Tune Up Race: 50 Mile Midnight Madness

Not only was this race the perfect distance for a tune up to Cocodona, but amazingly it started at midnight as well, which meant it was even better practice for being tired and heading into sleep depravation!

Greenbrier Ultras had options for 100M, 50M, 50k and 25k. Located in Maryland at a state park of the same name, it was a nice 7 mile looped course with about a 1,100 feet of elevation gain for each loop. The race was well organized and well stocked with so many food options. I definitely enjoyed that aspect.

The course was sparsely marked, but every turn was obvious and it seems like the race director did everything they could to make sure we were all out there enjoying ourselves and meeting our goals. He even kicked me out of the aid station at one point for loitering! I appreciated that!

Of course, what made this race a really easy choice was realizing that my brother Phill was already signed up to attempt his first 100M! He told me he was doing this many months earlier, and at the time I looked at the calendar and told him that I would love to come support/pace him, but that it was the first weekend of spring break for my kids and I didn't think I'd be able to.

Once I started looking for a 50M option myself in that 4-6 week range with the right amount of trails/vert and closeness to Cincinnati, this option really became the only one that fit. But how could I get permission to travel seven hours to run 50 miles at midnight on the day that spring break started? Then it clicked! My oldest son did not get to experience his class trip to Washington D.C. because of the pandemic and if I could add that onto this trip, it would be perfect. We couldn't have planned it any better.

My Race

The photo at the top shows the race director giving us all the key race info as usual, but when he was done, he asked what time it was and someone said 11:52. He paused for a second, then said, "Let's have some fun, 1, 2, 3, GO!". I happened to be close to the front so I jumped out of the tent in maybe 5th or 6th position.

I had seen Phill come through and start his 7th loop about 10-15 minutes earlier and told him I would attempt to catch up to him. I wasn't sure how fast he was moving, but I knew the beginning of my race was probably going to be much faster than mile 42 of his. I worked my way up to the leader of the 50M and we found a nice cruising pace and chatted about the course and other typical ultra topics. Soon enough I caught up with Phill and started running with him.

Before leaving Cincinnati I had talked with him about his goals for this race. He wanted to finish sub-24 and we talked about me helping push him through the night if we had that opportunity to be close to one another on the loop timing. It looked like it was going to work out perfectly, and it went pretty well for two and half loops, but then the wheels started coming off for Phill.

I ran my loop four solo while Phill tried to sleep and warm up. That was my fastest loop and it made it into the top 10 Strava segment all time. I feel pretty good about that effort given that it was 4:30am, the trails were slick and rocky, and I already had 21 miles on my legs. I felt like I was floating down the trail. People I passed on that loop must have thought I was nuts. No one was moving that well at that time.

I got Phill out moving again and we took off on his loop 10, my loop 5. It started to rain even harder (it was mostly spitting very lightly through the night) and we walked most of the loop as the sun came up. It was another hard loop.

Phill once again decided to try to sleep a bit more and I knew I really couldn't do anything for him. I understand the feeling. I told him I'd do another loop and then check on him. I paced that loop pretty well and was glad to be running again and getting my body temperature up again. I was soaked from the heavy rain, but I found that my merino wool hoody still provided some warmth once I got moving.

I checked on Phill but at this point we both knew his race was probably over. He made it 72 miles which is a distance PR and I know he will finish the next 100. I told him I could have him pace me 100 during Cocodona in a month if he wants his revenge while we are in Arizona!

I ran my last lap feeling the affects of not sleeping in 36 hours. I was still moving pretty well. I didn't know what place I got in the race until several days later. Apparently, I was 8th out of 30 finishers. I'm pretty pleased with that given the circumstances.

Now I'm enjoying Washington D.C. with my oldest and having a down week on mileage and workouts, but when I return home I'll have my biggest training stimulus yet with a three day mini-training camp.

Cocodona, here we come!!