I want to thank God for an absolutely breathtaking day. There were times on the course where He literally took my breathe away... the beauty of the fall leaves, the mountain views, the roaring creeks, oh... and the icy cold knee high water crossings, and the waterfall showers raining down on our heads from the cliff lines above... perfect in mid-30 degree weather 😁! This was my 7th Upchuck and I cannot stop thinking about how lucky all of us were to spend the day in the woods and enjoy God’s beauty.
Ever since 2014 Upchuck when Cody Goodwin set the new gold standard for what could be run on this crazy course (4:23:23) I’ve tasted chased that record every year! I was thwarted one year due to fires on the course and a course change, I found some 🤮🤮 on the course a couple of times trying to run hard and fell short, and then chasing it last year I came up to a friend on the last big climb of the day and was already a little behind CR pace and opted to hang with him until the finish line and came up just a few minutes short. So, with a nice cold morning, some fasties in the mix who could help push me, I figured I could it was another year and another chance to try for that record.
Photo: Lavenderroots.smugmug.com
Before I get into the race, I have to start with a recap of the best part of Upchuck... well, at the funniest part of the day! If your an Upchuck veteran, you know what I’m talking about and if you’re not, well, just remember “It all starts with the bus ride!”
Upchuck is a no frills, minimally marked, tough and technical point to point trail race along the Cumberland Trail. Race morning folks meet at the Soddy Daisy Community Center (finish line) and huddle around a couple of fires, two restrooms, and get their “packet” pickup. Packets involve a barf bag, a few choice stickers, your token Upchuck swag (@Patagonia Upchuck hat and sunglasses this year), ohh... and your bib number. Or better yet, a magic marker sharpie somewhere on your exposed skin! Like I said, no frills. Once you’re checked in, you’ve caught up with fiends and race volunteers the bus arrives and you file on the bus for a magic bus ride to the starting line in Sale Creek. It never fails, runners are bundled up at the check in like they’re going on an attic adventure, they strip down to the skibbies, and cram about 80 adult size humans into a bus made to carry 60 little kids... it’s glorious 😂! It also gets to about 120 degrees in the bus with that many people, heat turned up to “melt your face hot,” and the pre-race nerves flowing through everyone’s veins. To get a final headcount the Soddy Daisy prison escape RayJay performs a little racy and boarder line inappropriate role call of all of the runners. Note, this is all in jest and is not supposed to be mean or hurtful. Being able to laugh at yourself, your fellow runners and most of all RayJay is a great way to calm everyone’s nerves and get the laughter juices flowing before an amazing day in the mountains. In 7-years I’ve only ever seen one person get their feelings hurt and I honestly believe that they must have just had a bad experience with whatever joke RayJay came up with about their name or look and I still think that persons found some humor in the jokes and for past it. However, for any future Upchuckers, just remember to bring your thick skin for the bus ride! You’ll definitely need it once the race starts because the course will eat you alive so it’s a good idea to have it for the bus ride! After 15 minutes of RayJay jokes and commentary as role call is completed the inmate makes his way off the bus and back out into the Soddy Daisy hills to find his keen and hunt “them tight-wearing runnin’ fools.” During the bus ride everyone gets a quick course update; what the trail is like, who to thank for clearing blow downs, who marked the course, where the money for this race goes, and what to do/don’t do on the course. One thing about Upchuck is that the entire course is run along the CT (white blaze), other than the first couple of miles along a blue blaze connector trail. So, considering there are only two aid stations along the entire course, miles 8 and 18, and the entire trail is blazed, most years the flagging is very minimal and you can/should expect to get off course a time or two or at least have to stop and look around a couple of times throughout the day to spot the next blaze. Believe me, the blazes are there and the only reason runners get off course or miss a turn is if they’re in too big of a hurry to make double or triple sure they’re going the right way. I know because I’ve gotten lost to some extent almost every year I’ve run the race and I love that that’s part of the adventure and it requires runners to be a little more self sufficient that even most trail races. Spotting blazes becomes harder when your total focus is playing the game of “rock or hole in between the rocks that will break my leg I half!” Oh and not to mention the 1.5 zillion leaves that are covering those rocks, making it even harder to see what lies beneath each foot strike!
Once the bus pulls up to the Rock Creek trail head in Sale Creek runners file out of the balmy 120 degree bus back into the 30 degree frigid morning. Within 30 seconds there’s not a runner in site that’s not marking a tree as their own personally territory. 2-3 minutes later we all gather for a group photo and then in grand-Upchuck style RayJay emerges from the parking lot and yells “alright, GO!”
Just before the start @Bob asked me if I was going hard off the start again? “Of course!” It’s funny how often I’ve gotten this question and I have three reasons for this approach at Upchuck (1) it’s freezing cold (2) the first 8 miles are climbing and that’s my strength (3) anyone who wants someone to “show” them the course is going to have to earn a spot for a free show! Remember, learning how to run fast in the rocks and still stay on course is part of the challenge and I don’t intend to make that easier for anyone by showing them the ropes, at least not at the beginning of the race 😜. This first 8 mile stretch has plenty of climbing, plenty of rocks and today had plenty of water flowing on the trails. Within a mile I was out of site of anyone else and I tried to settle into a good hard effort and focus on enjoying the scenery and not push myself too hard too early. I had a goal of one hour to aid station 1 and by the time I was within site of the aid I looked down at my watch and saw I was at about 1:05... not a bad time considering, but I needed every minute I could find to have a chance at the record.
Photo - Start: Lavenderroots.smugmug.com
Photo - AS1: Lavenderroots.smugmug.com
The next 3 miles or so after AS1 are nice and runnable. There are few rocky sections and it’s relatively flat. It’s not my cup of tea and I knew a few people behind me would likely make up some time on me here so I just settled in and enjoyed all of the cold and refreshing water crossings 😉. After two big climbs along this section I was closing in on AS2 (18 miles) and slowed to put some powder in my flasks. Michael came around me and made his way up to the aid just a minute or so before me. I had a goal for AS2 of 2:30 and looked at my watch as I filled my bottles and it was 2:32 elapsed. Made up a few minutes from the first section.
Leaving AS2 you get a relatively easy 3-4 miles before it gets technical again and I was trying to keep Michael in site but he had some serious speed that kept him just out of site as we crossed off of the highway and back into the woods. I decided to just push hard but not so hard that I couldn’t keep a good clip through the rocks and climbs that would come at the end. We were treated to some great views along this section and as we finally got away from the creek and dropped back down into the gorge we were treated to a few ice water baths from the cliff lines above. After probably 5 miles I caught a glimpse of Michael ahead and as I rounded a huge boulder and popped out to a weird intersection on the trail I saw him running down the Jeep road the wrong way and yelled for him to turn around and that he had missed the single track straight across the road. I knew this turn well from experience... I accidentally took it one year and added an extra mile to my race and lost a podium spot... but earned some Upchuck strips 😜. Back on course we talked for few minutes and when he decided to stop and tie his shoe I figured I should go on and go for it. With a few more miles of technical running and one last big climb. Putting in some solid miles as I came down into the last gorge at Big Soddy I heard a familiar voice as Ginny Kelly was down at the last creek crossing cheering on runners. This last climb seems to go on forever and I had it in my head that I needed to be at the top at 4-hours to have a chance at the record. After what felt like an hour I finally created the “top” and had 4:03 on my watch... knew it was going to be tight... I bombed the last descent and hit the road. Looked at my watch and prayed to God that it was only 1.5 miles to the finish and not 2 miles. I wouldn’t have time if it was 2! That last 1.5 miles as ridiculous. My legs were screaming, my feet were burning and my heart was pounding. As I closed in on the train tracks I made one last prayer for no trains. A few trains have held up runners in the past and I didn’t want this to be the year I got held up. I made it past the train tracks and around the last couple of turns down long straight to the finish. I finally saw Katy and the girls as I made the last turn into the parking lot and ran to tag the trashcan and finish this thing! Course Record 4:21:16... finally!
Now, it's time for the post race family and friend hangout!
I wasn’t able to shave much time off of Cody‘s record but I’ll take it! I couldn’t of asked for a more beautiful day to get the record! I wanna thank all of the volunteers who helped clear the trails in the weeks leading up to the races, all the volunteers who market the race, and all the people who helped work the race to make sure that we all had a great experience!
Now, it's time for the post race family and friend hangout!
Harlow Kate enjoying the playground!
Heidi K. rocking that Upchuck hat!
Photo: Lavenderroots.smugmug.com
I wasn’t able to shave much time off of Cody‘s record but I’ll take it! I couldn’t of asked for a more beautiful day to get the record! I wanna thank all of the volunteers who helped clear the trails in the weeks leading up to the races, all the volunteers who market the race, and all the people who helped work the race to make sure that we all had a great experience!
Until next year!
#GodsGloryOurJoy #patagonia #PatagoniaTeamCha #TimeToPlay #salomon #salomonrunning #salomonsquad #Skratchlabs
