Tuna Run 200 Race Report

The inaugural Tuna Run 200 was a good first effort with plenty of room for growth.  The 204 mile route started in Garner, NC, just outside of Raleigh, and ended on the boardwalk at Atlantic Beach. Fifty-four teams participated, and with word-of-mouth from participants and the right marketing, it will grow.  If you're looking for an overnight relay race that is all about the running and/or spending time with your teammates, and live close to the race, this one is for you.

My team was comprised of 11 adventurous, athletic women and one man (my husband).  The race director was very helpful while my husband and I searched for a team to join after being unable to convince enough of our local friends to form a team.  We found team "Can't Sea Strait" about a week before the race.

Our first runner began at 6AM on Friday, and our last runner finished thirty-three hours and forty-one minutes later on Saturday afternoon.   My husband and I were in Van 2 from which our first runner began around noon. The conditions at the early start were wet, but that gave way to two sunny days in the mid to upper 70's with low humidity.  The temperature hovered around 50 degrees at night.

I'll offer my impression as a veteran overnight relay runner of three Kentucky Bourbon Chases and then recount my specific experience.

The Best of the Race
*Teamwork
*Empowerment
*Running

The Good
*Mostly flat, well-marked course
*Easy and ample parking at exchange points
*Churches as exchange points with hospitable members providing encouragement and sometimes drinks and snacks in the night
*Nice restroom facilities at churches
*Hot breakfast at a church for $5
*Police patrolling night runs adding a sense of security in unfamiliar surroundings
*Cool race shirt and finisher medal
*Finish line on the beach.

Areas for Improvement
*Communities' support and connection to the race
*Number of volunteers or race staff support and presence at exchanges and finish
*Wrist slap bands for batons
*Homeowners along the course securing their dogs
*Finish line party could become epic.

My First Run: Leg 11; Bentonville Battlefield Historical Association to Selah Christian Church
My goal was to run a 9 minute pace; no pushing myself on this relay.  My heart started beating faster just before I got the baton for 6.61 miles around 4PM.  The two-lane road offered very little shade and no shoulder. I tried to stay on the white line as I ran surrounded by soybean and cotton fields.

I passed a Confederate flag flying at a Confederate tour site and a gas station that seemed lost in time with its early to mid 20th century facade.  Then a caravan of huge construction vehicles swooshed by me as I ran just off the road.  When peace and solitude returned, I noted several majestic hardwood trees from what must remain of a bygone era. Nearing the end, I ran past a sign that identified a stand of pine trees having been planted in 1973 after the area had burned.  When I ran past a cotton field, I bent down and grabbed a handful of cotton left behind at the harvest as a souvenir.  Besides noticing all this, the only other thought I had was that I was hot.  And, that's about all I could say after the run when I was encouraged by a man who turned out to be part of an ultra team.

Van 2 was active from noon to 6PM.  Then we stopped in Mt. Olive for dinner at My Pizza Village, which I would recommend when seeking to refuel on carbs.  After dinner I drove to our next exchange zone at Pink Hill Elementary School where we rested in my mini van.  Sleep would not come, so I listened to two calming Enya CD's on my iPod.  When van 1 arrived at the exchange, it was following our runner closely.  Our teammates warned us about dogs.

Our van become active again around midnight to 6AM.  The police presence reassured us after we got started, but like van 1, we decided that we would stay with our runner.  It was dark with very little moonlight in a rural area with lots of dogs defending their territories with a cacophony of barking.

My Second Run: Leg 23; Comfort Elementary School to Chinquapin Chapel Baptist Church
I began around 4AM after watching my teammates dodge encounters with dogs in the dark.  I had driven strategically so that the van shielded our runners from dogs. Needless to say I was anxious and fearful when I started and had told my teammates that I wanted this leg to end as quickly as possible, which is sad because the night runs can be amazing.  My average pace on this 8.21 mile leg was 8:24.

Picture this:  I started running with a water bottle so as not to break my stride, the baton around my thumb because it was too small, and a can of mace to fend off dogs.  Soon thereafter I passed my water back to the van because I couldn't hold all that stuff.  I had technical difficulties with the headlamp that didn't want to stay on, and I swung it around to my back in annoyance, which is where it stayed for eight miles after my teammates passed me a flashlight.  So now I'm holding a baton, mace, and a flashlight and have an extra headlight as a taillight.   But, I feel like I'm flying through the night.  I dreaded coming upon houses for fear of dogs protecting their homesteads.  None charged at me.

I had a flashback to my children's bus stop on Friday morning where my suburban neighbors looked at me like I was nuts for doing this race through rural, Eastern North Carolina.  This was not fun.  I thought about the recent dog attack article that I flipped past in Runner's World and news about the woman abducted and murdered on a run while some thugs were high on crack.  This is when I had the fleeting thought that I won't be back next year.

When I finally relaxed with just a little way to go, I told myself to try to enjoy some part of it.  The van finally moved ahead to the next exchange leaving me alone as the houses became more sparse.  It was then that I had a taste of what I love about night runs.  I saw a shooting star.  That was my moment.  I noticed a low lying fog rolling across the road just in front of me, and then saw another shooting star.  I also passed a few runners in the night.  I hate to admit it, but I enjoy that.

Our van went inactive from about 6AM until 11AM. My husband and I ended up on a team with a member who just happens to own a beach place in the area.  We drove there, arrived at sunrise and rested.  I was thankful to be able to stretch out my legs on a futon with a cozy comforter. Again, sleep did not come, but at least I was warm and relaxed.

My Third Run:  Leg 32; Crystal Coast Assembly of God to Western Regional Beach Parking Lot
My husband and I switched legs at the last minute.  I was meant to run this 4.94 mile leg, and I relished it.  It was a good challenge and probably one of the most scenic runs of the race.  My adrenaline surged in this heavily-populated, high traffic area that led us up and over the bridge to Emerald Isle.   When I began around 2PM, I faced a headwind running toward the Isle.  Then I encountered a large intersection at which I and another runner stopped for what seemed an eternity before we took a chance and darted through when we probably shouldn't have.  From a distance I could see a large, uphill bridge.  I charged up that hill; I had another runner in sight and eventually passed her.  That bridge was long, high, and up and downhill with a low railing.  I don't enjoy bridges or heights, so I tried to focus on my task while wanting to enjoy the view.  I looked over to see countless boats beside the bridge.  It was beautiful.

The Finish
We were incredibly proud of our finish.  On a journey like this, each is proud of individual accomplishments and the team accomplishment.  It is something to celebrate.  I wasn't the only one who had high expectations for the finish. Our captain half jokingly admitted that she picks races based on the after party.

I was disappointed with the finish line party.  We were one of the last teams to arrive, and the party had been going on for hours. My vision was one of enjoying a thick tuna steak on the beach.  Instead, I surveyed sushi sized single pieces of raw tuna on a few small plates.  That set the tone for me.  I saw a plate with two small slices and took that one.  Thank goodness they also served great, hearty barbecue sandwiches in the other corner of the tent.

We were handed medals still encased in plastic wrap, and there was no announcer or official photographer to capture the moment.  Volunteers or staff were helpful but not easily identifiable. More organization for distribution of food, beverages, medals and other items is needed.  Water wasn't available at the finish, and our last runner, our tireless and thirsty captain, had to drink a diet soda after crossing the finish line. I had one too, and neither of us drink diet soda.  This party could be an incredible draw for the race, and I have no doubt it will become that.  Standing on the beach with my teammates and husband made up for this problem of me having incredibly high standards and expectations.  We continued to enjoy each others' company through the evening and at dinner before we turned in early for much needed sleep.

We Have a Team!

My husband and I plan to participate in the first Tuna Run 200 this coming weekend.  This is a new, overnight relay race from Garner, NC to Atlantic Beach, NC.  We are happy to have found and joined the team "Can't Sea Strait."

Since we first learned of the race, we have wanted to run it and even tried to pull together a 12-person team using my husband's 25% off team registration discount for winning a Tuna Run contest, but the majority of our local runner friends are not eager to participate in these types of events.

There are many unknowns going into the race.  We meet with our teammates for the first time tomorrow, and there is no prior knowledge of the best places to eat and rest along the way.  What is certain is that we are running toward a party on the beach with plenty of delicious tuna.

I have recovered from the Bourbon Chase, which isn't yet three weeks past.  Missing a full night of sleep while running 19 miles, along with a drive to and from Kentucky with my kids in tow, took a lot out of me and a few days of recovery.

I am a fierce competitor with myself, and even though my last leg of the Chase was splendid, I was unhappy after the run because I was slow on that last leg, as reported by my husband when I reached the exchange point.  I finally looked at my Garmin report this week and saw that I was not slow.  I was right on pace.  By that point our team as a whole was running a little behind, so my husband interpreted that to mean that I was slow when he looked at our clipboard chart with times and legs.

Since the Cupcake 5K and the Chase, I haven't jumped back into training.  I have run a few miles here and there and tackled a 10 miler on Saturday to prepare for the Tuna Run.  I am approaching this race much differently than the Chase.  This one is for fun.  I reported my expected time to be at a 9 minute pace.  That means I haven't put any pressure on myself and should be able to enjoy the scenery along the way and tuna at the beach.

New Running Adventure

I wrote a post, but then thought it best to publish it this coming Sunday.   I'm about to go on another running adventure!

Breathe Deep Cary Cupcake 5K

Thirty minutes before race time on Sunday, I was sitting in my car in a downpour while lightening flashed.  When I arrived at the WakeMed Soccer Park for the Breathe Deep Cary Cupcake 5K, things looked pretty grim.  As serendipity would have it, the race was postponed 10 minutes, and the rain stopped in time for the opening program and announcements.

Participants gathered to hear from fundraising teams about friends and family members who have had lung cancer.  The teams were about to run or walk in honor of them.  The race website explains that the event began in 2007 in memory of the parents of event coordinator Liz McCabe.  Liz is a former neighbor of mine who has worked tirelessly over the years to raise money for the cause.  I was running with my husband's mother in mind.  She succumbed to lung cancer before my husband and I met.

After putting things into perspective, we walked to the starting line.  The temperature was in the 50's, and it was good racing weather.  Our path was a cross country course used by Wake County high school students.  I've watched a cross country meet there before but did not appreciate the course until I ran it.

The start is a downhill slope that leads onto a wide gravel trail through the woods.  The start is nice.  Then you have to run up that slope twice during the course of 3.1 miles.  During the first mile a women with her small dog on a leash was in front of me.  I tried for a while to pass, and the dog held me at bay.  When I finally passed the women coming up the slope for the first time, I told her that the dog is a fierce competitor.  She agreed.

During the bigger loop around the soccer field area, I thought about this being a challenging course for high school runners.  When I was in the second mile, I caught up to a high school cross country runner, and we talked for a while before he took off and up the final hill.  We were both happy to be running for a GiGi's cupcake waiting for us at the finish.

He told me he had planned to run this one with all his might, but his coach put him in a meet at the last minute the day before this race. He is a double winner in my book!  He also shared with me that high school runners are not overly enthusiastic about tackling the hill rising up and out of the woods -- twice. That made me feel a little better as I gasped for air on the last, long, uphill slope as I weaved around those who were walking the course.

At the finish, I was handed a receipt from PrecisionRace with my time, division rank, and gender rank.  Then I talked with a friend who chose this race to be her first 5K.  Her family made it an event despite the weather, and when she joined them after her run, her girls had already visited the face painting booth and were eating cupcakes.  I also saw my coach with her family.  She had planned to run the race, but is injured, so her boys ran the kids race.

After the race I noted the celebratory feel of the gathering with cupcakes and kids and close knit groups of team members.  I went into the race thinking I would just see what the day would bring and had a relaxed time goal in mind.  When I finished, I figured I placed after viewing the receipt, but placing didn't seem important on that day with loved ones living in the moment to honor those who had lost their battles with cancer, so I headed to the car and savored my cupcake.  I had been looking forward to it for months.

Kentucky Bourbon Chase 2012 Race Report

The Kentucky Bourbon Chase is described on its website as "... a  200-mile journey across the Bluegrass State -- through our historic bourbon distilleries, across our majestic horse country, and into our enchanting small towns."

It impresses from the opening party to the finish line celebration, from the scenic course to the hospitable distilleries, and from the super volunteers to the friendly townspeople.  The swag is nice, too.  It is all top notch.   To sum up my race, it was a series of unpredictable experiences that equaled a predictably overall great time.  This was my third Bourbon Chase, and it still held pleasant surprises.

Our 12-person "Well Aged" team finished the course in 29 hours 19 minutes and 24 seconds.  We placed 121 out of 287 teams and ranked 64th in the open mixed division, which consisted of men and women in a wide age range.  I was the ninth runner.  For my team, the race isn't about how we place, it's about enjoying the journey, our runs, and each other.

After the race I met my brother (a non-runner) at the finish line celebration.  When my husband explained to him what we had done during the race, my brother said that sounded like a really bad time.     Running 200 miles as a team with three relay legs each, totaling on average around 16.5 miles in just over 24 hours, with little or no sleep, and deficient personal hygiene doesn't appeal to him.

Why run the Chase?  For me it's an adventure and escape from my everyday, ordinary routine, worries, responsibilities and cares.  It's like being a kid again.  You can stay up all night, hang with friends, eat heartily, compete, and no one tells you to take a bath.

My Third Leg: Leg 33 
The biggest surprise this time was that my favorite leg was my third.  My plan was to run at my estimated pace of 8:30 per mile on that last 4.9 mile leg and take in the scenery on an enjoyable run.  This would be my first run during three Chases through the picturesque horse country approaching Midway, KY.  I worked at Midway College when I was younger but had never travelled the winding roads by those particular horse farms.  After running my previous two legs faster than my expected pace, with no sleep, I ran a little slower than my target on those small yet grueling hills.

When I began leg three, I was concerned about the blister on my foot. Then I forgot about the blister and felt discomfort in my knee.  I quickly forgot about my knee as I noticed that all of both legs ached.  That's what made it the best run. I saw the rolling hills of Bluegrass around me, and because I was miserable, yet able to move forward in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, I felt joy.

It was at this time that I saw what must have been eight horses standing at a black fence bordering the narrow road.  Two of the horses watched our race intently.  The irony was not lost on me.  I made my way closer to downtown, and when I approached the last turn, I saw a yard sign in support of State Representative Carl Rollins next to an Obama sign.  Rollins was my boss many years ago.  I smiled and headed through town toward my last hand off.

My Second Leg: Leg 21
This is the leg I looked most forward to running.  It was a 6 mile route from Harrodsburg to McAfee. My favorite legs in the past were in the middle of the night in cool temperatures when I took in the sounds and smells of rural fields as I moved swiftly under the moonlight.   This is the leg where I feel the race is on.  The faster teams pass my team (me) in the night, and I pass other slower runners.   We are all running alone unless in the process of passing or being passed.  In the darkness, especially on straight stretches of highway, I see a mesmerizing line of surreal blinking red lights and feel a peaceful solidarity with the other Chasers.

My First Leg: Leg 9 
I felt and ran well on this long leg of 8.4 miles. My legs were fresh and my adrenaline surged.  I planned to run the first part faster than my average pace because I would encounter more of an incline toward the end of the leg and would be slower then.  I left the town of Lebanon before dusk wearing a reflective vest, headlamp and blinking red light.  I took off like a shot and told myself to slow down.  My headlamp fell down around my neck, and I swung it to my back until I really needed it.

Darkness descended on this run, and I ran through a light rain.  While my teammates waited for me, they experienced a downpour at the exchange point.  My husband greeted me with a worried look and a towel.  During this leg, I was concerned about time and was well ahead of pace at the end.  The surprise this leg held was that the hills were not as challenging as I had anticipated.  I really wished I understood the elevation charts.

My hunch is that all overnight relays are special, but I cannot say enough about how fantastic this one is.  The highlight of the race is visiting several distilleries along the way where runners are made to feel welcome.  We could see the bourbon being made and stored and even got some samples.  The size of the race seems just right at around 300 teams.  It's large enough to generate excitement and rivalry among participants and small enough to feel intimate. I saw the race director several times including twice in the night when he was busy walking and talking on a cell phone or walkie talkie.  Kudos to you Mike Kuntz!

I first learned of this race at the Richmond Marathon Expo in 2009.  My husband was intrigued and interested while I declared I would never run an overnight relay.  Now I hope our team will be able to register for 2013.  Because the race is small and the demand is high, the race director is considering implementing a registration lottery.  If we are lucky next year, you will find us out on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.