Bull Mountain Epic 100k (2020)

We arrived in Northern Georgia right around dinner time, our bellies growling from the long drive and lack of real sustenance. After a delicious meal of spaghetti and meatballs (garlic bread on the side) and some memories made by the fire outside, we called it a night and were soon fast asleep.

My alarm went off at 5 am, but as usual, I’m already awake and staring at the clock.

The morning leading up to any race is always a time warp. One minute you’re making breakfast, gathering your belongings, and dealing with the anxious energy of wanting to perform well. The next minute you’re standing at the starting line, running through a final mental checklist, and still dealing with the anxious energy of wanting to perform well.

And just like that, the race begins.

I can hear my wife and daughter cheering for me as I begin to awkwardly find my starting pace, and their voices put a smile on my face.

The format for this race is 3 different loops, each consisting of 10+ miles of rolling singletrack, a few service roads, and a whole lot of elevation gain and descent. The 100k runners double down on each loop for a total of 6 loops.

We start up the gravel hill that becomes the intro to each loop for this racecourse and soon we are funneled into a beautiful trail system.

The first loop is marked with black and yellow dotted flags, and it turns out to be the easiest and most scenic of the 3. I’m cruising through the first 7 miles or so until we hit the first aid station. I’ve already had 1 prerace gel and another at mile 5, so I opt for a piece of banana and a refill on my water bottle. I’m off to crush the last 4 miles and it’s back to the start/finish to begin loop 2.

I missed the aid station at the start/finish my first time through (mile 11), but luckily I still had enough water and a few gels, dates, and candied ginger in my vest.

Loop 2 is marked with red and white striped flags, and it turns out to be the most difficult and unforgiving of the 3. This trail is rutted out and eroded in many places, making the descents risker and more technical. I eat a gel at mile 13. There are a few good climbs and one true soul crusher. I think the aid station on this loop was at mile 19, and I remember drinking 3 cups of Gatorade, filling my bottles with water, and eating some dates. It’s only 2.5 short miles back to the start/finish.

I used the aid station at the start/finish, drinking a cup of ginger ale and 2 cups of mountain dew. I’m feeling great and I plunge into the 3rd loop.

This loop is marked with pink flags and shares the same first 3 or so miles of the 1st loop before it breaks away into its own trail system. This section is packed with stretches of fern forests and switchbacks. The aid station is front-loaded on this route, having us pass through at mile 24.5. More banana, Gatorade, and water.

Around mile 30 I feel an unfamiliar twinge in the middle of my back. It’s not concerning at this point as I’m floating on adrenaline and caffeine.

I get to the start/finish right a little over the 50k mark and am embraced again by my family. It was much needed because I could feel a low point starting to emerge. I eat the peanut butter and jelly sandwich they prepared and drink more soda.

Hugs and kisses. “Go, Daddy!” “I’ll see you soon!”

It’s mile 32 and I’m back onto the loop where it all began, yellow and black dots. I’m fighting the low point and voicing positive self-talk.

Then it happened.

The mid-back twinge relocates and becomes a low-back constricting pain. I’m having trouble breathing, unable to fully inhale without mild hyperventilation that becomes severe with any quickened pace.

I try to push through.

It’s mile 34 and I eat another gel, drink most of my water, and begin trying to run out of frustration and pride. I awkwardly stumble on some rocks because of my Frankenstein-like form. I aggravated an old knee injury. I realize my race is coming to an end.

I’m still stumbling around at mile 39, my heart racing from the reduced air intake and my knee is throbbing. My spirit is low and I’m having to face the fact that the best I can hope for is to walk this thing in sometime in the middle of the early morning darkness.

I didn’t come here for that.

I came here to run my first 100k and to run it as best as I could.

I left with my first DNF instead.

I continued to plod my way through the forest and back to the start/finish where I made the decision to call the race.

Although I didn’t achieve any of the goals I set out to conquer, I’m happy I was able to push my ego aside to make room for the right decision. For me, there was no need to destroy my body out there. I want to live to run an ultra another day.

The Bull Mountain Epic was a beautifully tough course and I just might need to come back one day to try and conquer the 100k once and for all.

Official Garmin stats: Time = 9:46:59, Distance = 42.66 mi, Elevation Gain = 7,149 ft.