Notes
Although I was 10 minutes slower than last year this race felt like a win, at least given my current fitness. I stayed steady the whole time. Kept HR up in the zone and wheels turning nice and consistent. Looking at Strava there was some fall off but not much. In my mind I was thinking I want to feel like I could run this all day and night like a hundred miler. When we past Horton one runner quoted him, "pain is inevitable but suffering is optional". That's how I felt all day long, it hurt but I stayed really positive most of the day. Had those short moments but really kept it in check and chugging away.
Nutrition: Ate well the night before. Burger, mashed cauliflower and baked sweet potato with sour cream. Also stopped at Burger King on the way down for a double cheeseburger. For breakfast I had coffee and 2 cliff bars and 2 bananas. Bottle starting had 3 scoops of Tailwind. Drank a bottle of Tailwind between each aid station, 4 miles here a Holiday Lake. On the watch I just kept it on HR and duration. That's all I needed. Didn't even think about distance just ran aid station to aid station. If the bottle was getting low I knew I must be close.
At the half way camp aid station and the second to last aid station I took 400mg of ibuprofen. I could have used it a little earlier than halfway but that aid station did not have it. Just a little tight in the hips as usual. This did help to relieve that.
Literally all I wore for this was last years HL finishers shirt, compression boxers and running shorts. Lone Peak shoes with bighorn drymax socks. Weather was warm and the HL shirt is perfect because when it gets hot just pull up sleeves. Just took one water bottle and it was perfect. Got me between aid stations perfect.
HR: tried to stay at or below MAF but I let myself get up in the low 150s if I needed to pass slower runners or needed it for periods. Looking at averages I averaged about 140 for most miles, but the majority was just over MAF. I thought I ran well within myself but looking at the HR data it was a solid effort. I realistically didn't have much more in me at this point in my training.
Car camping worked great. The preparation before really helped here. I had my bed setup so once I got there all I had to do was jump in the back, take off shoes and go to sleep. When I woke up everything was in my bag ready to go, got dressed, pinned on bib and just ran. Weather was great too. Low was only about 35 and no wind, full moon so plenty of light. Took a flash light on the run and dropped at first aid station. For this race you only need about 15 minutes worth of light, but you need a light on that little section of rooted single track.
Speaking of which I hit my toe on roots so many times. This course lulls you into a sense of comfort and then bam a root. I think that is why there is always a good best blood here.
So to conclude very happy with this start to the season. Just build the base with some strength and hills and such and should be good to go.