My second ultra-marathon in three months was by far the best running experience of my life. Let me back up a bit. I’m 47 and have recently gone through some profound life changes. I started running at the tender age of 45 to relieve stress in my complicated, middle aged life.  I clearly remember day one in my running log-“walk/run 20 minutes.”  I was SO proud of that small accomplishment, and that I had started to exercise. I decided that I would even give up my smoking habit as I became fit.  Months passed as I increased my mileage from one to two miles, then three, and gradually I began to think that maybe I could run a 10K and not die or puke.

Last November my wife and I completed our first road marathon (Richmond), and then one month later ran Jacksonville, FL on a whim.  We both loved the distance, but there was a voice in my ear (Sophie Speidel) that kept whispering “trails….50K....Horton miles…) So in February I ran my first ultra-Holiday lakes 50K. After 33 miles of snow, mud, and, what I thought then were massive hills, I finished in 6:59.  I felt like a king wearing that finisher shirt around the next week.  From that point on I’ve been hooked on trail running and the “Promise Land” course did nothing to discourage me.

The course terrain is brutal even if you’ve trained well, and I thought I had.  The scenery is jaw-dropping spectacular-even in the pouring rain. The mud on the course was totally insane, and the river crossings nearly did me in!  At the second river crossing I slipped; fell totally into the water, and while getting up I ripped a four inch gash in my leg. I thought that wound would win me “best blood” for sure, but when I got to the Blue Ridge Parkway aid station they said “you’re not even in the top five!”  Now this is a sport I can love!!

But the best part of the run was the people.  I ran and talked with so many different people over the course of the race.  It was wonderful to hear people talk about “why they run,” where they’re from (New York, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, and yes-even Bedford, VA), and how many ultras they’ve run.  The miles passed quickly and I found myself at the legendary Apple Orchard Falls climb. The stairs and trail seemed to go on forever! I could see the ridgeline but it NEVER seemed to get any closer.  I fell further and further back as people passed me, but all I was worried about was getting to the top, and then back to the finish line with what little was left of my quads. After I passed the last aid station with just over two miles to go an angel appeared on the trail.  My wife, Peggy, had run up the road to meet me and run the last bit with me.  Now I knew that I could finish this event.  The last mile taxed my endurance like I have never been pushed before, but I gritted it out and finished in just over my goal time of 8:00.

Many, many people deserve a hand for making this event possible.  The aid crews-what can we all say?  You’re the best!  The guy who stood in the pouring rain, miles from anywhere, directing runners at the base of Onion mountain!  Wow….Thanks so much!!  The post race feed (with burgers/dog cooked by Nancy Horton) was great too. 

We all get this question asked of us- “Why would you run that far? Are you crazy?”  I have wrestled with that question myself.  As a newcomer to the sport I can say that, for me, the appeal lies in doing something that seems nearly impossible.  It’s the challenge of digging deep into your inner self and finding that spot that is weak and testing it. It’s about the mental limits that we put on ourselves.  It’s about choices in the end.  Do I choose to push myself, and see where my limits are, or do I back away in fear. For me the answer was to “go for it!” Promise Land was an event that changed me for the better-an experience that every ultra runner should have, and I look forward to running many more of these wonderful Horton races.

JR Ankney