The G Running Diary

AC100: Starting in the Dark: 10/4/03

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There was a nice little crowd gathered as we set off up the street toward the houses on the hill. Since it was an uphill start, most people were going slowly. It was good to warm up. As we continued up and up, I found myself not only near the back of the pack but actually at the back. A guy passed me saying he almost hated to give up his position to me. Was I last? I just thought everyone else must have gone too fast. Those continuous days of running on the Ridge Trail must have really affected my pace. I had a pace chart with me, so I was checking it when I could. I had to wonder if I would even make the first cutoff.

Don waited for me at the first aid station. We were quickly off again, and on the uphills he was always ahead of me. On the way to Islip Saddle at mile 25, I knew there would be a long downhill. I figured I could put on some speed and catch up to Don before the aid station. Just as I was having these thoughts my toe caught a rock and I tumbled down, on my left side as usual, and bit the dirt. Literally. It didn't matter because there would be medical staff at the aid station. When I arrived, they were very efficient. Before I could ask for help, one of them yelled, "We've got a raspberry over here." They doused me with rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, slapped a slab of Vaseline on my hip and I was as good as new. They even cleaned off my face. Excellent service.

The trails through the mountains and big forests were impressive. It seemed like a lot of uphill for a course that is a net downhill. People said it was hot out, but I didn't feel it very much. We were prepared for the supposed hot section of Cooper Canyon with ice in our hats and cool neck wraps. I certainly wasn't hot through there--maybe even a little chilly. It was later than we had planned for. Our flashlights were at Mount Hillyer at 49 miles, and even so we would be in darkness before reaching it.

Don and I were commenting even when it was light that the trail markings weren't very good. Turns were easy to miss if you weren't paying attention. We suddenly found ourselves at a four-way intersection with no markings at all. With the lack of footprints around us, we realized we must have missed a turn back somewhere. So we went back and found it. That took some time and made us nervous, because the cutoff time was approaching. Neither of us had seen any of the course before, so we had no idea how far it was to the next aid station--the mileage could be off, you never know.