I ended 2016 with a lot of doubt in my mind that I would be strong enough again to do an Ultra event so soon. I ran 2 50k races on October that in my mind I did decent at. Coming off ANOTHER injury really killed my spirits and I lost a lot of MOTIVATION to WANT to train again.
I was registered for my FAVORITE event: Harbison 50k that happened to fall on the day before my 31st BIRTHDAY. "BUT" about 2 weeks prior I hit rock bottom, I didn't WANT to run, I didn't even WANT to get off the couch, I was throwing myself a 'pity party' on my couch and my ONLY FRIENDS were Netflix and Breyers ICE CREAM. All because I wasn't where I wanted to be with my training, and I wasn't as fast, as strong, as determined as I once was.
I wasn't sure at the time why or how I ended up starting to find motivation again, it could have been me quitting my job (Assistant Manager at Planet Fitness Savannah GA) and finding another job that suited me much better, (Georgia Game Changers Running CO. Savannah). Maybe it was the fact of having to tell co-workers, customers, and other local runners that I was registered for a 50 mile, that I HAD to find the WANT to run, train, want to win again. Telling others that I'm doing something made me feel obligated that I HAD to, at least TRY right? I won't lie there was a little part of me that thought i might DNF this 50 mile.
I had rushed my training for IRON HORSE 50 MILE, I think my longest run for this event was 19 miles in just a few short weeks of training. I knew leading into IR50 I wouldn't be running nearly as strong as I did the previous year (I ran IR50 in 2016, 1st Lady and 2nd Overall in 7:16(ish)) and the race wasn't my strongest then and I was definitely more prepared then I would be this year. My Husband would laugh when I would mention that I felt unprepared, he is the type of runner who could come off an injury and not run for months and kill a race, he is all MENTAL! NOT me, I need to KNOW that I am prepared, have the training proof, the STRAVA documentations, that NUTRITION Training runs where I found out what worked what didn't, the GEAR test, the BACK to BACK long runs, etc.
GEAR:
FOOTIES! ALTRA LONE PEAK 2.5- definitely HAPPY I wore these, the sand in places on the trail were awful but then just enough cushion I needed for the asphalt areas.
APPAREL! ALTRA Running Tank, ZOOT Shorts, FEETURES ultra light socks, MOVING COMFORT sport bra.
ACCESSORIES! FITLETIC Hydration bottle (9oz)
NURTION: TRIFUEL, GLUKOS energy tablets. 2-3 PBJS, Water.
The RACE: Our Goal- STAY TOGETHER! We are both very competitive (Tom and I) and I believe we can be competitive with each other at good and bad times. Our plan was to stay together, and run no faster than 8:20s in the beginning. Well I had to keep reminding him "Hey, 7:20, 7:50:7:11.. S.T.F.D." It was around mile 14/15 that I pulled away from Tom at the aid station, I was feeling GOOD, listening Britney Spears, (Yes, I'm that GIRL, I love Britney, b*tch) the SUN started to break free, and I was still moving strong but KNEW that I wouldn't feel this great for LONG!
I ran the first 50k STRONG, 4:17 (ish), I was catching a few men here and there on the trails and there no ladies close behind from what I figured, so over the next 8-9 miles I just coasted and enjoyed the trail. Ultra-Marathons in Florida sound easy right?!Well NO, not all of the time. YES, there is SAND in Florida, WARM sun in Florida, and you may even catch a hill or two. Iron Horse course is a 25 mile out and back(ish) rails to trails system, maybe about 5-7 miles of the 25 mile loop is paved which is nice and kind of flat, but the other 18-20 miles of that loop is not flat, more like deceivingly not hilly or flat, more like when you think you have a down hill coming its just the way the SUN is Reflecting off the SAND. No there is no crazy ELEVATION gain in this event, you are not running over mountains, just KNOW that if this is your first Ultra, it is not a pancake race,, it will still TEST your limits! PLUS, I don't care if you run around a track for 50 miles or over a mountain for 50 miles, the distance it self is IMPRESSIVE.
Okay, so for when THINGS went BAD and my MENTAL BITCH in me kicked in. I HATED throwing up, even when not running, when I was a little girl and would get the FLU I would make my Mom sit next to me and hold my hair back and pet my back. WELL when you are 39 miles deep in the frigging woods and your MOM is 900+ miles away, you have to SUCK up your little cry baby self and get that PBJ and Water filled belly to get the nasty out so you can keep moving. Let me tell you PBJ does not taste good coming back out than in. S the next 11ish miles weren't great but my inner bitch kept YELLING at me I WOULD FINISH this race even if I have to walk, so I walked/ran and ran really slow. I believe it was the HEAT and the LACK of Training that made me go from a 8:11 pace to a 9:00+ minute pace. BUT HEY I was moving right?! I did not die, and better yet I didn't DNF! I ended up FINISHING 1st Lady and 2nd Overall and a time of 7:41 (which honestly I was surprised I was under 8 hours).
This event is great, the volunteers are always chipper- the aid stations are always stocked, the only thing that saved me was the ice they gave me while I was sick to chew on since I couldn't keep fluids down.I absolutely LOVE the RD, Chris Rodatz. AS I crossed the finish line he said to me "we were worried about you" - I was about myself too.. This event is simple and something about that makes me want to run it every year. ALSO, could be the WINE that I won too.
What I LEARNED from this race:
You DON'T know what you are capable of unless you TRY, You DON'T have to PR every time, as LONG as you RUN with HEART. Britney Spears Work B*tch is my jam, Also, running in the sand sucks.
PICTURES!!!
I was registered for my FAVORITE event: Harbison 50k that happened to fall on the day before my 31st BIRTHDAY. "BUT" about 2 weeks prior I hit rock bottom, I didn't WANT to run, I didn't even WANT to get off the couch, I was throwing myself a 'pity party' on my couch and my ONLY FRIENDS were Netflix and Breyers ICE CREAM. All because I wasn't where I wanted to be with my training, and I wasn't as fast, as strong, as determined as I once was.
I wasn't sure at the time why or how I ended up starting to find motivation again, it could have been me quitting my job (Assistant Manager at Planet Fitness Savannah GA) and finding another job that suited me much better, (Georgia Game Changers Running CO. Savannah). Maybe it was the fact of having to tell co-workers, customers, and other local runners that I was registered for a 50 mile, that I HAD to find the WANT to run, train, want to win again. Telling others that I'm doing something made me feel obligated that I HAD to, at least TRY right? I won't lie there was a little part of me that thought i might DNF this 50 mile.
I had rushed my training for IRON HORSE 50 MILE, I think my longest run for this event was 19 miles in just a few short weeks of training. I knew leading into IR50 I wouldn't be running nearly as strong as I did the previous year (I ran IR50 in 2016, 1st Lady and 2nd Overall in 7:16(ish)) and the race wasn't my strongest then and I was definitely more prepared then I would be this year. My Husband would laugh when I would mention that I felt unprepared, he is the type of runner who could come off an injury and not run for months and kill a race, he is all MENTAL! NOT me, I need to KNOW that I am prepared, have the training proof, the STRAVA documentations, that NUTRITION Training runs where I found out what worked what didn't, the GEAR test, the BACK to BACK long runs, etc.
GEAR:
FOOTIES! ALTRA LONE PEAK 2.5- definitely HAPPY I wore these, the sand in places on the trail were awful but then just enough cushion I needed for the asphalt areas.
APPAREL! ALTRA Running Tank, ZOOT Shorts, FEETURES ultra light socks, MOVING COMFORT sport bra.
ACCESSORIES! FITLETIC Hydration bottle (9oz)
NURTION: TRIFUEL, GLUKOS energy tablets. 2-3 PBJS, Water.
The RACE: Our Goal- STAY TOGETHER! We are both very competitive (Tom and I) and I believe we can be competitive with each other at good and bad times. Our plan was to stay together, and run no faster than 8:20s in the beginning. Well I had to keep reminding him "Hey, 7:20, 7:50:7:11.. S.T.F.D." It was around mile 14/15 that I pulled away from Tom at the aid station, I was feeling GOOD, listening Britney Spears, (Yes, I'm that GIRL, I love Britney, b*tch) the SUN started to break free, and I was still moving strong but KNEW that I wouldn't feel this great for LONG!
I ran the first 50k STRONG, 4:17 (ish), I was catching a few men here and there on the trails and there no ladies close behind from what I figured, so over the next 8-9 miles I just coasted and enjoyed the trail. Ultra-Marathons in Florida sound easy right?!Well NO, not all of the time. YES, there is SAND in Florida, WARM sun in Florida, and you may even catch a hill or two. Iron Horse course is a 25 mile out and back(ish) rails to trails system, maybe about 5-7 miles of the 25 mile loop is paved which is nice and kind of flat, but the other 18-20 miles of that loop is not flat, more like deceivingly not hilly or flat, more like when you think you have a down hill coming its just the way the SUN is Reflecting off the SAND. No there is no crazy ELEVATION gain in this event, you are not running over mountains, just KNOW that if this is your first Ultra, it is not a pancake race,, it will still TEST your limits! PLUS, I don't care if you run around a track for 50 miles or over a mountain for 50 miles, the distance it self is IMPRESSIVE.
Okay, so for when THINGS went BAD and my MENTAL BITCH in me kicked in. I HATED throwing up, even when not running, when I was a little girl and would get the FLU I would make my Mom sit next to me and hold my hair back and pet my back. WELL when you are 39 miles deep in the frigging woods and your MOM is 900+ miles away, you have to SUCK up your little cry baby self and get that PBJ and Water filled belly to get the nasty out so you can keep moving. Let me tell you PBJ does not taste good coming back out than in. S the next 11ish miles weren't great but my inner bitch kept YELLING at me I WOULD FINISH this race even if I have to walk, so I walked/ran and ran really slow. I believe it was the HEAT and the LACK of Training that made me go from a 8:11 pace to a 9:00+ minute pace. BUT HEY I was moving right?! I did not die, and better yet I didn't DNF! I ended up FINISHING 1st Lady and 2nd Overall and a time of 7:41 (which honestly I was surprised I was under 8 hours).
This event is great, the volunteers are always chipper- the aid stations are always stocked, the only thing that saved me was the ice they gave me while I was sick to chew on since I couldn't keep fluids down.I absolutely LOVE the RD, Chris Rodatz. AS I crossed the finish line he said to me "we were worried about you" - I was about myself too.. This event is simple and something about that makes me want to run it every year. ALSO, could be the WINE that I won too.
What I LEARNED from this race:
You DON'T know what you are capable of unless you TRY, You DON'T have to PR every time, as LONG as you RUN with HEART. Britney Spears Work B*tch is my jam, Also, running in the sand sucks.
PICTURES!!!
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