Massanutten Mountain 100 Mile Trail Run - MMT 100 - 2009

MMT 2009: A first timer’s perspective

The drive to Front Royal, Virginia was drawing to a close. The mountains in front of me grew higher and higher while my heart sank lower and lower. I had convinced myself that this was a huge mistake. What was I doing here? I don’t belong here. I live in Dayton, Ohio. We don’t have hills. This is going to suck.

I learned about MMT in late 2008. I attempted my first 100 at Mohican in June 2008, but was ill prepared. I had only been running ultras for 2 months and had run my first marathon 4 months prior. After my DNF, I began training with more purpose and focus. I started training specifically for MMT in December 2008. I wasn’t certain if I would run it, but I was going to train as best I could. If I avoided injury and felt reasonably confident about my chances of finishing, I would follow through.

Skyline Ranch Resort

Resorts are places where one goes to relax. Generally images of swimming, shuffleboard, and buffets come to mind. Not this trip. It would be a time for running with clear expectations of brutality. No matter how hard I trained for this race, I knew it would not be sufficient to leave unscathed. My first views of the mountain range caused me to strongly reevaluate my decision to run a more difficult 100 miler for my first buckle. It also didn’t help that I would be running this one solo with no crew or pacer.

I arrived on Friday for check-in. The prerace meeting proceeded as usual and the dinner was satisfying. I wanted to check-in to my hotel and get to sleep, so I didn’t hang around the ranch after the necessities were completed. Besides, I wasn’t exactly in the mood for conversation.

Morning arrived quickly as I woke just prior to the alarm. My fingers were trembling slightly as I began to dress for the next couple days. I grabbed my finish line bag and left the room. By 4:00 AM I was sitting in my car at the Skyline Ranch Resort, the pump-up music I had prepared just two nights prior lie dormant in my ipod, a casualty of nerves. Mustering some strength, I exited my car for breakfast; a coffee and 2 donuts. Another runner remarked how nervous I looked. Thanks.

Skyline Ranch Resort to Habron Gap Aid Station
Miles: 0 to 24.7
Time: 5:00 AM to 10:20 AM
Pace: 12:57
Temp: 61 to 69
Weather: Dry, Humid

At 5:00 AM we started on our way. It was nice to have a good nerve calming easy road stretch before starting on the trails. I listened to runners’ conversations and discussions about training and past races. My feet felt good, better than they had in some time. The tapering had done its job. I entered the trails and continued to the Shaw Gap station, topped off my bottles and continued to Veech Gap where pancakes and sausage awaited. To this point, it was nothing but a beautiful yet humid running day.

There were great views along the ridges. Being my first visit to Massanutten, I felt compelled to stop and take in the scenery. I considered bringing my camera, but left it in the car that morning to keep myself from too much site seeing. I thought the fewer distractions the better. I wanted to keep my pack full of the necessities and nothing more.

There were 4 miles of road prior to the Habron Gap Aid Station, and on the advice of a friend I resisted running this section too hard so as to prepare myself for the 9.5 mile run to Camp Roosevelt. My first drop bag was placed here, so I picked up a third bottle (advice from same friend) and filled it with Gatorade to go along with my two hand held water bottles. I also had a shoe and sock change as well as a Boost.

Habron Gap to Gap Creek I
Miles: 24.7 to 39.8
Time: 10:20 AM to 2:45 PM
Pace: 18:47
Temp: 69 to 82 (Day High of 85 at 2:08 PM)
Weather: Dry, Humid, Rain near end

The first leg of this stretch was a 9.5 mile run that included a pretty big climb. The temperature had also risen quite dramatically. I arrived at Camp Roosevelt at 12:57 PM where I had my first doubts of completing the race. After a brief rest and taking in some calories, I continued on to Gap Creek. It started raining during this section. After reaching Gap Creek and my second drop bag, I picked up some more gels, another Boost, and my rain hat.

Gap Creek I to the Visitor’s Center
Miles: 39.8 to 48.2
Time: 2:45 PM to 5:40 PM
Pace: 20:50
Temp: 82 to 70
Weather: Rain Showers

I began to settle into a comfortable pace, not doing anything too fast, and carefully walking every incline. There was a road leading to the visitor center that was very nice. I wasn’t sure if my ankles would be able to hold up to the abuse they were taking on these rocky trails for the rest of the race. Although I wasn’t retesting the low I felt at Camp Roosevelt, I was certainly starting to feel worn. Upon reaching the Visitor’s Center, I ate quite a lot and the calories picked me up. I also happened to see an acquaintance from back home which gave me a psychological lift. Of course now that someone I know saw me here, I had yet another reason to not quit.

Visitor’s Center to Bird Knob
Miles: 48.2 to 52.1
Time: 5:40 PM to 6:50 PM
Pace: 17:57
Temp: 70 to 69
Weather: Heavy Rain, Wind, Hail, Lightening

Leaving the Visitor’s center, I was feeling much better physically, but I had hit a quick emotional low. I began to ponder exactly how much further I had to go. It wasn’t even dark yet, and I had an entire night of this to deal with before starting it all over again when daylight broke for the second time. I quickly worked through that, and tried to enjoy the climb up Bird Knob. I ended up climbing with a small group of runners and we struck up good conversation. After traveling down the crest trail we were treated to a spectacular view of the oncoming thunderstorm that was about to drench the area. I left the group and started running the trail to the Bird Knob Aid Station.

Not far from the aid station, the sky opened a fury of wind, lightening, rain, and small hail. I quickly donned my poncho and kept a nice pace to the station. My glasses were wet and I could barely see. Huge puddles were forming on the ground. I reached the Bird Knob aid station where I ate the best hot dog that was ever prepared in the entire history of the universe, both known and unknown. That was followed by an incredible chicken noodle soup.

Bird Knob to Picnic Area
Miles: 52.1 to 56.4
Time: 6:50 PM to 8:13 PM
Pace: 19:18
Temp: 69 to 65
Weather: Rain

I was in great spirits leaving Bird Knob. This was probably the best I had felt all day. I was past the 50 mile point and the night run that I was looking forward to was almost upon me. I would have a flat run then a descent to the Picnic Area which held my next drop bag with dry socks, shirt, gels, and a Boost.

Picnic Area to Gap Creek II
Miles: 56.4 to 64.9
Time: 8:13 PM to 11:33 PM
Pace: 23:32
Temp: 65 to 64
Weather: Rain

My stop at the Picnic Area was quick. I got what I needed, grabbed some food, and proceeded onward. With darkness came my headlamp. Unfortunately, it also brought rain. I drew my backup flashlight to add more illumination and attempted to navigate my way through the trails. This was my first experience running trails at night by myself. I was quite impressed that I didn’t freak out, although there were a few times I made double takes into the darkness.

The streams were overflowing, making the crossings somewhat hairy. It felt good to reach Gap Creek again. I met up with some other runners near the end of this section which took a load off of some of the navigational difficulties I was having. One of the runners was Jonathan from Charlotte. We ran quite a lot of the remainder of the race together, and I owe him for keeping me going out there.

My concern about my feet was growing. I knew that I had some blisters forming. That was going to be a certainty with all the rain that we had endured so far. My toes and heels were starting to feel very tender.

It had stopped raining by the time I reached Gap Creek II. I got my drop bag, drank a Boost, packed more gels, and I put on dry socks and a compression shirt to help keep me warm. Unfortunately, I forgot to grab my other poncho, and I left the station without any rain protection. This would be important later in the night.

Gap Creek II to Moreland Gap
Miles: 64.9 to 67.7
Time: 11:33 PM to 1:19 AM
Pace: 37:51
Temp: 64 to 63
Weather: “Dry”

I don’t remember much of this section. It was dark and not raining and I guess that’s all I could hope for at the time. I probably took an extended break at Gap Creek, which would account for the dramatically higher pace.

Moreland Gap to Edinburg Gap
Miles: 67.7 to 75.9
Time: 1:19 AM to 4:59 AM
Pace: 26:50
Temp: 63 to 55
Weather: Heavy Rain and Wind

I was not looking forward to the next two sections. It was night. The rain was off and on. But more important, the next two sections totaled 18.2 miles. These were some long stretches for this late in a race, and I wasn’t sure I’d be up for it. I also had to look forward to the climb up Short Mountain. From what I could gather, this mountain was not really short at all, and it had ended a lot of runners’ races.

The climb up Short Mountain was tough. I was with Jonathan and a few other runners. After reaching the crest trail, the next round of heavy rain hit, I’m guessing sometime around 3:00 AM. We were getting pounded by wind and heavy rain. As I reached into my bag for my poncho, I realized I had forgotten it. The temperature was dropping and I was getting cold. I had my cold weather compression top and a long sleeve shirt, but it wasn’t enough to protect against that kind of weather. A similar situation ended my race at Mohican.

Luckily I had packed a space blanket in my pouch. I pulled it out and wore it over my head and back as a makeshift poncho. It made an immediate difference. I had stopped the potential disaster, but I still wasn’t in good shape. I was expending a lot of energy to keep focused and warm.

I had hit my second physical low point by the time we reached Edinburg. I had spent the previous 2 miles listing my reasons for dropping, all of them good and without shame. I thought I was done. I proceeded to eat and get warm. I even took a blanket from a volunteer. I was feeling more and more relaxed. I felt compelled to join the napping runner next to me. Then something happened. The other runners in the group were ready to leave. I made no conscious decision to stand. I wasn’t sure what I was doing. I wanted to quit. I had convinced myself to quit. But I got up and left with the group.

Edinburg Gap to Woodstock Tower
Miles: 75.9 to 84.1
Pace: 22:04
Time: 4:59 AM to 8:00 AM
Temp: 55 to 53
Weather: “Dry”

It was my second morning of the race. I heard some of the other runners remark that you get a pick-me-up at dawn. They were right, but I didn’t like the fact that I was looking at probably 8 more hours of moving. On the positive, I was past the 75 mile point, and more important I was 2 hours ahead of the cutoff time. I was feeling reasonably good. I began to think about what I might do to screw up the finish. I was close enough that I didn’t want to mess it up.

This section include one climb and some flat areas, but my feet had been so beat that my running looked more like a slow shuffled jog. Dodging the rocks became imperative. Upon reaching my last drop bag at Woodstock Tower, I refilled my bottles, grabbed more gels, and drank a boost.

Woodstock Tower to Elizabeth Furnace
Miles: 84.1 to 96.8
Time: 8:00 AM to 12:58 PM
Pace: 23:27
Temp: 53 to 57
Weather: “Dry”

I was able to keep a reasonable pace through this area, not slowing too much. At Woodstock, I was 2 ½ hours ahead of cutoff, so I was still looking good. By this point in the race, I was mentally exhausted and physically brutalized. I began to hallucinate, but only slightly.

To Skyline Ranch Resort
Miles: 96.8 to 101.8
Time: 12:58 PM to 3:12 PM
Pace: 26.24
Temp: 56 to 60
Weather: Dry

After leaving Elizabeth Furnace, I began to hallucinate with greater frequency. My body and mind were screaming to stop. I cursed every rock that slammed my toes. At every switch back I yelled at the trail. This was the worst climb of the day. I was at my limit. I remember yelling, “Who the hell put this damn hill here!” “This makes a lot of sense. Why do you need all these rocks?” “99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer.”

Reaching the summit gave me little relief. At this time my quads were destroyed, and my descents seemed more painful that my climbs. I was passed by a large group of runners (the big group that finished together). I could barely look up to say anything. I wanted to run with them, but I couldn’t control the pain anymore. I later realized that other than some Gatorade, I had taken in no calories since Elizabeth Furnace. I had plenty of gels with me, but I had forgotten to eat them.

I finally hit the road and picked up my pace. Although I had walked a good deal of this course, I certainly wouldn’t walk the end. I entered a trail that wound past a horse stable area and eventually through to the large open field that sat next to the Skyline Ranch Resort. I had been able to hold back my emotions until now. I could hear people cheering. I was a simple runner who probably got in over his head on this one and didn’t really deserve to be there. I waved slightly, not to be rude, but because I was too exhausted to do anything else.

I could hear the announcer remark about my “blazing” speed since I had no more rocks to kick. How relatively true. The pain briefly subsided as I crossed the finish line. My head pitched forward, looking slightly ahead yet still towards the ground to hide some moisture that had developed around my eyes. I heard congratulations, feeling confused at why my stopwatch read 24:59:59. I realized that it reached its limit. I smiled; I had outrun my watch.

Overall Time: 34:12:27
Overall Pace: 20:10
Overall Place: 87 of 173 starters

Leaving Front Royal

I woke up at 6:00 AM on Monday morning. I felt great. I could barely walk and my feet were unrecognizable. The pain didn’t matter. I loaded my bags in the car and returned to the hotel lobby for breakfast. I chatted with Abi from Texas about the race for a few minutes, hearing about her MMT adventures that weekend.

As I drove out of the hotel parking lot, I looked back on the mountains that were my obsession the past 6 months, an obsession I had not directly met before Friday but had trained against for so long. I had beaten them.

Entering the highway heading north, I glanced back one more time at the mountains I called home for 34 hours. Those mountains seemed shorter now. Much shorter than when I arrived. I could hear them grumbling, prodding me to return so they could have another chance to break me. They might just get that chance. My big toes were pounding, left leg stiff, knees cut, and shoulders aching. Fresh blood trickled from my left ear where I had just scratched at a scab. I had never felt better in my life.