The TARC Fall Classic 50K marked my first ultra-marathon since the Weymouth Woods 100K and only my second ultra-marathon ever. I ran the Weymouth Woods 100K back in January of 2016 when I was only 18 so to say running another ultra was overdue would be an understatement. The race was located in Carlisle, MA which is only a 25-minute drive from my apartment at Bentley University, so not much travel was required. However, the race did have a more aggressive start time than I was used to at 6 AM.
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| Pre-Race! |
On race morning, my alarm went off bright and early at 4 AM. I put on my running clothes, ate a light breakfast, and then double checked that I had everything I needed. I had packed numerous water bottles, salty snacks like peanut butter pretzels and potato chips, and a few pairs of socks and a change of outfit since there was supposed to be rain throughout the race. At 4:45 AM, I was met by my girlfriend, Charlotte, and our friend Victoria, both of whom had graciously volunteered to crew me for my race, not that I had really given them much of a choice. We arrived at Great Brooke Farm State Park at around 5:15 AM. Sunrise was not until 6:45 AM, so I would be running for the first part of the race in the dark. For this race, the course featured a 10+ Mile loop that I would have to complete 3 times. The TARC Fall Classic also had a 50 Mile Race that started at 6 AM which was 5 laps around the 10 Mile course, and then a Half Marathon and 10K that started later at 8 AM. I prepped my sleepy crew on what I would need each time I came to the aid station, mainly a change of running gear, salty snacks, and a refill on my water and Tailwind. At 5:50 AM, there was a very brief pre-race meeting, and before I knew it I was on the start line.
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| Start Line |
Since the race was held by the Trail Animals Running Club (TARC), each race began with a ceremonial “howl” as the starting signal. After the start, I focused on going out conservatively and trying to stick with someone because I only had my cell phone for a flashlight, and I did not know the course at all. The 50K started with a mile loop around an open field before connecting with the main 10 Mile trail. I was passed by a few people during the first 30 minutes or so while I found my rhythm. Starting out conservatively was especially important to me, as my longest run of th past month and a half had been 9 Miles and I had only been averaging about 25-30 Miles a week. I did not want the last 10 Miles of this race to be a slow death crawl. As it grew lighter, I started to get a better bearing for the course. Some of the race consisted of more open, wider trails, but the great majority was rooty, rocky, and windy single-track trails. I can’t even remember how many times I stepped on a root the wrong way, or almost stumbled going down a rocky section of trail. I had been running alone for a good deal of time now, which was concerning to me as this was my first time ever on this course. I debated speeding up to catch someone ahead and run with them, but I decided again it. About an hour into the race, I blatantly missed a turn. I was supposed to turn right but missed the sign and ran straight for about three minutes or so before realizing I was going the wrong way. I backtracked and ran into a group of people and stuck with them while I attempted to regain my composure and not allow this to throw off my race.
Not 10 minutes later, our group went off course again. This time, however, there was clearly no trail marking anywhere. After about two minutes we backtracked and passed about 8-10 people, all who were none too happy to see us as they realized they were going the wrong way as well. After stopping at an intersection, our group of about 10-12 realized that we were meant to go up a very steep narrow trail. The course was covered with pink markers and had arrows at major intersections, but at this turn, they appeared to be hidden, or not there at all. All told I lost about 10 minutes or so. I stuck with a smaller group for the rest of this loop, which continued for about 2 more miles. The last 2 miles of the course was the most challenging of the loop as it featured more winding trails and abrupt steep climbs. Finally, I was done with the first loop, which ended with the same circle around the field that we ran at the beginning of the race. I finished the first lap slower than I anticipated in about 1:40 to 1:41.
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| Motivational Sign #1 |
I did not spend long at my crew’s station. I changed from my long sleeve shirt and Boston Marathon jacket into a more breathable singlet, replaced my Tailwind and water mixture, and stuffed my face with handfuls of potato chips. Charlotte and Victoria told me that I looked pretty good and that despite the missed turns I was in 12th place and seemed like I was in good spirits. I set off on my second lap with the same guy that I had been running with to end the lap and we chatted for a few minutes. I must have felt like I needed to make up time, however, as I quickly lost him. I caught up and passed another runner about ten minutes later. I was moving pretty well and feeling pretty well too. About two and a half hours in it started to pour down rain, and around this time was where I started to feel not as fresh. The positive here was that this lap I did not make the same mistakes as the first lap and I stayed on course. About 7 or 8 Miles into the second lap I started running into people doing the Half Marathon and the 10K who were running a modified shorter loop of about 6 miles. The issue here was that it was incredibly difficult to pass some slower people or groups of people especially the last 3 Miles of the course. Combining the downpour, having to expend energy passing people, and being already 20 Miles into the race, I was feeling pretty spent by the time I was nearly the end of the second lap. I had moved into 10th place but was passed hard by another runner with a little bit left to go. Finally, I reached the open field and finished up my second lap in around 1:27 or so and total time so far of 3 hours and 8 minutes. This time around I spent longer at my aid station. I grabbed a hat, drank an extra water bottle, and refilled my tailwind and grabbed a snack. Charlotte and Victoria told me that I looked good, albeit very wet. After 5 minutes or so I started off on my final lap.
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| Motivational Sign #2 |
The final lap was practically a blur for me. I was completely alone and fighting to keep my legs moving. Stopping to refuel gave me a boost of energy for about 30 minutes or so, but by the time I hit 4 hours of running I felt spent. Every root I stepped on sent shooting main from the bottom of my foot up to my hips. I was in a low place, but thankfully still moving. Every person I passed told me that I looked good and to keep it up, which was encouraging. I passed the mid-race aid station for the final time and began the last 3 hilly miles. I was out of water and fighting hard to get to the finish. I was fairly confident that as long as I kept moving I would be a bit under 5 Hours. I was also conscious that I had slowed down to mid to high 9 Minute pace and was at a risk of being passed. Finally, I emerged out of the woods and knew I only had a few minutes to go. I entered the open field for the last time and actually kicked it in a bit as I went around the final bend. I crossed the finish line in a time of 4:51:38, 11th place out of about 80 runners, with a finishing pace of 9:23 per mile. My last lap had taken me about an hour and 38 minutes to complete.
We did not stick around afterward very long due to the weather, and the fact that my crew was pretty tired after waking up at 4 AM. Overall, this was a tough race, much harder than I anticipated it being. I was happy with my result, but believe I have much more potential with some solid training and some actual long runs. Currently, I am planning on running the Cambridge Half Marathon in November, the Turkey Trot 8K on Thanksgiving, and the TARC Winter Classic 40 Miler in December! Time for a few days of recovery before I resume training!
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| Finish! |
