Woods Ferry 24 Hr.

I drove the 3 hours or so to Woods Ferry Rec Area with little in the way of expectations. My basic idea was to get in time on my feet, time on the trail and time running at night and not a single step in the front. That was it.

Since Boston my motivation to break through new barriers has been... non-existent. I've been slogging through some mileage every other day, maybe 30 miles a week. I've been thinking some about what I want do to next and I've been really enjoying my "extra" time at home with Lynnea and Sylas. That said, I had committed to run Woods Ferry for quite a while now and so I had the "goal" of completing 50k at a minimum... just trying to get out and run in the woods.

The Course
50k at Woods Ferry means 4 laps, each 7.75 miles in length. A perfect distance per loop with aid at about 4 miles into each lollipop. With temps in the mid 90s to begin on Saturday afternoon we shuffled to a start in a slow moving (mostly) blob. I haphazardly landed in the middle of the blob which worked itself into a mostly single file string on the initial horse trail.

Winding through tall pines the course begins with rolling, and meandering toward the highest point on the loop at mile one. Then, the trail drops away from this ridge and down, down and down into the first of several (dry) creek beds. Not much rain this year which created some dusty conditions (though muggy) early on. Another ridge, another dry creek and another climb brings the course to the service road and then to the power line trail.

The power line consisted of more climbing and descent. 3 hills leading back to single track of a mile or so in the forest, pine needles and sand as the majority of the elevation has been gained back. Soon the mid point aid station is reached and a good chance to stop and chat with the parade of amazing volunteers.

Section II

Many Moons Ago

The course then turns red, as in red clay. It also turns very flat and very runnable with lots of exposure to the sky as well. The night loops here were great to stop and gaze at the pinholes of the sky... the daylight loops got hot in this baking clay. I also had some difficulty spotting strewn debris at night in this section and after loop #3 I found that I was head to toe painted in the red stuff. So before causing permanent damage I stopped for a rinse off and a quick nap. Mistake.

A Quick Nap
10 hours later... yeah- 10 hours later... I awoke to the morning song of birds and chatter of the crowd. High praise for the Honda Element and its sleeping quarters, but my time on the trail was now short. Gone was the night and here was the sun. I had one loop to complete to garner 50k and so I set out, groggy and hungry. Choked down a couple of Cliff Bars and some Mint Chocolate Gu to regain my blood sugar and soon was swiftly darting to and fro through the twisty single track feeling great and dreaming of all the mileage to come.

Closing out loop 4 I sat down and gobbled last night's pizza, sat in my chair, cracked open a celebratory beverage (for finishing the minimum) and thought about going back out for #5. In hindsight, I was searching for a reason to go home and spend the rest of the weekend with Lynnea and Sylas. So, I packed up, turned my number in, picked up my finisher's award and got by with the bare minimum. Better than Chattooga I suppose...

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

50k in 17 hours is... a modest "accomplishment". Though, I am happy (not thrilled) with it. I ran, and that in itself is enough. I had my time on the trail around friendly faces. I ran in the heat, I ran in the stars (and I slept in my car).

The trail became a part of me (NOT all of me). I knew every turn and every hill, I Saw them, didn't Feel them. I had highs and lows and lots of mediums- it's mostly mediums out there though that is forgotten in time, I run for the mediums mostly- the time to settle the mind and check out from stresses.

A simple movement, repeated.

I saw the look of determination in those pushing their limits and in the end I felt like... a tourist in this race, not an involved participant.

To flow through 31 miles and not be fully engaged leaves a strange feeling with me and one I am not accustomed to. I don't know where this new trail leads, I can't recognize it, there are no signs to point to where I came from or where I am going. The sounds are strange, and the sights are new, this adventure is real.

Yet, there is no fear, just comfort... abundant comfort. The confusion arises from a habitual desire to achieve clashing with contentment, a lack of a need to prove something to myself. This year of transition has me scratching my head and wondering where the line is that has suddenly blurred? This vanished distinction that joins the living of real life and the experience of a running life... In time, things will settle. In time, I will recognize my surroundings. In the meantime, I will run. Far or short, I will run. I am a runner.

Happy Running.

Chattooga 50k Race Report

I went into this run with one goal. Sub 5 hours finishing time. That was it, a line in the dirt was drawn and it was up to me to cross it... at some point.

So off we went from Terri's campsite and down into the Winding Stairs trail. Reluctantly I was in the lead on the single track easing along at 7:30 pace though my hope was to run around 9:50 pace for the day on average. Byron Backer and Sean Cienfugos were both chugging along with me leading the way downhill for 3.5 miles. I was the fortunate one taking all of the spider webs for the rest of the 60+ runners on their way:)

Soon Sean asked to go by and Byron and I stepped to the right and Sean soon was a phantom on his way to the turnaround at the bottom of Winding Stairs. Byron and I reached the turn about 60 seconds behind Sean and at 7 minute pace. Much too fast but it felt very slow. Time to slow down... the climb back up was smooth and very runnable. About halfway up this climb the leader came back into view as I was able to spot my running friends on their way down the trail. There was Georgia Snail looking at ease with Jim and Psyche was a little pack with her shining smile lighting up the world.

Soon Sean and I were even on the trail and we began taking turns at the lead. I was a bit quicker on the climbs and he would fly by me on the descents. I was going for even effort and happy with the rhythm of the trail at this point. Arriving at aid station one I drained my bottle and took an extra gel for my pocket and stashed that away for later... (much later in a far distant place which was only 2 linear miles away.)

Because I had stashed all my supplies ahead of time on the course the previous night I was able to stop for about 5 seconds to drop a bottle and pick up freshies. Off I went toward the river all alone now as Sean was stocking up at the aid station. Around 2 miles later he was back with me screaming down the trail and passing me just as we reached the river. We returned to our yo-yo rhythm with the trails on climbs and descents.

As we began the climb out of the Chattooga and toward Hwy 107 I was soon running alone and being eaten alive by deer flies... those little annoying bastards.

Reaching aid station two I again dumped old bottles for new and headed downhill for the two miles to the turn around at 19 miles. I was on pace for a 4 hour finishing time at 15-16 miles and so knew that the second half of the course was about to lay the smack down on me:)

At the turn I was now about 1 minute in the lead and only passed a handful of runners on the return in this 4 mile out and back between stations 2 and 3. Upon reaching the final aid at mile 21 I grabbed the last two bottles of support I had left out and headed into the darkness...

My spirits were optimistic but my muscles in my shoulders were screaming, my arms tired and my heart rate spiking at the slightest change in elevation. Even the descents were tough at this point in the run. At mile 24 I took my first walk break, something I never do... I was now on a 2 minute rotation of running and walking, trying to run on anything downhill or flat. This strategy was successful and soon I was running everything again for about 3 miles. Marathon split time was right at 3:30. Still 90 minutes to complete 5 miles.

My mind was mush and and body was mushier. The fog was deep in the brain and soon I was faced a steep climb of about 1 mile. I had not seen anyone for a long time. Georgia Snail looked really good when I saw him and I tried to stay positive like he seemed to be. The hill before me required 4 sitting breaks and 25 minutes to cover what I figured was about a mile. I swear had a ride been offered to me I would have taken it at a few points-- luckily I had only one way to escape the wilderness area and that is what I aimed to do.

"5k to go" I told myself as I popped in a final piece of hard candy. This one was a glowing iridescent blue and tasted like a cough drop. For some reason I had saved this magical sugar dose for weeks and now was the time for it. Suddenly awake from my stupor I began to run the trail again. Minute by minute my mood improved and I decided to finish strong for Lynnea who could not make it to the river this weekend. I wanted good news to tell her as she rested at home with a special package in her care. These thoughts elevated me and I was soon moving at around 8 minute pace.

I reached the final downed log on the trail and knew this was about 10 minutes from the finish. I ran on through the soft trails as they wound into Big Bend falls. The water eased me and I was feeling great. My time was looking promising and I hoped to finish under 4:40 at this point.

Up the final climb with a little walking and then to the road to the finish, out of the woods and returning to Terri's campsite (having to pass mine fyi) to stop the clock at 4:32.

On this new course I was able to improve my 2009 finish by 36 minutes and feel a lot better doing it, despite the terribly rough patch out there. The doom and gloom gets a strong hold on you at points, all you can do is keep moving on and see where it ends... because it always does. Imagine if we took the easy way out, think of all the things we would miss!

Happy running!!!

Obligatory: 10 Random Things Concerning The Sean

Forgive me for any repetition... seems we have been down this road in one aspect or another previously. I will try to make these unique, by digging deep. Though I am sure there are some new readers who may know nothing about the brain of the person typing these little letters you are reading now...

1. My first race was the 50yd dash in 2nd grade. I left the line leisurely and around 1/2way realized my pace was much too slow for the distance. Last place.
2. A year later while sledding in the hills of New Hampshire I stopped suddenly upon reaching a grove of Birch. After some painful weeks of trying to walk again I soon found that I was kind of speedy while running.
3. In the year 2000, I decided to join the military one day while fitting an elderly pair of feet for women's dress shoes... it was a very good decision.
4. My wife and I met while I was visiting my brother at a rafting outpost on the Chattooga River (where Deliverance was filmed). I had planned on a two week stay. Life has some curve balls which lead to wonderful things. Don't be afraid of the unknown.
5. I have never completed Super Mario Brothers. Though I have seen the Princess taunting me many times. It is perhaps my one great regret.
6. As a young boy, my family would travel around New England singing faith based songs to the elderly in retirement homes. Don't get me started on 'I am a Promise'
7. While living in Japan, I was hypnotized on stage in front of a large gathering of US Marines. I then chased an imaginary greased pig throughout the hall, under tables, through legs and never quite caught that rascal.
8. Double Dare was one of my favorite shows as a kid. If I had ever gone on the show, I would have chosen the physical challenge every time!
9. Spending $1.50 for water is unreasonable. Spending $35 for a 5k... less unreasonable.
10. When meeting new people I find it interesting to watch their reactions when the topic of occupation surfaces. Having had many different types of jobs, in diverse areas, it is so odd the way some jobs peak interest and others shut people off completely. Sorry, that's all you get on that note.

You don't want to know how long that took to put together... I will now take questions.

Yes, you... right, sitting at the desk pretending to work. What is your question?

3 Drops in a Bucket, brough to you by Courage Wolf #27

Seems that I have been tagged by Adam to take part in the latest craze...

Followers!! (that is you),

I give to you The Bucket List, The Sean style.

What would a 30 something ex-world traveller, ex-mercenary and all-around ex-bum want to do before he meets the Great Beyond? Well, I guess we are all about to find out. This is going to be a bit of a semi-contemplated brain storming activity.


The List

1. Plains, Trains and Autobahns: Spend 6 months in anonymous stupor while travelling trains and sleeping in random hostels in the land of my ancestors. Sure, it is a bit euro-trashy, predictable and maybe adolescent... but isn't everything if you reduce it far enough? Let's not be cynical! Something along the lines of a Eggers novel.


2. Run 100 miles. Now, to one day get my head around that. Though it seems to me from the outside, that this is something you can't quite get to, without actually doing it. That said, I guess the real challenge is the life-changing commitment to train for this sort of endeavour... and if I do it, WHEN I do it... I will keep doing it until I complete Hardrock... which is to me, the land of heaven on Earth.


3. Procreation Nation. I am pretty much the luckiet, happiest person on the planet. There seems to be only one way to improve things... and that is to reproduce offspring in my image... maybe more in line with the image of Lynnea, in that new person's best interest. This is something to not put a timeline on, of course. Until it happens I'll be doing my part to give what I can...
   

Well, that is a pretty solid list I think. Additionally, one day I will have a topic for a book and so will write that. I heard once that it is best not to write until you have something to say. So, until that day, keep those legs moving, that heart pumping and those eyes shining!!!

And remember... we don't regret what is done,

only what we have not yet had the courage to try.

PS- If you did not click the last link... here it is again. Last chance, seriously.