This is a much-feared section of the course. In a little over 50km, you cover 16,000 feet of climbing with some seriously high altitude. There are 3 major mountain passes, with the third one at 3,300m (almost 11,000 feet). You push through the night on this section, and most people report feeling terrible at Cogne. My primary goal was to manage this section well and arrive at Cogne actually feeling good. That would be a tall task, but it was a good mindset going in.
Read MoreThis was the moment. The dragon had arrived, and it was FIERCE. People say that you start the Tor in a counter-clockwise direction, and a dragon starts clockwise. At some point, you will face your dragon. Will you make it through or will the dragon take you down? I called Jen and Christophe and told them I was done – I couldn’t go on. I asked them to meet me where the trail hits the road into town. My right leg hurt so much, and I didn’t know if I could hobble through town to the aid station. They approached in the night, without headlamps even but with warmth and encouragement. Decisions had to be made.
Read MoreMost years the Virginia Happy Trail Running Club gets a crew together for a destination race, and this year the club decided on the Bighorn Trail Runs in Wyoming. It was only 6 weeks after Hellbender, but I was overdue to join the “blue train” and signed up for the 100 without thinking too hard about it. With my attention on Hellbender and Tor des Geants this year, planning was light and expectations were modest, but I was excited to explore some amazing mountains and spend time with good friends.
Read MoreThe Hellbender 100 began in 2018 as the “highest and hardest 100 miler on the East Coast.” It was clear from the start there was something special about this race. I had a great run the first year and struggled mightily in the second year before rallying in the last 30 miles. In addition to being my 3rd trip to the highest mountains on the east coast, this would be my 10th 100 mile race finish, assuming I got the thing done.
Read More2022 has been off to a great start. For a few years, I’ve had my eye on the Fastest Known Time for the Bull Run trail. It is an iconic local trail and the scene of many local races.
Read MoreThe Hellgate 100km. The race where David Horton talks 140 people at the end of a long year of racing into lacing their shoes back up and setting off into the Blue Ridge mountains at 12:01am in the middle of December.
I must admit though, there is something about this race. It took me 11 years after my first ultra to run it for the first time and another 3 to come back. But it is growing on me, and I have a feeling I’ll be back again next year if Horton lets me. Maybe it is the small community and the Cheers vibe where everybody knows your name. Maybe it is the love that Horton and the volunteers put into this race. Maybe I’ve lost too many brain cells from running so many ultras. Whatever it is, Hellgate truly is one of a kind.
Read More107.6 miles
33,500 +- vertical feet
Arriving in Chamonix felt like a return to the glory days. I was back in trail running paradise for the Superbowl of mountain ultras and my 3rd UTMB.
I came to the start line fit, strong, and prepared after enlisting the help of Coach Damian Hall (5th place at the 2018 UTMB). Jen couldn’t make it to crew this year, so Keith Knipling – the man, the myth, the legend – came all the way out to help.
Race day arrived with clear skies and cool weather. It would be cold and windy up at high altitude, but otherwise we had great conditions for the lap around Mont Blanc. If all went well, I hoped to best my time of 28:23 in 2019, but that was a perfect race and would be tough to top. Most of all I wanted to enjoy the ride, soak in the experience, and finish this epic adventure.
Read More65 miles
+-21,800 feet
I decided last fall to run the Val d’Aran 105km in the Pyrenees to get back to big European mountains after a 2-year hiatus, explore a new area, and get in a tune up before UTMB. The Val d’Aran region is a special place. It is a UNESCO world heritage site with wild, epic terrain and plenty of big mountains. I had a great discussion about it with an Aussie restaurant owner who has traveled extensively but called it home for the last 20 years. A good way to sum it up is that Val d’Aran is less “polished” than Chamonix but is also less discovered with lots of heart and soul.
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