cold. 

    I started on time this year (see last year, 2023 or 2019). I did not try to sleep beforehand, due to being afraid I might overslept like last year. I got to the course early around midnight, which was only 5 mins away from my hotel and elected to start at 1 am. We could choose to start either at 1 am or 2 am.  Last year I needed 6:20 to finish the first marathon.  1 am start would give me that 6 and half hour needed. Spoiler, I finished the first run in 5:30 hours, so I had about an hour rest before starting the second marathon.

    I ran into a friend, Chrissy, at the parking lot. She remembered me from the Lake Claytor event last year. We talked and got ready.  She said she would rather choose the 2 am start.  I said, she must be fast.  Indeed, she finished almost 45 minutes ahead of me.  My fastest time was in 2019, when I ran it in 4:45.  So to do it in that time is fast. Her second loop is almost as fast.

    As I remembered not many people picked the 2 am start. There were about 75 finishers.  I think might be 80-90 runners.  About 10 did not start, but they might have swapped to the 2 am. Chrissy could have done the 2 am and be fine.  She told me she actually preferred the 2 am start so that after she finishes she could start the second marathon immediately.

    As for me, I like a little buffer in between the two marathons instead of feeling under pressure to finish the first under a certain time (6:30 max). Note, if we could not get back to the start of the second marathon in time, we would be disqualified. It is not like a 52 mile run where you could take your time early and catch up later at the end.

    It was quite fun to see such a big group of runners who were just as crazy as I was as we ran on this middle in the night marathon to “preview” the course and then run it again in the morning with the general crowd. I missed all this last year. I felt it was very boisterous.

    This year, running with a bunch of people, I didn’t have the fear of getting lost going up to the Roanoke Mountain.  In fact, I felt like a pro.

    Later though, when the race was spreadout, I did rely on my turnsheet to get me through.  By mile 20 or so, the three guys I was running with took off ahead and I did not see them again (They finished like 20 mins ahead of me). Overall, there were a lot of people around me in the beginning. Finding the way around the course was not an issue. The course was well marked. Some navigation skills though also required. The course was not marked like an ultra with ribbons, so there is a chance of missing a turn. It was an urban adventure.

    Last year, because of my late start, I had to chase up to the last runner, which was hard and lonely time.

    This year, I started in the rear as the last guy to leave the start line.  “Cooper Emily” dropped her bib.  An older gentleman picked it up for her and chased her down.  I chased with him.  We caught up to Emily and handed her the bib.  By then she and I were the last two runners.  I told her there was no need to rush, we still had plenty of time. 

    She was getting out of breath.  In my mind, I know the pace needed to do a 6.5 hr marathon, you could do walk and run and make it to the finish.  After talking to her a bit, found out why she did not pin her bib on her shirt was because she did not have the safety pins.  I gave her two of mine.  Usually I only pin the top two corners of the bib and leave the bottom corners unpinned, so I had extra pins to spare.

    She also said due to her mom’s passing away in the winter, she has not trained since.  It seemed this was her first marathon. I had no clue why she wanted to run a double marathon.  She seemed to be not ready for this extremely hard marathon. I wished her the best because her pace was too slow for me.

    After that I ran my own race.  I was surprised I could catch up to many earlier (faster) runners once we reached the climbing section to the Roanoke Mountain. I was kind of in the mid pack.  There maybe 20 or so runners in front. Probably were more, but front runner pack were just too fast.

    People around me were pretty strong runners themselves.  We ran and hiked to the top. This year, I am more familar with the distance between various point on the course. I knew the top of the mountain was 7 miles. 

    Once we reached the top, we ran back down.  I love the downhill.  Many people were way stronger than me. Many passed me by on the downhill stretches.

    I mostly stayed with the three guys. I called them the three brothers. They seemed to be friends and they kept a steady pace. I usually don’t pass anyone unless they were super slow.

    We reached Mill Mountain.  It was still downhill. We had a good view of the city from here. This year the weather was good. we could see way into the distance. Supposing you could see Tinker Cliff, Dragon Tooth and Mc Afee Knob – the triple crown of the Appalachian Trail from here.

    We continued the descent and reached back to the city. By then there were directional signs and stickers on the road for us to follow. It is easier to navigate. We headed to Peak Mont. This is not as high as Roanoke mountain but by then mile 15-18, it was a hard climb.  The top was mile 18. To me the toughest climb of the night.

    This year, I reached it around 5 am.  I was hoping to get down before sunrise.  I headed back to the start. The three brothers already left me.  I was mostly by myself. I was hoping some of the faster runners would be out of breath soon and I could catch up.  There might be one or two runners I passed. There were more than a few that passed me. They were probably the 2 am starters.  I reached back at the hospital and I knew I had about 5 miles left.  It was still dark. It distinctively remembered running this section in  the morning light last year, so to be still dark made me feel quite good.

    I did not remember when the sun rose. Probably at my mile 24 at the last aid station. It felt good knowing this year I was ahead of my pace. Soon I reached the finish coming in under 5:30 (actual time of day was 6:30 am). I then had 1.0 hr before the next marathon start.

    I felt good. My legs were tired but they were not too tired.  I went to my car, had breakfast and tried to keep myself fresh. I stretched a bit. Others who finished aheaded of me were there too in the parking lot.  Supposedly, they had a conference room at the host hotel for us to rest while waiting for the second start. It felt better to just stay at our cars. I did not got to the host hotel.

    The second start was great. I met many people. Many were surprised that we already did a marathon during the night and ready for a second go.

    My goal on the second marathon was if I could keep the 6 hour pace. Initially, it was hard to run again.  I could not keep up with the pacer during the first mile. Gradually, my legs warmed up and the fatigue faded away.  I was able to move with my usual ultra pace around 12 min mile. I felt my legs were as strong as the first lap during the hard climb up to Roanoke Mountain.

    I knew I would not able to run nearly as fast as I did in my first marathon.  I tried. I passed the 6 hour pacer, then the 5:45, then 5:30.  I was joking with the guys who were doing the double marathon that we should aim for a negative split. I was hoping to catch the 5 hour pacer but they seem to be too fast.  Secretly, I hoped to stay in front of the 5:30 pacer. I knew deep down though eventually, they would catch up to me.

    The rest of the race was uneventful.  I saw a lot of same people on the out and back sections.  We cheered the double marathon runners. I almost recognized everyone. A lot of them were much slower on this second half. I felt so good to be ahead unlike in other ultras where I was normally in the sweep position. Some were in way back even behind the slowest marathon runners near the sweeper.  Our Sweeper was on a bike. I know as long as they keep moving the would finish. I gave them words of encouragement.

    I knew my pace was decaying as is normal. Even running down hills was hard for me. Harder still was going up. Peak Mount was even harder still. I was struggling with all the marathoners.  I encouraged them. This is where we face our wall I said.

    I pulled through setting up goal of a mile at a time.  Many marathoners were passing me at the last 5 miles.  I again was hoping there got to be some who went out too fast and would slow down so I could pass them. There were a few but not as many as those who passed me. I just had to struggle the last three miles. There was no way I would not finish.  I had about 1.5 hours to do 2 miles.  Having been on the course just 6-8 hours beforehand, I knew the turns and upcoming hills.

    At the final miles, those around me picked up their pace and so did I.  I was able to follow a lady who pulled me in to run fast. I finished the second marathon to my surprised in a time of 5:30. I was only a minute behind the 5:30 pacer. So my total combined time was just under 11:00.   I was pretty pleased.

    Afterward, I stayed and watched the finish until the last runner came in. End up, the last runner is my friend I met at Rock n the Knob in PA two years ago, Sean. We had a happy reunion.

    I had a good run.  It is a good preparation of some harder races I will be doing. I just enjoyed my day out there with some runners.  My soul had its fill. The race had it shenagans, like jello shots, “Moo-mosa”, and likes.  I took part in all those. That what makes running fun. 

    Runners arriving at Mill Mountain – the Star (our second big climb of the night). We stop here every time to take a picture
    Lining up for a second start – I lined up with the run/walk group, 6 hour target finishers. The last corral. Pacers are to my right (not shown). She was kind. We were just here lining up earlier at 1 am. It was supposed to start at 7:20, but was delayed (no reason given) until closer to 8 am. I did not mind.
    finishers
    Roanoke City view, day vs night. See various mountains in the distance
    The Star of Roanoke on Mill Mountain

    There was something I wanted to write but forgot what it is. I did a lot of marathons. They are usually the same. I went there, accepted the challenge, completed it. Sometimes I asked if there is any deeper meaning. Yes, there is.  For this marathon, I had to climb some mountains (on the Appalachian Trail — I did almost the triple crown, hiked over 16 miles) on the following day. I got my answer I was seeking. I did not come down from the mountain until after 10 pm, but that is a whole different trip and I don’t have time to tell. Mostly, it was being at peace with myself and nature. It was part of a bigger journey. For those who know, yes, I have many bigger races coming up, kind of a secret but not a secret. I hope to lead everyone through my experience. Roanoke Marathon is only the first.

  • [624] – I’m feeling it

    My excitement is bubling up as we step closer to May!

    Wait, April is not even over.

    To other people, I always have a bunch of races. True, so many, even I can’t keep track of them.

    We just finish the BRR 50, which was a big race for me.

    Before then, I ran the New Taipei WJS Marathon, kind of big.

    And before then, it was the Clearwater Marathon.

    I tried to cover up my excitement. It is just the first one. A izzy bitzy race. Nothing to it.

    All them is setting up for this month! My first true 100 mile for this year (coming in two weeks).

    I will be running with a friend, Lynne, in two weeks and I am getting her excited too. (Trying to persuade her to sign up another 100 mile, Forgotten Florida, before we dive into this monster, aka, C&O100). I tried to hide it, like you not suppose to name it before the race start, otherwise bad thing will happen.  Think of Burning River.  I told my mom don’t get too excited before the race because you don’t know if there will be a finish at the end. Runners (me) are superstitious. Don’t jinx it.

    Actually, I will be running with many friends. It is near where I am so a lot local runners will be doing it. Which race? The C&O Canal!  I have been waiting for this race since the begining. A very long time ago.  I will write more in my race report when it is done.

    But for now, here for this week, I will be doing the Roanoke Double Marathon (last year event). This is also a marathon I wanted to do for very long time ago.  I can’t remember when I did the first time, in 2019 maybe?  It is billed as America’s hardest road marathon with 7000 ft of climbing (I think they lie, because they might of included the down elevation with the up, maybe only half of that is real), but yes it is very hard compare to a normal marathon, where usually you see 100-200 ft change with the exception of Lake Hayden in Idaho.  Most people want to run on a flat course, but for those into bruishing themselves with hill workouts, come to run the Roanoke Marathon.  It’s actual name is something like Blue Ridge Bluecross Anthem Marathon or something.  I always call it the Roanoke Marathon.

    Here is the kicker, I want to do a doubler, that is to run it twice.  Run one at night before anyone show up and run it again with everyone in the morning. It is actually a thing.

    Huhuhuhu.  I am puffing myself up.  Actually for trail runner, the elevation is not that much.  It ia a lot but compares to trail, it is quite normal. A lot of my friends actually are heading to the Promise Land to do real mountain running.  So I can’t really brag that mine is the baddest. Where for them, they would say what are you crying about.

    Why I am doing it?  I needed a bit of road running for my up and coming 100 milers.  This is a good fit.

    A bit of bad news, my one and only marathon in a new state this year, Providence Marathon in Rhode Island, has been canceled.  That state is messed up. I should have run the New Port Marathon last weekend if I knew earlier it was going to be like this.  There is another Newport Marathon in the fall. Yes, the state is messed up, trying to confuse out-of-state runners. How many new ports are there? (3)

    I am a bit heart broken. Yet it is also an opportunity.   I quickly signed up for a 100K in Atlanta, the Great Southern Endurance Run.  I have been also longing to do this one since I started my 100 mile journey in 2020.  Those who have been followed my post for long would remember couple summer  ago, I took two trips to Atlanta but came back with nothing.  This year is it! I am doing it. (GSER first attempt, second attempt). Granted those two times were a 100 mile attempt, this time it is just a 100k (62 miles). Also this time, we no longer need to climb up to Kennesaw Mountain to start the run. That was a wicked climb. We will start at the foot and no need to climb up. Park service would not allow us to go in. Oh well. I wish I could stay an extra day to snap a photo up there. Please let me finish this big project. GSER.

    Why am I doing this?  Last heat training session and last long run before everything goes crazy. (MMT and OD100).  Yes everything. And Western States. Saying it 10 times fast. I am going crazy and hyberventilating. I will talk more about it in my race report.

    Anyway, there are just too many races to keep track of.  I will take one race at a time. If I am to die today, I am dying happy, but I always want to do just one more race! Just one more time.

  • [623] Bull Run Run 50

    Last couple years my spring training has been mainly for two races, the first is BRR 50 (Bul Run Run) and the second MMT 100 (Massanutten Mountain Trail Run). I read initially the running club VHTR came to be because of these two races.  They still host them and they are still their signature races. They are as good as always.

    I am late to the party. I ran many other races. I was only fairly recent I found out about BRR and MMT. I did MMT first before I did BRR. They are so good. They are hard trail runs. The club behind it made them so fun to run.  I found people who share the same interest. Almost every trail runner in the area and also some from far and wide have at some point ran in one of these. So I am preaching to the choir to say these are good races.

    I give both races a deep respect because, I felt they are just a bit beyond what I could do. It now seems silly to say this, but I trained for them to finish. Now I did it.

    I don’t remember much from last year BRR event except it was hot and the run was slow and I was almost could not move by the time I finished. (report 2023) (I did reread it now, wow, that was a good race, to have so many memories). Today run was nothing less.

    This year, I wanted to run faster. I usually don’t care about finishing times. You go out and run your best and I would take any results. Usually my goal is to finish. I had a few DNFs, so even if I get a DNF, I learned to live with it.

    But a 50 mile can be used as a qualifier race for some bigger races like the Vermont 100, which requires finishing a 50 mile under 12 hours. I have done a sub 12 hour couple times (at Stone Mill 50 and at JFK 50) but that was more than a year ago.

    I was disappointed last year, I didn’t get any 50 mile under 12. For me running that fast is hard because I am a very slow runner. 12 hours is usually the standard for a 50 miler (many people I look up to could do it in 10 or less). The minimum is 12.

    It was a motivation that I want this year BRR to be under 12 hours. It came about as a wishful thinking. Having ran it once and I compared it to a similar race, Stone Mill (finished at 12:47), I ran six months ago, I did not think it would be possible. It was kind of shooting the moon goal when I told my friend, I would do it, half kidding to fool myself. I felt BRR should be harder than Stone Mill. I wanted it for the Vermont 100 mile qualification, to be doubly sure I can get in, even though I don’t really need it because my qualification race was a year ago.

    Early in week, we checked the forecast. This year run would be pleasant in a cooler weather of 37F low and 50s high (around 10C), runner weather for us who just came out from winter. Heat exhaustion should not be an issue this year. For me, I am trying to heat train, so the temperature actually cold for me.

    I decided to “camp” out. They offered free cabin camping for runners to stay the night before the run. For me is why not. It added the fun to spend more time at the race and to meet more runners. My friend who ran BRR gave me an impression that it would be a lot of fun. I had only MMT camping experience to compare to. However, there was only me and another guy who stayed the night. I met him a few months before during the Devil Dog, and we shared a cabin that time as well.

    We had our dinner and quickly turned in for the night once it was dark. Volunteers would arrive starting at 4 am.  I set my alarm for 5:30 and snoozed it for couple times. But as usual, I like to run in the clothes I went to bed with so there was no need to change. It saves time. When I woke up, I just pinned the bib on my shirt. Collected my bedding and stuff to take back to the car. I had breakfast laid out but it was still too early for me to find an appetite. When all said and done, the race was about time to start at 6:30.

    I did not see a lot of my friends (Jesse was in it, but I missed him). I lined up in the rear. I did not prepare any dropbag (they allowed two). I figured I should be fine.  This was completely different from last year. I grew up! I had my breakfast in one hand (chicken pasta from Costco, which was also my previous night dinner).

    Cheryl would be waiting for me at Fountainhead, at about halfway point, I did not need anything from her, but it was good to know a familar face there. She hadn’t left the house yet, so she could could grab me any last minute things to take to the aid station. I wanted to tell her I will be there by noon but then held back because I did not want to put an extra pressure on myself to make a time goal. Noon was my internal goal.

    Having done the run the previous year, I knew the start would be slow with 200+ runners trying to jam into a single track trail. They had us run around the parking area, through a water crossing. This did slow down the crowd a bit (and let the faster runners spread out). I knew it.

    Vlad, the friend I met me the night before, asked me what my game plan. I am pretty poor in term of coming up with tactics. I love brute force method, but strategies, eh, while I am intrigue by them, I am not that good in coming up with schemes. My overall plan was trying to get to the turn around by 12 and I would be good. The back up goal if I couldn’t make the first, is to meet the cutoffs. I also remember not to go out too fast, because this course is hilly. Many runners burn all their energy early on. I have seen it last year. My plan is to be extremely patient with the “slower” runners.

    While we were behind a bunch of slower runners trying to cross the water, I rehearsed in my head to go slow and to focus on my game plan.

    I checked the crossing the day before and did not cross it thinking it was a foot deep. Then I told my friend Vlad about it and he and I went back to the crossing for a look. After taking a look, he started crossing it, in his clean shoes at the time. I was shock. We found out there was a concrete layer under the water. Water was not that deep. Maybe less than quarter an inch, but the reflection of the water made it seemed much deeper. So I saw him walked across like Jesus walking on water and not sink in, without his shoes even getting wet.

    Now on race day, 200+ runners were not willing to step across this water, but trying to go around on either side. It was actually deeper on either side. Only Vlad and I and maybe a few other bold runners knew how deep it was. I waited until my turn at the crossing, and I showed off walking across like Jesus crossing the water.  People behind me started shouting to others, hey it is not that deep!  By then it was already too late, maybe only 20-30 runners are left. I was laughing inside. This crossing did not get my shoes wet, but I expect later crossings would. Pro tip: don’t afraid of water!

    Bull Run Run takes place each year during the full bloom of the blue bell flowers. The course was lined with these purple bell shape flowers. It is quite a sight. The ladies in front of me were exclaiming, oh how beautiful. Me and a friend came back and did the loop again the following day to enjoy the beauty. For many, it  was their first time running on this course. We ran toward Bull Run Regional Park first where there is a mile loop of just Blue Bells. It is our first turn around point, of this end of the Bull Run Trail (mile 9 ish).

    While running near the Centreville aid station, where I volunteered there two years ago, we heard Kevin’s loud voice half a mile out. He was the former MMT race director, with his megaphone encouraging runners (and heckling them) — this year, he didn’t have a megaphone but his voice still carried. I always love the Centreville aid station.  We would pass by twice. He was later back at the Hemlock station.

    After Centreville, the course get muddier. Here we saw runners returning, so we shared the same trail.  My coworkers and neighbors were out for their day hike, since it was a beautiful day. Kimberly called out to me, and I was surprised of having a local crowd supporter.  Vlad was already back from the other direction. He was in maybe 15-25 places. Not bad. I was still in pretty far back. To me, I was even further back than last year. I expected he might try for the podium. We waved and called out to each other. He ended up finishing top ten!

    I finished the loop and came back to Centreville, but while doing a water crossing, which was about knee deep and maybe 6 feet wide, I tried to jump to the other side at the final few steps but missed, so I felt in and landed on my hands and knees. Note, later I found out one side is shallower than other. I took the deeper side since there was a rope there to aid the crossing. I was okay but got myself muddy. So when I got into the aid station, they were teasing me, that I won the award for the muddiest runner. Yes I felt into a mud pit. Twice.

    Another incident while trying to head back to Hemlock (mile 17). I was about a mile out, just ran through some 3-4 big hills and now it was just a flat section before Hemlock aid station.  I was feeling good at the time. I was in the flow, but I stepped on some mud and lost control. Usually I could recover my footing, but this time my calves seized up. Down I went again. It might look dramatic from the back the way I gave way. A runner came up to me and asked if I was fine. I was fine in term nothing broken, but my calves were cramping and I was in a lot of pain.  I knew I could walk it off.  It was a decision time, should I continue with the race or should I stop? It was only two hours in. I still had a full day ahead, but I also have so many races coming up, I did not want to aggravate any injury and so would miss my other races. I got back up, gingerly tested my strides. Aid station was not that far away.  I reread last year report, I was saying how can people falling and tripping this early on, and here I was! I was laughing at myself here.

    I got to the Hemlock aid station. I passed some runners who were in worse shape than me. I tried to encourage them, asking their gameplan like what they expect to get at the aid station. Some said they would change their shoes.  Some said they would get salt, pbj (sandwiches), and water. I also prioritized in my head too what the most important things to do so since I want to be a quick in quick out.  Hint! or Pro tip, before getting to an aid station, plan out what you need!  This helps speed up your entrance/exit as when give you something to look toward.

    Charleen, a dear friend, met me at the Hemlock aid station. She asked what I need. I had everything fine.  I did get some food, some broth, etc.  I reused the cup to stock up on food to carry some out. I pour some salt over it. That should help with my cramping. I gave her update on John, her SO. I passed John earlier. John was one of earliest memory I had while training for MMT, since I ran mostly at his pace. We had done many other events together since. There were a lot of people in many of races we did, but John and Charleen left me a deep impression because of their kindness.

    From Hemlock to the next aid station (Marina) was hard for me. It was just four miles. I headed out from Hemlock with five or six others. They were stronger runners. They were not people who came into Hemlock with me. They had a bit of rest before going out, and they looked so strong. A few of them were friends in their own group. I knew I wanted to pass them but their pace was too fast for me to overtake. I followed like 10-20 paces behind and never could get really close for me to pass.

    We came to some hills and I could close the gap a bit. It was maybe by mile 3, about mile 20 in the race, the guys got tired and I passed them on a straight away at the big soccer field.  When I pass people, I want to pass them for good. I don’t want to do frog leaping kind of things on a trail because it can be very exhausting. Indeed, I passed them for good.  I was getting stronger and I was familar with this area.  I knew the aid station was about a mile out after another series of hill climb.

    At the Marina aid station, a friend I met at last year CAT 50k was there greeting me.  I did not remember him until he asked me if I do know him. Then memories came and he pulled out his phone to showed me the photo we took at the end of that race.  I do remember that, like how can I forget since both of us finished dead last there (DNF). Indeed, I had another personal crew at every aid station! This was unplanned. He sat me down, refilled my hydration pack. He said he would wait until I came back later in the afternoon (5 pm). I did see him again. It was good to have a personal cheerleader. Another dude too, who often reminded my own time at my first MMT of carrying an Italian sub, and he said this time, our food is good but not as good as a Subway Sub. He was referencing my MMT run. I was balling.  Gosh. It gave me the motivation to run harder. My subway hoggies is legendary.

    From the marina, my feet were moving better. There was no more thoughts of quiting. The next section were much familar to me since my friend Caroline and I ran on it a few times.  We did it when there were still snow on the ground and when it was flooded. I know the course. Every turn came as expected. I like knowing the course like the back of my hand.  I passed a few people and finally got to Wolf Run Shoals.  I love this aid station’s name. Again I had a personal crew! Jamie and Alex were there. Jamie got me everything I possibly needed. Alex said he loves me in a brotherly way. I again have my own cheerleader. Out I went. She was still there four hours later when I came back around 4 pm. Alex was the aid station head here. The goofy aid station. They gave me encouraging words.

    There I left the station with Charlie P.. He was a friend of a friend, and we did the MMT together last year. He and several of us have become friends because of the MMT. He was moving at a good pace and I felt his pace was too much for me to keep up because I would start to breath hard and sweat. I did not want to push that hard just to keep up with my friend. So like before, I kept back running at my own pace, following in the back. The next aid station, Fountainhead, was only about three miles but it seemed long.  The time was already 12:15 when I felt Wolf Run Shoals. I knew I was behind on my goal pace (since I wanted to arrived before noon) and so I shifted to my the next goal, which was to make the Fountainhead by cut off time. Fountainhead in my mind the cutoff was 1 pm, but actually was 2 pm. I needed to reach it before 1. I arrived at 12:50. This was about the same time I had from the previous year.

    Sheryl was the time/bib recorder there. She came and helped me.  I had been running a bit hard so my mind was all over the place. Seeing Sheryl slowly calmed my mind. She too asked me what I needed. I handed her my cup and asked her to fill it with food. I had all kinds of wraps. There were vegeterian options (she knew I was on a diet). I took some water. Then I sat down for a few minutes on a bench. This was the second time I paused. She offered me a Red Bull, but I said to hold it for me until I finish the Do-Loop, which was a 9 mile loop at the Fountainhead Regional Park. Charlie already left. My game plan was not to stay at any aid stations for too long. Being able to sit down couple minutes, helped.

    Fountainhead was our turn around point but before we could run back, we had to go through this maze (at least to me), called the Do-Loop. It was not too hard, but when you are tired, and it is sort of a loop, some runners, would get lost here either doing the loop multiple times.  Last year, I lost maybe half hour (20 mins after looking up) in getting lost inside the do-loop with a bunch of fifteen other runners. 

    This year, I was praying I would not get lost. The plan was keep my head up to follow the course markings and trust my training I had there. We trained specifically here several weeks ago. I got lost during my training too. Each time, I tried to remember, which wrong turn I took, so hopefully on the race day, I would not wander off onto a wrong trail.  Ram a friend who guided me on this portion during my training run.  A word, the course was marked well, with red tape over trails we should not turn on (but sometimes runner still went over them, due to brain fog).

    The Do Loop section went well. I finally overtook Charlies and others. I passed a few more runners as I exited the loop. I noticed my pace slowed down but others too were slowing down more.

    Coming back out at the Fountainhead, Sheryl handed me her Red Bull. Dan’s wife (her name escaped me) refilled my water pack. I gave her the update on Dan. Dan is the current MMT RD. I saw him on the Do-Loop along with some other runners.  I knew he was cutting close to the cutoff and hope he would be able to make it.  Dan ran the BRR several times in the past. He had some fast records, way faster than I could possibly run.  When I first met him about 5-6 years ago at the VDM (I had a post of that day somewhere), he was no longer as fast a runner as before due to some knee issues. VDM run was what initially drew me into the running club and Dan was the first person I met.  I didn’t see Dan finishes but checking the results, he did reach it with plenty time left on the clock!

    The time now was 3 pm. I was pretty pleased. Last year, I was here at 4:00 and with cutoff breathing down on me that time. At least today, I knew I would finish, since I am an hour ahead (4.5 hours to cover 12 miles, I would have to run a mininmum 22.5 min per mile to finish, a very slow pace). My plan now was to chase the 12 hour goal. I felt I was still 7-14 minutes behind the 12 hour finishing goal. However, there is a chance. I would need to run all the way back. We had about 12-13 miles left.

    By 4 pm (3:50), I reached Wolf Run Shoals station.  I did not need much there. I only stopped to reset my pace.

    I passed one more runner but the trail was completely empty afterward. In my mind, the 12 hour finisher group must be ahead of me. I needed to catch up to them. However, as I ran, there were no other runners. They were all going at my pace or faster. Normally, I pass people or people passing me. So today was rare.

    Uneventfully, I reached Bull Run Marina again.  I was strategizing when best to take my Red Bull. I felt I should do it when I felt I could not run any more. Just before the Marina, my foot felt dead. While climbing a hill, I opened the can and drank the Red Bull.  I did not know how soon it would take effect. Normally I don’t drink this stuff. I can see it could be useful in a 100 mile race, but in a “short” 50 mile, it might be an overkill. I was not sure if my stomach could handle it. My head felt a bit dizzy maybe for running a bit faster than I should.

    At the Marina, I got some fluid and fruits. I took some Gatorade with me. I stayed only long enough to reset. My other friend was still there but I don’t need anything. He was saying, he knew I would make it.  This is not the CAT50k.  I asked him if he would run the CAT again, he said he already signed up! I said me too!

    Now there were only six miles left. Still I did not see any runner before me. In a sense, it was good. We had some technical sections and I could “breeze” through them without slower runners hindering me.  In the previous year, a lot of people were there, not this time. I praised God there was no one on the rocky sections. I am proud of my footing skill. I am not the best, but I am better than many in this city running event. Most runners are too cautious to go fast on rock because one fall would mean a serious injury. I usually run at the pace of slower runners, and so would be around people who are extremely careful near rocks. Today I scrambled over them like I did during training.  In my mind, I had to beat the clock. There was no time to go slowly.

    While reaching the last mile, I saw a group of 4 runners walking on a flat segment of the trail. I found it just interesting. Were they the 12 hours runner? Why were they not rushing? I thought I was on the edge of the 12th hour mark. Any would be rushing to make it.  So I passed them. Later of course, I learned they were part of a team, they stayed together for their friend’s sake. They made it under 12 too.

    Maybe 500 ft ahead was another runner. This guy was gunning it for the finish. To me that is more like it. I chased him though he was faster so I was not able to catch up. In my mind, I said, I just have to keep up and I might make it under 12.

    We entered the finishing chute.  The time was 11:32:xx. I saw 11:31 from far away, but my head with runner fog thought I missed my goal by couple minutes.  Somehow I read the clock as 12:32. I still held my head up smiling but in my heart, I felt a let down of coming in just a couple minutes late. There were a bunch of what-ifs. The guy next to me sense my mood and asked if I were I aiming for under 11? I said no, I wanted to be under twelve. He was kind of gave me a confused look. So I rechecked the clock again. Oh dang, it is 11:35! I did have it under 12! The euphoria rushed in. I was laughing from ear to ear. What a crazy thing expectation can have on me. One moment thought I missed my goal and the next moment, I bested it by a big margin. Yes, if I ran with a watch I would not have been so clueless. Lately running races without one free me.

    I stayed to watch the race until the end.  David, my DC friend came out. I glad he came. He was on indecisive if he should try this 50 miler. I told him do it next year.

    Vlad, I thought he had left already because he was probably 6-7th place finisher coming in 2 pm ish, was there with his family. I chatted with him and some others.

    Charlie came in under 12, though he did not stay but left immediately. I congratulated him since he said 12 hour was his goal as well. He came in on the dot and well done. We shared like 5 miles together.

    A new runner I met, Laura from Alexandria, she finished under 13 hours maybe 5-10 minutes before the course closed. She was exactly at my pace the year before. I was happy for her. We ran together for a long while maybe the first 5-10 miles. She was asking me about ultras and MMT, and of course, I told her all I knew! Mainly to try it. BRR was her first 50! I hope she has some great memories. JFK 50 was my first and I would forever remember that race. I could have stayed with her the whole way, but I decided this year, I wouldn’t wait for anyone.

    The guy who helped me when I felt, also came in. I went and congratulated him as well. I didn’t know his name, but I was glad he pulled it through. The reason I said it was I normally was the unofficial trail sweeper in most races, for coming in last or near last. I know how hard it is to struggle from cutoff to cutoff. When those final few came in, I could identify with them. Later, we learned there were two more came in after the clock expired.

    I had a wonderful day. I was tired. My legs held up. While the race was hard, there will be many harder races coming up in the next few months. This was just the beginning. I do not need the extra qualifier for Vermont 100, but knowing I still could run a 50 mile under 12 hours give me a boost of confident, that is at least, I still met its minimum requirement.

  • [622] fire on the mountain and bridge collapsed

    Wow these were news that hit home on the day I got back from Sydney. The Baltimore bridge is no longer there. I am not sentimentally attached to it, being on it maybe once or twice in my life  but seeing it on the news the next day, was a OMG, what just happened. Those who watched the news knew all about it already. I won’t add more here.

    A much bigger and personal news was my beloved mountain MMT is on fire. Not sure if it was accidental or part of a controled burn, but MMT (Massanuttan Mountain) has several wild fires raging from north to south. Before I went on my trip, I heard the forest service was trying to do a controlled burn on one of the peaks, maybe it went out of control. MMT training run No. 3 was rerouted due to it.  Basically, we have to stay away the whole area for now. Meaning, the Chocolate Bunny run (Easter midnight/sunrise celebration, MMT training run) was canceled.

    There is a possibility the MMT race itself too might get canceled. We are standing by, once the fire is put out, and a call for trail maintenance put forth, we would fix up the trail for the race. It might be a tall task. OD100 sent out their assessment that their race will still be held since the burn area doesn’t affect their course. OD100 and MMT100 do share a similar course. MMT100 though mostly is on the MMT trail and does go through the fire area. I will be running in both events.

    Instead of the Chocolate Bunny Run, I was invited to join the CAT runners (Charlottesville Area Trail) for their weekend run. I always want to run on the Priest and Three Ridges, having hiked and backpacked there many years ago (when I was 18) long before I was into trail running. It was be good to go back and see how things have changed. 

    Initially, I wanted to write about it, but there was very little to share. My heart about the run was not in it. I got off work, packed, then went to the trailhead. It was a three hour drive. I got there around 2:30 am, which was perfect for me since I was still suffering insomnia from jetlag. Morning was night and night was morning to my body.

    I was not sure where to park my car. The lot seemed small and full. I pulled into a space I found. Everything was quiet. I walked and hiked up a bit on the trail and then found a place to pee. I decided not to wander too far in case I might get lost, so I headed back to the car. I set alarm to wake me up later. About 5:30 other people arrived. Somehow everyone managed to fit their cars into the small lot. We ran. We finished pretty early. It was only 20-ish miles. I wanted a 30 mile day but I needed to use the restroom again, so I did not continue for climbing the Priest a second time as some of them did (it was a hill repeat day, 7000 ft) but went into town for food and to rest.

    Afterward, I felt the Wild Oak Course would be a good follow up to the Priest since I didn’t want to do another loop at the Priest. The Wild Oak Trail was only an hour away and my favorite place to be. I celebrated Easter there (by tuning in to a church in Sydney). The night passed quietly, with a storm came at midnight but I slept through it.  The morning came. I wanted to start early so I could finish the run early, however, my legs were more tired than I anticipated.

    After hiking up for a mile, I decided to trust my instinct to go back to my car. Wild Oak course would be a 20-mile loop (I was thinking of skipping Big Bald, and using the road to Camp Todd; this was Grindstone 100 training loop). I had a nagging feeling that it might not be a good idea to hike Wild Oak at this time. The good feeling was not there. Usually my gut feeling is right, and I told myself to trust it.  Nothing bad happened to me but I met a fisherman who said a tree has fallen over the main road and blocking access into deeper in the park. I felt better when I decided turn back. I was able to leave since I parked outside of it.

    I am writing this because, normally, I like doing a big run. The day before, while the run was hard, I felt it was not enough. The next day, the run on Grindstone was supposed to be hard, but I did not have the mental prepareness to handle it. So, I canceled it. So I felt the trip was unfulfilling as I was leaving.

    While driving back home, I stopped at Ashby Gap near Sky Meadow State Park, which was much closer to home and finished my 10 mile hike/run on the AT, by visited the Wiskey Hollow shelter. Someone wrote in the Logbook there “Happy Easter.”  I doubted they stayed there for the night. The hike on the AT felt very good. I guess I wanted to see people on the trail and Sky Meadow area was a better choice compares to the Wild Oak Trail. I still got a significant hill workout. The AT is never easy.

    I have been trying to get back into my normal routine now I am back home. The marathon I did in Taiwan was such a high point, now everything else seems so normal. I have been asking myself what to do next. I do know what I wanted to do. I have a huge to-do bucket list, but none of the items seems inspiring at the moment. They were when I made them.

    I want to feel goals with urgency. I want to do everything. Feed the fire.

    Seven years ago, running in all 50 states seemed like a good goal, maybe because it was eternal or impossible to me at the time. Now, it is just tedious. Should I continue? I concluded, yes, as long as I still enjoy running marathons. And I do enjoy.

    I am reading Into the Wild, and that kind of life excites me, it was a short one, but it fully embraced the ethos of pursuing ones ideal, and not many people live like that — walking the walk to the point of foolhardy  — he chose to go to Alaska during a winter with insufficient provisions and so ended being trapped and dying there, which might be too simplistic an explanation; surely he must have known the consequences and I am sure he did not want to die. My running is like that. I want something that I feel worth living for and worth the pursuit.

    I need to do some soulsearching to find out what I really want. (Hint, a podcast I am listening, said try to ask yourself the 5 Why deep question, like why do I like running?, If my response is I feel good while doing it, then the next level, why does it makes it feel good. So usually by 5th level, you get to the motivation)

  • [621] Trip to Taipei and Sydney

    I ran in both Taipei and Sydney but did feel out of place while running there because there were not a lot of runners around except on a weekend. Running in Sydney felt more at home, due to less chance of running into people. I usually run in early morning to avoid people. Taiwan though felt small and often time the sidewalk is narrow.

    The Sport arena in New Taipei where we picked up our runner’s package. It was about 30 minutes train ride. Notice, the signs are bilangual. Also, see the 7-eleven in the corner. They are everywhere. I felt they are better than ones we have here in the US. They serve (cheap but acceptable) food too. I was told that public bathroom requires squatting. I did not use one while out and about.
    While taking the bus to Wanli, we passed by Taipei 101. There was not enough time to stop  for sight-seeing around the area. My Taiwan friend gave me a list of suggestions of places to see and food to try.  I did several of them, especially the beef noodle dish, which Taiwan is famous for.  And yes bubble tea (at the airport). Not that we did not have enough time to do everything, I just did not want to rush to rush from place to place. I had about 12 hours of sleep each night! Usually, I sleep from 6 pm to early morning (due to jetlag).
    We did walk around the memorial square, was it freedom square? Quite a big area. I climbed the stairs to one of the palaces.  I think it is a concert hall
    Marathon location, Green Bay (Fei Cue Wan).  We ran past other wan (bays) too but I couldn’t remember their names. Green Bay the most famous one.
    Leaving Taipei, the city is so organized viewed from the air. Taiwanese people are well known for their organization skill. There are a lot of future developments
    Grace Point Church in Sydney. We stayed near there. Arrived in Sydney but did not take many photos on my own. Houses, churches, school almost look the same. Everything is very blocky/rectangular. They love round-abouts. These two roads are main roads but only have single lane. People don’t mind going slow.
    On my way out from Australia, the security guard tossed out my sealed and unopened bottle of Vegemite (yeast, for bread spread). Just a few moments later, I found the “taste like Australia” stuff in one of the airport stores, bigger than the bottle that was tossed out. I did not want to be scammed again (by our TSA once I reached SFO), so I didn’t purchase it. I still have no clue what Australia tastes like

    Hard to believe my trip of the decade/century is over. I don’t remember when I last went to Sydney. Some believed it was 2009. I was there for another cousin’s wedding previously and again this time. It was actually my third time. Was it really that long ago?

    We did a lot the previous times, all the tourist stuff, like visiting the Opera House, taking a train ride, the walking through the Botanical Garden, the Aquarium, the ferry ride, the monorail, Blue Mountain, and the beach.

    This time, I spent more time with my relatives and mostly just “partying”. We ate a lot.  It was too boring stuff to post. Food blogging is not my thing. Also, blogging about family or the wedding is not my thing either.

    I did try to remember what the wedding dress look like, since the last wedding I went to, a friend later asked me about the dress and all I said was I don’t know — to me all wedding dresses look like a wedding dress. Well, I tried, but I can’t recall the wedding dress this time either. Unless you have to pick one dress over another, I could not tell one from another. I could tell you about ram sticks and their clock cycle and latency, but dress, eh, they don’t capture my imagination as a piece of ram drive. Such is life.

    My Uncle who has to be over 80 was driving me home one night, my last night there. I was thinking the whole time, how did I get myself in this situation. He was a safe driver, but if anything were to happen on the ride, my cousins would be blaming me for not declining his ride. My cousins love their uncle/father a lot but no one wanted to speak up telling him he shouldn’t be driving late at night. I was thinking, I could have taken the Uber. He was still a strong man.

    He and his wife just wanted to spend more time with me. We went to his house and we looked at his plants (his pride possessions) and such and he also did not want his nephew to drive us home because they had kids and it was a school night (that was an excuse though because we could drop the kids off first). There are many of this kind of stories, I felt there was no point to share, but they were wonderful and weird memories for personal reasons, maybe too personal to share.

    Yes, such as we did laundry and then drying them on clothlines (this is quite normal thing to do). Houses typically do not have a clothes dryer. I am just not used to airing my laundry. I think it was funny. Everyone seems to use the clothline. We are spoiled here in US.

    Also, they do not have zoning laws like in the States or at least I think they don’t. I was running in a residental neighborhood, which seems to stretch forever, and occassionally, I would come across a business in someone front yard, a legit business like a cafe or a physical therapy or a hotel. It was just weird, but also good, I could stop any time to have a coffee in someone’s yard, and I did at the Swinging Monkey, which was just a small camper trailer parked in a front yard. It was just weird. Coffee was good. Aussies love their coffee.

    At least, in my area in the US, if I leave one neighborhood, there is a distinct difference of a boundary. We use dead-ends to our advantage here. We have neighborhood with just only townhouses, single houses, or apartments. We don’t put it all mangling together. Usually, one community here is semi walled/separated from another, usually by a road or park or some natural/man-made barrier (trees, ponds, even fences, gated community). In the US, if I go into a community, I would get lost, unless you know how to follow the main road out. Because, usually in the US, roads just get smaller and smaller as you get deeper in and you eventually reach a dead end no matter where you turn.

    Not so in Sydney. I ran like through 10-20 communities on just one street, and they seem no different from one before other than a change of name (street sign). There are no natural borders.

    I have to give it to them of the good signage — they are pretty good in tell you which town you are approaching in a certain direction. I was looking for Burwood during my run, and luckily there were signs pointing me there.

    In theory, I could wander around without a phone, without fear of getting lost and I tried exactly that. It was just a giant grid system.

    For us, at least according to my experience, we build our community in a hub-and-spoke system, like a tree, trunk, branches, stems and leaves (because, we don’t want cars to go through local secondary or smaller roads) if they don’t belong there. It is rare where houses would be facing the main road in where I live.

    Sydney is not like that. They do have interstates (Motorways), and main roads, but their secondary roads are their residential, and usually just one lane. There is no further subdivision. Houses are everywhere. There is no separation.

    Their schools also are small. Elementary is just a small building that one could almost mistakenly think an apartment or something. They love their fences. Most properties are fenced off with metal fences as tall as a person. They don’t have big sport fields like we do for schools. They also don’t have school buses, at least I didn’t see any. So there is no drop off zone at school. I think eveyone walk or take public transport. There are no big parking lots (they call it car park). They do have parking decks (but not at a metro stop like we do). Like what! everyone parks on the street. Just so weird to me. Learning to parallel park is a must.

    Most houses are built with concrete. Maybe wood is more expensive. We saw many rebuited homes. Some are two levels. They are quite beautiful and nice. Yes, their houses are smaller than in the States, but they were also nicer looking. They love their houses with long glass panels and concrete (modern architecture style). Almost all have a balcony of some kind. They love porches. And they were not obsesses with bathrooms as we do. The whole house usually only has one bathroom!  My uncle’s house is a bit better to have a separate water closet (just the toilet with no sinks!). I don’t get the rationale of having a room just for the toilet. Maybe because it is a less frequently used? My little place here in the US has four bathrooms! It was not typical for Australians to have a bathroom in the master bedroom and separate one for guests or other family members in the hallway or one for guests or a mud room. It is a reason their houses are smaller.

    I did some real running while in Sydney. I did not track how far, but probably between 30-40 miles. Could be even 50. I wish I did a night run. It was my best day in Sydney after the wedding day of course.

    Unfortunately, I was not able to find some dirt trails to run on. I ran on the Cooks River cycleway (paved), it was better than nothing. There were nights, I could not sleep and I wish I could go out and run, but I did not want to wake up the whole house with my nocturnal activities.

    There were not a lot of changes I noticed on this trip. It has been 15+ years since I have been there so I had expected something new or an evolution. Yes, they have more US brand stores like Costco or McDonalds than last time. They love Krispy Kreme like we do. They have Planet Fitness like we do.

    One change I noticed was probably at the airport where almost everything was checked by biometric. Taipei even required finger printing of both my index fingers at custom. Hong Kong required facial recognition for even boarding, no need a passport or boarding passes (they trust their system). Sydney is still like the US, they still manually check our ID cards at the boarding gate with our boarding pass (which we scanned), but facial recognition is used at border entry and departing at security checkpoint. Note, in the US, we as passengers could pay for the biometric scan (just weird, to look at the machine and it determines if we could enter the country – Global Entry program). There were only 10 or so people using the Global Entry while there were several hundred people (maybe even a thousand), lining up for the normal border check. I was pretty sure, the normal line was also using biometric. I arrived early around 8 am. So what the difference? Not many people were willing to pay for the Global Entry for the shorter line.

    I glad I went. I like Taipei more but Sydney was not bad. I would have gone any way, just for the wedding. I wanted to run and I did run. I reached my objectives. I was there for a wedding and it went well. I met my relatives. checked. I don’t know anything more I wanted to do, other than if I could go for camping in the desert or mountain. Also, I wish I could run on some mountains. Maybe that something for the future. Also, New Zealand is still a goal and it was not too far from Sydney.

  • [620] New Taipei WJS Marathon – What’s Next

    I did many races. This is probably most awesome yet.

    A year ago, I went to Toronto for my international debut. Yes, I felt like a hot stud. US is no longer my playground, now the whole world is. We are going international! Maybe one day, we get to run on the moon or another planet or galaxy!  One can only dream.

    Seriously, running in another country is not as easy as it seems. First of course is the cost. Airfare of couple thousand dollars is no joke. Then hotel and various expenses. Unlike in state, I can’t sleep in the car at the start to save on cost. Then also the culture and language differences, which can be a huddle to get over.

    Anyway, since I started running, I wanted to go oversea. It might be since 2020, I set a goal to save up for an oversea marathon.  Sydney was my target as well as Viet Nam, India, and Ireland. Maybe one day Greece.

    Unbeknown, I ended up in Taipei, Taiwan as my first destination.  Of course, it was not completely unplanned.  My cousin informed me of her wedding about two years ago. I would be going to Sydney, however, the marathon I wanted to do there was not available (I couldn’t meet their requirement of running a 4:20 qualifying marathon time) and long story short, New Taipei WJS Marathon fits my schedule and there was no qualification for entry for foreigners. So I made a side trip to Taipei. For such a far away trip, it would have been a shame if I could not run a marathon.

    The marathon registration website was not available until October.  There was very little information if it would be happening. I was a bit nervous to plan a trip around this race. In the back of my mind, I was doubtful if the organization is reliable.  Once it opened, I signed up. The website had partial English translation and it was a bit confusing to navigate but eventually, I got my foot in the door. 

    It was a competitve event for the locals. Many would enter through a lottery system. As a foreigner, I bypassed the lottery.  I think they reserved 300-500 entries for foreigners.  I felt lucky. There were about 6000 runners total.

    It is an out and back course. I read up on prior reviews and watched Youtube videos. I knew I would be in a treat.

    As for the logistics, they recommended to stay in Taipei.  We would take a bus near the Taipei Main Station, at Kuo Kuang Bus to Wanli, Green Bay (Fei Cui Wan), in the direction of Jinshan Youth Activity Center. All these names and places meant nothing to me while I was in the US, because I had no frame of reference.  I could not remember any chinese words I read. Once landed, it was not hard to figure out where my race was and things were very easy to figure out. Most signs and places in Taipei have English translation.  Google Lens was an invaluable tool I learned to use by the third day. It can do Chinese to English translation on the fly.

    The course had a time limit of 6 hours. The first cutoff was at halfway and we had 3:05 to reach it. It should not be a  problem to me. Somehow, I had an impression that the course cutoff was 5 hours and I tried to run a 4:30 time to beat it, which I did handily (bib time 4:30:38). There was a bit of stress before the race because I felt everyone was a faster runner than me.

    We had 4 different waves for lining up at the start.  I was assigned Wave C.  I decided that C might be a little too fast after taking a look at the runners there (5:00 hr pace team lined up in wave C). It did not matter. In most marathons, I usually in the last wave. I know once the race start, people would spread out. If I am fast, I could catch up.

    Lining up for race

    Because the gun time is the official time, some people in my wave tried to go as far to the front as possible. In many marathons I ran, unless you are an elite runner, gun time bears little significant. Most races place the emphasis on the chip time (such as sorting and ranking). But here, we are ranked by gun time, so runners wanted to be as close to the start as possible to get that couple minute advantage. Those who arrived late to the coral were pressing up to get to the front. We were packed in. I thought it was a bit rude to fight for a little distance. It created a bit of crowding at the front of the wave. I wanted to tell them calm down. We are all in D wave, and there is no point to fight for that bit of distance.

    Once our wave crossed the start, everyone rushed forward and sprinted as if we were in a 5k.  I found it quite funny.  Many people passed me even though I think I ran at a very good pace.  About a mile or so, I passed the 5-hour pacer. Still many in my wave were rushing forward.

    The course was still very crowded even though we had both sides of the road to run.  Later they ushered us to use only the left side of the road, and to leave the right side for the returning runners.  I accidentally elbowed someone and someone accidentally tripped me from behind. It was fine. It was not until halfway when the crowd thinned out.

    At 14km I saw the first runner coming back from the other direction. I estimate, it was about 1:20:00 into the race. The first runner finished around 2:10.  They were fast. I think they were running around 5 min mile pace.

    The course was scenic. We had good weather. The sky was mostly overcast.  Temperature was 65-70F, which was hot for me but cool to the locals. I was sweating early on.

    Crowd support came from the nearby town people and villagers. It was a joy seeing them as we passed through one town after another and they were there chanting and cheering us.  However, there were very little fans from family or friends because the course was in kind of a remote place and many friends and family couldn’t make it out.  They also blocked the roads so transportation was not so easy.

    Our charter buses only transported runners but not family or friends.  My mom stayed in Taipei and did not come with me. I could have planned better of having a hotel at the start so that my mom could cheer me.  However, I saw many others also did not have friends or family there.

    Unlike marathons in the US, there were no impromptu signs held up by fans and family. I normally love reading those while running. Also, there were no unofficial aid stations unlike many races I did in the US. I think it was against the running rules for runners to accept unofficial aids from crowd and so on.  The race was so serious. Those rules normally only apply to the elite runners and not to us. I only saw one runner went to the crowd and someone handed him a beer and he drank it. Oh, how I wish I could have a beer. However, I did not want to risk a DQ (disqualification) for accepting aids.

    The course was mostly flat but there were some hills especially toward the end section. At least this was my impression. For some, it might be a hard course.  The hills got me too. I could not run on some at 35 km. Not that they were steep, but I was out of energy.

    Aid stations were plenty and well stocked. At no point were we out of water.  They had fluid at every station which was about 3 km apart. “Food” which consisted various kind of snacks were available at about every 6 km. I utilized them fully since I no longer use gels. Runners around me though mostly stayed away from snacks and gels.

    By halfway, I started to make gain on runners.  Those around me were strong runners but pretty soon after halfway, there were a lot of people slowing down to a walk. I take it there were a lot of first time marathon runners. They hit the proverbial wall.

    I was not the fastest. There were a bunch of other runners passing me too. I swallowed my pride and ran my own race and walked when I needed. I knew I had started too fast and now I was out of steam. I leapfrogged with some runners.

    We had distance marker at every KM. I found them useful but I preferred mile marker in mile. I had to translate km to mile in my head. It was not too hard. I knew every 5 km is 3 mile (roughly). I usually count by five to make it easy for my brain.

    I ran enough to know my wall is around mile 20, so at 30 km, it was expected to get hard for me. I got myself to 35 km. There was brief periods when I regained energy and pressed forward again, especially after 35 km. There was a long section of downhill. I ran my heart out.

    Near 40 km (tunnel), I met a lady. She could speak English a bit. She was going strong. I have been chasing her for over several km. She had ran this marathon in 2016 according to her shirt. I asked if she has done it every year. She said she is a slow runner.  This was her 17th marathon. I congratulated her. I told her the last two miles usually is the hardest for me. I knew I should not quit now when the finish is so close. I knew no more than 5 minutes the finish line should come in sight.  She said something to me I don’t recall now, but it put a fire in me to run my hardest.  I ran without stopping, encouraging those around me to press forward too. A guy took up my challenge and ran along side. I sprinted into the finish.

    My time was 4:30:38 (bib time), official gun time was something like 4:32:56.  I had my medal. The rest was good. We had a lot of good food and drinks.  We were given a towel for shower. I picked up my clothes from bag drop and changed into cleaner clothes. The swag was way better than many marathons I did. Most runners stayed behind to chat in the resting area tent.  Unlike in all the US marathons I did, the race was a bit difficult for runners to go back to the finish line to cheer other runners.  Everyone was waiting at the resting area. There was also no family reunion area, because many of our family and friends could not make it out to the country side.

    My thoughts were, I am grateful to come from so far to be able to do this race.

    Around 5k mark, beautiful course throughout. Everyone was so focused and no one was chit-chating except me. Also unlike in the US, not many rely on their watches for pacing. There is very little crowd on the roadside. No cowbells and such.