The Grand-Further Mountain Run is roughly 25km on 99% singletrack that takes you up and over Grandfather Mountain 2 times. The only part of the course that’s not singletrack is the first 0.15 miles of uphill road running. So, naturally, many people start out running pretty hard with the goal of reaching the singletrack before the rest of the field and avoiding getting trapped in a position that could potentially hold them back.

That special vibe was amplified due to the huge numbers of TUFF Run Club runners and crew, other local running friends that would be running, crewing, and volunteering, and the fact that Umstead is a park that I live so close to and run in so often. Simply put—toeing the line at the Umstead 100 felt different.

I made my way to Wilmington, NC for my 3rd attempt at the Southern Tour Ultra: Last Man Standing race with the goal of reaching 120+ miles in the Backyard Ultra format. This would have been a PR distance for me, a new record on this course, and would likely have been enough miles to secure a win over the rest of the field. Spoiler alert—things didn’t quite work out that way.

My alarm startled me at 4 a.m. as I awoke lying in the passenger seat of my wife’s Volkswagen Jetta. I was alone, surrounded by all my gear and supplies, and I felt great as excitement rushed through me. The day was finally here—it was time to run the Uwharrie 100.

48 miles of mountain running is tough. 48 miles of mountain running up and down Mt. Mitchell and out and back along the Black Mountain Crest Trail without any aid or support other than what you can carry with you is really tough.

This was supposed to be my peak training run leading into the Uwharrie 100, but I should have known better.