We're Going Streaking!

Well that title brings back fond and zany memories - but its not that kind of streak.

 I finished my 6th Hashawha Hills 50K in February, and that makes me one of two (one male, one female) with the most finishes.  I have a rich history with Hashawha, and even more so with the fantastic race director, his wife,  and all my Hashawha friends.  In so many ways, on so many levels, Hashawha is my happy place. 

I learned of "Coach" (the HH race director) long before I ever met him.  Another runner friend would tell wild tales about a trail running guru who was training her to take on a 50 miler - the JFK no less, and she would have me mesmerized with her training, her ability and her fearlessness.  At that point, some time in 2008 or so, the idea of running 31 miles seemed ridiculous, and 50 was just full out crazy.  She told stories of eating while running - real food, not gu or gel, and falling hard, but continuing on with bandages and blood.  She talked about blisters and gallons of water and baths between the doors of the car.  And she spoke with such fondness, such respect for this Coach, who was carefully guiding her to success. 

The first time I actually met him, he wasn't even running.  He had torn a muscle in his leg and would have to bike, or hike while the rest of us ran.  What??  Wait, he had a TORN muscle and still was going to be out there.  Doing something?  And then just a few weeks later, he was back out there and this time he was running, leading a pack of us through Hashawha.  I just remember the switchback trail, covered in a fresh layer of ice and snow, with crystals everywhere, and looking exactly as if it could serve as the background for a beautiful fairy wedding.  I don't think I have ever seen something so beautifully extraordinary.  And running through it - the stillness, the quiet, it was truly magical.  And all the while, Coach ran silent, just far enough ahead to lead but occasionally stopping to share a trail memory or suggestion.  And, as he always does at the end of every run I have ever done with him, he asked if I had fun.  Afterall, isn't that why we are doing this?

doesn't it LOOK like fun???

I did have fun at this year's iteration of the Hashawha 50K.  In fact, I was enjoying it so much, I had to remind myself more than once this was a RACE - I was trying to go fast, not just meander on the trail I loved so much.  There is so much to enjoy at Hashawha.  So many different kinds of trails, each part affected differently by the weather, the season, the users.  There are places where horses leave deep hoofprints, and when the ground is frozen, these small holes are wickedly tricky to run through. The lower trail can be icy, damp, or comically muddy, as was the case this year.  The mud had a thin glass-like covering of ice, but after numerous runners cracked through, the thick sludge underneath was a shoe sucking mess.  Then the trek up the hill and the trail becomes dry as can be with thick piles of leaves and assorted branches and roots ready to trip up an unsuspecting runner. Gravel road sections can be run full out fast, especially down hill sections and the creek crossing is refreshingly cold and playful.  There is just no part of this trail that I do not love, even the windswept fields, where on a clear day, the view of the surrounding countryside goes on forever.

And the section through the pine rows signasl the end of each lap and and offers a padded surface for tired feet before the final push to the finish.
I didn't start out to make Hashwaha a streak race, but after 6 finishes, I would love to be able continuing running it for as long as I can.  And if I ever stop ultra running, it would be fitting to stop at the place where I started.

Phunt Times in Elkton

I can't believe I ever had time to post timely blogs.  Whenever I think of sitting down and writing a race report, so many other computer chores take priority (dang online bill pay).

In the interest of time, I will set a goal to recap a couple races, with the added  bonus of an awesome training run. That sounds like fun...or PHUNT, which was my first race for 2016.  This is actually the third or fourth time I have signed up for this early-mid January race, but the first time I actually made it there.  Earlier on this blog I chronicled waking up at some obscenely early hour, laying in bad and listening the wind howl, picturing getting lost on this somewhat obscure trail, and rolling right back over.

That was a couple years ago, and although I tell myself I will run it every year, it just never happened until this year.  I'll blame it on my ERR friend Chad, whom I coerced into not only running with me, but driving AND waiting for me to finish!

You have to love a race where the RD sends you off while perched on a 12 foot ladder screaming in a bullhorn as Highway to Hell is blaring over speakers. 
This race used to be run as a "fat ass" but it has become much more legitimate in the last two years, and was full out professional this year!  There were logo embroidered items to buy at the start, give-a-ways from Gore-tex, and pretty damn good swag for finishing.  The course is a double loop, and  from the chatter among frequent Phunters, the course was extremely well marked compared to its former days of a low key "you're on your own" kind of race.  About 3/4 of the field of 400 decided to only go out for the first loop, which, of course none of the 50K runners knew until we saw all their celebratory whoops and high fives at the end of the first 25k!  Uhhh, maybe we should not have tried to keep up with them all on the first loop (whoops).

Oh well, it was nice and serene on the second loop (read: didn't see a soul) but luckily the pithy signs kept my spirits up.

The weather was incredible for the first loop, and only as I got further into the second did the temperature start dropping and wind start to pick up.  I had been running with just a light shirt, but had to stop and put my jacket on for the last 6 miles or so.   The race had a cut off of 8 hours, and I made sure I was going to make that.  I wasn't rushing, just running comfortably, and had a really nice day out there.  With about 3 miles to go I decided to give it an extra push, and finished in 7:49 or so. Chad was waiting for me to finish, and broke the news gently about the lack of lentil soup left.  Oh well, incentive to go faster next time.  He was a swell race buddy, and that became more evident when only about a mile into the drive home, I had to make him pull over so I could puke.  Luckily we were close to a rest stop, and even more lucky, we actually made it there.  So a not so great finish to a great race, but a fun day none-the-less.  Not sure I will risk the January weather again, but for this year, it was a winner.