Result: 4:50:54, first female, 5th overall
2016 results
First of all I need to add in that I love anything and everything Peter Pan related. I've had much more focus on this childhood fairytale in past years but my love for it is still there. Here's a great quote for why Peter Pan is so beloved from The Gods Are Bored blog: "Now I know, of course, that Peter Pan exists in the ethereal world, that many cultures have met him and befriended him, and that he's ancient as the universe but still playing, playing like a happy child, mothered by Goddesses when necessary. Always his band of Lost Boys grows larger, because you see, they aren't lost at all. They're saved." So far I think the best movie adaptation is Peter Pan from 2003. The movie from last year was a little too elaborate with it's back story but it was quite good as well. There is also a very cool Syfy mini series called Neverland. More on this later.
Twelve days before this race I did my final "long run" in preparation by summiting Pikes Peak. I absolutely counted this as a long run because I was on my feet for nearly 4.5 hours and was working hard the whole time. I also had run a 5k pr at the Twin Sizzler just six days before, so I knew I was a bit faster than the year before. Adding to these positives, the trails were in excellent condition compared to last year. The calf deep mud was all I knew of the Buckeye Trail with last year being my first time on it. There was so little mud this year that I almost felt like I had to run too fast.
We started promptly at 7 a.m. and I tucked in behind the lead men, which included David, the men's winner from the year before and Steve, the experienced ultra runner that I had paced with. They announced before the start that he had run every one of the Buckeye Trail 50ks! It was warm out at about 70 degrees but not oppressively hot yet.
 |
| Nice, conservative start. Photo credit: Steve Pierce Photography |
Snowville to Boston: This is the toughest section for me on the way out and on the way in. The ups and downs are longer and mostly all runnable so I'm moving at a good pace through changing elevation. I started catching early starters in this section and they were all awesome, stepping off the trail when it was too narrow for me to pass. I tried to talk to most of them. Steve started catching me in here but stayed right behind. I had my only near fall in here. I tripped on a root and launched myself onto and around a tree with both arms to keep myself from falling. I hopped off the tree and kept moving but it probably looked pretty silly. I constantly turn my ankles while running this pace. My ankles are used to it and the only result is a little soreness in the tendons on the outside of them. My stomach started turning on me in this section. I felt nauseous and the thought of ingesting another Gu at Boston was revolting.
Boston to Pine Lane: I skipped my Gu at Boston but I filled my water bottle with half Tailwind and half water. I did not feel good. I was soaked with sweat from the warm temps and I knew I wasn't taking in enough electrolytes or calories. Sure enough as I worked my way through the up of the next section I began to feel weak and depleted. I had 20 miles to go! As I followed along behind Steve, who had passed me in the aid station, I promised myself that I would force down a Gu at the turnaround. I seriously questioned if I would make it there without puking or just laying down on the side of the trail to take a nap. I copied Steve's every step, knowing he was more familiar with this trail than anyone. Before I knew it we were passing through the meadow where the black raspberries grow. There were piles of them just asking to be picked. No time right now! I stayed right behind Steve and even talked with him a bit. I told him my goal was to run the last two miles instead of walk so I was staying conservative on effort. "We are going pretty fast," he warned me. I had been looking at my watch at every mile but by this point it was about a half a mile off. I came into the turnaround at 2:17 elapsed.
Pine Lane to Boston: Steve observed that the third place guy was not very far ahead of us and took off like a bat out of hell after the turnaround. I forced down an entire Gu and filled my water bottle, momentarily losing my lid as I threw it in the trash bag with my used Gu pack. As I started off I resigned myself to the fact that I might not be feeling great for this effort today. This was fine. This type of distance and terrain is all about putting one foot in front of the other until you're done. I described it to my sister, Amelia, as any other type of hard labor. The job has to be done, so you finish it. You don't have to feel great doing it. I began passing all of the people that were coming the other direction. My Gu kicked in. Suddenly I was feeling the best I had felt all race and was smiling and waving to the people I passed. I love the huge amount of downhill in this section and my knees had not even started wrenching yet. My stomach still felt sick but I had energy. I also started experimenting with getting a song in my head, which is very important for when things get hard. I rejected a few and finally landed on "Lost Boy" by Ruth B. This is where Peter Pan comes in.
Lost Boy by Ruth B
 |
| Speeding on the down to the creek crossing after Pine Lane. Photo Credit: Steve Pierce Photography |
Boston to Snowville: This was the toughest section. I blew through Boston aid station, forcing down half a Gu and re-filling my water bottle. I was well into the 8s for this mile while most of my miles stayed in the low to mid 9s, with hiking sections in the low to mid 10s. I lost satellites for this entire section so these miles are not accurate on pace but the 220 can pick up my stride and approximate the split. I was getting tired despite having a good amount of calories in me. I tried to appreciate how beautiful the trail was and how much I love running through the woods. Not only was I singing "Lost Boy" in my head I was working up an entire story about being a lost boy and running through the forests of Neverland. The mind does strange things to cope when it gets tired. I felt like I would never reach Snowville. I had completely forgotten about the other road crossings, so when I reached one, I thought it was Snowville but then realized I still had to pass Blue Hen Falls! Talk about discouraging. I was being very careful about not falling during this time and hiking every steep climb.
Snowville to Finish at Oak Grove: I was in and out of this aid station quickly. I forced down an entire Gu and filled my bottle with full strength Tailwind. I also ate a slice of water melon and this was heaven. The volunteers at Snowville are especially awesome. Their theme was "highway to hell" and I laughed when I saw this because it is the clear truth. I felt pretty good leaving this station. That confusing puddle from last year...I hopped right over it. No crashing today. I was plenty tired but at this point I was focused on finishing strong. Even though I had about six miles to go! I was moving at a great pace on the downs, gradual ups and flats and hiking the steep ups. I refused to feel guilty for hiking these. I needed the break and the hamstring and calf stretch that it provided me with. My knees started wrenching in this section and I noticed it as I tried to accelerate on the downs. Before I knew it I was plowing through the light mud of the bog of despair. It smelled beautiful and I always love running straight through the mud, like I'm walking on water. At one of the creek crossings I gave into the heat and dunked my head in but I resisted the other creek crossings.
 |
| Always jump the logs! Photo credit: Mark Godale |
I had been alone since I passed the last place runner back before Snowville. I actually was not looking forward to seeing people at the finish. But I would be able to stop running there. I reached the split rail fence and ran down the road to the turn off where Steve's last water jugs are. Last year my race pretty much ended here. I started walking and struggled to finish. This year I ran the last two miles right around 9 min pace and kept looking for the pink ribbons to make sure I didn't take a wrong turn. I wasn't overworking the effort in fear of suddenly bonking. "Stop thinking that! You feel fine!" I really did feel fine! Finally I crossed the road, ran up the path and heard the finisher bell start ringing. I looked at my watch for the first time in miles. No way. 4:49? I started kicking and ran about 6:40 pace for the final stretch, so happy to be done and to have crushed my goal time. I was elated at the finish and probably spewed my good feelings all over the place. David had taken his third win in 3:57, just minutes off the course record and Steve had finished in 4:45, not quite overtaking third place.
 |
| I look way too happy. Photo credit: George Themelis |
I stayed just for a little bit after the race (forget cooling down), just enough to see the 5:30 people come in. The second female came in right around this time. I got introduced to Bill of Bill's Bad Ass 50k fame and as a result I'm now entered in that race as my fall 50k. I had to book it home to the kids who were waiting patiently for me. My muscles recovered quickly but eight days later I still have lingering fatigue and some blood sugar issues. I only ran 42 miles this week. The lowest mileage week I've had since 2014. The next goal race is the Akron full on September 24th. Can't wait to give that course another try!
No comments:
Post a Comment