30 miles (plus 1 extra for good luck) on my 30th

I wanted to do something extreme on my 30^th birthday so I decided to run the Crystal Springs 50k.  A 50k is about 31 miles so 30 miles on my 30^th birthday with one for good luck sounded like a perfect idea.  This was a trail race out in Huddart Park in Woodside, CA with some massive elevation gain – 4,500’ feet and most of it was crammed into the first few miles of the race!! 

Leading up to this race, my training wasn’t really where I had wanted it to be.  It took me longer to recover from my 50 miler than I expected and we’ve had a brutal winter so far here in Chicago so I was lacking motivation to get outside and run.  I was doing plenty of treadmill runs, hitting the weights and even running the stairs but I was missing my long runs!!  I think before this race, the longest we went was like 12.5 miles, I knew we’d be able to survive but it probably wouldn’t be pretty but then again I always say running isn’t supposed to be pretty, well at least you’re not supposed to look all that good doing it but if you can hit the trails then you’ll definitely see something pretty.   

Since it was my 30^th birthday, Brady and I decided to make a mini vacation out of this race and would spend a few extra days in the San Francisco area.   Seeing whales in the wild is on my bucket list so we decided to take in a whale watching trip the day before the race.  That probably wasn’t the best idea, it was a long day and we were stuck on a boat – it was windy and freezing and the waves were huge, I wasn’t feeling so great but we did see a few whales so it was worth it :)  Plus being gone all day and traveling the day before, my nutrition and hydration was a bit sub-par especially since we needed to be fueled up for 31 miles!!! 

After looking at previous times and the elevation gain, we took a guess that this beast of a run would take us about 6 hours.   Driving to the race was quite scenic, through twisty roads and redwoods, I knew we were in for a real treat once we hit the trails.  It was a bit chilly in the morning so I decided to go with shorts, a long sleeve shirt and gloves.  Figured I could remove layers if it warmed up a bit. 

Mile 0 to King’s Mountain Aid Station (Mile 6.0)

We toed the invisible line in the grass with other runners and then we were off but we quickly came to a standstill as people made a sharp switchback turn to get onto the actual trail, for a while we were running in single file, right up against one another.  I thought to myself, are we gonna run like this for 30 miles?!?  We were on a single track so there wasn’t much space to maneuver so you were pretty much stuck where you were for the time being plus I didn’t really want to dart off during the 1^st mile because I knew I’d need my legs for all the elevation!!  The path finally widened and began to climb; I decided to go with a little pack.  I turned around and could see Brady behind me so knew he was in good shape.  I decided I’d run with this group for a little while and just kinda go with the flow.  We hit a steep uphill and those around me started to walk so I followed suit, I learned my lesson when I ran up Mt. Washington last June – walk those really steep sections, its more efficient than running and will save you energy, you don’t actually gain any time/speed on anyone if you try running it (at least I didn’t!).  This hill seemed to be unrelenting, we continued onward and upward and I picked up the pace when everyone else did.  I looked at my watch when we hit 3 miles and was shocked how slow I was moving, not sure I’ve ever ran that slow!!  I realized, this run is gonna take a long time!! 

 

Over the past few miles, I looked back several times hoping to catch a glimpse of Brady but he was nowhere to be found, I was somewhat concerned because the trail was pretty technical with lots of rocks, roots, etc so I was hoping he was still back there and hadn’t twisted an ankle or fallen off the side of a cliff.  I decided that I would wait for him at the first aid station.  I reached that first stop, filled my water bottle and chatted with the volunteers.  After about 5:00, Brady appeared.  He told me that he figured I would just go ahead and he was totally fine if I wanted to race the thing, I told him I wanted to make sure he was ok and that I wanted the two of us to enjoy some of the race together!!  He grabbed some snacks and we hit the trails. 

King’s Mountain Aid Station (Mile 6) to Bear Gulch Aid Station (Mile 11.7)

The next aid station was another 5-6 miles away so had to survive until then.  I wasn’t sure how to fuel for this race, should I base it off of distance or time?!?  I decided that I’d take some kinda fuel every 7-8 miles or so, so the night before I stuffed my bottle with some chewies and stinger gels.  Brady and I ran together for a little while along with a pack of a few guys.  Brady and I were running side by side and the next thing I know he’s on the ground laying on his back, guess the trail got the best of him and a tree root took him down, luckily he got right back up.  As soon as we hit the next incline, I was off, I ran with a few other guys for a bit – one of them told me to let him know when I wanted to get around him and that he was scared of me because he said me take that other guy down (i.e., Brady),  we all had a good laugh about that one.   Once the path smoothed out a bit and we hit a downhill / flat section, me and another guy decided to pick up the pace.  I wanted to push it on this “easy section” while we could, it felt good to open up my stride and move a little faster.  At this point, I was feeling pretty good and popped some chews around mile 7-8 to keep my energy levels up.  We cruised along for a while until we hit a few switchbacks, dang those are rough!!  Just back and forth, zig-zagging up the side of a hill.  I was starting to run out of energy at this point, my legs were feeling the elevation and I walked a few of the steeper sections.  I just wanted to make it to the next aid station which was around 11 miles.  We got there and I decided to wait for Brady again, I ate another handful of chewies and filled up my bottle again and had a few extra sips of water.   During my 30 mile training run leading up to my first ultra, I tried carrying my 20 oz water bottle but my arm was getting sore and cramping up so I was forced to carry my 10 ouncer, which just didn’t get it done!  Leading up to this race, I’d be hitting the weights (both upper body and legs) so I was feeling strong, this time around I carried that 20 ouncer with no problem and it was gonna pay off when I needed it.  Although I still think that I might need to try out carrying 2 bottles at once to get some extra fluids but that might be a bit much for me.   

 

Bear Gulch Aid Station (Mile 11.7) to Bear Gulch Aid Station (Mile 20.6) 

It was drizzling a little bit and I was starting to get chilled while waiting at the stop.  People came and went, several of them complaining of bee stings.  One girl asked me if I was like alright, I was like umm yea and she explained that several people had come across a swarm of bees and were stung.  Hmm, luckily I made it through there without any altercations with a bee!  Brady came up the trail and started chowing down on oreos again so I waited a bit more and then we hit the trail.  Both of us were kinda feeling it at this point and we still had 2/3 to go!!  We had to run out and do a loop before making our way back to this same aid station and it would be about 8-9 miles, hopefully I’d have enough to keep me going!!  I ended up getting a little ahead of Brady but came across a corner that was a big confusing on the course so I decided to swing back and find him to prevent him from getting lost, he said his legs were tightening up a bit and needed to stop and stretch.  Once he loosened up a bit, we started running again and came across a little group running together - 2 guys and a girl, they were chatting loudly and obnoxiously, we passed them while they were walking up a slight incline.  I could feel my energy levels fading; I was starting to crash bad.  After thinking about it, I’d been drinking water but hadn’t really been taking in any electrolytes.  Around mile 15, I was forced to walk any uphill section, as small as it was, I just didn’t have the energy to make it up, my legs felt trashed and even walking didn’t seem all that great.  I took down a stinger gel and was hopeful that my energy levels would spike.  Brady was much better at walking than I was, I felt slow and could barely keep up with him especially going uphill.  We’d walk for a stretch then start running again, I’d try to pick out a spot and make it there.  we played leap frog with that annoying group of runners for several miles, we’d pass them then they’d pass us.  I just wanted to escape their obnoxious chatter and I could tell brady was getting annoyed with them as well.  we tried to pick up the pace but then I’d need to walk again, I was holding us back but luckily brady was supportive and stuck with me.  I just wanted this loop to be over, I was running out of water and needed to refuel a bit.  

Bear Gulch Aid Station (Mile 20.6) to King’s Mountain Aid Station (Mile 26.2)

We finally reached the aid station and at this point we were 2/3 done, only 10 miles go!!  I ate some chocolate and a few nuts and raisins for some fuel.  At this point, the PB&Js and oreos were looking mighty tasty but I wasn’t sure how my stomach would handle them so I decided to stay clear.  The obnoxious chatters flew through the aid station, which was alright with me, now we wouldn’t have to listen to them go on and on about whatever it is they were chatting about.  At this point, we were going back on the trail that we came in on those all those uphill switchbacks were now downhill, this was fun!  I lead Brady lead for a while and just followed his pace, every now and again we’d switch it up and I’d take over.   Now we were kinda running solo, we’d come across a few people but the big pack that we had on the way out had dissolved and it was a bit more spread out.  Perhaps because when we started we had people running various distances but now most of the people left out there were part of the 50k.  We walked a few rough spots but ran most of the way, we had a good stretch where we just put on the burners and went after it.   Around mile 23, Brady was running front and I must’ve tripped on a root or a rock, next thing I know I’m on the ground, hanging over the edge of the trail.  I yelled out for Brady, he turned around to find me dangling off the edge.  Luckily, it wasn’t a sharp drop off!!  He ran back to help me, I wiped off the mud and started running again, that was a bit alarming!   Soon thereafter we were at the last aid station.

King’s Mountain Aid Station (Mile 26.2) to Finish (30.8 – 49.6 km)

We reloaded at the stop, I ate a few more M&Ms, nuts and raisins and the oreos were still looking quite tempting.  I decided to put a few in my bottle to eat when I got to the finish.  The mileage on my Suunto was a bit off and I thought we still had at least 5 or 6 miles left but the volunteers told us there was only 4.6 to go and most of it was downhill!!  I was shocked, so that was quite a pleasant surprise!!  They said that most people’s watches will be off when it comes to the total distance, I’m not sure why that might be.  Maybe from all the switchbacks and the GPS not picking up signal in some spots?  Who knows but I was quite happy that we were gonna be done sooner than expected.   I thought we had to go back the way we came so the 5-6 miles wouldve made sense.  We started off and soon after, I was ahead of Brady again.   I could taste the finish and I could tell that we were going back a different way than the way we came, ah that’s why the distance was shorter.  I started to hit a downhill so I opened up my stride, at this point we were running down a big open road.  I was trying to figure out how much time I had left, I wasn’t sure if I could believe the volunteers so I kept telling myself I had to make it to 31 and would give myself a range of how much further I had to go.  At this point, I felt like the 6:00 mark was slipping away from me, I thought I’d end up closer to 6:30.  I kept pushing the pace on the downhill and tried to stay relaxed.  I could hear some people and saw the park where we started, I rounded a corner and started sprinting, once again I finished an ultra, sprinting.  How is it possible that one can sprint after running 30 or 50 miles, is beyond me! 

I looked at the clock 6:03, eh, not too shabby!! Right around where I thought I would be.  I took those oreos out of my pouch and took em down right away, they definitely hit the spot.  Of course, they had a table with all sorts of treats including Oreos.  I grabbed a few more and filled up a cup with pretzels filled with PB, one of my favorite snacks that I’ve been avoiding for months now – those totally hit the spot, even more than the oreos.  I was really started to get chilled as I waited for brady to finish.  I started to walk back towards the course to see if I could see him coming and he finally rounded the bend and crossed the line.  We made it!! 

Afterthoughts

I thought this race was much tougher than the 50 miler I did in October, the terrain had much to do with that.  My first ultra (DesPlaines 50 miler) was on a wide flat trail whereas the Crystal Springs 50k was mostly single track so you really had to concentrate on foot placement and the elevation gain was significant!!  Plus I was well trained for my 50 miler, had done plenty of long runs and was feeling ready to go, before this 50k, the longest we had done was 12 miles!  I asked Brady what he thought, he told me this was his first and last ultra, haha.  Guess I’ll be doing these runs solo from now on but at least he can be my crew leader :) 

I have the Ice Age 50 miler on May 10^th up in Kettle Moraine, WI.  This winter needs to let up so I can start hitting the trails, I definitely need to get more trail experience before I tackle that 50 miler!!

so long 2013...

2013 was a year of mixed up motivation.  I’ve said this in previous blogs but I found myself struggling to figure out what I wanted to focus on this year.  I started off feeling a bit burnt out in the stairwell, most of my races ended up being around the exact same times as last year with the exception of Hancock where I blew up mentally and came in sluggish and a minute slower than 2012 but is it what is is.  I was happy when the season was over and I could re-evaluate my training.  

I was searching for new challenges so I took on the Mt. Washington Road Race in New Hampshire in June.  7.6 miles up Mt. Washington with an average of 12% grade and 20+ towards the top. The summit has recorded the most severe weather on the planet, were talking 230+ mph winds and wind chills so far below zero that I cant even fathom.  I dont do well in cold weather nor do I do well when theres a strong wind yet a slight breeze for that matter.  My plan was to target this race, come out strong.  I was running at 11% incline on the treadmill for an hour at the time trying to prepare myself.  But i started to lose my focus and I dont think I took the race seriously enough, I didnt really taper and within the first mile, I could tell that my legs were toast.  I set out with a goal pace and I quickly realized that wasnt gonna happen.  Before the race, I told myself that I wasnt going to walk.  People around me were walking but I stuck to what I told myself, I didnt want to give in yet I never seemed to pass those “walkers”, perhaps they were on to something.  After the race, I thought about how stupid and stubborn I was, I dont really run the steps, why would I run up this whole gosh darn mountain?!?  Maybe if I wouldve tossed in some walking breaks, I wouldve finished up a bit faster.  The weather that day was in the 50s at the start and up in the 20s on the summit with 30+ mph winds, geesh, lucky I didnt blow away.  I was proud of myself for taking on something new but at the same time I was disappointed because I was much slower than I thought I would be.  Oh well, it is what it is.  

After that, I decided to get back into running.  I thought qualifying for Boston again and maybe running the 2014 Boston would give me something to shoot for.  I was obsessed with my training and hitting my mileage but I can tell my body gets worn down, starts getting nagging aches and pains.  Thats what happens when I focus on running, I forget about cross training and just pound the pavement for miles.  I was trying to be smart about giving my body enough rest and recovery, I started doing my easy runs at a slower pace and was enjoying it.  By the time my fall marathon came around, I was no longer interested in racing it.  Racing just didnt appeal to me, I needed something more so thats when I took on my first 50 mile ultramarathon.  After that whole experience, I wanted to focus on ultras and trail races.  I wanted to discover myself out there on the trails and over the course of running for hours on end.  

In November, we started to get back into stair training, which is great cross training and builds tons of leg strength.  I still wasnt totally interested in doing any races in 2014 but I was enjoying the training although not the speed stuff because when it came down to it, Im much slower than I was previously!!  

Here are a few things I’ve learned in 2013:

1. Follow your own dreams, set goals for yourself and get after it!!  Theres no sense in setting goals that arent challenging.  At times, I found myself kinda going with the flow of what others were shooting for or what I thought people expected me to do.  I now realize that I need to follow my passion and stay fierce and focused

2. Trail races and ultramarathons are much different than road racing or stair climbing, you experience so much more

3. I love stair climbing and I am grateful for all the opportunities the sport gave me, I had some amazing adventures but I see myself going in a different direction, at least for the time being

4. When running extremely long distances, make sure you always have snacks with you and that your arm is strong enough to carry your water bottle

5. Compared to last year, I’ve gained some weight but I think I’m healthy and I enjoy not obsessing over the number on the scale.  Its better for me mentally and my body is adapting to the physical challenges that I’m throwing its way.  Leaning towards ultra running instead of stair climbing lets me be happy with the weight I’m at and the muscle I’ve put on, I dont have to stress about being super incredibly tiny so I can hit my fastest times in the stairwell

6. Homemade energy bars made of oatmeal, honey, PB, chia, flax, raisins and nuts are great fuel during long runs

7. Dont be afraid to step out of your comfort zone in all aspects of life, this year I took on several new challenges ranging from running up a mountain, running 50 miles, backpacking in Glacier National Park and giving a speech at a leadership conference in front of over 100 high school students and faculty members

8. Let those around you encourage and motivate you, share your goals with them so they can make you feel accountable

9. Music during the last half of a 50 miler is a major boost, especially when power songs or crazy songs come on, can give you that extra boost you need or make you laugh when times seem rough

10. I still love my pre-workout and race coffee routine.   I still have a love / hate relationship with nut butter and bread

11. Cheering on and pacing family / friends can feel even more rewarding than racing for yourself

12. Olympic National Park is one of the most incredible places.  We started off a trail run where we were surrounded by lush green and it was kinda drizzly.  as the run progressed, that drizzle turned to snow and the ground was covered in white with the bright green peeking through, just amazing

13. Run fast, climb high.  stay fierce & focused, strong & positive

Good luck setting big goals and challenges in 2014!!  I’m starting off the year by running a 50k (31 miles) trail race out in the San Francisco area on my 30th birthday.  Seemed like a good idea to run 30 miles plus 1 for good luck.  After that, I’ve got my sights set on the Ice Age 50 miler thats on May 10th.  

Going the distance, my first ultra

Earlier this year, i was struggling to find motivation in the stairwell. Last year, I set big goals for myself and accomplished all of them. i won all of the Chicago races and did several international races. I loved all of my experiences but my passion for climbing just wasnt there this year, I was having a hard time coming up with new goals for myself thus wasnt able to devote myself to training as much as i normally would and my lack of passion showed during my races. I’m someone who needs to challenge myself and craves new experiences. I decided to get back into running, I wanted to shoot for a 3:10 marathon and qualify for Boston. I signed up for the Marquette Marathon over Labor Day, i was once again obsessed with long runs and felt like i was back to my endurance roots. I started my taper a few weeks out from Marquette and realized, I didnt want to race it, I wasn’t feeling it, I wanted something more, something longer. The ultramarathon was speaking to me, when I first start running I was engrossed in the idea of doing ultra races. I ran my first Boston in 2007 and decided I wanted to run lots of different marathons first before i started to hit the super long distances. I’ve always considered myself an endurance athlete, loved long runs especially so for me to get hooked on stairs was totally unexpected. Stair races are short and intense so for me to shine in the stairwell the way i did was a surprise and i grew to love the sport. But now, i think i’ve come full circle and i’m back to my endurance roots.

I chose to run the Des Plaines River Trail 50 miler, thought it would be a good starting point since it was relatively flat and nearby plus it was a nice trail. Leading up to the race, i did a few back to back long runs (20-18 and 18-16), i also did one 30 mile training run. Originally i thought it would be good to target 9-10 hours for my first 50, i had no idea what would happen during those 50 miles. one article in Runners World said you could estimate your 50 mile time by doubling your marathon time and adding 2 hours!! my best marathon time is 3:14 but to be conservative i took 3:30 doubled it and added 2 hours so that came out to 9 hours. i still wasnt sure if that would be too aggressive, this was my first 50!!

during my long runs, i slowed down the pace and started taking more water and snacks. usually i deprive myself while running, i try to get by running on fumes but i knew that i’d need a lot more energy during the 50 miler and this was not the time to skimp on calories. i used my 30 mile training run as a race simulation, i wanted to eat a snack every hour and try to stick to race pace. i made some homemade energy bars consisting of almond butter, oatmeal, honey, raisins, flax/chia seeds, and mini chocolate chips. they were delicious! i also enjoy stinger energy gels since theyre basically honey with a boost of electrolytes and the probar chews are super tasty and easy on the stomach too. i also tried bananas with almond butter and honey, another staple i could go to. the 30 miles flew by and i felt great, i had someone to run with the entire way and besides some aching knees, i felt like i had plenty of energy and could keep going although i was a bit loop and slap happy the last 4-5 miles. i ended up averaging 8:48 pace while running and 9:48 pace with the stops to refuel and meet up with new people. that training run gave me some major encouragement for the 50 miler, i decided to shoot for that same pace during the race although i wasnt really sure what that equated to in hours and minutes.

Pintar created a spreadsheet we could use to predict my estimated finishing time along with what time i might be at all of the aid stations along the way. this thing was super helpful, definitely made it easier for my crew, spectators and pacers! I started to kinda freak out the week of the race, although i was tapering, my legs were feeling aching and muscles were tight. I just didnt feel all that great, the taper is much needed but so evil at the same time. i was also feeling some underlying race anxiety and stress even though i felt confident at the same time. i wasnt putting much pressure on myself because it was my very first ultra and i was proud of myself for taking on a new challenge. i set several different goals for myself and various expectations for the race. i was thinking of it more as a really long long run instead of a race.

the night before i packed up my drop bags, i tossed in extra clothes including socks and shoes, snacks, elecrolyte water, my ipod, etc. anything i thought i might need. its hard to know what might come up over the course of 50 milers. i put in my energy bars, some chocolate espresso beans, some sprouted sweet potato chips (in case i was craving salt) and some caffeine pills for an added boost.

the thing about ultramarathons is that theyre much more relaxed than road marathons and shorter races. you have aid stations stocked with various snacks such as PB&J, defizzed soda, pretzels, bananas, gels, water, etc. Runners are friendly, talkative and encouraging to one another. it was going to be a brand new experience and i was ready for it.

 

**Race Day**

the race started at 7:00 AM, i was somewhat freaking out about the weather because the low was in the 30s and the high in the mid-low 50s which is ideal running weather but i didnt know how my body would react to running all day in that weather! i thought i would probably get chilled but at least the sun was expected to poke out, i decided to go with capris and tossed some shorts in my drop bags in case i got too warm. i was also layering up with a tank w pockets for added storage, a short sleeve shirt and a long sleeve. i could easily peel off layers if i got to warm. Brady and I got to the race around 6 AM and it was quite chilly and still pitch dark out so we hung out in the car to stay warm. its quite eerie heading into a porta potty when you cant see anything. we finally got out of the car around 6:45 and headed towards the start, they gave us some final instructions and it was time to toe the line. At this point , after standing outside for 15 minutes my hands and toes were numb, great way to start the race...

 

**Miles 0 - 14.4**

We started off and it was strange not darting off the starting line, it was a smooth relaxed pace. i settled in the first couple of miles and starting chatting with another girl (the girl in green) and a few guys who were running the same pace. they were all ultra veterans and had finished the race last year, the girl in green placed 2nd with a time around 8:20 and the guys finished around 8:40 so i figured they would make good running partners at least for the time being. i continued to stay relaxed as the miles ticked by, time was cruising by. i kept getting little rocks in my shoes. i knew that in a race of this magnitude, little nagging things can turn into big things if you ignored them so i was stopping constantly to pluck the rocks out. i was looking forward to the 3rd aid station around 7.9 miles because Brady would be there and Lisa (my first pacer of the day) was going to jump in and run 4 miles with me. At that point, i was still running in the little pack and it was nice to have Lisa run with us for a few miles, the miles were still flying by. Lisa left us 4 miles later and we continued on our way, i stopped briefly at the aid stations to refuel my bottle and eat a snack if it was my “designated” snack time. i actually almost missed my first snack because of all the chatting going on and i was barely looking at my watch. I found it easier to unwrap my snacks and chew them while refilling my bottle instead of doing it on the go. the aid station volunteers were awesome, they’d fill my bottle for me and ask if there was anything else we needed. some folks would breeze by the stops while others would linger a bit longer loading up and taking a break. i was feeling good but then again, i should be feeling good considering it had only been about 12 miles at about 9 minute pace give or take.
 

the first drop bag zone was about 14.4 miles in, the 5th aid station. i knew brady would be waiting for me there so i was counting down the miles. before the race, i told myself that if it started to get rough, i only had to think about making it to the next aid station and the furthest that would be was 6.7 miles (between 14.4 and 21.1 and then on the way back 31.7 to 38.4). i was excited to see brady and was still feeling great, my knees were aching, which was nothing new but otherwise no major issues. Brady filled up my water, the only problem with the water from the aid stations is that it was cold!!! thus my hand would get cold carrying my bottle, good thing i had my gloves. i prefer room temp water, i had electrolyte water in my drop bag but forgot about it, I was also taking an elecrolyte tab every hour too. I came into the aid station at the same time as the girl in the green but she scurried off to go to the bathroom, i wasnt sure whether or not she was still around and i hesitated as to whether or not i should wait for her. i think my mind was set on, hey you have a friend to run with which will make this more enjoyable instead of hey, youre in a race, stop dilly dallying and get going!! brady told me to head out so i said goodbye and was on my way. my watch hit the next split and i did some quick math, i probably spent about 4 minutes there. 

 

**Miles 14.4 - 21.1**

 

i ran the next few miles solo which was kinda lonely, i passed a couple of people and then caught up to the girl in the green a few miles later. both of us said we were happy to see one another and we got back into the groove. during those few lonley miles, i picked up the pace a bit and hit an 8:34 mile. around mile 19 or 20, the girl in the green asked what kidna pace we might end up with at the finish. i was like i have no idea, i cant even think about that now since theres still 30 miles to go!! i figured once i hit the turnaround, i could let myself do a rough estimate on my finishing time. but i didnt wanna think too far into the future, just wanted to take it one mile at a time. 



 

 

the next aid station was at mile 21.1 and i was expecting to see brady, melanie & pete with the dogs plus my parents. but before that, i found my dad waiting beside the path somewhere around mile 20. he started running ahead of me and i was like hey dad!! he kept on running, finally caught up to him and settled into a pace. he made a comment about how it seemed like we were running pretty quick, we probably clipped off an 8:45. it was a pleasant surprise to have him waiting there for me. we were coming up to the aid station and icould spot the dogs first, i was really excited to see everyone and melanie had some really clever signs which made me laugh and brought a smile to my face, one said “i drove < 50 to see kfrey run 50”, love it! i stopped to fill up my water and to eat a bar, i saw my mom running over and i was like sorry, gotta go! 

 

**Turnaround - 26.4**

 

the next stop would be the turn around at 26.4 mles, by then i wouldve ran a marathon. during the race, i kept see the same people. i’d pass someone then they’d pass me, some people were doing a walk run. everyone was really friendly and conversational, always complimenting eachother as we passed asking how the other was doing and offering a few words of encouragements. i asked one guy if he was doing a walk run, he said 5:00 run, 1:00 walk and that he found it to work better than running 30 miles straight. interesting tactic and ive heard that before. i could tell that i was getting a bit dehydrated, i was running out of water sooner than expected between the rest stops and this was the long segment (6.7 miles). my breathing was a bit more rapid which happened during the 30 miler so i could tell i was getting a bit tired and needed some water and snacks, i also made a mental note to inform brady about how i was feeling. we turned the corner to head to the turn around point and i checked my watch, 26.2 - 4:03! not a bad marathon time. i told myself i would leave the stop by 4:10 and be on my way, once i left, i’d double my time to estimate a projected finish. i found brady, my parents and melanie and pete waiting for me. brady had already filled up my pink water bottle, i was switching it out in hopes it would give me a mental boost. i also changed my shirts, put on 2 orange layers and tossed the bright pink long sleeve on over them. orange is my favorite color so thought it might give me strength and power when i needed it, simple but little things can make a difference when youre out there running for hours on end. i took a bite of a banana but it really wasnt doing it for me, the texture and taste just didnt appeal to me. i also took a caffeine pill for an extra jolt of energy. i chugged some water, brady had already packed my handheld with a couple of snacks. i was pretty flustered at this time and i think brady could tell i was frazzled, i was a bit on edge and kinda loopy but i was still feeling really good and didnt have any negative thoughts. one of the volunteers was introduced to me before the race and knew it was my first 50, she was encouraging at a few of the other stops but at this one she said “wow, youre going really fast for your first 50!!”, i replied, “thanks, i feel really good” then she said “youre going really fast and its your first race, its not a compliment”. gee thanks lady!! i dont need your negative energy and you know nothing about me and my athletic achievements or what im capable of. i let her comment roll off my shoulder and didnt let it get to me, i had more important things to think about. in the midst of everything, i forgot to load up on more snacks. i had 2 in my handheld but forgot to toss extras in the pocket of my shirt, i originally started off carrying extra honey gels and some chews in case i needed them. somewhere around mile 23-24, i actually pulled out a honey stinger because i could sense that i was running a bit low on energy.

 

**Miles 26.4 - 31**

 i finally took off and realized i had spent about 10 minutes at the station, i saw some people were still there so they were taking longer but it was just more time than i expected but at the same time, i think i needed it. at that point, i also grabbed my ipod, an added motiviational treat! i had a burst of energy after i left the stop and was cruising along. i ate one of my snacks but knew i was running low. my dad ran a mile or so with me again, i enjoyed his company. the race had thinned out and i was no longer with a pack, i was running solo. it also got really chilly, windy and kinda rainy. i pulled my sleeves down, put the gloves back on and put my head down to power through it. i said outloud for the rain to go away and it didnt last long, power of positivity. i checked my total time around 30 miles (another milestone to estimate fmy inishing time) and i was almost at the exact same time i was at during my training run (4:45ish)!! i reached the next aid station at mile 31 (the same crew was there) and was super frazzled. i needed snacks and i needed them bad, my energy was dropping. i asked brady where my stuff was and he was like umm, i dont know in the car. i was like i need something!! i frantically asked my parents and melanie but nobody had anything, it was all in the car. my dad started to run back and i was like forget it, i dont have time. the aid station volunteers offered up powerbar gels but i knew i couldnt take those because they would give me cramps almost instantly. they had PB&J but i just looked at them, i just wasnt thinkiing straight at the turnaround (when i forgot to grab extra stuff) and i was too frazzled to find a solution here. i got impatient and i ran away, big mistake.

 

**Miles 31 - 38**

about a mile later, i ate my snack and then i knew i was in trouble. i was almost out of water and my snacks were gone, i still had about 6 miles until the next aid station at mile 38.8 where my drop bag and my running concierge service (i.e., Rob, Dan and Brad) were waiting to run 6 miles with me. i really started dragging, my energy levels were dipping extremely low and i just couldnt handle the consistent pace i had kept until that point in the race. i could see the girl in green and another girl or 2 in front of me. i actually pased one of them and then she’d pass me, we went back and forth like that for a mile or two. i started to walk, i just couldnt keep running. during any other race, this wouldve been disheartening and extremely discouraging but i knew that this was normal during ultras and that i would still be ok. i started to walk for a minute or two, i would pick a spot, like a certain tree or rock and would start running again. i forced myself to make it to the next mile before i could start walking again. my splits dropped from 9:00 to 10-11. but i wasnt discouraged, i stayed postivie and told myself to be strong, that i would make it through and that it would be better once i reached the aid station, could load up on snacks and water and would have pacers for 6 miles. i actaully felt like i had more energy when i’d start running after a walking break but that was short lived. my knees were no longer aching but my quads were taking a pounding, i could feel them tightening up and getting sore. starting to run after the walk break was a bit rough, it took a few steps to get going. everytime i started feeling a bit down, one of my power songs would come blasting through my headphones, the first to come on was Roar by Katy Perry, shortly thereafter i heard Stronger by Kelly Clarkson. awesome that they came on exactly when i needed them to and gave me a burst of confidence; i’d actually pick up the pace and hang on for longer.

i weeved into the 38 mile aid station a bit out of it and saw the guys (Dan, Rob & Brad) waiting there. i told them i was crashing bad and needed snacks. brady was nowhere to be found (i later found out that he got there early, grabbed some snacks and ran back along the course to try and find me a few miles sooner but took a wrong turn and ended up missing me). the guys were awesome, they pulled out my snacks, got my water and said they’d carry things with them. the chewies tasted delicous now, i was craving carbs and i popped a few chocolate espresso beans. Rob said he’d never seen me eat so much. i changed my socks and shoes, i had to lean on the guys, felt like a cripple. i couldnt bend over and honestly i was afraid to try because i didnt wanna cramp up or fall over. i lost my balance a few times during that shoe exchange.

**Miles 38 - 44.9**
 

we left the aid station and they let everyone else know we were on our way. brady was getting a bit worried because he wasnt sure where i was or if he had missed me so was pleased to hear the guys were taking good care of me. i’d have them with me for 6 miles and it was awesome having them there to take my mind off of things and to carry my supplies so i had constant water and snacks. dan was the designated water carrier and brad handed me snacks. i asked him to calculate the pace i needed for the next 12 miles to finish under 9 hours, he estimated i needed 15 minute miles. that seemed doable unless something totally bad and unexpected happened but i should be able to walk that pace and finish up. i took a few more walking breaks, especially up any inclines that appeared. on the way out, i ran all these inclines but on the way back, they seemed much larger and took more energy. i also walked to eat snacks, seemed easier that way. it took me a few miles to regain my energy but the guys knew i was getting my kick back when i started singing “what does the fox say”. i tossed this song on my ipod because i knew it would make me laugh and provide some comic relief which it did.

 my dad jumped in with us again, somewhere around 41 or so. we had a nice little pack going on, we approached the aid station at mile 42 and i just flew on through since we had everything i needed. brady still wasnt there, he was struck in traffic along the way. Stronger came on again around then and i picked up the pace without warning, we were back to running close to 9:00 pace and i was feeling better. my quads were still feeling it, i was pretty sure my left quad was going to fall off and the right one was hanging on by a thread as well. up until then, i didnt have too many other issues. i was surprised the knee pain had subsided and my calf felt fine, no hip problems. all in all, i was holding up pretty well. my arm wasnt cramping from the water bottle either which was a plus. during my 30 miler i carried the 20 oz bottle and my arm couldnt handle it, haha so i was back to the little 10 ouncer. at some point during those 6 miles, i had some shooting pain in my shin which seemed to come out of nowhere, i pushed it out of my mind recalling a section from Scott Jurek’s book where he says “not all pain is significant”. i kept on running, ignoring the pain and staying strong and positive. every now and again i’d have the guys estimate my finishing time. they were shocked how strong i was running when we approached the next aid station. 

**Miles 44.9 - 50!!**
 

Barb was waiting for us there, mile 44.9. Brady was also there along with greg smith. they were going to run the last 5 miles with me. brady was thrilled that i was doing so well and decided to jump in with me, wearing his jeans and all. i was shocked because he was still feeling banged up from dominating the chicago marathon a week earlier (with a PR of 3:11) and wasnt planning to run with me at all. we ran for a few minutes as a big pack then they exited the course, i said thanks and i had 5 miles to go. i jokingly told brady that i had over an hour to run 5 miles to finished under 9 hours. he didnt comprehend that i was joking and pretty much saying i had it all wrapped up and would do it easily. as the miles ticked by, i kept estimating my pace. i walked a few times during those last few miles to eat snacks and gain energy going up the hills. with 2 miles to go, i knew i had to dig deep and stay fierce and focused. i was almost there and was still feeling pretty good. we picked up the pace a bit and i hit a mile around 9:00. saw my dad waiting by a bridge to run the last mile or so with us. i powered up the little hill and started to pick up the pace. with a mile to go, i really had to push it. i was running a killer time and wanted to finish with a kick. i wanted to tell brady i was working and pushing myself as hard as i could but i think it could see it in my face. i could see the finish and i started sprinting, i gave it all i had and according to my watch finished in 8:15:55 (8:16 chip timing but thats ok). i also finished 6th women and 1st in my age group.  and i got the sub 9 hour belt buckle i was shooting for!!
 

**Post 50**

i was shocked, i totally blew away my expectations and felt like i crushed my first attempt at an ultra. i was so happy and i knew that i couldnt have done it without all my friends and family coming to support me along the way. it meant a lot to me to have them out there along the course either cheering or running with me. and brady was there the whole entire day!! 

 

my legs locked up when i finished, i was toast. my quads were the worst, everything else was sore too, i couldnt even bend over to put some pants on. my arms, my abs, my back, everything was sore plus i had a giant bruise on my shin. i was walking around slowly but i was still smiling. i had a smile on my face almost the entire time although im sure it was a little less during the energy crash from 32-38. i cant say that i’ve smiled that much for any other race. this was such an incredible experience and i loved it, i cant wait to challenge myself again and get faster. im already planning other ultras, brady and i are gonna target a trail 50k in the san francisco area on my 30th birthday. then i’ll probably do the ice age 50 in may and another 50 in the fall. im obsessed and totally motivated. this is exactly what i needed to get me going again. 

 

i got in the car and looked at the giant bruise on my shin, what the heck?!? i didnt fall or hit it on anything but i do recall the sharp shooting pain. honestly, i wasnt sure what had happened, i thought maybe my shin was broken or a stress fracture and was fearing the worst. i was exhausted but could barely sleep that night, my legs were so sore and twitchy plus i was starting to get a cold making it hard to breathe. after tossing and turning, i got up to read and finally fell asleep on the couch. sunday morning we were up bright and early (5 am) to head to springfield to watch brady’s sister in laws first marathon, being crammed in a car for 6 hours total was not ideal. i could barely get in and out, i was still exhausted and walking was slow and painful. my quads were totally obliteraterd but at least the rest of my body was a little less sore. my shin was still bright red and sore and my ankle was tight and having sharp pains. i was a complete mess plus that cold was starting to nag. i googled that shin bruise and it seemed somewhat common, some broken cappillaries and blood vessels from the pounding of running, strange but glad i wasnt broken. trying to sleep sunday night wasnt much better, i was still tossing and turning, couldnt breathe and my legs were throbbing. as far as recovery goes, it was still a bit hard to move around on monday, i was super sluggish at work. i was exhausted and had the nagging cold almost the whole week but at least my legs are getting better day by day. i’ll probably give myself another few days to a week of rest before i start running again, wanna make sure im fully recovered from this and prevent injuries.

**Lessons Learned**

** trails and ultras let me really enjoy running, took in my surroundings and just loved being out there, smiling throughout the race and felt free

** find your power song and mantra - my songs are Stronger & People Like Us by Kelly Clarkson and Roar by Katy Perry.  My mantra is strong & positive, fierce & focused
 

** bulk up my arms so im capable of carrying the 20 oz bottle without my arm flaking out

** when changing shoes during the race, have a new pair to wear. i busted out some old ones that were almost at their peak, didnt feel all that great and probably caused my feet to be sore/tired and the shin bruise

** not sure if i should cut down time at aid stations, hard to know if i wouldve been faster or if the extra rest gave me an extra boost. i was only 6 minutes behind first place!!

** make sure to stock up on extra snacks, think about things before rushing off
 

** better recovery, probably not the best idea to get up uber early and be crammed in a car for 6 hours the next day
 

** liked changing clothes at the turn around, wasnt as sweaty and chilled then plus gave a mental boost. 
 

** music is definitely motivating, enjoyed having it the last 24 miles, gives added motivation instead of having it the whole way

running ultra long...

I've spent the last few months running, running and running a little bit more.  I had my sights focused on a marathon, qualifying for Boston and potentially breaking 3:10 or at least coming away with a PR.  I became engulfed in my training, I was back to doing long runs, the ones that I loved so very much.  I had weekly mileage goals and I was hitting them.  I was doing tempo runs on tired legs and attempting to push the pace during my 20 milers.  Yet something was missing, I was reluctant to actually sign up for a race, I had a few in mind but it took me a while to pull the trigger.  I eventually decided on the Marquette Marathon up in Michigan over Labor Day.  I kept on running, but found myself wondering, do I even want to race a marathon?!?  Could I just keep training but not actually race the darn 26.2, could I just keep running and then switch my focus to stairs and on Sears?  I wasn't sure where I was at as far as target pace goes, I hadnt' done a road race since April, I assumed I was faster than that but who knows.  The thought of ticking off 26 miles at 7:15 pace seemed virtually impossible.

I hit the 3 monster weeks where I polished off back to back to back 60+ mile weeks with a 24 miler, a 20 miler and a 22 miler.  The training all made sense to me, however my focus or excitement for the race was lacking.  I started to taper and it became evident, that I didn’t want to race, I wanted to keep on training, I didn’t want to ease up.  I wanted a new target, perhaps a moving goal?  During the first week of my taper, I decided I wasn’t going to race, I’d go to Marquette and I’d pace a few friends who wanted to qualify for Boston with a 3:25, which would also qualify me despite being 11 minutes off my PR.  I could be content with that. 

I was setting my sights on something bigger, something longer.  I wanted to do something unique, challenge myself in a totally different way.  This year I’ve been struggling with motivation when it comes to racing, nothing seems to interest me as much as it should and I seem to be burnt out which is confusing and hard to explain.  I just know that mainstream racing doesn’t do it for me anymore, I’ve done 12 marathons, qualified for Boston 10 times and I believe there’s always room for improvement, ways to get faster but this year I’m just not interested in that.  I’m interested in just doing what I want to do, going against the grain and trying new things.  I want to experience different obstacles and challenges and find out new things about myself.  See what level I can push myself too and see what I can discover. 

For several years, I’ve been thinking about running an ultramarathon (which is considered any race longer than 26.2).  Initially I put my thoughts aside because I wanted to focus on running fast marathons, then I became obsessed with climbing high and scaling skyscrapers, which totally didn’t jive with ultra-running.  But now I’m getting the urge again, its calling me.  I believe you can definitely find yourself over the course of 50 miles.  So that’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to target a 50 mile ultramarathon for this fall.  My marathon training is a great base; I’m going to use Marquette as a training run and as stepping stone.  I’m going to start hitting back to back long runs on the weekends and I’ll do some 4-5 hour runs.  I don’t expect to go out there and crush this distance the first time around, I’m doing this for the challenge.  I’m doing it to prove to myself that I’m strong enough, both mentally and physically.  I want to see what I’m made of, can I force myself to go on when I want to quit.  I’m doing this for me and because I want to, I want to go my own way and do my own thing.  I don’t want to be stuck in the norm or doing what others think I’m supposed to. 

 
I know some people will encourage this challenge and absolutely love the idea; those are the people who are also contemplating stepping into the unkown.  Other people will think I'm totally crazy but will support me regardless and I know there are some who will not understand at all but I'm ok with that. 

Sometimes we need to find new things to inspire us, change it up and go a different way :)  I signed up for the Des Plaines River Trail 50 Miler on October 19th, so it's time to get after it and see what I'm made of!  Will definitely need to be fierce and focused, strong and positive for this one!!