The Amazing But Brutal Duncan Ridge Trail 50K Story! Part 2 Promoted as One of the toughest 50Ks in the Southeast with more than 10,000 feet of elevation gain. I had no idea what i was walking into since it was my first Mountain Ultra. I knew that I was going in with legs that just were less than 100%, and coming out of the flu, so I sought all week to further prepare my mind. My excitement peaked on Friday afternoon while traveling up. I opened my Bible to read, and randomly landed on Isaiah 52 (Note: The race was on my 52nd Birthday. Hmmm) and these words jumped off the page: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news... I knew my focus needed be on encouraging as many other runners and volunteers as possible. Between that and my focus last race, Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.... They will run and not grow weary... I was focused, steeled, and good to go, no matter what. I was going to run with my friend, a 12:30 Chattanooga Ironman Finisher, Joe, and being driven and supported by our marathoner friend Pete. We went to bed about 10:10 PM the night before and I awoke wide awake at 3:20 AM. So race day started! After showering, dressing, and a Protein shake, I headed out into the 30 degree dark for a short test run. Then off to Vogel start park. Highlights of the day: - The look on my face when I saw the size of the rocks we were running over. - Listening to Joe sing! (He had his iPod). - Being the only guy who put plastic bags with rubber bands over his shoes to cross the river. I got laughed at by a volunteer for not being too cool, but my feet were dry! - Then after 3.5 miles and 30 minutes, we started our BIG climb! It would be like almost doubling the steepness of the corkscrew at The Swamp and running up it for about 1.25 hours. It kind of wears on on you, but I was just trying to enjoy the moment and scenery, while also finding ways to compliment & encourage those around me. - So, my first fall. We are climbing on one of those 8 trails bounded by cliffs on both sides and running on large rocks & roots covered with leaves. A tall young dude, with long curls hanging from under his high beanie, is cruising along and then trips, falling head over heals over the cliff, but catches himself just before it becomes disastrous! Everyone responded in shock but with immediate help. So I am already a bit shaken, but decide I am going to pass the short guy in front of me who was starting to cramp my pace. So I say, Passing on your left and as the last word left my lips, I totally wipe! So what do I do? I hope back up, run up behind the guy again and say, Hey, lets try this again! This time I hold him as I go around him sideways. Just keep going. - Getting halfway up this big climb and taking a moment to stop and take in the mountains around you. It was absolutely breath-taking! - After doing this big climb, which I was celebrating in my heart because Joe and I did it pretty solidly and the view of the valley was now the best yet! We had a 1-mile downhill to Aid Station #2 at Mile 8. I ran in thanking all the volunteers, who greeted me and said, What do you need? They were great! So I hand them my two 20 oz bottles to fill with water while I pull tailwind powder from my fuel belt to scoop into my bottles. Grabbed a few boiled potato cubes dipped in salt. And off we went, thinking about running to the next aid station at 13.2 miles. But at mile 12, I rolled my left ankle and then my inner quads/adductors started to cramp. Yikes! So I told Joe to stop a moment so I could quickly stretch. The cramping went on for a mile or 2, so I just slowed down, did 4-count tactical breathing to calm myself and press through. But I knew I had hit a season of trouble. I felt some disappointment and concern that it was coming so early. But I focused my mind on the statements I shared earlier and on continuing to keep moving forward no matter what. - The thought came into my head, This is crazy for a FL guy to be running (or hiking) on trails covered in rocks, roots and leaves, which often made me slip or bend ankles to uncomfortable angles and know i could trip at any time (and often did!). But the goal was to finish and just keep moving! - At The next aid station, our friend Pete was there to great us! That was a comfort to see a familiar face after being 3 hours in. I remember telling him, I am not having a good day (running). My legs are not responding well. Probably not a good idea to talk about it. Maybe I was letting the Fear Mind slowly take over?! But I was determined not to quit. - We hit the highest elevation and Turnaround (halfway) point of the race. It was windy and cold up there. But we enjoyed talking with the volunteers while re-stocking. The topic? SEC College Football of course! :-) - This was a tough mental point. On the way to the turnaround point, I got to see how many racers were ahead of me (some by a lot!). But I also got to say to each one, Good Job! Looking Strong! Keep pushing! and other words of encouragement. So that was fun! But then on the way back down the trail, I was running by and feeling the defeat of many of the runners who were not going to make the cutoff time for the halfway point or who said they were dropping by choice. I felt bad for them. They seemed like good folks and good runners, but it just was not their day. I knew it could have been me. But I would not allow quit into my head. - I just hit another steep climb where I could not see the top and did not know how my legs would respond. I refused to look up and only focused on one step at a time. Where I lack in athletic ability and strength, God has made me a stubborn Italian, so I just focus and go. When I finally hit the top (I dont know how long that climb took as I do not often look at my watch and try to run by feel), I foolishly allowed the thought to creep into my mind that, At this rate, I may get swept. I may not finish. It was an awful feeling for me. I hated it. But I was struggling on the inclines/declines and could not go faster. It was a mental wrestling match. Who would win? - At mile 18, I kicked a rock or root really hard. There was so much pain in my left toes! The thought popped into my head, Dang! I wonder if they are broke? But I pushed it out of my mind and just kept going. Those toes were numb for a while (15 minutes?). But I was still moving forward. Then at Mile 21, and all alone on the trail, I rolled my right ankle really bad. It also hurt tremendously and with each step the pain shot into my ankle. I asked for God to strengthen me and to allow me to finish. The ankle still hurt bad (it is tender today but improving) but I could somehow still run! I ran a long time alone on the mountain. It was so peaceful. I could hear running water from a nearby creek and leaves rustling when the wind blew and, also, every step I took. It was like my hearing was now amplified! - Then i saw 2 women a head of me. I thought, climb faster and catch them. They were a long way up. But I did! Left them in the dust, in my mind. Only to be passed by both on the downhill. They were experienced mountain runners. Obviously my downhill skills were way under developed and need work! - Then this loud GA accent came up behind me and we carried on a conversation. I could not see him as the trail was thin, and I was focused on the ground ahead of me. He told me stories of all the famous Ultra runners he knew. I found that curious. But he was a happy guy and I wanted to help keep him that way so I listened and asked him questions. All of sudden, his voice got further and further away, and he was gone. My prayers were answered! (not that he would be gone, but my pace must have picked up and my legs were not cramping even after much tough climbing and downhill). - At mile 24 I hit the biggest downhill of the race. And took another big fall in there. Fall down 7, get up 8, I like to say! It was the 2400 (now) down over 3.5 miles. It was hard on my quads as I was having to break a lot because I felt unstable and did not want to roll down a cliff. But it was a relief from climbing so I was happy! This want on for an hour or so. Now I was starting to smell the finish. But there were more challenges ahead! - I think it was mile 25 or so when I had a moment of weakness. I looked at my watch and thought, I will not make the time cut. How will I tell everyone back home that I did not finish. (I did not mind for me. But I so wanted to be an encouragement for everyone back home and i felt like that would not do it). And I thought, I better move my registration for GDR2015 to 2016. I felt deep sadness. I prayed once again for strength to go. And I surrendered what I wanted and trusted that the best would happen no matter what. Funny?! I felt something kick in right after that. I was able to pick up speed and run faster and with more purpose. It was uncanny! Maybe I need to relax and surrender more often? (Surrender to something better than me). - At Mile 27.5, I met 53 year old Andrew from Pittsburg who was a sub 3 hour marathoner, had just run a 100-miler in the mountains of Utah, and had the flu all week and was having kidney problems (People tell you all kinds of stuff on these trails!). But the guy was just as happy as can be. He ran behind me for a while to encourage me along, almost like an angel sent from Heaven when I needed one. Then when he was ready he just took off ahead me, saying good-bye and I did not see him again until the finish. - I hit the last aid station with 3.5 miles to go. There was one last 2.5 mile climb and then 1 mile downhill to the finish. I was almost 9 hours in and really hurting. But I refilled my bottles and off I went. Just then a young voice came up behind me not the trail. It was recent college graduate Jeffrey (he introduced himself). Then Mitch ran up from Colorado Springs and just said, THIS SUCKS! I could not see these guys, but I could picture them in my mind from their voices. I asked if they wanted to pass me and they said no. So, I thought, Here is my chance, 2 more racers I can encourage and help finish strong! So I asked them about their lives and gave them positive words every chance I had, just as I was running by a small water fall and enjoying the sound of the creek beside us (causing my mind to wander to the spot Suz and I ate breakfast every morning in Costa Rica for our 25th Anniversary over 2 years ago. Amazing how that happens during these races. I wonder if people miss out on so much with our high-paced, productivity lifestyles?!). - Then we hit the final 1 mile downhill. My weakness. I had helped the guys get there but now they passed me and off they went. Finally I broke from the trees, onto the 1/2 mile or less park road to the finish. I was miraculously running at a good clip by this time, following the beloved little orange flags to the finish. - I ran across the bridge that I had been thinking about some of the afternoon and to the finishers table where i proudly received my finishes cap. And my legs were not cramping at all! It was simply amazing. Almost 10 hours of running up and down mountain trails. I learned 4 key lessons: 1. I can not control how hard things are but I can control my attitude and what i focus on. 2. There are all kinds of beauty and people out there. I need to keep taking the time to enjoy them and bring joy to others. 3. Things will get tough, but never stop moving ahead and NEVER QUIT! 4. God wants to be personally involved with me/us. But He is a gentlemen and will wait to be invited. I am glad I got to run with Him and Joe and others that day! After eating pizza, popcorn, pretzels with peanut butter and complimenting, Andrew, Jeffrey, Mitch, the 2 women, and loud GA guy and everyone else I could! We jumped in the van, drove 8 hours home, and after sorting dirty clothes and such, I showered and crawled into my bed with Suz at 3:40 AM. Up over 24 hours straight celebrating my birthday in a most memorable and special way for me. I am so grateful! Now, The Georgia Death Race is more than twice as long (68 miles) with about twice the elevation change (40,000). So I guess I better remember the above beauty & lessons, invite God along for another awesome trip, and train much harder/smarter than I had been! Thank-you for generosity in taking the time to share the journey! I hope to share some of yours too! Andy :-)
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:08:50 +0000
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