Prep: Well, signed up for this a month and a half ago thinking I'd at least get a 20+ miler in before running it. That didn't happen, so I guess I can't complain too much. I've obviously been running a ton of total overall mileage, but one marathon run will tell you that mileage means nothing when compared to the importance of the long run, and same goes for speed work. My speed work is okay, I guess. I am still overweight compared to my racing weight by 25 pounds, but I think that's just the way it's going to be for this cycle unfortunately. Some of that is definitely muscle, but I'd be fooling myself if I said my diet was on point.
Weather: 94 degrees at the start, sun shining, super humid, no rain, no clouds, but fortunately we would be running in the trees for most of it and the sun would be setting with us eventually finishing in the dark (some of us anyway!)
The course: Three loops on a 7.2ish mile loop that has the first 0.7 on asphalt, the next 0.5 on non-packed, beach sugar sand, then <5 miles of undulating, packed single track with some dips and rises, and then the last mile is back to sugar sand mixed with roots, mud, zig-zagging, and if-you-take-your-eyes-off-the-ground-you're-going-to-eat-it type footing. The course isn't bad if you're just leisurely bouncing along, but if you're pushing then it's a different story.
The race: There were only about forty at the start and I was on my own within the first 100 steps and stayed that way for the rest of the race. Albeit the first mile was about a 5:30/mile, so that'll scare pretty much any of these trail racers right off, which I supposed was the goal. Loop one went fine- about 49 minutes with two full stops for water/nutrition.
Loop two started exactly the same, 5:30/mile straight into the sugar sand- which sends you into basically a 7:30 mile that is noticeably harder than the 5:30. The killer event happened here. Horse flies. Kill me. I was being dive-bombed like my blood must have been made of pure CO2 and sugar. The run went from fun to not fun within the next couple of miles, and at the 11+ mile mark, I was out of my mindset completely. Lap two wasn't too far off lap one, and I circled in about 51 minutes flat, which was respectable as I had started lapping some of the 21-milers by mile 11. You read that right. 7.2 mile loop, and I was lapping them at mile 10, so not even mile four for them. I took two more stop breaks again in the same places (4.1 mile water stop and the 7.2 mile loop finish/start water stop). I never stop in road races, but it is just the culture to stop in trail races I think. All the volunteers are just so nice and helpful, I can't help but want to make them feel like they are beyond awesome for helping. JJ really helped me out at the end of this lap as well- drink ready and let me know I was about 8 minutes up on second place after the first lap. I was also super dizzy at this point from the heat, so the nutrition helped- my shorts had ripped in the race after getting caught on something and my gel fell out, so I was behind on my sugar.
Lap three began and I shot down the asphalt mile in another 5:30-5:40/mile and of course right into the slowest mile thus far at about a 7:50/mile pace. It feels so weird to go from the slowest mile on the course (the finish of the lap) to the fastest mile on the course (the start of the lap) to the second slowest mile on the course. It really threw me through a loop mentally. I was decent to the 4.1 mile mark water station, but really was feeling super dizzy at this point. The heat had sucked the life out of me. I really dialed my speed back (definitely unintentionally). I had convinced myself this was all I could muster, but you can just tell when you're lying to yourself when you look at your heart rate and listen to your own breathing. It was disappointing to see me pack it in so close to the finish. I waded through the last 5k in a pathetic 23 minutes. It didn't help at all this last lap having to pass a bunch of the 14-milers who started an hour after we did. It's just tiring on single track to pass anyone, let alone having to voice yourself when you just want to crash through with a bag on your head hoping no one is seeing you suffer.
The finish: Anyway, I mustered average form for the last 0.2 and ran through the finish line. I did get first place by about 20 minutes over second and 40 minutes over third, but I really can't say I enjoyed it. It was honestly harder than the 63 miler I did at this same location on more difficult sections of the trail, which isn't a good sign. I was still dizzy and nauseous a couple of hours after the race. Eating didn't help and drinking didn't help. I wouldn't be surprised if it was something heat-related. If I had to do it again, I think I'd be sure to take in WAY MORE water and much less gatorade (or at least a better balance.) Way more. As in 20 ounces/lap more, especially on lap one.
The awards were cool. They were a wood-burned trophy, so that was nice. I am happy there was not medal or trophy- unique and memorable is the way to go.
Afterwards: Anyway, that's that. I think I need to add a tune up race, because I just have no idea how quick I am on a road course. I have no idea where/what race however, since the idea of doing that crap again in Florida with this weather makes me feel ill already.
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