Before I start, I gotta say a huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers who helped make this race happen. Folks were dropping left and right and it could have gotten really ugly had it not been for all these fine people.
Race morning had some surprisingly comfortable temps. My long sleeve almost seemed like too much and I questioned if my jacket tied to my Nathan was even necessary. My drop bag had a short sleeved shirt which I wish was on me instead.
The start is in the dark and was hiding the dark luminous clouds that were lingering some 2,000 feet above us. This year was a complete contrast to last year. No sun. No fall colors (yet). And worse, no warmth for those ready to run 50 miles.
(The Start from our condo...the day after the storm)
The first 23 miles were at a conservative pace with a focus on hydration and fuel. No gps today and only an old school Timex who's time is set to another hemispheres time zone which beeped every 15 minutes. All felt easy to this point with my only bumps in the road being 3 bio breaks in the woods.
Since about mile 5, heaps of fog, cold light winds and a steady mist kept us company. At first, it wasn't a big deal. Over a couple of hours though, this mist was more then enough to soak us. Refuge among the trees was bliss compared to the exposed open meadows where the weather was miserable at times. It was the climb up Rabbit Ears when the weather got nasty. The rain was now a down pour. The wind howling.
The turnaround came in at just under 5 hours flat. Pretty much spot on to last year. The big difference was I felt awesome. Well hydrated, well fueled. Ready to hammer it back home. Oh and it was snowing.
Bio break number 4 at Dumont (Mile 28 and my first on an actual toilet), reloading on gels and chews and being extremely thankful that I had my somewhat damp jacket with me but wishing I had gloves and a beanie.
The next 4 miles went by quick but are the most exposed. Again, I was feeling great but the mixture of upper 30's temps, wind and rain got to me. I ran the last mile into Base Camp pretty hard. Well as hard as one can run on a sloppy mess of a forest road.
Even after that effort, I got to Base Camp frozen. Next thing I know I'm getting put into a warm SUV and peeling off my jacket and long sleeve and wrapped in blankets. Sitting next to a gal who up to this point was leading the women's race. I spent the next 30 plus minutes shaking uncontrollably. The next 30 plus minutes after that pondering how to avoid another DNF as my shaking continued. Watching person after person approach Base Camp getting put into the one of the 10 cars with the hope of warming up.
After an hour and 15 minutes-ish, I put on my long sleeve which was now dry. My dry jacket and dry hat. Threw down 2 big cups of noodles and broth, a few sodas and stepped outside. It was raining worse, mixed with hail and felt 20 below. Running in this for even a few minutes would put be back in a state of hypothermia. Then possibly my saving grace, a garbage bag.
A bag that would keep me dry and even possibly keep me warm due to its lack of breathing material. One hole for my head to poke thru, the rest of the bag tucked into my shorts. So I was off to finish this race. My goal of sub 10 was gone but still had a small shot at sub 11. The first few minutes out of the aid station led to some serious second guessing of my decision to leave. I started to get the chattering jaw again, still fat fingered and the sitting in the back seat of the SUV left my legs tight. Each step felt like I was driving my heel into the ground with no ability to bend my knees.
With a group of four other runners I made an unexplained move to pass down a sloppy slope. Bang! It all felt right. I ran damn near every step over the next 6 miles. Please keep in mind the running was ugly due to the horrible HORRIBLE trail conditions that now greeted me with every step.
Long Lake Aid Station was another refuge for those seeking warmth. Thankfully I wasn't one of them and didn't bother breaking stride. I continued on and made quick work over the next 5 miles running big chunks of it. The last time I ate anything was back at Base Camp. I tried since but I couldn't for the life of me open a gel. Open a pack of chews. (Cue in Benny Hill Theme Song - Yakety Sax) Fingers were beyond useless.
(Thankfully the rest of me was only frozen cold)
The last 2 miles to Mt. Werner (Mile 44) were much slower now but still felt good. Actually well hydrated and just unfortunately low on fuel. It was my now frozen hat causing issues and over these miles the cold winds at 10,000 feet caught up to me and I got into the aid station freezing agin.
I tried warming up for 10 minutes while covered in blankets and space blankets. Not working. Actually getting worse. Then I just said screw it and hoped the 6 miles of downhill would warm me up. It didn't. But I was moving along at a steady clip without any issues. With 2 miles left I wanted to ditch the garbage bag that saved my race. Second I peeled it off I started to freeze so I slipped it back on.
11 Hours 28 mintues, 51st place and the last 18 or so miles drapped in a garbage bag and I was now crossing the finish line.
Unofficial Results. Gloss in the local fish wrap.
So easy for me to be disappointed about this race. Over an hour an half spent on my ass trying to warm up. 4 stops wondering what was going on with my ass.
Honestly though, none of that mattered. Physically, from a pure running perspective, I got stronger as the day went on. My stomach never once even thought about going south on me. Hydration and fuel were spot on considering the circumstances. Menatally, I felt about as strong as I've ever felt during a race. No bonk, no quit in me. Only a desire to continue hammering.
Highlight of the race was seeing my family at the end. Being greeted by my overly supportive wife who for some unknown reason allows me to beat myself up in these races. And my daughter who's smile when seeing me at the finish made this race that much more memoriable.
(The family hanging out with a hobo in a garbage bag)
