2002 Catawaba Run Around

A 35 Mile Run on the Appalachian Trail JFK 50 Mile
by Vic Culp

LONG VERSION:

I took off the entire week leading up to JFK from getting up at 4am and commuting my three days into Washington. I worked out of my house and actually got 8 hours of sleep each night. Also, I avoided sick people. My handler, Chris Campbell, was not as fortunate. He had to work. So, we left Fredericksburg at 4pm on Friday afternoon after he got off work.

A L S O :

Towpath Page

The C&O Canal Page

The C&O Canal - Outside Magazine

C&O National Historical Park - NPS

C&O Page - Potomac Conservancy

We cut it close. Getting to Hagerstown at 6:30pm, checked into our motel, and got to packet pick up ten minutes before it closed. Fortunately, we were able to get a copy of the crew instructions and were able to plan Saturday's run on Friday night. Had two plates of spaghetti at the pasta feed and heard a few inspirational words from the gathered crowd and presenters.

Got back to my hotel and went about fixing my fluid, sodium and calorie strategy for the next day. I actually got to bed around 10pm and made my normal 3 bathroom calls in the middle of the night. 4am came early and by 5am the hotel was already bustling with anticipation.

We left for the start at 5:30am and were surprised at the number already gathered at 5:50am when we got to Boonsboro. The temperature was 27 degrees when we left Hagerstown and the forecast called for low 40s and sunny. Now the question, do I start in tights or shorts? My handler's recommendation, shorts. Of course, he'll run in shorts when it is below 20 degrees. So in the next hour, there was time to stretch, make 3 bathroom calls, grease up and put on my shorts, socks and shoes. Fortunately, we had access to the school and a warm area to change.

At 6:45, we went back out to the car to get the double bottle fanny pack, eat a last minute banana, take a last drink of water and apply a little more Vaseline. My choice of clothing included long sleeve coolmax shirt and coolmax singlet, neck gaiter, knit hat and shorts. As we heard RD Mike Spinnler call 5 minutes to start, I have time for one last bathroom break and a jog with Chris to the start. I took off my sweats, thanked Chris for the help and moved into the crowd.

[T]he bank thermometer read 23 degrees, and, I'm in shorts! Oh, well.

The race starts on a football practice field and the start area is about 50 yards wide. Even with 800 runners, nobody is more than 10 yards behind the starting line. The gun fires and were off across the field and onto the main drag leading through Bonsboro. I want to get to the AT (3 miles) in 30 minutes and will walk the steep uphill on US 40. I look at my watch on the first mile split, 8:02, a little fast.

As we move further through town, the bank thermometer read 23 degrees, and, I'm in shorts! Oh well. As the road gets steeper, I start walking and maintain my position, even though most everybody else is still running. Get to the AT at 28:30 and I'm pleased.

My next goal was to reach Crampton Gap (9.7 miles) in a total time of 1:50. I run most of the first part of the trail at a comfortable pace and walk all of the uphills on the fire road. By this time, most of the others around me realize that walking might be better for them up these hills. Back on the AT, I am able to run comfortably not being slowed down, able to pass when needed and being able to pick my spots where I can run hard. I get to Crampton at 1:35 and I'm pleased. Changed bottles, retied my shoe (@$#%@$ cord shoelaces) and I'm off and running to Weverton.

My next goal was to reach Weverton (15.3 miles) and the end of the AT in a total time of 3 hours. What my time off the AT was would determine my pace for the C&O path. The pack is really spread out by this time and I can run at my own pace, walking the uphills and moving comfortably on the remaining sections. Around the 12 mile mark, a high school girl (later found out to be 16 years old) passes me. While in front of me, she must have tripped 6 times but never did a face plant. Also, she enjoyed wearing cotton, as she had last year's race shirt on top of this year's race shirt and sweat pants. I repassed her around 14 miles and hoped that she would be OK. (She was a went on to set a new 19 & under course record of 8:56). When we got to the cliff switchbacks, the conga line started to form. Just what I wanted to do, rest while I'm going down hill. Oh well. Get off the AT at 2:49 meet Chris, change to a single bottle fanny pack, change out of my trail shoes to my Air Max and I am off to the C&O Canal trail.

When we got to the cliff switchbacks, the conga line started to form. Just what I wanted to do, rest while I'm going downhill. Oh well.

Great work by the race organizers get me across route 340 safely and across the railroad tracks. About 5 minutes after I cross the railroad tracks, a long freight train passes me moving toward the crossing. And, it was slowing. I would say that this train stopped runners for at least 5 minutes. Just before, reaching Harpers Ferry another freight was moving toward the crossing. Just what every race needs, a train story.

Based on the 2:49 split, I decided to try and maintain a 9 minute pace on the C&O path. I set my watch to cover two miles every 18 minutes and use any extra time to walk and recover. My original goal was to finish the towpath (41.9 miles) by 7:20. The 9 minute pace would lead me to a sub 8 hour finish, far faster than my original goal. By about mile 23, I realize that I'm having a hard time maintaining my 9 minute pace and set my sight back on my original 10 minute pace. Chris is constantly, helping at each aid station, switching bottles and giving me my pre-packed food (bagels, pretzels and cookies).

After the race, I heard the aid stations were pretty well stocked, but I ran though them and never took anything. At about mile 27, I ran into my first hard spot of the race, the legs ached, my paced had slowed, I wasn 't getting enough walking breaks. Chris, changed my bottles and said he could run along with me a little as I packed my fanny pack. My response was, "you might be able to, but I can't". Shortly, thereafter the 10 minute pace helped, I was starting to recover and my walking breaks were up to 5 minutes every two miles, but I still was maintaining 10 minute pace.

By the 30 mile aid station, I was feeling much better, even though I was having a hard time swallowing my food. At 30, Chris tells me for the first time, your running well, your form is not breaking and you are near the top 100. What a great lift that was. At 34, the recorder calls off my number and says 103rd. I run though the aid station and pass 4 people immediately. WOW.

By 38, I tell Chris no more food. It's going to have to be Gatorade until the finish for calories and sodium. Hopefully, I sucked enough salt off of the pretzels in the first 34 miles. I finally, heard the spillway of DAM number 4 and I know the towpath is coming to an end. I reach the end in 6:59 and I'm pleased. The hill off the towpath looks steeper than it was during practice and I walk the third of a mile to the top. The RFP stuff really works.

My final goal was to finish in 9 hours or run the last 8.3 miles in 100 minutes. I think I can do that. And on this day, it was now, run the last 8 miles in 2 hours. I had a great cushion to work with. I meet Chris at 43 and change into a lighter weight (9oz vs. 14 oz) road shoe. What a difference they make. I was glad that my feet didn't swell and these shoes still fit. I'm off and running maintaining my 10 minute pace. However, instead of walking every 2 miles, I am walking 160 paces every one mile. My walking form is starting to break, I know I tired.

By mile 47, I know I'm going to finish. It's hard to hold back a tear or two. It reminded me of mile 23 in my first good marathon. You know your not going to bonk and you try to enjoy the accomplishment. I labor over the last miles, clicking my watch at the one mile to go sign. Walk a few steps and it's the run to the finish. I crest the last hill and can see the finish line about a half mile ahead. I actually have a little kick at the end and run the last mile in 9:40.

The last six miles are the hardest in a marathon. Contrary, the last 6 miles of a 50 miler are comparatively easier. You've already run 44, what's six more. You're almost home.

The last six miles are said to be the hardest in a marathon. Contrary, the last 6 miles of a 50 miler are comparatively easier. You've already run 44, what's six more. You're almost home. In my first marathon, my last six miles took 72 minutes. In my first 50 miler, my last six miles took 58 minutes. I ran the same pace for my first marathon as I did my first 50 miler. Maybe, training makes a difference.

The post race festivities were great. I hadn't had Twinkies since the Richmond Marathon in 1994, that scrumptious cream filling. Unfortunately, the warm showers were turning cold quickly. So, I wasn't able to wash up much. Chris was able to run for an hour while I recovered. As we left Williamsport, over half of the field was still on the course their reflective vests and flashlights moving toward the finish. We stopped and scarfed some pizza on the way home.

It's been fun being part of the Ultra list. I've enjoyed all of the insight. Next, year will be a year of short speed, as I try to break 40 minutes for a 10K and 60 seconds for a quarter mile. Will I run an Ultra again? Maybe. I was thinking of coming back to JFK next year as a walk. Do your legs still ache when you take 13 hours rather than 8?

Well I'm off for a 30 minute run. Got to keep the blood pumping and the lactic acid flowing out. I'll see if I can get 3 miles in today.