In about an hour, I’m heading to Umstead 100-miler, the easiest 100-miler in the country. Or is it?
The course, in Raleigh, North Carolina, is almost as flat as you could wish for. It’s a wide, finely-crushed gravel surface. And it’s 5 x 12.5-mile loops with 3 aid stations on each loop, so there’s plenty of aid along the way.
Still, I’ve DNF’d (did not finish) here more than any other race – three times! Two were injury-related. I wasn’t healed up from injuries to go more than 25 or 50 miles. But one was not.
I learned a lot about the course and myself in those DNFs. For one, the course is easy to underestimate. Because it’s so flat and easy, it’s tempting to go out too fast with the belief you can magically carve 5 hours off your previous 100-miler times. Do that and you’ll go down in flames. You still have to respect the distance, and 100 miles just isn’t a cakewalk.
The race also confirmed how hard gravel road is for me – mentally. You go and go and when you look up, you’re still just as far away from that turn in the road. Give me rocky, twisting trail any day. I can’t waltz into this race without giving it the focus it deserves.
So now, another chance to learn some more. Should be a fun and memorable time. And Zumbro Falls 100-miler is next weekend!
good points.
twisty, turning is far more fun as mention.
just goes to show you that some races are all about beauty and the love of the sport – and some others are true grinds, helping learn more and more about ourselves.
good luck you two.
i’ll be thinking about y’all from the other side of NC (Crowders Mountain)
April 3, 2009 at 10:19 am | Reply
Yes! Give me rocky, twisty, stumpy, muddy… anything but flat and “easy.” That said, I’m sure you guys are gonna have an awesome time — I’ll be thinking about you!
April 3, 2009 at 11:52 am | Reply
I just discovered your site. I’ll see you at Zumbro! It’s a little easier than Larry’s other, the Sawtooth, but has its hills and rocks.
April 6, 2009 at 10:14 am | Reply
Looking forward to Zumbro. Umstead really took a toll on my feet this year for some reason so Zumbro should be interesting.
April 6, 2009 at 10:36 am | Reply
I’ll be at Zumbro too, but you probably don’t want to meet me – I’m the course sweeper
Your race schedule is awe inspiring!
April 6, 2009 at 12:14 pm | Reply
How about we talk before the race, since I hope we don’t see each other then! Thanks for helping out. The entrants couldn’t run the race without volunteers to make it all possible.
April 6, 2009 at 8:08 pm | Reply