Jul 21, 2010

7/17 - Sunburn Six in the Stix - 6 Hour Event

Initially I was not even going to do this event. I had a terrible time with the heat at Laurel Highlands in June, dropping at the 32 mile mark, that I thought why even give this race another go around. I had previously run Sunburn in 2009, but only as a training run (27M/3:27). Never intending to run the full 6 hours last year. But it is hard to pass up a FREE event, even if the temperature gets into the 90s. So, I set off for Bartlett, IL with Brett, his son Marshall and Brandon(Brett's friend) at 5:00AM for a day of running in the SUN. We arrived early enough to set up our gear as this also is an unsupported event. Before long, other runners were beginning to show. 67 runners signed up. After chatting a little and a few last encouraging words from the RD, Brian Gaines, we were headed to the start line. I was right at the front with Matt Condron. Another runner who I ran with in 2009. His goal was to equal what he ran last year. Somewhere in the 41M-42M range. Me! I was looking at 55K-60K or a max of 37ish miles. The sun was already beating down on us and a 2.28 mile crushed limestone, loop course that was totally exposed to the elements. No shade!!!!! And were off at 7:30AM, just like any other race with runners strung out like a snake. Matt and I immediately took off quickly. I could already feel the sun/heat fairly well. I chose to go with no shirt, a visor, road shoes, a 20oz handheld with 2gels and shorts of course :). The first loop went pretty smooth, but much quicker then we ran last year. If I'm not mistaken, we were running 8:00/pace last year and 18ish minutes from the get go per loop. This year it was around 7:40/pace and we came through loop #1 in 17:44, loop #2 in 17:41, loop #3 in 17:25 and loop #4 in 17:20. Way to fast with only an hour+ under our belts. What the heck was I thinking. Here we are still together. Smiling maybe? Matt and I would stay together for 3 more loops (#5-17:38, #6-17:34, #7-17:48) for tad over 2hours of running. I knew then that I had to make the call. Keep going and risk another DNF or slow the hell down. I chose the latter and it turned out to be one of the most important decisions of my day. To that point in the event, I had only stopped once to refill my bottle as Marshall handed me a couple of gels along the way. I wasn't afraid to run solo as the majority of my training was just like that. Each loop from this point on I would make a short 30-40 second pitstop at the aid point to refill and quickly get out. Never thinking that I was going to sit down or stop at any point. I was having to much fun. Even though I was extremely overheated. However, I was taking a gel nearly every loop and it was going down just fine. I was not taking in enough S-caps. I knew this, but didn't think much of it. Each time in I would drench myself with cold water on my head and neck. My next few loops went like this: (#8-20:06, #9-21:28, #10-21:26, #11-21:39). Here is Brett and Brandon motoring along: After the 11th loop, I could really feel the heat boring down on me. I needed to keep cooler while out on the course. I passed multiple runners many times throughout the morning. Quite a few were still running, but alot more were walking as well. Who could blame them. It was over 90F by now. So, after loop 11, I took a hand towel and drenched it with ice water and draped it over my head. It looked a little odd, maybe, but it kept me much cooler. To this point in the event, no one passed me and I didn't see Matt. Where was he? I knew he was out there somewhere lurking. That probably motivated me somewhat to keep moving along quickly as I could (he would tell later that was a motivating factor for him as well, knowing I was out there somewhere). Before long, there he was about 1/4-1/2 mile ahead of me. He looked about as good as I did I guess. HOT and battered. My next few loops would go like this and the slow down would begin: (#12-22:38, #13-24:16, #14-24:22, #15-27:43). The last couple of loops I had walked a little or even slowed down to the point where it felt like I was crawling. The first 7 loops and the heat were catching up with me big time. However I knew I had one more in me before I would resort to running only the shorter 1/2 mile loop to end the race. I willed myself around the course to loop #16-27:23). Looked at my watch and there was about 20 minutes to go. No way could I make another loop, so I took off and started run/walking the first shorter loop. I wasn't but maybe a 1/4 mile into the loop when Matt comes up behind me and we say a few words. He finally passes me, going out for his 18th loop, which would have been my 17th had I enough time to push for it. I ended the 1st shorter loop in 8:57. Wow! For a 1/2 mile that is way slow, but with nearly 6hours under your belt, not so much. I would run 3 more shorter loops. #2=5:22, #3-6:23. Just before I started the final loop, RD Brian Gaines shouts out, "You guys have a little over 5:00to go. You can get another one in". I ran out of there like I was just starting a race and pushed myself around the loop in 5:00 with 10 seconds to spare. The day was over! I finished 2nd OverAll with 38.50 miles (Matt Condron - 41.50 miles) A building block toward my 24 hour race in either September(NorthCoast 24hr) or October(St.Pats 24hr).
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05/17/08 - Berryman Trail 50 Mile (Race Report)

My training partner Brett and I signed up for the Berryman Trail races back in late March. I would be running the 50M event while Brett would be running the marathon (his first trail race) or the "fun run" as the website stipulates. I was excited for him and excited for as well as I hadn't run a race since Louisville's Lovin the Hills 50K back in February. I was way under trained for that event, but finished and knew I had alot of work to do come May 17th. Sure, training can be fun, but there comes a point in time when you really need to get back in the game, back where I feel most comfortable and that is racing.

My biggest issue coming into this race was a bout with ITBand irritation in my left leg. It would come and go, but at times it was excruciating following some runs. Come late April I even emailed the RD to ask if it was possible to move down to the marathon distance as I wasn't entirely sure I would be adequately trained come race day. She said that I could once the race starts, but wouldn't be eligible for any awards. So, I completely pulled myself off the road and concentrated solely on training on the trails. In the past when training for ultras I would use a combination of road marathons/trail running. Leaving the pavement behind helped. Even during trail tempos I experienced no problems the following day and was able to bounce back. I was ready for the challenge. From this point on I wouldn't second guess my decision to stay in the 50M race.

Brett and I set off for our destination, Potosi, MO. A small town about 74 miles southwest of St. Louis. Not far from where we'd be racing at the Berryman Campground inside Mark Twain National Forest. This area of the country is quite beautiful and hilly. I did a little research on the course, but one never knows until they actually get out there as to what it’s like. Sometimes it is best not knowing what you are getting yourself into.

Course: Two loops (24.8M per loop) for the 50 mile, 1 for the Marathon, plus a short out and back for each event on a gravel road. There is one crossing of Brazil Creek per loop. The course crosses many other stream beds that may or may not have water in them depending on recent rainfall. Aid Stations will be approximately every 4 to 5 miles apart.

After arriving in Potosi we dropped our stuff off at the local Super 8. A great place to stay for the race and cheap$$. Plus, they had a great breakfast buffet. And the fact that it is located only 15-20 minutes from Berryman Campground. So, we headed out to the campground to pick up our race packets and found they were just getting things set up. It was pretty low key, so we gathered our packets and headed back into Potosi for a bite to eat and some rest as the race would be starting at 6:30AM. We did notice however that the temperature was a bit warmer than northern Indiana and they were predicting start temps in the 50s with a high in the lower 80s. That concerned me a little, but what could we do. At least we'd be running under the canopy.

Going in I really had no expectations as far as finishing time for this ultra. Brett said he'd like to run right around 5hrs. Not knowing what the course was like I through a time out there late on Friday evening prior to the race of 9hrs, but "finishing" was what I was really after.

We turned in somewhat early for a 4:00AM wakeup. I slept about as well before a race as I probably ever had. Everything was ready and we headed toward the campground. The day finally arrived. It was a cool morning, but the sun was slowly rising over a ridge. There wouldn't be a cloud in the sky on this day. We arrived at the campground as others were pulling in. Each of us put a drop bag down for the 16 mile mark after crossing Brazil Creek.

After a few late instructions from the RD, Brett and I wished each other luck and we were off on the short out-n-back section on the gravel road. The 50 Milers would cover .4 miles on the road and the marathoners 1.4 miles before heading back into the woods to start the loop. I started right off the front as did two other 50M runners and a few marathoners. I didn't know these two runners, but by the looks of it they were seasoned trail runners. I stayed close behind them from the start as we entered the trail and was right on their heels. The beginning of the trail is made up of rocky/root covered sections. There were a few dry creek beds, but most had water running through them. The cold water felt pretty good, but my goal was to stay as dry as possible. I stayed with the lead runners just before the first aid station at 4.45 miles. They were going a bit faster than I wanted to go this early and my heart rate was telling me to back off. About that time, just before AS#1, another 50M runner came up behind me and passed. I stayed with him as we headed into AS#1. We left as soon as we came in not wasting any time. I was close behind him. Not far from AS#1 he caught his foot on a rock and rolled it pretty good. I asked him if he was alright and told him to walk it off. Don't run on it immediately. This would plague him all day. Most if not all of this section was very runnable aside from navigating the rockier creek areas.

In 3rd place again, a few of the lead marathoners were making their way along the course. I graciously ran to the right side of the single track letting them pass as their day would end way before mine would. Staying with them would be a huge mistake. I would have no part of that. Over this time as I headed into AS#2 and AS#3, I made sure to power walk nearly every hill. I ran some of them, but it made no sense to waste quad strength that I would need late in the race. By this time the 50M runner who had rolled his ankle was behind me once again and I let him pass. He was running all the hills, but was having a heck of time on the downhill portions where I would trade places with him again and again. I was feeling really good. As we headed into AS#3, another marathoner came in as I was leaving. He caught me going out and we ran together, chatting it up. This section to AS#4 at Brazil Creek ended up being more horse trail then single track. Quite muddy at times, but nothing that stopped me from running through and around it. We headed down the rocky section to Brazel Creek at mile 16 on the course. You had no choice but to jump into the cool water and across. I actually didn't mind it. As soon as you get across and run through a bit of sand, the course veers to the right to the aid station at the campground. I grabbed a glass of coke and filled my hand held with half gator”barf”/half water and grabbed a handful of gummy bears. To this point I was eating Sharkey's and Energy Beans from my belt and the occasional GU.

We left AS#4 through a small clearing and out onto the only paved road section on the course. I decided to walk half of it before heading back onto the trail into the woods. Soon after I would catch the marathoner I had run with prior and we chatted awhile. The pace felt comfortable so I went with it. He told me there are days when he'll mountain bike this course and then run it. I could probably do it but when it comes to biking I'm a green horn and would probably hurt myself on this course. From this point on we would run together until he finished. Most of the bigger (long) hills were from 16 miles on until the completion of the first loop. I would continue to power walk the hills as fast as I could while the two runners I was with would run them. Again, after the hill I would catch them shortly after.

We made it into AS#5 (19.5M) and filled up. I chose to stay away from any solid foods. Nothing looked good to me at the time. I was drinking well and popping an S-cap nearly every 1hr-1.5hrs. One of the volunteers told me he'd have ice and popsicles for the 2nd loop. I told him I'd hold him to it and laughed as we headed out toward AS#6. More climbing ensued, but alot of this section was easy running.

We headed into AS#6 greeted by two lovely ladies, filled up quickly and were gone. One more longggg climb remained and then some rollers back to Berryman Campground to end the first loop. I was feeling good as I came through the start/finish area in 3:49. Maybe a little to good as the temperature was rising. Here you had the option of dropping to the marathon distance by running an additional out-n-back if things weren’t going as planned. I filled up quickly and was out of there. Now I was thinking that maybe I had a shot at setting a new PR. Two other runners came in behind me at the end of the loop and quickly caught me. The guy who rolled his ankle early on and another runner I had not seen to this point in the race. I let them both by and stayed close behind the runner hobbling on his ankle. He quickly pulled off to the side as we headed into AS#1 and I wouldn't seem him again until the race was over. The other guy took off down the trail.

From this point on I would run solo the remainder of the race aside from coming up behind a few late marathon runners. I think at the time I was in 4th place. It was getting hotter. Each time I stepped out of the shade on the trail into the sunlight the sun seemed that much warmer. I kept moving forward. Just before Brazil Creek I came upon 5 horses and their riders on the muddier section of the trail. I quickly moved off to the side not wanting to spook them as they went by. I crossed the creek into the Brazil Creek AS and joked with the two girls volunteering, asking them if this was a school project or were they just giving up their Saturday for us. I thanked them and quickly left. Things were still going well. As I excited Brazil Creek and out on to the small road section I chose to walk the entire length of it until reaching the woods and took off once again. More climbing would ensue. To this point I still had my legs and had no problems running without having to grimace in pain because my quads hurt like in past races.

For some reason with like 5-6 miles to go I kept thinking about the lead female catching me. Why? I don’t know. Maybe it is my competitive nature or something. The funny thing is that I didn’t know who it was and didn’t see her all day. I suppose this motivated me a bit to push on harder. I had two more aid stations to go to the finish. With 6:35 on my watch I headed into the 2nd to last AS. Low and behold they had ice and a lime freeze pop. Just like the guy said that he would. I filled up my bottle and walked out of the AS. Man did that freeze pop hit the spot.

Within a quarter of a mile leading into the last aid station I noticed the runner who passed me at the beginning of the 2nd loop was limping. I asked him if he was ok as I went by and told him to walk it off to the next AS. Now I was in position to take 3rd overall and a new PR was within reach. I entered the last AS and quickly exited after a fill up. I knew there was one long climb to go. I knew I would really have to push myself at this point. I wasn’t struggling, but at this point in the race with it being over 80F, I felt depleted. I could feel the salt hanging on my face and arms. I knew the finish was near. After power walking the last climb, I took off only seeing a few late marathon runners ahead on the trail. I exited the woods and across the gravel road and could nearly see the finish area. I picked it up a bit as they rang the cowbells with people cheering me on. It felt good to be done although I would have pushed on had the race been longer. I met Brett at the finish. He had finished his first trail marathon in 5:17. I was happy for him.

Finish: 3rd Overall (8:30:09PR) - (Old 2006 PR: 8:43:55)
1st Place – 7:37
2nd Place – 7:54