After signing up for two ultra marathons in 2015 only to be sidelined by nagging running injuries, I finally lined up at a starting line without any problems. Third time's the charm!

As I was preparing my race attire, I kept checking the weather- 10 days out and it looked to be a chilly weekend. Over the course of the week leading up to the race, the forecast went from chilly to rain, snow, and strong winds. The percentage of rain/snow would change many times before we arrived Friday for packet pick up. So, I packed for the worst case but hoped for the best.

Packet pickup was a low-key event at the Tyson’s Corner North Face store. No frills - bib, shirt, and stickers if you wanted them. Oh, and they offered a 10% store discount.

Race Day

I woke up at 4:15 a.m. and looked out of the hotel window only to see it pouring down rain. When I checked the day’s forecast on my phone, I was saddened. My first ultra and it was going to be cold and rainy - what a way to break in a newbie! The departure plan… meet Eric and his wife, Jennifer, at 5:30 a.m and make our way to starting area.

My wife, Alisa, and Jennifer had graciously volunteered to be our support crew and planned to meet us at miles 13 & 19 so we could access our drop bags. My drop bag was a small cinch sack, big enough to hold my shoes, dry clothing, Honey Stinger gels, and a couple of waffles. Needless to say, this was not the most ideal bag when I was looking for items during transition. Time to upgrade!

This was another race where we had to take a bus to the start line, as there was not enough parking at the start/finish area. When we set out at 5:30 a.m. it looked like we might get a break from the forecasted weather. The rain had stopped and the temperature was not as cold as expected maybe 42F. This would change as we waited for the 7:00 a.m. start.

Read the rest of the report at http://wp.me/p775TZ-81