I had been aiming for North Carolina’s 40 Mile Black Mountain Challenge ever since reaching the end of its companion Black Mountain Marathon (1999) in 1999, with plenty still left in the tank. In 2000 I’d applied too late to get off the wait list, but in 2001 both Steven and I applied early enough to be accepted immediately.
My
training had gone well. I started with loops at Knoxville’s Lakeshore Greenway,
but soon moved up to 17 and 20+ mile runs in the Smokies with my base including
lots of other hiking and backpacking. Steven and his brother Larry were both racing,
and they stayed at the same Super 8 in Black Mountain where Jean and I stayed.
Besides
feeling strong, I had the advantage of a good weather day. I ran in a Patagonia
silk weight T shirt, long sleeved wicker, and shorts. I had a mid-weight wicker
at the start, and took it off early. I also had heavy wool mitts that I used
over my glove liners for the high elevation Mt. Mitchell sections. My emergency
windbreaker and tights stayed in the pack.
My
nutrition was Jean’s Anzac cookies and Twix bars, plus bananas and Gatorade
from the aid stations. The aid stations were close enough together that few
runners carried food, and a water bottle wasn’t really necessary. I still was
not using a GPS, but my notes indicate Steven was taking pictures on the Mt.
Mitchell summit.
The
basic route was from the town of Black Mountain through the campus of Montreat
College, up the Old Toll Road to the Bue Ridge Parkway, and then up Mount
Mitchell State Park trails to the summit of Mt. Mitchell. The course for 2001
changed slightly. This time we climbed out of Montreat College on some of the
Montreat trails. I wasn’t sure of all the trail names, but we passed by a
shelter on the Trestle Trail. On the return we still came down the super steep
paved road into Montreat. The Challenge Course outbound took the Mountains to
Sea Trail/ Buncombe Horse Trail to Commissary Ridge and then soared 1.6 miles up
the Mt. Mitchell Trail to the summit. The descent used the Old Mitchell Trail
then the Camp Alice Trail. After Camp Alice, came a wide old road (Commissary
Trail) which we followed to Steppe Gap. Then
we ran the Summit Access Road (NC 128) down to the Blue Ridge Parkway to rejoin
the marathon course. 
2003 Mount Mitchell Challenge Race map.
Unfortunately,
my right knee was stiff right from the start, and began hurting on the Trestle Trail.
Steven pulled away from me just before we reached the Old Toll Road. I then had
to detour to the woods to take a dump that likely was the result of a curry
dish I’d had the night before at the Laughing Seed in Asheville. But it was the
knee pain that impacted my running early. The trouble felt more like a ligament
problem than the IT Band issues I usually faced. The pain was centered just
forward of where the IT would flare up. Near 8 miles, I thought I might have to
drop out, but the pain was stable after that.
The
field spread out after reaching the BRP. I didn’t see other runners until
reaching Commissary Ridge. That trail was wet, rocky, and hard to run on,
unless you didn’t mind getting your feet soaked. I pushed hard on the last 1.6 steep
miles going up to the summit, knowing that this was the last major climb, and
the last section I’d likely run pain free. I passed Steven here. He was having
cramps in his calf muscles. We were together at the summit where he took some
pictures. Then I headed down, while he went off to climb the tower. 
Mount Mitchell SP Trail map.
The
trail down to the Camp Alice Road was as steep and glazed with ice as the final
climb had been. I suspected that Friday had been warm enough to melt and
refreeze the little snow left high on the mountain. I had to carefully lower
myself, always with the left knee, down every step. Luckily the rest of the
trail to Steppe Gap was easy running.
I
ran all of the paved road down from Steppe Gap to the Old Toll Road. I had some
knee pain from the extreme camber of the road and had to short step a bit to
reduce the pain. I got passed by a few runners, and wouldn’t pass anyone myself
on the rest of the course. The Toll Road is rocky down to the next aid station,
but I was able to run about half of it. The road then is smoother, and I could
run most of it. By then both knees were hurting, but I was having no other
issues.
But
the steep paved road going down into Montreat was agonizing. I had to go very
slowly, and both knees were screaming. Near Montreat College the course
leveled, and I could run a bit. But so could the rest of the runners. I got
passed by a group of 6-8 runners .But I was able to run to the finish with
another guy. We were talking enough that we missed a turn at the school that is
adjacent to the Super 8. We ran all the way into town to the CVS before
realizing we were off course, and then made a beeline for Lake Tomahawk. 
Montreat College trail map.
Neither
of us wanted to kick it in so we finished together. My time was 8:32, and I
placed 61/84. I was happy with the time, but was surprised to be that far back
in the field. But I’d faced two foes. The battle had been between me and the
combination of my knee troubles and the course with its length, climbing and
weather. I
took 6 ibuprofen tablets during the race and had some minor queasiness.
Jean
was waiting at the finish, glad to see me remaining upright. She took a few
polaroids. Not too long afterward Steven came in. I’d expected him to pass me
on the downhill, but he’d battled his cramping for much of the race.
I
would take three more shots at this race, running the marathon in 2002 and 2006
(2006) and finishing the
Challenge again in 2003 in epic conditions.
On Mount Mitchell in 2009 with Mark, Matt, and Steven.
