Chatooga 50k, South Carolina

Inspired by Manny’s epic and with reports that Chas Campbell was headed for the Highlands and he might even run ;-) I dragged my lazy Lowcountry ass 5 hours upstate to our nearest hills, the Great Smokey Mountains – or at least their foothills….for my first race this summer, on Sunday 7th June.

With maybe 12 miles of "running" in my legs between October and April (it was a pretty good winter in Colorado), I knew this ultra trail race was going to be a bit of a big ask, which is probably why I only got 3 hours of restless sleep the night before, camping in Oconee State Park (You don’t want to camp in the wild up here – this is where they filmed "Deliverance" !) – but then again it may have been the heat, the mosquitos, or just the red-neck couple arguing next door.

71 souls of various ages (one clad in original authentic but aging Westies ‘spinnaker’) showed up at Burrells Ford trailhead for a 32 mile slog out-and-back along the south-western end of the Foothills Trail. I started well behind the self-proclaimed front runners, determined to keep my pace in check. I had researched the previous years results, winners time was 5h30 mins, 1st lady at 7h11m and figured with my 3 week crash course in flat mileage in Charleston, I’d be doing well to finish under 7hours. I soon found myself frustrated at runners picking their way around the rocks and roots in front of me and started moving up the field. I knew Jenny was at the aid station at the road crossing, the highest point of the race at 10.4 miles and was pleased to get there in 2h06m. I reckon I was about 21st going through this point.

The next section had a long (by this state’s standards) 700 ft descent and bees stinging unsuspecting runners! I got one right on the pip! I clocked 1h03 for the 5.6mile section to the turnaround and then 1h08 for the slog back up to Jenny’s aid station. I had made up some 8 places over the 11 miles, as the 83 degree heat and the 90% humidity began to take it’s toll on the field, despite the extensive leafy canopy throughout most of the course.

It was great to see Jenny again to fill up bottles and stuff my belt with goodies before heading back to the river for the final stretch. She told me later that many of the other competitors were a bit peeved not to be receiving the same kisses I was at the feed station !!

The wheels started falling off with about 6 miles to go. With tired legs it was taking me much longer to negotiate the fallen trees, rocks and roots and I ran out of water with about 3 miles still to cover. Although I had made up 1 more place another couple of folks passed me plodding uphill, so eventually I finished in 14th, scraping under my 7hour target at 6:53:35. I reckon there was at least 3600 feet ascent along the whole course – so I am really happy with that result. The winner came in with an incredible 5h08 – I swear he wasn’t running – more like floating.

I am still having difficulty walking (and no, I didn’t meet any dodgy hillbillies in the woods) four days later. Perhaps a little more training before the next one ? More info and official results should be at www.ultrasontrails.com soon.

Stateside-Swaz