fool on the hill: a blog by matt kirk: heartbreak 100k

On Friday after work, Carl came to town. He and I packed our gear for a little adventure that would extend through the night and most of Saturday. It would become known as the Heartbreak 100K.

Lily joined us for dinner at a local pizzeria and then dropped us off at Toms Creek by 8:10 PM. For the first dozen or so miles, we reversed the cross-county route that Uwharrie and I traversed on Monday.

Positive energy teemed until we lost my old footsteps on the Eyebrow around midnight. Both Carl and I knew the alternative (taking countless bearings down a steep ridge in freezing darkness) was less than desirable. These two miles took us about two hours.

We made our way out across Hwy 80 and up into Sugar Cove. I filled my bottles from small tributaries and kept eating, doing well with both fueling and hydration. As trail conditions turned into a frozen jungle gym, Carl remarked that he couldn’t believe I was actually returning for this kind of punishment.

Cresting out on Curtis Creek FS road around 3 AM, we faced several miles downhill on a gravel road. The severe impediment of crusty snow remained, but after a couple miles we hit icy tire tracks! We continued on at a thrilling velocity of 5 mph.

Upon our turnoff from Newberry Creek Rd. up to Star Gap, we had to cross a yard illuminated by the interior light of a backcountry home. Who’s up and armed with a shotgun at this hour? We looked in to see a mounted horned beast of gigantic proportions staring back at us through the window as dogs started barking. We were awake!

Carl and I have shared many adventures through the years. One has received repeat visitation: Adam Hill’s Rattle My Heart 50K. In 2008, Carl and I ran the Rattle on Saturday and then reversed the route on Sunday. In 2009, we both ran the Rattle (me in homemade sandals). This year, we were pretty sure our streak was broken until our pace accelerated along the icy tire tracks of Curtis Creek.

As we climbed to Star Gap, our motivation to make the 9 AM start of the 3rd annual Rattle My Heart returned. My resolve was further strengthened by the improved conditions we encountered along Jarretts Creek FS road up over Heartbreak Ridge. We were in Graphite by dawn waiting for a train to pass before following the RR tracks around the cove.

At Birch Ridge, we began a two mile and 2000’ ascent. At first, the going was smooth and the early morning snowy panoramas from the knife-edge had me wishing for a camera. Soon however, the thick briars, laurels, and false summit after false summit had me impatiently wondering when we’d hit the toll road.

Finally there, Carl and I enjoyed the solid footing of the toll road to Sourwood Gap and down into Montreat. We gathered with running friends at Lake Susan by 9:20 AM and were pleased to hear that we were not the last to arrive. Taking full advantage of the ten minutes, we stuffed our faces with as much food as possible. Many thanks to Terry, Mohammed and Adam for furnishing the makeshift aid station!

For the last 50K of the adventure, I carried only the hip belt from my backpack. It was great to enjoy a lighter load and lightened spirits (thanks to great company). All twelve (?) of us stuck together for the initial climb up Rainbow Mtn. and down Rattlesnake Ridge. The day promised to be sunny and warm, quite possibly the first of its type for the year!

Initially, the going was smooth. However, as we descended from the Royal Gorges overlook, the fatigue of being awake 28 hours and slogging for 14 had set in. The two others running the full 50K loop (Mohammed and Adam) left me in the dust on Kitsuma. I later bumped into them briefly at Andrews Geyser before they blasted ahead up Heartbreak.

While bringing up the rear and despairing over the challenge of Heartbreak Ridge and the inevitable ankle-cranking slush-fest of the toll road, I bumped into Terry. He offered me an energy bar, which fueled me for the remainder of the final epic climb. When I made it to the Toll Road, my only goal was to get done ASAP. Dave Pryor cheered me on as he waited for Terry. With the sun sinking, I donned all my clothing.

Near Sourwood Gap, I caught up with Carl who had cut off 5 miles of the loop around Graphite. We ended up finishing before the clock struck six, some 21 hours and 30 minutes after setting out from Toms Creek. My folks were there to pick us up and refuel us at Jalapenos as our carriages turned to pumpkins. Carl calculated the run to have a net gain of 18,500’.