Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) Endurance Runs
March 18-19, 2023
The MST100 Endurance Runs took place on part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, outside Raleigh-Durham area.
I was able to meet & greet runners picking up packets at the run store in Raleigh on Friday night; and, based on the feedback and committments, I was hoping for a good turnout at 5:30 a.m. Sat. morning. Unfortunately, the skies opened up and it absolutely poured cold rain. I think this hampered a lot of folks from getting into the park, evidenced by the traffic line still crawling in at 0530; it's also hard to expect people to get out of their cars, or to come out of the nice warm lodge into a cold driving rain to come get their worship on. Nonetheless, I was out there "beating into the air" hoping and praying that the Lord of the Harvest would bring runners, dispite the weather. None came. And, as always whenever this happens, I have to just really fight to keep my spirits from going into a stinkin' thinkin' funk. Finally, I quick-tripped to the bathroom before kickoff.
When I came out to gather for the final pre-race minutes with the throng of other drenched runners, I noticed the Runners' Church canopy stuffed with huddled runners seeking shelter from the deluge. The Spirit filled me up and I just hollered boldly, "Does anyone need prayer?"
The response from everybody--those under the canopy and out--answered resoundingly, "YES!"
So I raised my hands and prayed as the Spirit gave me unction, bold but concise. When I started, the Start/Finish Line emcee turned down the music, and folks gathering at the startline stopped walking about and bowed their heads. So instead of a Runners' Church service for a handfull of faithfull, I gave the pre-race convocation to ALL who had ears to hear. God just had something better that day. He is so good!!
The first 50K (a 16-mile out & back) was just a slopfest for huge portions. [Note the last picture of Anna's feet!] Nobody came out of that section dry or clean! I ministered to many folks along that section, but my favorite was running with Anna, a local Raleigh soul, sole sister attempting her first hundred--partlty because she invited my to perform her wedding planned for 2024. ("...But you have to wear a suit--no running-short weddings for me...")
During "intermission" (i.e., transitioning from the first 50K mud-O-rama to the second 35-mile out & back, which was supposed to be drier, I took the time to change out of everything, especially my shoes and socks. When I finally got back on the trail, I was running great, and pushing to get to 50-miles before dark, and to catch up to Anna.
When I finally did catch up to Anna, just before the 50-mile point, I found her sitting on a log, alone, and not doing well. So I took up a spot on her log and talked to her to see how she was doing and what might be wrong. She had a wrenched knee and had pretty much stopped eating and taking in electrolytes. After a bit of convo, I offered to marry up with her and get her as far as we could; we'd drink from the same cup and whatever we got, that's what we got. She agreed, and was thankful to not be alone out in the woods anymore. So on we walked.
When we finally hit the first aid station, I got her to eat and drink more, and we got some much-needed salts into her, and she started coming back to life a little; her knee was still really sore, and we'd have to take some sit breaks, so progress was slow. But the awesome conversations we shared were both priceless--and sometime hilarious, if not downright scary when I started doing sleep-deprived psycho-babble.
We made it to mile 70 where we tapped out as they were closing down the course. I picked up career DNF #4--but hey, leave no one behind! Plus the conversations alone were worth the price of admission!
All in all, the MST100 was a great ministry for Runners' Church, many were encouraged, God was glorified, and I made a dear friend I pray I'll get to see again this side of Glory...and, during the late night walking and talking, Anna prophesied I'd get a date, which I did--my first date since 2016!--only a few weeks later in Virginia. Praise be to our amazing God!
Run long and journey-on, because the Journey is ON!Mark
"Therefore, lift up your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed."~Hebrews 12:12-13