August 9, 2008
Laurel Valley 35 Miler

This was my third running of the venerable Laurel Valley run. I'd also done it as part of a longer run in February. I wasn't in the kind of shape I'd like to be. Last year, I'd just completed my third 100 miler in 75 days and was on an emotional high. This year, I was lacking conditioning but was at least well rested.

I started out quickly into the darkness. I tried to stay ahead of a pack of runners and succeeded in doing this for about two miles, then the pack broke up and some passed while others lagged. I soon found myself all alone and would remain all alone for most of the next 33 miles.

Numerous waterfalls line the trail. The first one was barely a trickle due to the drought. A new road had been cut along the trail. A new road gets crossed by the trail several times at this point for the next two miles.

I saw someone up ahead, thinking I was going to pass somebody. It turned out to be one of the early runners from a 5:30 start. This allows slower runners to finish no later than 6:00, but that didn't happen for several runners again this year. I caught the rest of the group shortly thereafter.

The trail follows an old road bed for the next couple of miles, passing another waterfall. This one was a bit more impressive yet nothing compared to how it looked in February.

At the start of the first major climb, at 8 1/2 miles, I was passed by Richard Sexton and a two others. I stayed with them briefly but couldn't keep up on the ascent.

David King and Bill Keane caught me near the top of the climb. Bill is an absolute trip and one of the funniest guys I know! We ran together for a while until I hammered the long, steep descent. This was the first time hammering a descent in six months. It felt extremely empowering but I resisted the temptation to do it again on the next one.

Next up was the stair section. It begins with an extremely steep three stage climb up a narrow ridge. After much gasping for air, I reached the top and began the express elevator to hell descent. It's even steeper on the downhill, almost like descending a ladder. They caught me soon after and I didn't see them again.

I was alone from that point until the final mile and a half. I took it easy after 20 miles and did an awful lot of hiking. The long climbs took a considerable amount oftime but I just kept plugging away. I stopped in one stream to cool off, expecting somebody to catch me but it never happened.

The gorges came and went. It all tends to blend together after so many miles. Finally, I approached the final river. Whitewater was in my sight and the 1.7 mile marker was a reality. The actual distance left is a bit more. I noticed someone else ahead of me on the trail so I attempted to close in on him. It was Leon Harmon, and he was having stomach issues. I hiked with him for a few minutes, then ran ahead.

The waterfalls at the river crossings wasn't nearly what it was in February. I started the final ascent, closing in on two more runners. It took a while to catch them but I did so shortly before the Whitewater Falls overlook. I took in the view for a minute then made the final push up the wooden stairs. The rest was gravy as I sprinted to the finish in 10:27, a bit slower than last year but still pleased to have made it despite being considerably out of shape.

B-Rex