What a day! It's truly incredible to experience the extreme highs and lows that come with running distances, and how a little persistence can seem to win out and get you to the end. I was so happy to be pulling up to the island as the sun was shining down, and not having to start in the snow like the 100 milers, or like we would have been today (the day after). As people were milling around it seemed like the start was quickly upon us. Everyone lined up and I tried to position myself a little towards the front so I wouldn't have to dip, duck, dive and dodge around other runners. There was a tangle of legs right from the beginning as one guy went down, but was quickly up and running again as the runners around him made a good effort to make sure he didn't get run over. I had been looking for Scott at the line, and hadn't seen him, but finally noticed he was up in front of me, so I caught him as we crossed the fence onto the course. We ran up the hill and chatted a bit, which would pretty much end up being the most social interaction that I would have over the the whole race. I ran by myself for the next couple of miles, and as I was dropping down into the White Rock valley all the sudden Scott was back on my heels again, so we talked for a minute until he dropped back a little. Walked up Lone Tree hill and saw JD bombing his way down it on his 50 mile quest. I didn't stop at Elephant head that first time through. Kept a good pace down the hill into Split Rock, though I did hold it back a little - didn't want to burn anything out just yet! Ran the switchbacks and was feeling pretty good as I made a quick water stop back at Elephant Head. My right calf was acting a little tight from the beginning (and would end up cramping periodically throughout) and I always seemed to forget to take a second and stretch it out at the stops - funny how your mind wanders, even with all this time to think! Made it back to the turnaround sometime around 2:25, running down the hill chatting with one of the top 4 or 5 females - Mostly about how this 50K is really 32 miles and how a porta john at the aid station would be nice. :) Was able to meet Lily at the aid station, and she gave me a quick update on how Jun and the 50 milers had looked coming through there earlier. Grabbed a few gels from my bag and took a couple bites of a Cliff bar, then headed back out! Its certainly a little daunting to have to head back out there and do what you just finished doing again! I passed Scott as he was coming down the hill, so it was nice to see him still going strong. After you make the left turn I probably ran half of that hill, then decided to walk for a bit to see if that would help my leg - the tendon/bone whatever on the inside back of my knee had been hurting almost the entire first lap, especially when lifting to go up hill. At this point I started to feel really low on energy - I'd been gelling it up about every half hour, but I realized at that point I hadn't taken any salt pills. My gels have a very good amount of it, but as a profuse sweater I should have kept up on it more. Shortly after running the short downhill to the saddle and cruising (slowly) the flat part, I had this moment where I suddenly felt like I was about to pass out and throw up. I immediately stopped, bent over for a second, walked a few steps to make sure I was OK, then I took a minute to pop a couple of S-caps and an ibuprofen. I then walked for a little ways, and felt like a complete idiot walking on a flat part, especially since it was right by the turnoff that everyone coming back takes - but I wanted to make sure that I was OK before running again. I'll admit, right when it hit me I had a split second thought wondering if I was going to have to just take that turn and cut the run short. Finished out that flat part running, and ran down the hill into White Rock. Started walking really early on the Lone Tree hill, was feeling better than before, but still wasn't feeling 'it'. As I was trudging up the hill a 25Ker was running down, who I recognized from a class I had taken at Weber a few years ago. We had sat next to each other and as an assignment we had to write a story about each other. The story I had written about her was about running...and at the time I had thought she was crazy for wanting to run these 'half marathons'...and now here we were, crossing paths, and me doing a 50K. We exchanged brief words, I'm not even sure if she really remembered me, but it was one of those things that just gave a little pick me up and got my legs moving to the aid station, where I got another pick me up in the form of a cup of Pepsi - Man that hit the spot! Running down the big hill into Split rock I started feeling better and better. I felt pretty good on the switchbacks, and while I probably could have run them all, I alternated walking up one, running the other, figuring that I could get better energy/time gains by saving it for the flat parts.Once I hit the top of the switchbacks I ran the rest of the way to the aid station, getting there at 4:30 - only stopping to fill water and get another drink of Pepsi that I had promised myself! :) Felt really good running down Lone Tree and along the valley. Walked the hill out of the valley, and could hear a pack of Coyotes playing up above us, they were making all sorts of laughing/howling noises. Once I hit the top of that hill I knew I was pretty much home free and didn't walk another step of the race. At the turnoff (mile 29 or so) I was running just as fast and feeling as good as I had the first time around. I felt like a completely different person than the one that had been near there not so long ago! Pushed the pace as hard as I could as I ran down, slowing on the gradual incline but still running and pushing. Such a nice sight to see the cars parked in the valley below! Now it really was all downhill from here! Saw Lily again at the gate who gave me a little final encouragement (thanks!) as I crossed the fence and made the turn to the finish. Crossed the line just over 5:20 (Garmin had 5:20:27). My goal time had been 5:30, so I was super excited that I beat it by ten minutes...AND the goal time was really based on 31 miles, so even better! :) My wife was there to cheer me on, which was fun. She also had a chair waiting for me so I sat and stretched for a bit. I had left my bag of clothes in my car, and was heading to go back, when it hit me that Scotts gotta be finishing soon, so I started to walk back to wait just so see him hitting the home stretch, so I waited at the end of the finish chute to congratulate him. Then I was in the middle of changing my shoes when I looked up just in time to see Craig run right by and finish, so Scott and I ran over the the finish to catch him. 8:02! So cool to see him finish, and in the time that he wanted. Then waited a little longer (but not long!) and were able to see the female winner of the 50 miler finish - Kelli!! What a great job! So cool to see and meet a lot of people from FRB and be inspired by all of the strength, speed and stamina that it takes to do all of this craziness. Thanks to Jim and all of the VOLUNTEERS for putting on such a fantastic race. We couldn't have been luckier with the weather. And thanks to Jun (and others) for helping me have the perfect training buildup to make this race even possible for me to run. In January my longest run was 13 miles. Before the race it was 25. Now its 32... :)
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