Promise Land 50K Report - Stan McLean

 

My thanks to you, Mike Sandlin, George Whortley, Rebekah Trittipoe and all of the volunteers for providing the Promise Land experience.  Though I am a novice at ultra running, it had to be one of the best prepared and managed events on anyone's schedule.  It was a great weekend.

 

As you know, it was my first attempt at ultra running and I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie, camping and the location.  What you don't know is that my training wasn't as adequate as it should have been because of a nagging neuroma and plantar fascitis on my left foot and occasional tendonitis.  I was ready to forgo the race (as I did last year due to injury) when I remembered the many times that you could have quit the Appalachian Trail or Trans-continental, as chronicled in, "A Quest For Adventure".  I had also recently read Walt Esser's primer and both of Bob Boeder's books.  Then it hit me: this is not supposed to be easy!  Drawing additional wisdom and courage from the collective writings, I forwarded my entry and was determined to complete the race in a reasonable time. I was 10 pounds heavier than I wanted to be and I could never find a pair of trail shoes that would fit my wide feet and high arches.   

 

Off I went in my Gel Cumulus shoes clutching two Ultimate bottles that I always carried while training.  My 5 hour time at 20 miles was exactly as planned thanks to pacing with several experienced runners: Steve Bowles and Steve Bozeman.  I was comfortable to that point, but concerned that after drinking at least 1 1/2 bottles of Conquest between aid stations, I had yet to make a detour into the woods. Soon thereafter I started weakening as I fell behind first Bowles, then Bozeman.  It then occurred to me, just before the ascent up the Falls Trail, that I hadn't been eating enough at the early aid stations and was now running further than any of my training runs, with my fuel tank close to empty.  Great timing! 

 

With God's help I placed one foot in front of the other to traverse the rocks and terrain of the Apple Orchard Falls Trail.  Somewhere during that period I swore that I would never do an ultra again if I could just make it to the Parkway.  The beauty of the falls was totally lost as all I wanted was something resembling a downhill.  And, of course, I eventually did make it to the Sunset Fields aid station, teaming up with Richard Brooks, Steve Bozeman's friend (and now mine) as we kept each other running to the finish line.

 

So what is the first thing I did Sunday morning following the race?  I checked your Extreme Ultrarunning web site for the date of the Mountain Masochist, and another 50K to run in the interim.  God willing, I'll see you there -  lighter, faster and more determined.  Thanks again David and may God bless you. 

 

Stan