Inaugural Mountain Man Ultra Race Report

Call of the Wilds 50k was a race that meant a lot to John Shaffer. When it got pulled this year under some shitty circumstances, he decided to rebrand it as Mountain Man Ultra and keep the race alive. Shaffer is a great person. He'd do anything for anybody.  Give you the shirt off of his back with a wild smile on his face the whole time. I knew I wanted to be part of this inaugural event. Problem is, I've only been running 15 or so miles a week through the summer. Big guys don't do heat. Fully intended to do some trail work, work an aid station, maybe sweep a section and check off the participation box in that manner....then I decided that sounded pretty soft.

Signed up for the race less than 2 weeks out. Training block started. Ripped a Houselander loop, did a few days of weed eating and saw work on the course, few upper body sessions at the gym. Good enough, gonna have to be.

Race day wake up at 4:30 am. Bathroom, oats, lube. Good to go. Shaffer starts the race at 6:03 am (late, which is on par). Lose Lauren just before the Pesto climb. Thought that's the last I'd see her. Share some miles with Lizzy and Elizabeth between LPSP and Dam Run Road. They're oversharing. Dam Run to Ramsey goes surprisingly well. Actually catch back up to Lauren in Ramsey Hollow, but she pulls away again. Power hike the climbs, slog the flats, send the technical downhills, rinse and repeat. Come in to Ramsey aid station feeling alright. Station 45 guys are working it. Joey gives me some gels from his private stock, clutch. Jim offers me broth in the most well mannered way. Promptly tell him I need to get the fuck out of the aid station. Start the climb up Stonecutter, make it a third of the way, entire ass legs cramp. I contort into a strange pose trailside as the Lizzy and Elizabeth pass me. Sort that out, pop some Advil, make it to the top. Shaffer family aid station awaits and Elaina reminds me that Lauren is kicking my ass. Fair. Take off down the Tia towards Waterville via Bull Run Hollow. It's rinsed TF out from a bad storm a few weeks back. Overtake a few fellas that are struggling more than I. Quick stop at Waterville AS and take off up Huntley Mountain. The new climb. As if this course needed another climb. Make it to the top and accidentally run a hundred yards or so on the Tower Trail loop because I'm trying to Snapchat, but that's just truck driving. Descend Gleason Hollow and decide the added descent is actually worse than the added climb.  Quads are wrecked. Make it to Wagon Trail and have an "easy" mile or two into Jersey Mills. Jersey Mills aid station has homemade pumpkin roll. Hell. Yeah. Pass another few fellas that are camping at the aid station. Take off up Torbert. It's slow going. Can't fathom the loggers that decided this would be a good road. See some hikers on top looking at an tree, white birch to be specific. They look happy to be on the trail. At that point, I am not. Make the descent back down Pesto. It's a muddy mess, my knee hurts, and some guy in an orange shirt is on my heels. Orange shirt guy passes me climbing Low Run towards Panther. Send it down Panther Run and into the park. Ethan has Piper in the park, so she runs with me in to the finish. Done. 31.5 miles and 8000+ feet of vert. You don't need to train for these things if you're stubborn enough. Manage 17th overall. Bottom of the top half of the pack.