TARC Fels Trail Ultra review

So in many of my posts I go over the course and review the event, not this time, this time, this is special! So this was my third attempt at an ultra marathon, and my second attempt at this course. (last years TARC, this years Infinitus) So plain and simple, I failed those, I learned a bunch each step of the way, still way more to learn, but the only way to do it is to keep signing up and pushing yourself as responsible as you can.

So this course is brutal, no other way to describe it! it is about 7.5 miles per loop, including the path to the parking lot. The course is fairly well marked, but you can still get lost, so if you do this course, or even decide to check it out on your own, keep your eyes open! Now from where we started you could either go left or right, I started left, and it worked for me, a more gradual start to the race, and lap, helps wake the legs up. If you go to the left then it is a straight hike up, unless you are just that good, I am not! If it was one lap, probably, but not for all 32 miles of it (or 40 if you are really crazy). The hills are pretty much the same regardless of how you start, it is a CONSTANT
rolling hills on this trail, high roots all over the place, and the rocks, all of the rocks, everywhere! really makes it a challenge to keep going. During the first lap I had landed on my left arch a bunch, and was wearing my Innov8 rock lights, bot a smart move, no rock plate, not much cushioning, wring terrain for them. Luckily I brought along my bran new Altra Lone peak 2.0, that was a life saver right there! Those shoes made it so I finished, and had no other problems at all, It was a gamble because it was only the second time I had run in them, and they are heavier than I am used to, I have been doing a whole bunch of running in minimalist style shoes, not good for ultras and my feet. I had 1, 4 mile run, on the streets around my house in these shoes, they felt fine, but not enough to tell how they would do for me over a long distance. That being said, that gamble paid off big time! I now know why people in the ultra world swear by them, they are my new favorite shoes for distance running! ( I will make a post with more in depth thoughts later). I learned my lesson last year, smaller bladder, my goruck bullet is overkill for an ultra, I have a marathon vest from camelbak, it is great, so light, and has what I need (I have meant to write up a review on this, yet another one I will do later, I am really behind on this stuff right now, sorry!) So now, after a quick shoe change, some snacks from the aid station, and a trip to the portopotty, I was out again! No time to waste, I have an ultra to finish after all, plus waiting too long and you body may tell you it wants to stop, or you may have a million other things go through your head, best to avoid it and just keep going! So the first lap was about 1:40 for me, which is faster than my first lap last year! And I got to high 5 my buddy at the halfway point, fun all around!

Just before the aid station on lap 1

Now on to lap 2, I decided to switch things up and go left at the start, and see how it is to have a slow descending finish, yeah, not a smart idea at all, I got lost like 6 times on that loop! luckily not too far off trail, and also luckily I had a new watch (Garmin Fenix 3, review is also on the list, but I have only had 2 runs with it, and still much to learn, I will post all about it later than I would like to, but soonish), and I used the track back feature to find my way back to the trail. In trying to get back several times, I ran around and wasted energy, ran next to some cool people, and chatted about how many times we had gotten lost, and I had a pleasant conversation with them, which is super important in an ultra, way more than in the shorter races. Things go through your mind, and it messes with you, always look for reasons to laugh and smile, ALWAYS!!! and share it with others, you never know, those kind words may push somebody through where they are, and help them finish, and helping avoid a dnf, that is truly priceless, it is a gift that should be shared with the world as much as possible! Also in this lap, I hit more walls than were at the Killington beast this year (if you did not run it, just know it was a crap load!) but I finished lap 2, and could walk, not run for long, but I could still do it. (I missed my friend, I think we went the same way that time) Also at the main aid station (start/finish) grab salty food, and bathroom break, (nobody wants to do a number 2 on the trail) water fill up and I was out



Then Lap 3, Man, I thought I hit walls in lap 2, it was like 2, but in this lap, it was like 6, but I started out on the right, back to normal, no real issues with navigation anymore, a few miss steps, but it was an ultra, and I was like18 to 20 miles, so it is to be expected. The first lap s the only lap I did not stop at the aid station on course, I felt fine, and did not need the snack that early, I carbo loaded more than I did for Baystate, and I did not need to eat for that, so one lap without aid would be fine. By this time, All I can think about is being done, that was it, nothing else. I was not in a dark place, but I was second guessing life choices, like why on earth do I want to do an ultra, why spend all day here, with nobody else around and just my thoughts for almost a whole day, that is crazy, right? So it was kinda blah feeling, body was fine, just tired, no pains, just hey, you have been running/hiking/walking for a wile now, can we stop? I so was not feeling it anymore. The good news? I knew I could finish, but I just did not have the drive to anymore. So that was it, I was gonna drop and go to sleep, screw it all, forget my plans for the next 2 years (I want to do more 50ks, a 50 miler, and 100k, all building up to a 100 miler in about 2 years, for the record, I still want to do them!). But yeah, I just no longer had the motivation or drive for it all. Which is understandable, everybody has some days where you question things, and when you are alone, that thought can be louder, not drowned out by other things, like fun, good company, a good laugh, why you started it all in the first place. Luckily for me, my buddy, who was going for the 40 miler, I saw him a little before the end, about 2 miles. we stopped, and sat down instantly and chatted, I am pretty sure he could tell something was up. I said I think I am gonna drop, I was bummed, but had kinda made up my mind. I spent the lap thinking of friends doing another race in another state, the gimmick beard I grew out .all year for it, how excited I was, but I just was not feeling it. I thought of several of my ultra running friends, who were not there. I thought about my facebook post all full of energy and excitement for this race (and I mean the weather was perfect for December in Massachusetts, it started just above freezing, then into the 40s, and then 50s, perfect for endurance events, and all in the shade, barley any warm sun through all those dead trees, plenty of light, but no warm factor). Also all the texts, and conversations, everybody knew I had it in me, hell I was a little nervous because my mileage dropped the last month, less than 30, for a month, I am usually above 50, closer to 60 on average for the year I would guess. But luckily I have been doing hard stuff all year, and have built up my legs, even if they were not in opportune performance, I had post marathon recovery, then I was sick for like 2 weeks, then I had 2 races, Fenway spartan and FIT, and I could not get the high mileage I wanted to, then it was taper time! So needless to say, even though I did the Killington UB, 24 hours of shale hell and 30 at infinitus, I was shaky, but hopeful. So naturally I did not want to let people down, I had faith from many people, but I just could not shake the feeling on my own, or from the random good job you get from the runners and volunteers. That is not to put them down, everybody was great, EVERYBODY, so nice, and happy, and smiling. Another thing that had me out of it, I have found that through my journey of fitness, or athleticism, or whatever you want to call all the fun I have, that I inspire others (hell I just feel like some kid going out and having fun being me), and encourage as many people as I can, it is only the right things after all. All I have ever received in this running world has been encouragement, positivity, and plenty of great friends every step of the way! I did not want to just stop because I did not feel like it, I was trying to prove something to myself, but still, it was not enough. That is until my friend Rick came along. I honestly barley remember what he said, but when he sat down, mid race, smiled and knew where I was coming from, and explained his doubts, and how he already had his facebook post ready in his head bout dropping, but that I had the time, plenty in fact, more than enough time! ( when I finished my 3rd lap, I had an hour before the cutoff to start your final lap) So he said the right things and it pushed me, I was beaming I was so happy again! I finished the last 2 miles in okay time, spirits were at an all time high as of that day. I went to my cell, posted that I had just finished my 3rd lap, that I was an idiot for going back out, filled up my water, grabbed snacks, put more snacks in my camelbak, and off I went, I swear lap 4 was faster than 2 and 3. However the stats say they were just close, but I do not know about how much time I spent at the aid stations.

50

Stephen

Rodericks

M

29

630

1:43:35

3:59:33

6:31:50

8:52:10

So I placed 50, of 60, 22 dnf, 20 dns, point being, I finished in 8:52, and ran to the finish, all smiles and happy, I mean come on, the race was finally over for crying out loud! and was not a dfl which is surprising, but I will not complain too much. I almost forgot, as much as I love my Fenix, it is heavy, you do not notice it after you wear it for a few days, but in lap 3 I had to change wrists, my forearm was hurting from it, so about4/5 hours of "running" and it can add up, I also probably did not relax my arms wile running. Don't forget to check on form a bunch when you run! You can avoid so many problems by just checking every now and then, running is not mindless, you gotta check on breathe, form, foot strike, relaxing as much as possible, posture, all the good stuff. And the longer the run, and the harder then run, the more important, or you will feel it soon enough! (technical data from my watch: 16:44 pace, and 5774ft election gain for the entire race)

Just before the finish

Finally Lap 4, Seriously, that chat changed the whole race for me, I was excited again, I ran more, walked less, I think, it was kinda a blur, it was under 9 hours of going through horrible terrain, but it got done! then, about 2 miles into my last lap, I get to see my buddy for the last time that day, as he is finishing up his 4th lap, I stop him, hug him, and explain that it was all because of him, I would have dropped if I had not seen him before then end of the lap, before, there was a chance I may have done it on my own, but it was slim! So he did not take credit, until I explained it really was his kind words, he then accepted it. and then we went our separate ways, basically, I have learned yet again, if you tell yourself you can, and push, then you will, with most things in the running world, and that is transferable (keep that in mind), you just have to learn how to push through, and be comfortable being uncomfortable, that goes for more than just your body, it is also for your mind, and it can be arguably more important to keep you going in things like ultra races. The distance can be fun, therapeutic, meditative, and whatever else you need, it really has become my favorite way to blow off steam, and laugh with friends. There are some many benefits to being active and running, so what not see how long you can make it and still have fun? TARC is a great running club, very friendly, and they put on really cheap races, this cost me just over 20 bucks, for the 4 laps around the skyline trail. The last thing I will leave you with about lap 4 is this, just before the end of the loop there are giant stones, it is about1/2 mile before the end (maybe more, I cannot gauge), I had been looking forward to those for miles, when I got there I started to run fast, well fast for what I had left I had nothing else to do that day, I was so happy, giggling, and laughing, I was finally finished, FINALLY!! I did it, and My friend Sarah was waiting at the finish and snapped a few good picture, it was a nice way to finish the race!

Annnd DONE!

Another fun part, is the days after, I swear I could walk because I was not running hard the whole time, but anyway, hanging with friends right after the race for food, and the next two days hanging out with friends, it really was awesome, I really could not do much more than socialize. It really goes to show what you can do when you push for something, I finished an ultra, my third attempt, (as I jokingly say third time is the charm, ya know being the third born and all), and it was hard, so now to focus on more Marathons, and ultras, gotta keep improving, better times, and longer distances, I want a few belt buckles from these races! I just want to be good at all the running really, hey, you gotta have goals right?

Almost forgot, one dude on course actually called me FOREST! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

Until next time
Stay active
Stephen


(Photo Credit 1st was from TARC, the rest from Sarah, Thanks!)