By Donald Robey
Note: Donald competed in the Dances with Dirt Gnaw Bone, 50-K run (ultra marathon) on May 13. Here is his account of the competition.
On a beautiful Saturday morning on May 13 I embarked on the greatest run of my life.
At 5:45 in the morning 43 courageous runners started out on a journey that would test every muscle in their body; 29 would complete that journey.
As the gun went off signaling our march I huddled in with a group chit chatting about life and how the day might go. At mile 2 we found out. With the recent heavy rains mile 2 was not just mud but a sucking mud mixed with horse droppings. The march was slow.
Miles 3-9 went fairly well with little trouble, which was very misleading. Mile 9 started the up and down relentless elevation change. I was feeling pretty good miles 9-20 I was holding a 11:30 minute per mile pace which was soon to change.
Somewhere between mile 20 and 24 there was an extreme uphill climb that made your hamstrings burn, then a mile after that another hamstring burner with two fallen trees the size of the oak tree by the Rite Aid that you couldn't go around or over the only way was through.
By mile 27 I was still holding a 12:00 minute pace however the temps had hit near 80 and I could feel the signs of dehydration coming on. I slowed my pace and really started pushing the fluids.
Miles 27-31- By this time I was all alone on the course and I continued my march through mud and rivers. Then the bushwhacking came and you literally ran right through several briar patches.
The real fun began when you hit this wall - no lie - a 200 foot climb where you had to shove your fingers into the mud and kind of bear crawl up the hill. At mile 31 my son, Jonathen, joined me for some much need motivation for the next 9 miles, which started the repeat of the last 14 miles of horror.
I could tell my pace was slowing as I walked more than I ran. Somewhere along the way I stubbed my toe on stump or a rock, which caused my left calf to seize up with a spasm.
Once I got that under control we continued on to mile 41 where I left Jon with his mom, Angela, and brother, Andrew, who I dedicated this run to. Miles 41-47 were solitary except for the occasional 50m relay runner. At the last aid station I topped off on fluids got some last-minute encouragement from the volunteer and set off for the finish.
As I made my final descent I could hear the music coming from the finish and the finish adrenaline rush. The last half mile began with a wade or splash through a river - yes a river not a creek - this lasted for a quarter of a mile then you popped out to an opening where they announced we have an individual 50 miler coming in.
As the crowd roared I summoned every last ounce of energy to finish looking somewhat like a runner. I finished in a time of 11:44 good for 16th overall and 2nd in my age group.
When asked my overall experience I tell everyone it was the hardest thing that I have ever done, but the most rewarding. I will be back next year.
The Gnaw Bone Dances with dirt was held in Nashville, Ind., at the Brown County State Park.
Overall male winner in an absolute amazing time was Zane Yeager in 8:06.
