I have looked forward to this race all year. I have not been this excited about a race in a long time. Months of training. Hundreds of miles running. Hours of research, planning and visualizing the race. It all comes down stepping up to the starting line and committing. I have to thank my wife for supporting me throughout the training. Thanks to Dave Manthey and his RunnersEdge training for preparing me for the race. Thank you to anyone who has joined me for those long runs.
I spent more time preparing for race day for the ultra than a triathlon. I packed and re-packed my drop box Saturday afternoon. Triathlons I have done did not require so much consideration of nutrition. What will I feel like eating after 40 miles? What should I pack for blisters? What clothes to bring? What to actually wear?
The race consists of 4 12.5 mile loops in Bear Creek Lake Park near Morrison, Colorado. Each loop has 800 feet of elevation gain, 3 small water crossings and fantastic views of the Rocky Mountains. I call it a race since I had to complete it in 12 hours. I was sure I could do it but you just never know. Starting time was 6:30 AM. I thought I would finish around 5:00 pm.
We arrived at the staring time with plenty of time to get ready. Compared to a triathlon, preparing for the start of this race would be a cinch. Set down the drop box and try to take care of any bodily needs. I also looked for friends to encourage and seek encouragement from. The weather is absolutely perfect.
Start time approaches and I step into the starting area and find a spot where I think I can start with others at the pace I wanted to run. The horn goes off and we shamble forward with our hydration packs and compression socks. The elites take off like it's a 10k. Time to settle into a comfortable pace and cover the distance. I run through the first aid station and wave to friends. At the base of Mount Carbon 1 I slow to a walk. Time for a Honey Stinger Waffle - Chocolate. Very tasty. At the top I stop for a picture and then blasted down the other side. Perhaps this is not a smart idea but it is a lot of fun with the right song playing.
In my opinion this part of the course is the worst. The trail is more rough, there are some rollers and the scenery is not as good. I reach the next aid station and grab some more cookies. Luke Crespin who is running the half passes me at the aid station on his way to a 2nd place finish. The run to the start/finish is somewhat down hill and I pick up the pace as the lead runners of the half marathon pass me.
I reach the start/finish area and head for my drop box to get more food. My time for the first lap is 2:10. This is a bit faster than my projections so there is some time in the bank. A number of friends ask how I am doing and offer much needed encouragement. My Runners Roost teammates have won the 10K and half marathon races. I start the second lap and assess my condition. My stomach feels fine, I feel hydrated but my ankles are feeling a little beat up from the terrain. I really did not do enough trail running or conditioning. All systems go. The weather is still great. It seems like it will not get too hot like previous years. There are some clouds forming in the foothills.
A pattern has started where I grab cookies and orange slices at the aid stations. I wrap the cookies in a napkin and put them in my pocket for later. The 50 mile field continues to spread out and I am running alone. The two lead runners of the 50k race pass me. They are neck and neck and running faster than my 10k race pace. I walk up Mount Carbon again and somehow it seems higher this time. I finish a Bonk Breaker at the top and run down the other side. The water feels great on my sore ankles. After 20 miles, the walk breaks are longer. I refill my Camelback at an aid station. The Camelback "Elixer" tabs in one of the containers I am carrying have shattered and I dump the powder in. Blech. I need to remember to reset the flow meter when I refill or it is useless.
At the start/finish area most of the other races have finished. It is time to change shoes. I switch from my Saucony trail shoes to my Mizuno road shoes and put more Vaseline on my feet before I put on new socks. A friend from RMTC, Katy offers more encouragement - thanks Katy. I gather more gels and grab more cookies and orange slices.
Time for another assessment. I am tired but I am still feeling pretty good. I have been moving for about 4 hours and 45 minutes. I have four hours to complete the third loop to make the cut off. No problem. The dry shoes and socks feel good. Stomach okay. My ankles are sore and running becomes more difficult. All systems go for lap three.
The only thing I remember going through my mind is constantly calculating the time it will take to complete the lap at my current pace. Random thoughts about Minecraft and thoughts of Sara from time to time. There are some rain squalls over the foot hills that look bad. Lisa, a runner I know from RunnersEdge passes me on her way to a PR. She looked very strong. Up Mount Carbon again and it is still getting higher each time. Slower down the back side and my quads are feeling sore. Through the water again and time for more cookies and oranges. I hope to see Julie at the next aid station. Other runners are ten's of yards ahead and behind.
Julie is at the next aid station and I am happy to see her. We speak briefly and I grab more cookies and oranges. Gels are the only thing that seem like a good idea. Sport beans too. I have eaten more oranges today than over the past several months. I am still on track for the cut off. The battery in my Garmin dies after 7 hours. A brief rain shower cools the afternoon down some. I don't think the high temperature got above 76 and the clouds kept the sun from really beating down. The rain clouds over the foothills concern me. It would suck to endure this in the rain.
Last time through the start/finish area. I make the cut off by 30 minutes. 37.5 miles down, 12.5 to go. I have four hours to complete the race. hat is doable at a brisk walk or a pace of 16 minutes per mile. I replace my Garmin with my Timex. I won't have an accurate distance but it should tell my my pace. Trevor congratulates me and offers more encouragement. I watched his 50 mile race here last year and it was a large part of my decision to enter this race. The remaining spectators are great.
I pass each landmark for the last time. I don't realize it but I am not eating enough. I am still drinking from my Camelback. I picked up some cookies in a napkin and more oranges. My stomach is not upset but nothing I can think seems like it would taste good. I have to concentrate to keep up the pace.
A burning sensation starts on my left foot. I think it is just some sand in my shoe and I stop to dump it out. Some time later the burning sensation is replaced by a pop as the blister that had been forming popped. I am more than a mile from the previous aid station and a mile from the base of Mount Carbon. I estimate I am 7 miles from the finish. I try to walk but the blister stings too much and my slowed pace may not be enough to make the cutoff and the pain may be too much anyway. I stop and dump the cookies out of the napkin and fold the napkin over the blister under my sock. This helps tremendously and I hope it stays in place. I hope the water crossing does not destroy it. There is a branch in the trail at the base of Mount Carbon that would take me back to the finish area in less than a mile but I would not finish the race. I am able to continue at a sustainable pace to make the cutoff so I decide to climb Mount Carbon one more time.
I gingerly walk down the hill. Down seems more painful than up. I cross Bear Creek for the last time and my foot seems ok. All I can think of is reaching Julie's aid station and then 2 miles to the finish. I try some cola at the next aid station but my stomach cramps. Orange slices are the only thing that seem to work. I am not nauseous but I have no desire to eat. All I can think is my pace and estimated finish time. My foot hurts and my legs feel so stiff.
I reach the last aid station and Julie is there. She offers encouragement and gets my orange slices. I don't tell her about the blisters. Two miles to go. It looks like I will make it. Just keep moving. A friend from my pace group, Mike, walks the last 200 meters with me.
At last I cross the finish line. 50 miles in 11 hours and 45 minutes. 101 runners started and 90 finished. I was the 81st finisher and 23rd of 25 in my age group. Julie is there at the finish and she congratulates me. I get my medal and limp to the medical area. The blister is not too bad. It is not nearly as bad as the one from the Denver Marathon the previous year. All I want to do is stop moving. The students from the CU Medical Center bandage my feet and I rest for a bit before getting into our car.
Over the next few days I reflect on my race as I limp around. It takes four days before I can walk without much pain. My ankles are sore for more than a week. I think the soreness is really from the attempt at power hiking. I realize that I did not train for the race as thoroughly as I should have. My training mantra had been any forward progress was "goal pace" so I did not put enough effort into my long runs. I needed to do much more trail running to prepare for this race even though it could not be considered very technical. Besides, trail running is a lot of fun. I was very fortunate that the weather was as good as it was. I did enjoy the long runs in training but I needed to work harder.
Would I run another 50 mile race? Would run a longer race? Yes I will. I am already seriously considering the Silver Rush 50 mile race in July 2013 and the Pikes Peak Marathon in August. For now it is time to recover and then train to qualify for the Boston Marathon on 2014.
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