JFK 50 Miler

Well, I finally finished it. After training for months and spending long boring hours on training runs, it's finally over.

All in all I had a very good run. My wife and kids decided to go down with me at the last minute. Alis really wanted to go but we had to drag Andrew kicking and screaming. He was real supprised when we picked him up at school and told him that he was going with us.

We got to Hagerstown pretty late - around 1700. We went immediately to pick up my race packet at the motel. Afterwards we decided to go and eat. We got lost and couldn't find the restrauant that we saw on the way in. As we were driving around, Paul Sweeney called to check on us. We planned on staying with him and because we had not reported in, he was worried.

When we told him that we was looking for a place to eat, he recommended that we meet at the Stadium Bar and Grill. It is a real nice place with wonderful food. It was really good to see Paul again. He gave us directions to his trailer. He wouldn't be staying because he had to go to NY.

We spent the night in his trailer and got an early morning start. We left at 0500 to make sure we made it to Boonsboro by the briefing at 0630. We got off to a wrong start when Gil headed west on Interstate 70. It was really my fault because I told her to take the wrong exit. Luckily she caught it and we turned around.

We arrived at 0615 where Gil dropped me off at Boonsboro school. Our plan was for her to meet me at Weaverton Station as I came off the Appalachian Trail. Because the tempature was 17 degrees I debated as to wear just shorts or not. In the end I decided to go with the naked legs. It turned out to be a good decision. The tempature ended up in the mid forties before it was over. After the race briefing in the gym, we all proceeded outside and up the street to the starting line.

There was a lot of people - 951 runners finished the race - and I had not quite got up to the starting line when the gun sounded and race had begun. As I got to the beginning of the Appalachian Trail at the top of the hill, I looked behind me to see how many were there. There wasn't too many. My main concern was that I had taken it too easy and might not make the cut-off time, so I tried to pick it up. The problem on the trail is that it is mostly single track, except for the part that is hardtop.

Because I had done a lot of trail running, I considered the trail portion of the race as my bread and butter. This is where I would make up time, because I figured that I would be passed on the C&O marathon portion. The going on the trail was slow because of the rocks and it was hard to pass anyone but I was still 30 minutes ahead of the cut-off at the first Aid Station.

As I came out of the mountains at Weaverton Station I was hoping that Gil and the kids would be there. I really needed to change my trail shoes for my running shoes. As I got to the bottom there they were. It really makes all the difference when your family is there. It gives you a reason not to quit. After all, how can you quit when they came all that distance just to be with you. I quickly taped up a blister, changed shoes, grabbed a banana, and then headed out onto the C&O trail, where I would be for the next 26 miles.

I felt really good at the start of the trail. I ran for a few miles with a Brit who lived in Baltimore and who had ran it before. We talked about Europe, running, and our families. It really made the time go by fast. I then moved on ahead and ran by myself until about mile 30 where someone asked me what time it was. I replied and then he asked if I wanted company. I said , "Sure, it'll make things easier." So for the next 20 miles to the finish Michael Kennedy was my running partner. We would run five minutes and walk for one. It really paid off having someone to run with. It was because of him that I kept to my running schedule. I figured as long as he was running and not complaining then I would also. He inspired me to keep going.

Once on the C&O trail the main thing is to focus on getting off. It seems as if it takes forever. It's just one Aid Station after another. You know in your heart that you'll make it once you get off, then it is just a short eight miles to the finish. We meet Michael's girlfriend and son several times at the Aid Station. His son had started out running with him but had hurt his ankle just six miles into the run. When I meet him for the first time, he was on crutches.

We finally came off the trail and onto the road. We then decided to diveate from our plan of running for five and walking for one. Now we would run as long as we could and walk all the hills. This worked out good and we passed quite a few of people. This is where we made up a lot of time. I had told Gil that I would probably finish between 11 and 11 1/2 hours. Instead I saw that we were going to come in around 10:30. I should have called Gil to tell her, but I was afraid if I told her that I would jinx myself. I figured that her and the kids would be waiting away.

As we approached the finish line it felt good knowing that all the hard work was going to pay off and I would finish in less time then I thought. Leading up to the race I was just worried about making the cut off of 12 hours. Now I knew that I would finish well under that time. We came in at 10:22. Unfortunately Gil and the kids were still in the van because of the cold and missed me coming in. She was very upset that she had drove all the way down there and didn't get to see me finish.

We then immediately packed up and left for home. Gil had to work the next day. It was a long drive back, with me sitting in the back with hurting legs. I am now looking forward the next one. I don't think I will do the JFK again. Been there, done that, plus there are too many runners. One of the reason that I don't do marathons anymore is that they are just too crowed.

I ran this race with my trusted Camel Back. I had to fill up the liter and half bladder once. I also ate six or seven chocolate gel packs. At the Aid Stations I ate bananas, preztals, M&M's, and one cup of chicken noodle soup. I also drunk one cup of Mountain Dew and one cup of Coke. This is the first time that I drinked soda since 1997.

Link to JFK 50 Mile Race: JFK 50 Miler