URE Marathon (2021)
The URE Marathon is a free annual trail marathon that takes place in the Uwharrie National Forest of North Carolina, and it’s easily one of my favorite races to participate in. The course is roughly 26 miles with a little over 4000 feet of elevation gain and a similar elevation loss.
I ran it for the first time in 2020 with a finishing time of 4:27, earning me 6th place overall, so the goal for 2021 was to run a sub-4:20.
My friends Phil and Darin registered to run the race with me this year, this being Darin’s first trail race and Phil’s first marathon race. We arrived at the start/finish parking lot at Uwharrie just after 7:00 AM, with almost an hour to spare before the 8:00 AM start, and it was already noticeable that this years’ turnout was much larger. We quickly checked in and headed back to my truck for some final preparations.
The hour before starting a race always feels like 5 minutes, and this experience was no different. We were all anxiously awaiting the countdown, and Daniel (the race director) delivered the much-anticipated “3,2,1” right on time.
The marathon begins with a 5.5-mile out-and-back on a gravel road with some hills to warm the legs up. It’s a great way to begin the race because this section allows for the field to spread out a bit before we all get channeled into the singletrack sections.
Right around 2.5 miles in, I hear “Wes?… Wes Claytor?” from behind me. I turn around, and this guy with wild hair and an F3 shirt was calling me out by name. “Dude, I’ve read your blog! Your son, your brother, your story—man, I really enjoy your writing!” His name was David, from Wilmington, NC, and apparently, he came across some of my previous writings and recognized me out on the course. We chatted for a few minutes, and it turns out he’s a writer as well. Before too long, we wished each other well and went on to run our own races, but it was a very cool experience to have a stranger recognize me and commend me on my writing. So, if you are reading this, David from Wilmington, thank you very much for speaking up and for the very kind words.
Darin and I were pacing together for the first 5.5 miles and did our best to stick together as we began our first section of singletrack—the Dutchman’s Creek trail. The next 10 or so miles are spent on this trail, and it’s well-known for its Sasquatch Scramble and Soul Crusher sections. These are two very steep, challenging climbs that will force your heart up into your throat. Aside from those two climbs, the rest of this trail is an unrelenting combination of hills, rocks, roots, and creek-crossings. We catch up with another local runner and friend, Scott, and decide to run a few miles with him. After 3 or 4 miles of conversation and conservation, I start to pick it up a little bit and begin breaking away from our small group around mile 10 or so.
I’m getting closer to the half-marathon point, and I realize I haven’t seen Darin behind me for the last mile or 2. I’m hoping he’s doing well and begin to accept that I might be running alone for the remainder of the race. But, to my surprise, he emerges from the trail and tells me that he plans to keep up for as long as he can. Hell yeah!
We stick together for Sasquatch Scramble and Soul Crusher until right around the 15-mile mark when I begin to bomb the downhills, torturing my quads but looking to make up some ground.
I head into Kelly’s Kitchen, a quick 2-mile out-and-back aid station at mile 17.5, still feeling good with a lot of gas in the tank. The volunteers were friendly and well-organized, and the banana was delicious. I hurry out of the aid station because I now realize that I am playing leapfrog with 2 other runners for what appears to be 10th place if my counting serves me right.
About a mile out from Kelly’s Kitchen, I passed Darin and Scott as they were making their way into Kelly’s Kitchen. I’m now about 2 miles ahead of both of them, so I wish them both well and accept that it’s now me and only me to the finish. It’s time to dig and see what I can do.
Hallucination Hill is fast approaching, right around the 21-22 mile mark, and I know that once I conquer that final steep climb, then it’s only a few more miles of rolling hills to the end. I’m passing multiple groups of day-hikers, most of them cheering me on and offering words of encouragement. This, coupled with the added boost of having a small audience every few 1000 feet, keeps me motivated and pressing forward. I power my way up Haullicination Hill, trying to block out the burning sensation in my hamstrings and lungs, forcing myself to smile. Smiling always helps.
With Haullicination Hill and all the other major climbs finally out of the way, I am laser-focused on finishing this race with as much speed and momentum as I have left. I look down at my watch, and I read 4:21. The stretch goal is no longer attainable, and neither is besting my finishing time from last year. I have at least another 2 miles to go, so now the only goal is to finish as close to the top 10 as possible, as I now believe I may not be where I thought I was in the field.
I tell myself that if I catch up to any runners ahead before we reach the end, then I will use all of my energy to pass them. With about a mile left in the race, I spot one of the runners I was neck and neck with back at the Kelly’s Kitchen aid station, and I surge past him to move up one place. I keep pushing, running as hard as I can when I see another runner about a quarter-mile from the finish. He’s moving slow, and I can sense his struggle. He stops for a second, and I use the opportunity to pass. Then I see it—the finish line.
I finished 10th place overall with a time of 4:43. Considerably slower than my effort at the 2020 URE Marathon, but still happy with the outcome.
Both Scott and Darin wrapped up not too far behind, Scott taking 17th place and Darin earning 18th place.
And our buddy Phil finished his first marathon and trail race with 13 minutes left before the 10-hour cut-off.
What a beautiful and brutal day of trail running.
Looking forward to next year’s event!
