In awe

Tag: PA

  • [683] Eastern States 100, a trail running experience

    My motivation for running this was the name Eastern States.  As I have done Western States 100 last year, it seems fitting to try my hand on the east coast version (note, they are not related but the name). I met some runners at the bib pickup who tried to do both races in the same year. It is something I would go for too.

    Short version: I ran, It was hard, and I did not finish.  I learned from my experience to enjoy on the trail.

    I am familiar with the race organization and know they put up “fun” trail races.  Fun means hard.  I ran their Rock n the Knob marathon couple years ago, and it is considered the hardest marathon in the area.  One that took me 8-9 hours to finish and it ran like a 50k.  Note, in recent years the race has relabeled itself as a 50k. I have expected Eastern to be the same level of hard.

    It seems just a few weeks ago I finished Vermont 100.  The last couple weeks since have bern a blur.  I guess I mostly rested.  I did two weekends (8 hours total) of trail work to fulfill my volunteer hour requirements for another 100 mile race I will be doing soon in the fall. 

    Life has been busy and running was pretty much nonexistent since  Vermont 100.  In fact, I don’t think I have trained much except for couple weekend runs this whole year.  Going into Eastern States, I knew it would be a struggle.  I always thought I had time to train over the summer once Old Dominion was done.  But after three successive 100 mile races, Old Dominion, Vermont and Eastern States, I wondered where my time has gone. Advice to my future self: train for hills.

    The race has a 36 hour cutoff and thus requires about maintaining a minimal 20-21 min pace.  To me this doable. It’s a walkable pace.

    My plan was to run a 17 min pace first third, then a 19 min pace second third and slow to a 22-24 min pace the final third.  It should allow me to finish on time.  With the last two 100 mile races, I thought I have a good chance.

    I usually have a fast walking pace and I was hoping this might get me through the whole race.  It was a big bet I know.

    The first mile started on the road outside PA state park of Little Pine Creek.  We ran a few miles to spread the crowd and everyone had a quick 12 min or faster pace. I was at the very back but still did a fast pace.

    When we reached the MST trail, there were a crowd of runners at the bottom of the trailhead waiting to climb the stairs up.   We milled around a few minutes (10-15 mins) waiting. Some went for bathroom.  Families and friends were also around cheering us because it was inside a campground. I have expected this to be the first hard climb. I read in other reports that most people could summit it before the sunrise.

    The first stair climb was not the hard climb I had expected.  We had a mile of rocky and knarly trail (MST – Mid State Trail) but it was not too bad with fresh legs.  I took it slowly and I was the last few runners left. I was not worried and knew methodically I would catch up to people ahead over time. My goal that morning was not to fall too far behind from the bulk of runners.

    I knew I was in trouble when I got to the really first climb, I was out of breath after a few steps and it did not seem to be any steeper than trails I used to do.  Everyone around me seemed to be full of energy and tackling it with ease.  The trail was steep, but it was not straight up sttep.  My heart rate was through the roof though.  I chose to stop for a break. My glasses were fogging up. Then second and third break before making it all the way up.  It was still early in the race, so I could burn some time. The few slower runners behind me passed me by.  There might be only one or two runners farther back.  I did not want to be the last one. It was kind of embarrassing.

    It was two hours later since the start of the race by the time I was up on the ridge.  I felt better after the many breaks up on the first climb and I now could move a bit faster.  Luckily on subsequent climbs, I did not have the same trouble.  The trail gradually evened out and I caught back up to the five or six people who were ahead of me.  Some were people I know such as Samantha from our running club and Anuj (gentleman I met and finished together at VT100). They lifted my spirit as I aimed to get to the first aid station soon around mile 7. I had high hope to run with them for a long way throughout the day, but soon they were falling behind me after a brief conversation.

    The first AS was a water only station.  My pack was still good with water or so I thought but having heard the next one is a long way to go, I stopped to fill up.  They filled it to the top.  It was good because I found out I drank almost all with only tiny bit left on the way up.

    I hit the second AS on my expected pace mid morning, though not at 17 min pace but 19 and I could live with that.  I told myself this race is hard, but as long as I maintain a 19-20 min pace, I would finish. I was aiming to gain about a min or half a min per mile and I aimed to lower my stoppage time at the aid stations. By now, I fell into a group of people about my pace, one of them was a mother and her daughter.  We would be together until we dropped from the race the next morning.

    The trail was still knarly and to me it was not really runable yet.  People I talked to told me that the later sections would be easier on the footing.  Climbs will still be there but less technical.

    Indeed, the trail became less rocky and more runnable.  I picked back up the pace a bit and arrived to the first crewed station, pretty much on target of a 19-20 min pace but not the 17 min pace I had wanted. I knew to finish this race, I would have to be quick and efficient.  I went through the AS less than 3 mins and was out again.  I was happy to see me crew and friends. I entered the race in the Solo Division (meaning no crew or pacer, but won’t mind to switch to crew if needed as the race permitted us to switch midway). 

    Because I was quick at the AS, I caught up with a lot of other runners who had stayed 10 minutes or more longer.  One was Fredinald.  Fredinald had done the race 10 years ago and today was hoping only to reached 50 miles.  We hiked the next hill together and chatted. I knew a lot of people around me were struggling with the pace.  I felt I need to get ahead of them because people like Fredinald had no intention to finish, which did not bode well. 

    My goal was either to run past them or if they could stay my pace, and use them as a companion.  We were all in the same boat of being slow.  I put my faith in my hiking ability and hoped that I would not suffer the same fate to quit the race too early.  I hoped to go more than 50 miles.

    I gradually picked off others and passed runners including our local running friends, Daisy and Jeremy (who did finish).  I know I was not out of the woods yet with a 20 min pace, but at least I was gaining 1 min every mile.  But passing people let me know I was doing the right pace.  I hope by nightfall, I would gain an hour from the cutoff.

    By afternoon, on a long section to Hyner Runs we had several long runnable sections and people around were picking up the pace and passing me.  There were people by the look of it were trying too hard (hard breathing and out of shape) and I was wondering if they would finish.  I was still maintaining my walking pace because that was the best I could do but I was able to still pass people. I was surprised to reach Hyner well ahead of my plan 20 min pace.  Actually the original plan was to get there by 6:10 pm but with me just mostly walking, I set my goal of getting there by 7:30, and I got there at 6:50, 40 mins ahead.  That was still a huge win.  I took a few minutes at the AS and headed out before 7 pm, ahead of many runners who came in ahead of me.  My crew and friend said she would meet me at the next crew location at Tomb Flats. 

    It was reassuring to know she would be there in the middle of the night.  I figured, I am likely to get there between 1 am to 2 am.  I wouldn’t believe that I later arrived near 3 am (2:45-2:50), behind my intended pace.

    Usually I do better at night or so I believed.  I reached the halfway point, mile 51 at 10 pm.  I was still good on pace.  I could finish the race in 34 hours if I maintained it. I have been passing people just by walking and not rushing. 

    However, by midnight, things got hard.  I now couldn’t recall the specifics that slowed me down. The trail was harder to find. I was getting sleepy.  People whom I passed earlier throughout the day now passing me back.  I did not mind, but I knew I was not pulling it through. 

    In the middle of the night around 2 am, I met a friend we ran together before in another race (I think at  MMT), he also battling sleepiness from fatique. We both decided to take a 5 min nap on the side of the trail before continue on.

    I knew we did not have much time. It was more a gamble.  If I could freshen up, I might have a chance.  It was about two miles to the next aid station, so I urged my new friend if we could run for it because the cutoff was soon.  So we ran.  I think it was more than 2 miles, felt like 4 but eventually we reached the big river at Tomb Flats. (I called it the Rocky Chucky; it was probably the crossing of Pine Creek). My crew was there cheering me on as I crossed.  It was not an easy crossing because the stones underfoot were slick. There was a rope but it was not taunt and no other people were there to anchor it like in Western States. The rope was there as a guide but not so much as for weight bearing. The runner in front of me was falling and moving the rope around and it caused me to lose my footing too. Eventually, I got across.

    It was the station with my first drop bag.  I had my dry shirt and socks there, but I felt if I stop to change, I might not be able to start back up. Note, generally consensus was volunteers at earlier stations were snappier in offering runners their drop bags and more attentive.  Not putting any shade since now it is middle of the night and we were near closing time.  I didn’t want my crew to help yet since I was intended to run solo.

      I was 15 minutes from the cutoff.  So I went out after getting some water and food.  An aid station volunteer gave me a small can of coffee, a cold brew.  Looking back, it might have helped run better if I did change out the wet clothes and rest a bit like some of my friends in the race did.  But with only 10-15 minutes before the cutoff, it was just too scary to sleep with your crew looking on.

    If I thought, the time on the trail between 2-3 am was bad, wait till it was 3-5 am.  Now I was actually sleep walking.  I had no idea how I got through this.  The race seemed slipping by me.  My former friend who ran with me down to Tomb Flats was no longer with me.  I took another 5 min sleep break on the side of the trail and then forced myself up again.  It was a long way up and mostly just climbing.  The sleep did me good for maybe an hour before I was sleepy again.  Amazingly, I caught up to the earlier sleepy friend I met on the trail, and he was just as sleepy as I was, so we both stopped one more to sleep.  He slept on a rock to the left and I slept on the rock to the right.  And now a lot of runners were passing us by.  Some exclaimed, some just silently avoided us.  I knew too much sleep, we wouldn’t make the next cutoff.  Once again, after 5 mins, I got up.  This time I abandoned my new friend and ran like if the devil was after me.  As I have done a lot of races, you kind of knew when you are in trouble with pacing and being the last one back. My spider sense was hurrying me to run for it.

    God was with me and I sang as I ran through the woods.  By now whether I could make the next cuttoff or not, it does not matter.  I just want to have a good morning run.  The trail was empty of runners by now.   I knew soon it we would have daylight. I was pretty sure I was the last runner.  The rest wouldn’t make it.

    5 am came, I have survived the race for 24 hours.  6 am was sunrise.  I passed two gentlemen stumbling slowly forward.  I knew they likely wouldn’t make the cutoff.  They cheered me when they saw my pace.  I was a bit glad, I finally was making progress.  The next cutoff was at 6:30. Somehow by God’s grace I made it through at 6:27.  I had no time to fill up water (well I could have but chose not to).  I had some water left in my pack and the volunteer filled my handheld bottle and off I went.  I knew I would be out of water in the next stretch. 

    With the morning sunrise, I had new energy.  There were now a lot of people I was passing, dozen or so runner in a group usually 2-3.  I passed one after another as I made my way up.  People who recognized me cheered me on and exclaimed I made it through the last cutoff.  I was definitely proud of that.  They had assumed I would not make it through the night because they were ones who found me sleeping on the trail.

    From Tomb Flats to Cedar Runs was 10 long miles.  And Cedar Runs to Blackwell was 8 miles.  This was another long stretch! There’s nothing else but to hang onto my pace.  Like it has been the last 24 hours, as long as I could maintain a 20 mins pace, I could finish. Note, of all the people I passed, only myself and another lady would make it to the next cutoff.

    My feet started to have blisters since I did not change shoes or socks Tomb Flats (mile 62). I had my second drop bag at Blackwells, mile 80, with dry socks and shoes and was hoping I could change them out.  Somewhere a mile out from Blackwells, my GPS goofed up.  There were some weird flagging seemed to indicate a turn but I found no where for turning so I lost some 5-10 minutes going back and forth in determining the right way to go.  My frustration level was high and there were some runners about to caught up from behind.  I knew, I needed to get to the AS by 9:15 and I was seeing my clock winding down.  My best guess was it might be still two miles away. 

    Two female runners passed me, so I asked them for the distance, they said they were expecting 4.5 miles left.  Uff-dah and they were booking it.  I knew I would have to run hard to make it to the station.  So after them I chased.  I caught up to them on a downhill and I could hear the people cheering from the aid station we had maybe 10-15 mins left on the clock.  This was a huge gain from 3 mins at a prior station.  I encouraged the two runners saying it only takes 5 minutes to get to the AS.  So I ran again and arrived at the station with 8 minutes to spare. 

    My pacer was ready to pace me out.  I competed as a Solo runner (no pacer) but here, I knew I needed all the helps I could get. It was time to be crewed and paced and gave up on my solo status. It would have been good if I asked for my drop bag. My mind at the time was to get out quickly.

    My water has been out for a long time.  So, I had my pack filled.  Not sure if I ate something.  I must have. As for changing shoes or socks, it was too late.  No one was asking if I wanted to change, I would have said no either way.  I reached mile 80, and there would be 24 miles left and have until 5 pm to reach it. 

    Here at Blackwells AS going out seemed like a giant maze.  As usual, I asked which way is out.  Volunteers pointed in a general direction and I was sure they gave verbal directions too.  I had my pacer so I was not worry about finding the trail. 

    This is on me.  I should have slow down or stop to fix my gps but I was pumping with adrenaline of having made the cutoff again.  So I was rushing out. 

    Other runners later too attested that volunteers at the particular station said to go up the road, and some of us really went up the road instead of turning onto the trail on the left.

    So up the road we went.  I started mumbling that I hadn’t seen any flagging at all.  My companion/safety runner said she saw them just ahead.   

    All the warning bells were going off by now, because I haven’t seen any flags but was assured by my friend that she had.  I decided to turn around disregarding the two other runners who were running with us.

    Going back downhill was easier than going up hill.  But the time lost was pretty much not recoverable.  I checked the watch and it was 9:40, we were way off course, for me, that is too late.  We did find the trail at the bottom of the hill.

    The sweepers caught up to us.  The only way was to go forward (I was considering turning around back to the aid station at the time, so that I could sleep).  The next aid station was 4.5 miles away.  It was an awesome climb.  I finally get to slow down and enjoyed the view.  From 10 to 1 pm.  We trekked on.  At time, I felt sorry that I was the last runner.  But God was humorous and merciful.  Right before we reached the aid station Sky Rock, not so much rocks but it was up up and up in the sky, we stumbled on a runner laying on the trail.  The sweepers went and worked on the troubled runner who said he has not eaten for the last 7 hours.  The sweepers told us to continue heading to the aid station.  People at the aid station sent a medic team down.  Everything ended well.  The poor runner was rescued. I was relieved that I was not the one laying on the trail.

    My 100 mile (103 actually) ended at mile 85.  There would be 17-18 miles left.  The volunteers were kind enough to feed us with mellons and fruits and we eventually had our ride back to the finish. 

    The rest of the day was spent  sleeping, eating, and cheering as runners came in at the finish including a few of my friends, Ike, Scott, and Jeremy. Scott ran it 10 times or something. I also made a new friend at the finish with another runner who also ran it 10 times.

    Is there a lesson learned? Probably.  I could have trained better of not getting behind on the pacing early on.  My friend teased me of trying to wing a 100 miler without much training especially a hard one.

    It is always hard to catch back into the game once falling behind.

    As for staying strong or up during the night, that is always hard. I could have carried some caffeine pills.  That was on me of not having a counter measure for sleep deprivation ahead of time.

    Third, probably most important, is stay alert and be reactive to turn around quickly the moment the path was doubtful. I did talk too much and thus missed the turn.

    Fourth related to it, fix the gps immediately, that was one reliable tool to stay on course.

    Fifth, course study!  I studied the course turn by turn the first 50 miles and but not for the second half. So it was on me.  I should have familiar at least of all the aid station’s entrants and exits.

    Bless the Lord, there were many instances where I could have tripped over and got hurt badly but always at the last minute, I regained my footing and did some acrobatic stunts. I finished relatively healthy, minus some blisters and sunburn. I had a great time both hiking and then the early Sunday hour run, with renewed strength. That was my best moment of the race to catch up from behind. 

    I was thankful to have a friend and pacer ready to jump in at any moment when I was in distress.  As to whether I could finish in my condition, it was hard to say.  I was barely hanging on. Time was slipping.  There were 8 hours left and two more aid stations to go. Even couple of friends who were stronger runners than me finished with only 10-15 minutes to spare. It would have been a very hard push to the finish.

    The two female runners, who got lost along with me, they finished.  I salute them for having the true courage and strength of not giving up and overcame a big setback.  I do wonder…what needed to push that hard.  I knew I did not have it in me that day to do the heroic thing.  It was my weakness for possibly giving up too soon. My pacer did tell me to run like them.

    Yes, DNF hurts, then again we have to be thankful of what we already achieved. We all entered a race always hoping we would finish.  There were a lot I can take away.  I had a nice day on the trail and I had good trip going there and coming back. I run to meet people and I did.  I run for the experience.  It was a good experience. Thankful I got a chance to do it and ran with some very good friends. 

  • [618] Naked Bavarian

    I am addicted with running, my friend commented.

    My life consists of work work work and run run run.

    When I was in school, we had the motto to work hard and to play hard. We often use a blowfish to represent us which can drink up 10x – 20x their body weight. Meaning, we take things to the excess. Not much is change now. I don’t drink or party in excess but I do love running.

    For me nothing is more fulfilling than to be out on the trail and run.

    This past weekend I was at the Naked Bavarian 40 miler.  Of course, it has been raining the whole week. Luckily the race was not canceled.  However, the Race Director had reduced the distance from 40 miles to 20 miles.

    Many of us did not mind a bit because the trail condition was horrible.

    It was a mud fest.  Every inch of the trail was in a foot deep of mud.  I might be exaggerated a bit but not by much.

    It was slipping and sliding.  By the time we finished the first 20 miles no one wanted to go back out for another 20.

    This was my first time at the Naked Bavarian but the race organization is known to me.  I ran their Naked Nick twice (the 50k in December).  I got to know them through the Philadelphia trail marathon, though the year I wanted to run it, it was canceled due to the pandemic and I still haven’t had the chance to return to do it. I almost did in 2021, but decided not to at the last moment, so 2022 and 2023, I ran their Naked Nick.

    Naked Bavarian was at the same location as the Naked Nick at Blue Marsh, Leesport, in central Pennsylvania, near the town Reading. The course is run on the north part of the lake as oppose to the south side.

    The trail is generally runable.  We had a bit of climbs about 2000 ft total.  There were about 200+ runners, which is really big for a trail race.

    My friend Jana was there.  She was there during my last two Naked Nick run too. This time I did not see her at all during the race until later seeing her social media posting. I finished first, but I was away from the finish line (in my car changing).

    I generally don’t like rain or mud but once I am on the trail I don’t mind it.  It was a hard run but fun. 

    I came prepared.  I had on two raincoats (a jacket and poncho).  One is enough but two…I don’t know why, maybe I like my legs being covered too. I felt better with two on me.  The day was cold maybe around 40 F.  It was raining but not heavily.  The trail turned muddy once runners were on it.  It meant every step, we had to put more effort in picking up our feet and also watched where we were stepping.  In the end it did not matter, because everywhere was mud.  Mud acts like suction cups, so our feet were stuck with each step.  It was gross all over.

    Aid stations were good.  We had good supports.  I stopped at every one. 

    A runner, Paul, was with me for the entire race.  I have seen him at other races.  He has become quite a runner like me. 

    We chatted and such.  I finished around 12:38 (about 4:38 hr for the 20 miler).  I stayed in my car the next hour or so to change and get warm before heading back out to watch the finish.

    I then stayed till the last runner came in.  The race closed around 3 pm.  I had good soup from the station.  The rest of the day and weekend was uneventful.

    Ah the next day I went out to the Roller Coaster of the AT had a day of hiking.  Nothing much to be said.  I put in probably another 20 miles. It was my cool down day and I felt so much better after an intense Saturday. I could say a lot more. I got my training in.

    Time flew by. I could not remember much.

    The place where I almost lost my phone. Luckily two hikers (backpacker, or thru hiker) found my phone and brought it with them to the trailhead.

  • [Day599] Celtic Soltice + Naked Nick

    Naked Nick 50k is a race I wanted to do for maybe the past four years (actually, not this race but a related race by the same organization, which now no longer available, long story of how come I ended up as Naked Nick), and I finally ran it last year.

    Of course, last year, I just finished the Devil Dog 100 and I was not ready to run it. I thought I haven’t truly tested the course. So this year, I at least had two weeks of break after running the Devil Dog.

    The day before Naked Nick, my friend urged me to run the Celtic Soltice 5 miler on Saturday. It was a race she was enthusiastic about because of the wolfhounds and about visiting Bethlehem and how we would then carpool together to PA. It would be all so good.

    For me running a 5 mile and having to travel hundred miles to Baltimore was not that appealing, petting wolfhounds or not. It was also a winter race, plus, it is a day before the big race. Its entry fee was a bit steep (but I didn’t have to pay for it). Woohoo, my first “sponsored” race! I asked them if I could get sponsored for all my 2024 races as well. Anyway, we had good swag and a lot better finisher food (unlimited wine, beer, soup, celtic cookies, plus the usual snacks and water). There also a few local clubs and if you were able to convince them that you are part of their club, you get free food from them too! I think it was worth the high price.

    We had a warm sunny day. The temperature started around 40s F and rose to 60s F (15C). It was quite a warm day for a run. We still wore a jacket before the start. I dressed in layers and got rid one by one, but then it got cold because the long wait because we got there early by six and we had to go back to the car for more layers. I loved the dumpter fires they had going on. The fire flakes burned holes in my new puffy jacket 😦

    I haven’t done shorter distance in a while, so it took me a bit of time to adjust to the higher tempo pace. I put up a little over 9 min pace (9:12 – ish), which is slow for my standard, but for that day considered fast because of all the ultras I have been running. My legs had not done such fast pace recently. I finished in about 47 minutes.

    It felt good to run fast and a 5 mile is a good distance of not too short and not too long. The course too was a bit hilly and that worked in my favor because I like hills to train on. My lung was strong. My legs though, should have moved faster. They were not tired but they just could not pump out the energy fast enough. I just was not trained for the faster turn over. They were strong but slow. They were perfect for hilly course.

    Then the very next day was Naked Nike 50k in Leesport, PA. It was about three hours away. We were blessed with warmer temperature and the rain held off until 4 pm, so I was dry during my run.

    It was two loops. I thought I did better than last year. My feet were stronger and healthy. My lung was good, being tested to the max at Celtic Solstice and survived. I felt I could have finished a bit faster. Last year, I felt I ran too fast on the first loop and had to struggle on the second.

    This year, I finished the first loop in 3:30 and the second loop in 3:15. It was the golden reverse split most runners chased after. However, last year I had a faster overall time of 6:39. The official result has not been posted, but I felt I came in a few minutes after 6:39, maybe at 6:42, I forgot to look at my watch when I came in but by the time I checked, it was 6:45 (2:45 pm). I was puzzled why I was slower this year. I might have ran the flat section a bit too slow, since I haven’t done speed training lately, and it showed.

    The course was hilly as well, but I ran all the uphills except one that was very steep. This wass right in my alley. I have strong feet. I just did the Devil Dog, so my legs were still strong. Climbing was not an issue. Downhills though, I was a bit afraid. Maybe I did not attack the downhill as agressively as before. My time was a few minutes slower. I can’t wait for the official result to be posted (6:45:01). Anyway, I was hoping for a significant improvement like 15 minutes or more, but it came down to be about the same.

    As for the race itself, the atmosphere was festive. I met a few new friends and reconnected with some older ones. I met Jana halfway through the course. She was first to spot me at the first aid station. This year, I did not wait for her, though she caught up and stayed behind me for the remaining first loop. I helped her retying her shoes.

    I had fun out on the course. I ran at my own pace, chasing a few runners from tine to time. Generally I was by myself. I saw the midpack came in (5 hours people) as I was still outbounding. I was no where near them. There were times I was wondering if I was too slow because I was alone fot a long time on my second loop. I passed some of the people who started me. Halfway through the second loop, I started catching up to a few more runners. It was pretty uneventful. There was a 28 year old lady, who gained on me the last few miles after I passed her, but each time she dropped back for being out of breath. I thought she would stay with her husband/boyfriend. She left her friends and kept my pace. We finished almost neck to neck. I did offer to pace her, but she did not seem interested, but instead tried to overtake me. Many times, I thought she would succeed and begone, but our pace ended up being even. I don’t think she likes me much after we finished together.

    Because I finished couple hours before my friend Caroline, I could enjoy the food and all the hot dogs and soup. I talked with runners, whom many I passed during the race. Time flew by. Soon it was near closing. I saw many slower finishers, 7 hours, and 8 hours. By 4:20 pm, I decided to walk out a bit to check for Caroline. I saw her not too far away around 4:30 pm, maybe about half a mile out. Just a bit from the park entrance. She made it in by 4:45 as the last runner.

    For me the benefit of returning to this was the familarity of the course. Another reason, I thought I could run it faster. I thought I did not put effort into it last year and this year, I truly was gunning for it this time. In all phases of the race, I thought I was ahead of the game. I passed Jana earlier than expected. I passed Caroline too earlier than I was expected. All the markers I used to judge my pace, I felt I was good. It came as a surprise when I did not finish any faster than last year. I kept asking myself, what did I do last year to make me gained 6 minutes faster! Maybe my memory was faulty. I would need to check back on my last year report (I just checked, I didn’t write one for some reason). So I guess my memory of last year event was faulty.

    Conclusion, Naked Nick 50 was well worth the cost. For $39, it truly lives up to its name of being low frill and high enjoyment. The aid stations were actually quite good. There is no medals or shirts though, and for some this is a deal breaker.

    Just before the start, we listened to final instructions. I liked to stay in the back and tried to see how many people I could pass. The first couple miles self sorted out the pack.

  • Day497 Rock n the Knob

    Another year, another week and another race report – It was my third time running and third race this fall season! I’m not jaded by it yet. I love fall! (year1, year2)

    As if readers haven’t realized, I am hitting my races in full strides this season. This one Rock-n-the Knob is one of the hardest marathons in Pennsylvania and might be the hardest on the east coast. Couple weeks ago I was at Virginia highest peak (Mt Rogers, not literally but was in the area of Skull Gap and Grayson Highlands, while running the Iron Mountain event) and this week, I had the chance of being on Pennsylvania 2nd highest peak (Blue Knob Mnt). This stuff doesn’t mean anything to me, but they are bragging points to show how badass my races were. This time I had 7000 ft in 26.5 miles with most of the elevation at the tail end. Backloading the run. I was looking for hard races for a reason to prepare myself for my December Devil Dog 100.

    I enjoyed it for the challenge as well as the over all fun of running. I met old friends, made new ones, camped out. It was a lot of work but it was a beautiful weekend and well worth it. Thank you for all the food afterward too. Food was a bonus. My non-running friends asked me why I run so much, that’s why. I enjoy it.

    This course ran like a 50k. The first place male finisher finished it just under 5 hours. Female first place was around 6:30. My time was 8 hours. My 50k normally takes around 6-7 hours. You can say this is harder than a 50k.

    Coming in with the prior years experience, I learned to start slow, real slow. Last year I started still too fast and choked at halfway. This year was a lot easier for me to run. The climbs were still tough. I ended with sore ankles, quads, hip, and everywhere. Running hurts my shoulders too! I guess I ran while hunching over. They are the good pain mostly. Non runners were asking why!? Why put ourselves through the suffering. Somehow, they will prepare me for my next run. A lesson: no matter how hard I ran the week before, you only get a quality work out like this race, by doing hard runs. This was a hard run! A run I really need for — The Devil Dog.

    We have a field of about 50 starters, and this was fewer than last year. A Small group. This year, I was the last person (third to last) by the time I got onto the trail. Everyone had left me, unlike previous years when everyone seemed to be in my way. (I think I said the same thing last year). I couldn’t believe I was slower or people were faster.

    I ran for a long time by myself. It did not bother me. Oh, I found an iPhone, one of the newer ones (iPhone 13 or 14). A runner before me actually spotted it but she did not know what to do and was going leave it back on the trail. Someone called out to take it to the Aid Station, so I picked it up. Apparently it was dropped by one of the fast runners. He came back for it later on, like 15 minutes later. I was glad I did not have to lug the heavy phone for 6 miles to the first aid station. Not sure if he got on the podium later. He said, he would have dropped from the race if he couldn’t find it. I glad I did a good deed. I overheard him of being with the third place runner.

    By the 3rd mile, I saw the first guy I could pass (Sean). He is a big guy but he was limble as well as powerful on his feet and he out ran me on downhills and such. To me, he look like three or four times my size, yet he was pushing up and flying on down hills. I always have the image of an (American) football player doing ballerina on the trail. What a sight. I was thinking how on earth he could move and moving so well. He passed me like a freight train. However, Over time though I reeled him in. I had no doubt I could pass him.

    I caught up. He passed me back, but I waited till for another uphill and I was sure I could pass him for good. In front of him was a runner having bib 304. She was the last year last runner. She started walking on the flat portions. Soon I passed her too as my pace was still strong. I believe at this point in the race, you could walk to finish a 9-hr marathon, but you have to walk fast!

    After her were two faster ladies. We pushed our way to the first Aid Station (AS) together. At the AS, I learned from my recent ultra races to be quick! I was in and out in no time. If you can’t beat a runner on the trail beat them at the AS transition. Be faster than them going out. I was out before the two women. They were still chatting from behind but they did not catch right up. One later did catch up to me, but she seemed to overly exerted herself. If you get a good head start, they might not able to catch back up.

    Ahead of me were a couple. It seemed the guy was pacing the lady. I reeled them in slowly, gaining on them at every uphill over the next two miles. Soon I was close enough and they let me pass at one of the hills. Some asked why I did not pass them the moment I saw them?

    One of the ladies from behind caught up and kind of ask why I did not pass the couple. My reasoning was, if they provide me a good pace, (pacing) why destroy that relationship or the pace. If it is not broken don’t fix it. If you follow someone long enough you will realize whether they could provide a steady pace or not. If they could, then use them. See, if I passed them too early, they would be strong enough to overtake me again. It would be a competition of passing one another. It wastes a lot of effort. I could end up draining myself. However, if they have relatively the same pace as me, then let them lead. Then I could follow and I could go at the pace I want without doubting if I were going fast enough for people from behind.

    This couple though were able to stay on my heels till Quitter Row AS (final 10k). They were strong runners. Actually, I did not know they were behind me till we came into Quitter Row together. And that was at mile 20. They followed me for over 15 miles. Lesson: I thought I was smart in using people but people ended up using me right back!

    After passing them, I came to Brian and a 65 year old guy. They are stronger runners than those I passed. Of course. I was now with seasoned runners. So I chased them for couple of miles and was not being able to pass easily. This portion had the first big uphill “Teal is Real”. Soon we came to the 2nd AS at Pavia. Dang, both of them were super quick with the transitioning too. I thought I was good but they bested me. It seemed they didn’t need much of anything. They beated me out the station. When you are competing with a 65 y.o., they are experts at reducing every wasted second on the clock. Brian was nice to say goodbye and said he will see me in a bit. He knew I could catch up.

    It was on downhill but still took me a while to catch up to them. They were only a minute or two ahead, yet they were far enough. I was not able to pass them because they were strong runners. I learned Brian was the same guy I encountered last year at the creek (where I threw up, “I nettle do it again/Beaver Dam”) and he gave me the needed encouragement to get me back on track and to finish the race. Last year, he ended up not making the cut himself to finish the last 10k of the course. Memories from that race came in. Brian talked a lot.

    On one hand, learning that he did not make the cutoff had me a bit worried since today I was running at his pace. However the 65 year old guy said he finished around 8 hours and that boosted my confident a bit that I was with the right crowd. This was their third time too. I felt likely, we were faster than last year at that point in time.

    We arrived at Raven Rest (AS3) (not sure it it should be Raven Nest). After this, we had the hardest and longest climb in my opinion. I beated them on a climb and so arrived a little early and got out the AS before them this time around. I grabbed a bag of food-to-go I thought was a bag of chips and accidentally took all the station’s fish crackers with me. Sorry! Some might think that was a strat, but I did not mean to.

    I have gained a couple minutes. I could hear them talking in the back. Brian found a snake. In my mind, good. Go check out the snake and let me get couple more minutes ahead of them. He did. I saw him stopping and peeking to the woods. I did not see them again till Quitter Row (AS 5).

    By mile 15-17, we started to catch some half marathoners. This is always what I like to do. We are doing the full with an hour headstart but we ran 10k more by this time, by catching up to the half marathoners made me feel I was back on the course pace. The half marathons we passed were all walking, whether uphills or downhills.

    Brian commented that the half marathon’s sweeper was here at this point in the race last year as they made this climb. So we were earlier than the sweeper this year as the sweeper was no where in sight (the sweeper is my friend Aaron, and he was sweeping again this year). We had two hours to get to the next station at Heavenly Hairpins. I pushed ahead. The climb was tough but it was not like last year when I was seeing spinning stars and blacking out and then throwing up from heat exhaustion. This year, I was only sweating profusely. I made sure I continued to drink and eat my fish crackers. I got the whole bag of them. I reached to the Heavenly Hairpins AS, with an hour to spare. There I caught up with more half marathoners and a couple of the marathoners. It made me happy, I felt I caught up to the bulk of the race by now and no longer in the tailend group. I was leading them. Being in the tailend had me worry about being cut. Now I was with the good crowd. We were only 2.5 miles away from Quitter Row and I was an hour well ahead of the final cutoff.

    An overlook, I think we are at the highest knob in PA if not the second highest

    These two miles were probably the most fun in the entire race. We got to run down a ski slope and ran back up and then ran down a probably black diamond rated slope. It was too steep even to stand on, not sure how people ski down it. I remembered the first year, I had to slide down on my butt. Then we had to climb back up on the scrambling trail, which was not really a trail (I need a sherpa) but more like mountain climbing back up on your hands and knees. I was wearing road shoes that had the treads worn down, so it was super exciting trying to get a grip of the trail.

    ski lift. We would be at the bottom somewhere. It doesn’t look too steep until you have to climb back up

    We reached the Quitter Row AS. This was the race “last” cutoff. I was still an hour ahead. It was named such because here is the place if you want to quit, you could because this was the start/finish for the race and it is tempting to do so. I came in with a runner, and he said he was feeling nauseated. We had him sat down. I told him, no need to rush out, but try resetting and when he is ready go out again for the final 10K, do it. I told him last year, I was there till the cutoff, and still had two hours to do a 10K and I finished the race. Finishing at this point is doable.

    However, he was young and inexperienced. I asked if his crew/family is there, he said yes, I handed him off to his wife. However, she seemed to be unprepared to help him, only told him about don’t quit. They were standing around. I understood no crewing or pacing in this race, but I know the race rules could be bend a bit. If a runner needed help, go help!

    In my mind, he should be given a chair, and wrap in a towel, get him warm up or cool down, freshen up, take care of his food/water/feet or whatever, then get him back out. He himself did not know what to ask either. I would ask for a gatorade. Get some fluid in him. Reset his system.

    He ended up dropping. I had no time to evaluate his condition, so I did not encourage or wait on him to go back out, since I didn’t want him to stuck with 6 miles feeling miserable out there. He had to make that choice himself. If he was more direct (assertive) and committed, I would be more than willing to help him as I did last year with Jenn. Personally, I felt if he reset himself, and with a pacer, he would definitely finish it.

    I had three hours to do the final portion so even if I walk, I would still be finishing the race. As I ran, I thought back on the last year race. Jenn and I were so strong here. We blasted out the station and then flying down hills on this portion last year. This time, I was by myself and I was taking my time. There was a group of 5-6 behind me but I was always leading them. They were within earshot but I couldn’t see them. I could hear them but they were usually a good distance away to pass me. I got to Throat Punch AS. I swallowed some chocolate covered coffee beans and off I went. Three time the volunteers cheered me as they thought I was about to set off and each time I ended staying some more for their food. I stayed a bit longer here because I knew a tough climb ahead. I did not set off until I heard the group pack being near and there were cheering in the back. Off I went with a bunch of coffee beans in my mouth.

    I had maybe couple more miles to go and it was mostly an uphill climb back to Blue Knob where we would finish. The climb was much easier than I remembered. Granted this year, I was not cramping up like last year while scrambling up. I got through the Soul Sucker. I had cramps earlier while descending to Throat Punch, but now they were under control. Also I got plenty of energy from the AS to prep for the climb. I also did not have to wait for my partner like last year, when I waited 4-5 mins at every hill for Jenn. My only concern was to hold off the “wolf” pack that was chasing me. It was mostly for pride. I don’t mind if they beat me up the hill, but I hoped to do better than them.

    Cadillac Alley – the sign there Cadillac parking only…someone (a druggie) got his Cadillac up on the trail, and no tow company would go out to get it back down. It’s been there since last year

    The finish was anticlimatic. I got to the top with 15 minutes left on my target finish time. My closest competitor was maybe 5 minutes ahead, and I could not close in. There was maybe a mile of trail left. Soon I saw the road and I sprinted in, finishing before the 8 hour mark.

    The rest of the afternoon was waiting for the rest of the pack to finish. I thought they were on my heels. The 65 y.o. guy came in like 10 minutes after me, which is still quite close. I couldn’t go to greet him because I had awful cramps in both legs for an hour or so. Finally a fellow runner helped me on my feet and my cramping then was gone. I felt much better, I could run and move again. I then was able to change into my clean clothes and had a good meal as well as join in the celebration with the rest of the runners.

    The group that was chasing me came in spreading over the last hour. During the run, I felt they were on my heels. Some took my advice of not rushing the final 10k. I remember everyone I passed. It was good to cheer them as they came in.

    Sean, the big guy showed up on the road with less than 2 minutes left on the clock. Seriously, I did not expect him to finish but he did. We saw him with the sweeper from far away. Everyone jumped up and rushed to the finishing chute cheering. We were hoping he would arrive before 5 pm, when the race would close. We were on edge whether he would he make it. Sean was splinting to the end with the sweeper right behind. He made it in as the final second on the clock expired. (They actually turned off the clock ahead of 5 pm, and so some were wondering if he made it in). He did. He earned it.

    Take away – Why do I love running, going on trip, and doing these kinds of things every weekend? The full answer deserve a blog post, but the short version is, because I love it. It is exciting. It gives me a story to tell. To me, it is a good experience. I reread my last two year posts. Weird my memory has changed a bit even though I can remember a race for a long time and relive them. Even if I forget, I have it written down here. If it is not too boring, I might attempt to write a longer version.

  • Day480 WEU

    TL;DR – weekend trip to a running event

    There’s a saying you can’t step into the same river twice. This becomes more likely as I repeat many of my past races or events. My weekend at the Worlds End Ultra (WEU) was my attempt this year to step into the same river twice (2021) and ended mildly disappointed. Disappointed might be a bit harsh but being unexpectedly disatisfied is more like it when compared to last year. What did they say about jealousy? Comparison is the thief of joy?

    Why did I go in the first place? It was a race I wanted to do myself. It’s a very hard race and with a lot of friendly people. It has beautiful views. I only knew about it last year when a friend promoted volunteering for it on his social media. I joined him there. To me it was like a retreat and a runner paradise. I never run in the official Worlds End Ultra but being a volunteer there was like brush with celebrities.

    Like in Psalm, the psalmist wrote a day in your court (temple) is better than a thousand elsewhere.

    Going to a race is like going on a pilgrimage for me.

    I signed up to volunteer maybe back in January. I booked my camp in March. As the race day approached, I was a bit concern after not receiving any confirmation/instructional email of what I will be doing and who’s my boss. Maybe I did receive but I couldn’t find it or maybe the email might have gone into the spam folder.

    So I went and signed up again. I signed up to help clean up on Sunday too. This time I received an email both from the signup site and from the volunteer director. I got things settled. Basically, I was asked if proofing the course would be fine with me. I’d rather to do sweeping as I have done that last year, but if that is not available, proofing would be fine too. Best of all, I could run on the official course before anyone.

    So I prepared for the weekend. Here I have a bit of complaint. Mostly it was my fault too of not asking for the pertinent info: who, what, when, where, and how. I had only the location and what I would be doing. I was not told where to meet and when to meet or more details on what I will be doing. I guess most volunteers would get there on Friday night and received their briefing. I live about 5 hours drive away and though I wanted to be there as early as I can, but realistically I could not arrive until Saturday.

    The coordinator understood this and assigned me a post where I don’t have to start until noon.

    Like last year, I plan on driving to PA on Saturday morning instead of Friday due to work. It is a 5 hour drive for me (4:30 according to Google map) but Google Map assumed I will be driving 55 mph or more on mountain roads where sometimes they posted a very high limit higher than what I am comfortable driving and driving it in the dark. Their time estimation is usually wrong for me. Never trust google when going to a remote place.

    After thinking a bit I’d rather drive there late at night than early in the morning since I rarely was able to sleep early enough to wake up before the crack of dawn unless it is for my own race. This race starts at 5 AM, so if I want to make it to the start I would have to leave my house at the latest by midnight, meaning I have to be in bed by 6 pm. I do plan to depart way before then. I hate late night driving too, but I felt I could at least make some miles before I was tired.

    What I wanted to do rarely goes according to plan. I had a dental appointment that afternoon. It was partly unexpected, and forgotten. When I thought I went in for a filling, I came out with a deep below the gum cleaning. My mouth was bleeding during it because they had to cut into my gum. It was not painful but it was uncomfortable. I compared that to running with blisters on my foot, which I had done quite a few times in my ultra marathon runs. I could stand the pain and the uncomfortableness and the bleeding. I was advised to rinse my mouth with salt water but I told my dentist I was going camping immediately that night. Salt would be hard to come by. There wouldn’t be salt etc out in the woods. I would deal with the pain was what I told myself. It couldn’t get it infected over the weekend. F*

    The Friday afternoon traffic was as bad as usual and by the time I got home it was 6 pm. I wanted to eat and pack — it was my fault for not packing the night before. I got those taking care of by 7 ish. Then I still had some work left from my day job to be taken care of. Theoretically, I could do them on Monday but I try never move things planned for that day to the next day. My home computer acted up and needed an update. I couldn’t get to my work without the update since it fixes the two factor authentication that I needed for the company login. Long story short, I spent another hour getting the computer ready for work and by the time I finished everything it was 9 o clock, much later than I wanted, but at least now I could get on the road. The pressure I was put under to try get as much done as possible and also my own internal deadline dealing with the trip, because my mind kept saying, I got to leave now every five minutes.

    I loaded up everything and went to a gas station to get myself a tall cup coffee. I needed it and I knew it would be a long night. I’m not a coffee drinker but I found it helps for long trips. I could run while being half awake but driving in that condition is not something I want to stake my life or any other people’s life. It’s dangerous. I can tell first hand, having been through an accident due to lack of sleep.

    The drive that evening was peaceful because it was past rush hour. It was finally a release from all the stresses I faced that day/week. I used a local road to get to PA (hwy 15) instead of the Interstates. Once in PA, I went passed Gettysburg and passed a lot of familar places where I raced before. I continued on to Harrisburg. The drive brought back memories of various trips I took the past few years. I usually use the same roads. From there, I headed toward Williamsport, the nearest city near the race site. I booked hotel there and I knew I probably be tired by then. Midnight came. Then 1 AM, I was started to get drowsy, but luckily I got to the hotel just as it started becoming hard to stay awake.

    The hotel staff was cheerful and checked me in. They had expected me and left the light on in my room and also cooled my room. Probably I was the last guest to show up that night. This was a low end inn but I was greeted by name. The place was a bit dated but room was good and comfortable. I only planned to stay for a couple hours to get rested enough to drive again, for I still planned to get to race by 4 ish in the morning. I have an hour more to go. It means I would have an hour and at max two hours of sleep. By now I was no longer sleepy but I knew I was also in no condition to drive. I was still full of adrenaline (probably from the coffee), like I was in a race, but I knew I must sleep. I set my alarm for 4 am as a compromise, but waking up at 3 AM was originally the plan. Now it was near 2 AM. I did not have a lot of time left. I didn’t even change my clothes but laid across the bed. Alarm went off not long after as if I didn’t sleep. Still I did not feel ready to drive. Since I promised to arrive before noon, I decided to at least sleep at least till 7:00 before continuing the trip. The sun came up at 5, and with the curtains opened and I couldn’t sleep any longer so I decided to check out and be on my way. I felt much refresh by now. Initially, I planned to sleep by the side of the road to save money, but having a hotel room was a wise decision.

    They had breakfast at the hotel so I made myself a waffle and grabbed an apple and some cake. I went then to a nearby gas station to refill my car. I was too early that the pumps there did not work yet. Small town gas stations do not operate 24 hours. The staff was there but they had to set up their registers and computers first, which also control the pump. I think they did not close the book the previous night, so they had to print their sale records first before the pump could be operated. The clerk was having trouble doing that. Another person was there training the person. So I waited, and one of the staff smoked by the door. When everything was ready, they apologized to me for the wait. I got my tank filled and drove out of the town. The sun has fully risen by then.

    Anyway, I arrived at the race site exactly 7:00 as the 50K runners went out. I saw them took off up the road as I walked up to the start. It has been 10 hours since I first left the house for this trip. Finally I arrived.

    For the next couple hours I had nothing to do but walking around. I couldn’t find my contact person or any of race staff at the start. Again that was on my part of not communicate better beforehand. I thought I was going surprise them by arriving earlier than my scheduled time. There were other volunteers there cleaning up the breakfast table but they had their jobs and from experience I know the one in charge was probably busy since the race had just started and I didn’t mind waiting around a bit. I thought soon someone would be back at the start since that was the traditional headquarter for the race. No one came. A few other volunteers showed up too looking for the same person I was looking for, so it was good, at least I had someone to talk to and follow. Someone directed us to look for the Aid Station 4 across the street, likely the coordinator would be there. They were short on staff, it seemed.

    A little while later a runner got lost and came back to the starting line. I think he was one of the 50K runners. He said he has run this race 7 times and had usually gotten lost in the same place. Another volunteer offered to lead the runner back onto the trail saying she knew the way, and so I later decided followed them. I wanted to explore the course. We came to one of the stations (picnic shelter) where the RD (race director) was. By the way, the runner should have been DQ or pulled from the race since it was impossible for the runner to make the next cut off, but we didn’t know. It was not our fault there was no race marshall at the start. The race director told us that the sweeper already went out and so the runner would likely be behind the sweeper if he got back on the trail. We did not know that and we shouldn’t have guided the runner back onto the trail. Oops, but what done was done. The RD was not happy of what we told him of what we just did since now he would have to contact subsequent aid stations to keep a lookout for this particular runner and we had no idea of what the runner’s bib was. I offered to chase down the runner, but the race director did not want that, because it would have ended up with two unknown runners now they have to track. Also we were not a race official that has the power to pull a runner from the race.

    I asked about my volunteering. Fortunately the person I needed to talk to was also there. I did not recognize him at all but he recognized me from last year. He was the volunteer coordinator and he gave me my briefing and basically said I could start my shift any time. He had to bring water to another station so he could not drop me at where I needed to be.

    I was given a race phone and the RD gave me the direction to the part of the course I had to proof. The phone was important because it was specifically set up for our location and would allow me to be in contact with the race management team. I believed AT&T set up a special cell network wih a temporary mobile cell tower(s) for the race and the phone only worked on this network. We each have a preset phone list of various volunteers (such as head of each aid stations/radio operators/my team/etc). They also had traditional ham radio at each station and they used it to track runners and report them back to headquarter because cellular signal is not always the best.

    Proofing in traditional sense is to make sure the course is set up correctly. However, I had no clue how my section of the course is supposed to be like, so no way to confirm if the course was according to the intended course. It is my first time running on it. My section was from Brunnerdale to the Finish, about 14 miles. I drove to Brunnerdale, which I believe was the farest point on the course (took about 30 minutes drive). Finding the trail was easy. The runner handbook had everything I needed, plus I had the verbal directions from the RD. I had the gps offline map on my phone, but I didn’t get lost and didn’t have to use it. I got there before the Aid Station was even set up.

    I enjoyed my run. Basically I was the course’s test bunny. I won’t go into details. 100K course is much harder than the 50K, especially near the finishing. We had maybe 2000 ft climb. The section was muddy. My duty was to add markings to the course if I think they were needed. If I was confused about some part of the course so would the runners. My job was to make those confusing parts clearer. I was given a roll of ribbons to mark the course if needed. I could hang as much tape as I wanted to direct runners to the right way. This was not the first time the race was held, and the course was marked by one of the race directors or his friends so it was well marked and guaranteed to be correct. My only confusion was when I came to a tall maybe 8 ft fence across the trail. The fence extends in both direction indefinitely and it seems we either climb across or go around. I tried going around first but had to back track when the trail disappeared. I was not sure if I was to climb the fence. I haven’t been to any races where we had to trespass into private property. Luckily later, I found a “hole” / a window gate to climb through. The window is normally locked but was unlocked for us on race weekend. After getting through it was obvious that was the way. As for the rest of the trail, I only had minimal work to do, basically, just run it was what I needed. My coordinator was surprised how little tape I used when I got back. Was I supposed to use all of it?

    I thought also I had whole day to run it since I started a little after 9:30 and I had only 14 miles to cover. I should be back by 12:30, well before 100k runners get there. For the 100K runners, there race didn’t end until midnight. Unexpected to me, the course final couple miles were shared with the 50k people. It always has been for this race but it slipped my mind. The first 50k already finished by noon. So I was really racing against time when it dawned on me to try to beat the 50K people and I ran against the faster runners from the 50k event. It was kind of embarrassing as I came into the Coal Mine Aid Station (last aid station for the 50K) and they asked me what was I doing there. Noted, it was my fault too to come into the station from the wrong way where they didn’t expect. I was not aware I had gotten off course at the time because I missed an earlier turn near the station. Looking back, I failed my proofing duty there, because if I missed a directional sign or ribbon, it means others might miss it too, and I should have gone back to mark it. I said I am a volunteer, proofing the course. They didn’t laugh at me, but they kind of took a double-take because, since both the first 50k and 100k people already passed by and were on their way out (to High Knob), there was nothing left of the course to be proofed. They told me the 100k proofer already came through too earlier as if they didn’t believe my story. I did not argue with them, since that section was done by two 100k proofers, one to proof the way going out from Coal Mine to Brunnerdale passing through High Knob and mine was from Brunnerdale coming back to Coal Mine and to the Finish on a different trail. It was a small loop. I know I did my part but it got on my nerve when people didn’t believe me. It was not particularly from staffers I was being irritated at, but because of the situation I was put in. All this spoke of the lack of foresight in arranging the proofers in proofing the course. I know, I just need to do my part.

    Later I found that front runners of the 100k actually over took some of proofers in the earlier sections. Luckily I had the last stretch and the 100k guy did not catch up to me. I was like still a couple hours ahead of him. However, I felt I failed them by not proofing the last couple miles of the course before the 50k runners got there. Not sure if the 50k proofer covered the last section to the Finish or whether they relied on me since both trails are joined there. I found it was generally well marked, so I was not worried or blaming myself for not covering the last couple miles. If I had known, I would have started out a bit earlier to avoid such incident.

    One critique on my section where most runners would reach it at nightfall is we should also proof it by running it at night to be in similar condition as the runners. There was only little value for me to proof that section in the daytime, except for me not to get lost. The reason being is it was so much easier during the day to find my way and what might have seemed fine to me in daytime might not be when the course is completely dark. So even though the markings might be adequate during the day time, it might not be at night. Hopefully not many runners got lost in my section that night.

    For the rest of my weekend, it was uneventful. I got back to the Finish around 1 pm. I had food from the finish line and reconnected with my volunteer coordinator and turned in my phone. He drove me to get my car back from Brunnerdale. The Aid Station captain there said the 1st and 2nd place 100k runner already came through. It was around 3 pm and likely the first place would finish by 4 pm. I and the captain talked about last year event. I was there last year with her because I was the sweeper for that section. They were waiting for me that time to come through. She asked if I wanted to hangout there again with them this year. I said I have to figure out my campsite and get some rest to enjoy the late evening hours. I was sleep deprived and I started to feel the effect in the afternoon sun. So next up for me was to set up my camp and have some rest first.

    For the rest of the day, I was driving around looking for cell signal because I found out when I got to the campground, I did not know which campsite I made reservation. Due to budget cut, the campground was unstaffed. This year, might be due to privacy reason, the camper names were redacted on their posted master list of who occupying where. So there was no way for me to find out my site number from the list. I needed the cell signal to access my email reservation for my site number. I remembered reading that the highest point on the course, High Knob, has signal, so I drove up to High Knob. I got signal and what I needed from my phone. I stayed longer afterward at High Knob since the aid station there was about to close in an hour, at 5 pm. I actually waited there until 7:30 when everyone left because we were waiting for the sweeper to come through and I was trying to relive my last year experience too as being a sweeper. Last year, I was the sweeper from High Knob to Brunnerdale. Sweeper was supposed to be a designated person on the trail to accompany the last runner. But the sweeper never came through at High Knob or I somehow missed the person. We were all waiting. By 7:30, we all left. I don’t know if they finally figured out where the sweeper was or whether there was even one for that section. I know they tried to call the person on the phone.

    View from High Knob

    It was evening by the time I descended from High Knob. Having very little sleep and hadn’t eaten much for whole day except some aid station food and candies, I was exhausted. This year, the Aid Station staff only fed me a little (like couple spoonful of mac and cheese). I wasn’t complaining, food was for runners and since I didn’t have a runner bib, they were not supposed to feed me. They had to make sure their food would last for a whole day until midnight.

    I headed to my campsite, hoping to cook my dinner, setting up a base before heading to the finish to watch the race. Most 100k people would be coming into the finish around 9 pm to 12 am. I wanted to go watch them. However, after dinner, it got dark and cold fast and only thing I wanted was sleep. We had an unusual cold weekend where temperature was down low 45 F at night where the previous weekend was around 90+. I crawled into my tent and felt asleep not long after. The race could have their own fun for all I care.

    Sunday, I volunteered to clean up the course. About 10 of us met back at the volunteer shelter around 8:30. I chose to cover the first 20 miles of pulling the course ribbons and other race markings. Many of them paired up. Mine would be a looped segment and would take me back to the start where left my car, so I didn’t need to arrange for ride.

    I did this loop last year too. Last year, I went out just for the fun of it. I wasn’t volunteering then. I was hoping I could make better time this year. I think I ran the course better than last year except I had only a 2L water on me this time. I had a filter but I forgot to bring a pressure bag (for reverse osmosis) to filter the water. So I had to conserve my water on my 20 mile run. As an aside, I could connect the filter to the hose of my pak but it requires some DIY of cutting the tube, and I had been reluctant to cut my pak. Last year, I had to filter water twice during my run, meaning I drank 6L that time. This time I only could take a sip when I was very thirsty. I finished the run by 4 pm still with some water remained. I dropped off the reflective ribbons I took down before heading home. They reuse the ribbons for other races. I was told those ribbons cost over $300, they would avoid spending this much every year.

    Actually since the ribbons were bucky to carry when there were a lot, I was advised to hide them halfway during the run and to drive back to pick them up. I did exactly that and hid them at the Iron Bridge and later I went back to pick them up. Note, I was at the Iron Bridge at 1 pm and it took me 3 more hours to get back to the finish. But after I got back, I got into my car and drove back to the Iron Bridge to pick up the ribbons, it only took me 17 minutes to drive. The time and effort to cover the same distance by car always surprised me.

    Iron Bridge. Ribbons well hidden in the bushes not shown

    Anyway, there was not much happened after. I had my runs. Both runs were fairly long and decent workouts. I enjoyed the challenging course. It has becoming less challenging this year due to my improvement at trail/hill running.

    One of my regrets was I wished I had rested well and so would have enjoy the race more on Saturday. I was hoping to hang out and meet runners at the finish and to basically revamp my running passion. I was pretty much beaten down from the MMT race. However, because of the rush to get to the race site on Friday, plus my volunteering duties, I ended up spent little to no time with runners.

    Not all was lost, I was able to talk to and listened from other volunteers of their running stories. I learned about one volunteer is going to Laz races, the Barkley Fall Classic and the Last Annual Vol State. Someone was saying their race in France they had helicopters to transport things to the aid stations (I think they were referring to UTMB, a famous race). I think that was so amazing.

    I plan to volunteer again and maybe one day soon I will run in this race as well.

    In review, I spent 10 hours in the car. 3 hours at a hotel and ran about 8 hours. I had a few hours at an aid station and a few more hours in my own tent. I did not get back home until 10 pm Sunday, with a couple hours for a side trip to Harrisburg. What I used to do in other events is compared how much driving time to my running time, like whether it is worth 10 hour drive for an 8 hour run. If the driving time is longer than the running time, then it is not worth the effort. I know sometimes this is just a tease. I had signed up to run in a 10k where I had to fly across the country before. Just saying.

    I don’t mean to rant but only to show logistical part often plays a big role in a race or a trip. It is like 99% of the iceberg. Most people only see the top of the iceberg. I wish I focus more on my two runs I did there that weekend. But this was my second year running them, so there was not much more to say except I enjoyed them tremendously. I actually ran fast enough that I cramped up in the end because I was racing against time, but that also had to do with me not drinking enough water. Who can brag that they almost ran with the front runners at least for couple minutes in the last couple miles in a race? They actually thought I was one of their competitors. Then the passed me and wonder what’s wrong with this guy being so slow.

    In conclusion, I came into the event expecting being more involved with it. I did more this year but I was also a lot more detached from the race itself. It was not a bad thing. I felt I could have gone there any weekend to run on my own if running was what I after. Overall, I knew my purpose there was to help make the event successful. My part was small. Though I didn’t see the result directly, I knew a lot of runners enjoyed it. Later, after I reached home, I actually found out one of my friends ran in it. It was a surprise to me. I was there all weekend and did not know. That pretty much sum it all up, I felt I missed a bigger picture. If I was given a chance, I would have spent more time with my friend but then knowing the things I did to help with the race was important too.

  • Day440 Rock ‘N the Knob Marathon

    Here is a big post. A fellow runner Greg, who ran this did a video. He gave a better description of the course better than me.

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    With couple (decently hard) ultras under my belt, Rock ‘N the Knob was not an impossible race, though this one literally knocked the air out of me. I think I say this for all my races. It was hard hard, yet it was only 26.2 miles. It felt like I was running 30 or 40 miles.

    I came into the race humbled by last year experience of doing a Half Marathon there under 4 hours (report). Note normally I could run a Half under two hours. I also became familarized with the race organization since last year (I ran their Camp Anderson 8 hr event). These people are involved in some hardest trail races in the Atlantic region (e.g., Black Forest, Eastern States, and World Ends), none of those races are within my ability to do at this time, except for this one.

    There was no doubt I would finish it. The question was more like when and how soon. We had 9 hours to run the full marathon. I did not really set a goal how fast I would do it beforehand but while out on the course I was kind of aiming to finish under 8 hours after talking to a few people. It was a soft goal. I really believed I could do 4 miles an hour, so 8 hours were not that strange. Spoiler, I finished at 8:25.

    Last year I started way too fast and then choke around mile 3 with cramps and all. I was gentle with myself this time and I did not try to keep up or pass anyone. It really came with the experience of able to lock into your own pace and ignored everyone else. We had a strong field too because most people were gone by the time I get going!

    I actually started way back of the crowd like the last 5 or so people and did not push on the quarter-mile of the road portion. I remember in other races the road usually is where I would push hard because you want to get into the woods with a sufficient lead over the slower people since most people slow down a lot on the trail.

    We entered into the trail portion at a speed I liked. Of course everyone slowed down too, but not too slow. I knew I was at the right pace. We were kind of walking for another quarter mile before the line thinned out even more. We trail runners would roll our eyes at those walking on this portion so early on since it means they were not properly trained for trail racing. I was a patience guy though and used this time to chat with the couple runners ahead of me.

    The guy in front of me remembered me from the Laurel Highlands Race I did in June – but unfortunately, I didn’t remember him. For me, I usually only recall people by what they wear and the hydration pack they carry. We ran for a mile or so as the crowd continued to thin out more. I used the chance to pass him, since he was pacing his friend and the pace seemed like unbearably slow. Normally I don’t pass people this early in the race. I called myself the course unofficial sweeper because usually I am the last couple guys on the course and you kind of know who would finish and who would not especially in a trail race.

    Miles flew by under me. By mile 6, we reached our first big climb. The race had a name for each ascend and descend — as a way sometimes to demoralize/tease runners rather than for identification purposes. I don’t recall the name of that particular climb but it was a long climb like going up on the side of a cliff. Many of the big climbs were like that. They were not impossible but nearly there. I talking about getting down on hands and knees if not careful. I doubt unless you are the top 10, everyone would walk up these climbs. For me, even walking up on them were tough. On some of them, we had to crawl.

    Unlike in my previous race, this time the hill really got me dizzily out of breath. No matter how many ultras I had run before this, it was a challenging section. I was no longer able to keep up with the group pace. I was not necessary in a group, but the people I were with ran on, Greg and Dina I think, whom I kind of stayed with for an extended time. By the way, if you want his perspection, check out his video recount.

    This was when I also caught up with Jenn at the top of the climb as we pulled into an aid station (Raven’s Nest, I think).

    Initially Jenn was just a random runner. I wanted to pass her quickly and leave her behind. No more waiting for people – I told myself.

    I did not really stayed to chat or what not with anyone at the Aid Station but left for the next section as soon as I could. This was mostly downhill for next few miles. We reached our second long climb. Jenn caught up to me. I was kind of surprised. We leapfrogged each other couple of times afterward. Jenn was one of the nice runners (everyone were nice, but she was especially so) because she offered me her food, not that I needed any, since I packed my own as well. We did chat a bit by then. I don’t remember what, but I showed her my granola bars. We got to the third climb – I called it the waterfall but the real name was Beaver’s Dam or “I’ll neetle do this again” as the director called it.

    By then I might have a bit of heat exhaustion. I could not keep up with Jenn, not that she was going fast but I was definitely not feeling great and slipping in my pace. I did not want her to wait for me or anything. And she didn’t. It was everyone their own race. We just passed a runner who was sitting in the creek. He certainly did not look good. Later he told me he threw up 4 times.

    We continued the ascend. Not long after that Jenn was way ahead and was out of sight. I felt like I was about to faint by then so I quickly looked around for a place to sit, maybe that would help. This was from my experience of previously fainting on the trail when I had Lyme Disease. You kind of know all sudden that you don’t have any strength left and you feel as if you were walking on air.

    I sat on a tree stump or a limp of a fallen tree. Then immediately I started throwing up all I had eaten and drunk that morning. It wouldn’t stop, like a fire hydrant, stuff kept gushing out in torrent. The poor runner behind me arrived and told me it had happened to him too – he was the guy we passed at the creek and he asked if I were OK or needed anything like salt tablet. I did not have strength to reply. I did not feel ok. I wanted to quit the race right then because I had no more strength to move or do anything. I was done. He told me to sit for a while and I should be ok as he had sat at the creek. I listened because not like I had a choice. I was too weak to move.

    Throwing up was good because I was no longer fainting. But now one of my ears was ringing. It was as if it got stuffed or maybe like swimmer ear. I didn’t pay attention at the time but later on it was very distracting to me when I started to run. I felt I had vertigo.

    After a few minutes, I was no longer throwing up, I felt I could stand up again. I made it to the top of the climb, which was not that much since we had climbed a lot already. I was at mile 16 by now. I slowly walked to the next Aid Station – I think it was the Heaven Hairpin at mile 18. The section was not hard after the climb. I remebered running it last year and was probably one of the few runnable sections in the race, but this time, I was walking because that was all I could muster. Once I arrived, I plopped down on a chair a volunteer offered up. Volunteers served me with water and sodas and chips. I might had the look of a seriously ill runner because the way they treated me. My friend Aaron was there. He was sweeping the course for the half marathon event. They had an earlier cut off time but they ran almost an identical course, just without a six mile side track nor the six mile extra loop at the end of our course. I was about 20 minutes from my cutoff. Time was not a concern to me at all, though the aid station captain was kind of concern about me she might have to cut me. I might have rested way too long at the station. The next Aid Station was at mile 20 about 2.4 miles away. I knew at least I got to make it there. The time then was about 2:20 pm. I felt much better physically when I left the station. Aaron asked if I wanted to run with him as he would sweep the rest of the race. Hell no. Any day would be fine but not today. It was kind of a joke at the beginning of the race we made – I said I would see him out on the course and we know probably not likely since sweeper means being the last person, and we know I wouldn’t be that slow to able to meet up – but we did anyhow.

    The next section had one of the steepest climbs and descends. We climbed to the top of a ski slope, ran to the bottom and climbed back up and ran to bottom again and guess what, climbed back up the third time all within the two miles. I believe we might have done half of the course 6000 ft of elevation within the two miles. So it was mostly walking for me and very slow walking. Time flew by.

    I had part way with Jenn for maybe couple hours earlier or even 3 hours since the Beaver’s Dam but on the way up on the final climb after “I need a sherpa”, Jenn showed up at the foot of the hill. I caught my breath and waited while she caught up. Of course I was suprised to see her again because she should have been miles away by now. She explained that she and a friend (Carrie/Careen) had wandered off the trail the last mile and only finally found the course again. She was dispirited (and frustrated) and wanted to quit and was going to if we get to the next Aid Station aptly named the “quitter row.” She surely can run, so it was mostly a mental thing.

    This was her second marathon and I don’t blame her for quitting. I was thinking of the same too. Though physically I think she was doing fine. She was just in an emotionally turmoil. Running or not running at this point in time did not matter to me. I felt I did my best. We were 5 minutes from the cut-off by then (I didn’t know at the time but Jenn did and might have felt pressured by the deadline). My body had recovered enough to run by now and I was able to keep up with Jenn’s quicker pace. I did not try to convince Jenn to go on or to quit. I felt I should give her room to sort it out at the Aid Station. It was her decision either way. Ultra/trail races can be dangerous and if the runner doesn’t want to be out there it is many times more so. I didn’t want her to get stuck out there and be miserable.

    Even without Jenn I believed I could make the last 6 miles in two hours to finish the race. Jenn seeing me prepping when we arrived at the Aid Station and asked if I was going back out. Sure I said. She decided not to quit as well and rushed me through the Quitter Row.

    What so tempting to quit at the Quitter Row is that was conveniently located next to the start and finish line.

    Our friends though wouldn’t let us quit. We too wouldn’t quit. The final 6 miles were just one long descend of maybe a mile or two to the bottom and then a last scary ascend. It was a section I truly enjoyed in this race because I finally felt like I was in my element again. We were greeted with the last and final aid station at the bottom. There was no time cutoff at this station. Then we had couple almost impossible climbs back up.

    This was the Cadillac Alley because a Cadillac was found here a week before the race on a narrow trail where it was impossible for car to get there since we are miles away from any roads. The Cadillac was still stuck there on race day. There is a lore passed down of what actually happened.

    I was pretty strong at this point in time in my opinion but my legs were cramping occasionally if I was not careful at the way I bended them when crawling. We literally crawled our way up on our hands and knees up. Several times I slided back down as I climbed and it was frustrating. I just couldn’t get good traction.

    Jenn started showing signs of fatigue too. She felt at mile 5 earlier in the day (I wasn’t present at the time) and her knees were hurting she said. She took several breaks during this final climb (I felt I didn’t need to stop) – and she apologized to me repeatedly for her delays. I did not rush her nor leave her behind this time. Her boyfriend charged me to get her through this section at the Quitter Row and I felt a bit responsible because of that, also by now I was pretty sure we would finish the race, and there was no rush to finish quickly or beat the cutoff (I might have saved 5-10 mins if I went on ahead without her but so what). In my mind we had to go slower than half a mile an hour to not make the 5 pm closing. Jenn and I were pretty much hitting a 4-mile an hour pace (This is fast for ultra). However, I think time was mostly on Jenn’s mind as every so often (like every half mile) she would update me on the mileage and time, which I didn’t ask her to do it. Her watch was still working. For me, my watch died at mile 18 so I was no longer fixated on the time or distance (because I forgot to charge my watch the night before), but in general I was kind of aware the pace and distance – it just comes instinctively having done so many races even without someone telling me.

    The last mile was flat. I was already basically in my celebratory mood. I was strong and was getting stronger with every passing mile. I ran and led the way here. We caught up to a few people. I told Jenn we are not taking prisoners – basically we are to pass them as quicky as possible. We finished strong at 8 hrs and 25 mins. I think the guy who encouraged me to rest did not make the cutoff as Jenn later told me we only had 5 minutes to make it to the Quitter Row and he was like 10 minutes behind us. I did not see him again even at the finish.

    I think a dozen or so dropped from the race. (90 ish people signed up, about 60 or so finished). I don’t think the friend from Laurel Highland finished either. This was kind of sad. I saw the last person came in.

    This was one of few races my friends were there and we relaxed and enjoyed the food. They exchanged stories and jokes. I had a great time winding down – like did you know a game trail runners play called hashing? It was a game to get a bunch of friends into the woods. Someone would leave behind signs using chalk/flour and the group would follow and leave new signs. Basically I think you get lost in the woods together. We talked about stuff like that. I felt so good to be in the company of runners.

    It was a good hard race. I always love a tough one. My friend compared it to a mini 100 miler of the Eastern States. I can see why. It had many climbs and technical challenges. Jenn too was a good trail buddy and I was glad to met up in the final portion. We finished it together.