This is the fourth time in the past five years that I have run this race. The race begins and ends at the Ridgewood Shopping Center, conveniently located in front of two of the sponsors, Fleet Feet and Whole Foods. The course is somewhat challenging, as the first two miles are downhill, and the remainder of the race is uphill with many turns between miles two and four. I once again ran while wearing the Zensah shin/calf compression sleeves, and I absolutely love them! I also raced in the Mizuno Ronin. A sweet shoe.

I’ve just started a two-week regimen of antibiotics, and had almost talked myself out of even running the race. I also ran the Raven Rock Rumble a mere four days ago, and completed the last of three treadmills workouts for Meredith College Human Performance Lab a mere two days ago. I had many excuses not to race this morning, but what’s Thanksgiving like without a Turkey Trot?

Even though I was feeling a little under the weather and somewhat tired, I was nonetheless looking forward to this race as I knew my very good friend, Chad, and his wife, Sarah, would also be racing. Chad and I had been training together most of the Fall in preparation for his first marathon. Unfortunately, he got injured, and was not only unable to run the marathon, he has not been running much at all. I hadn’t seen him in months.

My goal was to finish the race in less than 30 minutes. This was one of my most strategically run races, and I was very pleased with my time, place, and performance.

The race started at 8:30, and Sandy Roberts, a local, young, talented, truly phenomenal runner was off and gone! He won the race, and demolished the course record by over five minutes. I only wish I could have seen him race…

The start was somewhat congested, and I did have to weave my way past some runners as we made our way down Ridge Rd. Once the crowd cleared, I was in ninth or tenth place. I saw my friend, Jonathan (last year’s winner; I placed second) running with another man, and I made my way up to them before mile 1. The three of us ran together for a while, and were then joined by another runner, whose name I later learned is Kevin. As the course was downhill, Kevin and I dropped Jonathan and the other runner, and set our sights on the next two runners, who were 200 or so meters ahead of us. We hit the mile marker, and Kevin heard my Forerunner beep, so he asked for the split: 5:41. Kevin and I traded places numerous times between mile 1 and 2 (still downhill on Ridge Rd). 

At mile 2, we took a right turn and began running through a neighborhood. There are many hills, and some of them are steep. At about mile 2.5, we finally caught the two runners we had (without saying a word to each other about it) set our sights on. One of the runners we immediately dropped, and the other stayed with us for couple of hundred meters. When he did drop, I gave him words of encouragement. Kevin asked for the split at mile 2: 5:43.

Kevin and I once again kept trading places between miles 2 and 3, with me passing him on the downhills, and him catching and passing me on the uphills. At mile 3, without waiting for him to ask, and I said, “6:08. Not bad considering the hills. By the way, you’re only running with me so I can give you your splits.” He laughed, and asked me if I was from Raleigh. I introduced myself, he introduced himself, and the conversation stopped. We were running too hard to talk for very long!

Surprise, surprise, Kevin and I kept trading places between miles 3 and 4. I truly enjoy running — racing, if truth be told — with someone, as I tend to remain focused on the race, and I generally run faster.

And here’s where it gets interesting…

As we took one last right turn back onto Ridgewood, I glanced behind us, and saw that there was a runner catching up with us. I don’t like to be passed, particularly not during the last miles of a race. My first thought: If it comes down to a sprint to the finish, Kevin and the other man will more than likely pass me. If I want to make a move, I had better do it soon. I waited until mile 4: 6:10. I then picked up the pace in an attempt to drop the two. I did manage to drop Kevin, but the other man (Charley) kept breathing down my neck. I ran the last mile in about 5:30. Looking at the results, Kevin came in sixth and was caught and passed by Charley. Charley finished in fifth, just four seconds behind me (as you can see by the picture). Kevin finished in 29:22, just 10 seconds behind me. Charley came in first in the 25-30 age group, and Kevin came in second.

I congratulated both Charley and Kevin as they came through the finishing corral. I got a quick drink of water, and then went to find Chad. By the time I got to him, he was about a half mile from the finish. I ran backwards while talking to him, but could tell that people thought I was showing off. I wasn’t! I was just trying to belittle Chad. It worked!

As I was changing shirts, I heard some people say my name. Lane, Kelly, and their husbands! I hadn’t seen them in years.

I won a $100 gift certificate for Mizuno products. Maybe a new pair of Ronins?

I broke the old Master’s Course Record set by yours truly last year. 

Distance:  17.8 miles

Time:  2:47:23

Place:  15th overall, 14th male

Location:  Asheville, NC, along (but not on) the Blue Ridge Parkway

Elevation drop:  2,ooo’

Elevation gain:  5,000′ (not a typo)

Temperature:  30 at start, 50 at finish

Yes, it’s been two weeks since I ran the race. No particular reason why I haven’t posted. I recall as much about the race today as I did on race day. A truly challenging race! A truly challenging hike! Well, at least the last two miles.

The lead pack took off immediately, and I certainly never caught them. Given what my good friend Jim C., whose run the race for the last 18 years, had told me, I did not want to go out too strong. In Jim’s words, “Don’t shoot your wad before Ferrin Knob.” I also thought I had started my watch, but had not; thus, I was never quite sure of the mileage. Just as well!

Monk, a local Trailhead runner, and Amber, the first female finisher, were in the group I ran with initially. At the first steep climb, Ronnie and his friend, Josh, ran quickly by me. This was at about the 3-mile mark. It was also the first (of many times) that I walked. Believe me, the climbs were so steep that I could not have possibly gotten up them any faster by running.

I ran near and/or with a young man named Mark, who eventually was the 16th or 17th place finisher. I enjoyed our conversations, and enjoyed sharing observations, such as “If we take one wrong step, we’re done!” He also commented on my ability to run quickly downhill, or as he said “skip” downhill. Jim says “run recklessly,” so I’ll settle for “skip.”

At about the 5 or so mile mark, Jim C. caught up with me. He, rightly so, suggested that I remove my skull cap, as I was beginning to overheat. I dropped him at mile 7 or so, and numerous times throughout the race thought he might catch me.

Jeff was waiting for me, as we had planned, at the the 10-mile aide station, and I was delighted to see him! I acted in typical fashion. What’s this, you ask? I took off my gloves and threw him at his feet, threw my skull cap at his feet, threw my empty Gu wrappers at his feet, took 3 Gus from his outstretched hands, and was on my way. No hello, no thank you. I’m too damned focused! 

At about mile 12, I was following Amber. We were running downhill, and I was looking for an opportunity to go by her. Unbeknownst to me, there was a fallen log beside the trail, with a rather thick limb stretching over the trail. I saw Amber veer quickly to the left, but it was too late for me. I hit the limb with my right hand as my arm was on the upswing. In fact, I hit the limb so hard that it quite literally spun me around, and I found myself facing the opposite direction. The wind was knocked out of me, and I had to momentarily stop running. I suffered two deeps cuts, one on my pinky and the other on my ring finger. Two weeks later, and I still have healing scabs!

I was bleeding quite profusely, and used my white Umstead Marathon shirt to try to stop the flow. At each of the remaining aide stations, I got quite a few concerned looks! Carolyn (Jim’s spouse) was at all of the aide station, and she encouraged me at each and every one. She could also tell that I was in a little bit of pain. Jeff was waiting for me at the finish, and I’m glad that he didn’t see me, as he had heard that there were bow and arrow hunters in the woods. I looked like I had been shot.

There were times when I knew my heart rate was at the maximum, and, for the most part, I listened to my body. As I mentioned, I did indeed walk numerous times throughout the race. When Mark was ahead of me, I would walk whenever he walked. At about mile 15 or so, I caught up with Monk, and he (self-admittedly) looked very bad. He was indeed walking, and looked defeated. I offered him food and water, which he refused. I recently saw him at R.E.I., where he works, and he thanked me for offering my assistance, and congratulated me on my finish.

It was very hard to keep track of my place, as I was being passed and then often passing many who had passed me. This was particularly true during the last 4 or so miles.

The finish was a steep downhill of about 200 meters and with many sharp turns. Before you get to the finish, though, you had to climb, yes, climb, for 2 miles. The trail was rocky, with many twists and turns. It was so steep that I had to press my forearms on my thighs to keep myself upright!

Before I even realized it, I was at the finish. The woods ended, and the finish corral was immediate. I wasn’t ready to stop, and had to be told to do so!

My first thought, “I don’t want to run this ever again, as I enjoy running but don’t particularly like hiking.” I said as much so to anyone who would listen, including Jeff.

I would like to run the race again next year. I would train for it differently, though! I have already begun to briskly walk up the stairs at work at least two times a day, for a total of over 200 steps. With proper training, I could take at least 7 minutes off of my time. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but time will tell!