In awe

Category: running

  • Day436 Moonlight Marathon

    Blackwater Falls – The sunset had set and moon had not risen yet. It was a bit cloudy and the forecast was 10% chance of rain. The breezes were nice after couple weeks of extreme hot whether. I felt a few drops of rain but the atmosphere was like any big marathon. There were 700 of us. The band just finished their performance and the Race Director gave us our final instructions. This was the inaugural race of Monlight on the Falls Marathon.

    We social distanced behind the starting line. People had various neon glow lights on their body and everybody had their headlamp/shoe lamp/waist lamp. There were a lighted arch for the starting and finish line. Yes it was out of this world and alien feel – maybe a rave like atmosphere. We couldn’t see faces and everyone was just a shadow.

    This was my first marathon for this year. While I have done several A+ races (ultras) already this year, marathons are something special to me. My last marathon was a year ago. I felt like ages.

    So standing at the starting line I was giddy, jumping/bouncing up and down. I found my pace group and gathered with them. We had the Beast Pacing as the race official pacers.

    The 10:00 pm start was for the distance challenge runners – this group of runners could run as much or as little as they want. Their goal (well most of runners who did the challenge) was to run all night until 7 am in the morning. I originally wanted to do that and really tempted even at the last moment (we could switch our race distance at during the bib pickup). However, wisdom had it for me to go with the marathon distance, since I will be doing an ultra the following weekend and I did not want to mess that one up by over-exhausting myself on this one. Not good to double up. But the marathon distance should be just fine. In fact, I already did around 20 miles that morning hiking and running around the park. A night marathon is like something cool to do before going to bed.

    Marathon distance started at 10:05. There were at least a hundred of us. I started way back of the group, not planning to set any record here. I ran through my final mental checklist – like what am doing here? There always that doubt like that, e.g., can I do this? Marathons are no joke. Sure, I have done like 20+ marathons already, but this one was in West Virginia. The guy next to me quietly said that this was his first. Our pace group (I too) assured him to have fun out there – and wished him good luck (good- luck-have-fun, GLHF).

    I did not specifically trained for running a marathon this year. I had been busy during spring with training for the two ultra distance marathons, but not a normal marathon. They are almost whole lot difference. Sure, running anything is running in the end. Ultras are much slower (‘easier’ some would say) than a regular marathon. Most of my recent training has been like 13-15 miles and there were doubts rising in me – 26 miles are whole lot tougher. Silly me right? I had no clue what pace I should run.

    pace: I know definitely I could finish within 6 hours, that would put me at 4 am finish. However, they did not have 6 hour pacer. The last pacer was 5:30 (5 hours and 30 mins). So though I didn’t know if 5:30 was appropriate, I decided to try it.

    The course was almost an out and back with a little variation on the way back by going a detour to the waterfall. It was dark but we could hear the fall whenever we passed by it. It was an exactly quater-marathon distance (a little over 6.5 miles). This would mean I would run the same course four times.

    It was easy to settle into pace. 5:30 pace was just right.

    Of course, even with wearing a head light it was hard to see the course ahead. Everything was dark and it was like running blindfolded. Those who had not trained for night runs might be a bit disturbed by the sensory deprivation (for me it was an ASMR delight). I was going strong. Typically, I do my runs at night, so night time my body naturally responds well and ready for running. I counted it as my strength.

    The course had several inclines (at least 4 going out). I hit each hill well. Sometimes I walked but mostly I could run up on them. Many people later said this course was one of the most hills they have done. For me, it was pretty typical. I had done ultra races that had steeper and longer climbs. I told myself to go slow. I had four laps to go. It would be a long night.

    Not long later, the quarter-marathoners and half-marathoners who started later caught up to us. They were an excited bunch. They quickly passed on ahead. The road was wide and we could use both sides. Also not long after, we reached the turn around point and the horde came rushing back. The first couple hours were festive since constantly there were people around going in either direction. As the night wore on, there would be less and less runners as those who ran the shorter distances finished.

    I was one of the few who carried a camel pack. I did not need to rely on aid stations, though there were plenty chances to stop by one (like a mile apart). I only filled about a liter of water. It was enough almost for the whole night. I had some gels and gummies as well. I also packed a peanut butter sandwich. I started eating that bit by bit not long after into the run. You get hungry by midnight. Unlike in ultras, aid stations for marathons have no food. Smart ones carry their own.

    I got to say – I was irked by many runners who went to the aid stations picked up a water bottle, took a slip and then dropped it on the road. So the whole side of the road was littered with gels and half filled bottles. I ran too many trail ultras and am used to not to waste food or litering. Gosh, we would be DQ (disqualified) for doing that. So it irritated me when I see runners doing that – but the Race encouraged the mass to run this race and so this was the big marathon culture. I understand if 1st or 2nd place runner doing that, but 700 hundred of us? How much time does it take off the clock of just throwing the used bottle in the trash bag?

    My take away was I ran a steady lap. My second, third and fourth lap hit an exact pace. It was amazing though. I ran mostly by feel too! I looked at my watch now and then. I walked when I felt like walking and ran when there was an easy section. I finished 15 minutes ahead of my pacer. She stopped for bathroom, so I got a little carry away and got 15 mins ahead of her. Not upset but thrilled.

    My thoughts? I like the race. I was reaffirmed that I still got what it takes to run a marathon.

    I finished and then walked a mile back to the camp. The moon was up. The night was quiet. The best time to run I think was now when it is just you and the pavement and the moon. I like the feeling of being minimal.

    There were a few people on the course still. Some wanted to finish when the sun is up, so they started a little late to time the sunrise. I don’t really care about waiting for the sunrise. I was not sleepy, but knowing I should still sleep because I still had a long drive home in the morning. So I showered (camp has a nice hot shower place) and crawled into my tent. I felt asleep no long after.

  • Day435 ACE Resort Half Marathon Part 2 and more

    Continuing from last week blog, I went to Thurmond, WV, and ran the inaugural New River Gorge Half Marathon Trail Run. I think that what it was called or it could be ACE Adventure Resort Half Marathon since the whole course was on their property and we had a free night of camping.

    I went mostly for checking out the trails for the November River Rim 100 Trail Run. I did not focus so much on my time. I only ce across this race at the last minute, when the River Rim 100 Race people did some promotion for them – mainly indicating that the River Rim would use the same trails for the starting and finishing portion of the race.

    I had expected the River Rim to be difficult. It might still be since I haven’t run it yet. However, after doing the half marathon, I don’t think I would sweat it too much.

    Basically, the trail for the half marathon were super easy. There were some hills but nothing over 1000 ft climb, I think at most was 100 ish. Most of the trails were wide and the grade was smooth and gentle.

    The trails were fairly newly made and they made it by bulldozing them. They were like roads and most of them were wide enough for a car to go through. The point is, they are not technical trails. I believe they were made for cars/bikes.

    As for the race, I did finish. They ran it like a city race. I think a lot ‘city’ people came out to support it. They had several different events, 5K, 10K, 10 miler, and the Half. I chose the longest distance. There were some ‘elite’ trail runners and they disappeared immediately after the gun. While the bulk of us slowly moved along the trail.

    The first mile was mostly walking. I didn’t mind because I was stuck behind a long train of people going up the mountain. The first mile was more technical – not so much something I couldn’t able to run on, but it was maybe too much for the city people. I overheard many were their first time on the trail or doing a run. For them, indeed it was a struggle. Later I passed many of them.

    We had 4 aid stations. I skipped the first since most people stopped there, I decided to get ahead of the slow group. I think I did the climb pretty well.

    We almost reached the top, when I saw a bunch of people stopped ahead. 10-15 of so runners. They said there were a bee hive by the trail and many were stung by the bees. One guy was stung six times on his back. A lady was squatting on the trail crying. She was stung in her twice attempt of getting across the hive. The sting was too painful and she decided to quit. None of us carry medicine on us that we could offer to her.

    The rest of us decided to go off the trail to go around the hive. That might have costed us 15-20 minutes. We had to bush wack and it was not easy. Some decided to turn back (and quit the race) because they feared getting poison ivy by going off trail. That was only two miles into the race. I wouldn’t blame them. Each had to decide whether it was worth it.

    I got past the hive. The rest of the run was uneventful. It was a hot day. We started late in the morning at 10 am – which is not a usually race starting time. I prefer 8 ish to avoid the heat, but hey, the organizer was trying to attract city people to the event I think. I could handle the heat. Note, on their event website, it was posted that the race starts at 8:30, but we later receive the pre-race email, that 8:30 would be the check in time and 10 o’clock would be the official start. The shift to a later start kind of irk me.

    I was not running so much for time. Normally if I do it for time, I would finish around 2 hours. But I mostly was at a jogging and walking pace, so it took me about 3 hours.

    They offerred us all you can eat tacos after the race. That was nice. I ate and fueled up. Then after hanging out a bit as there were still people out on the course. I spoke with one who finished around 4 hours. It was like a marathon for him. He was cramping up etc. It was his first half marathon. It was also during the hottest part of the day when he finished and he was soaked through by his sweat. Felt bad for him, but he did finish. There were others who took a tumble on the trail. I saw one with a bleeding knee.

    In the afternoon, I decided to explore a part of the trail that would be my November race but wasn’t part of this race. That was my whole purpose for coming here. Even though the sun was hot and I didn’t feel like doing more running after the half marathon, I urged myself to go do it. I found at least the trail I ran on was nearly flat! I think it was called the South Trail. I ran maybe 20 miles to Cunard and back.

    I also found that one of the trails had a water crossing. I was trying to keep my feet dry and tried to use a fallen tree and some rocks to cross it. Unfortunately the moss there were slipery. Even though the water over the rock was not that deep, I fell when I stepped on it. I tried second time and fell a second time. My gatorade bottle popped out on the second fall and floated downstream. I was not quick enough to recover it. I was fuming. I needed that water. I had a water filter on me, but there were signs from the park service indicating the creek water has high level of batteria from human feces and and we shouldn’t drink it. I had some water on me besides the Gatorade, so I rationed carefully to make my water last for my entire run.

    My lesson learnt was next time, just get my feet wet and cross the creek the most direct way instead of trying to do the extra effort of balancing on tree logs or rocks. It was too dangerous. Fortunately I didn’t seriously hurt myself except for falling into the water and had my shorts wet. I could have cracked my head or broke my arm (since I was trying to brace myself as I fell). I was grateful that only my butt was hurt.

    The rest of the run was uneventful. It was an out and back course. A portion was on the road. I tried to avoid the Waterfall Trail on the way back. I thought I found a side trail. I followed it and it led to a trellis. However, the trellis crossing was closed due to it being structural unsafe. Luckily I backtracked back to the Waterfall Trail because, later after getting back to camp, I checked the map, the path I was going to take would not have taken me back to my campground. I was glad, I had enough sense to turn back when I should.

    My purpose going there was to check out the course for the 100 miles. I reached my goal. I did not get to explore the entire course but I am happy nontheless because I think even the part I did not get to, would be easy. Basically, I shouldn’t worry about it.

  • Day433 brain dump2

    I had some ideas earlier this morning how I should write. Unfortunately, I can’t recall them.

    I enjoyed my runs. I have been doing some big runs/walks to finish the Virtual Race (Back) Across Tennessee. There are about 250 miles left, and I’m kind of on target to finish (ETA 9/5). I have to finish by 8/31 for it to be counted. So I try to run about 90-100 miles each week. So far, I am on target though it will be hard.

    Long story short is I spent a lot time on the road running the last few weeks and I was usually doing some late night runs. Safety stand point is not good but I enjoy the cooler runs and kind of like being alone.

    Was it tiring? Yes but I am better at it than last year. Not complaining much. The weather was generally more cooler this summer than last year. This week we had couple days of near 100F – hot. Even at midnight, it still felt extremely hot (hovering near 90F). Yes so hot I couldn’t run but only walked. It was only lasted couple days. Generally it was cooler. I got my miles in regardless. No rain so far on my run.

    The first week when I started to ramp up my miles, my feet were swollen after putting in 110 miles. I couldn’t wear my normal shoes. Just want to put it out there. Not complaining. Slowly, my feet adapted to the high mileage. There are nuggets of truth somewhere.

    Why I am doing this? Hard to explain. Those who are not in it can’t relate. We who are running the GVRAT are like fanatics. We love the race. We love going back out every day and get the miles in. Many did finish already and we are excited for each other. A few like me are still struggling.

    What is next? Summer is drawing to a close. Time flies. I am happy even though I was not racing much this month. I did a 5K – the Birthday Bash (Potomac River Running – Shoes store’s birthday). But my long runs have mostly filled up my racing craving! I wrote some about running to the Airport one night, or being chase by a storm on another, or this week – I had a close encounter with death to run right after a storm (by going through a fallen tree with a downed wire underneath). Sorry no space to write about that.

    Oh what’s next? I will be doing the midnight (moonlight) marathon in West Virginia in two weeks. I am hyped! Also hoping to finish the GVRAT by then! After that on Labor Day weekend, I will be running the Iron Mountain Trail Run (40 mile race). I have been waiting to run this race for 3 years. It is happening. With all the training and anticipation, oh I am giddy. Did I mention I signed up for the Devil Dog Ultra – I think I did. Wow, it means much.

    What does this mean? I look toward races like going to a retreat. It is a religious experience for me. I am shaken in a religious sense. I get goose bumps and electric feeling running down my back whenever I go for these long runs. I wish I can really explain or show how that is. Yes, probably I am a fanatic/maniac. I’m just somebody who enjoys running a lot.

    Presently, I am on a trip – a training run for the Iron Mountain Trail. I wish I can share all the high points! Yes, I feel I am on top of the mountain. Literally I was on one. Emotionally too.

    I don’t know how to close this entry without writing more. I looked into my Rim to River 100 Race. And I looked into the Annapurna Trek. All within this week. Basically I did the research that I said I should be doing. I am at a point in life – I wanted to do something big – like how am I different this year compare to before – and I am in a holding pattern at the same time. I need to push myself to the ‘next’ level. I can’t be comfortable at where I am. These trips are kind of like that pushing me higher.

    I have been trying to readjust my blog for transitioning to this new ‘phase’ such as posting only once a week. I changed blog name. I had a new tag (almost is my vision statement). I had a new mission statement. I kind of know what I want to be. Soon I will renumber my blog (starting from Day1 again but Vol 2) – still debating on to do it or not. Obviously I like numbering. I am very anal, but I also seek a new start.

    So I have been day dreaming on what it will take to hike the Annapurna (in Nepal). Who is with me?

  • Day432 mind dump

    I used to post every day but have switched to weekly posting. Why? Less for readers to follow and read.

    I like to write about my runs. I had good run each day. They seem mundane but each one is special to me. Something I love to blog about but I think my readers might have fatigue in reading the same thing over and over.

    Last night, I ran to Arlington. Almost wanted to circle around to the Airport and to headed DC and back to Arlington – they called this the Arlington Loop, which is about 15 miles long and usually can easily take 4 or more hours to do it. I could run it faster but I like to take my time with longer routes.

    Two Fridays ago I did the Arlington Loop after work. I didn’t get back to my car until near midnight. Of course I added in an extra 5-6 miles from work to where the loop starts. And also stopped by my company to finish up some work (that is another story).

    It brought back feelings I had before the pandemic where I used to do this route before church on Sunday. Actually, I used to bike around it and now I am running it – kind of a crazy feeling to know how much I have improved. Ya 13-15 miles each day, no problem when thinking back 13-15 used to be something I dread about and we only did it like in once a month.

    With the Pademic, there is no more church and I rarely ever go to Arlington any more. Also my work relocated. I am no longer going downtown into DC for work. So the run I brought back some memories when I saw the Airport and the Monument and the river.

    This time I ran at night. I don’t think I did this nighttime before. I always like night runs. Just a different feeling when you can’t see much and everything is a shadow. Sometimes creepy feeling. There is a section that always spook me near where I live. There is some kind of posts the use for fence at this housing complex. And at night I always feel like it is a torso and I jump each time I run past one. Then I would laugh at myself for being a scary cat. For this kind of feeling is why I like night run.

    Also it is lot cooler and calmer to run at night. It is kind of lonely too since usually I would be the only one out. I run late into the night.

    I have been thinking. I need to do an all night run one weekend. I think that would be cool. Yes cooler as temperature and cool as in something new to do. Except I do get pretty sleepy once it is past my bed time.

    This is more a filler post. Not much is planned for today. I finished the CRAW Region 5 two weeks ago. My team pulled us through. We were missing 10 miles on Sunday night. Several of them went back out and ran 14 miles and finished the region. That was huge. I was too tired to celebrate. I was too tired to go back out and run actually. But we finished it – like running over 150 miles over the two days. I didn’t expected that from them. I didn’t expect anyone to go back out and run it. Sometimes people are amazing.

    Last weekend was a less intense run. I went to Mt Rogers vicinity / Hurricane Trail. It was an awesome weekend and an epic run. Running like this feels me up. I was in a happy place. The main point was Hurricane Trail was less scary than what I made out to be. I will be going back next weekend. I wish I wrote about it. There is only so much time available to write. I can’t write about my every run.

    While away last weekend I signed up for a race – The Devil Dog 100. I forgot about it until I saw the charge on my credit card and wondered when did I make such a purchase. It was an arm and a leg. Then after some googling, yes, I did sign up in the middle of the night. There is no buyer remorse. I am hyped about it actually. It will be a hard race. Expensive but I think worth it. (I will be doing the 100k not the 100 mile one)

    Finally, what I want to say is I still have lot of running till the end of the month. I am doing the GVRAT (back again version) – the Tennessee race. I am still 100 miles behind. I need about 100 miles every week to reach it, but unfortunately I am pulling about 80-90 miles. It doesn’t mean I am doomed but it has been a struggle and continue will be until I am absoulutely sure I have no chance to finish. By the way, I hope to get to halfway across Tennessee this weekend and then there would be about 322 miles left. My projected finish is around Sept 10…of course I need and wish to finish it by August 31 to have it counted.

  • Day430 rest and plan

    rest is a nice way to say I am burned out from running. I took a week off. This was not intentional. It was that I couldn’t bring myself out to run. First time happened since I started running 5 years ago.

    I did take time off before – twice last year for two weeks at a time because I just came back from Atlanta and I felt I should do my civic duty by quarantine myself for two weeks. I literally did not go outside.

    repercussion: We are slightly behind in our CRAW race because of my time off (about 2 days) and I am about 150 miles behind on my GVRAT race. CRAW is a team race so my team carries my miles. Whereas GVRAT is an individual race, and whatever I didn’t do, I would have to make it up. 150 miles to make up is a lot. Whether I can finish the race is iffy.

    Last year I wasn’t able to make it. This year, it is tough. I am about at the same place as last year in term of position. I would have to run about 15 miles every day to be able to finish it. My average so far has been 7 miles. So I am kind of doom. It is not impossible but very hard to pull it off. As a runner, I can’t focus on the bad news but have to stay positive – one step at a time.

    I think I am better now. I started running again

    In another news, I should start planning/working on the New River Gorge 100, which I have been dragging my feet. Definitely I can do it without any planning but I would like to know what I get myself into – like knowing the terrain, time, (and climate) and then adjust my pacing specifically for the race. Likely it will be cold weather running, so I will need to adjust to that too. Not sure why I am delaying in training for the race.

    Another aspect to plan for is recruiting supports. If I am handpicking my pacer(s), I need to get them ready too. 20 miles is a bit hard for a normal person to pull off, so need to get them ready for the terrain as well, plus all the logistics to get them to where they need to be, and all the food/water they need as well. I might need 2-3 crew/pacer persons. The earlier the better.

    This also means doing training runs. We should have at least three or four. I do run on my own, but I would like the training to be as closely match to the race itself, best if done at location. Maybe because of the work needed I have been procastinating.

    Lastly of course is research. I would like to read as much on the race as possible. Also I like to test out my nutrition. And come up with a race plan.

  • Day428 retrospect

    I rarely ever was under-prepared for a race. Over prepared for one is just as shocking and my first for this Catoctin 50K.

    For some reason, when I signed up to run the Catoctin 50K, I signed up to only running half the distance. In the back of my mind I always thought I was doing the whole thing. I trained for it and had that respect for the course that this race would require a lot of me. Maybe that was the reason that this year would be just a scouting run and next year would be the real deal.

    It was not until at bib pickup when they couldn’t find my bib in the 50K group that I went back to check the signup confirmation email that I realized I had made a booboo.

    Still I did not mind running just the 25K. It was only that I was overly anxious preparing something for weeks that did not happen.

    I would have to wait another year to run the true Catoctin 50K.

    Another thing that did not reach my expectation was immediately after the Catoctin 50K, I was to go to Pennsylvania to do an endurance event (at Camp Anderson). I signed up to run the 3 hr event, but you could really run as far and as long as you would want. The event started on Friday and would last till Sunday. The official event was only for Saturday morning till evenning though (6 am to 6 pm). I was hoping to catch the tail end of it.

    I got to Camp Anderson (very late) after they closed. Needless to say, the event was over and no more running. I knew the course and could do it on my own if I wanted to. Many had left or on the verge of leaving. By night fall there were just four groups of us at this 100 acre land (maybe 10 of us in total). It was a bit lonely. The race director and his people had left too. I was in no mood to run my 3 hour endurance event that night on my own (by myself). I set up camp and deferred my run till the next morning. I woke up in a rain shower, which dampened my mood even more. Who want to run in wet and cold and on a muddy trail? I was not wet but the trail was wet and it could rain again. So I packed my tent and went home. The sun came out and brightened the day an hour later but I was already far away and was in no mood to turn around. Really was in no mood to run, or else no matter how far I would travel to run.

    It was not the race organization’s fault there was no one left at the camp. It was wholely mine to arrive there late. I could have gotten there earlier even after my 25K run if I wanted to and I could have run my 3 hour event too that night. You know, my motivation was no longer there.

    Why am I writing this? I felt like the weekend was a deja vue some sort though I am sure this was the first time it hapened. I felt it happened before or somehow I anticipated it. It was just a strange feeling.

    Gains. I did my 25K run (even though I did it like a 50K). I had a good time and was able finished it way earlier than I orginally planned. The run was not an issue for me. I trained on the trail. I did get lost maybe for 5 minutes, that was nothing to write about.

    I caught up with some friends like Ben and Carl at the race and made new ones like Scotty and Kendra. Even Camp Anderson which was a dud to me, I met Ferrari. He has similar aspiration as me to run in all 50 states. He finished 38 of them but he has an adversion to flying, so the remaining states are some what hard to get to for him. I only completed seven states so far. It was like looking at a legend as he recounted his experiences. He was the guy they were wispering that he cramped up and now passed out in his tent and that the race director should check in on him. So cool to have met him. He was one of the few who stayed for the night.

    Why was it called a trip? I planned the weekend like it was one big trip. The first race was not far from me (only a little over an hour), but I stayed at a hotel anyway thinking I would have to get well rest before the long day. Saturday I did go camping at Camp Anderson, that was kind of far (three- hour drive) and was only back on Sunday. So in reality, I had to pack for the first 50K, a camping trip, and possibly another 50K run (was going to run it both on Saturday and Sunday at camp Anderson), plus a hotel stay. It had been go go go mentality.

    It was some sort of cosmic comedy being played out – a strange twist of fate for my weekend. Things happened for a reason, only maybe one day I will know why. Be thankful that is all I got to say.

  • Day425 Laurel Highlands 70

    I have been waiting to run this race two years ago after hiking/camping the last 40 miles of it. Finally got to run it this past weekend.

    On the map, one might be fooled that it is flat as a pancake. Laurel Highlands is not. There are many hills and over the long distances, they wear you down. The elevation chart is deceptive because change in 100-200 ft for one little hill on the map is tiny compares to 70 miles, so they appear as flat.

    The two biggest climbs are on either end of the trail, with I believe over 1000ft. Garmin told me I had over 10,000 ft of elevation gain. Not sure if it is accurate, but that gives a feel of how much climbing there is.

    I waited at the finish line at 3 AM in the morning of for the bus to take me to the starting line. It was about a little over 24 hours later, before I made it back to my car. I ran all 70.5 miles of it.

    If you ask was the race hard? I don’t think it was considered ‘hard’ for ultra people, say compares to the Worlds End Ultra that I was volunteering last weekend. Laurel Highlands Ultra was not easy either. It was not a beginner race. Many people did drop, like one I was running with for many miles.

    My initial concern was whether I would finish. The course can be technical. There were a lot of rocks, some mud, and the distance was quite long – 70 miles. We had plenty of time 22 hours total to run it. I used all 22 hours, but the last 15 minutes.

    My feel is, it was just hard enough for me to get my foot into the ‘real’ ultra running. I ran a few trail races before. Rocky Raccoon was one. Old Glory, 50k at First Landing, and JFK can be considered a trail race too. Those races were like baby steps because they were less technical. The courses for those were mostly flat with hills like 10 ft ish (Old Glory was much harder, but was mostly on road). The Laurel Highlands was 100% on trail and hard trail due to a lot of rocks in certain sections I got to say. The trail was mostly well maintained and marked but still, it was a hard day of running.

    I made a few friends. Mostly with people around my pace. There were many strong runners. One guy in my group of the back of the pack runners said, he hasn’t seen anyone the first 20-30 miles because the strong runners bolted out of the gate and never were seen again. There were maybe 5-10 of us in the back. I might be the first person he saw all day – and that was because I was one of the few with a 5:30 AM start and I slowed down quite a bit that the 6 AM (slower ones) caught up to me. Many in the 5:30 start were super strong runners, and they didn’t slow down. The later start was for the slower people I think. Often time, I felt I was the last one.

    As the day progressed, Aid Stations were closing and the station captain was saying to his staff as I was passing through “there were only three more out there.” I sensed I was the last few runners holding up the station from closing. I didn’t mind though because I wanted those statistics to know how close I was to the cutoffs.

    Through out the race, I know I need to run about 18:53 minute pace to finish. I was somewhere close. By halfway, I gained about just an hour of buffer. Late in the day though as evening approached, my pace was drifting more and more to 20 minutes a mile. I started to see my buffer time being cut from an hour to cut off to 30 minutes and at the last 3 hours of the race, it was nail bitting, hovering between 5 minutes to 15 minutes to the final cutoff. There was one point, I told myself, I couldn’t do it, holding a 4 miles an hour pace and I might have to come in 5-10 minutes after the bell.

    I did it. I finished it. Couple other straglers with me also finished. I was with #120 for a bit. I thought she wouldn’t make it. She was sitting at the side of the trail around mile 55 at 9:45 pm the last time I saw her. She made it in like 8 minutes before the 4 AM closing (I had left the course by then, but I wish I was there to congratulate her on her huge finish). Her husband was her pacer, and he went out looking for her. He must have said many things to inspire her to get her moving and got her to the finish! She must have been like me, mad dashing to the finish line trying to beat the final cutoff. I didn’t get to witness it.

    For me this race was seeing people who were close to giving up gain a new momentum. There were couple others like this. It would be too much to share. Even if they didn’t finish, they tried and that was very inspiring (#142 too).

    Mostly note to self, #8 saved me from taking the wrong turn twice.

    Lastly, a crew at the Aid Station 5, saved my race for emptying half of the stuff in my hiking backpack. I was the only guy running an ultra with a 10+ lb sack on my back. The lady said, that wouldn’t do and made an executive decision to help me repack only the essentials. At the time, I said, I don’t even want to carry my hydration bladder. She said you must need water. Thank God for her! My pack was lighter and I drank like a liter of water every 8 miles. Was I glad I did not ditch the water at the station. Deep into the race could affect your decision making skill as you can see. I might have dropped from the race if not for her, either carrying too much or not enough. Otherwise, this would have been a very different report.

  • Day424 Worlds End

    A Big weekend – best and much hyped though I would not able to compact and let the world know how great it was.

    I forgot how I got into this but many months ago I responded to a call for volunteering at the Worlds End Ultra.

    Likely it was because my friend was also volunteering in it, I decided to do it. I might have written something about this back then if I care to go back and check.

    I was so looking forward to it and it was everything as hoped. Worlds End 100k was challenging course. Though I was not running it, I felt the intensity. I felt I walk in the field where the very best compete – the real deal of ultra marathons.

    I signed up for sweeping duty at the fifth stage, with a hard cutoff (from mile 35 to 50). There were four other sweepers before me though their cutoffs were not as strictly enforced as mine section. No one could enter my section once I started my sweep. I felt pretty important. I had the night portion from 5 pm to 9 pm, with 9 as the cutoff. They warned me that last year, they couldn’t close the race until everyone was out and they were there till 1:30 – 2 in the morning. They made sure I understand that I should get everyone through that section as quickly as possible (and we were at the most remote place on the course).

    My primary concern…no I had several worries but first was that I was not able to run fast enough. Even though that is impossible but I was afraid there wouldn’t be anyone for me to sweep if I am too slow because these people were strong runners! Second that what if I injured myself on the course and they would have to send a rescue team looking for me instead. On the same vein, what if I got lost! I was afraid I would make a fool myself. Lastly, what if someone got hurt and I was not able to help them. It wouldn’t be wholely my responsibility but still I had a part in getting aid to the person and his/her safety is my responsibility.

    Me being too slow was out of the question. Still like in any races, you wouldn’t know until you do it. I had that butterfly in my stomach feeling before and during my run.

    I got to the course couple hours before my shift. It took me some time to flag down the volunteering coordinator, Tom. He was all over the place and I had no idea how he looked. Luckily I hooked up with my friend and he got me to checked out one of the radio/cell phones for key volunteers to be used for this race. I felt like a VIP carrying one. With that I got a hold of Tom. Tom was one responsible getting me to the right place on the course. It was far away from the start and finish.

    I got to the assigned station with Tom around 4:30. My start time was 5 pm. We saw two ladies leaving the station when we pulled in. I had to wait for exact time to start the sweep. However, no other runners showed up after the two ladies left (anyone showing up after 5 pm would be cut).

    So I started my shift. The first couple miles were all to myself. I was running on pace, actually a bit early. I know I was fast. The course was challenging. I immediately had about 1000 ft drop, like running along an edge of a clift. I didn’t really run but tried to get down to the bottom of the ravine as quickly as possible. It was fun and nerve whacking. This is the real deal, the kind of race I always wanted to do! Though it was not my race, I felt the excitement to be on the course.

    The afternoon was hot. The trail became smooth. There were rocks and stuff and crossings, but nothing too difficult for my fresh pair of legs. I did roll my ankle and F*, I continued on.

    Then came a big climb. Later I found out it might have been one of the hardest climbs. Midway through I caught up with the two ladies. I think I was like 5 minutes ahead of pace.

    Though I knew those two ladies were in trouble for going this slow since they had half hour ahead of me, but still enough time for me to able to catch them. I didn’t actually expect to catch them until like 8-10 miles later, but I caught them like on 2nd mile in.

    So I had a job to do. The runner, Gaby was pretty much tired but she was moving. Her pacer, Karen, was doing all she could. I didn’t have to do much to get them moving. As long as they were moving, my job is done. They were moving on pace.

    I got to say, we stayed on pace until the next Aid Station #8, Dry Run. As we near the station, I picked up another runner. He was in much worse shape. He didn’t speak much, together, we pushed into the station. Gaby arrived first.

    Dry Run station wasn’t going to close until 7pm. As me and the guy I picked up came in Gaby left the station with her pacer. As I said, the guy runner (forgot his name) was not doing great. He asked me if I was going to cut him. I said, no, he had to decide himself. If he felt he could continue, I wouldn’t stop him. I don’t think he even went to the food table but instead took a seat. He had stomach trouble.

    People at the aid station tried to help him as much as possible. There was another guy and his pacer too just dropped at the station (that was before I arrived). I announced to the station that I was the course sweeper for the section and I am the last person. They got busy then to pack up. Look how much power I had. Hehe. I was busy eating all the food they had left!

    The guy that did not do well, rested for maybe 10-15 minutes and decided to call it quit. The station captain then said I could continue on to sweep the next part.

    I am happy I got to run again and Gaby at this time had maybe a 15-20 minutes head start and I love chasing. I was wondering how long before I would catch up to her and her pacer again.

    I did catch up and we continued on pushing toward to the next part, which was about 4 miles away. We had a good chat going. Gaby was still upbeat though her chances of finishing was slipping fast. We were no longer on pace. Time was slipping. Her pace was slipping. I did not try to rush her. She had her pacer who would know how best to help her.

    Aid Station #9 was unstaffed and it was just water only. We didn’t stop. I think we were like 15 mins late by then (a mile slower). After that section, I picked up another runner and her pacer. I was not able to get her name but she was not a happy camper. I felt she was mad at me for catching up to her. Gaby quickly passed her. But I had to follow the slower runner since it was my job to stay with the last person. She told me she already decided not to continue the race and so would take her time to get to next station. I said, same, my only concern was that everyone keeps on moving and no one gets hurt. I don’t want to have to call in a rescue squad since that would mean I would remain on the course with the injured runner for a long time.

    We were probably 4 miles from Aid Station #10. We had two tough climbs and two also tough descends.

    I thought Gaby was long gone but she and pacer missed a turn. So they came back and we found them at the tricky turn. Gaby was able to save me from getting lost there! They brought along an even slower runner who also missed the turnoff.

    I was happy that I got a job to do. I stayed with this new runner, David, the rest of the ladies hurried passed. Comparing to David, the ladies were like flying. I was a bit sad that they were gone but I didn’t mind staying with David since it was my job.

    David was in even worse shape than any runners I came across. We had about 3 more miles to go by then.

    David was walking every few steps and had to bend over to breath. He was not injured but was totally worn. I felt sorry. I stayed with him and let him rest as long as he wanted. He was very cooperative. He would move without me prompting. I know he was doing his best. I love having him as companion. I think we were moving like a mile an hour. Time quickly passed. 9 pm came and gone – the cutoff. By then it was meaningless. Then 10 pm.

    David was kind. I tried to chat with him and he responded to everything. He did a full Ironman before, so physically he was strong. This though was his first 100k on a very hard course and on a hot weekend. His desire was strong, but the day just sapped his energy. He did improved after I met him, and was moving better and took less breaks.

    We kept pressing on to the Aid Station. There I reunited with Gaby and others. The Station captain scared me saying there was a runner still out there and they joked I should go back out on the trail to look for the dude. I took it seriously though at the time and was like a WTH moment for me. I wouldn’t cry but hell it would be whole night out there searching for this missing guy.

    We thought of different scenarios where I could miss the guy. We crossed a road couple times and ran along a road, so likely he flagged down a car and left the course. Or he might have taken a wrong turn like Gaby did, and that I passed him. Gaby said she saw a bearded guy, but I never came across a bearded runner. It got me all worry that on my first sweeping duty and I lost a guy!

    Anyway, they had someone to drive me back to the finish. I turned in my radio (was totally useless since I had no signal in my part of the course). There they told me they found the guy. He had a medical emergency earlier and had taken him off the course, so he was accounted for. It was not my fault that I supposingly missed him on my section.

    What a relief for me. I spent the rest of the weekend there, camping as well running part of the course after the race was done. It was a fulfilling personal time. I could write several entries just on the camping and the run I did. The sweeping duty is done.

    I hope to run the 50k there next year. 100k I probably can do it, but seeing so many strong runners being dropped, it gives me a pause on attempt 100k without fully know what I will be getting into. So 50k first is the thing to do to get my feet wet.

  • Day423 CRAW – a big finish

    CRAW is something so hard like impossible but once doing it, it is not too bad.

    I have been doing this virtual race, trying run around the world with a team of 10, virtually (of course). It is a bigger version of running across Tennessee, which I did last year (GVRAT) and I am doing again this year.

    What so interesting is even though it is a virtual race, it feels like we are actually doing it in real life (IRL). We are putting in our miles and doing as best as we can to finish it – like a real race. I guess a matter of perspective!

    I mean I do run a lot, but we usually don’t imagine able to run across a state in a summer or across the globe in a year (granted this is with a team). The funny thing is once you put a physical starting location and ending location, the training run reaches a whole other level. That is what the race director wants us to think. Just a different perspective. It is so cool.

    So yeah, I can say I am running around the world with 9 other people. Last night, our team finished Antarctica. It was a cold and windy night for me too. Luckily no rain. It was the biggest region of the whole race, which took us 73 days to do! I am happy.

    We know we won’t win any award. Our team is not that fast, pretty average, but we are moving consistently and we have a full team. There is a team of just 4 people-KOKO, but they are moving fast! – that’s wow. Our team is not like that. We are amazing too but just not that. Our team has been together for almost a year. We are almost halfway through.

    We’re just chugging along…

    —

    Next week…I will have some fun. I plan to be a race sweeper at the World’s End Ultra. I will be away. Wish me luck especially I got a tick bite earlier this week and it is not looking good. Fingers crossed I don’t have Lyme for a second time. That is some horrible horrible stuff. No runners want Lyme.

    After that, I have the Laurel Highland Ultra. I have been waiting for this for two years. It would be a 22 hour run for me!

  • Day419 Grayson Highlands 50

    Why running this race? The race promised a course that is beautiful, hard, and they have ponies!

    It was definitely hard even with long cutoffs and a shortened course. The beauty of the place does make up for the hard run.

    I love mountains. I love the view. I got to see the highland from up on the crest and ran through the vast grassy balds.

    The event I entered was the 50 miler. They had 50k and a half marathon. The fifty miler tested my limit (again). I believe it was the hardest race I ever did.

    My watch recorded about 6500 ft of elevation gained. Totalling about 42 miles (but my watch was paused for about 3 miles), so the total course according to garmin is maybe 45 miles long.

    I believe the course was cut short from the original 47.1 mile after reviewing the gps data. This is kind of a hot potato topic. First off, I ran according to the flagging. However, there were more than a few runners that ran according to the original published course, that I think added 2-3 more miles. It was a significant change. Some were not happy at all the course being shortened and blamed the RD for not flagging the course properly but it was really them of not seeing the flagging. To me the flags for the turn off was visible, but I could understand how it can be missed. I believe the course was flagged more than enough.

    I overheard the race director mentioned at the finish that they shortened the course. Not sure if he was referring it being shortened from 50 to 47.1 or from 47 to 45. For me the shorter distance was about right due to the elevation. Not sure if I could have made the final cutoff if it were 5 miles more. In truth, I hiked most it and after 14 hours out there, no, even after couple hours, I was asking myself why did I sign up a race just only to hike 90% of it. Was it worth?

    It was a hard course and I was undertrained for the hills. Toward the last six miles I had enough of it. I didn’t want any more hills. I was fainting and reached my limit. The last 6 miles were mostly uphill, at couple thousand feet of climbing. For those who planning to run this, expect the climb at the last hour. It added an extra pressure to make the cutoffs.

    As a redemption, the few miles near the finish were on a road, which made it a tad easier. Also I felt the aid stations were spaced about right at every six miles. There was only one that was about 12-13 miles apart, which was the hardest segment. I brought my own food, but didn’t eat them, except for some apple sauce. We could have a throw-away drop bag too, but I didn’t prepare one (not needed).

    I believe the RD originally wanted to put an aid station at mile 19-20 at the turnoff onto the Hurricane Trail trailhead, however he shortened the race by turning off to a service road to Hurricane Trail early, so no aid station. Well probably a volunteer/aid station at the turn off would help or after coming out from the Hurricane Trail.

    I was extremely happy that I didn’t miss the flag for the turn off. As in couple previous races, I missed a turn and I got really mad at myself, but in this race, even though I felt it was a level higher that what I used to do, I did everything perfectly. The map study beforehand helped. I didn’t use my map at all during the race even though it was on me. I had it mostly in my head. I didn’t have to use the gps (my companion Ryan downloaded the coordinates on his watch and it kind of help, but he got off trail too). I mostly relied on my spider sense and it was pretty accurate. Couple times I was saved by those around me.

    Pacing. Pacing was not allowed. I ran with the group of five or six runners I started with. I didn’t rush. I knew I was the last 10+ or so in about a total 100 runners (I finished 95). I think there were a dozen or so who started later, but those who started in the back with me were pretty much ran at my pace.

    I was together with about 4 ladies and a guy (Ryan) for about 26+ miles. Ryan was doing his first 50 as well as two other ladies around us. Ryan and I stayed together until mile 35. Originally after mile 9, Ryan took off but he might have ran the extra 3 miles and I met him back at my mile 20 and from then he was with me for the rest until he needed a restroom break at Camp Store Aid Station.

    One of the ladies took a nasty fall. Her left knee was bloody and so was one of her arms (right?). They bandaged her up and she continued on. I ran with her from mile 9-15, then she took off. I didn’t see her again until at the finish. I think she got lost at the Hurricane Trail, as many people did.

    It was good to have a companion. Ryan came back after mile 20, we passed Fox Creek Aid Station together. We had to run up 6 miles to Scale Aid Station. This was part that broke me, at least for the first and not the last time. Ryan was there hiking with me all the way. We passed the two ladies at Scale who were with us since the beginning. They had some issue with shoes and also were having some health issue too. Not sure if they finished, but Ryan and I pressed on. Ryan asked if I heard what they said. I almost fainted too climbing up to Scale. I had a beer at Scale and it refreshed me. That was around mile 30/31. I left Scale feeling strong again.

    Ryan had some stomach issue after Scale. We tagged team to the next station. It had some climbing as well descending. We mostly hiked. I got to chat with Ryan a bit. He told me to run ahead and not to wait for him. I said of course. However, he was literally tagging behind me. We arrived at the Camp Store together. There we said goodbye since he said he needed to use the privy.

    I was concerned that if he stopped he wouldn’t start again, but he did continue. I checked the finisher list and he was there with several others. Glad he found couple companions.

    Without Ryan, the next 10-12 miles were tough. I kept pushing from 3 pm – 5m to the last aid station. I took some food. I had until 8:30 to finish, so finishing was guaranteed. This last segment was mostly on the road leading up to the Visitor Center, which is about 3 miles long, so one step a time up the steep road. In normal time, I probably could have run it, but walking was all I got after running whole day.

    Then we turned off from the main road onto a side trail. It was a steep climb, I think maybe for another mile. This was my slowest ascend I think. I took a step and then rested so forth until I reached the Visitor Center, where the finish line was. However, the course required us to take a 2 mile loop from the Visitor Center to two overlooks (Big and Little Pinnacle). For me, I just wanted to finish, the view was supposed to be great there. I only took a glance then got off the Pinnacle, back toward to the real finish line.

    Again for those planning to run this race, expect the soul crushing finish at the last few miles because of the climbs. However, it couldn’t break my soul. Those who have done ultras know, you just have to press on no matter how the course plays with your head. Just beware.

    Final word, as on how technical the race is other than the elevation, was maybe at mile 35-40. It requires some technical footwork to descend the Wilson Trail from the Camp Store. In a normal time, I might consider this the best out of all the “fun” trails I was on. It was exciting to showcase all the fancy footwork you have been training. However, I had nothing left in me to make sharp jerking turns and take big steps and dodge low branches and skip over slick rocks. I do love it thinking back. Over all, there are many favorites, this was just one of them. For those who is going to do this race, take time to enjoy.

    Oh, is the course muddy? A portion of it is muddy even on a good day. And for couple of the trails, you are hiking up a stream on a bad day. Yes, you run with wet shoes. Blisters and stubbed toes can be an issue. It is a race for the dirty and yucky and those with lot of patience.