Return To The Beginning

The Hat Run was our first ultra-marathon back in 2007.

At the time we had run many a road marathon and were in the middle of transitioning from road running to trail running. The Hat Run was also our first run with the Bimblers. We were training for the Pacific Crest 50 mile and attended a talk on ultra-running being given by Mr. Bimble and Guthrie at Sound Runner in Branford. We did not really know them, or any of the Bimblers, but, we walked out of the discussion that night thinking maybe we ought to do a 50k before we do a fifty-mile race. A bunch of the Bimblers were heading to the HAT run so we signed up.

Fast forward 11 years and it was time again the right time to toe the line in Maryland. While we did several cool races last year 2017 was an off year for us. Both of my parents passed away within a year of each other and running was put on the back burner. To recharge our batteries and jump start our 2018 season it seemed to make sense to go back to where our love for ultra-running all started.
The Hat Run (HAT stands for Hinte Anderson Trail, the two original and still RD’s) was celebrating their 30th running this year and the race remains one of the biggest low-key ultras on the east coast. The race sells out at 500 runners every year and there is always a fairly long wait list as well. I call it low key because while there are a lot of runners the race maintains a small race feel without a lot of hoopla or corporate shenanigans.

We had picked up our bibs and swag on Friday so on Race Day morning we just had to show up and run. After the obligatory try and stay warm, stand in the port-a-pot line pre-race activities the RD directed us all down to the field to begin the race. I love the start of the HAT! Hundreds of runners spread across a big field and then the RD says go and off we went charging up the hill like we were the south charging up Little Round Top at Gettysburg. Except in this case we were not trying to reach the union soldiers we were simply trying to get to where the field narrows to a path, about wide enough for six or so runners, ahead of as many people as we were able.
After this heart thumping start, we settled in to the 3.5-mile prelude loop that begins the HAT RUN. The HAT consists of this little prelude and then two roughly 13-mile loops. The opening section is probably my least favorite section of the course. You are still trying to navigate through lots of runners and you want to get this section over with and begin the first big loop. While the day was just about perfect weather wise the temps at the start were still hovering a little over freezing so we just tried to warm up settle in mentally and enjoy the scenery.
One thing I like about the HAT is you get back to your gear twice during the race. When we finished the opening “loopette” we were back at the start and able to drop gloves and hats and begin the process of de dressing that often happens at races. We grabbed a bit of food and drink and then off we went on big loop one!

I would call the HAT Run a fast ultra. By fast I mean there is not a lot technical trail or big climbs. Typically, these are not our favorite races to run, we tend to like more diversity. Still, every race has its challenges and the HAT is no different.

The big loop begins with about a half of mile of open field running. Having had eight inches of snow two days earlier we thought the course would have a lot of snow but in this first half mile we realized that snow was not going to be a major issue. After this half mile opening we fell into the woods and some lovely downhill non-technical single track. We have slowed over the years, but it seems on downhills experience is more important then speed. I am not sure if others would agree but it seems to us that you can judge runners experience by their downhill running. Many are tentative when heading downhill and this is a place where we tend to pass people. After this initial descent and some lovely flat single track, we hit our first water crossing (of four in total). Our theory for water crossings is watch your step but just go! The water was only about calf deep and twenty or so feet across, but it was early in the race and early in the day, so I was not thrilled with getting my feet wet.

After the first water crossing and maybe two miles in to the loop we began our first significant climb. It was a typical mid Atlantic state race climb. Nothing super steep or technical but pretty long in length at maybe a half mile and a few hundred feet of elevation. This rolling up down up down would happen a lot during the day and is perhaps the best overall description of the HAT course.

At about the 6-mile mark we left the woods and single track and found ourselves running in open fields that was one of the highlights of the day. The weather was beautiful, and the vista was wide and far. I took a bunch of pictures, we chatted with other runners, including a guy we will call the breather! We all have run with breathers, right? Six miles in to a 50k miles and the guy is breathing as if he is maxed out. I always feel like saying “dude, do you know you have 25 miles to go?” but, of course, I didn’t, and while we wished him well we really just hoped he would either go ahead or drop behind. Guess which one occurred? After completing this section, we hit the last half mile or so before the first aid station. I mention this part, even though we still had the breather with us on the first loop, because this section may have been our favorite running part of the whole race. Slight downhill, clean non-technical double track trail and a beautiful day. Hard to top those moments! At the end of this section we found ourselves at the 4. 2-mile aid station about 8 miles in to the race. The Aid Stations at the HAT are awesome! Basic Ultra stuff but they also have pierogi’s and grilled cheese and some amazing French fries! We are always quick to get out of aid stations, but we lingered a moment longer then usual to partake of the delicious food.

The next section from mile 8ish’s to mile 13ish was similar to the first section. Lots of rolling up and down single track where we power hiked the ups and ran the downs. In this section the open field running is substituted by a healthy dose of road. I would guess about a mile and a half. We usually do not like roads in an ultra, and I remember not liking this section ten years ago, but for some reason we liked the change in terrain this time around. Certainly, road miles are a bit harder on the body then trail but you are also able to run some relatively “fast miles” on the road. Plus, this road section runs along a river and has a high “prettiness” factor. So, we just tried to pick up the pace, enjoy the scenery and get to the last aid station at about mile 13. As always, the run is made easier by chatting with other runners. We don’t tend to be in to this as much as maybe we should be but, in this section, we met people from several different states and heard stories about a wide range of cool races and adventures. Certainly, helped the miles go by faster!

We arrived at the aid station, stuffed ourselves and got ready to take on the hardest section of the HAT RUN. The last five miles of the big loop has the most climbing, with three “get your attention” climbs. I can’t say the climbs are major but where they are situated in the race make them a challenge, especially the second time around (miles 26-31). To complicate matters this section had almost a funny amount of mud and every step seemed to be a slip and slide. Still, these things are often just a matter of mental energy, so we took our time and kept working towards the end of the loop.

The section ends with a brief downhill road section and then the last of the three climbs. At this point I remembered, from our last visit to the HAT, that we were close to the end of the loop. Normally this would be a positive motivator but for some reason this is the spot I might have hit one of my major lows for the day. I am sure we have all been there. You are running for a long time and you just need to get to the aid station. In this case we just needed to get to the end of the loop, so we could have the mental reset needed to finish this race.
The end of the big loop is also the start/finish area. I am not a big loop guy but, in this case, it was nice to get back to our stuff. The weather was warming so we took the opportunity to drop a layer of clothes and pig out on French fires and pierogis. Did I mention the aid stations were amazing?

After resetting our minds and bodies we were back on the trail for our final 13-mile loop. The highlights of this loop included me falling on my butt on some ice, not recommended for the leg muscles after 20 or so miles, the five-mile mud fest we slogged through along the Susquehanna river and lots of passing. While we did not negative split, we made smart pacing choices and took care of our bodies the first several hours and this allowed us to feel “strongish” all the way to the end, which is always the goal. I can’t say we sped up the last loop but were able to keep about the same pace and this led to us passing all those poor souls who for some reason were beginning the long slow fade that has hit all of us at one time or another in an ultra.

Running any ultra has its up and downs and we certainly experienced those moments. Still, for our first ultra in over a year and a half we were really pleased with our performance. We experienced only what I would call “normal ultra-problems” and I can’t remember the last time we raced with so few mental low points during a race. We are hopeful this will set up a good running season and look forward to toeing the line again in a few weeks for the 17k at Traprock. We have not been back to that race since the first year of the race and it will be fun to race that course with the HAT under our belts.

See ya on the trail!