I remember taking a quick look at my Garmin down on the flats and was pleased to see a number there I have only seen 4 times before. The number 26.2 quickly told me that I as a runner was entering into nomads land, I had already run longer time wise than ever before but seeing that number move on past seemed to be something special.
This race is something special to me. Afton was the place I discovered trail running and is a place I spend many an hour taking in the trail, wildlife and the occasional muddy crash. The morning arrived way to early with a 4am wake up call out of my slumber. I did my normal routine gathered up my supplies, laid out the night before, downed my oatmeal and knowing the day was going to be in the mid to lower 90s with high humidity and wind I began to hydrate. I made my way out to park and was amazed to see the dedication of the volunteers that must have been out there before sun up helping set up and to direct cars. I also recognized a fellow blogger Steve Quick directing me to my parking spot.
Grabbed my number (137) and awesome new tech shirt, that I feel you can’t wear until you complete the race, and made my final prep before making my way to the starting area. I dropped off my drop bag and took in the people watching, a few greetings and a few good luck hand shakes. The race director made a few comments about some minor course changes (I like them by the way) and noted the money the race has raised for the park and with a slight pause and an almost as a secondary thought he says go. And we are off, some of the speedsters jetted out ahead while the rest of us funneled down the path. I remember hearing the advice of Helen and Joel running through my head about going out slow, walking the hills and chatting it up as you make your way while most importantly just keep moving forward. The first couple miles were uneventful than as I made my way into the back 40 I ran into Joel for a bit, we talked and made our way to the back stairs and eventually out to the prarie. At about mile 5/6 a good friend of mine Bill was waiting at the top of hill. I was great to see him and this put a little spring in my step.
Photographer: Jen Pierce
The remainder of the first loop seemed uneventful and like most other training runs with the exception of 2 hundred other runners, high temperatures and great aid stations. I walked the hills that I should and made up the time by running at a decent clip on the down sides. I met some great people along the route, we exchanged names and war stories on what the race is demanding of us and we went on to run together and go our separate ways as the race went on. Sometimes it is just nice to park behind a group and listen in for bit to keep your mind off the running. Kinda like voyeurism but with out the need to look in the windows.
Photographer: Jen Pierce
I made it through loop one at 2:50, a little on the high end of what I wanted but considering the temperature I figured it was just fine. I made my way to my drop bag and exchanged my water bottle and loaded up with Gu’s. The aid station here filled me up with ice and water and off I went storming down the hill again thankful that this would be the last loop today. I dawned my headphones and began to search for that zone that would carry me through the rest of the race. I quickly found that the music was more a disturbance and was not helping me focus and hindered me from talking with fellow racers and aid station folks. As I returned to the steps on the back forty i wound up the head phones and tucked away the iPod for the day. The back forty is typically one of my favorite points of the course and I love running it but on this loop I found myself making deals with myself to reach different points and I take a break. I knew my goose was slowly being cooked at this point. I climbed out and made my way to the prairie where the sun struck with a vengeance after being covered in a canopy minutes ago. I was determined to run this section to the next major down hill and in hind site might not have been my best plan. Running out there in the sun and wind took a lot out of me but I prevailed to next major downhill that I thought might boost my spirits with a jolt of speed but instead pulled the wind out my sails for I couldn’t muster the coordination to safely let loose on this hill. I made it to the bottom while overcoming 2 other runners and met up with blue mo hawked man at the bottom having some knee issues. We chatted and urged each other on to the next aid station.
I entered this aid station feeling alright but knowing a big climb ahead of me waited. I seem to take my time gathering up foods and water before I set out. While there I saw two fellow runners drop out – I looked that them and they seemed just fine a bit ago as we met on the trails and I wondered how far I might be away from this fait. I decided to walk this hill in its entirety and make some time up Nigel’s if I could. I should have known better though. I have found in other races that walking can be habit forming and if you don’t push yourself through those areas you quickly begin to justify walking even the smallest of hills. Through this far north area of the course I came across another gentleman curled up against a tree that had decided to hang it up as well. I offered him some water and Gu’s and hung out for bit to be sure he wouldn’t pass out and with his assurance I told him I would send back help at the next aid station. He agreed and I was on my way.
I made my way through the campground and down another hill into the aid station where I passed along the info about my fellow runner a mile or so back. I also noticed that I was missing some strategically placed band-aids and rounded up some medical tape to take there place. The lady at the aid station said she could relate for she just had a baby. I smiled, gathered up my supplies and thanked the crew for an incredible job and hit the road.
Photographer: Jen Pierce
For some reason the flats by the river get to me. On paper it seems like such an effortless thing after all the hills but staring down the long trail knowing meat grinder is waiting for you at the end kinda psyches me out. I also fell into the walking habit again and this time with no hills. Things started to get rough here and no motivational speak was going to get me going. I than remembered that I promised my daughters that I would need their help putting my 50k sticker on my truck after the race. That and the realization that all needed to do was work my way out of meat grinder to the next aid station and through snow shoe loop and I would be done. I put my head down and did just that – It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t fast but it did get done. I came up to last stretch of the course and as most runners do found the legs to run that last little bit in hopes that we fool everyone into thinking you ran that speed the entire time.
Photographer: Helan Lavin
I crossed the finish line with jump, a finishers medal and new respect for the runners that go beyond this distance. My hat is also off to all the people that had the gumption to toe up at the beginning of the race to see what they could do.
What did I learn:
- Walking in a race can be habit forming and you must push through it.
- I think I will need up my calorie intake for these. Gonna have to do some research on this.
- Motivational quotes and phrases get stripped away rather quickly in hot weather.
What’s Next:
- Take a week or two off and heal up
- Explore Crossfit.
- Find another 50k soon.
