Dang, I feel like I was just here.
Hello again.
If you’ve kept up to date with what I’ve done recently, then I’m sure you’re wondering, what the heck? Another big race?
I’m not usually the type of person to do back-to-back big efforts. In fact, the last time I did something like this was in 2024, when I ran C&O 100 and MMT 100 within 3 weeks of each other. (Fun fact: I ran almost identical times–27:06 and 27:32–at C&O and MMT, respectively; go figure, eh?) But what I’m doing this time is an entirely different ball game. Only 6 days separate the end of The Ring from the beginning of Pine Creek. Will I be ready?
The What
Pine Creek 100 in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, is a flat and fast 100-mile race. The Pine Creek Trail runs for 60-odd miles end to end, but the course we’ll be running comprises “two legs,” which total 50 miles (and we’ll do it twice for the full 100 miles). The race has 5 aid stations, 2 drop bags (one of which is at the start/finish), and almost no elevation to speak of.
All in all, simple stuff
The How
You know, how do I plan to run 100 miles?
Well, I don’t. Wait–no, I do, but I don’t plan to ‘run’ the full 100 miles.
Sigh. Nevermind.
In all seriousness, I’m approaching Pine Creek like I do most 100-mile races. That is, I make a lot of good strategies and plans up inside my head, and then throw most of them to the wolves when the gun goes off. As of today, the plan is to implement a run/walk strategy from mile 1. This I will 100% do, as I’ve been burned before *cough* C&O 100 *cough* trying to run too much in these flat and fast 100s. I know I won’t be able to hold a 9-minute pace for 100k, let alone 100 miles, so I won’t bother.
Speaking of pace, a 12ish average sounds about right. I’m in much better shape today than I was for any of my C&O attempts or even my finish in 2024, so 12 sounds like a good number. I know I can hold 12s for at least the first 100k, and then? Well, that’s what makes 100-mile races fun.
As for gear, since we all love shoes, socks, and packs so much, I will be using a fairly standard loadout for me. This includes the Ultraspire Momentum and Mtn Racer, Brooks Sherpa 2-in-1 shorts, XOSKIN Toesocks, a standard Nike tech tee from like 10 years ago, a VHTRC hat, and so on. The one, uh, complication in the ‘gear loadout’ is the shoes. I still don’t know what shoes I’m going to wear…. Yeah, yeah, I know. How?
Well, to be fair, I have quite a few options to choose from. Do I go with road shoes or light trail shoes? Higher or lower stack? What pair do I bring as a spare? I’m sure sometime in the next day or two, I’ll figure it out, but I’m still not sold on a single choice yet. Some options in the running include the On Cloudmonster Hyper, the Nike Zegama, the Topo Ultraventure 4, or maybe I’ll go with an old pair of Hoka Bondis. Spoiled for choice would be a kind way to describe my predicament, while indecisive would probably be closer to the truth.
THE WHY
So, what gives? Why attempt to do two big races within a couple of days of one another?
The short answer is, I didn’t plan this. I had actually signed up for The Ring before I signed up for Pine Creek. I was supposed to run Eastern States this year (now next year), but withdrew after DNF’ing MMT 100 in May, and Pine Creek served as the alternative (easier) option. I’m now zero for three in my last three 100-mile race attempts, and I’m hoping to use Pine Creek as a bounce-back race. The only way to get the DNF monkey off my back is to actually finish one of these things again. It’s also my goal to hit 10 lifetime 100-mile race finishes this year, so Pine Creek will hopefully serve as finish number 9.
I’m also excited to do something new. I’ve never been to this area before, and it’ll be a good “test run” to see how I shape the calendar out next year.
Final Thoughts
I don’t get very nervous before these things anymore. I’m sure I’ll feel some angst, like I did at The Ring this past weekend, at the start line, but once we get underway, most of those feelings tend to go away. One of the things I love about undertaking these long adventures is how much control you get to give up. We tend to live very predictable, structured lives, but in the midst of an ultra, the unexpected is always lurking. Solving problems on the go, working through issues, and continuing to make forward progress is all part of the game. Will I be successful at this for the first time since December 2024?
Man, I hope so.