#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!