Angela Stansberry from Hanceville, AL sent in this great race report from this year’s StumpJump 11 Mile race. Her husband ran the 50K and it sounds like they both had a great weekend here in Chattanooga. If you have any race stories to share, please send them on to Mark at mark @ rockcreek.com
I’ll try to keep this quick & to the point! This was my first ever trail race & I had an absolute blast!!! My husband Mike has finished several 100 milers, 50 milers & 50Ks — I’ve always been his crew & really enjoyed the atmosphere & people….Well, this year he felt that I was ready to run my own race while he ran his….talk about SCARED! I was afraid I’d get lost (no way — it was marked too well), that I’d be last (not that there’s anything wrong with being last — to finish is to win, right?), or that I’d fall off the mountain (well, I very nearly did)….we came up the day before for the tasty carbo load dinner & slide show — lo & behold, both my husband & I were winners of some snazzy prizes in the raffle! This was an omen of things to come…. the day dawned clear & frosty, but many of us were “hanging out” in the restrooms prior to the start of the race (if you know what I mean — race nerves). I was armed with long sleeved layers to shed later when the sweating started, my trusty iPod Shuffle loaded with Led Zeppelin & Steve Miller Band tunes, & my regular road trainers….how intimidating to be in the midst of all these seasoned, Montrail-clad, half-naked mountain goats! My goal was just to finish….
My husband & I had strolled on the first mile or so of trail the day before — he warned me that it was deceiving….well, he was right. I kept up with a smart pack of chattering youngsters until the trail changed….they sped off without me, their colorful singlets flashing, & left me in a lull….as I bounded down a rocky gully, I rolled an ankle & hit the ground with a grunt. I sprang to my feet expecting a broken ankle but it was suprisingly fine…then I expected a leg drenched in blood but no, it was only scraped….at least nobody witnessed the crash! I darted down the trail before the others caught up to me, heading into the roughest terrain I’d ever seen! Those swinging bridges made me spazz out & the skinny goat trails made me clench my teeth but I trudged onward….the aid stations were fabulous & so encouraging! They pumped me up & sent me out with the ominous words “It gets interesting from here on out”….imagine my panic by this announcement. There were times that I thought I was in big trouble — climbing straight up the teeth of Signal mountain causes the ol’ quads to seize up! I was exhausted already, with many miles left to go….
On the return trip, I was pushed by a great guy who dogged my footsteps the entire way….I could hear the bridges creak as he stepped up & his gasps for air; these propelled me into constant forward motion, sometimes almost crawling. Bouncing down the rocks, constantly putting on my brakes while wiping sweat out of my eyes — well, I thought my knee was toast. It was just me & the guy behind me….I put some distance between us & halted mid-trail to lay hands on my knee & ask the Lord for some help….He came through, as always, & I managed to trot my way back out to the pavement. Man, was I excited to find out I didn’t have to re-enter the woods! I was actually almost done, the finish line was in sight, & the faithful crowd clapped & cheered as I gasped my way past the time clock (which read 2 hrs. & 27 min.). I scavenged an ice bag for my knee & collapsed on the grass to bask in the glory of my first 11 miler….my husband came streaking across that same finish line in 6 hrs. & all in one piece…..we were proud of each other & thrilled to be a part of the same race….
Thanks, Rock Creek Outfitters! Because of your great atmosphere, fine give-aways & fabulous volunteers, I had a perfect weekend….now excuse me as while go dig the gravel out of my leg! See you next year…
Angela Stansberry
Hanceville, Alabama
Read more about the StumpJump 50K & 11 Mile Trail Race, and shop for trail running gear at RockCreek.com