The Mountain Masochist – A Crew’s Perspective

 

I went up to the Mountain Masochist race as a support crew member for my friend Renee.  I thought I knew what to expect, because I had gone to watch parts of the Promise Land race this past April. (Watching that race had inspired me to run my first marathon).  What I actually witnessed was far more than I could have ever predicted. 

 

Renee had definitely put in the training for this race, and entered in the race with a number of people that she had trained with.  When race day arrived, Renee’s husband, Pat, a guy named Blanks (an excellent ultra runner himself who has completed more then one Masochist), and I, arrived at Aid Station #4 (mile 12) at around 8:30am.  Renee had given us a chart with her expected times of arrival at the aid stations (the quickest time in red, and her slower, most undesirable arrival times in black.  Her black number was a 12-hour pace, which meant that if she kept that pace she would finish the race right before the cut-off time).  These times were based on her pace as she trained for the Masochist.

 

We saw Horton, the race director, come through the aid station just as we were arriving.  It was really exciting to see all of the runners, most of who were in very good spirits and moving quickly.  Renee came through two minutes above her “red time”, and away she went.  Pat and I quickly ran back to the car (which was quite a hike, I must say!) and onward we drove to Aid Station #5 (mile # 14.9).  Blanks also met us there. There were quite a few family/support crews at this aid station, so I got to talk to some of them as we waited for our runners to arrive. One guy was there supporting his brother, who was running his first Masochist, just like Renee.  It was neat, because he told me that Blanks had actually gotten him into ultra running. He had run the Masochist a couple of years before, and now it was his brother’s turn. Small world!

 

All of the runners were still in very good spirits as they came through the aid station, and Renee arrived a couple of minutes UNDER her red time, which was great.  Renee and I left the aid station together down a beautiful windy trail.  We did this to avoid wasting time at the aid station.  As we were running, I told her she was doing well on her pace (according to her chart), and that the next aid station was 2.6 miles ahead.  I also told her we would see her at aid station # 10, the halfway point ( in 7.9 miles).  I knew that she had some tough miles ahead of her, because she had told me about the “Lynchburg Reservoir to Highway 60 climb” many times.  I turned to run back to the aid station #5, and away she went down the trail.  I could not help thinking what a brave runner she was.

 

Pat and I then went back to the car, and drove to Aid Station # 10 (mile 26.9), the halfway point.  This was one of the bigger aid stations. There were buses there (for those who would not continue on), along with the runners' drop bags.  There were also more people – family, friends, crew, etc. – than at the other aid stations. We waited, and Renee’s red time passed.  As we continued to wait, we watched all of the runners arriving.  They definitely had a different look about them than at the earlier aid stations.  Many looked tired, and they stopped longer at this station and retrieved items from their bags. Renee’s "black time" (slower pace time) was drawing nearer, so Blanks and I ran down the road to see if we saw her. We saw many runners approaching, some still in great spirits, others looking quite tired.  We found a spot along the road and waited. Soon we saw a guy that Renee had trained with.  I smiled and said hello, and he told me that he was dropping out of the race.  I tried to be encouraging, but he kept going and said he was "done".  This saddened me because I knew about all of the hours of training he had put in, along with giving a lot of encouragement and advice to Renee and others. After seeing him, I wondered how Renee was feeling at this point in the race.  I did not have long to wait, because we soon saw her coming up the road. She was visibly tired, and her breathing was labored.  She did not speak, so Blanks and I ran with her and offered encouragement.  She spoke after a few minutes, and said she had just gone through a very tough part of the course, and told us some items she would need at the upcoming aid station. As we arrived at the aid station, Blanks and Pat helped doctor her feet, and I ran to fill her water bottle and grab her some food. By the time I got back, she was up and moving toward a steep trail that I knew would eventually lead to Buck Mountain. She took the food with her, but I had a gut feeling that she probably would not eat it.  I was beginning to worry about her food intake.  She was hydrating, but was not eating much, and I knew she would need to intake calories to have energy for the second half of the race. Pat went up the trail a bit with her and told her that she was only 10 minutes below her black number.  We then loaded up the truck and headed off to Aid Station #12. We took a friend of Pat's with us, who was there supporting his wife. .

 

Renee came into Aid Station #12 more tired than before. Though she NEVER mentioned quitting, she did mention the words "tired" and "pain".  Even so, I knew that she had it in her to go on, but I also knew it was not going to be easy.  I tied her shoe for her, and she told me how exhausted she was (too tired to even bend down), and I told her not to think about it. It was time for "robot mode" and she had to "keep on keeping on". There is a 1.5 mile steep climb between aid stations #12 and #13 (the infamous "Loop" aid station).  I went with her up this road, and Pat met us up there with the truck and supplies. I can honestly say that as a crew member, I was completely at a loss for words. It was a difficult climb up that steep road for myself.  I was fresh, and she had just completed 32.1 very difficult miles.  What do you say to someone when you know they are tired, with many miles to go, and you yourself can feel the pain of what it takes to climb that hill? We went up the steep road mostly in silence, and I was hoping that my being there was encouragement enough.  Three quarters of the way to Aid Station #13, we met up with Blanks and his friend Sara.  Blanks jumped in beside Renee and began giving her some tips.  Her told her the best times to run, and when to hike, and reminded her to take in calories. I had a Goo gel with me, and she ate it as we continued up the hill.  Finally, we arrived at Aid Station #13, mile 33.6, better known as "the Loop".  It is called the Loop because you go into it at mile #33.6, and exit it at mile #38.6.  (It is a 5-mile loop). 

 

I had heard a lot about the loop.  It is beautiful up there, but at the same time, very rocky and sometimes steep - a difficult 5 miles. Into the loop she went with Pat and Blanks giving her food and urging her to eat.  She was still visibly tired, but I felt that her spirit was renewed. Six minutes after Renee went into the loop, I was thrilled to see her training partner/friend go in.  Renee had asked about her, and we did not know until then how she was doing. I was excited to be able to tell Renee that her friend was still in the race. Her friend was actually the last person into the loop.  It still was not the cut-off time, but everyone else had dropped out.    

 

I waited with several other support people at that aid station, and I must say it was alot of fun.  They had a fire going, which was awesome.  All of the volunteers were very upbeat.  They had a sign that read FREE HUGS, and a volunteer would give the runners hugs as the exited the loop.  They also had a guy making chicken and tomato soups for the runners.  It was a great atmosphere to be part of!  As the runners left the loop, most seemed in good spirits - they only had less than 12 miles to go!  By now, I was used to seeing all of these runners, and rooted for each of them as they left the loop. After about 75 minutes, Renee completed the loop. I do not know how she felt in the loop, but she came out looking better than when she went in. I had already decided that I would go with her to the next aid station,  #14 (mile 41.5), and the last aid station crew were allowed to go to. Pat had agreed to meet me there, so Renee and I took off.

 

I had calculated that we had to keep around an 11 minute pace to make it before her "black time" (12 hour pace).  I stayed ahead of her most of the time to pace her.  I did not tell her what I was doing, I just kept going and hoping that she would follow. She did follow, and we hiked the steep parts, and ran the flats and downhills.  There was a guy right behind us through much of this portion. Renee knew him and spoke to him occasionally.  At one point he told her he was "dying" (figuratively). Not wanting them to suck each other into the "negative abyss", I told them that no one was dying on my watch and we were going to keep moving.  He was able to pass us a few minutes later.  I ended up seeing him at the end - he finished just a few seconds before the 12-hour cut off.  It was awesome to see him finish as everyone screamed for him to give it his all.....and he did!

 

The 2.9 miles to aid station #14 seemed like forever.  I could see Pat's friend with his wife in front of us most of the way.  We passed a young guy with his girlfriend.  I had seen them all day.  He was racing, and she was his support crew. They both had looked good to me coming out of the loop a few minutes before Renee, so I was amazed when we passed them.  As we approached the aid station, I saw that we were two minutes above Renee's black time.  I knew that she could not lose her pace for the rest of the race, and even had a couple of minutes to make up. She had 9 miles to go.  I offered some encouraging words, and watched her climb up a steep hill that I was secretly thankful not to be going up. Pat came with the truck a couple of minutes later, and we drove to the finish.

 

At the finish, we talked with families, friends, and support crew that we had met along the way.  It had been a long day, and we were exhausted.  I could only imagine how tired the runners were. We had fun cheering for all of the runners as they crossed the finish line. The 12-hour cut-off came and went. We knew Renee would finish, and would wait as long as it took.  She came running up the road in the dark to finish in 12 hours 18 minutes.  Cut-off or not - a WINNER in our book, and hopefully in hers.  Horton was there to greet her.  Renee had completed the Mountain Masochist - a grueling 50 (many say 53!) mile race through the Appalachian trails through two counties and the Jefferson National Forest - hiking and running up high elevations and back down steep descents, through creeks, and along many miles of windy trails.  She was alone most of the time, and I will never know her thoughts during those long hours in the wilderness. I do know, that because she was able to keep going, something inside her has changed, and no one will ever be able to take the glory of completing this race away from her.

 

As far as myself, the crew member, you may ask what I take away from all of this? I learned that humans are capable of so much more than they think they are. I learned that we need to remember that our world is a gift from God, and that there are many blessings to be received from hanging out in the serenity of it (the woods, trails, mountains, etc.). Most of all, I learned that a little encouragement goes a long way.  Sometimes a kind word or deed is all someone needs to "push through" and get to a place where they can once again resume "keeping on".  I think this is true in all aspects of life, and as a mom/wife/ friend, I will always try to remember what a little encouragement can do for those I encounter as I go about my daily life. 

 

Lastly, I learned that we are all winners, whether fast or slow, as long as we run the race that is set before us.

 

Sincerely,

Melody LaPrade

Crew for racer #165