Groupie

To begin this post, I want to say thank you to Alexis Thomas. For creating and adding me to the Lynchburg Trail Running Club group.

Wednesday evening was my first run with the group, and it was a blast. We started at 5:30 and ran into the darkness. Was it my fastest? No. Most hills? No. Hardest? No. But was it fun? Absolutely. One of the best things about racing is simply running with a big group of people. When you take away the registration fee, the nerves, and the competition, what you get is an hour or more having a simple, stress-free, genuinely fun time on the mountain with fellow crazies who share your hobby. There is a time and a place for running alone, nobody would argue that. Heck, part of what makes trail running great is just getting away! But there is also a time for fellowship, and that is why I am thankful for this group, thankful for the ultra-running community, and it is the reason for this post.

This morning (Saturday, Feb 23): 5am wake-up. Coffee. Rain. Chilly. What was I thinking? Why did I tell Todd and Zach "yeah! 6am trail run is a great idea on a Saturday morning!"? It didn't take long at all to answer my question. We got to the Wingate first, still questioning if we should have just waited until 7 and start with the "slackers" as the later group was termed (no offence!!). Soon Todd, Dennis, Frank, Sam, and Steve rolled up, and after some jokes and the arrival of Grattan, we started. That's it. Just headed off into the darkness. And it was awesome. Nobody was trying to win (though Frank and Sam pushed us all when in the lead!), no judging; everyone was there on a cold Saturday morning in the rain because they love it and they wanted to be there.

Eventually the group fragmented, some others joined, and small groups did their own thing. Me and Zach hit some nice hills and got 15.5 miles. But that's not what I'm writing about. Had it not been for my friends in this community, I would have slept in, talked myself out of running, and had a lazy Saturday. But instead I got to enjoy time on the mountain, build friendships, pee in the woods, and go to Waffle House with my friends.

I know this is a lame post and is not full of wild stories or a detailed race report. It's simple. It's plain. It's just Saturday morning. And that's what today's run was, and that's why this post fits. I am looking forward to many, many more group runs in Lynchburg. I felt helped and invited, and I hope everyone else did. Happy Saturday everyone.

Holliday Lake 50k+ 2013

Friday night, headed to the dinner with Zach and Lindsay. Delicious lasagna, spaghetti, and cheesy bread got me all primed and ready for what would come the next day. “The King” got up on his throne to give his usual schpeel to include taunting, encouraging, challenging, and prize-giving. Another race, another night of no door prizes… I was exhausted by the time we left so when I got home a little after 9, I was ready to crash. Unfortunately, my roommate has a very obnoxious half lab/half husky that just gets extreme amounts of joy from barking. From the moment I walked in the door until the moment my eyes finally closed, that dog was whining. But I digress. Uneasy sleep with a few awakenings throughout the night.

4 am came way too early, but I got up, fixed a nice big bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee, checked and double-checked my stuff (I had packed everything the night before) and headed to Zach’s. Slept most of the ride and got to Holiday Lake 4-H Club at about 5:40. Moved inside, savored the warmth, and got all the last minute things together. Relieved myself after a long line, just in time for a beautiful National Anthem, a prayer, and finally the cheers of 350+ runners heading into the night to suffer the glorious experience of running 50 (or more!) Kilometers.

The race started out great. A little cold but the sun would eventually fix that. I had my 1.5 liter Nathan race vest filled with electrolyte tablets, some gu’s, clif shots, and sport beans… and toilet paper!! Ran with Jordan Whitlock and Holly Bugin for most of the first half, with some leap-frogging. The first 4 ticked by, the second 4 ticked by, and finally to AS 3 at ~12 miles. I was still feeling strong, though I bumped my watch during a pit stop so I was running free! Got to the turnaround in about 2:06 (about the same time as last year). I dropped my pack here after getting some nutrition out; I guess the tube froze so I could not get any liquid out of my pack. I was carrying dead weight. From this point on my system was: chug a cup of gu, grab some bugles and pb&j, and eat that while I drank a cup of water. The plan worked fantastic!

As was expected, I slowed quite a bit on the second loop, leap-frogging with Holly throughout, but maintained a decent pace and passed as many people as passed me. When I reached the AS with 8 miles to go, I was greeted by the news that I was the first LU student! Things went well until I got back on the Single-track by the road with ~6 miles to go. I knew this part would mess with my mind so I just had to keep telling myself to keep shuffling; no matter how slow, don’t walk! Finally reached the last AS and knew I was almost home. Downed my last gu as we went through the picnic area, and just tried to keep chugging, keep chugging.

“1 Mile To Go” spray painted in red on the ground is one of the best things I’ve ever read. I knew just a slight uphill, a tad more single-track, and then the road awaited me. I ran faster; when I saw cars I ran faster; when I saw the finish line I was sprinting. I could see “4:23:…” and knew I would be getting a PR today! Finished in around 4:24:30, was reminded that I beat Dr. Horton’s seeding (20^th, and I finished 15^th), and awaited my “Fastest LU Student” fleece blanket! Many nights will be spent wrapped in this beauty! Zach finished shortly after, and then I jumped in the shower, drank all of my bladder pack (wasn’t frozen anymore), and got a few morsels from the potluck. Lindsay came in about an hour after me, and then after sunbathing for quite some time, and talking to some of the friends I have made in this amazing community, it was time to head home.

While this race is entirely different from the rest of Horton’s Ultras, it is fun and challenging in its own way. There are not many excuses to walk due to terrain so it really wears you down. It truly is an Ultra RUN. Though I am a little dismayed I will not be able to complete the LUS or Beast Series this year, I savor every time I get to spend a day on the trails. The friends, the challenges, and the food! All make it worth it in the end. The same thing happens every race: I start asking myself “why am I doing this?!!”, and then at the finish I get the blues that it is over. Such is the life, and I suppose it always will be.

My many thanks to the Holiday Lake staff, the awesome AS and other volunteers, and Dr. Horton for the amazing races he puts together. I will see you at the Promise Land!!

New Blog

Starting up a new blog. I have done a whole lot since my trip to Rome this summer, including LDAC in Washington State; Army Basic Mountaineering in Fairbanks, Alaska; an entire semester to include Ranger Challenge; an amazing winter break that included a trip to both NYC and South Carolina, and added a great bike to my arsenal of gear. But I digress. I will pick up where I am: 6 days from my 21st birthday, having just completed the Holliday Lake 50k for the second time, and in the middle of my last year of college, after which I will begin the next chapter of my life as an Army Officer. Should be a ride and I am looking forward to it!

This blog will center around running and racing adventures, to include my future dabbling in triathlons. I hope I can provide some entertainment and maybe some insight through race and training reports. I don't know how frequently I will post, but if something big happens, it will probably be on here!

Blessings,

Dylan