Hellgate
100k 2004
December
11
It is
At
Mile 3.5
42:23 (
The
first section is relatively easy, even in the dark.
We move quickly to get a few quick miles in before the terrain and
elevation demand that we slow down. Just
before this aid station is a nice stream crossing where the water is actually
not too high—only about knee deep, and we all get across without any problems.
I hope that I am not going out too fast, but so far the pace feels about
right.
Mile 7.5
56:26 (
We
run and walk all the way up the mountain to Petites Gap.
I run most of the time with Dave Snipes with Gary Knipling
always close by. The traction going
up this hill is a lot better than last year when we had to run on ice for the
last mile or so. At this aid
station, my support person, Rex, is waiting with a dry pair of shoes and a pint
of chocolate milk. I grab a bagel
to eat on the run as I say good-bye to Rex until
Mile 13.1
This
section starts out very technical as we run down the hill on a very rocky trail.
I think I roll my right ankle for the first time of the race on this
section. It is a very dark night,
and I realize that I did not put a brand new set of batteries in my headlamp,
but for now things are going well despite everything.
In this race, it really is a war of attrition, and I just hope that my
mind and body hold out longer than the course does.
I enjoy a rather good cup of vegetable soup at this aid station
Mile 21.9
David
says this is the toughest portion of the course, and I guess I have to agree
with him since we do this section in the dark.
I am running by myself for most of this section, and it is a true test of
nerves and will power to keep thinking about moving forward as fast as possible.
On the way up to the mountain, I am treated with a few snow flurries that
gently drift down through the beam of my headlamp.
Rex is waiting on the other side of the aid station and just as I am
getting ready to leave, Gary Knipling catches up to
me once again.
Mile 27.6
Gary
and I run together all the way down the mountain to Jennings Creek.
He is most gracious to help light my way as my headlamp keeps getting
dimmer and dimmer. We both agree
that things are going better for us this year than last because most of this
section was in the daylight for us last year.
Just before getting into the aid station, the sky begins to brighten, and
I can finally turn off my now useless headlamp.
Unlike last year, I am confident that I won’t need it on the last
section this evening. They are
serving breakfast at Jennings Creek, so I eat some scrabbled eggs and a biscuit,
while washing it down with another pint of chocolate milk.
Mile 34.5
There
are some great downhill sections on this part that I am able to really take
advantage of now that it is daylight. I
pass Dave Snipes and Brad Smythe, who passes me back
on the road up the mountain. Last
year, the aid station wasn’t all the way at the top of the hill, but was
rather a mile and a half below. Having
it in the right spot will definitely make the next section better this year.
At the aid station, I change into my third pair of shoes.
I want to have as good of footing as possible for this next section.
Mile 42.5
During
the early rolling miles of this section, it is difficult to stay motivated
because I can’t run all of the time, and the down hills and up hills are not
very long. However, I try to stay
focused on moving forward as quick as possible because I don’t want this
section to last any longer than it already will.
About halfway through Gary Knipling, Mike
Price, and Brad Smythe pass back by me, but then I
pass them on the downhill. We all
come into Bearwallow Gap close together, but not
before I have fallen into the water on the last creek crossing.
Fortunately, it is not far from the aid station, and I change out my
shoes and shirts before continuing. I
am over an hour ahead of my time at this point last year.
Although lunch is being served here, I decide instead just for a doughnut
and pint of chocolate milk.
Mile 49.5
I
start out from Bearwallow slightly ahead of Gary,
Brad, and Mike, but Mike and Brad catch up to me once we get up on top of the
ridge. I am doing very well leading
them out and around each bend in the trail until I roll my ankle again not once
but twice in a matter of a couple of minutes.
It is then that I lose contact with Mike and Brad.
I can still run, but I am now being very careful not to twist it anymore.
As I come down the hill and get on the road for the last mile into Bobblets
Gap,
Mile 56.1
Gary
and I run down the hill on the road from Bobblets
Gap together, but then he tells me to push on ahead and try to catch Mike and
Brad. I am still feeling like I
have something left in the tank, so I conservatively push myself up and down and
around this single track trail trying to catch a glimpse of a runner ahead of
me. Unfortunately, the only thing I
catch a glimpse of is another stream crossing.
I think there are 10 stream crossings on this section, but I might have
missed counted one or two. Finally,
and under two hours, I make it into the last aid station.
Everybody admits that this section is longer than 6.6 miles and my
estimate is around 7.6 miles. Rex
has the aid workers properly briefed, and I have two cups of Coke along with a
stack of Pringles. It is time to
infuse my body with some caffeine for the final kick into the finish.
Mile 62.4
As
I leave Day Creek and head up the last mountain, I catch glimpses of Mike Price.
I am confident that I will catch him on the downhill if I don’t let him
get any farther ahead on the uphill portion.
I better my time to the top by over four minutes by just flat out power
walking as fast as my lungs will allow. At
the top, I can’t see Mike, but I know if I run down the hill, I have a good
chance of catching him. I never do
catch Mike on the way down, but instead I pass three other runners who are just
trying to make it in at this point. My
legs hurt, but I can almost smell the finish.
With a mile to go I push even harder and manage to finish 16 hours and 17
minutes after I started. This is
over an hour and a half improvement on last year, and I am thrilled!
Official
Finishing Time
36th out of
about 87 starters (57 finishers under 18 hours)
I didn’t run the JFK50
this year because of the Urban Challenge, and so I was therefore fresh to run a
hard race. I have accomplished that
and am very pleased with my results. Rex
does an impeccable job as my crew, and he even drives me home.
An ultra runner really can’t ask for more than that
Never stop running,
Darin