The born again trail runner

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The first time I ever heard about the Escarpment Trail run was from Mr. Bimble just a few months ago. He said you gotta try this one and I have extra applications if you want one. I checked out the website and was doubtful I would be doing it. But after some interactions with other bimblers I was a little more convinced I should give it a go. Lefty was sure he would get me to sign up. I emailed the R.D. and he said there are still openings but you should hurry up and mail it in. After some hesitation I mailed my entry form. Two and half weeks of waiting impatiently I finally received the word I was accepted. One problem is that I had rolled my ankle a few days before and I was determined I would be healed enough by the time of race day .

Race day came and I was ready to tackle the Escarpment Trail. It was turning out to be a beautiful day by the time we got of the bus at the start. There a brief intro from the R.D. before the start. We all lined on the road and the horn blew and the runners were off. A slow bottleneck start through some mud pits and over a small bridge and before you knew it we were going up Windham Peak. It was just about an hour climb up and over to the next climb. All is going well for me at this point. I did my best to monitor my fluid intake but later turned out to be not enough. About 8 miles in begins the climb up Blackhead Mt. This turned into a slow steady climb up with plenty of grabbing roots and trees and rocks to pull you body up the trail. I kept a good pace. By the time I got to the summit of Blackhead (3940‘) I was about a little over three hours from the start.

Still hoping to get to the finish within 6 hours. This was just past the halfway point. The trail descended the mountain and my pace did pick up. But somewhere around mile12 my legs started cramping up pretty bad. Not one leg but both. It was on that flat part before going down into Dutcher’s Notch. I started to get nervous and took some salts I had. This was only at temporary fix. I felt that if I get running the pain went away a little. This became taxing on my body. I was soon out of water and needed some bad as I entered the Dutcher’s Notch aid station. Time was ticking and I lost a lot coming down Blackhead. I was about 4 hours and 15 minutes into the race and realized I would be having a hard time meeting my 6 hour goal. I downed some electrolytes and headed up Stoppel. What a relief it was to see the downed aircraft because the hard up hills would soon be over.

There was music playing at the aid station ( Bad Company) near the top of Stoppel and I ate more electrolyte tabs. I was getting a little lethargic at this point. I filled up my water bottle and headed of to North Point. I did my best to run this easier section of the coarse but it was hard. I finally made to the last aid station at North Point. I could see the lake where the finish was. The helpers at the aid station asked how I was doing and I said I felt dead. They asked me what I needed and I said a tombstone. They laughed at me and gave me water. I knew where I was but heard myself asking them where am I ? They said you at the North Point aid station. I knew how far it was to the finish but heard myself asking them anyway. For some reason I doubted them and I asked them again are you sure its only 2 miles? They reassured me it was 2 miles to the finish. So off I went down the trail to the finish. I turned around as I left the aid station and Dick Vincent (R.D.) was right behind me. I said no way is this guy going to beat me to the finish. So some how I picked up my pace and hauled it.

This is a hard section downhill with lots of scrambling down rock walls and boulders. I was very cautious not to fall so my pace was limited. Did I mention I was feeling dead but still moving forward. The last large down section was in front of me and I could here Lefty at the bottom of the scramble. I said I needed help to the finish and all I wanted was to get to the lake and jump in the water for relief. He was laughing and having a goodtime taking photos of me dying. This was a great lift in my spirits. He ran with me the last hundred yards and said that’s the finish ahead where all those people are waiting. I did not believe him. It was true I did make it to the finish!!. As I crossed the finish they ripped my number of my bib and I kept running to the lake. People were wondering why I didn’t stop at the finish. All I wanted was the relief of splashing into the Lake. It felt so good to go into the water. Like a baptism. My spirit was cleansed. I was reborn into the art of trail running.

The 33^rd Escarpment Trail Run
Sunday July 26^th 2009 9:00am.
Weather : Mid 70s, Warm, Hazy, Slight Breeze, Chance of showers.
Trail Conditions: Very slippery ,very muddy, very rocky, very rooty ,very scrambly, very nice.