Bull Run Run 50-miler

Official Time: 12:31:31 (a 50-miler PR)

I did it. I’m not sure how, but I crossed the finish line yesterday of the Bull Run Run 50-miler. It had been an intimidating race from the moment I shared with others who had run it in the past. I heard all sorts of stories - the infamous Do Loop, the rolling hills, the unpredictable weather, the tough cutoff, the rocky sections that might trip you up later on. I also heard about how it was one of the most beautiful races with the BEST volunteers. I chose to keep the latter in my mind! 

Although the “BRR” makes me think of cold weather, and years past it has snowed and stormed and apparently gone through all 4 seasons in a day one year, yesterday’s weather was not what anybody was prepared for. It was hot and humid with cloud coverage most of the day … until the sun came out at 3:30pm and scorched your left side as you ran along the waterline of Occoquan River. 

It being early April, I was not acclimated to 90% humidity. For a few miles early on, it drizzled and then left the air muggy until about noon. 

It was all nerves at the start. The cloud coverage made it darker than planned and I was worried about leaving my headlamp behind. But alas, RD Lauren gave a speech that reassured everyone it would be light soon and the course was marked “perfectly.” God, I hoped so. 

The last song I remember playing before the start was Katy Perry’s “Roar” … and I’m so glad in retrospect that it didn’t get stuck in my head!

6:30am Go Time!

A loop around Hemlock spread out the field … kind of. Everyone seemed to be playing it safe and going mellow so there was a little bottleneck the first mile or so. After that, folks spread out quickly. 

Once we got down to the river, I wanted to look up and around but knew I had to keep it moving when I could on the flat sections to allow for more time on the hills. The bluebells were everywhere - along both sides of the river and were just stunning on a dark, grey morning! A beautiful heron heard the runners and took off from its perch flying overhead. I heard someone mention cucumber smell and then had the thought of how perfect of a location this would be for copperheads. 

Keep plugging away…

Once we reached the Bluebell Loop, you knew it. They surrounded the trail and the tourists who took over the paths with cameras, dogs and walking sticks. I had no idea they drew such attention but I get it! It was here among the bluebells that I met Brian who grew up in Columbia. We chatted a while about how he and his family are considering moving back. We talked about a crazy story that caused the redistricting of students from Centennial High School. He also shared with me his 5 attempts of Old Dominion and his 2 finishes. Gave me some good advice on training on the fire roads in Catoctin, and a training run along the OD course at night to familiarize myself with it. 

At the first and third aid stations, I saw Kevin Sayers. It was nice to see a familiar face. Speaking of aid stations, those volunteers were the absolute best! I didn’t have a crew so it was so nice to have them there to ask what I needed. I moved quickly through all of the aid stations (well, most of them). I had my reusable cup ready for Gatorade and grabbed PBJs, watermelon, pickles, Pringles, pierogis, pretzels, and walked while I ate. 

The Hemlock aid station is deceptive. You’re back at the start but only at mile 17.6 so the day is still ahead of you. I was grateful for a real bathroom and then kept moving - officially on my way to the Do Loop. 

Shortly after leaving Hemlock, I noticed I had a slight headache. I had been eating a Gu every 90 minutes and 2 salt chews every hour. The humidity was still kicking my ass. I decided to stop tracking miles. I knew the aid station cutoff times so just needed to countdown the parties. 

Keep plugging away…

Without headphones and a very spread out field at this point, I was in my head a lot. I thought about the quote from the Trail Runner Nation podcast episode on discomfort. 

“Trust yourself and settle in.”

My legs and my back felt strong. It was my mind that started to play tricks on me. It didn’t help that at around mile 20 we started hearing gunshots from the range. It definitely pierced the peaceful zen a bit.

Leading up to Wolf Shoals aide station, I heard the Jackson 5 “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and thought “wtf?” It was the North Pole and volunteers dressed up as Santa! I was not getting NP vibes as much as I was getting depths of hell vibes. It did, however, remind me to ask for ICE. When they handed me a cup, I poured some in my sports bra and it felt less like hell. 

Grabbed some Gatorade in my cup, fruit, salted potatoes, cookies and got the hell outta there. 

Keep plugging away…

The ice melted pretty fast. My 2L pack was pretty empty and I was just not feeling it by the next aid station. I knew I had to push on. The anticipation of Do Loop was also lingering. If I felt this bad, how was I going to make it through that. And if I do and don’t make the aid station cutoff after, I’m going to be pissed. Negative, I know. 

At the Fountainhead aid station (27.9mi), I had 2 drop bags for the 2x I’d pass through. Rolling in, I thought this is it. I’ll call an Uber, grab both bags and get the hell out of dodge. 

I checked in with a volunteer and told him I’d like to catch an Uber. I was lightheaded and had a piercing headache probably from dehydration. He told me to go talk to one of the aid station crew. 

She looked me dead in the eyes and asked, “what’s wrong?” I told her my symptoms. She said, “you’re killing it. You look fresh. Let’s get you some fuel to get you feeling better.” 

She asked another volunteer to take my pack and fill it with water. She poured me some Coke in my cup, I drank it and then poured me some pickle juice. Immediately my headache was gone. 

She looked me in the eyes again and said, “you have plenty of time to make it back here by cutoff. Leave here and walk a bit. Get the hell outta here.”

I put my hydration pack on, grabbed some Gu from my drop bag, and headed out towards the Do Loop. 

At first, I couldn’t believe a stranger could care so much. I was immediately humbled and my faith restored in humanity. Of course, Nick was texting me similar encouragement and I’m so grateful for him. There was something about having to keep going to see her again, my aid station angel. 

The Do Loop, it turned out wasn’t  so bad. So many people had talked about how grueling it was - it’s up & down, it’s 7 miles of rollers - all false. It wound up being 3 miles of a few gnarly downhills and uphills. Those downhills though, I’m pretty sure, are what finally did my right knee in. I’d push through some hyperextension pain the rest of the day. 

Along the Do Loop, there were tons of rowers out on the river. It was pretty neat seeing what the rest of the world is doing as we all just kept running … all. day. long. 

Halfway through, a decorated abandoned vehicle “RUN WILD!” theme with animal balloons and music. A nice boost and photo op. 

After the Do Loop and 2 popsicles (!!), it was time to hustle back to Fountainhead. I knew I had to run whenever I could. 

Keep plugging away…

When I made it there with 45 minutes to spare, I had one job - to find my aid angel and thank her. I’m pretty sure I called her my “savior” (sorry, not sorry) and almost started crying. She sternly said, “I knew you had it in you. But get outta here!”

I did just that. Grabbed some travel treats and hit the trail. 

There were 2 more aid stations to go - North Pole and Bull Run Marina. Many of the runners at this point were in the same shoes. Not literally, but we had to keep it moving for an official finish. 

The sun was blazing along the river. It was pretty miserable. I can’t even try to sweeten up these last few miles. The scenery was meh, my water was hot, and my knee was pissed. 

My legs, however, knew this was almost over. They wanted to run so I let them whenever I could. I passed a few runners whom we leapfrogged throughout the day and told them, “keep plugging away.”

Philip talked to me for a bit. He worked for the government for 25 years and was recently let go. He is a runner but hasn’t done many trail runs. This was his first 50-miler. He did it to prove that he could still do hard things. 

As I ran along the Occuquan River the last few miles, I thought about a lot. Mainly I thought, where is this last f’in climb back up to finish. For a moment I thought I missed a turn, got really emotional when I looked at my watch and it said 6:49pm at 49.4 miles. Then a runner joined me and said, “this is the way.” 

We had one final brutal climb and then a short run through a field and then a turn and jump over a fenced off road, and then a short road climb to the finish line. 

RD Lauren was there to fist bump every finisher! WOOHOO!

Thank you to the RD, the volunteers, other runners for the positive energy! THANK YOU to my aid angel savior - I will find out your name and send you cookies!  

A few lessons:

- Be a humble pie trail runner. 

- Encourage other runners and maybe you’ll take your own advice. 

- Thank your lucky stars for aid station angels! 

Some stats:

214 Runners

149 Finishers (70%)

30 Female Finishers