I've been able to log a significant amount of miles, getting close to the mid 40's most every week, as opposed to the meager 30ish I was getting last year. I even went as far as taking a "runcation". I bailed on work for the week and was able to log close to 60 miles while visiting my sister in PA, my buddy Mike in Queens, and lots of tasty brew pubs and beer bars along the way. Running has never been better. I even ran into my first bear a few weeks ago!
Today was my 7th show down with the 50k distance. Weather conditions had called for thunderstorms and rain for the majority of the day, so it was a relief to toe the line under dry skies. After a few words from the RD, we were off down the road for a few miles before we hit the trail head. Runners for both the 50k and 23k were mixed in the group and it was difficult to tell who was who, or rather, should I be running as fast as this guy next to me?
I ran with Keith into the woods, passing signs made for us by his brother's family. It's always nice to see that, especially at a races of this distance where it isn't exactly a spectator sport. We made our way down the trail and took the left hand turn at the 50k sign as the 23kers kept straight on the trail. Apparently we were the only ones taking this left, at least that we could see out of the crowd that was in front of us hammering onward.
Once off on our own, we shot the shit for a minute before Keith pulled ahead and I turned my ipod on. The first few miles out there went by with ease. Weather it was me feeling good, or the tunes in my headphones, I was enjoying this jaunt in the woods. A mile or two further on I see Keith a distance ahead of me, something that rarely, if ever, happens in race situations. I oddly enough seem to pick up steam and over the next mile pull right up behind him. I'm feeling good. I consider the fact that it might all be clicking for me today, and despite the humidity, I might be able to make something of this.
After last year's performance ending in a 16th place 5:12 finish, I felt I had it in me to go sub 5 this year, as long as I could continue to feel good and make smart choices. I had put enough fluids and nutrition in my pack to avoid having to stop at any of the early aid stations, which would be a huge time saver and something I didn't do last year.
Throughout the first part of the race, Keith continued to stay at least 400 yard in front of me for the most part. I took advantage of running most of the hills and power hiking where necessary, which kept me in the game. After a while out there, I found it strange that I hadn't seen another runner other than Keith.
It wasn't until the climb up Pisgah Mountain, that I finally came upon a runner other than Keith. I passed him as he seemed to be struggling, and motored on to catch up with Keith, who I hadn't said a word to since I had put my headphones on back around mile 3. We shot the shit for a moment and talk about the discrepancies on our watches before he powered down the the back side of the mountain, followed closely by the other guy I had passed.
As I ran along, coming close to the Kilburn aid station, which I would pass through twice, I came upon that other runner who I had passed on top of Pisgah Mountain. Over my headphones I couldn't make out what he was saying to me, but after turning the ipod off, he was desperately looking for salt tabs. I offered up some s-caps and proceeded on my way to the aid station. This was my first pass through the Kilburn aid station before running the loop around Kilburn Pond. I pounded two cups of soda knowing the fluids in my pack would be good for another 5.5 miles. I also powered through the aid station fast enough to take another runner who was wasting more time there than me.
The Kilburn loop is sort of a two fold event. The first part, which is down hill for the most part, seems to be easy and fast. I passed another runner in this section. However, once you get to the backside of the pond, the trail becomes increasingly aggravating. While not really steep, your body seems cashed enough to make walking the uphills seem like the most desirable thing in the world. Somewhere in this stretch, I was passed back by the guy from the aid station. No worries I told myself. I hadn't been passed by anyone from further back in the pack so this wasn't that big of an issue.
I finally get off the Kilburn loop and back into the Kilburn aid station for the second and final time. I refill my pack for the first time all race, pound more Coke and head off as fast as I can toward the finish. The final stretch of miles were some that took their toll on me last year. I walked more of it than I cared to, and felt I lost a lot of time on this section.
This year I entered the final section feeling good and ready to battle. While the first initial climb out Rt. 63 parking lot was walked, I quickly returned to running and pushed on well past the places I had walked the previous year. It may have been in this section that I figured out my Halloween costume.... Oh god, watch out!
I finally came to the section that I found the previous year to have been logged. I knew from here it was only a matter of a mile to get to the road that would bring me in to the finish. I started to pick up the pace and look for that coveted turn onto the dirt road.
Coming down one of the final hills, I see the dirt road and the guy who had passed me on the back side of the Kilburn loop. At a volume loud enough for him to most likely have heard, I yelled, "That fuckers going down!", and proceeded to pick up the pace until I had zeroed in on him and passed him just before passing Keith's brother's house on the last mile in to the finish. At his brother's house, I drop my race vest and take off. Cresting the final hill I can see straight down the road to the stop sign. From there, it would only be a matter of yards to the finish. I keep my focus on the stop sign and keep my pace. As I draw closer to the end of the road, I pull in and pass my final struggling runner. I turn the corner and haul ass into the finish. 50k in 4 hours and 43 minutes in 9th place. This was exactly a half hour off of last year's time and almost 2 minutes faster than my previous 50k PR, which was run on a pancake flat course, as opposed to this course with 3,850 feet of elevation gain.
Over all, I couldn't have been more satisfied with my result. The biggest problem I have now, is where to take this success for one more bout in the ring this year.
