Watching a guy puke the first mile, 3 different flavors of gatorade , the taste of winter green tums , wanting to quit , the highs and lows a mind goes through during 31 miles , water bottle running out twice , freezing at the start , dehydrated at the end from the heat (empty water bottle remember?) , crossing very cold streams ( water feels good on burning feet) . A pretty fun day!! Race report to come later.
The Report
Last year I ran the 25k version of this race and decieded at that point that I would run the 50k the next year.I ran a 50k on /31/2009 and since then have had the post race blahhh's.After my first 50k I have had a hard time getting motivated.My weekly mileage has not been close to where it needs to be.So standing there at the starting line I felt nervous and very under trained.All I could hope for was to be conservative at the start and try to save something for the end.
The morning started off pretty cool, I'd say the upper 20's.I was trying to figure out what to wear because I knew that the forcast was for the upper 50's.I decieded on a sleeveless tech shirt and shorts. I also slipped on some sleeves that I could discard later in the morning as it started to warm up.The race starts out on a gravel road uphill for the first mile and a half.(This is a steep hill) I started in the back and thought that I would take it nice and easy until the road leveled out.(10:15/pace) At about 3/4 of a mile I was passing people and heard a heaving sound, I turned and looked to my right and a guy was losing his breakfast.I thought....This soon into the race???At 2 1/2 miles we turned onto the trails. The trails were in pretty good shape but there were some spots that were still holding water and was tracked up by horses.(horse poo to) I tried to maintane a pace around 9:30 - 10:00 and was feeling great. I had to stop for a pit stop right before the first aid station.(behind a big tree) A very nice aid station worker filled my bottle with orange gatoraid and I grabbed a couple of chocolate gu's and a hand full of potato chips and was gone.That stop was probably 1:30.I was now about 6 miles in and still feeling good. I finished the chips and then ate a gu.This is my first time to eat gu's since I blamed them for making me sick in a 12hr race last year.
At mile 8 the 25k and 50k split off and the 50 crosses a creek. The water was about 6 inches deep and there were people trying to cross logs and jump from rock to rock. I ran right through the middle and discovered that the cold water felt good on my feet that were starting to burn.(hot spots) I was hoping that my drymax socks would keep my blister free.We crossed a green field at mile 9 and I hit a low and felt that I would not be able to finish. I was feeling terriable and I was at mile 9 of a 31 mile race??From there to the next aid station felt like 20 miles and to make things worse my bottle was empty and I was getting very thirsty.About 1/4 mile from the aid station I saw my friend John Elomore walking down the trail with his daughter and dog.That lifted my spirits alittle. He took a picture, I dropped off my sleeves with him and headed for the aid.Once again the station workers grabbed my bottle and filled it with purple gatoraid while I drank a glass of water. I grabbed another gu on my way out and was gone. (total stop time 2 minutes)
I seemed to be feeling a little better after that stop and was running preety fast on the down hills.But my right foot was still burning like fire, I was wishing for a creek crossing.Ever so often I would catch somebody (or they would catch me) and we would run together for a short while and exchange stories.Two guys in paticular would always pass me and go out of site but I would always catch them at a aid station.One of them was wearing five fingers, I had never saw that in trail running before.These two guys would later motivate me to dig deep and push hard at the end.
I ran into aid #3 at 17.18 miles and was once again greeted by friendly workers. This time I ate 1/2 a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.They filled my bottle with green gatoraid and I ask if there was a creek crossing on the trail ahead. The worker said that there was and I ask how far? He said 1 mile ALRIGHT! (total time 2:50)
I ran for 2 1/2 miles and no creek? :( Oh yea, The two guys passed by me again after the aid and was soon out of site.I was starting to feel that old fimilar stamch pain so I took three tums from my water bottle pouch and ate them.Man wintergreen taste great with gatoraid and gu.(NOT) I had to stop briefly to let some horses by on the trail (didnt want to spook them).Finally I saw the creek and it was a good one.8 inchesdeep and ice cold water. I just stood in it for 30 seconds and put the fire out.(soothing)I took of again and encountered more horses, the weather was very warm and people were starting to show up on the trail.
I came into aid station #4 mile 22.36 with a empty bottle,dry mouth,chapped lips and feeting hurting.The two guys were there (remember 5 fingers) and taking their time. I filled my bottle and left quickly. I overheard one of the guys say....Come on he's leaving.The other guy answered, we will catch him dont worry. This gave me a extra pep in my step. Suddenly I was running fast and feeling no pain. It is amazing the highs and lows you feel in a long race.I passed five runners on this stretch of the race.(miles 22 - 27.5)
I came into the last aid station filled my bottle and hit the road toward the finish. When I came around the corner and could see the clock my wife and two daughters were there cheering me on. This really made me feel great!! There was also a little kid and a man ringing a cow bell everytime someone crossed the finish line.I grabbed a hamberger and chips and then headed for home.Looking back at mile 8 I never thought that I would make it.It is very hard to explain how you have pains all over your body one moment and then you are running with no pain feeling like you could run forever.By the way..... Those two guys NEVER did catch up and while I was eating, (about 15 minutes later) I saw them looking and smiling at me.Second winds really do exsist. | 