# 27 Trial and Error (Mohican 100 miler)

To get the fullest experience with this blog, click the link below and listen to Conor's brief Tiny Desk Concert. Upsidedown Mountain is far and beyond my favorite non Bright Eyes album of his. Potentially my favorite ever, but he has some gems.


http://www.npr.org/event/music/324858409/conor-oberst-tiny-desk-concert?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social


First off, thank you to everyone who supported me leading up to the race. I appreciate it. Second off, let me assure you all the my first attempt at a 100 miler is very anti-climatic; no heroics on that day. And C, This was only a mental challenge. The actual big race on my calender come in September and November. I used the build up to that 100 miler to draw in some followers and now everyone will be rewarded with awesome blogs from here on out. On July 1 I am getting a GOPRO!!! What does that mean? You all will start running with me in a sense. You can see the behind the scenes to my training as I and my brothers prepare for Run the Rut 50k in September/ US Cross Champs for Josh/ and Me and Adam's winter road marathons!! It's going to be a blast and I am really excited for some real training and some real blogs. It's going to be a hybrid between a blog and a vlog. Once I get the gopro there will be weekly vlogs and often multiple uploads a week.

The week before Clarksburg saw two sizely events. The first week of cross country summer practice with Fairmont Senior and Cadence going fishing. This summer/fall I am attempting to lead my old high school team to success. Even being severely bias in my favor, I can't consider myself a good leader when I was on the team. I see this as an opportunity to properly lead a team and after three weeks with the team, I can't wait for the season to begin. I really enjoy coaching those guys and seeing the cross country season from a different perspective. I have to admit, this perspective is far more nerve wrecking. When you are the athlete it's not nerve wrecking at all because you have full control over the outcome, but when you are watching on it is completely different. And I dig it.
   When I returned home from one of these practices, I walked into the kitchen while Adam was playing with asparagus and other yucky food. I noticed Cadence was chewing on something that looked like a pin. After trying to get it from her, I realized that she wasn't chewing on anything. She must have found a small fishing hook from the previous residents of our house and somehow fish hooked herself. The barb was stuck in the tissue in her upper lip. The hook was sticking out of her mouth on both sides. When Josh got home we wrestled her down and snipped some of the hook off so she could sleep slightly more safe before getting it surgically removed the next morning. Fun fact- when a corgi thinks its life is at risk, they can shed up to 300 hairs a minute. Or so it seemed. Also if we were to get into a fight with Cadence, she would defeat both of us. That's why we don't pick fights with bullies.

Sometimes I wake up without the recollection of falling to sleep. I like to think that this is what it looks like to healthily black out. I like to think that I randomly time travel back in time and this is what remains in the present time. Similar to Somewhere in Time. I figure it's either that or Josh clubs me in the back of the head when I am not looking.

Pregamin' with Clarksburg 10k

As you can tell, I am disgusted that Josh's shadow is all up on me like that.

Top of the hill after 5 miles, barely leading women's race...

      Prior to the 100 miler I decided to travel 40 miles south to straddle the border between the north and the south... of West Virginia. Clarksburg 10k is like no other race and is extremely hard to pass up. Though I had done absolutely zero workouts to prepare for a hard road 10k, I couldn't pass up a fat chance at some prize money. The only catch is Clarksburg is the best at chewing up runners and spitting them out; especially when you are not in shape. There have been a few times in this lifetime where I absolute amaze myself. This is not one of those times, but it was still pretty neat. Sitting at dinner the night before the race with the gang I predicted that I would run 33:40 at Clarksburg. It was just what time came to mind when I thought about running that course. I had only run Clarksburg once before and went another year to spectate. I crashed and burned back to a 33:09 a few years ago. Come race day, sure enough I came through 5k with the first female in 16:58 and remained with her until 5 miles before kicking it in to... you may have guessed, I certainly did- 33:40. Boom. Not an impressive time, but an impressive guess. With Josh winning and breaking 32 for the umpteenth time and Adam taking 2nd, our house racked in 1650$ of a potential 1750$ I believe. Efficiency. Sidenote- the female leader spit during the race and I caught debris on my arm. Not the highlight of my race.

Clock reads 33:38, but results thankfully said 33:40

Not certain, but I think someone is getting a selfie with digem behind me.

Mohican 100 Trail Race Review 

Day before race. Spoiler- never made it this far on race day.

    A lot of things in my life have been solved through trial & error. From running shoes, houses, majors, colleges, girlfriends, deodorant, video games to hobbies, putting styles, books, and now race selection. I don't think the distance was the problem, but the course in its condition could not have been worse for me. I had totally anticipated trying to survive the entire day out there and really see how far I could travel. That was my only reason for attempting the hundred mile distance. It's very doable, I saw plenty of people doing it on that day. The state of Ohio has consistently tried to sabotage my life since we first met. This race was merely another point in Ohio's column. I've gotten my share of victories over the state throughout the years. The day before the race it began to rain because Ohio has to keep its reputation for being terrible and gloomy. The rain didn't let up most of the evening which spelled trouble for anyone running 100 miles on trails.

Morning of the Race

       The best stories typically see the climax close to the end of the story, followed by some fluff afterwards. In this tale, the peak of enjoyment came in the first chapter; actually the preface if there is one. Right before four a.m I rolled out of the Explorer that served as my bed the previous night. A short walk later I staggered into the showers. I don't know if it was because I was so tired, but that shower was the best shower that I have taken in a long time. I must have stood there for fifteen minutes. Then when I crossed the room for the bathroom stalls I camped out in there and listened to some of the old ultra guys talking. A different breed, my friend. I couldn't have more respect for the psychos that actually do ultras regulars; I mean psycho in the coolest way as well. One day I do hope to run at least one hundred mile trail run. There were too many bad omens in this race that should have told me not to do it. First- pouring rain. Rain turns me into a baby bitch. Two- sponsored by Great Lakes Brewing? I've arguably never been more drunk than after ending a night out with two lake erie monsters that split my head in half. That's all, but there were no good omens to counter those two.
    Race time! The survivors toed the line with the runner, and off goes the horn or gun or... Hmm... Turns out I honestly can't recall the beginning of the race. And that, my friends, is why no one should ever be running at 5 a.m. We all casually departed the starting area and into the dark ass woods. If anyone has an ipod they have probably from time to time ripped it out of their computer and ignored the 'didn't eject properly' voodoo that doesn't mean anything. I don't think that I have ever properly ejected an ipod. Of course Apple decided that when I choose to run with music for one of the first times ever that they will punish my ejecting methods. All of my music- gone from my ipod. I totally planned on listening to music for the first few hours for two reasons. A- music would probably wake me up and 2- I am petrified of unfamiliar dark woods. You are out in the forbidden forest, dangerously close to dementors and evidently bobcats; no one should have shared crazy bobcat stories with me, but if I had say Will Smith - Summertime in my ears I would be slightly less scared. I feel like I can do nothing but give a bad wrap of the race which I really don't like to do. Perhaps if the weather was better my opinion would change, but I don't think so. A large section of the course is up a damn creek bed and I hate shitty 'trails' like that. There is a difference between hard trails to run and trails that are stupid to run. There were some really nice parts of the trails, but still my least favorite trail that I have run on. It reminded me of Quebec, and by Quebec I mean twenty minutes north of Morgantown not the home of the late Nordiques. The only race photo I have to share is the day before the race when I met my cousin for the first time and talked running for a few hours. He's done ultras for quite a few years and is attempting to do Leadville 100 this year. If he finishes that, well that'd be pretty epic.

Back to the race, the play by play should have taken so much longer than it will take. For the first hour I was behind the first two females because evidently I am the only one who can't see a thing on single track trails in the dark. The fog made my visibility, with a head lamp, almost the ground. When the day light came up I continuously moved up until I was near the front. After pouting up the creek bed for what seems like a day in itself we got to the most bullshit thing I have ever seen. A stairway to heaven out of tree roots. It was slippery when wet like most floors and when I got to the top my left leg kicked out on me and I basically kneed myself in the face. Completely over stretched/tweeked my right hamstring. I stumbled to the next aid station and decided to lie on the wet grass while eating my breakfast of M&Ms. I thought that if I laid there long enough that the pain would magically go away. It didn't. So I walked for two hours back to the aid station nearest my car. This race was extremely disappointing, and so was Clarksburg 10k but in completely different ways. Clarksburg was disappointing because I toed the line knowing that everyone watching wouldn't see the best version of me. Disappointed because I knew that 33:40 was all I could pull out in my fitness and that's not satisfying. Mohican was disappointing because I didn't even get a chance. Sure I finished 50k so it is slightly longer than I've gone, but a hell of a lot slower. I really wanted to test my body and see how long my mind would let me keep trucking through the woods. But the hammy sputtered out and honestly with the course in the sloppy condition it was in, it was only a matter of time before something went out.

Luckily I thing that I have salvaged my summer of training by packing it in once I slipped up. All week my hamstring has hurt, but not impaired my running. I had to skip the last Steph A workout Tuesday, but I think the ball should be rolling here soon. So get ready for some real training logs coming your way starting Monday. For weeks I've been saying that I just wanted to finish the 100 miler so I can train to get fast again. It's over and now comes the fun part. Also, here is a link to Steph A's page. She's a beast and my house are her training partners for her speed workouts. She has 3 1500s coming up in some country called Canada, never heard of it, so I'll probably keep you posted, but this site is from her.

http://www.stephaldea.com/


Since I always cry about Ohio, here is proof of our rivalry.

OHIO v DIGEM Score Breakdown

2008 - Pulled over on my way back from Wisconsin Camp of Champions [ 15 - 0 OHIO ]
    I was wearing nothing but my shortest running shorts to greet the officer, only a warning. [15 - 15 ]

2010 - Qualified for NSIC at Akron and set fieldhouse record for HS mile. [ 30 - 15 Digem ]
    Pulled over once again. Speeding Ticket #1.  [ 30 - 30 ]

2011 - Flat Tire driving back to Oklahoma with the Brandon Doughty [ 40 - 30 OHIO ]
    Pulled over while trying to PR in the Norman-Morgantown race. Total time killer.  1 - 0 OHIO
  Fell asleep at the wheel in Columbus and woke up in Washington, PA [ 15 - 0 Digem ]

2012 - Signed up for Kent State meet; mysteriously got injured week of race. [ 15 - 15 ]
    Decided to run a 5k in Athens hours before the race and completely unprepared. Got my ass whipped around for 15 minutes and 20 seconds.   [ 30 - 15 OHIO ]
       Saw local Athens police riding horseback. [ 30 - 30 ]
    Pulled over on rt 7, speeding ticket. [ 40 - 30 OHIO ]
      Ticket for deliberately not paying a toll on Ohio Turnpike   2 - 0 OHIO 

2013 - Watched Columbus Blue Jackets get embarrassed by my Minnesota Wild 3-1 [ 15 - 0 Digem ]
    Took a nap at a rest stop in Ohio for three hours [ 30 - 0 Digem ]
Woke up drenched in sweat, ruined the drive to Minnesota [ 30 - 15 Digem ]

2014 - Iron Furnace Trail 20k. We all know how that when down. [ 30 - 30 ]
    Mohican 100 miler, first ever two pointer. As game changing as the 3 point line to the NBA some 30+ years ago. [ 3 - 0 OHIO ]

Don't Call it a Comeback

I have been putting the finishing touches on a book that I have been writing, that is my main excuse as to the delay from my epic failure of a race and the uploading this. Also, Hunter and I have been going pretty hard in the paint both in basketball down the street at Krepps Park and on FIFA 14. We have an intense season going on right now and both get way too into the game. For example, after we finished playing out the world cup bracket we had a championship matchup between my Swiss and his Uruguay vampires. Hunter defeated me and I was lying on the floor during the game. My carpet is borderline shag carpet that could be found in some pretty rad houses 40 years ago. It's also misleading concrete beneath the misleadingly thin carpet. After the final whistle blew I slammed my head off of what I thought was carpet and turned out to be concrete slightly covered in carpet. I saw a big white flash and without saying a word I got up and plopped into my bed. 2 hours later I woke up just in time to go to one of Steph A's track workouts. I am like 98% sure that I knocked myself out. I woke up with a pretty solid headache that lasted close to a day. Not the proudest of moments. Though I would have been less proud if I didn't knock myself out; in a sick way I am happy to know that I can knock myself out. Over a video game. Forever young/immature. Here is a small taste of the seriousness of our season-

Ya, we keep track of every goal.

With Cadence's 2nd birthday around the corner, she has recently been using my computer to Skype her boyfriends. I do my best to subtly monitor the conversations.

I also finished Jo Nesbo's The Snowman and it was quite frightening. So if you want a book to keep you up at night (reading) or if you want to never enjoy running by snowmen again- this book is for you. I really enjoyed that it took place around Oslo. Scandanavia is the first non us region of the world that I want to travel to. It seems like such an excellent place. And for a vague spoiler alert- misdirection never works. I need a new book. Tell me what to read next!!




Also, Season 3 of Wilfred is on Netflex. When things like this happen I do the same thing that I do with a big tub of ice cream. I watched the entire season in one sitting, just like I eat any ice cream in sight until it is gone. Wilfred is a top 10 show in my book. Here's that list attached with quick tastes of the shows.  If you laugh, and cry at some moments of these videos- we just may get along in real life.

10. That 70s Show

9. Dexter

8. Wilfred

7. Psych

6. Boy Meets World - The ultimate BROMANCE

5. The Office - Best character on television

4. Fresh Prince of Bel Air

3. White Collar

2. Top Gear

1. How I Met Your Mother

If you actually watched all the videos, man am I happy to have killed so much of your day.

Here is an updated preview to my summer plans. If you have followed my previews you should know that they are all, aside from Run the Rut, is subject to change.

• GOPRO Trail runs all July long. Big training month and you all will come along with me. 
• Call of the Wilds Mountain Marathon    8/16
• Run the Rut 50k  9/13 (two days after never forgetting)
• 1-3 Trail races in September/October
• Road Marathon debut in Tulsa 11/22 (51st anniversary of the passing of USA's 2nd sexiest President. Behind Clinton.)

NEXT BLOG: Debut of the GOPRO cam and I have to be honest, planning on taking this blog to a completely different level. Things will get personal, you will see things you may not want to see, but it will be one hell of a ride! If you are just now starting to read, consider yourself a 2011 Miami Heat fan because you picked the perfect time to hop on the wagon. Not a wagon, we have a stage coach and you all will be riding the original shotgun.

Sorry I didn't finish and I can promise that there are no more DNFs in my future. But if you are older than ten you know how much promises are worth.

Jokes aside, I appreciate the support and am pumped to evolve this page into a level two pokemon.

ONE LOVE!

#26 When it Rains it Pours

#26 When it rains it pours

First off- quick shoutout to my trail training partner/big brother Travis Simpson for leaving the Buckeye Buster 50k field way behind his dust. Just a 40 minute victory over 2nd. 4:34 finishing time. I can't wait for to tag team southern WV in August. 31 miles of victory we will run. Everyone is a winner if no one outside of the clan beats anyone within the clan. Also, a delayed shoutout to another partner in crime, Andrew Rhodes, who recently ran his first 50k at Capon Valley 50k, 4:27. Lead for 4 hours and ended up in 4th. Still a boss first 50k! 

 Here is my weekly log, as promised-

Sunday 6/1: 26 mi. Conquer the Cove Marathon, if you haven't seen the review click on the link to the right, or just continue to scroll down- can't miss it!







Monday 6/2: 6 miles. On the rail trail with the gang and my legs survived the marathon quite nicely. Surprisingly had some pop in them. Sometimes when I am sitting in my room I get the feeling that there is a predator behind me... Stalking her prey. I live in constant fear.

Always critiquing my jumpshot on NBA.

Tuesday 6/3: 8 miles. I worked on my versatility today! Two days ago I was running a trail marathon, today I was doing 500 cutdowns on the track with Steph and Josh. It was my first of several workouts with them I would assume. Tell ya what, a 66 quarter does not feel as easy a couple days off of a marathon. It was a challenge, a stupid challenge. But nonetheless a challenge.


Wednesday 6/4: 14 miles. I believe this run started at like 8-830. Not sure if I have run that many miles that late in the night. Considering it gets dark at like 1pm in the winter I'm positive that I have, but it's been awhile. Running in the dark is always misleadingly slow. 7 min pace feels like 635 pace and I would have gladly taken a 7 minute mile today. Based solely off of that run, one might not think that sub 7 mile was in my ability.

Thursday 6/5: 12. Twelve miles the cheap way- 6 and 6 double. There is rarely anything noteworthy on double days, but today was awesome! Unless I have Thursday mixed up with Wednesday which is very possible. On one of these days I finally made it out to Dorseys Knob for my first round of 18 on their disc golf course with Hopkins and Justin. Recently they held a tournament where it was a penalty stroke if the disc was in the high grass which gave them an excuse to not touch anything but the overgrown fairway. I wish I were kidding when I say that the grass was hip high in some areas. Miserable grass. But on the 8th hole while Hopkins was digging around for his disc we found this little bastard! I have never seen a baby deer this tiny. I wanted to keep it and name it Dear. I've never been closer to living out my dream of raising a deer off of nothing but Cheetos and Dr. Pepper. And pizza crust from certain places that have crusty crusts. Right there is a neat pizza place name. It would have loved it's life. Instead it will live a normal life.

Friday 6/6: 6 miles. How to ruin a big miles week with a 26 mile start... I packed it in on counting miles early because I'd rather run less and feel good than push it for a few extra miles. I am far from a mileage nazi like I used to be. I think that is because I fear another injury and honestly- pulling off at the first sign of danger may not allow me to get to a certain level, but it will keep me in the game longer and that's more important to me currently. Patrick came to town tonight and the entire gang hit the town for a little too long. I am going to say I caught a bug going around, because I am sure that several people's nights ended like mine; as well as their Saturdays.

Saturday 6/7: ZERO. Disappointing finish to the week, but it took me until the middle of the afternoon to get out of bed without dying. There was just no point in trying to run that sick. This gave me and my sick pal Chris Hunter a chance to play fifa world cup. We are playing the pool play and then the entire bracket and seeing how it turns out! I will have more details during the world cup. I did manage to leave the house in the evening and get some fresh air. I never enjoy missing runs for many reasons, but this is the biggest reason: slap on those funky red and blue glasses from Back to the Future(1955) because it's story time.

There is one person who keeps me motivated to run even though we haven't talked in weeks. Last yearish I was at a marketing conference in Detroit. Yes, the city was ruins and was quite depressing. On the second day of the conference we were up and at em by 8am and busy until 9pm. All I was thinking about for the entire day was how little I wanted to get my 10 miles in later. Plus, we were in Detroit so it was going to be done on the treadmill. Those folks put us up in the Renaissance hotel which is like the biggest or second biggest in North America. So Detroit- terrible. Detroit hotel- magnificent. It had a grocery store inside of it; why anyone would leave is beyond me. I sure didn't. Anyways, so I'm whining and moaning all day in my head and honestly can't remember much about that conference because I'm great at tuning out boring stuff. I didn't sleep well the previous night because I roomed with 3 random guys and the one I was suppose to bed with couldn't have anyone share a bed with him, so I took to the floor. He sounds like a jerk right? That was the plan. He was the most amazing little guy that I have met. He had to be all of 75 lbs and has OI or brittle bone disease is what he called it. Evidently he had previously broken most of his bones several times and can't sleep with anyone because it doesn't take much contact to break a bone I guess. Before the marathon of a conference started he must've overheard me talking about running after the conference because 930 rolls around and I have already decided to not run when he asked if he could come up and keep me company on my run. So I switched clothes and rode up to the like 43rd floor with him and we stayed there until the run was over. I got to know him and he would circle the treadmill every once in awhile. He was so full of energy. I had trouble sleeping that night because of him though. I stayed up thinking about how much I bitch and complain about running when I know from experience how terrible it is when you can't via injury, but here my temporary room would 'sell his soul' to go for a run. Never run before! I've held on to the comeback to myself now for when I mentally think about not running one day, then I ask myself- can I run today? And then I typically head out the door. It's the little things that are the easiest to take advantage of, and I'm aware that I will always take advantage of little invisible privileges and make trivial complaints but I sure try not to.

This used to be my favorite poster until it was torn. What a champ!

Weekly mileage- 72. . .

Throwback Rain picture '09

Sunday 6/8: 16 miles. I am going to say that this was a 13 mile long run with a 3 mile cool down. This was our first Ohiopyle long run of the summer and it was legendary like most of them. Legendary not meaning successful of course. Saturday I had planned a workout that never panned out and honestly I was upset with myself for getting sick like I did. When that happens, my first run back is 100% of the time a punishment. You wanna go get sick like an idiot, you're going to pay for it the next day and the next run. Somewhere in the 630s for the 8 miles out, and once we turned it was time out time. There's a running expression about going into the well when you start to buckle down and really go after it. Well today I pencil dove/dived? into the well and went for it from a distance I couldn't go for it from. I think the next 5 miles were between 609 and 524 before I absolutely exploded. 619 was the final average I believe. Not only was I tapped out 3 miles from tank, but we got absolutely drenched in the heaviest rain that I have run in and a very long time. Around the same time I sputtered out. I've never understood the saying when it rains it pours better than today. Honestly I feel like that saying should be in white on one of those black motivational posters. When It Rains It Pours- and have a picture of me struggling back to the car in the downpour. Luckily the trail turned to sand so the four of us look like we just got back from playing bocci ball at the beach after swimming.


A race schedule is slowly starting to create itself! Here's a rough sketch-

• Clarksburg 10k Saturday (Train wreck)
• Mohican 100 miler the following Sunday
• Trail 50k in Wisconsin in July
• Trail 50k in August in Ona, WV
• Run the Rut 50k 9/13 in Montana

Also coming up is the beginning of summer practices for my old school in Fairmont. That will be taking up a good part of my days this summer. Can't wait!

Comment Below:
 For any runners, what is the best moment in your running career?

One Love!

#25 Conquer the Cove Trail Marathon (3/50)

Conquer The Cove Trail Marathon Review!

I ended up posting a pedestrian 64 miles again last week, but I was feeling fresh for the race in Roanoke, Virginia (different state than West Virginia for those of you from evidently any other state).  Hunter was alongside for another adventure. We ended up taking some back roads once in Virginia and discovered one of my new favorite roads in the Appalachian- 426. We didn't get any clear shots of the mountains that we were carving through, but here is a picture from that highway from another season.

Before you read the review, go ahead and start this video. It was the song bouncing around in my head for most all of the race; excluding miles 18-21.

Pre-Race:
    Typically I get my lodging based solely on proximity to the race. Which I did when booking the Econo Lodge in Roanoke. From now on I need to make sure I get my lodging based on proximity to Sheetz. Thankfully I unknowingly did that as well this time.  When you have to get up at 5 a.m for a race, all continental breakfasts are the same: closed. But after a short walk down the road, Sheetz kept its title as clutchest establishment ever. As the sun began to rise we were already near Loch Haven Lake, in line behind a dozen cars waiting to park. The more trail marathons or just trail races in general that I run the less I am looking forward to returning to road races because of the difference in staff and competitors. Still in my first year of trail running and I am definitely still getting used to the awesomeness of the people and workers of the trail world. This race would have been half as enjoyable had the weather not been completely ideal. I believe the temperature never left the 62-68 degree range all morning. The sun also remained hidden for most of the run.

Race:

    The first mile and a quarter was on a rolling road that led us into the woods. Hunter and I both went out in 6:45 which was good for 7th-8th. The leader took it out a little over a minute faster than that which made me think either he was going to bomb or he was the bomb. Spoiler: it was the latter. There were really only two decent climbs in the race and seeing that one of them was so much longer than any climb that I've done, it's hard to say that the third mile was too difficult though it was all uphill. That is where I moved all the way into 2nd from 6th. But at the top of that hill two guys blitzed by me on the downhill. I wanted so badly to sprint with them but the elevation map was stuck in my head and I let them go. The gap that they put on me wasn't made up for over a 5k. I wish that I could say this picture that they snapped was like 24 miles in, looking fresh as can be! But this was during the 4th mile. Look at those woods! I absolutely loved the trails in this park. That along with the accommodations will make it a hard race to miss next year. Around the six mile mark I worked back into 2nd pace and the completely jacked, Chuck Engle latched on and we ran together for awhile. This gave me the opportunity to ask him a question that had been on my mind the entire race. 'Are you the guy who ran 58 marathons in 52 weeks?' When he confirmed that he was I was stoked. He was quick to point out that those were road marathons and he doesn't get along too well with trail marathons, but still that is epic. His accolades are much longer than just that figure- here is a great article on him: http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/chuck-engle-fast-marathon-junkie?page=single

The view that the 25kers missed out on

 So when I left Chuck in the next mile I entered a zone of running terrified. He confirmed that the leader was Jake Reed, course record holder/ Highland Sky 40 mi champ/ amongst other things, so catching him wasn't in the cards. And now I was attempting to run away from the rest of the field for 20 miles. And when the guy behind you has hundreds of marathons under his belt, I had serious doubt that he would blow up during the race. If I didn't run the race tactically sound then he would certainly hawk me down. For the next 10 miles there was nothing but small rolling hills, a few creek crossings, beautiful trails and aid station workers. I'd be lying if I said that their energy didn't rub off on me, especially later on in the morning. At the 10 mile mark I took my first cup of water and surprisingly wasn't that thirsty. It's amazing how little your body needs on a humid free day. I forget when, but at some point I recalled seeing the 25k turnoff for those competing in that event. On the bright side I only saw one guy ahead of me competing in that race, so there was a chance that Hunter was in 2nd for that race, as was I for my distance. I felt progression in my pace through miles 12, 13, 14, 15 but kept riding the brakes because like I keep referencing, the elevation chart was on my mind and I knew that coming up could make or break a race. A four mile climb looks pretty awful on paper. In person it is absolutely heart breaking. Take a look at this cruel elevation chart-

That huge spike was on my mind the entire first 17 miles until it was under my legs. There was an aid station at 18 miles which I paused for a cup of Gatorade as I looked straight up at the next few miles. They wished me luck, I sighed and trucked on. If there was one place to break anyone in this race it was now. And I feel like I crushed that mountain. I can't call that one a hill. It is up there with the steepest climb in the Grand Tetons I did out in Wyoming. Except this time I was prepared. I don't know how everyone runs hills, but my strategy is- eyes to the ground and keep your legs moving. I don't run with my head up because I don't want to see another mile of straight up. I tried my best to convince myself that I wasn't running uphill. After the race was funny when Hunter was talking about how pretty the overlook to the left was while climbing that hill(25k runners climbed that hill as well) and I had no idea what he was talking about because my head was focused on the ground and my eyes were basically turned off. Then as you can on the chart- right back down. It may look like a terrifying decline, but I am here to let you know that it is in fact a terrifying decline. Thankfully I hammered the hill averaging 7:12 up it, 30 seconds faster per mile than those chasing me, but 40 seconds slower per mile than Mr. Reed. Toward the end of the climb I started mumbling Knocking on Heaven's Door in my best Bob Dylan voice. And for the first time, I thought someone was going to answer. A hill that I love now that it is behind me, but one that I hope to not do again until next year. I needed every second of that gap because I felt great on the decline. I ran scared the whole way down, but I was certain that no ground was being made up on me. I was flying down that hill and all the way to the finish line, like lightning! Then I checked the splits from the chips that don't lie, much like my hips. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd(the big climb) section I was 2nd fastest. The final stage I was the 5th fastest and averages 7:50 pace. If you're laughing it's okay, I am too. Evidently I can run up a hill much faster than down a hill. Makes sense I guess, with that climb in my legs and my fear of dying via tumbling down a mountainside must've led to slower miles. Chuck and Jordan Chang reeled me in to a degree, but we finished in that order. The neat thing I recalled after the race when chatting with Jordan is that I race him before, back in January of 2011 in Fairmont at the half marathon. I didn't put it together until I saw his Virginia Tech hat and it just clicked in my mind that he was the one right behind me in the half 3 years ago in the VT singlet. 3 years later we finish very similar in a completely different race. See there used to be this thing called college football. When there was there was a heated rivalry between WVU and VT, but that will soon be forgotten because NCAA loves nothing more than to piss on tradition for an opportunity to make a quick buck.

Everyone deserves a high five after completing that course.

Jake Reed:                2:53.39          6:41 pace
Digem:                      3:12.50          7:25 pace
Chuck Engle:           3:14.35          7:29 pace
Jordan Chang:        3:15.30          7:31 pace

 In the other race, Chris Hunter took home 2nd as well running 1:57.38 for the 25k. I'd say it was a good race considering he ran only 3 minutes slower than his 20k in Ohio last month. 5 more kilometers and only 3 more minutes, way faster today. So we left the beautiful Loch Haven Lake, drove 20+degrees through the Appalachian mountains and found ourselves back in the sticky heat of Morgantown. It's amazing how a 4 hour drive, up north, can result in such a rise in heat. I've always known that it isn't the general area that has horrible humidity, it is just Morgantown. I blame the bad weather on the destruction of the arboretum. Those in charge of the city of Morgantown most likely have a lot on their plates, but I hope that one day they will make a decision that isn't horrible. A bad decision here and there would be a nice upgrade.

Lastly, I'd love to thank Mountain Junkies for putting on my favorite race! Next year I hope to be farther along in training and return to chase down the 3 hour barrier. Hopefully I will come with a bigger crew. I also plan on looking into other events that they put on. Best of luck to Jake Reed this weekend at the North Face Challenge 50 miler. This marks my 3rd state with a trail marathon or more. In 3 weeks Ohio will be added to the list in a big way.



Next time:

• This week's mileage along with stories
• Final decision on whether or not I will run Clarksburg 10k
• Pre-game plans for Mohican 100 miler
• Summer and Fall running schedule post 100 miler

Thanks for all of the support!

ONE LOVE!