Fans of the National Lampoon Vacation films will recognize this homage to the scene from European Vacation when the Griswolds get stuck in a roundabout in London and can’t move to the left to get out.  They keep passing the same scenery over and over for hours.  This is what I expected from my first foray into a fixed time race.  However, it wasn’t as bad as I expected.
Back on Sunday November 14^th, I participated in the Rhode Island 6 Hour Ultramarathon and Relay in Warwick, RI.  Being busy at work and going on vacation around Thanksgiving, I never finished my race report.  So I waited for a slow time on the Bimbler website and resurrected by uncompleted report.  So here it is.

For those not familiar with this type of race, it is a fixed time race over a set course.  In this instance, it was for 6 hours over a 2.7 mile certified, paved, rolling course in the Warwick City Park.  The object is to do as many loops as possible within the time limit.  With timing mats at the Start/Finish, 50K mark and 26.2 mark, there were three place they would take partial loops up until you did a 50K.  After 50K, only complete loops counted. It was so long ago when I signed up for this race, that I don’t remember what my reasoning was to do this.  I’m sure it was, first, that it was something I hadn’t ever done before.  Secondly, it was so far out of the box of what kind of runner I am, that it would be a unique challenge.  Those who know me know I dislike loop courses, and most of all, I am not a road runner.  They beat up my feet, and I am not particularly speedy on them. I was apprehensive about the course being in a city park.  I was picturing running out in the open through softball fields and picnickers.  Surprisingly, the park is very expansive and heavily forested.  It is also a peninsula, surrounded by ocean water on three sides.  The Start/Finish is located at the parking lot for the beach at the tip of the peninsula and is surrounded by woods.  The course was run on a paved track that circumnavigated the park along the coastline.  The track was about 6 feet wide and had a dividing line down the middle which kept traffic control over the bikers and walkers.  Bikers to the right.  Walkers to the left.  Other than being paved, you felt like you were on a trail running along the coast in the woods.  Of the 2.7 mile loop, only about a quarter mile was along playing fields or along a road.  The relaxation of running in the woods along the coast, I believe, relieved the tedium of running the same loop over and over again.  It actually wasn’t that bad.  The unvarying surface of the paved loop is what I found difficult.  The constant use of the same muscles on the road is very different than the varying terrain on the trails. The race was put on by the Tuesday Night Turtles.  A local running club.  The support was great with one well stocked aid station at the Start/Finish line.  It was chip timed, but they also had a big board at the Start /Finish line that they kept track of your laps.  This was very helpful, because sometimes when you mind wanders, you forget what lap you are on and then try to convince yourself different.  The volunteers were great also.  There were more than enough and at the couple of points were the loop crossed a road, they had volunteers stationed to stop traffic, so you didn’t have to break stride. I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as runners, and it was an eclectic mix.  When I first arrived, I saw tons of Boston Marathon garb on people.  The most I have seen other than in Boston on Boston Marathon weekend.  I felt a little out of place at that time and I was pretty sure I would definitely be in the back of the pack.  Well, racing is individual right???  However, as more cars arrived, some familiar faces from the trails arrived and others that looked like regular runners, not road elites.  There were even faces from the Bluff that I recognized.  Also in the mix were 22 relay teams of up to 6 runners, which most of them had.  They set up canopies with chairs and tables and brought out all kinds of food and libations.  It really lent a party atmosphere to the whole affair. It really is a battle of one.  Other than by looking at the runner board, you could not tell who was leading.  People passed you a few times or you passed them, but you didn’t know if they were individuals or in a relay.  Since there are so few marathons in Rhode Island, there were a few 50 Staters there also.  These are individuals who try to do a marathon in each of the 50 states.  One older gentleman had a shirt on that said he had done the 50 states 5 times and was on his 6^th time.  Amazing right, well the other gentleman I met was named Larry.  Larry was a senior gentleman and he wasn’t moving too fast, but he was always moving when I saw him.  He had a shirt on that said he had done the 50 states, SIX times.  Yes, SIX.  I said hello to him, expressed my awe at his accomplishments, and wished him well.  He picked up his head, nodded, thanked me, and reburied his head in determination.
Curious about Larry’s story, I looked up his name in the results.  His name is Laurence Macon, age 66, from San Antonio, TX.  He is the Guiness world marathon record holder, completing 106 marathons in 2010.  He broke the previous record of 105 that was set in 2008 by, yes, himself.  He has run over 675 marathons or ultras.  Pretty cool the people you meet.

Surprisingly, I finished in the middle of the pack.  I was 37^th out of 64, completing 12 loops in 5:46:03 for a total distance of 32.4144 miles (This road stuff is real precise).  My 26.2 split was 4:31:15 and my 50K split was 5:29:52.  Not bad for just a fun race.  Another medal, another ultramarathon.  Watch out Larry.

I really enjoyed the event.  Running out of the box was a nice change of pace.  I would recommend to anyone to try a timed event.  It really is much different than a fixed distance event both on road or on trail.

Sweet and Savory, Cats and Dogs, Fire and Ice, Yin and Yang… How do these pairs “fit”? Seemingly, they fit purely because they do not. They are opposites, utterly unfit to be in each others’ presence, and yet, in their differences, they somehow thrive on their reactions to each other.I had the distinct privilege, for the second year in a row, to accompany the Bimble team to Hellgate. Four Bimblers: Mr. Bimble, Spuds, El Toro, and Loopy went to “feel the heat” and all four proved their mettle by finishing the race, strongly. But, this is not their story. Their stories are told elsewhere. This is my story, the story of a witness to greatness, a witness to hardship, a witness to fortitude, a witness to beauty. This is my humble attempt to share some of my awe with those not fortunate enough to travel to the race and crew.

Every ultra is a paradoxical combination of competition and cooperation, pleasure and pain, high and low, and this, the 8th running of Hellgate, was no different. Ultras are also a combination of “hurry up” and “wait”, of climb and fall, day and night, and yet, once again, it all “fits” together. So it is with Hellgate and our Team Bimble:

Mr. Bimble… A man who almost always appears calm and cool. He moves with an ease through the ranks of these accomplished athletes , not even intimidated by David Horton’s bluster. Mr. Bimble always appears “in control” and methodical, and clear on “the mission”. And so it goes, that he moved through the race confidently, with purpose, and without complaint. All of this while always maintaining a good sense of humor. Mr. Bimble shows me how to take a task seriously, respectfully, but still have fun with it. The fact that he garnered an age group win was just a seeming side effect of his efforts.

El Toro… A man with impressive poise and wisdom despite his youthfulness. He came with goals, and left with an accomplishment. He did not accomplish his goal, he accomplished something far greater. He persevered, even as his plan fell apart. He “rolled with the punches”. In my eyes, he wrestled a victory away from the jaws of defeat. Like I said, ET is a young man with poise. I believe he has the wisdom to realize what he did this weekend was remarkable. If I stumble and fall in the 2021 running of the TCU(?), I hope he is the MD who stitches me up. I know he would then tell me to get my butt moving and finish the race!

Spuds… A man with heart. Really. His approach to training and racing is different from many others, both by necessity and by choice. Some extremists would say he undertrains. They don’t see the truth. Spuds trains to accomplish what he wants. He trains to maintain some fun in the run, but also some confidence on race day. Spuds tries to do things that satisfy him, that give him a sense of accomplishment, and that maintain his sanity. I have never seen Spuds take a tumble, literally or figuratively. Think about it, fellow Bimblers, have you ever seen Spuds down on the ground? It must be a rare event indeed. Spuds does what he loves, and loves what he does, and that is probably the surest formula for success that anyone has yet devised. A smart man indeed.

Loopy… Always giving 200%, except when she is giving 300%. The ultimate pragmatist. When something MUST get done, well, it darn well will get done. This was a “revenge” year for her. There was unfinished business at Burning River and Hellgate to be dealt with, and so it was. All kinds of obstacles to training slowly faded away (hah! They didn’t “fade away”, they were PUSHED away) and resulted in a high degree of readiness for Hellgate. The dreaded cut-off times loomed large, after last year’s debacle, but her crew (IGGY and me) knew that would NOT be a problem. Still, we, or at least me, were taken aback as the “buffer” grew and grew, ultimately resulting in a finish time 2 hours and 5 minutes below the cutoff, and an age group win! A final mile way, WAY under 10 minutes left this part-time pacer unable to keep up. If I ever get a big basket of lemons, I will definitely ask Loopy how to make lemonade. I am confident that she knows how.

OK, so what is my point in all of this? Well, I am at least as emotionally tired as the four Bimblers above are physically exhausted. Look, neither these folks, nor me, saved the world this weekend. They didn’t find a cure for cancer, nor eradicate world hunger. Still, they are heroes to me. They all taught me, as they do frequently, and as other Bimblers do, frequently, important life lessons. My point is, the people and the lessons are all different. We all sometimes get lumped together as “the crazies”, and we certainly share a LOT in common. Yet, that is too simple a view, way too simple. The race itself shows that. Seeing Karl Meltzer toe the line with guys who would DNF. Seeing grizzled veteran Grand Masters (sorry Mr. B, yes I mean you) toe the line with a woman who gave birth just 4 months ago. Hearing people saying “I will NEVER come back” and others ask “When does registration open?”. These all remind me of the diversity of experiences and personalities present. The Blue State Liberal Connecticut Yankees coming down to the heart of the Bible Belt, bowing their heads when the frequent prayers are offered. The spectacular views looking down into the pastures in the valleys from the top of the Blue Ridge, no greater or less that the views looking from those pastures up to the mountains. The shufflers and the racers. The runners and the crews. The cold and the warm, the dark and the light. The “hours on the feet” and the 9 hours in the car.

I guess that what I am writing about is the contrast, the huge swings in how you feel, the huge discrepancies in what you see, and hear. It is a whole bunch of “the best of times” and “the worst of times” all in one weekend. The only coddling and true consistent comfort is that it was spent with only the best of people.

I have said this before, but I will say it again. Run, don’t walk. Ask, don’t wait. Beg, don’t ask. Insist if you must. Crew. As soon as you can, as often as you can.

Since Dec 12, 2009 I have been awaiting this event. I asked Mr. Bimble to put Hellgate on the upcoming events list… 364 days until Hellgate. There had been multiple times throughout the past year when I thought going back was a brilliant idea and multiple time when I thought going back was a miserable idea. Either way I knew I had to go back. Knowing full well it is tough to train all year long, I had a longer break from running at the end of the summer than I anticipated due to a string of multiple illness going through my kids and myself. I think this proved quite beneficial as I felt like I was stronger in my training than I had been in a while. I had several great training runs and felt really good, HOWEVER the DNF last year loomed heavily!!! We all know about the mental aspect of the race… need I say more.

Spending the last week with nervousness as overwhelming as making me nauseous we packed our stuff into the car and drove south. Knowing that a large part of my DNF from last year was due to not enough sleep the night before, we left much earlier on Thurs and got a decent sleep before the rest of the drive on Friday. We arrived at Camp Bethel and with the buzz of all the other runners the tension significantly increased. I did feel much better than last year and that helped settle me a bit. At the pre race dinner I was being teased by El Toro and Mr. Bimble because Karl Meltzer was sitting right behind us and I am a big fan of Karl. I overheard something and decided to prempt whatever plan was in the works and went over to introduce myself. We talked drop bags, crews and the importance of sleep. It was pretty exciting

Then it was off to the bunk room for the pre race briefing. After emails all week stating aid stations 1-4 would be closed and crews would not see their runners until approx mile 28. The good news was that aid station 4 was open, which is also the first cut off point, I missed last year, hence the DNF. I was glad that Forrest would be able to be there… extra incentive to be there in time!! After a couple more hours of sitting around it was time to go. The furious drive to the start, prayers, and the National Anthem and we were off. No looking back it was time to take on Hellgate.

In training for this I had realized that I would have to climb hard and run everything else. So, I worked on strengthening not only my uphill running but also my downhill running. It worked. I was able to run uphill SOMETIMES, but mostly just hiked up as hard as I could and ran everything else, full out. I took downhill like I never do and lucked out with no falls, twists or pains. As my worries about cut offs subsided, I just ran harder. Usually I have stories about the people I met and conversations, fun times on the trail but this time I just put my head down an ran. I wanted to get this done. And done it is. Although I have no intention in being a repeat offender, I am totally behind getting other Bimbler’s, particularly female Bimbler’s, to go to Hellgate. It is a Special Race.

*****BIG THANK YOU*****
To Forrest: Thank you for helping to get me through the Gates of Hell and back. Thank you for crewing me throughout the race but especially at the last 2 aid stations when I was VERY grumpy, and maybe not so nice. Thank you for trying to find chicken nuggets. Thank you for driving me and El Toro.

How to Know when you are in Hell, Out standing items from Hellgate.

1. The first thing you notice when the light comes up is the pee all over the road. As male runners find it easy to pee “on the run” there are dribbles of pee all up the road. No male seems to be able to move to the side of the road for emptying the contents of their bladder, thus I had to move around it because walking through it really was kinda gross.

2. There is something in my eye, blurring my vision, driving me crazy, through 2 aid stations each time Forrest kindly checks my eye and pronounces it clear of items.

3. All there is to eat at aid stations is snacky items and you are craving a 3 course meal!

It is a journey of tradition and right of passage, who will be next?

A Thursday departure to Hamburg, PA, a short stay at the Mirotel and quick pilgrimage to Cabala’s. This year, the cycle was unexpectedly broken with a flat car battery and a brief moment of concern about the time it was going to take to reach the Virginia. We were gathered with Loopy, hoping to banish the gremlins of a DNF from last year, Forrest providing support and seeking vicarious experience in preparation for his Beast bid in 2011. ET calmly studying in the background, was looking to repeat his impressive performance of 2009, while Spuds and I, ‘old hands’ at the Hellgate experience, were going to be crew less in Virginia. Hmm, maybe there is a movie in that!

The unexpected battery failing, required a hasty call to AAA, breakfast waiting for the repair truck and an hour hanging out at a local repair shop getting a new one fitted. Then we were back on track, arriving at Camp Bethel around 5:30. From then on tradition followed the expected pattern. Dinner, an entertaining Horton pre-race briefing. The course might be 100k, but it might not be. The aid stations might be manned, despite the ice and snow on the access roads, but they might not be. The drop bags might be delivered to aid station 4 and 7, but they might not be. If you beat the cut offs, you might get a finisher award, but the quantity of available sizes doesn’t equate to the number of starters, so even if there are enough to go around, after a 62 mile (ish) slog you may be rewarded with a size that doesn’t fit. This is Hellgate and the only thing that is perfect are the unpredictable bits, weather, state of the course and camaraderie from the community of runners who return to the event year after year.

With a couple of hours to kill after the pre-race announcements, some doze, others scan route maps, others fidget with drop bags taking the content out, putting it back and then taking it back out to check that nothing has be forgotten. What a minute, did I add spare socks? ET plugged himself into the sound of a rap orchestra, Spuds zoned out, as did I, while Loopy and Forrest huddled over a discussion about crew / runner stuff. Slowly everyone prepared to run. The drive to the start is traditionally a frenetic dash up the highway with drivers nervously hoping they don’t lose sight of the car in front. This year some bright spark had the idea of the convoy putting their hazard lights on – we’ve only been doing this race for 8 years – sometimes the simplest ideas or the best! The ride to the Hellgate trailhead was much less stressful and before anyone could say ” Why am I doing this?”, we were off.

Out on the course, the stories, recollections and experiences are so individual I’ll leave that to other race reports except to say that despite running this course 7 times previously, I still find myself on sections that I have no recollection of running before! Over the years the field has become more competitive and this year that tradition was no different, at the end all the top ten finished broke 12 hours a feat that he’s never been done before. The finisher awards, compliments of Patagonia, included really nice puff jackets for the top ten men, top five women and age group winners, everyone else would receive nice jersey tops (men) or fleeces (women). Anticipating that a top ten finish wasn’t in my gift, I was going to be very interested at anyone passing me who looked remotely to be in my age bracket!

Initially, ET sped off from the start, the field spread out but through most of the race there was never the sensation of isolation that has been a characteristic of previous years, maybe tradition isn’t constant. I caught up with him shortly after aid station 4, we were climbing a steep dirt road and I noticed a figure ahead staggering ahead. as I got nearer I questioned in my mind if this runner was OK, then I recognized the clothing and called out. ET later said he was fighting the desire to not fall asleep, hence the stagger! For a long while we fell into step and ran together, but a little before Bearwallow Gap (aid station 7) he said he was having a tough time, so we separated and I pressed on. He said later his hamstring was painfully tight.

From then on my focus was to simply maintain a pace as fast as my body would allow and continue my sequence of Hellgate finishes. There are just 6 runners who have finished every year since the event started. At the finish Horton is generous with praise for every finisher,the fact that you’ve finished is the biggest feat while anything else is a bonus. Some, like me, were 8 time finishers or age group winners, others were first time finishers or Beast finishers ( the Beast is a series of 6 ultras through the year, remember to track Forrest during 2011 as he attempts it). Some like ET, who in previous years have run much quicker times receive praise for sticking at it and finishing despite having to overcome discomfort or injury. One runner finisher after failing and smacking his head on a metal barrier. It didn’t look as if he could see out of his right eye and I think the race doctor was considering a stitch but I’m not sure what the outcome was, either way he was well cared for.

Gradually our small group finished, Forrest ran a relay service to escort Loopy and Spuds during the last mile. Loopy finished with an expression of grim determination, she said “never again”, but they all say that initially! Spuds is pictured moments after finishing looking back up the course with an expression of “$&@* you!”, but even he has mentioned next year. It is after all part of the tradition. At breakfast Loopy asked who we might be able to persuade to run Hellgate next year. You know who you are and we’ll be knocking sometime soon!

It is a journey of tradition and right of passage, who will be next?

More pictures
Race results

Since the first time I have heard of the Spring Loop, I have been trying to get out of running it. As it turned out the times it had been run by other Bimbler’s I had not been able to go. For a short time I thought I might see how long I could hold out from getting roped into running it. Deemed by Ultra to be the significant mental and possibly physical challenge to training for long distance events it seemed fitting to run the Spring Loop before Hellgate. It also happened that the best date for me to run it was on my birthday. So on Nov.14th I ran my first Spring Loop!! For the 2 weeks leading up to my momentous run, Ultra and Forrest battered me with the difficulty factor mentally and physically, the hard climbs, the “are your ready” questions… I continually came back with strong positive comments. I had a feeling it was finally the right time to run this thing! With a plan in mind, Forrest as my guide and Hillary to meet us at West Cornwall Rd, which by the way is the only place in the whole day I knew where I was (well and the General Store), off I went. We started at 5:20 in the dark morning with headlamps, the only part of the trail I missed in daylight was up to the first road. We made it back to the car just as it might have been time for headlamps again at 4:55 pm. I felt great all day so all those positive thoughts paid off! I am going to skip it all now except to tell you it was a BEAUTIFUL day with AMAZING scenery. Those of you who have run the Spring Loop already know this and those who haven’t run it… well, you should!

Highlights / Notable Mentions (AKA Top 10):

1.  Magical Section: WOW!

2.  View from the Magical: Forrest pointing out all of the mountains we had to get to climb up and down before even getting to Hillary at West Cornwall Rd… me saying “STOP! Don’t tell me anymore.” way too much to digest that early in the morning!!

3) Water Sections: Particularly one section right after meeting Hillary, I really wanted to get into the stream!! I’d also like to spend time sitting IN all those waterfalls, so very cool.

4.  The bridge on the AT is now officially open. No need to cheat anymore, for those of you who know what I am talking about.

5.  The LEAVES… oh my gosh, slippery and thick, sometimes up to the shins pushing leaves along the trail, definitely added the most difficulty to the run.

6.  The General Store: Yeah! Fuel: Gatorade and Apple Pie by Hostess

7.  Ghost Stories of Dudleytown: Have to explore that more!!

8.  Cathedral Pines: Hugging Suds Tree

9.  Mohawk Mountain Climb: Beautiful View from the Ski Lifts

10.  RUNNING! More running than reported to be had. I had thought I would spend more time climbing than running. But there were many long sections of great running.