Seashore Nature Trail 50K ***OFFICIAL RACE REPORT***
As I had said before this is the 3rd straight year doing this 50K. Initially I was going to pass on the race so I could focus on next years marathon (last year my knee was jacked up after and barely ran all of January) but peer pressure is a ##### and 3 of my good buddies were running so what the hell. The downside was that I didn't have enough time (signed up at the end of October) for a proper build up for my long runs and only got a couple 15 milers and one 17. One positive was that my running had been very consistent since the beginning of September. Now, don't laugh but this is good for me...I peaked at around 40 miles a week and never got lower than 30. So fast forward to race week, I felt pretty healthy and rested. I was confident that I could at least run as well as last years 4:45 BUT I've cramped up pretty badly both previous years so that was definitely in back of my mind.
Going in, my friends and I are pretty evenly matched at this distance. Our PRs are all within a couple minutes of each other so the plan was to stick together early (run about a 8:45 average) and see where that would take us. Race starts and I notice that my good buddy says eff the plan and takes off like a bat outta hell...other friend gives chase....####...I start faster than want to as well. So 2 of my friends start at around a sub 8 pace and me and my slower buddy start at around 8 flat pace. Miles 2 and 3 I settle into a 8:30 pace start to chat it up with any and everyone in our vicinity. Always good to take your mind off the 30 miles left in the race.
Talking to a guy I've met a few races and he proceeds to tell me that he just ran a 3:04 marathon last month (one where he would have broken 3 hours had he not taken a #### break) and his mileage topped out a 90 to 100 miles. That's when a look over at my friend and say, "Suddenly I'm getting the feeling that we have no business running with this guy".
Around mile 5 one friend that started fast drops back with us and there's not a nice group of 4 of us running together. The BQ dumper takes off and there's only 3 of us and we sticking together. As we approach 10 miles negativity starts to creep in. I swear that marathons and longer distances are 90% mental the day of the race. You start to hyper analyze every ache and pain...the amount of spring left in your legs and it almost doesn't even matter how you're feeling at that moment, your mind projects how they are going to feel later in the race. It's such a mind #### and it does NOT help you run. So at about the 11 mile mark of the race, my 2 buddies slow at the aid station and I just keep going. I figure resting here will only make me want to rest more and there's only 6 more miles to bag drop/turnaround.
I'm maintaining around a low 8 minute pace on the flat sections and 8:45ish through the hilly trails. Get to the bag drop and grab some more blocks and some nuum tabs. I was relatively quick here as last year I pointlessly changed shirts and hat's and cost myself an extra 3 minutes or so. This year my mile split that included the stopping was still only 9:01.
Second half of the race I'm the mayor of lonelyville and basically run the whole thing sans any human contact. I was still clicking off sub 9 minute miles though and this was encouraging. I was starting to do the math in my head that if worse came to worse and I had to run 10 minute miles I could still approach a PR. I considered anything under 10 as money in the bank. Mile 22 and in my mind I've been telling myself that is where the unofficial start of the race is...A 3 mile trail that's has more hills and roots than anyone on the course. IF I can get through this section without any leg cramps, I should be in good shape for the last 10K. All is going well until almost the very end of the trail (still bouncing between sub 9 and just over 9) and my quads start to spasm. Oh ####...At this point I'm just going to try to be as positive as I can. I tell myself out loud that you're going to PR. Every mile that I'm still on pace I tell myself that I'm doing great and I'm not going to stop.
I get to the 26.2 sign (beyond this point you are a ultra marathoner) and check my watch I've just run a 3:49 marathon. More positive vibes. I keep grinding but my stride is way shorter as I'm worried that full extension will cause my hammys to seize. Miles 26-29 are all over 9 minutes but not by a lot. 2 miles left and I feel like I can make it without locking up and I try to pick it up and get just back under 9 minutes with a 8:55 and 8:53...last .27 at a 8:11 pace. Finished in 4:34:08 (22/234 and 7/40). Over a 11 minutes better than last year. I faded but nothing like last year. Through 16 miles I averaged 8:32 and the last 15:27 I averaged 9:01. I'll take it.
My buddies all ran great races as well. My friend who I just beat in a half marathon last month ran a 4:17! (32 minutes better than last year) The other guys ran a 4:42 (4 minute PR) and 5:03 (32 minutes better than last year) respectively.
It was great day and the beer flowed like the miles we ran the rest of the weekend. Good times.
