Another tale to motivate your exercise spirits......
"Fourteen Hours!! That's all the time you have to finish! Our insurance coverage ends at 7:00 PM, so anyone still on the course after that time will be stopped and will not be allowed to finish," emphasized the JFK 50-Mile Race Director. It's 4:30 AM and about 300 of the runners, who requested the early start at 5:00 AM, are gathered in the gymnasium at the Boonsboro High School in Boonsboro, Maryland. Most of us are sitting in the bleachers or sprawled on the floor for a last minute rest. What am I doing here?
A few months ago, I turned 60 years old and decided to celebrate this milestone by expanding my physical and mental comfort running envelope. Marathons are still difficult for me to finish, but I know that in all likelihood I will finish within certain time limits. But what about doing an ultra marathon, i.e. any distance race greater than 26.2 miles? I decided on attempting the JFK 50-Mile ultra marathon (actually 50.2 miles long or about 84 kilometers) since it is the oldest ultra marathon in the USA with this being its 43rd running and offered an early bird start at 5:00 AM. The regular start with about 800 plus runners begins at 7:00 AM. How does one train for a 50-mile race? All of my friends who had done ultra marathons said that if one did a marathon several weeks beforehand, then somehow the body adjusted to this higher distance. Others recommended long distances (15 miles plus) on both Saturdays and Sundays for several weekends beforehand, so the body would adjust to this added strain. I opted for my own training plan, which was to complete 7 marathons and a half-marathon race during the 3 months before the JFK race. But now sitting in this gymnasium, I have doubts if this was sufficient. The most comforting thought is a comment written in the Reston Runners JFK 50 handbook that ultimately, it's a "leap of faith." Just like doing a marathon, one has to believe that whatever happens during this race, willpower and stamina will somehow prevail and one will finish.
Fortunately, I'm also with the Reston Runners during this event. Sixty-two members have registered, and about 10 will be starting at 5:00 AM. The Reston Runners is a running group based in Reston, VA. The members have an exceptionally strong degree of camaraderie, and their degree of organized support for this JFK event is truly remarkable! Volunteer members will provide added course support to the members who are running. In my case, Katharine Hunter (friend who did the Marine Corps Marathon with me three weeks earlier) and Michael Bradford will meet me at 5 aid station stops. There are a total of 14 aid stations, but race organizers only allow these runner supporters at 5 specifically designated stations. Although these supporters have food and drink available as well as changes of socks and running shoes for their respective runners, their main value for me will prove to be superb morale support. Also, most of the Reston Runners are wearing a bright yellow singlet with his/her name on the front and back for easier identification. Volunteer members will be taking photos of the runners and will also be on bicycles to provide encouragement on the C&O towpath section. "OK, time to move to the starting line!" says the Race Director. He had also stated that there are 7 cutoff points before the Finish that runners must make or they will be removed from the race. There were 1197 runners from 44 states and about 7 countries registered for this race. How many of us will finish in the allotted 14 or 12 hours?
The weather outside is freezing, and a nearby monitor registers 23 degrees. The straggling line of runners and supporters walks to the downtown area. Someone shouts the race has started, and I begin a slow jog in the darkness. Fortunately, my flashlight and the moon provide sufficient light. The initial 2.5 miles of paved road climbs 500 feet. Just after passing a hotel, we then begin a 13-mile stretch on the Appalachian Trail. Except for about a 2-mile paved section, the other 11 miles are unnerving. There is a narrow path, usually only wide enough for one person although more daring and faster runners will insist on passing. There are thousands of rocks, ample roots and logs, and millions of leaves to catch the unwary foot. Although I didn't see any runners actually fall, there were reports of various runners who did, injuring and blooding their feet and bodies and having to consequently drop out of the race. I stumbled various times but managed to recover although once my toe strongly collided with a hidden rock. Although I thought I might have broken the toe, after the initial numbness, sensation returned and I could wiggle the toe. We continued climbing up the trail. Whenever the runners in front of me briefly jogged, I would jog also figuring the terrain had lesser obstacles than usual. The dense mix of bare trees, high ridge line, rocky terrain, and freezing cold reminded me of military field exercises while at Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir and Camp A.P. Hill eons ago. Based on the JFK course map, we were traveling along the South Mountain ridgeline and crossed over the top at Lambs Knob at 1750 feet. The view of the rising sun and diffused sunlight below us at about 6:30 AM was spectacular!
There is only brief conversation with the other runners. The general unspoken consensus is that every minute counts for us slower runners if we are to stay ahead of the cutoff times. Shortly before 7:30 AM, a small group of us reaches the first cutoff point at Gathland Gap. A few spectators energetically cheer our arrival. I now have a buffer hour before the actual cutoff time. This buffer is critical for me because I know there is no way I will be able to finish the last 8 miles within the given cutoff time limits. I haven't seen any other Reston Runners or for that matter, have seen only a few of the other 300 runners. We must be very spread out. Time to move on, so up another series of hills to continue on the second stretch of the trail. I pass various hikers, including a very strong self-reliant blind hiker with his son. At about 8:45 A.M., the lead runners from the 7:00 AM start begin passing us. What a sight! Although the terrain has many hills and hidden roots and rocks, these lead runners look like gazelles as they sprint from rock to rock along the narrow path and are probably averaging about 7 minutes or less per mile. The last mile of this trail section is a steep switchback. I have to grab the trees to prevent falling off the edge. However, the lead male/female runners zoom over this downhill section. At about 9:30 AM, I reach the end of this trail at Weverton, see Katharine and Michael briefly, speak with Peg (my wife) via cell phone who offers strong encouragement, and then continue a short distance along a very steep path, soon arriving at the aid station at 15.5 miles.
Mentally, I reset my thinking and body into believing that I have just walked to the starting line of a marathon as I begin the 26.3-mile section of the C&O (Chesapeake & Ohio) Canal. Mules on this towpath in the 19th and early 20th centuries pulled boats on the canal. This towpath, about 12-feet in width, rises some 10 feet from the Potomac River on the left side and the canal remnants on the right. Although the towpath is packed earth, there is an infrequent rock waiting to catch a foot. The bare trees on both sides have deposited millions of leaves on the path. Twice, I almost tripped and fell over one of the sides. Although this route is scenic, it is also somewhat hypnotic. As I look forward, the path appears to rise in a continuous hill with a dense leaf layer below and bare trees framing the sides and sometimes providing an overhead canopy. Fragments of the blue sky during this sunny day periodically appear. It's been a sunny day with temperatures perhaps rising into the 40's. The many greetings and encouragement from passing runners, primarily from the Reston Runners, and the energetic cheers at the aid stations with more Reston Runner supporters have kept my spirits high. Katharine and Michael provided much needed potatoes and energy supplements at aid stations miles 27.1 and 38.4 (both located near the Antietam National Battlefield).
Somewhere along this towpath, I can hear two slower runners in front of me. One is complaining of increasing disorientation from salt depletion, and then the other one offers him one of his salt tablets as I pass them. At the next aid station (mile 27.1), I make sure to heavily salt my three cups of chicken noodle soup. I don't know what others are taking to sustain their energy levels, but I'm relying heavily on Gatorade, bananas, M&M chocolate candies, hot soup, and baked potatoes. The periodic ambulance sirens remind me that others haven't been as fortunate in finding what foods work for them. Most runners feel starved upon arriving at the aid stations. It is so tempting to stay longer and sample all the goodies, but time is passing and the cutoff points are approaching.
Along the towpath, we pass hikers, people on horseback, pedestrians seemingly going to the middle of nowhere, and several interesting runners. One is a tall runner wearing a shark costume that makes him tower over the rest of us. Another runner is likely a young military man who runs with a strong purpose while carrying an American flag on a pole. How can his shoulders last so long? I pass one runner, now walking, whose 11-year old son has joined him for a segment. Runners in their 60's plus who have done this race 5-10 or more times help orient me on where I am on the towpath in relation to mileage and aid stations. One particularly robust runner states this is the 21st time he has done this race, is 70 years old, and then leaves me in the dust! He's a strong role model to keep going.
After some 7 hours on the towpath and with dusk approaching at 4:30 PM, I finally reach the cutoff point and aid station at mile 41.8 (i.e. Dam # 4). Volunteers issue us reflective vests. We now begin the final 8.4 miles on a rolling, paved 2-lane country road. I now have a buffer of 30 minutes at this cutoff point and about 2.5 hours to reach the Finish. The first hill about a 100 feet later after exiting the towpath is a mind-blower and incredibly steep. Mentally, I ignore having just run a marathon section and tell myself to focus on this next stretch as a new race. Most of us walk the uphill sections and shuffle on the down slopes. There are no spectators and most of us are spread out, each one engaged in a deep mental struggle to gut out the remaining distance. Some runners find their spare energy and surge ahead, but I'm working on fumes and popping M&M candies in hopes of some energy. There are no leg or other muscle cramps --- just an increasing feeling of overall exhaustion. The aid station at mile 44 has hot chocolate --- what an incredibly invigorating drink!!
Darkness has arrived and we're running on an unlighted road with few houses and frequent vehicle traffic. Luckily most vehicles stop or slow down for us. It's becoming more difficult to judge the inclines and downgrades and their lengths. Finally, at about 5:35 PM., I reach the final cutoff point at mile 46 in the town of Downsville. It's great to hear Katharine and Michael cheering me on to finish as Katharine hands me my flashlight. A quick grab of Gatorade, an orange slice, and some M&M's and then it's off on the final 4.2 miles! Although volunteers keep saying we have plenty of time, I'm having dark thoughts of just missing the final cutoff by seconds in this struggle to keep going along the dark road. The final aid station is at mile 48.5 and is in darkness. However, the cheerful volunteer points out the M&M's. With a handful in my mouth, I slow shuffle down what is now a highway leading into Williamsport and struggle with increasing disorientation.
The Finish Line is located just outside the Springfield Middle School parking lot and across from a cemetery. At about a half-mile from the Finish, Katharine is patiently waiting and then walks with me as I keep shuffling. At the final intersection, a volunteer, realizing my failing sense of direction, yells to go directly toward him and then indicates where to turn and follow the final coned-off shoulder section. The Finish Line is some 100 yards away. Katharine is yelling to keep going! At this point, I can't believe success is so close and just hope the body doesn't disintegrate. With a final adrenalized shuffle, I begin the final 100 feet, spectators are energetically yelling congratulations, and I cross the Finish at 13:40:49, becoming finisher # 937 out of 951. With a pace of 16:22/mile, I'm # 49 out of 51 finishers in my age group. Remarkably, there are also four finishers in their 70's with the slowest one being 77 years old and having crossed the Finish at 12:49:56. Great role models for us spring chickens! The overall winner arrived much earlier at 5:51:28 with the top female arriving at 6:29:42!
Peg soon appears to offer her congratulations. Looking back on this almost 14 hours of effort, I can't adequately explain how I made it from 26.2 to 50.2 miles. I do know that as a member of the Reston Runners, I felt a tremendous sense of camaraderie and magnificent extended support throughout the day from the other runners and the many volunteers, particularly Katharine and Michael. This overall support was definitely a crucial factor in completing this demanding race within the time limit.
Hope you all have equivalently strong extended support in reaching your goals!