[ back ]
Dark, lonely 100-mile run rises early in valley
(by Tony Lange - July 28, 2010)
Dark, lonely 100-mile run rises early in valley
By TONY LANGE
When she starts running Saturday morning, it will still be dark outside. After an hour, the sun will start to rise and she already will have passed by the North Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks, downtown Gates Mills and likely will be in Hunting Valley, just minutes away from the Polo Field on Chagrin River Road.
Many area residents still will be in bed asleep. Only in the beginning phase of her journey, sleeping is something her mind and body will have to do without.
Dawn Malone, of Solon, is one of 268 registered ultra-distance runners who will compete in this year's fourth annual Burning River 100-Mile Endurance Run. The route starts at Squire's Castle in Willoughby Hills at 5 a.m. July 31 and participants have until 11 a.m. Aug. 1 to reach Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls.
The director of the race, Joe Jurczyk, said that besides the first 10 miles of the race, which take place along Chagrin River Road, the rest of the course is on trails through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cleveland Metroparks and Summit County Metro Parks.
"A lot of the houses out there on River Road have fog out on the grass and there's a lot of mansions out there that people are running by, so I think it gives it a very unique look. It's a very scenic run," Jurczyk said about the first section of the race.
"We don't have much road on the course and it's just such an upscale area. It's a very beautiful village. It's a different vibe."
Athletes from throughout the United States, Canada, as well as a select three from Great Britain, Germany and Japan will make the trip to Northeast Ohio for the event. There are about 50 similar distance runs nationwide, Jurczyk said.
He said he remembers when a group of about 10 local runners got together six years ago and talked about creating the Burning River. "A bunch of us just thought it would be a nice idea to have something around here that showcases our park systems and the local area," he said.
At the first Burning River in 2007, Malone won the female competition and took eighth place overall as she crossed the finish line in 22:04.13. She was one of 144 people who started the race. Only 68 runners completed it.
Malone, 44, said she plans to better that time and reach the end of her route before 3 a.m. Sunday morning, she said. It will be her fourth Burning River, but this time will be a little different.
This year, the Burning River is the host of the USA Track and Field's 100-mile trail national championship. Participants do not have to register with the USATF, but Malone took on the challenge, which means she will have to run without electronic devices, such as an Ipod, or an assistance pacer.
"This is going to be my first time alone. You're running in the middle of the woods in the dark," she said about the later sections of the course. "I think I'm going to run faster, because I'm going to be afraid."
In the past three years, Malone said she usually listens to music for about 30 to 40 miles of her run. At about mile 60, she meets up with a pacer.
The most difficult part of the race is just staying awake, Jurczyk said.
"It's not that you're just tired, it's partially from being dark outside, that your sleep cycle is ruined, your body wants to stop and lie down and that's where the pacer helps out," he said. "Basically the pacer is there to motivate the runner to finish. It's also safety.
"People could get lost. If you're tired at night and you just get delirious, you could get lost in the woods or something."
Throughout the race, there are 20 aid stations approximately every five miles. They give runners a chance to refuel with water, Gatorade, foil gel packets, bananas, pizza, grilled-cheese sandwiches, soup and a variety of other nourishments.
"You have to train to eat on the run and your body does actually get used to it," said Malone, whose family will be at every aid station along the way. "You have to eat. You got to fuel your body. Don't change anything during the race you haven't been training for."
Although it will be different without the help of a pacer or music to listen too, Malone, a member of Cleveland's Southeast Running Club in Solon, has the benefit of being able to train on the course on a regular basis. She runs 100-plus miles a week on different chunks of the course to prepare herself, she said.
"The No. 1 question people ask me is, 'What do you think about all day long?'" said Malone, who owns a hair salon in Solon. "The main thing that every runner thinks about is what you need next to take care of yourself. What do I need to eat? What do I need to drink? And, what do I need to feel comfortable. It's amazing how time-consuming that is."
Malone said her 13-year-old daughter brings her friends to the aid stations. For them, it's kind of like progressive camping, she said. Her goal is to spend no longer than two to five minutes at each one.
Those who watch the runners throughout the 100-mile journey, will notice a change come about the runners, Malone said.
"It's just really neat to see what people go through and what they look like," she said. "You're getting to the point where you're just kind of out of it. It's amazing what the body can do. Really, the mind gives out before the body gives out."
[ back ]
