Hinson Lake 24hr and FATS 50k

So in the past 2 weeks, or three, whatever it is, I have made two more attempts at ultra distance runs. With alot more success than my first at Uwharrie.







The first of the two was the Hinson Lake 24hr Ultra Classic. It was a cheap run that had alot of really good support rom the race director's family, as well as, all of the runners there. When people found out that this was my first time at an actual established event they were quick to let it be known that if I needed anything to just let them know. It was a really fun event. Not at all like the Jiu Jitsu tounaments full of alpha male bullshit. It was a really laid back feel.







The run started at 8 a.m. and when the race director said "GO!", it took everything in me not to shoot out of the gate in a mad dash. I was happy to be here. I wanted to be here. The course was a flat 1.52 mile dirt trail loop around a beautiful lake. The sunrise was amazing. I can remember thinking that there was no place in the world that I would have rather been at that time. My wife and daughter sat on the dam which was the start / finish line and where everybody had staged their gear. I did my first lap in 14:09, which was a little ahead of what I wanted for my pace but, not by much. I didn't stop very much in the first few hours. My family had to leave because my little girl pooped and my wife had forgotten the baby wipes.







While they were gone I had alot of time to just focus on my running, to try and answer alot of questions I had for myself about why I was doing this. Was there any real deep emotional reason for my running. And, as hard as I tried, I couldn't find a single mind blowing reason to share here. There was no mystical revelation uncovered during the hours of running. I still had the same reason for doing it as when I started. I just simply love to run. It's not complicated for me, so why should I try and make it that way?







When I looked up a few hours later my family was back with a grilled chicken wrap from McDonald's. I pulled to a stop and proceeded to devour the entire thing in a few short bites. This one guy named Joe whom I had met up in Uwharrie was sitting near by and was done for the day. He called out to me and let me know that he had two beers to get to and, shook both of them tauntingly at me. I tried to hide my frustration at the fact that I couldn't have my 24 oz. Coors Light tall boy but, such is life. I turned as he and my wife laughed at my suffering and hobbled off down the trail. The laps went by, as did many running partners one of whom I got into kind of a friendy contest with. We walked 2 laps together and talked while our quads took a small break. I was 2 laps behind him at this point but, had been two ahead only a few hours ago. When he sat I took my chance and gained two laps on him which made him get up and try to put some laps in to catch up to me.







Over the next few hours my resolve was tested because my family ws becoming understandably bored, it's a 24 hour run. I'm sure it was about as exciting as watching NASCAR without the speed and crashes. Around mile 35 or so I wascoming back to where my family was and my wife looked visably upset by something, and I found out that one of the female runners that was out there had literally run over my kid. To say I was mad would have been an understatement. I knew who it was and alot of the other runners and crews were just as upset by the incident. I resigned myself to finishing 40 miles and calling it a day. I had a shirt and awesome coffee cup to show for all my efforts. It was a very satifying day.

I was proud of what I had accomplished. I had done 40 miles in 7:58. It was the longest I had ever run up to that point and, to this day. I said to goodbye to a few of the people I had met through out the day and headed off to the hotel. We ate dinner and went to bed but, at 9 I woke up sweating my butt off and, feeling nauseous as hell. I made my way to the bathroom and sat there until it passed and went back to bed.





I had 2 weeks to get ready for the FATS 50k, which in hindsight wasn't the best planning on my part. I didn't have as much time to recover as I would have liked but, oh well. I got sick the Tuesday after Hinson Lake and was bed ridden the following day and didn't do too much running that week. The following week I decided to run as much as I could and, hope that I didn't over do it. When Friday came around I was feeling fine for the run on Sunday. I had decided to drive down the day before and camp out so that I didn't have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn.





My friend Jr. was going to come down and crew for me as well as pace and drive me home but, he had had to pull out the week prior because of the field. I was fine going off by myself and, besides Jr. gave me a Darth Vader mask to apologize. In my mind that was enough to gain my forgivness.





The camp ground that I stayed at was not the kind that I wanted but, it would have to do. There were families everywhere. Kids were being loud well into the night and, on top of it all, I couldn't even begin to sleep because I was nervous.I had laid down at 7:30 and by 10:30 I was packing my tent and other camping gear into the car and driving back down to the trailhead where I was planning on sleeping in my car.





I had to call my wife to get some moral support, which isn't much when someone is asleep and you wake them up in the middle of the night. I took what I could get, got back in the car and, finally at midnight fell asleep.





Morning came quick and before I knew it I as driving to the store to get coffee and food. I did all my pre-run prep work before the sun came up and sat smoking a cigarette, a real running no-no, until it was time for the trail briefing. When the briefing was over it was off down the trail into the wild unknown South Kackalacky woods. The going was slow at first but, I tend to go out too fast, so I needed that. Before I was even a mile into the run the call of nature beckoned me. However, it wasn't until mile two that I finally answered. I bounded off the trail and up into the woods, took care of business and, hopped back out on to the trail.

I soon caught up to a group that was moving at a comfortable pace so, I stayed with them until we got out on to a road then I took the chance to pass them. Later a couple of them would pass me and, finish only a few minutes ahead. When I took off from the 1st aid station I was with a group of guys who were talking about female wrestlers doing crossfit. Not WWE but, real wrestling. Like the Olympics. They turned and asked if I would like to pass but, I was fine at their pace so I just stuck with'em.

They asked me how many Ultras I had done and the only one I count is Hinson Lake so I told them 1. They asked the distance and I told them it was a 24 hr., to which they asked how many miles did I do. I told them 40 but, clarified that I had only really done 39.52. They said it was fine to round up, most people apparently do anyway.

I ended up passing them a few minutes later and passed by a water point. I thought better of it and topped off my bottles. I wasn't sure if I as going the right way at this point and asked the guy behind me if this was the right trail. He told me wasn't sure but, that if it was the wrong one he would just blame it on me. It's that kind of good natured joking that I think I love the most about doing ultras. You arrieve not know a single person and, leave with some new friends and, great memories.

I finished the first half of the run in about 3:30 which was good enough for me. I stopped at my car and refilled on gels and such then went back up to the trailhead. A guy named Mark asked me if I knew where I was going. He could tell I was a bit lost and offered to show me the way to the next half of the run. We talked alot about running and he gave me some tips on preparing for a run. At one point he fell and, told me to go on ahead, he had decided to walk for a while and could tell that I was still wanting to run for a bit. He caught back up to me at the next aid station where we took a short break, I popped a couple Motrin, the volunteers filled our bottles and we took of back to the trailhead. It was only 4 miles back but, it was a very long 4 miles back.

For the most part we stayed within eye shot of one another and pushed each other to the finish. I was only doing to 50k but, he was going on to do the 40 miler. I almost wanted to go back out and do the full 40 miler but, I had to drive back and I know how I get at 40 miles. I told him good luck got my finishers award, hung out for a bit and, then thanked everyone and hit the road.

I finished the run in 5:55. Which for me was good enough. I was happy to get back home until I took a shower and realized that I had a chafed nipple. Of all the mistakes to make. I screamed like a little girl.