2006 Rocky Raccoon 100m report by Dave Bursler There are times when my mind wanders and takes me to a place that is relaxing, soothing and beautiful. There is a long soft trail in the woods covered in pine needles that encircles a beautiful lake. It is so quiet at times you can hear all the birds chirping and the animals scattering about the forest. The people are friendly, courteous, humble and willing to do anything to help each other succeed. It’s a fantasy world that truly does exist but I have only one opportunity a year to visit. The place is Huntsville State Park just North of Houston, Texas and the reason I’m there is to participate in the Rocky Raccoon 100 mile Endurance Run. Rocky Raccoon is my favorite 100-mile event not only because of the beautiful park it is held in but also because it is one that I’m confident I can excel in. Coming from the state of Delaware where the highest point is only 900 feet I sometimes struggle in the more difficult mountainous races. The total elevation gain and descent of Rocky is less than 5500 feet making it much more manageable for me to run which allows me to be confident and push myself to the limit. It’s a runner friendly course that has little in the way of challenges to overcome. The short hills are only noticeable on one 3 mile out and back section of the course and even though roots can sometimes hinder the footing for the most part it’s excellent. This leaves your own mind as the only challenge to overcome. I must admit another thing that appeals to me about Rocky is the family atmosphere. There are times when I retreat from people just out of pure shyness alone but for some odd reason I feel at ease when I’m with the people that are part of this event. I think it’s because no one is unapproachable and we’re all on equal ground. I have no problem walking right up to complete strangers and chatting with them as if I’ve known them my entire life. There are handshakes, hugs and kisses that are normally reserved for close friends and family. This type of environment lessens the stress of the actual run and allows me to relax and enjoy the entire weekend. My only concern going into the race was the undue pressure I had put on myself. My goals were set very high and I feared I would not only let myself down but others as well if I did not achieve them. I set a personal best time last year at this same race in a time that I worked extremely hard to get. I was motivated last year by a friend, a friend who at one time held a special place in my heart. She was there running the 50 mile race pushing me each time to run as hard as I could to meet her somewhere on the course every loop. The thought of meeting her allowed me to stay focused on something other than being tired and ultimately helped me achieve my personal best time. This year I would have to generate that same energy from another source to remain focused on my goals. Going into the run I had no clue where I would find that source of energy. Race morning arrived with clear skies and temperatures in the mid-forties. I arrived at the park dressed in tights with shorts underneath, a tank top with a long sleeve shirt pulled over top, and a light jacket. I planned to strip down to my shorts upon the start of the race and then remove the long sleeve shirt as the temperature rose during the day. I decided against wearing a knit hat but since my hands are so sensitive to cool temperatures I did wear gloves knowing I could discard them in one of my drop bags later in the day. I brought one water bottle along that I would carry the entire way but opted against wearing a waist pack looking for any advantage to optimize my speed. Having aid stations every three to four miles apart on the 20 mile loop allowed me to feel comfortable knowing that everything I would need would be supplied within a reasonable distance. I was also confident knowing that if an aid station didn’t have what I required than I could always fall back on my drop bags that were placed at the Dam Road aid station and the Lodge. I put the typical things in my drop bags such as Ensure for quick calories; Starbucks Double Shot for quick energy, Succeed tabs for potassium/sodium replenishment, Arnica to use in place of aspirin, spare batteries, and warm, dry clothes. The 6 a.m. start meant that darkness would still be upon us for about 1 hour so a light would be required over that time. I put a lot of thought the night before into what light I would carry and how long I would carry it. In the past I’ve been known to carry a flashlight the entire time I’m running so I never have to take a risk and try to make it to a certain point before sundown. This day I decided to not only wear my headlamp but also carry a small handheld flashlight. Last year, within the first 2 miles, I tripped on one of the wooden bridges and fell into a ravine hurting my knee because I did not have enough light. I didn’t want to take that gamble again this year so even though it was inconvenient I carried both of my lights at the start. It was getting close to the start of the race as one of the organizers yelled to everyone to gather in the tent where the race would begin. I placed myself in the second tier from the front but just before the start I moved up to the front row so I wouldn’t get trapped in a crowd of people. The time I had taken to speak with God prior to leaving my hotel room had left me relaxed and calm as I waited for the race to start. I had done my part by training hard for months prior to the event and now it was time to rely upon the Man above to help me get through the race safely while doing my best. The start of the race was signified by a simple quiet “go” from a person I never even saw. It wasn’t the smoothest start I’ve ever been involved with as each of us squeezed our way through the front of the tent onto the paved pathway that would lead to the trail. Paul Frost and I led the way initially but Jorge Pacheco and Guillermo Medina took charge within the first quarter mile. Last year Jorge ran with the lead pack for the first ten miles before making his move but this year he seemed to have a different strategy leaving us in his dust early on. I immediately told Paul that I was sure Jorge was going for the record and figured Guillermo would try to hang with him as long as possible. In the months leading up to the race I envisioned Jorge pulling away and me running alongside of him. It was a method I used to get myself fired up for the race but in reality I knew I would be smart and run my own race. My strategy was to race the clock not the people around me. I was sure if I followed my plan that in the end I would be where I wanted to be. There were several people there that I knew were better than me and if I tried racing them then I would be jeopardizing my entire purpose for being there. My goal for the first loop was to run it in 2:40 as I had the previous three years I ran the event. It was a pretty aggressive goal and a gamble on my part. The gamble was successful two out of the last three times I ran this race but I went on an epic death march the other time. Jorge had long disappeared in the darkness as Paul Frost and I led the rest of the runners up the trail. The course led us on a gradual uphill on a trail that ran parallel to the main road leading into the park. The surface was soft and free from roots allowing us to run haphazardly for the first three-quarters of a mile. As we reached the Interpretive Center we turned right, crossed the main road and back onto another trail. I was prepared to run through some sloppy conditions in this section as in years past but to my surprise it was dry. The damage Hurricane Katrina caused to the park in September prompted some major upgrades to the trails including building up this low laying section. When we reached this point it felt as though we were out of civilization. Nothing but trees and brush could be seen all around. It was quiet, still and serene as we ran briskly through the woods into the darkness. Paul and I took turns pushing hard as we started to build an advantage on those behind us. The pace we maintained was disconcerting at times but I was able to keep my mind off of that by chatting with Paul. I truly don’t like to talk a lot about myself so I questioned him to death about things in his life. We talked mainly about sports but also about personal goals and achievements. It was still very dark and the surface had become a little more challenging with roots appearing out of no where. It was of the utmost importance for us to concentrate on where we took each step while trying to enjoy each other’s company. Since this was my fifth attempt on this course I felt at ease as I took each step but knew overconfidence could put a quick end to my day if I tripped and twisted an ankle or even worse broke a bone. I looked forward to making it through this one and a half-mile trail section so we could start our way up the easier dirt jeep road. It wasn’t long before we made our way up a rise in the trail and we reached the sign that directed the 50-mile runners to the right and the 100-mile runners to the left on the jeep road. We turned left as directed and began the first out and back section of the course. The jeep road would lead us 1.5 miles to the highway 45-aid station where we would turn around and come back to this point and beyond. The road was wide, soft and somewhat rolling. The little hills were virtually unnoticeable the first time around but as the day progressed they could and would become more of a challenge. Paul and I ran very quick through this section and easily made our way to the highway where we would then make a left up to the aid station. Just as we made our left we saw Jorge on his way back with Guillermo just leaving the aid station. I was sure Guillermo’s intentions were to run with Jorge the entire distance but apparently Jorge had other ideas. Paul and I ran the last several hundred yards into the aid station where we both just turned around without stopping. Both my bottle and stomach were full so there was no need to stop 4 miles into the run for no reason at all. Even though Paul wasn’t carrying a bottle he made the same decision as I. It was now daylight as we headed back in the opposite direction down the jeep road, which gave us a good opportunity to see those behind us. We gave and received encouragement from everyone as we passed by. Surprisingly Andy Jones-Wilkins was laying low and running behind us at this point. Last year he stayed with the front of the pack until pulling away in the 3rd loop. Even though it was way too early to speculate I wondered what his agenda was. Possibly he was just out for a fun run or maybe he was just biding his time. No matter I was adamant about staying with my plan of running against the clock and not the other competitors. Paul had been running a pace that I was comfortable with and I felt confident I could run with him the entire way. Andy, on the other hand, was a much better runner than I so I knew it was just a matter of time before he would pass me. I had to be prepared for when it happened so I didn’t stray from my strategy and try to stay with him. I recognized several other people as we made our way back down the trail. Frank Probst was giving a strong early effort leading me to believe he was shooting for the 60 and over record. I also saw the female contenders in Connie Gardner, Sue Johnston and Julie Fingar. If I wasn’t participating in the race itself I would have loved to just sit back and watch these three talented ladies battle it out for the championship. I felt a rush of adrenaline as people I didn’t even know were cheering me on. It’s an amazing feeling to have friends on the course shout cheers my way. When Paul and I reached the end of the out and back we continued down the road another couple of hundred yards before turning right onto another short trail section. The course led us slightly uphill on a single-track trail with soft dirt mixed with large roots. The footing was pretty good but I remained alert at all times so I wouldn’t trip over any of the roots. Even though there was a mist in the air the bright sun still managed to shine through the trees exposing the pretty foliage in the forest. Coming from the East Coast where the dead of winter has taken a toll on all our trees it sure was nice to see some green. I was running fast, staying aware of my surroundings but still able to observe the fantastic scenery. It wasn’t long before Paul and I came up a rise where we could see another jeep road in the distance. We followed the trail to the left where it ran parallel to the road for about 50 yards before allowing us to make a right directly onto the road. The road was wide, smooth and easy to run on. We kicked it into gear and ran the last quarter of a mile or so into the Dam Road aid station. My bottle was still about half full so I decided to continue on without stopping. Paul, however, made a quick pit stop to grab his bottle out of his drop bag and get some water from the volunteers. Paul quickly caught back up with me as we made our way down what I consider the most difficult part of the course. This is advertised as a 2.9-mile stretch from the Dam Road aid station to the Far Side aid station and then turnaround and run 2.9 miles back. It’s difficult for three reasons; first of all I believe it may be a little longer than 2.9 miles, secondly this is where most of the elevation gain and descent is at on the course and finally at night it will be the most dreary, dark place on the course. The first three-quarters of a mile are on a wide, smooth dirt road that heads in a downward direction. This path leads to a small footbridge that signifies the start of the short hills. Once over the bridge the path turns into a single-track trail leading up hill. There are very few places on the course where walking is justified but if walking is in the plan this is the place to do it. My plan didn’t call for any walking on the first loop so Paul and I ran vigorously up the hills. As we were running up the first hill, to my surprise, I could see Guillermo only a few hundred yards ahead. He was running but it seemed he had slowed dramatically. As we continued running we slowly gained on him. Paul mentioned that we had picked up the pace but I didn’t think so. Guillermo was able to maintain an advantage on us as he seemingly sprinted down the hills while trudging up. The footing, at times, was questionable with some large roots and uneven surfaces to complicate things. It was still very manageable and with a little effort easy to run on. All in all I would say there were about 3 or 4 small hills that needed to be traversed before reaching the Farside aid station. A few minutes before reaching the end of the out section I saw Jorge hustling down the trail toward us. He nodded in a supportive manner as he continued on his way. As we came into the aid station I was sure Guillermo would stop and we would catch up to him but he blasted right through. It was very cool outside so I was still nursing that same bottle of water and didn’t need to stop either. I could feel a rush of adrenaline as we closed the gap on Guillermo, which was a good indicator that we had indeed picked up the pace as Paul suggested earlier. My competitive impulses went to work and overpowered my good senses as I drove forward to get by him. Less than 1 mile from the aid station Paul and I caught up to Guillermo and passed him. I introduced myself to him and chatted a little before moving forward. I was well aware of Guillermo’s past performances and wanted to show the respect he deserved knowing full well that we would probably be meeting up again later in the race. I looked down at my watch and noticed that it had taken us 21 minutes to go the 2.9 miles out. The quick pace was both good and bad. I didn’t want to blaze the first loop at such a pace that I would burn myself out for the rest of the race yet I knew I needed a good first loop to achieve my goals. I could feel us slow after passing by Guillermo mainly because there was nothing ahead to push us. Yes Jorge was up there but I couldn’t see him nor did I think I had a chance to ever catch him. It was nice to see who was behind us and have the opportunity to give encouragement as the other competitors headed toward the Farside aid station. I was a little surprised to see the leader of the 50-mile race, Larry Hall, so soon but as he went by I saw the intensity in his eyes and knew he was on a mission. Paul and I took turns taking the lead and maintaining the pace. We talked continually which helped me to relax and remain calm. We went up and down the short hills with ease and before I knew it we were back at the wooden footbridge that would lead us back to the wide dirt road. Early on in the run this section would be pretty easy but with the gradual incline leading to the aid station this short three quarters of a mile could be tough during loops three to five. We cruised into the Dam Road aid-station again doing the 2.9 miles in 21 minutes. I wasn’t ready to stop at the aid station so I went right by headed down a connector road that would again lead us back onto a trail. We went about a half-mile before the course directed us off to the left back onto the trail. This was a short section on easy root free terrain with pine needles absorbing the force of each footstep. The woods’ surrounding us was beautiful but seemingly devoid of wildlife. While I wasn’t very interested in meeting up with a snake or alligator I certainly would have loved an opportunity to see an armadillo or a pretty bird. I figured it was probably a bit too early or maybe Jorge had scared them off before we could get there. No big deal I had to go around four more times so I had plenty of more opportunities. This section took us up to the lake where we exited the woods and ran alongside the water. In the distance, off to the right, the Lodge could be seen with all the people mingling about. I thought it would be cool if I were here later that night when Jorge finished his race. I would be able to see silhouettes of excited people congratulating him and hear the cheers. This was a nice flat section on a dirt trail that would continue for less than a quarter mile before returning us back to the woods. As we entered the woods there was a park bench on the right that I have always used as a landmark. This section of trail would lead us to the swamp where we would cross over a couple of long wooden bridges before heading down the last mile into Site 174 aid station. The landmark would help me get a feel of how long it would take to get to the wooden bridges which ultimately would help me later in the race. As we entered this part of the course Ryan Loehding joined up with us. Ryan had run the Heartland 100 with me in October of last year and beat me by about 1 hour so it was no surprise to see him this early on. The footing became increasingly difficult as Paul; Ryan and I made our way down the trail. There was little talking at this point for fear one of us may trip over the roots scattered about. I was able to dance around most of them while still maintaining my balance but as the trail led us up and downhill it became more of a task. Paul and Ryan seemed to effortlessly run through whatever was there while I had to put a major effort into it. Since I’ve been here before I knew what to expect but still I knew it wouldn’t be easy. The daylight hours would be tough but when the sun went down it would be even tougher. Soon the trail flattened out and the debris disappeared. The winding, twisting trail was a welcome site because it meant the swamp was right around the corner. Having only run about 16 or 17 miles at this point my body was still limber so I easily maneuvered around the sharp turns but something told me that it wouldn’t be so giving the next time I made my way though this winding trail. The wooden bridges are very cool because it gives the effect of running through the jungle. There is woods behind and in front and swampy water on either side of us as we ran in the open air. The first bridge is about 50-75 yards long, which led us back on to dry land and on a short single-track trail in the open air. The trail then led us to the right back into the woods for a very short period of time before bringing us to the second long bridge. This bridge is closer to 100 yards long and it crosses a more water like substance rather than the swampy material the first bridge crossed. As I ran across I couldn’t help but think of the 40-45 alligators I was told live in this pond. One slip and I could be food for one of them albeit as thin as I am not much food but food none the less. Paul was in the lead at this point and didn’t seem to waste any time hauling his butt over the bridge. I wondered if his thoughts were the same as mine as he crossed. Once over the bridge we made a right back into the woods and on single-track trail. This is my favorite part of the course because not only is it close to the end of the loop but also because it reminds me of a place where I train. The trail held tight to the pond on the right and was soft and dry. I was totally surprised by the dry part because in past years this area was saturated with water and was a muddy mess. There was one part of the trail where someone had place hay in an obvious low point to suck up any standing water. This was of great help and even with 200 some odd people running over it constantly throughout the day it held up. Since the trail was free of water we were able to pick up the pace a little and push hard for the next mile or so into the aid station. Paul actually pushed me hard and I struggled to keep up but with only a few hundred yards to go I knew I would be able to hang with him. Finally I stopped at this aid station and had my bottle refilled. Paul had pushed really hard the last couple of miles so while my bottle was being refilled I took a moment to regroup. Paul, Ryan and I took off together looking to knock off the next 3 miles to finish the first loop. The trail led us up a short hill as we exited the aid station but then leveled off for the next mile. The terrain was typical of what we had been seeing the entire day with soft dirt coated in pine needles with a few roots scattered about. We ran straight on a virtually flat trail until we were directed to the right. At this point the course became a little rolling with some short uphills and a couple of twisting, winding sections. The sound of cars in the distance let me know we were getting closer to the main road of the park. We ran up one final short hill before reaching the Interpretive Center where we made a right and headed back down the same trail that we ran out on earlier in the day. Once at the Interpretive Center Ryan bailed on us because he had to use the restroom. Paul and I wasted no time making our way back down the last three quarters of a mile of rolling trail back into the Lodge where we started earlier in the day. As we headed in we saw Jorge Pacheco headed back out. We figured he was probably about a mile ahead of us already. He was flying as we acknowledged one another. I couldn’t help but be impressed but at the same time wondered if he could actually maintain that same pace throughout. Paul and I jaunted on into the aid station where I quickly discarded both my flashlight and headlamp. I was a little concerned I would have trouble finding my drop bag because I had put the wrong number on it but one of the volunteers must have noticed and fixed it for me. I made the comment as my bag was found quickly how great of a job they did. I found it amazing that someone recognized my mistake and fixed it for me. Our time for the first loop was just under 2:38 which was a little quicker than I expected but within an acceptable range. I felt okay but there was still a long way to go and many struggles to overcome. I made my way back out to start the second loop after a short stop at the aid station. Paul stayed a little longer and allowed me to go at it alone. My plan was to pull back some and take the next 20 miles a little easier to save energy for the later miles. I was happy with the 2:38 first loop and would be satisfied with anything less than 3 hours for this loop. While I wasn’t particularly tired at this point I couldn’t help but recall past performances where I burned out early and struggled to finish. The second loop would be the most challenging of the day. I allowed myself to become vulnerable to the tricks of the mind. Instead of staying focused on where I was at my thoughts drifted towards where I wanted to be and how quick I needed to be there. I allowed reality to interfere with my thought process and instantly became overwhelmed by the amount of miles I had left. Contributing to my worries was the fact that I felt I needed to run most of the way in order to post a good time. All of these thoughts combined with the actual running eventually wore me down in the early miles of the second loop. I became increasingly concerned that I would not be able to hold my ground. The lack of motivation going into the run was now coming back to haunt me. I was able to run the first 20 miles on physical ability alone but now, in trouble, I needed to dig deep within myself and find something extra to get me through. I ran hard as I made my way through the short trail section to the jeep road where the 50 mile runners and 100 mile runners split. I couldn’t help but look behind me several times to see if Paul was anywhere in sight. Maintaining a lead on Paul helped me remain focused on moving forward without allowing any negative thoughts to shut me down. I was okay with using this as motivation even though I strayed away from my initial plan of not racing anyone. It was a temporary fix and it would allow me some time to regroup and get me back on the track I wanted to be on. I was about three quarters of a mile up the jeep road when I saw Jorge returning. Again there was just a nod between the two of us as a way of feeding one another encouragement. As a proven champion I wondered what his thoughts were at this time. Was he concerned with who was behind him or was he just concentrating on beating the clock? I’m not sure how well I would be able to deal with the pressure of leading a race wire to wire. His outward expression led me to believe he was handling things well but who knew what was going on inside his mind. I was tiring as I made the turn into the highway 45 aid station but I refused to give in and stop for aid. My bottle was full and I was not hungry so I had no excuse and didn’t want to fabricate one for the sake of rest. I saw Paul Frost and Guillermo Medina closing in on me as I made my turn to head back down the jeep road. My pace had slowed so I knew it was only a matter of time before one or both passed me. This was actually a calming thought as it brought me back to reality. I began to reevaluate my strategy to lessen the burden on my mind. I decided to lower my expectations and not push myself to run the entire distance but rather implement some walking in the third loop. The new strategy helped me to relax but still did not resolve the issue at hand which was the fact I had 16 more miles to run before allowing myself to have walk breaks. I was certain this loop would be similar to the last in that it would take pure physical ability and determination to get me through it. The only difference was that I was fresh on the first loop and able to maintain my goal pace. I continued back down the jeep road until I hit the connector trail section which led me back to the second jeep road and then the Dam Road aid station. Paul, who had passed me earlier, had now pulled away some but I still had him in my sight. My thoughts were all over the board ranging from concern to panic. I tried my best to convince myself that most of my thoughts were not rational this early in the race but it was a struggle. Even with the struggles I was confident in my ability to overcome the challenge of my own mind but at this point I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it. The one thing I didn’t want to have happen was a repeat of my performance at the 2004 Javelina 100 when I crashed at the 50K point and basically death marched my way into finish. I was facing a barrier I have never been able to hurdle and that was maintaining a fast pace when feeling bad. I made a quick stop to grab some water and food at the Dam Road aid station and as I did this Guillermo Medina caught up to me and passed. Micky Rollins, a volunteer, tried to motivate me by yelling over to me that I shouldn’t be stopping. I kind of chuckled but inside his comments made me realize how serious this competition was to other people. We were only 27 miles into the run and up to this point I was doing fine and actually ahead of my goal pace. I had to stay within myself and stop when needed or pay the price later. While I don’t think anyone feels good when being passed I realized I was running to my potential and if passed it was okay. I spent less than a minute at the aid station before heading down the trail trying to catch up with Guillermo. I caught up quickly but only stayed with him long enough to tell him he was doing a good job. He was definitely running stronger at that point than I was so I backed off and allowed him to pull away. My mind again began to work intensely. I wondered if I would have enough energy to make it up the hills that were now directly in front of me. As I made my way up the hill I remembered something Guillermo had told me earlier in the run. He said he was not racing anyone in particular but rather running consistently and then seeing who comes back to him. As I saw how easily he was gliding up the hills using that strategy it came to mind that I should try the same thing. I knew that most of my struggles were not physical but rather mental so any stress I could relieve from my mind would be beneficial. Instead of pushing hard up the hills I now ran casually while consistently moving forward. It had an amazing affect on me as I was now resting as I climbed. I was about 15 minutes out of the Dam Road aid station when I saw Paul Frost in the distance with Guillermo closing in on him. Paul looked to be tiring and Guillermo was taking advantage of it. Both were holding their own against me as I was in a self preservation mode and just trying to run consistently. I saw Jorge again coming back down the trail looking very strong with now what I estimated as a 2-21/2 mile advantage on me. I was feeling a little better as I made it into the aid station and grabbed some food before quickly moving on. Even though Paul and Guillermo were now out of sight I was not alone as I shared the trail with both the 50 and 100 mile runners heading in the opposite direction toward the Farside aid station. The runners headed back were very supportive as I heard words of encouragement from several people. I was tiring but seemed to be holding my own against the people chasing me. I was about 10 minutes ahead minutes of my closest competitor, Ryan Loehding, and about 15 minutes up on Connie Gardner the female leader. The fact that I had not lost any time on either of them made me wonder if indeed I had slowed or if both Paul and Guillermo had just sped up a little. No matter, pace wasn’t my concern at this moment but rather getting myself refocused and thinking about the right things was what I needed to start doing. I didn’t bother to stop at the Dam Road aid station upon my return but instead continued on. I was ready to get this loop in the books so I could start the third and utilize my new strategy. The next 4 miles leading up to the Site 174 aid station were no different than the previous 13 in that they were mentally stressing. I also had some difficult moments running through and around the roots as I tripped and fell a couple of times. Each time I fell it took me about 20 seconds before I actually got up and ran again. I laid there stunned each time trying to regain my senses and making sure I wasn’t hurt before actually getting up. Luckily I always fell on the soft dirt rather than one of the big roots so my landing was cushioned and my body parts protected from damage. I then made my way through the winding, twisting trail that led me to the wooden bridges which ultimately led me back to the trail. Once on the flat trail that ran parallel to the pond I pushed hard running towards the aid station. When I made it in instead of quickly moving out I looked to see what sources of energy they were providing. I figured the only thing I would find is some type of power gel but to my surprise they had several cans of Red Bull lined up on the table. My eyes lit up when I saw this. I can’t stand the taste of the energy drink but the effect it has on me is amazing. I took the can of Red Bull and some food with me as I made my way up the short hill out of the aid station. I didn’t bother to savor the taste of the Red Bull by drinking it slowly but instead I chugged it down and followed it quickly with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I had taken from the aid station table. The loop had taken a toll on me but my revised plan called for me to run the first 40 miles of the course before walking could even be considered and I was determined to do so. I plodded my way up the trail toward the main road of the park and then looked forward to the last ¾ mile jaunt back to the Lodge where I could again regroup. I was about ¼ mile from the Lodge when I saw Paul Frost ahead looking more worse for the wear than I. I was gaining on him steadily which caused my competitive juices to once again start flowing. My energy level seemed to be building which I contributed in part to the adrenaline rush of catching up to Paul and the effect of the Red Bull. I wanted to catch Paul so we could run into the Lodge together just as we did the first loop. Right before the left turn onto the path that would lead us into the Lodge I caught up to him. I was content to run by his side into the Lodge as the time on the clock read 5:34 giving us a time of 2:57 for the second loop. I stopped briefly at the aid station to access my drop bag. It was time to focus on getting some calories into my body so I grabbed a bottle of Ensure out of my bag and swiftly chugged it down. As soon as I had drank the last drop I moved out of the aid station without barely a word said to anyone. The third loop would be a good indicator of whether this would turn into an easy run or a death march. I had just overcome a lot of adversity to finish with what I considered a more than acceptable time for the second loop. If I responded as I thought I could to the new strategy I devised earlier there was the potential I could do as well or even better on this loop. Something, whether adrenaline or Red Bull, had perked me up and given me new life as I began my trek to complete 60 miles. I left the aid station running alone still behind Guillermo Medina and not too far ahead of Ryan Loehding and Andy Jones-Wilkins. Jorge was out of the picture as he was smoking the course. This was now a race for the second through fifth places. Paul seemed to be struggling as we entered the aid station and took some extra time there so I knew there was a chance I might be able to pull away from him on this loop. I ran with purpose as I traveled up the trail that ran parallel to the main park road. I was interested to see just how far back Ryan , Andy and Connie Gardner were. I glanced down at my watch as soon as I recognized Andy in the distance. He gained a lot of ground on me during the second loop as my pace became erratic while his stayed consistent. He looked very relaxed and confident and had a big smile on his face as he went by. Andy is a guy that always seems to have a smile on his face whether just involved in a casual conversation or running 100 miles. Familiarity with his demeanor helped me stave off the intimidation factor. He had just run forty miles so he was facing his own demons but has the ability to disguise it well without exposing his troubles to the outside world. It’s a good quality for any ultrarunner to have. Facial expressions can have a big influence on how you actually feel. Smiling can make a person feel better even in the most adverse physical conditions. Andy has mastered that trait and probably feels the positive effects. Anyhow he was close by me and I wondered how long I would be able to stave him off. I felt strong and ran at a consistent pace through the 1.5 mile trail section and up the jeep road into the Highway 45 aid station. I stopped to grab some food, have my bottle refilled and grab a couple of Succeed tabs off the table. I was feeling the warmth of the mid-day sun and realized it was time to start taking preventative measures against any imbalances that could occur due to the heat. I also took the time to remove the long sleeve shirt I had been wearing all day. The breeze that was blowing contacted my exposed, sweaty arms cooling me immediately allowing me to feel refreshed. As I left the aid station I felt like it was a new day and had the energy of a young child. Upon my return trip back down the jeep road I saw that Andy was now right on my tail. He was less than a ½ mile behind and moving in. I was feeling very good and had picked up the pace so I was sure Andy was making his move. I concluded he was tired of toying around with me and was now ready to take charge. I ran faster as the thoughts flew in and out of my mind. Here we go again with the competitive thing I thought to myself. I was pushing trying to maintain my position for as long as possible. I was risking everything with this attempt. I was deviating from my strategy but it was gamble I was willing to take. It was going to be all or nothing at the end anyway so I might as well give what I’ve got now while I have it. I never looked back as I came off the jeep road and went up into the trail section. I pushed hard trying to maintain my advantage through the trail up to the 2nd jeep road which would lead me to the Dam Road aid station. Once at the aid station I had to play it safe and refuel. I’m a gambler and willing to take risks but my own health is more important than a race. I needed to make sure I cared for myself before heading out for the long 2.9 mile out and back. Even with the quick break I was still ahead of Andy but now I could feel his presence directly behind me. I ran down the straightaway and made it over the wooden bridge which leads to the first challenging hill on this section. The adrenaline was flowing through my system giving me the energy to virtually sprint up the hill. I could feel myself pulling away from Andy as I did this. Andy pushed back and even gained some as we descended the short hill. I could tell immediately that this was going to be a pattern through this little hilly portion of the course until we both reached the aid station. It was pretty obvious at this point that he was stronger on the downhills than me and I was stronger on the ups. We, indeed did make it into the Farside aid station virtually running side by side. Our 50 mile split was 7:05 which Andy referred to as very fast and I certainly couldn’t disagree. Now running together I finally had my opportunity to question Andy about his strategy. I teased him a little about sandbagging it earlier. I was sure he would have passed me sooner in the race. Turns out he did have a very solid strategy planned and up to this point had done an excellent job of sticking by it. His goal was to run consistent 2:50’s for each 20 mile loop which would give him a cumulative time in the low 14’s. Since Jorge ran 14:14 last year that strategy could have possibly allowed him to compete for the top spot this year. Anyhow we chatted about many things including his impressive second place finish at Western States in 2005. I had the opportunity to watch the top runners arrive at the Michigan Bluff aid station last year and was totally in awe of the fact that he looked the best out of all of them. He went on to torch the backside of the course and finish in second putting him in position to be the favorite in “06”. Our talk didn’t last long but it was certainly very power packed and informative for me. Andy moved on down the trail leaving me behind only to see me again on the out and backs later in the race. I actually felt a sense of relief after he went by now feeling I was where I belonged in 4th place. The question now was could I hold onto my place? My main competition wasn’t too far behind and Ryan would be picking up a pacer for the 4th and 5th loops which would give him an advantage that I didn’t have. Connie Gardner was running consistently still only about 20 minutes behind and I was well aware that she could make a charge at any minute. I saw both Ryan and Connie as I made my way back to the Dam Road aid station. Both of them looked very strong and unrelenting so I knew my job would not be easy. I still had not done any walking up to this point but with the knowledge that I would allow myself to when needed I averted an inner struggle. I ran free and easy up the short hills and up the path that led into the aid station. I stopped quickly once again to grab some water and food and as I did a lady manning the aid station asked my name. I told her who I was and her response was “I know you; you’re from Delaware and you’re fast”. Her comments choked me up because somehow, me, a guy from out of nowhere in the little state of Delaware had become known to people across the country. It had nothing to do with the fact that she complimented my running ability but rather the fact that she knew who I was period. I’ve never wanted to be known as Dave the runner but instead I want to be known as Dave the person. I could feel a tear form in my eye and emotion building deep inside me as I left the aid station and headed down the short connector road.. Her comments made me run harder and faster than I had in awhile and they were something that I would use to motivate me periodically throughout the remainder of the race. I ran strong through the trail section until I reached the part of the course that was covered with large roots. Once again I wasn’t concentrating enough on my footing and I tripped and fell. If nothing else I learned that I’m a pretty resilient guy as I picked myself up almost immediately and continued on. It’s never fun and always a little scary to take a hard fall in an area that’s littered with rocks or roots. I was shaken up a little after the fall and for some odd reason a little winded. I guess the fear of falling drained some of my energy stores causing me to temporarily become exhausted or maybe it shook me enough to make me realize that running 100 miles is just a tad bit crazy. I gauged my energy level as I reached the twisting, winding path. This is where I felt totally depleted on the last loop but this time around I was charged full of energy. I was excited that I had seemingly made a full recovery and overcome what could possibly have been my most difficult challenge. I was able to run strong from here over the wooden bridges and down the trail that led me into the Site 174 aid station. I immediately searched the aid station table for Red Bull since it had given me such a lift on my last trip through here. I grabbed a can of it with some food and once again chugged it down as I made my way up the short hill that leads out of the aid station. This little short 3 mile section back to the Lodge was somewhat difficult in my mind because I feel so close yet I’m so far away. I thought it would be wise in order to prevent a let down to allow myself to walk a little of this section. I allowed myself to walk up the little hill that led out of the aid station while I drank the Red Bull and ate some food. I also power walked a few more short hills on the trail that led up to the Interpretive Center. The little bit of walking I did allowed me to run strong the last ¾ of a mile back into the Lodge where I finished the third loop in a cumulative time of 8:41 or a loop time of 3:07. I was very happy with the time I was able to post for the third loop but realized that the time to put up or shut up was about to begin.. As had been the case throughout I didn’t waste any time getting in and out of the aid station. I did, however, take a couple seconds to grab my headlamp out of my drop bag. It was 2:41 p.m. in the afternoon and the sun was shining brightly but with fatigue setting in there was the possibility the next loop could take 4 hours or more. Having the light would give me less to worry about as I tried to remain focused on running at a consistent pace. The only two goals I had as I left the aid station was to maintain my 4th place position and to run as comfortably as possible without walking for a significant period of time. I ran all the way up the path that ran parallel to the road looking for Ryan and Connie but saw neither as I crossed the road to reenter the trail. It made me feel good to know that even though I did some walking towards the end that I still put some time on both. That gave me the freedom to walk when needed and made me feel confident that it would only be minimal time lost when I did so. I ran all the way through the woods until I reached the jeep road at which point I considered walking up the first short hill but at the last minute decided against it. I wanted to start off this section on the right foot and then slack off on the next uphill section. This was such an easy road section in the early miles but the thought of those little hills alone made running up them at this point tough. I implemented a method where I ran hard up one and then walked up one. The walking time was less than 2 minutes but the rest I received from walking was invaluable. When I ran up the hills and straight-a-ways I felt as strong as I did in the early morning hours. By using this method I was able to get into the aid station in 17 minutes or only 2 minutes slower than when I ran it on the last loop. I did not see Jorge on my way out but noticed Guillermo had a substantial lead on me and Andy was building his lead and looked stronger than ever. I quickly stopped at the aid station and refueled before turning around and heading back. I felt a lot stronger on the run back and didn’t feel the need to walk at all. I looked for Connie and Ryan to gauge how much of a lead I had on each of them. As both went by, Ryan first and then Connie, I glanced down at my watch and noticed I had neither gained nor lost time on either of them. The game was survival of the fittest from here. I made up my mind to run the rest of the jeep road up through the trail to the second jeep road and into the next aid station without stopping to walk. I was calm, relaxed and somewhat strong. I did, however, take a few seconds to say a prayer to the Man above. Plain and simple I just asked Him to help me. This wasn’t the first time I had done this during the race nor would it be the last. I certainly didn’t believe He was going to make me run faster or give me the courage not to quit but I absolutely did believe He would protect me and put me in a position to do my best. I couldn’t ask for more and didn’t ask for more. I stopped at the Dam Road aid station with the knowledge that I had a tough road to tow up ahead. Armed with the knowledge that I would allow myself to walk up some of the hills sure made those thoughts a little less stressful. As I left the aid station I ran down the wide path towards the wooden bridge that would lead to the first little hill. I ran gently up the hill at the start but then slowed into a quick, brisk walk. There are no hills on this course that are particularly long but out of all of them I would consider this one to be the longest. I didn’t want to walk the entire hill for fear of losing too much time so after about 1 minute of walking I kicked it into gear and powered up the rest of the way. This would be the same method I would use for the rest of the hills all the way into the Farside aid station and then back to the Dam Road aid station. As I was making my way back to the Dam Road aid station something happened to me that supplied me with motivation the rest of the race. I pulled up to walk beside a lady who was walking up one of the hills on the way back to Dam Road. I thought I would chat a little and feed her some encouragement. As I took off to continue running she yelled back at me that I had too much energy left and must have been sandbagging it up to this point. I knew that what she said was untrue but I always feel that I should consider other people’s opinions whether negative or positive. Opinions, whether I agree with them or not, could carry key learning’s that would only benefit me in the long run. Her comment energized me and forced me to run harder. I wanted to test myself to see if she was right. I quickly realized that whether she was right or not didn’t matter the only thing that mattered was that I stay on course and follow my own plan. I slowed down to a reasonable pace as I crossed the wooden bridge and headed back up the dirt path to the Dam Road aid station. It was still light when I left the aid station but I was sure by the time I arrived back at the Lodge the sun would be down and I would be running the final mile in the dark. I ran the ¾ mile or so down the little connector road that led out of the Dam Road aid station back into the woods. The last 6 mile stretch of the 4th loop could be tough if I allowed it to be. I promised myself though that I would stay focused and not allow anything to bother me. I cruised down the trails at an easy pace that I was comfortable with stopping only momentarily to walk up some hills and around some roots when I felt the need. Before I knew it I was crossing the wooden bridges and back on the other side of the pond running the short stretch into Site 174 aid station. I stopped long enough at the aid station to once again grab a can of Red Bull and some food to chase it down with. I employed the same method of walking up some short stretches where the trail rose but once again my walk breaks were only a minute or less. I made my way up the final hill onto the trail that would lead me back to the Lodge. Again the effects of the Red Bull kicked in just as I reached this section. The energy surge I received allowed me to run strong on into the aid station in a cumulative time of 12:04 for 80 miles or 3:23 for the loop. I wasted absolutely no time as I grabbed a cup of water and a cup of soda before heading back out to finish my last lap around the pond. It was 6:04 p.m. and the sun was just now starting to go down. I still had a few more minutes of daylight and wanted to take advantage of it by hustling up the trail. I was hoping to get across the road to the next trail section with a little light left. It wasn’t to be though as when I reached the woods I was engulfed in total darkness. I flicked on the switch to my headlamp which to my dismay gave off very little light. I could barely see the path in front of me not alone the roots that were scattered about. I regretted leaving my handheld flashlight in my drop bag. I was so determined to get in and out of the aid station quickly that I forgot to access my drop bag and retrieve my light. Oh well it is what it is I said to myself. I’ve run this course so many times that I knew it by heart anyway. I had no choice but to run haphazardly and gamble that I could dance around the roots without tripping. I got about a ¼ mile onto the trail when I heard someone coming up behind me quickly. There was no way someone could have caught up to me that quickly without me knowing it. As it turned out it was just a young lady out for a nighttime training run. After she left I continued through the woods slowly watching every footstep so as to not fall flat on my face. I trudged along but eventually I made my way out of the woods and onto the jeep road. As I reached the jeep road I fiddled with my light hoping to find a way to make it brighter. I turned it off and on several times before finally double clicking the on/off switch which unbelievably switched it into bright mode. I didn’t really need the light on the jeep road but later as I made my way back onto the trail it would be to my benefit to have more light. Two years ago I was on 17 hour pace until I reached this 1.5 mile section of the course. I literally gave up here that year and watched as 8 or 9 people passed me and the clock ticked away. I used that as motivation to keep moving quickly as much as possible. The out section to the highway was pretty tough as I was forced to walk more of the hills than I did the previous loop. I still did more running than walking and arrived at the aid station in about 12 minute mile pace for the 1.5 miles. I was dragging when I arrived at the aid station and became increasingly concerned that I could have a repeat performance of 2004. My race turned drastically as I left the aid station and made my way up a short hill towards my friend Jeff Heasley. This guy has taught me many lesson as we’ve ran together the last two years at the Massanutten Mountain 100. Today though he was coming off of a tough 100 mile race in which he participated in Hawaii in the middle of January. This race was supposed to be a nice training run but it had turned into a bit of a death march for him. I stopped to talk with him for a few seconds and then tried to motivate him to run a little with me. I thought it would be cool to run the last 16 miles or so in with him so we could catch up on things that have happened since May. Unfortunately his legs would only allow him to run for the next several hundred yards before giving in to fatigue. I moved on as we wished each other good luck knowing full well that both of us would finish some time that night. My encounter with Jeff did an amazing thing for my morale. My spirits were lifted and my energy level increased which allowed me to run all the way back down the jeep road and up to the entrance of the trail. When I reached the trail I met up with another friend of mine, Beth Simpson from Wisconsin. She was in good spirits and looking strong on a pace that would allow her an opportunity to break 22 hours. I stopped to talk with her as we walked a short hill that led us into the woods. She was very supportive of my effort as I was hers. We wished each other luck as I picked up the pace and moved on past her as she was content to follow her own strategy. I used the energy generated from my conversations with both Jeff and Beth to get me through the trail without stopping and then up the 2nd jeep road into the Dam Road aid station. This would be my final time out to the Farside aid station and what I considered my last real challenge of the day. If I could get out and back without going into any kind of sustained sluggish walk then I was sure that the thrill of finishing in 4th place overall and the first person over 40 to finish would supply enough energy for me to finish strong. I briefly stopped at the aid station before making my final trek. Again I kept in the back of my mind the death march that I performed on this section of the course in 2004. The young girl that was pacing me that year was exposed to my whines and cries in the night. She watched as I executed one of my most prolific death marches ever. I conditioned myself specifically for this race this year and was confident that there would be no reenactment and I would breeze through this section with ease. I ran down the path to the bridge and then implemented a walk/run strategy up the hills. I would walk most of the way up and then run all the downs and flats. There were times when I even ran up part of the hill if I thought I was wasting too much time. This method along with the thought of my 2004 disaster got me out to the aid station and back with ease. The way back to the Dam Road aid station would be my last opportunity to gauge the distance I had between myself , Ryan and Connie. I looked closely into the darkness trying to identify each competitor as he or she went by me. I ran about 14 minutes before I saw Ryan and his pacer running up a hill. The fact that he was running up hills concerned me a bit since I had been walking them. I was pretty sure though that my experience alone would allow me to maintain or even build on my 28 minute advantage over the next 7 or 8 miles. Ryan’s appearance lit a fire under me and motivated me to run harder and faster. I had been in either 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place the entire race and I was not about to give it up now. I ran another 10 minutes or so before I saw Connie Gardner run by. She had slowed dramatically as my early 25 minute advantage had now turned into a 48 minute advantage. I wasn’t taking anything for granted though because there were still some significant miles to be traveled and anything could happen. I pulled into the Dam Road aid station one final time and for the first time accessed my drop bag. I pulled out a can of Starbuck’s Double Shot to give me one last charge of energy that would hopefully get me into the finish strong. I was at the aid station for less than 2 minutes before hustling out down the road on my way to the trail. I had no troubles through the first trail section that led me up to the path that went alongside the pond. In the distance across the pond I could hear cheers as if the winner had just crossed the finish line. At first I thought Jorge had just won the race but as it turns out it was Andy Jones- Wilkins crossing the finish line in 2nd place overall and 1st in the USATF Championship. I didn’t pay much attention because I still had a lot of work to do before I could be done for the evening. I thought disaster had struck as I was led back into the woods. The light beaming from my headlamp had disappeared and I was running in complete darkness. I struggled with the light as I cautiously ran . I squelched thoughts of not achieving my goals by convincing myself I could run the rest of the way in the dark if need be. I’m a strong nighttime runner because that’s when I do most of my training. I had already become accustomed to tripping on the roots and falling so that certainly didn’t scare me either. I fiddled and played with the light as I ran at least a ¼ mile before it miraculously came back on. The relief of knowing I would be able to see the rest of the way was a calming influence. There was nothing going to stop me now as I made my way through the winding, twisting path, across the wooden bridges and down the trail into Site 174 aid station. The only time spent there was to grab one final drink of soda before hauling my butt up the hill and down the trail towards the finish line. As I left the aid station I took a peek at my watch and it read 15:29. I was sure that if I gave a good effort I could make it across the finish line in under 16 hours. All along I knew I was on this kind of pace but I’ve had so many break downs in past years that I wasn’t totally confident I could do it until I reached that final aid station. I thought I could still be patient and walk up a hill or two if needed but I was so excited I raced up most of the hills until I reached the final incline right before the Interpretive Center. I walked briskly up this short hill and then pushed hard in the direction of the finish line. I got about ¼ down the trail when a person I had just passed yelled out my name. It was my friend Rick who had come along with me to make his attempt at the race. I yelled back at him that I have a chance to break 16 hours. He yelled back “yes you do”. I pushed hard becoming more excited with each step. When I made the turn to go towards the final straight-a-way my heart was beating through my chest. When I got within eyesight of the finish line I was almost in a full sprint. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the clock read 15:57:25 as I crossed the finish line and made my way into the tent to get a well needed rest. I was not only ecstatic with the time but also the fact that I was able to maintain my fourth place position overall and 2nd place in the USATF Championship. As I sat down I was greeted by some of the friendliest people that I have ever encountered in my entire life. Paul Frost, my running partner for 40 miles, was the first to congratulate me. What a very modest and humble guy. He had to call it a day after 60 miles due to some stomach problems he was having yet he graciously hung around to greet the other runners as they crossed the finish line. Andy Jones-Wilkins, the second place finisher, was genuinely happy for me as he congratulated me on my effort. He still had that patented smile on his face even after running 100 miles. What a true gentleman and supreme competitor. The R.D. Joe Prusaitis was right in line to congratulate me. This man is probably one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met yet at the pre-race meeting he was willing to give all the kudos for organizing the event to everyone but himself. He is truly a great race director and obviously a man that is passionate about his sport and caring for those who participate in it. Finally Mr. Jorge Pacheco whom I didn’t have the opportunity to meet until the next day has to be the fiercest competitor I’ve ever had the opportunity to run against yet very humble, unassuming and meek. He may have had an agenda to break some records but he always took the time to acknowledge those around him and give his support. He is truly a person whom I am proud to have represent the sport of ultrarunning. Dave Bursler Bear, Delaware