Voyageur 50M

This was my last "tune-up" race before getting my revenge at the 100 mile distance at Sawtooth in September (DNF'd at Zumbro 100 in April and still bitter). I've of course heard of this race since getting interested in Ultras, and in fact did the Eugene Curnow marathon (then known as the Voyageur Half) last year so I was somewhat familiar with the course.

The weather held up for the most part. It did rain off and on but it was pretty cool - mid 40s to mid 50s - which is pretty perfect running weather. My goal during the race was really to cement my fueling and pacing strategies as much as I could which I did fairly well. I aimed for ~200 calories an hour using GU, ShotBloks and fruit/potatoes at aid stations. This worked great, and the only time I felt tired was after I down a cup of coke. For some reason while it sounds amazing at the time carbonation just destroys my stomach (see my report on Black Hills last month to see how bad it truly got). Fortunately I now know the common denominator when my stomach turns south and know to stay away from soda.

I swear I'm walking towards an Aid Station.

Although I experienced I believe a shortened-version of the infamous Power Lines section last year, it was dry so not as challenging as I had been warned. This year however the rain turned the Power Lines into a mud slide on the way back which was a new experience (1 step up, 2 steps back). Certainly tough but masochisticaly (word?) fun. Jarrow's beach (about 1/2 mile or so of pure rocks and boulders) is an ankle buster for sure, but not gunning for "fast as possible" time, I just took it one step at a time so wasn't too bad.

Around 8 or so miles from the finish (after I just downed a coke - yeesh), a guy informed me that if we kept up the pace, we could get under 11hrs and qualify for Western States.  I had no idea Voyageur was a qualifier at all honestly or else I might've kicked it into a higher gear earlier in the race, but with my stomach churning I just couldn't push it. Happily around 3.5 miles from the finish the queasiness went away, I scarfed some fruit at the final aid station, and bolted to the finish and crossed the line at 11:10. As my original time goal (less important than fueling and pacing) was 12 hours, I was pretty happy. Not only that, I had plenty of energy and held on to that feeling of what if I had another 50 to go, could I do it, and I believe I could have although it might be accompanied by tears and calls for my mom.

So that's it. As I write I'm just under 2 weeks out from Sawtooth and feeling pretty confident. Body feels healthy, training has been going well and I feel pretty prepared with my gear and fueling strategy. I'm glad I ran the 50 last year so I'll be somewhat familiar with the course, and I have some great friends pacing/crewing for me. This could be my last race for a while as my wife is about 2 months out from having a little future ultrarunner, but I'm sure I sneak in a few races here and there. I wonder if she'd let me do Tuscobia...

Black Hills 50 Mile

I can't help it - I see a race and I want to do it, even if it's 9 long hours away. I was on the fence and leaning towards skipping, but knew that another 50 before the 100 in Sept is a good idea, and although tough it taught me a few more things about nutrition, pace, and most of all took me to a dark place for a few hours where I was death-marching it, I bounced back for the last 8 miles and felt great. It's good to know that at the lowest I've ever felt, I rebounded and finished strong. Ended up finishing under my goal time and of course wonder how much better I could've done had my stomach not killed me for that few hours. Starting to think Heed is the problem - I never feel quite right after drinking that stuff.

Starting out, hung towards the back for the first several miles just pacing slowly. Started to get pretty hot already at 7 so wanted to make sure I was going nice and easy. Pretty soon the inclines started and I really didn't take the elevation seriously beforehand but damn, that's some tough climbing. Total elevation was over 5000ft (compared to last year's Superior 50 which was 1800 - although a more technical course). The views were amazing - very Colorado-like.

Most of the other runners were 100 Milers as they started the 50M, 100K and 100M race all together. Kinda neat to be running with the 100 milers and see them in action.

Can you see the excitement in my face? Whee!!

Right before the turnaround about mile 23 I started feeling pretty beat, and the last few miles to the turnaround seemed to take forever. Right about here is when my stomach turned and my running all but stopped for the next 12-15 miles. Running made me want to puke as did water and calories but I forced them anyway as I knew I needed the fuel - just an awful spot to be in. People started passing me and I started to figure as long as I can walk I'll still make cutoff (no chance I was going to quit. After DNFing at Zumbro its something I really never want to experience again).

After fighting the urge to puke for hours, I finally decided to do it (didn't want to lose the calories and risk just falling over). I picked a tree in the distance, went and dry-heaved a couple times, then immediately felt great. Crazy. A girl ran past me, tripped a few feet ahead of me and I bolted there making sure she was ok then realized I had speed again. I immediately ran with her for a while, passing a guy who passed me just a few minutes earlier after I told him I was in bad shape, so he was a little surprised to see the change in just a couple minutes. After about 10 or so, the girl slowed down and I just kept going.

For the rest of the race, felt pretty good and moved like I was running a 5K. Aside from a few minute stop while a bull blocked the trail (yeah), I hiked and ran to the finish, feeling beat up but overall not awful with a time of 12:24, good enough for 12th.

Overall, very fun and challenging course, and if I don't get into Western States - which is on the same weekend -  I'll come back for sure.

It's been some time

Haven't updated in a while. Since my last post in October I've run a few more races:

- Surf the Murph 25K
- Zumbro 100M (DNF @ 50)
- Wilder 50K

Upcoming there's a few before a biggie:

- Black Hills 50M
- Voyageur 50M
- Superior Sawtooth 100M

I could do a post on all the previous events, and maybe I will at some point. The Zumbro one in particular if still tough to think about. DNFing was the right thing to do at the time but having a hard time letting that one go. Perhaps in 2015 I can get my revenge (kid on the way this winter so I doubt I'll be able to put in the training, but if I can make it work I will....)

Twin Cities Marathon

Still wasn't fully recovered from Superior, but figured I could do the "run-limp" for a while if needed. Well turns out it was needed from the get-go. I probably should've passed on the run altogether but that's just not my style.

Since Superior 50 a month ago, I only ran once last week and had to stop at mile 3 as I was in too much pain (IT band). I figured I could step up to the marathon and tough it out which might not be smart, but hey neither am I.

My first (and perhaps only) road marathon went by ok. Great scenery and the people cheering were very cool - the entire run had people lining the streets. Pretty neat environment, but just doesn't compare to trails for me. That actual run - other than the run-limping - was pretty dull. Asphalt and more asphalt. I finished at 4:20 (Funyons!) and while I'm more-or-less ok with that, I think if I was healthy (also had some - ahem - "digestive issues" due to some stew I probably should've skipped the night before. Yeesh), I would've knocked out a sub-4 pretty easily. No matter, glad I checked a road marathon off the bucket list.

Next up - after a visit to the PT in a few here - is the Surf the Murph 25K Trail Race that I'll be running with some buddies. Looking forward to that, but I'll be spending the next few weeks recovering and foam rolling. Whee.

Superior 50 Miler - Complete

All I want is pizza.

Still hasn't sunk in. From head colds to projectile vomiting, it was interesting to say the least. I'll elaborate another time. I'm hungry.

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So we headed up to Lutsen Friday late morning, arriving at Caribou Highlands (where the race ends) around 3. Our room wasn't ready so we hit the restaurant. I'm paranoid about what I eat the few days before so I ordered the meal I felt would be the least-likely to cause any, ahem, "issues" - a salad with plain roasted chicken. Pretty tasty, although my stomach felt a little off immediately after...

We check in around 4:30 and toss our bags in the room. Great room, although the back door didn't lock so we had to have a guy come out and fix while we went to packet pickup which was ridiculously fast. We headed back to the room where I took down a couple GF bagels and a banana and chilled for a bit. I think we watched Ice Road Truckers or something as we only got about 7 channels.

I debated going to the pre-race meeting but decided too much knowledge is better than not enough so headed up to the patio at 7. Weird to see all the faces I recognized from the million times I looked at pictures of previous races trying to gauge what equipment I should wear. Good meeting, about 30 minutes and I headed back and we watched a little more TV before deciding to hit the hay aroun 830 (as I had the alarm set for 330).

Unfortunately, just like the Voyageur Trail Marathon, I barely slept - maybe an hour tops - and finally got up around 315. I immediately made some coffee and had another bagel and banana, but my stomach was having none of it. I ended up puking a few times (I blame the restaurant) while getting ready. By the time 430 rolled around which is when I needed to leave to catch the bus to the starting line, I was puking pretty violently and was really unsure whether I should even do this. No sleep, puking and I'm about to hit one of the harder 50 milers in the country - which also happens to be my first of the distance.

I decided that even if I quit at the first aid station (about 7 miles in), at least I gave it a shot. I walked up to the bus and we hung out for a few minutes then took the 45 minute ride to the start, the entire time half asleep with my stomach doing backflips. By the time we got to the starting line, I forced down a GU and immediately felt a little better. Within a few minutes we were off and running. Ran with a group of about 10 people to the first station, keeping pretty quiet as my energy was down. I had a plan to take down an electrolyte cap and some food every hour which I stuck to the entire race. By the time I made it to the first AS I was feeling pretty good. A few chips, banana and water refill and I was good to go.

To the 2nd AS I ran alone for the most part, great scenery and not-too-tough climbs and decents, although you must keep your eyes on the ground or you will fall (which I did several times - glad I went with the dual water bottle as they certainly saved my hands/wrists from breaking).

Taking off from the 3rd AS I ended up running with another guy, chatting quite a bit. Good guy, good conversation and made this section (almost 10 miles - very steep and rocky) pretty enjoyable. Towards the end of the section I trailed off a little and finished the section alone which I didn't mind. Right as I pulled into this AS it started pouring. I ran for about 30 minutes or so before putting on the jacket (which folds up into a pocket I wear around my wrist - pretty great design).

The next AS marked the halfway point - Mile 26 - and I was feeling great. A volunteer told me I was looking strong and I was in good spirits. I fueled up and took off through the next section then bang - IT band started screaming at me. Running became painful so I walked, tried to run, walked, over and over. Took me a few miles to realize that when I ran, I'd be in pain for about 5-10 seconds then it would ease but if I walked and then started running again, same pain. So that was the strategy for the rest of the race. Fast-forward to the last section where my IT band said "no mas" and I essentially power hiked the last 7 miles. Here I ran into several Sawtoothers who looked exhausted but in good spirits. Some really great people at these events.

Coming into the last turn I decided to run the half mile or so and was pretty unreal to see the hundred or so people cheering. Very cool. I ended up finishing in 13:26 which was awesome as I had a goal of 14 and if my IT band didn't act up, I really think I could've done 12. Next time maybe.

For fueling, I stuck with bananas, chips, gummi bears, salted potatoes and some coke in the later sections. Other than that, GU and Shot Blox were my mainstay. My stomach cooperated the entire race which was what I was most concerned about.

All-in-all it was pretty unreal - to think I ran 12 miles on flat ground in March which was my furthest and nearly passed out, to just knocking out a 50 mile trail run - pretty sweet. I'm still limping a bit but already have my eye on Zumbro 100 in April. YEAH BITCHES!!

Oh I'm gonna die.

Train, Train, Train.

No races since the Muck Ruckus a few weeks back, but lots and lots of training - trail runs, ski hill repeats and long runs around the cities. As Superior 50 is just 2 weeks away now, my plan is to work hard the rest of this week - hopefully without overtraining - and take next week off nearly completely, maybe a short 1 or 2 runs around the lake/neighborhood just because I'll go crazy trying to take off that many days in a row.

I've spent a ridiculous amount of money trying all sorts of gear - vests, waist packs, double bottles, visors, socks, etc. I'm pretty sure I know what my gear will be the day of the race, probably just a couple tweaks left to figure out. I have my fuel plan pretty much worked out as well, although I know I'm going to learn a lot on the trail and I can just be as prepared as possible knowing to expect the unexpected.

My ultimate goal is of course to just finish, with the bonus goal of under 14 hours which is right at middle-of-the-pack. I plan on going out slow but not too slow as I want to get as far as I can in the daylight, hopefully not using the lamp at all.

After the Voyageur marathon in July, I was pretty beat but I'm certainly in better shape now, as well as much more educated on fueling/hydration/pacing. I also bought some Tailwind nutrition I'll try out this week. If all goes well I'll carry that with me throughout the race.

I'm trying to not get too far ahead of myself as hell, maybe I'll hate this and not want to do another one (but I highly doubt it...), but I've for sure been looking around a the other races over the next few months and into next year.

MS Muck Ruckus

Same course as last year for the most part - Trollhaugen Ski Resort in WI. Great hilly, woodsy, 6 mile course with dozens of swampy, muddy pits to wade through with a few Tough Mudder-style obstacles thrown in. Last year I bonked pretty hard towards the end of the run, this year I felt it could've been twice as long and I would've gotten through it no problem. The training we've all put in this year has really shown.

As much as I loved the trail course, I'm getting a little "mud run'd" out. My favorite parts of these races are always sprinting down the rocky zig-zag paths.

Also I'm officially signed up for Superior 50 which is less than 4 weeks away, which means 3 weeks of training and 1 week of rest. Coming up fast - very stoked.  I'll be alternating workouts for the next 3 weeks - 1 day a week with ski hill repeats (hike up, run down, repeat), 1-2 trail runs of various distances/week, and back-to-back long runs on the weekends. I need to balance hard training with rest however. Last time I tried to hit it hard I ended up sidelined for a week. Also I need to eat a ton. Still have issues eating enough, but I'm getting there.

Why are we knowingly  jumping into hot chocolate?

Guys...I dropped a contact. Seriously.