I started considering this race the 2nd time I saw an email on the HCTR list. I've done very little night running, so why not see what it's like in a race format without having to run all day before. Plus this was a chance to push beyond my 50K max distance. And proceeds were going to the American Cancer Society, another reason to enter. The format was as many 5 mile loops as you were able and willing to do in 6 or 12 hours, no starting a new loop in the last 1/2 hour. 7pm start time, which meant a couple hours to learn the route before darkness fell, at least that was the plan.

My first indication of how well this was going to go was when I emailed the RD, Brad Quinn, about the logistics of bringing my 16 yr old daughter along. I knew she wouldn't mind camping, but not around a generator and a lot of lights and noise all night. Brad quickly and completely addressed my concerns, and I not only talked Kelly into going, but also into doing the 6-hour version, even if she only did a lap or two. When we got there, we noticed the generator was out in the woods, a considerable distance from the camping area and aid station, and it was a perfect setup.

Another indication was the marked map we each got to carry along just in case. My first thought was, yeah right, a paper map will last about 2 minutes the way I sweat, but they were laminated. Perfect. Brad also explained that he had 47 numbered flags every 1/10th mile so if we hit trouble we could call (if carrying a cell phone) and be able to tell him where we were for help. He even had 3 contact numbers on the back of the map. I loved those flags. I played a game with myself to try to hold off as long as I could on checking the flag number to see how close I was to the end of the loop. Once I got to 41, but usually it was mid-high 30s, and 31 on a bad loop. By the end of the race I knew other landmarks better, but still associated them with numbers...like, a bit of a rut to jump means I just passed 42 and split rock is coming up.

Off we went, on the signal from Capt'n Karl himself, Brad's father-in-law and a cancer survivor. The start was a short spur to the loop to be run counterclockwise. I expected it to come to a T and knew we needed to go right. A photographer had set off a bit earlier and was supposed to be about 2/10ths down the course. Rather than a T intersection the trail just seemed to continue and I missed the right turn-off for the trail we should've taken. And everyone followed me. This is another reason I shouldn't start off fast. Two minutes into a 12 hour run and I've got the entire field lost. We knew something was off when we didn't see the photographer, but I just thought she got lost. Yeah, right, she got lost. I finally remembered the flags were numbered and saw #34 and knew I had gone the wrong way, but by that time I just decided to finish the loop. Brad was at the first aid station and he said that was fine, just go the right way next time.

The first loop saw a brief, heavy rain, which felt good but made some rocks slick, and it soaked through my drop bag I kept at the start/finish area. I finished the loop in the lead pack, knowing I went out too fast, but I wanted to try to get in two loops in the daylight, especially since we didn't see the first loop in the correct direction.

Loop 2, some combination of my pace, the heat/humidity, and something I ate before the race gave me stomach cramps, and I walked more sections than I would've liked to in the light. Took some e-caps and a banana, which always seems to settle my stomach, and loop 3 was fine, but loop 4 was more cramps. I decided if every even loop was going to be this rough, I would be sure to run an odd number of loops!

Kelly decided that one loop was enough. She had only run about 2 miles max before this (but had hiked much longer), so I was proud of her for just getting out there. She wound up having a lot of fun helping at the base aid station, and even made the chicken soup before she finally turned in around 1 or so. What the volunteers lacked in numbers, they made up for in effort, as the aid stations were kept fully stocked and were always a welcome, friendly place to be.

Darkness hit at the start of loop 3, and the near full moon too low to really help, though it was a pretty night. The moonlight or flashlight reflections in the puddles on the rock domes were eerily pretty. For awhile I ran with both a headlamp and a handheld, but the headlamp kind of bothered me so later I went with just a handheld. As I've heard from trail veterans, the handheld was easier for control of the light beam. I discovered that I do like night running, and while I errored on the side of cautiousness when deciding whether to run or walk in rocky areas, there were plenty of good stretches to run. Considering it was 12 hours on fairly challenging terrain, I needed to walk plenty anyway. The trail wasn't always easy to follow, especially over the rock domes, but usually you could spot a glowstick on the other side and head towards it. I would say a few more ribbons would help in tricky spots, as I wondered a couple of times if I had gotten off trail. Running multiple loops in the dark, you start remembering the trail and where to go. The problem is, if you make a mistake, you're bound to remember the path to the false trail you took last time, and repeat the mistake! All in all, I lost very little distance going the wrong way, though I did get some "rest time" slowing or stopping to find the right path. Really, finding your way was just part of the fun. All real cross trails were blocked off so you wouldn't stay lost very long. It was also nice not having the sun beat down on you, but there were times when the air was completely still and very heavy.

As the night wore on, I felt like I was perking up and able to keep a steady, reasonable pace. I had been nearly ready to bag it after loop 4, but to be any kind of an ultra runner you learn to bull through the tough spots unless it's a serious medical issue, and most times it will get better. I was running mostly on my own. Some runners had just done the 6 hour run, plus it was a long enough course that I didn't lap too many people, and only got lapped myself once. For awhile the guy who wears the squirrel tail head band and I were more or less together, but we ran different paces and had varying times at aid stations so we weren't really together much. I also heard Liz and another woman chatting away behind me, but they went in and out of the midway aid station before I left. I tried to catch them for some company but couldn't until nearly the end of the loop.

1/4 mile into loop 7, I feel the blisters. I contemplated turning back to treat them, but decided I would take this loop easy and do lots of walking. At the end of the loop, I took my shoes and socks off and surveyed the damage. I don't know who it was, but someone was still up that late enjoying a beer and suggested duct tape if I was going to pop the blisters, and he even offered to patch me up. Well, I'm not sure he actually offered anything more than use of his tape, but I was tired enough that I just raised my feet up and he did it, and probably saved my race. Brad asked if I wanted to know my standing, and I said sure. He said I was in 3rd, which surprised me, but I guess that some of the faster runners had done the 6 hour run or some just had a set mileage for a training goal and stopped at that. So now I was forced to keep going, but I would've anyway. I went out for loop 8 slowly, and TJ caught and passed (lapped) me. I caught back up to him on the jeep road and we ran the next lap and a half together.

In and out of the aid station a bit before 6am for the final loop. Had hoped to be able to dump the flashlights, but it was still a bit too dark. I've done a few all-night drives, and the sun coming up always has an uplifting effect, and it just as helpful on this run. It was a beautiful morning, and you could see that castle in the distance. TJ must've smelled breakfast cooking and took off ahead, and I kept to my own slower pace and enjoyed the finish. He had judged that if we kept up a reasonable pace we could finish it officially within 12 hours (even though the lap counted as long as you started by 6:30), and I made it with 5 minutes to spare. 9 laps, 45 miles, and held onto third place.

Pre-race swag was a useful handheld light, and post-race was a nice wooden frame and photo from the race, engraved for the top 3 finishers. Brad did yet another nice gesture for Kelly, moving her to the 12 hour race so she could claim 3rd place there since 4 women ran the 6 hour race

Critter count:
1) Ants, all the time, everywhere. I put my shoes down at the start and a few crawled in. Some places in the trail you could see a bunch of them scurrying around, and they also climbed up the plant shoots in the rain and you'd occasionally get a bite as you brushed by. Plenty of annoying gnats before and after too.
2) Loop 1, 1/2 mile in, a buzzing in the grass just off the trail--rattler? I know the sound but it was a bit muffled, maybe just a loud insect. Why worry?
3) Loop 1, an armadillo sauntering across the jeep road.
4) Loop 6 or 7, some animal scurrying quickly towards and then past me along the side of the jeep road. Scared the crap out of me. Looked possibly like a cat but I wasn't sure at all, and I couldn't pick it up with my light again.
5) Loop 9, a kitty mewing in the woods near the end, possibly the same one I saw before? Someone tried coaxing it out, but it wouldn't come.
6) Bunny rabbit, also in the final loop,and I'm sure if I were more observant I'd have seen more such creatures.

An excellent race in all respects, especially for a debut. I hope more will join us next time.