Notes
Shut the GPS off when not running. Actual time was 25 hours, but timed out on the 25th. Total mileage was supposed to be 104. Interesting how the mileage varied a bit on the same loops and out and back on the road.
2012 Big Dog Backyard Ultra - "Death Match on the Big Trail"
What is Big Dog Backyard Ultra?
This is a different sort of Ultramarathon, where neither the time, nor the distance is predetermined. The race takes place on a 4.16 mile trail loop beginning at 7 am and then switches to an out and back road course beginning at 7 pm assuming that anyone is left at that point. A single loop race will take place at every hour, on the hour. Runners failing to complete a 4.16 miler within an hour will be timed out. Runners failing to make the start in any hour will be eliminated. Runners that are able to continue are tied for first each loop. The winner will be the last man (or woman) able to complete a loop within the time limit. If the race gets to a point where all but one runner wants to quit, that runner must still run one more loop under an hour to win. If all runners time out on the same loop, there is no winner.
$500 total prize money with $50 to the winner of every 12th hour and all remaining prize money going to the eventual winner.
Why run it?
I joined the Ultra e-mail list 1.5 years ago and learned about the Backyard Ultra last year which was the first year for the race with the death match format. The idea sounded very intriguing to me and I wanted to run it but I was already signed up for the Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd the same weekend. I followed the race with the reports and pictures online and was surprised the race only went 18 hours. Last year it occurred entirely on the trail with no road course at night which definitely made it more difficult. The race was put on by Lazarus Lake, the race director for the famous Barkley Marathons (100 mile run or 60 mile fun run) where only 12 people have finished since 1986. Several articles are on the Wiki page if anyone is interested in the ultimate challenge.
When Laz posted the link in May to the entry form, I immediately mailed in my $50 check. A year later, I was still intrigued by the idea and doing something different was very appealing to me. The idea of a timed ultra race has not appealed to me but the format of this event was irresistible to me. The unknown of how far one would go and the unknown of how the body and mind would respond to this type of race really sucked me in.
Training
I didn't train for this specific event. I had races I planned to do at the beginning of the year. The year got off to a bad start in January when I ended up with a pain in my 3rd metatarsal (likely a stress reaction). I took 8 days off running and then started back with lower mileage but still running with pain that slowly got better. I had a very poor performance and still some pain at the USATF National Cross Country Championships in early February, but 2 weeks later no pain and ran pretty well at the Post Oak Challenge Double (50K and marathon the next day). I ran a 3 day stage race in March (50K/50 mile/20K), 100K in April, 50 mile in May, 100K in June, and 50K in July.
My goal race was to run the Burning River 100 mile trail championships on July 28th. I also ran several other races from 5K to half marathons. After my 100K in June which was 2 weeks after the 50 miler, the rest of my training plan went out the window. The weather was hot and I was tired of putting in the miles. I ran what I felt like doing which was 40-something per week plus some P90X until Burning River 100 which went okay (2nd place age group), but definitely could have gone better.
After Burning River, I planned to run the Heart of America Marathon on Labor Day and then to run the Backyard Ultra which could have been as few as 4.2 miles. At this time, I was beginning to question why I run ultras and if I really wanted to continue. I ran Heart of America and then made a training plan to increase my mileage so I could make a decent effort at Backyard Ultra. I got in 100% of my planned mileage in the 6 weeks even though I wasn't necessarily that enthusiastic but just ran easy pace most of the time. I also hit the weights pretty hard doing a lot of squats (up to 3 times per week), plus dead lifts, bench, overhead press, barbell rows, kettlebell swings, pushups, dips, and pullups. I was often running on heavy tired legs. I still ran well at Rock Bridge Revenge since I eased of the weights a few days before. I intentionally ate more and gained 8 lbs after Burning River so was running at my highest weight in years at 160 lbs. Then 2 weeks before Backyard I signed up for a 3 day extreme slow demo class on Mon - Wed before Backyard that left my legs feeling sore.
This kind of training probably sounds crazy to but I enjoy the weight lifting just as much as running and it often has to take second priority to the running if I am tapering for a race or I perform poorly since I didn't rest properly. After Burning River I made a commitment to myself to try to do more weight workouts so my training plan didn't include the mileage I normally run to train for a marathon or even an utlra. For Backyard the goal was just to go and have fun and see how long I would last. After this race, I had no more ultra race commitments. I was sort of looking to this last race as a celebration (might be the last one) of running ultras even though in my mind I knew I this probably wouldn't be the last one.
Prerace
The race took place in Laz's wooded back yard in Bell Buckle, TN (near Mufreesboro). I left Friday morning. Took a short detour to stop at the Roly Poly in Mufreesboro where I had a half Texas Tuna Melt and got a whole Basil Cashew Chicken to go to eat at some point later. I arrived at Laz's backyard about 4:30 pm. There were a few people waiting around and some others were out with Laz getting the tour of the course. I was fine with not knowing what I was getting myself into so okay with me that I missed it. I asked the people waiting abut camping and Shannon told me I could unload my car and then I parked about half mile down the road before walking back to set up my tent.
Eventually the others arrived and Laz checked us in and got our shirts. Also, got to meet Big, the famous dog. I bought his book My Name is Big, The Search for a Home for a Pit Bull Rescue Dog (Volume 1) earlier this year and at the time Laz had mentioned he already had enough stories for a second book. After he checked us in, he got out a box of books The Big Dog Diaries, part 2, the Big Adventures which is not on Amazon yet since it was just printed so I got a copy of that one as well.
Laz asked if we were going for Mexican or Thai for dinner. I am thinking both don't sound like such a good idea. Some were suggesting Cracker Barrel which sounded like a better idea. We walked down to our cars and myself and 2 others got a ride with Tim (who ran it last year and has run 20 miles at Barkley Marathons 2 times) and Kathy, his wife. We talked a little about strategy like leaving a few minutes to spare between loops. I really didn't have a strategy other than to leave some time. I assumed it was possible since it would only about a 14:12 pace. However, if I made it to the late stages, it could become quite difficult if I wasn't running since I don't walk that fast. And if we made it to the road (which some were not in favor) who knows how this would affect us after running on the trail for 12 hours.
On the way to dinner we encountered an accident so never made it to Cracker Barrel since they wouldn't let traffic proceed ahead and we were forced to turn. Kathy spotted a Sir Pizza where we all gathered (maybe 15 or so?) and enjoyed dinner and excellent service. I had a Sir Pizza sub sandwich. I got to sit across the table from Laz and he was friendly and conversational. I noticed I had in common with him that we both like dark chocolate, jalapeno peppers, and we like to eat meat. Also, I am attracted to the idea that he comes up with these events to really challenge people. Two other events are Vol State (500K Footrace, 10 days or less across TN) and the Barkley Marathons (100 mile). These are events that dare people to dream big and really challenge themselves to push themselves to the edge and beyond of what they think they are capable.
We headed back to camp and I decided to head to bed around 9 am since I would be getting up at 6 am. I slept pretty well until around 1 am. Then woke up several times having weird dreams about the race. Also, lots of coyotes were howling so sleep was frequently disrupted but got some deep sleep since I kept having these dreams mostly about the loop we were running being difficult to follow and we had to figure out clues about which direction to go next.
The "Big" event
I woke up just a few minutes before 6 am, drank a protein shake, and ate a banana. Then got dressed and set up my aid station outside my tent. I had a bag full of food including chips, mixed nuts trail mix, pretzel bars, dried fruit, graham crackers, Suceed Ultra, and gels. Also, had a cooler with some potatoes, Roly Poly Basil Cashew Chicken Wrap, and Powerade Zero. Weather was overcast, low 40s, and eventually would get into the upper 60s.
At 7 am sharp, we begin our first loop on the trail. There were 29 starters. We had a short out and back section on the road so about a half mile on the road before we hit the trail. I tried to stay close to a few runners since it was my first loop. The course was well-marked so not too much problem figuring out the loop. There were very runnable sections, rocks, roots, and a few things to climb over. Everyone I ran with walked all the hills. I had to stop to pee before the end of the loop and for several loops in a row I had to pee about the same point in the loop which was kind of strange. I finished my first loop in 51 minutes so have 9 minutes get ready for the next one. After the first loop I was warm so I removed my jacket. Then I would eat a bit of food, refill my bottle, use the bathroom, put my GPS on the charger for a few minutes, etc. Laz would blow the whistle 3 times at 57 min, 2 times, at 58 min, and 1 time at 59 min. Then we had to be ready to start on the hour.
Then repeat, again, and again and everything pretty much was the same for me. I consumed the whole Roly Poly wrap between 10 and 2 pm eating a few bites each loop. No problems with digestion and felt pretty good the whole time. On the 4th loop, I finally noticed my short sleeved shirt was on backwards turned it around the next loop. It was easy to lose track of the time of day and loop number so had to check the clock a few times. Of the first 12 loops, I ran the first one in 51 min, 2 in 52 min, 6 in 53 min, 2 in 54 min, and the last one when it got dark in just under 57 min. I ran harder at the very end just to beat that 3 min warning whistle by 10 seconds. I finished quite a few of the trail loops with Jim B who was running just the pace I felt I also needed to run. I changed my socks 1 time since there was a wet muddy section on the trail.
After loop 11, Laz gave let us vote on whether begin the road then or at 7 pm, but we voted trail so we could get the first 50 miles on trail. It did get dark on that 12th trail loop and that is why it took a little longer. If we hadn't switched to road there would have been more casualties a lot sooner. I had 3 minutes to quickly change to my Mizuno trail shoes which seemed more suitable for the road than the Innov8 295s and changed socks. At the start of the 13th loop, we were down to 12 people, all tied for first place as Laz so eloquently pointed out as each of us crossed the finish line on each loop.
Originally, I had predicted I could do 20 loops and also had said to myself I wouldn't quit unless I timed out. At times I seriously thought about intentionally timing myself out so I could quit. I wasn't sure the point of continuing since I would DNF at some point anyway. It would have been nice to sit around the fire eating and watching the rest of the race play out.
By loop 18 I found myself with just 3 other runners (Joe, Marcy, Jim) and they all seemed very solid. I finished loop 18 with Jim. On the 19th loop, I beat them all by 3 minutes and the 3 of them came in together. When we hit the road, Joe had been running in the 30s quite a bit and a couple 40s. I really hadn't noticed him earlier too much since he finished so far ahead of us, but on loop 19 he slowed down and ran with us. We lost Jim after the 21st loop. I ran with Joe and finished just seconds from him loop 22 - 24. Marcy ran with us in 22. Marcy and Joe would start out faster than me and I would catch them later.
There was very little talking among the 3 of us. I had no idea what they were thinking. After running with them, I knew I couldn't outlast them and Joe could run faster and therefore probably last longer. I figured anything could happen, but why did I continue? I hinted several times I might quit, yet Joe talked earlier about when we would go back to the trail at 7 am like he was talking to me and we would have to hurry to meet the cutoff. I am thinking I'm not going to last that long.
For a couple different loops on the road Shannon offered me a brat and I accepted thinking if I eat this maybe I will get sick and time out. It actually tasted very good. After eating 3 brats in different hours, I still felt fine. Although the last one made me feel a little queasy so I didn't quite finish it all. I tried a brownie, thinking maybe that would make me sick, but ended up feeling stronger the next loop. I tried a small snicker's bar and still no luck in making myself feel bad. These are things I don't normally eat during an ultra so thought they might work to put an end to my races. Yet I continued to charge my GPS after each loop like I was going to be out there for awhile. A few times I sat around the fire, but when the time came and Laz blew the 3, 2, and 1 minute whistles, I went to the starting line and took off as he rang the bell like I was one of Pavlov's dogs.
Physically I was doing okay, but mentally I wanted to quit. When I got to 16 loops, I thought, I've now done 100K, it would be a good time to quit. Then I remembered I had predicted 20 loops and kept going. Once I got to 20 and then ran 2 more, I figured I might as well make this 100 miles. The road was too easy to finish in 1 hour. There was a lot of flat with the biggest hill being near the end and I could walk the last half mile and still come in with 10 minutes to spare. Why quit when I was tied for first place with 2 other people? Although I pretty much knew I couldn't beat them unless they decided to just quit.
Laz offered to let us go back to the trail at 6 am. Marcy and Joe wanted to continue the road so I agreed, but I really wanted to go back to the trail. I knew I didn't have my trail legs anymore and assumed I would time out once we hit the trail so it would be over sooner for me and I could sit around the fire in the daylight. For my road loops, I ran 3 in 46 min, 3 in 48 min, 1 in 49 min, 2 in 50 min, 2 in 51 min, and 1 in 52 min so was remaining pretty consistent although 50 - 51 min the last 3 loops.
At 7 am we go back to the trail and Joe reminds us again we are going to have to be fast to meet the cutoff, get through the 12 hours of trails again so we could start again on the road at 7 pm later Sunday. What???I'm thinking he can't be serious. He must be that guy that predicted 280 miles and meant it and he indeed was that guy. I had no idea who I had been running with. Maybe I had heard his name before and forgot? I'm not sure my excuse, but probably just didn't think it possible I could be running with someone like him. He was Joe Fejes, who was on the USA Team at the 24 hour World Championships in September of this year. I had looked him up on Ultrasignup since I was amazed he predicted 280 miles, but didn't look too closely at his results. He is amazing and just can keep going and going and he actually is pretty fast in the 24+ hour events. I see now he had run 280 miles in 72 hrs at Across the Years in 2011 plus several 24 hours where he ran 117 - 142 miles. People's eyes glaze over when I tell them I ran 100 miles. I can't imagine being Joe and telling someone how far he runs.
So we take off at 7 am and Joe and Marcy are in the lead. We have to do the short out and back on the road and then we hit the trail. I saw them as we entered the trail and then they were gone. My legs just weren't moving fast enough over the trail. I realize as I predicted earlier I'm not going to make it but still do my best to move as fast as I can just to get this over with. Thankfully, we didn't stay on the road since who knows how much longer I would have lasted on the road since things were going too well.
I saw Joe going back out so he and Marcy had to do another loop. I finished my 25th loop (104 miles) in 1 hr 10 min so way over the cutoff. I got credit for 24 loops since they last wasn't under an hour. Laz said something like I was one of the most spectacular DNFs he had ever seen. Also, I was likely one of 3 people in the world to have ever run a 100 mile this way in 24 hours with equal mile segments each hour. That was kind of amazing when I thought about it. I was happy to be done though. I sat around the fire and Shannon offered a McDonalds sausage biscuit and I ended up having 2.
I was wanting to see how this thing would end but who knew how much longer this would go on. Marcy and Joe had come in together on their 25th loop together at 59 minutes so were very close to cutoff on the loop I missed by 10 minutes. On the 26th loop, he comes in at 53 minutes, beating her by 5 minutes. She's hanging in there and I think a lot of us were rooting for her to win against this amazing runner. I'm tired so go lie down for a few minutes and then decide to go ahead and pack everything up. In the 27th loop, he comes in 54 minutes beating her by 2:17. Maybe she can pull this off? I can't leave now. They go out for the 28th loop. Marcy comes back after about 33 minutes. I am not sure what happened but she knew she couldn't make that loop. Joe finished it in 53 minutes so there is a winner. Finally, I can leave and maybe go sleep soon after what has been the longest day of my life.
The rest of us remaining said our goodbyes and packed up our stuff. It was after 10 am so I knew I couldn't check in a motel so drive a bit and stop at Burger King for lunch. It was really crappy. I really wanted steak but felt like I was too tired to deal with that kind of restaurant.
Around 2 pm, I am getting sleepy so pull over in Clarksville, TN and find a motel. I ask if I can check in and thankfully they let me. I slept for 3 hours, woke up, ordered pizza, ate, checked some e-mail and then tried to sleep. I could barely breathe through my nose since allergies were really bothering me. Maybe something in the room. I finally decide I am going to have to get up and go somewhere to get something to help me breathe or I won't get the sleep I desperately need to drive home the next day. I drove to a convenience store about 0.1 mi away. There was no way I was going to walk since things were a little stiff. I found some nasal spray or some non-drowsy allergy med. I chose the nasal spray since I was afraid the other would keep me awake. The spray worked and I slept pretty well and left for home at 10 am.
Laz was e-mailing updates throughout the race which I have compiled at the end of this post. Of note we had legendary ultrarunner (didn't know it at the time) Ray K from SC who would make each cutoff with just seconds to spare after every loop until he miscalculated when we hit the road.
Afterthoughts
It's Monday and I am walking really well. Right ankle is a bit swollen, but I am not in pain. Muscles are a bit sore but the worst probably has not hit yet. With the 0.5 miles road when we did the trail plus the all road loop, I estimate 56 on road and 48 on trail. I've never run that much on road and the effect isn't as bad as I imagined it might be as I had a good shuffle going so the impact was less.
I never felt nauseous during the race so I think being able to rest between loops and go slow really helped. I never pushed the pace since it wasn't necessary since I was running quite comfortably with minutes to spare. I didn't use any Succeed Caps since I never felt they were necessary. Of the food that I took I ate a few of the chips, a couple pretzel bars, 5 or so gels, about 4 succeed, handful of the trail mix, several no calorie Fizz, packet of the cinnamon graham crackers, 3 brats, brownie, small snickers, and the Roly Poly. I am estimating around 4500 or so calories.
This race is technically a DNF even though I was 1 of the last 3 standing. I placed 3rd for number of miles but still a DNF since only person could actually finish. My total time running is 21 hrs 30 mi so had 3 hr 30 min of breaks. I am now ready to NOT think about the next ultra. Will there be another one? Most likely yes, but when and where I don't know. It may never be over 100 miles again. I am happily uncommitted and might be ready to do something different. For now, I am not making any plans until when and if the mood ever strikes me again. I am ready to balance activities more. It is more important for me to be fit than to just run an ultra. I'm glad I did the Backyard Ultra. The people and the atmosphere at these events are great and that is what would likely entice me to go back. If I had anything to prove, even though I didn't, I proved to myself my will cannot be broken easily. I don't give up easily at least when it comes to running insanely long distances for an insane amount of time. I do find these experiences very meditative and helpful to clear the mind of all the day to day junk that we have to endure on this planet.
Laz's race updates and results
starters
john price
tim dines
sal coll
mike baker
bill schultz
jim ball
greg burger
marcy beard
john beard
josh wiesner
shannon burke
andy emerson
henry wakely
joe fejes
joe kowalski
diane taylor
catherine harding
bill lovett
nathan b forrest
charlie taylor
paul carrington
dewayne satterfield
j scott jordan
abi meadows
tom dolan
steve durbin
justin johnson
ben yancey
ray krolewicz
29
………………………………………………………………………………………………
sal coll won hour 1 by over 2 minutes, in 44:03.
diane taylor timed out.
everyone else was tied for the lead after one hour
………………………………………………………………………………………………
there were no fatalities in hour 2.
everyone seems jovial,
and a party atmosphere prevails...
for now.
the gentle beating will take a while to set in.
sal coll won hour 2 by less than a minute in 46:07.
everyone was tied for the lead at the start of hour 3.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
sal coll won hour 3 in 45:03.
dewayne satterfield was less than a minute behind.
john price fell in the rocks,
hoping to win sympathy by bleeding all over everything.
one of the women wanted to clean his wounds with moonshine,
but we arent going to waste good moonshine that way.
john did squeak in under the time limit, but he is done.
so we have our second fatality.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
sal coll won hour 4 in 46:10
satterfield second in 46:57
casualties:
bill schultz and abi meadows.
all the survivors were tied for the lead at 5 hours. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
why are these people laughing? because 3 whistles dont mean anything if you are crewing
(or already deceased)
dewayne satterfield took hour 5 in 48:16
bill lovet was second in 50:20
there were no casualties,
altho shannon burke had to be goaded into continuing.
25 people were tied for first at 6 hours. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
i came out from posting the standings to find that shannon burke and steve durbin had both gone only far enough to crawl under the first rock they could find.
just like that there are only 23. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 6 went to dewayne satterfield in 47:56
sal coll followed at 48:12
they dont have the same happy faces they used to have.
the happy faces they had just a few hours ago.
the happiest face award went to paul carrington...
right after he told us "it's my birthday, and i can quit if i want to." ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 7 went to dewayne satterfield in 48:53
sal coll followed in 49:34
there are a lot of glassy eyes & grim expressions in big's backyard,
and fatalities:
josh wiesner
catherine harding
nathan b forrest
………………………………………………………………………………………………
after 7 hours there are 22 runners tied for the lead. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
another one had to be prodded into going on with the explanation that UR wont post your name if you get less than 8 laps.
with a piteous, pleading look in his eyes he said; "i dont want to hurt myself anymore."
isnt that the name of this game?
a mere 8 hours in big's backyard and only 19 people are tied for the lead.
the 4-mile run is harder than it sounds.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 8 went to atterfield in 50:33
bill lovett followed in 52:00
the first hour without a sub-50
betting in camp is picking up,
as the crews and casualties bet on how many will go out onto big's trail on the next loop.
frankly, everyone seems to be experiencing some discomfort.
good thing they dont know why we cheer so loudly as they head out into the woods.
casualties:
tom dolan
ben yancey
j scott jordan
justin johnson
how can anyone quit an ultra while in the lead?
15 people were tied for the lead after 9 hours.
laz (who, along with kathy dines won the blood money on the 9th hour)
satterfield continues to lead the way, taking hour 9 in 51:53
joe fejes was next in at 51:55
casualties:
greg burger
joe kowalski
mike baker
the wheat is separating from the chafe.
10 hours out, and 12 runners are tied for the lead. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 10 was led in by henry wakely 50:37
sal coll followed in 52:41
for the first time in a while, there were no casualties.
eveeryone looks "strong"
but hurt.
12 runners are still tied for the lead after 11 hours. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
sal coll is
fore, in 50:45
henry wakely followed at 51:05
we went another hour without a casualty.
several people look shaky,
but everyone has been having their moments.
hard to read the faces now,
they are all a little haggard looking.
still 12 people tied for the lead after 11 hours.
this is the lap where it gets dark.
we'll see how they fare depending on lights for a half lap.
for the survivors the next lap will be on the road loop! ………………………………………………………………………………………………
those who started hour 12
sal coll
henry wakely
dewayne satterfield
bill lovett
andy emerson
charlie taylor
tim dines
joe fejes
john beard
mary geard
jim ball
ray krolewicz
all tied for the lead
. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
12th hr first in henry wakely in the fastest loop of the day: 40:16
bill lovett next in a more human 51:26
it got pitch black for the last half,
but we had no casualties.
the k says we are on his turf now.
and the beat(ing) goes on. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
first in on the 13th hour bill lovett in 40:22
next in joe fejes in 40:24
at least in the dark we dont have to see their faces any more.
casualties:
tim dines
ray krolewicz
after 13 hours there are no longer so many people to beat.
but what do the fast loops mean?
is he psyching me out?
or is he that strong?
are those guys hurting as bad as me?
oh hell.
there goes that damn whistle again.
10 unfortunate souls answer the bell,
the moonshine goes around the fire one more time.
and everyone asks where is naresh? ………………………………………………………………………………………………
sal coll gave up.
now there are 9.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 14 saw lovett bring it home in 44:14
and fejes in44:16
there were no new casualties,
so 9 poor souls continue their "long walk"
john beard said he keeps thinking that he is next.
but then the bell sounds,
and he goes on.
pavlovs dogs are laughing.
and 9 people refuse to quit while leading. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 15.
joe fejes melted asphalt with a 36:49
jim ball followed at 49:24
dewayne satterfield failed to make it within an hour.
and 8 runners wonder who will be next.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
charlie taylor made it to sophie's gas tank...
and realized his own tank was dry.
we are down to the magnificent 7.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
fejes continues to set lap records,
coming in at 34:17
jim ball was next in 46:00
andy emerson 48:01
Henry Wakely 49:14
marcy beard 51:26
john beard 51:29
bill lovett missed the cutoff.
john beard capitulated.
five runners left tied for the lead after 16 hours. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
the results of hour 17:
fejes 38:00
emerson 45:38
beard 50:20
ball 50:25
wakely 53:10
henry wakely was unable to answer the bell for hour 18.
he simply quit after leading the race for 17 hours.
four runners hobbled out of camp...
tied for the lead
. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 18 is in the books.
fejes 35; 42
beard 47:07
ball 48:11
emerson 48:14
each has their own thoughts.
each knows that victory is not that far away.
all they have to do is hang in,
because no one can run off and leave the rest.
lots of speculation about what will happen when the sun comes up,
and they return to the trail loop....
assuming they can hang on that long.
but everyone looked strong this time.
and all 4 were tied in the lead as they began the 19th hour.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
the tides of war,
they eb and flo.
hour 19:
emerson 47:31
beard 50:22
ball 50:39
fejes 50:41
it has set in cold.
do you run fast enough to get warm,
and wear yourself down
or run slow to conserve yourself,
and get cold?
and are those people your opponents,
or your only allies in the cold and dark?
who knows anything for sure,
except if those stubborn people would just give up,
you could stop
. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 20 has come and gone
emerson 48:20
fejes 48:24
beard 52:56
ball 55:55
the runners continue to anticipate the sunrise...
still a long way off.
there is an air of resignation as they line up to answer the bell.
"back to work" says joe fejes.
they talk quietly among themselves at the starting line.
we, the crews, the race officials, we are tired.
but only those four can understand what each other is going thru.
they wait on the next one to fall,
but when it happens i think they will be sad.
so much has been shared.
so much endured.
together
. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 21
fejes 45:53
emerson 45:55
beard 54:55
ball 55:47
ball was unable to answer the bell for hour 22.
that leaves three
. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 22 is in the books
emerson 50:36
fejes 50:38
beard 50:40
with only two hours left on the road,
the prevailing attitude is fear of the trail.
the question was posed;
"what if no one makes the time limit on the trail?"
the answer did not please the three survivors.
"then there would be no winner."
the race goes to the last man standing.
either someone wins,
or there is no winner.
that will be simething to pondero
………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 23
emerson 49:58
fejes 50:02
beard 52:12
they struggle on.
as they headed out into hour 24,
they know they will have light before the halfway point,
and sunrise before the next hour....
the hour that they return to the trails.
there is a fear of the trail.
as the pitiful remnant assembled to await the bell,
joe remarked;
"this is the last road loop for 12 hours!"
………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 24
fejes 50:44
emerson 51:23
beard 52:54
lots of people have done a sub-24 hour hundred.
not many have done it in 24 exactly equal hours.
we just watched them head out on the trails for the start of the second day.
in about an hour we'll know if their fear of the time limit was justified. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 25
marcy beard 58:59
joe fejes 59:00
casualties
andy emerson
and so it comes down to this.
fejes is faster,
beard is more trail seasoned.
this race could go either way.
to win, one of them has to match the other
lap by lap under the time limit....
plus one.
gonna be an interesting show. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 26
joe fejes 53:40
marcy beard 58:35
joe came in looking strong,
and as the minutes crawled by
and the 3-minute whistle sounded with no sight of her
he dared to hope that marcy might miss the time limit...
and joe had done his last lap.
no such luck,
she came in looking strong,
and they went out into the 27th hour tied.
she was leading him when they entered the woods.
it is a battle to the end,
one will win the race,
one will dnf.
this is a hell of a show!
………………………………………………………………………………………………
hour 27
fejes 54:42
beard 57:59
i apologize for the lack of closure,
and the hourly inbox clutter.
but if we have to keep suffering here,
ya'll can suffer with us.
they both look strong...
and resolute.
one of them will win,
and one will dnf.
it seems neither one wants to be the bigger person
and take the dnf
. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
marcy beard is out.
i will leave any details to her race report.
except to say:
what a magnificent warrior!
now it is in joe's hands.
if he can get his 28th lap within the time limit,
he will be the backyard champion. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
joe fejes finished his 28th hour in 53:00.
it didnt end an incredible weekend,
as the post race festivities continued for a while.
i will have to gather my thoughts before i make my race report.
but believe me,
this kind of race is way different...
and will challenge you physically and mentally
to whatever limit you can handle.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
apologies in advance,
as i expect the e-mail to totally destroy the formatting.
but this is quite readable as entered.
Big's Backyard Ultra 10-20-12
1)
Joe Fejes
116.67
DNF
Marcy Beard
112.50
DNF
Andy Emerson
100.00
DNF
Jim Ball
87.50
DNF
Henry Wakely
70.83
DNF
John Beard
66.67
DNF
Bill Lovett
62.50
DNF
Charlie Taylor
62.50
DNF
DeWayne Satterfield
58.33
DNF
Sal Coll
54.17
DNF
Tim Dines
50.00
DNF
Ray Krolewicz
50.00
DNF
Greg Burger
37.50
DNF
Joe Kowalski
33.33
DNF
Mike Baker
33.33
DNF
Tom Dolan
33.33
DNF
Ben Yancey
33.33
DNF
J Scott Jordan
33.33
DNF
Justin Johnson
33.33
DNF
Case Cantrell
29.17
DNF
Josh Wiesner
29.17
DNF
Catherine Harding
29.17
DNF
Paul Carrington
25.00
DNF
Shannon Burke
20.83
DNF
Steve Durbin
20.83
DNF
Abi Meadows
12.50
DNF
Bill Schultz
12.50
DNF
John Price
12.50
DNF
Diane Taylor
0.00