24 Hours of Momentum
24 Hours of Momentum October 13-14, 2007
Chris Peck / 20.11.2007
The 24 Hour relay race is similar to the larger point to point races (Hood to Coast) in both time and distance. That is where the similarities end. This was my first relay in the 24 Hour format and I am here to say-It Rocks! I signed up my newly formed team of area runners dubbed Team RSR, for Run, Sweat, Repeat and quickly found out planning this event was a piece of cake as compared to our recent Blue Ridge Relay. Surprisingly, the majority of competitors in this race chose to run solo, that is, to see how many laps they could complete in a 24 Hour period. We chose the less stressful and more social team event. Gathering eight runners from my ever growing team, we set out for the Scout Camp early on Saturday morning to set up our campsite and get ready for the race. Upon arriving, we found the most beautiful setting for a race imaginable.The Camp Saunders is truly a place of beauty. After setting up our campsite and meeting some fellow runners, we headed to the briefing meeting, where Mark Junkerman laid out the rules and regulations. As we all listened, I looked around and marveled at the eclectic group we had there, as I always do at these types of races. Due to the abnormal number of solo runners in this event, there were about 14 runners at the start. I lined up to begin the race and before I knew it I was heading down a trail. If there is one thing I have learned in trail running, it is to hit the trail near the front of the pack. This wasn’t a problem because this race is not about speed, but endurance.
I quickly latched on to the top two runners from other teams and we zigzagged our way along the twisty single-track. Along this 5 mile stretch we crossed multiple creeks, had great fun running down switchbacks, ran by a small lake which had a mock ship type structure in it, ran by what looked to be a mid-evil castle, then an adventure area. Making small conversation with my fellow runners, which I always do, we had to laugh at signs that said ‘Keep Out, Firearms in Use’, especially after we’d just dodged a large camouflage truck on one of the short sections of fire road.
When we came out of the woods I felt I needed to push the pace. I’d been binding my time, holding myself back, telling myself it was going to be a long night. But when we hit the sunlight and I felt the end near, I took off. I entered the transition area about 30 seconds ahead of the other two runners. Feeling good, I waited and congratulated the other runners and headed to our campsite.See All Event Posts
