One would assume that after my recent experience at the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon I would be taking it easy for awhile. That was my plan until one of my running buddies offered me his entry in the HAT 50 K ultramarathon. How could I resist. This race was run in scenic Susquehanna State Park this past Saturday, March 24, 2007. Once again it rained the day before the race and the course was muddy---nothing like the SCGTM---but there were more and bigger hills which ensured a equally memorable race. 
The drive northeast to the park at 6:30 in the morning was marked by a nice steady rain that abated minutes before racetime. 400 runners began the race which started in a nice grassy field and contiued there for the first mile before entering the woods--approximately 323 runners finished. The high drop-out rate is due to the course being two loops of 16 and 15 miles and some runners choosing or conceding defeat after the first 16 miles.Anyway, the picture above was my view (from the back of the group) of the long stream of runners entering the wooded section after having run the first mile. The first 10 miles or so was a lot of stop-and-go runnin
g as many traffic jams formed around muddy/slippery downhills, steep uphill climbs and a couple of wonderful creek crossing. On the right is a picture of a woman runner pictured going through the second creek crossing (which we had to do twice). The water here was pretty deep depending on which path one chose to cross the creek. I followed the same line as her and was surpri
zed when water was swirling around mid-thigh with waist-level splashes. I started the race along with a couple of running friends but after the first mile we got separated as I sped ahead. However, they eventually caught and then past me in the last few miles of the race teaching me a good lesson in 
humility. Anyway, the course was very scenic and I really enjoyed running through the forests although, as I mentioned earlier the course was very hilly, so much of the time in the woods was spent either going up or going down. You would round a bend along the trail to be greeted by the sight of runners toiling up steep switchback trails (see picture above) that, especially on the second loop, took the wind out of my sails. At times like these, Jane and I often refer to the scene in the opening of GI Jane (a movie about a fictional first woman navy seal, played by Demi Moore) when the Master Chief recites a poem by D.H. Lawrence, entitled "Self-Pity" to the navy seal wannabes.
humility. Anyway, the course was very scenic and I really enjoyed running through the forests although, as I mentioned earlier the course was very hilly, so much of the time in the woods was spent either going up or going down. You would round a bend along the trail to be greeted by the sight of runners toiling up steep switchback trails (see picture above) that, especially on the second loop, took the wind out of my sails. At times like these, Jane and I often refer to the scene in the opening of GI Jane (a movie about a fictional first woman navy seal, played by Demi Moore) when the Master Chief recites a poem by D.H. Lawrence, entitled "Self-Pity" to the navy seal wannabes. I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself,
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough,
without ever having felt sorry for itself.
Well, I know pretty well by now that I am not a wild thing because I'm capable of extraordinary levels of self-pity. I was feeling mighty low as I battled nausea from miles 18 to 27. I know....excuses, excuses!!! Around mile 27 or so the course takes runners really close to the finish line (even though you have the toughest miles to go including a gargantuan hill) and you can hear in the distance the race announcer welcoming the finishers and cheering spectators. It's a little surprize the race organizers thought-up to test the mettle of runners who dare to enter their race. It was here that my friends caught up with me and soldiered on with a steely look of determination in their eyes and more energy than I thought I could summon to follow them.
Luckily, I hooked up with another runner, Sal, and we hoofed the remaining miles to the finish line together mainly talking about how tough this race was. Sal had a large contigent of family and friends there to cheer us on to the finish line. I knew they weren't cheering for me, but oddly the effect was the same as if they were and it help me push-on to the finish. I was so fatigued at the end that, even though I looked at the race clock and heard the race announcer call my time, I couldn't register that information and had to wait a couple of days for the race results to be posted to learn my overall time. Looking back I enjoyed the race and even though I may have wallowed in
self-pity, this bird didn't drop dead.Here I am leaving the aid station after completing the first 16 miles in 3 hours, 15 minutes (or a little over 12 minutes/mile). I won't mention the mile/minute pace during the second loop.
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