Your biggest challenge isn’t someone else. It’s the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells, “CAN’T,” but you don’t listen. You push harder. And then you hear the voice whisper, “can.” And you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are. –Unknown

My Hellgate 100k 2006

By Heather Semanyk

My Husband Andrew and I ran David Horton’s MMTR in 2005, our first race over 40 miles. Andrew had a great day. I struggled with stomach issues almost from the start. I finished but it was not the day I trained for. Andrew, riding high from his MMTR experience, suggested we do Hellgate. Hoping for a better race -  I considered it. We decided it was too close to Christmas to do a race we had not planned for. We would put it on the calendar for 2006. Fast forward to August 2006 - we started talking Hellgate; we started to think about training. I got nervous every time I thought about the race. I was not sure if I was ready for Hellgate. I have never run at night. My one and only 50 mile experience was terrible and this was no ordinary 100k; this was Hellgate! We did not tell anyone at first that we were even thinking about the race. Then it happened -  I was out for a run and ran into some guys I occasionally see out running, they asked what I was training for… I said it out loud the Hellgate 100k! Their response was how long!? In the mountains of VA! In December! At midnight! Why? You are nuts! Being who I am their response made me know I wanted to do this; that maybe I could do this. I went home and told Andrew it was official we are training for Hellgate. He sighed, smiled, and said ok. He was nervous too.

 Our training went well. Our son started 1^st grade this year so both of us training was easier than in the past. I would run after dropping the kids off at school. We went for our first night run and it went well. My mom and stepfather watched our two children every few weeks so we could do some of our long runs together on the weekend. Our race plan had us running the night section together. Andrew is a faster runner then I am and we do not always run well together.  It was important that we figure out how to run better together during our training runs. We found if he just stayed behind me and if I stopped worrying about slowing him down we were fine and enjoyed our time together. I can not remember the last time we got a babysitter to go out to dinner - it is always to run and I love that!

 Our family has all come to support us at one time or another when we ran road marathons. My mom and stepfather are usually what I call our home crew taking care of our kids while we are away. As our races got longer our kids had no interest in going. I am very thankful that my family is supportive of our running but I know our ultras concern them. No one but my Stepfather had ever braved coming to one. My father crewed all of our first few marathons and he was a wonderful support. I have asked him to come to our ultras in the past and he always declined saying “I can’t see you like that.” I know he pictured something terrible no matter how much I tried to convince him different. But as Hellgate approached I started to feel a crew would really be a positive and I needed all of the positive I could get. I knew Hellgate would be the most difficult race we have done so far. So I asked my Brother Matthew and my Father if they would make the trip to Virginia and crew for Andrew and me. My Dad looked like a deer in headlights and Matthew said “Crew? What the heck is that? Do I have to walk far?!” I assured them that they would not have to walk far but it would be a tough crew and I would understand if they said no. My Dad was on board pretty quick I know he was not thrilled but I told him I needed him so he was going to be there. Matthew was not into this adventure at all. It was after much prodding from his wife he finally agreed to go. I was beside myself. Besides knowing a crew would be a positive factor,  I so wanted my dad and my brother to see why I run ultras, why I run trails. I had often thought if they could just see for themselves how it feeds my soul, how even when it is hard it is good, that I am okay out there, they would understand, they would know me better.

 The four of us set out for Virginia about 10 am Friday morning. We had a 6 + hour ride ahead of us. We laughed a lot on the way down which helped keep the mood light. We went over all of the information I had put together for them with time estimates, what we may ask for at the aid stations, what information we would want and so on and so on. They asked good questions and Matthew took notes - I was pleasantly surprised. Our original race plan was Andrew and I would run together through the night and then somewhere between aid station 4 and 5 Andrew would go on ahead of me.

 We arrived at camp Bethel around 4:30pm. We hung out until dinner time going through all the race information again. The temperature was colder as we walked to dinner and still colder when we walked back.  We settled into the comfy couches at the lodge and tried to rest. I knew I would not sleep. I was just trying to keep my nerves in check. Hellgate was the first running goal I set for myself that I had real doubt about finishing before the cut-off. I use to suffer from terrible anxiety, so bad that just walking my daughter into preschool made my heart pound so hard I swore the other parents had to hear it. I thought about how far I have come how much stronger in everyway I felt and how now it took something like Hellgate to make my heart pound so hard I swore the other runners had to hear it.

 It was so freaking cold at the start I could not believe it! I loved that we all sang the National anthem together, it just seemed fitting. Then we were off on our adventure. The first few miles felt great; I warmed up, felt comfortable and my nerves were gone. We got to the stream crossing and went right through holding hands. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. A few minutes later I took my first of many falls. When we got to aid station 2, Dad and Matthew had camp chairs out with our dry shoes and socks ready. My shoes laces were frozen solid Matthew had to pry my shoes off. Stopping made us get cold again especially our finger tips. But our feet felt great!

 The night section was amazing in so many ways. Running by moon light, the beauty of the stars and moon I had never seen them so close or so bright.  It was wonderful to share that beauty with my husband - the person who truly shares my love of the trail. I felt like we were running better together than we ever had, apparently Andrew did too. He told me he wanted to stay with me the whole race. That after the night we shared he couldn’t ditch me, “For what,” he said, “to finish and hour or so ahead of you? We are in this one together.” I was thrilled and amazingly cold. The wind was brutal. At aid station 4 we found our crew trying to put on a good face, and they did, but they were beyond cold. I handed them my frozen gel flask and water bottle to thaw for the next aid station.  We arrived at aid station 4 about 45 minutes ahead of the cut-off. That is when I estimated we would arrive so that was a confidence boost. But I did not get ahead of myself, we still had a long way to go. We started toward aid station 5 as a gust of wind cut through us. I swear I have never been as cold as I was at that moment. I told Andrew we should have gotten our jackets. About that time we heard our crew driving up behind us hollering “go team Semanyk” we stopped them and got our jackets. Those jackets felt so good!

 The sunrise I saw that morning was one of the prettiest I have ever seen. We stopped briefly to admire it. Daylight was good! The downhill to Aid station 5 was real good! We actually arrived ahead of schedule. Our crew was ready for us though. My stomach was feeling queasy. I tried to eat some eggs but could not. Sips of soup were all I could tolerate at most aid stations, unlike Andrew who needs lots of solid foods to get him through a race. I wish I had his stomach.

 The leaves, on the rocks, on the trail that slants down the mountain was just no fun. My opinion is that the section of the race from aid 4 to aid 7 is the most difficult. It certainly was for me. Just before aid station 7 I tripped on a rock only to fall on a bigger rock. It hurt! I thought I was in trouble, Andrew scooped me up put me on my feet and I just ran. I ended up getting x-rays this week I thought maybe I cracked my ribs the pain has been so bad but they are just bruised. Anyway going into aid 7 I was a mess. I was starting to fall apart from not being able to eat enough. And what do I see ahead of me but my Dad waving a deer leg around telling Andrew and I he has leg of deer for us if we are hungry. The thought of soup is making me nauseous and he has a deer leg. We have laughed a lot about that.

 I left aid station 7, with Andrew a bit annoyed that I had not been eating he handed me a cookie and told me eat it. I scrapped little bits at a time off and managed to get it down and another. Add in some Conquest and I was feeling much better by aid station 8. Getting ready to leave Aid 8 we asked one of the many wonderful Hellgate volunteers how far to the next aid he says “6.2…….ahh 9. I can not lie.” It still felt like he lied, it felt like forever then finally aid station 9 - whoa! Then I look up, of course up, would David have it any other way?  That last climb was again not fun. Andrew asked me “Are we doing this again next year?” I said “No @#$% way” he said “Good!” Finally, finally! We reached the top, all down hill from here. We managed to run what we thought was a pretty decent clip, as we searched desperately for the one mile to go sign. When it did not come fast enough we decided they must not have put up a sign, I can also remember thinking maybe somebody stole it. Then finally we saw the sign painted on the road! We made the turn into camp Bethel soon after. I felt just incredible. I had an amazing feeling of accomplishment a sense of peace with in myself. David, my Dad, and Matthew were yelling “Here come the Semanyks!” We did it! We did it together! We crossed the line hand in hand.

 It was over, it felt so surreal. We took a couple of pictures, we talked briefly with David, we got our shirts, and we were on our way to the hotel.

 It is now 10 days past Hellgate and several things have changed. Matthew and I have talked almost everyday. He really understands now why we do the trail races we do. His enthusiasm for our sport has been awesome. He said Hellgate was the most amazing sporting event he has been too. Something else happened that I never saw coming, Matthew started running this week and is planning his first trail 10k in February. I am so thrilled for him. I can not wait to run with him. My Dad was very glad to be there for us and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I think he gets why we do this better than before but I know he’ll still worry too much. Oh, and Andrew and I were talking and we think that Hellgate may just see us again!

 Thank you David for your enthusiasm, dedication and drive to put together such top notch events.

 Thank you to the volunteers who had no easy tasks and kept amazing attitudes.

 Camp Bethel was a wonderful place with a friendly and helpful staff. The finish line is just steps away from the warm lodge which was very nice.

 Our Crew - Dad and Matthew thank you for all you did, for the laughs, for the memories that will last a life time. You really spoiled us out there we may not be able to go back to running without a crew.

 Our Home Crew - Mom and Steve thank you, Andrew and I could not do these things together without you. Your love, support and encouragement have been endless.

 To my sister-in-law Heather and Stepmother Stacy thank you for your love and support and for supporting your husbands going on this adventure.

 Our Children - Summer and Chase I love our family time on the trails. You are so supportive and encouraging of your Daddy and I running thank you.

 Andrew  - My partner in adventure. We learned a lot out on that trail, 20 years together and you can still surprise me. You certainly did when you said you were staying with me the whole race. Thank you for an incredible 17 hours and 8 minutes I know I ran a better race because of you.