I have to say this was one of my favorite races to date. So much that this will be on my annual don't miss list. The race directors, Sara and Jeanne, were so wonderful. Not a single detail missed. Not a name forgotten. They were so attentive to every runner and spectator, and so accommodating to every need. The St. Pat's Park grounds are beautiful this time of year. The 3 mile loop course provides so much variety that I never got bored. The location only 2 hours from home made it a very easy trip.
I was using this run as training for the HURT. My focus was on nutrition and sleep deprivation. I feel the nutrition part worked out very well. The sleep deprivation part, not so much. I ran for 15:27 and covered 64 miles in that time. It was 11:30 pm and I was getting cold...and tired. I just wanted a little break. My super pacer, Leah, let me sit by the fire and would nudge me every 20 minutes. I was not sleeping, but enjoying the warmth and giving my heavy eyelids a rest. After a few pokes I decided to lay on a cot inside for while. I was going to go back out later. I changed out of my sweaty clothes and into nice, dry, warm clothes and that was it. I was not going back. I was enjoying the feeling of these uber comfy, super warm clothes around me. I had to convince Leah that I was happy with 100k and I was REALLY okay to sit the last 8.5 hours out. We "get" each other and she knew exactly where I was coming from. Could I get more mileage - sure. But I chose not to. I went home on Sunday feeling like a million bucks. Legs a little sore...but I didn't have to take the stairs one at a time. Today I feel they are at about 90%.
I've been trying to follow a lower carb / higher fat diet in my everyday life. Friday night while everyone was chowing down on the wonderful pasta dinner, I was just sitting there fighting the urge to make myself a plate. I have a serious love for pasta. BUT, I waited and then headed to a restaurant with Matt and Tif. We (they) miraculously found this cute little place in South Bend. The main drag was filled with restaurants - fast food, pizza joints, more pizza joints, and shady looking pubs. But hidden back behind a hotel there it was. The perfect place for us to hang, eat, and enjoy some beverages. I ordered a burger - no bun - no fries - side of french onion soup - and cabernet ( can't cut it all out ). I spent the week making a conscious effort to cut the carbs where possible. It's not all that difficult and I haven't missed it too much.
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| This barn was transformed into sleeping quarters and staging area. |
The morning of the race I downed my first VESPA mixed with some cranberry juice. I ate a piece of ham off of a breakfast sandwich. I was ready to go. I felt good going out and was trying to come up with a strategy to use that would allow me to keep going for 24 hours. There was one hill - which got bigger every time - that I decided I would walk each loop. I don't even know if it was runnable. I'll have to ask Joe Ventura. Early on I got into my own head and was figuring out the hours remaining. That is never a good idea for me. I do best when I approach a long race with an attitude of "I'm going to be out here for a long time so I'll just run til it's over." Instead I started doing math and trying to figure out how many more hours and how many more times I'd run this loop. After a little pouting I dusted myself off and got on with my race. I came up with a strategy where I would run 3 walk 1. That worked for a total of 8 laps. Then I went into overdrive. I had a ton of energy, I experienced muscle fatigue for a loop somewhere in the 40's but then it went away. I did end up going into ultra-walk mode during the night. The roots were tricky in the dark and well hidden under the leaves, even with my super duper 200 lumen headlamp. That thing was AMAZING btw! After 21 loops I threw in the towel and took a rest on the cot. I got up to find my warm clothes and change. I was expecting to feel cramped and sore. NOTHING. I felt no physical signs of what I'd just done. There was a tiny voice in my head that questioned my quit as I was doing the walk of shame to my things. I quickly hushed the voice knowing that I didn't want to be cold anymore. And that was it. The rest of my night was spent cheering on my awesome friends as they continued on - many setting PR's for time and distance. Big Joe, Little Joe, Tif, Rita, Art, Jeremy - as well as the many new friends - all kicked ass out there!
I didn't over think my nutrition. I used NUUN in my camelback - took an S-Cap every couple of hours - took 2 Aleve because my feet hurt - and VESPA every 3 hours. I didn't try to shovel in the calories. I ate based on my hunger. During the 15+ hours I ate an uncrustable PB&J, a few boiled potato pieces, a sugar free pudding cup, a few bites of a turkey sandwich, some oranges, a sugar-free red bull, and a lot of blackberries. Coming off of a tough 30 last weekend and a marathon the weekend prior, I was really shocked at how fantastic I felt. The lack of fatigue was unreal. Muscle fatigue and soreness is something I always experience during long runs. The recovery, unless something has yet to hit, WOW! The RD's, my pacer, and other friends were surprised how well I moving 30...40...50 miles in. I was shocked myself. They were chalking it up to the "Wasp Juice" ie: VESPA. Was it? I don't know. I do know that it was the first time I've experienced going that distance while giving a decent effort and not feeling the effects. For the moment, I am going to attribute it to 1.) VESPA 2.) Shifting the Diet 3.) Training / Strengthening program. I am going to continue doing these three things because right now they seem to be working for me.
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| My new friend Gene. 76 years old. This was his 33rd race of 2012. Over 500 marathons under his belt. Can't wait to see him at Lakefront 50/50 this weekend! #INSPIRATION! |
Glad to hear things are working for you, Jen! Keep up the good work. I definitely enjoy reading about your successes!
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