Holiday Lake 2000

Well I am not a newbie, but this ultra was the first one for my wife,
Peggy. She has never wanted to be a part of "my" sport/hobby, but she
has always wanted to see Appomattox Courthouse. For an old retired army
guy and and an army wife, that is hallowed ground. I talked her into
going along to visit the National Park and was worried how she would
handle the five plus hours wait while we were actually running. This
was my second Holiday Lake and I enjoyed staying in the bunkhouse with
other runners, but the only way Peggy was going was if we stayed in a
motel.

I left my job with the Pentagon Renovation at 11:00 AM to miss the crazy
rush hour traffic and get to Appomattox in time to tour the Courthouse
facility before they closed. We left the Washington area in the rain
and fog. Once through Richmond, we both enjoyed viewing the countryside
and all the different types of houses. There is a lot of wide open
space between Richmond and Appomattox, and several great old houses. We
got to the Courthouse about 3:30 PM and found the parking lot not very
crowded. Inside the Courthouse, they told us the slide show was about
to start and the McClean house would open at 4:00. We were the only
ones in the theater for our personal slide show, looked around the
displays, went to the book store and then back to the McClean House
where the surrender actually was signed. We met Susan Baehre and her
significant other at the McClean House and the four of us had the tour.
It was a great day to beat the crowds.

We then had time to check into the motel and head to the 4H Camp for the
supper and run brief. At the camp, it was a real reunion for me. I was
glad to see Courtney Campbell. (Courtney Campbell, Mike Morton, and I
all ran our first 100 at OD in '94. We all started out together, but
they soon ran off and left me.) The field was very strong and I knew
Courtney would be challenged. I have been exchanging e-mail with Eric
Ivey, Sue Malone, and Martha Holden. Eric Ivey is registered in the
Eastern Steps Series, as I am. We found Eric in the dining room with
friends Michelle and buddy, another Eric, a triathlete who was running
his first ultra Sue Malone and I had run together for several miles of
the Catoctin 50K '95 and Sue went on to win that. I had never met
Martha, but as the briefing broke up, she introduced herself to me and
we wished each other well. RD David Horton welcomed all and gave us the
usual colorful trail briefing. I thought the meal was very good and my
wife thought the event was entertaining. She was meeting new friends
and commented that everyone was so friendly. Like everyone else, we
were surprised to learn that the two Eric's had biked the course and
measured one way at 17.5 miles. If Eric's bike is accurate, David's
plus, plus on the end of the 50K was even farther than previous
estimates. From there it was back to the motel for the night.

We got up at 5 and looked out to pouring rain. I knew the course would
be muddy, but I did not expect rain in the morning. We left the motel
at 5:30 to head out to the 4H Camp and as we drove, the full moon came
out. By the time we got to the race site, there was not a cloud to be
seen. The temperature was in the high forties and I decided to start in
singlet and shorts. This was my second HL 50 K, so I knew that whatever
your position at the top of the hill, you would be locked in for the
next two miles. So I went out too fast to get a good spot on the single
track trail around the lake. Kenny Harrah, Eric Ivey, and I quickly
fell into the no man's land between the front of the pack and those
behind us back in the middle of the pack. We passed aid station 1's
bare table and I remarked that was the first time I had ever beaten the
aid to the station. I had a 20 oz water bottle, maple syrup, and power
gel, so it was no problem. (We found out at AS 2 that the supplies were
locked inside the car with the keys at the first aid station.) The only
person I passed was a young fellow with a cramping calf. Between AS1
and AS2, Kenny Harrah pulled away, Dave Kanners caught up to me and EricIvey stayed close behind. Between AS2 and AS3, Maarten van Gelder and
another runner blew by. I talked briefly with Maarten. He likes to
start slow and run smart and was breezing. Johnny Raney blew by right
after AS4. My stomach was working OK, but the intestines were grumbling
and cramping. I finally had to duck into the woods for a pit stop.
Dave Kanners passed and then two young strong looking guys before I
completed my business and took up chase. Before long, Dave was heading
into the brush. I caught the two young fellows for a short time and then
met runner number 3 (Ken Kirschner) leading Courtney up a very steep
hill on their way back and we still had a couple miles to go. As we
broke into open at the camp ground area, my right shoe came untied. I
had to stop to tie my shoe and the two other guys were gone for good. I
thought that I am really losing it, letting a lace come untied. Soon it
was the turn around where Peggy was waiting with a fresh bottle of
SUCCEED and another flask of maple syrup. We made a quick exchange and
I was on my way back. Eric Ivey was coming in to the turn around and I
yelled at him to hurry up and catch me.

During the return loop, I usually get a boost knowing that I am heading
home, but all of a sudden, I got hot and tired, my left ankle had been
hurting and now my right hip, all around the joint and down into the
ham, was really hurting. Eric Ivey blew by like he had new life. I
walked up the same hill where I had met Courtney greeting all those
coming toward me. I was constantly passing folks still heading to the
turn around and normally the cheers we exchange help pick me up, but I
was in a low. Sixty-two year old Ralph Hirt came by looking very strong
and was closely followed by a young 18 year old who I told to catch that
62 year old in front of you. I did not know it at the time, but I would
see that young man again. Rebekah Trittipoe was leading the women,
followed by Susan Baehre, and Sue Malone. Martha was further back, but
she was running well. David had talked several of his students into
running and they brightened up the trail and all looked like they were
running well. David even talked the football coach and one of his
assistants into running. They looked about the way I felt. I knew I
just had to keep moving, keep pouring in the fluids and liquid foods.
After AS4, I began to feel better. There was no one in sight in front
of me and no one behind me. On a long steep hill right before AS3, I
saw Eric Ivey walking and caught him. We stayed together till the next
long up hill, when Eric started walking again. I kept running. At the
top we took a right and could see back about half a mile. I could see
no one behind Eric. I was feeling better now, but knew I was not
running fast. I was feeling the effects of my 100 mile run two weeks
ago and wondering how many guys would catch me between AS1 and the
finish. Right before AS1, I saw a snow drift and went for it. There
were several other hand prints there, so I knew I was not the only one
who was hot. The snow felt great on the head and back of the neck.
Right after AS1, Eric Ivey came flying by. He again had new life and
was like a horse heading for the barn. He told me two others were close
behind and we could now see Kenny Harrah in front of us. With two
miles to go, I can see a tall young fellow coming down the hill and
closing fast. I push as hard as I can, but the legs do not have a lot
left. Kenny is stretching when I pass him and I tell him the youngster
is closing fast. Soon I am heading up the last hill, if I can just get
to the top. About twenty to thirty yards from the top the 18 year old
who I told to catch Ralph gets me and there is no way I can catch him
going down the road to the finish. He really had a great second half
and we were both very happy to see the finish. I do not remember the
young lad's name, but will definitely look it up on the finishers list
when it comes out. Both Johnny Raney and Eric told me there was no way
they were going to let me beat them two weeks after a hundred, so I did
help motivate some of the field. I congratulated my new young friend
who has a lot of ultra potential. Right after I finish, Susan Baehre
comes across. Rebekah, coming back from surgery and a long layoff, held
off Sue Malone for second. I was surprised at how close to me Bill
Gentry was and realize that he ran a very good second half. Fellow
VHTRC member Bill Van Antwerp had a good run and Nelson Stritehoff
looked strong across the finish line. Martha finished well. Old trail
mates Bob Boeder, Tom Green, John Price and Tom Sprouse all finished.
And the second Eric finished his first ultra looking fit to go further.
Maybe we will see him again.

My wife Peggy spent most of the five plus hour wait with Eric's friend
Michelle. After the race, David provided another very fine home cooked
meal and then we had the award ceremony. At first, Peggy said "Are they
going to call everyone up there?" thinking about the time that would
take, but then she saw the looks on the faces as each finisher was
recognized and commented that is really neat that they recognize every
finisher. She said she had a really good time all around and made new
friends. Just maybe I can talk her into going to another one.

David said it may have been the last Holiday Lake, but I hope not. It
is a great location for a run and the camp is a great place to stay the
night before. The meals were very good and the finishers shirts really
nice. David said the event may be replaced with a run on Liberty
Mountain, but Lynchburg will not have the same appeal as Holiday Lake.

Frank Probst, Burke, VA