Old Dominion 100-Mile Endurance Run

Woodstock, VA, June 5, 1999

Story/Complete Results

The Old Dominion 100 mile Endurance Run starts in Woodstock, Virginia, and runs around the hills and valleys of the George Washington State Forest in the western part of the state, between the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River. The race has approximately 14,000 feet of elevation gain and the same of descent. The race goes up and down several times between 800 feet and 2000 feet. The high point is 2500 feet. There are about 50 miles of dirt roads, 15 of paved roads and 35 of trails.

After dropping out at 56 miles in 1997, I was determined to return and buckle, and hopefully, win. That year I led for 54 miles before being KO'd by a bad pair of shoes, which ruined my right knee.

The day before the race I found out that the two-time-defending champion, Dan Barger, couldn't run the race. I really wanted to beat him fair and square, but would happily settle for a cheap win. The only other people who I feared were Joe Hildebrand, a guy who always seems to run a steady race, and Ian Torrence, a good trail runner. Joe had recently won a few hundred milers in some decent times when the name brand guys weren't around. Since I finished ahead of him at Mohican last year, I was sure I could win if I ran well.

On my third foot strike of the race, I some how jammed my foot and received a jolt of pain through to my arch. Hmm, maybe my shoe selection was poor. I ran up the first 1000 ft climb in the dark at an easy pace with Mike Campbell, no relation to Courtney Campbell or Mike Morton. Joe caught us at 10 miles, but I dropped both of them in the trail section shortly thereafter. I then had 20 miles of easy road to make time.

I hit the 32 mile station (Four Points #1) in the lead feeling fine. I changed shoes and off I went. The Duncan Hollow trail seemed steeper and rockier than last time, but all my aches and pains were still minor, although my left leg and hip did feel jammed. By this time it was clear that Roger Allison, who was crewing Ed Boggess, who finished 4th, had taken over crewing for me, too. I might make this my permanent crew plan, although I doubt that I would get this kind of help from any locals at Western States.

I hit the 50 mile mark in 7:14. If that was an accurate split, which I doubt, then I was sure to break 16 hours. I never knew how much of a lead I had, but thought it poor taste to ask Pat Botts, who was driving around making sure the leaders didn't go astray. She took my picture a few times, but all I could think of was that since Barger made the Ultra Running cover last summer, they wouldn't put mine on anyway.

My left thigh and hip were hurting as I had overcompensated my left heel lift. Since I mistakenly figured I had huge lead, I took a massage at Edinburgh Gap (56.57). I spent too much time there, and still felt bad as I left the aid station.

Then my race unraveled. What I thought was going to be a jeep trail, turned out to be a rocky, hilly ATV trail. When that damn Mike Robertson talked about the rough parts, he didn't even mention this section. Now I know why the Californians hate this course. The road sections are too easy and the trail ones are too hard. Throw in the humidity and the fact that it isn't mostly downhill and it's no wonder why they all decide to stay home. I had asked someone about this stretch the day before and received the reply, "Well, I wouldn't drive my car on the road." Heck, I wouldn't drive my tank on some sections. I whacked my back out within a mile. Since I was sure I had a comfortable lead, I decided I had to try to loosen up my back. Well, as I was rolling around in the dirt, Joe showed up. He was less than 10 minutes behind me at 50 miles. If had been running well for 56 miles and only had a 10 minute lead, what was going to happen now that my back was out and the trail just turned ugly. I got up and followed, not feeling any better. Joe just seemed to float over the rocks. I started to think about the OD T-shirt slogan, "It's hard to be humble when you've finished the Old Dominion." All I could think about was the slogan, "It's hard not to be humble when Joe Hildebrand just kicked your butt"

Joe dropped me after the next aid station and, due to a shoe change and some more stretching, had a several minute lead at Mud Hole Gap (69.48). I was intent on getting my back problems fixed up, as I knew the pains would just continue to get worse. Around 71 miles, I fiddled with my orthotics and unpinched my back. I picked up the pace, but missed the abrupt turn at 73 miles and ended up at the main road, across the street from the Elizabeth Furnace parking lot. It was less than a 1/4 mile back track, so I didn't loose much time. It turns out that Joe missed it too. I then got on a well-marked trail, but the ribbons suddenly stopped appearing. I kept going for over 1/2 a mile, but finally gave up and backtracked to cut my losses. I could see first place slipping way for good now, but wanted to ensure I at least kept second. About the time I got back to ribbons, Andy Peterson (3rd) showed up. He knew the way, so we ran into the aid station together.

The irritating part about all this was that the VERY sketchy race instructions, which I had copied, but didn't carry with me, really would have helped me out. I even had a snazzy topo map, which I left behind and didn't study enough the day before the race. I was more concerned with drop bags and shoes. Live and learn I guess.

A shoe change on my part put me a minute Andy behind leaving the aid station. I picked up Scott Mills, of Bull Run fame, as my "Trail Safety Companion" for the next 13 miles of really rough stuff. Within a mile we crossed a 3 ft long black snake on the trail. I grabbed it by the neck, held it up to Scott, and asked him what kind of snake it was. Of course I knew it was a non-poisonous, king snake. I caught Andy at the top of the 1400 foot rocky climb up to Sherman's Gap. However, Andy wouldn't be beaten, even though he had run the much tougher Massanutten 100 miler four weeks before. That race was run completely on rough trails. I would gain a few minutes on the uphill sections, but get caught on the downhill ones. I was really tired and my toes were taking a beating, but Scott encouraged me to keep eating, drinking and moving.

We then had to go up and over the mountain again (600 ft this time), hitting the Veach Gap aid station (87 mi.) ahead. Joe was 20-30 minutes ahead and there was no catching him. My only concern now was Andy. I changed into some road shoes and built up a few minute lead. I felt like Linda Hamilton being chased by Arnold. Andy closed the gap to within a minute in the climb back to Woodstock Gap. Finally, on the 1200 ft of downhill switchbacks my legs loosened up and was able to fly and finally rid myself of Andy. Once into town, I shut down and cruised the final 3 miles into the finish in 2nd place, finishing in 17:15:12, over an hour slower than I had hoped. Andy was 6 minutes behind me. Joe won by 33 minutes. Ouch.

There were 96 starters, 61 finishers and 33 24-hour bucklers. This race is one of a few that gives a sterling silver buckle for breaking 24 hours. See results below courtesy of Stan Jensens Home Page.

After the race, although my quads were tired, I had less knots and stiffness than I had in the third quarter of the race. Obviously I had overcompensated my orthotics and heel lift.

Other notes: The whole race was through rural roads or National Forest trails. I saw a deer, a garter snake, a king snake and three wild turkeys.

Food and drink: Metabolol with glycerol, and a left-over baked potato for breakfast. Yum Yum. Carbo-force and protein bars for the first 50 miles. Some ice tea and Coke during the heat of the day. Some Snickers bars when I was out of my bars or GU. Started with GU about 50 miles and took lots the last 30 miles. Also had some PBJ and a few bites of Goldfish throughout the day.

I took a Peptid AC at about 30 and again at about 65. It really helped my acid reflux problem. I didn't throw up once, although I had a couple of clos e calls in which I managed to reswalled what came up. Maybe I should have eaten more GU or popped it more often to keep my energy level up, but as I didn't have any stomach problems, or noticeably bonk anytime, I don't think I could have asked for better luck in this category. Joe took mostly Gels and Carbo drink, with only a bit solid food.

- - Jim Garcia

1. Joe Hildebrand, 42, IL 16:42:05 2. Jim Garcia, 40, MA 17:15:12 3. Andy Peterson, 42, VA 17:21:49 4. Ted Bidwell, 49, TX 18:15:58 5. Derrick Carr, 38, VA 18:31:31 6. Edward Boggess, 41, CO 19:19:46 7. Regis Shivers, Jr., 28, OH 19:23:50 8. Vassili Triantos, 44, MD 19:23:51 9. Michael Campbell, 49, VA 19:37:07 10. Michael Kent, 35, MA 19:43:12 11. Jim Musselman, 38, GA 20:17:37 12. Anong Pustow(F), 36, KY 21:20:57 13. Stan Jensen, 48, CA 21:23:59 14. William Ramsey, 45, CA 22:14:06 15. Steve Schiller, 42, CT 22:20:30 16. Matthew Moore, 42, CA 22:22:44 17. Mike Robertson, 48, VA 22:33:13 18. Harvey Hall, 33, NC 22:35:41 19. Troy Stabenow, 27 22:36:09 20. Janine Duplessis(F), __, WA 22:46:53 21. Barbara Frye(F), __, FL 22:48:53 22. John Wagner, 50, WI 22:58:22 23. Ed Foley, 50, VA 23:09:59 24. Miles Krier, 47, FL 23:14:15 25. Jeffrey Holdaway, 40, VA 23:14:20 26. Joseph Waldron, 40, VA 23:15:21 27. Ben Clark, 41, MD 23:15:22 28. Kevin Mazzu, 42, CA 23:21:37 29. Rick Schneider, 43, MD 23:22:41 30. Karl Jensen, 49, CAN 23:23:41 31. Kevin Sharp, 34, OH 23:28:43 32. Tom Green, 48, MD 23:29:55 33. Nelson Stritehoff, 48, MD 23:29:56 34. Lisa Conover(F), 40, WI 23:32:14 35. David King, 53, NC 24:13:27 36. Scott Sullivan, 39, CA 24:48:22 37. John Weitzel, 48, PA 25:02:42 38. Chris Trimmer, 26, VA 25:14:41 39. Brian Clark, 45, NC 25:14:42 40. Sandy Powell(F), 41, VA 25:14:43 41. Ramon Diaz, 30, NC 25:24:31 42. Robert Calabria, 58, NC 25:33:06 43. David Jackson, 40, KY 25:41:56 44. Richard Hogan, 54, SPN 25:49:58 45. Mike Franusich, 46, PA 26:13:23 46. Maria Calvert(F), 39, CA 26:29:31 47. Dale Rhoderick, 38, MD 26:50:58 48. Peter Suomela, 50, CAN 26:51:45 49. Leslie Hunt(F), 42, NC 26:52:10 50. Kerry Trammell, 43, TN 26:52:11 51. Paul Raymond, 44, CAN 27:00:47 52. Steve Burrows, 47, CAN 27:00:50 53. Jean Lichtenberger(F), 41, VA 27:11:23 54. Katsuyuki Hatta, 35, JPN 27:14:55 55. John DeWalt, 62, PA 27:17:06 56. Robert Tuller, 35, NY 27:21:59 57. David Hargitt, 28 27:27:46 58. Leon Draxler, 57, WA 27:38:10 59. Tom Sprouse, 57, VA 27:39:15 60. Vic Culp, 42, VA 27:46:53 61. Hiromi Hatta(F), 38, JPN 27:51:48

96 starters; 61 finishers; 64%