1/2 Marathon Results - All

Place Name Gender Time
1 Elliot Nuss M 1:58:50
2 Joseph Sontgerath M 2:11:59
3 Heather Zealand F 2:19:34
4 Selena Smart F 2:22:38
5 Mike Donahue M 2:24:08
6 William Weber M 2:24:18
7 Walker Wright M 2:24:46
8 Jazmin Siaca F 2:26:47
9 Barry Prandi M 2:28:54
10 Chris Montgomery M 2:31:54

Congratulations runners!

Audio Post #1

The 2009 Terrapin Mtn. 50K & 1/2 Marathon is Underway

The 2009 Terrapin Mtn. 50K & 1/2 Marathon is well underway and the runners are progressing their way through the course wonderfully. Please stay tuned to the website for 50K & 1/2 Marathon updates on your favorite runners and where they are at in the race. It is about 51 degrees and overcast and the rain has stopped.

Terrapin Mtn Live Webcast

Just a reminder that you can find the live webcast for this Saturday's Terrapin Mtn. 50k at the following link:

http://www.eco-xsports.com/livestats.php?race=3&year=2009

and the half-marathon webcast at:

http://www.eco-xsports.com/livestats.php?race=4&year=2009

Rain, rain and more rain here at Terrapin!

Cheers,

Clark Zealand

2009 Terrapin Mountain 50k & Half-marathon Seedings

Here they are...

Terrapin Mtn 50k

Bib #	First	Last	Gender	Age	State
1	Mike	Mason	Male	38	NC
2	Jordan	Whitlock	Male	21	VA
3	Jason	Bryant	Male	36	NC
4	Christopher	Clarke	Male	24	VA
5	Bobby	Gill	Male	25	MD
6	Chris	Miller	Male	35	VA
7	Timothy	Driscoll	Male	39	VA
8	Mario	Raymond	Male	36	MD
9	Greg	Zaruba	Male	42	MD
10	Byron	Backer	Male	44	SC
11	Michael	Stratton	Male	25	VA
12	Jared	Hesse	Male	33	VA
13	Bryan	Banning	Male	25	VA
14	Kent	Gallup	Male	38	NC
15	Jack	Kurisky	Male	41	VA
16	Anthony	Lee	Male	36	FL
17	Kevin	Townsend	Male	36	VA
18	Mike	Pflieger	Male	35	VA
19	Torry	Brennan	Male	39	VA
20	Wes	Mountain	Male	26	VA
21	Rick	Gray	Male	48	TN
22	Christopher	Calfee	Male	41	VA
23	Bill	Vickery	Male	38	VA
24	Marc	Griffin	Male	33	VA
25	John	Bocek	Male	28	DC
26	Adam	Eidson	Male	35	VA
27	Jeromy	Gallant	Male	25	VA
28	Jarett	Tighe	Male	41	VA
29	Mike	Dunlop	Male	39	VA
30	Blake	Edmondson	Male	25	VA
31	Tony	Escobar	Male	45	VA
32	Kelly	Golden	Male	42	VA
33	John	Green	Male	32	VA
34	Micah	Jackson	Male	29	VA
35	Shawn	Krause	Male	29	MD
36	Kimani	Long	Male	35	NC
37	Jim	Morrison	Male	50	Ontario
38	Jim	Orr	Male	53	Ontario
39	Paul	Hennick	Male	58	Ontario
40	Horacio	Ruiz	Male	43	NY
41	David	Snipes	Male	41	VA
42	Pedro	Soto	Male	31	PA
43	Jared	Yeoman	Male	27	VA
44	Anthony	Sweitzer	Male	36	VA
45	Mark	Mckennett	Male	30	MD
46	Richard	Michael	Male	36	VA
47	David	Main	Male	45	VA
48	Will	Jorgensen	Male	49	TN
49	Jim	Harrison	Male	51	VA
50	Grattan	Garbee	Male	46	VA
51	Wilbert	Hooper	Male	50	VA
52	Monte	Evans	Male	57	VA
53	Ed	Duval	Male	51	VA
54	Ling	Dao	Male	31	VA
55	Scott	Carson	Male	34	VA
56	Steven	Brown	Male	41	VA
57	Vince	Bowman	Male	44	VA
58	J.R.	Ankney	Male	50	VA
59	Patrick	Allen	Male	30	VA
60	Ted	Bielawa	Male	38	VA
61	Darvey	Bressi	Male	34	PA
62	Billy	Cabell	Male	31	VA
63	Nick	Derenzis	Male	30	VA
64	Ted	Diss	Male	45	VA
65	Farouk	Elkassed	Male	59	VA
66	Tommy	Field	Male	40	VA
67	Russ	Gray	Male	42	WV
68	Matthew	Catoire	Male	23	VA
69	John	Cooper	Male	54	VA
70	Joseph	Endicott	Male	21	NJ
71	Bert	Horsley	Male	30	VA
72	George	Lee	Male	37	VA
73	Aaron	Mulder	Male	34	PA
74	Mark	Persinger	Male	35	WV
75	Michael	Ryan	Male	31	NY
76	Darryl	Smith	Male	37	VA
77	Philip	Thompson	Male	22	MD
78	Kevin	Vioral	Male	38	VA
79	Barry	Wright	Male	52	NC
80	Matthew	Ripley	Male	44	VA
81	Casey	Pence	Male	27	VA
82	Dennis	Norris	Male	45	NC
83	James	Miner	Male	60	NY
84	Chad	Kibler	Male	37	VA
85	John	Hampton	Male	32	MD
86	Tim	Fager	Male	41	PA
87	Steven	Desantis	Male	48	VA
88	Dennis	Bridges	Male	53	MD
89	Nicholas	Brantley	Male	25	VA
90	Geoffrey	Baker	Male	50	MD
91	Josh	Ahier	Male	22	VA
92	Steve	Bowles	Male	62	VA
93	Robert	Dolan	Male	42	VA
94	Jon	Hayden	Male	40	NC
95	Daniel	Laslie	Male	53	VA
96	Keith	Mattox	Male	48	VA
97	Michael	Mitchell	Male	52	VA
98	Paul	Noll	Male	60	PA
99	Michael	Tietz	Male	22	VA
100	Marc	Vengrove	Male	53	PA
101	Heather	Fisher	Female	23	VA
102	Jenny	Anderson	Female	35	VA
103	Krista	Meisch	Female	24	VA
104	Donna	Elder	Female	46	VA
105	Kerry	Owens	Female	45	DC
106	Sophie	Speidel	Female	46	VA
107	Jill	Devereux	Female	42	VA
108	Linda	Newman	Female	47	VA
109	Stephanie	Place	Female	21	VA
110	Ruthann	Helfrick	Female	42	PA
111	Peggy	Ankney	Female	45	VA
112	Marianna	Inslee	Female	43	VA
113	Megan	Hendler	Female	26	NJ
114	Pamela	Long	Female	34	NC
115	Alicia	Taylor	Female	30	VA
116	Heather	Royer	Female	47	VA
117	Renee	Draney	Female	43	VA
118	Lesley	Mcphatter	Female	45	VA
119	Elizabeth	Minnick	Female	28	VA
120	Suzie	Spangler	Female	38	MD
121	melissa	schmitt	Female	33	OH
122	Tiffany	Tigh	Female	23	GA
123	Brandy	Tate	Female	24	VA
124	Mackenzie	Prandi	Female	30	VA
125	Wendy	Golden	Female	41	VA
126	Brenda	Carawan	Female	32	VA
127	Janice	Heltibridle	Female	51	VA
128	Dorothy	Hunter	Female	35	NC
129	Helen	Lavin	Female	31	MN
130	Vicki	Kendall	Female	56	VA
131	Whitney	Robinson	Female	23	VA
132	Carter	Wiecking	Female	39	VA
133	Anne	Parsons	Female	21	VA
134	Kari	Anderson	Female	47	VA
135	Twila	Brown	Female	51	VA
136	Robyn Annette	Burgess	Female	22	VA
137	Courtney	Chappell	Female	19	FL
138	Eugenie	Heebe	Female	38	LA
139	Barbara	Isom	Female	61	MD
140	Natalie	Kennedy	Female	41	VA
141	Sharon	Lapkoff	Female	56	MD
142	Maureen	O'connell	Female	44	VA
143	Jean	Richards	Female	56	NJ
144	Terri	Ripley	Female	46	VA
145	Martha	Wright	Female	48	VA
146	Jaime	Azuaje	Male	21	VA
147	Pete	Johnson	Male	22	MD
148	Jeffrey M.	Nicholson	Male	37	MD
149	Rob	Rives	Male	19	NC
150	Skyler	Mccurley	Male	40	VA
151	Christopher	Woll	Male	23	NY
152	Kenny	Wheeler	Male	48	WV
153	Benjamin	Taylor	Male	20	VA
154	Craig	Penrose	Male	44	VA
155	Brian	Brunetti	Male	40	NC
156	Robert	Hagan	Male	41	VA
157	Micah	Scott	Male	19	OH
158	Travis	Wingfield	Male	32	VA
159	Bob	Anderson	Male	62	VA
160	Aaron	Williams	Male	29	VA
161	Herman	Richards	Male	55	NJ
162	Jason	Nuss	Male	46	VA
163	Jason	Duelge	Male	40	MD
164	Steven	David	Male	48	MD
165	Gene	Bachman	Male	55	VA
166	Scott	Taylor	Male	20	MI
167	Matt	Vandonsel	Male	22	VA

Terrapin Mtn Half-marathon

Bib #	First	Last	Gender	Age	State
201	Chris	Montgomery	Male	27	VA
202	Britt	Beasley	Male	32	VA
203	Bryan	Miller	Male	26	GA
204	Micah	Phillips	Male	23	SC
205	Walker	Wright	Male	29	VA
206	Jeffrey	West	Male	28	NC
207	William	Weber	Male	28	VA
208	Ken	Sturm	Male	34	SC
209	Joseph	Sontgerath	Male	26	DC
210	Matt	Thomas	Male	33	SC
211	Elliot	Nuss	Male	17	VA
212	Bradley	Sweeney	Male	17	VA
213	Barry	Prandi	Male	35	VA
214	Declan	Pratt	Male	39	VA
215	Todd	Hacker	Male	29	VA
216	Derek	Bennion	Male	24	VA
217	Josh	Oppenheimer	Male	34	VA
218	Mike	Donahue	Male	36	VA
219	Craig	Ashley	Male	35	NC
220	JJ	Jessee	Male	53	VA
221	Tony	Martin	Male	39	VA
222	Everett	Mounts	Male	64	VA
223	James	Rea	Male	45	NY
224	Bob	Sites	Male	55	NC
225	Donnie	Wilkerson	Male	57	VA
226	Alan	Borst	Male	45	MD
227	Jim	Glidewell	Male	64	VA
228	Charlie	Hesse	Male	55	VA
229	Wayne	Ingram	Male	50	SC
230	Al	Mcdorman	Male	56	VA
231	John	Snyder	Male	60	MD
232	David	Robertson	Male	56	VA
233	Keith	King	Male	38	SC
234	Drew	Fratrick	Male	45	VA
235	Robert	Burgess	Male	57	VA
301	Anne	Lundblad	Female	42	NC
302	Katrina	Williams	Female	20	GA
303	Robin	Grossman	Female	34	VA
304	Petra	Gerber	Female	20	VA
305	Sarah	Dunlop	Female	36	VA
306	Jeanne	Craig	Female	39	VA
307	Rachel	Burgess	Female	25	VA
308	Stephanie	Beem	Female	28	VA
309	Monica	Herman	Female	26	MD
310	Gabby	Milam	Female	39	VA
311	Jazmin	Siaca	Female	21	NY
312	Amy	Clark	Female	35	VA
313	Sara	Cunningham	Female	31	MD
314	Julie	Stone	Female	32	VA
315	Ann	Townsend	Female	34	VA
316	Missy	Perry	Female	37	VA
317	Glory	Jadin	Female	21	VA
318	Kellie	Hudson	Female	35	VA
319	Liz	Heavner	Female	47	VA
320	April	Haury	Female	25	DC
321	Heather	Zealand	Female	29	VA
322	Lauren	Zealand	Female	27	VA
323	Andrea	Zealand	Female	34	VA
324	Dawn	Dunlop	Female	42	VA
325	Cindi	Bowen	Female	48	VA
326	Andrea	Chapman	Female	42	VA
327	Chelsey	Lester	Female	21	VA
328	Sarah	Hannes	Female	20	VA
329	Christy	Howard	Female	35	VA
330	Krystal	Matheson	Female	26	MD
331	Whitney	Garrett	Female	43	VA
332	Mary	Riser	Female	53	VA
333	Lorraine	Moore	Female	45	VA
334	Krista	Moore	Female	40	VA
335	Mindy	Biddle	Female	49	VA
336	Bobbie	Glidewell	Female	60	VA
337	Tammy	Gray	Female	54	TN
338	Anne	Green	Female	44	VA
339	Carter	Jennings	Female	43	VA
340	Lisa	Light	Female	47	VA
341	Susan	Robinson	Female	45	VA
342	Selena	Smart	Female	41	DC
343	Toinette	Staley	Female	53	VA

Terrapin Mountain 50k Map

Here's a look at the new Terrapin Mountain 50k course with aid station locations. In the world of ultrarunning, new race course designs are intriguing and exciting for runners but can be "nerve-wracking" for race directors.  From a management perspective over the past year, I've experienced many new race courses and this year's Terrapin 50k course is another however, I feel it is much-improved over last year's marathon course.

This map will give you a good idea of the 50k course aid stations.  The Goff Mtn. Rd. station is the ONLY location open for runners' crews.  The half-marathon course also uses Camping Gap and Terrapin Lane aid stations.

Finish line photo from Holiday Lake 50k

Here's a great photo of me just after I crossed the finish line at this year's Holiday Lake 50k.  Saying a prayer of thanks to God is important not just in times of "good" performances but also for simply being able to run.  This day I was thankful for both :)

Photo by Seth Trittipoe

Biggest Conservation Proposal in Years comes to and end...for now.

This is a real shame - only two more votes were needed for this important piece to pass. If we don't protect the places in which we run, they won't be around to enjoy! CZ

-------------------------------------------------------

Published on Campaign for America's Wilderness (http://www.leaveitwild.org)

Omnibus Public Land Package Falls Shy of Passage

Statement of Mike Matz

We applaud the House leadership and our Republican champions for trying to move the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 as expeditiously as possible, and thank them for their diligence in rallying members to approve this bipartisan measure which has the support of Americans from all walks of life, as evidenced by the 282 to 144 vote in favor of the measure. However, the Omnibus public lands package fell two votes short of the requisite two-thirds threshold, so although a majority of members of Congress do support this important piece of legislation, it appears as though it will need to move through Congress under a different process.

We will work closely with key leaders in the House of Representatives to move ahead, and greatly appreciate their herculean efforts to this point to act on the will of the people to protect their special places.

Terrapin Training

Many folks are getting ready for Terrapin, some by actually training on the course - both the 1/2 marathon & the new 50k course. In addition, some of those who are training on the 50k course commented on how tough some new sections are, in particular, the White Oak Ridge loop which has received the acronym WhOR - and I just can't figure out WHY?????

It's always really cool to read race reports from newbies to the sport and here's a link to a training report from 3 newbies that are running the 1/2 marathon:

http://www.prototypeadvertising.com/blog/

Now I want to read their race report!

Vintage MMTR Poster - circa 1983!

As many of you have seen on the eco-x site, we are creating a database of every single entrant that, when finished, will be interactive where you will be able to upload your own photos, comments, etc.  In fact, I cannot take credit for any of this work - my brothers Matt & Josh are the brains behind this project.  It's currently a work in process but it's going to be pretty cool when it all comes together.

Anyway, this morning I was sourcing some old split-sheets from David from MMTR years past to add to our data project.  David came across the following poster and I thought you all would really enjoy seeing this from the very first year of the Mountain Masochist Trail Run 50 Miler in 1983.

I was only 10 years old in '83 but I definitely remember owning a pair of Roos (with a little pocket on the side) - a sweet pair of shoes for the 80's!

Grindstone featured in German Running magazine!

In the current issue of the German magazine "Running", a feature story highlights the Grindstone 100. In addition to runners from over 20 different states, Mexico & Spain, Klaus Muttke traveled from Germany to run, compete, and finish the first Grindstone 100.  Klaus returned to Germany and wrote the article, relaying his experience to thousands of German runners!

Here are some shots of the magazine & Klaus' story.

Description of Terrapin Mtn. 50k & ½ Marathon Courses and Aid Station Information

Terrapin Mountain 50k Course

Starting at the Sedalia Center, proceed north on SR638, turn left on SR640 and right on SR764. Continue to follow road, turning into trail, up mountain to Camping Gap (Mile 4.1).

At Camping Gap proceed straight and follow Hunting Creek road to intersection with Goff Mtn road (Mile 9.4).

Turn left and follow Goff Mtn road for 2 miles to intersection with FS trail 3004. Proceed past gate and follow Glenwood Horse Trail (FS trail 3004) to Hunting Creek Road and retrace course back to Camping Gap (Mile 16.4).

Turn right following road to gate at Upper Reed Creek. Proceed past gate and follow FS road 3011 for 1.84 miles. Turn right on FS road and complete loop back to Upper Reed Creek and Camping Gap (Mile 22.1).

Once at Camping Gap, proceed straight on Terrapin Mtn trail to summit of Terrapin Mtn, continuing along ridge and down to aid station at Terrapin Mtn Road gate (Mile 25.6).

Retrace steps 1/8 mile back up to Terrapin Mtn trail, turn left and follow back to Lower Reed Creek.

Turn left and retrace course back to finish at Sedalia Center (Mile 31.1).

Terrapin Mountain ½ Marathon Course

Starting at the Sedalia Center, proceed north on SR638, turn left on SR640 and right on SR764. Continue to follow road, turning into trail, up mountain to Camping Gap. (Mile 4.1).

At Camping Gap turn right on Terrapin Mtn trail to summit of Terrapin Mtn, continuing along ridge and down to aid station at Terrapin Mtn Road (Mile 7.6).

Retrace steps 1/8 mile back up to Terrapin Mtn trail, turn left and follow back to Lower Reed Creek.

Turn left and retrace course back to finish at Sedalia Center (Mile 13.1).

50k & Half-marathon Courses - Aid Station Information

	Aid Station	Segment Distance	Mileage
1	Camping Gap	4.1	4.1
2	Hunting Creek & Horse Trail	3.1	7.2
3	Goff Mtn Rd.	2.2	9.4
4	Hunting Creek & Horse Trail	3.9	13.3
5	Camping Gap	3.1	16.4
6	Camping Gap	5.7	22.1
7	Terrapin Mtn Rd.	3.5	25.6
	Finish	5.5	31.1
	Aid Station	Segment Distance	Mileage
1	Camping Gap	4.1	4.1
2	Terrapin Mtn Rd.	3.5	7.6
	Finish	5.5	13.1

Terrapin & Promise Land Training Runs

There are several folks interested in organized training runs for Terrapin however, it is really difficult for me to commit more time from my family in addition to the race itself - I'm sorry!

As a result, David Horton has volunteered his time to lead two training runs for Terrapin...his note follows:

-------------------------------------------------------

Training Runs on the Terrapin Mountain course:

Click here for directions to the Sedalia Center (bottom of page).

1.  March 1, 2009:  Start at the Sedalia Center off highway 122 at 1:30 PM.   Run the Terrapin Mountain half-marathon course.   The run includes the summit of Terrapin Mountain and Fat Man’s Misery.   No aid, no course markings, just a training run and some fellowship.

2. March 22, 2009:   Start at Camping Gap at 1:30 PM: 5 miles off Highway 122 on Hunting Creek Road.   Run the right hand loop from Camping Gap of the TM 50K course ( about 12 miles ) and if you so desire, then run the left hand loop of the TM 50K course, if you so desire ( a little less than 6 miles ).    No aid, no course markings.

3. If you do all of these two runs, you will have covered the entire TM 50K course.

Training Run on the Promise Land course:

April 11: Starting at AS 1 and running the course from there throughout and back to AS 1 = 26 miles with an option to start and finish there but skipping the loop from Cornelius Creek back to Cornelius Creek = 19 miles.

------------------------------------------------------

HAVE A GREAT TIME ON THE TRAILS!!!

Grindstone Film - The Distance

As many of you may remember, Renee Dittrich was shooting a film on location at the inaugural Grindstone 100 last fall.  Just a couple weeks ago, that film, titled THE DISTANCE, debuted at a NYU film festival.  Below are the links to its current iteration on Youtube - a longer version is in the works, possibly for other film festivals - ENJOY! 

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KETHolQboEY

Ch 1  A Race is About to Begin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgevZyJM-Mg

Ch 2  Meet some of the Ultra Runners I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFnpW3XuEGc

Ch 3  Meet some of the Ultra Runners II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MxchOSBZj8

Ch 4  Race Prep, Gary Pulls His Achilles, And They're Off! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMTaJFkA8HQ

Ch 5  Mile 20 First Runner Down, Winner Predictions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgDZ61eytKI

Ch 6  Mile 35-50  Runners are Missing, Hallucinations, Staying Awake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYDHDfC9j_o

Ch 7  Mile 50-60 Sunrise Cruisin' in Nature

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR-87K1RP4s

Ch 8 Mile 70-80 Exhaustion Sets In, Dropped Runners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOcRMdyuIWE

Ch 9 Mile 95 Anyone's Race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmUZbQh47sg

Ch 10 Mile 100 Finish Line, Breakfast and Awards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcrWza0jbtA

Kent Gallup's Hellgate 100k & Beast Series report

After running in Hellgate 2007 the runner inside me changed from distance to something better.  I began running for challenge, for terrain, and for the community I feel in ultra marathons.

When the body suffers the spirit flowers.

The year of 2008 would bring new chances for suffering and flowering.  The year of 2008 brought the Beast Series.  The Beast is six races that would expose a runner to a new level of pain, a new level of growth and to their worst enemy themselves.

There has to be pain for growth.

The Beast Series brought me back to Hellgate.  I feel that Hellgate could also be known as a soul-forge, because your spirit is hammered into a much more pure form.  Hellgate would also be a forge because you slowly and laboriously work to find the finish line.

Hellgate comes at you from the very beginning.  The time you start (although novel) is a play on your senses.  The weather was cold with temperatures in the 20's.  The creek levels were higher then last year, and in some places at the first creek crossing it was nearly knee high. 

The first 24 miles brought one thing to my mind and it was the same thought that I had last year - I want to quit.  Quitting is not an option.  The feeling of wanting to quit is what the Beast Series is all about.  You have to get yourself to that level and press threw it to know what the Beast Series, Hellgate, Grindstone, Masochist, Promise, Terrapin and Holiday are really teaching.

The footing at Hellgate to say the least is dangerous.  The wind was strong enough to stand a runner upright and the howling of the wind really did sound like a beast.  A beast that was hungry for failure.  The moon was full and when you were not on the trails you could run with no headlamp, but the moon seemed to gaze at me like an animal playing with its kill.

Hellgate had me running for miles alone.  It had me freezing.  It had my backpack hydrator frozen and having to resort to slurping fluids from the pack's opening.  It had me tired and afraid of failure, but not all of me had died by sunrise.  The dawn brought a new hope of warmth and sight.  I had reached AS6 by sunrise and was beginning to thaw both me and my hydrator.

I feel that the Glenwood Horse Trail was created by the Devil himself.  The trail has horrible footing and is something that causes nightmare for weeks, but with AS7 comes the easier third of the race.  The last third of the race.

From AS7 to the finish line I really only thought of the Beast trophy.  The trails are easier then the rest of the course and the warmth of the sun is everywhere.  This section to me was like that breath you take when you first sit down after the end of a long race.  The breath you take when you realize that the fight is nearly over.  I mean you only have to suffer a little longer.  The worst is really behind you.  In the last section I enjoyed community with other runners and nature.  I also enjoyed looking at the ice that was growing out of my shoes (one good thing, I am glad that I do not change shoes because my laces where frozen and I could not get my shoes off).  I know I said it was warmer but not that warm.

The last mile was only eight minutes and at the finish line was Dr. David Horton.  The man who has challenged all of us to do our best, or should I say our Beast.  I have heard Dr. Horton asking all year if I was tough enough.  I can say now that yes I am tough enough.

Now I rest and admire my Beast trophy, and I prepare my soul to take on the Beast again in 2009. 

"Audeamus                

let us dare

Res ipsa loquitur

the thing speaks for itself

Non ominus moriar

not all of me will die"

                       En Esch

Until we share the same trail again-thanks

Sasquatch

aka kent gallup 

Bill Vickery's Hellgate 100k & Beast Series report

I just finished reading Richard Michael’s race report. I met Richard over a year ago on Sharp Top. He was hiking down with a couple of his children and I was hiking up with a bunch of mine. At that point he was thinking about running Holiday Lake. I remember walking away thinking, incredible… Richard was still in the middle of his weight loss and if I remember right he had already lost 70 pounds. I had recently written an article for the local paper about running and hiking and asked him if I could do a feature article on him. “No.” He replied. “I am not much into being in the limelight.” Too bad… It would have been a great article – he has an awesome story. My offer still stands, Richard.

About Hellgate… I talked with Neal last night and he was comparing notes with me. I think he just wanted to hear my depth of suffering. Anyways, I finished the Beast series. These happen to be my only races to compare since I am a newbie to the sport. However, I think the last two races were my favorite courses. There was something mysterious and awe inspiring about Hellgate. I had no idea what to expect and it seemed like everyone had a different story. Now, I realize part of the mystery of the race is just that – many people could run the race and tell very different stories. The weather, hills, wet leaves, moonlight, creeks, shadows, bear stumps, and wind all combine to make this a true event.

About ultrarunning… Now that I have finished my first year of ultrarunning, please indulge me a minute of reflection. Most of all I think back on the relationships I have developed with people. Those ultrarunners more experienced than me that saved my hide more than once. When you begin ultrarunning it is hard to know what you are doing. I was new to running. I went to a training run before Holiday Lake and Dr.Horton asked me if I had any technical gear. I said, sincerely, “What’s that?” He then sent me some gear in the mail. How cool is that?! I remember lying in the parking lot at Grindstone and yielding my spirit to God as I believed I was dying. I remember being so sick after Terrapin that I couldn’t get out of the van. Adam brought me something to drink and it was the most refreshing thing that I have ever drunk. I remember chasing Neal through the woods, sincerely believing I had a chance to beat him – I even passed him as he stopped to water the bushes. Little did I know at the time there was still 10 miles to go and I would never see Neal again as he passed by me at the waterfall while I sat clinging to a tree. I have since given up hope of beating him. I remember my second ultra at Terrapin and I started the race with a can of V8. I foolishly believed I wouldn’t need a water bottle – heck! There were only a few miles between aid stations! Jared just smiled at me as I ran happily by him at the beginning of the race, still waiting to drink my V8. This was the same Jared who had real compassion on me as he passed by me later and stopped to encourage me. I remember going on the training run at Grindstone and at the time I had an inflamed knee. I ran the last half of the 27 mile run with one water bottle. I soon realized how dumb this was as I vainly searched for water. I drank out of a muddy pool. Climbed down a steep bank to fill the bottle. Drank from a curled up leaf. I even offered my empty bottle up to heaven and begged God to fill it. Surely, He could – what about the five loaves and two fishes? I was very dry. Then a mountain biker came by – with jugs of water! My five loaves?! And all the people who were such an encouragement during the races, Chris, Marianna, Rebekah – answering all my pre-race phone calls, Snipes – for his gentle challenge, my wife for waking me up at 5 when I forgot to set the alarm, my kids for sincerely asking me if I won, for David and Clark and their organizing ability, being a part of Donna’s harem – at least for a short while, and many other people too many to mention. Thanks.

Now I sit at Panera, drinking coffee in the warmth. People around me talking and laughing. Do they have any clue that just two days ago a hundred people ran at midnight through the woods? Do they have any clue while I am hobbling to the next coffee? This is why when you see a fellow ultra runner out in the real world there is a bond. Mutual suffering. Misery loves company and I am grateful ultrarunning has such great company to be miserable with.