Skip to content
Menu
SethKramer.com
  • Running
  • Travel
  • Junk and Stuff
  • About
    • About Me
    • Where Am I?
SethKramer.com

Maah Daah Hey Trail Marathon 2019

Posted on July 28, 2019July 30, 2019

Medora, North Dakota, USA
27-JUL-2019
Calendar Year BLT 34
Strava Link
Garmin Link

I arrived in Bismarck at about midnight and started driving to Dickinson where my buddy Andy had a room already. Due to a time change between Bismarck and Dickinson I arrived at about 1am, good news for me, an extra hour of sleep. We woke at 4, and started to get ready for the race. Shuttle pickup in Medora was at 5:30 at the finish. When we arrived I saw Bill, a friend I’d first met at the Sandhills Marathon in Nebraska. Bill is from Nebraska and signed up for this race apparently based on my “check this out” picture I posted to Facebook. I promptly fell asleep on a bumpy dirt road ride to the start waking only for a few seconds when we bounced on cattle grates.

Once there we had about an hour to get situated so there was chatting and peeing so on before the RD began his pre-race meeting. There would be water stations at 10 and 18, and 24 roughly speaking. The course would be well marked, but look out for the arrows, and if your trail isn’t mowed, you’re probably on the wrong trail. Andy and I lined up near what we thought was the back, but would find after a few miles was apparently not far enough back as folks passed us on the narrow single-track.

After 3 or 4 miles Bill and Andy and I all settled into the same groove and spent most of the race together chatting about health issues, cocktails, travel, or as Bill said “nothing is off-topic for trail.” I think it would make a nice title of a book.

Anyway it was clear that the heat and the sun would be as strong a features of this race as the badlands themselves. Unfortunately I’d already burned my calves in the race the previous weekend so by the first aid station (which was closer to 11) they were blistering due to me having once again forgotten to put sunscreen on. The aid station volunteer felt so bad for me she offered me her own sunscreen. Can I just say that the people of the Dakotas are by and large the kindest people I’ve ever met?

By 11 miles I’d wiped out the content of my 100 oz Camelbak bladder, and needed a refill. I had no idea how Bill was doing it with just one handheld bottle. The scenery was so beautiful and we needed regular breaks so stopping to take photos was a common occurrence.

The most interesting part of the race from my perspective was about at the half way point where we waded through a water crossing that was about waist deep. As we approached a group of much more prudent guys had taken off their socks and shoes and waded through, and were now trying to wipe off the mud from their feet with grasses. To me it was so hot and the air so dry that I felt marching through in socks and shoes was no more ridiculous an idea, but since I planned on waiting for Andy and Bill I suppose I didn’t save myself much time.

On the other side of the water feature we continued the winding up and down course to the next aid station at about 18 where I got myself some coke, pickles, and an ice-cold towel, which was like heaven. I was finding my jam so it’s about at this point that I left the others and wanted to get out of the sun as soon as possible.

The last 8 miles was something of a beautiful blur, but I snapped photos along the way and when I ultimately finished it was well and truly one of my worst finish times ever however I still felt proud. This was a legitimately hard trail marathon. I probably could have done it faster, but I didn’t mentally check out and give up, probably because I was able to spend most of my time with friends who kept me hopeful. Perhaps this will be a strategy in the future, but for now I’m looking forward to a marathon I won’t finish in the 6+ hour territory. Next week Beat the Blerch in Washington should be quite a bit faster, and this race puts me at 40/50 for the 3rd time through the states.

Colorful bib
My pup friend at the start, Willow
Prerace meeting
Participants had to use this wristband that had the RD’s phone number on it. It isn’t exactly clear to me why since my phone was not going to work there. Also if I were the RD I wouldn’t want everyone having my phone number, but maybe he’s lonely.
So much sun.
An example of the trail
The badlands were named this way by the Dakota Indians as well as the french for their harsh unforgiving weather, and difficulty to travel through. Why not have a race here?
Andy leads me to the next aid station.
Sod tables and buttes, and grasslands, oh my
There were moo cows.
In the Paleozoic North Dakota was on the equator, and the oceans flooded this land forming the sedimentary rock that is eroded here
our deep water crossing. The turtle indicates we’re on the Maah Daah Hey Trail
I’m doing my “Wild and Crazy Guys” impression from SNL circa 1970
The MDH trail is for hikers, bikers, and other folks to horse around on.
The road to hell is a narrow single track trail
Sod table holds this land together with the strength of just the rots of the grass. So precarious
One of the moments where the trail just seems to zip along forever.
This is one of those moments were the land just goes on forever. Wow.
I liked this little bend
the mile 18 aid station is off in the distance. A trail rolls through the background.
The portapottie company was unforgettable. Blow and go indeed.
again the road winds on and on and on.
The last few miles we got some great views before we entered Medora
Last look back
I’ve reached heaven
post race beverage and medal
Andy coming in for his big finish.
Post race pizza and beer at Phat Fish brewery. The Spicy Righand. 4 stars.
At sunset we went back to Painted Canyon Visitor’s Center
As the sun fades the reds of the rock really start to pop
reds and oranges, but it was starting to rain just a bit
Quick selfie with Andy before we left.
A hidden gem of a park
One last shot before we left. Note the crepuscular rays peeking through the hole in the cloud in the distance.
Unfortunately we saw this in the distance as we were headed back to the hotel. The sunset became even more amazing, and in Painted Canyon I bet it was even more rich. It seems we left too soon. Perhaps next time.

1 thought on “Maah Daah Hey Trail Marathon 2019”

  1. NANCY WENTINK says:
    August 4, 2019 at 01:28

    Looks like a fabulous event. Congrats

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Mississippi Blues 2020
  • Hawai’i 2020
  • More travel, less running
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • 2019 Year-In-Review

Recent Comments

  • Seth on Mississippi Blues 2020
  • Robert Nielsen on Mississippi Blues 2020
  • Mary Yeh on Pikes Peak Marathon 2016
  • Seth on Pikes Peak Marathon 2016
  • Mary Yeh on Pikes Peak Marathon 2016

Archives

  • May 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • March 2015
  • May 2014
  • September 2013

Categories

  • Running
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
©2023 SethKramer.com | Powered by SuperbThemes & WordPress