"...you thought you could run, but you won't take a chance."

After my DNF at Cloudsplitter 100K in October - my 2nd DNF of the year - I was left scrambling for a race to finish the year with.  I did take away one positive from Kentucky, however: I covered 50K with almost 9,000 of climbing and still had plenty of gas left in the tank.  My fitness was sharp and wanted to really test it before 2014 turned to 2015.  In comes OPSF5050.

Billed as "Indiana's Toughest Footrace," which is likely true, OPSF5050 offers a 14 mile fun run, a 50K and a 50M.  Naturally, I went with the 50M.  Knowing nothing of the race or the course, I used social media to gather information and all I got was...mud.  And hills.  But mainly mud.  This brought back nightmarish images of the 2011 HUFF, which had several stretches of ankle-deep mud.  Not to mention the waist-deep water crossings.  Both of which beat me up pretty badly.  But that's how we learn!

Overtime picked up at work, and I was slightly concerned about not getting enough mileage to turn in a respectable 50M time.  Finishing is one thing, racing and really pushing yourself is another.  Many days I had to work 6:30am - 5:00pm (on my feet all day minus breaks) and then hustle to the gym to get a 2 or 2.5 hour run in before they closed.  This made for some long days but I kept telling myself it was worth it.  Plus, I rationalized, the extra time on my feet at work was toughening up the legs!

I decided to not taper all that much, because I HATE tapering and wanted to stay sharp.  I did back to back 20s the weekend before the race, and a hard 14 on the treadmill the Monday before.  I was ready.

For ultras that require travel I usually borrow my grandparents van because it has more room than my car, plus XM radio.  I hadn't planned on doing that since I only had about a 75 minute drive, but at the last second I decided to borrow it.  I ended up taking a lot of gear just in case, and XM radio is always soothing on long drives and race mornings!

The start/finish of OPSF5050 is at a remote campground in the forest, and I arrived at about 6:00am.  I picked up my packet/bib and returned to the van to lay everything out.  Rain was not on the forecast, but MUD was.  I had planned to change shirts halfway through the race, a plan that I stuck with and certainly helped me out.  I brought different gloves and hats, too.  All of this helped me stay relatively dry and aside from some slight hand numbness after the sun went down, I was never cold during the race.

It's tough to gauge pace or a finishing time on an unknown course, so I just ran comfortably, pushing the pace in places where I could and running conservatively when called for.  I missed a left turn in the first loop and lost about 15 minutes and came into the s/f in 3:06, completing loop 1.  "OK," I thought.  "Not shabby."  I changed socks, which turned out to be pointless because my feet were wet the entire day.  Plus I wasted a few minutes simply messing with my shoes, as they were CAKED with mud.  I came back in after the 2nd loop, having covered about 29 miles in pretty much right at 6:00.  Over 50% done!  Only a little more than 20 miles left!

Shortly after I started the 3rd loop, I started to feel bad.  My energy was waning and my breathing was getting harder and harder.  Not good.  I hydrated and devoured two peanut butter and honey sandwiches and a gel, and after about 10 minutes my energy returned!  Never underestimate the power of peanut butter.  I was still cruising along, never pushing too hard and never letting any negative thoughts into my head.  I am a firm believer that negative thoughts affect physical performance.  I knew it would be a grind and just kept telling myself the finish line is the ultimate reward.  And, unlike IT50, this 50miler had music (my iPod crapped in April so I ran about 45 miles without tunes...ugh).  It was just me, Phish and the trail.

I came in from the 3rd loop at about 9:32, ahead of the cutoff and still feeling great.  I downed a shot of Yerba Mate energy (thanks Bob Lynch for opening it for me!), a Clif Bar and a gel and was ready to head out for my last abbreviated (8 miles) loop.  I went out and had to come back because I forgot my gloves...that would have been a nightmare, I think.

The sun was starting to go down and it was getting chillier.  Overall I felt pretty good, minus some occasional twinges in my calves.  After each loop I made sure to drink Pedialyte and I think that helped stave off cramps.  I hit the last aid station with about 3 miles left and they asked if I needed anything.  I downed two cups of Heed and said "No thanks, I'm ready to finish this bad boy up."  I turned on my headlamp and made my way to the finish.

The last leg of the course is fairly technical, compounded by the fact that it was dark and I am not the strongest night runner to begin with.  I walked 90% of it, given the hills and the mud.  I was not about to face plant in the mud or lose a shoe IN THE DARK and have to stop and look for it.  I was cruising along and finally came to the sign that said "start/finish" with an arrow to the right.  I said to myself "fuck yeah!" and picked up steam to the finish.  There were several volunteers there and they cheered me home as I finished in about 11 hours and 45 minutes.  The energy and support was amazing!  I can't say enough about how great the aid stations were all day.

When I stopped running I started shivering, so I sat down by the fire to try and warm up.  Sipping Pedialyte, I was still shivering so I finally went out to the van, cranked up the heat and changed into dry clothes (duh).  I gathered my stuff, thanked the volunteers and left at about 8:00pm.

All in all, I am very pleased with my performance.  It certainly lived up to the billing of "Indiana's toughest footrace."  I also made a few new friends, which is always a highlight of any ultra.

No more races for 2014...unless someone talks me into running the HUFF.  I'll use Land Between the Lakes 50M in March as a tuneup for IT100 in April, which I plan on making my first 100 mile race!

OPSF5050...definitely on the radar for next year! 

(Photo credits to Indiana Trail Running)

"Let's Get Down to the Nitty Gritty...Let's Get This Show on the Road"

I caught wind of the 2013 IT100/50 last March, but had already committed to Planet Adventure's 50K at Winona Lake in early April.  I'm not big on running two ultras so close together, so I passed on IT100/50.  However, I vowed to make it my first 50M event of 2014.  

The long, cold winter was tough on everyone...but I really tried to not let it affect my training.  I sucked it up and spent lots of time on the treadmill and running stairs at my gym.  I also took spin classes and rode the spin bike by myself more.  All of this helped me get through the Land Between the Lakes 60K in horrendous conditions.  Miles and miles of slop and water to trudge through.  But as many ultra runners allude to, it builds character and helps you out in tough times down the road.  

Met up with a few nice folks here!

 I spent the Friday morning before the race at work, finishing up some post-inventory work.  Once I left there, I was able to gather my things and hang with a friend for awhile.  We ate at Pizza Hut and just generally goofed off and had a great time together, which put me in a light, breezy mood.  I hit the road for Chain O' Lakes (in Albion, IN) a tad later than I wanted, but arrived there at 7:30pm and decided to push my luck for packet pickup (which ended at 7pm).  Thankfully, RD Mike took the time to get my packet.  Of course, I left my bib there, but he messaged me immediately and I was able to snag it the next morning.  Settled into the hotel in Columbia City and was asleep, I think, by 10:30pm.  

2014 IT 100/50

 Promising weather and trail conditions had me totally geeked for the race.  Using my confidence from LBL60K and my winter/early-spring training, I was obsessed with running a sub-9:00:00 50M.  I had not run this course since the 2011 HUFF, which ended with me in the hospital the following evening with severe dehydration.  I believe this was due to pushing my body past its limits because of the brutal trail conditions (mud, water) and not hydrating properly post-race.  But that was then.  This was now.  I was ready.  

The race kicked off at 6am amidst a steady flow of headlamps leading out of the start chute and onto the trails.  It was dark, but the sun would be up within an hour.  The temperature was perfect and the trails were in superb condition.  My game plan was to run the first loop conservatively, possibly even right at 3:00:00, then start chipping away at the next two loops by periodic surges and attacking the hills.  I was placing my faith in all the treadmill incline and stairclimbing work I had done since the start of 2014.   I also firmly believe that all the time I had spent in the dry sauna at the gym had transformed my body into a super-efficient sweating and cooling machine.  

Beautiful weather!

I made sure to hit every aid station and drink at least two cups of Gatorade, and to fill my water bottle with water.  I snacked on fig newtons and PBJ sandwiches (cut into quarters).  I also had gels, Clif Bars and B12 energy shots with me in my pack.   

Instead of using a drop bag, I had supplies in my vehicle, so as I neared the end of the first loop I simply peeled off the course for a few yards, loaded up and got back onto the course.  This involved grabbing my iPod and firing it up.  Great!  Tunes, rhythm, zoning out and getting into a groove...for 8 miles.  It died halfway through the loop, so I was back to listening to my own thoughts.  Since I usually train with an iPod, this was unfamiliar territory.  But I adapted and settled in for the miles that lay ahead.  
 
Loop 2 ended with 5:54:38 showing on the clock, so I had 3 hours and 5 minutes to cover 16.67 miles.  My legs were feeling OK and mentally I was feeling strong, but I wasn't sweating as much as I normally did...and that concerned me.  I gulped a little more Powerade and water at my vehicle than I normally would have, praying my stomach could handle it.  Taking off onto the trails, I was repeating to myself "You want sub-9? You fucking go get it.  Do it right now."  
 

Found myself in a great groove all day. 

 I made a real effort to push the pace when I could, wondering when The Beast would show up.  I was ready to do some wraslin' with her.  She never made an appearance, so I kept hammering at a steady, consistent pace.  The miles rolled on, and I could feel myself tiring but I would not take anything over 9 hours.  I just wouldn't.  I hit the last aid station at 8:25:29, leaving me 34 minutes to cover 2.67 miles.  Barring a catastrophe, that sub-9:00:00 50M was mine.  
I ascended a few steep hills leading out of the aid station and then settled back into the groove that had gotten me through the first 48 miles.  I was coming up fast on a runner ahead of me, and as we both climbed a hill, he looked back and saw me.  He broke into a run and pulled away.  I tried to catch him but he was too strong.  Even though he had escaped, I met my overall goal of clocking under 9 hours, which I did when I crossed the finish line at 8:54:01.  Jubilation, exhaustion, relief, gratitude and ecstasy were among the emotions that overwhelmed me.  Upon receiving my finisher's medal ("Always earned, never given"), I walked around for a few minutes away from the runner's tent to gather my thoughts.  I wept briefly and silently.  Tears of joy and gratefulness to be able to do what I love, which is to explore my body and mind's limits.  I also wept because I thought of my friends and family, who have been nothing but supportive in my journey into the ultra world.  
The next morning I returned to the park, chipper and with minimal soreness.  It was breathtaking to watch a few 100M finishers, who had endured all night to cross that finish line, many whom had been on the course over 24 hours.  
As I drove home, I reflected on what a wonderful, rewarding weekend it was...while also planning my assault on the Park2Park Relay Ultra in June.  Onward and upward!  

Ultra #9 in the books.

All smiles post-race!

***  Special thanks to all the volunteers that made this event happen, not least of which the ones at the school house aid stations that sprayed me down with sunblock on multiple occasions.  Thanks!   ***