We Conquered the Jay Challenge Ultramarathon!
I don't have enough time or laptop battery to describe all of today's events, but our race was incredible! It took us 8 hours and 31 minutes to run 33 miles on the most insane trails I've seen in my life. It was brutal and beautiful at the same time. I'll start with a few pictures and follow up with more details later. Let's start with the start:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEeephsxXlkU37OFMIgxRNE8q3yThBPiCczZbBunRwA0dGQpIU0H9BEIh4lA9WJwc69eEx1z3D_ajrwSGzoWZIH_N_zjXaHNRYktrVbtXVnTHrSLYuemLNsplJ9oLzbPKxw_g/s320/jay_start.jpg)
And before we knew it, we were climbing huge hills on narrow trails in the woods. Some sections were so steep there were ropes to help pull ourselves up.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNLv0R-7XHtBiLfv1pwrOVr2kXsh7q7Sge-9sqlAV5UkaEH9UbhcuBPFQLfCtzs0NU2Fg7yCdTRh8doZnHrxtF_lxuhha05i_Ymik22be_Pb-gfFS87jlR2UXeZB0ZZAEcK0Y/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0004.jpg)
Shortly after that, we started running our first brook section. I enjoyed the challenge, but it sure was dangerous. The rocks are so slick that every step is just begging for a slip and a fall (yes, we both had a few).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUfobKFB3jRW7j_lPHF2Uob2a0yAaqMGUHGi05xlqv4JYbTXZ6llcwhEW8JxtxXhITkISvp9Eu0e2PWkghhrO42_IpBzWh8SiPiv0P4xmcNtzORsGKwXUQ5TuVlYHr9JQlvxn/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0013.jpg)
After we finished the first brook section we came out of the woods, ran around the corner, and found ourselves at the base of Jay Peak. Wow! This started a LOT of walking....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Q8ai2qcUpUk4QSfr_aKOsaRH0QkX66rW0Un83L48PdVNOW9qDE9rharkGVhYRN9ZqQlkCJ400XZ7HRlLNauYtq3dcw9e8HzdnYBVCfFfMb2_PG9TcaK9n5GjJ6-osYZmcaPH/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0015.jpg)
We finally made it to the top and it felt fantastic! What an accomplishment.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MldbDvLfXxH1qjHigdGAi23UIO7iKlCKHx35YiHu7t2AxAAyJDNysHHjWL6O05KakNNqn_n0_NphKIZM5ljc0hDD8q3QOk0bGq5UeKAhvzZK8MFGtkCPSW2zEnXrqlcopXcy/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0025.jpg)
But what goes up, must come down...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pKqoxHrC-9lAHbuJ60ctyrfT_VMboyFMN2xvkzOyiRSDJz6jWhOqoIPso6g-2UjyVaQfbFcVbcGDozXyIZ9B_jj5SuXEX28Emm8WANy7fO6lgiXjvbnqw3UNrJFoZApqxUOn/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0027.jpg)
And down...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFGhG76bLOvxBzJGEmfEn16oz1RhvgcREnDX2A4eSbLqIkeClp-NQnfC1Z7bUI7ifjL4pNQfU7EyHB_vsn9P9mDPUWHsHFw1S-i1KV5jT8TDqHsyr5pvLFzbk5-NWbwT81lDo/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0030.jpg)
And down...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZKN7VAxhqgAuo7h9hdnm0NIy0Zp-nbjEW7LFBywilLXIU-64B-NZGF07e5XTjiISSDMflKoS22neQj-Lm0YLHmMwVl3DX4vp7oCB4YS7EjM72lC8jKL3VCyDY16XLiwsNDXP/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0039.jpg)
Eventually back into the brooks and rivers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_6TiBAIMYcernYnhIvQkRHHpCSp0flhYjn0NEMn7xGBFCY5fPRntPoU2kxinucZppq1xsJOkNL8aQ-5fzXn3zkisbRrT9Yb0nPvATq2RKjeT-GvHEB5o74e6vKIIQ4RgdxGG/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0040.jpg)
As the miles wore on, there seemed to be no end to the variety of terrain or the hills. Here's a perfect example: somehow in the middle of Vermont there's this huge sand dune we had to climb.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNzODu1GmEvLKtli4WDiwluByW91VulDnjQ1HAChhH2qCOeMLlJAIo_H3aajm8e29OfEJ5QuUKceQS9jtAq7K0bD5nJLGf-ZeY-PtVVNDlWBKibow5WIPVqACvy8dwSx1uLTe/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0041.jpg)
And the last five miles or so were a combination of farms, trails, and mud.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf52HHTTujE9wnNJiAFUFsiviqHJqGpmdHX_BXM5qDGSAqvB8UO-nwQpIfWiPnqwVBEPbOvbxPePHN_BeU5o0epkbnMwiqRLSrPaYUaFVpFH-QL1P6-r3uGErJtm44O74w5ycI/s320/20070728_jaychallenge_0045.jpg)
We finished step for step after 33 grueling miles, just as the sky opened up and started to pour huge raindrops. We got a warm outdoor shower (really), a bite to eat, and hit the road back to New York. Our feet are beat up and we're tired, but I think we held up okay. I think Mark's had enough of this ultramarathon thing, but I'm already wondering how much time I can shave off this race next year....
2 Comments:
Adam - thanks for getting this post and pictures up so soon.
Mark - son! - thanks for the link; we appreciated the call, too. Let's touch base soon, ok? Love you, Dad
Looks like you guys had a great time. Any chance you can talk Stephanie out of doing an Ultra? I like her with a full set of toenails.
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