One of my biggest issue right now in sport is to forget I'm not 20 anymore. A while ago I heard about an ultra around East Fork lake where we trained time to time on foot or mountain bike. The course is a nice 53km loop following the Steve Newman Trail (apparently a famous walker who was training to walk around the world).
The idea sounded appealing as the area is full of nice trails and organizers described the course "nice run with rolling hills and just a big climb"...well the race was scheduled 2 weeks after the USARA National Championship (in which we finish 3rd with Doug and Shawn), so in a moment of great optimism I decided to sign up.
USARA being a 30hrs race, it was pretty clear that the 2 weeks between the race would be mostly a recovery...which I did pretty well, with just 3 runs in the 2 weeks, the longest being a 17km.
Race day, I'm still thinking about the strategy, we discussed with Marc that being my first ultra I should stay with the leading group at the beginning and see how is the pace, then after 1hr try to go if they were slow.
The course is on, first 600m on flat road so I get into my pace and take the lead with the idea of slowing down once we hit the trail and let someone else lead the pack. Only issue is once I reached the trail and look over my shoulder everybody is already more than 50m away.
Quick thinking as I'm wondering if I'm already too fast and will burn myself soon, but at the same time I'm feeling easy so decision is made I will keep the pace for the next 20km and will see.
The trails are first really in good shape with as described some rolling up and down, 8km first aid station, I just grabbed 2 gels for later and continue passing couple of early starter who are on the course 1hr before official racer to be sure to finish on time.
The trails became more challenging around 12km, hard to see the path, steep up and down and ravaged at some spots by horses.
Second aid station at 21km, the feeling are still good, no-one behind me that I can see so after a quick drink I restart.
As decided before I started to slow down to make sure I can finish strong and won't destroy my legs for the next 2 weeks (big adventure race in one month with Marc!!!).
Trails are still in rough condition and the legs are getting a bit heavy while reaching the aid station with the drop bag at 33km. A quick bladder change in the backpack and let's go for the last 20km.
The next 10km to te final aid station are the one I know well, mostly montain bike trail, easy to run with not much climbs. The last km to the final aid station is flat, crossing a field under the sun.
Two minutes stop at the aid, drinking some electrolyte as the temperature is rising quickly and I learn that at the aid station 2 (21km) I was 30min ahead of the second. The good news give me a boost of motivation for the last 10k and that was needed....big hill, invisible trails, following the purple flag on the trees to be sure to stay on the loop.
Finally, I hit the last road leading to the finish, a quick look over my shoulder to be sure that no-one is catching up and I crossed the finish in 5hr37min, with 1hr lead on the second and ameliorating the course record by 48min.
A cup of Chocolate milk, a nice massage and I waited to congratulate the finishers.
Happy with the result, knowing that other runners I know would have bit me for sure if present, but well I take it.
The idea sounded appealing as the area is full of nice trails and organizers described the course "nice run with rolling hills and just a big climb"...well the race was scheduled 2 weeks after the USARA National Championship (in which we finish 3rd with Doug and Shawn), so in a moment of great optimism I decided to sign up.
USARA being a 30hrs race, it was pretty clear that the 2 weeks between the race would be mostly a recovery...which I did pretty well, with just 3 runs in the 2 weeks, the longest being a 17km.
Race day, I'm still thinking about the strategy, we discussed with Marc that being my first ultra I should stay with the leading group at the beginning and see how is the pace, then after 1hr try to go if they were slow.
The course is on, first 600m on flat road so I get into my pace and take the lead with the idea of slowing down once we hit the trail and let someone else lead the pack. Only issue is once I reached the trail and look over my shoulder everybody is already more than 50m away.
Quick thinking as I'm wondering if I'm already too fast and will burn myself soon, but at the same time I'm feeling easy so decision is made I will keep the pace for the next 20km and will see.
The trails are first really in good shape with as described some rolling up and down, 8km first aid station, I just grabbed 2 gels for later and continue passing couple of early starter who are on the course 1hr before official racer to be sure to finish on time.
The trails became more challenging around 12km, hard to see the path, steep up and down and ravaged at some spots by horses.
Second aid station at 21km, the feeling are still good, no-one behind me that I can see so after a quick drink I restart.
As decided before I started to slow down to make sure I can finish strong and won't destroy my legs for the next 2 weeks (big adventure race in one month with Marc!!!).
Trails are still in rough condition and the legs are getting a bit heavy while reaching the aid station with the drop bag at 33km. A quick bladder change in the backpack and let's go for the last 20km.
The next 10km to te final aid station are the one I know well, mostly montain bike trail, easy to run with not much climbs. The last km to the final aid station is flat, crossing a field under the sun.Two minutes stop at the aid, drinking some electrolyte as the temperature is rising quickly and I learn that at the aid station 2 (21km) I was 30min ahead of the second. The good news give me a boost of motivation for the last 10k and that was needed....big hill, invisible trails, following the purple flag on the trees to be sure to stay on the loop.
Finally, I hit the last road leading to the finish, a quick look over my shoulder to be sure that no-one is catching up and I crossed the finish in 5hr37min, with 1hr lead on the second and ameliorating the course record by 48min.
A cup of Chocolate milk, a nice massage and I waited to congratulate the finishers.
Happy with the result, knowing that other runners I know would have bit me for sure if present, but well I take it.
