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<p>Glacier Trail 50k</p>
<p>10.10.10 Greenbush, WI</p>
<p> </p>
<p>4:43:13 - 50k</p>
<p>7th OA (92 were pre-registered)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It has long been a goal of mine to transition to the longer races once I feel like I've peaked in the marathon. Turning 40 a few days ago gave me a good excuse to finally start exploring ultramarathons. Unfortunately, my run training since Boston has been piss-poor. Up until IMMoo my longest run had been the half-mary during IM Racine 70.3. But I have a long and storied history of doing really dumb things and this was a chance to prove that although I turned 40 I really haven't grown up all that much.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The race was about 3 hours north of my house with a 7 am starting time, so I was up about 2 am in order to get out the door. But to make up for it, I really didn't get any sleep before I had to leave. Made it to the race site courtesy of a 15 min power-nap along the way. Picked up my race number and a sweet fleece half-zip pull-over with the race logo embroidered on the front. Got into the truck and got another 30 min nap and then headed indoors for the final minutes of the race instructions. With no warm-up, I wandered to the start line and the race director counted 'Three, Two, One, Start!'. I love the informality of trail runs, especially ultras. There is just a different vibe, one that reminds me of the small races I did in Fairbanks.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I started middle of the pack and slowly worked my way towards the front. The 50 mile racers had started an hour earlier in the dark. I almost work a running jacket but was certainly glad later in the day that I didn't. I did end up going with my neon yellow Boston Marathon long sleeve tech shirt and was happy about that decision as it is hunting season in Wisconsin and I was hearing gun fire all day.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The race went for about half a mile on the pavement and then moved onto a local trail. After about 2 miles we entered the Ice Age trail and stayed on that trail until we returned to the start. It was an out-and-back course, so once we hit the turn around we would see the entire race field. The ice again trail is constant up and down with very little flat. The trail is littered with rocks and roots and with fall coming to this part of the country, those were covered up with leaves, making the trail quite treacherous. About 4 miles into the race my foot caught either a rock or root and I went down pretty hard on my right shoulder. That shoulder has been irritated during swimming and would give me problems for the rest of the day. I also discovered a few minutes later that my Oakleys, which for some reason I had on my running ballcap, were gone.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I moved through the field pretty consistently and by about half way to the turn-around I was told I was in 7th place. A few miles later, I had moved into 4th, but I took some time at one of the aid stations and moved back into 7th. A mile or two before the turn-around I started to fall back from the group of three guys I was running with and soon lost sight of them. At the turn-around, they were about 30 sec in front of me. The next guy behind me I passed about a mile after the turn-around, which meant he was 2 miles behind me. The way I was feeling, I was pretty sure he would catch me. I hit the turn around in about 2:03.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Very quickly my lack of training came back to bite me and the race turned into a death march. I started watching my Garmin constantly and told myself that as soon as I was passed, I could start walking. I wasn't taking in enough calories or fluids, I had only drank about half of a bottle of Powerade at the half-way mark. I started to try and take more in at the aid stations, which also gave me a bit of a rest. Still no one had passed me yet.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>With around 4 miles to go I lost the trail. I came out at a parking area and asked someone where I was supposed to go, they told me they had no idea and I realized I was off-course. I backtracked about a quarter of a mile and found the trail again. At this point I kinda thought that at least a few people had passed me given the pace I was running at. I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other. About two dozen times during the race I stubbed my right foot on a rock in the trail and almost went down. Twice I did go down, both times landing on my right shoulder. I finally hit the side trail that led back to town and still hadn't been passed. With about two miles to go and a smooth trail I was able to pick up the pace and finish decently. The next finisher didn't show up for over a minute, so apparently I wasn't the only one who slowed down.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Post-race I got handed a nice cup as the 7th place male and took advantage of the spread of chili, sandwiches, soda and beer. I cleaned up a bit, thanked the race director and headed home. Although I had some difficulties during this race and I'm going to be sore for a few day, I definitely want to find time in my schedule for some more ultra trail races.</p>
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<div>
<p>Glacier Trail 50k</p>
<p>10.10.10 Greenbush, WI</p>
<p> </p>
<p>4:43:13 - 50k</p>
<p>7th OA (92 were pre-registered)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It has long been a goal of mine to transition to the longer races once I feel like I've peaked in the marathon. Turning 40 a few days ago gave me a good excuse to finally start exploring ultramarathons. Unfortunately, my run training since Boston has been piss-poor. Up until IMMoo my longest run had been the half-mary during IM Racine 70.3. But I have a long and storied history of doing really dumb things and this was a chance to prove that although I turned 40 I really haven't grown up all that much.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The race was about 3 hours north of my house with a 7 am starting time, so I was up about 2 am in order to get out the door. But to make up for it, I really didn't get any sleep before I had to leave. Made it to the race site courtesy of a 15 min power-nap along the way. Picked up my race number and a sweet fleece half-zip pull-over with the race logo embroidered on the front. Got into the truck and got another 30 min nap and then headed indoors for the final minutes of the race instructions. With no warm-up, I wandered to the start line and the race director counted 'Three, Two, One, Start!'. I love the informality of trail runs, especially ultras. There is just a different vibe, one that reminds me of the small races I did in Fairbanks.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I started middle of the pack and slowly worked my way towards the front. The 50 mile racers had started an hour earlier in the dark. I almost work a running jacket but was certainly glad later in the day that I didn't. I did end up going with my neon yellow Boston Marathon long sleeve tech shirt and was happy about that decision as it is hunting season in Wisconsin and I was hearing gun fire all day.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The race went for about half a mile on the pavement and then moved onto a local trail. After about 2 miles we entered the Ice Age trail and stayed on that trail until we returned to the start. It was an out-and-back course, so once we hit the turn around we would see the entire race field. The ice again trail is constant up and down with very little flat. The trail is littered with rocks and roots and with fall coming to this part of the country, those were covered up with leaves, making the trail quite treacherous. About 4 miles into the race my foot caught either a rock or root and I went down pretty hard on my right shoulder. That shoulder has been irritated during swimming and would give me problems for the rest of the day. I also discovered a few minutes later that my Oakleys, which for some reason I had on my running ballcap, were gone.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I moved through the field pretty consistently and by about half way to the turn-around I was told I was in 7th place. A few miles later, I had moved into 4th, but I took some time at one of the aid stations and moved back into 7th. A mile or two before the turn-around I started to fall back from the group of three guys I was running with and soon lost sight of them. At the turn-around, they were about 30 sec in front of me. The next guy behind me I passed about a mile after the turn-around, which meant he was 2 miles behind me. The way I was feeling, I was pretty sure he would catch me. I hit the turn around in about 2:03.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Very quickly my lack of training came back to bite me and the race turned into a death march. I started watching my Garmin constantly and told myself that as soon as I was passed, I could start walking. I wasn't taking in enough calories or fluids, I had only drank about half of a bottle of Powerade at the half-way mark. I started to try and take more in at the aid stations, which also gave me a bit of a rest. Still no one had passed me yet.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>With around 4 miles to go I lost the trail. I came out at a parking area and asked someone where I was supposed to go, they told me they had no idea and I realized I was off-course. I backtracked about a quarter of a mile and found the trail again. At this point I kinda thought that at least a few people had passed me given the pace I was running at. I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other. About two dozen times during the race I stubbed my right foot on a rock in the trail and almost went down. Twice I did go down, both times landing on my right shoulder. I finally hit the side trail that led back to town and still hadn't been passed. With about two miles to go and a smooth trail I was able to pick up the pace and finish decently. The next finisher didn't show up for over a minute, so apparently I wasn't the only one who slowed down.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Post-race I got handed a nice cup as the 7th place male and took advantage of the spread of chili, sandwiches, soda and beer. I cleaned up a bit, thanked the race director and headed home. Although I had some difficulties during this race and I'm going to be sore for a few day, I definitely want to find time in my schedule for some more ultra trail races.</p>
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