My PST "Fall Classic" Race Review

Another race I'm not really eager to write about!  Don't get me wrong, the event was great.  The course was beautiful and relaxing; it started in the dark with a heavy fog, and when the sun came out it revealed the beauty we all long for in the fall.  The aid stations and the people manning them were great (I especially appreciated the young children helping at this race!  I tried to be silly with them at the aid stations, but was greeted with some strange looks. It is hard for me to look friendly when I'm such a sweaty, stinky mess, and can't form a sentence without slurring my words because I have reached that delirious point... I think I scared them).  The weather wasn't even that bad; I mean, sure it got hot, and I know I was the only one wearing pants, but seriously, I trained this way all year long so I never really felt overheated out there. Besides, there was actually a nice cool breeze even at the hottest points of the race. 

 

My only problem with the race was that I had set a goal of running it in 10 hours (which would have been my personal best), and instead it took me over 12 (my slowest 50 miler yet!).  I'm still having troubles figuring out how to avoid nausea and force myself to eat and drink after 25-30 miles of running.  So, once again, I found myself accepting the fact that I would just try to power walk (saves me a lot of calories and pain) until I felt like I could run again (which never really came.)

 

But then again, I did finish.  I did get another 50 miles of training under my belt for my next 100 miler.  If I'm honest, I can't say I had a great time because I was pretty miserable that second half; but there were some highlights. 

My wife and I went on a date Friday night and then camped out together, the night before the race, in the back of a truck at a truck stop (more on that adventure another time, perhaps).  We don't get to do that every day!  She proved once again how much she loves me and how I probably don't deserve her by going through all she has to go through to crew for me having absolutely no desire or passion for running, not to mention ultra running.  Yet, I couldn't talk her out of going if I tried.  She wanted to be there for me.  I am truly blessed!

 

After all was said and done, I have the experience.  I have the memories.  I have pictures of me faking smiles and pretending to be running.  It all reminds me that when I "endure hardness like a good soldier" (albeit unnecessary hardness that I brought upon myself) then "joy cometh in the morning" (Two Bible verses that are completely unrelated and that I have completely ripped out of their context).

 

The good news is, I felt pretty good the following days and am now back out running as normal.  I am blessed to be able to recover remarkably well.  I can barely remember the pain and frustration of the day.  I've got my eyes on the road ahead.  Experience is perhaps the best teacher.

October 6-12 Training Update

Scripture challenge of the week:

(Sorry for another poor quality video.  It's all I've got to work with at the time.)

 

 

Mileage is down as I am now in the middle of my taper for my 50 miler, but I'm still making bits of progress on my virtual run across Kansas.  Passed through Russell, KS and am now making my way to Salina.  Soon, I'll be departing from Old Highway 40 and following I-70 for a while.  Following is my mileage for last week:

 

Monday - off

Tuesday - Jogged an easy 8 miler.  Felt good after taking a few days off 

Wednesday - Speed hiked 3 miles

Thursday - Speed hiked 2 miles 

Friday - Ran some, Hiked some.  Averaged 12 min/Mi.

Saturday - off

Sunday - off

 

Sure hope I'm not taking it too easy.  I always feel like I'm doing something wrong during a taper!

PST-50 Race Update

Well, I finished.  That is what ultras are all about, finishing.  Of course I had to keep reminding myself that as I watched people much older than me pass by.  It is amazing the condition some of these guys are in...well into their sixties and seventies I might add.  And I can't leave out the ladies. Plenty of female runners passed by, too.  And to think, there was a day when women didn't run in any organized foot races.

I kept asking myself, "Should I be going faster?" and then saying, "Remember your training.  You trained to run slow and take walk breaks." Then I would remind myself, "You have two metal plates in your leg and sixteen screws...the doctor didn't even think you would run again.  Just finish!"  Quite honestly, I really wasn't sure how I would hold up, so it was quite an honor just to be able to finish.

But it gets better.  Around the half way point, the predicted (and dreaded) storm came in...apparently even worse than anyone expected.  In fact, the only preparation I had made for the storm was to bring a wind breaker to put over my fleece pullover if it got windy or started to sprinkle.  How could I know I would be pelted in the face by sleet coming at me sideways?  And don't forget it was supposed to be Spring. 

My face froze and went numb.  Soon the sleet turned into giant flakes of snow that were accumulating quickly.  At one point, I felt like I had a brain freeze.  I started thinking I should have worn a hat.  Then I felt my head, and there was a hat there...of sorts.  It was about an inch of snow that had accumulated on top of my hair (thus the brain freeze).

I guess the snow did provide some positives, however.  The landing was a bit softer on my Planters Fasciitis I had acquired a week or two earlier.  My feet and toes were numb so I couldn't feel the usual pain that comes in that region after twenty five miles or so (okay, I felt it plenty, but maybe it would have been worse if had not been for the snow!)

I have got to say, it was pretty terrible to run in when you got to pavement.  Immediately my feet were drenched and soggy in the slushy snow.  Every time I lifted my feet out of the slush, my hip flexors were yelling "Mommy!"  But anyway...

My mind really went to the fact that I was originally going to try the 100-miler.  Many of these guys would still be running ten hours or so after I finished.  By the way, after I finished the snow really started coming down.  On my way home, I could see little lights bobbing up and down in the snowy darkness as the brave runners pressed on.  As it turns out, only five of the sixty 100-milers finished before their race was called off.  I guess there was six, but it turns out one of them was disqualified (I don't know enough details to speak about that situation).

This was my first ultra with Epic Ultras. I will tell you right now, if you are an ultra runner or interested in your first ultra marathon, Eric Steele and his crew have got what it takes to make your experience...well, epic.  Perhaps that is an overused word, but it actually fits here.  One definition of the word "epic" is simply "Extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope."  Well, by that definition, all ultras are epic, and Epic Ultras goes beyond the ordinary in other ways.

Everything that I saw in this race was very well thought out and organized.  Each worker at the aid stations were very helpful and polite.  All provisions seemed to have been made.  I only apologize that I couldn't think clearly enough to communicate well with the workers, but they did a good job interpreting my frozen tongue language.  I hope they understood that I was thanking them profusely for being there.

I plan on being back next year for the 100...and perhaps I won't be able to make it that long before I find myself signing up for another grueling ultra...but let's make it a warm one this time, without the snow!

Slight Change of Plans For Race Day

So, things have changed a bit. I am officially entered into the Prairie Spirit Trail Ultra event, but I will be running the 50 miler, not the 100.  This is probably best for a few different reasons. 

First, it is the first ultra attempt since my broken leg.  I have recently run 25-30 mile long runs in training, but I have no idea what I will be like at 50-60 miles.  So, it is probably better to start with a 50 and see what happens.

Second, I committed long ago not to let ultra running interfere with church or church responsibilities.  If I would have ran the 100 miler, I question if I would have been able to make it in under 27 hours at this point.  In order to make it to church in time to teach Sunday School, I would have had to cut off at 26 hours.  If I would have had to quit at mile 95, that would have really stunk! Then, I would have still been extremely tired and sore as I attempted to teach Sunday School immediately after the race.  In a weird way, I was looking forward to teaching while sore and exhausted just to show the teens they can still make it to Sunday School no matter what they did the night before. (Only I thought it would push me to go ahead and finish in under 26 hours--who knows?)

Finally, the 50-miler was paid for.  Can't beat that!  I was about to drop out entirely because I couldn't justify spending the money on the entrance fee.  A friend, who wanted to see me enter, paid my way into the 50 miler in exchange for a little work for them.  Now I have to finish for my friend and I know that this the race I am "supposed" to be running this year.