The year was 2002;
- I was 26 and I'd started running 6 months prior
- it was 3 months after my first race, the Jingle Bell 5k
- I was training with a guy that had done some ultras so I figured I could do some ultras
- a GPS watch didn't exist, we had to rely on things called Horton Miles
- LED lights didn't exist (anybody remember the Petzl Zoom or running with a mini Mag?)
- Handheld bottles didn't exist unless you made one yourself
- Waistpacks with a bottle were common
- It was a different time....
I don't remember much about that first Holiday Lake 50k, but I remember it ran around the lake opposite of what it does today, counter clockwise to start, and then returned clockwise. The weather was cold, the footing good and I followed the wise ultra adage of "hike the hills and run the flats and downs." My legs were tired, I was thrilled to finish, and within a second of crossing the finish line my legs seized up, as if I had no knee joints. I was 48th in 5:28.23. Fun Fact - I still have the long sleeve Patagonia finishers shirt and it is still in great condition.
Lesson #1 - The brain controls the physical body. The thing between your ears can lead you to amazing things or it can stop you well before your time is due. The guy that ran across the finish line was the same guy that couldn't bend his knees after the finish. The only difference is that the mind knew the race was over.Holiday Lake #2 - 2003
In 2003 it was a different Holiday Lake. The weather was poor; rain and sleet on top of some snow and a gradual thaw that saw the course become mud ++. I had never seen so much mud. This race was actually easier physically but the poor conditions made it a mental challenge. I was able to run more sections than in 2003 but ended up 30 minutes slower for a 42nd place and 5:53.
Lesson #2 - Running slower, staying more aerobic, causes less muscle soreness.Holiday Lake #3 - 2004
In 2004 I went in hoping for a PR. That's one of the problems of racing. You always want to improve and in this case it was proving that I was both smarter and more fit than the guy that ran his first 50k six months after starting to run. This race started out as planned, but at around mile 12 I started to have what I like to call the "bubblin' crude." This went on until mile 28. The GI system just wasn't interested in being on my team. I think I headed into the woods 3 or 4 times, a couple of these trips got me wrapped up in briers and locust thorns. I thought I might have a chance at "best blood" an honor Dr. Horton gives out to the bloodiest finisher. I was in the best blood lead until someone else easily bumped me out of first place. They had chaffed their privates and had visible blood on the front of their shorts (winner, winner). This day ended with a time of 5:31:31
Holiday Lake #4 - 2009
For a lot of different reasons I went on a Holiday Lake hiatus and skipped a few years only to return on Valentines Day 2009. Once again I was hoping to go below 5 hours. This year the course was changed to what it is today. I felt like I was in good shape but fell off pace and bonked a bit in the middle sections. Regained composure towards the end but was unable to go under 5 and ended in 5:04:04. This was the best I could have done on this day.
Holiday Lake #5 - 2010
In 2010 I was in the best shape of any of my other Holiday Lake runs and felt like I was in sub 5 shape. Mother nature isn't a variable you can plan for and this year the Holiday Lake course was covered in 4-6 inches of snow. Snow that was almost frozen enough to stay on top of, but with each foot step, the crust on top would cave in right as I was pushing off. Dr. Horton extended the time cuts due to the conditions. I was doing pretty well to the turnaround but started falling off pace on the 2nd half. The snow and extra effort needed to get through it really took a toll and created more fatigue than expected. Finished worn out in 5:37:00.
Holiday Lake #6 - 2011
This year would be the year of a sub 5 hour finish. Returning in 2011 I was at a totally different level of fitness than previous years and was focused on a best case scenario of 4:30 and worst case of 4:59.59. I was running high 30's and some 40 mile weeks. I had planned to do the Willis River 50k in early January but rolled my ankle during the race and decided to stop at the 35k finish line. This may have been a blessing in disguise and helped me come in to Holiday Lake less fatigued.
I came into the halfway point of Holiday Lake around 2:09 and slowly faded off that 8 minute pace to finish in 4:33:16. Having a 30+ minute PR is a special thing.
Holiday Lake #7 - 2015
I took a couple years off from doing Holiday Lake for the Uwharrie 40 miler that occurs the week before. So I didn't return again until 2015. I thought I was in similar fitness as in 2011 and could match that time. I started out with running buddies, Johnny Robinson and Matt Prescott. We ran together until around mile 8 when I had to make a side of the road pit stop (gotta watch out for those headphone wires in an emergency #2 stop). Simple enough, I got back in to the swing of things and caught back up with Johnny and then Matt.
At the turnaround I had another unexpected stop in the bathroom (Pro Tip; skip the bathhouse, the bathrooms right at the finish line at Holiday Lake are heated). On the return trip things went really smooth and I think I held my pace to finish in 4:35.46. Without those pesky bathroom breaks I could have been under 4:30. Maybe Next time.
Holiday Lake #8 - 2017
I skipped Holiday Lake in 2016 following the Beast Series. I wanted to take an ultra break to recover and run some different races. I ended 2016 training for both the Richmond Marathon and BQ and Hellgate. Both races went well and I ended the year with some pretty good fitness.
This was the first race James and I ran together. We hit the turnaround at 2:12 and stayed together until mile 21. At that point I felt like I needed to push it a bit to hit the sub 4:30. I hit the last water stop with 4 miles to go around 5 minutes slower than I wanted. I went in to a mini panic and gave it all I had to hit my target time. Somehow the wheels stayed on and I was able to finish 20th in 4:26.14.
Holiday Lake #9 - 2018
This was another trip to Holiday Lake where I was looking for an 8min/mile pace which would be a 4:18 for the 32.2 mile race. Well this year was a little different as one of the bridges over the lake had been taken out due to age or a storm. This caused a reroute of the course where we had to go around an inlet and then return to the trail. It was projected that the course was about .75 longer in each direction for a total of 1.5 mile longer. I hit the turnaround with an 8 min pace but that slowly faded away with a few cramping issues on the return trip. All in all it ended well with a 12th place and first master award in 4:35.29. I think this was my best placing.
Holiday Lake #10 - 2019
This is the first time in a few years that I was showing up to HL not looking for a PR. I knew I wasn't in my best February shape. The course was expected to be really muddy this year. It had been wet leading up to the race and the forecast had rain in it.
I thought I was in around 4:49 shape and wasn't sure how the mud would play out. The first loop went according to plan and as the weather and course got worse my pace fell off again. I felt good about constant running progress, I just didn't have the normal turnover I've come to expect on this course. I did end up with a 11 overall and 10th male. The first time, since the first Hellgate in 2003, that I was top 10 male in a Horton race.
Holiday Lake 50k isn't the most scenic race but it is early in the year, it's a runable course, it is a well run race, and if you are in 50k shape in February then the foundation is set for a lot of different race options in the spring and early summer.
Dr. Horton does a great job directing races and it is a great place to catch up with runners I've known over this 16+ year process.
