I decided to sign up for this race because of the unique course. It is held on an abandoned stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and includes two tunnels. I was late in registering, which meant starting on the wait list the Monday before the Saturday race. The wait list cleared fairly quickly and I went from 17th position to next to register in less than a day and a half. Due to Covid restrictions the race was held twice allowing 250 runners each - in the morning and again in the afternoon. I entered the morning version, hoping for cooler conditions.
Course description
The lead up to the first tunnel is about .7 miles. This is a small climb (about 60 ft of total climb during this 0.7 miles). Sidling Hill tunnel: There is very little elevation change within the tunnel. This will be the warmest portion of the course as you will feel about a 20 degree increase in temperatures from the 40 degrees outside. Remember, in this tunnel you cannot see the other side when entering so lights are mandatory!
After the tunnel is where the elevation starts to really come into play. Athletes will descend quickly for a half a mile coming out of the tunnel and then have a steady gradual climb over the next 3 miles to Ray’s Tunnel. This will be a beautiful section of the course with awesome views, and picturesque fall foliage!
Tunnel #2 (Ray’s Hill Tunnel): This is the shorter of the two tunnels, but since you will be running out one side, turning around, and running back in, you will be spending close to 1.5 miles underground!
Retrace the route back to the start.
Runners coming for packet pickup had their temperature checked and were asked about covid symptoms and exposure. Masks were expected except when running and the start area was marked off to enable safe distancing.
The race started at 9:30 and the crowd quickly spread out. The tempurature was in the upper 50s. Almost immediately I was getting out of breath due to the uphill and the effort of starting without warming up. I knew I had to give myself a little time to adjust. My goal for the day was to keep the run enjoyable to the turnaround and then decide what effort to make on the way back which would be mostly downhill. I would like a finish time under 2 hours, but didn't think I was in shape to manage that.
I was carrying an old cell phone to get some photos and video of the course and was messing with that as I approached the tunnel entrance. My breathing was surprisingly loud on the the videos when I reviewed them later.
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| I'm wearing the orange shirt |
There was a lady running just ahead of me wearing a skeleton shirt as I entered the tunnel. It got really dark in there and without anyone running the other way there wasn't much light even from other runners. The pavement, although wet was in fairly good condition so it didn't take too much focus to just follow along through the tunnel. Now and then someone would yell to make a spooky echo-ey sound and then others would repeat it. It seemed like about 5 minutes until some light started showing from the other end. It was far enough away that at first it looked like a white road sign reflecting light back our way. Eventually it was possible to recognize the shape of runners silhouetted against the bright tunnel opening.
Coming out of the tunnel I was still working a little harder than seemed good this early in the race. The downhill helped ease the effort a bit even while my pace got faster. I ran beside another "senior" runner from Wheeling and talked about the race, running in this unusual year, etc. His goal was a little faster than my wishful 2 hour mark. As our pace quickened we passed the skeleton shirt lady. The downhill gave way to the long uphill and the effort increased which meant the pace slowed. He and I continued together until I took longer at the next water table/aid station. He went ahead.
As my pace slowed, the skeleton shirt lady passed me before the second tunnel and again I was trailing behind her through the dark. More spooky shouts echoed here too. The second tunnel is shorter and light from the other end was visible right after things got dark. Shortly after leaving the tunnel was the halfway turnaround and a timing station. I saw the race clock showing 1 hour, 1 minute and some seconds. I was tired enough to doubt the second half would be faster.
As I made the turn I noticed a guy who could be in my age approaching the turn. Soon after I reentered the tunnel, this runner caught and gradually passed me. After exiting the tunnel and the course became downhill, I gradually caught up and ran alongside of him. We ran for a while without conversation until one of of broke the silence. My/our pace quickened again with the assistance of gravity. We talked a little about our running history. He is a former smoker and has been running for just a couple of years. I learned he is from near Johnstown and often trains with younger runners, something I also do.
We passed the lady with the skeleton shirt. I suppose her pace was more consistent than mine had been. Uphills seemed especially hard for me. We continued along making good time through the long downhill. As the course transitioned from downhill to uphill while nearing the longer tunnel another runner caught and passed us. It was a lady, but not the one with the skeleton shirt. I think this was the only runner to pass me after the shorter tunnel on the return trip. As the uphill wore me down and made me breathe harder, I took some walk breaks. Walking for a minute or so allowed my breathing/heart rate to mostly recover and I could transition back to running.
As I came nearer to the tunnel I saw a group of cyclists along the side, seeming to be waiting for the road to get clear of runners. I stopped at the water station before the tunnel entrance and my second half run partner entered the longer tunnel 50 or so yards ahead of me. I could barely see him ahead of me in the darkness. This longer tunnel was like the crest of a hill as the uphill leveled off and gradually turned to slight downhill. Soon after exiting the tunnel I rejoined my friend for the last 0.7 mile to the finish. As I realized I would probably catch up, I had decided I would not try to pass him before the finish.
Our pace was picking up a bit again even though we both expressed happiness that the "end was near". As the finish area became visible another lady runner caught and passed. We had discussed whether to let her pass and agreed the only way to stop her was probably to use a tripping tactic. On she went without us. But our pace picked up a little more and she finished only about 10 yards ahead of us. It seems to me I could have raced them to the finish and maybe gotten ahead of them both. But I had already settled the subject and was tired enough that I didn't care to try.
Official finish time 1:59:37 and splits First half 1:01:51 second half 58:46. 2nd of 5 M65-69
Garmin gps mile splits (total distance showed 12.91 miles)
9:16 8:51 8:35 9:22 9:50 9:51 10:00 9:14 8:46 8:32 10:12 9:16 8:36
