It is a tradition

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It is a journey of tradition and right of passage, who will be next?

A Thursday departure to Hamburg, PA, a short stay at the Mirotel and quick pilgrimage to Cabala’s. This year, the cycle was unexpectedly broken with a flat car battery and a brief moment of concern about the time it was going to take to reach the Virginia. We were gathered with Loopy, hoping to banish the gremlins of a DNF from last year, Forrest providing support and seeking vicarious experience in preparation for his Beast bid in 2011. ET calmly studying in the background, was looking to repeat his impressive performance of 2009, while Spuds and I, ‘old hands’ at the Hellgate experience, were going to be crew less in Virginia. Hmm, maybe there is a movie in that!

The unexpected battery failing, required a hasty call to AAA, breakfast waiting for the repair truck and an hour hanging out at a local repair shop getting a new one fitted. Then we were back on track, arriving at Camp Bethel around 5:30. From then on tradition followed the expected pattern. Dinner, an entertaining Horton pre-race briefing. The course might be 100k, but it might not be. The aid stations might be manned, despite the ice and snow on the access roads, but they might not be. The drop bags might be delivered to aid station 4 and 7, but they might not be. If you beat the cut offs, you might get a finisher award, but the quantity of available sizes doesn’t equate to the number of starters, so even if there are enough to go around, after a 62 mile (ish) slog you may be rewarded with a size that doesn’t fit. This is Hellgate and the only thing that is perfect are the unpredictable bits, weather, state of the course and camaraderie from the community of runners who return to the event year after year.

With a couple of hours to kill after the pre-race announcements, some doze, others scan route maps, others fidget with drop bags taking the content out, putting it back and then taking it back out to check that nothing has be forgotten. What a minute, did I add spare socks? ET plugged himself into the sound of a rap orchestra, Spuds zoned out, as did I, while Loopy and Forrest huddled over a discussion about crew / runner stuff. Slowly everyone prepared to run. The drive to the start is traditionally a frenetic dash up the highway with drivers nervously hoping they don’t lose sight of the car in front. This year some bright spark had the idea of the convoy putting their hazard lights on – we’ve only been doing this race for 8 years – sometimes the simplest ideas or the best! The ride to the Hellgate trailhead was much less stressful and before anyone could say ” Why am I doing this?”, we were off.

Out on the course, the stories, recollections and experiences are so individual I’ll leave that to other race reports except to say that despite running this course 7 times previously, I still find myself on sections that I have no recollection of running before! Over the years the field has become more competitive and this year that tradition was no different, at the end all the top ten finished broke 12 hours a feat that he’s never been done before. The finisher awards, compliments of Patagonia, included really nice puff jackets for the top ten men, top five women and age group winners, everyone else would receive nice jersey tops (men) or fleeces (women). Anticipating that a top ten finish wasn’t in my gift, I was going to be very interested at anyone passing me who looked remotely to be in my age bracket!

Initially, ET sped off from the start, the field spread out but through most of the race there was never the sensation of isolation that has been a characteristic of previous years, maybe tradition isn’t constant. I caught up with him shortly after aid station 4, we were climbing a steep dirt road and I noticed a figure ahead staggering ahead. as I got nearer I questioned in my mind if this runner was OK, then I recognized the clothing and called out. ET later said he was fighting the desire to not fall asleep, hence the stagger! For a long while we fell into step and ran together, but a little before Bearwallow Gap (aid station 7) he said he was having a tough time, so we separated and I pressed on. He said later his hamstring was painfully tight.

[singlepic=6985,280,200,,left] From then on my focus was to simply maintain a pace as fast as my body would allow and continue my sequence of Hellgate finishes. There are just 6 runners who have finished every year since the event started. At the finish Horton is generous with praise for every finisher,the fact that you’ve finished is the biggest feat while anything else is a bonus. Some, like me, were 8 time finishers or age group winners, others were first time finishers or Beast finishers ( the Beast is a series of 6 ultras through the year, remember to track Forrest during 2011 as he attempts it). Some like ET, who in previous years have run much quicker times receive praise for sticking at it and finishing despite having to overcome discomfort or injury. One runner finisher after failing and smacking his head on a metal barrier. It didn’t look as if he could see out of his right eye and I think the race doctor was considering a stitch but I’m not sure what the outcome was, either way he was well cared for.

[singlepic=6994,280,200,,right]Gradually our small group finished, Forrest ran a relay service to escort Loopy and Spuds during the last mile. Loopy finished with an expression of grim determination, she said “never again”, but they all say that initially! 😉 Spuds is pictured moments after finishing looking back up the course with an expression of “$&@* you!”, but even he has mentioned next year. It is after all part of the tradition. At breakfast Loopy asked who we might be able to persuade to run Hellgate next year. You know who you are and we’ll be knocking sometime soon!

It is a journey of tradition and right of passage, who will be next?

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