Celebration Run Reports

Date:    Mon, 10 Nov 2003 21:10:46 -0500
From:    Charles Cohn <chasmagc@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Celebration Run 41-miler

As soon as I read about this ultramarathon, it appeared eminently
doable. It was to be run on an asphalt-paved rail-trail, the newly-completed Longleaf Trace out of Hattiesburg, MS. The time allowed was ample, with the race starting at 4 am and the unofficial not-rigid closing time at 4 pm, requiring an average pace of 17:33 per mile. Since I have racewalked most of my marathons and 50K's at around 14 minutes per mile, I figured I would have some cushion. Even though it was 9 miles further than I had ever gone before, I would never know whether I could do it unless I tried.

Accordingly, Thursday evening I got into my camper van and headed southwest. I slept overnight in a truck stop the other side of Birmingham. I arrived in Hattiesburg Friday afternoon in plenty of time for the participant's meeting scheduled for 4:30 at the trailhead. I got checked in, got my number, got acquainted with other participants and found to my delight that I could stay overnight in the parking lot and not have to go anywhere else.   Having carbo-loaded all day on overripe bananas, I ate the raw salad, raw ear of corn, and avocado I had brought with me and settled in for the night.

The next morning my alarm got me up at 3 am. I dressed and breakfasted on a half grapefruit and some more overripe bananas. I put on my fanny pack containing 25 Medjool dates, enough for one every 2 miles and four more to eat as soon as I finished. I put on a small LED headlamp which I hardly needed with the full moon. I took my position at the starting line.

The start was called a few minutes after 4. I got going and so did everybody else, so before long I was trailing the pack, just ahead of the sag wagon. Before long though, I passed a couple of people and was no longer last.

The race was very well supported. The trail has nine flush-toilet washrooms (including the ones at the beginning and end), several of which I had to stop and use. There were fourteen well-stocked, well-staffed aid stations. I stopped at a few to take cups of Gatorade in between my dates.

Further along I passed a couple more fellows, including the race director. I eventually finished in a time of 10:07:19, averaging 14:48 per mile. (I was somewhat off my speed, as this was a minute or two per mile slower than I have been able to do marathons and 50K's. The potty stops didn't help any.) When the finish-line person gave me my t-shirt and trophy (each finisher got a trophy; mine was for being 9th) I told her that now it's all over but the bragging and the showing off.

After the finish, I was tired and a bit stiff, but had no pains. As usual, my double-layer socks kept my feet blister-free. A few other finishers and I were driven back to the Hattiesburg trailhead. I napped during the ride.

It didn't seem like there was anything to stick around for, so I got into my camper, ate another avocado and ear of raw corn and headed for home, replenishing my glycogen with more overripe bananas. I got through Mississippi and stopped at the Alabama welcome center for a couple hours' nap. This was enough to let me continue home, arriving at 5 am. After a far-infrared sauna treatment, a shower and a few hours' sleep I was ready to start the bragging and the showing-off in earnest.

Charles Cohn

6311 Mark Trail, Austell, Georgia 30168, USA

770-944-7510             chasmagc@bellsouth.net

Celebration Run Finishers
Place	Name of Finisher	Time (HH:MM)
1	Jerry McGath	6:36
2	Stan Coates	6:47
3	Tony King	6:49
4	Ron McBee	7:49
5	Randy Saxon	7:51
6	Andrew Colee	8:28
7	Antha Estridge	8:46
8	Josh Deen	9:24
9	Charles Cohn	10:07
10	Bill Kelch	10:30
11	Mobby Overstreet	10:53
12	Terri Hayes	11:16
13	John Stowers	12:25