Ultra Virgin No-More!

Situation: Haven’t run a marathon in 10 years let alone an ultra and contemplating running in the Holiday Lake 50K++.

Problem 1: I  looked into Jerry Turk’s eyes and the next thing you know I am not only signed up but get a confirmation e-mail from Dr. Horton stating ‘Welcome to the Holiday Lake 50K++’.

Problem 2: Let Brian Loose know that I am considering running at Holiday Lake. Now I should be committed!

Problem 3: Glen Robson comes back from crewing for Jerry Turk and Kerry Arsenault at the Hellgate 100K and puts images of sugar plums, dancing angels and bear hats in the adventure and had the gall to call it fun. And I believed him! Who said I am smart?

Problem 4: Bob Francis and Jay Avitable also looked into Jerry’s eyes and were also captivated. Now there are 3 of us ultra virgins running at Holiday Lake.

Problem 5: I go to the Lil’ Rhody Runaround with Glen to get in a long run and we meet  Bob Buckingham from New London, CT, another crazy with ultra blood in his veins.

Problem 6: Bob Francis talks to Bernard Lirola and convinces him to be the 4^th ultra virgin from the Sound Runner group stating ‘it is a great idea if we all went to the race together. It would be a great time and fun.’ ‘Bob, are you crazy? How can running 50K++ be fun?’ 

Problem 7: Brian Loose and Denise Wagner decide they will go back to Holiday Lake to run in the event again (for the 4^th time) and they will bring Brian’s friend John Muir from NJ (formerly from CT) with them. Roadtrip!

Solution: we band together, become the “Bimble 8”, go to VA and run in this crazy event!

Bimble: Activity conducted in a friendly yet harmless manner without serious aim. Achieving an objective when you bimble is an optional but common side effect.

So, on Thursday evening, 09.Feb.06, I take off from Branford, CT with Jay and Bob for VA and the beginning of our quest to become ‘ultra runners’. We planned everything just right. We only traveled half way to VA on the first night and then would continue on our way the next day for the remainder of our journey. We pulled into the Holiday Lake camp grounds mid afternoon. Only a few workers in sight. We now figure out that we must be wearing a sign that states ‘ultra rookies’ as we are not only early but there is hours to go before check-in actually begins. This gives us a chance to walk around the camp grounds and check out the first mile or so of the course. On the way back, we meet Dr. David Horton. He tells us stories about Jerry (4^th place overall) and Kerry (13^th place overall) running at the Hellgate 100K. He knew all of the race details off the top of his head. For the next day and a half, he is the race director as well as our ‘cruise director’ for Holiday Lake 50K++. We exchange greetings and go off for a short road trip to Appomattox. At about 4:30 pm we get back in camp for registration, a pre-race meal and the pre-race meeting. We meet up with Brian, Denise, John and ‘New London’ Bob at dinner. Brian works the room as he knows almost everyone veteran runner there. He also introduces us to Dr. Horton as if they have been friends for their entire lives. We then make our way off the bunk house for bed as we have an early wake-up call the next day.

Race day is here. We look outside and can’t see anything. Is it because it is too dark or is it because it is just pouring rain? It’s both! Before we knew it, we were on the starting line just outside the bunk house. One of our fellow runners sings the ‘Star Spangled Banner’, Dr. Horton provides a short prayer and the signal to go was given. We were really there and really running in our first ultra. The beginning of the race was very slow and dark as we get ready to traverse the course in a counter clockwise direction. Flashlights danced in the early morning sky between the rain drops. We leave the pavement and head right into the trails plunging into darkness. After about 45 minutes of running and daylight ready to join us for the rest of the run, the rain changed over to snow. This is great!!! The course for the first half of the run was going by very smoothly. The trails were getting muddier and muddier as we went along on our journey. I am getting excited; the first water crossing was coming up soon. When we get there, I am very disappointed as the water level is mid-calf depth at best. Well maybe the second water crossing a few miles away would be better. Nope, a little deeper and just a little longer. Darn! There were 4 aid stations throughout the first loop before we arrived back at the start-finish. These aid stations are stocked with all sorts of goodies and energetic volunteers but I made sure that I would not loose time to this temptation and spent little, if any, at any of the aid stations. ‘Number 192 coming through.’ ‘Check.’ And off to the next aid station. The real adventurous part of the race started to occur from aid station 4 to the start-finish area for the turn around. This part of the course was mostly all downhill, almost like a ski slope covered with a deep, dark, red dirt clay-like substance. As I am negotiating this downhill section, the leaders are heading back up the hill on the same trail. I look to the left; there is a 100 foot drop. Not a wise choice going to the left. I then try to the right. There is competition from other runners for the single track trail. Should I ski down in the mud? The decision was made clear by a young woman just ahead of me. Her foot caught a root and she did a face plant right into the mud and was almost stepped on by a runner coming up the hill. I will take my time getting down the hill. We approach the start-finish turn around. Will I make my time projection of 3 hours? I clock in at 3:00:17. This is fantastic. Right on schedule. I then re-fuel my camelbak with sustained, leave my gloves on Jay’s car and off I go following Brian and Denise back out onto the course in a clockwise direction. All of the other CT Sound Runners are out ahead of me running comfortably. This is great. What a showing for our group! Our spiritual leader, Julie Francis, who is the owner of the Sound Runner store in Branford with her husband Bob, would be very proud of us right now!  Bob has already exited the turn-around and has headed back onto the course. We are all well ahead of Dr. Horton’s 3.5 hour cut-off time. Then the thought of now running back up the steep hills to aid station 4 sets in. Up the mud slicked trail. One step forward, two steps backward. I figure at this rate, I should be able to get to the top of the hill by night fall. Finally, I hit the top of the hill. Now back onto the single track path. The snow is starting to come down even harder. I meet Beth Howell from VA and we team up to get through this section together. We are starting to run faster and faster again. Aid station 4, finally! No time to socialize, ‘number 192 coming through.’ ‘Check.’ The mud is getting thicker and deeper. Aid station 4 to aid station 3 went by very quickly. Then after aid station 3 the hills that were so friendly on the way out with a nice slopping downhill were now ready to attack. Up, up, up we go. I remembered asking Brian about the course a few days earlier and he stated it was pretty flat. He latter tells me that the ‘course is what it is’. So here I am staring at this section of hills but sticking to the game plan, “Walk the up hills and run the flats and down hills wherever possible.”  I look to the left of me and walking up the hill is one of Brian’s buddies, Don Wilkerson from VA. Don helped Brian through his first Holiday Lake race years before. Now, here I am running with Don years latter and also as a newbie. We start talking and Don asks if he can join me for the rest of the journey. Why not. I could use the companionship and the motivation of running with someone. Aid station two is coming into site. Why am I feeling so good? I have never run this long in my life! ‘Stick to the plan’ I continue to tell myself. ‘Forward motion!’ Aid station one, the last aid station. Only 3.7 ‘Horton’ miles to go! For the first time, I really am now convinced that I will finish and well within the prescribed cut-off of 7.5 hours. We now ventured back onto the technical part of the trail. Why don’t I remember this part of the course? Maybe because it was dark when we ran thru here the first time! Down the steep wooden steps that are covered with snow, mud and a few inches of water and across the dam. Up and down the trails we run. Don points out to me that we have picked up the pace a lot since aid station 2 and that the pace was getting even quicker now. He is very encouraging, urging me to continue with the pace. I start asking myself ‘why aren’t I feeling tired? Don’t ask, just run!’ A sign indicating 1 mile to go. We saw a runner wheel out this last section of the course yesterday. It’s not a ‘Horton mile’! This part of the course is now familiar. The walk we went on the day before was well worth it. Across the wooden bridge, down the very steep embankment, across the trail thru the small house and ….the road that takes me on a downhill to the finish. Don encourages me to enjoy the moment. There is the finish line banner. All of the people out there just cheering everyone on and in this crappy weather. At the moment before I came across the finish line, I thanked Don for his companionship, and then thought of my family, my friends at Sound Runner and all of those who supported this effort. I thanked God for this sense of accomplishment I am feeling. I am finished…..6:26! I am met at the finish line with a big smile and greeting from Dr. Horton…Great job Steve! The man had expressed this type of exhilaration and enthusiasm for each and every runner.  It was like he was out there running with us during the race. I then realize that I am no longer an ultra virgin. I am now an ultra runner!