seestephrun

Fingerlakes 50s Race Report - Part 2

So I guess it’s time to continue the story! I think this is probably the longest race report I’ve ever written. I think it’s because the whole weekend was just so much fun. From pre-race to post-race me and Mike had a great time, we really enjoyed ourselves to the fullest. I definitely see myself doing another summer ultra next year which surprises me since I never thought it would be something I would enjoy that much. It’s just nice to be able to kick back and really enjoy it as a vacation. I also really loved camping prior to the race, that was awesome.

So I left off when the race had started. We were off in a pack, and I do think we started out a bit fast for my taste. Everyone just sort of went for it together. We headed down a dirt road and then veered right onto some single track where things came to a halt. We were all clogged up and I think it messed up my flow. We were either bolting down the track and I had to keep up to avoid - in my mind - pissing off the person behind me and falling too far behind because at this early stage in the race I was still convinced I would get lost in the wilderness. It didn’t help to see the giant Search and Rescue trucks near the start that Mike pointed out. Eeek! It was either a walk or a quick pace and all I could do was focus on my feet to avoid falling on my face. This section was where we encountered the amazing sight of the cows stampeding away from us - likely in fear. I could feel the earth move beneath my feet and the sound was just incredible, I had really never seen or heard anything like it before. I was bummed that I didn’t get a picture, since I never saw the cows later in the race again. I think we scared them good as we all came down the trail in a bunch. I didn’t bother taking out my camera at that point because I was so focused and was caught up in our herd of runners.

We eventually exited the trail into a pasture. And of course, my memory might be serving me wrong. I can vividly remember parts of the course but part of me is unsure of what came exactly when except for a few certain points. I liked doing the multiple loop course though because it meant I could pinpoint what would be tough the second time around. It was mentally advantageous. Of course it had its downsides as well, but I actually really enjoyed it. And I was impressed with how attentive I was the first time around. I found myself talking out loud and committing stretches to memory to strategize for the second loop. I actually think if I were to do the race again next year, knowing the course semi-decently would work in my favour for sure.

As we exited into the pasture I noted that this would be difficult in the midday sun. Did I mention that it ended up being much cooler than I had thought it would be? The start was nice and cool and I even woke up in the morning feeling chilly. Of course it helped that being on the trails you are in the shade and had things been entirely open to the sun I don’t know how well I would have fared, but still, the humidity didn’t kill me like I thought it was going to. With two different shoes, I was still feeling good. The pasture was gorgeous and despite the fact that we had a little bit of uphill climbing there I was too busy soaking up the views to notice my laboured breathing.

One thing to note was that for Fingerlakes I only found myself huffing and puffing a few times when I was doing big climbs and even then, it really seemed that I had improved. Of course it was flatter than Vermont, but my breathing was easy for mostly the whole way. In Vermont from the start it was as if I couldn’t catch my breath so as a result I spent nearly the whole race breathing heavily - I ended up with a very sore ribcage the next few days.

I believe it was after the pasture where there was a pretty intense downhill stretch on the roads. For the record, the percentage of non-singletrack running for this race was very very small. I loved the course even despite the tough bits. Even though the downhill was a road section it was quite fun. It was probably the longest downhill I’ve ever run in a race. Just when you thought things were going to even out, you would turn a corner and things would keep going down. I wondered how pleased I would be with this section later on especially knowing at that moment that going down also probably meant going up. I would say there were 2 very challenging uphill sections, but they didn’t kill me like I thought they would so I was happy about that. The trail was definitely flatter than Vermont and there was very little mud, but the trail was tough nevertheless.

For the record, I’m a klutz and I also don’t train on trails because well, there’s nothing like what I was running in New York here in Montreal. Not even close. We ran a local park trail as a group recently and I would say compared to this weekend’s trail, our local stuff is like road running. It’s baby stuff. In all seriousness. I dare someone to complain about it and say it’s hard. On the Fingerlakes trails, if you are sloppy with your footfalls you will pay for it with a face plant - and apparently some people had the pleasure of saying hello to the ground with their faces. I’m so happy to say that despite so many near falls and so many times where I would fly forward and catch myself from falling down, I didn’t fall once. That’s a big achievement for me! I was really careful out there, but I also swore multiple times because I tripped and found myself feeling embarrassed. Good thing I was pretty much completely alone most of the time.

The trails were much more technical than in Vermont. Lots of roots, nooks and crannies, rocks, bumps, dips, fallen debris, tree trunks to jump over, hills that I just couldn’t even fathom running because they were so bumpy and craggy. You could not drag your feet here. You had to pick em’ up.

The first loop felt good. I actually went through in my estimated time and had I continued with the same pacing I would have had a PR. Instead, that just didn’t happen. I think it was a combination of the heat and the tough trails because this time it was my body that was exhausted long before my breathing suffered. I crossed the lap mat and got to see Mike who was ready with my bag of stuff. A very very kind volunteer took it on himself to take care of what I needed. I saw him again as I neared the finish and he yelled out to me as he saw me “Hey! 134!!! You’re going to do this!!!”. Coming into the halfway was tough. I knew what was ahead - this is part of what I was talking about before. It’s great to know what’s coming but it’s also not so great. I saw those giant uphills and that long downhill and thought of my sore legs. At this point my feet were getting pretty sore. No wait. Let me rephrase that - my stupid left foot was getting sore. This was where I knew it was time to switch shoes, I was compensating due to having one old shoe and one new one and my left calf was cramping and tightening pretty badly. So I switched shoes and socks and Mike snapped away with his new camera. He got some pretty great photos that really encompass the feeling at that halfway point. The volunteer rewet my bandana and filled my bottles with nice fresh cold water and electrolytes and attempted to feed me food and then I set off again. I remember clearly telling Mike, “I’m just so tired. I’m so tired. I don’t want to go back”. But saying it I knew that’s all I was doing, just saying it. I never once for a second at that halfway point think that I was not going to go back for another round.

Along the course, as you hit tough points, you think of quitting. Of course. You think of how wonderful stopping will be, the immediate satisfaction of a bed and a downy pillow. But I equate it to someone thinking about robbing a bank or winning the lottery. It’s a wonderful thought but it’s not going to happen. Never. There was not one bit of me that wanted to give up. Even when I hit one of my lowest points. I couldn’t fathom not finishing. When it got tough I just hiked and kept moving forward, that’s all. It was second nature to just ignore the pain and go on. Or even to channel that pain and get my ass to the finish to be able to relax. Still, the most important thing for me was to enjoy it, so I did. I really really did. I enjoyed the solitude, the views, I talked to myself, I listened to some music and I swear I saw things a few times. At one point I swear something growled at me and despite the fact that my legs were cramping at that point I ran as fast as I could out of that trail section and then started to laugh at myself.

I spoke to a few people on the trails. I felt particularly shy at this race because many people were locals and knew each other. But trail runners are notoriously friendly so I got to talking with a few people. On that long descent two older gentlemen were talking and as I ran past them one of them said hello and asked “So are you here cause you’re crazy too?”. We chatted for a bit and wished each other luck. A few other exchanges consisted of looks of knowing, good lucks, and good jobs to some of the lead runners who lapped us slower ones as we plodded on. Two ladies that I am ever grateful to leapfrogged with me for a while. I will remember those rainbow stripped socks for a long time. They talked to me and asked me how I was doing and I did the same. I took their picture at one point while we were crossing a pasture and we talked about how far we were and laughed about the tough parts and our klutziness. I appreciated the company. As much as I enjoy being alone on the trail, at some points your mind messes with you. A few times I thought I was horribly lost (not even close) and at some points I was convinced I was last and everyone had gone home (impossible since there were still 50 milers out on the course). So seeing them either in front of behind made me feel better. It was also nice to know they were somewhat experienced and that I was managing to keep up with them. Thank you ladies. I was sad that Mike and I had to head on our way after the race and I wasn’t able to stay to see them finish and thank them. I hope they maybe get to see this and get to know how much it meant for me to keep seeing those socks in the distance or behind me.

The aid stations were great. I chatted with the volunteers a bit and each one of them was super attentive to the runners. They made sure we ate and were genuinely concerned when we didn’t look that great. They wanted to make sure we made it out in one piece and I made sure to thank them so much every time I passed by. It was nice to be able to see some volunteers twice since we went around for another loop. I pretty much ate when I wanted and drank when I was thirsty. I think it worked. Except for when I ran out of water right before the aid station called ‘The Outback’. Aptly named. The stretch before was probably the most difficult one. Open sun, the humidity seemed to collect there and it was a straight narrow forward march for what seemed like forever. I ran out of water there on the second loop and made a video. Watching it now makes me crack up. I say to myself in the video, remember this later. A way to remind myself to never do it again. Obviously, a few days later and I’m already thinking of what will be coming next. Naturally.

On the first loop I messed up with my counting which threw me off a bit. I thought I had only one aid station to go before the halfway point back at the camp not realizing that I would hit one aid station twice (and of course not even recognizing that it was the same aid station) in one stretch. That messed me up when I realized it but I quickly recalculated and told myself to remember it for loop 2.

Loop 2 was where I really regretted not wearing my GPS watch. Something really missing from the course were mile markers. At least nearing the finish or between aid stations. My sense of distance and time was really warped at one point and I really had no idea where I was and how long there was to go. It felt like years those 2.79 miles to the finish. I wanted to curl into a bawl and tell Mike to come get me. Again, a fleeting thought. I pushed on. I was thankful that I had asked the aid station volunteer for the distance left. I smiled since it sounded like so little, but on the trails where you are zig-zagging and can’t see more than a little bit in front of you, it feels like ages.

I ended up running to the finish, I would have walked or crawled there if I had to but I was determined to run through despite my legs feeling done. I ran in and Mike told me later that a volunteer on the sidelines told the person next to him that I looked fresh as a daisy. When Mike told me that I laughed and shook my head.

I passed the finish mat and happily got my medal from a volunteer who congratulated me. I was so happy. I was of course disappointed that I didn’t even come close to a PR and that I finished slower than in Vermont, but when Mike told me that several folks in the 50 miler had dropped to the 50km and that several others had needed medical attention I was just glad that I had stayed strong.

I walked/hiked more than I would have wanted to in the second half. After exiting through that first pasture on the second loop I started getting a dreaded cramp in my left ribcage again, same as in Ottawa. I couldn’t run so I had to walk that downhill. It pissed me off. But I remembered Ottawa and immediately made an attitude adjustment. Eventually the cramp disappeared shortly after the first aid station and I was able to start back up and run again. I also started to run into other runners, sock ladies, and an older man and his friend, we ran/walked together. For the most part we were speed walking/hiking and we fell into a rhythm. Of course, they asked if I wanted to pass, but it was just so tempting to stay with people and have the company and listen to them talk. So I stayed there in a comfort zone and that’s probably the one thing I regret just a little. There were definitely a few stretches where I could have managed to run ahead. But it was nice to listen to their conversations. And despite knowing I could have made up some time, I don’t think I would trade that experience of being with people for a little bit more time. Hearing them was a learning experience in itself and that camaraderie means more than a few more minutes off the clock.

It was an amazing experience and as much as I remember how I felt in that video I made and at those low points, I so want to do it again. Nothing will keep me from the trails. There’s nothing better. I hope that the experience I gained on the trails this weekend will give me a bit of a jumpstart for my 5km in a few weeks.

Despite feeling so sore post-race and still sore yesterday, today I am feeling much better. I know that I still need recovery but next week I’ll get back into things because I really want my 5km PR. No better time to get it than coming off of the fitness from ultra training. I’m no longer being coached anymore. Some things in life didn’t work out and I just didn’t have the finances. It was a wonderful learning experience. I think I benefitted most from not having to think too much but I look forward to training myself again and learning from mistakes and continuing forward.

Now it’s time to look for an ultra to do next year! Part of me wants to try an indoor track ultra, particularly the one in Kingston, ON. But I can’t imagine not doing it on the trails. I’ll need to find one that’s nearby and affordable. Let the search begin.