High in the Highland Sky

Highland Sky is near and dear to me for a variety of reasons but mainly because I wanted to run it as my first ultra in 2003. I wisely knew that I would be in over my head and decided to start running ultras after a few marathons and a few years of hard/smart training. I finally made it on the starting line in 2006, which happened to co-exist with one the hottest days on record for the Dolly Sods area. I finished, barely. It opened my eyes to a whole new world of ultra running. I’d never quite run through terrain anything like it. I came back in 2007, but had a miserable day from hard training (I somehow deviated from ‘smart’ training). I opted out of Highland Sky in 2008 when the weather was good and I missed out racing in course record race. I vowed to return in 2009 to conquer the mountain.
My training was terrific for the most part of 2008/2009 but no results to back it up. I DNF’d at Frosty 50k in Winston Salem, NC in January; DNF’d at Mount Mitchell 40 Miler in Black Mountain, NC due to hypothermia; and DNF’d at Bull Run Run 50 mile in Manassas, VA in April. I vowed to try one more ultra before taking a 4-6 week break from running to allow some bursitis to heal in my foot. I managed to squeeze in an excellent 6 week block of training with two road races thrown in the mix for variety. Both times in road races I came close to running a PR and was well beaten in them, but came away knowing I was ready for Highland Sky – which was my goal. The difference between road racing and ultra racing is the difference between listening to Twisted Sister and Billy Joel. One, you have to be fired up and revving to go in a road race. In an ultra, you must contain that energy for the long haul and wait to unleash your move.
My move at Highland Sky 2009 occurred at mile 12 on the steep descent after aid station #2. The race was typical up until this point, surviving the nettle patches and hidden rocks. Highland Sky is also special to me because it is much like a life metaphor. Smooth start on the road (like being born/childhood), then climbing up very steep escarpments with stinging nettle (the joy’s of adolescence, stormy/unpredictable), then rolling up and down as the fatigue begins to occur (like ups and downs of adult life). I was running with Bill Young and Tim Driscoll in this section. I was well aware of Tim as he had the Iron Mountain 50 Miler in Damascus, VA in the bag last year (I was working an aid station) but got lost in the late stages and also netted a 4th place 6:37 time last year at Highland Sky (smoking fast) and who can forget “Big” Bill Young as I like to call him. He’s my ultra running idol. He’s a man who works hard (even making the cover of a large coal magazine), makes time for his family, yet still finds time to train and kick butt. He’s tough beyond description. My friend, Bradley Mongold told me to stick with Bill for a while before making my move in the race. I thought to myself, “Stick with him? I’m trying to just hang on!”
I finally started to feel good and made my move and soon caught sight of fast Aaron Schwartzbard. There was no catching him though, as soon as we hit the Highland Sky road, he was gone. His superior marathon speed is flawless and I knew I would not catch him. I proceeded to enjoy the Dolly Sods area as sun, rain, and hail all occurred within three miles. Amazing! Nonetheless, the effort of the first 25 miles had taken their toll and I knew I was running to maintain my position and 2nd place. I ran and walked and trudged my way to the finish line with 2nd place and elation at having a seat and my fiancée Maria by my side. She has tolerated a lot of my training time and it finally showed I am capable of a good finish and not a DNF. Dan Lehmann takes pride in his race (another reason for my love of this race) and you can tell he enjoys this task immensely. Back in my road racing days I always stated that WV was the best state with the best races and this race holds true to that. I love WV so much that I even had to go out and find me a WV woman and Maria is all about her state pride and enjoyed the race from her perspective as much as I did; all in all a very blessed weekend.

Nick Whited