Chasing The Beast - Terrapin Mountain 50K

 

The Bib Mugshot - A Requirement

Now this race scared me a little. The second in the Beast Series, Terrapin Mountain 50K is where shit starts to get real. Holiday Lake was like a teaser warm up with its rolling hills and a mere 2000ft of climbing. At Terrapin, oh we were going to climb that much right out of the gate before we even get to the first aid station. This race was going to be a true test of my mountain fitness and I was eager to see how things shook out. Strava Link

The race begins at the Sedalia Center with the amazing Blue Ridge Mountains as a back drop. Runners are able to come up on Friday evening and camp out in the grassy parking lot prior to the race. We took advantage of the ample space and drove up in the RV, finding a nice roomy spot in the back to park our "medium sized" RV. Having my queen sized bed and own bathroom would prove finer accommodations than we had in the Dinghy at Holiday Lake. We arrived around 6pm and I grabbed my race swag bag containing my bib and the beautiful yearly collectable Terrapin Mtn Race mug. We headed back to the RV for some delicious pre-race pizza and an early night to bed. *There was some cell signal at the race closer to the building so we were able to check in with Marleigh and find out about her soccer game that day. A nice 7-0 win for the Crusaders!

Beautiful Blue Ridge Mtn Sunset from Camp

 

This race started at 7am due to day light savings time, so I actually was able to sleep in compared to my normal morning alarm. I was up around 5:45 and saw a few little headlamps bopping around in the field. It was SO much nicer getting race ready in the RV. Karl helped me fill all of my bottles and bladder, while I was able to get dressed like a human. VS a cat in a sock like at HL50k. The weather all week was calling for high 50's and rain at the start, warming up to the 70's and cloudy by mid day. Deciding on clothes is always the biggest gamble at races. One wrong move and your day can be over. We woke up to barely a sprinkle and the radar didn't look like much rain was on the way. So I started in a short sleeve and shorts. I was torn on whether or not to wear a tank top, and I can gladly say my choices were perfect. We headed over to the start with 15mins to go for a quick stretch and warm up. Everyone was milling about under the pavilion ready to get started.

Terrapin Mountain 50k Ready

 

I lined up mid cattle herd, so that I wouldn't be stupid and go out too quickly. I was able to meet an IG friend Sarah, who recently completed the Beast and has been a total inspiration. The gong sounded at exactly 7am and we were off down the country road heading toward the mountains.  I knew that there was a 1.25mi stretch of road & gravel road leading us to the beginning of the trails and planned to run at an easy warm up pace. Once you hit the gate at the forest you start your first big climb from mile 1.5 - 4 gaining about 2000ft right off the bat. The trail was nice and wide to allow for passing and maneuvering all of the very wet and slippery rocks. This climb was a GRIND and everyone just locked in for the hour to the top at the Camping Gap aid station. I was trying to alternate running and hiking on this climb but it was damn hard. I didn't want to blow all of my fitness in the first few miles and have nothing left for the other 26 miles of racing ahead. I made it to the top in 58mins which was right at my 1hr goal, so I was happy that I was pacing well. 

Mile 2 and CLIMBING

 

Once we reached the top we were treated to a nice 5mi cruise down Hunting Creek Road on some gravel fire road. I hooked up with two guys at the top and we headed down together at a nice downhill pace. I did NOT want to fly too fast on this downhill and blow out my quads like I did back at Rim to River 100. (That resulted in walking the last 40 miles of a 100. Long ass day!) So sticking with the fellas kept my pace in check and also helped pass the miles with some good conversation.  I usually do not run with others in a race. I'm not a asshole, it just stresses me out. This time it didn't and I was glad that we were able to share some miles. Once we got to the bottom aid station, it was time for a LONG 10 mile climb back up. We did a little lollypop loop and were back on Hunting Creek for the climb back to Camping Gap for the second time. During this time the weather became pretty ominous and a light mist and heavy fog settled in. I was able to stay pretty warm but the mist turned to drizzle and I heard that it was sleeting at one point at the Camping Gap aid station. 

 

Race Friends are actually FUN (cred Jay Profit)

I grabbed some hot broth at the CG aid at mile 15 and headed on toward the White Oak Ridge (WHOR) Loop. What a great name, because it was fitting for this part of the course. It was a single track trail through many freshly cut vines, weeds and briars. With the thick fog and the drizzly rain I totally felt like I was racing Barkley. Kinda felt a little badass! LOL I was alone, very ALONE, on this section and had no clue where I was at in the race as far as placing. Since the start I had passed maybe two or three ladies and a few fellas. The WHOR loop sent us up and back down to CG with a nice long downhill section. Here I was finally able to see other runners on the way back down and able to get a gauge on how I was running.  I passed by several strong looking ladies on the trail back to the aid station so I felt confident that I was racing well. I snagged another cup of warm broth (so good) and was on my way to climb to the Terrapin Mtn Summit. 

WHOR Loop Looking Very Barkley

 

This climb started around mile 22 and was a straight vertical ass kicker to the top in about .7mi with 600ft of climbing. I was in the flatlanders death position with my hands on my knees, my head bobbing up and down and expletives flying out of my mouth left and right. I knew this part was going to be a doozy, but holy hell, it was a hard climb. I passed by another gentleman that remarked that living in Virginia Beach didn't do him any favors. I tried to laugh, couldn't because I was breathing like a dead woman, and was only able to get out, "same, me too"! I pushed ahead knowing this was the last big push of climbing and then I was home free. (Or so I thought). Once at the top I bypassed the overlook because, well FOG, and was ready to take on the grueling downhill ahead. 

This downhill section was real damn scary on the elevation profile. 2.5 miles of sheer drop with about a 2100ft decent. All single track, on wet muddy rocks with switchbacks ready to end your life. A girl came bouncing past me saying that she got lost at the top. I let her by because well, she was essentially already ahead of me earlier in the race, and she was moving like a damn mountain goat. I tried to stay on her heels and keep the pace, flying by dudes left and right. (That shit felt good, real GOOD!) I was trying hard to stay in control, grabbing and swinging from tree trunks to slow me down. Sooner or later she was out of sight but I promised myself to keep up the pace. Legs were a little sore, but my feet felt like they had smoke coming out of them. I finally landed, safely, at the Terrapin Mtn Lane aid station, the last on the course, ready to cruise the last 5.5 miles home. 

The Elevation Profile, Mile 25-30 not bad right?

 The final stretch on the elevation profile looked like a breeze and the course map looked like we dipped in and out about 11 times along the side of the mountain. We would turn away from the mountain for a short smooth climb and then turn and descend toward the mountain and a water crossing. I did this eleven times, and seriously thought it would never end. I tried hard to alternate hiking and running on the climbing sections, and splashed hard through water each and every time. My feet were on fire running in my Brooks Cascadia GTX's and I realized that I definitely should have chosen a different shoe for this warm time of year. I kept my eyes behind me on this entire section making sure no one was on my heels. 

I finally hit the section of trail we entered the mountain on and knew that it was all downhill on the road back to Sedalia. I tried to fly as fast as possible on the trail section but the rocks were much wetter from the early rain and slick as hell. I cruised through one more deep water crossing and down the rocks and mud to hit the gate for the gravel road. Down, down, down I went trying to push the pace as fast as my quads would allow. I felt like I was running 7min miles, but was actually at a 8:17 pace. Once I hit the pavement and the last stretch of road I heard a yell behind me and saw a chick on the approach. Oh Hell NO! I kicked it HARD toward that arch as fast as my tired little legs would go. I crossed the finish line 35 seconds ahead of her and ran right into Karl's arms! I immediately sat my tired ass on the grass proud as fuck of my finish.

Yay, I beat a 4 year old!

 

My finish time was 6:27:13, right under my A goal of going under 6:30! I finished 1st Masters and 8th overall. They handed me my Patagonia finisher shirt and yummy Terrapin cookie as I laid on the grass catching my breath. After a few minutes I got up and got my picture with Clark Zeland, the RD for three of the Beast Series races. Told him thank you for an awesome race, and that I would see him again for Grindstone and MMTR. (Results were not posted until the following day, so I had no idea I was first Masters. When I got home I saw my result and emailed Clark about missing my Masters award, a nice Orange Mud embroidered towel. He said I snuck off too quick and he couldn't find me to give me my towel. It is now on the way via mail. Thanks Clark, you are awesome.)

RD Clark Zeland

 

I tried a little different fueling strategy for this race based on some info I heard in a podcast with Chris Roberts, the founder of Long Haul Sports Nutrition. A brand I recently started training with and was excited to try on race day. In all of my previous races I relied solely on solid food and gels for nutrition. After reading many race reports and listening to Chris, I found out I was missing the mark on adding liquid nutrition and calories. So I used my normal waffles and Spring gels every 45 mins in the race, but added in bottles of Long Haul. I was constantly sipping on a bottle containing 200 calories, trying to finish a bottle every 2hrs. This was a GAME CHANGER! I really felt like I had so much more energy due to the increase in calories. I think I might have even gone a little to long on switching bottles and will try to switch them sooner during Promise Land.

Speaking of Promise Land, I have exactly five weeks until race number three. If this race is a predictor of my racing fitness and ability, I am pumped for what I can do in April. I also snagged myself a badass lady crusher coach who has the knowledge and experience I need to help me train and race strong in this series. (More on Coach Rachel in a later post)

So to bring this race recap to a close, I am so happy with how this Beast Series has started off and feel like 2022 might be one of the best years of racing of my life. My results at Terrapin gave me a huge confidence boost and has most certainly propelled me into the next race with confidence and courage. LFG!

Beast Series Race 2 - DONE!