H9 Baby Dragon 40k

Race: h9 Baby Dragon Egg 40k
Date: August 12, 2023
Finish Time: 7:07 hours
Distance: 25-26 Miles
Elevation gain: 6,883 ft

The BD Dragon Egg 40K is a 40 kilometer race that makes an out-and-back to Mulky Gap. This race started at 7am on Saturday morning near the pavilion (lake area). Runners have 13 hours to accomplish the 40 km. The cutoff time at Mulky Gap is 2:30pm on Saturday; with a final cutoff of 8pm on Saturday evening. This race has no nighttime running ... or walking.

The start was low key. Perry, the race director watched his watch and said "3, 2, 1, it's time to go!" And with that, we were off.  The first couple of miles were up Hill and got sleeper and steeper as we ran. I got stung by the first couple of hornets around mile 4 or 5.. Ouch!  There was a crazy steep climb at mile 6 my watch said 30% grade... Wow! It lasted forever. We climbed close to 2,000 feet in about 2 miles. Rough! I thought that was thw worst, until we peaked the top and had to go back down... have you ever tried to run a 30% grade downhill on a wet slippery, rocky trail?? Yikes!! It was crazy!  Once we got to the bottom, we went straight back up. This continued until we reached the turn around point... then we got to go back and do it all again backwards. 

The first aid station we crossed between mile 8 and 9. It was a beautiful site!  The family that was there was so helpful In helping me fill my pack and getting me anything I might need. They had a great variety of snacks, water and tailwind. We continued up and down for another 5-6 miles where we hit our turn around. Before the race start, I had asked about bringing my trekking polls. I have only ever used them for my 100 mile race never for a short distance and didn't think they'd be necessary.... The advice I was given by every single person that answered my question was to bring them so I did.. Let me tell you how thankful I was to have them and be able to pull them out at the turn around!!  I was able to give my legs just a little break and continue on to finish strong.

That aid station had PBJ sandwiches, granola bars and coke! Hit the spot!! We left that station to go up a steep long hill back in the direction we had come from. We went back through the original aid station... then made our way back to the start/finish.  I was counting down the miles I had left, I was coming down the last big Hill singing a "6 miles left to go" song I had made up and saw a sign that told me to tu4n down a forest road (rather than continue on the trail I'd originally ran up)... this beautiful sign said "3 ish miles to finish" 🎉 I thought I had 6!! I only had 3!! This gave me such a moral BOOST! I was SO excited!!  Ran about 2 miles on the forest road and then entered Vogel State Park and continued on a trail and in the campground there for another 1-2 mile's before finishing! 

This race was by far the hardest trail I've ran. It was awesome!! The only thing that sucked were the bees! I ended up with 7 stings on my right calf and 2 on my left. Brutal!! I saw a bear up in a tree around mile 16 ish. It shimmied down the tree so fast and dropped into the brush where it disappeared. Scary moment alone in the woods! I finished the race strong, feeling pretty good overall minus my blistered and bruised toes from the steep downs, and those darn stings!! I reserved myself too much during the first 6 miles. I wish I'd pushed a little more earlier on but I was nervous and held back. 

I finished 2nd place female and 5th overall. 

Last thing I want to say. Is what a funny, light hearted group of crazy people that run this race series. I highly recommend joining their Facebook groups, very entertaining! You won't get anything real useful from them, but it's worthwhile for sure!