We were lucky that this race wasn't cancelled as it was run in a National Forest and the government shut down affected other races that we're being run in National parks. Thanks to the curator that lived at the camp and took care of the girls out area the race was a go. We did have find a campsite 8 miles up the road due to the park being closed and the tenters were allowed to camp at the start area many of which car camped for this race. I made it to the pre race meeting on Friday and they introduced the teams from the different states. Our Oklahoma team had 8 starters but only 5 finishers. Four highest scoring runners count as it is age graded. We lost are our fastest runner when he dropped after 20 miles. He was a previous winner and lives and trains on these mountains in eastern Oklahoma. The first part of the course was a 17 mile figure eight. I led the first few miles as the pace was only around 8:30 and terrain was smooth maintained jeep road. Then we jumped on some single track and the group of 5 went flying by me with 2 of my Oklahoma team mates neither of which would survive the day, but the eventual winner did come out of this group. I found out early my mistake of only bringing light road shoes for this course, specifically Nike Free 4.0 and New Balance 890's. Most of the course was jeep road big chunk rock and my feet took a beating. I was top 7-8 after the initial 17 mile figure and then we do a out and back totaling 83 miles and I improved to top 5. I then stopped to do some blister surgery and pick up my light the new Petzyl Nao that I had recently bought. (Reactive lighting) I lost 3 or 4 spots during that stop. I ran for another 30 minutes before I decided to turn the headlamp on, kicking a few rocks drove the message home. I put the setting on reactive, thinking this would limit the battery power and get me to the finish. After about 90 minutes the headlamp starting it's warning flashes, the stupid rookie mistake I made was not taking a back up light with me. I didn't panic then I cut the light back to low setting and would remedy the situation at the next aid station. I arrived at the next aid station but there was no crewing, it would two more aid stations over 10 miles before I would see my wife and be able to get another light. I asked for a couple AAA batteries in case the Petzyl dropped dead on me and I stole and carried a glow stick in the event I had to try change the recharge battery out with AAAs. But the Petzyl dimmed lower and lower but never went out. I made to the last aid station my wife would meet me at until the end of the race. We went to the truck go my trusty Fenix headlamp and a standby and hit the road again. I really began to fade about 75 miles but somehow managed to get in. The course mile markers were hitting my garmin fairly close which was not good news with the 12000 feet of ascend/descend. Not knowing how well our Oklahoma team has done as yet, I hope to put together a team that can bring the team trophy to Oklahoma for next year. Next up Rocky Raccoon 100 in February. |