"Promised Land- a place or situation in which someone expects to find great happiness."
At Promiseland 50k, great happiness was found indeed.
This race serves as a metaphor to find your happy place. A place to find the zone and the strong. #sufferbetter
The Race
Up a big steep fire road for 4 miles in the dark. Chilling with Aaron Saft and Matt Thompson.
Down and up and down and up a grassy trail. Chilling with Aaron, Matt, and Jonathan Ryder.
Then it got fun, and happiness was produced in excess. Downhill fire road fast. Friends at sunset fields.
Jonathan and I took off down the huge rocky downhill, and this was my favorite part of the race. We dropped everyone behind us and flowed down the hill like the rivers we were running next to (and through). The trees was green, the creeks were full of gurgling laughter, the rocks were slippery and sharp and nice. We talked about running and eating and how there was camping spots and how awesome it was. Eventually came the mega aid station, coined Hollywood by Jonathan. So many friends. Jordan Chang, Josh, Adrienne, Dillon, Jen, Trevor, Ginger. We got through the aid station fast with some salami and Tailwind. We took off down the road and started up singletrack, going up to Colon Hollow aid station. "That's where the race starts"-Horton. Right after that aid station, I started gunning it up and down and up and down the grassy trails, leaving Jonathan behind and getting a lead before the final death climb. This was an amazing point in the day. I felt mega strong and I returned to my friends at Cornelius Creek Aid Station, focused and in the lead. Ginger was at the turn, encouraging. Adrienne got me through the aid fast. Up the climb, notorious for swallowing dreams, digesting them and then vomiting them upon the sharp rocks that comprise the trail. That didn't happen, though. I ran, steadily clawing up the trail with my head down. Majestic Apple Orchard falls peered down at my, and I at it. The stairs threatened to bite my legs off. That didn't happen though. I ran all the way to the top, something I'd never done before, and arrived at the top to more friends and a big fat downhill left to go. This part hurts, steep and fast and ending right where we started, with a brown squirrel looking at you just as it had at the start, unimpressed and stupid. I jumped across the finish line to Horton, who yelled at me for being 13 seconds slower than last year. Happy and elated and victorious.
At Promiseland 50k, great happiness was found indeed.
This race serves as a metaphor to find your happy place. A place to find the zone and the strong. #sufferbetter
The Race
Up a big steep fire road for 4 miles in the dark. Chilling with Aaron Saft and Matt Thompson.
Down and up and down and up a grassy trail. Chilling with Aaron, Matt, and Jonathan Ryder.
Then it got fun, and happiness was produced in excess. Downhill fire road fast. Friends at sunset fields.
Jonathan and I took off down the huge rocky downhill, and this was my favorite part of the race. We dropped everyone behind us and flowed down the hill like the rivers we were running next to (and through). The trees was green, the creeks were full of gurgling laughter, the rocks were slippery and sharp and nice. We talked about running and eating and how there was camping spots and how awesome it was. Eventually came the mega aid station, coined Hollywood by Jonathan. So many friends. Jordan Chang, Josh, Adrienne, Dillon, Jen, Trevor, Ginger. We got through the aid station fast with some salami and Tailwind. We took off down the road and started up singletrack, going up to Colon Hollow aid station. "That's where the race starts"-Horton. Right after that aid station, I started gunning it up and down and up and down the grassy trails, leaving Jonathan behind and getting a lead before the final death climb. This was an amazing point in the day. I felt mega strong and I returned to my friends at Cornelius Creek Aid Station, focused and in the lead. Ginger was at the turn, encouraging. Adrienne got me through the aid fast. Up the climb, notorious for swallowing dreams, digesting them and then vomiting them upon the sharp rocks that comprise the trail. That didn't happen, though. I ran, steadily clawing up the trail with my head down. Majestic Apple Orchard falls peered down at my, and I at it. The stairs threatened to bite my legs off. That didn't happen though. I ran all the way to the top, something I'd never done before, and arrived at the top to more friends and a big fat downhill left to go. This part hurts, steep and fast and ending right where we started, with a brown squirrel looking at you just as it had at the start, unimpressed and stupid. I jumped across the finish line to Horton, who yelled at me for being 13 seconds slower than last year. Happy and elated and victorious.
What it Means
The first climb is the uncertainty. It carries excitement, nervousness for the future. It's dark, it's hard and anything could happen.
The rolling grassy trail is the struggle, finding out what works and what doesn't. The sun comes up and with it brings more excitement. Taking care of yourself is what matters here.
The big rocky downhill is a plunge into the dark side, where it's harder and more fun. Happiness starts emerging, as well as the realization of why you are there.
The rolling grass trails are there to put you on your own, throw you into the competition and the wonder. The body starts hurting. Embrace it.
The final climb is what matters. It puts your physical self to the side and requires your mental strength and the drive. It hurts so good and its an opportunity to realize the potential and the zone.
The last downhill is just survival.
Promiseland is a perfect metaphor for adventure. Any adventure carries with it uncertainty, struggle, risks, hard work, mental strength, success and reward. The world is full of Promised Lands waiting to be discovered. Get ' em!
The first climb is the uncertainty. It carries excitement, nervousness for the future. It's dark, it's hard and anything could happen.
The rolling grassy trail is the struggle, finding out what works and what doesn't. The sun comes up and with it brings more excitement. Taking care of yourself is what matters here.
The big rocky downhill is a plunge into the dark side, where it's harder and more fun. Happiness starts emerging, as well as the realization of why you are there.
The rolling grass trails are there to put you on your own, throw you into the competition and the wonder. The body starts hurting. Embrace it.
The final climb is what matters. It puts your physical self to the side and requires your mental strength and the drive. It hurts so good and its an opportunity to realize the potential and the zone.
The last downhill is just survival.
Promiseland is a perfect metaphor for adventure. Any adventure carries with it uncertainty, struggle, risks, hard work, mental strength, success and reward. The world is full of Promised Lands waiting to be discovered. Get ' em!
MY LAST RACE as a Hokie- what a fitting end. VTULTRA is the best thing ever, part of the Virginia running community and full of people who enjoy the outdoors and helping each other push to do things they never imagined doing. Jonathan and Leif got 3rd and 4th, Brett, Steve, Henry, Neel, Hannah, Kirby, Sam, Sabo, Mike (1st ultra ever and crushed it), Kristen, ahhh so much crushage. Thanks all for hanging out at Sunset Fields and Cornelius Creek, y'all rock.
Thank you Salomon for the shoes and Tailwind and Gu and Salami incorporated for the fuel. Booyah.
Off to the next Promised Land!
Thank you Salomon for the shoes and Tailwind and Gu and Salami incorporated for the fuel. Booyah.
Off to the next Promised Land!