Thrill in the Hills Trail Marathon,...I'm not really sure how to start this one. This was an XTERRA Race, which means I knew it was going to be on mountain bike trails, which are not always my favorite. I tend to enjoy more technical running surfaces. The race took place at Ft. Yargo State Park in Winder, GA. I had never been there before, which is a little odd considering I went to UGA, and it was not too far away. Nevertheless, I showed up race morning, early! Mapquest told me it would take 1 hour and 25 minutes, but I made it in an hour flat. I noticed driving in that the park was pretty with a large lake and the namesake old fort taking up the majority of the center of the park. I found my parking spot, put on my jacket because it was chilly, and headed to registration. The first thing I noticed at registration was a line about 50 people deep...sigh. The next thing I noticed was that the long line was for the half marathon option, and no one was in the full marathon registration line. I walked right up, grabbed my number, and headed back to my car for a little heat. I kind of chuckled to my self really. This race was my consolation for LOST 118, which I was supposed to be running this weekend. But, If you have read my previous reports, I'm just fresh from an injury, and not ready for a 118 mile race, unfortunately.
I sat in my car pondering the race. I wasn't feeling a 100% in my knees, not bad, but not perfect either. I also really haven't raced too many marathons. Considering all of the Ultras I've run, I have only raced 4 marathons. Weird huh? So, I tried to ponder what time I would run. I set my goal at sub 5 hours because I wasn't feeling race ready. I run street marathons at about 3:30, and my fastest trail marathon was 3:57 at Scenic City last May.
About 15 minutes to start, I put on my brace, grabbed my aid, and headed towards the start. As I jumped out of my car, the girl in front of me looks up and says "Are you Ryan Cobb"? "Why yes I am!" It was Jenn Coker, who I had not met before, but she told me that we shared some mutual friends....one of whom was my 6th grade girlfriend from Texas. How random! Anyways, that's another story altogether. I had not seen anyone I knew until I reached the start and chatted up Beth McCurdy, I saw Cindy Ralston, and heard Blanton yelling Chef Cobb...Chef Cobb!!! At least I felt a little bit more at home now, GUTS and the Rogues were represented.
And we're off! The first .7 miles were on asphalt to spread out the runners, which was necessary as there were 500 of them. Finally, in to the trails by the lake. There had been a recent brush fire, which encompassed the first two miles. The air was thick with smoke, and some of the tree stumps were still smoldering. Despite the spreading out, there was still alot of jockeying for position through the first couple of miles, which were rolling switchback, heading down towards the lake. Then, back on to a half mile of road, across the viaduct at the north end of the lake, and towards the first aid station at about 4 miles. I felt pretty good at this point, the next three miles were real easy, and I found myself battling it out with people I knew were only running the half, but I felt fast, so I went for it. I blew through the second aid station, just like the first....nothing for me yet. The next notable portion of the course came in the 7 to 8 mile mark when we arrived at the bottom of the dam...left the trail, and headed towards this dreaded power line section I had heard everyone talk about before the race. Ummmm......not so much, a gentle groomed hill about .4 miles long, followed by an easy downhill....obviously the vast majority of these runners hadn't run Sweetwater!!! After winding around the lake for a little less than a mile, we hit the second power line hill which was similar to the first, maybe a .10 of a mile longer.
At this point I was hurting a little, or at least I thought I was....maybe it was all in my head, I hadn't run long much this year. at 9.8 miles I smiled for the photographer, raced down a hill, and took flight after meeting a root head on with my toe. That's what I get for playing to the camera :). Anyways, I jumped up and continued on through the 10.5 mile aid station, up an 8 foot dirt wall, and towards the start/finish. The last mile towards the start/finish area seemed to take forever...my knees were aching. finally, I turned a bend, up a hill, and I was being ushered out for my second loop. I was thinking that I knew the first lap was done, and I didn't have to push it on the second lap. I slowed down, took a GU, and was passed for the first time in the day at 13.5 miles in. I kind of looked over my shoulder, saw no one else, and started jogging, at a much slower pace for the next two miles. I had let a sense of complacency set in...odd for me at only 15 miles.
Then, it happened. I remembered who I was. I am an ultra runner, and have gone through much worse than this. The pain was really minimal, and why was I bitching? I picked the pace up at about 16 miles and felt fine. I continued on for the next 3 miles without stopping, or seeing anyone else. My I-pod was cranking, and I felt good. At about 19 miles I saw another runner coming behind me. My competitive juices started flowing, and I picked up the pace some more, and left him. I was now approaching 20 miles and hit the mini power line section again...breezed up the hill, caught a runner, which energized me, picked up the pace some more, and continued to feel even stronger. The next major hill, I caught another runner, and breezed by him Sally Brooking style with a low to the ground power hike!!! On the second power line Jason Spruill caught up to me. He actually took me surprise and startled me! I didn't think anyone could have caught me because I felt so strong. We chatted for a minute, but I was determined not to be caught so I really kicked and took off. After I passed my landing area from the previous lap, I dropped my pace to 6:50's and never went above a 7:20 pace the remaining 3.5 miles in. I just kept smiling because I couldn't believe how great I felt. It had been a long time since I had caught the runner's high,and I was basking in it. With 1 mile left I caught the one runner who had passed me at the 13.5 mile mark, much to his dismay. I dropped to a full on sprint for the final .5 mile and finished strong....3:56. A PR for a trail marathon race. I was totally stoked, and actually wished that the race was a little longer!!
The time was good enough for 16th overall and 3rd in my age group, which meant I would bring home some hardware. I coudn't have been more happy. I stood around and talked to Sean Blanton, we shared a box of his Tag-a-longs, and I headed home, re-energized and ready for my next run. Good job XTERRA an thanks Tim.
Whats next? Southern Blue 200 mile relay, running the Silver Comet unsupported,...then what?.......
---happy running!!!
Mystery Mountain Marathon
Post Race
Showing posts with label Trail Running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trail Running. Show all posts
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Red Top Rumble 'Lets get Ready to Humble!!!!'
I will try to keep this a short report for a short race. Red Top Rumble 2011 took place in a veritable heat wave in comparison to last year. No Ice on the ground! The race sold out in less than 24 hours this year at over 300 runners. This is the largest race in number of people that GUTS puts on. The race takes place at Red Top Mountain State Park in Acworth, GA, on the shores of Lake Allatoona. The park got its' name from the past iron mining that took place there, and as the iron was exposed it would turn red due to oxidation. The trails are fairly un-technical, and consist of numerous rolling hills. The RTR is an 11.5 mile trail race, if you ran all of the trails out here you could get in 13.1.
This year, as it was last year, I was able to volunteer and run. I prepare the post race food for all of the runners, and get out on the trails and run the race while other volunteers tend to keeping the food hot. I really enjoy the opportunity to volunteer, and place that over actually running the race. The fact that it is a GUTS sponsored race means that I will have a bunch of friends out there, and get to see alot of people that I haven't seen in awhile too. This year, instead of BBQ, I prepared breakfast food for the post race runners. I thought that this would be easier than last years massive BBQ, but keeping breakfast food hot is a challenge...eggs lose heat fast!
As the race start neared, I started to mentally prepare for the race. This time last year I was running for the lead, and was in great shape. This was the week before IronHorse last year in which I went on to run a top 10 finish in the 100 mile event, and easily go sub 24 hours. If you have been following my blog, you know that I am not in that shape this year. Today only marked one week of pain free running, and I hadn't run over 6 miles since FA50k. I told myself that if anything hurt I would turn around at the halfway mark and saunter back to the start to keep an eye on the food. I had very low expectations, and figured sub 2 hours would be a good time for me.
I threw on my I-pod, cued up some Lil' Wayne, and toed the start line. Ready, Set, ruuummmblle!!! We were off, I left the gate faster than I had planned, but still conservative enough not to stress anything. The first 3.7 miles of this race is the easiest part, which takes place on the Iron Hill Trail. The Iron Hill is a mountain bike trail with only about 187 feet of elevation gain and loss....in other words flat. I was only giving 80%, and had no intentions of anything else. Nevertheless, I was in the top 20, and was surprised. I spent some time taking in some pretty lake views, and the last part of the sunrise. At 3.7 miles you take a left and hit a little single track trail over to the other side of the park, and the hiking trails. This is my favorite part of the race, I don't know why, it just is. There are two little creek crossings, and some good roots. At the end of this section the runners end up at the Visitors Center and head out on the Homestead Loop.
Upon entering the Homestead Loop I felt pretty good, and I think I ramped it up just a touch. I reached the creek, gave Aaron Dwileski, who was surprised to see me running, a high five, and headed towards the road crossing. After passing the road crossing and an aid station the runners are out in the heart of the Homestead loop...roughly a 5k of continuous switchback rolling hills that weave in and out of the Lake Allatoona's little finger coves. There isn't a single difficult climb, they are just never ending. For some reason, I always get lulled in to a false sense of ability, and take them too hard and pay for it on the last hill or two. Today was no different, and on the last climb I had to stop and walk for a hundred yards. My knee was tweaking just a little, so it was probably a good break.
Eventually the runners return to the road crossing aid station, then parallel the road on the Sweet Gum loop that takes them by the old Lodge. Back in to the woods there is a bout a mile of slight descent back to the creek, then a slight climb up to the Visitor's Center loop, a sharp descent and ascent that is about .6 miles back to the main road. At this point I was feeling the fact that I had lost some of my endurance, but I knew it was almost done, so I shrugged it off and headed back on the campground loop and on to the funky little single track. I was still giving about 80%, and was happy for that even though about 30 runners had passed me in the last 7 miles. I need this humbling, its good for me. I learn from it.
As I returned to the Iron Hill Trail my knees felt about 85-90%, which was better than I expected. I made the final turn back towards the Start/Finish and mustered up a sort of weak kick to the Finish Line. 1:35, 8 1/2 minutes slower than last year, and about 35 places further down the list. I was cool with it....Two weeks earlier I was thinking I would never run without pain again.
Post Race was the best part, as my wife joined me with the dogs, and we got to hang out with some great GUTS people. If you haven't volunteered for a race, this is a part you cant understand. There is just a different comradery than just running the race. Oh, and by the way, I had no left overs!!! The food seemed to go over well!!
This year, as it was last year, I was able to volunteer and run. I prepare the post race food for all of the runners, and get out on the trails and run the race while other volunteers tend to keeping the food hot. I really enjoy the opportunity to volunteer, and place that over actually running the race. The fact that it is a GUTS sponsored race means that I will have a bunch of friends out there, and get to see alot of people that I haven't seen in awhile too. This year, instead of BBQ, I prepared breakfast food for the post race runners. I thought that this would be easier than last years massive BBQ, but keeping breakfast food hot is a challenge...eggs lose heat fast!
As the race start neared, I started to mentally prepare for the race. This time last year I was running for the lead, and was in great shape. This was the week before IronHorse last year in which I went on to run a top 10 finish in the 100 mile event, and easily go sub 24 hours. If you have been following my blog, you know that I am not in that shape this year. Today only marked one week of pain free running, and I hadn't run over 6 miles since FA50k. I told myself that if anything hurt I would turn around at the halfway mark and saunter back to the start to keep an eye on the food. I had very low expectations, and figured sub 2 hours would be a good time for me.
I threw on my I-pod, cued up some Lil' Wayne, and toed the start line. Ready, Set, ruuummmblle!!! We were off, I left the gate faster than I had planned, but still conservative enough not to stress anything. The first 3.7 miles of this race is the easiest part, which takes place on the Iron Hill Trail. The Iron Hill is a mountain bike trail with only about 187 feet of elevation gain and loss....in other words flat. I was only giving 80%, and had no intentions of anything else. Nevertheless, I was in the top 20, and was surprised. I spent some time taking in some pretty lake views, and the last part of the sunrise. At 3.7 miles you take a left and hit a little single track trail over to the other side of the park, and the hiking trails. This is my favorite part of the race, I don't know why, it just is. There are two little creek crossings, and some good roots. At the end of this section the runners end up at the Visitors Center and head out on the Homestead Loop.
Upon entering the Homestead Loop I felt pretty good, and I think I ramped it up just a touch. I reached the creek, gave Aaron Dwileski, who was surprised to see me running, a high five, and headed towards the road crossing. After passing the road crossing and an aid station the runners are out in the heart of the Homestead loop...roughly a 5k of continuous switchback rolling hills that weave in and out of the Lake Allatoona's little finger coves. There isn't a single difficult climb, they are just never ending. For some reason, I always get lulled in to a false sense of ability, and take them too hard and pay for it on the last hill or two. Today was no different, and on the last climb I had to stop and walk for a hundred yards. My knee was tweaking just a little, so it was probably a good break.
Eventually the runners return to the road crossing aid station, then parallel the road on the Sweet Gum loop that takes them by the old Lodge. Back in to the woods there is a bout a mile of slight descent back to the creek, then a slight climb up to the Visitor's Center loop, a sharp descent and ascent that is about .6 miles back to the main road. At this point I was feeling the fact that I had lost some of my endurance, but I knew it was almost done, so I shrugged it off and headed back on the campground loop and on to the funky little single track. I was still giving about 80%, and was happy for that even though about 30 runners had passed me in the last 7 miles. I need this humbling, its good for me. I learn from it.
As I returned to the Iron Hill Trail my knees felt about 85-90%, which was better than I expected. I made the final turn back towards the Start/Finish and mustered up a sort of weak kick to the Finish Line. 1:35, 8 1/2 minutes slower than last year, and about 35 places further down the list. I was cool with it....Two weeks earlier I was thinking I would never run without pain again.
Post Race was the best part, as my wife joined me with the dogs, and we got to hang out with some great GUTS people. If you haven't volunteered for a race, this is a part you cant understand. There is just a different comradery than just running the race. Oh, and by the way, I had no left overs!!! The food seemed to go over well!!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
MMM 2010(Mystery Mountain Marathon) a little late!!
Mystery Mountain Marathon 2010.....for me a chance at redemption, and a chance to share some trail with my 12 year old son Avery. Fort Mountain Park in Chatsworth is my absolute favorite state park to run in Georgia. Dramatic views, cascading waterfalls, challenging terrain, and tons of wild life, make for a great trail run. This was my second year running it, and the first for my son. Avery volunteered last year, and ran the 12 mile option this year.
Early that morning the temperatures were running about 42 degrees, some of the first cold weather of the season. I knew that it would be pushing up in to the 80's later in the day, so I hoped to run fast early. It was a neat feeling to shift some of my pre-race jitters on to worrying about my son's race. We chatted with some of our other running friends, and lazily made our way over to the start line....all the while I was giving my son last minute instuctions and pep talks.
And we're off!....My son took his place at the middle of the pack, and I took my usual spot at the back of the lead group. After one mile around the lake, I smiled as I made the correct turn on to the Gahuti Trail. Last year, not knowing the course, I followed a group back around the lake and lost 15 minutes!!! At this point I was running 5th, and feeling good. The first thing I noticed about the course as we crossed Big Rock Creek was that it was bone dry. There is usually a healthy creek with a substantial waterfall here. This is extremely unusual for Fort Mountain, which is usually full of water and springs. The next portion of the course consists of fairly short climbs that lead you up to a ridge that you follow in to the first aid station.
As I rolled in to the first aid station, I was able to announce my most recent news that my wife and I were expecting. I actually announced this at every aid station that day! Other than that, I blew through the aid station, and continued on. Sean Blanton came up behind me and we shared a couple of miles chatting about Costa Rica. He took off, putting me back in 6th....he would end up in 5th for the day. The next portion of the course was a decent climb to the summit of Ft. Mountain and the mysterious wall....the best overlook in the park is here too. I passed one guy, but was passed by two, now Im in 7th, but feeling great. In my opinion the next 4 or 5 miles are the easiest on the course....rolling hills that normally take you through a picturesque and wet part of the park. But alas, the creeks were all dry here too. I ran these miles with some of the 12 milers, and when we rolled in to the aid station at 11.5, I said goodbye, feeling great about the second half of the race. The temperatures were no longer cool, probobly around 65-70 degrees by now, which still felt good as I traveresed the long steep powerline hill. I had some time here to wonder about my son, Avery, had I trained him well enough for this?
Downhill....after cresting the powerline summit there is about 1 1/2 to 2 miles of continuous downill rugged terrrain. This is generally my specialty, but after not running much in August or September, I felt it in the quads. The next aid station was just after the half-way point....I ate some S-Caps due to the increasing heat, really hydrated and took off. I knew that it was 5.2 miles to the next aid station, and 80% of that is uphill. The temperature reallly started to shoot up on this section, and I lost another spot....8th place....still felt good running in to the aid station, and stopped to chat up Bryce for awhile. The next aid station was a 5k away, and extremely difficult. It is a massive climb next to one of the most beautiful cascading mountain streams I have ever seen....but once again...dry, or almost dry. It was at this point that my lack of training for the last couple of months caught up, as did four other runners. It was a little discouraging, but my fault for being slack in my training. I settled in to 12th....and was prepared to start towards the last two aid stations and the finish.
I had forgot to mention that by this time I was cramping...it started at about mile 18, and I never recovered from it. The cool morning gave me a false sense of being hydrated, so I didnt take in the proper amount of water. As the heat picked up, and the sweat started to pour I was behind in my hydration and just couldnt catch up, even though I tried. Anyways the next 4 miles were fairly uneventful, and not the most scenic areas of the park, so I put my head down and gave it all I got. I actually picked up two of the runners that had passed me, and I really got a burst of energy thinking that I could still pull off a top 10 finish.
AT mile 25.2, I was flying down the power line hill that we had previously ascended at mile 12. I could hear Susan Breeding cheering for me, and I took off. And then it hit...a cramp in my side that almost put me to the ground, and made me completely stop for about 15 seconds. One runner passed, then I started to walk...then another runner passed....the pain was getting worse. I have never before, and have never since had a side stich/cramp like this. I can only assume it was from my hydration issues. For a second I wondered if I would finish....but I dont have quit in me...and would crawl if I had to. I rounded the lake in some real pain and crossed the finish line holding my side. I had shaved off 8 minutes from the previous year, and finished 12th, 8 spots better than last year.....I should have been thrilled, especially since this was still only my second year running, but I felt twice as bad as when I had finished the year before. I was upset with myself for not coming in prepared.
My son, Avery, rocked the twelve miler. He is currently the youngest to ever finish(but just by months), and ended up around 48th out of 140 or 150 runners. I was completely ecstatic for him, and sooo proud as many of the stories at the finish line contained someting about him. He immediately asked when the next big race is, and I am still beeming ear to ear. How proud can a father be when he hears things like "...and he hasn't even begun to reach his potential", or " keep this up and you'll be running in college!".
All in all, another amazing GUTS run. I am lucky to be a part of, in my opinion, the best ultra and trail running club in America. Thanks to all of the volunteers that made it possible, and a special thanks to Kim Pike for doing an amazing job at RD!!! See ya next year!!!!!....or better yet, see ya a t Pine Mt.
Early that morning the temperatures were running about 42 degrees, some of the first cold weather of the season. I knew that it would be pushing up in to the 80's later in the day, so I hoped to run fast early. It was a neat feeling to shift some of my pre-race jitters on to worrying about my son's race. We chatted with some of our other running friends, and lazily made our way over to the start line....all the while I was giving my son last minute instuctions and pep talks.
And we're off!....My son took his place at the middle of the pack, and I took my usual spot at the back of the lead group. After one mile around the lake, I smiled as I made the correct turn on to the Gahuti Trail. Last year, not knowing the course, I followed a group back around the lake and lost 15 minutes!!! At this point I was running 5th, and feeling good. The first thing I noticed about the course as we crossed Big Rock Creek was that it was bone dry. There is usually a healthy creek with a substantial waterfall here. This is extremely unusual for Fort Mountain, which is usually full of water and springs. The next portion of the course consists of fairly short climbs that lead you up to a ridge that you follow in to the first aid station.
As I rolled in to the first aid station, I was able to announce my most recent news that my wife and I were expecting. I actually announced this at every aid station that day! Other than that, I blew through the aid station, and continued on. Sean Blanton came up behind me and we shared a couple of miles chatting about Costa Rica. He took off, putting me back in 6th....he would end up in 5th for the day. The next portion of the course was a decent climb to the summit of Ft. Mountain and the mysterious wall....the best overlook in the park is here too. I passed one guy, but was passed by two, now Im in 7th, but feeling great. In my opinion the next 4 or 5 miles are the easiest on the course....rolling hills that normally take you through a picturesque and wet part of the park. But alas, the creeks were all dry here too. I ran these miles with some of the 12 milers, and when we rolled in to the aid station at 11.5, I said goodbye, feeling great about the second half of the race. The temperatures were no longer cool, probobly around 65-70 degrees by now, which still felt good as I traveresed the long steep powerline hill. I had some time here to wonder about my son, Avery, had I trained him well enough for this?
Downhill....after cresting the powerline summit there is about 1 1/2 to 2 miles of continuous downill rugged terrrain. This is generally my specialty, but after not running much in August or September, I felt it in the quads. The next aid station was just after the half-way point....I ate some S-Caps due to the increasing heat, really hydrated and took off. I knew that it was 5.2 miles to the next aid station, and 80% of that is uphill. The temperature reallly started to shoot up on this section, and I lost another spot....8th place....still felt good running in to the aid station, and stopped to chat up Bryce for awhile. The next aid station was a 5k away, and extremely difficult. It is a massive climb next to one of the most beautiful cascading mountain streams I have ever seen....but once again...dry, or almost dry. It was at this point that my lack of training for the last couple of months caught up, as did four other runners. It was a little discouraging, but my fault for being slack in my training. I settled in to 12th....and was prepared to start towards the last two aid stations and the finish.
I had forgot to mention that by this time I was cramping...it started at about mile 18, and I never recovered from it. The cool morning gave me a false sense of being hydrated, so I didnt take in the proper amount of water. As the heat picked up, and the sweat started to pour I was behind in my hydration and just couldnt catch up, even though I tried. Anyways the next 4 miles were fairly uneventful, and not the most scenic areas of the park, so I put my head down and gave it all I got. I actually picked up two of the runners that had passed me, and I really got a burst of energy thinking that I could still pull off a top 10 finish.
AT mile 25.2, I was flying down the power line hill that we had previously ascended at mile 12. I could hear Susan Breeding cheering for me, and I took off. And then it hit...a cramp in my side that almost put me to the ground, and made me completely stop for about 15 seconds. One runner passed, then I started to walk...then another runner passed....the pain was getting worse. I have never before, and have never since had a side stich/cramp like this. I can only assume it was from my hydration issues. For a second I wondered if I would finish....but I dont have quit in me...and would crawl if I had to. I rounded the lake in some real pain and crossed the finish line holding my side. I had shaved off 8 minutes from the previous year, and finished 12th, 8 spots better than last year.....I should have been thrilled, especially since this was still only my second year running, but I felt twice as bad as when I had finished the year before. I was upset with myself for not coming in prepared.
My son, Avery, rocked the twelve miler. He is currently the youngest to ever finish(but just by months), and ended up around 48th out of 140 or 150 runners. I was completely ecstatic for him, and sooo proud as many of the stories at the finish line contained someting about him. He immediately asked when the next big race is, and I am still beeming ear to ear. How proud can a father be when he hears things like "...and he hasn't even begun to reach his potential", or " keep this up and you'll be running in college!".
All in all, another amazing GUTS run. I am lucky to be a part of, in my opinion, the best ultra and trail running club in America. Thanks to all of the volunteers that made it possible, and a special thanks to Kim Pike for doing an amazing job at RD!!! See ya next year!!!!!....or better yet, see ya a t Pine Mt.
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