The Dark Sky 50

I awoke at 4:45 a.m. after a less than an ideal night of sleep. I don’t believe it was due to the mattress in the rented cabin but more likely because I could not quiet my thoughts. I showered, hoping it would help get me going. I had a light breakfast of a Skratch Labs Anytime bar and coffee. The family awoke not long after and we were out the door to the starting/ finishing area. I didn’t feel great but I was excited that the day had finally arrived.

The sky was already light and the temperature was in the mid 60’s. The race began at 6 a.m. with around 75-100 runners. The first 2 miles are within Pickett State Park and consist of a nice loop to get our first glimpse of many of the amazing sandstone formations.

After passing by the crowd and saying goodbye to my family we head out of the park and north onto highway 154. After ¾ of a mile, we make a right to the trailhead, where we will remain on trails for the next 46 miles.

The runners have already thinned into small groups. I run with three other runners for the next several miles. None of us are from Tennessee and we joke about how unprepared we are for the unrelenting hills on the course.

At this point, I can already tell my legs are not responding well to the terrain. With as well as my training had gone, I was surprised and disappointed to feel how sluggish my legs were less than 10 miles into the race. My pace is SLOW.

At 7 ½ miles, we descend 300’ in about ¾ of a mile. We encounter our first water crossing, a creek about 20 yards wide and about shin deep. The section following is relatively flat, following the creek. It is a beautiful scene. Following another jaunt across the water, we reach an unmanned water stop, several jugs along the trail. We assist each other to top off bottles and continue.

At mile 12.6 we begin the 1 ½ mile, 400’ climb to Divide Rd aid station. This is the first stop where my crew (wife and daughters) will get to see me. Reaching Divide Rd at 2:54:48 I am already behind the pace I had set out for. I sat in a chair my wife had set up, changed my socks, grabbed some food and water, and set off.

We hit a slight descent and settle into a five-mile stretch of mostly flat with small ups and downs. At mile 21 we begin a 1 ½, 500’ descent to Longbranch Trail aid station. The race packet said 21.3 miles, my watch said 22.5. I also didn’t plan for this slow of pace and hadn’t planned for this much time between aid. I was low on food. The selection of snacks at Longbranch was slim. I grabbed some chips and continued.

At mile 24 we encounter a 350’, 1 ½ mile “hill.” At this point, we reach the halfway point of the race, in my opinion, the toughest part. After completing 25 miles and knowing you still have nearly a marathon to run is a kick in the gut. Especially since it took me 5 hours and 15 minutes to get there and I knew I wasn’t going to be running a negative split.

To make things sportier, the impending thunderstorms arrived and dumped rain for the next hour and a half. The trail turned to 4-6” of slop. At this point, I was running long sections without seeing other runners. Time slowed and I thought about how miserable things were going. My whole race plan had been thrown aside and stomped on. It’s ok if I don’t finish right? I’ve done other 50 milers and have nothing to prove. Then I’d think about my family, my CREW. They were out there too. Navigating country roads with no cell service, supporting me and this insane hobby of mine. There was no way I was not going to finish!

After turning away from the Cumberland River, I began a gradual climb toward Charit Creek Lodge. At mile 32.7 I reach the lodge, hungry and light-headed. With just over 7 hours on my feet, I grabbed some quesadilla and Coke and begin the loop up to Twin Arches. Over the next half of a mile, the course climbs 300’ to one of the most scenic points on the course. Giant sandstone formations tower above the trail. I take in as much as I can. The course returns to Charit Creek Lodge after 4.2 miles and I scarf down some more quesadilla. My stomach is feeling a little better.

I begin the 2.8 mile, 500’ ascent to Gobbler’s Knob aid station where my crew is waiting. On paper, this climb looks gradual. At the time it felt like a wall. I found a stick on the trail and used it as a trekking pole.

Once I heard people in the distance I was excited. I was happy to see my family. The volunteers and my family greeted me warmly. I took a seat and changed my socks once again. I ate a few mandarins, which really hit the spot. After a quick rest, the volunteers made sure I was pointed in the right direction and I was on my way. At this point, my watch said 39.8 miles but the race packet said Gobbler’s Knob is at 37.8. Was I two miles short of what I thought? Time would tell. You’d think after 50 miles what are two more, right?

The trail continued along Terry Cemetery Rd. As a trudged through more slop I really longingly looked at the well-groomed gravel road twenty yards to my right. Eventually, the two converged and I was on the road. Around this time my watch died, 9:44 into the race. I turned on the Strava app on my phone to ensure all of my miles were accounted for. My crew had caught up to me and stopped along the road. My youngest daughter joined me for a quarter mile and I struggled to keep her pace.

Shortly after was another aid station where I grabbed a few snacks and began my descent toward Rock Creek. Not far behind was another runner. Initially, the competitor in me tried to gain on him but the downhill was burning my legs. As I hiked down I noticed he was in no rush either. I slowed a bit so he could close the gap and we began to talk. His name was Jonathan and this was his first 50-mile race. We walked the next 7 ½ miles together. Having company really helped the last two hours of the race go by. I knew long ago I wasn’t getting a PR today so I accepted the slow pace.

We mustered a slow run on the home stretch. I was very happy to see my family and cross the finish line. I have to say, the feeling you get when crossing the line of an ultra is hard to describe and tough to beat. I recommend experiencing it yourself.

Early in the race, I knew my day wasn’t going to go as planned. But that’s what makes ultrarunning so awesome, the unexpected will happen and you be forced to adapt and overcome.

I recommend the Dark Sky 50 to anyone and is worth traveling for. The course is beautiful and brutal. The organizers at Nashville Running Company and volunteers made it a great experience.

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