51 miles on foot

On Saturday I successfully completed my first 50 mile ultramarathon. The race started and ended in Damascus, VA. The majority of the course was on the Iron Mountain Trail. The night before the race I stayed with some friends in Abingdon. The above photo was taken from Denise and Bob's front yard. The mountains in the background are the Iron Mountains. The race included long stretches of that ridge line.

The big mountain left of center is Mount Rogers, the tallest peak in VA. This photo was taken from the same spot. I hope to have a view like this someday.

The best thing about endurance sports is the athletes. I met some really cool people on the trail. The three in the center helped me get through some low points in my day. These people redefine hardcore. The woman on the left is 46 years old and beat me to the finish line. In ultramarathons everyone gets the same applause at the end. Spectators and competitors cheer equally loud for the winner and those that barely make the time limit.

This is my new friend Dean crossing the finish. Last year he and his wife competed in twelve ultramarathons and six marathons.

These are my worn out dogs after 51 miles of grueling trail. I was hurting the whole time, but I did not cramp up or bonk all day. Other than some severe indigestion my body dealt with the abuse well. It took me ten hours and nineteen minutes to complete the course. I placed 23rd out of 58 racers. Only 41 people finsished within the 12 hour limit. The winning time was sub-eight. I had lots of time to think on the trail, and I kept asking myself "Why am I doing this?". The answer is simple: to see what I am made of. Long distance running strips away all the bullshit. It forces the athlete to ignore the pain and put one foot in front of the other for endless hours.

As the sun set over Damascus I had a good conversation with a fellow runner. He asked me how I did and I told him, then added "I did not really care about my time, I just wanted to finish." He replied "That's what ultrarunning is all about".

Special thanks to Denise, Bob, Nick, and Elana for the grub and accommodations.

first dnf

Last Saturday I rode the Tour de Tuck, a 105 mile road bike ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway that gains 11000 feet of elevation. This ride is to be the first in a double header. Next Saturday, I am competing in the Iron Mtn Trail Race, a fifty mile run. On the way to my parents house in Cullowhee Friday, Alenda (my wife) and I stopped at Liquid Logic HQ and picked up a Jefe Grande. I knew the boat would be good for someone my size, but it totally blew me away. It is responsive, stable and boofs like a madman. I am really excited about taking it on some big water runs when it rains.

My 200 lb. frame bogs most boats down and I end up low in the water. This picture, taken at the bottom of Hammer Factor, shows my water line well above the surface. Sitting in the new seat, you will feel like you're paddling on a cloud. This is not a boat for a little guy (or gal), but for big boaters, this is the ride.

Alenda and I stayed at my folk's house that night and got up early in the a.m. for what would prove to be an epic day. I met up with my buddies Jed Hinckley and David Jacobsen before the race. The whole group of 200 or so bikers stuck together through Cherokee. Once on the Parkway, the climbing began in earnest. Last year I lost the group on the hills. This year Jed and I stayed in the front of the pack and ended up in a strong group of 15 people. We rode harder than I have ever ridden in a century. It was nice to see everyone working together. At Balsam Gap our group thinned out. Jed and I rode the next 20 mile climb at a moderate pace. We were feeling great at the highest point on the Parkway when someone told us we were only 10 minutes behind the rider in first place. Fired up, we got off the Parkway and headed down 215. On the way down I saw a sign for Transylvania County. I did not remember that from last year, but blew it off. It was not untill we got close to Rosman that I knew we missed a turn. First I was super pissed because we were smoking the course, but I quickly realized I just had to focus on the 10 to 15 miles of steep road we had just descended. Eventually we made it back on the course and headed for Cullowhee (we were still passing people). Alenda had gotten wind of our misfortune and picked my truck up. I told her we would meet her at my folks place instead of the start/finish area. Adding on unexpected miles is psychologically devastating. For the next few hours I thought about two things: cold beer and burning legs. We rode about 130 miles in 7.5 hours. I technically DNF'd it, but rode farther than the course. Jed rallied for the finish (and his car) after stopping at Mom and Dad's for a few egg burritos and beers. I hope he did not puke on that last seven miles.

Me and Jed partying after a brutal 130 with 15000 + feet of climbing. Thanks to Alenda for the shuttles and pictures, and Mom and Dad for the hospitality.

cheoah update

On Saturday after a couple of fun Cheoah laps, the first unofficial race was held. Turnout was strong. A bunch of really fast paddlers showed up with long boats and good attitudes. This sequence was shot early in the race.

Shane flipped coming out of the second ledge on the middle line. Joe Barkley and Chris Hipgrave were right behind him, neck and neck.

Here Joe maintains his lead on Chris and passes Shane as he rolls his 16 footer.

Joe is still fighting with the long boys at the washout. Shane is now becoming hypoxic.

Shane is upright and on Chris' stern, Joe now in front (did I mention he is in a Jefe?).

The biggest rapids are below the bridge. I think we were all feeling pretty lactic by the time we got there.

Joe still charging strong. Joe has a background in wild water and it showed at the Cheoah. He was the first short boat across the line, and he beat a bunch of long boats. Results as I remember them:

1. Chris Gragtmans (Dagger Green boat)

2. Chris Hipgrave (Perception Wavehopper)

3. Chan Jones (Prijon Tornado)

4. myself (Prijon T Canyon)

5. Shane Benedict (Liquid Logic Pisgah)
6. Howard Tidwell (Perception Dancer)

7. Maria Noakes (LL Pisgah)
8. Joe Barkley (LL Jefe)

This is race should become a regular event. The timing was good as we roll into my favorite time of year-race season. Thanks to Ronnie Dilbeck for shooting the pics.