Although I ran the Fishline 25k trail race last February, I think this was my first "real" trail race at this distance. Orcas Island 50k has 3,500 feet of elevation gain/loss, including a nasty 1,300-foot climb from around miles 4 to 5. I could have been in for a long day, so I didn't really go in with many expectations; wasn't even sure what time was realistic. It was beautiful outside though, so the sunny clear day promised at least a fun experience outdoors. I lined up a little further back than I should have with 150 runners (50k had about that many also, I was told), so the first mile of fairly easy terrain and single track was spent weaving around people to get a decent place. I settled with a pack, then took off from them at 2 or so, just after the first light climb. Had no idea of the mountain waiting for me, so two miles later I'm huffing it up Mt. Constitution, legs burning, convinced I'll be caught by that pack and they'll mock me. But I had two people ahead I was focused on, and after hiking for awhile passed one of them when the hill started to level, and hit the summit at 57 minutes. And actually, I had caught a second wind and had a little energy back (but finishing a hill always does that). Grabbed some aid at the summit, enjoyed a 40-second spectacular view of the San Juan Islands and Canadian Rockies (sorry, no camera, and I'm really, really sorry about that), and hit the trail again. I chase a guy out of the aid station and we booombed downhill. I've never descended quite like that. Just totally free and letting the legs completely loose, banging away on a soft trail with some tight switchbacks. It was a blast, and I knew I was destroying some quads. Oh well. I caught him and we hung a bit, then I dragged him up some smaller rolling hills and we caught another guy. The second guy and I slogged another hill (nowhere near as extreme as the first hald, so I was trying to maintain a better hike/run ratio then) then I left him. But both caught up to me at the last high point, where we met two younger guys confused by an unmarked T. The five us of picked a route and it turned out to be right (whew, especially at that point). Another downhill there, the two young bucks split so the three of us stuck together. We weren't bombing quite as much then, we knew we were within five or so and I was feeling beat in the legs. But we were chatty, just enjoying the forest and the day, really fun moment of the race there. We hit the base at a pretty decent clip and could smell the finish about two miles out or so. But my legs said 'enough' at that point, they weren't happy with all the downhill. My energy lagged a bit, but not too bad. The legs were just trashed. So I let the two vets go on, dying to stay with them but wanting to make sure I got in. Last two were a pretty easy jog, that was what I had left. Luckily it's mostly flat by then, a nice loop around a beautiful lake. I hobbled up the last hill then cruised down the grassy slope to the finish, really excited to be done. The cameraderie was pretty great after that, definitely a different feel than most road races. People hung around a long time (part of that is being stuck on an island, I know), sat in the sun (again, another advantage not usually there in February) and listened to a bluegrass band (let's see that, any race but a Rock N' Roll). Then I worked in the kitchen spooning soup and washing dishes and making pizza dough for a few hours (which kept me loose, but I didn't refuel properly, and felt that around 4 p.m. when I crashed). The party kept up until late, just a great time gorging pizza and cookies and sitting around meeting other runners in the Camp Moran Lodge. Just a wonderful time with this little Northwest ultra community. What I take away is that I'm in pretty good shape for early in the year; much better prepared in terms of fueling than I've ever been; and I'm fairly confident I can tackle the 50k next month and even shoot for a sub-5 hour time. I need a little more hill work, and more long distance runs that pass two hours and maybe get up to three. So there's six weeks of work ahead of me. I'll take it.
brooks cascadia -- 106
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