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.