Rocky Raccoon 100

After work Thursday I rushed to catch a 5:30 flight. Things were smooth sailing into Houston. After picking up my rental vehicle, I stopped for the night at one of the shadiest three star hotels in the world.
Next morning I headed north to Huntsville state park. There I erected a sheeting over one of the shelters maybe 20 feet from the start line. From there I began compiling the things I felt I needed. The immediate area in Huntsville does not have much to offer. The local Walmart / Target is about 10 miles away.
Packet pick-up had been at the Raven lodge near the start line the year before, so the expectation was that it was the same this year. I soon realized that the pick-up was actually off of the park grounds. I rushed over to the Walker County storm shelter arriving with an hour to spare before closing. While there I listened to the Prerace talk from the director. On the way back to the park I picked up a pizza from Little Caesars.
Race morning I woke up to a chill. I was already cold and my teeth were chattering. I reluctantly hit the shower and dressed. Before I knew it the race was ready to start. I scarfed down a bagel and I was off into the darkness.
Lap 1 (Miles 0-20) / Lap time: Right around 4:00
The first Lap was a piece of cake the only thing I had in mind was that I needed to fuel at every opportunity. At times I felt like a kleptomaniac always sneaking food into my shorts pockets for later. I quickly acquainted myself with the course and tried not to over do it.
Lap 2 (Miles 21-40) / Lap time: Right around 4:30
The second lap was another quick lap. I slowed down a little bit from the first lap, but I had my eye on the time. My main goal was just to stay tuned to any indication that I wasn't eating enough or something was happening to my feet.
Lap 3 (Miles 41-60) / Lap time: Just over 5:00
The third lap was more over a quick but a triumphant lap. I had handed in my number last year at the end of the third lap and making it to the end of the third lap in one piece and feeling decent was the goal. As the sun rose earlier in the day I had placed my headlamp in the Dam Road aid station for I had noticed from reports that Dam Road was most likely the place where the sun goes down on your lap. As the sun set I had been warned before that the night section is always slow. This has been made known to me. For the last few miles of the third lap I felt myself slow from a constant 15 minute mile pace to a crawling 18 or 19 minute pace. Finally I finished the third loop, overall the complaints were minimal.
Lap 4 (Miles 61-80) / Lap time: Near 7:00
Beginning the fourth lap was quite a momentous occasion for me. I had defeated the hindrances that had affected me so much the previous year. I felt top of the world coming into the Nature center aid station. I took in some hot food and moved to work on. The distance began to affect me once the high of the moment had worn off. From Nature center to Dam road began to feel like forever. I finally reached Dam road aid station. The environment was stimulating. I sat down and had my drop bag reach me. I grabbed some beef jerky and peanuts. Then I went to the aid tables and requested some ointment. Soon I was off for the mini loop from Dam road back to Dam road. The distance felt like forever, but it was over eventually. The eight miles back to the start were the easiest miles it felt like in the entire loop. I hopped from Dam road back to Park road, and then on to Dogwood. With the fourth loop over I knew if I had time I would finish.
Lap 5 (Miles 81-100) / Lap time: Around 8:00
Coming into lap 5 I asked a volunteer what time he had. Little did I know it but I had been judging the WHOLE race in eastern time. I had a little over 9 hours to finish the last lap. With that confidence booster I was off to a roaring start. The news had motivated me. However even with motivation I was to do 20 miles on dead legs. The 3 miles from Dogwood to Nature center seemed like eons, but the thoughts swirling around in my head still had me excited. I finally made it to Nature center, the volunteers immediately jumped up to assist me. I needed some caffeine because I was falling asleep so had some Coke and a Cup of ramen noodles. I was not in a rush but I headed on into the darkness anyhow. I slowly moved eventually reaching the Dam road aid station. I consumed some discretionary calorie rich foods and I headed off into the last dreaded mini-loop. Everything seemed so slow during this period, the miles, the environment, and most of all time, all crawling. The sun finally made its appearance midway through the loop. Soon I reached Dam road again. I grabbed some food and departed onto the last eight miles of the race. I am not ashamed to add I nearly cried when an aid station volunteer yelled as I departed "Congratulations on your finish." I eventually found myself at the Park road aid station. I took in some calories and took off. Shortly after to my surprise, I woke up to the voice of Hans Deiter Wisshar grabbing me and telling me that there isn't much time left to finish. I realized where I was and noticed I must have bumped into a tree and fallen asleep. I took off as quickly as possible for being 97 miles into an 100 mile race. Moving quickly I followed two racers about 100 yards in front, I noticed that I finally had slowed progress and lost them. I slowly moved closer and closer to the finish, every so often watching people pass and decent carefree into the finish. Every step I prayed for it to be just around the corner. Eventually I turned a corner and noticed a common trail and knew I was close to the finish. I finally turned a corner and saw the home straight away. At that moment it was clear to me I had finished. I mustered somewhat sprint and finally finished.
Finish time: 28:54