“Aw-right, y’all. Let’s make the official start line the back of my here pickup truck.” – Denis R. Hamrick Jr. – Race Director
I wasn’t initially planning on writing a report of this event, but the RD’s pre-race instructions were simply too classic and needed to be shared with others as a reminder of what ultra running should be about.
At 6:30 AM on Saturday morning, ninety-nine runners gathered at Kanawha State Forest near Charleston, West Virginia for the Rattlesnake Trail 50K race. Although in its 16th year, this event has remained a very low-key race. The website simply states the race information without any pictures or even a background and registration is still done by mail-in only.
The race consists of one loop and features 10 major climbs totaling over 5000 feet of uphill. When I checked past results, I figured that I needed to complete this challenging course in less than seven hours if I wished to maintain my middle-of-the-pack status. This may not sound like a very fast pace, but hey, I’m not fast, my short legs aren’t strong climbers and I don’t do well in the heat. What are my preferred running conditions you might ask? I’m really speedy and awesome in races that occur during my sleep!
Most of the Rattlesnake Trail 50K is run on forest trails with a slight sprinkling of dirt roads and very little asphalt. The early miles were reminiscent of the Appalachian Trail portion of the JFK 50-miler, only with longer climbs. The double-track trails during the middle miles reminded me of the “Green Loop” of the Mohican 100, but with longer climbs. And the rocky and root-covered late section was akin to the Iroquoia Trail Test (the race I co-RD) with, you guessed it, longer climbs.
The many up-hills really forced me to maintain a slower pace, especially near the start when I usually have a tendency to go out too fast. The mantra I kept repeating to myself was: “Take it easy, enjoy the day.” And that’s what I did. I chit-chatted with some new friends from Tennessee and Mississippi, I ran within myself and walked when I needed to walk. I ate regularly, took lots of fluids and reached the midway point in 3:25. I was on pace for my seven-hour goal.
I have a tendency to really fade in the second half of an ultra, but I felt comfortable and maintained my pace. “Take it easy, enjoy the day.” After the final aid-station and on the last major climb of the day, I past a runner who was sitting, legs outstretched, on the trail. At first I thought he was injured, but he informed me that he was suffering from cramps in his thighs and calves. He was extremely grateful when I offered him some of my electrolyte tablets and a few moments later I heard him yell from behind me down the trail: “IT WORKED, THANKS!”
I crossed the finish line in 6:55:10; good enough for 39th place out of 99 runners, but more importantly, no puking! I felt good throughout the race and felt I could have kept running after the finish. I took it easy and enjoyed the day.
In closing, I strongly encourage you to seek out and support these low-key races. Sure I have run big-city marathons on occasion and I often enter the largest ultras that require you to either sign up months in advance or be selected in a lottery. But each year I try to find a small race in a location I would not otherwise visit. This has allowed me to meet wonderful people and discover interesting places such as Hot Springs, South Dakota and Virgil, New York and now Charleston, West Virginia. A special “Thanks” to Denis and his wonderful team of volunteers on a great event!
If you have stumbled upon this blog thanks to the business cards that you have received today at the Rattlesnake Trail 50K, please share your thoughts of this wonderful race by posting a comment below.
Up next: The Yukon River Trail Marathon in Whitehorse on August 2nd, 2010.
Gotta run,
Vince
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I would also like to say that this race was awesome.
This was my first ultra ever in my race, and I finished in 5:10:48 and in 8th place.
After the race, I heard several people talking that this race might not even happen next year…and I will be very upset if that is the case. I am a local runner from Nitro/Saint Albans, WV…which is only 20 minutes away from Kanawha State Forest…and I would be glad to help out in anyway possible. I even host my own road race in November so I might be of great assistance.
I had a blast!! I cannot wait until my next Ultra…that is after this soreness goes away lol.
Ricky
Thanks so much for the comment Ricky! I’m sorry to hear that the race might not be run next year. The course was quite beautiful and challenging. Hopefully this is only a rumor and the race will continue for many years. If not, I’m glad I had the pleasure of experiencing West Virginia ultra running, specifically in the Kanawha State Forest. Congratulations on your first ultra! I hope you’re hooked now! I know I was after my first ultra.
Gotta run,
Vince
Vince, just had to share another quote from the race. After moving through the 2nd aid station while getting passed on one very long slow climb a runner responded to my comment of this being the 1st time I was experiencing the Rattlesnake 50k with “yeah, she’s a rascal”.
Classic is all I could think.
Do you guys have any idea where and when the results will be posted?
Ricky
I imagine the results will be posted on the event’s website eventually. That’s another beautiful thing about small ultra events: no chip timing…I even overheard a couple of the race organizers before the start looking for a watch.
Gotta run,
Vince
I have run Rattlesnake several times. I takes a while for the results to be posted but if you email Dennis the director he will email the results directly to you. He is a gem.
Sharon