This past weekend, I had the opportunity to run the Rocks and Roots 50k just outside Columbus, OH. I have run this race previously, but it hadn’t fit the schedule the past few years, but this year it fit in perfectly with all my other races, so it was time to head back.

The race is held at Alum Creek, in Lewis Center, OH, just north of the state capital of Ohio. The race website indicates the particular trail used is the only one in Ohio, “by runners, for runners”. Since the race was only about 2 hours north, I decided to head up race morning. After a 4:30am wake up call, a quick breakfast, I left the house about 4:45. I wanted to be sure I arrived early as I had to get my packet at the race site. My previous time at this race also made me aware that, while there is plenty of parking just a short walk from the start, there are only a few spots at the start, so I knew arriving early would be good so I can could one of those spots.

I arrived on site at about 6:45. Even though the weather for the day was supposed to be nice and in the mid 40’s, it was cold when I arrived. I was able to get my packet and returned to my car to relax a bit, attach my bib, and just prepare for the day ahead. At about 7:40, I decided it was time to head to the start line, about 100 yards from where I had parked, to stretch and talk to some of the other runners. There was a nice fire going and next to it I saw a couple of my running friends and I began to chat with them a bit and loosen up. At about 7:55, the Race Director gave a bit of instruction and explained the race is basically 10k loops, 1 north loop, 1 south loop, repeat as necessary (the race also has a 10k, 20k, 30, and 40k option). After the brief announcement, the race was off.

The 30, 40, and 50k races are the first to start at 7am. I lined up in the middle as I knew the first couple of miles would be congested, but I also didn’t want to go out to fast. I hadn’t realized it initially, but I had lined up near my friends Alex, Kenzie, and Randy, purely by coincidence. I spent the first few miles running and chatting with them. The course is nice and wide open in the first few miles, but not too many people sped past me and I didn’t pass many as we all settled into a groove. The course was wet, but it was still early in the race, so, while there was mud on the course, it wasn’t too bad. The first loops is some hills, with some nice flat, runnable sections mixed in. In fact, most of the course is runnable, if conditions are right, but those would soon change.

After the first 10k, I hit the aid station for a quick refill of my water bottles and grabbed my nutrition from my drop bag (Sword Endurance) and took back off. The 2^nd loop is the south loop. It, too, has its ups and downs, with some climbs where the race has added some ropes to help runners get to the top, though none of the hills are very long, just steep. I was still feeling strong and had found a good groove. I kept it easy up the hills, and ran a nice pace during the flat parts (the south loop seemed to have longer flat stretches between hills). Just a bit before the south loop rejoins the north loop, there was a large creek crossing. I had remembered a crossing, but it seemed especially deep this year, coming up past my ankles. Thankfully my shoes drain very well and this was a non-issue, though the water was quite cold. I got back to the start/ finish and 20 km were done.

The remaining loops follow the same pattern, North, then South, then North again. However, by the time I made it back to the start/finish at the 20k mark, the 20k and 10k had both started and the leaders of the 50, 40, and 30ks (as well as many other runners) had already started back on loop 3. I make note of this because all this foot traffic combined with the rain they had experienced just days before would lead to a sloppy race. The north loop had become a mud pit. There was no escaping it. The mud was so slick, I think ice skates may have been more effective than running shoes. I began to struggle quite a bit. I ran as much as I could, but the mud in parts were ankle deep, or greater. I just needed to keep moving forward, but there was little reprieve from the mud on the north loop. The south loop was better, but it was still very muddy. Thankfully the ropes the race had up for the hills proved useful in getting up the hills in these muddy conditions. By the middle of the 4^th loop, my legs were feeling quite tired and I was having trouble staying up right (I never did fall). It had become a slow go.

By loop 4, I was done with mud, but I knew I had 1 more lap to go. I had completed the 4^th loop about 10 minutes prior to cut off (2pm), but knew that if I kept moving, I would make it. So, I did just that. On the final loop, I was passed by a couple of my friends and saw a few more just behind me, all of which I thought had been cut for missing cut off (since I had come in so close to cut off myself). I am not sure if I would say loop 5 was “better”, but it wasn’t worse than loop 3 (remember, both loops 3 and 5 are the north loop). Instead of being overly slippery, the mud had started to harden a bit and became a bit more shoe sucking. I walked quite a bit of the last loop, running here and there just to try to keep pushing forward. I remember seeing my friends Helen, Alex, Abbi, and Glenn all passing me that last loop and suddenly realizing I may be the final runner. That didn’t matter, however, and I kept plowing ahead. Despite all the mud, I finished the race with about 15 minutes before final cut off. My shoes were covered in mud, barely recognizable. I grabbed a few snacks and sat next to the fire to try to dry some of the mud off and actually watched 2 more runners come through (one was another friend, Randy) and then that was it. All runners had finished or dropped down.

Overall, the race is a fun race. Despite it not having a lot of elevation, it can be a very challenging course, especially after a rain. The 8 hour cut off does make it difficult for a lot of runners and it’s my understanding that about 50% of those who sign up from the 50k drop down in distance. Despite the mud, I am looking forward to going back for the February edition of the race.