Buffalo Run 50 Mile Race Report
Every now and then a race comes along that is exactly what I need. Saturday was that race for me. This race has been on my radar since last year when I completed my first 50 miler out on Antelope Island. I left that race completely satisfied with my efforts. Shortly after the race, I began the process that all runners go through. How fast can I run that next time? The goal right away was to cut 5 minutes off my time. I knew where I could make some changes so it would happen.
Side note: Two weeks before the race on a flight home from Chicago, I wrote out my race plan. I went through my splits from the year before and I took a few minutes off here and there to get my time down from 8:25 to 8:15. I wasn’t meticulous, but I did some calculations. I knew what was possible, but I also wanted a challenge. 10 minutes seemed like a challenge. I memorized the times I wanted to come into each aid station, as a way to keep myself on task. I also needed to have an idea of where I was to make sure I came within that goal range. I had no idea these times would be hit was such precision, minus 10 minutes. I could never have planned that.
Race morning came and I went through my normal routine and then drove out to the island. I usually get really nervous before a race, but this time was different. I knew what I had to do and I knew I was going to do it. I prepared myself for what was to come. I knew this one was going to hurt, probably more than my previous 50 milers. I knew at a certain point my feet would blister. I knew that sooner or later I would wonder why I had signed up for this, again. But, I also knew that I had done this before and I could do it again and do it better.
The race started and I settled in. I immediately knew this was going to be my day, I felt amazing. I was running fast, but it wasn’t taking much effort. Runners call this “flow”. For the first 19 miles I rode this wave. There are some hills on this first loop that I’ve never been able to run. 3 weeks before the race I almost died trying to run them. It’s true, ask Monte Riding! But here I was running those hills with ease. I was able to see the leaders at one point, Zac Marion was flying, Chad Pexton was right behind him and Janessa Taylor was in the zone.
My first time check came at mile 14, the Elephant Head aid station on the way back to the start line. The flexible goal was 2:24, I was shocked when I looked at my watch and it said 2:13. Scott, Jennilyn and Tara cheered me on and I ran past with the biggest grin on my face. I was crushing this race! It was an incredible feeling knowing that I was ahead of schedule, especially when I was still in control and feeling confident.
Then came the serious fun! The 25K race starts at 9:00. I was almost to the start line when they took off. 300 people started running toward me. Brian Beckstedt was leading the way, probably running a sub 5 minute mile pace and smiling. Who does that? I pulled over as far to the right as I could and picked up my pace. I surprised quite a few runners who were fidgeting with headphones, jackets, watches. They’d look up and see me there, running the wrong way and quickly leap to the side. Lots of people cheered me on. This part was definitely a highlight! Can we pause for a moment to acknowledge how awesome the trail running community is. . .
There is a lesson we all learn, time and time again, in ultra running. Enjoy the highs, eventually they will end. Endure the lows, eventually they will end. The high ended around mile 20. The first low hit around mile 23. I was hurting, the pain in my hamstrings started around mile 13. The pain in my biceps started around mile 20. I was doing everything I could to stay focused on the positive. But, fear started to creep in. What if I can’t do what I came out here to do? What if it hurts to bad and I have to walk? Almost immediately I went back to what I had learned about perception vs. reality. I had endured this pain so many times before, it wasn’t going to take me down this time. I knew I had to get out of my head and get back in the game. At mile 25 I checked my time and surprised myself again, 3:56. If I held this pace I would get a sub 8 hour finish. What?? This wasn’t even in the realm of possibilities when I wrote out my goals.
I got excited! Another high overtook the low. I picked up the pace and ran on. I glanced down at my bracelet “Live Fearlessly" and had a brief discussion with myself about fear. What was I afraid of? That it was going to hurt? Duh! I signed up to race 50 miles, I knew it was going to hurt. So instead of holding back for fear of the pain, I dug in and let the pain come and I ran through it.
Lower Frary (mile 27.4) estimated time of arrival 4:28, actual 4:18. If I keep this pace I’ll finish 10 minutes ahead of my goal time. Dang it, a blister on my left foot, ouch. That toenail is about to fall off on my right foot, don’t think about it, it will go numb soon. . . I got to see the leaders again on my way to the ranch. I had now been running completely alone for over 23 miles, so friendly hellos and waves were gold here! The Ranch (mile 33) estimated time 5:23, actual 5:13. I’m holding on to this 10 minute window. I don’t have to do anything extraordinary, I just have to keep moving forward. Lower Frary (mile 38.7) estimated time 6:19, actual 6:09. "Hello there Mr. Buffalo. Please don’t come any closer to the trail, I really don’t want to go around you.” Mountain View (mile 44) aid station 7:16, actual 7:06.
6 miles left to go. I start my climb up the hill back to the road and realize how tired my legs are. Am I even moving? What just happened? Zero power. Zero strength. But, I was ahead of pace and I was going to finish this. I got to the top of the short hill and started running again. This stretch is lame. A hard packed dirt road followed by a bumpy run through a field of tall prickly sticks and then finally I came to the part that I love. I look forward to those last 4 miles because they are technical. I get to turn my brain on again and try not to fall. I’m not incredibly agile by this point, but I’m alert again.
By mile 46, I had been alone for 36 miles, in reality I had been alone since the start. I chatted with a few people on the out and back on Elephant Head, a 3 mile stretch, but other than that, it was just me and my own thoughts. I heard someone behind me and got angry. No one has passed me in 5 hours, no on is going to pass me now! Lucky for me it was Tyler. Who’s Tyler, you ask? Well, on this day, at this point, he was my best friend. I’d never met him before. He was just a trail runner from Syracuse, out for a run on a Saturday afternoon, who happened to be on the same trail as me at mile 47 of my race. He ran by, we chatted briefly, I was sucking at conversation by this point. He started to run away, but then he slowed down. He waited for me to catch up and he continued talking to me. I started running faster to keep up with him and the conversation. I had never planned on a pacer, I didn’t necessarily need one, but here he was. And he changed my race and my outlook on life, really.
The final three miles of any race that matters, are always tough. Everything hurt. Mentally and physically I was done! I was so close, but still so far away. I did my best to keep pace with Tyler, I didn’t want to slow him down. He kept up the encouraging words and distracting conversation and then we were 1 mile from the finish line. This mile is literally the longest mile of any race I’ve ever run- I said that last year too. Tyler kept telling me to leave it all on the trail, to close my eyes and fight for the finish. We turned the corner and I ran. It hurt. I was no longer smiling. And then, it was over. I stopped running and my legs stopped working. I couldn’t even walk for a few seconds. It was an amazing feeling. I truly had nothing left!
The clock read 8:03. 12 minutes ahead of my goal time. 22 minutes ahead of last year. 2nd place female. 9th place overall. 8th fastest female on that course since its beginnings in 2007.
My take aways from this race:
*Prepare yourself and brace yourself. It will ALWAYS hurt!
*Don’t be afraid to run faster than you ever have.
*Set goals, but don’t become a slave to them. If you surprise yourself and get ahead of your goals, fight just as hard to stay there.
*A person, in the right place, at the right time, changes everything. Be that person for someone!
