In late December of ’17, an ad in Trail Runner magazine lured me with the prospect of a shiny finisher’s buckle if I could complete their 50K in January and again in February of ’18. How hard could it be? 8 hours seemed like enough, given Columbus is “flat”.

Ohio rockstar ultra runner, Harvey Lewis, is a regular at R&R and his suggestion for “embracing the elements” resonated with me. Back in December of ’16, a DNF at the inaugural Devil Dog 100M at about 81 miles left me thinking that 50K’s would be my limit for the Winter months. The Dec. ’17 Bigfoot 50K felt just right. Concerned with the cutoff times, I registered for the series because ultra runners do stupid things, for “fun”.

The elements at my first R&R 50K included starting time wind chill temps of about minus 8 degrees. The port-o-jons were full of dark blue … ICE. It was turd freezing cold with a few inches of powdery snow blanketing the forest. The numerous views of Alum Creek Lake were stunning, leaving me to wonder if this is what Algonquin would look like this time of year? In huarache sandals with thick “socks”, I ran the first 40K, imaging the snow to be white beach sand, while noticing ice fishing activity on the snow and ice coated lake. Ice, cold feet and sandal strap issues forced me into minimalist shoes for the final 10K loop. Keeping just warm enough to hit the time limits was constantly top of mind, especially after nearly missing the cutoff time to start loop four.

Getting loopy! The course is a figure eight consisting of two 10K loops “designed by and for runners”! Typically the event sells out with 300 runners per race. We can choose to run 10K, 20K, 30K, 40K or 50K and it’s easy to drop down in distance for an official finish, and runners often do, or time out to a shorter distance. For ’18 and ’19, less than 30 people per year earned that Double 50K Finisher’s Buckle. I was happy to get one both years, barely. R&R attracts a younger crowd, so earning those buckles took focus. I’m 57 now, one of the oldest runners for the full 50K. I prefer fair weather 100 milers … but “embracing the elements” builds stronger athletes.

During January and February in mid Ohio, these trails are always tough. Sometimes they are rough and rutted, frozen like volcanic rock into real ankle breakers. Warm or cold, cloudy or sunny, the lake views are pleasing amongst the sporadic pine trees. Fresh snowfall, rain, freezing rain, ice, and fog can change the course significantly from beginning to end and race to race, as the high number of runners can churn the mud as if a cement mixer had recently poured goop onto the course by the tons. The slower and further we run, the more churned up the mud gets. Snow buildups can trap more water, creating more slop.

This year’s January race featured unseasonably warm temps of about 32 to 40 degrees and heavy rain just hours before the start mucked up the already muddy trails. I ran in huaraches with winter weight toe socks and trekking poles, getting it done slow and steady. An abundance of mud on the mostly rolling terrain ranged from sticky almond butter to “deep dish casserole”.

R&R delivers much more than rocks and roots. There are ropes for some steep sections, several water crossings and many downed trees to climb over. It’s fun. Really. Once we happened to be out there as thick ice was fast melting. Cracking and popping ice and “groaning” sounds had one runner telling me it sounded like whales! Alum Creek was growling at us, maybe laughing at our absurdity? At one race, recreational boaters were out. It’s Ohio. Be flexible. RD, Jeff Henderson, knows how to draw a crowd for the “off-season”. Bling helps. The bling generous and practical, especially when you register for the series. Earlier registants save more. This year I registered in August. For ’19 and ’20, all finishers of any distance received colorful recycled glass medallions made in Ohio. Everyone who picks up a bib gets a tech shirt at each race! Entering the series gets us a hoodie and more. And those buckles for the really nutty runners … love my buckles!

Fleet Feet has the resources to put on a professionally organized event. And, profits go towards maintaining and improving the well marked trails. Staying the course was even easier for the February’s race … simply follow the deep dish brown casserole. By the way, if you try to run on the edge of the muddy trail, you are likely to be in the briar bushes catching lots of stickers. So, blood from scratches is very much a part of this race. Warm, smiling volunteers in the heated RV at the start/finish area get runners thru fast for bib/chip and shirt pickup near the pleasant aroma of the firepit located at the midpoint between the North and South loops. 50K runners go three times on the North loop. This is where runners have access to drop bags under cover with a well stocked aid station. This year, runners came from at least eleven states! Volunteers and aid stations are wonderful. One remote aid station typically has loud tunes jamming thru the woods. Funky stuff, classic rock, pop. All good.

Earning the R&R buckles in ’18 and ’19 helped set the table for my two best years of ultra running, and helped me achieve a string of at least one ultra marathon per month for the past fourteen months. And, a PR of six for six at 100 milers in ’19. Plus, bucket list races completed, along with redemption at my most painful DNF, Cloudsplitter 100M. Embracing the elements works. Harvey knows his stuff. He also likes to quote a Japanese proverb … “fall down seven times, get up eight.” You are “guaranteed” to fall on this course.

This February’s race was extra special personally, as I set a course PR by seventeen minutes. At the prior five R&R 50K’s my times ranged from 7:46:46 to 7:59:53. Just seven seconds left on the eight hour clock, although, runners who make the cut off to enter loop five, can earn a finish a few minutes after the eight hours. My new Xero Mesa minimalist trail shoes were perfect and this was my first time running R&R sans trekking poles. Several weeks of experimenting with IF, Intermittent Fasting, I believe were key as well. I became lighter and was able to manage to consume less calories and finish in 7:29:23 with nary a “code brown” or queasy tummy. Merely making it to the start in good health six times in a row is something for which I’m grateful. Not easy during Ohio winters and flu season! There is always a mix of nerves and excitement for me before the R&R 50Ks, and I kept my streak of not yet DNF’ing a 50K alive. If history is a guide, ’20 will be another special year of running.

Both Harvey Lewis’s were socializing before the start. I think of “ultra” Harvey as the Scott Jurek of the Midwest. He’s an exuberant plant powered, super fast runner with too many ultra accomplishments to list. A documentary featuring Harvey and his father Harvey, titled “Like Harvey, Like Son”, will be out this year! It’s been a hit at screenings and festivals. The film is about the father-son team attempting to set an FKT on the brutal 2200-ish mile Appalachian Trail with senior Harvey crewing from a van while ultra gurus and many friends came to assist. Senior Harvey, visiting Ohio from Minnesota, posed for photo ops by the campfire. Often Harvey wins the longer distances at R&R by a wide margin.

At this year’s February race, only 47 runners completed the 50K and only eight of those were female, a surprisingly low number. Trail Sisters, where are you? The male winner was Isaac Barnes at 4:41:35, who I believe has ran all eight years worth of the R&R 50Ks. Extra awesome to me, as Isaac had just completed the ruggedly tough Orcas 100 Miler seven days prior! Shannon Tenwalde was first female and 21st overall with a time of 6:33:39.

Another standout performance was tenth place finisher George Themelis at 6:09:52. Why? George is 60. Merely 4% of ultra marathon finishers are aged 60-69. This is something I’m noticing more as my 58th birthday is coming and 60 will be just around the bend. George is a beast and a unicorn. Go George.

Thank you for reading. For more than you ever wanted to know, you can find me on YouTube attempting to share ideas that work relative to creating an upward spiral in wellness, barefoot running, ultra running, sandal running, plant powered nutrition, etc.

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