Friday, July 15, 2022

There’s a First Time For Everything.

As a runner, every once and awhile a new race comes along that intrigues you, and you think “why not give it a shot?” Such is the case with the latest event I did, which was the Ironstone 100K.

Ironstone was indeed an inaugural event here in 2022. The fact it was the first year for the event didn’t bother me—it was one of many firsts, as you’ll learn reading this post.

I’m not even totally sure where I first learned of Ironstone, but I think it was from a suggestion on Instagram if my memory serves me right. At their website I fully learned about the event particulars. The event sounded great in that it was point-to-point opposed to the loop races that I seem to be stuck in a rut of signing up for. Whether it’s just 2 or 3 loops or many, many in a 10-hour or 12-hour race, eventually monotony sets in. No loops on this course—good! Also intriguing was a 2PM start time that would have me tackling the course all through the night for the first time ever! This was something I’ve been wanting to do as I decide whether to tackle a 100-miler, where running through the night will happen no matter what. The course description and profile appeared interesting as well, with the a rail trail making up the first 20-ish miles before the up and down and more technical trail section(s) of the race.

So after some more thought and making sure I get through some buildup of long training runs OK, (I had been experiencing one area of discomfort after my prior ultra), I decided to give it a go!

Offical race logo


I secured a campground spot at the State Park (Greenwood Furnace) where the finish to the race was going to be. They provided a shuttle from there to the start line, so that was no issue. I took it easy the morning of the race, and believe me it was nice to “sleep in a little” on race morning. So it gave me some extra shut eye and time to prepare mentally without that “wake up and get going right away” procedure of a normal early start. It also gave me time to double-check I had all necessary items in my pack.

We were shuttled to Canoe Creek State Park for the start, and from my brief time there it looked beautiful with the big lake and hills in the background. After getting my bib and usual trip to the bathroom, I just tried to rest and did talk to a few other runners for a bit. It came time for the pre-race meeting and upon the RD finishing his words he told us to line up because the race starts in one-and-a-half minutes. That time went quick and just like that we were off. There were about 70 runners total. I started probably in the first 3rd of runners but kept just an easy pace on the flat section to start. After a few minutes we encountered our first hill, though it wasn’t that long or steep compared to what would come later in the race.

I got hot fairly quickly. The sun was out most all morning but it seemed to really heat up despite the forecast for just mid to high 80s. It also felt humid. I feel we got lucky though for July in Pennsylvania—it could have been a lot hotter for sure!

I have to say… the early miles didn’t really feel all that good to me. I felt somewhat lethargic and that the flat section after the first hill should have been easier. I was beginning to think that maybe today wasn’t going to be the day, and that it might make for a big disappointment. But after exiting the park and reaching the very flat rail trail section I began to find a rhythm and really start to loosen up, and that thought of a bad day… well I left it back where it started (thankfully!)

The rail trail section at times seemed like it would go on forever. I was running with someone very early on but after taking a walking break we got separated and then I was basically running most all of it with no one really close around except for a short spell. That solitude did allow me to successfully do one thing though—chi running. I was very focused on correct breathing and using good running form and very minimal excess movement or energy, and instead save it for the rugged parts ahead. I got refueled at each of the 4 aid stations on the rail trail and then another small hill ensued followed by some road running through a small sleepy town before finally starting up the first big climb!

This is where the race would really change for sure. It would no longer be super flat or be very runnable basically most of the rest of the race. The terrain would turn up and down and much, much more technical, sometimes seeming like mile after mile over rocks. Ironstone is really 2 races in one. A rather easy first third of the race, followed by the remaining two-thirds of something completely different. If you wished for a change of pace from the flat rail trail, it now would turn into something completely the opposite, and from getting through it I’d say you’d better learn to embrace the new terrain and pace because it would be unrelenting for the vast majority of the race until the finish line.

My pace slowed along with everyone’s, however, I did catch up to some others ahead of me and together 4 of us trekked along the start of the ridge running and 3 of us hiking up the access road to aid station 5. By then my stomach was starting to feel a somewhat funny. I ate a little but rather minimally and tried to calm it with some ginger ale. That did seem to work. The four of us all left the aid station together again as a pack and it was helpful having others at the same pace around me. It wasn’t too long after leaving this aid station that we stopped and put on our headlamps. We didn’t need them quite yet but much easier to see now than when partially dark.

This would lead to one of my other firsts. It would be my first time I’d run/hike all through the night. That was something I’d wanted to do for awhile, and hoped to in 2021 when attempting my first 24hr race but that just wasn’t my day and didn’t even make it to the night running portion. Night running would be something I’d need to have experience with in attempting a 100 miler.

So now it was Ironstone where I’d make my (full all-night) night running debut. Luckily I didn’t have much reservation about this which was good.

I don’t recall exactly where or how but the group of 4 of us got split up, and upon it truly getting dark it was me and another guy from that group of 4 that tackled the course together. We kinda of leapfrogged back and forth awhile while basically going at the same pace. Each of us saved the other a time or two with keeping the other on the trail. This was important because for large sections there were no ribbon or flagging, but instead just following the blazes on the trees, which is slower and more difficult.

Messages to myself as a reminder for success


Toward the end of this section the trail exited onto a dirt road. It was a nice switch especially since it was downhill and finally a chance to run. The course veered onto an old access road but still runnable and just a nice way to really get the legs moving again. It wasn't long before back onto dirt road again and onto the next aid station. It was welcomed. My stomach was slowly feeling worse like I have the feeling of getting sick if I’ll try to eat anything. At this point I still could eat a little something but not a lot. It was also nice to sit awhile too and just rest.

I had kinda lost track of time and how I was time-wise within the race. It was right around midnight. I asked the one race volunteer how close I was to cut-off of this aid station. She almost laughed and stated I was WELL ahead of cut-off and had nothing to worry about. Her next statement to me was “Did you know you're in 11th place overall?” I replied with “No, I had no idea.” This made me feel good knowing I was near the top and doing well time-wise. Several runners had already dropped from the race for one reason or another.

The other runner I was with leading up to this aid station, he and I left here at the same time and right off the bat out of the aid station is a section of the trail called “Indian Steps.” This was steep!! I later found out it was a 500ft climb on this section. Despite going at it at just a relaxed pace I still had to stop several times to catch my breath. I even had to take it easy upon reaching the summit as for several minutes my hamstrings felt tight and uncomfortable.

From here my memory grows foggy. I do remember thinking it will a long time before reaching another aid station and hearing cheering again and the opportunity to try and eat. The next “aid station” was a water only station 6.2 miles away, and then another 7.4 miles to the full aid station. It was some runnable sections luckily but not extensively leading up to the water only station, but after that it was just more navigating over rock after rock after rock. Some monotony did set in but I just kept pressing onward. Doing the math in my head, I felt even having to hike EVERYTHING to the finish I’d still be able to make it in time for a successful finish.

Race officials wrote inspirational words on racer's bibs!



We were in the wee hours of the night now. I was surprised I felt as good as I did. I didn’t feel sleepy at all yet. The other “first time for everything” moment though did start to arise. I slowly ticked off mile after mile, and while the legs felt fine and had minimal issue(s), my stomach started getting the best of me and I had to push through what was the lowest of lows for me. At one point I drank some water to stay hydrated—it still seemed rather warm and humid throughout the night, but my stomach didn’t seem to agree much. In a little while I started feeling sick and with basically nothing in my stomach started to dry-heave. The only thing to bring up was mucus really. This just stopped me in my tracks and forced me to slow a bit. It would take me awhile to catch up to my running buddy I’ve had for miles on end. As I slowly got closer to within a few miles of that next aid station with food I began to try and think of what I could try and get in me to revitalize me. My stomach was still not having it, for just the thought the thought of the eating made me dry-heave again. This wasn’t a good sign, but I knew to finish I’d have to figure something out, for the few ultras have challenged me in some way or another and I was very determined to make this one work.

We finally arrived at the aid station with food. It was a welcome sound hearing cheering. Another welcome site was the daylight had already appeared, barely even needing my headlamp. I tried some soup broth and noodles which actually didn’t taste too bad to me and didn’t cause me to get sick. I was really forcing myself to get something in me because I still had a half marathon distance to complete—including the longest uphill in the entire race yet. I drank, ate a little more and rested some.

I pretty much felt ready to go again when the other 3 runners at that aid station (all guys I’d run with earlier) were getting ready to go back out too. I wanted to stay with them and have that be the help I needed to pull me to the finish. Well that lasted all of 5 minutes maybe. I just couldn’t keep up at their pace. In my head I knew I’d be fine though. I just kept at it and slowly ticked off mile after mile. I stopped ever so briefly at the one rock outcropping to look around to the valley to my left as the sun was fully out by now. It was very scenic. I pressed onward eventually catching up to my running buddy from through the night and we both arrived at the second water only station. I was good for hydration so I just rested a little and but away my headlamp and chest lamp while once again digging out my hat from my pack.

I was dropped again by my running buddy and slowly made it to the final aid station. It seemed so laid back at this aid station compared to the others—no music, no lights (well it was daylight anyway), and no cowbell. When asked what they can get me I stated “A new stomach,” which got quite the round of laughs and stating they’d heard that several times. I drank some ginger ale to calm the stomach and used the bathroom while resting just a little again. During my rest another runner I’d been running with way back around mile 5 rolled into the aid station. I’d actually been wondering if he was still out there? It a pick-me-up to see another familiar face so late in race.

The view before turning back onto the trail for the final climb.


I was ready to just finish this off now. Five more miles and I’m done. Not so easy though! That largest and longest hill—well now is where that comes into play. It didn’t seem steep early in the hill but did eventually get more technical and steep at the same time. It was like Indian Steps all over again, hiking for a short stretch and then catching my breath again despite taking it easy. I have to admit I thought it would be way worse though. I felt relief near the top where it started to level out and I knew the very worst was over and it was all downhill to the finish.

Of course that couldn’t really be easy though either. On the downhill I managed to inadvertently kick a rock really hard with my right foot. As luck would have it I’d catch 2 or 3 more rocks on the same foot right at the big and second toes. They were almost throbbing now. I knew I’d probably done some damage because I saw a small spot on my shoe that was “reddish.” Later I’d find out both toes were very sore and a partially damaged nail on my big toe.

Regardless, the last 3 miles seemed to take forever. The course still had its share of rocks, and now especially having kicked several, I was ready to just be done with the race. It was already my longest 100K time-wise, so for many, many miles now I didn’t make much effort to run, instead soaking up nature and hearing the birds sing and taking it easy.

I finally reached the clearing where when first got to the park I saw the race flagging and knew as soon as turn the corner I’d probably see people again and cheering for the finish line! As I reached the parking lot some volunteers started cheering and I actually did start running again and made it around the final corner and crossed that finish line!!!

It was a great feeling to finish! My running buddy through the night came over and congratulated me. A volunteer gave me my finisher’s prizes and directed me where I could get food and drink. Surprisingly upon seeing M&M’s they actually appealed to me! Then the runner I saw at the final aid station came across the finish line and we exchanged congratulations to each other. The runner I had talked to extensively on the shuttle to start had seen me and he came over to say great job on my finish. We swapped stories as I rested some more.


All the swag!! Love that flannel shirt!


My finish time was 20 hours and 38 minutes. That was a result of extensive hiking over technical terrain. On the flip side my legs never felt better after 63 miles than at the end of this race. I probably could have run the very next day (I didn't.) It was my slowest 100K to date but I'll take away the feeling knowing I can overcome new challenges and new obstacles and still be successful!