Trail Nut Half

Be sure to read last year's more detailed report HERE.

I remember saying "I'll be glad when this one is over"
I ran much harder than usual.

I've honestly never tried to race a 13 mile run before. I've run them, but not raced them... trying to see how hard I can push it. I have tried to race a 10 miler once last summer. That was the longest I've really tried pushing it for. You can read about that event HERE. It earned me a 2nd place in my age group. I was quite excited. That was October 22nd, and 10 races later, I finally place again. I've always said that it all depends on who shows up with how well you place in your AG.

Event details.
Date: May 5, 2012.  
Location: Falling Creek park / complex in Bedford, VA
Event: 13.1m and 10k distances offered.
Presented by: Mountain Junkies LLC
Event Website: HERE
Cost: Only $30
Swag: Nice moisture wicking T-shirt. 
Other race reports on this event:  Cardioholics Anonymous

The shirt for this event appropriately reads "Peace Love Trail Run" pictures of it are in the blog listed above, which you should take a moment to read anyway.

I've run this event for 2 years previoulsy. in 2010 it was incredibly HOT and I ran it horribly. In 2011 I ran a 2:01:14 and my goal this year was to make it under 2 hours. I think I had a good chance at that.

I was being told constantly in the week leading up and the day of by my friend Eddie Mann that I had a good chance to place in my AG at this one. I'd never placed in my AG before at a MJ event, but I was excited at the opportunity. I was even told by Sarah Holbrook that she thought I could do it in 1:51. but I knew that was a long shot. under 2 was my goal. with 1:55 being something I'd be super excited to do, but I really didn't know what I could do.

Pre-race

Excited to again be sharing the event with Lydia, as she was running the half as well. Ruth and 2 other friends came along, Laura and Kate. It was nice to all ride in one car and share the excitement to and from the event.

Arriving. packet pickup. bathrooms. sharing handshakes and smiles and recent race stories with others. It was that common "extended family" feeling you get at a Mountain Junkie event!

All lined up
Ready to go, I'm eye balling those I should try and keep up with vs those I know will either soon  fall behind or soon pull far ahead.
About a half a mile in I notice I'm running with others that I only see at the finish. Slowly they pull ahead and I settle in along Joe, another runner I only see when collecting his age group results winning medals from time to time... I was thinking that if I could only keep up with him! I started fast again and help my pace with the starter group for longer than I have previously. Once we got to the trail I think it ensured my place in line and kept me running fast.

A few miles in
I was happy to remain behind Joe and being able to keep up with his pace, I knew I was pushing it hard for it to still be early in a 13 mile run, but I was willing to see if I could hold on. My goal was to not let anyone else pass... That goal turned into not wanting anyone else in my AG to pass. Which was the better option.

The "half" point seemed longer than it should have been. I cross the half point at 1:01:XX and realize it isn't my 10k time, as it was longer than 10k having been run all ready, but I recall the second half was shorter. Still behind Joe and enjoying it. I'd walking up some of the hills now and then because I realize they slow me down quite a bit. There aren't any significant climbs on this course. It doesn't appear that there is any one climb being over 100 vertical feet according to the elevation profile.but the course surely rolls up and down. MUDS and PUDS I call them. multiple ups and downs / pointless ups and downs.

I felt comfortable that the gap between me and the next person behind me was a big one. Many times I looked after switchbacks and long straight portions for the people being me, and saw none. After the half mark, I began to see the trailing group. 2 girls leading 2 guys. I didn't see them long enough to estimate the guys ages. but the distance still let me feel comfortable to slow down a bit.

Pass and be passed
I slowly approached 2 guys who were slowing and passed them, but it took some effort. The 2 girls trailing me caught up and passed. I knew Courtney was way ahead and I think she was the only female ahead of me, so I tell them I believe that they are second and 3rd female. They seemed surprised and excited to hear that. I knew Courtney had secured first female and I was pretty sure there was no other ladies between she and I.

Don't miss it!
After a short distance of them and Joe ahead of me, they almost missed a turn. It allowed me to pass them but that just made me run faster for a short while until I stepped asked and allowed them to pass even though they weren't ready, I knew they soon would and didn't want to hinder the race they had going on for 2nd vs 3rd female. I was imagining them 2 battling it out in the final stretch and got excited.

The struggle
joe and I were struggling to keep the paces we had been holding. I just didn't want to be passed again. I caught up with Randy Blevins. Another runner that I shouldn't have been running with, as he is always much faster than I. Then I see Bill Vickery... I'm gaining on him. I jokingly yell ahead asking if he's waiting up for me. He explains how his past week at the beach and a recent 5k PR just a couple days ago have given him some rubber legs. I was excited to be doing so well even if I was passing respected runners on a not-so-good day of their own.

The final moments
I keep thinking about who is behind me. All I want is to hold my place. I know I can't possibly pass another runner ahead of me, I've not enough energy for that. In the final moments of the trail I see Jim Mullens in very reachable distance to me. He pressed me on to run harder when I thought I couldn't. I reminded myself that in an hour I'd be telling myself "I think I could have ran harder" but I felt myself pushing it a little too much... I walked a few steps up a final climb. saying out loud "I can't let him pass me" eventually out on the grass for the final stretch I pushed it hard as I could... I finished 6 seconds ahead of him. I don't know if he felt he was racing that part or not, but I surely was! Immediately after I thanked him and told him he was really pushing me. I thanked joe also for just being there and giving me someone to keep up with.

Post race
Social time. food. smiles. My face was hurting from smiling more than my legs were hurting from running... That is always a good sign. James Decker asked f I've checked the results and sure enough... preliminary results said I earned 3rd place, with Jim Mullens in 4th only 6 seconds behind me!!!
WOW! Sharing the top of my age group with David Tingler and James Decker was pretty cool for me. I say it all depends on who shows up. Had I run that time last year, I still would have only earned 5th place. but I was glad that today was today. Others in my age group took overall winnings. Shows how fast and competitive my AG is.

Thanks to the Mountain Junkies and all the volunteers for making it happen.

During this race I was excited to be wearing my Patagonia shorts I earned from finishing Promise Land 50k last weekend!.  I carried my hand held filled with ViSalus PRO. I took 2 GU gels, I'm estimating at about mile 6 and mile 10. I took 2 salt caps when I felt some calf cramping around mile 9 or 10. I'm considering that my Montrail Masochist shoes may be needing replacement, but not fully sure. I felt some "burn" and some flattening of my soles during this race, but I'm not sure they are "done" yet. I'm still liking my Smart Wool PhD socks, the thicker ones. Not sure how they will do over the summer, but we'll see.
weather was a drizzle and humid. I diddnt do much different this time except racing it rather than just running it. Pretty excited about my time of 1:58:XX and 3rd in my AG. I look forward to beating that time next year, but I've also considered doing the 10k, we'll see.

Next
Conquer The Cove Marathon will be next, in about a month from now. 2 weeks after that is the Eastern Divide 50k. Conquer the Cove will mark the end of the RNUTS (Roanoke Non Ultra Trail Series). Then as for the other series I'm running the Lynchburg Ultra Series. I've still got one event in November, the Mountain Masochist 50 miler... I'm scared (but equally excited) of what that day may bring!

Much to look forward to!

Frozen Toe 10k

Date: January 7, 2012.  
Location: Along the Chestnut Ridge Loop Trail in Roanoke, VA. The start and finish is at New Hope Christian Church
Event: 10k (actually 6.15 mile) trail run
Presented by: Mountain Junkies, LLC
Event Website: HERE
Other race reports on this event: Cardioholics Anonymous, Running because I can, Doug Falls


Yet another fine event courtesy of the Mountain Junkies.

Up and coming Mountain Junkies. Josie, Bentley and Sutton
Photo courtesy of the Mountain Junkies

We met at the New Hope Christian Church on a Saturday morning that was much warmer than the previous 2 years. I ran this event last year and there was a couple inches of snow on the ground. This year, unseasonably warm, but welcomed.

Courtesy of Brandie Bailey

Courtesy of Brandie Bailey

Despite the fact that my favorite Race Directors were told that they could not maintain the trail prior to the race (something about it being on national park property, I think) it was still in very nice shape for the race.

The absolute coolest thing about this event, was the excitement that it brought. The vibe there was such like it had been a long time since many of us had seen one another. Of course it was October since the last Mountain Junkies event. Some of us have run together in one form of another since then, but it was sure nice to all be together again and with many new faces as well. This event's registration was full at 300!

Pre-race
The days leading up to the race. All I could think of is how fast could I really run this loop? The Chestnut Ridge Loop Trail (CRL) is as "home court" as it gets for me. I've run this trail more than any other in my whole life, but I know many others can say the same thing. I prefer to access it from the parking area just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, near the Roanoke Campground. The trail does loop around the campground.

So many time I set out to run the CRL fast, and come in at 52 mins. Another day, I'm sure I broke 50, but no, 52 mins. Another day I thought I'd take it easy... sure enough 52 mins. Is it a magical place? Some would wonder.

Not long ago, I ran it in 50 mins. It was an attempt at running it fast. Of course the weather was much cooler than previous times I attempted to run CRL fast.

I am surveying my friends and seeing who will run it at which planned speed. Some I knew I couldn't hang with, and others I thought I may be able to. I think I choose wisely.

At the starting line
I think I choose wisely because I stuck with Doug Falls for the first 2 or 2.5 miles. Which wasn't easy to do for most of it. but once we got the main hill for the course, I figured if I was still with him at that time, that it would be at this point that I would pass him, and it was. I really enjoy running with Doug. He is faster than me on average, but I'm learning that I'm faster than him on hills. We run well together. We push one another. That is the way running friends should be. I always look forward to running with Doug.
Phil on the other hand... I mentioned at the start something about keeping up with him at the very beginning, until we got to the trail. HA! He was gone from the start!

Courtesy of Brandie Bailey - pretty awesome pic of the race start

Course
The course is along the Chestnut Ridge Loop Trail. one of my favorite places to run in town. It is so close to the hospital and downtown, you can be there in minutes. This trail makes you feel like you are deep in the woods, but then you realize you are on the outskirts of a campground and a neighborhood here and there. You cal feel like you are far away, but you never really are. The loop crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2 locations. For the race we went under the parkway at a cross road as the National Park Service didn't want runners crossing the parkway at a race.  The elevation profile for the course is below, courtesy of the Mountain Junkies, LLC whose website I STOLE the image from.

Elevation gain and loss is right at 800 ft. The biggest most noticeable climb is from mile 3 to 3.5. The final downhill is a nice ending. nothing too horrible on this course as long as you are used to running hills. If all you are used to is flat roads, then this event will prove to be a tough one... but if you are really up for a steep Mountain Junkies race. Check out the Mill Mountain Mayhem. There is no question why it is the lowest attendance of any of their events. It is quite intimidating. I have a race report on it from 2011 HERE. Interested parties will have to wait until April to run it.

So... how did the race go?

I really felt settled in to a pace after the hill climb at mile 3.5, in fact my plan was to push it harder than normal until before the hill... settle down a bit to save some juice for the hill. Run the hill slow and steady as I normally do, and then after recovering from the hill try to settle into a flowing pace, but something consistent with those around me.

I noticed that very little passing was happening with those around me. I felt that this was a good sign, that I had placed myself well in the starting crowd, and that I ran the first portion of the race at the correct pace, to have settled in to the pace that I did, that there was little to no shuffling going on.

Last year I started out slow, and it was just a mess once on the trail. Passing on single track isn't easy. Fortunately many parts of the trail are wider than single track and allow for passing.

The last portion of the loop flowed nicely. Knowing the terrain I was on, I could easily prepare for what was ahead. I settled in, maybe a little too well.

The last mile or less
I found myself behind the 3rd female overall. I was pretty excited to be that far up in the overall results that there was only 3 ladies running ahead of me. I was reviewing in my head the goals I had for this race. I had no number for the time I wanted to see on the clock. I just knew I wanted to run it harder and stronger than I ever have run on that trail, and by this point in the race, I knew that I had accomplished that. I also wanted to try and place well in my age group. Knowing I would not likely make top three in AG, but I still wanted to run strong.

At this point in the race I had settled in to the thought that my mission was accomplished. I looked ahead on the turns and saw no competition ahead of me. No apparent age group runners in what I would this would be a catchable distance... and so I settled in. I shouldn't have let this happen.

The final stretch
Finding myself behind the 3rd female overall, I was pleased with my performance... until. I had concluded that I wouldn't blatantly pass this lady. I had thoughts that it might be rude to do in the final moments of the race...until. I was happy with how I had run and knew any age group competition was not in reach and so I figured I would take this pace to the finish right behind this lady.... until.

Photo courtesy of the Mountain Junkies

Out of no where she and I were passed. Immediately I thought 2 things "Oh no you don't!" and "He might be in my age group!"I kicked it from there to the finish and even though I passed the girl whom I had committed myself to not passing, the important thing is that I passed the guy that passed me in the final stretch. He didn't end up being in my age group after all.

Immediately after
It hit me that I should have run that last half mile downhill a bit harder and suddenly I began to think of next year. How come after conquering a course stronger than I ever had, I begin thinking of next time. Me and the CRL have an interesting relationship. There is a lot of training left to do there... I'm not done with it. Not at all. I think that is what hit me at that moment. I began to tell myself "Good job, but you can still do better"

I found a couple running friends and had some quick post race conversations. I grabbed a couple of bites to eat... of course chocolate chip pumpkin bread! A Mountain Junkie post-race staple. then off to the car I went as I had an assignment.

Post race assignment
My wonderful Mother-in-Law had been sick all week, but she still agreed to watch the kids for us as we ran this race. So instead of coming to the race with them, she stayed at the comfort of our place and I was to pick them up. The plan was right when I was done running my hear tout, to go home (Across town) pick up 3 kids and return to the race! Sure no problem, right?

Josie and I after the race. Courtesy of Brandie Bailey

It worked out quite perfectly actually. I called to let her know I was on the way. When I arrived the car was loaded with babies and accessories! I jumped from one car to the other and was back on the road. If this was in between stages at a triathlon, my Mother-in-Law would be the best crew EVER!

Returning to the event
In the car I had my 2 children and my nephew. During the time I was gone Lydia and Ruth both finished the race and had time to cool down. Then I show up with the kids. I think it worked out perfectly. I'm thankful that Connie watched them for us and allowed us to have the fun that we did. Conversations, awards and eating. Post race not only included the typical fruit and bagels and drink, but also Salazon salted chocolate, chocolate chip pumpkin bread, Dru's cookies, and WARM apple fritters. Where in the world can you get post race goodies like that?!?!?

 We were of the last to leave and just couldn't get enough of the Mountain Junkie love that was so apparent in the air. Lydia even said to me after the race that she wanted to go run!

What is next?
One week until the Swinging Bridge / Willis River 50k. It will prove to be a cold, wet and challenging run. I'm glad there is a group of us from the Roanoke area going, so I will have familiar faces around me. That is always a plus.

Thank you to Mountain Junkies, LLC and to all the other Mountain Junkies that ran on this day! What fun times are ahead. If you were there and didn't sign up for the RNUTS series, the price went up after today.

Mountain Masochist Trail Run (sweeping the second half)

Mountain Masochist Trail Run - Saturday November 5th

This is an account of "working" the event. I was only covering the second half, picking up trash and taking down all course markings.

Read reports of people who actually ran it here:
Sophie @ Shining's Ultra blog
Jenn @ Freedom to Be

The Mountain Masochist Trail Run is a 50 mile, point A to point B (not a loop) course from the James River Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway (Mile Post 63.6) to Montebello, VA.

The event is put on by Eco-x. It is a part of the Lynchburg Ultra Series, and The Beast Series.

My experience here starts while I was at work one day checking my Facebook page. I notice am open request for someone needed to sweep the first half of the Mountain Masochist 50 miler! Immediately I send a response via FB, and another via email to the most likely address I have to get in touch with Dr. Clark Zealand, Race Director of the MMTR50. Soon he responds saying that someone beat me to it, believe it or not, but I could help with sweeping the second half with another person.

I thought the first half would be better than the last, for various reasons, but I was excited to be able to take part of this event in ANY way and I was glad to be a part of it.

For the next week or more emails were exchanged, I "met" Courtney the person whom I was to share the sweeping responsibilities with, and plane were being made.

So, this run goes where?

I spent a lot of time, and apparently Courtney did as well, studying maps. It was difficult using Google maps, Blue Ridge Parkway maps, the Eco-X website etc., to decipher where I would be. The most helpful information was a document that Dr. Zealand sent to she and I which detailed instructions for persons crewing for a runner. This gave instructions on how they could go from one aid station to another to support their runner with supplies or encouragement etc. most importantly is that this document had GPS coordinates! Because when told for example, a certain overlook or location (or down some random fire road) around the Parkway, I had to study some maps to locate it. I was thankful for the GPS coordinates it was very simple after that.

The plan

The plan which Courtney and I devised was to meet at the end of the race, leave one car there and take another to the mid-point of the race where we would start our trek. From the mid-point we would make a small attempt to find someone to drive our car back to the finish so it awaits us there. This all worked out perfectly.

I arrived at the finish just moments before her, and only moments after one of those working the race had started setting up the finish line. This race started at 6:30AM, I believe and it was 11:30 now. To think that 5 hours after the race starts you can comfortably begin to set up the finish should tell you that this is a long race!

Soon Courtney arrived, we exchanged hellos dressed, decided on what to bring and not bring, etc. Soon we were on the way to the Long Mountain Aid Station, the half-way point of the race. This AS closed at 12:35, and our goal was to arrive before then, which we did.

Long Mountain Aid Station

One item of concern here was to see if we could arrange a driver for my car back to the finish. Oddly enough it was quite simple. I started with race staff, to see if my Subaru wagon would be helpful in moving supplies, but of course arrangements were all ready in place. I decided to ask some hanging around who may have been crewing for another runner if they could drive it. The one person I approach is someone I was looking forward to meeting, and knew I could potentially meet this day. Craig Burns of e-Motion Constant Forward Motion blog, was there on a picnic table with friends, relishing in all the emotions of completing the first half of the race - cancer free I might add! (read his blogged race report on the MMTR once he writes it), and he was welcoming to help me out. I am quite thankful for his generosity, I am hoping that my timing wasn't bad.

At this time we acclimated ourselves to the event. Checked in with race officials. Gathered data on the last runner on course. Shook off and pre-race jitters of our own, and headed up the mountain. I knew we had a 5 mile 2000 vertical foot climb ahead of us to start so we loitered along, picking up course marking streamers and any trash we saw. We had checked with race officials and knew that the last runner was 20 mins ahead of us, and I thought for sure we'd catch up with them. Any other runners coming into the Long Mountain Aid Station at that point were pulled from the course and unable to continue, as the AS advertised it would close at 12:35. It wasn't long after this time that we hit the trail ourselves.

The climb was on a fire road, and we were even passed by a vehicle or two on this stretch. Once we got to the top, we realized we weren't at the top. The top was "marked" by the next AS (Wiggins Spring, I think) and thought the AS was closed by the time we arrived, there was evidence of cups and items from the AS, like an orange peel here and there. So I knew we got to the top of the climb, but it wasn't the top. It kept going on. More fire road.

Single Track
The trail was well marked with the streamers that we were taking down, but with so many cars which aligned the dirt / gravel road and "crew" members hustling to and from vehicles. I was building questions in my head. Yet I knew I was doing the task which was required of me, so I pressed on. Here we hit the first stretch of single track trail.

Soon I learned what all the attention was. Some cars remained as remnants of the AS that closed, while not far up ahead was an area where one could see their runner come by twice.

It was around this area that we finally got off forest road and onto single track. Courtney commented on how the changing of footing was nice, and I agreed. Intersections and areas where trails split proved to be time consuming. As the course was well marked, that meant there was a lot of markings to gather.

An aside about gathering the streamers
There is probably an essay that can be written about how to properly place and take down streamers for trail races. I'll try not to write that essay here, but there is something that can be said about it. Simple things which I learned quickly:
     How it's easier to remove a streamer when the knot is loose, rather than tied tightly.
     Branches with thorns should be avoided for placing streamers.
     Branches above head height (say 5ft) should be avoided.
     Tying streamers no more than one step off the trail (OK this was only done twice maybe).

I tried at first to untie all streamers, but soon I was breaking the branch to rip it off. If I were able, I'd grab the knot and pull, hoping to break the band around the branch. Perhaps this is essay enough about streamers, but it was proving to be rather time consuming stopping and playing with every single streamer. ...and then I eventually put on my gloves - that surely didn't help any. I can only imagine had I been doing this alone.

The loop

I think the 5 mile loop was a most interesting part of the course. A great 5 mile stretch of trail quite rocky with many roots, yet no significant climb that I recall. I really liked this portion of the trail. I was nicely set up with an AS as you enter the loop, and within 20 feet was the exit, with another AS. Kind of like "headquarters" a lot of crew, and a lot of staff. After being alone out there on the trail for a few miles, it would probably be refreshing to see all the commotion. I'll put in my vote for that being the nicest stretch of the trail. There is also an overlook just 0.5m off that loop... so tempting.

Here was encountered some day hikers as well, non race-affiliated humans, just out enjoying the day and much entertained by all the race festivities. "How far are they running?" they would ask, and I love being the one to tell them, "50 miles".

When we exited the 5 mile loop and the AS there was almost all cleaned up. the staff checked with us on our supplies, exchanged our full trash bag for an empty one etc. Courtney asked "You know what I'd like, is if you have a PB&J sandwich." We were presented with a jar of PB and a jar of jelly but a "I just don't have any bread"..... Oh! so close... yet here comes another race volunteer with 2 ziplocked wrapped PBJ sandwiches!!! He said it was what he packed for his lunch, but he never ate it, and he's headed home anyway. Beautiful timing, I needed that more than I knew and glad Courtney was in-tune with her body's needs enough to know and ask. It made a difference miles down the trail.

Getting slower by the AS

Much of the trail from this point on becomes a blur, as Courtney and I were soon learning that we were not gaining on the "last runner". Of course we considered that there were still runners dropping from the race at the aid stations. So the runner whom we thought we were closest to catching up with would drop, and then it was the person in front of them that we were then chasing. We learned by talking to race staff that at each AS we were becoming further behind the last runner.

We guessed that about 10-15 miles had passed and we had not run at all. Of course that climbing we started out with hindered running for us. When we started running we only were able to run in short bursts, as we had to stop for every streamer and other random items that didn't belong in nature, like someone's bottle of Advil. Random Cliff Shots, some opened, some not. Many gel pouch tops. (still need a better design for those things).

We developed a pattern of running while alternating who got the next streamer, and this worked until we came upon a group of streamers, then it was one after the other of gathering as much as we could.

Eventually the following aid stations were not only just closing, or just having closed but long closed and dust settled. I was thankful for the staff that hung around and made sure the sweepers were still coming through, checking to see if we needed anything, water food etc. Keep in mind we were carrying a trash bag this entire time that was progressively getting more full. Try running with a trash bag full of junk and beer cans/bottles sometime. (Of course I'm trying to cover all the excuses why we were moving so slow).


I love it when a plan comes together

Soon after heading back down the trail (fire road again) she commented on how awesome it was that 2 random runners planned to meet in a random location and it worked. Then we have to get to the mid-point AS and we easily find our way. Then I've got to find someone to drive my car back to the finish and I find someone, and we know each other, just hadn't met yet. Then when she's hoping she can get a PBJ out in the middle of the woods, she does... We started considering what we should ask for next.

The conversation
Topics in our conversation were quite varied. College and career. Diversity. Stupid people. Debt. Stereotypes. Training. Shoes. Charles Dickens and literary geniuses. Concerns of taking Ibuprofen when at risk of dehydration. Wildlife and bears. The important reasons of adopting a healthy lifestyle and diet. Our next race. Birth order and it's influence on your personality. Foot strike and shin splints. Running trails at night. Getting shaving cream in your eye. The list goes on.

This was taken early on in the second half

It was dark before you knew it.
Courtney confessed that she hadn't run trails at night with a head lamp before, but was excited and almost hoping today was the day. When we had that conversation I wasn't sure if we were going to be in the dark or not, but it ends up that our last 5 miles or so was all in the dark. To think that I wasn't going to bring gloves or a hat (Courtney convinced me otherwise). I probably should have put them on before now, but this is when we stopped for our lights, so I put on my hat and gloves here too.

I think we ran our fastest when it was totally dark. I believe the concern of all the smaller trash items became too difficult to track down with our head lamps and we focused on the streamers. I convinced myself that it was the last stretch of the race and it was less likely to have a lot of gel packs there.

It was cold enough that icicles were present 

We endured the long downhill and contemplated, as we did various times on the trail about how the runners would have felt at this point. I saw some chalk on the ground of the fire road which I believe would have been the message to runners stating that there is only one more mile to go. Once on the street again I knew it wasn't long. and we arrived at the finish in Montebello... No one awaiting us, but our cars. No person in sight, not even other vehicles, just us. It was kind of neat actually, in it's own little way.

It was dark and quiet
A lot of races and events are held with much fanfare. There are also many events that are simple and  have no frills. It was perfectly OK to not be welcomed or congratulated at the end of my day. I was pleased to have helped this year's classic event take place. I was happy to have helped the runners which I am looking up to and aspire to run with on a different year. I thought of the runners that started and didn't finish. I considered how they felt, the mix of emotions. I recall one runner saying "I just hate that I'll miss out on the finishers award" I reminded myself that my reward was this moment. Standing in the dark and quiet, knowing I was a part of something that didn't end until we were done. Our footsteps were the final foot steps on that trail. I was satisfied knowing that I assisted in leaving no trace. I sure hope that those trails are cleaner now than when the first runner ran through. It was a special opportunity to not only volunteer and share in part of the MMTR, but I also take some satisfaction in feeling like I went on a 25 mile cleaning spree through the woods. There were items that we removed from nature that didn't belong there and would have stayed if we didn't pick them up.

We took little to no time to wind down and soon realized just how cold it had become and made sure we had directions to get out of the middle of nowhere. (which is surely what it felt like) All I knew is that I was near the fish hatchery in Montebello, VA and I could point in the direction of Interstate 81.

Post race festivities were taking place an hour away in Lynchburg, VA. The excitement and stories of the day were being exchanged. I later learned that Eric Grossman came in first for his 3rd MMTR win. Sandi Nypaver Came in first for the women.

What I did and didn't do
First off, I underestimated many things. The time it would take to cover the course while removing course markings. The pace of the slowest runner vs my own. Those were the most obvious. Had I not been so relaxed about this journey, I would have diligently taken GU gels or Cliff Shots at certain intervals but I used none. I would have filled my hydrations pack's bladder completely and drank more diligently, but apparently 1.5L was more than enough. I would have carried and consumed electrolyte / salt caps, but I did not. I would have prepared food items to bring and carry, but I had none. I wasn't stressed with what I ate for breakfast and lunch before I hit the trail.  In fact, I decided as I pulled off I-81 that I should get lunch and got a fish sandwich and fries from Burger King. I would have never done that. Seeing that on the menu they have a veggie burger, I wish I had known that. So after the event... I got the veggie burger.

Overall I am excited and pleased with how I've felt afterward. I felt the most sore and tired that evening. I took one Salt Cap once I got home at Lydia's instruction, and I believe it helped. I've now put 25 more miles on my Montrail Masochist trail shoe. Which ironically shares the name of the race and some strong connections there. In the following days after I've felt great. Amazing what the body can do. Amazing what all those 250+ bodies that ran the MMTR did do!

There is a possibility that if my training goes well, I may be running this next year, and it will have helped greatly to have had this day.

Trail Nut 10k and 13.1mile

Saturday was the Trail Nut 10k and 13.1mile presented by Mountain Junkies LLC. This is the second to last race in the Roanoke Non Ultra Trail Series (RNUTS). The last race being Conquer the Cove trail 25k and Marathon.It took place at Bedford's Falling Creek Park, about one mile off of 460.

Be sure to also read some other race reports from this event:
Jenn
Doug
Philip at Cardioholics Anonymous
David at runningbecauseican.com

Did I miss anyone?

Last year this race was my first Mountain Junkies event. I was glad to be running again and to be back in Roanoke. I was super excited that Roanoke now had a trail running community that had been developing over the past couple years as I was living in Norfolk, VA at the time learning "life lessons" (otherwise known as attempting graduate college). I ran the 13.1 and Lydia ran the the 10k. Technically she ran better than I did, as I was walking by mile 4, and she ran her full 6.2miles. the event was one month later in the calendar, it was a VERY hot day and many runners DNF or stopped after the first loop. Some switched to the 10k, it was a rough day. I've not been a good runner in the heat, and this dented my ego. I ran a 2:43, walking about half of the distance. So the following Saturday, I signed up for and ran the Varmint Half Marathon in Burkes Garden, VA to redeem myself on that mileage. (Which BTW, is a beautiful location for a road race, check that website for a picture of why they call Burke's Garden "God's thumbprint" it is impressive. The race has a nice history behind it's name and the trophies they give out).

So I was looking forward to fully experiencing this event as I felt that last year there was much going on that limited my full enjoyment of it.

The event being placed a month earlier was a welcomed change. the temperatures that morning were 55-60 and I think the peak for the day was around 75. I arrived earlier than my "crew" (Wife, Son, Sister-In-Law and Nephew) and I was able to greet others get rid of some pre-race butterflies, and even register on-site for the Conquer the Cove 25k.

Part of Bedford's Falling Creek park. Note the beautiful weather!

 Once again Kenny Palmer who takes care of the trail systems for Bedford County Parks and Rec was present to see us off and make sure things went smoothly. He does a great job, and you can tell he enjoys seeing others out there having a good time.

8:45 meant pre-race announcements, and all the "go this way not that way" talk and "follow the things that look like this" etc. Afterwhich we took a short walk down the hill to the start. Those running the 13.1 started 10 mins sooner than those running the 10k.

The course began on grass, circling around the park until entering into the woods.

This was actually before the finish, but the grassy areas were well manicured like this.

I wouldnt call this course a very hilly course. I've not seen an elevation profile for it, but it does have rolling hills. I would describe the hills as mostly short. Yes I did find my pace slowing and even changing to a fast walk at times, especially on the second loop. The 13.1 course has a long loop, then a short loop. The Mountain Junkies use their own chip timing, where the chip is on your bib. The timing stats gave the time and pace for the first loop, second loop, as well as overall. So you can see just how much slower you were the second time around.

...and slower I was indeed. I diddnt need a clock to tell my that. my body told me.

The first loop, I found my self running strong. I diddnt feel too fast, and I think I started at a good place in the pack. I felt stuck behind a long train once into the woods. But I have learned the longer the race, that's not always a bad thing. It slows me down, instead of starting out too fast. I was nervous about passing the girl in front of me as her headphones were so loud, I was even enjoying the 2 songs I listened to until I passed her.

Which reminds me... I've not been running races with my headphones lately. I usually run with them, and I enjoy it, but I keep the volume low. I know it isnt encouraged during races, so I've been trying to enjoy the race and others out there. I learned this when on a couple longer runs on the Appalachian Trail, as well as when running the Terrapin Half back in March where I found myself having them on me but not using them.

As I was moving along the race course, I was running into others that I've seen at other Mountain Junkie events including Matt and Samantha Mitchell, Rebecca Adcock, and Henry Schaefer, whom I had a great race with at the Mill Mountain Mayhem, but apparently I really never caught up with him.

The course comes out and back into the woods in a couple places, and I remember the feeling last year at this race. It was as one runner describer (either Andy or Jim, I forget) It was like opening the oven door. The wooded covering provided nice shad and cooler temps, until you came out of the woods I felt that I was running into a wall of heat, like opening the oven door. I was so glad it wasnt like that this year.

The breaks out of the woods, provided a nice opportunity for the path to widen and let others who wanted to pass, and diddnt create an opportunity on the single-track to do so here.

Somewhere along the first loop, I was passed by the first and second runners in the 10k, and by the time I looked up from the trail again they were about out of my sight.

I eventually caught up with Jim Mullins and enjoyed staying at his pace. Eventually I pressed on a little faster, sure he would catch up later at one of the water stops, and he did. I clung on to Andy Stevens to continue the first "long" loop. I completed the first loop at about 1:02. My overall goal time was under or at 2 hours, so I felt that I was on my way.

I had stopped for about 15 seconds at each of the three aid stations (Gatorade Water and bananas, I just had Gatorade at each). At the end of the first loop, was where a few others passed me. It was also here that I was greeted with pics from my wife, and handed some Gatorade from my sister-In-Law who was volunteering. I consumed one GU gel at this point as well, my only planned mid-race intake other than Gatorade at each water stop.

Ruth and her son Nasir, being awesome volunteering and helping thirsty runners.

It was the second loop where things changed for me. I knew I would take this loop slower. I wasnt real sure just how much slower that would be. I went from an 8:42 pace to a 9:14 pace. OK not horrible at all, but I would have preferred to stay with Andy Stevens, as he ran a very solid race and steady pace on both loops, finishing at 1:55.

I felt things slowing down more and more as I progressed through the second loop. I enjoyed this loop, as I was able to anticipate the hills and changes in terrain a little bit. there is one area of the trail that you can see many others around you, but they are going different directions, and you dont know who is ahead and who is behind you. It can be a vertigo inducing experience. Of course when you see runners in that area, like Brent Williams, who is always ahead of you then you know. But it provides a nice opportunity to hoot and shout and get shouted at for encouragement. Which I never found out who called my name at one point.

Brent Williams, representing Fleet Feet and just being a cool guy. (pic from Mountain Junkies Facebook)

Eventually as the second loop progressed I settled in behind 3 young military men, I believe from Virginia Tech. These three (Sean Grindlay, Matthew Abeyounis and John Steger - According to race results) were having a nice day at the park. The conversation between them never ended and they never showed any running discomfort. I found their comfortable attitude encouraging and inspiring... so I decided to stay right behind them. At one time, one of them doubled back, jut to pick up a dropped GU gel wrapper. that was the right thing to do. When I commented on their relaxed demeanor I was responded with a comment close to "relaxed mind, relaxed body" or something close to that. The conversation was much about military related topics. I think it was Michael Villa who was right behind me and later he commented that enjoyed the pace as well.

The three military guys that "carried me" (picture from Mountain Junkies Facebook)

The last mile, I hate to admit, but I wished it were over. I should have just stopped, rested a moment, stretched and pressed on, I bet I would have garnered more energy than to keep pressing. Well, perhaps not, but a comment I read recently but where I cant place right now came to mind. "The pain of quitting is greater than the pain of pressing on" (something like that) ... and so I pressed on.

 Knowing that stopping to stretch was far from failure, but I still wasnt running a pace I had thought I would be at this moment. Soon I was reminding myself that my true goal was just to beat last year's time of 2:43, which I knew I was doing... and that secondly I wanted to beat 2:10, but I really felt capable of getting under 2hours. Had I stayed with Andy, I would have. It's that whole 20/20 hindsight thing. I really dont feel negative about my performance that day. Truly I hadent run 10 miles or more in about month. I knew I was capable of the distance, but questioned at what level I would be able to complete it.

I crossed the finish line with a time of 2:01:14 on the clock and a smile on my face.

Nothing beats being greeted by my excited 21 month old son running toward me with open arms.

I'd run 13.1 any day for a reward like that!

The post race festivities included subs from Subway, which was a bit different than other Mountain Junkie events. A vegetable tray, the usual Dru's cookies and Mountain Junkies signature Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread, Salazon chocolate, bananas and various drinks. I even saw a cooler of Shaklee drink, which I meant to get back to read about but never did. Which by the way, if you've not had Salazon chocolate, it's a nice salty treat perfect for runners and the like.

I know that commonly given and shared race advice is to not do anything new on race day. I could probably list at the end of each race what I did differently though. I dont really run these races competitively. I dont normally use GU gel, but I have used them in the past. I carry them on long runs, and recently on a long run on the Appalachian Trail it came in handy, so I'm carrying one from now on. today I planned to use it around mile 7 or 8, and I did. I wish I had another about mile 11, but next time perhaps I will. Also I've been wanting to try NUUN drink. If you dont know much about this, follow the link and read, but as described by Andrew at Fleet Feet in Roanoke, it has more electrolytes and less sugars. It is supposed to be easier on the stomach as well. Pronounced "noon" it is a tablet that you drop into 16 ounces of water, wait, then drink. It tastes to have some mild carbonation to it. If you have seen some other companies marketing drink tablets, I believe it all started with NUUN.

After the race, I admit I felt nauseous, a result of pushing myself, I do believe. The following day I've felt "tender stomached" and when I exert a lot of physical effort in something I feel weak, but these are all expected feelings. I dont attribute them to having done something new at a race.

Super congratulations to my friend since elementary school, Jenn divers who ran her first 10k ever! and she did it on a trail, not on the road. and she placed in her age group too!!!

Next on my race calendar is the Conquer the Cove 25k. I will train for this distance better than I trained for this one. My primary goal will be to finish strong and injury free. Run as much as I can but be wise and walk/hike the steep parts. (Of course that's the plan, isnt it always?)

Soon I should also register for the Hinson Lake 24 hour ultra classic. Which has quickly become the largest 24 hour race. I just really need a couple people / familiar faces to go also and share the experience. It being an out of town races, poses it's challenges, but only $24 for 24 hours, what's to lose?

I am looking to consider other events in the region, so any suggestions are welcomed. Of course there's always this thing in October. Oh, perhaps some day. We'll see how I do at Hinson Lake. But do recommend any events, please.

Other pictures follow from the Trail Nut 10k and 13.1

Beause Salazon chocolate is good stuff!