The Last Runner - My 2017 Barkley Fall Classic Experience

The sun was going down and I knew I was on the wrong side of Bird Mountain. I hadn't seen nor heard another soul in two hours. Time was quickly running out on getting my second BFC Marathon finish. At least I still had some water. Had I made a navigational error? Where were the course sweepers? If I was on the wrong trail they wouldn't find me! Would I be sleeping under leaves tonight? How had it come down to this?

Let me begin in the beginning. For the 2017 BFC I changed up my training. I wasn't so concerned about just logging flat road miles. I was more concerned about running hilly singletrack. I did a lot of runs at Freedom Park. I also made a trip out to Humpback Rocks on the Blue Ridge Parkway with Rob for a little mountain training. I also did a lot of lunges, squats, glute bridges, etc. to get ready for the expected steep climbs. We wouldn't know exactly what the course would be until packet pickup where the give you a map.

Steve Durbin made a post to the BFC Facebook page about the possibility of camping at the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. Supposedly they were trying run water lines for showers. That seemed like a cool idea and a great way to save some money. Craig and I were both talking about camping there.

A few days before the race I decided I would drive to Oak Ridge, TN and stay in a hotel on Thursday night and then camp out Friday before the race and Saturday after the race.

The drive to Tennessee was uneventful. I remember being amused at the Dolly Parton music blasting at the TN welcome center on I-81.

Friday morning I left Oak Ridge and decided to go to the prison first to check on the camping situation. I drove around a curve and caught a glimpse of Rat Jaw in the distance. It gave me chills.

Meth Lab Hill viewed from Highway 116

I pulled up at the prison and saw two porta-johns, two tents and no sign of showers. I decided I wouldn't be camping there. I decided to go check out the park and then drive to packet pickup afterwards.

View from the main road

Here's your sign

I parked at the ranger station and who should I meet? It was John! We climbed Rat Jaw together two years previously.

With John at the famous yellow gate

We each bought some stuff and then decided to walk up to the yellow gate to take some pictures.

Stay On Trail!

Bird Mountain Sign

We eventually walked up to the start of North Bird Mountain Trail. We met someone who had already been to packet pickup. He showed us the course map. Instead of starting out on N. Bird Mountain Trail the course had been rearranged and we would be finishing up the race on N. Bird Mountain Trail.

Hanging out with Laz at packet pickup

I went to packet pickup and got a selfie with Laz. I asked him if he ever imagined that he would be famous. He said no, he and Raw Dog were just two hillbillies who put on a race.

I think Laz is really good at sizing up people. In 2015 he told me to make sure I had plenty of water, but I didn't listen and ran out. I mentioned something about the course change and coming back on N. Bird Mountain Trail. He told me it was going to be a lot more difficult than I imagined. He was right of course.

Keith M. Dunn - he live tweets the Big Barkley

I was happy I also got to meet Keith M. Dunn. I have followed him on twitter for years. He live tweets the Big Barkley. It's about the only way to find out what's going on.

I decided to camp out behind the American Legion Hall where packet pickup was located. It was a big mistake. It was so noisy I hardly got any sleep before the race. I remember being in my tent at 10:00 p.m. trying to fall asleep and thinking how weird it was hearing Laz chatting with someone about 20 ft away.

On race morning I got up and ate breakfast at the American Legion Hall and then drove over to the park. I saw Craig, John and others before the start. Then we were off.

We went on old Mac Trail first. It didn't take long for me to realize this would not be my day. I just didn't feel right. Somewhere along the way I tripped and gashed my knee on a rock. When I got to the first aid station a ranger asked if I was really going to attempt Rat Jaw with my knee cut. I said of course I would.

Coming down to the left turn onto Testicle Spectacle

This year I decided not to take any photos during the race. I knew from 2015 that photos just don't do it justice. It's hard to show how steep those mountains are in two dimensions.

Once we got to Testicle Spectacle I started feeling better. I enjoyed getting to the bottom and crossing the river before reaching the aid station at the church. I met Tasha and we climbed back up Testicle together. We split up somewhere going down Meth Lab Hill.

Somewhere on Testicle Spectacle

At the bottom of Meth Lab you get on a little pavement and run to the prison. I went through the prison, over the wall on a ladder and then took the tunnel under the prison. I have to say I was underwhelmed by the tunnel. One good thing though it was a chance to cool off before climbing Rat Jaw.

I climbed Rat Jaw with Tasha. It was pretty hot and there were bees all around us. Fortunately the bees didn't sting. At some point Tasha gave me some salt which really helped.

Two thirds up Rat Jaw

I think all of my squats and lunges paid off. Testicle and Rat Jaw seemed much easier this time.

After Rat Jaw I didn't see Tasha much more. I made a quick stop at Tubb Springs aid station and headed for the Garden Spot. I was with a guy who does a lot of rucking. We came to a spot where the trail went straight but also had a branch to the left going up. We should have gone left but we went straight because we could see lots of fresh tracks going that way. After about 15 minutes we met a group that said to go back. They had been lost back there for over an hour. So we retraced our steps and went up to the Garden Spot to get our bibs punched. We probably wasted a half hour going the wrong way.

Then we headed for the Bald Knob Aid Station. There were probably six or so of us running together. Somewhere along the way everyone started worrying we were on the wrong trail. It was almost like mass hysteria in the group. I think I was the only one who had run BFC before. I said no, we're on the right trail. I recognized that we had just crossed the Son of Bitch Ditch. They finally calmed down and seemed to believe me. We kind of split up after that. It seemed like it took forever to get to Bald Knob. I got something to eat and took off.

All of the sudden I was out there by myself. I remember hearing loud noises and realizing it was giant acorns hitting the ground.

It was here I started thinking the thoughts from my first paragraph. Eventually three course sweepers caught up to me. It was Hiram, who I had met last time, Dusty and another guy with trekking poles. I wasn't moving well at all. I was actually leaned over. They set me down and we had the ultra talk. Dusty started asking questions. "Have you been eating?" Yes. "Have you been drinking?" Yes. "If you don't mind a girl asking, have you been peeing?" Yes. I lied. I hadn't gone since before the prison. Dusty gave me salt and some trail mix to eat. Eventually I ran out of water and Hiram gave me his. They guy with the trekking poles gave them to me to use. He eventually took off for the finish. Hiram and Dusty were very nice to me and made sure I made down off the mountain.

I remember asking Hiram how much further it was. He said it was another six miles with a major climb involved. I think I groaned.

I had always wondered what it would be like to be on the trails of Frozen Head after dark. Well I got to find out. I was kind of embarrassed but Dusty and Hiram said it could happen to anyone. They even joked about Dusty causing Hiram to do his slowest ever Barkley loop.

We kept going and saw someone approaching. It was a ranger coming to find out why the sweepers hadn't radioed in. The FRS radios they have don't carry well in those mountains. I remember the ranger calling the other rangers saying the sweepers were bringing the last runner down from the mountain.

Finally we made it back. I think Hiram said it was 9:44. I was supposed to be finished by 8:20 so no BFC Marathon for me this time.

I think my main issue was not eating enough and not getting enough salt in relationship to all of the water I drank.

I really appreciate the sweepers and rangers making sure I got down off the mountain okay.

There you have it.

Goodbye Frozen Head. How many hearts have you broken?

My 2017 Grayson Highlands Half Marathon

For 2017 I decided to sign up for the half marathon on Sunday, May 7. That way I wouldn't need to use vacation time to travel the six or so hours to southwestern Virginia. As an added bonus the half marathon had a 9:00 a.m. starting time. 

I waited too long to make hotel reservations so I ended up staying in a run down Rodeway Inn in Galax, VA. It was not deluxe. The prior year Marie and I stayed in a nice hotel in Independence, VA which was a lot closer to the park.

The Pinnacle

I'm glad I chose the half marathon. It was chilly but had mostly sunny skies. The 50k on Saturday had snow, sleet and generally inclement weather.

My first view inside the park

When I arrived at the park the temperature was 38 degrees - very unexpected for the month of May. Packet pickup was very windy and chilly. I went back to my car to stay warm until the start.

Run Bum

Just like last year Run Bum gave the pre-race brief standing on the trunk of his car. He told us we should stop and take pictures along the course. This is not what you normally hear at the start of a race. He said this was a scenic trail run not a Boston Qualifier. Then we were sent on our way.

A short run on pavement to begin the race

Run Bum really knows how to lay out scenic courses. I think that's why he named his company Run Bum Tours. 

It didn't take long until we were at the scenic overlook shown below.

The first of many overlooks

Then we encountered our first stream crossing. There was a runner who had obviously never done a mountain trail race before. She asked me where to go and I told her we have to run across the stream. I enjoyed seeing the look of surprise on her face.

The first stream crossing

Then we ran up along side a really nice waterfall. The trail there was muddy, rooty and gnarly. Lots of fun!

A waterfall

 Above the waterfall was some of nicest singletrack I have ever been on.

Singletrack above the waterfall 

Finally we made it to Massie Gap where the feral ponies live. You're not supposed to get too close to them, but they don't seem to mind being photographed. It looked like a lot of them were ready to give birth.

Feral ponies

More feral ponies

Massie Gap

A runner I met from Crozet, VA

Another stream crossing

A small waterfall

Climbing up toward the finish

The highest race in Virgina - 5,000 ft,

The three mile climb back up toward the finish line is pretty steep. Once you get to the top you're not done yet. Run Bum then sends you out on a loop to some rocks where there are incredible views like the ones shown below.

Then you run through a section of woods to the finish line. I noticed there was still some snow there from the day before.

Snow near the finish line

My GPS track

I highly recommend either the 50k or the half. Both are spectacular.

Finisher medal and shirt

My 2017 Eastern Divide Ultra

The Cascades

One of my two goals for EDU this year was to see how my knee would respond to some serious climbing and descending. I'm signed up for the Barkley Fall Classic in September and I really needed a test like EDU to give me the confidence to attempt BFC again.

I finished EDU last year so I knew exactly what to expect. Doing EDU this year was a leap of faith for me. It's a point-to-point race. They bus you from the finish line to the starting line. The only way to get back to the finish line is under your own power. My knee had to hold up.

Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My second goal was to enjoy the scenery and take lots of photos. This comes directly from Sean Blanton's prerace briefing at the Grayson Highlands Half Marathon. He said, "This is a trail run, you're not qualifying for Boston here, enjoy the experience." Wise words.

Here are a few of my photos. Others have been posted on facebook.

Double track atop Butt Mountain

A mountain view

More double track

The second big climb

View from the second big climb

So what was my outcome?

Well, my knee held up very well. A day later it feels fine with no swelling. I did several thousand feet of climbing and descending. I did take a lot of photos and enjoyed being in the mountains.

I rolled into Aid Station #5 about 8 minutes over the cutoff time. The person who will be RD next year asked me how I felt and I said fine. She told me I would be allowed to go ahead and finish if I wanted to. I thought about my next 50k being in two weeks and decided not to press my luck and stopped right there.

I met Katie and Scott and we saw Marie and Amy finish the 8-miler.

P.S. The post race barbecue was excellent!