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Double Chubb Trail 50K 2001 Report(MO): Kevin Kepley

Why:

I decided to run this race at the last minute, mainly as
a training run for Cornbelt.  My training this year has
focused mainly on losing weight and getting fit.  As such,
I've been running about 10K 3-4 days per week with a little
longer runs on the weekends.  My 10K runs have been at a
fairly brisk pace (for me), but my weekend long runs have
been fairly short, with a few 18 milers and one or two 20's.
I figured that if I was going to have a good chance of making
50 to 60 miles at Cornbelt, I'd better get in a good long run
to beat up on my endocrine system.  As it turned out, DC50K
was a perfect choice.

The Course:

The Chubb Trail provides most of the course for the DC50K.
This trail is only a few miles from my house, so I'm pretty
familiar with it.  The race starts at the old Archery
parking lot, and follows the asphalt road for about .4 miles
past the entrance to Lone Elk Park.  From there, it follows
the Chubb trail for a little under 7 miles to West Tyson
park.  In WT, there is another short asphalt section linking
up to the Chinkapin Trail, which is a short, steep, rocky,
leaf covered exercise in runner humiliation.  This year,
Race Director Gary Fuerst succumbed to Barkley Fever and
re-routed part of the Chubb Trail Section.  He "claimed"
that this was due to flooding of part of the trail along
the Meramec River.  The new course added a long, straight
section that followed the railroad tracks for several
miles, then entered a meadow via a short, steep, butt slide
and a sumbitch ditch.  If I am lucky, this is as close
as I will ever get to The Barkley!  So the first 4.5 miles
or so of the course are flat with pretty decent footing.
Then, after the first aid station, the the course heads up
a fairly steep hill, and follows a rocky, single track
trail for another 3 miles.

The Race:

I've been fighting a cold for a couple of weeks, but I had
thought I was getting over it.  The day before the race, I
could feel it coming back.  I picked up my packet, chatted
with the SLUGs, found out about the course change (but no
mention was made of butt slides or sumbitch ditches), then
headed home for a good night's sleep.  Morning came all too
soon, but I'd already paid the entry fee so I had to run it!
I figured the running would help clear my lungs out.

I started off at a very easy pace, and quickly found my self in
last place.  I like to start slowly, and get warmed up before
picking the pace up a bit.  I passed my first runner on the flat section
along the tracks.  This young fella had entered the morning
of the race, and was walking most of it.  He ended up finishing
with a smile on his face.  I passed a few more on the first
loop, which went pretty well.  I felt light on my feet, and
the running felt quite comfortable.  My 50K PR is 6:38:43 set
at the DC50K in 1999.  When I finished my first loop in 3:21,
I thought I might have a shot at bettering that if I could
run a negative split.  Pride cometh before the fall!  I was
still running well until I got to the first of the hills on loop 2,
and then someone dropped a piano on my back.  The sun came
out and the temperature made it's way into the mid 80's.
It wasn't long before I realized that there would be no PR
for me.  Still, in spite of the heat, it was a very pleasant
run.  I had a great day, and was pleased with my 7:20:25 finish.
I think only one person passed me on the second loop, so I
guess that the heat slowed everyone down.

After the race, I enjoyed the sandwiches provided, and had
a great time visiting with friends both old and new.  I hope
to see some of y'all at Cornbelt!

kevin, the mathineer