It was fun and challenging. All in all a good time. Finish time
just under 8:35, which amazed me since I had to slow down quite a bit.
It's funny how paces under different conditions mean different things. I
remember looking at my watch and seeing the pace at 12:45 and thinking
"Awesome!! I'm under 13:00" Other times I didn't even look for miles and
miles. The hills and the heat made it a humbling experience - in no way
humiliating, but very humbling. 50 miles is a long way to go.
Started out in the dark, running behind two or three other people
including a woman named Heather who was also wearing Brooks Launch like I
was (made me feel better that I'm not the only dork who doesn't wear
trail shoes on a trail run!). I think the first 5 miles was the most
enjoyable, somewhere around a 10:00 pace.
After the warm up loop, passed through the start and saw Jenny,
Sean, and MPR. Start of the first big loop went well. Ran on sections
of trail I had never been on including a long narrow gulley which I had
to walk most of. I caught back up to the people I ran with for the
first 5 miles, then came up behind Andy Barrett. Andy has done a ton of
races and I thought to myself I should not pass Andy since he knows
what he's doing and I don't.
We chatted a bit and he would look at his watch and say he was going
too fast. Finally I asked if I was messing up his pace, he said yeah,
he was going a little faster than planned since I was behind him. So, I
got in front of him and put some space between us. The rest of the
first loop felt great with a few miles under 9:00 pace.
Shortly after the start of the second loop I started to think I was
in trouble. I had been running by feel and enjoying the day, but I
wasn't pacing myself. I was taking no walk breaks. 50 miles is not 62
miles, but it is also not 26 or 31 miles. I made an effort to purposely
slow down a bit.
At 23.4 miles I went down pretty hard. Landed on my right side with
the force spread between my hip and shoulder. There's the moment when
you're not sure if you are hurt or not, fortunately I wasn't, got up,
brushed myself off and got going again, a little more mindful.
I reached the aid station where Dawn S.
was volunteering, stopped for a bit, then Andy B came up from the trail
and went by me. I started running behind him again, felt good but kept
a good gap and eventually let him go again.
Another trip past the two pits and the last aid station. The hills
had grown a little taller but were still not that bad (glad I at least
was able to come out a few weeks earlier and run these hills two sets of
out and back).
Coming back up Tucker hill, I saw Eudair running toward me. We ran
back to the starting area where Franco took my picture and they helped
me switch out my bottles. I put some ice in my pockets and kept going.
Andy B. was there again and I stayed behind him again for a bit before
letting him go once again.
The mental boost of seeing Eudair, starting the third loop and catching back up to Andy soon started to fade. Walking again became my friend. I had listened to some music but
soon was not in the mood to listen to it. Instead, the most comforting
sound was when I was walking, there was a breeze and I could hear it
whooshing through the trees overhead.
I'd walk a bit and then say to myself, ok, just an easy jog for a
bit. No set run walk schedule, just walk for a bit and then try to make
it to the next up hill or maybe the next mile or half mile point on the
garmin.
Saw Dawn at her aid station for the last time then made my way out to
the pit again. Would stop and chat here and there with people walking
the 50K. I was thirsty, but my stomach was full of fluid, almost but
not quite sloshing, I was sweating and would stop here and there for a
bathroom break, so although very thirsty I was not yet dehydrated.
Reaching the last aid station was a huge boost. The volunteers were
super encouraging, told me my place and said "Just 5 more miles!" Yes,
I can do that I thought.
For the third trip through the hills, they had grown a little taller
still and I think they added one or two more onto the course. I looked
at my watch and saw 8:18. I didn't think it was possible but it looked
like I could still beat my 50 mile time from Iron Horse.
So, I did the best I could to keep going. Came up to a couple who
was walking the 50K, they told me "one mile out". Another big boost. I
looked for the white stripes on the trees that marked the designated
camping areas because that was a sign of being almost done.
Up the last section of hill and finally DONE!!
Got my finishers mug and filled it with ice and mountain dew twice.
Saw Andy B. who it turns out I was one minute behind. And then I sat
for about 45 minutes. Actually, I'd stand for a bit and then sit down,
but basically did nothing. I was hurting and drained, but felt really
good deep down inside.
A lot can happen in 50 miles.
