Rock/Creek Race Team Member, Randy Whorton, finishes Men's 3rd Masters Finisher for the River Gorge 10.2 Mile Trail Race

I marked the course in the warm rain on Thursday and during that run I developed a case of the trail zen bliss (TZB). I then decided that I would really go hard on this run and not care what happens either way. It looked like the weather would be perfect and my plan was to jump on the heels of my friend and fellow Race Team member, Dan Miller, and just hang on as long as I could, regardless of what happened, he is a stronger runner than I.

The start of this race is just shy of full on chaos. There are really two races here; the sprint to the single track and then a 9-3/4 mile endurance race. After the 1/4 mile uphill sprint on a wide dirt road, the narrow single track trail leaves little chance that you will pass or be passed for the next mile or so. I am continually surprised that I have yet to see anyone tumble during the first mile. Everyone is so piled up to the point that you don't have any advanced trail visibility and it is far from an easy trail. It looked as though there were about 30 or so ahead of us once we safely descended the 3 foot wide stone cut back door to the Indian Rockhouse.

After a mile or so I felt that Dan started to get bored and began picking up the pace and passing runners, including the two top girls. I often gauge a good race based on where I am related to the top girl. If I were ever to make the headlines, the best I could do is likely "Old Guy Outruns All The Girls".

The 3 mile section from Indian Rockhouse to Snoopers Rock is clearly on the all world top trails list, both for challenging running and fantastic views. Since the trail is south facing there is more vegetation trying to swallow us than the rest of the loop that is north facing and much more open. After passing the first aid station, what was a mass of runners became me, Dan and one of my wife's UTC students Peyton Miller. Since I was still feeling somewhat fresh, I mentioned to Dan that I was thinking about picking up the pace after Tower Road which I think is the landmark that signals the change in trail conditions from south to north facing allowing the trail to open up and become more runnable. Goofy thought actually, there are several tricky descents into creek crossings and a very technical washout section. None of it allows for much of an increase in speed. Nonetheless, I felt compelled to pass Dan with Peyton in tow. I believe that how you navigate the climb after the 7 mile aid station is critical on how you finish.

At the top of the climb is easily the fastest section on the course and trash for legs does not lead to effective fast running. As we headed up the steep hill I noticed Mac Brown ahead walking faster than I was running. I took the tip and started power walking and did start traveling faster. That hill bites! But once on the flat, I started closing ground on Mac and a group of three or four that included Jason Hamrick, who in my opinion deserves the most improved ultra runner around. At this point, I started really focusing on my form and staying relaxed. As I settled into this faster pace with such a great, easy to run trail, I passed a couple guys and just as I started patting myself on the back for running so well, my foot slipped on a rock. I launched forward and my left arm hit the ground and caught most of the fall, but not all. My chest and then face bounced off a couple rocks. As with any fall, I spent the next few hundred yards taking stock of the injury scene. My face was a bit numb but there was no blood. The extra adrenalin perhaps helped me from then on in. I love running through the Rock Garden. It is never a good idea to push it here but I love setting a steady pace and trying to keep that speed through the whole section.

My recent face plant was fresh on my mind so I know that I was running more cautiously than I normally would but I was catching and passing Jason's group. Jason was leading the pack and I caught him as we started the climb out of the valley. The last 1/2 mile of this race just hurts. It is on perhaps the best running surface of the entire race, it's all up hill and the fact that this is the home stretch lead me to a rather painful but quite rewarding experience, setting a course PR. I generally am not one to endorse a product unless it is truly great. I ran the first hard run in the new North Face Single Track shoes and I know that they made a difference, but you have to like the minimal shoe approach. The face plant was totally operator error. Fantastic race and event all around. Jonathan (race dir) is doing such a great job with these races, clearly Matt Sims is a natural MC and the perfect spring weather sure helped.