Jon Obst | Team Type 1 Running 24hrs of HOSTELity, Dahlonega, Ga Ultra | 24 hour

This past weekend, on January 14th I competed in a 24hr race in the north Georgia Mountains, 24 Hours of HOSTELity. It took place on the property of the Hiker Hostel, a nice and popular stay for weekend warriors, cyclists and Appalachian Trail thru hikers. The race consisted of as many times as you could run around a .65 mile dirt trail in the allotted timeframe.

While it had been unusually warm these past few months, old man winter decided to make an appearance for this one. There were eight people running the 24hr and thirteen in the 12hr race. We were huddled inside, sipping coffee and getting ready for the 9am start. It was in the 20s and the ground was nice and firm. Willy, the Race Director and a good friend lead all of us on the first loop and boom, we were off. There was 100 feet of elevation gain per loop. Which does not sound like much. However, with the distance being .65 mile, it added up quickly and painfully. I settled into a nice rhythm, getting into the flow. With 24 hour races and loop courses themselves, I think people either love em or hate em. I love them. While it may sound mind numbing, we were surrounded by beauty and treated to both a gorgeous sunset and rise. As the day continued and the miles added up, the once firm dirt trails began to melt, increasing the difficulity by a tenfold.

The going got very tough but I continued to put my feet in front of me with relentless forward motion. The aid station was stocked full of sandwiches, chips, coffee, burgers, soup, and smiling faces. At times, I would lay down but only for a few minutes, my body was in too much of a state and I would tighten up. It was very meditative for me. I also reflected upon all that I am grateful for in my life, the great people, and thrilling adventures I have experienced. I thought about my team. Team Type 1. Who is a part of me in every way, shape and form. I reflected on our Run Across America! What a huge, monumental, courageous achievement. I thought about the tough moments we encountered and how we overcame them. How we had 3,000 brutal miles in front of us and completed it together, step by step. When I would approach the aid station, it was as though I was approaching the RV. I thought about the lady whose father had died from Diabetes, who drove hours in the middle of the night to thank us. The lady in New Mexico who is diabetic and wished us a safe journey, overflowing with gratitude. The girls who tracked us warriors down and found as at midnight in Indiana. The extremely tight bond that we have. I thought about how my diabetes and ultra running go together, both are challenges and require perservation and endurance. They can be fought hard and won. Having Type 1 Diabetes gives me such an inner drive, in ways it is a blessing. I suddenly had more pep in my step. My blood sugars were very good throughout the duration of the race and I fuled myself exceptionally well. I attribute that to my wireless Omnipod Insulin pump, which delivers set amounts of insulin to me every hour (basal rate) and a bolus, which I program and is instantly transmitted. It is light and for all purposes cannot even feel that I have it on, made for endurance.

When it was all said and done, and 24hrs had elapsed, I had run 66 miles and come in 2nd place. I could not have been happier. With the elevation gain and distance run, I climbed 10,200ft. I have run 95 miles in 24hr races before and 69 miles in 12hrs, just to put it into perspective. It was quite a tough course. There are always so many variables and you never know what is going to happen out there.

However, even though the race had ended, it was not over for me. Starting back on my 25th Birthday, I began a tradition of celebrating by running my age in hours. I did it at a local park, and had so much support in the freezing rain with friends, family and aid from the trunk of my car. I ran 100 miles. It was very special. My dad who has run 35 marathons and has the utmost respect for my ultra running has not run any ultra marathons himself. On that night, he paced me over 40 miles. The fartherst he has run to date. I continued the tradition the next few years at some trails in north Georgia, which led to the GRR 100 mile race being started last March. This year, I decided to combine it with Willy's 24hr race. Everyone left and I was hurting. What I wanted to do was wrap myself in a blanket, drink 10 protein shakes and say goodnight to the world. But my tradition is very near and dear to me. So I continued on running, trekking, moving 5 more hours, 29 hours for my Birthday Challenge. Willy helped me a lot but pacing me the last 2 hours. A total of 74 miles. Happy trails. I wish all of you the very best. Keep on charging. Jon Obst

2nd place overall

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