Lookout Mountain 50 Miler 2012

Let me start by saying this report is long and at times can seem self-glorifying. Please know if you choose to read that I am proud of my accomplishments but I know that I could not do them with out the blessing from God and those that have helped me along the way. 

For most individuals, the idea of running 50 miles is considered and impossibility. However after getting more involved with the Ultra community, I know several who have done it or plan on doing it soon. For me, the idea of 50 miles also seemed outlandish, but for the past couple years I had worked hard and wanted to test my limits with such a race. The Lookout Mtn 50 miler was going to be that race. Nathan Judd and I had planned on running it for nearly half the year and tried to train accordingly. Time for training was now done…it was time to race. Ready to RunItFast!

The race starts at Covenant College in GA. It is a Presbyterian School that was built around a 1920’s hotel in the 60’s. The hotel was built to be a “castle in the clouds.” From the steep drive up to the start, I knew that is just where we were. Covenant College on top Lookout Mtn

The weather was nearly perfect. I wore Brooks Cascadia 5’s with Injinji socks, DG gaiters, my favorite reebok racing shorts, a RunitFast shirt with a bright orange Brooks pullover, North face gloves and OR hat. As we made our final preparations before the start my nerves were in full force as I was about to embark on a new journey. I had trained hard though, and I was ready. 

We run along campus for about the first mile before diving down to a trail that will connect to the Ochs Gateway and National Park’s Bluff Trail. It is aptly named Bluff Trail being along the Bluff of Lookout Mtn. We are running north along the mountain with Chattanooga and the Tennessee River to our left. The pace is slow because of the trains of runners that we find ourselves in and the technicality of the trail. Nathan and I start out together chatting about what we got ourselves into. The trail is runnable but it is also full of rocks and roots that are covered by leaves. I had twisted my ankle fairly bad a couple weeks before and this was the first time I had been back on a trail, the last thing I wanted to do was sprain my ankle in the early miles. Sure enough about 2 miles in I slightly twisted it…Nathan made a comment about how bad the twist looked. It hurt but stopped after a few more miles. We ran comfortably passing some as the trail and pace allowed. After a few miles we passed by Point Park which was on our right via a tall stair case. From Point Park is where you can supposedly see seven different states, I would run through two today.

My first minor mishap other than the twist occurred on what is called the Beautiful Mountain Trail. It is a switch-backing trail that descends down the mountain to the Hardy Trail. Along this trail we have to duck under the old incline railway. I was not paying attention or whatever and nailed my arm on a large bolt that was sticking out of the trusses.  It took me off guard and hurt, I would feel it several times later when running, but nothing to worry about.

Once we got off the Beautiful Mtn Trail we joined the Hardy Trail. This was about to begin the fastest section of running for me. Hardy is a wide gravel service road that uses the old rail bed of the Chattanooga railway. I opened up and started running freely. Somewhere along this trail I pulled away from Nathan, I would see him again at the finish line.

Cravens House 8mile markI got to the first aid station 8miles in at Craven House. (A house once owned by Robert Cravens who made his fortune through the sale of iron. His house was used during the Civil War by both camps and was later burned by the Union during a drunken brawl. Cravens later rebuilt it and the house along with the land was donated by his family members the Ochs to the National Park.) I dropped my jacket and gloves with Jonathan Harrison who was crewing for Nathan and helping me and some other RIF’ers out. The next several miles were going to be on wide runnable jeep path and I was going to try to open it up some more. I caught up with a group of 4 other runners that were running 2 wide and 2 deep. I decided to join behind them. The path was easy and very enjoyable while we put down 9 min miles or faster. I didn’t talk to any of them just listened in on their conversation some. The guy that was right in front of me had a visor on with an ipod shuffle clip and head phones wrapped around the back part of it. I guess just in case he wanted to listen to something later. We eventually got back to some more single track trails where we I ended up passing all four guys. I would stay ahead of them for the rest of the day, except for the visor guy, more about him later.

In no time at all, it seemed like I was to the next checkpoint (15 miles) at the Reflection Riding Center. This was at the bottom of the Mtn where Lookout Creek runs. I had spent the last mile or two chatting with a guy by the name of Blaine from Johnson City. We talked about the race and what our goal was, both of us wanted to sub 11hours…unfortunately he would finish in 11:02. I was feeling great and had thoughts of a great day ahead of me. Blaine and I *photo courtesy of Mark McKnight*

After this aid station, the climb began. The first 16 or so miles was a somewhat gradual down hill with rolling climbs here and there, but the next 6 miles were going to be up and down, mostly going up. We joined the John Smart Trail…I don’t know who John is, but I know he wasn’t very smart! There has to be a better way to get up the mountain than by that steep climb of 4 miles.  

One of the advantages of the climb is that I get to use my long legs and power hiking ability. I love to hike and I was hiking hard when it was too hard to run. I also pass more people on the inclines too. One of the individuals that I would Yo-Yo with for the next several miles was a lady by the name of Kimber. I was very impressed with how strong of a runner and hiker she was. We didn’t talk any at this occasion but we would see each other again later in the race.

Climbing back up the mountain was tough, but I handled it well. I had thought that it would be the hardest part of the race and I was kicking its tail. This gave me hope that the other 27.5 miles were going to be easier….well that was stupid to think that, because once I got back up to Covenant aid station at 22.5 miles in 4 hours, the next 1hr and half were going to be my personal worse.

At the Covenant aid station I thought I might get to see some friends: Jonathan, Leah, Melissa, and Amber. Instead, none of them had made it up there in time to see me. So I took my time fueling, taking in some salt tablets and boiled potatoes before going over to my drop bag to change shirts. I also refilled my pockets with some waffles and Powerbars. I went back to the table and grabbed a handful of peanut butter filled pretzels before walking back on to the trail.

I tried to pay special attention to the course for the next 7.5 miles to Lula Falls. I knew that I would come back this way later and I would want to have an idea of what it would be like on the way back up the mountain…again. I did well running along a creek bed then to a right of way where some large power lines were. I even did well back on the single track part of the trail, but then at about 27 miles, things got bad and would soon get worse.

Let me try to break down what I think was happening. First of all, I didn’t’ realize that I had to go 7.5 miles to the next aid station, I thought it was shorter…I should have and could have known but just didn’t. So as time marched on, my mind was playing tricks on me as to how much farther it was. I was getting tired…I had run a marathon worth in 5hours of time. To put that in perspective my first road marathon was in 4:28, so I was moving fairly quick for a trail marathon. I hadn’t had any caffeine all day. I realized this when the Kimber girl passed me again. I asked her how she was doing, so that I could voice how bad I was doing. She said she was alright. I said I am feeling pretty rough. She then said that she had just taken a gel with caffeine and that made her feel better. So maybe I needed caffeine, I took a similar gel and felt better for maybe all of 30 secs. Then my feet got heavier or the roots got taller because I kept tripping, not falling, but tripping over roots and rocks. I knew this was not good. Then I started to get passed by more and more people 4 or 5 in all, but it felt like the entire field as each one came by. We finally got down to another creek type area and I thought we should be close to the aid station, it had been 1hr and 20 mins since Covenant College. The world started to get darker…I started to walk. The trail got harder and I started to doubt. I looked at my watch and it read 5:26 (from start time). I decided that if I didn’t see the next station in 4 mins, I was just going to take a nap and hope I felt better. I had been told by other ultra-runners and through reading that there will come times like this and if you wait 20 mins or so, it will get better…maybe. Three very long slow minutes passed by as I walked and then I came to a clearing and saw a tent….Aid station not a moment too soon!

The Lula Lake Aid Station (mile 30) was beautiful. First of all it was my light at the end of a very dark few miles. It had Coca-Cola that I downed 4 small cups of and it was overlooking beautiful Lula Falls. I saw several pictures of it before the race, but none do it justice. The entire Lula Lake Land Trust was the idea of a Mr. Davenport who had acquired some the land. By the time of his death in 1994 he had over 1000 acres in the area to his name. The trust began and has spread to over 4000 acres. To help preserve the area, it is only open two days out of the month…the first and last Saturday. We were allowed to run through it on this Saturday, and it was spectacular. Feeling very refreshed from the aid station and the beautiful view, I started running again. Lula Falls *photo courtesy of Nathan Judd*

Shortly after the falls there is a very steep portion of the trail to get to the top of the ridge. So steep that there are three ropes that runners have to use to pull themselves up to the top. Once on top there is a wide jeep type road that continues to climb the Mtn again. I was feeling much better and I started to run uphill while others were hiking it. Along the way I started running beside a guy by the name of Brett Miller. We stayed together for nearly 4 miles. It was enjoyable to talk with someone. We shared some life stories, talked about what else…running. It truly helped the hour or so go by quickly. During this section we ran through where two years ago a huge tornado had gone through knocking down all the trees. On this newly cut trail it was interesting to see all of the blow downs and how the sky opens up with no tree cover at all. Eventually we came down to a road that would lead us to the next aid station and the Long Branch Residential Preserve (mile 34).

This aid station at the Long Branch loop was extra special because for the first time in 6 and half hours I saw someone I knew. Amber along with the rest of Nathan’s crew was waiting there. I didn’t feel like talking much or stopping long but it was good to see them. I grabbed some stuff from the aid station and my drop bag. I also told Amber what I would want when I came back through in about 4.5 miles. Fueling up at Long Branch mile 34

The Long Branch Residential Preserve is the brain child of Odyssey Land Company which goal was to make high end houses in remarkably beautiful areas without destroying the land itself.  Trails wrap through the forest where the Preserve has several trails that intersect, I assume to different houses, although I only saw two or three houses, I think. The 4.5 miles seemed long and it was full of ups and downs, some wide trails some more technical. Close to the end of the loop is a creek crossing. Not like a creek crossing with a bridge or with rocks you can jump across. This crossing causes you to go over ankle deep in the cool creek water. If I was smart I would have splashed my face, but I was anything but smart at this point in the race.

Back at the aid station (mile 38.5) I borrowed a truck tail gate and Amber helped me get out of my wet socks and shoes. I am sure that I could have gone on with them, but I didn’t want to. I got a fresh pair of smartwool socks to replace my injinji ones that I had on. I also put on my Cascadia 6’s to finish out the day. Fueled up and then I was off. 4 miles or so to the falls then 7.5 to finish.

One the way back down the stick of the lollipop I ran by myself most of the way. No one passed me, some people came by in the other direction, and most of them would have to drop before the night was over. I passed some others making my way back up the mountain again to the ridge where now Flintstone, GA and the Chattanooga Valley could be seen on my right in the afternoon sun. Along the ridge I was enjoying running pretty fast for this stage in the race. I was back on the jeep trail and it was a gradual downhill on the way back. I was contemplating on how well I was doing and then, as if to shock me back into reality I tripped over a rock, or a root, or some small woodland creature and fell. My nearly 6’ 5” frame crashing towards the earth just to be caught by my water bottle filled hands. Dirt and gravel covered my sweaty body and even got into my short pockets where I had stowed away gummy bears. Falling hurt; getting up hurt worse. My right leg seized up and I was stuck in some type of Spiderman pose for a few excruciating seconds before I could press up on my left leg and begin walking, jogging, then running again. I ended up passing two more guys on the ridge before getting to the ropes again. This time going down was even more difficult in fear of cramping up. I took it slow and made it to the bottom, ran a little further till I got to the last aid station (mile 42.5).

I looked at my watch. I had 2hrs and 10 mins to meet my goal of sub 11hrs…and only 7.5 miles stood in my way. I thought about just playing it conservative and I did for the next mile or so. I would jog slowly and hike at any opportunity I could, but then I got a metaphorical kick in the butt from the “visor guy.” The same guy that I passed at mile 13 or so! He came barreling down the trail right past me running harder than I would have ever expected. Now I realize that ultra-runners are deceiving. Some that are in the best looking shape can be very slow out on the trails and others that look like they like hamburgers more than long runs can be very strong runners. I looked at this guy and thought, there is no way that he should be able to run like that and I not. So I decided in the 6 miles that I had left I was going to run as hard as I could. I wasn’t going to hike unless I had to, and even then I was going to hike hard.

It was difficult and it was painful, but I was determined. I was also seeking revenge against the same section of trail that had caused me so much trouble a few hours earlier. And in the process I ended up passing several other runners. It was with about 3 miles left that I caught back up to Kimber and this time also Joshua Holmes. He was very surprised to see me, and I was too, thinking he would have finished by now. I ended up passing them both and a few others as I ran as hard as I could till the finish.

I came to my final climb and shortly thereafter saw rope lights that had been put up to guide me back. It had been dark for the past 15-20 mins now and my headlamp led my feet as I came to the finish line. 50 miles in 10:22:12, blowing my goal of sub 11hours out of the water.  

The finish was overwhelming for me. I was in a lot of pain but I also was in a lot of joy. There is some lyrics to a song by Everclear that came to mind in the first moments after crossing the line. The song is called “Local God” the lyrics: “That leaves me feelin' stupid, happy, and numb.” That pretty much sums it up! "That leaves me feeling stupid, happy, and numb"

Here are some things that I took away from the day.

1. First of all, God has made a beautiful creation in the scenes I saw, and I too am fearfully and wonderfully made. Several times I was amazed by the body that God had created. When it is feed right and used properly it can be so efficient, even for 50 miles.  
2. I also found that my 45 min fueling strategy was about right. Except for the one dark time, I stayed fueled and hydrated well. I also didn’t spend any more time at aid stations that I needed too, that helped my time.
3. I learned that hard training pays off. If I had a nickel for every time I thought about my training during the race, I would have a few bucks at least.  I had trained harder for this race than anything before. Not only did I do the long runs and speed workouts, but with strength exercises too. Running intervals with stadium steps and burpees to core work sessions. In the end, hard training makes for fun racing.
4. Finally I learned that I can run 50 miles at one time and feel okay afterwards. Meaning that now I need to find something longer perhaps.

Thanks to everyone that supported me along the way. Several of you sent me texts or Facebook comments. I was able to read several of them when I stopped at aid stations. I appreciate Amber for allowing me to chase after these outlandish goals too. 

With "Mr. RunItFast"