Race report on the JFK 50-miler, November 20, 2010
Ultra events can be described as physically punishing, but psychologically/spiritually rewarding. Recently, I’ve focused on spending a few minutes before a long running event simply being thankful. Remaining healthy and having the ability to train and participate in these events are gifts none of us should take for granted. While obvious, this has really been brought home to me this year. A few months ago, one of my partners dropped dead of a heart attack at age 51. Another partner, 55, is at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX fighting cancer for the third time. The former lived a sedentary lifestyle, the latter a former national class runner dedicated to a healthy lifestyle. Here I was, on what promised to be a beautiful day in Maryland, getting ready for a 50-mile run. My good fortune, however undeserved, is appreciated. Life is good.
You know, lots of “real” ultra runners diss the JFK race. Too big. (Well, there are a lot of people there….the largest ultra in the country). Too expensive. (The entry fee is a bit steep). The race director gets paid (would you work on a big event with multiple government agencies for nothing?). It’s not a real trail run. The towpath is boring. (More on these later).
This was my second trip to Boonsboro for the JFK, the first being in 2007. Broadly speaking, there are really three parts to the race. The event starts in Boonsboro, MD and , after a short stint on paved roads, about 14 of the first 16 miles are on the Appalachian Trail (AT). The next 26 miles are on the towpath along the Potomac river, with the last eight on paved roads rolling into Williamsport, where the race ends. The course is a point-to-point horseshoe shape. The event is one of the oldest and largest of its type. The organizers provide the following background:
Although open to the public, the JFK 50 Mile is in spirit a military race. It always has been and always will be. In 1963, the initial inspiration behind the event came from then President John F. Kennedy challenging his military officers to meet the requirements that Teddy Roosevelt had set for his own military officers at the dawn of the 20th Century. That Roosevelt requirement was for all military officers to be able to cover 50 miles on foot in 20 hours to maintain their commissions. When word got out about the “Kennedy Challenge”, non-commissioned military personnel also wanted to take the test themselves as did certain robust members of the civilian population.
Like all runners, I have a litany of excuses ready for a poor performance before the race even starts. My primary excuse this time was “racing fatigue.” Please note this excuse is only applicable to old, undertrained runners. I had run two hundred-milers since late August (Lean Horse and Heartland) and my interim training was poor. In each case, I did (or tried to do) a modest 20-miler three weeks after the 100 and really struggled. Heart rate stratospheric, pace slow, muscles tired afterward. My expectations for the JFK were modest. I’d run 9:23 last time, but I was now older and fatter, two conditions that would imply a slower time. Add the aforementioned “racing fatigue” and 10 hours was my forecast. I had no pacer or crew, and a single drop bag for the finish, containing a towel and clothes for a post race shower and change.
Runners gathered in the Boonsboro High School gym for the pre-race briefing.
Scene from the start. Looks like the NYC Marathon to me.
The AT section. I’m a really poor trail runner. Clumsy, to say the least (see scars on chin for evidence). So I was determined to take the AT portion of the course very easy….just picking my way through the rocky sections, running when I could, and getting to the non-technical part of the race. The trail portion requires concentration….what’s the old saying, “If you look up, you’re going down?” Definitely true here. The trail is very rocky. I would love to watch an elite runner navigate this portion of the course, just to see how it’s done. Hell, I sprained my foot once and had a stumbling, pinwheeling incident, and I was being careful. Seriously, people get hurt on this section. I helped one guy to his feet when he went down right in front of me. I saw a young lady sitting at the side of the trail crying, being attended by her friends. Post race, I saw a guy whose face was badly bruised and bandaged…..my guess is the AT. I was careful through this section, and had lots of runners pass me. No problem. I was ready for the mindless, flat running section. Hell, that’s my specialty. I stumbled off of here somewhere in the 3:40 time frame. Not fast, but I was upright!
The conga line heading up the AT early in the JFK.
The crowd thins out. Watch out for the rocks!
The towpath section. The next section of the course is almost completely flat, and tracks the Potomac River. It’s called a “towpath.” The following is taken from Trails.com:
A view of the Potomac River at the start of the towpath section.
Perfect running surface, gorgeous day, tree lined course. This is boring?
A really big house(?) on the bluffs overlooking the Potomac.
This section of the course is perfect for an accountant. Mile markers, baby. You can calculate pace on an individual mile, average pace over a number of miles, impact of a porta-john stop on average pace….well, you get the idea. During this easily-measured section, my pace-per-mile lagged my hopes but met my expectations…..generally somewhere between 10 and 11 minutes per mile. I would have liked a “personal listening device” on this section of the trail, but they are strictly prohibited by race rules. The upside is that no one is so zoned out they won’t talk to you. I like to have conversations during a race, and this was the perfect opportunity. I did meet a runner I’d only known through email…he goes by “Steve de la Sleeve.” I recognized him from, well, his sleeves. Steve is a musician, and teaches composition at George Washington University in D.C. We talked about running (surprise), kids, educating kids, etc. What a nice guy! We had a good visit until our paces diverged.
The JFK features lots and lots of aid stations, particularly from the AT on. My stomach has caused problems in recent events, but not here. Hell, I ate everything offered, although I focused on the pretzel sticks and the black and white cookies. Everything went down fine. The noodle soup at about the 34 mile mark was outstanding. I hit the road section right about 8:30 into the race, with 8.2 miles to go. A sub-10 hour finish was close enough to shoot for, but would take actual effort.
On to Williamport. I really liked the road section also. I train mostly on roads, so the surface was fine. I had heard the locals were a bit pissy about the race, and their actions would tend to reinforce this. Traffic, and people driving too damn fast given the runners on the road. Very little shoulder area. But it was rolling hills, with some sorta pretty countryside.
Not much shoulder, so watch for traffic.
I ran for a while with a guy named Alex, 32 years old. He had just run his first marathon (Marine Corps) and was doing a 50-miler just a few weeks later. We had a nice conversation…..his wife is expecting (boy), but she was out crewing for him. He dropped back ( I see he finished in 10:01, a nice performance in a first 50) as I slogged on.
There were lots of first-time 50-milers in the group. Virtually all were in uncharted territory by this time, i.e., having run longer than they’ve ever gone before. I passed quite a few runners, but not because I was fast by any means. I suppose one of the benefits of having run 100’s is that the last few miles of a 50 are not terribly daunting, unless one has just misjudged their pace badly. I hit the 48 mile mark at 9:35 and the finish line at 9:55. Not a particularly good performance, but in line with my conditioning.
The race finishes at a school in Williamsport. I enjoyed a shower, change of clothes and a very tasty made-to-order burrito. For more fuel……
Twinkies and chocolate cupcakes.....post race fuel at its best.
For better or worse, I wolfed down a Twinkie…..my first since the 2007 version of this race. My daughter tells me there’s no expiration date on Twinkies, a fact I find a bit unnerving. But dang, it was good.
Post race ramblings.
A trifecta. My daughter Sara lives in Baltimore, so a trip to the JFK means a visit to see her. By chance, Jerry Seinfeld was in town. An aficionado of the Seinfeld sitcom, I had to attend, albeit the early show. Lessee…..visit my daughter, see Jerry Seinfeld and run a 50-miler. That’s what I call a trifecta!
Logistics. Most people choose to stay in Hagerstown, a short drive to the Boonsboro start. The Seinfeld experience had me staying in Baltimore and leaving my hotel at 4 AM for the drive to Boonsboro and check in. Worked fine.
Early starters. The race allows runners to sign up for a 5 AM start for those concerned about the 12 hour cutoff. I hit Boonsboro about 5:15 AM and at first thought I’d missed the start. I later heard there were 200+ 5 AM starters, and I’d believe it.
Next up. I lucked into the “Across the Years” event in Phoenix over New Year’s. I’m more excited about this than any event in recent years….a fixed time 24 hour event, my first of the type.
Summary. A gorgeous day, a 50-miler, a visit with my daughter. Life is good.
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