 |
 |
|
| Questions? Comments? Contact us: srrunner@srrunners.org |
SRRC Race Reports
The Road Less Traveled: EX2 Trail Marathon , Triangle, VA —Sun., May 6, 2007
by
BJ Johnston
Okay, I admit it, I caved in to the peer pressure of my fellow runners when I registered for this race. I had zero interest in a trail run. In fact, my first question was, “I mean really, what’s the point?" The response: “You get to run in the woods with a few hills, a stream or two, and you might get some mud on your shoes.” Sounded fun. Can’t be that much harder than a regular race, I thought. Besides, at this stage, my only goal is to finish before the support team leaves. So I’ll just take it slow and easy.
 |
| BJ . . . ready to race. |
At 7 a.m. sharp on Sunday morning, four members of Team SRRC set off for the EX2 Off- Road Marathon in Prince Willam forest. It was a perfect day for a run in the woods—cool, clear sky, warm sun, the air thick with pollen. I was stoked.
Standing in line to get our race packets, I began to get that rumbling feeling and anxiously looked about for the nearest restroom. I joined the line of other anxious-looking runners waiting to use one stall. When it came my turn, the runner preceding me exited and announced that the toilet wouldn’t flush. No matter, I couldn’t be bothered with details—desperation had set in. It wouldn’t the last time I would feel desparate that day.
As we gathered at the starting line, I began to think of all the miles I had logged to get to this race. When I started running three years ago, after a break of many years, I couldn’t run even a half mile. I was a pack-a-day smoker and generally depressed about my lapsed condition. I started meeting pretty regularly with a group of friends and found that after a few weeks I was able to complete a lap of Burke Lake without walking. Eventually, I quit smoking too. It was only in the last year that I began to increase my distance and run more frequently, to train for longer races. Now, here I was, wondering if I would make it through the race.
The race horn sounded, and like a wave, 300 runners slowly ebbed towards the trail. I was running with a some pretty experienced long distance runners from the SRRC group, and keeping up. In fact, I was feeling strong. I began to move ahead at which point I felt a gentle pull on my arm and a bit of wisdom from a voice of experience, “First rule—respect the distance.” I backed off and settled into a pace. The first couple of miles were fire roads with a few hills. As we moved off the roads and to the trail, things began to get a little dicey.
The first hill came pretty quickly and it was steep. Single file, I followed the pack and began to run up the hilll at which point I got my second piece of wisdom, “Walk up the hills You have many more hills, and running them doesn’t gain you that much time.” Later in the race, I was extremely grateful for that advice.
For the next mile or so it was single file along narrow trails; up and down hills; over roots and rocks; and through mud. “Why am I doing this?” I asked myself. Couldn’t come up with a good answer. Feeling desparate again. Eventually the runners thinned out and the trail led to a shoulder-width path that followed a sparkling stream. I was grateful for the level ground and the scenery.
 |
| A road less traveled . . . |
By the time I was about 90 minutes into the race, I had no clue how far I had run. I stumbled, and tripped a few times and twisted my ankle once—no major damage. I stopped at every station and downed an Accelerade and a cup of water and still felt thirsty. Finally, I came to a marker that said I had run 7.7 miles. Not bad. I was over halfway there.
The last five miles were pretty grueling. I was tired and my right knee was giving me some pain. At times, it felt like it would give way. I started wishing the race was over and began running in an uncontrolled manner. I decided at that point to stop thinking and focus on the here and now. I slowed my pace a bit, walked up the hills, and settled into the zone. By the time I got back to the fire road, I was feeling pretty good. Two miles to go.
The last miles were uneventful, compared the earlier ones. Just me, the gravel road, and a beautiful day in the woods—the finish line ahead. I hadn’t been able to answer for myself the “Why do I do this?" question, and then it came to me in the last few lines of a poem by Robert Frost:
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Two from the SRRC Team brought home iron. They ran the full marathon. Two loops. Must be crazy. It was a good day.
May 2007
The SRRC would love to hear about your running, racing, or crewing experiences! If you would like to submit a race report, to be posted on the SRRC website, please email srrunner@srrunners.org.