Race #184
20k #4
2020 Race #4
Paris Mountain Road Race #6

I signed both Mom and I up for this when I saw that this race would be held in person with adequate precautions, before heading to Hartness and experiencing their lackluster enforcement of their “precautions.” Throughout the three weeks between, I wavered on whether to DNS or not since I am working on limiting my exposure (as much as I can since my workplace has decided to return to full face to face despite rising numbers). I had almost completely decided against it when we received the pre-race email with their detailed protocols. That provided enough assurance that we would have much more safety here than at Hartness.

We arrived about 25 minutes before the race start, plenty of time to get the bib and packets, all spaced out with volunteers wearing gloves and masks. We used the oversized “diaper” pins to pin on our bib and waiting in the car until closer to the start. We happened to park right next to the portopotty line. There’s nothing you could get me to do to use one of those now. 

When we saw people head towards the cones at the start line, set up 6 feet apart, we got out of the car and headed over. At first, we could not find empty cones but then I saw some adjustment going on and we found two adjoining spots. Mom stood at the cone in front since I could make up the 5 second start delay a little easier.

A few minutes later, we “started.” It took us 10 minutes to get to the actual start line but no worries. Every bit of that flowed smoothly and safely.

Since Furman University has maintained a closed campus to anyone except faculty and staff, GTC held the start of this race at a nearby church which meant that they had to make some alterations to the course to ensure that they reached the 20k distance. This also meant that we turned onto Altamont a mile sooner into the race than usual.

I have now completed this race _ times. Mom ran this for the first time. I knew that she could make it up the hill. I also knew that it would challenge her. I did not expect to feel as good as I did on the hill. I remember in previous years absolutely hating the hill and wondering when the incline would stop. Every time we approached a bend in the road I hoped for the summit only to find more hill beyond. This year, however, I remembered certain landmarks that would signify the approach to the summit. Mom, on the other hand, did not have that familiarity to bank on. 

While on the hill, we walked only twice and only for short distances both times. When we finally made it to the summit, Mom started crying a little with relief that she actually made it up. She had no idea when the mountain would end but we made it! Only 9 and a half more miles to go to finish the race.

The first mile or so past the summit involves significant downhill which, if you do not run well, will absolutely trash your quads. Mom and I ran the downhill conservatively and did not mind when other runners passed us from behind. Of course, some of these runners may have started significantly after us due to the staggered start so that did not indicate that we slowed down.

Throughout the middle portion of the race, we settled into a solid rhythm, walking at each mile. We stayed hydrated with our own bottles, although the race did provide small 8 oz water bottles at a handful of stops that runners could grab if they needed them. 

Additionally, GTC did an amazing job with course marking and volunteer placement. Although I knew most of the turns having run the course several times before, some of the turns brought us to new course sections and also provided assurance for Mom since she brought fresh eyes to this course. This peace of mind goes a long way during an endurance event. I really don’t think people could have possibly gotten lost on this course unless they ran completely oblivious to all the sides around them.

Paris Mountain does not mark the last and only hill. On the contrary, since this race takes place primarily in Travelers Rest, part of the foothills to the Appalachian Mountains, we enjoy quite a few “rollers” throughout the race. I suppose I have an odd definition of roller because Mom laughed several times on hills after asking me if these were the “rollers” I had mentioned.

After rejoining the old course and knowing that not much remained until the finish, we faced an unexpected obstacle, a dog on the loose. The volunteer at that corner appeared to be trying to corral this dog, ownership unknown, but he escaped her grasp. She called out for another volunteer to help but he apparently had no success either because while we had to run on the shoulder of a busy road, this dog ran along with us, darting back and forth behind and in front of us. We knew that he was about to get himself hit by a car or cause one of us to trip over him as he darted in front of us thinking we were playing with him.

When we approached the turn onto the church parking lot, I yelled at someone standing nearby to get the dog, that he wasn’t ours. The man’s response “I’ve had that happen on runs too.” Oh. My. Word. Are you kidding me? The dog dashes in front of me again and I scream out begging for someone to grab that dog. I had a few steps were I hoped someone had done that but no, as I approached the finish line, he showed up again and brought me the close to face planting of that whole incident. Good grief. 

Besides that ridiculousness, we actually had an amazing race.

I felt fantastic throughout, really strong, and even had enough in my legs for 4.5 miles afterwards!