Not Yeti

Oct 02, 2024

I thought I would be sitting down today with tired legs, an exhausted mind and a full heart to write my second 100 mile race report. But sometimes things don’t go as planned, in running as in life. But what I am writing about today once again helps bring into focus what is truly important.

Arriving at The Virginia Creeper Trail in Abingdon VA

As some of you may remember, I ran and completed my first 100 mile race at the Vermont 100 this past July (after the 2023 race was cancelled days before the race was to happen due to catastrophic flooding.) Back in January of 2024 I had signed up for a “backup race” just in case I didn’t hit my goal at Vermont this year. But I also picked one that I had heard amazing things about (the course, the community, the race director.) The Yeti 100 mile Endurance Run takes place on the historic Virginia Creeper Trail that goes from Abingdon to White Top Mountain VA in SW Virginia. I had decided even after running Vermont that I would take advantage of my fitness and give this a try anyway. I wouldn’t have a crew or pacers like Vermont, but was told the aid stations are awesome and the “Yeti Army” would take care of me.

For days before I was packing and repacking all of my drop bags, with snacks, drinks, clothing changes, headlamps, and all the emergency gear I might need. Those drop bags were acting as my crew and would be waiting for me at aid stations. My trusty partner Michael decided to come along for the journey but as I told him “I am not going to rely on you for anything.” Which I meant “for the race” and not life in general…. We got a good laugh from that one. He would try and see me a few times over the course of the race. The week before the weather was not looking great, but things can always change (running/life lesson #1.) We were planning to head out of Michigan on Tuesday and take 2 days to get there. It’s a 12 hour drive so I thought it would be nicer for my body before what I was going to put it through.

On Tuesday morning I did one more check of the weather and the 60% chance of rain on Friday (race day) turned to 100% and Thursday wasn’t looking much better. And there was talk of Hurricane Helene hitting the gulf coast of Florida. On the way out of town we decide to run into Walmart and get some rain gear. I picked up an emergency poncho, a full rain suit and a heavy duty poncho that could cover me and my pack. Yes, similar overkill like the 7 headlamps… but that’s me.

We stopped in Columbus OH for the night, ate some Pad Thai noodles for dinner and found an amazing sandwich at this bagel shop the next morning, We got on the road and took a very rural route through eastern Kentucky. Lunch options were seriously limited to fast food restaurants and gas stations. I was excited to see Uncrustables at the gas station, so even though I typically reserve them for my race day fuel, I made an exception and had it with a chocolate shake.

the Lox Bagel Shop with high test cold brew coffee!

Southwest Virgina was beautiful. The rolling hills, mountains, farms and lush greenery reminded me so much of my sweet Vermont. We arrived at our Airbnb in Abingdon around 4pm on Wednesday. This would be our home until Sunday morning. It was absolutely charming. Tucked up in hillside just a half mile walk into town. John took us into the house and showed us our private space upstairs. Let me say I got a little nervous when I saw the stairs. There were probably 20 steps, and all I could think about was how was I going to navigate those after the race..ha! We went into town and got fried pickles (IYKYK), some ravioli and a calzone for dinner. Yup. Carbs.

I checked the local weather before going to bed and it was looking even worse. And then I checked my email and there was an email from the race director (spoiler alert…first of many.) Because of the forecasted heavy rain and high winds they decide to change the course. The original course had us starting at the top of White Top mountain (about 33 miles away) and running to Abingdon then back to White Top(in the middle of the night) and finishing back in Abingdon. They decide to change the course, as getting shuttles up to White top in the morning and then accessing it later might prove too dangerous. So now we were starting in Abingdon and running 16ish miles to Damascus and then back to Abingdon, back to Damascus and finishing in Abingdon. The change would actually be logistically much easier for me since we were staying in Abingdon and also for those who know me, I have a deep love for running loops and repeat out and back courses.

Thursday morning we got up found some breakfast sandwiches and coffee and then checked email again. Another email from the race director. “For certainty the race would not be on Friday. Due to the predicted high winds, heavy rain, and strain on emergency services. The plan was to hold the race on Saturday. Volunteers were set. Weather model looks great. Packet pickup is now Friday not Thursday (today.)” This was ok. I totally understood, as I started to remember Vermont in 2023. They were being responsible and proactive and still planning to have a race. I now needed to repack all my drop bags again since the aid stations were changing, I would only need 2 bags instead of 3 but needed to cram more in there.

We decided since I had an extra day now and the weather was good today, we would take a drive to see where the aid station/crew spots were so if Michael were to come find me he’d know where they were. We stopped at Alvarado, which was an old train depot along this beautiful winding narrow road with a creek flowing quite rapidly beside it. Then we went to the turn around spot in Damascus. A sweet little town that is also quite famous for being on the Appalachian Trail, so a popular spot. The river was flowing well here too, but nothing too crazy. This would be where we run to and then turn and run back. The logistics seemed great for navigating.

We got back to our Airbnb and I decided pizza was the carb of the night. Since now I had an extra day to carb load, I decided that adding French fries to the order was a good idea. We watched some Netflix, and the weather channel and things were looking pretty bad. It was Thursday night and the hurricane had hit Florida and was moving pretty quickly north and inland. That night the rain was heavy and the wind was wild. We went to bed, and needless to say did not sleep very well.

Friday morning I woke up to rain and wind and definitely not weather you would want to be out running in. Especially along a trail with a canopy of trees for 16 miles. There was another race director email, this time saying that plans were still on for a Saturday race. They were out checking on trails and making sure things were safe. I started to get a not so good feeling, but still needed to believe that what was supposed to happen would happen. The weather was pretty wild and we needed food, but really did to want to be out driving or walking in this. Our lovely airbnb hosts said they had plenty of food. So I offered to make all of us breakfast.

Around noon the rain seemed to be letting up but the winds were still strong. We decide to head to town and take a walk and see if we could pick up some food. We stopped in a lovely cafe filled with runners, eating and drinking. We got a a few croissants and cookies for later and headed back. On the way to the Airbnb we noticed the traffic light was out, and as we entered the house realized the power had gone out. Not to panic. I’m sure it will come back on soon. Turns out the whole town of Abingdon was out, except one or two random spots. My phone needed charging but luckily I had a portable power bank all charged up for my race.

I decided to check my email and the email I was dreading appeared. The race was cancelled. “They received footage of homes being washed away in Damascus with swift water recovery on the scene. Even though the forecast looks good for tomorrow, we cannot strain the resources.” The Creeper Trail was closed with many trees and branches down. I just stared at the email and felt numb. I knew this was the right call. Just as I knew in 2023 cancelling Vermont was the right call. My heart was breaking for those directly in the flood’s path. Not running a 100 mile race feels pretty trivial compared to people in danger and homes and livelihoods under water. I felt so helpless. I got onto Facebook and checked in with the Yeti Trail Runner Group to see what was happening elsewhere. And then everything came rushing in.

A group of runners watched the water rise at the airbnb they were at and decided to evacuate. Minutes later the house was surrounded by water and they needed to hang a bed sheet from the second floor to escape. Moments later the house collapsed on top of their car. Roads in and out of Damascus were flooded and the bridges were blocked. People were now trapped. The Damascus diner, where runners were enjoying pre race carb loading is destroyed. The brick sidewalks are ripped up. The aid station at Alvarado was under water and the winding beautiful roads there completely flooded and washed out. The Creeper trail had so many branches down, at least one beautiful trestle bridge gone, and sections completely under water.

the Alvarado Aid Station (that is the road and trail completely covered in water)

I was feeling stuck and sad and numb. I knew I needed to do something, to move my body and get this emotion unstuck. We were safe, just without power and the sun was shining, the wind was still wild but I needed a run. That is how I process.

“Do you need to go for a run,” Michael said to me, as if reading my thoughts, or just knowing me so well.

I loaded up my pack with water and snacks and took off. Since the Creeper Trail was closed and unsafe I went searching for all the hills I could find in Abingdon. I ran hard up and down all over town, sweating, out of breath, legs burning, but feeling alive and grateful. Two days of driving, crazy weather, carb loading. I really needed that movement. I got back to the house after about 2 hours, a sweaty but more relaxed mess. Luckily even though the power was out I could still get a shower. Then we went over to Sweet Bay Brewery for the packet pickup and to see other runners.

Arriving at the brewery, looking at this group of runners, you would never know the race was cancelled. Chatting, laughing, beer drinking. Even though there was no power there was beer! That is one of the things I love about ultra runners. Even though we may seem obsessed with running long distances, it is really just running. Life, connection, community are more important. We get to run another day. I pick up all my race goodies and we get a beer. A few minutes later the race director Jason Green shows up and there is a huge round of applause and cheers for him. He makes a heartfelt and emotional speech about how grateful he is for all of us coming out and supporting his decision, how hard it was for him to make. And that some of his loved ones are still unaccounted for. He is local and Appalachia is his home. He does these races to support his community. And the community loves the runners that come to eat and drink and sleep in their towns. The town loves him and I can see the runners do too.

The “Yet Army” isn’t just a bunch of runners who care about running and costumes and drinking (although there is that.) On their Facebook page they were offering up free rooms at airbnbs for displaced runners, race directors from other races offered sympathies and free race entries. People helping people. One of the runners set up a “Run from where you are” fundraiser for the town of Damascus. Jason donated all of the race proceeds to the people of Damascus and the Feeding SWVA food bank. This is another reason I love the ultra running community and small town races. It’s not just about the running.

the warm welcome to the runners from the town of Abingdon

Running gives me so many reminders about what’s important in life. And I find so many similarities, especially with ultra running. Problems arise, situations change, we need to learn to adapt, be grateful, accept what we can’t change, control the controllables, help our fellow humans if they are in trouble, need a snack, some company (at 2 am in the dark) or even just a smile.

So although this was not the race report I had hoped to write , it is one that I am so grateful to be able share with you. I hope that everyone that reads this will consider donating even just a few dollars to one of the many organizations providing relief.

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