Where: Supersecret Delaware Course location<br>
What- Team Slug nonevent (fat-ass) 50K featuring 10 3.2+mile loops<br>
Who-Vetern Slugs and crazy fools alike<br><br>
As the website promises only stale bread and pond water are supplied, blind squirrels, man-eating deer, and ankle grabbing roots are at every turn.<br><br>
The Set-up:<br><br>
Woke up Saturday and got ready for the race. At some breakfast and SO turtle and I headed out to the park for the nonevent. We arrived quite early giving me time to catch up with slugs and possible slugs. This 50K is nice and relaxed, so there was lots of joking and banter. The gates opened to the park and the slugs made entry, staking out the territory for the aid station.<br>
We unloaded all the goodies and we all signed it with the nonevent RD, who happens to be one of my closest friends. We gave out the course description (run with the pond on your left) and all walked up to the trail entry point. With that, Da' Hitman told us to start and we were off. I took up my usual position in the back of the pack and was running with Two Slugs, who were taking it easy that day. I stayed with them for a bit, but let them move on so I could settle into my pace. My spoken goal was a 7:10, but I had a supersecret goal of under 7 hours for myself.<br>
I came around after the first loop and the RD informed me I was "moving pretty speedy". I grabbed a few m&ms and set out back on the trail. My second loop was pretty fast as well and I was feeling really good about the whole day. I started loop 3 and was running with a guy and his wife, who wanted to pace him. He was nursing some injuries so was taking his time. While I enjoyed running and chatting with them, I really wanted to focus on working towards my goal and moved on. I started to get lapped by the front runners on this loop and everyone was very nice and encouraging. I caught up to Sluggette who was walking a few loops, despite a nagging neck injury and we came into the aid station together. I came around to the aid station still on pace and grabbed some peanut butter crackers, a new water bottle, and some electrolyte tabs. Durt met up with me at the aid station (he was lapping me) and we walked out to the top of the trail together. He went along his way, although he was nursing a rolled ankle and trying to keep on his pace. 4th loop went along as planned and I was making good time. I got back to the aid station feeling very good, ate some more food and hit the trail to make it to the halfway point. I blazed through my 5th loop, and was well under my projected time for a 7:10 finish. I hit the road on the 6th loop and decided to walk this one a bit more in order to be ready for a strong finish. Famed Slug The All-Nighter caught up with me while I was walking and spent this loop walking through the trails talking of all sort of things. He told me about his attempt at Badwater this year, how strange it is that Ultras are filling up so fast and then we shuffled into the aid station at a good clip. That loop was refreshing for me legs so I set out on the last 4 loops feeling good. I had some Coke at the aid station and some more crackers and cookies. I was ready to go. In the midst of my 7th loop Mark Crisman, who went on to win the 50K overall passed me again and finished with a strong time of 4:16. He was very encouraging and stuck around until I finished. Also during Lap 7 I caught up with the All-Nighter again and we shuffled through the last half of the loop together. I came out of the aid station ready to go and was well on my way during loop 8. My legs were feeling a bit sore, but the Advil I took in the aid station was taking effect halfway through the loop.<br>
I got back for loop 9 and just wanted some Coke at the aid station. I sucked it and some water down, more electrolytes and m&ms. I was out of the aid station quick, so as not to let me legs cramp up. I moved through the 9th loop at a good clip and by the time I made it back to the aid station, there was a bit of a crowd. Durt decided to come out and pace me on my last loop, which really helped. We talked a bit, I talked to myself just to keep things going. I had the loops broken up into sections by land marks and knew if I made it a certain spot at a certain time, I was going to be under 7 hours. One I got to the spot and realized that it was within my reach, I told Durt I was just going to roll it in, so as not to hurt myself. I made it in at 6:56, a 50K PR for me by almost 34 minutes and I won "Crazy Horse" again, which is given to the last finisher. It was a great feeling to know that I was able to do that. All of the weeks of long runs and some speedwork had paid off. I felt really great and everyone was so excited for me. It was a good day.<br>
Afterwards, Mr. Turtle and I went out to dinner with some of his family for yummy Italian food. We then headed over Durt's house for Oktoberfest, where Durt and his DW fed me some beer and we talked for a couple of hours. All in all a great day and night.
