I looked forward to the 4th running of the CCT 50-K
on March 20, 2004. And the run that day lived up to my expectations. Run
Director, John Coogan did an excellent job of coordinating the run and
the help. The web-site (http://members.cox.net/jcoogan/cct/) John maintains
provided us with helpful descriptions and maps of the course as well as
past results and some articles written by previous finishers. My wife,
Helen, volunteered to help and was assigned to the Oak Marr aid station,
13.4 miles into the run.
The course is relatively flat compared to a lot of
the runs I have done in the last year with the members of the Virginia
Happy Trails Running Club and the Reston Runner, but there were a few places
where I used the trail runners’ instinct and walked the steep up hills.
The course predominantly follows the stream beds of Accotink Creek for
the first several miles and Difficult Run for the last half of the run,
with 3 miles of sidewalk running between the end of the Accotink Creek
and the beginning of the Difficult Run stream valley system. At various
times I had been on most parts of the course north of Braddock Road, having
done runs between Reston and Oak Marr and Reston and Great Falls and bicycled
(trail biked) various parts between Wakefield Rec. Center and Pickett Road.
Starting time was 8 A.M. on windy, cool, sunny Saturday
morning, a perfect day for a trail run, except for the brisk wind. The
starting place was in Springfield, behind the Byron Avenue Little League
Fields off Old Keene Mill Road. Helen drove me to the start and we arrived
at 5 minutes before the 8 a.m. starting time, barely leaving me enough
time to get my running, drinking and snacking gear together and pop a Succeed
electrolyte capsule before the start of the run.
We started a couple minutes after 8 on a pedestrian
journey that would end 32 miles later, at the picnic grounds next to the
visitors center at Great Falls. Most of the runners were running at a comfortable,
not too fast pace. I hung back at the start, as I knew it was a long way
to the end and I would be out here at least 5 hours, probably closer to
6 hours. I ran part of the early part of the run with Farouk Elkassed,
who I knew from both the Reston Runners and the Virginia Happy Trails Running
Club. Farouk had run ultras the previous 2 weeks, so he was somewhat tired,
so I eventually ran ahead of him and for a good part of the early stages
was running near the famous ultra runner formerly known as Michelle Burr,
now going by the moniker Michelle Harmon. (I know she decided to ditch
the “Burr”, but the old name has a trail runner’s feel to it.)
The first few miles was mostly on single track trail,
winding through the woods and then around Lake Accotink after going under
the the VRE rail bridge. There were several stream crossings but I didn't
get my feet wet in this section. Around Lake Accotink the trail was wider
and had some other walking and running traffic. On the path around Lake
Accotink I caught up with Gaynor Bourgeois, who I had seen a few months
earlier at the Potomac Heritage 50-K Run. We commiserated about that run
and how hot it was on that early November day. In a couple of more miles
we would go under Braddock Road and by the Wakefield Rec. Center. Race
Director John Coogan was at the Wakefield parking lot with water, snacks
and Gatorade. I took full advantage of this first stop, also filling a
couple of my water bottles.
I was fully warmed up at this point, having been on
the run for 35 or 40 minutes. From Wakefield we would traverse a flat but
somewhat muddy field before crossing Accotink Creek on a bridge and following
the left side of the stream bed. Several runners were confused as to which
side of the creek we were supposed to be running on, but I told them it
wouldn't really matter because you just follow the creek until we get to
a gravel then paved path. This little section until we reached King Arthur
Drive was actually a part of the trail I had never been on before, but
I knew the general direction from living close to that section in 1980s
and 1990s. The trail took us under Little River Turnpike and to another
crossing of Accotink Creek, this time on stones and through a little water.
My feet got just a bit wet, so as to let me know it was legitimate trail
run. The trail wound along the right side of the creek, though some muddy
sections and then under King Arthur Drive.
At King Arthur Drive the trail becomes a gravel trail
then a paved trail. I stopped, drank some water, took a Succeed Cap and
some trail mix, then tied my shoe and started running again. This section
2.25 mile section had mileage markers every half mile, so I decided to
track my pace at this point. I also picked it up some, because this path
was flat and very easily to run. I was clocking 8 minute miles at this
point and feeling strong, crossing Woodburn Road, then Barkley Road before
ending at Thaiss Park on Pickett Road in Fairfax City. By the end of this
section we would be nearly 1/3 of the way done, with 10 miles down and
more than 20 to go. There was a pack of 6 or 8 runners that got to the
sidewalk shortly after I did. They would all pass me on this section as
I had planned to take it easy.
The next 3 miles follow the sidewalk, straight up
Pickett Road gets renamed twice before we reach the Oak Marr Rec. Center,
turning into Blake Lane and then Germantown Road. I walked the ¼
mile or so to the light at Rt. 50. I jogged to the next light at Lee Highway
and then walked a bit more. As the pack passed me, I caught up to the first
early bird, 7 a.m. starter, Trang Wood, who would the last one to finish,
but she showed determination and that counts for a lot. I ran some of the
way up to Oak Marr but I was walking as much as running, as I wanted to
say some energy for the last 18 miles after the break at Oak Marr. Not
only was this the ugliest part of the run, but the wind was blowing straight
at us, adding to the insult. But soon I made to Oak Marr, a minute or 2
behind the pack that passed me between Lee Highway and Oak Marr.
At Oak Marr, I ate a sandwich and some candy, drank
some Gatorade and water, took a Succeed tablet and refilled my water bottles.
I also changed my shoes and socks. Tim Ettridge, my wife, Helen, and our
dog Sydney were at Oak Marr working the aid station. The ever present John
Coogan was there, too. I spent 15 minutes at this stop, so I knew I had
some ground to make up after leaving Oak Marr. But I was very familiar
with this part of the run, having run it in the last week and having run
parts of several times over the last year. Oak Marr is the high elevation
point of the run and there is a lot of down hill running until we reach
Vail Road. So I took off and soon passed Trang again, giving her encouragement
as I scurried down the trail. Near the end the trail section before Miller
Road, I caught up with Billy Lese and another guy running with Billy. Billy
was running hurt on this day, so his speed was unusually slow. Here is
the link to Billy’s injured foot: http://members.cox.net/jcoogan/cct/images/2004/billy_foot.jpg
I got to Miller Road which had a slight uphill section
but wasn’t a bad ½ mile, considering it was pavement. Soon, I saw
the sign to the Difficult Run Stream Valley Park and took a left turn and
got back on some nice trail. Soon I passed Farouk and headed on towards
the creek crossing before Vail Road. A bit ahead of me I saw the “pack”
of runners who were probably only a couple of minutes ahead of me. I figured
I would gradually close the gap. After crossing the creek and heading over
a little hill, I saw the famous Eagles Run host, Gary Knipling, coming
the other way. He was running the path., just to make sure no one was lost
or otherwise in need of help. Gary was carrying what appeared to be Zucchini
or Squash in his hands. He said I was “looking strong” and encouraged me
to keep going. Not a problem and it’s always good to see Gary out there.
We exchanged our “Go Hokies” salute. Soon I came to Vail Road. I crossed
the road and headed up the hill on the trail alongside Vail until I came
to Leeds Road on the left. Going up the hill, I passed the 2nd 7 a.m. runner,
a healthy looking young woman. She asked how we were supposed to go. I
told her to stay on the path near the road and take a left at the top,
when you get the road. She followed my lead and took her left at the top
of the hill.
I turned onto Leeds Road and ran the ¼ mile
of pavement down to the entry to the horse pen along the side of Difficult
Run. This is a really nice part of the run, but you do need to watch out
for horse droppings along the trail. Soon I caught up with the pack of
5 or 6 runners, which at this point included Michelle Harmon, Michael Priddy,
Gaynor and a couple of other runners. They were unsure of the trail in
this section so I was telling them which direction to go. Soon I ran with
them for a spell and worked my way up a steep hill. We caught up
to another early starter, the steady and persistent Carolyn Gernand. On
the top we saw a bunch of trees knocked down last fall due to Hurricane
Isabel. After reaching the top of the hill, most of the runners followed
the trail over the top, but I took a lower path, between the house and
the woods, soon rejoining the path after taking a stumble navigating through
some fallen trees. The tumble made me feel right at home on the trail run,
because on a REAL trail run you need to 1) get your feet wet, 2) get your
shoes muddy, and 3) fall at least one time. At this point the trail run
became 100% real! One of the runners joked and said “that’s what you get
for going off course.” Fortunately, I was no worse for wear and tear, so
I bounced right back up on my feet and continued, staying with the pack
as we crossed Difficult Run. We ran up the trail to Lawyers Road and crossed
it, entering the Reston Path system for the next 1 ½ miles. This
section is pavement but it has nice woods and is a peaceful section.
We soon came across a nice aid station in the woods
by the path. Eric Levy-Myers and his wife and kids were taking care of
business at the station, so I nibbled on some chips, had some cheese, some
liquid, another Succeed capsule and filled my bottles for the next part
of the run. Once again our esteemed Run Director, John Coogan, was present.
He’s everywhere! The pack took off ahead of me so I was alone on the trail
again when I left the rest stop. I continued up the path to Twin
Branches. After crossing Twin Branches, the course takes a steep drop down
a dirt and gravel road. I went extremely fast on this part and was soon
at the bottom where the trail turns into a nice dirt trail again. From
this point to Great Falls the only pavement we cover are road and street
crossings. I caught up with another runner, Mike Gaffney in this section.
Mike was concerned that he didn't know his way and told him to follow me
down the W & OD side trail to Tamarack Park. Mike tried to follow and
apparently found his way to Tamarack Park and was able to follow the trail
to the Browns Mill Road Crossing, but then ended up taking a wrong turn,
running up Brown’s Mill Road to Hunter Mill Road and the Reston Zoo. Lot’s
of bonus miles for Mike.
I ran alone through the single track trail section
between the W & OD and Browns Mill. After crossing Browns Mill, I would
catch sight of Gaynor and 1 or 2 other runners but I had to make a pit
stop in the woods before coming to Rt. 7 and Colvin Run and lost them again.
I noticed my stream was running quite yellow, which signaled to me that
I needed hydration. After crossing Rt. 7 and heading off to the right I
came across the last aid station, drank lots of water and Gatorade. I took
another Succeed tablet and headed towards Great Falls secure in the sense
that I would have no problem finishing this run. After walking to the dry
stream crossing, I started to run again. I would catch and pass 2 runners
in this section, one of whom ended running with me to Difficult Run. I’m
guessing it was Laurence Lang who I ran with to Difficult Run and beyond
as we were both talking about doing our first 50-K under 6 hours. I was
actually feeling pretty strong for someone who had already covered 26 miles.
We caught sight of Gaynor and 2 others, apparently Scott Crabb and Nick
Neakrase, running on the wrong side of Difficult Run. My running companion
said made the same mistake last year and he thinks it added 10 or 15 minutes
to his running time.
Soon we got to the Difficult Run crossing near Great
Falls. Only 1 way across, so we walked through the hip high water, which
actually felt good. Tim Ettridge, who was previously spotted at the
Oak Marr aid station, was in the Difficult Run parking lot offering more
snacks and refreshments. I stopped only briefly as I wanted to stay warm
and cover those last 2 or 3 miles. So we started running some more until
we entered Great Falls Park and the path began to go up a hill. I knew
I would walk up the big hill. Soon Gaynor caught up with us, as did another
runner and the 4 of us proceeded up the big hill. I planned to walk it
in from there, but when it flattened out Gaynor started running so I decided
to go with it and ran some. Gaynor was running stronger, but I was feeling
good enough and the way into the picnic grounds was mostly flat to slightly
downhill, so I decided to run the rest of the way in. Soon, I spotted a
motley crew of runners and helpers at a picnic table just before the Visitors’
Center, so I knew the run was done. Gaynor had finished perhaps a minute
before me and I had covered the run in 5:45, which was very satisfying.
Other than being thirsty and bit hungry, I felt pretty
damn good for a guy who had just run 32 miles. So I had a drink of water,
grabbed a slice of pizza, and commiserated with the runners and helpers.
Thanks to John Coogan, Helen (my wife), and the other
excellent support people that helped make this run a thoroughly enjoyable
experience. I plan to come back and do it again in March 2005. While this
was not my first ultra, this would be a good choice for a first ultra.
I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to get the feel of a (mostly)
trail ultra without being completely brutalized by the course.
See you all back here in March 2005.