In awe

Tag: 50 mile

  • [671] BBR 50

    Bull Run Run 50

    (2024)(2023)

    It is my favorite race from my favorite running club, the VHTRC people.  BRR and MMT are my two beloved events, if readers haven’t noticed yet from my  posts of last few years. 

    I mentioned them day in and day out.  My spring training was always occupied by these two events.  Why?  The people, the challenge, the grit and everything about ultra running are captured in these two events. See my 2023 and 2024 race report.  I have been repeating the same things each year report to say I love these two events a lot.

    This year I am not running the Massanutten 100 (MMT), so Bull Run Run 50 (BRR) is my only club race I am taking part in. 

    This year, unlike the last two years, I did not have time to join the group runs but instead I trained on my own.  I started the training in middle of December, when it was still winter, immediately right after the Devil Dog 100 mile. 

    I went on the trail almost every week, sometimes near my house at the Centreville side, but  my focus this year was mostly around at the around the Fountainhead, called the Do-Loop.

    The reason why I needed to train at the Fountainhead was because on my first race there in 2023, I got lost.  Last year during the Do Loop training run there, I got lost again. Ram, a friend of mine, then took me into the Do Loop and learned it before the race.   This year, a few times on my own into the park, I got lost too in the Do Loop.  So I told myself I need to know that section so I would do fine on race day.

    The trainings paid off.  My race went without a hitch. I finished at 12:35 elapsed time.  My time was an hour slower than last year, which could be because my body was not recovered from a 40 mile run the week before.  

    However, from other metrics such couple 5k races I have done, I am getting slower with age, and possibly from inadequate/improper training this winter/spring season.

    Some lessons learned:  I was reminded not to goof off during a run. Some people, every race is a race, meaning, it has to be a PR attempt (for a personal record). It demands a full concentration.  There is no such thing as a social run. 

    I do take my race seriously, such as arriving early, sleeping early, packing my things ahead of time, studying the course, memorizing the pace table and cutoffs chart as well as knowing where the aid stations located, and creating a race day plan and strategy. Racing is a lot of work. 

    However, the moment the race begins, all the stressing of racing faded away.  I was a happy camper and I wanted to be in the moment and laugh and enjoy everything, the view, the flowers, the people, and temperature and such. 

    I would stop to take photos.  I would talk and laugh with volunteers.  I even waited for a friend at an aid station.  Then a volunteer reprimanded me, saying, what are you waiting and goofing around for, and dare me to run the course over twice (100 mile in a day).  He was half joking and half serious. He himself has done the feat of running a 100 mile in a 50 mile event when he was his prime. I am never come close to that level of fitness, but I understood the mentality. One has to be serious to attempt it.

    Indeed, volunteers took their time off so we could have our race, we better make it worth their time.  This was a race and not a weekend training run. 

    Treat it as such, I told myself.  To me, it reminded me to pick up my pace or else, I might not even finish. 

    The race got hard after mile 12.  This year I did not cramp up like a previous year.  Still my legs were tired.  I ran with a good pace to the first Hemlock, arrived basically the same times as last year at 10:06 am (a tad slower maybe). The race started at 6:30, so it was 3:35 elapsed. Hemlock was around mile 18. 

    All my friends were around.  Wayne caught up to me.  I passed Dan.  Jamie and Jill too were there.  I was in a good company.  These people usually were faster than me but today I was in their company. 

    But my legs were tired.  So not long later, all my friends passed ahead of me except for Scott.  Now Scott has always been a stronger runner than me.  I was surprised when he and I left the station together and we ran a few miles together.  He told me today was not his day.  I could see that he would walk more than run.  However, he was still gaining distance ahead of me.  I did not chase him but I ran at my own race, so soon he was too out my sight and I ran by myself.  I learned by now, there were certain people, I could not beat and I would just ruin my race if I had tried to keep up.

    So all my friends disappeared ahead of me.  Some “slower” people I passed earlier overtook me too.  It was fine.  Patricia was one I overtook, now she was passing me.  My strategy was the same, let people pass and focus on my own race, such as telling myself to drink, to eat, and to move at a constant pace of not too fast nor too slow.

    Patricia was one of those few would I ended up with staying together for a long time for the rest of the race. I believe, we ran 30 miles together. Sometimes, she disappeared far ahead but sometimes I found her catching me up again from behind.  I must have passed her during an aid station.

    I arrived to the next aid station, Bull Run Marina. It was joyous. I know the volunteers there. They got me everything I needed.  Wayne was there too but then he took off ahead of me again. I believed others did as well.  It was similar to the earlier stations. I went onto the next station.

    Wolf Run Shoals station.  It was long and hot.  My feet were tired.  I walked more than run. Me and several others were around me.  Less people were passing me now.  Maybe a group of 7-8 people caught up to me then passed me.  I called them a train.  They passed me like a train.  I did not care.  The best thing happened to me was my other friend David somehow caught up.  We were together earlier at the start and ran maybe first 5-7 miles together.  But he was a tad slower and I have left him after the Centreville aid station, but now twenty miles later, he caught back up or I really had slowed down quite a lot. I got him into running in this race and it was good to have a fellow friend running along side.

    I refueled with some chicken noodle broth.  Q, another volunteer I know,  was helping at the aid station and we joked around. I got myself some ice cold stuff.  Off I went with David out the station. 

    We had a series of climbs up to the Fountainhead.  David was laboring on the slopes.  I was fine.  David then would run at a quicker pace on the flatter section, but I would catch up once there were hills. Together we made it to Fountainhead by 1:15 pm, 6:35 elapsed, this was mile 28, a little over halfway. In theory, if we keep the same pace, we could finish it under 13 hours.

    But time was getting tight.  I knew during the first year, 1:15 was the time I arrived at Fountainhead too, and that was my slow year.  The Do-Loop is a section that has a lot of climbs and it might take me 3 hours to get through them.  4:15 pm was Fountainhead cutoff, meaning we have to finish the Do Loop and get back at the Fountainhead by 4:15 pm.

    David and I set off after a brief stay at Fountainhead. I did not have the appetite to eat real food.  Jeff, another volunteer I know, offered his hamburgers. I know from past races, his food are delicious.  You don’t pass up his food. Today though, the burger tasted dry and the sun was too hot for me to take in hot food.  He said try it with ketchup and added ketchup for me.  Ketchup helped get the burger down.  Jeff made the burger bite size (like a restaurant slider). It gave me the energy I needed for the Do Loop. 

    One crazy thing I did was to fill my pack with only ice.  This was a bad idea.  I thought the ice would melt and I would have ice cold water.  The thing is, the melting was happening too slow.  I did not have much water to drink for the next 4.5 miles. The ice method worked in the previous section when I was not drinking that much, but here, I was thirsty and it took forever for the ice to melt. It took us a long time before we arrived at the real Do-Loop.  I think a little over  an hour to go 4.5 miles. 

    David was saying, this does not look familiar.  I said of course, during the Do Loop training, we never run in the White Loop.  We had to do the “White Loop” first before doing the Do Loop.  It was new ground for us.  Luckily, I had the experience from my previous two years. The turns in the White Loop was vaguely familiar.

    We finally reached mile 32.9 at the “Do Loop in” aid station.  The Do Loop itself is only a 2.5 mile loop.  Time was ticking. I felt, I must finished the Do Loop before 3 pm to have a chance at finishing the race.  I believed I arrived back at 3:00.  The Do Loop only took me 45 minutes.

    At this time, I needed to get to the Fountainhead by 4 pm.  Aid station there closed at 4:15.  It also took me about 45 minutes and I arrived at 3:45 pm. 

    On my way out of the Do Loop, I still saw people coming in.  I think the Do Loop station closed at 3:45 pm.  I saw 5-6 runners were heading in, including some runners I know.  I fistbumped them and gave them encouraging words. Then I saw the sweepers.  They were running in from the Fountainhead, very lively and full of energy. I told myself, I really need to get this race done before they over took me.

    From Fountainhead to Wolf Run Shoals on the way back was just as long timewise.  After 30 minutes of running, I passed the mile marker 1.  I think it was misplaced.  I must have run 2 miles by then.  And some trail hikers I passed said to me I still have two miles to go before the aid station. BS.  At that time I did not know who was right. I told myelf, soon I would arrive at the aid station.  Indeed a few more minutes went by and I arrived at the Wolf Run Shoals station.  The trail marker was likely wrong.

      After Wolf Run Shoals, I just had to repeat the course back to Hemlock.  I started passing various people.  Many of them were not feeling good.  Some sat down on a rock waiting to cool off. 

    I saw some of my friends when I got back to the Marina.  I was surprised seeing Scott and Dan.  I have left David in the Do Loop, but was hoping he would make the cutoff.  Marina closes at 6 pm.  I was there at 5:45, which should be enough to finish by 7:30, with 5.4 miles left. Patricia also arrived at the same time I did.

    Joe, a runner I met at Stone Mill was out running ran up to both of us and I found out he was also a friend of Patricia.  Joe got into Western States this year.

    On our back to the finish. Joe ran along side of us and we had a brief chat.  I kept my mind occupied. I caught up to Scott and then Dan as I pushed for the finish.  The moment we saw blue bells, we knew we wete in the Hemlock general area.  Dan told me about a bench they placed in memorial to a former club member Ed Cappacino (not his real name, just a name we called him) as a marker exactly a mile to the end. I never met Ed before he died, but I love the bench there. I think it was 6:55.  I was a bottom of the hill.  I was going to walk with Dan, but he told me to hurry up and finish. 

    He was right. I should not goof around. So up the hill with my best effort and run about quarter mile and I arrived back with crowd cheering. Dan and Scott and Patricia came in a few minutes after me.

    Blue bells: The course was filled with wildflowers such as blue bells

    We stayed an hour more waiting for a few others to finish.  My friend David came in.  I was exhausted.

  • [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.

  • OSS/CIA 50 [Day563]

    I got back on a normal training schedule, Tuesday/Thursday and Saturday run. Plus I had a race this week.

    A race is always good for me to catch up with my running friends once again.

    I did not expect to see the people I ran with at the MMT to show up, since this was kind of a small local race.

    A bit of background, OSS/CIA 50, takes place in Prince William Forest, Triangle Virginia, just maybe 14 miles outside of DC (oh and it took me 90 minutes to get there on a Saturday afternoon, due to traffic, my goodness).

    It is a night race, starting at 6:00 evening and ending the next morning 8:30. We have 14 and half hours to run this.

    Why it is called OSS/CIA because Prince William Forest was a place used as training camp for OSS officers/agents back in the early days (post WW2). OSS was the former name for the CIA. Barracks/cabins used are still around

    I ran in the park a few times, three times for the Devil Dog, and once for the Redeye 50K, and once with the same organization for an 8 hour night run. I am familiar with the course, though I still get lost in this park because there are just a lot of trails.

    I have heard of OSS/CIA 50 a few years back and did not run it back then because I saw the cutoffs and many people who could not finish (usually around 50% would DNF). Plus it is a night run, which is tougher in many ways. I was not ready for it back then.

    However, having done a few 100 milers, the race does not put much a fear in me any more.

    I signed up this year after I could not get into the Highland Sky 40, which is a much preferred run for its scenic route and many of my local friends run in it. Truth to be told, I did get off the waitlist for Highland Sky a week ago, but I already signed up for the OSS/CIA. I was on the 40-50th place and thought my chance was not that great to get in for the Highland Sky when I signed up.

    I think I tried OSS/CIA last year too but it was full. My friend said, I could have emailed Alex the race director and he would have let me in. Well I did not know Alex well back then.

    I only started to know various people in “high positions” recently after having done some of our local hard races such as the MMT and Devil Dog.

    Note, I am not a fast runner, but I guess I am making splashes with people because of my DNFs in both races and that I went back to redeem them. I guess that is one way to make aquantance with the local race officials and get my name out there.

    As mentioned some of the MMT runners were there. Many went to Highland Sky either to run or volunteers. Those that did not, showed up at this race. Jana was there helping out as well as running in it (she took first place in the marathon distance). She is in many running podcasts. She is our local heroes. We trained and ran in the MMT. Everyone knows Jana.

    My friends Wayne and Charlie from the MMT also showed up. I told Wayne about my Grindstone race in September, and he promises to pace me. He will have the UTMB (100) in September too, but he said he could pace me for 50 miles!

    No doubt Wayne is an impressive runner and having him pacing me at the Grindstone would be an honor. I asked if Charlie would crew me, but he has his kid’s event (soccer I think) to go to. Anyway, having someone to promise to pace already is very good. Crew could be found later.

    My other friends John H and Charleen were there. John is planning to run the Shenandoah 100 (a self fatass event). I volunteer to crew John. So more to come about this event in a couple weeks.

    Plus I made a new friend Lynn. I met Lynn at the MMT too, and she recognized me at the OSS/CIA and said she will be doing Grindstone too. I took down her contact in case we might go to course to train together. I did not know at the time that she is from upstate NY. It seems though she comes to the DC area a lot. The more people I have for Grindstone the better. It will be a hard race, but do-able. I have heard it is comparable to the MMT. I plan to meet up Lyyn.

    There are people once you meet, you know they will be a good friend. All these people, I met at OSS are amazing. I think Lynn is one of them.

    I am on a quest to do 50 states and 100 of 100 mile races. So knowing people like Lynn from out of my state is helpful to me! I don’t go out of my way to make friends or with an agenda in mind. It is just their interest matches mine.

    I already looked up races Lynn has done and will be going, and I want to pick her brain about the 100 miles she has done.

    Lynn has done the Burning River 100 last year. She told me to get the Fairfield Hotel for the cheap price and close to the race. Sharaton already sold out and costing $500 a night is just too much for my budget. I will have to get back with Lynn about the run though. She finished it in 29 hours, so that is some confident builder for me since I am about her pace.

    I met Orico too. I met Orico on the second loop just before halfway maybe around mile 32-33. She seemed to running fine according me when I was chasing her from behind. I had run with Wayne most of the night but at that point in time Wayne took off from me and disappeared. I came across Orico thinking it was Wayne. By the time I caught up, it was definite not Wayne because Orico is much smaller (and female).

    Orico was breathing heavily. I could heard her from behind. In my mind, this is an ultra and not a 5K run. We were little over halfway and still many miles (hours) left. Runners should not run like they are out of breath.

    True, we have high level of pollens in our area and the Canadian smoke from their fires is back in the area. So people who have asthma were having tougher time breathing.

    I called out to her, that it is OK to walk in an ultra. However, she did not respond back to me. In ultras, we love talking since there are not many of us out on the course and we would be spending a significant of time running together (sometimes hours and days).

    It was strange yet not so strange she did not answer back. As I mentioned in previous posts, DC area has a lot of runners who come off as unfriendly and this is due to the culture here where no one says hello or look at people in the eyes in public.

    I was afraid I might be scaring her and as well as pushing her to run faster. In a race, if somone is following me, it tends to push me on running faster. As a young runner, I fell for that a lot. As I now become more experienced, I know to run my own race.

    I told her that, she was not in my way. If I wanted to pass, I would announce it. This is the trail ettique. Since we are a single trail, it is hard to pass. Usually we wait for a place where the trail widens, unless the runner in front would stop to step to the side, to let the runner from behind to pass.

    She also did not say anything back. In my mind, I was in no rush. She was running a decent pace though I was catching up to her. Then she took a wrong turn and I used that time to pass her, since I took the correct turn. Taking a wrong turn usually means she was panicking or distracted. After I passed her, I did not see her catching back up. I think she started walking from then on. Her pace/groove was broken.

    Later at the finish I found out this was her first 50 mile race. It explained a lot. In our race there were 10-12 first time ultra runners. It is good to have new people joining. It makes the race so much more special. It is like initiation. I always remember my first 50. In my opinion OSS/CIA is a hard first time 50 miler, due to night run and trail condition.

    About the course, we had a dry course, even though it rained the nighr before, but still it was technical course for first time runners. For me, now, the trail is smooth and buttery and very runnable. I remember my first DNF there and every rock was hard. Every stone and every hills I struggled in my first DNF I could still recall as reran on the same course that evening.

    In fact, my first 5-10 miles that night was hard. My feet forgot how to run on the trail and I had to stare intensely at where my feet were stepping to avoid tripping. Later though, they gained back the natural ability to run without looking. Having a brighter flashlight on the second loop helped too.

    My run was pretty uneventful. When I first arrived and saw Wayne and Charlie. I pulled up in my car right behind Wayne. We were both “late” 15 mins before the registration was to be closed. There were no more parking spots left. A volunteer (Jana) told us to pull to side to go for the check-in first before looking for parking. I think we were the last few to arrived. Then we drove to the back lot (ball park), where luckily there were enough spaces for us. It was not too far a walk to get back to the starting line.

    I started out running with Wayne and Charlie since they are both good friends of mine and our paces are pretty much the same.

    Not having run seriously for over a month since the MMT, I was a bit rusty. Soon Wayne and Charlie pulled away. Everyone was running a fast click, I think it got to be around 10 min pace (fast for ultras). My goal was to do about 15 mins, though at the time I was probably running about 12 mins.

    Lynn passed me and gave me encouraging words. We passed each other a few times through out the first loop. There were several out and back sections, so we got to see those who were a bit ahead and those who were behind.

    I then slowed down to the pace of that of John Hord was running. I met John from MMT training since John and Charleen were doing aid stations. I remember seeing John at the second and third training run. John was great at giving me encouraging words at the Chocolate Bunny and at MMT since he was crewing for Charleen that night.

    Tracy C was about our pace too. We were running together. I got to kept pace with Tracy until near first half on the first loop (13 ish mile). Tracy has her own story.

    My first MMT’s racing strategy kind of build around her. She is known in our club for DNF-ing too. You know you can be famous either you are the first place runner or the last place. Tracy is not slow! She is faster than me on many of the runs but she is still chasing for her buckle for the MMT. She is a bit sensitive about it, and I would too. She was saying people should tone it down. I apologized for using her as the person to beat at the MMT. She is commended of being brave to still sign up for races. I have been there after running my first MMT and didn’t finish, and I was thinking to myself if I still get what it takes to finish a 100 mile. It takes courage to show up and run. I felt I know Tracy a bit better that evening when she shared how she felt about the MMT race.

    At the first Aid Station, I caught back with Wayne and Charlie. Wayne loves to take his time at the station, I think 10-15 minutes each time. It allowed me to catch up. We basically ran together for the rest of the night. Wayne did not wait for me, but I would catch up from time to time. I ran my own race. I did not wait for Wayne either, at the aid station, if I finish first, I took off, knowing both Wayne and Charlie could catch up to me.

    We finished the first loop after midnight. 25/26 miles in the book. It is 25 miles but some people’s gps watch was reporting a mile more. It didn’t matter to me. I was treating it as 26 miles because it felt like a marathon length.

    At midnight the marathon (25 mile) event took off. We saw many runners coming out.

    I saw Tracy and John coming in from their first loop. Also Lynn came in. The cut off was at 1 am. I saw Lynn around 12:30 which was not too bad. We had until 8:30 (I didn’t know at the time) but that was plenty of time for a second loop.

    Lynn said the course has way more double track trails (gravel roads) than she expected and was tired of running on them. I think about 5-6 miles of them. It was demotivating to run on gravel roads. One loop was enough for Lynn. As for me, I love roads and gravel because I could run faster on them than on trails.

    Also Charlie did not go back out for his second loop. Wayne believed he might have some stomach issue like at the MMT. I had a 10 minute head start over Wayne on the second loop but he was quick to catch back to me and by mile 10 and passed me to get to aid station first. He took off when I arrived at Oak Ridge.

    However, the next three miles, and it was 4 am by then, Wayne was exhausted. His running was the pace of my walking. I caught up to him just by walking/hiking.

    We arrived back at Oak Ridge aid station the second time on our second loop. I told him to eat and he did. However, I could not wait for him to finish eating because I was getting cold. When a runner headed out, I followed. The runner in front of me was fast and disappeared. I must have sometimes passed Travis, another friend. Travis is fast. But as the night grinded on, I was passing people. Travis was the aid station captain at the Old Dominion Race (couple weeks ago), and I got to know him there.

    The time was 4:30 ish then. Morning should arrived soon. The RD told us, tonight is the shortest night (summer soltice is couple days away). Initially I wanted to finish under 12 hours if possible. Meaning less than 2 hours left. At this time, I was willing to compromise for 8 am (14 hours). Still I felt I was behind schedule to finish by 8 am. We had 13 miles left to do.

    I got to the next water point (Burma Road), around 6 am. Morning has dawned. From then I caught up maybe 10 runners. On the out and back I saw Wayne was only two places behind me maybe about 5 minutes behind. It is not bad and I thought he would surely catch up.

    I had about 2 hours to do remaining 8 miles. Normally it should be fine, 15 mins a mile. 4 miles an hour. I felt though my pace was slipping. I thought 8 am was the final cut off since 8 am is the marathon cut off time. It was natural to assume the ultra would have the same cut off too.

    In my mind, I believed I had only 6 miles left since the first time arriving at the Burma aid station is 4 miles. The out and back on Burma road was at least two miles, which gave 6 miles remaining. I asked the radio guy at the Burma station how many miles are left, and his reply was 8. So eight it is for me even though I was sure there should be 6 miles left.

    My goal was to get to swinging bridge by 7 am. This would give me three miles (2.5 miles) for the final section. The laurel trail is about a mile long. The start/finish trail is less than a mile. It was about half mile to get to the Laurel Trail from the swinging bridge. So about 2-ish total.

    I finished at 7:28. I had many people cheering me as I came in. Total 13:28 h.

    We had breakfast and then the award ceremony. It was good to catch up with everyone. Marty (another friend) who always give me words of encouragement out on the trail, was there. He was pacing Adeline, who was only 10 minutes ahead of me. I was chasing her all night. I knew she had maybe a mile ahead. I see her in many of my races too.

    Wayne came in 15 minutes after me. He made it before 8. We talked on many things. He will be running the Eastern States and Iron Stone 100K. I unfortunately already signed up for the Catoctin. I might go to see him after Catoctin since Iron Stone starts at 2 pm. I believe, I might get there by evening and then hang out with the Pennsylvania runners. This will be in couple weeks. I am excited for that.

    Conclusion: I like running, because it gets me to run some more. This race is kind of help me get my act together for my summer races. Also many plans were made.

    By the way, my Saturday was jammed packed. I had Catoctin training that morning with Billy C. I had a tea time with my other running group (Siri) in DC at 2 pm. Then the race was at 6. It took me almost two hours to get into DC and almost 2 hours to come back out. The traffic almost killed me that afternoon. Luckily I got all my fun in. I was with three different running groups that day. Yep. I was so tired the next day and Monday. Luckily, Monday was a holiday and I could recover. It was exactly how I like it.