Promise Land 50k by Alan Roche

The Promise Land 50k stared with me attending my first pre-race dinner the night before at Promise Land Youth Camp, near Bedford, VA.  I arrived a little bit late, but caught the last portion of the pre-race brief, in which I heard that some of the recent runners on the course have spotted a family of bears, a mountain lion, and some rattle snakes, so this was promising to be a very interesting run.  I also met up with my buddy who got me into running, and got to catch up with him.  As for the pre-race dinner, I ate a lot of pizza, some cookies, a lot of cantaloupe and other melons, and drank some orange juice.  Best of all, I finally got to meet David Horton, the race director, who is truly a living legend.  After some heavy eating, I went back to my Jeep, changed for the race, and fell asleep in the passenger seat for the night.
The race started at 5:30 a.m., so I woke up at 4:30 in order to make sure that I was ready to begin the race.  Considering the knee problems I had at Laramie and Boulder, I figured it would be best to wear knee braces, and it helped a good bit in the long run.  I also decided that I would carry my camera throughout the entire race this time so that I could document a little better what was going to happen.  I walked back to the starting line to find some food for breakfast (more pizza and melons), then got to meet some of the other racers, and get ready to go.  About 15 minutes prior to the start David Horton got everyone at the starting line to brief the race again for those who got there that morning.  Right at 5:30 he said go, so we all started running.

The first half mile or so of the race was fairly flat so I was able to start a nice jog.  Unlike prior races, I decided that I wouldn’t kill myself to get the first mile out of the way, and instead took it easy.  To make things even better, I had The Staz to run with, so the company was really good.  After the first half mile, the road started a serious uphill climb, and I started a serious uphill walk, watching everyone run in front of me.  This was all fine and dandy, because I was still enjoying myself.  At the top of this hill, or at least the road portion, there was the first aid station where I took part in some Gatorade like stuff, some soda, and a little bit of food.  The volunteers filled my water bottle and I took off, still with The Staz.

We started off on uphill on some technical single track trail, and generally continued at an uphill climb for as much as I can remember.  The Sun came up during this leg of the race, and although it was a little foggy, I still was able to see some extremely beautiful views of the Virginia Mountains.  The periodic stops to take pictures of these things made me fall a little behind The Staz, but I would eventually catch up again.  While together he was giving me a general run down of how the course was going to look, but the two crown jewels were the promise of a close up view of the second largest waterfall East of the Mississippi, and a two mile downhill right before the finish line.  I believe it was also this leg where we crested a mountain top and I was told that the breeze we were feeling was a sign that you’re at the top, for future night runs.  On a short downhill portion here, I realized that the new running shoes I was testing out didn’t fit quite right, and every step I took downhill would have my toes hit the front of my shoes.  Nothing major, I would just more than likely lose a toenail or two.  The last hundred meters or so of this leg were a short out and back to the second Aid Station where, again, I had pretty much all the same stuff as before, although here they had cut up some of the leftover pizza from the night before, so I decided to help myself.  Right before leaving, a volunteer was nice enough to take my picture at the aid station, and then we left off for the next leg of the trip. 

The third leg of the journey, after getting past the out and back, was largely composed of old fire roads, but still had some beautiful views.  We spent a lot of time walking up this part, but things temporarily started going bad.  At the beginning of the race, I decided that, since it was only a 50k, I should be alright without Body Glide, Vaseline, or any other lubricants for those sensitive areas.  On this leg I started paying the price for that decision and could feel some real minor chaffing form in between my legs.  Because minor chaffing generally leads to major chaffing, I started to worry about this new development and informed The Staz that I might end up slowing down in the near future to accommodate this new problem.  Although he used a longer, more sophisticated choice or words, he pretty much said “I told you so,” and we kept on going.  After a while we came up to Aid Station number four at some parking lot at the top of a mountain.  Thankfully, this aid station was stocked, not only with food and nourishment, but also with Vaseline, and my chaffing issue was placed in check for the rest of the race.  I ate and drank the same as before, got another picture, and started off, this time a few minutes after The Staz because I had taken so long.

About 20 or 30 feet into this leg someone had placed a large electronic bullfrog that would ribbit when you went near it.  I didn’t see it on my way down, and I may have set a new world record in the high jump competition when it went off.  After coming out of orbit, I started down some technical single track that made up the majority of the 5th leg of the race.  I worked hard in order to catch The Staz, but had some serious problems doing so because he has always been a much better downhill trail runner.  There were a few photographers on this portion of the trail, so I did my best to pose for them.  I also managed to get another runner to photograph me running, which was very nice of him.  About halfway through this lap I started to catch up to The Staz (meaning I would often get a glimpse of him turning corners).  I started to pick up the pace in order to catch him, and almost paid a price for it when my toe caught a root and I stumbled, dropping most everything I had, but not actually falling.  Another runner helped me collect my bottle, and then I took off again, not learning my lesson about high speeds down dangerous trails.  (As a side note, had I fell, I might have been able to win David Horton’s “Best Blood Award” for the most vicious injury on the course.)  After a while, I caught up with The Staz at a stream crossing where you were supposed to use a boulder to get across.  He was well on his way across the boulder when I saw another runner go straight through the stream instead of waiting.  Realizing that The Staz would make a quick get away if I waited for the boulder, and also realizing that wet feet wouldn’t cause too many problems on such a short race, I took off straight through the water to the other side, finally catching the elusive The Staz on the other side.  After murdering my legs, I finally had some good conversation again.  This trail took us into Aid Station Six, where someone had out a grill and was making Hamburgers and Hot dogs for the runners.  I had about a half a hamburger, as well as some potatoes with salt, applied a little more Vaseline, and then took off again.

This portion of the trail was largely dirt road next to a stream, so it provided a very beautiful sight despite the pain in the feet.  Slowly during this leg I started to realize my error with running through the stream.  My shoes were made with gortex, which makes them waterproof.  This is extremely great while running in snow or really low water because water can’t get in, and your feet stay dry.  On the flip side, once water gets in, it stays in, and I spent pretty much the rest of the race feeling the pools of water shift in my shoes and hearing the squishing noises of the water with every step.  Although it was little more than an annoyance, it was a lesson learned.  This leg also saw a major loss.  There was a really small stream, barely wide enough that you couldn’t jump over it, so someone placed some wooden planks over it so that you wouldn’t have to use rocks.  The Staz got over easy, but when I went to cross, my shoe slipped on my moist wood and I slipped, my feet going into the stream, and my right hand, holding the camera went out to brace my fall on a rock that cracked the screen of the camera.  It still took pictures; I just couldn’t see what I was taking pictures of anymore.  I believe it was this leg as well where we passed a forest ranger who was taking everyone’s pictures on his camera phone.  When we pulled into Aid Station 7, I was met with the glorious surprise of small cups of ice cream for the runners.  I ate and drank the typical (plus the ice cream), and then the volunteers filled my water bottle, took a quick picture, and took off again. 

During the 8th leg of the race my legs started to hurt from the running.  Nothing that couldn’t be overcome, it was just that time.  Consisting of more Single Track than anything, I spent a lot of time running behind The Staz and talking about whatever came to mind.  We did meet a woman from Ireland who was living in Minnesota, who for some reason decided to come to Virginia to run Promise Land.  We talked with her for a while, and then she took off.  After a while though, The Staz saw some people up ahead during a downhill and took off in order to catch up with them.  On account of the fact that I was already going as fast as I possibly could to keep up with him, I stayed back.  We quickly went across a bridge that had a sign saying the Aid Station was up ahead, and did our second out and back for an aid station, but only for about 300 meters or so.  At this Aid Station I caught up with The Staz, which was easy because he was waiting for me.  Although we came in from a different direction, it was also the same aid station where the guy was grilling hamburgers, so I had another, some more potatoes, and the other regular stuff.  After refilling, we started out on Leg 9.
This leg saw a high increase in heat, as well as a higher increase in elevation.  At the beginning of the leg that it was 3 miles to the top of the hill, and if you’re really pushing hit, hope for an hour or so.  We ran back down the out and back portion then shortly after started up the mountain.  This entire leg was pretty much spent walking as fast as we could to get up the mountain.  There were a few stops over small streams to splash cold water over our heads to cool down, but for the most time we pushed hard.  Soon I was able to hear the sound of the promised waterfall, and my hopes went up pretty high.  There were a few bridges across shorter waterfalls, but when we finally came to the major one, I had to stop for a picture.  The Staz obliged, and we took off again.  Not too long after this we reached a point with one of the best Appalachian views I have ever witnessed (partially because we earned it), and then went on from there.  On this leg I also saw a lot of hikers who were out to see the falls as well.  We made out way up to Aid Station 10, which was the same as Aid Station 3.  I could tell we weren’t too far up to the front, because there wasn’t much left, but I ate and drank what I could, and handed off my head lamp to a volunteer who offered to take it back down the mountain for me.  After filling up, I took off with The Staz again to find the last Aid Station of the race. 

Although we left in the same direction we originally came in for Aid Station 3, Leg 10 had a shortcut thrown in there somewhere so we went to Aid Station 1/11.  By this lap, both The Staz and I were hurting pretty bad for completely different reasons, but it slowed us both down, me more then him.  It was still pretty hot out, so we again stopped at a stream to throw water on our heads.  For the most part, this portion of the trail was downhill, and it again saw The Staz pulling away from me.  There were quite a few switchbacks, however, and I heard him give a motivating call at every one.  I spent a lot of time here getting passed by other runners, but finally made it into the last Aid Station, meaning there was only about 3 miles of pure downhill to go.  Sadly The Staz had already been through, so I just refilled and took off again.

The final lap saw me feeling sorry for myself, so I decided it was about time to break out the secret weapon.  At the top of my lungs I broke into Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and felt a new wave of energy come over me as I picked up the pace and lengthened my stride.  Pretty soon I saw The Staz up ahead and pushed my legs in order to catch up to him.  When that was finally accomplished, we had about a mile to go and decided to head in a nice leisurely pace, him to stay with me, and me because that was as much as I was getting out of my legs at this point.  The last quarter mile or so of the track was filled with family members and volunteers standing on the side of the road and cheering for the runners on their way in.  Eventually we pulled into Promise Land Youth Camp, and since we were hours from actually winning anything, we briefly talked about kicking the crap out of each other in order to win the “Best Blood Award.”  Instead of this, we ran across the finish line together at 7 hours and 17 minutes, tying for 104th with The Staz.  I found out later that we were beaten by a 60 year old man and a 51 year old woman.  Thankfully my pride is well guarded.  I quickly got a picture with The Staz, David Horton, and The Staz’ friend Mario, then went off to find some food, then put my feet in a nearby stream to cool them down.

This race, all in all, was a lot harder then I expected.  My only experience with Virginia Ultra Running was from Virginia Happy Trails Running Club’s Fat Ass 50k in Dec. 06, so this was quite a shock.  It didn’t really occur to me that David Horton, who has finished Barkley’s Marathon, has held the speed record for the Appalachian Trail, The Pacific Coast Trail, and is going out to set the speed record for the Central Continental Divide Trail (Mexico to Canada), would probably find the hardest trails connected by 31 miles.  It was still a great race, though, and it has me looking forward to the next race that I might run, but as for now I’m at 5 finishes, and 0 DNFs.