Fam and I drove the old RV down to Damascus. The town was awesome and my kids loved riding there bikes all over town. We camped on some real nice guys yard that he had allowed any runners to camp at. Hung out till about 9:30 with some good friends ribbing each other about past races and how we thought we would fair the next day. Off to bed I went. Slept very good and woke up about 5:45. The cool thing about this race was that it started at 7 am. What? 7? That was like sleeping in compared to Hortons races.
Nothing unusual for sat morning. Not really nervous. Was carrying my pack with about 10 gels and some other snacks. This race I had planned on crewing myself with a drop bag. So I set it all up with change of shoes and Baggies full or snacks to grab and go. So we were off. Didn't really start off very fast. As a matter of fact that was the plan. I honestly have not really been killing the miles this summer and was afraid I would go out to fast and blow up. Eric grossman soon left the group and ran ahead. I ran with Shawn pope till the end of the creeper section. Then up we go. Got into a comfortable rhythm climbing and followed a couple of guys up. Shawn was soon out of sight and me and 2 others ran for the next 10 or so miles together. Gotta admit that I got kinda down early. Didn't feel great. I kept telling myself that you don't have to run the fastest but you will eat and drink the most out of all racers. Ultra running is a eating competition with some running and views thrown in. I ate a gel every 20 minutes. S cap every 30. Water in pack only. Electrolyte drink at aid stations. I remember thinking that I wanted this to be over as soon as I could. I didn't really enjoy the first 20. Another secret goal was to be kind, nice, and encouraging to all aid station workers. It is hard work out there and they do it with passion. So I accomplished that goal I thought. Every time I went through aid station I thanked them and said thanks for being here. As a matter of fact I forgot I had 5 bucks in my pocket and when I was emptying out my pocket with empty gels I found the money. I handed the 5 to some kid and said thanks for coming out and helping. His eyes lit up. Was pretty cool!!
So I kept some advice from earlier in my head that the race does not begin till mile 29. So when I thought I was there I started to push a little more. By mile 32 the leaders had a 15 min lead on me. I didn't give up by judging by the caliber of the 2 runners ahead of me I thought my chances were slim and none. Got some rocking cold water at aid 32 and started to run faster. At mile 37 they had me by 12 min. In my drop bag I had placed my HOKAS just in case. I thought at this point in the race they would feel like slapping pillows on my feet. I was right. The HOKAS hit the spot. I felt great. I wanted my energy up so I put down 2 pieces of watermelon, 3 gels and 2 salt pills all Within 15 minutes. Couple of salt pills had busted in my pockets so I grabbed a half open one and stuck it in my mouth. It made me gag and I spit it out quickly. But it was too late. 5 seconds later I was full on projectile vomiting all my calories onto the trail. Then again. Then again. Violent heaving like I had not experienced in a race ever. Stood there for a couple of seconds and then started running again. Kept feeling better and better. By is time it was pouring down. Thunder clapping and lightning flashing. Awesome!!! This craziness along with tons of praying and great music gave me tons of energy. I was running hard!! By the last aid station I was 8 minutes behind. I stopped and grabbed some ginger ale and cold water. Then started running like a crazy man. My watch went out due to a fall so I didn't know what time it was, how fast I was going or anything. I was just running fast!! Every hill. Every down hill. It was actually pretty supernatural. I had been praying for this and now it was happening.
Ran it in super fast and never caught any of the 2 in front of me. Came within a minute of Shawn and 7 minutes of Eric. For the training i had in my legs this race gave me some hope that maybe, just maybe I was in better racing shape than I thought. The best part is the end. My wife and 3 kids waiting for me. It dawned on me. I'm not in college any more. I have a job. I have 3 kids. I have a purpose here on earth and to be completely honest, it probably doesn't have much to do with running. I enjoy racing, competition, the ultra community, but more than that I enjoy experiencing Jesus presence out in the woods. With people. Without people. Just like a dad takes pleasure in watching his kids compete, push themselves and enjoy. I truly think our creator does the same. He just does not want us to stop there. If he can create this feeling of joy than how much better is the PERSON that created joy than the joy itself?
