#50 miler

[pushingmylimit]

Been in training for about a month and a half. Feel like I’m falling apart - getting back into marathon shape isn’t easy!

[celestinaruns]

The joys, pains, and everything in between of conquering a 50 miler

Things I learned this week: telling people you ran 80 km in a day tends to get ta consistently shocked reaction, with the occasional person questioning your sanity.

That is definitely not a typo. 80 km, 12 hours, and nothing but love for every moment of it. While I only just got into ultra running this year, I fell in love at first... sign of debilitating pain that keeps me in bed cuddled up with a bag of Sweet Chili Heat Doritos and yet another season episode of The Walking Dead. And, like all firsts, this past weekend gave me a lot to reflect on.

This summer has been a busy one for my running endeavours. I have tacked on more long-distance races than usual and ran my first two ultras, just within three months of each other. When I ran my 50 km at River Valley Revenge in June, I was unprepared. An understatement, to say the least. Yes, I was familiar with what my body needs during a long run and made sure to put in all the mileage I could, but there’s a huge mental game to ultra trail running that I had entirely missed. I had had no idea just how technical trails could get and hadn’t realized that my trusty energy gels, a great pick-me-up in every road marathon I had run before then, were not going to do the trick here. My first ultra was less one of success and more one of learning lessons... the hard way.

I did learn them, though, and I applied them as best as I could. It was with that ambition that I registered for the 80 km event at River’s Edge Ultra. That, and the desire to go camping before snow hit, to be perfectly honest.

Okay, I could have just gone camping. It was mostly ambition.

The months leading up to REU were... great, really. I trained smart, put in the work, and modified my nutrition and running habits until everything felt just right. I had very few tough runs and felt ready to go--right up until the very last week when I caught a cold. Talk about shit timing.

My entire last week of tapering was out the window at this point as I tried to nurse myself back to health as quickly as possible. Dreams of crushing the 80k turned more into hopes of just finishing the 80k. Still, by some miracle, when Friday rolled around, all I had left was a little bit of congestion. There was some hope yet that I wouldn’t crash and burn and inevitably DNF.

I made my way over to Parkland County on Friday evening, grabbed my bib, and set up camp. It was all going smoothly, and with the peacefulness of the untouched ravines and quiet farmlands, I felt the calmest I had felt in the last week. Although there was a stressful day ahead of me, I was able to take some moments to enjoy the little slice of heaven that was so close to the city.

Despite that, sleep was restless and interrupted, as it usually is the night before a race, and I felt as groggy, rushed, and unprepared as ever as I tried to get all my gear on and double checked that I had everything in my drop kit.

Worst of all, though, it was cold.

It was supposed to warm up later in the day, yes, but the morning air was biting at whatever exposed skin I had--which was a lot, because for all of my planning, I hadn’t accounted for just how cold it would be in the dark. I had three headlamps and I had reflective bracelets and extra batteries. Clearly, I was aware it would be dark, just not experienced enough to bring any more layers aside from my bright orange reflective arm warmers.

But hey--reflective!

I huddled close to the bonfire before the start, right up until the last possible moment. Standing around in my shorts and singlet and my measly arm warmers, I was beating myself up for not thinking head. What a lousy start.

But I had learned from my 50k, hadn’t I? Ultra running took a lot of mental strength, and it was that reminder that pushed all of those negative thoughts out of my mind and replaced them with much better ones. The first loop is only 9 km. Move steady and you’ll warm up in no time. By the time the start was announced, I felt ready as ever.

The first and shortest loop went by in around an hour. I wasn’t in a rush, that had been my goal from the very beginning. No point in bursting out the gates, especially not with my congestion still sticking around. Still, that loop was all I needed. After that, I was warm and pumped up. One loop at a time, and I had no doubt I would be rolling into that finish strong.

The beauty of this course was that, with each loop, I got to make my way back to the race headquarters to replenish everything. I would get a chance to grab food, replenish my pack, and have anything I needed to be looked after by a volunteer. With a very over-prepared drop kit, all I really needed to worry about, as the racer, was making sure that I could take on those loops. All I had to do was focus on running. Throughout the day, the distances of each one passed through my mind, like a little reminder that I was inching closer to the end. 19 km, 19 km, 20 km, 12 km. Repeat.

I ate more during this race than my 50k, which is a very good thing. During ultras, it is recommended that runners eat an average of 300 calories an hour, and while during marathons I can pop back a gel, solid food is a much better option when you’re going all day. I discovered that pancakes and bacon sat great with my easily disturbed stomach, as did cherry cola flavoured Honey Stingers. Even after a 20 km loop with a brutal elevation gain, I felt mentally ready to take on the last leg of the race.

Managing to adequately calm myself down, I set out once more, power-walking my way up a hill as I popped back some Honey Stingers. My heart rate was slowing down to something more manageable instead of feeling like Hammy in Over the Hedge. I spent a little more time at the aid station this time, enjoying the hot food that was now ready--perogies and meatballs. I hadn’t had that much protein in one bite all day.

Physically, though, the exhaustion was catching up with me. Just 10 km to go, I could feel the shakiness creep into my legs and a heaviness in my stomach. Still, this was a mental game, and I knew I couldn’t give up--so I got some calories in my stomach, popped an Advil, and set out once more.

It wasn’t long after I set out on my last loop, unfortunately, that something started to feel... wrong. Now, with less than 12 km to go--now was when things went south. I was getting nauseous, my heart rate wasn’t lowering at all despite the fact that I had reduced my speed to a walk, and the sun shining directly above me was oppressively hot. I had forgotten to grab a cap, of course, because something had to go wrong today.

I made my decision surprisingly easily. With over 5 hours until cut-off, DNFing was no longer an issue. Heatstroke was. I continued to walk instead of run and hydrated smart, focused solely on getting my heart rate down and getting rid of my nausea. Soon enough, I made it to the river crossing.

You read right. River crossing. No, not in a boat.

The current was going strong and I was instantly thankful that I had gone through that lifeguard training in high school. I had to wade through the North Saskatchewan River over to an island... which was exactly what I needed, it turned out. The cold water was like an ice bath for my legs. I wasn’t 100% yet, but I was definitely feeling better. I kept up the walking, made my way around the island, got some water dumped on my head, and by the time I was back on mainland, I felt just a bit more ready to finish this baby up.

Only four kilometres to go.

It was a doable loop back, but with my runner’s brain not really keeping track of anything and my watch in power saving mode, I didn’t really know how far I was progressing. At least, until I hit a large downhill, said fuck it and barrelled my way down it like a ten year-old, then rolled into the finishing chute with that momentum, gunning it across the finish line.

I hadn’t even realized I actually finished until I stopped and glanced around. In 12 hours and 18 minutes, I had my first 80 km ultra under my belt--and I was out of it. It almost sounds anticlimactic, describing it like that, but I can tell you right now that there is no sweeter feeling than finishing an ultra. After being on my feet all day, the realization that I was done was absolutely heavenly.

In a daze, I stumbled around for a bit before taking my boyfriend’s genius advice to sit down after running around for 12 hours. I showered, ate some food, enjoyed hot chocolate by the bonfire, and chatted with other runners and race volunteers as the evening turned to night. Just your average day of camping, right?

While my sleep before the race had been restless and interrupted, my sleep after the race was restful and deeper than Sleeping Beauty’s. Endorphins were still keeping the soreness at bay Sunday morning, so I enjoyed the last of the peaceful views and grabbed some breakfast before packing up camp and driving back home to the city.

... with my prizes in hand, of course.

It is safe to say that the soreness has more than caught up with me now, as has the complete lack of sodium in my body. And yet, I can’t help but smile every time I think back on the weekend. I smile because I’m proud of myself for finishing that 80 km (and feel ready to finish one in sub-11:00 some day soon) and that I got to accomplish that at such a great event. It is one that I will be returning to as often as I can, whether it’s as a runner or volunteer. I smile because I got to do another ultra, because this time I felt prepared and was able to enjoy every minute of it.

Most of all, though, I smile because it was just another day that I had the opportunity to appreciate the nature that makes up my backyard (figuratively) and the people that make up the running community. With the cold weather setting in and my fitness turning more towards crosstraining instead of running for the winter time, I could not have asked for a better end to my long racing season. It has me excited to recover and take on more ultra running in the upcoming year... with even more ambition and dreams than before.

[mountains-and-mayhem]

50 Miles!

Do we get our backpacking merit badges now?

[amft]

Come run with me!

It would be great to meet some of you Tumblr folks (and reunite with others!). May 5th, 2018 - just a short drive south of Dallas, TX. Flat, mostly shaded trail. Medals and dri-fit tee, food and drinks.

http://www.hachie50.com/

[swkrullimaging]

My Planes Trains and Automobiles Experience

I actually posted this story a few years ago, but after watching Planes Trains and Automobiles for the thousandth time last night, it seems right to republish my own train travel experience! Although not all went as planned, I must admit that there is something to be said for an experience that one can remember, relish and even write about some fourty years after the fact 🙂 Now this whole…

My Planes Trains and Automobiles Experience

[phatjosh180]

Ride that Pony ... in 2019

Ride that Pony … in 2019

So, last year when I was planning out my 100 mile training plan I signed up for this year’s Pony Express 50 Mile Trail Run. Long story short — I’m doing it. There are many reasons for it — stupid ankle, lack of training and most of all … desire. I just don’t want to do it this year.

Even that lack of desire has many reasons. Probably more than anything it’s trying to be a responsible adult…

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[phatjosh180]

Ride that Pony ... in 2019

So, last year when I was planning out my 100 mile training plan I signed up for this year’s Pony Express 50 Mile Trail Run. Long story short — I’m doing it. There are many reasons for it — stupid ankle, lack of training and most of all … desire. I just don’t want to do it this year.

Even that lack of desire has many reasons. Probably more than anything it’s trying to be a responsible adult (unlike last year) and not doing too much, too soon. Something that’s been VERY hard for me to learn and understand. I idiotically pushed through too much pain last year on a bum ankle that I could have derailed my long term goal completely.

I can’t afford that.

That’s why I have been focusing on just half marathons lately and why I am backing off the long distance in November and December. The only half marathon I am signed up for during those two months is the Bakers Dozen Half Marathon on December 1st. If it was a competitive race I probably wouldn’t be doing it — but, it’s a lax race with a party atmosphere.

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  A post shared by Run Josher 🏃🏻‍♂️ (@josherwalla.run) on Oct 24, 2016 at 9:32am PDT

I am not sure if I will do this short-term sabbatical every year? But, I’m 37 and pushing toward 40 — I need to be smarter about my running and racing. If not two months of long mileage — at least one. That seems like a minimum yearly requirement I should adhere to.

But, that’s a whole post for another day.

I’m here to talk about the Pony Express 50. Though I am not doing it this year, I am already looking toward it for next year. Because, I really do want to do it. I am not sure if I will follow that up with my 100 miler shortly afterward, that’s not my worry — I just want another ultra, specifically a 50 miler, under my belt. I love the distance and challenge.

I am being deliberate in my approach, not just in my running, but my fitness as well. I am doing more strength training and specific running workouts during the week. I want to lose a few more pounds to help with that, but really I just need a stronger core.

That’s why I am already planning out my training schedule now — over a year before the race. I want to be ready. I want to be deliberate. And, I want to give myself enough time to mentally and physically undertake this feat. I’ve done it once and I know I can do it again.

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  A post shared by Run Josher 🏃🏻‍♂️ (@josherwalla.run) on Sep 11, 2016 at 5:56pm PDT

My ultra training will cross over a bit with my marathon training. I will be training for the Revel Big Cottonwood Marathon with a group of friends (many doing their first marathons might I add!). But, pretty much from July onward as I work toward Revel, I’ll be focusing on Pony just as much. Lots of back-to-back runs, uphill runs and midnight runs — even a few long treadmill runs.

It’ll be “fun.”

Luckily, I have a dedicated group of running friends there with the Revel training. Not to mention my friend Shanalee who’s planning on running the Pony 50 with me. I’m hoping to get a few other runners in on the fun, especially the Pony 50. We’re not going for speed, just cutoffs and completion — so if you want to join us, join us!

I am going to hashout a few more specifics on some of these training runs, but I’ll post them either on my Facebook page or the Trails & Pavement page or group? Stay tuned here.

But, without much further adieu here are the planned loooong runs for the Pony 50 and Revel BC. I am not going to post my weekly runs. I do keep those reasonably low 3-8 because I also do quite a bit of strength training/boot camp during the week.

July

05 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 06 – Vigor Solitude Trail – 5 Miles 06 – Follow the Flag 5K 12 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 13 – 10 Miles (Big Cottonwood) 19 – 3 Miles (Bountiful) 20 – Speedgoat 25K 24 – Deseret News 10K 26 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 27 – Timp Half (+3 Miles)

August

02 – 8 Miles (Bountiful) 03 – 12 Miles (Emigration Canyon) 09 – 10 Miles (Bountiful) 10 – 20 Miles (Big Cottonwood) 16 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 17 – Run Elevated Half Marathon (+7 Miles) 23 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 24 – Mt. Nebo Half (+5 Miles) 30 – 3 Miles (Bountiful) 31 – Pocatello Half Marathon

September

06 – 13 Miles (Bountiful?) 07 – Cedar City Half Marathon 13 – 25 Miles (Bountiful?) 14 – Revel Big Cottonwood Marathon 20 – 15 Miles (Bountiful) 21 – 15 Miles (Emigration Canyon) 27 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 28 – 30 Miles (Jordan River Parkway)

October

04 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 05 – 15 Miles (Emigration Canyon) 11 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 12 – Antelope Island Half Marathon 18 – Pony Express 50 Mile Trail Run

The biggest difference compared to my last 50 training plan is a lot more back-to-back training plans. I am not using many marathons as my training plan — just one. Though I will have a 25 and 30 training run to do.

Some of these runs will be midnight runs, some will be deliberately slow and others will be out and backs up a canyon. I love and want the challenge in every run I do. This is not just something physical — it something mentally, emotionally and spiritually that I am undertaking — so I need to prepare that way.

And, I will run plenty of trails. Besides doing the Speedgoat 25K (which terrifies me) I will train in my backyard up Mueller Park Canyon throughout the week. That is something I am looking forward to more than anything.

Anyways — that’s about it … anyone else want to join me?

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  A post shared by Trails & Pavement (@trailsandpavement) on Sep 5, 2018 at 4:57am PDT

Ride that Pony … in 2019 was originally published on PhatJosh | My Life Running.

[ourhike]

Marquette Trail 50, 2018: My 50-mile Race Report

Marquette Trail 50

August 18, 2018

Marquette, MI

Race consists of 3 loops: *one* 11-mile loop followed by *two* 20-mile loops (run in reverse order).

Well, no cliffhangers! I finished! I chased a tough cutoff around mile 41, but ended up coming in with about 40 minutes to spare on the 15-hour limit for the 50-mile race. It was a really tough one! And it’s not just me saying that – I had several…

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