Bart Childers

Rocky Hill Ranch, now I know why they call it that, it?s rocky and hilly. Duh! 1-5 miles at the start was hilly and rocky for the first 2 miles then we made it to the sloping trails. At 55 degrees for the start it was chilly. First Aid Station we arrived at 50 minutes, right on schedule for a conservative, I gotta run another 50k next week-end, race. 10 mile aid station was nice and cozy with music playing and that down home comfort that says, stay awhile. But I didn?t, through the creek and up the hill and on to the half way point. 15.5 turn around and back on the course without much fanfare. 15.5 to the 20 mile Aid Station was a rough patch because the hills had grown much larger on the second loop. How did they do that? Thank God for the Aid station at 20 miles.

The Race strategy from 20 on was like a mantra in my mind, gentle consistent pressure, nothing more nothing less. At the mile 25 Aid Station, I asked them if it was possible to catch the leaders, my time at that time was about 4:15. They said sure, I could catch them. I heard someone say they were not going to play poker with any of them. The leaders had already finished. But being a mid-packer, I?m used to that. Keeping with my sub 10 minute pace from 25 to the finish I passed Mike (clydesrunner) with about 3 miles to go. Earlier Gene and I had speculated if we would catch him towards the end of the race. I said I hope we do not. When I caught him I cussed him. He said legs are fine but stomach was upset. I took that as he would catch me if I stumbled. Gentle consistent pressure, after passing several people, with 1 mile to go I passed Bridget, she was strong but was curious if any girls were behind her, not that I had seen I told her. She was in second, she said if any guys passed her she would yell, I told her if I saw the lead girl I would yell back at her. Up ahead was another guy, damn not a moments rest, someone else I was going to have to pass. Using all my collegiate passing skills( not that need to know them any more) I stayed silent until I was right on him, took a deep breath and blazed past like I was in a 5k. He said great job, he was wearing a jester hat? I said thanks and thought to myself no way that clown is going to catch me. I never caught Gene, I?m glad I didn?t, I hate it when someone passes me at the end of a long race. One guy did pass me at the end Pierre, he had been pacing a friend on his first 50k, and finally he said he took off for the finish with a few miles to go. I noticed that the temp gauge said 90 in the shade at the finish tent.

All the leaders finished in sub 4 or low 4 hours. Of course they had already showered and had lunch by the time I got to the finish. As always the Aid Station volunteers were awesome. They would come and greet you, take you water bottles away from you and go fill them up while you were looking the food over for something to eat. They had ice; my hands were actually frozen from holding the water bottles during the race. They did a great job. I only feel twice, once was a pancake fall but on the pine needles and no one saw me so I didn?t count. It mashed my water bottle and I lost half of my water. This race was great, enough hills and rocks to let you know you were in a trail race, but not enough to make you cry.

As stated before 20 ultras in 20 months, this is number 5.