Wrapping up 2022 and Heading Into 2023 (Cloudland Canyon 50, Lookout 50, Looking Ahead to 2023)
I apologize for falling behind on updates. Thank you to everyone who reads and supports me. I hope to be able to help you guys accomplish your goals running or otherwise!
ACT I: Cloudland
Canyon 50: Not What I Expected
Ch. 1 Leadup & Pre-Race
In the month following Pinhoti,
I’ve enjoyed running, using it as an outlet for stress, and not following a
specific plan. I’m relying on my past training and familiarity with the course
since I ran the race last year. I felt incredibly burnt out. I encountered anxiety
and panic attacks to the point where I considered, dropping from 50 miles to
50k, and even not running at all. Stress built up from work, home buying, and
everything else. I decided to focus on enjoying the race and be willing to set
aside goals if necessary.
I eagerly looked forward to
improving on my time from 2021. I did poorly with a finish of 9:50. I finished 6th
despite all the struggles I had that day I was only 10 minutes out of 2nd.
I hadn’t run a 50-mile race since then, but in the year that has passed, I have
gone further and faster than before. My initial target was 8:30 and wanted to
be competitive. This is a very scenic course along and down the canyon,
followed by an out and back along the Cloudland Connector Trail (CCT) with the
turnaround at the top of Tower Rd, which is a very steep climb and descent at
the highest point of the mountain.
The course changed to remove the 1st
loop due to flooding, which made the course easier and faster to navigate. I
thought a time around 8 hours was possible but still unlikely. My strategy was
to start strong at night due to the course being non-technical. I lightly packed
my vest with the intention of maintaining a fast pace and being efficient at aid
stations. The weather forecast looked to be great! Perfect temperature,
overcast skies, a bit windy, and slight rain. I woke up in the morning ready
and excited to go, so I was cautiously optimistic.
Ch. 2 Race Time!
I get to the race about 30 minutes before the start and it’s just enough time to get ready without rushing or panicking. I ran into a couple friends and familiar faces which is always nice. Before I know it, we get the race instructions and lineup for the start. 3, 2, 1, and GO! We all dart down into the 1st corner. I’m 5th in line, which is a good spot. After a ¼ mile, the pace was slow and inconsistent. The single track bottlenecked quickly. I decided to jump the conga line and take the lead. I pulled my 2nd headlamp out to help navigate. I quickly pulled away from the crowd and on my own. I am by myself until we complete the 1st loop of 6 miles and a guy name Jevin caught me heading into the 1st aid station.
It’s just the 2 of us together as
we start down the road. After 3 miles, we remain together holding a steady pace. It was just before sunrise when we reach this awesome overlook 9 miles in and
found out we had 5 minutes or so to the next runner. We start our descent down
into the Canyon as we continue to take turns in the lead. The canyon and
temperatures are perfect right now. We reach the bottom of Sitton’s Gulch 15
miles in at 2:15. After Another very quick stop at the bottom, we found out the lead
remained the same amount as we began the difficult ascent back up to the top of
the canyon. I begin noticing soreness and tightness in the back of my quads and
hips but continue to push through. We make quick adjustments at the top and
begin heading out on the Connector Trails. We reach the next aid station at the
marathon mark in just over 4 hours. I notice at this point my watch is acting
wonky, so I am relying on previous experience to get me through. Jevin has more
energy left in the tank and is ready to take off. As I approach the aid station at
the 50k mark, I take a couple of extra moments to prepare for the Tower Rd
section. Jevin takes off ahead of me as I steadily navigate the climbs and
descents leading to Tower Rd. We have a 10-minute lead here over 3rd.
I decided to power hike up Tower
Rd. and it felt like it took forever. My legs started cramping up at the top
and especially on the way down. I lost several minutes working through this.
Meanwhile, Jevin opened a decent lead at the turnaround, and the next runner,
Justin, nearly caught me at the top and passed me at the end of the downhill
section. I told Justin to catch the leader as he passed me since he looks fresh
and fast! I still have a decent cushion over 4th place, but that
could change quickly if I don’t keep the pace up. When I reach the last aid
station, I am at 6:40, leaving me 1:20 to complete the last 7.5 miles to finish
under 8 hours and hopefully finish on the podium.
I reach the highway with 3 miles and
33 minutes to go, making sub 8 close. I hit the 2 miles to go with 21 minutes left
and need to push myself through the final technical section before approaching
the finish. I am out of breath and my legs are in pain. Fortunately, I’m able
to finish in 3rd place with an official time of 7:58:42. The leaders
had another gear, finishing 20 minutes ahead of me. I had no chance of keeping
up no matter what I did. 4th place finished 15 minutes behind, but I
wouldn’t have been surprised if he had caught me. Justin caught and passed
Jevin with 2 miles to go and won by 90 seconds, which is rare for an
ultramarathon race. My friend Shannon finished 7th overall and 1st
female in 8:26, which is a fantastic time!
Ch. 3 Volunteering the 50k Race
In addition to running the 50-mile
race Saturday, I volunteered for Sunday races. I did both events in 2021 as a
special event but decided to give my body a rest with Lookout Mountain 50 Mile
race only 2 weeks away. As soon as I show up at the aid station, I am put to
work on the grill to cook up bacon and quesadillas. It was a fun time since it
was 8AM and it was perfectly acceptable to have an Irish coffee. Collette and I
are rocking everything and getting help from several other people as the
runners are starting to reach the aid station after completing the Canyon loop,
which is approximately 13-ish miles. It was great getting to see several people
I know run the 50k event and help support them.
I really enjoyed the opportunity
to help other runners as they passed by. The camaraderie and energy are infectious.
After running so many events myself, I really appreciate the hard work that goes into
providing aid and support. I see several familiar faces that I’ve met in other
events and runs. I encourage all runners to volunteer and get to experience helping
other runners out. I really enjoy sticking around until the end of the race. The
frontrunners require minimal support and train plenty, but the runners who are
towards the back of the pack put forth all their effort and energy into these events.
I give them all my enthusiasm and support to continue because many of them are
attempting an ultra-distance for the 1st time, overcoming obstacles,
or attempting to achieve a personal best.
ACT II: Lookout 50 Mile Race
There was no real break to prepare
for the Lookout 50-mile race 2 weeks later. I spent most of my time working
hard at my job and closing on my house. I’m excited to establish my roots here.
I’m tired and drained mentally and emotionally, but physically feeling strong. The
weather forecast seems a little cold to start but should get better in the afternoon.
I found my bib number symbolic because 365 is the number of days in the year
and to keep progressing I need to work on putting in the work every single day.
I did the 18-mile loop last year and am familiar with the rest of the course, so no surprises here. The overall pace is very fast, and I am sending it full speed ahead on all the runnable sections and maintaining a steady pace in the more technical and uphill sections. The beginning of the race has a different feel than most other ultras I’ve done. I quickly found the right pace and placement before hitting the single track. Unlike most races, I’ve noticed my pace is quicker in the technical sections, but I’m losing time in the open running areas. My past experiences have shown that trend to be the opposite for me.
I get through the 18-mile loop in
a fast time of 2:36 or so. I am in roughly 8th position in this spot
and happy with my performance so far. I quickly change my clothes because I am
soaked in sweat with the 100% humidity in the air. All I had in my drop bag was
a tank top. A bit cold for that, but I can make do with that. The stop took an
extra minute or so, but worth it for the conditions. I head out on the 50k-ish
portion starting on the moonshine trails. About a mile into this section, there
are no marks to be seen. I think I know where the trail goes, but I missed the
turn since they were no marks. I ended up losing 5 minutes and a few positions
getting lost running an extra ½ mile. That’s part of the adventure and I felt
better when I found out several other runners did the same thing I did.
I made that up quickly working
towards the halfway point at Lula Lake. I catch a pack of runners at Lula Lake
leaving, so I get organized and do a check-in to make sure everything is in
order before I find a spot to pass them when the single track opened another
lane. I work my way through Lula Lake and Nickajack sections passing 2 more
runners and getting passed by 1 until I reach Long Branch. I’m up to 6th
or 7th place now. I feel strong at the 50k mark and heading out for
the very hilly and technical loop. This section really kicked my butt. I
reminded steady and ran within my comfort zone. There’s time to be made up once
completing Long Branch. It’s so gorgeous in this remote area. I wish we could
run this private loop on the regular.
I pass 1 more runner on my way to the Bluff Rd. aid station. Only 10 miles to go and I feel strong. I was tempted by Fireball but ultimately decided to pass. I continue staying strong crossing with other runners toward the back of the field. I smile, wave, and encouragement to all the runners hoping they continue to persevere and find the strength to finish. As I reach the Lula Lake aid station, there are approximately 8 miles to the finish. I see 2 runners leaving the aid station and heading up the hill.
I am laser-focused on catching and
passing them feeling the rush to make a strong push to the finish. As I catch
them, I believe that it was a runner with a pacer but, it was 2 runners. With 5
miles left, I am in complete confusion as I recognize that it’s Coree. Coree is
a major part of my ultramarathons and long-distance running story. More on that
later. I continue moving steadily and notice the 2 runners are surging and
repelling in various sections. I am not shaking them as they pick up the pace
heading into the finish that includes the treacherous White Lightning trail. I
push as hard as I can to maintain pace and 3rd place. I burned out with
3 miles to go, just short of the top of White Lightning. I drop to 5th
and work on recuperating and struggle to the finish. When we exit the woods,
there are no marks to be seen and the sun is the brightest yellow imaginable. The
course marking are yellow flags, making it even more difficult. I missed the
turn and lost another 3 minutes or so to get back on the trail.
I struggled mightily at the end, but I eventually finished in a time of 9:18 in 6th place, only 3.5 minutes out of 3rd behind Coree. I am extremely happy with this performance. Getting to run the same race as Coree and perform at that level was a coming-of-age moment for me. Coree successfully completed the 200-mile Ice Age FKT in 20 days. I was fortunate enough to pace him for a few hours when his crew was injured and exhausted. His attitude and perspective really motivated me to reflect on my life and make a lot of positive choices. I have so much gratitude for getting to follow his journey and learn from him since the summer of 2020 when we met.
I stuck around until the time cutoff to support and cheer on other runners. Friends and strangers alike, it was rewarding to help at the finish making sure finishers get their awards along with any other needs they may have to recover. The after-race is one of my favorite things. Getting the chance to share experiences, bond, network, and sometimes even plan future events together. I was proud of so many people that persevered to get their 1st 50-mile finish and work through the struggle to achieve their goal. The longer it takes, and the more effort required to reach your goals, the more fulfillment, and a sense of accomplishment are perceived.
ACT III: 2022 At A Glance
I know some people wonder why my
stats are for running. So, I will share my Strava stats for those who are curious.
I’m really hoping to be more active in 2023. Have some form of activity every
day, climb over 500k feet of elevation, and reach 5,000 total miles.
ACT
IV: 2023 Outlook.
I had a very active December 2022 outside of
running as well. The major announcement I have is that I closed on a house in
Chattanooga a couple of days before the Lookout 50. I am currently working on
some minor and subtle improvements. I’m looking for roommates too since I’ve quickly
realized that I have way too much space than I know what to do with.
My goals for 2023 are ambitious. I
want to increase my mileage, especially in elevation and difficulty. I want to
improve my physical health, focusing on core strength and weight loss. I want
to run a sub-3-hour marathon and qualify for Boston. I want to qualify for Big’s
Backyard Ultra World Championship. I want to become more involved in the
running community as a volunteer and trail ambassador. I’m willing to run and
support my fellow runner's train, crew, and pace for events. If you need any
help, please feel free to reach out. I wish everyone all the best this year
with PRs and new milestones!
1/15/23 Update: I ran my 1st road half on Jan. 1st after celebrating NYE in Nashville and set a PR of 1:28:00. It wasn’t my effort, but I didn’t feel 100% either so that’s encouraging for road running goals. I also got a spot in High Lonesome 100 this summer, so I’m super excited to visit Colorado!
2023
Race Schedule (So Far):
Jan.
21, 2023 - MAD Backyard Ultra (Camp Jordan)
Jan.
28, 2023 - Mountain Mist 50k (Huntsville, AL)
Feb.
4, 2023 - Forgotten Florida 100 (Orlando, FL)
Feb.
25, 2023 - Elsie Enduro (Ringgold, GA)
Mar.
5, 2023 - Chattanooga Marathon
Mar.
25, 2023 - Georgia Death Race (NE GA)
Apr.
28-30, 2023 - Grand Viduta Stage Race (Huntsville)
May
6, 2023 - Strolling Jim (Wartrace, TN)
May
20, 2023 - Quest for Crest 50k (Asheville, NC)
Jun.
14-21, 2023 - HOTS (????)
July
21-22 2023 – High Lonesome 100.
Sept. 16, 2023 - Barkley Fall
Classic (Frozen Head, TN) OR Georgia Jewel (100/50/38)
Sept.
30, 2023 - Little Dog Backyard Ultra
This schedule is
still TBD for the 2nd half of 2023. Looking to do another 100-mile+
race in the back half of 2023.
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