Bourbon Chase 2014

So for the last couple of years Michael has done this relay race called the Bourbon Chase. It takes place in Kentucky along the famous Bourbon Trail; it is a 12-person team, 200-mile continuous race. Last year my sister Angie participated and kept telling me how fun it was and that I had to join the team this year. I didn't know which sounded worse -- the idea of running in the dark along country roads alone in the wee hours of the morning with a headlamp or enduring broken sleep in the back of a van. But hey, they are all fun people and I can be talked into anything. Sign me up!

This is how it works -- Each team has 2 vans of 6 runners. Van 1 (ours) runs 6 legs, then Van 2 takes over while Van 1 rests and recovers. We cheer our runner at the start of the leg, drive the 5-7 miles to the next exchange spot and waited for him/her there. Then we sit and talk and check emails and take a nap and hydrate and eat and use the port-a-potty and debate the weather and running apparel, and then our next runner gets warmed up and prepped. When we see our runner we are there to greet him and cheer the next one of us on the start of the next leg. And we do it all over again. After 5 or 6 hours of this we meet up with our other van and pass off to them for the next 6 legs.We alternate 3 times with each runner running 3 legs over the course of 200 miles.

Van 1 consisted of me and Michael, my sister Angie, Michael's brother Kevin and his wife Jenny, and Michael's cousin Matthew. Our teammates in the other van consisted of my sister Kim, dear friend Rich, 2 running friends of Rich, and our last-minute replacements that, God love them, volunteered to participate and spend 36 hours with complete strangers! They were awesome and a fun addition to that van.

Race morning (Friday) started out at the Jim Beam Distillery. It's a staggered start with 10 teams going off every 10 minutes. Team Maker's Made Me Do It (that's us!) was one of the first teams at 7am.

Starting from Jim Beam Distillery, much of the run is along remote country roads that go between the distilleries on the Bourbon Trail (the long way around) through some of the most picturesque landscapes Kentucky has to offer. And, oh, Kentucky has hills to offer as well! Some legs have rolling hills and others have steep inclines that are so sharp that you can't even run down them. There was a disadvantage to every leg, whether the hills or distance or random dogs or traffic and city sidewalks. And rain. All of us had at least 1 run in the rain.

At the end of the first 6 legs we made it to Maker's Mark, which is so beautiful and fascinating and worth the visit even if you don't drink the stuff. Maker's is also a highlight because it's the first Van Exchange point and one of the few times we meet up with Van 2 and have our whole team all together.

Our second set (legs 13-18) began after 7 at night and wouldn't wrap up until 1:30 in the morning. Our bodies ached as we donned reflective vests, blinky lights and head lamps and opted for the best wet-weather gear we had, which was pretty futile because we were all soaked to the skin by the end of our legs. Fortunately, though, the temperature was perfect for running and even with the rain we weren't cold during the outings, just while waiting for them to begin.

click to enlarge

The course is marked with signs signaling turns and designating 1 mile to go, but take it from me, it's best to study the course prior to your leg so you don't, hypothetically, take a wrong turn and end up on another leg headed out of town at 12:30 in the morning and run an extra 1.5 miles trying to get back to where you're supposed to be. Just saying.

During our breaks from the race we try to get fed and rested as much as we can. The first break we found an Applebee's for lunch, then tried to nap in the van until it's our turn again. During our second break in the wee hours of the morning we actually drove back to Lexington to crash at a house for 2 hours and dry our clothes before heading back out there. After our final set we grabbed lunch, a shower and much appreciated and needed nap before greeting our team at the finish line to run it in together Saturday evening.

I'll be the first to admit that it wasn't alway fun. My runs were challenging, my quads ached and my body was stiff, and waiting around in a van for hours made me question what everyone else saw in this race. But sometime along those 34 hours my opinion changed. Maybe it was the drama and excitement (and later hilarity) of me getting lost, or my 7-mile final leg along horse farms into Woodford Reserve, or maybe it was the race finish atmosphere in downtown Lexington.

Whatever it was, it's enough to have me already committed to next year's race. But maybe with hill training next time. And van decorations. And coordinated costumes. And a finishing stunt.

As for Jenny, well, this pretty much sums up her decision to return:

Interval	Start Time of Day	Split	Split Pace	Overall Rank
Legs 1-6	7:30:16AM	06:01:18	10:50 min/mi	375/386
Legs 7-12	1:31:34PM	05:40:22	09:36 min/mi	305/386
Legs 13-18	7:11:55PM	06:18:52	11:42 min/mi	359/386
Legs 19-24	1:30:47AM	05:05:41	09:34 min/mi	278/386
Legs 25-30	6:36:27AM	06:12:13	11:15 min/mi	378/386
Legs 31-36	12:48:40PM	5:00:39
Total	5:49:20PM	34:19:05		379/386

12 Runners

200 Miles

7 Distilleries

October 10-11, 2014

Bourbon Chase

Jim Beam • Four Roses • Wild Turkey • Heaven Hill • Woodford Reserve • Maker's Mark • Town Branch