Grandfather Mountian Marathon 2009

By: Hazel Tapp

Craig, the boys, Skeeter and I arrived in Boone Friday night to discover the town was hopping with traffic, mainly that apparently related more to the Highland Games Event than the humble little GM marathon (limit of about 450 entrants). We made our way over to Kidd Brewer Stadium for packet pick-up (complicated as tickets are offered for shuttle pick-up and also family round trip rides up to the Highland Games which is where the marathon finishes). I also met up with a few of the Maniacs who had signed up for the race, for a photo op and a chance to talk “maniac talk” on topics such as how to achieve the 50 marathons in 50 states goal or the Tahoe triple (3 marathons in 3 days).

In preparation for this race, I really had had a very blasé attitude, and apart from a lot of hill training (thanks to living in Highland Creek and runnin g the M Cox hill repeatedly) this was not a race I had wanted to stress over. So I was not surprised to have no pre-race nerves and was totally asleep for the 5.30 alarm. The race starts at 7am so after a quick bagel and a cup of the hotel coffee (more on that later) I was at the start.

The race was very relaxed with no chips and an easy downhill start. I went off fairly fast (the coffee = 8.30 pace) with one clear goal of wanting to beat the 5 hour time limit and finish in the stadium. If you don’t make 5 hours apparently you get finished early but still get a medal just outside the stadium. I didn’t want to run the 26 just to miss the point 2.

After 2.5 miles the first of many David Taylor on steroids hills start creeping in. Typically, there were switchbacks in the roads requiring a walking pace but mostly slow running was achievable. At about 4, 8 and 10 miles some serious downhills allowed for running fairly rapidly. The10 mile one in particular was the perfect down slope to gather speed and stretch out.

At about the half way mark on the Blue Ridge Parkway I realized that I forgot to switch off auto pause on my watch – duh- so I was missing the times for any walking I was doing. It was however kind of fun to know that whatever my watch said was an underestimate of where I actually was both in time and distance.

My fellow travelers were a cheerful lot with only the occasional person sadly lamenting the hills.  The rest of us had resigned to our fate on sign up day.  It was onwards and upwards and pace was easily selected by looking ahead, seeing everyone walking and feeling nothing but slight relief at the thought of joining them. I met a lady who told me that last year she walked a lot and still made the cut off so I stayed upbeat.

Meanwhile the scenery was tremendous and the temperature was pleasant though rising with bright sunlight. One important point: traffic was free to travel on the roads. I knew this in advance and due to my penchant for trails and closed roads I had anticipated that this would be annoying, but really I was having too much fun to be upset. It really wasn’t much and I was in the middle of the pack, albeit spread out=2 0by now.

The second half of the race moved off the parkway and onto tracks and I think 220. Again the roads were steep with a mix of walking and running. I got passed by the same lady who’d run last year and I decided to try to keep her in my sights. I  added a caffeine GU to my mix of water and some gator aid at the mile 18 aid station. All the aid stations were really nice by the way; they were very attentitive to every runner often asking as you approached what you wanted. The caffeine kicked in nicely at mile 21 and I didn’t feel the usual 20+ fatigue. The road did get windy and steep but after catching up with my new friend and a few others we calculated that sub 4.30 was probably not a stretch. Conversation continued with conversation like Jonathan’s “I love ultras, I did the Boogie 50” and the “Henderson 24” “oh, is that 24 miles?” No, “24 hours…” so time passed nicely as I contemplated how short a marathon can be to some.

After mile 25 things got a little hairy as you cross a road by the entrance to grandfather mountain with all sorts of traffic, and continue along, following signs to a convoluted back way into the Highland Games and stadium. The stadium track finish was a little overexposed and, as Jonathon had warned, required some energy to make it around wondering where the hell the finish line is. It didn’t help that the announcer was commenting that “runners were STILL coming in and could we PLEASE lend them a hand” (feeble clapping ensued). Finally, it’s nice to turn a corner, see the clock and before you know it, have a person pulling the tag off your bib just like the old days. Time was 4 hours 26 minutes. My new friend was right with me so we stumbled around trying to find the water and supplies tent outside the stadium. Not obvious but we made it.

Here I also found my supply bag had made it up on the supply truck in one piece was nicely laid out and waiting for me. The now familiar faces of my fellow runners was another happy sight gathered under the tent. Luckily,  I was able to shamelessly talk my way into a beer, courtesy of my new friends running club, Guys I’ll pay you back I promise!  And I will join the Magnum Track Club too! Next I found my soggy bus shuttle ticket and took the air-conditioned 40 minute scenic bus ride back to Boone, once again chatting to the runners around who looked familiar. One had spent the night before in the cheaper option of shared Dorm room accommodation. Funny story, but not to be recommended.

To all at UCRR this is a fun race, easy 2 hour drive from Charlotte, I know it’s not a PR course but I promise it’s a good experience.