SWeeeep! Black Mountain Marathon

Observation Deck at the Summit

 Long before finding myself living in North Carolina I read an article in Running Times about the Mount Mitchell (40 mile) Challenge that had been written 3 years before I started running. I remember thinking "What a bunch of crazies!" Years later as I considered my first ultra I stumbled onto Bryon Powell's (irunfar.com) Mount Mitchell Challenge race report and thought "how cool is that." Now that I am living in the Tar Heel State I decided to check the event out for myself.

 Unfortunately, as I have mentioned in previous posts training during the ski season despite my desire to participate in a spring race it usually does not pan out. However volunteering to help those out who can has proved to be a great deal of fun over the years, I signed up to be a marathon sweep. A sweep as you may assume brings up the rear or sweeps the trail behind the last participants to assure all are safe and accounted for as the race progress. This roll was perfect, it allowed me to participate without participating.

Headin' Through Town

 The challenge and marathon start simultaneously in Black Mountain (2,360'), a quiet little town at the door step of  Western North Carolina on the southern edge of the Black Mountain Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The town has dozens of unique shops, galleries and restaurants, catering to visitors who appreciate the outdoors, artsy stuff, bluegrass and craft beer.

 The event takes place at the end of February and in North Carolina fashion can run the gamete of Mother Natures whimsy. Race officials warn racers on its web site "not to
underestimate this event's challenges." The forecast for the events 17th running, although seasonally cold at the start was for clear blue sky, temperatures in the mid 40's. Atypical as I would learn and a much appreciated change from previous running's in: cold, foggy, rainy, snowy, icy and windy conditions.  I was grateful that the weather was so accommodating and was looking forward to the day.

The race starts in the center of town and climbs as it weaves through the streets of Black Mountain

Trail to Mitchell's Summit

and the little hamlet Montreat for three or so miles on paved roads. The challenge sweeps and I kept a leisurely pace through town as racers tore up the hill ahead of us. We eventually left the tarmac where the course follows a mix of  variable rocky, wet, or smooth jeep trail and single track for the next ten miles until it reaches "THE" Blue Ridge Parkway, challengers continue to Mount Mitchell's 6'684' summit and their turn around. Marathoners turn around at the parkway and descend towards the finish. The challenge sweeps moved on up the trail and I continued through the rhododendron and hard wood forests taking in the sites, smells and stunning views along the trail behind the last marathoners.

The 2005 challenge winner Paul Dewitt said in an article about the views "when you get up there and see the ridges, this course is just as beautiful as anything in Colorado." I don't know about that but I must agree that the views are amazing, they go on forever.

Forever Views

As I swept the trail collecting discarded gel packets and pulling course markings my thoughts turned to what the last marathoner would be like. What condition would he or she be in, would they be struggling, cheerful, grateful or just a bore. What would they expect from me, if anything? I had not seen a runner in some time and wondered how far off the back I actually was and whether or not I was an affective sweep when I came to the first aid station and announced that I was the marathon sweep.  While dumping my collection of trash I was informed that that the last marathoner had left minutes before I had arrived.

Red Lantern

She introduced herself as the "Running Frog, because I am French and I am running", she said. The "Running Frog" was very cheerful. Relieved, I introduced myself, explained my roll as sweep and we fell in together. She jokingly said "hopefully you can sweep me to the finish". I learned that this was not the Running Frogs first marathon, in fact it was her 43rd, quite impressive but even more impressive was the fact that she was 71 years young.

Running Frog

 As we made our way along the course the Frog and I discussed every topic under the sun: politics, history, family, friends and running. Tons of running and every running topic that has ever been printed in Runners World Magazine; training methods, shoes, our most beautiful races, favorite distances, nutrition, hydration and many others.

 Hydration became a very serious topic as I noticed the "Frog" wasn't carrying any water and was only drinking when we passed trough an aid station. Her pace began to slow quite a bit after the turn around and I began to wonder if her lack of drink could be the cause. It took quite a bit of convincing and insisting but eventually she took my bottle and before long she was herself again, her pace quickened. She said "I was her body guard."

 The Black Marathon was the Frogs first  trail marathon and her goal was to finish and she did just that in less than 10 hours. Like any race there are highs and lows but some how she was able to keep extremely consistent the entire distance, very impressive. We ran, hiked, walked and talked together all day and in the end left with a friendship and an experience I will cherish forever!