The Self-Transcendence Ultra Classic 6 12 24 Hour Race is an annual event held at the Louis Riel Dome in Ottawa. Yes, an indoor 400 metre track.
After my trail runs this year, I was kind of looking forward to a flat, predictable run. I run better on roads and trails that are maintained although I'd rather be out on single trails in the forest at any time. Knowing this race would have a constant temperature and reliable washroom facilities made my 12 hour race seem somewhat easier to plan for.
I made a goal for myself of 65-70km in 12 hours. A few other running friends thought that 80km was doable and I actually planned to aim for that. (More about that later!). I had completed 56km in the dark in 11 hours. I did 50 km in just over 10 hours in slick mud and torrential downpours. I decided that given the nature of consistency I'd have at a track, my first goal wasn't unrealistic and knowing that I run better on such a surface, the 80km didn't seem to be too "out there" either. My only concern was that a cold had settled in my upper lungs. It didn't seem to bother my breathing but it was just "there" making me cough when I least expected it.
The morning of the race I was woke up nervous and as usual, I hadn't sleep very well. One day, I really need to figure out a way to get a good night's sleep before a race! I'd taken a variety of clothes to wear (although I have no idea why - again, the temperature and overall climate would be consistent in the dome) but I was chilled so I threw on running capris and a tank top. I figured for sure I'd overheat at some point but right now my legs were happy with my decision. We (a running friend who was in the 24 hour race and another running friend who was there to crew for four women - poor guy!) made it to the dome with time to spare. We quickly got our aid table set up and before we knew it, the race director was calling the racers over. The starter "conch shell" went off and away we went!!Just a small issue arose after the first corner of the track. It was the start for the 24 hour race. Not the 12 hour race. Apparently, I had printed off an older version of the guidance notes when the 24 hour and 12 hour race started at the same time. This year, they had changed it so that the start times were all staggered by one hour. I chalked it up as a warm-up jog and left the track....
Actually having the extra hour worked out great. I was able to mentally get focused for this race which was one area that seemed to be missing out of my race plans all year. I changed into shorts, I visualized the turns, I decided that I'd take a bathroom break every hour, I got my mp3 player ready....it was a really LONG hour...
I was so darn ready to get going by 9 a.m.! The 24 hour participants had been going by for nearly an hour and I was chomping at the bit! A quick photo shoot of the 12 hour participants and then the conch shell announced the beginning of the 12 hour race! We were off...finally!
Now many runners, whether road or trail, will tell you that running a track is incredibly difficult mentally. Let's face it, you see the same things around and around and around for quite a long period of time. It can get boring. It can get monotonous. And eventually, as I found out, it can hurt. A lot. But running the track taught me a lot about self-discipline and getting through the mental game. Obviously there are no hills or technical areas that will naturally slow you down, so you have to really pay attention to your body and the clock. I didn't think I was running fast until my crew member Ken was pushing out his hands at the aid station reminding me to slow down. After all, I did have to get through 12 hours. It was hard to ignore the extremely LARGE digital clock on the wall of the dome but I did manage it. I was able to have some cool conversations with people I'd never met or never had a chance to really speak with before. I really did try to make it fun for myself and it seemed to work. Earlier in the season, I mentioned that I don't smile much during a race. Well, I can honestly say that I did during this one. I just felt mentally prepared and "together".
The first six or seven hours of the race actually went very well. I was off my mark for reaching 80km by only two or three kms and I was certain I could make that up. I wasn't tired, winded, and I was doing everything correctly. My cold didn't seem to be bothering to much either. I was drinking enough, I was snacking and eating (using a new nutrition program that I LOVE), and I was still smiling and joking with people. I knew, by far, this was the best race I had been in. And then (because you know something had to happen) my left groin started to hurt. From there it was downhill (without the hills). My left ankle began to swell and I kept stopping to loosen my left shoe laces. The tendons behind both my knees began to ache. By the beginning of the eighth hour to the last lap of the race, I walked. This wasn't part of my overall race plan but there was no way I was leaving the track early either; I finished the race.
I finished with a distance of 71.6km. If my Dad were still here he would have asked what happened to the last 400m - that was my first thought when I saw my distance! All in all, I'm quite pleased with the race. It exceeded my personal goal, is the farthest I've gone to date, and it wasn't so far off the goal of 80km. I know if it hadn't been for my injuries, I could have absolutely met that 80km goal.
After physio today, I learned that I've done a number on my legs, especially my left one. Happily, it has less to do with my training and far more to do with going around, bearing left, for over seven hours. My groin is healing fine. However, the ligaments behind my knees are still swollen and they will be for another few days. They are "over-used" and need lots of time to heal (no running for three weeks!!! Noooooooo). My left ankle is actually the worse off because it took the brunt of the work from my left groin and knee. The physiotherapist thinks the entire top of my foot as well as around my ankle will bruise significantly. Can't wait to take a picture of THAT!
Oddly though, the race result and even the injuries have motivated me even more than ever. I feel like a runner. I feel like an ultra runner! My winter is going be filled with core and strength training as well as running. I know I can get better, stronger, and faster. I want to get smarter at this too. I started running to show my kids (and remind myself) that if you keep you eye on your goal, you can achieve anything. That's what I'm proving to myself and it's worth every moment!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
"Helluvamudbath" aka Haliburton Forest Trail Runs
Ever since last fall when I ran 26K at the Haliburton Forest Trail Runs, I've been dreaming about completing the 50K this year. I have no idea why other than as soon as I sat down with my kids and friends last year after the run, I decided that 50K was attainable. Which in retrospect is quite amusing considering I hurt my IT Band and hadn't trained very much. But the weather last year, oh the weather, was absolutely perfect.
365 days later.....
I was so pumped up for this year's 50K race at Haliburton. I'm not sure what it is about this race but regardless of my personal ups and downs or doubts or questions around my training, I got really excited about this race. I achieved 56K last month in a timed-event and was ecstatic about that. This race, however, was a 50K event; I had a specific distance to achieve.
Although I certainly didn't train as hard as I did for Dirty Girls, I had a base to work with and some long runs under my belt since I completed 56K. Physically I felt great - my runner's knee was almost gone, my endurance was amazing finally, and I had been eating well. Just like Dirty Girls though, my mental preparedness was weak and I really need to work on that. Funny how you go through so much physical training but tend to skip out on the mental training. And its one of the aspects of ultras that seasoned veterans will instill on you. At some point during a race or even a long run, you are talking to yourself about why you shouldn't stop, how to keep moving, and not to give up. Ok, I do anyway! The other part of that equation is that life is going to throw unexpected hurdles at your everyday stress levels regardless so its best to be as mentally prepared for getting through those too.
We woke on Saturday morning to pouring rain and cool temperatures. Luckily, I had prepared my running clothes in advance and felt confident in what I had chosen to wear; running capris, long shirt, rain jacket, and my Saucony Progrid Razors which have an attached, zipped gator. In retrospect, it didn't matter what shoes anyone wore. Our collective feet were going to get wet and muddy FAST. The one item I didn't have was a hat because hats force me to overheat and I rarely even wear one in the winter. This meant that the torrential downpours and high-wind water sheer was hitting my face or dripping down from my head most of the day!
I also wore my first hydration pack for this race and I can honestly say that I can't believe I waited this long to get one! I've run with a waist pack and with handhelds but a hydration pack for me works the best. I still have difficulty running and drinking from a handheld at the same time. I'm just not that coordinated! But the hydration pack allows for easy sips and my new pack has lots of very handy compartments within easy reach.
The pre-race line up begins with being "piped-in" to the start line...a very cool tradition and after hearing it last year from a trailer, it was pretty neat to be actually following the Bagpiper this year for the 6 a.m. start. The first 12-15kms I got through with a later time than I wanted but still within reason. Considering the weather and the MUD (I'm still not 100% sure it was mud but a dirt equivalent to sludge), I was happy with my time. After that though, I slugged through the course with soaking wet clothes, wet feet, and wet shoes. The mud was runny and slippery and it was the downhills that became dangerous (again at least for me) in some spots. I was thrilled to hit the 50km turnaround and then sheer dread set in. I had to run the same distance back.
Not long before I hit Aid Station #4 (about 34 km) on my return, I was once again contemplating not finishing. I was feeling exhausted, my ankles were starting to bother me from dodging around pools of water, mud, and oh yes, those downhills. Again, the mental factor kicked in. I kept telling myself that my kids were expecting me to text them that I'd met my goal. That once I finished I could crawl into dry clothes and sleep. Anything to keep me going! Once I got to the Aid Station though, a whole crowd of smiling, supportive faces met me and they urged me that 16 kms really wasn't that bad in the grand scheme of things; I could certainly walk it. So I sucked it up and kept going!
By the time I hit the next aid station, I was starving and this has never happened to me before. I had run out of food that I stashed in my pack. The fact is I hadn't counted on aid stations being so far apart. I simply didn't make good calculations about what I needed. I pigged out at the aid station and grabbed hot water. I still had 12 kms to go and most of that was around a lake. Between the previous aid stations, the sun had actually made a brief appearance and I was drying out. I started to speed-walk and got into a comfortable rhythm. And then the skies opened up again, the wind picked up, and the temps dropped. It was worse than the morning had been! At this point in the run though there is only one way to get back to the start/finish line - so DNFing really isn't an option.
Two more aid stations and I grabbed salty beef broth and more hot water. I was soaking wet and I heard someone mention the words "drowned rat". I kept smiling though and wondered aloud if the medal should have the customary wolf or perhaps a duck on it this year. At least my mood wasn't completely low!
By the 2K mark to the finish I got my usual burst of "almost done" energy. I have no idea where this energy comes from or how to harness it, but it exists. By the time I got to 800m from the finish line I was in a full out sprint. Which in hindsight probably just looked like a faster-than-fast walk but it felt like a sprint!
As soon as my medal went around my neck I knew what I was going to do first. I texted my kids from my car right away - Mom finished what she set out to do!
365 days later.....
I was so pumped up for this year's 50K race at Haliburton. I'm not sure what it is about this race but regardless of my personal ups and downs or doubts or questions around my training, I got really excited about this race. I achieved 56K last month in a timed-event and was ecstatic about that. This race, however, was a 50K event; I had a specific distance to achieve.
Although I certainly didn't train as hard as I did for Dirty Girls, I had a base to work with and some long runs under my belt since I completed 56K. Physically I felt great - my runner's knee was almost gone, my endurance was amazing finally, and I had been eating well. Just like Dirty Girls though, my mental preparedness was weak and I really need to work on that. Funny how you go through so much physical training but tend to skip out on the mental training. And its one of the aspects of ultras that seasoned veterans will instill on you. At some point during a race or even a long run, you are talking to yourself about why you shouldn't stop, how to keep moving, and not to give up. Ok, I do anyway! The other part of that equation is that life is going to throw unexpected hurdles at your everyday stress levels regardless so its best to be as mentally prepared for getting through those too.
We woke on Saturday morning to pouring rain and cool temperatures. Luckily, I had prepared my running clothes in advance and felt confident in what I had chosen to wear; running capris, long shirt, rain jacket, and my Saucony Progrid Razors which have an attached, zipped gator. In retrospect, it didn't matter what shoes anyone wore. Our collective feet were going to get wet and muddy FAST. The one item I didn't have was a hat because hats force me to overheat and I rarely even wear one in the winter. This meant that the torrential downpours and high-wind water sheer was hitting my face or dripping down from my head most of the day!
I also wore my first hydration pack for this race and I can honestly say that I can't believe I waited this long to get one! I've run with a waist pack and with handhelds but a hydration pack for me works the best. I still have difficulty running and drinking from a handheld at the same time. I'm just not that coordinated! But the hydration pack allows for easy sips and my new pack has lots of very handy compartments within easy reach.
The pre-race line up begins with being "piped-in" to the start line...a very cool tradition and after hearing it last year from a trailer, it was pretty neat to be actually following the Bagpiper this year for the 6 a.m. start. The first 12-15kms I got through with a later time than I wanted but still within reason. Considering the weather and the MUD (I'm still not 100% sure it was mud but a dirt equivalent to sludge), I was happy with my time. After that though, I slugged through the course with soaking wet clothes, wet feet, and wet shoes. The mud was runny and slippery and it was the downhills that became dangerous (again at least for me) in some spots. I was thrilled to hit the 50km turnaround and then sheer dread set in. I had to run the same distance back.
Not long before I hit Aid Station #4 (about 34 km) on my return, I was once again contemplating not finishing. I was feeling exhausted, my ankles were starting to bother me from dodging around pools of water, mud, and oh yes, those downhills. Again, the mental factor kicked in. I kept telling myself that my kids were expecting me to text them that I'd met my goal. That once I finished I could crawl into dry clothes and sleep. Anything to keep me going! Once I got to the Aid Station though, a whole crowd of smiling, supportive faces met me and they urged me that 16 kms really wasn't that bad in the grand scheme of things; I could certainly walk it. So I sucked it up and kept going!
By the time I hit the next aid station, I was starving and this has never happened to me before. I had run out of food that I stashed in my pack. The fact is I hadn't counted on aid stations being so far apart. I simply didn't make good calculations about what I needed. I pigged out at the aid station and grabbed hot water. I still had 12 kms to go and most of that was around a lake. Between the previous aid stations, the sun had actually made a brief appearance and I was drying out. I started to speed-walk and got into a comfortable rhythm. And then the skies opened up again, the wind picked up, and the temps dropped. It was worse than the morning had been! At this point in the run though there is only one way to get back to the start/finish line - so DNFing really isn't an option.
Two more aid stations and I grabbed salty beef broth and more hot water. I was soaking wet and I heard someone mention the words "drowned rat". I kept smiling though and wondered aloud if the medal should have the customary wolf or perhaps a duck on it this year. At least my mood wasn't completely low!
By the 2K mark to the finish I got my usual burst of "almost done" energy. I have no idea where this energy comes from or how to harness it, but it exists. By the time I got to 800m from the finish line I was in a full out sprint. Which in hindsight probably just looked like a faster-than-fast walk but it felt like a sprint!
As soon as my medal went around my neck I knew what I was going to do first. I texted my kids from my car right away - Mom finished what she set out to do!
Monday, August 13, 2012
I DID IT!
You reach a stage in your life when "firsts" don't happen as frequently as they used to. You need to make specific goals in order to get those firsts rather than rely on the momentum of life to get you there. (i.e. your first kiss vs. your first 10k).
Well, yesterday morning at around 6:15 a.m., I did it. I got to my goal of 50+ kms in a registered event. I actually completed 56 kms in total - a first for me! That is the furthest that these legs have ever taken me before. I knew I could succeed at Dirty Girls and I did just that. I ran/walked seven 8 km loops! I didn't have a crew, no one helped me, and I didn't have a pacer (which wasn't allowed anyway for the 12 hour race). I did the entire race by myself.
I prepared well for this race. I ran. A lot. I ate the right way - no junk. I still have a problem drinking as much as I should but I did OK. (Water people, w-a-t-e-r!).
I'm going to be honest here; it was hard. Besides childbirth, it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I was mentally and emotionally fragile before the race. I wasn't sure I had trained enough. But the added stress of a full "night run" really kicked in. Running at night, even with flashlights, is not the same as running during the day.
Case in point, I fell twice during the first three loops. And not just one of those "oops, I tripped but regained my balance before I actually landed" kind of falls. We're talking full on hit the dirt with every part of my body. I was actually lucky during both falls. I landed on my left side first and my right side second. No scraped knees or major cuts. My upper left arm, which took the brunt of the first fall, is sore today. And my right knee is pretty swollen. After the last fall though I scared myself because I was completely alone. I decided that running was probably not a good idea until I hit the road portions of the race. Looking back it was probably one of the smartest moves I made. I fell on my right side and left side so the next fall would have probably been a face plant!
After my falls, I slowed way down. I had twelve hours to get to 56 kms so there was no rush. And if I really injured myself then getting to the goal would have been jeopardized. The 8km loop is a real mix of nicely flat, runnable sections with a few (ha!) rooty sections to force you to focus on what you are doing. There are at least two "swearable" hills to climb. The last major one called "A Runner's Pain" is just that. It starts out as a nice, meandering climb and then turns into the steep end of hell. I hated it but loved it too because I knew once I got to the top of that hill that I was only about 2 1/2 kms away from the start/finish. It's a great motivator!
Although the second and third loops had my falls, I would have to say that the fifth and sixth loop were the most mentally challenging for me. I was tired. I was hungry but nothing seemed appetizing. I was mentally drained. Funny thing though because as my brain was pointing out all the reasons to stop, my body just kept going. It simply over-rode all the negativity and just kept moving. There's something to be said for kicking on "autopilot". Around the same time I looked up through the trees and was shocked. The stars were out. The moon had begun to rise and there was some light in the forest. It had rained nearly non-stop for 48 hours before the 12 hour race and now it was clear and breathtakingly beautiful.
By the time I finished my last and final loop, the world was waking up. Unlike other races, there wasn't anyone at the finish line to hug me or take a photo - my kids stayed behind with my parents. But the race director was there with a ton of support and good wishes! It was a rather surreal moment. Part of me wanted to squeal with delight and the other half wanted to fall down and sleep. Part of me wanted to run around yelling "look at me! look at me!" and another was already mapping out the drive home to bed.
I will tell you this; such a huge allotment of time alone gives one an opportunity to think about a lot of things:
a) You know the whole "if a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?" question. Well, I'm pretty sure I answered it. When I fell, I heard the "oof" come out of my mouth. Pretty darn sure that a tree makes a lot more noise though.
b) Roots are a LOT bigger at night than during the day. They stick out a lot higher too. Not sure if they are trying to trap objects for consumption but I swear they melt back into the ground as soon as the sun rises.
c) Never, and I mean, never lift your white water bottle to your mouth so that your headlamp shines off of it. Instant blindness. Only took me about 8 or 10 times to remember this.
d) The one nice thing about starting a race so far behind the 24 and 48 hour races is that you actually pass people. Damn it, but that feels really good for a change!
e) Leaves hold a great deal of rain water. A slight breeze can bring what feels like a short shower even hours after a rainfall, so you know those leaves are holding a LOT of water!
I love the Dirty Girls race. There are many participants but the race feels small. The support is just amazing! Everyone from Diane Chesla, the race director, to all the volunteers are so welcoming and incredibly kind. I like it because you know what to expect; it's a consistent race. The trails are well-marked, the condition of the trail is awesome (even with all the rain we had), and the aid stations are fully stocked with everything one could want.
So what's next? I have one more race for the 2012 season. I'm starting to dread fall! I am doing the 50 km race at the Haliburton Forest Trail Race. After that, I may try and find some smallish road races to carry me through to spring. I think I'll try and join a running group over the winter too - it would be good to run with people who will push me hard. For now though, I have less than four weeks to get ready for another 50 km!
Well, yesterday morning at around 6:15 a.m., I did it. I got to my goal of 50+ kms in a registered event. I actually completed 56 kms in total - a first for me! That is the furthest that these legs have ever taken me before. I knew I could succeed at Dirty Girls and I did just that. I ran/walked seven 8 km loops! I didn't have a crew, no one helped me, and I didn't have a pacer (which wasn't allowed anyway for the 12 hour race). I did the entire race by myself.
I prepared well for this race. I ran. A lot. I ate the right way - no junk. I still have a problem drinking as much as I should but I did OK. (Water people, w-a-t-e-r!).
I'm going to be honest here; it was hard. Besides childbirth, it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I was mentally and emotionally fragile before the race. I wasn't sure I had trained enough. But the added stress of a full "night run" really kicked in. Running at night, even with flashlights, is not the same as running during the day.
Case in point, I fell twice during the first three loops. And not just one of those "oops, I tripped but regained my balance before I actually landed" kind of falls. We're talking full on hit the dirt with every part of my body. I was actually lucky during both falls. I landed on my left side first and my right side second. No scraped knees or major cuts. My upper left arm, which took the brunt of the first fall, is sore today. And my right knee is pretty swollen. After the last fall though I scared myself because I was completely alone. I decided that running was probably not a good idea until I hit the road portions of the race. Looking back it was probably one of the smartest moves I made. I fell on my right side and left side so the next fall would have probably been a face plant!
After my falls, I slowed way down. I had twelve hours to get to 56 kms so there was no rush. And if I really injured myself then getting to the goal would have been jeopardized. The 8km loop is a real mix of nicely flat, runnable sections with a few (ha!) rooty sections to force you to focus on what you are doing. There are at least two "swearable" hills to climb. The last major one called "A Runner's Pain" is just that. It starts out as a nice, meandering climb and then turns into the steep end of hell. I hated it but loved it too because I knew once I got to the top of that hill that I was only about 2 1/2 kms away from the start/finish. It's a great motivator!
Although the second and third loops had my falls, I would have to say that the fifth and sixth loop were the most mentally challenging for me. I was tired. I was hungry but nothing seemed appetizing. I was mentally drained. Funny thing though because as my brain was pointing out all the reasons to stop, my body just kept going. It simply over-rode all the negativity and just kept moving. There's something to be said for kicking on "autopilot". Around the same time I looked up through the trees and was shocked. The stars were out. The moon had begun to rise and there was some light in the forest. It had rained nearly non-stop for 48 hours before the 12 hour race and now it was clear and breathtakingly beautiful.
By the time I finished my last and final loop, the world was waking up. Unlike other races, there wasn't anyone at the finish line to hug me or take a photo - my kids stayed behind with my parents. But the race director was there with a ton of support and good wishes! It was a rather surreal moment. Part of me wanted to squeal with delight and the other half wanted to fall down and sleep. Part of me wanted to run around yelling "look at me! look at me!" and another was already mapping out the drive home to bed.
I will tell you this; such a huge allotment of time alone gives one an opportunity to think about a lot of things:
a) You know the whole "if a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?" question. Well, I'm pretty sure I answered it. When I fell, I heard the "oof" come out of my mouth. Pretty darn sure that a tree makes a lot more noise though.
b) Roots are a LOT bigger at night than during the day. They stick out a lot higher too. Not sure if they are trying to trap objects for consumption but I swear they melt back into the ground as soon as the sun rises.
c) Never, and I mean, never lift your white water bottle to your mouth so that your headlamp shines off of it. Instant blindness. Only took me about 8 or 10 times to remember this.
d) The one nice thing about starting a race so far behind the 24 and 48 hour races is that you actually pass people. Damn it, but that feels really good for a change!
e) Leaves hold a great deal of rain water. A slight breeze can bring what feels like a short shower even hours after a rainfall, so you know those leaves are holding a LOT of water!
I love the Dirty Girls race. There are many participants but the race feels small. The support is just amazing! Everyone from Diane Chesla, the race director, to all the volunteers are so welcoming and incredibly kind. I like it because you know what to expect; it's a consistent race. The trails are well-marked, the condition of the trail is awesome (even with all the rain we had), and the aid stations are fully stocked with everything one could want.
So what's next? I have one more race for the 2012 season. I'm starting to dread fall! I am doing the 50 km race at the Haliburton Forest Trail Race. After that, I may try and find some smallish road races to carry me through to spring. I think I'll try and join a running group over the winter too - it would be good to run with people who will push me hard. For now though, I have less than four weeks to get ready for another 50 km!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)