Finally, a preview of what its like to run a rugged and mountainous 100 miler.
I had signed up on the Massanutten Mountain Trails Pacers page, offering to pace a runner at the later stages of the race. Nick Combs contacted me about a week before the race and I was glad to help. I had also volunteered to work an aid station. I knew this would be a tall task, to do both, since the time at the aid station would be tiring but I felt it was worth it while I was out there. This would also serve as good training for my own Ultra endeavors, to practice: running at night, running while tired, and running while hungry.
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| Shawl Gap Aid Station, at mile 38, just as the runners were starting to stream in. |
My day began in northern VA with a hearty, carb filled breakfast to keep me fueled through the day. Then a drive out to Fort Valley VA to find my aid station around 10:30am. I was working at Shawl Gap, "only" 38 miles in for the runners. We had a good system, everyone took on a role - mine was filling up bottles or bladders with water and grabbing tissues for runny noses. Working an aid station or even just chearing at a race takes plenty of energy, arguably as much as running! I hung out here until 3ish, then headed to the MMT100 end camp to park and set my tent up.
As a little side rant: it bothers me to see runners so involved with the sport (be it racing road races or enduring all night ultras) who never seem to "give back". Yes, it is fun to feel unbreakable, spending every weekend either racing or on some insane training run; but its a grass roots sport, and these races and aid stations are put on almost exclusively by volunteers. So next time you think you are just too busy, consider sitting a race out and helping instead. Im pretty sure the organizers of these 100 milers realized this affect long ago and thus started requiring volunteer work usually in the form of working an aid station, trail work, or other voluntary involvement in the running community. I realize there may be some guilty members reading this, so consider yourself warned! ;) |
| Nick and I at Shawl Gap. |
After hitching a ride from a passer by I arrived at the Roosevelt aid station to wait for my runner. He gave me a 3 hour range so I was mentally prepared to be there awhile. Fortunetely i recognized a few other pacers to chat with. As the evening wore on I found myself getting hungrier and thirstier so I tried to keep eating and drinking. The temperature was falling too; glad I brought an extra layer!
I knew it would be tough running while tired and hungry, but this would also serve as great training for those very reasons. My runner finally came through around 8:30pm, took a quick break, and we were off!
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| Patiently waiting... |
It got dark enough for headlamps soon so we switched ours on and continued off into the Massanutten night. What followed was 23ish miles of mud, rocks, hill climbs and ruts, with the occasional aid station that resembled an oasis in a desert of dark forest. We crosssed several streams, some moving quite swiftly. The weather for the event was perfect with a daytime high of around 75 and a chilly (but not too cold) nighttime low around 45. There had been several days if heavy rain in the preceding week which led to much of the mud and swollen streams.
There was very little actual running involved.
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| Middle of the night aid stations are a blast! Like an oasis in a desert of dark forest. |
There was at least plenty of conversation along the way to keep both of us occupied. The first light from dawn came around 4:30am and by 5:30 the headlamps were off. We rolled into an aid station at mile 88 and I handed Nick off to his girlfriend for the final stretch. Glad I did - I don't think they finished until close to noon!
I drove their car back to the finish camp, crawled into my tent and immediately passed out, waking several hours later.
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| 3 dudes, with headlamps on, stomping around in the mountains at 3am! |
Pacing a runner, especially during a night run, is not something to be taken lightly. More than just fitness and ultra running familiarity, it requires mental patience, planning, and a constant "can do" attitude. This was a great experience for me - working the aid station let me help out and give back to the running community; I made some new friends and reconnected with some old training buddies; the pacing was great practice, and in the end I got to see what a real, mountain 100 miler is all about. This was the first time I ran (er, speed hiked) through an entire night.
I cant wait to really get training for Grindstone this summer. As important as weekly mileage is to me, ill be focused on my key training runs, staying healthy, getting some elevation in (even involving lots of speed hiking), and lots of time on the bike anytime things start feeling sore. As long as I can manage to stay not injured, im ready to embrace the 100 mile distance.
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| Once morning broke I got to witness an incredible sunrise over the mountains. |
