Rocket City Marathon 2014, Huntsville, AL

Heading into the Big Day

For those that have been following my blog, you know that my goal race in the coming months is the Graveyard 100 in March, 2015.   Everything I'm doing now is building to that opportunity.   So, this year's Rocket City Marathon (RCM) was couched in a 70 mile training week.   There would be no taper for this year's marathon.   In my past 11 marathons, I never cracked the magical four hour mark, and given the amount of training I've been doing, I didn't expect that would change on this day.

Pre-Race Skull Session

Prior to the race, I ran into Martin Schneekloth, Jerry Abbot, David Holliday, and Cary Long.   We just talked about the day ahead.   Cary and Benj Lance were pacing the 4:40 group and I figured as I looked at their sign, I would probably be anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes ahead of them.   Just before the race started, I ran into Carter Wells as we were settling into the starting corral.   We were talking about what we thought we could do, and I relayed my training regimen and the fact that I didn't think it would lead to a personal record (PR) today.

Silence, the National Anthem and the Gun

We paused for a moment of silence for the passing of Malcolm Gillis, a former Race Director for the RCM.  From everything that was shared, it sounds like Malcolm lived a full life and was quite a character. We then sang along with the National Anthem; the gun went off and then we were on our way.

Mile 1 to 6

As usual in a marathon, I started off slow in a pretty heavy pack of runners.   However, within a half mile, things started to spread out.  I fell into an easy pace of just under 9:00 minutes a mile.   As I made the turn onto Franklin Street headed towards Constitution Village,which at this time of year is decked out as Santa's Village, I heard some familiar voices coming from behind me.   It was Blake Thompson, leading the 3:55 pace group. David Holliday and Ryan Chaffin were in the group and I would later learn that Ryan's wife, Aleisha was our other 3:55 pace lead.   I decided to fall in with this group, thinking that I would hang with them as long as I could manage.

We continued to weave through downtown Huntsville and started to make our way into the 5 Points neighborhood.  Somewhere between miles 4 and 6, we came through an intersection that gave us all a laugh.  A lady in a bathrobe, gown, and curlers in her hair had stepped out of her car to give the police officers managing the intersection a piece of her mind.   Apparently, she had not paid attention to the reminders that were sent that a marathon would be cutting through her neighborhood, and I figured we were between her and her Hardee's steak and egg biscuit.   I don't know how that situation turned out, but I hope the lady's day got better.

I was feeling pretty good through this whole section.  Ashley Casiano was snapping pictures of our group because her husband Matt was running with us.   When I saw the picture below, I wondered what in the world was I doing with my hands.  I later realized I was telling Blake Thompson about this guy I saw finish the New York City Marathon a few weeks earlier.   He was in the top 15 or 20 as I recall.  But he came across the finish line with blood on his shirt -- in that telltale way that made it clear he was not wearing nipple tape.  I was totally confounded by a guy that had trained for a marathon, at the elite level, that didn't know about nipple tape!   So anyway, Ashley snapped this picture just as I was saying he had bloody nipples....

(From LtoR:  Ryan Chaffin, Aleisha Chaffin, me, Blake Thompson, Matt Casiano waving to his wife, a young lady picking her nose (hey, we all do it), and David Holliday in the gray shorts, black jacket and hat.)

Miles 6 to 13

The course brought us past Lee High School and back towards downtown Huntsville.  Along the way, we passed Chapman Elementary and Middle School, and the Veterans Memorial.   The scene at the Memorial was outstanding.   The Army Materiel Command's Rock/Jazz band, Sonic Fusion, was playing and Gold Star Family members were holding probably 15 to 20 large American flags.  Gold Star Family members have lost a loved one in service to our nation.   I admit that choked me up a bit.  One of the flag bearers leaned out and gave me a high five as I passed.   That was like a shot of pure adrenaline.  I later learned the band won the RCM spirit award and donated their prize money to the Gold Star Family organization.  

At mile 13, we were running past the Von Braun Center, where we had started the race, and were now headed on a path to Lowe Mill.

Miles 13 to 19

As I approached the mile 14 marker, I heard the Timer call out my name.  I looked up and it was Erin Koshut on a ladder calling out the times.   It was good to see Erin out there and it's a reminder of the great running community we have in Huntsville.   I think we all try to volunteer once or twice a year at races that we would probably rather be running, but it takes volunteers to make these things happen.

I was running just ahead of the 3:55 pace group and at one point I slowed down a bit to let them catch up.  Blake Thompson said, "Don't wait on us."   I laughed and said, "I was getting lonely up there."  Blake said, "It's always lonely at the top."  That put a smile on my face.

In the past, I always started to fade around miles 15 or 16 and I could always count on my pace to wane.  But this year was different.  My pace was holding steady, and I really felt I could hold this pace through the finish.   As we ran through rocket park at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Carter Wells and I crossed paths again, he gave me a boost by telling me I was going to break 4 hours this year.  I was really feeling it might just happen.

Miles 19 to 26.2

This is probably a good point to talk about Youngren Running, Rob and Kathy Youngren's coaching business.   For those that don't know Rob and Kathy, they are two of the most accomplished runners around.   Their running resume is too volumous to list, but needless to say they have made their mark from the track to ultramarathons.   They both have competed at Badwater and Spartathlon and when Skechers decided to get into the performance shoe market, they turned to Rob to help them design their Go Run Ultra shoe.

Anyway, after just coming under the wire at the Thunder Rock 100, I knew I needed a little help in preparing for the Graveyard 100.   So, I turned to Rob and Kathy and asked them to put together a comprehensive training plan for me.   While they can put plans together for any running goal one might have, the plan they made for me focuses on developing the ability to run a long race at a steady pace.  I was 14 weeks into the plan when the RCM rolled around.   To state the obvious, there is no way I would have been able to come in under 4 hours without this plan.  Moreover, I ran the race at a steady and even pace.   To drive this home, my half marathon split (13.1 miles) was 1:56:50.

As I passed the 20 mile mark and had the final 10K in front of me, I actually felt like I could have run a lot faster, but Rob and Kathy had encouraged me not to "race" the events leading up to my goal run, and I knew I had another long training run on Sunday, so I just maintained my pace to the finish line.

I knew I was going to be able to break four hours and I couldn't help but reflect on my past RCM efforts. Here's how I've done in recent years:  4:33:33 in 2013, 4:59:05 in 2012, and my previous marathon best, 4:20:48 in 2010.
 
This year, I finished in 3:53:35 (chip time), and 3:54:02 (gun time).  I have to say it was a great feeling.

   

   

Dizzy 50s

Dizzy 50s

November 15, 2014

Got Leaves?

What a Difference a Year Makes

The Dizzy Fifties are held on Monte Sano Mountain every November.  It offers a 50K, 40 mile, or 50 mile option.  I elected for the 50K this year.   Also, it is the first leg of the Huntsville Track Club/Fleet Feet Grand Slam Challenge.   The Grand Slam consists of the Dizzy 50s, the Rocket City Marathon, Recover from the Holidays 50K, and the Mountain Mist 50K.   All of these events occur within a 10 week time frame.

The main thing to understand about Dizzy is that it takes place at a time when the Fall leaves cover the trails like a carpet, or maybe more like a ton of throw rugs.   Sure, there are sections of the trails that are clear, but for the most part, they are pretty well covered.   The downside of this is that the trails on Monte Sano are full of a variety of toe grabbers.   They come in the form of rocks, roots, stumps...you name it.   

Last year, at about 10 miles into the race,  I caught my foot on a piece of rebar sticking out of a railroad tie (hidden by leaves) and flipped head over heals and wound up chipping a bone in my left hand and tearing a tendon.  As I stood up from the fall, I saw that my pinkie finger on my left hand was pointing sideways.  Not good.  But, I finished the race and actually clocked my 50K PR in the process.  This year, I finished with all of my fingers pointing in the right direction, but finished about 8 minutes slower.  Go figure.  At least this year, I will not have to run the Rocket City Marathon and Recover from the Holidays 50K with a cast on my hand.  What a crazy sport.

2013 Post Race Photo

2014 Post Race Photo

Who Left the North Window Open?

The story of this year's race was the cold weather.   It was Mountain Mist cold this year.  I always enjoy Dizzy as the last, nice "Fall feeling" race of the year, but it was not meant to be this year.  When I pulled into the parking lot, the temp on my console read 26 degrees.    

Because it was so cold at the start of the race, I went out at a pretty good clip when the musket was fired.

Dizzy has a small initial loop that you only run once.  It is 2.3 miles.   After that, you run a 4 mile north loop, that is fairly technical, and a 5.59 mile south loop, that is mostly pristine single track, but with the leaf coverage it can lull you into complacency, and the next thing you know you are coming face to face with the ground.   In between each loop, you pass through a pavilion that serves as the run's aid station.   It is a pretty sweet set-up.

After the little loop and my first full north and south loop, I was at 2 hours even.   I felt great.  I thought for sure I could set a new 50K PR this year.   

I was still hanging in there after the second full loop, but I could feel the weight of my training efforts starting to take a toll.  I'm working towards the Graveyard 100 in March and I was not able to taper for Dizzy.  It just wasn't in the training cards. 

Lucky for me, as I started on the third and final loop, I ran into several good running friends who kept me going.   David Holliday, who was coming off of a strong Western States 100 finish earlier this year and a Mountain Masochist finish a few weeks ago, had taken a few tough falls, but was still moving well when we found ourselves running together.  We hung together for most of the last full loop.  At one point, I took a fall and David was good enough to stand there and I remember him saying, "Are you going to lay there for awhile?"    I said, "Yeah."   He gave me a hand and I got back up and we kept moving.   At another point on the South loop, I caught my toe on something and was headed for another fall, but I caught a small sapling and twisted around it....pole dancer style.   I think I may have been nominated for save-of-the-day on the Grand Slammers Face Book page.   Suzanne Erickson also came cruising by me on the South loop and pointed out the place where she went sprawling a couple of years ago.   Rick Calloway and his dog Sam were running on the last loop, and Sam wound up beating me by a few minutes.   Later, it was pointed out that Sam only ran 25 miles, but that didn't make me feel any better.   Finally, Chad Woods came cruising past me with about a mile to go.  I later learned that was Chad's first 50K finish.   I was glad to have been there to see the final push.  Congratulations Chad!

While I didn't get a new 50K PR, I was only off my time by about 8 minutes.  Given that I burned time shedding layers of clothing, and felt like I completely fell apart on the last loop, I'm pleased that I was able to at least clock a 6:07:36.   Thanks to the Race Director, Don Alan Hankins and all of the volunteers who made Dizzy a great run this year.

Now, I can turn my attention to the second leg of the Grand Slam, The Rocket City Marathon!

Stump Jump 50K

STUMP JUMP 50K

"The East's Legendary Meat Grinder"

October 4, 2014

Stump Jump 50K (Elevation Profile)

I've Got the Fever!

Last year when I crossed the finish line at the Stump Jump 50K, I was just glad that I had survived the course.   It's tough, and in 2013 it was hot.  There is a reason that Trail Runner magazine called this race, "The East's Legendary Meat Grinder."  It can, and will chew you up.  

But the fact of the matter is I also did not feel like myself.   I hadn't felt great at the beginning of the race, and around mile 13 or so, I really felt like I might not make it through.  Later that day, I discovered that I had a fever and had run the whole race with some kind of mild flu or something close.   I knew at that moment I had to come back to Stump Jump.   I believed I could do better than 8:15:38.

2014 - New Year, New Opportunity

The race started under much cooler conditions this year and I felt great.   I headed out at a decent pace, but I knew I would fall into one of Stump Jump's "runner trains" at the beginning of the race.   Although frustrating at times, it probably worked out for the best.   I roughly counted about 15 or so runners in front of me and I suspect there were probably about that many behind me.  The pace worked out pretty good, and probably kept me from going out faster than I should have.

The run past Mushroom Rock and down to the Suck Creek aid station was great (6.1 miles) .   Knowing that I would be climbing back up this section of trail in the afternoon caused me to really enjoy the downhill run even more.   Of course, you've got to deal with this suspension bridge that is bouncing up and down as a bunch of runners are crossing it at once.

After crossing the suspension bridge a real climb takes place and you begin to fall into, what I call, the real feel of the course.   The promotional video on the race's web page has a great quote that sums it up like this, "It's technical.  You are never in a rhythm."   The course is a series of ups and downs around a loop through the Prentice Cooper State Forest.  It truly is just enough terrain change to keep you constantly challenged.

As we went through the Indian Rock House aid station (10.6 miles), runners started spreading out and it became much more of an individual effort.   There were no longer runners ahead of me setting the pace, or runners behind me, breathing down my neck.   So, I was able to fall into a decent pace as I headed toward the infamous Rock Garden of Stump Jump.

Flash back as I Crashed back

After making it out of the rock garden, I was feeling a little beat down.   While I will not go as far as to say that I crashed on the back side of this course, I will admit I was passed by a young woman that was the spitting image of Mare Winningham's character from the movie St. Elmo's Fire.

Now for you kids that don't remember "the old 80's" as my oldest daughter calls that decade, the movie St. Elmo's Fire features three prominent female characters. As with most 80's teenie bopper movies, they were pretty much stereotypical roles -- Demi Moore played the hot, bad girl; Ally Sheedy played the All American girl next door; and Mare Winningham played the sweet girl, who was concerned about her weight. Ok, the sweet girl is the one that passed me.....but I have to say, she at least gave me that exact smile in photo as she passed.

Suck Creek to the Finish Line

I ran a few miles without water, so I was really glad to see the Suck Creek aid station (24.8 miles).  Kris Whorton was working the station and we had a good chat.   I took time to eat a few potatoes and salt and to refill my hydration pack and drink a few cups of Coke.  It really breathed new life into me.   So, my climb out of Suck Creek back to Mushroom Rock was not bad at all.   I was able to get my arms moving and I power hiked the steep sections of the climb.

I was able to get a decent pace going back to the finish line at Signal Mountain High School (31 miles).  I finished the race in 7:15:05 (chip time) -- over an hour better than the year before.   I had accomplished my goal and felt pretty good.... although I clearly don't look like a guy that was feeling too good in the photo below!  Stump Jump is the real deal and it will test you.

  

A 5K Summer and the Battle of the Hammie

Run in the Sun

After topping off the trail running season with the completion of my first 100 miler at Thunder Rock, I was ready to get back to short distance racing this summer.   My plan was to knock out a 5K every other week or so, and just have fun along the way.   A nice bonus of the 5K is, with a little effort, it's not too hard to place in your age category, pick up a nice medal or two along the way, and get a few of those much appreciated store gift cards (Thanks 1st Place Athletics and Fleet Feet!)   

Everything started out on the right note with the Sherwood Park 5K.   I headed over there two weeks after Thunder Rock with very few expectations.   However, the day turned out great.   There were about 50 runners and I wound up placing 2nd overall and 1st in my age group.  I knew for a fact that would be the highlight of my summer (if not my entire 5K running life).  I could almost hear the wise old Master from the Kung Fu series say, "Grasshopper, you chose your race wisely."  

Over the following weeks, I ran in the Firecracker 5K, the Blossomwood Blizzard 5K, and the Huntsville Track Club's Twilight 5K.   I placed 2nd in my age group at Blossomwood and Twilight, but trouble loomed.

Yes, I will take a side of "Yow, What the.., Son of a..." with my Ham...string

As part of my "short mileage" summer,  I also started going to the Huntsville Track Club's Tuesday evening Cross Country runs.   These are a series of 1,2,and 3 mile runs held at Huntsville's XC course.   On my second evening out there, I was following closely behind Eric "Prez and the Revolution" Fritz and Kathy "Bad Water / Spartathalon" Youngren as they got in an easy 3 miler, but just keeping up with them qualified as a tempo run for me. :)   Somewhere near mile 2, I felt it.   It was as if a strip of tape in my left leg had been rolled up.   It wasn't terribly painful; it certainly hurt a little, but the most dramatic sensation was that the back of my left leg was extremely tight.   I managed to walk/run the final mile, and decided to take a couple of days off after that.

Knowing that the Twilight 5K was just a few days away, I got back out on the road for a couple of days of easy miles.   I actually felt okay, and decided that I could run the Twilight 5K.   However, about a mile into the race, I felt my left hamstring tighten up.   I finished the race, mostly because my three girls had come to see me run and I didn't want to quit on a rare night like that.   I managed to finish 2nd in my age group, but I was hobbling.

I decided not to fool around this time, and I took a full 6 days off -- relying on advice I read in an article on the Internet.  You know -- the Internet -- the place where all advice on medical issues is sound and trustworthy.  Long story short, yesterday, I went out for a trail run with some friends on Monte Sano.   As per usual, I took my obligatory fall during the run and thought nothing of it until I got up and felt my hamstring had tightened up.   This time, I was frustrated and thought to myself, "I will just run it off.  It will loosen up as I go."  At one of the breaks we take to make sure everyone is still with us, a guy said, "Hey man, you've got a bruise on the back of your leg."  My heart sank, because I knew what that meant.  I had just taken a mild hamstring pull and turned it into a tear in my muscle -- the blood from my disappointed muscle was forming the bruise.  If my hamstring could talk, I know it would have said, "You, dummy.  Why didn't you lay off for a few weeks?"

So, as I've talked to some folks that know a thing or two about hamstring pulls and read a few more articles (this time from much more reputable sources), I realize that my running is going to have to be shelved for 3 to 4 weeks.   Initially, good old Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE) are key.  Soon, I can start to do non-impact workouts to strengthen my hamstrings -- I will probably choose swimming, along with a few other exercises.   

My only take away from this, and advice to others, is to concentrate on your hamstrings and glutes.   Running alone will not adequately build these muscles, especially as you get older.  I picked this up from a Runner's World article.   

So, in the meantime, I will see you at the pool.   Have fun out there, and take care of yourself!

  

   

  

Thunder Rock 100

THUNDER ROCK 100 TRAIL RUN

Rocks, Roots, Rivers, and Redemption

The End in Sight

Before I saw the finish line, I heard Michael Scott's booming voice through the woods, "Two Minutes!!!"  Michael was described to me as Race Director Randy Whorton's "right hand man."  Michael had become a fixture in my push to finish this beast, but at that moment, a chorus of Angels would not have sounded any sweeter to me.   As I rounded the corner in a full sprint, the Rock/Creek Wild Trails finish line arch appeared at long last and I ran through it.  My fists were pumping in the air and I was wearing a pair of running gloves from a good Samaritan that would not make the cutoff.   As I collected myself on the other side of the finish line, a guy approached me and said, "Man, I just have to say, you dug deep.  When we passed you coming down Oswald Dome, you looked like you were finished.  Way to go."   I don't know who that was, but his comment wasn't lost on me.   The fact that I finished with only a minute and 55 seconds to spare began to hit me.   What a journey.   Two more runners made it under the wire; the last with only 50 seconds to spare.  At the moment of our elation, I saw a pack of guys coming in about 3 minutes after the race was over.   One of them had let me borrow an extra jacket and gloves coming down from the Dome.  I handed the gloves and jacket back to him and squeezed his shoulder.   There was nothing to say at that point.   I've been there, and there are no words of solace that work in a moment like that.

Begin the Begin

My pursuit of Thunder Rock really began in March of 2012 when I did not finish the Graveyard 100.  I didn't make the cutoff at the mile 87 aid station. For those who know me, you know that really stung and it was a monkey on my back.  At that time, there was no Thunder Rock 100, but I knew I wanted to conquer the distance at some point downstream.  I've often heard that the 100 mile distance is the Holy Grail for the ultra runner. Whether or not that is true, it definitely held significance in my mind, and was a goal I desperately wanted to attain.

When the buzz started about Thunder Rock, I was already trying to get in shape to make another stab at a 100.   I had lost about 35 pounds and was setting personal records at several local trail runs, including Dizzy 50, Mountain Mist, and McKay Hollow Madness.  I had a good base of 45 to 50 miles a week on which to build the higher mileage I would need for a 100 mile push.  Cary Long, Benj Lance and several others in our trail running community had started talking about this one, but as the time drew closer and we saw the date for Thunder Rock had been set for May, many of us started to shake our heads.  May, in Tennessee!?!  We just knew this was going to be a hot and humid endeavour.   But, when registration opened we entered, along with fellow Huntsville runners Will Barnwell and the man, the myth and the legend, DeWayne Satterfield.  The fact that I would be sharing the trail with these guys and this caliber of runner further strengthened my resolve to get this one right.

The Night Before

With plenty of 70, 75, and 85 mile weeks behind me, I made my way up to Tennessee to join Cary Long, Benj Lance, Jeff Deaton, and Cary's crew: Martin Schneekloth, Jerry Abbott and Scott Bell at the cabin the night before the run.   It was great to hang out with these guys.   You can never beat back all of the butterflies, but I felt good, relaxed and in the moment.   We built a fire and Will Barnwell and his wife Laura made their way over.   Will always seems to be in a good mood and joking around, and while he was definitely himself, there was a little different air about Will the night before the race.   He really seemed focused and that sense came through in spades the following day, when Will blistered the course and finished in 21:55:46.  Will was a man on a mission and represented our Huntsville running community well.

Thunder Rock had a noon start on Friday and so we had time to talk the morning of the race.   Martin was dispensing plenty of good advice and thoughts.  One thing he said really stuck with me.   He said, "Look, at some point, you are going to make a wrong turn and get lost.  Don't worry about it.  Just keep your head."  That, along with my brother's text that closed with, "Enjoy the ride" are the two pieces of advice/guidance I carried into my 100 mile attempt.   Both served me well.

The Run

Whitewater Center to Reliance (mile 25.3)

The run started at the Ocoee Whitewater Center and we were sent off to the sounds of AC/DC's Thunderstruck.  We ran across the suspension bridge that spanned the Ocoee and under the Olympic Rings from the 1996 site of the whitewater events.  We quickly entered beautiful single track and were on our way.   The most memorable part of the first section was the unbelievable hail storm that hit us.  We had dealt with an early shower prior to the race, but as my pack of runners came out from under the canopy of the woods to cross a section of road, the hail started hitting.  It was pea sized and the volunteers at the Thunder Rock aid station were scrambling to cover food and protect themselves.  One of the pieces of hail pegged me right in my inner left ear.   No harm done, but what are the odds?

As we continued to press deeper into the woods, the trail took a steep dive down towards the Deep Gap aid station and I literally "mud surfed" down the last few yards and nearly fell ass over tea kettle onto the road where the aid station was situated.  As I pulled out of this aid station, I heard a guy say, "What are we going to have to do to get Spurgeon (my brother) back out here?"  It was Christian Griffith and Wayne "Weezy" Downey coming up on me.  Those guys are the real deal.  I've followed Christian's exploits for years on his blog Run100Miles.   So, I fell in with them and we stuck together for several miles.  They finally pulled ahead of me for good about 2 or 3 miles from the Reliance aid station.   As I got close to Reliance, I passed the cabin we were renting and Scott Bell shouted, "Hey Shar, how are you feeling?"  I remember telling him I felt like I had just jumped off the pages of a Marvel comic book.   At that point, I did.  But to borrow a line from Christian Griffith's race report, that's the time in a 100 when everything feels like "peaches and cream."

Reliance to Coker Falls (mile 39.27)

  

The section from Reliance to Coker Falls put us onto some of the most technical single track in the run.  Much of it ran right on the edge of the Hiwassee River.  This section ended with a climb up to the Coker Falls aid station.  During this final push, we lost sunlight and had to pull out our headlamps.  At this point, in the run, I fell in with a guy I dubbed the Silver Fox.  He was completely gray, but man that old dude could move.  I would have to surge now and then just to keep up with him.  That was a slight blow to the ego.

Coker Falls to Manning Cabin (mile 45.87)

At the Coker Falls aid station, I had my Brooks Mountain Mist 50K pullover in my drop bag.  It was getting down into the 40's with the sun going down (so much for our belief this was going to be a hot run).  That pullover was a life saver at that point.   Not only did I need the warmth, but for some reason, just seeing the Mountain Mist Running Skeleton logo gave me a mental boost.

Manning Cabin -- the Setback -- to Starr Mountain (mile 64.79)

This next section of the run prompted my friends to suggest that I capture my experience with this race in writing.  So, here it goes:  The Manning aid station was great!  Pizza, boiled red potatoes and salt, peanut butter filled pretzels.   Good people and good food.  As I pulled out of the aid station, I was feeling great.  I got back on the main road and was on my way.   The road veered to the right and I kept on running.   After awhile I noticed that I had not seen a flag marking the course in some time.   I knew that Randy Whorton, our Race Director, said that he was only going to put flags out every half a mile, so I was not overly concerned, I figured I could have missed it.   However, after running about a mile down the road and not seeing a flag, I started thinking that I had made a mistake.   So, I turned around and ran back.   When I got to the top of the road, I saw a flag and, seeing no other flags in any other direction, I convinced myself that I had made the right decision and probably had not run far enough down the road to see the next flag, or maybe some local kids had messed with the flags.   So, I headed back again in what I would later realize was the wrong way.  In essence, I made a mistake and then doubled down on it.  After running a little farther down the wrong road, it came to a fork with no flags present.   That was all it took for me to know that I had made a terrible mistake.   As I headed back, despair fueled my thoughts.  I started telling myself that I was going to blow this thing, and then at that moment, I remembered Martin's advice.  "You are going to get lost.  Keep your head."   I saw the headlight of another runner heading towards me.   I stopped him and told him he was heading in the wrong direction.   At first, he didn't believe me, but he agreed to backtrack a few tenths of a mile to double check.  We came to an intersection, with a road that took a sharp left.   Although, we couldn't see any flags, we decided to head down that road and see what happened.   Within about 20 yards, our headlamps hit two course flags -- they were not on the ground, but had been positioned on a guardrail on the side of the road.  There had been no flags at the intersection, but at that point, we were just glad to be heading in the right direction.   Later, I would figure out, based on my GPS watch, that my excursions had added over 4.5 miles to my run.

At that point in the race, my previous goal went out the window.  Now, my goal and objectives became crystal clear.   I had to make each cutoff at the designated aid station and finish the race in under 30 hours.  That isn't what I wanted, but it was my new reality.   I had several things going for me at that point.   I had set my Suunto watch to the 50 hour setting and it served me well for the rest of the run.   Also, Cary Long had made small sheets with each aid station listed on them along with the time you would need to hit them for various finishing times.  I had stuck two of them in a pocket of my Nathan hydration pack.  One was for a 27 hour finish -- that was out the window.   The other one was for a 29 hour finish.   Before I left Huntsville, I had also written the cutoff times in the margins of the sheet.   So, I knew that I had to make Starr Mountain by 6:30 am, Iron Gap by 9:30 am, Quinn Springs by 12:20 pm, and McCamy Lake by 3:45 pm.   Making each cutoff was the ticket that would allow me to make the final push to the finish line before 6:00 pm on Saturday.   Finally, my head was back in the game and my legs were still in good shape.  

My foray down the wrong road had cost me in another way as well.  Rebecca Reynolds, a fellow Huntsville trail runner, had agreed to serve as my pacer (Thunder Rock called them safety runners) through the night.  However, when I didn't show, Rebecca moved further up the trail and we never connected.   I owe Rebecca a big apology and next time Rebecca, I will be where I'm supposed to be.

On my way to Starr Mountain, I fell in with two runners who really helped me push my pace through the night.  They were Ali Turfe from Ann Arbor, Michigan and Jeremy Miller from Chattanooga.   As Ali said at one point, "We make a good team."  Desperation can make good teammates out of total strangers.  No doubt about it.  I had a brief bout with dry heaves during this section, but I kept running through them.  In fact, my loaded coughs made for an interesting light show as the spray flew out in front of the beam on my headlamp.

We made the Starr Mountain cutoff by 20 minutes.   Michael Scott showed up just after we arrived and shouted, "It's time to start shutting this station down!"  That was our cue to hit the road!

Starr Mountain to Iron Gap (mile 74.33)      

With the sun coming up, I ditched my pullover in my drop bag and headed down the mountain towards our next aid station and cutoff  time.   We made it under the cutoff at Iron Gap by 30 minutes.   We were feeling good because we were starting to put time back into the bank.  But again, Michael Scott showed up and said it was time to shut this aid station down.  No rest for the weary -- we were on our way.

Iron Gap to Quinn Springs (mile 83.37)

In order to make it to Quinn Springs, we had to cross the Hiwassee River in two places.   By this time, I had teamed up with a couple of other runners -  a husband and wife team from Mentor, Ohio -- Sean and Amy Hensley.  The first crossing had a rope assist system that extended over the waist deep river to help you get across.  While the river was not deep, the bottom is full of softball sized rocks that are uneven and slippery.   We came out on a little piece of dry land in the middle of the river and then had to cross another section of the river to get out.  All of this slowed us down.   However, we still managed to make Quinn Springs with over 50 minutes before the cutoff.  I took the opportunity to dry off, get on a fresh set of running clothes and change my shoes.  My Hoka Stinson Trail shoes had served me well for 83 miles, but it was time to get into my dry pair of Newton BOCO ATs.  

Quinn Springs to McCamy Lake (mile 93.29)   

In between Quinn Springs and McCamy Lake is a little climb up to Oswald Dome.  The runner's guide provided to us ahead of the race described it like this, "After you dry off and reload after your river walk, you will embark on the biggest challenge of the day, perhaps of your life."   The climb up to Oswald Dome is 2,200 feet over 3.9 miles.   It consists of some very narrow, slippery trails (due to the rain) and has several heartbreaking false summits that turn into just another switchback.   After finally making my way to the top, a cold rain started falling on my way down.   I was moving slow and it was at this time that the guy caught up with me that offered me his extra running jacket and gloves.   He was smaller than me, so while the gloves were a perfect fit, I basically had to throw the jacket over my shoulders.  I'm sure I looked like a little old lady at church, clutching her shawl, and I probably looked like I was on my last leg.   

However, as we got to the bottom of the Dome, I could actually start moving with purpose again and I took off the jacket and slipped it through the bungee cords on the back of my hydration pack.   I kept the gloves on and started moving.  We made it to McCamy Lake under the gun.

McCamy Lake to the Finish Line (100.02)

I heard some guys at the aid station say they were going to "walk it on out" and just get to the finish line.  However, that didn't sound right to me and I headed off on my own at that point.   I'm glad I did. Those guys didn't make it.  The final stretch had some sections of tough single track and a few more stream crossings.  I finally came across a group of EMTs who said we had a little over a mile to go and it seemed more like 2.5 or more after all was said and done.  I broke into a sprint within the last mile or so, because I could see that I was losing a bunch of time and the finish line did not seem to be getting any closer.  Finally, I came across a lady who yelled, "Get a move on!  I just walked from the finish line and it took me 7 minutes to get here.  You only have 4 minutes to go before they call the race!"   I pushed even harder at that point.  I made it, but what a journey.   

Even after having a week to reflect on it.  I am still amazed, but mostly dumbfounded.   When I stop and think of the number of things that could have robbed me of that one minute and 55 seconds along the way, it is nothing short of a miracle that I made it across that finish line.