It has been awhile since the last Post, reason being it is the dead of winter in Illinois. The weather did not hold me back from a 50K in Indiana. The race went well for being 4 degrees in the morning and by afternoon mid twenties. The trails were covered in snow I came prepared with a set of spikes, but ditched them after the first 11 mile loop. The traction was good after all the racers packed down the snow. My friend Brent joined me on the trip and did an awesome job in the one loop race. It was good to race in my home region, but coming from Mountain races it was tough to adjust to a course that essentially you could run the whole thing without sporadic hiking. I wanted to compare and contrast racing in peak fitness and racing during the holiday season.
Captured in the pics below is my best ultramarathon ever, the PCT Bunker to Bonneville. It was meant to be my last tune up race before the BEAR. I set a goal to win the race and have never dug so deep as I did in the last 5 miles of that race. It came down to a battle that I lost by 18 seconds, which in a 5 hour race is minuscule to say the least. I was in the lead from mile 12 to about mile 26 feeling confident that it was in the bag. It wasn't until the last aid station my competitor came out of no where ready to fight it out. We were bombing the last descents in a sub 6 minute mile over boulder fields and ridges. We jockeyed for position until he finally took the lead off the trail for the last mile on the road. I had him in my sights and kept seeing him look back at me gaining. I looked like the T1000 in Terminator 2 I was not going to give up. Chris Drew said my competitor crossed the finished line looking over his shoulder!
The feelings in the PCT 50k and the recent Huff 50k were totally different. I entered the PCT ready to push through pain to give it my all. In the Huff I lined up just ready to have a good time just happy to be racing again. When the pain started in the 50k I slowed the pace and looked forward to the cookies at the next aid station. I think it is important in every race to set a realistic goal and stick to it. It sets yourself up for satisfaction when you cross the finish line. I have added two new races to my calendar. As my training increases I will be ready to set some achievable goals. Until then I plan to enjoy the running knowing spring will be here soon!!!
Talking to my friend Paul before the start. I should be pacing Paul in Western States this year.
The look of giving it your all.....