In 2009 I decided to run the Upchuck 50K race on the Cumberland Trail near Chattanooga. This would be the second edition of the race, which derived its name from an unfortunate incident involving the race directors and a visit that went bad to an on course convenience store. The course was reputed to be hilly, but very pretty, and the need to bus the runners from the finish to the starting trailhead would keep the field small. The course would go through the Rock Creek, Possum Gorge, and Soddy Daisy sections of the CT and I was eager to see these three, relatively new at the time, trail sections.
My training for the race had gone well. I did a lot of running on the northern end of the Cumberland Trail, including course scouting, marking, and aid station work for Susan Donnelly’s Cumberland Trail 50K race which had debuted a month previously. I’d also done several long trail runs in the Smokies, with the 20 mile out and back course from Tremont to Elkmont being my longest run. My training group at Haw Ridge was very active then, and I had a large, diverse group to train with.
I went down to the race with my friend Bruce. Even though the drive to Chattanooga only takes two hours, we decided to go down the night before to have fresher legs for the race. We stayed in a downtown Super 8, and ate at the Mellow Mushroom. In the morning we checked in at the Recreation Center in Soddy Daisey, and then hopped on the bus to Lower Leggett Trailhead for the start.
The start was a bit crowded until the runners were able to sort ourselves out. I started further back and worked to move up after we hit the Leggett Loop. The starting temperature was about 40F. I began with gloves and a Smartwool top, but soon warmed up and tied the top around my waist. The next section through Rock Creek Gorge was beautiful, featuring lots of cliffs and waterfalls. The first significant climb was out of the gorge to Aid Station #1. I was feeling good, and enjoying the easy running on the ridgetops compared to the technical running in Rock Creek Gorge.
Next up was a shallow ford of Little Possum Creek. By then the runners were well spread out. I saw a few campers near Immodium Falls, but the trail didn’t offer a good view of the falls themselves. Beyond the falls there was a long stretch along some coal ponds. Leaving Little Possum Creek was the race’s toughest climb up, then over, Perkins Point. I was able to pass several people on the climb. By coincidence, the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club was having a hike that day along the Possum Creek Section and I encountered the group led by Tim Bigelow there. I stopped to chat for a bit, but kept track of the runners passing by until I got to 11, and realized that I needed to stop talking and get back in the race! Luckily, I was able to recatch most of the runners on the long climb out of Big Possum Creek to Aid #2.
After Aid #2 there’s a long section parallel to TN 111, that thankfully stayed mostly in the trees. It was becoming hot and steamy, and would reach 70F by the finish, but I was still feeling strong heading into Soddy Gorge. The Cumberland Trail SP rangers had set up ropes at the ford of Big Soddy Creek at the 26 mile point, and at the shallower one ford of Deep Creek just beyond. These ropes, and the bridges recently installed at other spots further back on the course, made the 2009 edition of the race overall much faster than the 2008 edition. Though we all still lost a little time waiting for our chance to cross, we all appreciated the effort it took to make sure the crossings would be safe for us. The Cumberland Trails Conference has since constructed bridges at both fords.
After the fords we had another long climb that eventually would lead to Posey Point. My earlier strength and enthusiasm were fading, and I tucked in behind a couple from Chattanooga for the remainder of the race. I did more walking than should have been necessary on the long traverse around Posey Point. We lost the trail briefly on a steep climb up to a coal bench, but overall, the course was well marked, and it was easy to stay on course. A few of the rocky sections had been tough, mainly because most of the leaves had already fallen.
Once we hit Hotwater Road it was an easy downhill run, though I was passed twice by runners with stronger legs. I was lucky to not have any knee issues at all during the race, and was still able to run this section, though slowly. I finished in 6:52, good for #23 out of 65 finishers, and right behind the #2 female. Bruce came in not too long after and after some recovery time we were able to drive back to Knoxville that afternoon.
My spits were roughly 1:39 at Aid 1, 3:50 at Aid 2, 5:30 at the ford of Soddy Creek, and 6:38 at Hotwater Road. At the time, my 6:52 at Upchuck was my slowest 50K. The course was a bit tougher/hillier than the other 50K’s I tried (Holiday Lake, Oak Mtn., and Mountain Mist), but I was in the middle of spell where I was not having IT band or tendonitis issues in my knees, and hoped to be a little more competitive. Ironically, it was a couple of years before I ran another 50K, and I haven’t broken 7 hours since Upchuck.
My training for the race had gone well. I did a lot of running on the northern end of the Cumberland Trail, including course scouting, marking, and aid station work for Susan Donnelly’s Cumberland Trail 50K race which had debuted a month previously. I’d also done several long trail runs in the Smokies, with the 20 mile out and back course from Tremont to Elkmont being my longest run. My training group at Haw Ridge was very active then, and I had a large, diverse group to train with.
I went down to the race with my friend Bruce. Even though the drive to Chattanooga only takes two hours, we decided to go down the night before to have fresher legs for the race. We stayed in a downtown Super 8, and ate at the Mellow Mushroom. In the morning we checked in at the Recreation Center in Soddy Daisey, and then hopped on the bus to Lower Leggett Trailhead for the start.
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| On the bus to the race start. |
The start was a bit crowded until the runners were able to sort ourselves out. I started further back and worked to move up after we hit the Leggett Loop. The starting temperature was about 40F. I began with gloves and a Smartwool top, but soon warmed up and tied the top around my waist. The next section through Rock Creek Gorge was beautiful, featuring lots of cliffs and waterfalls. The first significant climb was out of the gorge to Aid Station #1. I was feeling good, and enjoying the easy running on the ridgetops compared to the technical running in Rock Creek Gorge.
 |
| Early in the race. |
Next up was a shallow ford of Little Possum Creek. By then the runners were well spread out. I saw a few campers near Immodium Falls, but the trail didn’t offer a good view of the falls themselves. Beyond the falls there was a long stretch along some coal ponds. Leaving Little Possum Creek was the race’s toughest climb up, then over, Perkins Point. I was able to pass several people on the climb. By coincidence, the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club was having a hike that day along the Possum Creek Section and I encountered the group led by Tim Bigelow there. I stopped to chat for a bit, but kept track of the runners passing by until I got to 11, and realized that I needed to stop talking and get back in the race! Luckily, I was able to recatch most of the runners on the long climb out of Big Possum Creek to Aid #2.
After Aid #2 there’s a long section parallel to TN 111, that thankfully stayed mostly in the trees. It was becoming hot and steamy, and would reach 70F by the finish, but I was still feeling strong heading into Soddy Gorge. The Cumberland Trail SP rangers had set up ropes at the ford of Big Soddy Creek at the 26 mile point, and at the shallower one ford of Deep Creek just beyond. These ropes, and the bridges recently installed at other spots further back on the course, made the 2009 edition of the race overall much faster than the 2008 edition. Though we all still lost a little time waiting for our chance to cross, we all appreciated the effort it took to make sure the crossings would be safe for us. The Cumberland Trails Conference has since constructed bridges at both fords.
 |
| The ford of Big Soddy Creek. |
After the fords we had another long climb that eventually would lead to Posey Point. My earlier strength and enthusiasm were fading, and I tucked in behind a couple from Chattanooga for the remainder of the race. I did more walking than should have been necessary on the long traverse around Posey Point. We lost the trail briefly on a steep climb up to a coal bench, but overall, the course was well marked, and it was easy to stay on course. A few of the rocky sections had been tough, mainly because most of the leaves had already fallen.
Once we hit Hotwater Road it was an easy downhill run, though I was passed twice by runners with stronger legs. I was lucky to not have any knee issues at all during the race, and was still able to run this section, though slowly. I finished in 6:52, good for #23 out of 65 finishers, and right behind the #2 female. Bruce came in not too long after and after some recovery time we were able to drive back to Knoxville that afternoon.
 |
| 2009 Upchuck course map. |
My spits were roughly 1:39 at Aid 1, 3:50 at Aid 2, 5:30 at the ford of Soddy Creek, and 6:38 at Hotwater Road. At the time, my 6:52 at Upchuck was my slowest 50K. The course was a bit tougher/hillier than the other 50K’s I tried (Holiday Lake, Oak Mtn., and Mountain Mist), but I was in the middle of spell where I was not having IT band or tendonitis issues in my knees, and hoped to be a little more competitive. Ironically, it was a couple of years before I ran another 50K, and I haven’t broken 7 hours since Upchuck.
