Last year I ran the inaugural Dismal Swamp 100K, finishing a tired, but satisfying 2nd place overall. However, after going through 50 miles in 7:17, I struggled somewhat in the closing 12 miles and jogged home to a 9:28:04 finish. The goal for 2021 was definitely a quicker time than 2020, hopefully a sub-9 hour finish, and potentially having a crack at the existing American 55-59 age group record which has stood since 2007 (8:39:35). Note: as a non-US Citizen, I’m not eligible to hold any American records, but I figured it would be cool to see how close I could get anyway.
The USATF-certified 100K route is pretty tedious to be honest (8 x 7.76 mile out and backs), but the course is perfectly straight and flat as a pancake – ideal for fast racing. Wooden posts mark each quarter mile, which is great for pacing and useful for having constant landmarks to look out for. The start/finish area at the end of each loop also provided a handy location to leave fuel/nutrition and anything else one might need for a long day on the road.
The race started promptly in the dark at 6:00am. Headlamps were advised, but I found it just about light enough to run without. I ran with local ultrarunner and fellow Topo Athletic/Tailwind Nutrition ambassador, Aaron Debord, for the first mile or so, and enjoyed a brief chat about the day ahead.
I’d prepared a small chart to carry based on 8:20/mile pace which would be good enough to break the 8:39:35 stretch goal, with the intention of “not running any faster until late in the race”, “and only if I felt decent”.
Of course, this strategy soon went out the window as I found myself running low 8 minute miles and even quite a few sub-8 minute miles. I knew this was way too fast and even commented to the Race Director, Thomas Hicks, at the start/finish line that I’d probably pay for it later. Ah well, might as well just go with it, and see how things pan out. On the flip side, it did feel nice to bank some time.
The event also featured a 50K race which started at 6:45am, and a 100K team challenge made up of up to 8 runners that started at the same time as the individual 100K race. It felt good to settle into my own pace and not have to worry about team runners running faster than me, and also not be concerned with the 2020 race winner, Brian Zickefoose, who was already 7 minutes ahead after the first out and back. I felt like I was holding a strong 2nd place and that would do just fine.
It was fun to see good friend, Peter Pommerenk, cruising along in the 50K, and as we ran by in opposite directions, I joked that it wouldn’t be too long before he caught up to me. Deep down I hoped he wouldn’t catch me as that would likely mean I was having a very challenging race. First loop done in 62 minutes – almost 3 minutes ahead of schedule!
The first 50K pretty much flew by. I passed the 26.2 mile marathon mark in about 3:28 and made a mental note of the time so I could submit the details to the Cayman Marathon folks for their virtual event. I was also recording the marathon separately on an old Garmin 235 I carried in my pocket, which I figured I might need if the Cayman virtual folks needed proof of my time. I closed out the 4th out-and-back in just over 4:07, still in 2nd place by about 30 minutes and scarily 11 minutes faster than stretch goal pace!
With temperatures rising, I contemplated removing my long sleeve base layer, but figured it would only waste precious time. On the flip side it could get cooler later in the day and then I’d regret not having the extra layer. Instead, I just grabbed another pre-mixed bottle of Naked Tailwind Nutrition from my makeshift aid station and headed out on the 5th loop. Halfway there!
I definitely felt more sluggish on this loop, with my sub-8/low-8 minute miles now sliding towards the 8:20-8:30 minute mile range. No matter, I figured I’d banked 11 minutes on the first half of the race so could afford to slow slightly in the second half. It was definitely warming up though, and I remember stopping briefly at the 3.5 mile water cooler for a quick drink before heading to the 3.88 mile turnaround cones.
Just after the turnaround, a runner asked if they could share some miles with me. It was one of those moments where I definitely recognized the face, but embarrassingly couldn’t put a name to the runner. What do you expect after 35 miles of racing? 🙂 Sorry, Jonathan! Thankfully, I was with-it enough to remember the rule that runners weren’t allowed pacers in the 100K until after 50K had been completed, so after quick consideration, I kindly accepted his offer.
We ran along at a decent clip, me apologizing in advance if I wasn’t too chatty, and Jonathan chatting about his volunteer experience earlier in the morning, his recent training under Coach Brent Nieter and a host of other running related stories.
The miles were ticking along nicely when a few hundred feet ahead I was surprised to see race leader, Brian, walking, and appearing to be holding his right hamstring. I wondered if Brian was suffering from cramp (the temperature was definitely getting up there), so as I approached, asked how he was doing, and handed him the last of my Endurolyte capsules just in case they would help. I wished him well and carried on running with Jonathan.
I closed out the loop in about 64 minutes, 2 minutes slower than planned, but still comfortably ahead of the stretch goal with *only* 3 out-and-backs left to run. And, as an added bonus, I was now leading the race.
Loop 6 was fairly uneventful. Peter had long since finished his 50K in a blistering 3:43 – good enough for a new Virginia 55-59 Age-Group State Record – but I was still able to look out for and encourage friends Roy, Aaron, Ruthie, Andrea, Wendy, John, Tom and others I’m probably forgetting right now. I was also looking forward to seeing my wife Ally who I hoped would be showing up any time now.
On the plus side, Jonathan was still chatting away and keeping me company, but his planned long run of 14 miles (I think) would soon be coming to an end, and with Brian apparently getting his legs back and overtaking me again, I was relegated to 2nd place. Sure enough, at the end of the loop, Jonathan finished his run and wished me well, leaving me to duck into the port-a-john for a quick stop. Again, more Tailwind was grabbed and I headed out thinking at least 75% of the race was in the bag.
Loop 7 was tough, but the thought of a new 50 mile PR kept me pushing hard. My existing PR of 6:56:53, although set at a trail race, has stood since late 2011. The mere possibility of getting close to it was a huge motivator, even at the risk of blowing up in the last 12 miles of the race.
Thankfully, I stayed strong and passed the small 50 mile banner just before the bathrooms in about 6:50, stopping briefly for some water and to down a much needed emergency Huma gel. Note: for the most part, Tailwind Nutrition is the only fuel I use during races, but from time to time, and especially when the going gets tough, it’s nice to have something extra for that added boost.
After the water stop, I pressed on to the turnaround cones, with just 3 x 3.88 mile sections left to complete. Let me tell you, 3.88 miles doesn’t sound far, but the wooden posts every quarter mile now felt at least half a mile apart. Brutal! No matter, I continued to push, one eye on my pace and the other on my little chart showing the 11 minute cushion was now down to about 3 minutes. My pace was slowing, but I was still in with a shout of the stretch goal, and, somewhat surprisingly, I hadn’t seen Brian start his final loop, so maybe I’d gained back some time and there was an outside chance I could catch him.
Despite the push, this 7th loop was my slowest of the day (~69 minutes), but as I approached the turn for the final time, I was determined to give it everything for the final 7.76 miles. As I crossed the timing mat I figured I must have missed seeing Brian heading out for his final lap, but then I spotted him, sat in a chair with the huge winner’s trophy. How did that happen?? With 7:29 on the clock, confused, a tad bewildered and even a bit deflated, I headed to my “aid-station” to grab some fuel (Tailwind and fizzy cola bottles this time!) before heading out one last time.
To hit my stretch goal, I needed to run faster than my 7th loop, and I think faster than my 6th loop. It felt impossible, but I was pretty fired up and ready to suffer. A mile or so into the loop I heard footsteps behind, and was quickly caught by one of the team runners. We shared several miles, me counting down from 6, to 5, to 4 to go, him chatting away and probably totally unaware how badly I was suffering. Again I stopped at the cooler – one last Huma gel, and a quick cup of water – before setting off for the final 4 miles.
The gel must have worked its magic, and with closing miles of 8:13, 8:23 and 8:17, I crossed the line in 8:37:08 to beat the 8:39 stretch goal by a couple of minutes, and last year’s time by 50+ minutes! Thanks, Peter, for the pic and running the last quarter mile with me. Ally was also there at the finish line and after a few minutes of getting myself together, it was cool to share a beer with friends and chat about the tough, tough race.
Brian finished an amazing 1 hour 24 minutes ahead in 7:13:44, recording a qualifying time for the USA 100K team and setting a new course record too. Personally, I’m stoked with the new 100K PR (also a Virginia 55-59 Age-Group State Record), and for breaking that 50 mile PR which has stood for over a decade! Not sure I’ll do this race again next year (yeah, yeah…heard that one before). Naturally it’s a physically demanding event, but the mental toughness required is pretty substantial too. Of course, you can’t get a much faster 100K venue if you’re looking for speedy times.
Thanks to the Tidewater Striders for putting on a first class event, the numerous volunteers who gave up their Saturday, Tailwind Nutrtion for keeping me fueled and hydrated, Injinji for keeping the blisters at bay, Squirrel’s Nut Butter for another chafe-free race, and to all the runners out on the course who offered their support.
2021 Dismal Swamp 100K Splits (approx) – 1:02:00, 1:02:30, 1:01:50, 1:01:10, 1:04:20, 1:08:00, 1:09:30, 1:07:00
