3 PEAT, WHERED THAT COME FROM?

Leading into Iron Horse 50 Mile I had a goals of running 7:00/7:15. It was around mile 28 when I realized that was not going to happen. 85+* and 100% humidity will send you into the lonny bin, and I went in kicking and screaming!!! BUT FIRST,... wait what my first ultra distance in OVER A YEAR!?! 8 MONTHS of injuries. And just 3 months of training and I am out here running a 50 miler, how did this come about???? I definitely need to be in this loony bin! Someone get me on Meds quick!

So, 2017 what a year that I learned to embrace injuries... ha, f$@k that. All that I embraced was Netflix bingeing I did.

Let's just skip how awful 2017 was and let's focus on the present and the future...

IRON HORSE 50 MILE

So now I use 50 mile races as training runs? WTF?

I felt pretty swell those first 28 miles, running 7:55/8:05 paces, I even remember crossing the 25 mile mark singing and doing the arm movements of "BYE BYE BYE". It was then I literally went bye bye bye, one minute I'm singing "Filthy" by Justin Timberlake to the next minute I am crying my eyes out....

I STILL don't know if the pain in my chest I felt for over an hour was a heart attack or pressure from the amounts of fluids I was drinking.

Some people find themselves on the trail, I totally lost control of myself on the trail.

I went from running 8 minute miles to walking, to laying in the sand, to running to laughing, crying, throwing up, to sucking on a pickle for 8 miles. I was lucky to have a good friend be able to pace the last 17 miles with me, when I needed it the most, we did a run/walk, mostly walk for the first 8ish miles. I wanted to DNF soooooo bad, and if she wasn't there I probably would have. I remember being at mile 40 and some photographer was taking pictures of me, I was squatting down in the shade trying not to throw up, and holding back tears. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? PULL IT TOGETHER... THIS ISNT YOUR FIRST RODEO... everything that could go wrong, went WRONG, I hit every emotion and I felt like I was running my first ultra for the very first time.

BUT, I did not quit, I was happy, then sad, then happy, then sick, then happy then sad, it was playing on repeat.

The heat that day affected me GREATLY, slowed my time down by 2+ hours, but I did not give up, I did not give in. This day, was a great mental training day for me!

Won the 50 Mile Overall!

GEAR:
ALTRA pretty much head to toe. ALTRA TIMPS

NUTRITION:
BRL SPORTS TRIFUEL, WATER, PBJ, ORANGES, PICKLE!!!

PICTURES:

Comments

Worlds End Ultra 50k

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RH Armadillo Broil 50k

Training. Or lack of. I took a few months off of running due to a nagging injury... Also, moving to Savannah I was swamped with lack of time and finding a job etc... I decided that I would have to save Leadville Trail 100 for next year, and shoot for a 50k to keep my mind preoccupied. Armadillo Broil 50k is Richmond Hill GA first Ultra taking place at JF Gregory Park. 3.1 mile loop, mostly paved "trail" and about a mile dirt trail, flat as can be expected for running in the Savannah area. Shade for most of the trail minus the start/finish area. Weather that day was high 80* with a heat index of 112* due to the humidity. Parts of the trail were muggier than others. Race was very well organized, there was a 25k option and 50k option. Great race for runners looking for a long training run for upcoming fall marathons and also great ultra for anyone looking to run their first 50k, my advice, run in the heat to get use to the humidity and also practice nutrition during your long r...

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