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Showing posts with label Ultra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ultra. Show all posts
Saturday, May 2, 2015
2015 Collegiate Peaks Trail Run
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Everglades Ultras
50K - 4:47:47
5th Place Overall
1st Place Males 30-39
Everglades National Park, Florida
Pre Race
I am usually a very conservative runner especially in marathons and ultras. My original plan was to just use this as a training run and get in some sightseeing. Because this was my vacation and it was only a training run I had a very “whatever happens” attitude. In the days leading up to the race I keep thinking that if I didn’t care about the race why not take a risk and start out fast. If I held on to the pace I could smash my PR and place high in the standing, worst case I blow up and walk/run the last 10-15 miles and get in some good sightseeing like I planned. Training had being good and I felt great so I decided it was worth the risk and threw caution to the wind. My plan was to run 20 miles at 8:30 pace and then pick it up if I was feeling good. I knew it would be hot but I really underestimated the difficulty of the course.
Start: Miles 0-12 (pace though this section 8:32/mi)
The race started off on a nice hard packed dirt road it felt nice and cool at about 65F. I paired up with a local guy named Rick, first few miles where around 8:20 pace which was very aggressive. Only about 10 people shot out faster and ran away from us. It didn’t take long until we turned off the road right into the woods. We wouldn’t on the road again until the final 8 miles. Coming from Colorado the sights were amazing everything was so foreign. Early on we ran through a prairie that was nearly 4 miles long which was another amazing sight. Rick and I chatted while running 8:30 pace and the miles just ticked off easy as cake. The ground surface of the woods and the prairie was cleared grass. It felt similar to running on recently watered soccer fields. It was very soft and stole some of your energy with every step.
Middle: Miles 13-26 (pace though this section 9:30/mi)
At the 12.5 aid station Rick needed and extended bathroom break and convinced me to not wait for him. Now running on my own and about 2 hours into the race the soft trails were making my legs feel sluggish. Out again in the prairie without shade I started to feel the sun and humidity (I have mentioned more than a few times that I am a wimp in the heat). My stomach started to ach and I decided it was a good time to slow down and rethink my strategy. Around mile 17 I passed 2 guys which didn’t seem happy to see me. After running in the sun with no shade for about 8 miles the course finally heading into the woods for some much need shade. Unfortunately the next 2 miles where covered in soft mud on a trail called Mud Tram. The upside was we merged with the 25K race and I was no longer alone. I passed a ton of people but only 1 who was in the 50K. My plan was to pick up the pace once I hit the solid dirt road but my legs just wouldn’t move. Finally around mile 23 Rick caught up to me and had energy to spare as he flew passed.
Finish: Miles 27-31 (pace though this section 10:18/mi)
I had slowed down so much but looking at my watch I believed that I could still get my secondary goal of finishing under 5hrs. I didn’t walk at all but now I struggled to run 10:00/mi pace. I didn’t let it get me down I knew I would finish high in the standing if I could just hold on a few more miles. My stomach hurt so much and finally I figured out why, I had been drinking so much more Gatorade than I could digest to try and compensate for the heat (plus gels, food and salt). I caught up with Rick again at an aid station where he was sitting down changing his shoes and eating. I only stopped to fill my handled before again taking off. A few miles from the finish Rick caught me again but I was done racing and in survival mode. “I cannot believe how hot it is” I just wanted to hid under a tree for the rest of the day. About a mile out I could see the finish line and I picked up the pace “come on body hold together for another 10:00”. These last 4-5 miles were absolutely miserable. I was happy to see the finish line but happier to see chairs in the shade.
Post Race
Immediately after the race I sat down out of the sun, I was in bad shape and I needed some liquids. Within 1hr of finishing I had drank 2 cokes, 2 bottles of water and a Gatorade. Not long after that I was happy again and eating a well-earned double cheeseburger. Looking on the finishing board I was very happy to see that I was 5th overall and 1st in my age group. My new friend Rick was a perfect ally as he finished 4th and also won his age group.
Huge PR
Before this race I had a PR drought of 18 months but that was for a new distance which is an automatic PR. The last legitimate PR where I beat an existing best was nearly 3 years ago, I really needed this one. I took a whopping 1hour and 7 minutes off my previous 50K PR.
Pictures
Off we go
Woods: Glad I had my calf sleeves
Everglades Prairie: Panthers, Alligators and Bears oh my (apparently a whistle stops them dead)
Finish line
Award Ceremony
Race Souvenirs: Finisher Medal, Age Group Medal, Safety whistle, Age Group Award and PR (Garmin)
5th Place Overall
1st Place Males 30-39
Everglades National Park, Florida
Pre Race
I am usually a very conservative runner especially in marathons and ultras. My original plan was to just use this as a training run and get in some sightseeing. Because this was my vacation and it was only a training run I had a very “whatever happens” attitude. In the days leading up to the race I keep thinking that if I didn’t care about the race why not take a risk and start out fast. If I held on to the pace I could smash my PR and place high in the standing, worst case I blow up and walk/run the last 10-15 miles and get in some good sightseeing like I planned. Training had being good and I felt great so I decided it was worth the risk and threw caution to the wind. My plan was to run 20 miles at 8:30 pace and then pick it up if I was feeling good. I knew it would be hot but I really underestimated the difficulty of the course.
Start: Miles 0-12 (pace though this section 8:32/mi)
The race started off on a nice hard packed dirt road it felt nice and cool at about 65F. I paired up with a local guy named Rick, first few miles where around 8:20 pace which was very aggressive. Only about 10 people shot out faster and ran away from us. It didn’t take long until we turned off the road right into the woods. We wouldn’t on the road again until the final 8 miles. Coming from Colorado the sights were amazing everything was so foreign. Early on we ran through a prairie that was nearly 4 miles long which was another amazing sight. Rick and I chatted while running 8:30 pace and the miles just ticked off easy as cake. The ground surface of the woods and the prairie was cleared grass. It felt similar to running on recently watered soccer fields. It was very soft and stole some of your energy with every step.
Middle: Miles 13-26 (pace though this section 9:30/mi)
At the 12.5 aid station Rick needed and extended bathroom break and convinced me to not wait for him. Now running on my own and about 2 hours into the race the soft trails were making my legs feel sluggish. Out again in the prairie without shade I started to feel the sun and humidity (I have mentioned more than a few times that I am a wimp in the heat). My stomach started to ach and I decided it was a good time to slow down and rethink my strategy. Around mile 17 I passed 2 guys which didn’t seem happy to see me. After running in the sun with no shade for about 8 miles the course finally heading into the woods for some much need shade. Unfortunately the next 2 miles where covered in soft mud on a trail called Mud Tram. The upside was we merged with the 25K race and I was no longer alone. I passed a ton of people but only 1 who was in the 50K. My plan was to pick up the pace once I hit the solid dirt road but my legs just wouldn’t move. Finally around mile 23 Rick caught up to me and had energy to spare as he flew passed.
Finish: Miles 27-31 (pace though this section 10:18/mi)
I had slowed down so much but looking at my watch I believed that I could still get my secondary goal of finishing under 5hrs. I didn’t walk at all but now I struggled to run 10:00/mi pace. I didn’t let it get me down I knew I would finish high in the standing if I could just hold on a few more miles. My stomach hurt so much and finally I figured out why, I had been drinking so much more Gatorade than I could digest to try and compensate for the heat (plus gels, food and salt). I caught up with Rick again at an aid station where he was sitting down changing his shoes and eating. I only stopped to fill my handled before again taking off. A few miles from the finish Rick caught me again but I was done racing and in survival mode. “I cannot believe how hot it is” I just wanted to hid under a tree for the rest of the day. About a mile out I could see the finish line and I picked up the pace “come on body hold together for another 10:00”. These last 4-5 miles were absolutely miserable. I was happy to see the finish line but happier to see chairs in the shade.
Post Race
Immediately after the race I sat down out of the sun, I was in bad shape and I needed some liquids. Within 1hr of finishing I had drank 2 cokes, 2 bottles of water and a Gatorade. Not long after that I was happy again and eating a well-earned double cheeseburger. Looking on the finishing board I was very happy to see that I was 5th overall and 1st in my age group. My new friend Rick was a perfect ally as he finished 4th and also won his age group.
Huge PR
Before this race I had a PR drought of 18 months but that was for a new distance which is an automatic PR. The last legitimate PR where I beat an existing best was nearly 3 years ago, I really needed this one. I took a whopping 1hour and 7 minutes off my previous 50K PR.
Pictures
Off we go
Woods: Glad I had my calf sleeves
Everglades Prairie: Panthers, Alligators and Bears oh my (apparently a whistle stops them dead)
Finish line
Award Ceremony
Race Souvenirs: Finisher Medal, Age Group Medal, Safety whistle, Age Group Award and PR (Garmin)
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Indian Creek 50
13:20:46 – 52.6 miles – 11,000ft elevation gain
All that was left on my list of 2014 goals was to complete a 50 miler (my second). I originally planed on completing this goal at the Leadville Silver Rush in July. But over the summer I got burned out and decided to not even sign up even though I had been training for it since the start of the year. I overcame this burnout with some fun fast half marathons. When it came time to get back to business I set my sights on the Indian Creek 50 miler. A brand new race from a brand new race company, it would be their second official race. I was worried about the November date because it could be nice and warm or a blizzard. It didn’t matter, I was in and this time no bailing out.
Loop 1: Off we go
The race started off started off with a “clink”, rather than a gun the race director starts the race by hitting a rock with a pickaxe. I was still fidgeting with my gear so I walked casually across the string line and at least the first minute into the race. The race started in the middle of a national forest at 6am. It was dark, one of my favorite memories was looking up the trail and seeing the long line of headlamps in front of me. We ran up hill for a few miles in the dark and when we reached the top we were treated to an awesome view of Denver still asleep. The sun rose as we started down the mountain, this was the most dangerous time as the half-light hid obstacles. I turned and ankle on a steep section and while attempting to catch myself from falling slammed the side and top of my foot into a rock or a stump. My ankle stung for a few steps but then quickly got better while the side of my foot felt like it had been sliced open.
Once at the bottom of the hill I took a second to take off my jacket and headlamp and put them in my backpack. It was cloudy and probably around 60F a perfect day for running. The second half of this loop was all uphill climbing over 1,800ft between miles 8-14. I had only brought my backpack to carry extra clothes, I don’t like carrying it around and I use a hand held for hydration. I was running with my friends Meaghan and Dave we were having fun, sharing stories and enjoying the amazing trails. I had decided earlier in the week that I would stay with Meaghan for the first 50K of the race. It was her first 50K and I was excited for her become and ultra-marathoner. Running with Meaghan also benefited me because the time passed quickly I wasn’t thinking about pace or how far I had to run today.
Loop 2: Still enjoying the trails
Back at the finish line I spent a moment refilling supplies. The weather was nice so I decided to ditch my backpack and stuff my pockets with SCaps and food. Leaving this aid station we were treated to some more awesome trails and a lot of downhill. I think it was about 6-7 miles to the Waterton aid station with 2,300ft or so drop in elevation with a few small climbs along the way. This course is all up or down never flat. Leaving the Waterton aid station (mile 22ish) I noticed the first signs of trouble. I was falling behind on my food intake and at this stop I tried to catch up. I had some quesadillas, turkey sandwiches and I finished of my bottle and refilled it before heading off. I was doing good with my salt intake of 1 SCap per hour. I had a huge hill ahead so I took some more food with me to eat while I hiked (more turkey sandwiches). This hill seemed like it would never end and after a mile or two up the group I was with all went silent which meant everyone was suffering. My heart rate was crazy high just hiking up this section and I was sweating a lot. I reached the aid station and ate more sandwiches, grapes and refilled my bottle. Leaving the aid station we had a good section of runnable downhill terrain. The group I was with ran a solid 3 miles without walking (miles 26,27 & 28) That’s when we hit another huge climb. The second loop of this race was the toughest of the 3, it was about 21 miles long with 2 major climes of 5-6 miles each.
Loop 2: Losing my mind
Hiking up the final miles of the 2nd loop I decided it was time to part ways with my friend Meaghan. There were 2 major reasons behind this. I could tell we wouldn’t be able to motivate each other and I knew she could finish from here. The second reason was that I was dangerously low on fluids. Meaghan is a great friend and I know that if she noticed that I was out of water she would give me some of hers. This was her first ultra and I could tell that she was struggling. I couldn’t let her sacrifice her chances of finishing because of my unpreparedness. So on I went and within minutes I finished of my last of my available fluids somewhere between miles 28-29. Not long after that came my scheduled hourly SCap which I decided to dry swallow. Looking at my watch I realized I still how far I had to go which sent me into a panic, “How can I possible run 20 more miles”? My mind continued to descend into doubt and anger and just about every other emotion. It was a downward spiral that I couldn’t stop. At around mile 32 I dry swallowed my second SCap still climbing and hoping the aid station would come soon. My mind kept spiraling until I was thinking up excuses to quit at 50K. I finally came to the concluding that I don’t need an excuse I am just done and who cares what anyone thinks. Eventually the aid station came into view and zombie trotted my way over to my crew. I had been without water for about 2hrs all while climbing nearly 2,000ft I was finished.
50k Aid station
My body went into auto pilot and my brain quit sending orders. My friends Mitch (support crew) and Barrett (pacer) quickly got me fluids, fed me, refilled my supplies and gave me fresh clothes (I changed my shirt and socks). Before I could really think what happened my Barrett and I had heading off for the final loop. Leaving the aid station I did turn around just in time to watch Meaghan cross the finish of her first ultra. Over that quick pit stop I drank 20oz of coffee, 20oz of Gatorade and a shot of whisky. I also made a big change that was a little bit of a gamble since I was going to be trying something new (Don’t change anything is usually rule #1). But at this point all the chips were out on the table and I and nothing more to lose. The change was going from 1 to 2 handheld bottles. No more switching hands and now it would be more difficult to eat and mess with gear but I would be carrying twice the liquids. Without my friends Mitch and Barrett at this aid station I would have called it a day right there. Thank you both guy, I owe both of you bigtime.
Loop 3: The real work begins
The 3rd loop of this race started off with an easy 2 mile climb followed by a long well deserved 8 miles of rolling downhill trails. My stomach was swishing from all the fluids and food I just ate but 15 minutes later I was climbing better I had been in hours. The first 4 miles of downhill (miles 37-40) I managed to keep about a 12:00/mi pace. I came into the 40 mile aid station feeling better than I did at mile 30 or even mile 20. I filled up both bottles and ate a snickers before heading out. In ultra running you don’t avoid hitting the wall you just hit the wall multiple times and learn to deal with those highs and lows. In the early 40’s I again was suffering and barely able to walk up some of the steeper inclines. I was paying the price from my race day change, my arms were really tired. Running down the switchbacks of the Colorado trail all I could think was “How could I possible get back up this a few miles from now”. Barrett and I arrived at the final aid station just before sun set. My head was in a fog and all I knew was I eating magical watermelon because nothing had ever tasted better in my life. I ate so much that the volunteer cut had to some more for me, the race the volunteers were amazing. I ate as much as I could and then packed a few more pieces for the road. All that remained was an intimidating 6 mile climb to the finish line.
Loop 3: into the dark and on to the finish
I have run races with tough finishes but this was brutal the last 6 miles climbed more than 2,000ft out of the canyon up to the finish line. Not to mention along the way included some nice sized down hills. The first 2 miles out of the canyon were the toughest (1200ft climb) but I was running on special watermelon and I actually ran a lot more than I thought I would. With about 4 miles to go we were running with headlamps in the dark not dusk dark. But I felt a strange comfort running in the dark, maybe because I knew I would finish now or because I run in the dark most days. Perhaps my brain only had enough energy to process not falling from the 2’X2’ section of visible trail in front of me. Whatever it was those last few miles were actually enjoyable. I kept thinking I was seeing people up the trail only to find it was a glow stick once we arrived at the spot. Over the last 15 miles Barrett and I kept making predictions on where the finish would be which varied between 51 and 56 miles. Now that we were getting close we both agreed that it would be 52-53, the debate helped pass the time. Coming around a corner I suddenly recognized that I was in the campground and the finish was just around the corner. 2 minutes later I was crossing the finish line in a very empty field. The race director congratulates and shakes the hand of every finisher as they cross the line.
Post Race
I sat in a lawn chair and had some amazing chicken soup, run far enough and anything you eat is awesome. The guy in my carpool finished less than 5 minutes in front of me so that worked out great, the other guy I bought finished an hour earlier but had he family take him home. Getting out of that lawn chair and walking up hill to my car was an interesting challenge as was driving my car home. I left my house around 4:00 am and I got home around 9:00 pm which I then spent telling my kids stories of my crazy adventure that day. As tired as I was I didn’t want go to bed yet and I need a shower.
DFL
I didn’t know it at the time but I won the DFL prize which stands for Dead F*@king Last. At first I didn’t know what to think about that because I have been so competitive in the past, it did mean that I got a free race next year and I get to keep the bottle of whiskey. After a few moments of letting it sink in I started to really embrace it. That was a hell of a race and to be the last survivor across the finish line is special. I called my kids over and showed them the results followed by a good talked about what it means to win or lose. For years I have been asked by friends, family and coworkers “Did you win the race”, at times in my life I have been pretty fast and do you know how many races I have won… try 0. I don’t feel like I “win” or “lose” describes running at all and especially not ultra-running. I would prefer to describe this day with words like persevere, challenge, fear, adventure and community.
Takeaways
1. I have some awesome friends and I can’t wait to support them in their crazy adventures.
2. I learned so much about myself today. Those darkest times were driven by fear, fear of failure.
3. My hydration strategy needs an upgrade.
4. My body was tough. No muscle cramps, no major blisters and no chafing. My feet complained only a little while my knees, ankles and hips never complained once.
5. My mind was no so tough today. Personally it’s been a tough few weeks that I had no control over but I am optimistic that things are going to get better.
And finally some picturesI didn’t take any and these are downloaded from my friends Facebook posts, let me know if you want credit or a cut of the money that my blog rakes in ($0.00 so far).
Start of the race
Roxbrough state park
I think this is about 20 miles into the race
I can’t imagine a place I would rather spend 13hrs
Running out of sunlight
And my favorite the finish
All that was left on my list of 2014 goals was to complete a 50 miler (my second). I originally planed on completing this goal at the Leadville Silver Rush in July. But over the summer I got burned out and decided to not even sign up even though I had been training for it since the start of the year. I overcame this burnout with some fun fast half marathons. When it came time to get back to business I set my sights on the Indian Creek 50 miler. A brand new race from a brand new race company, it would be their second official race. I was worried about the November date because it could be nice and warm or a blizzard. It didn’t matter, I was in and this time no bailing out.
Loop 1: Off we go
The race started off started off with a “clink”, rather than a gun the race director starts the race by hitting a rock with a pickaxe. I was still fidgeting with my gear so I walked casually across the string line and at least the first minute into the race. The race started in the middle of a national forest at 6am. It was dark, one of my favorite memories was looking up the trail and seeing the long line of headlamps in front of me. We ran up hill for a few miles in the dark and when we reached the top we were treated to an awesome view of Denver still asleep. The sun rose as we started down the mountain, this was the most dangerous time as the half-light hid obstacles. I turned and ankle on a steep section and while attempting to catch myself from falling slammed the side and top of my foot into a rock or a stump. My ankle stung for a few steps but then quickly got better while the side of my foot felt like it had been sliced open.
Once at the bottom of the hill I took a second to take off my jacket and headlamp and put them in my backpack. It was cloudy and probably around 60F a perfect day for running. The second half of this loop was all uphill climbing over 1,800ft between miles 8-14. I had only brought my backpack to carry extra clothes, I don’t like carrying it around and I use a hand held for hydration. I was running with my friends Meaghan and Dave we were having fun, sharing stories and enjoying the amazing trails. I had decided earlier in the week that I would stay with Meaghan for the first 50K of the race. It was her first 50K and I was excited for her become and ultra-marathoner. Running with Meaghan also benefited me because the time passed quickly I wasn’t thinking about pace or how far I had to run today.
Loop 2: Still enjoying the trails
Back at the finish line I spent a moment refilling supplies. The weather was nice so I decided to ditch my backpack and stuff my pockets with SCaps and food. Leaving this aid station we were treated to some more awesome trails and a lot of downhill. I think it was about 6-7 miles to the Waterton aid station with 2,300ft or so drop in elevation with a few small climbs along the way. This course is all up or down never flat. Leaving the Waterton aid station (mile 22ish) I noticed the first signs of trouble. I was falling behind on my food intake and at this stop I tried to catch up. I had some quesadillas, turkey sandwiches and I finished of my bottle and refilled it before heading off. I was doing good with my salt intake of 1 SCap per hour. I had a huge hill ahead so I took some more food with me to eat while I hiked (more turkey sandwiches). This hill seemed like it would never end and after a mile or two up the group I was with all went silent which meant everyone was suffering. My heart rate was crazy high just hiking up this section and I was sweating a lot. I reached the aid station and ate more sandwiches, grapes and refilled my bottle. Leaving the aid station we had a good section of runnable downhill terrain. The group I was with ran a solid 3 miles without walking (miles 26,27 & 28) That’s when we hit another huge climb. The second loop of this race was the toughest of the 3, it was about 21 miles long with 2 major climes of 5-6 miles each.
Loop 2: Losing my mind
Hiking up the final miles of the 2nd loop I decided it was time to part ways with my friend Meaghan. There were 2 major reasons behind this. I could tell we wouldn’t be able to motivate each other and I knew she could finish from here. The second reason was that I was dangerously low on fluids. Meaghan is a great friend and I know that if she noticed that I was out of water she would give me some of hers. This was her first ultra and I could tell that she was struggling. I couldn’t let her sacrifice her chances of finishing because of my unpreparedness. So on I went and within minutes I finished of my last of my available fluids somewhere between miles 28-29. Not long after that came my scheduled hourly SCap which I decided to dry swallow. Looking at my watch I realized I still how far I had to go which sent me into a panic, “How can I possible run 20 more miles”? My mind continued to descend into doubt and anger and just about every other emotion. It was a downward spiral that I couldn’t stop. At around mile 32 I dry swallowed my second SCap still climbing and hoping the aid station would come soon. My mind kept spiraling until I was thinking up excuses to quit at 50K. I finally came to the concluding that I don’t need an excuse I am just done and who cares what anyone thinks. Eventually the aid station came into view and zombie trotted my way over to my crew. I had been without water for about 2hrs all while climbing nearly 2,000ft I was finished.
50k Aid station
My body went into auto pilot and my brain quit sending orders. My friends Mitch (support crew) and Barrett (pacer) quickly got me fluids, fed me, refilled my supplies and gave me fresh clothes (I changed my shirt and socks). Before I could really think what happened my Barrett and I had heading off for the final loop. Leaving the aid station I did turn around just in time to watch Meaghan cross the finish of her first ultra. Over that quick pit stop I drank 20oz of coffee, 20oz of Gatorade and a shot of whisky. I also made a big change that was a little bit of a gamble since I was going to be trying something new (Don’t change anything is usually rule #1). But at this point all the chips were out on the table and I and nothing more to lose. The change was going from 1 to 2 handheld bottles. No more switching hands and now it would be more difficult to eat and mess with gear but I would be carrying twice the liquids. Without my friends Mitch and Barrett at this aid station I would have called it a day right there. Thank you both guy, I owe both of you bigtime.
Loop 3: The real work begins
The 3rd loop of this race started off with an easy 2 mile climb followed by a long well deserved 8 miles of rolling downhill trails. My stomach was swishing from all the fluids and food I just ate but 15 minutes later I was climbing better I had been in hours. The first 4 miles of downhill (miles 37-40) I managed to keep about a 12:00/mi pace. I came into the 40 mile aid station feeling better than I did at mile 30 or even mile 20. I filled up both bottles and ate a snickers before heading out. In ultra running you don’t avoid hitting the wall you just hit the wall multiple times and learn to deal with those highs and lows. In the early 40’s I again was suffering and barely able to walk up some of the steeper inclines. I was paying the price from my race day change, my arms were really tired. Running down the switchbacks of the Colorado trail all I could think was “How could I possible get back up this a few miles from now”. Barrett and I arrived at the final aid station just before sun set. My head was in a fog and all I knew was I eating magical watermelon because nothing had ever tasted better in my life. I ate so much that the volunteer cut had to some more for me, the race the volunteers were amazing. I ate as much as I could and then packed a few more pieces for the road. All that remained was an intimidating 6 mile climb to the finish line.
Loop 3: into the dark and on to the finish
I have run races with tough finishes but this was brutal the last 6 miles climbed more than 2,000ft out of the canyon up to the finish line. Not to mention along the way included some nice sized down hills. The first 2 miles out of the canyon were the toughest (1200ft climb) but I was running on special watermelon and I actually ran a lot more than I thought I would. With about 4 miles to go we were running with headlamps in the dark not dusk dark. But I felt a strange comfort running in the dark, maybe because I knew I would finish now or because I run in the dark most days. Perhaps my brain only had enough energy to process not falling from the 2’X2’ section of visible trail in front of me. Whatever it was those last few miles were actually enjoyable. I kept thinking I was seeing people up the trail only to find it was a glow stick once we arrived at the spot. Over the last 15 miles Barrett and I kept making predictions on where the finish would be which varied between 51 and 56 miles. Now that we were getting close we both agreed that it would be 52-53, the debate helped pass the time. Coming around a corner I suddenly recognized that I was in the campground and the finish was just around the corner. 2 minutes later I was crossing the finish line in a very empty field. The race director congratulates and shakes the hand of every finisher as they cross the line.
Post Race
I sat in a lawn chair and had some amazing chicken soup, run far enough and anything you eat is awesome. The guy in my carpool finished less than 5 minutes in front of me so that worked out great, the other guy I bought finished an hour earlier but had he family take him home. Getting out of that lawn chair and walking up hill to my car was an interesting challenge as was driving my car home. I left my house around 4:00 am and I got home around 9:00 pm which I then spent telling my kids stories of my crazy adventure that day. As tired as I was I didn’t want go to bed yet and I need a shower.
DFL
I didn’t know it at the time but I won the DFL prize which stands for Dead F*@king Last. At first I didn’t know what to think about that because I have been so competitive in the past, it did mean that I got a free race next year and I get to keep the bottle of whiskey. After a few moments of letting it sink in I started to really embrace it. That was a hell of a race and to be the last survivor across the finish line is special. I called my kids over and showed them the results followed by a good talked about what it means to win or lose. For years I have been asked by friends, family and coworkers “Did you win the race”, at times in my life I have been pretty fast and do you know how many races I have won… try 0. I don’t feel like I “win” or “lose” describes running at all and especially not ultra-running. I would prefer to describe this day with words like persevere, challenge, fear, adventure and community.
Takeaways
1. I have some awesome friends and I can’t wait to support them in their crazy adventures.
2. I learned so much about myself today. Those darkest times were driven by fear, fear of failure.
3. My hydration strategy needs an upgrade.
4. My body was tough. No muscle cramps, no major blisters and no chafing. My feet complained only a little while my knees, ankles and hips never complained once.
5. My mind was no so tough today. Personally it’s been a tough few weeks that I had no control over but I am optimistic that things are going to get better.
And finally some picturesI didn’t take any and these are downloaded from my friends Facebook posts, let me know if you want credit or a cut of the money that my blog rakes in ($0.00 so far).
Start of the race
Roxbrough state park
I think this is about 20 miles into the race
I can’t imagine a place I would rather spend 13hrs
Running out of sunlight
And my favorite the finish
Sunday, September 29, 2013
2013 Bear Chase
52 miles 10:00:33 (11:33 pace), 3400ft of climbing
15th overall, 3rd in age group
Last year I ran my first ultra-marathon a 50k and although it was a great accomplishment I didn’t feel like I was an ultra-marathoner. This year my #1 goal was to run a 50 mile race and I have been preparing for this race since that 50K (April 2012). Everything that I have done this year has been with this race in mind. I have sacrificed race times in order to turn them into training and build up for this race.
The course was 5 – 10.3 miles laps around a lake near Denver. Each lap had one big climb and some short but steep hills. Because of flooding the course had some extra sections on the bike path traded in for trails that were under water.
Lap 1 – 0 to 10.3 - 1:44:38 (10:03 pace)
The race started before the sun came up it was dark windy and about 45F. I decided to wear my jacket for this first lap. Once the sun came up I was a little warm but it was only a few miles until I was able to ditch the jacket at the finish line. One of my major worries of this race was the creek crossing every lap. When I got to the creek instead of crashing through the water like everyone else I skipped across some rocks and kept my feet dry. During this first lap I stayed calm and took in my normal amount of fluids like any other run. The only slowdown of this lap came from when I needed to stop and use the bathroom (too much coffee). One of the benefits to the multiple loop course was that I didn’t need to carry much. I drank my 20oz bottle of Gatorade and only ate a little at the aid stations.
Lap 2 – 10.4 to 20.7 - 1:56:43 (11:13 pace)
My sister met me at the finish line with a new Gatorade bottle. Again during this lap I only consumed that bottle, 40oz for 20 miles is pretty normal for me. Again at the creek I skipped across the rocks and kept my feet dry. The last rock was over 2 feet from the bank and wondered if I would be able to keep taking the dry route later in the race. My stomach hurt a lot this lap and again I had to stop and use the bathrooms at the top of the climb. I only ate one of my granola bars because they made me feel like I was going to puke. From here on out I relied on aid station food only usually 1 piece of watermelon and a quarter PBJ sandwich. 20 miles when so quick I didn’t really think about the distance.
Lap 3 – 20.8 to 31.1 - 2:02:40 (11:48 pace)
At the finish line I stopped for a few minutes to put on sunscreen and reapply body glide. My sister had another bottle of Gatorade ready but looking at it almost made me puke. Instead I started using the race sports drink, it was almost clear and it had a really light flavor. The temperature was rising and I started to drink more even though it hurt every time, during this lap I finished my bottle off twice. I also kept up eating a piece of watermelon and quarter PBJ sandwich every 3 miles. In the middle of nowhere and unmarked was the marathon split 4:45 not a bad time. I coasted into the finish line relaxed and feeling pretty good except for my stomach. This was the finish of the 50K I ran 5:43 which is about 12 minutes faster than my 50K PR. Only difference is I felt nearly dead that day and today I was ready to run another 20 miles.
Lap 4 – 31.2 to 40.5 - 2:05:27 (12:04 pace)
This was the lap I was worried about, at mile 40 I would have a pacer but first I had to get to mile 40. All of the 50K runners had finished and now it was a lonely road. The runners left running were so spaced out that I didn’t see anyone for the first 4 miles of this lap. My mind was getting loopy and I missed a turn and headed down the wrong path. I turned around mad at myself for adding distance to already long course. I almost fell in the creek while hopping across the rocks but I stayed dry for at least another lap. My fluid intake increased again this lap I was now filling up my bottle every aid station, that’s 3 20oz bottles for this 10 mile lap. My stomach hurt but I knew that in the grand scheme stomach problems was small problem compared to energy issues. It was weird watching the miles click off on my Garmin into unknown territory. My only comfort was that a few weeks ago I had run Pikes Peak in 7hrs. I knew that I could run for 7hrs and on this terrain I could run a lot more miles in that same time. I was taking salt tablets every hour so when it was time for a salt tablet at hour 7 I realized I was just shy of 38 miles. I thought to myself “12 miles that’s nothing”. I got a second wind and picked up the pace. Suddenly I was passing people left and right. I thought that I was moving up in the standings but then I figured out that I was lapping people (but it still felt good).
Lap 5 – 41.6 to 52 - 2:11:15 (12:37 pace)
Every lap it was hard passing the finish line and heading out for another long lap. This time was different all my family and friends were not there, my kids each made signs. I didn’t stick around long because I knew that I still had a job to do. My training partner Laura came out to be my pacer for the last lap. A pacer can’t carry any of your stuff or you they are basically there to keep you company and keep you motivated. Coming up to the creek I was thinking “I don’t know if I can make the jump” but like all the laps before I skipped across the rocks and made that last long jump to the shore without getting wet. A mile or two later I stopped to get a rock out of my shoe and found that it wasn’t a rock but a giant hole in my sock under my heel. Like the last lap I was drinking a ton of liquids, one bottle per aid station so again 3 -20oz bottles. At this time I was doubling up on my salt taking one tablet every 30 min instead of 1 per hour. By the 5th lap I knew every turn every hill of this course. We walked up the big hills and ran all the downhill and the flats. My quads were now starting to complain, my feet had been hurting for the last 15 miles. Like the previous laps I killed it the last few miles. Again passing tons of people but only moving up in the standing 1 place. The people I was passing did not look like me they looked broken and beaten many of them were limping some siting and stretching. The last mile I realized how close I was and I decided to not stop and run all the way to the finish even over that last big hill. I felt euphoric the pain was gone and I knew my family was just over the hill waiting for me to cross the finish line. My son ran with me the last 50ft to the finish line where the rest of my family was waiting. It was an amazing feeling.
This was my goal race of the year and I couldn’t have imagined that it would go this well. Compared to the people I was running with I think I was really well prepared. I finished 15th overall and 3rd in my age group. One of this things I am most proud of was my never give up attitude, the thought of quitting didn’t even cross my mind in those 10 hours.
So if anyone one was keeping track that was 10 – 20oz bottles or 200oz consumed during the race. That just the liquids I can account for I also drank random cups of water at aid stations while they were filling my bottle. I was a little concerned about this but I knew that I was also consuming lots of salt too.
This is the lake that we looped around, notice the trees that seem to be out in the middle. Interesting note: Most of my trail runs are on that mountain in the background.
Here I am at mile 31 looking strong
My awesome spectators
My son and I crossing the finish line. He thinks we won the race
My Age group award – Cool race mug with a gift card
Check out those feet, that’s not a tan line that’s 10hrs of trail running dust
15th overall, 3rd in age group
Last year I ran my first ultra-marathon a 50k and although it was a great accomplishment I didn’t feel like I was an ultra-marathoner. This year my #1 goal was to run a 50 mile race and I have been preparing for this race since that 50K (April 2012). Everything that I have done this year has been with this race in mind. I have sacrificed race times in order to turn them into training and build up for this race.
The course was 5 – 10.3 miles laps around a lake near Denver. Each lap had one big climb and some short but steep hills. Because of flooding the course had some extra sections on the bike path traded in for trails that were under water.
Lap 1 – 0 to 10.3 - 1:44:38 (10:03 pace)
The race started before the sun came up it was dark windy and about 45F. I decided to wear my jacket for this first lap. Once the sun came up I was a little warm but it was only a few miles until I was able to ditch the jacket at the finish line. One of my major worries of this race was the creek crossing every lap. When I got to the creek instead of crashing through the water like everyone else I skipped across some rocks and kept my feet dry. During this first lap I stayed calm and took in my normal amount of fluids like any other run. The only slowdown of this lap came from when I needed to stop and use the bathroom (too much coffee). One of the benefits to the multiple loop course was that I didn’t need to carry much. I drank my 20oz bottle of Gatorade and only ate a little at the aid stations.
Lap 2 – 10.4 to 20.7 - 1:56:43 (11:13 pace)
My sister met me at the finish line with a new Gatorade bottle. Again during this lap I only consumed that bottle, 40oz for 20 miles is pretty normal for me. Again at the creek I skipped across the rocks and kept my feet dry. The last rock was over 2 feet from the bank and wondered if I would be able to keep taking the dry route later in the race. My stomach hurt a lot this lap and again I had to stop and use the bathrooms at the top of the climb. I only ate one of my granola bars because they made me feel like I was going to puke. From here on out I relied on aid station food only usually 1 piece of watermelon and a quarter PBJ sandwich. 20 miles when so quick I didn’t really think about the distance.
Lap 3 – 20.8 to 31.1 - 2:02:40 (11:48 pace)
At the finish line I stopped for a few minutes to put on sunscreen and reapply body glide. My sister had another bottle of Gatorade ready but looking at it almost made me puke. Instead I started using the race sports drink, it was almost clear and it had a really light flavor. The temperature was rising and I started to drink more even though it hurt every time, during this lap I finished my bottle off twice. I also kept up eating a piece of watermelon and quarter PBJ sandwich every 3 miles. In the middle of nowhere and unmarked was the marathon split 4:45 not a bad time. I coasted into the finish line relaxed and feeling pretty good except for my stomach. This was the finish of the 50K I ran 5:43 which is about 12 minutes faster than my 50K PR. Only difference is I felt nearly dead that day and today I was ready to run another 20 miles.
Lap 4 – 31.2 to 40.5 - 2:05:27 (12:04 pace)
This was the lap I was worried about, at mile 40 I would have a pacer but first I had to get to mile 40. All of the 50K runners had finished and now it was a lonely road. The runners left running were so spaced out that I didn’t see anyone for the first 4 miles of this lap. My mind was getting loopy and I missed a turn and headed down the wrong path. I turned around mad at myself for adding distance to already long course. I almost fell in the creek while hopping across the rocks but I stayed dry for at least another lap. My fluid intake increased again this lap I was now filling up my bottle every aid station, that’s 3 20oz bottles for this 10 mile lap. My stomach hurt but I knew that in the grand scheme stomach problems was small problem compared to energy issues. It was weird watching the miles click off on my Garmin into unknown territory. My only comfort was that a few weeks ago I had run Pikes Peak in 7hrs. I knew that I could run for 7hrs and on this terrain I could run a lot more miles in that same time. I was taking salt tablets every hour so when it was time for a salt tablet at hour 7 I realized I was just shy of 38 miles. I thought to myself “12 miles that’s nothing”. I got a second wind and picked up the pace. Suddenly I was passing people left and right. I thought that I was moving up in the standings but then I figured out that I was lapping people (but it still felt good).
Lap 5 – 41.6 to 52 - 2:11:15 (12:37 pace)
Every lap it was hard passing the finish line and heading out for another long lap. This time was different all my family and friends were not there, my kids each made signs. I didn’t stick around long because I knew that I still had a job to do. My training partner Laura came out to be my pacer for the last lap. A pacer can’t carry any of your stuff or you they are basically there to keep you company and keep you motivated. Coming up to the creek I was thinking “I don’t know if I can make the jump” but like all the laps before I skipped across the rocks and made that last long jump to the shore without getting wet. A mile or two later I stopped to get a rock out of my shoe and found that it wasn’t a rock but a giant hole in my sock under my heel. Like the last lap I was drinking a ton of liquids, one bottle per aid station so again 3 -20oz bottles. At this time I was doubling up on my salt taking one tablet every 30 min instead of 1 per hour. By the 5th lap I knew every turn every hill of this course. We walked up the big hills and ran all the downhill and the flats. My quads were now starting to complain, my feet had been hurting for the last 15 miles. Like the previous laps I killed it the last few miles. Again passing tons of people but only moving up in the standing 1 place. The people I was passing did not look like me they looked broken and beaten many of them were limping some siting and stretching. The last mile I realized how close I was and I decided to not stop and run all the way to the finish even over that last big hill. I felt euphoric the pain was gone and I knew my family was just over the hill waiting for me to cross the finish line. My son ran with me the last 50ft to the finish line where the rest of my family was waiting. It was an amazing feeling.
This was my goal race of the year and I couldn’t have imagined that it would go this well. Compared to the people I was running with I think I was really well prepared. I finished 15th overall and 3rd in my age group. One of this things I am most proud of was my never give up attitude, the thought of quitting didn’t even cross my mind in those 10 hours.
So if anyone one was keeping track that was 10 – 20oz bottles or 200oz consumed during the race. That just the liquids I can account for I also drank random cups of water at aid stations while they were filling my bottle. I was a little concerned about this but I knew that I was also consuming lots of salt too.
This is the lake that we looped around, notice the trees that seem to be out in the middle. Interesting note: Most of my trail runs are on that mountain in the background.
Here I am at mile 31 looking strong
My awesome spectators
My son and I crossing the finish line. He thinks we won the race
My Age group award – Cool race mug with a gift card
Check out those feet, that’s not a tan line that’s 10hrs of trail running dust
Saturday, April 28, 2012
2012 Cheyenne Mountain 50K Race Report
Here is the short version if you don’t have time
- Finished my first 50K (31 miles) in 5:55:30
- Crossed the finish line with my kids and a smile on my face
Now the long version. I am going to break this up by the 4 major climbs (see pic below) and then the finish. Hopefully it goes well.
0 - 5 miles - Average pace during this section 10:52
The race start was slower than any race I have ever run. I could have owned that race for a few miles but that wouldn’t have helped me accomplish the goal of finishing my first Ultra. The super slow start went through the parking lot and we ran through a tunnel of 25K racers (they didn’t star for another 30 minutes) and spectators cheering us on. Then we took a turn and went straight up the mountain for the next few miles. I think I ran faster than I should have in this area but it was weird at the start. No one wanted to be the first to walk.
5 - 11 miles - Average pace during this section 11:01On the way down the first decline I made sure to keep myself in check. I wanted to fly but I held myself to running 9:40 pace for the next 3 miles. The downhill seemed short lived and soon we were headed back up the mountain. Near the top of this climb I logged one of my slowest miles of the day 14:01, ouch. Overall I felt pretty fresh still and ready to hit the next the downhill.
11 - 20 miles - Average pace during this section 11:13
Coming down that major climb I again went under 10:00 pace for about 4 miles. That would be the last time I ever saw anything close to 10:00 pace. At a little over 15 miles we were at the bottom of the hill back at the starting line, one more lap to go. It was getting warm out now but the breeze felt great. Going up this climb I lost it, heat & exhaustion hit me hard my HR was in the 170’s. I decide to take a long walk and eat my apple. Miles 17-20 were dark times, I never felt more tired during the race. Mile 19 I completed in 15:12 the slowest of the day. But quitting never crossed my mind, my kids were waiting at the finish and I wasn’t going to let them down.
20 - 26 miles - Average pace during this section 12:31
That apple did wonders and I felt a lot better running down the mountain. Except one difference this time, it was hard to not walk even on the downhill sections now. The downhill seemed so much shorter and soon I was on my way back up the hills. Last lap this particular climb kicked my butt and this time I was much more tired and my quads were starting to cramp. I doubled my sodium intake and kept chugging up the hill with my quads in shambles. Miles 23-26 were extremely painful and I averaged 13:00+ min miles topping out at 14:15 for mile 26. During this time quitting again never crossed my mind this was just another obstacle.
26 - 31.2 miles - Average pace during this section 11:20
Surprisingly my quads got better. I remember looking at my watch and seeing 26.2 – 4:59:40. Not a person in sight not a marker nothing, it was important to me because I was officially an ultra-marathoner, all that was left was 5 miles of mostly downhill. There wasn’t any doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t finish. These last few miles were like my victory lap. Near the finish I watched my garmin like a hawk for another mile stone 29.8 29.9 30, I don’t know why but it was really cool seeing that big 30 on my watch. It hurt a lot but I ran nearly all the final miles, slowly. I couldn’t wait to see my kids.
Finish
I saw my kids about a 100 ft from the finish line and I went straight to them to get hugs (time be dammed). I grabbed their hands and said “finish with me” and we all ran to the finish line together. My 5 year old couldn’t run because she had flip flop sandals so I put her on my shoulders. I felt no more pain and I was so unbelievable happy.
Final thoughts
- Scenery was beautiful if l lived here I would be on this trail all the time.
- My mind was much tougher during the race than usual, I was 100% focused. Quitting never crossed my mind.
Mistake #1 - I forgot sunscreen but I didn’t get burned (37F at the start about 70F at the finish)
Mistake #2 - I forgot body glide but I didn’t chafe once (I was afraid I was going to finish and have shirt that matches Trevor’s)
Mistake #3 – Didn’t bring extra shoes. The race was about a 90 min drive from home, I was wearing the same shoes from 5am – 4pm. It would have been nice to have some fresh shoes for the drive home.
Huge Mistake #1 – a few days before the race I went to the website to get directions to the starting line. I noticed something odd, the race was until next weekend. This was on April 18th and I had already been tapering for two weeks. Didn’t freak out too much and went with the super long 3 week taper.
Elevation Profile
Around mile 16
- Finished my first 50K (31 miles) in 5:55:30
- Crossed the finish line with my kids and a smile on my face
Now the long version. I am going to break this up by the 4 major climbs (see pic below) and then the finish. Hopefully it goes well.
0 - 5 miles - Average pace during this section 10:52
The race start was slower than any race I have ever run. I could have owned that race for a few miles but that wouldn’t have helped me accomplish the goal of finishing my first Ultra. The super slow start went through the parking lot and we ran through a tunnel of 25K racers (they didn’t star for another 30 minutes) and spectators cheering us on. Then we took a turn and went straight up the mountain for the next few miles. I think I ran faster than I should have in this area but it was weird at the start. No one wanted to be the first to walk.
5 - 11 miles - Average pace during this section 11:01On the way down the first decline I made sure to keep myself in check. I wanted to fly but I held myself to running 9:40 pace for the next 3 miles. The downhill seemed short lived and soon we were headed back up the mountain. Near the top of this climb I logged one of my slowest miles of the day 14:01, ouch. Overall I felt pretty fresh still and ready to hit the next the downhill.
11 - 20 miles - Average pace during this section 11:13
Coming down that major climb I again went under 10:00 pace for about 4 miles. That would be the last time I ever saw anything close to 10:00 pace. At a little over 15 miles we were at the bottom of the hill back at the starting line, one more lap to go. It was getting warm out now but the breeze felt great. Going up this climb I lost it, heat & exhaustion hit me hard my HR was in the 170’s. I decide to take a long walk and eat my apple. Miles 17-20 were dark times, I never felt more tired during the race. Mile 19 I completed in 15:12 the slowest of the day. But quitting never crossed my mind, my kids were waiting at the finish and I wasn’t going to let them down.
20 - 26 miles - Average pace during this section 12:31
That apple did wonders and I felt a lot better running down the mountain. Except one difference this time, it was hard to not walk even on the downhill sections now. The downhill seemed so much shorter and soon I was on my way back up the hills. Last lap this particular climb kicked my butt and this time I was much more tired and my quads were starting to cramp. I doubled my sodium intake and kept chugging up the hill with my quads in shambles. Miles 23-26 were extremely painful and I averaged 13:00+ min miles topping out at 14:15 for mile 26. During this time quitting again never crossed my mind this was just another obstacle.
26 - 31.2 miles - Average pace during this section 11:20
Surprisingly my quads got better. I remember looking at my watch and seeing 26.2 – 4:59:40. Not a person in sight not a marker nothing, it was important to me because I was officially an ultra-marathoner, all that was left was 5 miles of mostly downhill. There wasn’t any doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t finish. These last few miles were like my victory lap. Near the finish I watched my garmin like a hawk for another mile stone 29.8 29.9 30, I don’t know why but it was really cool seeing that big 30 on my watch. It hurt a lot but I ran nearly all the final miles, slowly. I couldn’t wait to see my kids.
Finish
I saw my kids about a 100 ft from the finish line and I went straight to them to get hugs (time be dammed). I grabbed their hands and said “finish with me” and we all ran to the finish line together. My 5 year old couldn’t run because she had flip flop sandals so I put her on my shoulders. I felt no more pain and I was so unbelievable happy.
Final thoughts
- Scenery was beautiful if l lived here I would be on this trail all the time.
- My mind was much tougher during the race than usual, I was 100% focused. Quitting never crossed my mind.
Mistake #1 - I forgot sunscreen but I didn’t get burned (37F at the start about 70F at the finish)
Mistake #2 - I forgot body glide but I didn’t chafe once (I was afraid I was going to finish and have shirt that matches Trevor’s)
Mistake #3 – Didn’t bring extra shoes. The race was about a 90 min drive from home, I was wearing the same shoes from 5am – 4pm. It would have been nice to have some fresh shoes for the drive home.
Huge Mistake #1 – a few days before the race I went to the website to get directions to the starting line. I noticed something odd, the race was until next weekend. This was on April 18th and I had already been tapering for two weeks. Didn’t freak out too much and went with the super long 3 week taper.
My family and friends are already asking when I am
going to run Leadville. Which is about
the same as asking a first time 5K finisher when the plan on running the Boston
marathon.
PicturesElevation Profile
First major climb
Around mile 16
I will post a finish line Photo as soon as I can.
I hope they got a good shot of me crossing with my family.
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