Harbison 50k Report

Yay finally made it back to the finish line of an Ultra distance trail race. The finish at the Harbison 50k this year ended a 2 year layoff. Finally over coming some iffy fitness and a reoccurring ankle issue.

50k PR 5:12

The course layout was two laps of 16ish miles. Including a portion of Lost Creek, X Connector, Stewardship, Midlands Mountain, Spider woman and The Bluffs trails. A good mix of many types of trails and very familiar trails to say the least.
 
My plan was to average a 10 min pace overall. Now the big question was to go out quick, build a bank on time then survive over the second half. Or go out with some sense and build over the second half. Luckily with this being a local course and knowledge of where the difficult sections will be was key. Plus the addition of having friends to run with.

So from the get go I paired with Rick for a an even pace run (option 2).  We kept each other in check. This was a critical point for me to keep in mind. With my longest run of 20 miles coming just two weeks prior to the event. I had some real concerns after the 3 hour point in the race.

First lap was steady. This would sum it up. Steady through the aid stations. Just keeping up with the calories and fluids. Knowing the 20 mile mark was lurking ahead. Steady through Spider Woman. Had to really hold back the excitement here. I slipped off the pace a bit but hovered just outside of my goal pace.

All is well? Yep! Onto the second lap. Still paired with Rick. We picked our way along. Passing a few runners here and there. Meeting folks from all over. Really cool to see where folks have traveled from to experience Harbison.

As we neared the exit of Lost Creek I mentioned to Rick that we had just passed the 20 mile mark. So from her on I was in uncharted waters. Not sure as to how I would hold up. Stayed the course on the overall plan. Luckily Rick is a seasoned vet at this distance and he took the lead from here on. The goals began to change a bit. Now I was just trying to run the Connector and Stewardship trails. Don't walk till the switchbacks. Goal accomplished. What a relief it was to walk a bit.  

I began to slow a bit from here. Spider Woman was up next. Managed to convince myself to run the downs and walk the ups. It seemed to work out well. for me. By the time I exited Spider Woman I had a little peep left to conquer the Bluffs in a similar fashion. Onto the final fire road sections I wanted to run the entire bit. Not an easy feat but the end was near and I really wanted to stick the goal. 

Finishing was the icing on the cake for me. To find Erin and Wesley waiting at the finish was such a treat. I know he will not remember it but I will never forget it. A mini milestone I guess.

2011 Mt. Mitchell Challenge

Well I'm back to redeem myself of a year ago. It was my second attempt at The Mt. Mitchell Challenge. Redemetion was high on the list of thing to achieve at this years event. The rare chance to race the full course in near perfect weather was a huge motivator.

As they say you gain experence with practice. Yep, I'll go along with that. So far I've learned patience can pay off at an Ultra Run. This being my 4th attempt at an Ultra distance event.

Starting off I wanted to stay close to the front. However it just wasn't worth the risk of blowing up before you even see dirt. Patience on the climb to the Parkway. Just go a bit above my comfort level. Keep up on the calories and hydration. Very key.

Made it to the Parkway in 2:20. From here it's up to the Summit trails en route to the top. Just a bit of snow and soggy trails. The higher in elevation the slower the pace seemed to get. Nearing the summit a few icy patches had me skating around bit. Nothing like last year. It was managable with the soft snow mixed in. Summit 3:49.

Picking my way down the gnarly summit trails. Slipped once, then decided maybe I should snug my shoes up. So I stop snug em up take two steps turn an ankle. Dang did not see that coming. Slowly picked way way down this trail (Commissary Ridge I think). Just when you think it's all down hill from here. You pop back out onto a FS road up to Alice Camp AS. From there it's onto the pavement down down down.

Back to the Parkway and onto the Old Toll Road for the return trip. Here is where I rejoined two fellow Cola running buddies. It was like being back in the peloton again. Ha - we were trading pace, putting in a few small surges just to see what the others had left in the tank. About an hour later I had pulled ahead a bit. From here I just wanted to break 6:30.

Now I am no stranger to pushing myself to exhaustion. Though this time I had really pushed it. That being the caloric levels. The last 3 miles are on pavement back into town to the finish. With about 2.5 to go my buddy pulls up and pulls away from me. This is were the vision begins to blur and I know I am on borrowed time. As I repeated "JUST KEEP PUSHING" towards the finish I go. Keeping it together I stroll across the line a shake under 6:36. Very happy to be done and to have PR this monster. Better my time by :42 on a longer course.

Harbison 50k

Local flavor in the inaugural Harbison 50k & 10k trail race taking place in the Harbison State Forrest here in Columbia SC. It sure was nice to have a short drive before and after. Perfect day with clear blue skies and a chilly breeze for a run in the woods.

Where to begin? Well from the start I knew it would be best to go out slow. Take the opening Lost Creek trail very easy. Strike one! It happens every time I pin a number on. Take off too fast. What felt like a nice stroll through L.C. but in following Todd and the eventual female winner, it would turn out to be a disaster in the making. All the while every thing seemed to be clicking well. Through Spider Women, Mid Mountain, Fire Break back to the S/F area. Look at my watch 2:25. Oh no! At the halfway point I was 35 minutes ahead of my anticipated pace of 5:45-6:00 finish time. If I were to hold this pace and finish sub 5 hours. What was I thinking.

Onto lap two, as the lactic acid begins to fill my weary body. Slow down and just make the best of it. As I mentally start to wonder off heading back to Lost Creek, BAM! Rolling around on the ground. What just happened? I just hit the deck on the easiest section of trail out here. This action just intensified all the lactic build up. Back up and now limping down the trail. It will be fine just another 15 miles to go. Fast forward to the second pass on Spider Woman. As Jim C. and Bill J. come right on by with the steady pace they have had all day. It just looked effortless as I struggled to put one foot in front of the other. Lesson 2 - find a good feasible pace that can be maintained the entire distance. This is my 3rd ultra so it's about time to figure this one out. thanks Jim.

As the miles just slowly ticked by. Bribing myself at every incline to just to keep jogging up to that next ridge. After the Bluffs the ability to move at a steady clip surprised me. Going through the motions and shoulder checking at every turn. No one wants to get passed so close to the end. Finished in 5:33, a PR for the 50k.

Oh my hip flexers are on fire!!!!!! As I wonder how to load myself into the car as not to embarrass my wife with the shriek of CRAMP. Next up Mt. Mitchell Challenge.

Photo credit top pic to Ray K.,

Mt Mitchell Challenge Recap

A fine intro to the world of Ultra Running. The Mt. Mitchell Challenge would not be the first pick of most folks. Why lean towards easy? This just makes the others easier in the future. Well I finished in tact (7:17:32 - 35 miles - 72th of 121).

This event was to be slated as an epic adventure. As the building anticipation of the remains of inclement weather. As most know the winter of 09-10 in the NC mountains has been great for skiers. Jay Curwin (RD) did a great job at looking out for the well being of his entrants. A mandatory re-route of the course was inevitable. Shorten the course and bringing about more asphalt than in years past.

Miles 0-3
The start was chilly. A slow jog up the road to the first hill would warm me up. The College of Montreat would be the official start to the climbing. With an elevation gain of 1020'+ in a mile (19%). Brought things to a slow walk early on. You could look around an see people shedding the excess clothing. This is where I figured out my first Ultra mistake. I was way overdressed for this party. After so many years of cycling and figuring out the proper attire for the weather, this running thing may take some more time. Dress 20* warmer than your starting temps. Lesson 1 CHECK.

Miles 3 - 12
This would be the start to the ice. It was highly recommended to bring along YakTrax for this section known as the Old Toll Road. In my preparation for this race I just could not bring myself to shell out the cash for some gear I would barely use.

So with the help of Bronco Billy's Blog about screwing your shoes for ice. I was all in on the DIY solution. It was a minimal approach, but worked well for me. It was slow goings in the real icy sections anyway. All to find out later the top female (Krissy Moehl) used the same setup. So maybe not so crazy after all. It comes down to skill. Lesson 2 CHECK.

Back to the Old Toll Road. The company of Jeff R. and J.R. all the way to the summit was a welcomed treat. The footing was good overall. Mixed in with some sketchty sections. I recall on 3 different occasions pulling the Bambi on ice. A slid down the trail pulling some form of a 360*till stopping. Oh the memories. The Old Toll Rd would eventually come to an end at aid station 2 - 2:15 into the adventure. Most all mileage was positive elevation gain. pics #143-144 here

12-23 miles
The very instant we departed the aid station a gust of wind 30+mph comes through. An immediate chill comes over you. Now the stage for the next 11 miles is set. The course changes would have us on pavement the entire time to and from the summit. I'm not complaining. It was clear of snow and ice. Just super windy and cold. By far the coldest I've ever been in my life. Reports of 6* with windchill at -10*. That was a long cold walk.

Rather uneventful just keep moving, eat and drink as much as you can. Well that became a problem once my hydration bladder froze into large chunks. It came down to putting one foot in front of the other. Plus trying to stay with my party. All the way to the summit.
Should have started at least a Jog/Walk approach to the climb. This could have help eliminated some exposure on the mountain. Lesson 3 CHECK. The approach to the turn around had us venture off the pavement to a spur trail to the summit sign. The snow was on average calf deep. After many runners ahead of us made many holes. The footing was sparatic. Start > Summit 3:45.

The decent was not my cup of tea. It was a good feeling to not be climbing for a change. I was having problems getting the legs to turn over. This was where I started to lose my running partners. Slipped into survival mode, to just maintain a steady pace and keep moving. The downhill running if not kept in check for me will punish my quads and knees. Still to far away from the finish to take the risk.


Summit Photos borrowed from Citizen Times. Top pic of Brad Kee coming from the summit. Second pick of the paved road near the summit.

Miles 23-35
Pain Pain and Pain. By this time I was running solo w/ my ipod. Yep, I busted it out on the Parkway to drown the voices in my head. So now later in the day. The icy sections were turning to slush. This slush turns out to be very refreshing when the friction on your feet is rising from the steady downhill. Steady movement.

The hardest part was the decent through Montreat. Remember that uphill section at the beginng. Well it turns out we would be going down that part also. WOW!!!!!!!!! That was some brutal basting of the feet and knees. Heck you couldn't even walk it slowly. My approach to ease the pounding was to cut back and forth across the road. It worked for a bit. Till the fact hit me. That I was indeed make this race longer step by step.

A little spur of a trail along some river was a pleasant touch. Wish I would have known that the final 3ish miles were along a paved road. Damn this was the longest 3 miles ever. Trying to mix it up a touch. I would shoulder surf on every patch of organic surface I could. Finally a lap around Lake Tomahawk to finish things up. It was a good time and an excellent event.

Also I would like to thank the Harbison Trail Runners. With three houses rented out in Black Mountain. 17 folks made the trip up. Many more thanks for the dinner and ample amounts of food and beer. I believe we all had a super time.

Goals Completed:

• Finished
• Had Fun
• Gained Experience
• Earned the coveted MMC Fleece Pullover

Goals Not Completed

• Finished Under 7 hours
• Finished in the top 50 or 50%

Till next year.