Somebody recently told me that if it wasn’t posted on Facebook, it didn’t happen. So, here are my reflections about my run at the 2013 JFK 50 mile this past Saturday.
This year’s training was better than the past couple of years. I made sure to get my 20 mile long runs in every Monday without exception, and the time to cover those long runs was about the same as years past. The 10km on Oct 20 was about a minute slower from 2012, and the 5km on Nov 10 was the same pace as early 2013. I felt good enough that I didn’t even write up my list of ailments and give them to Meg in a sealed envelope if I passed out on the course. I hoped to finish in the 11:40 range.
The forecast for the day was temps in the high 30s at the start and high 40s by midday. Winds of 16 mph coming from the Northwest were side winds on the AT and headwinds on the 26 miles of the C&O canal path.
With expected wind chills below freezing on the AT, I started in tights and a heavier Dri-Fit shirt. I told Meg, “I’m probably overdressed.” And, going up the hill with the wind to our backs, I was sweating more than I should be.
As usual, I run the first 20 minutes and then walk the remaining time to the South Mountain Inn. This routine had me as the second person to the top, and as expected, people started flying past me on the trail portion. By mile 6, I was wondering, “What the heck am I doing here?”. I could not get my hands warm, it was dark, and I could walk faster on the trail than run. Knowing about the upcoming wind on the C&O, I wondered if I could stay this cold for another 10 or 11 hours. Rather than trying to warm both hands at one time, I worked on the right. By the time I reached the Gap at mile 9, it was doing better. My time was 7 minutes slower than in 2012.
My next checkpoint is the Garvey Shelter, which is ½ way between the Gap and Weverton. Getting there means there are only four more uphills to cover. I’m hoping to get there before the leaders of the 7 am start would catch me. I can still walk faster than run in sections and get to Garvey 10 minutes slower than in 2012. The leaders catch us soon after that, and I still can’t figure out how they run rocks that well. The last sections to the top of the cliff and the switchbacks feel real good. My running is better, and I do well on the switchbacks. I get to the bottom, still only 10 minutes slower than 2012. I change into shorts and undershirts and wrap my Dri-Fit shirt around my waist.
I set my watch for a 2-minute walk 8-minute run repeats.
Between mile 17 and 18, Duane Williamson from the 7 am start catches me, and I run with him at his pace for about ¾ miles. I showed him the mile marker posts on the path and told him to look for 70 (halfway), milepost 84 (last one), and the Shepardtown bridge at Mile 30. With his recent 3:05 marathon time, I encouraged him to shoot for sub 8 hours.
I start with caffeine at the 22-mile aid station and set my watch to a 2-minute walk and 5-minute run repeats.
At the 30-mile aid station, I set my watch to 2-minute walk and 3 minute run repeats. Near about mile 36, I was starting to have some digestive issues, and within the next couple of repeats, there was a porta pot to take care of business. Though I never reset my watch, the run portions to the end of the trail felt much better.
When I reach Meg at the mile 38 aid station, she tells me, “Dan is 10 minutes ahead of you. But he was 15 minutes ahead of you at the mile 27 aid station”. Dan Huffman, a 21-time finisher, and Dennis Bane are running together.
When I get to the aid station at the end of the Canal Path at mile 41.8, I catch Dan & Dennis, grab a coke, and keep moving. When I reach Megan at mile 46, she tells me, “Dan is 3 minutes ahead of me”. I don’t remember them passing me.
The last 8 miles are on pavement and are pretty easy to strategize, walk the ups and run the flats and down. I can do this on most of the road except between miles 46 to 48.7. Once there, I crest the last hill just after the last aid station. There is a downhill to 1 mile to go, and by then, this horse knows where the barn is and runs the last mile in 10:05, which was only 5 seconds slower than the first mile of the day.
Rolling toward the finish, there are a lot of runners packed together, and I pass Dan & Dennis with about 200 meters to go. They are talking and hear, “should we hold hands at the finish?” About 5 meters ahead of them, I could not resist and said, “that would be a cute picture.” Like when they snuck past me a the mile 44 aid station, if I could have stayed quiet and it was almost dark, they would have never known I was the one passing. Once seeing me, they found the kick to get going, and I was already at my top speed for the moment.
Not that place is significant at 12 hours and 12 minutes; these little competitions help push us to the finish.
Now I need to forget the feelings of Mile 6 and maybe train a little differently. My 18th finish was my slowest at 12:12:20 and 34 minutes slower than in 2012. At this rate of decline, I only have three more years before I don’t meet the 14-hour cutoff.
Many thanks to my daughter Meg for crewing for me. This race was either her eighth or ninth year as my crew. Knowing she would be there helped get me through the cold spots.