MDLD 2013: Jeff Engelbrecht

Mason Dixon Longest Day 100K Report

June 22, 2013

    I left my house at 10pm, arriving at the Shanks Mare lot at 11:30 to meet Dave & Roxanne for a ride to the start in Susquehanna State Park. I hit a deer on the way, at 11:15 on 425 just north of Shenks Ferry Rd. Thought I totaled the front end of my Jaguar, but only got a small dent in the left front fender and the front quarter panel slid back a little so that it pinches the door when it opens. All else seemed fine, but I couldn't really tell with just a flashlight. I was a little shaken and thought it was a bad omen that more bad things were going to happen. On the ride to the start with Dave & Roxanne, I started not feeling too well, but I think it was just nerves and thinking about the run-in with the deer. Once the run started, my stomach started to settle down, and I felt fortunate the car damage wasn't worse. I felt better when dawn came and as I completed each section.

    Just like 2012, started earlier than the rest of the field with Roxanne, in attempt to beat the Otter Creek cutoff and make it all the way to the end. Left Rock Run Mill at 1:00am sharp, and headed off on our big adventure. Reached Cold Cabin (25m) at 8:30, Lock 12 (37m) 12:20, and Otter Creek (47m) at 4:15pm (1:15 ahead of cutoff, 19:28 pace). Then decided to slow down my blistering pace and took >8 hrs to reach the end including about 6:15 from Shenks Ferry Rd to the end which is about 10 (very grueling) miles. Ran with Roxanne until dawn then alone most of the rest of the way.

    It was dark for the first ~4:15 to Broad Creek (got off course adding about a mile), and for the last ~4:15 from north of Wilson Run. This last part is the toughest race section I've ever done, it seemed like it would never end, the trail was really hard to follow in several places, and the last 2 miles after Greenbranch seemed like 10 miles!  While I've done this section multiple times on my own, I had never done it with 50 some miles under my belt. North of Otter Creek, other than 3-4 guys that passed me, I was totally alone. The new re-route above Otter Creek was confusing - seemed like I went in a circle and added a mile or more. I ran out of water and was really thirsty in the final miles. Called Pete to let him know where I was, and he told me about the spigot from the house on Greenbranch Rd, so that saved me. Pete was waiting at the end. Steve B (with Brigitte) & Roxanne (with Dave) finished a little bit after me. I had been out there so long and hadn't seen anyone in forever, so I was surprised when Pete told me they were still out there. I had been feeling guilty for being so slow and poor Pete having to wait until 1 am for me to finish.  

    The night was cool and pleasant while the day was very warm and sunny. I drank only water and iced tea (found out that Turkey Hill green tea is an awesome thirst quencher!).  Got a cool finisher award - hunk of tree branch w/ blue blazes & MDLD logo.

 Epilogue

    I finished in 23 hrs 45 min (from 1 AM Saturday to 12:45 AM Sunday - I guess I took the "longest day" concept to an extreme). 8:30 in darkness, 15:15 in daylight. I really wanted to finish this event, especially after last year's attempt that ended at Otter Creek. It's hard to describe how difficult that last section is, after being out there for more than half a day, alone and much of it in the dark.

     The drive home was harrowing. Very tough to stay awake, arrived at 3:15am, after being awake for (a new record for me) 45 hours since 7:30 am Friday. Developed big blisters on bottom of both feet around / soon aft Otter Creek that became pretty painful at times. Recovery included dealing w/blisters and finding a half dozen ticks on me. Spent the next week fearing there were more.  Slept until 3pm Sunday.  Made a doctors appointment to get checked for lyme disease, which came up negative.