Stage Race completed!!!

Photo of Signal Mountain...location of the last stage of this race. What a great event!. Anyone looking to do Ultra racing should really start with this type of race. Each day is very runnable and the distance is not that long..18 to 22 miles a day, and it's only 3 days!

Rock Creek really does a awesome job in putting these events on and it's a good group of people. So anytime you get a chance you should take advantage of it! In addition Chattanooga is a really a fun and cool little city.

I finished this thing way down from last year. My fitness level is just not where it could be but that's OK. I totaled out at 10:51hrs for 60miles. Good enough for 21st place I think. All the stages were run on awesome trails..I do not know which is my favorite as they are all so different. I will be back for my third attempt in 2010.

Stage 2-Completed

This is a photo of Raccoon Mountain, location of stage 2 out of 3 for this race! A better race for me today. At least I felt better physically compared to yesterday! The winner posted a 2:06...I was 50min back with a 2:56! A little slower than my time from last year. Anyway, I should move up a spot or two..as the times are cumulative. Last year I went sub 10hrs for the 60miles of trails here in Chattanooga, Tn. This year that's not going to happen. After 2 stages my time is 6:58.(about 1 hr off last year). With the 3rd stage being the hardest and most technical of the 3 days.

Some highlights so far: I was getting a post race massage and a American Bald Eagle was circling

overhead. You could see it's white tail feathers and white head. That was a first for me seeing one in the wild. Also, they give a lot of swag here. Scored a pair of smart wool socks and some cool sandals.

DAY 1 stage race..22 miles

Hmmmm..maybe the GODS were trying to tell me something. I usually do not focus on the negative. Plus, I didn't have a "gut" intuition on not doing this race. It was basically, if I make it here, I do it. FIRST SIGN: I fell on my "fixie" Thursday night. Hard enough to cause a deep bruise on my right thigh (a little pain) with every step, some abrasions and a very sore neck. But I laughed this off as everyone falls sometimes..SECOND SIGN: I usually rent a car for my travels and booked one on-line. I only had a small window of time to pick one up Friday..and the rental car agency called me to tell me "they had no cars available"..maybe they would or would not? Well, 30 minutes before I had to decide on another car etc..they called and told me one came in..so all was good. I left Nashville on time..with a couple slices of pizza and some pasta from Pizza Perfect..had a fast and easy trip. Free room at my friends Jacklyn's place..but this a.m. woke up with a massive stomach ache (my body does not like food)..Even on the way to today's race..I really just didn't know if I could/would make the starting line..I was hurting so bad. Well, with 5 min. before the start I decide to give it a go..the first 5 miles looped back to the start..I told myself if I was still feeling bad, I'd bail. After the 5 miles and a 5 min pit stop in the porta-john(GI distress)..I started feeling better...then around mile 8ish took a wrong turn..a harder and a little longer route to the mile 10 aid station..No problem..happens a lot in trail races, although this was a first for me...finished the 22 miles a little down time wise from where I wanted to be but I believe I'll be able to make up some time tomorrow..an awesome way to start the weekend (actually I believe I started Thursday night)...I'm posting from STONE CUP coffee shop(can't beat that), I downed some good recovery fluids and will hydrate all day today...looking forward to tomorrow..18 miles on Raccoon Mtn.

RESULTS

Chattanooga Mountain Stage Race (TOP EIGHT)

1st-Matt Simms-8:35:03

2nd-John Wiygul-9:05:23

3rd-Jaclyn Greenhill-9:10:42

4th-Sal Coll-9:10:42

5th-Scott Griffith-9:26:35

6th-Johnny Pryor-9:49:10

7th-Chad Wamack-9:54:33

8th-Paul Brannon-10:22:35