Croom Zoom 50k Race Report - 6:09:02 , garmin distance/pace 31.86/11:35
Back to the beginning or my ultra running was the Croom Zoom 50k in the beginning of 2012 which was also my fastest 50k by far at 4:34. My last Croom Zoom was in 2022. Sometimes the race is a week before Long Haul 100 which is too close, but this year it was two weeks out. Last year it was two weeks away but I was in Mexico with Jessica and her family celebrating her dad's 80th and I ran too little and had too many margaritas. But this year there was no trip.
The weather was nice. Race starts at 7:00, sunrise at 7:22. As I lined up was slightly worried I didn't have a flashlight as I've tripped on roots and rocks in the early morning when it's not yet fully light. But, the first 0.75 miles is on the road, then you turn onto a jeep road which is very sandy and pretty much root free, then maybe a little over a mile into the race you turn onto the regular trail which brings you back to Tucker Hill. This little 2 mile "starter loop" is a little tough due to the sandy part and the very rooty climb going up Tucker Hill. 13:35 pace for this section had me questioning my life choices.
But, it got better at the start of the first of three main loops. As I got into a groove, a couple voices came up behind me. Andy B was running the 20 mile race and was talking to another runner. As they passed me, I fell in behind them and stopped worrying about pace. So, the first half of the first full loop I did an 11:00 minute pace. Went through the aid station and shortly after that I lost Andy, but I did a little bit better on pace, averaging 10:35 for this section which included more hill climbs than the first half including the dreaded rooty section. That would be my fastest 5 miles of the race.
So, continued on and kept moving along with next 5 mile'ish sections at paces of 11:19, 11:14, 12:13, and finally 11:44.
I did not do a planned run/walk strategy, mostly just ran except for a few hill climbs here and there that I walked. At one point during the day it started to warm up, but just as it was about to get bad, the clouds rolled in and things cooled down.
I wore real trail shoes today, the Hoka Speedoat 5's which felt comfortable, kept my feet from feeling the roots, and had good traction although with the trails dry, would've been ok with road shoes.
Slightly disappointed that despite my better pace on the garmin, the race time was about 3 minutes slower than 2022. Partially due to the extra detour to the shelter where the timing mats and equipment are. But more or less, it was pretty much the same as 2022, maybe even a little bit better feeling, and apart from the starter loop, for the rest of the race I stopped questioning my life choices and enjoyed the day.
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