The night before I started to get a “nervous” feeling. My last attempt at a 50k resulted in a DNF and me bowing out at mile 26.2. With a few ultra distances under my belt, it was nothing new, but the truth is anything can happen out there. It’s you, a trail and plenty of time to realize what training mistakes you have made.
At the start line, I ran into a couple of friends and shared in general pre-race chit-chat and well wishes. I even caught up with a Oiselle bird flying low enough to snap a photo with. Hi Paulette!
I ran the first few miles with Paulette and Layla and was able to catch up on how their training has been going and what they have coming up. Thankfully the first few miles were relatively flat, so we were able to talk comfortably.
I later caught up with Alisyn and she doesn’t know this, but this is where the race changed for me. It was a flat-to-downhill section of the course and we jumped straight into conversation mode. My legs relaxed and just drifted off into a “running zone” as we talked and flew downhill. Turning point. We ran for maybe a mile or two, but it changed my entire disposition for the whole race.
After the first aid station I caught up with Alyssa (and Kim — who I met for the first time). It was an uphill portion so we chatted for a short bit. It was great to see Alyssa out running strong after some injuries last year. Go Newtons, go!
I was about a third of the way into the race and still feeling good. The friends I encountered helped keep me relaxed and aware of keeping things consistent early on. I was running all the flat-to-downhill portions of the course and walking the uphill when needed.
I started to “pick off” people to keep me moving and focused. I’d see someone in front of me and spend the next mile trying to catch up. I’d take a corner on the inside track, or run the tangents to the curves (a tip I learned in Dane Rauschenberg’s book). Any little bit to make up ground while keeping my conservative pace. It was almost like a game. I was still in the “running zone.”
As I approached the end of the first loop, I was at mile 18 and my time was around 2 hours and 50 minutes. My legs felt really good, but I still had the tough mental miles ahead, the ones after running 20+. Paulette had finished and I gave her a high-five-slash-air-hug and asked if I could stop. I didn’t, and continued on. Half marathon to go.
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The second loop felt really empty. There were people walking the lake and some runners, but I didn’t see any other racers with bibs. Since I couldn’t “pick off” anyone, I tried to remember what I was doing on the first lap. “oh, this was where I caught up with Layla.” And “here was where I ran with Alisyn.”
At the first of 2 aid stations on the second loop, a man in a yellow shirt passed me. “He came out of nowhere.” I hadn’t seen him for the past few miles and there he goes. I caught up to him within the next half mile or so and passed him keeping my normal pace. The next few miles were tough, as expected, but I ran with the same strategy “run the flat.” Even if it was 20 yards, I would run it to keep the legs fresh and to keep me focussed. I look at the watch and realized I might be able to finish this in under 6. No way. That would be a massive improvement. I tried to keep it out of my mind as I would have another 5 miles after the marathon distance.
Someone said it looks like I was “moonwalking” in the first photo. Ha! It does!
At the second and final aid station, my friend was back. There goes the man in the yellow shirt. It wasn’t like I was lingering at the aid stations chatting around. I was actually making a point to grab what I needed and keep moving. But there he goes. With a few miles to go in the race and me on PR pace, I decided to keep him in sight.
My strategy would be to stay as close as possible while making up ground and see if I could pass him in the final mile. It would be like the Olympics where it comes down to the final 50 yards. I had visions of announcers doing play-by-play on NBC with the crowd cheering. The next three miles (28-30) were at a 10:20 pace. — very close to my early pace. He was making good time and was going to pull me along with him.
The “one mile to go” sign made an appearance and both of our paces had picked up. He wasn’t going to let me catch him. I had come within maybe 10 yards a couple of times over the last 30 minutes, but was never able to over-take him. I looked at my watch and realized I had sub-6 in the bag and decided to take the last mile as a celebration mile.
Me and Kuni (the “other” man in the yellow shirt). He finished 45 seconds in front of me, but kept me going the last 3 miles.
I kept the 10 minute pace and crossed the finish line at 5 hours, 50 minutes and 3 seconds. My first sub-6 hour 50k and an 89-minute PR. That is “absurd” to me. That’s an average of 3 minutes per mile faster than my previous 50k PR. My goal was sub-7. That is how unexpected that time and pace was.
I never really left that “running zone” in the early miles with Alisyn. I stayed focussed the entire time whether it was picking off runners, trying to run the tangent lines, or catching the man in the yellow shirt. It was the best trail race I had run and maybe one of my best race experiences overall. Surprising results can do that.
Finisher shirt and 50k pint glass. Cheers!
What race day tips or strategy do you use?
Ever thought of doing a trail race? An Ultra?
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Pavey. You killed it. Really, really proud of you! Thanks for the nice shout-out & thanks for saying something to me while I ate your dust. :) Also, please eat some more… You’re getting tiny.
Rock star! Good for you!!
I try to walk hills as needed and walk through water stations. Gives me a chance to breathe and reboot before starting up again.
AMAZING!!!! I am so glad it was a great experience for you .. and I am in awe! ;)
AWESOME race and KILLER PR! Congratulations. :) We have similar race strategies, so I don’t have much to add. The biggest one for me is to NOT think about the full distance and break it down into small chunks.
Congrats on a GREAT run, isn’t funny how things can just come together at exactly the right time :-)
I need to tackle a full first bud ;) but awesome job, you keep inspiring me!
I’ll let you know the answers to those questions when I get there! You are pretty much my last name twinsie full of awesomeness! Great job! Can’t wait to see how you crush that 50 miler!
Wow! Awesome job on your 50K! Way to seriously obliterate your PR, and your goal finishing time.
I have been reading so many good things about trail races, and it is making me interested! Not sure about an ultra…yet.
So freaking awesome. So happy for you.
geez louise, you’re a wicked awesome runner. Great job killing it!
Trail race, maybe. Ultra… eh, maybe not so much. Maybe.
Great recap, awesome PR! I keep toying with the idea of a 50K. I figure I’ll go trail marathon first and see how that goes. :)
You are killing it with your training! Fantastic job and congrats on the PR! You looked so strong out there on the hill climbs, I couldn’t keep up! I like eating dust really. ;)I am terrified for my first 50k at the end of April, but reading your race recap gives me confidence!
I know if I ever did a trail race, I’d be the jack-a$$ who trips and falls over a rock on the trail and has to crawl off to the side of the trail with a bloody leg! Ah ha ha ah! ;)
That is ABSURD. Absurdly awesome!! Congrats!!!!! That is some serious amazingness.
BOOM! 89 minute PR is crazy awesome! Great job!
I am constantly amazed by you.
Great job!
You are such a beast, congrats!!! Thats an amazing time
Do your feet hurt…from kicking so much ass!! AMAZING!!!
Seriously – you’re freaking amazing!!
Congrats! I’m not an ultra girl, but I’d love to do a trail race. Bonus points if it’s a trail race that ends with a pint glass. ;)
Congrats to you! Great recap!
Does doing the Spartan Beast count as a trail race? If so, then yes :)
Enjoy and have fun…that’s my mentality the whole way :)
Wow, wow, wow. That is an incredible new pr!! So excited for you. What a huge accomplishment!
Such an awesome day out there for you! Holy smokes what a PR!! Love that the “man in yellow” kept you plugging along. And that you met him and got a picture after. The best.
You are on a roll and I’m very happy for you!
Woot!! Way to go YOU! Super proud of you! :)
You’re amazing. An 89-minute PR!? A 50k? There’s not much more I can say other than you’re amazing! I find so much inspiration in your posts (even when I’m not commenting all the time)…hard work, dedication…and above all, you’re humble. Love it. :)
What a great race! You are awesome :)
Love that you got in that zone! So neat. :D Fun recap and way to go with your race! I’d love to do both a trail race and an ultra at some point…I think it’d take me a while to get there (I’m kind of not in the groove currently) but it’s something I’d love to do!
BADA$$!!! I can’t believe how much you PR’d this race! Congrats on a great race – with how strong you ran those last few miles you should be pretty confident with how well your training is going for your 50 miler =)
I love how you talk about milestone moments in the race in terms of the people you were with:) Running is as much a “communal effort” as it is a solitary one. That said, you should OWN that PR. Way to go!
I was coming back here to re-read your race report as I’m thinking of running one of ITR’s events again this year — and too funny, I forgot that we saw each other out there! What a fun day. Awesome.