My First ultra

The 2008 Psycho Psummer Trail Race a 50K of two loops of 25K each around the Wyandotte County lake built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930’s.

 

Much like the experience with my marathon back in April, I didn’t feel physically prepared for this race either.  I had been running 20-30 miles a week all through May but wasn’t able to maintain that weekly mileage through June.  I didn’t have near the apprehension about this race as the Freestate Marathon.  In fact, I was really excited, so much that I didn’t get much sleep Friday night.  I kept waking up and looking at the clock about every hour or so and then wondering if there was something else that I would need for the race.

Photo by Gary Henry

I had been taking notes and studying some of my fellow Trail Nerds advice on hydration, electrolytes and nutrition habits they had learned over many years of running ultras.  Although this wasn’t a 50 or 100 miler, I figured their advice would serve me well anyway.  I packed plenty of S!CAPS and Sportlegs electrolyte capsules.  I had also bought a big bulk bottle of hammer gel and some small fuel flasks.  This seemed to be a lot greener than using all those prepackaged gels (less waste).  I was also planning to run with my hydration pack for water and one hand held bottle for HEED / Succeed.

I woke up at about 5:30am, got my final stuff packed up.  I wasn’t even sure what those ultra guys put in their drop bags (I forgot to ask) but after the race I didn’t feel like I had forgotten anything except my camera.  I grabbed a Cliff Bar and headed to Starbucks for my venti soy café latté (my regular pre-race breakfast).  I ended up at the race about 45min before start time.

Photo by Gary Henry

It was a perfect day for a race.  The weather forecast called for a mild Kansas City day.  At 8am it was 71 degrees F and 65% RH and by the time I finished near 2:30pm it was 77 degrees F and 61% RH.  We had mild temperatures but it was still a little humid.  However, I would take this weather for every race if I had a choice.

As usual, the race started on time with Ben’s RD announcements along with a few witty words of caution and encouragement and then we were off.  Rich ran by me and noticed I was up with the front 10% of the pack (I probably looked really out of place).  He reminded me that there was a lot of race ahead and that these guys would be hammering it.  I thanked him for the reminder and started settling in on my own pace.

Photo by Dick Ross of seekcrun.com

The trail was reasonably dry considering how much rain came through the previous Wednesday (I heard reported between 5” & 6” give or take).  I knew that the last three miles of the loop was historically the last to dry and would be a mud sucking pit just waiting for the unprepared with loose shoes to claim one for its own.

I made it through one of my favorite parts of the loop called Fester’s Wander and had been running for about 50 minuets when I reached the famous Hedgehog hill (according to what I heard on the trail it has a few more names that are much more explicit).  This section is only a tenth of a mile but steep as hell with a grade of about 65% or more.  This has to be the steepest section on the course.  The fun is after you reach the top where there is a ridge line with about a 20% down hill grade to run for about a quarter of a mile.  You can pretty much go as fast as your legs will let you.  However, watch out at the bottom where there is a rocky section that might send you on your back side should you not “mind your step.”

I was feeling still really good when reaching Kyle and Stacy Amos’s aid station at mile 5.0 and decided to not to stop.  I still had plenty of water and wanted to keep this pace as long as I could.  Kyle hollered out at me as I passed asking if I was eating and drinking and reminded me not to forget.  Granted, I run with Kyle a lot but I’ll bet he inquired about everyone that ran by friend, foe or unknown.  That’s the kind of care the volunteers give the participants at Nerd events.

 

I had enough water to make it to Pat Perry’s aid station on the second pass.  There were several people behind and in front of me.  I knew that passing through aid stations was the best way to make up time on other runners. I guess this is my competitive side showing but it does wane a bit the further into the race.  After Kyle and Stacy’s aid station is a new section that many of us Trail Nerds worked on for the Summer 5K intro race.  It’s some nice single track that parallels Shane’s Debacle but with some added elevation.

I felt pretty good through the first loops.  No real issues.  I even learned to enjoy the Boy Scout section even though I’ve been complaining about it ever since last year.  For some reason it didn’t seem so bad.  In fact it was nice to get out on the road and feel a little breeze.  I guess I shouldn’t have dissed it anyway having been an Eagle Scout myself.  I stopped at Pat’s aid station on the way back out, filled up my hydration pack and tightened up my shoes for the sucking mud pits I knew were ahead.

The Wyandotte triangle trail is a one mile maze in heavy over growth.  There were several trees that had been felled during the recent storm.  Most of the gnarly stuff had been cleared away by Nerds earlier in the week.  This area is a twisty, curvy, up and down roller coaster of a trail.  If you get going just right your momentum will carry you up and over the small hills.  I like this section because a slow guy like me can feel like a sports car zipping about.  Besides, I knew that once I exited this section I was only about 2.5 miles from the end of the first loop.

The only thing left between me and the end of the first loop was the mud.  Sure enough, I got to see some unexpected poor guy get his left shoe sucked right off.  I have to admit, I thought it was pretty damn funny.  Probably because I know what it’s like.  At least it sounded like he found his shoe as I slopped by.  Just put it on and get going is the only advice I would have.  The damage had been done.  The mud always……finds a way in…..especially over a two mile slurry section like this.  Sometimes you get lucky and place your foot perfectly between two horse hoof holes…….and then when you think you got it mastered, you hit what you thought was going to be a solid landing only to sink up to your knee.  At the same time grey water is shooting up your pants leg like a mini geyser.  About a half mile from the end it was dry and solid enough to let the foot pounding hurl the big mud chunks.

I finished the first 15 mile loop in 2:54:59.  This was faster than my time in the 15 miler a year ago.  I was running a faster pace than I should have for the first loop, at least for me anyway.  But what the heck, I was having a great time.  I decided to change my socks and shoes for the second loop, grab a PB&J and banana for the road.  I was in the bag drop zone for about 5 minutes.

My legs were feeling a little tired but I think it was just because they knew there was another loop to go.  They are really used to stopping after one loop.  The second loop was much harder.  I won’t go into great detail but here are the highlights.

Mile 19 to 20 was the hardest of all.  That’s about right after Kyle and Stacy’s aid station, which I blew by again because I just didn’t want to stop and then get back going again.  The outside of my right knee started hurting pretty bad.  I think it was an IT band thing.  I felt fine to run up hills and on the flats but it hurt badly to run down hill.  I walked most of the new section of Shane’s Debacle.  It finally started feeling better running across the dam and then up Fall Down Hill.  I stopped noticing it after I made it through Pat’s aid station again.  Maybe I just started thinking more about finishing and knew that there was only 3 miles and most of it mud.  I perked up going through the triangle and even picked up my pace a bit.  I was back to running more than walking.  Believe it or not I was still having fun and about to finish my first Ultra.

I was relieved to see the finish line through the trees as I exited the trail onto the road for the final stretch.

My Wife and I decided that I would give her a call about an hour from the finish so she and the kids could come out to see me finish my first Ultra.  It was great to come around the corner and see them waiting across the bridge.

 

My daughter had been watching out for me while my son played on the playground.  The whole Megerson crew was there waiting for me.  My son ran up and gave me a big high five and a hug as I kept moving towards the end.  It was great to hear folks cheering and yelling your name as you came across the finish.  I tried real hard to smile but I think it may have looked more like a grimace.  It was good for my kids to see me finish such an accomplishment and see that it wasn’t easy.

I had just finished my first Ultra and didn’t know exactly what to do.  My legs had an unfamiliar ache that sitting down, standing up or even squatting seemed to help.  It appeared as though moving around was better than staying still.  This lasted for about an hour and then seemed to go away without me noticing.  In the meantime, I munched down a post race burger which was quite tasty and even better when accompanied by a brew from a Trail Nerd Mug.

Many thanks to the volunteers and Ben Holmes for putting on such a well orchestrated event.  The aid stations were well staffed and stocked.  All the volunteers were friendly and more than helpful.

I need to thank my Wife for being supportive of my running even though I travel and work way too much and often times my running it’s so conveniently timed.

My official time was 6:32:25.  18^th out of 50 overall

Hydration / Electrolytes: I went thru nearly 256 oz of water (3 hydration bladders full) and 12 oz of HEED.  I took 10 succeed tablets (sodium / potassium), one every half hour and 12 Sport legs (calcium / magnesium), 3 before the race and three every two hours.

Nutrition: I took a total of 7 hammer gel servings, one every half hour starting after an hour of running.  I ate ½ half of a PB&J, banana, and a small cup of coke at the end of the first loop.

Two days later and I’m not feeling too bad.  I expected to be hobbling up and down stairs.  I have a little soreness but not all that bad considering Saturdays’ race is my longest run ever.  I did go in for a message today from Kent Baker with Thoroughly Kneaded Muscle Therapy which made my legs feel even better.

I'd like to get in a few more 50K's and much longer preperation runs before stepping up to the next distance.  I'm looking forward to the next Ultra.

Comments

[Danny]

Great report. Makes me wish I had ran it...dang.

[Bad Ben]

Jim,
Congratulations on an even and well-executed effort. The Nerds are proud of you! You've learned a lot and have come a long way with your fitness level, since you started running trails.

Ben

[ShaneJones]

Nice job on your first ultra! It was fun watching you finish. That first ultra really gives you a sense of accomplishment. Especially with your family waiting for you at the finish. You've come a long way in a year. Congrats!

[Cynical Mudbabe]

Great report and even greater race Jim! When I run the triangle I feel like I'm dancing... but I think I like the sports car idea better.. maybe I'll even try making VROOOM noises.

[Gabe]

congrats, I am glad it went well, epecially considering all the time you spent working all of the trails ou there..