The Virgil Crest Ultra.  The Race Director labels the run as "Not a race for sissies!", I would totally agree.  With living only 5 miles from the race course, I have had the opportunity to train on the trails, the ski slopes, and really gauge my fitness.  Little did I know that all that training almost did not matter!  This course is just rugged-hard.  Not only is there tons of tough vertical ups and blinding down hill sections but the footing is what makes this race "not for sissies".  Every foot-plant I made, my foot was twisted through mud, roots that made me feet ache upon each strike, and narrow paths deep in the woods where a fall could be...fatal.

This race was TOUGH!  I never imagined how hard it would actually be but it was.

The 50 mile race was a great challenge and I am so glad I had enough guts to hold it together for a course record.



This picture sums up the whole race experience:

Mammut was nice enough to send me a pair of the new MTR 201 Pro Low coming out in February and let me tell you I was very impressed with this shoe! It has a new lower lug design and the outsole with its different rubber was super grippy but also light and durable. My new favorite shoe from Mammut and I think many people are going to love this shoe!


The race begins in a dark, cold, windy morning where my biggest worry for the race is the fact that I have never run a race with a headlamp before and I hope not to get lost. I vocalized that to everyone that I chatted with pre-race that I was nervous about ruining my race with the lost thing. I warmed-up a little and decided that wearing gloves to the first aid station would be smart until I warmed up. The moon was still out on the race ambiance felt like a section from Midsummer Night's Dream. We took to the line.    With the blowing of the rams horn we were off.  The race went out solid with myself running with the pack up-front.  I then started to pull away with this awesome Japanese athlete who I wish I remembered his name.  We ran a good 4 miles together in the darkness.  We talked and had fun. We were also averaging around 7:40 a mile which is pretty solid.  I had a headlamp and he was following my beam as we navigated the dark woods. This was my scariest portion of the race. I did not want to get lost.  At one section of the trail, he talked about taking his jacket off, that was the last I saw of him.  I kept pushing on running relaxed enjoying the trails I have called home.  I followed the reflectors shinning like wild eyes of a devious animal as the sun slowly started to peer into the sky.  The trail began to lighten up as  I made the first aid station.  Aid station 1 I came out on the group and startled them that my pace was not calculated here because I did not need my bottle filled or gels so I pressed on.

Miles 5-10---I began to get stomach issues from the pasta I ate the night before.  Should I use the bathroom now or wait until the next aid station, the Lifthouse 7 station to begin the alpine ski loop?  I started to feel queasy so I pulled off trail and took care of business.  I could not see anyone behind me until I entered back onto the trail I saw the headlamps.  I had a mile to go left through the winding Finger Lakes Trail before crossing onto Carson Road.  I hit Carson Road on a nice downhill road section.  I split 6:17 for the next mile and then entered the Alpine Loop.

Coming down Alpine Loop Feeling Great!!!!! Many More Miles to Go!


THE RUN TO DAISY HOLLOW-------------


I felt great. I was running a fast pace around an 8 minute per mile average at the time feeling nice and relaxed.  I took my occasional gel though my hand-held bottle was getting the job done for me. I was not cramping and was flowing throughout the course.

I hit every aid station ahead of what people were thinking and so I caught them off guard as I am scrambling to get all of the goodies.  I must say that it was an amazing race and I loved and appreciated seeing all of the hard work and support from everyone out there!  My new Mammut MTR 201 Pros handled the rocks and roots and creek crossings of a tough Northeast course like it was a smooth flat road.  I never stumbled or had bad footing throughout the race.  I went through Rockpile feeling solid and then hit the highway road crossing into the last section of trail towards Daisy Hollow I had not run before.  This was going to be uncharted territory for me.  I hit the trail section and immediately found myself pulling on ropes connected to the trees to pull myself up the steep climbs.  The trail was narrow with tons of roots and I was just trying to keep my footing on this section.  For me, the race would begin at Daisy Hollow. I would spend some time refueling before my huge 25 mile push for the finish.

The Daisy Hollow section was much more vertical than I expected.  Anytime you have to pull yourself up with a rope seems like a new daunting challenge.  I came to the Daisy Hollow Aid Station by almost passing it on the trail until some volunteers hollered for me to come back.  I met up with the crew there and began to re-fuel.  I topped off my bottle with GU Brew, got my much needed gels, my ginger ale and coke, water and then headed out.  I was well under course record pace and I knew as long as I did not blow up, the record would be mine for the taking.  I left the aid station after a 10 minute break at 3:51 and I was off.  I flew through the next sections as the runners coming from the way back made the trail navigation difficult as the Finger Lakes Trail sections on the course are narrow, steep, and rugged and really not designed for people running into one another.

As I made my way through the woods, I noticed a runner actually pretty close to me and thought maybe he was a part of the relay.  I kept my pace speeding on the down hills and running the up hill sections.  I ran through every muddy sections as people opposing me on the trail were being cautious.  The fatigue from the course began to takes it toll at the 50k point at mile 30.

My Ultraspire bottle kept leaking my precious GU Brew all over the place and this is where the going got tough.

My legs began to cramp as I would take my signature Roctane gel and then wash it down with fluids and it would go away. Then two to three miles later, the same thing would happen.  With each slow passing mile, my legs were suffering pretty bad.  From Rock Pile to the next Lift House 7 aid station felt like an eternity especially as my bottle was all out of fluids.  I had three more miles to go. This is where the running was tough. My legs were cramping and getting tight.  I could feel my sugar levels get lower and lower.  I just hoped that I could maintain my form to mile 36 so that  I could refuel.

I held it together struggling on the uphill and downhill sections. One slip and fall and I would want to throw in the towel.  Pace-wise, I was still running under record pace.  I just relaxed and proceeded to take a gel without any fluids each time my quads would cramp and begin to almost wobble.
I ran and and down through the Finger Lakes Trail using every ounce of energy I had. For every tough uphill or steep downhill section, I willed myself to run at all costs.  With my destroyed quads, running uphill was a painful challenge yet I forced myself to keep pushing.  I danced along the winding trail with the hopes of making it a strong finish.  I thought to myself all of my friends and family, sponsors, and my life in general. I has a 10 mile self-reflection period.  I thought to myself as being the hometown hero and I wanted to win this race for them too.

I hit the last aid station and quickly refilled my bottle and got my last gels and said thank you to the volunteers and headed for home. At this point I was starting to gain confidence. I was running the uphills better and was flying on the flats and the downhills.  On the downhills I was surely splitting low 6 minute pace.  My body at this point was already in shambles and it was sheer mental fortitude that kept me going.  I hit the final 2 mile trail section before the Nordic Ski trails and then the finish.  I hit that downhill section feeling rejuvenated. I kept listening for noise behind me to indicate I was about to be caught yet I heard just my feet and the heavy breathing of myself.  I hit the downhill section a man on a mission as well.  I was rattling off 6:12 minute mile pace like it was a nice Sunday run.  My watch at this point from mile 8 of the trails to the finish was losing battery power so I could not see my overall time except for the big 7 in front meaning I was moving at a great pace.  A surge of joy came over me as I might have this race won.  I could not believe it! I fought hard and came out on top.  With 10 miles to go in the race, I felt like I was a goner. My hopes were crushed.  But at this point, I had gained that confidence to finish strong.

And at the moment of elation, I hit my ankle into a dirt mound and twisted my ankle really bad. I said some bad words in those woods as my voice echoed. I was 100 feet from the end of the trail too.  I crossed Clute road and then headed onto the seasonal access road at a hobbling 9 minute per mile pace. I felt defeated once again.  I had this moment where I was coming out of a rough patch and then this happens.  I slowly gain my pace and enter the Nordic Ski Trails.  I glance back and see no one behind me.  I am now running as fast as I can.  I look at my watch and I am running 6:42 a mile then pick it up once on the Hope Lake Path.  I hear cheers from the distance and I acknowledge them with a fist pump.   I then pick my pace up as if I were to be sprinting in a 5k.  I finish my last mile and a half averaging 6:25 a mile.  I round the turn and fist pump a whole lot more.  I cross the line and collapse to the ground elated at my performance.  I look at my watch and it is dead.  8 hours on the dot. Right at 2 pm.  WOW!  I DID IT!

The race was an incredible experience.
MTR 71- II Low (The pro has the new outsole)  Taken from Trailrunning Review.com