Jon Elmore and I got to the race well rested and fueled. We had gone to Figo's on College St. in Decatur,GA the night before. I got Gnocchi di patate which have to be the most dense pasta I have every eaten. I didn't think I'd even finish my bowl but I kept at it - just like an ultra-- and polished it off. I've I do this race again I'll be back for more. Cool restaurant. www.figopasta.com
At the race start it was 75F, as we headed down the narrow pine straw covered trail. It was mostly single track the entire way with the shoulder mowed down. The course took a 90 degree turn on a wooden boardwalk which was slick with leaves in the early morning. After more pinestraw trails weaving around trees, there was a one very short hill followed by a curvy descent. After another boardwalk stretch, the back stretch was a straighter single track run on the backside of a pond. This was the only part of the trail with minimal shade so it got hotter as they day went on. A sharp left, a boardwalk bridge, and several curves and we got back out on the road for a 0.1mile on pavement up a slight grade past our car and to the aid station. That was 1.12 miles. Get your lap counted and repeat.
A young guy , Jon Obst, shot out at the gun and quickly built a gap. I stayed relaxed as it was going to be a long day. I ran with one of Obst's friends during one of the early laps and he told me that Obst had his sights set on the course record. I commented that he started like he was after something but that ultras are rarely won in the 1st hour. Jon Elmore stayed on my heels for the 1st couple laps - it was nice to have a friendly face. I let the top woman get ahead of me as a just got in a groove.
My garmin lost signal at 5 laps so I took it off. I didn't need a distration. I would just run it on feel- no need for a external voice telling me to speed up or slow down.
I had a plan in mind to start walking 45 seconds every lap after the 1st three. The Jeff Galloway technique. I had done it in training with good success. I felt strong at the end of each long run and was not sore the day before. In the race, I got passed by several people the 1st couple times I took my walk break and that made me mad. I just couldn't take getting passed so I scrapped the strategy quickly and reverted to my "just keep running" mantra.
So within 1 hour, my Garmin and pacing strategy was out the window. All that was left was my plan for eating and drinking and my desire to just keep pushing. 1 Gu every three laps, 1 S-Cap every three, 3 20oz bottles of water per hour, throw in a few potato chips and accelerade here and there. When I felt the need, I doubled up on Gu or S-caps. When the day was over, I had nearly emptied my 24+ bag of Gu's.
As I trotted on, I started picking people off. From around 5th, I worked my way up to second within the first couple hours. I finally caught a glimpse of the leader, Obst. Within the next lap, I passed him at the Aid Station. Obst took his time at the aid stations. Not me, I didn't window shop- knew what I want and got out of there quick.
By 11am, it was 85F. By 1pm, 90F and kept rising the rest of the race finally peaking at 93F by the time the race ended at 4pm.
After catching Obst, I kept steady and was never passed again until very late in the day. With it being a lap course, I got used to passing others. the runners were so courteous. Some , getting off the trail before I even got there. Most, all it took was a short "on your left" and I was by. I started to relax and enjoy it a bit once I lapped Obst and then lapped him again. I may actually win this thing.
That was until my leg problems started. If I took too long eating or filling my water bottle, my left leg (IT band, lower/outer hamstring) seized up something fierce. Ouch! After a scream, grimace, hobbling, a little rubbing, some stretching, I'd slowly force myself to start a trot again. After 50 yards, I was pain free. This happened 3-4 times until I wised up and just didn't stop running again but for a second or two. Each time it happened- my inner voice said its all over, you are not finishing, so much for your lead if you can't keep going. It don't listen to that voice. Its not over until its over.
At one point, I took a nice spill - a trip followed by a header and a soft landing on my left side. Luckily , I was able to grimace, chuckle, and get back at it.
Once I got within 30 minutes of the end, I knew I had it in the bag. After pushing through a 1/4 lap, I shut it down and walked it in. Obst passed me but I was OK with giving up a lap to him. Jon Elmore caught me too and we ended up walking in together. I could have ran and may have been able to get another lap but I was done and it was good to walk like 90% of the other runners had resorted to.
Once the results came in, I had won with a two lap margin and set a new course record (by 40 seconds over Jack McDermott's performance last year). 51.34 miles is not bad for 8hrs of work in the Georgia heat. This was my first ever win in a running event of any sort and it felt good. Jon Elmore ended up finishing 9th in over 41 miles which is amazing since he did this race on a whim with very little distance training. His support kept me moving as well as a short visit from my family- wife,father-in-law, and kids. The course is very spectator friendly.
The aftermath was minimal all things considered. Quads were shot but they got over it after 4 days. My adidas shorts had got sweatier than normal which caused some havoc with my soft moistened skin. The waist band dug a horizontal line across my entire front. The tag ,which hung down on the front right , cut two parallel lines along each edge of the tag. These were more amusing than painful that is until the post race ice bath and shower.
Eric Schotz 8/11/08 | 