Here is a video that shows just a little of the highs and lows of my journey.
I survived the Megatransect! I really did not know what to expect going into it. I knew it would be hard because I had not done anything like it before. I also only trained for an hour each day so before this so I knew that my body was in for a treat. If you missed my blog post last week, I did this with my three brother-in-laws. Cynthia, my wife, entered in it with them a while back and I took her place after fnding out she was pregnant.
Before this, the longest I had every gone was 13.1 in a couple of half marathon’s.
Either way, this was a true test and although it was certainly VERY difficult, I am very pleased I did it and also completed it.
The challenge was in the mountains (or hills) of Lock Haven, PA. It was just the perfect time of year as the colors were different on the trees and the fall weather made it a great day. The pictures below give you an idea of how nice and beautiful everything was
About mile 8 or 9 my body hit a wall. My legs had started cramping up besides the great preparation and hydration. I really thought as both legs were cramping and the pain was about a 9 on a scale of 10, that I was going to have to stop. It was certainly a difficult time. But after about 5 minutes both legs stopped locking up and the pain was gone.
This was at the point where I knew I better just walk the rest of the day. After the cramps, it was a realization that this was about finishing and not about how fast I can go.
I battled a number of cramps as my body and muscles were just not used to the endurance and also the steep up and down of the mountain, the rocks, and the pounding it was taking.
I finished in 8 hours and 40 minutes. Here was some pictures from the event.
All Pictures from the event at on a folder on my facebook page here
What is the Megatransect?
The Megatransect is a 26+ mile/hike and trail run event staged in Central Pennsylvania . The course is designed to challenge any trained or seasoned athlete. The recreational hiker or trail runner not looking to set any blistering personal records for the distance can also enjoy it equally. It is an event that focuses on the safety and needs of all entrants. Preparing is the key to success and even that is not guaranteed. Racing the course is not the objective, finishing strong is!
The outstandingly beautiful course offers unique geologic features, such as an unrelenting boulder field of white Tuscarora sandstone. Cliffs line a scenic gorge to heights of 300 feet that sink from the Chestnut flat plateau. Trails run along 8 miles of streams and brooks with multiple stream crossings and small waterfalls. Competitors will be subjected to unrelenting climbs and down hills with total vertical gains over 5000 feet. Footing varies from soft peat to gravel to boulders as well as smooth stream stones and shallow water crossings. While most of the course is under the canopy of mature forest, some sections orient under the hot sun. This is especially true in the slow going boulder field sections.
Interesting flora and fauna abound. Natural areas harbor old growth hemlock. Wet seasons bring out mushrooms of every type. Bear, coyote, deer, bobcat, porcupine, fox and turkey are all common. An occasional Bald and Golden Eagle can be spied near the reservoirs. Reptiles and amphibians abound with rattlesnakes and copperheads always a concern.
The Megatransect planning committee is comprised of well-traveled hikers, avid trail runners and marathoners. Their varied experiences and dedication to the Megatransect has resulted in one largest trail events in the United States! It has been so successful that we are now limiting registrations to the first 850 entrants. This year if filled to capacity in 48 hrs!!!! The course is designed to cycle moderate to very difficult terrain with easier sections for recovery. It by no means designed for speed but instead to be more technical in nature. The course is well supported with a small army of volunteers to provide basic needs as well as emergency help and evacuation if needed. The race boasts a fantastic safety record and a high finishing percentage.
