Bacon Party!
This was my first 50-mile event – a training run on my way to 100.
Preparation
I had this race worked into a training plan that built up to the Umstead 100 at the end of March, 2010. Oddly enough, this plan did NOT include spraining my ankle during the HUFF 50K in mid-December.
With but two long-ish run/walks and a handful of single miles, I arrived in Huntsville woefully undertrained and totally unsure of my ankle's ability to carry me around the course.
My plan was to run the race if I could. Walk it if I couldn't run. And volunteer if I couldn't walk.
Loop 1
Gee, it feels great to run again! The ankle isn't 100% – it's not hurting, but I'm flat-footing. Look at me! Stepping lively over the rooty terrain. Expending more energy than I should at this stage; but, it's so much fun, I can't help it – this is why I run.
Loop 2
Ok, what happened? Now, every step hurts – it feels as if the soles of my feet have been paddled. I'm chafing in places I've never chafed before (but have lubed anyways). My little toe has been pinched into creating a nice blood blister (which I pull over to lance mid-loop). It's a long and ugly loop, but I refuse to give in to the darkness – I keep a smile on my face and push the pain to the corners of my mind.
Loop 3
Whoa! Now, I'm feeling inexplicably good. I'm grinning like an idiot and running most everything – or so it seems. Which is not to say that I "want" to run – I still have to command myself to. So, let's run!
Post-Race
Liz
pace sera, sera
Fun report to read, Buzzie, and great job, especially on that 3rd loop when you took a wrong turn! I guess at that point there's really not much choice but to find your way back and finish, huh? How much extra do you think you did?
It was fun reading the rport. The furthest I've done is a long 50k, and I don't know how everyone keeps going beyond that point. I admire you all.
Happy
Recently a friend of mine gave me some little colorful bottles of what I thought was face lotion- when I applied it to my skin it felt terrible but I thought it must be because I don't have those fine European sensitivities that are required in order to enjoy good lotions. After having walked around with the stuff on my face and feeling more and more like the skin turned crackly and stiff I rinsed it off and discovered that it foamed. Voila, when I read the bottle it clearly said BODY SOAP.
_
Runslikeagirl, Going beyond 50K is probably mostly a mental adjustment that one makes before the run starts. You know how the 50K feels so you know how to set yourself up for keeping some reserves untapped until after that point. I'm not saying that I know how to do it or that I can physically do it but I know I think I can - and that is the battle half won already. I also think YOU can.
Fun report to read, Buzzie, and great job, especially on that 3rd loop when you took a wrong turn! I guess at that point there's really not much choice but to find your way back and finish, huh? How much extra do you think you did? It was fun reading the rport. The furthest I've done is a long 50k, and I don't know how everyone keeps going beyond that point. I admire you all.
It looks like I did an extra half mile or so. Not very far, but at that point in the race it was a long way and a big mental let-down. I heard there was a group of 100-milers who did six extra miles fairly early on - ugh!
As for going beyond 50K, you just do it. The whole third loop was uncharted territory for me.
If this had been a 50K race, I would have been "done" at that point - spent and not wanting to go on. Instead, that endpoint just pushed itself further out to match the 50 miles.
Liz, your race report is awesome - you obviously had a good time and a great attitude that served you well. I laughed when I read about the conditioner/lotion switch up but I;m sure that's why you chafed. Ouch!
Thanks flower!
I'm sure the conditioner didn't help matters - perhaps more of a chemical reaction than real chafing (the post-race shower was uneventful).
Funny thing is, I don't even use conditioner! So, when I swiped that little hotel bottle many trips (possibly several years ago), I must have thought it was lotion even then.
Laughed out loud while reading your lotion/soap mix-up.
Finder of good newts
It's hard to look down if you don't go up