21 in the can. This year I started playing with the house’s money. I thought I would stop after 20. However, I needed a fall race goal to keep from getting a big butt.
My training this year was hampered by one issue, Poison Ivy. While pulling some vines off my house in early September, a few non-leaved poison ivy vines were intermixed. Even with the steroids that added a lot of water weight, it took three weeks before my breathing recovered. So, I was doing a lot of training with walk breaks, starting at 6-minute runs and 2-minute walks. I was able to get in three 20 mile runs in October with only 2-minute walk breaks every 20 minutes. And my final traditional AT training run was 5 minutes faster than in 2015.
The week before the race, my year-to-date miles, 1565, was 13 more than in 2015. But still, 100 miles less than my average year.
In the weeks leading up to the race, I would get hamstring twinges, Achilles tendon lock-ups, an ache here of there, and I felt I was coming down with a cold. Bad enough on Friday that I took some Nyquil the night before the race. This incident was the first time I broke my rule of trying nothing new the day before a race. But I didn’t have a scratchy throat on race morning.
I felt good enough that I didn’t even write up my list of ailments and give them to Lynne in a sealed envelope if I passed out on the course.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn and got out on schedule at 5:35 am. As we’ve done in past years, we parked in downtown Boonsboro, about 100 feet from the start line. I hit the porta pot and then got ready to run.
The challenge for the day was the weather. Temperatures at the start were in the high 40s. The forecast was a high in the 60s by noon and then a front coming in with rain and 20 mph winds for a few hours and then the wind continuing through the evening. The forecasted temp for 6:30 pm was 42 degrees. Until the front hit, forecasted winds were from the South or a tailwind on the C&O Canal and Dam 4 Road section. With the front, the wind direction was to change to the Northwest or a headwind.
Those expecting to finish under 7 hours had a tailwind for the final 35 miles after almost no wind for the first 15 miles.
For those expecting to be running after dark, a crew was a necessity.
I had two goals for the day. Wake up on top of the dirt and stay ahead of the course cutoff times.
As usual, I run the first 20 minutes and then walk the remaining time to the South Mountain Inn. I went through the first mile in 10:51. And, my time to the top was the same as in 2015.
I was able to finish the AT portion in 4:10, the same time as 2015. I achieved my goals of staying upright and ahead of the cutoffs, with 45 minutes to spare.
Lynne tells me the forecast for rain is 50% at 2 pm and 70% at 3 pm. Because of the heat, I take off my long sleeve shirt and drop my gloves and gaiter at Weverton. Just in case, I tie another shirt around my waist. I know that I will be at the next crew stop just after 1 pm.
I do the calculation and determine, staying under 15-minute miles will get me to the finish on time. I set my watch for a 2-minute walk 6-minute run repeats. I’m able to maintain this to the Antietam Aqueduct at mile 27.
At Antietam, I get a gaiter and a forecast of rain by 3 pm.
I switch to 3-minute run, 3-minute walk repeats. I have to make sure that I don’t count my steps during the running. So, I have various songs going through my head. I do count my steps as I walk to make sure I keep that cadence up.
At the Shephardtown Aid, I put on my long sleeve shirt. The wind has shifted, and the temperature has dropped about 10 degrees.
After a few minutes, I had to take a Paul Sherwin natural break. For the next running break, I start singing, “You don’t mess around with Jim,” as you don’t spit into the wind.
The Miracle on Mile 34 aid station had a Christmas theme and Santa. The song changes to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” My running sections improve, even, as it starts to sleet, at 3 pm. I wish I had taken a pair of gloves too at Mile 27. I used my neck gaiter on either hand for a few minutes to warm my fingers.
At Taylor’s Landing, I change into compression shorts, tie and thicker shirt around my waist, get a pair of gloves, headlamp, and put my neck gaiter on. The temp is not cold enough without the wind chill for Goretex or tights. As the wind was not constant, I would have overheated.
By the time I got to the end of the canal, the sun was popping out and setting. There was no reflective vest this year. Instead, they gave me a reflective armband that kept slipping down. Next year, I think I’ll bring a personal vest to wear after Taylor’s Landing.
The last 8 miles are on pavement and are pretty easy to strategize, walk the ups and run the flats and down. It is hard to see far enough forward to know what is down or flat in the dark. So, I do no more walking than running.
Once at 48.7, I crest the last hill just after the last aid station. I usually run this final 1.5 miles. Knowing I have plenty of time, I do three run-100-paces, walk-100-paces repeats. Then run to the finish. 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 10:44, which is 7 seconds faster than the first mile of the day. I finished in 12:12:40, 1 minute faster than in 2015.
I had no blisters this year. Yea!
Now with 21 in the bank, what’s next? The yearly goal of running this race keeps my weight down and my butt from expanding. It’s on to number 22, eating dessert first and waking up on top of the dirt.
Many thanks to Lynne Millholland for crewing for me. This year would have been impossible without a crew. Knowing she would be there helps get through the cold and hard spots.
TMI section: What happens on the trail stays on the trail.
Does anyone know why the hemorrhoids started popping out? Most noticeable in the shower, post-race.
End of TMI Section