I signed up for the HAT (Hinte-Anderson Trail) 50k Endurance Race on November 27th, 2015. Several of my friends have run this before, and spoke highly of it. I heard rumors that it was a challenging race, but everyone said it was very organized, and on a decent trail. An added benefit for me was the location. I live about an hour away from the Park where the race is held. Past participants raved about the warm French fries at the aid stations, and the famous HAT hat you get for finishing. But they never failed to explain that it was a difficult trail race.

The HAT 50k was going to be my first official 50k. I jumped from the marathon distance to two 50 mile ultramarathons in 2014 and 2015.

HAT HISTORY

This was the 28th running of the HAT run. It started in 1988. According to their Facebook page, the HAT Run is one of the largest ultra events in the country.  The race is limited to 500 runners. Their mission is “to provide an accessible and challenging event that is suitable for first time ultrarunners and a challenging early season run for veteran ultrarunners”. The cost of the race was $76. Here is a great article on HAT featured in the August 2008 issue of Trail Runner magazine. It is a little outdated, but an excellent read if you’re interested in running this race and learning more about it. 

RACE WEEK

As race week approached I continued to monitor the weather. Selfishly I was happy to see that the predicted weather for Saturday (race day) was going to be good, and Sunday was when we’d get hit with snow and lowering temperatures. I had friends running local marathons on Sunday, and I was supposed to have the “good weather” day. Well, that didn’t end up happening. I wasn’t nervous about the technicality of the trails, nor about the combined 7,200 ft of climbing. I also was semi-fine with the 4 stream crossings that had the potential to be waist high. What I was nervous about was the likelihood of rain. If it rains during a road race, that’s no big deal. But mud doesn’t provide good support when you’re running on trails. 

I met the famous barefoot runner Christopher McDougall a couple years ago at the Bird in Hand Half Marathon. You may recall he is the New York Times bestselling author of Born to Run. I knew he was participating in the event on Saturday. So I emailed him ahead of time and asked if he would do a low-key interview for my blog. We were scheduled to meet before the race. I was honored for this opportunity. This made race day all the more exciting.

RACE DAY

On Saturday, March 19th, I drove to Havre de Grace, Maryland. The race starts at 9am, which is nice. A later start allows you to sleep in a little. I left my house around 6:30am which gave me plenty of time to pick up my packet and prepare for the race.

The drive in was easy. The race is at Susquehanna State Park. The roads leading to the start are well marked with ‘HAT RACE’ signs. Parking is at the Steppingstone Museum, and there is plenty of it. I picked up my packet and waited for Christopher McDougall to arrive. He arrived shortly after I did and we conducted the interview in the front seat of my warm car because standing in the cold was not an option! I will write a separate post with that interview. Stay tuned for that! Interviewing Chris right before the race was actually a good thing; it distracted me. I was nervous about the weather, but being preoccupied with getting the interview done helped me not concentrate on the weather. Before I knew it, it was 8:50am and we still needed to drop off our bags.

I grabbed my bags and headed to the start. I dropped my bags off at the start pavilion, which also doubles as an aid station.   

The starting gun went off and so did we. The start of the race is in a meadow, and as my friend says “It’s like a scene from Braveheart”. There is this crowd of eager runners who take off and charge the field. It was pretty cool. I saw Chris McDougall somewhere in the crowd, but I never saw him after that. He’s hard to miss since he’s 6’4”, but he is a lot faster than I am. So I was pretty sure I wouldn’t see him again after the start.

THE START

The start was a little crowded, but that didn’t last long. The fast guys and gals took off and everyone sort of settled into their place. The course is 3 loops. The first loop is a shorter loop of about 4 miles. This loops ends at the start pavilion, where we dropped our bags off, which is nice. You have the opportunity to shed or change clothes, and pick up or drop off gear. Think of the first loop as a warm-up, and then you can really settle in after that. This is also an aid station with fluids and some food as well. There is a sign posted that clearly lists the cut off times. You have till 1:15pm to cover 17.3 miles. For a detailed list of rules, aid station locations and cut offs, click here. 

On the second loop, the ground was dry. The rain had not started at this point. The first cut off is a little tight considering you have 4 hours 15 minutes to do 17 miles of difficult trails. After that, you have less mileage (13.7 miles) to cover in 4 hours and 15 min. There are plenty of up and downhills. There are 2 stream crossings on the 2nd and 3rd loop (for a total of 4 water crossings). You will get wet. I am 4’11”, so the water came up to my knees. As long as you know what to expect, it’s not too terrible. The rocks can be slippery, so take caution.   

There are a couple decent downhills that allow you to make up some time, and they are on the road. You can cruise on these sections. I was given advice before the race: “Take what the course or the trail gives you”. Meaning, if there’s a downhill, run it. If there is a flat section, run it also. And power-walk the uphill if you have to. But take advantage of what the trail offers. And that’s just what I did.

Taken from the HAT website, here is a description of the course:

The trail is well marked and covers a variety of terrain. The course is mostly single track trail with a mix of open fields, dirt road and some paved road. The course features nearly 7,200 feet of climbing. There is a starting loop of 4 miles followed by two identical loops of 13.5 miles. There are 4 stream crossings that can be challenging depending on the water level - there is always the chance of getting wet feet.

Satellite view of the race course:

Elevation chart: 

The aid stations offer the following:

Coke, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Water, Bananas, M&Ms, PB&J sandwiches, Pringles, Fig Newtons, Salt, Potatoes, French fries, Chocolate Chip cookies, Oreos. And Vaseline. 

The volunteers at the aid stations were terrific. Our bibs had our name on them. As soon as a runner approached an aid station, the volunteers were ready to help, and they called us by name. They will do everything for you. They took off my hydration vest, and filled it up. I cannot thank the volunteers enough for their friendly faces, and over-the-top accommodations.

The third loop and final loop was a little tough. The rain started to come down while I was on the 2nd loop and the ground became wet, making mud. The downhills were tough with all the mud because it caused me to slide a little. I was significantly slower on the final loop because of the mud. But I was happy to be on my final loop and not in much pain. At one point the rain turned into snow.

THE FINISH

I am not a fast or experienced trail runner. I don’t have time to incorporate trails into my training. Finishing is winning in my opinion with ultramarathons. I am never out there to win the race. I just want to finish, have fun along the way and make new friends.

After the trail spit me out, I found myself in a meadow leading to the finish. I was able to sprint to the finish line. I had so much left in the tank because I was being super cautious and slow with the mud on the trails. I finished feeling great. I finished in 7 hours and 47 minutes. 

Immediately after I finished, I was handed a hat and a chair. I couldn’t believe it. I was given this big old green chair. I said “What is this? Is this for me!?!” And the volunteer said “Yes! It’s yours! Congratulations!” How cool is that! Below is a picture of the swag we received.

Also I think my brain was a little frozen at the end because I didn’t know if it was snowing or raining. I asked my husband and the race director who greeted me at the finish “Is this rain or snow?” They said “Yes!”

I grabbed some delicious food at the pavilion, congratulated a few runners who ran with me along the way and changed my clothes. I wanted to get home. I didn’t stick around for long.

CONCLUSION

The course was very challenging, but the trails are well maintained and the scenery is beautiful. There is a nice mix of trails, dirt and paved roads, up and down hills. The volunteers are awesome. The race directors are ultra runners and know how to put on a good race.

When I spoke with Christopher McDougall, I asked which ultramarathon was his favorite. I figured he has raced many previously. He said, “I almost NEVER race. HAT is the only organized ultra I've ever run, so the fact that I've done it twice makes it my favorite”.

Kudos to the race directors, volunteers, and supporters for organizing such an awesome event. Even though the weather was not ideal, the event overall made up for the less than perfect conditions. I would definitely do this race again. If you are in search of a 50k in the mid-Atlantic area, consider running HAT.

TIPS FOR FUTURE ULTRARUNNERS

As always, I want to make this race report informative and helpful. For those of you running an ultramarathon in the future, here is what I took with me:

Mini-Medical Kit

Fits inside one small pocket in my hydration vest:

1. Multiple sized bandages. I like the Curad brand, Performance Series™ They are band-aids that are made with a flexible, performance material like athletic tape.

2. Gin-Gins ®: Ginger helps with nausea, which is common in ultramarathons. 

3. Motrin® (Ibuprofen) or Tylenol® (Acetaminophen): Consult you medical doctor before taking these medications before, during or after an ultramarathon. 

3. Imodium®: For diarrhea.

4. Tums®: for an upset stomach, or reflux.

5. Vaseline®: Just in case a blister pops up, or you need it for your lips, or chafed areas. 

6. Toe protectors: I have a blister problem on my little toes. These toe covers help to cushion your toe. They are like mini socks for your toes! 

7. Pennsaid®: a prescription anti-inflammatory gel. For achy joints. Ask your medical doctor about this medication if interested, or see the details on the next product. 

8. DoTerra Deep Blue Rub ®: a pain relief lotion. It also smells fantastic. 

9. Calmoseptine®:  a multipurpose moisture barrier. I got this sample from a race expo. I usually save all my sample size packets for things like this. This ointment can be used on chafed areas, etc. 

10. Systane® Preservative Free eye drop:  Comes in an individual vial. I wear contacts, so if I have a problem I can flush out my eyes with this. 

My gear

This is what I took with me on race day, knowing that it was going to be cold and would rain. Also I knew I had 4 stream crossings and wanted stuff that would keep me warm, dry and blister free. 

1. Nathan™ Hydration Vest - VaporShape. This one is specifically designed for women. I like this product line in general. But there are many options out there. Ultimate Direction® is another brand to check out. 

2. Tailwind Endurance Fuel. Fuel for endurance athletes. Read about its benefits and why it might be a better option for you. 

3. Body Glide® stick. Apply before the race to prevent chafing. 

4. Vaseline®. If your race involves water crossings or rain, apply vaseline to your feet before the race. This works like a charm. You will never get blisters. 

5. CEP® Progressive Outdoor Merino Compression Socks. These socks give your calves that extra support, and warmth. Plus they are made for the outdoors. Taken from the CEP website: Merino wool can respond to changes in body temperature and warm or cool it as needed. The fabric also absorbs, stores and wicks moisture from your body so your skin stays pleasantly dry even on long excursions.

6. A Buff®. A multi-purpose item. You can cover your face with it, use it on your head, use it to wipe away sweat, etc. 

7. Gloves and hand warmers: I wore gloves the whole time. It was exceptionally cold that day. 

8. Hat

9. Trail shoes. I definitely think you need trail shoes on this course (HAT 50k), especially for the tricky stream crossings. 

10. Watch

11. A "good luck" charm or inspirational item. I usually wear one of my dad's old race patches from his running days. For ultramarathons, I think it's helpful to carry with you a small item that will inspire or encourage you when the going gets tough. 

 For more information, visit the HAT 50k Facebook page

 Special thanks again to the HAT race directors and volunteers!!

Future blog posts to look out for:

• Interview with author and barefoot runner Christopher McDougall! Chris' newest book, Natural Born Heroes was released in April 2015. I am currently reading this!
• Interview with Team Kevin. Team Kevin will be running the Boston Marathon in a few weeks. Matthew and Kevin are part of Athletes Serving Athletes, an organization that empowers individuals with disabilities to train and compete in mainstream running events. Their story will inspire you. Matthew and Kevin (featured in picture below) met a couple years ago while training with ASA. Matt saw how excited Kevin got when they ran really fast while he was pushing him in the jogger for races. So Matt wanted to give Kevin the opportunity to experience the most popular and prestigious marathon of all time, the Boston Marathon. You won't want to miss this their story. If you have ever thought about running the Boston Marathon, or have a friend who has run this race, I challenge you to consider donating to Team Kevin. They are raising money for the Martin Richard Foundation. They still have more to raise! Please consider donating!!

SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG TO GET UPDATES ON POSTS WHEN THEY ARE PUBLISHED. Enter your information below. 

NEXT UP FOR ME:

Bull Run Run 50 Miler hosted by the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club, April 9th, 2016!

Run Far, 

-Jill M.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest! 

** Please note that I am not sponsored by any of the above products, or companies. I am an Ambassador for the Abbott World Marathon Majors. My opinions expressed here are my own. Regarding any products mentioned, please do adequate research for yourself and consult your medical physician before taking any medications.