My last ultra of the year. About 5.5 weeks ago I was bored
and decided to check out UTMB website, probably the largest trail race in the
world. I knew you needed points to get in and I decided to check how
close I was. I had 14/15 needed in three races (6 points from my 100
miler, 5 points from my 100k, and 3 points from my 50k) to qualify for the
lottery. I then checked what races were available that was worth 4 points
that could get me in. I found 2 in the USA, the famous North Face
Endurance Challenge Championships and the Mountain McDowell Frenzy. Both
50 milers. North Face was sooner and so I decided to opt for Phoenix to
save some flight money and give myself an extra two weeks to train.
Training & Strategy
My
training for this 50 depended a lot of the fitness I built training for my 100
miler. After the 100 I took 5 weeks off structural training (I still ran
Chicago marathon, PR in the Brooklyn half, etc but I ran with no adaption goals
[so you could call them workouts but not training]). I made a quick one
month training plan with 2 weeks of easy rebase building. The main
difference between the 100 training and the 50 training is the two classes I’m
currently taking. It limited my ability to travel to trails to train
(even within Queens). The road became my only training ground. This
also forced me to start making routes from home. I built up quickly to 60
miles a week but with it all on road I had to miss a few runs to make sure I
recovered (trails have less impact allowing more mileage). I didn’t allow
much of a taper either going into the race.
I knew going into the race that heat and environment would be a
major factor. Yes 78 degrees dry heat isn’t too bad but still a lot
warned than what I was getting use to in the NE. My last ultra had 20
miles of snow and I was getting use to running in 40-50 degree weather. Overheating is a major concern for me.
I used a different strategy for this race. Usually I carry
a race vest that usually has enough water and nutrition for 20 miles.
That way I could skip the first few aid stations and refill bladder halfway
around 20, then just refill bottles for rest of race. This race I decided
to double bottle it and use my race vest only during the hottest part of the
race. I used my traditional ultimate direction bottle (has a classic
strap your hand slips through) with a Salomon body bottle with a strap that
wrap around your wrist. The Salomon bottle had a little zipper which I
used to stash huma gels and I used my short pockets to stash Untapped maple
cookies and sport beans. I wore my QDR singlet but didn’t wear anything
to protect me from nipple bleeding which usually occurs in road races...usually
the race vest prevents the shirt from rubbing and I forgot that I wasn’t really
going to use one. The more limited space from not having a race vest also
meant no phone to carry. We were allowed three drop bags. Two were
transported and we would hit them twice and one was at the finish which we
would pass by at mile 42. For my first drop bag I left some nutrition and
my race vest and my brooks shoes. My brooks shoes were the ones I used
for the 100 miler and are well lasted their prime. The shoes I started
with were my nike trails that I got my 100 miler. I have used them for a
few hikes and short trail runs but they remain mostly untested. I would
hit the first drop bag at mile 11 and 18 so I figure if something was up with
my shoes it would occur by 18. My second drop bag was supposed to have
another ultimate direction bottle, a headlamp, and nutrition. I would hit
that one at mile 29 and 35. My finish line drop bag had more nutrition
including my last huma gel and a jacket for after the race. My general
plan for the race was to start off slightly faster to tackle some miles before
it got to the hottest time of the day. Then I would use my race vest and
dial back a little to focus on hydration and getting through okay. The
final 8ish I would drop the bag and finish at a faster pace.
Pre Race
Getting to McDowell state park was smooth and so was
parking. My pre race struggled started with my headlamp whose bands came
out of the straps somehow. It took 20 minutes to get it to somewhat come together.
It was a tight fit on my head. Trying to fix it got me in a rush. I
dropped my drop bags just in time and got to the start line with a few minutes
to spare. Less than 90 runners in the 50 mile race. The race
director talked briefly about course markings and then we were off!
Miles 1
to 28
At about .6 miles I met Tanner. He was a long time
mountain biker who has done 800+ miles unsupported races before and is a 3:04
road marathoner. This was his first ultra and we talked about everything
outdoors for the next 10k. We met a man from Canada but he was struggling
to keep up with us so he didn’t talk much. Tanner’s strategy was to carry
just water and spend more time at aid stations eating. I just resupplied water
and was off. I’m mostly afraid of getting stiff and then struggling to
refind your groove from spending too much time at the aid station. Due to my faster resupply I left Tanner at
the aid station. I was quite sad. The next 5 miles went by a little slower
without anyone to talk with.
At the mile 11 the aid station they had bean burritos! Up
to this point my nutrition has been a huma gels every 30 minutes after the
first 40 and watermelon slices. I noticed I miscounted how many gels I
needed so I took a gu energy one from the aid station and another packet which
I thought was hi energy chews. Ended up being a gu tablet. After
mile 11 another runner tagged behind and eventually we started talking.
He was Jeff who is from around the area doing his firs 50 miler. He told
me a lot about the trails in the city, the cholla plants with thorns and the
Thompson peak climb that we would have to do at mile 30ish.
I switched out my nike shoes for my brooks, first time changing
shoes in a race. I was mostly afraid that the nike shoes were not wide
enough but I did like their lightness. My brooks trail shoes have holes
and are pretty beat but I know I could run another 30 on them. I also
switched to my racing vest dropping my ultimate direction bottle and stashing
my Salomon bottle in my bag. The next aid station was 10.5 miles away and
it was clear that the clouds which were providing the only shade from the sun
won’t last much longer. It was also getting close to high noon so hottest
time of day. I traded speed for the ability to carry 2.5 liters of
water. I separated from Jeff here. My nutrition shifted from the gels
to the maple syrup cookies and sport beans.
The racing vest felt heavy and within two miles many passes
me. Tanner caught up and passed as well. Around mile 22 the terrain
started to get a bit hillier which helped me a lot (terrain started feeling
more like home). By mile 26 I was feeling good, I passed a lot of those
who passed me earlier. I feel a lot got beat by the heat. I also ran by the back of the 50k runners,
many of who were struggling. I did ran out of water as I was approaching
the aid station at mile 28, just in time!
Miles 28
to 42
Here we were to start the giant climb to Thompson peak. I
heard a lot about it but I done big climbs before and it was clear that many
runners here aren’t use to hills. NY has plenty of technical mountains
that shoot straight up and down, we’re part of the beast coast as ultra runners
call it. I dropped my running vest at the aid station since it was only 6
miles till I hit it again. I found out that I didn’t pack my other
ultimate direction bottle in this drop bag as planned so I carried a smaller
body bottle, 75% of the liquids I hoped to have. As I left I saw Tanner
resting under the shade of a volunteer aid station car.
My nutrition shifted to cliff shots, Gatorade, dates, and Oreos
from the aid station. Knowing the climb was big I decided to award
progress with Oreos. Approaching the climb was daunting. They want
us to climb that? It was crazy steep. I would put it equal to going
straight up the 4000ers ski slopes in the NE. It was so steep that I had
to stay on toes the way up. Lucky I had experience going up and down
those 4000ers ski trails that shoot straight up and down. Remind me to do
more of those races! I logged a 26
minute mile going up and another 18 minute mile. I saw people going down
we’re struggling too. Some went down sideways as a break? I still
don’t understand that. Tanner caught up during the last .2 of the climb
up and we went up together. He was going to take the downhill slow.
I went by feel, when my quads didn’t hurt I charged down. I saw Jeff near
the end of my descent. As I passed by people climbing I smiled and tried
to encourage them. Downhills have always restored my energy and even at
30+ miles it was doing the same. Back at the aid station I picked up my
headlamp and restocked on cliff bars, Oreos and dates. I wrapped my
headlamp around my left wrist and decided to leave my race vest in the drop bag.
The trail now went into a gentle downhill. At this point,
approaching 40 miles I was through my own nutrition supplies. The
Gatorade, probably due to acidic, wasn’t sitting well. I switched to
water as my fluid, dates as fuel source and continued with the pieces of bean
burrito. I passed by a few 50kers, the ones at this point were pretty
beaten and walking towards the finish. Tanner caught up once again and we
made it to the finish line at mile 42. We still had a mini loop
left. He proceeded to switch socks and do foot maintenance. I
stocked up on some food, dropped my smaller body bottle, grabbed a huma gel I
was saving and left. The huma gel still tasted delicious after over 40
miles so it may be now my favorite gel. Thanks to Cathy for introducing
it to me!
The last 8
I thought
there was only 6 miles left (I went by the mileage on my watch) so I started
picking up the pace. There were two things that rang in my head. One was what Leslie Lam said in the marathon
panel about running the last 10k with your heart and the other was what Albert
Tan said about a speed workout, about wanting to make sure you gave it
everything. I didn’t want any regret, I
wanted to make sure I put everything in it.
At this point I was approaching the safe point to do it. Two miles later at the final aid station I
found out there was another 6 miles. I probably should have studied that
map rather than rely on my garmin! That
demoralized a bit and I slugged through a half mile before finding my
groove. It got dark and I had difficulty at two points at finding the
trail (a lot of trail intersect but I was also getting tired). Tanner
soon caught up. He had mountain biked this trail before and was pretty
familiar with it. We ran together for the next 2-3 miles. The trail
then started getting rocky and downhills which Tanner wasn’t good at but my
specialty. I left Tanner there. Also
with 3 miles left I started to push hard. I felt like I was borderline
about to throw up. As I approached
closer to the finish, another night race going opposite direction of our 50
mile was taking place. I used the headlamps seen from the distance as
target points. When you’re running hard
the miles go slow. A runner told me I
had 2.5 miles left to go which I hated to hear.
I had a pretty strong finish.
Afterwards
to my great relief they had vegan pizza!
I cheered finishers for about an hour before going to take a nap. I really admire those finishers that wait at
the finish line till the race officially ends cheering people on. I was too tired, might be possible if I wasn’t
alone. I also ended up with no bloody nipples so the singlet fitted well!
