Ran my first 50K this weekend, spent the night in a campground on the island, made a bed in the back of the van and actually got some good sleep, nice and quiet.
Hit the potty enough times to not have any issues during the race, which was one of my worries. Not knowing what to expect I thought I started out pretty conservative. I wanted to keep it pretty easy until about the half way point. Still couldn't resist and cruised down the hills when the course allowed, but still felt easy and comfortable. Kept leap frogging some with Davy Crocket so once we started climbing up the switchbacks I figured I would use his experience and knowlege and just run with him up the hills, I believe I was in tenth place here and making ground on some of the folks up ahead. After a bit of climbing the group ahead of us stopped and we could tell something was wrong, we had gone off course. I guess second place through me all took the wrong route. I thought I would not go wrong following in the footsteps of the master, but oh well.
We back tracked to the right turn, no marking there that we could see, and off I went. I have to admit it was frustrating seeing the long line of runners that I was ahead of way out in the distance in the next valley. I guess the race was on now, in comparing garmins I figured I added about 1.3 ish miles. Kept working my way up and not trying to get worried about it, not like I was going to win anyway. About mile 20/21 started getting cramps in the bottom of my right foot, couldn't get any speed going, and began to feel my lack of long runs. I should have grabbed my salt tabs out of my drop bag and drank a lot more fluids. The last couple miles were long, and hard, couldn't get into a roll and had runners coming up on me from behind but anytime I tried to push the pace at all my legs would start to cramp up, like stop in your tracks cramp, mostly my hamstrings. Tried to keep shuffeling the best I could and also ran out of fluids the last 2 miles, should have filled up my bladder also at the last aid station. Got a bit of a second wind on the last down hill to the finish and felt great to cross the finish line. I'm glad I did not attempt a 50 miler as I would have been in real trouble.
Miles were as follows for my future reference:8:57,10:30,9:06,8:00,8:00,10:44,7:12,11:03,12:28,9:43,9:20,10:10,9:58,11:57,18:23,11:20,8:13,8:11,8:24,9:019:57,10:23,10:09,10:44,13:47,10:28,11:13,10:23,10:36,13:21,8:59
Lessons learned, more long runs (only had 3 runs of 20 miles or more the past year or more), more hills, fluids, take it easier at the beginning, unless training dictates otherwise.
| 