Susan Donnelly

I’m blessed at this point in my life to have so many incredible friends, and I was doubly blessed this weekend to have so many of them from so many different places together at one race.

You wouldn’t think SweetH2O 50k, in Sweetwater Park outside Atlanta, Georgia, would be challenging.  I mean, it’s not mountainous Colorado.  At least, that’s how I described it to my local friends who blissfully signed up for it.

Memories have a sneaky way of getting better over time, all by themselves.  As it turns out, this race has all the makings for an epic day  - southern heat, infinite waves of hills as far as you can see, rock climbing with ropes, and boulder-y 45-degree angle trail.  Then there’s the water crossing, the deepest I’ve had the pleasure of encountering in a race.  We’re all nervous about that one.

There’s no way to guess how the race will turn out for all my friends.  I’m more than confident in everyone’s ability but still nervous for them.

Here’s some of the weekend’s immediate cast and crew:

• Tracy Lee – Super-talented runner facing her first ultra in an ankle brace.  TLee for short. (Knoxville)
• Liza Graves – Tough, determined runner with more energy than all of us put together, in her second ultra.  One half of Shaniza power (what is it?  You’ll know it when you’ve been Shaniza-ed!)  (Knoxville)
• Shane Hege – Fast, strong runner going for his third ultra finish in almost as many months.  The other half of Shaniza power.  (Knoxville)
• Tracy Rafferty – Support crew, morale booster, and photographer extraordinaire (should be running instead!).  Mama Chick,or TR, for short. (Knoxville)
• Leslee Hege – Same as Tracy, she should be running today but we’re glad to see her along the course.  Maybe someday…  (Knoxville)
• Rob Apple – Poster boy of the race, literally.  He’s the guy in the ad!  Here for his millionth (well, ok, his 545th) ultra and third SweetH2O (Murfreesboro)
• Susan Lance – Speedy, accomplished runner (ex: won Lean Horse 100 and recently a very fast Iron Horse 100k); animal rescue hero who’s aiming to get done in time to get to the feed store (Atlanta)
• Michelle Owen – First-time ultrarunner brimming with “can-do.” (Knoxville)
• Lisa Zaccarelli – Here with her unparalleled smile to continue her outstanding spring season (Nashville)
• Diane Taylor – Running her first SweetH2O and probably her millionth ultra too! (Nashville and Knoxville…very cosmopolitan)
• Bruce Fox – First time SweetH2O runner (Knoxville)
• Andy Gonzalez – Running the race after running 28 miles or so that morning to get to the starting line (Atlanta)

 

 

 

ACT I – We’re Off!

We start on road by the lake to thin out the pack and eventually hit the trailhead.  Liza, TLee, Rob and I are running together, Shane and Michelle are slightly ahead. Susan and Lisa are already way ahead.  Diane may be behind, it’s hard to tell in all the people.  Our group of four reaches a wide concrete culvert crossing and use the ropes to climb down and back up the other side.  Hm. Last time I ran this race, the culvert was dry.  This doesn’t bode well for the big crossing later in the day.

The trail curves, straightens out, curves and runs on a steep angles across the rocks next to gorgeous Sweetwater Creek.  It’s pure postcard but hard to take in while trying not to break a leg hopping around the trail’s rocks and roots.

Finally, we reach an aid station next to a wooden bridge.  It’s a welcome sight that only becomes more welcome as the day progresses – especially all the guys working there.  Orlando is there, another cheery guy, and a third guy whose wife is running today while he rests up for the San Diego 100 next weekend.

As we’re standing there fueling up and filling our bottles, a runner coming from across the bridge and shoves his way in our midst like we’re not even there, yelling at the aid station workers for GU.  He promptly turns and runs off, like a hit-and-run driver.  In the wrong direction.  He’s well down the trail when one of the stunned workers realizes the guy has gone the wrong way and yells to him. 

Here’s where I react.  I tell the worker, loudly enough for the guy now bearing down on us again, to hear “Let him go!  Let him go the wrong way!”  I suppose the guy hears it because he later accuses me of making him go in the wrong direction.  Whatever.  Being fast doesn’t give you a license to be rude. It bothers me because in that moment, I stooped to his level, and I shouldn’t have.  His behavior will eventually catch up to him all by itself, without my help.

Rob, TLee, Liza and I regroup and cross the bridge to tackle the first powerline loop.  En route, we pass two parts of a rusted white truck that fell from…well, farther up the hill above us than we can even see.  Much farther than we want to imagine.

We emerge from the woods at the powerline, and climb to the top of the hill, only to find it’s just the top of the first hill.  The view ahead extends across waves of unending red clay hills, one after another after another.  Most sobering are the itty bitty, ant-sized runners on the farthest hill.  It’s a tad demoralizing and going to be tougher than I remembered.  I quietly hope the Knoxville posse isn’t cussing me out from wherever they all are on the course. The four of us take it at a moderate pace, keeping in mind we get to do it all over again in the heat of the afternoon.  

A couple of hills into it and TLee and Liza still seem to speaking to me.  Whew.

 

 

 

ACT II – Top of the World

On the last hill, we reach Top of the World and TLee breaks into appropriate song.  It’s a wide view and the Atlanta skyline is even visible in the haze way behind us.  All four of us are eating and drinking well thus far, good news.  We refuel at the aid station and go.

Back along the other side of the powerline we emerge in the wide open sun.  Again, wave after wave of hill in growing heat.  On the forth or fifth hill, we look up and see a cow skull hanging on the corner of a fence next to the trail.  Very funny.  The beaded feathers hanging from the horns are barely moving in the air.  Yes, it could be a desert.

Finally, we loop back into the cool woods to see the happy guys at the wooden bridge aid station.  All four of us are still generally together, or at least within sight or hearing.  Yippee!  We see TR and Leslee.  They tell us Susan’s running very fast and Shane’s not too far ahead of us.

It’s an easy, level trail along a calm creek to the next aid station beside the metal bridge.  We begin to suspect that all the workers at this race are competing for the Friendliest Aid Station award.

After that, the miles of trail and gravel road lulled us into a sense of complacency, until…

At the top of a hill we can suddenly hear the rushing water way below.  Soon, we hear other runners talking.  It’s the big water crossing we’ve been waiting for all day.  Liza pulls inflatable Water Wings and a Spider Man life ring (Note: optional equipment) and we start inflating as best we can without falling down the steep rock and leaf-covered descent to the water.

 

Intermission

At the bottom, there’s a traffic jam of runners waiting to cross the creek.  Runners are even sitting.  No one’s going anywhere quickly because you have to hold onto a rope all the way across and the swiftest water is chest deep so everyone has to go one at a time.  Our foursome is taking this as a play day, not a land speed record attempt, so it’s fun to see Shane, Michelle, Tony, and Diane, meet other runners in line with us, and laugh and joke and compare notes on the race while we slowly move closer to our turn.

In a happy reverse from the powerline, the water doesn’t look as deep or as fast as I remember it.  

TR and Leslee are on the other side, waving, and waiting to take photos.  The water’s too loud to hear them but of course both sides manage to joke with each other via “creative” sign language.

The line inches forward.  We yell encouragement and watch the others ahead to see how it’s done (or not – one guy lets go of the rope too soon and has to be roped to shore as he’s washed downstream).  Everyone approaches the crossing differently.  

Liza and TLee have UT Vol orange Water Wings.  Rob gets presented with the Spidey inner tube (though TLee takes it off his hands at the last minute). One by one we cross safely and in good style.  Liza and I, both dripping wet, hug TR for good measure. 

Ok, time to refocus.  We look around for the trail and someone points to a rope.  Predictably, the trail takes off straight uphill.  The ropes are there for us to pull ourselves up to the trail, and we need them.

 

ACT III – Powerline, The Sequel

Let’s just say it’s now baking hot on the powerline hills and so blindingly sunny we’re all squinting. Or maybe Liza’s now glaring at me, who knows.  The cool water crossing is already a distant memory.  The sun is oppressive, without mercy.  We’re cooking…at least Liza and I are.  Rob, on the other hand, is happily luxuriating in the exact opposite of an Ohio winter.  He spots all kinds of neat flowers I can only grunt at.

TLee has dropped back to talk to another runner but is still within earshot.  Every time we look back across a hill, she’s trotting along like it’s a jaunt in the park (which, technically, it is).  She’s having a better time without us hovering.

At the top of each hill, there’s a faint breeze but also more shimmering hills in the distance.  The far-off runners never seem to get closer but suddenly we’re at the aid station.  With some fluid and shade, we’re recharged for the return trip.

The backside of the powerline is an oven.  Rob loves it.  Liza, I, and probably 99.9% of the other runners are less thrilled.  We climb quietly ahead of him, one foot in front of the other.  Thank goodness it isn’t August.  We glance back occasionally for TLee, who’s no longer in view, then focus on the next hill.  The mica in the sand reflects the sun like a mirror.  There’s no shade for miles.  Still, we spot a line of about six people ahead.  Sure enough, Liza’s tired and hot but not about to let this go.  We Shaniza them, in pitiful slo-mo.

Next stop, the bridge aid station to see the still-happy, smiling aid station crew…in the shade!

 

ACT IV – Shaniza!

With only three or four miles left, Rob, Liza and I head off toward the finish.  

Then the trail takes an unexpected turn to the left. Uphill.

Cruelty, simple cruelty.  The trail at mile 28 is a bushwhack straight uphill.  No switchbacks, no level spots, no mercy for achilles tendons.  Looking up, we see two other runners each standing against a tree, trying to catch their breath without falling back down the steep hill.  

We’re tired but they’re tired-er, and Liza’s in the lead.  Sure enough, we haven’t cooled back down from the powerline but we Shaniza past them both and another bonus runner at the top.

Liza’s suddenly on a mission.  We reach Leslee and TR again, hugs all around and status on the other cast members.  Then it’s off to the finish.

Despite not trying, we’ve gained a slew of spots in the past several miles.  We can also “smell the barn.”  The only complication is that we had planned to finish with TLee’s first ultra with her today.  We’re prepared to wait, tempted to go on, and not sure how far back she is.  The last time we saw her was on the powerline.  After much discussion, Liza and I come up with a compromise – finish and run back out to meet TLee and run in with her.  Liza’s not so sold on it, but it’s probably the best choice for everyone so I overrule her (didn’t really know I could do that).

Sure enough, as soon as that’s decided, we round the corner to see a slow line of about six runners.  Liza’s like a lion moving in on the weak members of a herd.  They don’t stand a chance.

We Shaniza them all except one.  With Liza in the lead, we run along a lakeshore gaining speed.  We apologize all the way through a family fishing outing that’s encamped across the trail, even ducking under a rod and line to get by.  At least we’re not the first to run this way!

Liza leads Rob and I to the finish, running all the way up the last hill to the line.  Wow, strong run.  TR, Leslee and Shane are waiting and we chatter for a moment before heading back out to meet TLee.  We walk all of two yards and TR yells “there she is!”  She runs into the finish, out of nowhere.  Yes!!!

 

Finis

I hadn’t pictured it any other way but it’s relaxing to see everyone finish, and in good shape.  No train wrecks.  Everyone who finished this race and was a part of the support can be proud.  This was a great test and we all passed with flying colors.

Somewhere down the line when the going gets tough, I hope my friends conjure up the memory of this race (with more accuracy than I did), and remember than they’ve done it before and can do it again.

Posted: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 9:42 pm | Tags: Blog | Respond | Trackback