West Virginia Trilogy -2012
October 12-14
A West Virginia mountain trail runner’s event
In conjunction with The Mountain Institute
By Amie Murphy
Pre Race
We arrived Thursday
late afternoon. After the incredibly beautiful drive it was hard to imagine it
could get any more spectacular but upon arriving at TMI It was obvious it could
and did. We placed the tent up on the hill overlooking the main yurt and with a
phenomenal view of the mountains. We set up camp just as the winds were picking
up and the temperatures were dropping. We ventured down to the main yurt and
picked up our race packets. The atmosphere at the main yurt was electric!
Volunteers, race directors, and runners were all a buzz in anticipation of what
would unfold over the next few days. We ate a delicious meal prepared by the
TMI crew, cleaned our dishes and awaited the pre race briefing. Adam Casseday
and Dan Lehmann along with many wonderful volunteers and TMI staff were
introduced and the briefing began. The usual stuff was mentioned: course
markings, cut-off times, aid stations, etc...There was also a great deal said
about the closeness that would develop over the next several days as we ate and
ran together. Upon leaving the meeting there was already a sense of camaraderie
and support amongst everyone!
We headed back to
our tents and tucked in for a very cold sleep ( the kind where you wear a hat,
gloves hoodie and have layers of blankets piled on top hoping body heat kicks
in..).
Day 1: 50k
I slept as late as
I could and headed down to the main yurt with ten minutes to drink some hot
tea, pee and venture to the start line…I was literally running to the start
line hollering “I’m here” as Dan was calling my name for the 2nd..3rd...Time…I
peed quick and jumped in line and off we went. The first day is almost a blur
now as I try and recall the details…I remember early on thinking “man, it can’t
all be cross county…can it?” as we ran through cow fields , the cows looking at
us like we were crazy and clearly out of bounds! I went out very slow…start
slow, walk early, and eat often...these words repeating through my brain
reminding me to take it slow this first day. In my head I was thinking maybe an
8hour 50k...i didn’t want to be any faster than that and I didn’t want to stay
out too long…no idea what to expect the next few days so that was my plan.
I warmed up nice and slow, back of the pack. I
remember passing right through AS#1 loving the sight of Dan and Adam and
feeling happy to be out there; eager to see what the day would bring. I
remember the first big climb, it seemed to go straight up for miles (which I’m
pretty sure it did) lol and I could not help but think A. this is so freaking
beautiful and B: Big Ass Hill doesn’t have a thing on this! Lol
I am a slow walker (I know this) I’m much faster on straights
and descending; I lose a lot of time walking...so the long climbs were like
minutes ticking off in my mind…but I wanted to take it all in so chatted with
nice folks, looked around at the natural beauty I was so blessed to be
surrounded by and kept on keeping on. Seasoned trilogy runners would offer tidbits
of advice or course information as the passed by and I loved every minute of
it!
I remember running along the “river” …and through it, every time thinking “WOW, that’s cold!”…and
loving it! And I think someone called me
“Magellan” and one point because I just splashed on through instead of wasting
precious minutes looking for a better place to cross...haha. At one point I
remember looking up and seeing this huge waterfall right in front me...as
voices above yelled “ hey the trail is up here”..And just thanking God for such
an awesome opportunity. I took a minute to take it all in then backtracked and
jumped on the trail.
The trail that day, in my mind, was technical and fun and hilly
and I wondered all day how in the world I would make the cut off on day #2 if
the trails were similar.
The thing I remember most from that day was the volunteers. They
knew everyone’s name as they came thru the AS; Ready to help, encourage,
support, and cheer. It was overwhelming to me how personal this event was.
Late in the day I hooked up with Matt Smythe, whose family id
met the day before through a NC MTC friend Mark long, and he and I shared the remainder
of the day talking and enjoying the trail…the long climb that when you turned
around literally stole your breath because the view was so glorious it didn’t
seem real; the mountains painted with every fall color imaginable... I remember
almost falling over trying to run and see it and Matt noted I might want to just
stop and turn around...haha… between THAT view and the view of runners trailing
up the hill I was just filled with gratitude to be able to be out there doing
what I was doing …simply amazing!
Well, into the finish we ran and when I saw the clock 7:20 I
thought two things A. wow that was great run and B. I didn’t mean to run that
fast today...uh oh lol
Next up hot showers (YES!! J ) and food ( even better) and race
meeting. The meeting was great. Runners were becoming familiar with one
another, there was buzz about the day and support and congratulations and
encouragement being spread by everyone. So far, I loved everything about this
weekend!
The biggest surprise of the day was when I was announced as the 2nd
female over all for the trilogy for day one. (Shocked!!) I rarely, and I mean
only one other time, have every been recognized in an event…I was overwhelmed
and filled with such gratitude for everyone there and the beautiful day and all
the friends and family sending thoughts and prayers to me, thrilled to be sharing
all of it with such a fun, amazing group of runners…just shocked and thankful! And
then I thought “oh no, maybe I did run too fast today…”…the thought of not
making the cut off on day #2 haunted me …
Day2:50 miles
Waking
up it was clear that it was even colder than the previous night as the tent was
frozen and the water bottle I attempted to drink out of…I woke earlier and dressed
faster than the previous day with only one thing in mind...the quicker I get to
the yurt the faster I can get warm! So I drank some tea and ate some food and
worried about making the 14 hour cutoff. We were told the night before that we
would need to be to the Horton AS (mile33) by 330 and the last AS by 7:10.
At 6am we were off. I started out very back of
the pack running with my good friend and fellow MTCer Mark Long. Out through
the cow fields and onward to the enchanted forest (as I call Spruce Knob). It
was cold and it was windy as we all made the climb up. Waiting at the top was
Dan ready to retrieve our headlamps and send us forth on a magical journey. And
what magic it was! The frost covered the rocks and trees and glistened like
nothing I have ever seen …pretty sure I spotted a fairy as a darted from rock
to rock...I would have stopped to chat a while but I had a cut off to make
…running through the forest I no more thought “man this would be an awesome
place to pitch a tent” and just like that a tent off to the right…spectacular! I ran alone for quite some time taking all
the magic in...Giving thanks once again for such a glorious opportunity...
Down, down , down we all went to the half way
point…it was so much fun seeing everyone as they climbed back up and passed on
their way out again. With every step understanding when the bottom was reached
and the fluids topped, the food stocked the climb would begin. About 3/4 of the
way down to AS 3 I see my good friend Chris Petruccio. He had come out to
volunteer for the weekend at the AS’s and as a course sweep. We chatted about
the day so far and finished the descent. I topped off and started climbing.
The run was rocky, rooty, muddy, and leaf
covered...i actually laughed out loud and thought “this is AWESOME, where else
can I get all these things in one spot?!” I was literally running and lifting
my feet high and just praying when they landed in a good spot...I imagine I
looked like I was prancing along the trails…lol
Horton, AS 4, cut off check point #1 (be there
by 3:30) …looming…“keep moving, run when you can, keep eating, don’t stop to
pee yet...wait till it’s a ‘have to walk section’..”
Along the “river” I meet up with Mark Thorne. He
had run the trilogy last year and tried to assure my neurotic brain I was in
good shape to make the 3:30 cut-off...I didn’t believe him haha so I kept
moving...I came in to Horton AS right about 3 , I believe, and was thrilled to
know I had made the cut-off..The girls at the AS were very reassuring. I topped
of fluids and grabbed some food and like some angel on high...i hear: I just
made broth if you would like some?” ummm YES! Lol I grabbed the broth and took
off walking and sipping…then I thought, out loud, all alone...OMG that was
soooo good! haha and off I went!.
New
thought ’need to get to last aid station by 7:10…followed by : I did not camp
two days in the freezing cold to miss this cutoff and not finish what I came
here to do !” and I ran as much as possibly could. I grabbed heavenly grilled
cheese at Judy springs (awesome AS!) I hit the last AS before 7pm, hollered
thanks to the awesome volunteers! And ran right on through. My thought was, “it's
only 3 more miles if I need something I’ll get it at the finish”...
i knew I
still had cardiac to climb and I wanted to allow as much time as possible to
come in under 14 hours. It was still daylight and for that I was grateful. I ran,
ran, ran...i climbed over fences and hopped over creeks, catching myself on the
barb wire...and I ran...i hit the last bit of forest just as night was falling...i
ran and picked up my feet just hoping I would miss the roots and rocks ..’Because
I couldn’t see a thing…and I ran and ran all the way to cardiac hill. At some
point between the last AS and cardiac hill I was struck by the thought “I’m
gonna make it in…I’m going to get to run another day!”...and I cried a
little…and then I power climbed cardiac! I came out into the meadow and I
couldn’t find the streamers...i was shining my light everywhere trying to see
which way to go...i could hear everyone at the finish yelling but I didn’t know
which way to go…I almost hollered as loud as I could :” hey how do I get to the
finish??” haha but just as I was out of hope , like a beacon in the night…a
blue reflective strip caught my light and off I ran…past the observatory, past
the campers on the hill and down into the finish…I could here em “ is that Amie?,
yeah, that’s Amie!, screams, cheers, “ it was AWESOME!!! 13:24, last girl in
and I couldn’t have been happier! I’d run well enough to run on Sunday and have
it all count! WOW!
I waited to shower, food and meeting first...id
held everyone up enough already lol Mark long was right there with a heaping
pile of pasta and bread ( let me say again TMI staff ROCKS!!! ) and somehow I had
hot tea ( Mark long) I’m a truly blessed
person to have such wonderful friends and be in such warm company!
It was a fun
meeting! Lots of excitement over the last two days, lots of bonding, lots and
lots of camaraderie! My new friend and fellow MTCer Rich Riopel had taken first
for the men; my other buddy Rob was first in the 50 and over. Our first place
girl Chelsea Ward Waller (who had never done a trail run) was killing the
trilogy and I could not have been happier for her! She rocked it out there!!
Lots of runners missed the cut off and with that the standings shifted...our
new third place girl was Rhonda Stricklett! Wow did she comeback and have an
amazing 2nd day!! And somehow, I remained in 2nd place…
Day 3: 1/2 marathon
WOOHOO!
It was warmer AND we were able to sleep in! body felt great but my left knee
had decided it was not going to bend without yelling very loudly at me; (A
combination of wearing older shoes on day 2 and descending rapidly in them
) Hmmm..Well there was no cutoff for the
half so if I had to walk I would. I dressed and headed down to breakfast. Ate
some toast and drank some tea and visited and chatted with all the runners. I
love them! J
9am, we were off…I hobbled my way along for over
3 miles and thought ‘it's gonna be a long day”. We hit some soft woods and I
tried running...the knee was sore and I was grateful for soft, non technical
terrain. And then, just like the past two days...everyone’s thoughts and
prayers touched me and my leg was fine...i could run! And run I did…well, I
sort of ran and winced coming down the back section of the gravel 1 mile road…ha-ha
it was good to see everyone this last day...trilogy folks high fiving one
another as we passed, shouts of encouragement and congratulations on an amazing
weekend, stories from those that didn’t make the cut off sat but came out
Sunday to finish what they started! Amazing! …girl #3 ( Rhonda) passed me on
the first out and back section and I congratulated her on great come from
behind this weekend ( as I was certain she would officially take over 2nd
place this day)…she shouted something to the effect of “ you’re not that far
behind me”..Huh? Wait...what? Really? Well, body don’t fail me now…and I ran ,
and ran , and ran, and I power climbed cardiac for the final time that weekend
and I hopped fences and jumped streams ( clearing the barb wire this time) and
tore up the field ) easier to see in the light of day) ..Past the observatory,
up the hill, around the campers on the hill, past the gate and in to the
finish! Everyone screaming! Lots of hugs at the finish...Dan of course was
first! LOVE THAT GUY! Adam reaching a hand out, like I wasn’t gonna hug him...hugged
him! Lol and all my friends! New and old...everyone hugging, shaking hands,
congratulating one another , sharing stories of the last 3 days…my friend, Rob,
comes up and whispers “you held on to second”…” what? Are u sure?”No way! Big
smile!
Rhonda and Chelsea and I all found each other...lots
of hugs and good cheer….a true bonding! Rhonda and I sat and talked through the
delicious lunch FEAST! Chatted about the weekend like everyone else was
doing…and then you could hear the conversation change to what races are coming
next? I LOVE ultra runners!!
As a group we celebrated! We celebrated winners,
we celebrated all who finished the trilogy and all who came and attempted to
finish..That day we were ALL winners!! …and it felt really good to be in the winner’s
circle!
Dan Lehmann and Adam Casseday, TMI staff, and
the countless volunteers and supporters thank
you so much for putting on a an event worthy of the highest praise! The
course was beautiful, challenging, and fun. The food was outstanding! And yet
the thing I will remember most of all is the camaraderie we all shared…I was
sad today ( Monday) when I woke up and didn’t have you all here to go out and
run again with …till next year my friends…happy trails!
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