Sky to Summit 50k – Know When to Empty the Tank

 Sky to Summit has been a race on my radar for a long time! The original Run Bum race is in its 12^th year in Sky Valley, GA. It features Rabun Bald on the eastern border between Georgia and North Carolina. I remember signing up for this race on my way home from the Boston Marathon. I was looking for another running event with my friends Nathan and Rebecca. They are some of my favorite people in the community. We’ve become good friends since Forgotten Florida nearly 2 years ago and went out of their way to make sure my 1^st Boston trip was memorable.

 

They booked an Airbnb and offered to let me stay in the extra bedroom. It was a great place to stay off the beaten path. It was across the street from a Haunted Hayride and Graveyard. Proceeds went to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. In all actuality, we were incredibly fortunate to run this event. The trails in the area were closed by the US Forest Service (USFS) due to damage, but Sean, Run Bum, and countless volunteers did a tremendous job clearing trees and debris off the various trails in the area. Sean Blanton, the Run Bum Race Director, is more actively involved in trail maintenance and cultivation than anybody else I know. He spends approximately 60 days a year and donates a significant amount of money to the various organizations in the Southeast that keep these glorious areas sustainable and enjoyable for outdoor enthusiasts of all types.

 

The night before I was relaxing, catching up with my friends, and hanging out on the porch watching the Haunted Hayride and Graveyard. I felt relaxed and ready to go in the morning. The morning went smoothly, and I felt ready to go. We go through pre-race introductions and line up on the road. Sean gives us the starting signal and we’re off! 200 runners or run uphill on the road. The 1^st 3 miles of the course set the tone, with 1500 ft of elevation between roads and runnable jeep trails. I am among the front of the pack trying to settle into a maintainable pace. I’m towards the front of the pack, but the top 3 take off. The leader looks strong and in control, but I see a lot of guys giving it their all so early. It’s 50k, so anything is possible, but I run my own race.

 

I settled into 4^th with another runner, Bill. He’s in his upper 20’s and a Marine. We’re running comfortably with the same tempo and pace and getting the chance to talk with one another. Incredibly nice guy, and the miles are ticking upwards. About 9 miles in, there’s a tree branch that caught me in the face and knocked the glasses off my face. I couldn’t see clearly and quickly realized that I needed to find them. Leaves are everywhere along the trails making the blue frames even more difficult to find. Bill was gracious enough to help me find them. Several runners went through showing genuine concern. After 2-3 minutes, but seemed like forever, Bill was able to find them. They were intact, however badly bent. I started walking down the trail and was able to carefully adjust them back into place.

 

We decided to pick up the pace, passing back the runners that overtook us. The short down and back section confirmed that we got back to the original position that we were in, only 5-7 minutes behind the leaders at the 10-mile mark. We turned around and started to climb back uphill. After about 12 miles in, I struggled to traverse a technical uphill section. I couldn't generate momentum as my feet slipped along the rocky terrain. I overworked my legs and lost my glasses again. I found them quickly and decided to regroup and recover as I got passed by a couple runners.

 

The climb to the observation tower allowed me to recoup and recover. The view was breathtaking, and I regained my rhythm and tempo. Traversing downwards was tricky, but able to navigate it. Heading into the last major aid station, I see a runner sitting on a downed tree. It was one of the frontrunners, and he says he’s cramping. I reached into my vest and gave him a Ziploc bag containing amino acids, salt tablets, and a pain reliever. I was in 8^th place at the aid station with 5-6 miles to go. I quickly refilled my flasks and headed up the jeep road. This 2.5-mile section is runnable with about 1,000 ft of climbing, making it challenging at the end of a race. I promise myself to give it everything I have.

 

I passed 3 runners who were power hiking towards the end of the climb. I’m feeling strong for the final stretch. I fill 1 flask at a water stop and head down the trailhead. According to my estimation, I’m currently 5^th. There were several hikers, including an old couple that stopped me in my tracks multiple times. I practiced common courtesy saying, “On Your Left!” repeatedly without reaction. I had to tap the man on his shoulder to get his attention. He stopped immediately, blocking the trail, yelling at me, and making it nearly impossible to get past him. I had to do the same to his wife, who stopped in the middle of the trail. I had to stop a 3^rd time for their unleashed dog. I was fuming mad but kept it together to be respectful around them.

 

Soon after, I saw another runner on a switchback. I caught up to my new friend Bill. He still looks in good shape but hanging on to the finish. I talked to him briefly before passing him and heading uphill. A couple minutes later, I passed another runner at the beginning of the final climb. He was struggling up the last hill, allowing me to catch him. I firmly know there are 2 runners ahead of me now, the other Kyle who took off at the start, and a female runner who looked impressive on the uphill climbs. My mantra was don’t stop running, with only 2.5 miles left and a ½ mile uphill section to go. I almost held true to that goal, taking a short breather on the last tenth of a mile.

 

When I reach the crest, I see someone standing at a junction helping to direct traffic to the finish. I ran straight through a water station, where everyone waited to see their runner because crews were not allowed on the course due to Helene. It was a downhill road descent, so I ran as hard as I could to the finish and ended up with a time of 5:39, which placed me solidly in 3^rd place. I stuck around to watch and encourage other runners to finish. My friend Rebecca placed 3^rd female and Nathan finished too, so it was a great day for all of us.

 

The next day, my legs felt tight. I went for a shakeout run/walk and hiked down a trail when suddenly my foot and ankle couldn’t support my weight as I stepped downwards. My legs collapsed under my feet. I belive I hurt myself in the final stages of the race Saturday that was made worse by some extra instability. I have been careful this week wearing a brace and running sparingly, hoping to be ready for Upchuck on Nov. 9^th. 

Rebecca and I celebrating our finish. I was 3rd OA and 2nd male and she was 3rd female.