RACE REPORT: RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL NJ TRAIL SERIES

Running with the Devil is race put on by NJ Trail Series and one of my favorite. The race setting is Mountain Creek Ski Resort in Vernon, NJ. It's a 3 mile loop. 1.5 miles up and 1.5 miles down. Roughly 1,100ft of equal gain and loss per loop. There is also a smaller (and steeper) .5 mile loop that opens only in the last 30 minutes of your race. Runners have the option of 1 loop, 3hr, 6hr and 12hr.....of pain. 

I ran this race last year opting for 6hrs. I completed 6 big loops and 3 small loops. Good enough for 3rd place female. But I always regretted not going for that 7th loop. I was tight on time erred on the side of caution and waited. Played it safe. That 7th loop was my Devil and he got the best of me. He haunted me all year. 

As I gear up for VT100, I decided to go all in this year and signed up for 12hrs. 

My first goal: do better than last year (completing 7 loops under 6 hours). Second goal: 10 loops total. Anything more than that was bonus.

* * *

A few of the 12 hours bunch. Happy. We hadn't started running yet.

When I woke up Sunday morning and took those first steps this morning I was quickly reminded of Saturday and my date with the Devil. The first thing that came to mind:

Never underestimate what you are a capable of achieving. And have faith in your training.

The start of a 12 hour race. The most lack luster start to a race ever. The start is a 1,100 ft climb. Duh. We walk. Head down and slow and steady. Every step forward is progress no matter how slow. Good mantra for the day. If you are standing still you aren't moving forward. The pain won't last forever. Just keep moving. Yup.

Tall grass waist high. Ugh. Wonder what awesome bug bites and strange NJ plant reaction I'll have? Feet soaked already? Damn morning dew! Great. 12 hours of soaked feet. I have extra shoes but no point in changing to get another pair soaked. Ok, head down. Don't look up, one step at a time. Just a giant stair master. 12 hours of this???? Am I insane? Yes, I am insane. You got this. Just take your time. Slow and steady you are going to be out here all day.

Ah! The top! Foggy can't see the views. Ski lift, too bad it wasn't on. Left turn and down I go!!! This is the fun part! 1.5 miles down down down I go! Gah slippery and little muddy. Trust your shoes. Probably should make them a little tighter. Weaving back and forth. Oh this is kinda like skiing, you know, but without skis. First loop done! Yes!!!

Ski lodge is a good place to set up camp. But the beer taps don't work. Yes, ski lodge was part of the loop. Pickles. Pickle juice. Do not cramp. Keep taking salt and eating. Half Gatorade half water. Sweating like a pig. Do pigs sweat? Don't linger. Get in get out. Keep loops under 1 hour. All. Day. Long. Slow and steady.

I see my friend Eryn!!!! She's doing the 1 loop option.  Other racers are starting to show up. More people out on the course. If I hurry up I might catch Rebecca before she starts her race. Gotta get moving.

Head down, slow and steady. Keep moving forward. 

Here we go again. Up. Down.

Another loop done. Oh! Rebecca, my VT pacer! Oh boy! Yeah!  I may have "suggested" she sign up for 3hr. Just might have. Didn't give you much to go on before you signed up. Sorry not sorry?

Quick pic while you both still like me. 

Much is a blur. I know I was running. Well, hiking. Then panda-rolling down. Ha! Stay vertical. Stay in control. Hydrate. Eat. Don't linger.

Oh look! Unicorn confetti!!! Rebecca was here! I loved it. Thank you. Constant reminders of my tribe. Running is NOT and individual sport. Far from it. It takes a tribe.

Six loops done. I know this feeling. I've been here before. Wow! Ahead of schedule. Loop 7 here I come! Up and down. Check watch. Just my regular watch. Garmin won't hold charge that long. What??? 11:40am? I finished loop 7 with 20 minutes to spare! This mountain is my bitch! Wait. I gotta do this for 6 more hours?? Who's the bitch now?

6 hours to do 3 more loops. I've got it. 30 miles. That's what I came to do. Head down. Don't look up. Stay present. One step at a time. Forward progress no matter how slow. 

Keep checking computer with standings. Yup. Still in second place. Elaine is out in front of me. She's a beast. Wonder when she'll lap me? Stay focused. I have to pee. Ugh. I don't want to pee. Don't want to sit. That's bad. Wonder what color my pee is?? Am I hydrating enough? Ugh. I'll pee. Don't look! I looked. That's not the right color. More Gatorade, stat!

Keep moving. Slow and steady. I actually feel strong! Is this me? How can I feel this good??? Trust in your training. 

Up. The. Hill. 

Top of the mountain. It's Mirna! Hey Mirna! Great day! Such a rock star. So positive. Can't help but smile when you see her. Yes! Let's take a selfie! Say cheese!

10 loops done!! Well ahead of schedule. Do I stop? I could stop. No. Keep pushing always. Let;s see what these legs can do. Feeling confident. Let's make this an ultra.

Lap 11 done! 33 miles! I still feel great. Strong. Maintaining. I've got time. I can't do math but I know I've got time.

Ok.

Loop 12. My reach goal. Let's do this. Head down. Slow and steady.

First hill breaks you in. 

Second hill tries to break you. 

Third hill laughs at you. 

I declare this my last loop. Bye first hill! Bye second hill! See ya ATV trail! Third hill, buh-bye! Soak in the view. So pretty! Phish playing on my iPod. I can pretend I'm in VT, right? Last downhill. Go go go!

Back in the lodge. Race Director and the 6 hour racers enjoying a beer and laughing. I want a beer. Beer sounds good. "Elaine is out on lap 13," says RD. "You gonna let her just walk into first place?" Ugh. "You've got 72 minutes."

Think think think. 

I achieved everything I came here to do. Why do any more? "Rick, what was my last loop time?" He runs to computer. "52 minutes. You've got 72 left."

Gone! 

People cheering and clapping. 

Fuck. 

Did I just commit to one more loop?

Starting first climb. I can turn around and go back. I could. But I won't. I started. I committed. I'll do it. Head down don't look up. You know what's coming. You've done this 12 times already. Shit. I never got water. Damn it. Too late. Ration. Slow sips. There's water at the top.

Time: 5:07pm top of second climb. Looking good. 13 loops! Yup no small loops. Not gonna do it. Take your time. Don't get hurt. It's muddy and legs are tired. Recipe for injury. It would suck to get hurt. Do I have time to recover if I do before VT? Stop thinking just go.

5:20pm! Top of the mountain! Ahhh water!!! Hallucinations. I think a butler just refilled my water bottle for me. Good thing too because the bottles are moving. Why are the moving? Ugh.

Left turn and down I go!!! Down down down. What time is it? 5:28.pm Small loop opens at 5:30pm. Maybe if I take my time Rick won't guilt me into a small loop. He's good like that.

I'm down. 13 in the bag! Time now 5:36pm. Rick on the bridge. "Nice job Janna. Elaine is out on the small loop." Oh? Here she comes right behind me! Elaine!!! Rick yells "Make her run!" Elaine and I head out on the small loop. She's got first place locked in. I've got second place locked in. Why run more?

Let's take this loop together. Running friends take a loop together after 12 hours on the mountain.

We talked of VT100 (my race). We talked of FatDog120 (her race). Oh look, I ripped my shoes? Hey Elaine, remember when you had to duct tape your shoes before Escarpment? That was the first time we met!

We cross the finish together. First and Second place.
11:47:42 and 11:47:43.
Done.

13 big loops and 1 small loop up and down Mountain Creek ski slope. 

A total of 39.5 miles and  roughly 14,400 ft in elevation gain. Just under 12 hours of running.

I thought about a lot on that run. Lots of personal things. Lots of thoughts about beer and food too.

I thought about that Def Leppard song, "It's all about Believing!" (Yes, I downloaded Def Leppard for this race, don't judge).

On Saturday, I chose to believe.