Bull Run Run, etc.

By Dave Sek

Most of us read Runner's World and I've heard many say that the articles often are just repeats of something that appeared in the magazine a year ago. You know what I mean: "12 Ways to Marathon Success". The following year the article will appear as "Marathon Success in Just 15 Easy Steps.". I'm getting sick of reading the same old stuff year after year. I'm going to write some new ones from the Ultra-Marathoner's point of view. Here goes:

"Toenails, Do we Really Need Them?"
We all agree that we need our toes; they provide balance when running and help us keep the entire foot flexible. But Toenails??

After looking at my feet after Bull Run I think I could probably do without them. After all, they're black, broken, and infested with a fungus that won't go away. My podiatrist turns his head away when he looks at my feet. He could give me medicine for the fungus but it rots your liver. I'd rather rot my liver with booze. Painted toenails look sexy on a woman, but otherwise I think I don't need them anymore. I haven't had ten white nails in about a decade.

"Maximize Your Pain"
Most of us know the morning after feeling of a hard run marathon; Stiff, achy, joints. We all look like a bunch of aged, arthritic, octegenarians. Well, if you want to raise the bar on the pain, get out there and do a 50 mile trail run like BRR 50. You'll look back on those marathons and think that it wasn't bad at all. BRR this year took place on a day of temps in the mid 70's and the day after a lot of rain. Speaking only for myself, I went out on the first loop (about 17 miles) and encountered a fair amount of mud down by the Bull Run River. This made the footing loose and my quads got a good workout down there. I was already getting sore about 10 miles out. At the second aid station I took my first drugs. Those 2 Advils were the first of many.

At the changeover into the second loop, Maureen Ware gave me my fanny pack so I could carry liquids. I forgot to wear it at the start. (By the way, we had the best support crew in the world, Maureen, Rich Valley And Sven Buchheister. They were with us all the way and their help was priceless.)

These trails are similar to the ones in Mendon Ponds Park but the hills are steeper and longer and of course we go a lot farther. I was running in the vicinity of John Prohira and Dan Lopata thru most of the race. We'd catch up with each other at the aid stations but at the Do-Loop (about 32miles out) John took off and I never saw him again until I finished. He ran a terrific 10hr. 15min. race.

I went into the Do-Loop ahead of Dan and he apparently went off course a bit. But he found some fresh legs and came up behind me at about 46 miles and I didn't see him again until the finish. I was hurting most of the day (the 8 or 10 Advils kept me going) and I finished about 8 minutes behind Dan. Dan finished his first 50 miler in 10 hr. 38 min. Linda Vallee, Jim Davis, Doug Jones, Dick Ware, John Penamonte, and Maryann McQueenie all came in shortly after. A first 50 for Jim, Doug, John and Maryann. When you see them, give them your hearty congratulations on a job well done. (Speaking of jobs, runners coming back out of the loops and other race fans would say "Good Job" My job is EASY compared to the work I did on Saturday!!!!

"Double Your 10K Time"
Are you sick of those 45 minute 10k's? Then follow Dave's easy steps and you'll be running a 90 minute 10k in no time at all. (Well, 90 minutes really.) All you have to do is get to the 43.8 mile mark at Bull Run Run and that 90 minute 10k is in the bag.

Depending on how you're feeling you might even break the magic 100 minute mark. (I came close!!) Near the finish, runners are back down at the river for a couple of miles and it's really rocky down there. BIG kneecap busting rocks. So I'm working my way through that like I'm running (walking, actually) on eggs. The legs aren't really cooperating at this stage and I was very worried about tripping and just really ruining my day. (As if it was such a joy earlier on...) Then 1/3 of a mile from the finish you have to climb this really, really steep hill. Bill Hearne in his most evil moments wouldn't make us climb a hill like that at the end of a run. (Well, maybe he would). Then to the finish, HOORAY!!!!!!

Even though I was whining all day long about how I felt It was really great to be in such an event. It is so well organized and you can't say enough about the terrific job the vounteers do all day long. At the aid stations the take your water bottle out from your fanny pack, fill it and put it back in for you. They would probably hand feed you if you asked them to.

And last, it's always great to be with a group of good friends from the running community and sharing these experiences . And of course that running community includes our support crews, husbands, wives, SO's, kids, and good friends.