This year provides one of those few opportunities to run your birthday age at an actual event. As the years go by, it gets harder and harder to accomplish. For my 31st birthday, I thought it would be appropriate to run 31 miles. Seems logical.
This Saturday, May 19, I’ll be running the Horseshoe Lake Trail Run 50k (31.7 miles) a week before I turn 31. Three great friends will be joining me and each are faster and stronger than me, all being able to whip out a sub-4 hour marathon with ease. We’re viewing this as a fun run, which might indicate we are more crazy than sane. A 50k with a elevation gain of 4,560′ as a fun run?
I’ve done a few 50ks in the past, but my last was April 2010 and although I have been running consistent mileage since my marathon at the end of March, they have been relatively low compared to the race distance.
These Ultra races take me forever as my history indicates (7-7.5 hrs) and I’ll run the spectrum of emotions: excitement, fear, confidence, I-don’t-want-to-run-anymore-please-make-it-stop, and some form of delirium.
I’m looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time. I’m ready, but not really.
Tip: When you get tired (you will), get your friends to talk to you about, well, anything. It really gets you through the miles.
Following every tough endeavor is a second wind.It will come and it will carry you through.
Oh man! I’m so excited for you! You are going to CRUSH this race I know it! When you’re running along a stretch with no one around…just visualize me holding up a sign…GO…GO!!!
I have never ran an ultra, but when you get tired my suggestion would be to look around and appreciate the gorgeous scenery. Good luck!!
Wow- I’m so impressed! What an awesome way to celebrate turning 31 (I get to do the same in September). :) Having friends along will be a blast… happy birthday!
Good luck – you are going to do great! Can’t wait to hear about it on your blog!
YOU’RE GOING TO BE OK!
Tell your friends to take it easy on you and make your goal be to just keep moving. It’s a trail run, so it’s better to expect to have to go with what the terrain dictates vs. worrying about actually racing the whole thing.
You totally have this! You’ve done it before, know you can do it, so just go in with the attitude that you are going to finish, no matter what. I’m betting you even surprise yourself with your time–experience does count!
Good luck! SEnd out some tweets when you’re finished!!
You can definitely do it, even if you end up crawling past the finish line! I’m very inspired by how brave you are to even attempt it! My last marathon was 9 yrs ago and there’s no way you’d ever catch me doing an ultra! Kudos to you!
You will do great!!
What a great thing to do for your birthday! Don’t sweat the race…save that for those hills. =) Most of all, just enjoy the moment and don’t think about the miles. That is what I plan on doing. I am running my first 50K this year, too. Can’t say that I am in the 30 something crowd anymore, though. Good luck and enjoy.
Man! I didn’t see this before! Hope you had a great time at the 50K…interested to hear about it. My 13.1’s are about all I can handle right now…but it sounds fun!!
I hope your race went well! I wanted to do that one but it sold out really fast! I am actually thinking about doing a 50k as well so I wonder how you felt afterward! I can’t wait for the recap!