Promise Land 2013

Driving to Promise Land Youth Camp on Friday evening with Zach Quigg and Andrew Dodson, I knew this was going to be an amazing weekend. Zach was running PL for the first time; Andrew, Dylan Vining, and Lane Ruchte were all running their first Ultras; and after completing the LUS last year, I have made a good number of friends in this incredible community and now I got to spend my weekend camping, fellowshipping, and most importantly, running in the mountains with them. Food was great, weather was great, gear set out, tent and sleeping bag laid out, teeth brushed and water vest filled up; I was ready.

4:30 came early. I woke up a few times in the night but overall slept great. Beat the crowds to the coffee line, and had a bagel and a piece of banana bread for breakfast. Got dressed, relieved, took some immodium, and waited by the warmth of the fire, thinking about the 34 mile journey ahead. Soon we were all lined up, and after a prayer we were off with a “5, 4, 3, 2, 1…” (Horty never starts late, but I think he looked at his watch just in time!).

We were off. I was toward the back of the pack but tried to maneuver my way up along the left side of the road. Soon I was past the crowd and looked right to see Zach right beside me. Good! We could pull each other up that long climb. My goal was the “End State Maintenance” sign and I made it just past there to where it gets real steep. Walked most of the rest of the gravel road, but as I got onto the single-track I stayed with a small group and pretty much just mimicked them: if they ran, I ran; if they walked, I walked. That went well until we hit the downhill where I caught up with then passed Rudy, and got out onto the grassy road. Here I encountered my first inconvenience: side stitches. I’m not sure why. I had popped a gu at the first aid station and was sipping on the electrolyte drink in my bladder. I was forced to pull back on the reins a little bit where I should have been bombing down the hill. Soon Rudy and Guy caught up to me so I stuck with them. I knew if I could keep up with those guys I was doing just fine. We stayed as a group past the ghost aid station, and all the way up to the Parkway. Rudy pulled ahead and I think Guy stopped to fill his bottle, so I was just trying to pick out people in front of me on the downhill stretch to Sunset Fields. My cramps were gone by this point and I was going at a good clip. Sunset Fields probably had the best PBJ I have ever had, and I am so grateful to the volunteers for that! I hammered the techy downhill pretty good, then got back onto grassy road. Passed a few more people on the way to Cornelius Creek, saw my old English teach Mr. Gribbins and then hit the gravel road. I saw Rudy in front of me again and I knew I couldn’t catch him but I would try to keep pace.

                Finally off the pavement, I plucked along to Colon Hollow. I was feeling fine on the gradual winding climb of grassy road on the darkside… initially. Eventually it got to me and I was just so sick of running on that never-ending grassy road. Up again, down again, turn again, endlessly circling the mountain. Just when it seemed it would go on forever, I started going down and knew that was a good sign. Saw a guy sitting on the trail and he wasn’t looking to be having the best time, so I gave him some shot blocks and kept going. Made it to Cornelius Creek again, got some salt, some water, and after inquiring about PBJ, was given a MASSIVE dollop of PB on some crackers. Walked back toward the split as I tried to get the PB down, but eventually had to toss it. I knew what was coming would require my attention. I had done the training run a week prior so it was still pretty fresh in my mind, and I knew where it was runnable and where it would get tough. I had seen Guy coming into the aid station, so I was motivated not to let him catch me!

                Passing the waterfalls was so refreshing. Despite the climb, this is probably my favorite part of the race. I wanted to stop and soak it in but knew I had to keep going. Plucked up the stairs and caught sight of Chris Bernard up ahead, so I now  had him pulling me. Jogging and hiking, I caught up to and passed him, prodded by his encouraging words. Soon after I caught up to Jack Anderson, who was CRUSHING his time from last year. I kept along, passing some hikers coming down, happy to see other people enjoying the beautiful day and beautiful mountain. Caught up to one more guy right as we pulled into Sunset Fields. I think I grabbed some chips and grapes or something… Heading out with two other people, we started downhill then all started hiking the uphill. Once at the top, it was all-out. Unfortunately, not all-out enough; two people, one of them being Guy, passed me like mountain goats. I was pushing as hard as I could but I was fatigued. I hit the last aid station, chugged a cup of water because I was empty, and started down the brutal gravel road. I knew after the sign it mellowed out a bit, and I had a runner in my sights to pull me along. I pushed with all I had down that hill, passing mental landmarks, occasionally checking to make sure I wasn’t about to be passed. Finally I saw that wonderful, blessed black squirrel and knew the descent was done and the race nearly so. With all that was left I sprinted to the finish, cartwheeling across the line in a time of 5:25:37, good enough for 16^th place (beat my seeding of #24!). Sam Dangc had given me the idea to try to for top 10, and boy did I try, but I was happy with what I did. Last year I had a lot of stomach issues, but this year I didn’t make a single #2 pit stop. I PR’d by 16 minutes, and moved up 14 places. Jack finished behind me, with a stellar PR.

                I felt awful when I finished. That course hurts! I sat around a little bit, expecting Zach to not be too far behind me. Eventually hunger and the need for a shower overtook me, so I followed my gut. Hung out and talked to other finishers, with Rudy, with Sam, and with Lindsay as I watched Todd, Alexis, Keefer, then Vining, Lane, Major D, Zach (after much concern!), and Andrew finish. It was a great day and I wouldn’t have spent my Saturday doing anything else.

                I am graduating from Liberty in 2 weeks, going home for the summer, then attending Ordnance Basic Officer Course and EOD school starting in October. I am hoping to come back for MMTR, but the fact is it may be a very long time until I can run another Horton race. This deeply saddens me, but I know I have another chapter of life to open. Dr. Horton, if you are reading this, I want to sincerely thank you. I can’t say this about many people, but you have truly changed my life in a way that I will probably never fully appreciate. It was Holiday Lake 2012, when after being injured throughout the winter, I badgered you for a refund. You, of course, declined, and I ran. That was my first 50k, and it was when I found out how much I love running in the mountains. If you had given me that refund, I may have never run, and I would not be the person I am today. I have learned so many things about myself, accomplished so many goals, and made many friends because of you. Again, thank you and God bless you.

                A good day for PR’s, first time Ultras, and fellowship with a challenge. Promise Land 2013, I salute you. You kicked my butt, but I like to think I put up a good fight. Many MANY thanks to the aid station volunteers and kitchen staff at the camp; you have no idea how much you are appreciated, and the race could not happen without you.