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.
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.
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