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Bull Run Run 50 Mile 2000 Report: Anthony Welch

Hi everyone,

     I had only run 3 50Ks and 2 50 milers over the last 3 years before this
race and this was the BEST RUN I EVER HAD.  Since I am so excited I thought
I would share my experience with the list.  This is rather long so if you do
not want to go further please let me thank Scott Mills, Peyton Robinson, and
all the fantastic volunteers who made this race possible.  The support was
excellent and the trail was very well marked (as well as a great variety of
running challenges, rocks, mud, hills, leaves, and best of all - no road).

     BEST RACE TO DATE.  I ran the Bull Run Run 50 mile race.  I spent the
night in the bunks and did not sleep well at all.  It was convenient though
that when I awoke I was right there ready to run.  I put a piece of duct
tape over the heel of each foot and right behind the toes of each foot.  I
put a cross of duct tape over each nipple (had shaved the hair the night
before).  I then put on 2 pair RRS crew socks and made sure that I had no
kinks in my socks.  I wore my old Asics Gel Trabacos for the race and my new
cotton HAT race hat since it was drizzling at the beginning of the race.  I
wore my Camelback 50 oz. to help me better get through the aid stations.  My
watch was set at 13 min to remind me to drink and I took a SUCCEED salt
caplet every hour (though I got confused at one point about 6 hours into the
race and likely took two between 6 hours and 6:25 hours).  At every aid
station I ate at least 4 figs or 3 PJ sandwiches.  I started in the midpack
and took my time moving slowly up through the crowd.  After the 3rd aid
station (about mile 20), I drank two cups of mountain dew at each aid
station and ate PJ sandwiches or potatoes dipped in salt.  At first two aid
stations I took 4 fig newtons each and ate them, I did not fill up any
water.  My first water fill-up was at the 16 mile mark.  I ate a couple of
oatmeal raisin cookies and headed out (time was about 2:55).  The next aid
station I did not fill my water but ate 3 PJ sandwiches (I was crushing
people in the aid stations, I was in and out very quickly).  At the M&M aid
station I stopped for water and had some chicken soup.  My legs were getting
sore and I thought I might be losing it.  I stopped to stretch my quads and
that felt good - my knees were starting to hurt.  At the 30 mile aid station
I felt very good and was running quite strong.  I topped off my water and
headed out for the loops.  I made it through the Do loop fine, though that
was a very tough part of the run since it was all up and down.  At the 38
mile aid station (fountainhead) I was feeling very strong.  When I was at
about mile 40, I decided that this was the strongest I have ever felt this
late in a race and I was going to run as best as I could for the remainder
of the race.  At the last aid station, with 5.5 miles to go I found out that
I was in about 44th place, I could not believe it.  I still felt strong and
decided to let it all out for the remainder of the race, if I crashed – so
be it, I could always walk to the finish.  I saw no one for about 2.5 miles.
With about three miles to go I was on a twisting part of the trail and saw a
bright green shirt behind me.  I had seen that runner earlier and he looked
very strong.  I figured he had seen me as well (since I was wearing a bright
orange shirt) and was trying to catch me.  I never turned around for the
rest of the run but I assumed he was catching up with me the rest of the way
(I really owe him a lot).  I thought that if he is going to catch me he will
have to work hard.  With one mile to go I passed two runners on the very
rocky part of the course near the river.  I was walking up the last hill
when I saw another runner in front of me, I tried to walk faster up the hill
and I was closing the distance.  I began to run at the top of the hill and
passed him with about 400 yards to go.  I ran as hard as I could up to the
finish (since I was convinced that the green shirt runner was still right
behind me).  I finished in 9:01 which is a new 50 mile PR for me.  I was
41/247 finishers.  I have only run 2 other 50 mile races both of which were
the JFK 50 mile (1996 and 1999) and my best finish was in 1999 in 9:25.
What a great feeling to be able to run so strong, I was high on pride all
night Saturday.

Peace,
Anthony Welch
Middletown, MD