It has been a week since I ventured down to Alcoa Tennessee for The Pistol Ultra races which were run on March 9th and 10th. I went down to have a Vespa / OFM table at Check-In and during the day on Saturday as well as to help be a guide for vision and hearing impaired runner Jeremy Sexton who was running the 100K. I was looking forward to the trip as this was one of the races on my radar to run as while I love trails my feet and body have not done as well lately and especially if I want to run a 100 miler this is one to do as it is all on paved greenway trails and while harder on the body are for sure easier to navigate when the sun goes down. Not sure what I will run next year as, and will discuss this more later, the race has a number of distances over the two days (Saturday and Sunday) from 1/2 Marathon to 100 miles and if you are really looking for a challenge you can do multiple races.
The Event
This all started for me when Gordon Turner, along with Brian Gajus, took over not only the Tsali Ultra Trail races which were run in Almond North Carolina on Sat January 14th of this year but they also took over The Pistol Ultra races in Alcoa Tennessee which has been going on since 2013. I know Gordon from his great work in timing races in my part of the world with GTRaces - if you need a timing company I highly recommend them - and know Brian from his work on The Yamacraw Trail races which I have run 3 times as well as the No Business 100 which I have not run but have paced once at.
After talking to Gordon and Brian about Vespa/OFM we came on as a race sponsor and I looked forward to sharing with those who were interested about Fat Adaption and Vespa and how they can greatly help with not only endurance races but even more importantly overall health. Gordon then mentioned there was a Vision and Hearing Impaired runner, Jeremy Sexton, that needed guides for the 100 miler on the 10 mile loops - Jeremy later changed to the 100K. While I have to admit having never done this before - being a guide - I was a little apprehensive as was a lot of responsibility never-the-less I offered to help and became part of Jeremey’s first 100k. Another benefit was I would also be able to check out the course for next year.
One of the unique things about the Pistol, compared to many ultras, is the variety of races offered over the two days - and there used to be more with a relay as well. For this year you had a choice of a 50K/100K/100 mile that started Saturday morning then a 50 miler that started at 8PM Saturday night. Then on Sunday morning you could do a 1/2 marathon or full marathon. One other aside there was an option to do what is called the Double Barrel where you can run the 50K/50Mile, 100K/50 Mile or 100Mile/50Mile. So you can see there is something for everyone and that is why there is such a diverse crowd as compared to some ultra events - and the course adds to this as well.
The good part about the course - and I am sure some trail runners will say it’s not good:) - is that it is run on a 10mile/10.4mile loop, depends on if you are running the imperial or metric distances, and is paved. This makes logistics easy as you have easy access to multiple aid stations and at the turn around/finish line you can get warm if needed, and it was, as well change clothes and refuel easily. Now I get it for some this can also be bad as it does provide an easy drop-out place you come across numerous times but I think the benefits out weight this aspect. An advantage of the course being paved is that you do need to watch out for roots, rocks and such but you did have to be aware of uneven pavement, thus it removes the issues some like me get in running trails in the dark. Another advantage is you can easily use numerous pacers as they can just jump in for a lap as we did with Jeremy. The course while not flat with a few rises along the way is far from hilly with less than 200ft of elevation change per lap
The Race
This year there were 400+ participants in all the races and some great times were put down. In the 50K Hector Falcon from West Virginia ran 3:22:39 to win the men’s race and Audrey Carter was the first women and second OA running a great time of 3:52:19. In the 100K, which was started just after the 50K the Overall winner was Francesca Muccini in 10:16:25 and the first man was also second OA was Zach Bihlman who ran 11:19:46. As for the 100 miler The Overall winner and first man was Chris Stamen in a course and Tennessee State record of 14:01:32 with the first woman, and 3rd OA, being Whitney Richman in 18:37:09. The 50 Mile, which started at 8PM, winner and first man was Owen Thornton in 6:15:53 with the first woman, also 3rd OA, was Shelby Singleton in 8:36:53. The Marathon and 1/2 marathon started Sunday morning with Jakeli winning in 3:22:17.5 and the first woman being Lucy Fischer in 4:16:56. The Half Marathon was won by Peter Osickey in 1:24:23 with the women’s winner being Abbey Shepard in 1:50:54. Also of note in the 100 miler Maurice LaFond at 70 competed the course in 31:47:01 and Steve Troxel completed the Double Barrel (100miler & 50 Miler) by running the 100 miler in 19:55 then doing the 50 miler in 11:59.
Start of 50K
Start of 100K/100Mile
Start of 50 Mile
As I had mentioned I was helping to pace/guide Jeremy Sexton who is vision and hearing impaired and was one of 6 people to do so with each of us doing one lap - I ran the 4th lap. Having never done this before I have to admit I was nervous as did not want to get it wrong. I was not too worried about pace as the initial desired pace was in the 9:00-10:00 but knew from running close to 60miles before the things get slower later into the race. I just knew form taking to others there were areas where the pavement was a little rough so had to call that out as well as there were very few straight parts as while not super windy it is sort of a meandering path. Started out a little tentative but got the hang of it pretty quickly - what I was not as ready for was having to speak loudly as I thought I was loud enough but found out I was not.
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| Jeremy finishing with Kevin McDonnell |
Wrap-Up
It was a great weekend and look forward to going next year to not only share about VESPA and OFM as well as do a race. Gordon and Brian did a great job putting on such a big race - especially since people likely come into it with expectations from past years - but as far as I can tell they met those expectations. It will be good to see where the race goes from here but for sure is one to do. It was also great to talk to people working toward goals that others in the world would see as crazy. I do enjoy sharing about how OFM and Vespa can help people not only reach their crazy goals, really not that crazy, as well as achieve better metabolic health. As for me I will see how my right foot does this year as I know I can run the 50K and go to break my PR and get under 4:30 and maybe under 4:00 but deep down I want to do a 100 miles or maybe 100K . My concern is if I do the 100K and it is hard on my foot I may not do a 100 miler and truthfully while I want to do one can live if I never do on.
I would encourage you to put the The Pistol Ultra on your schedule for next year and join in the fun - see you then.
