Moebius - Green Monster Trail 50k: Runnable 50k = lots of running

Moebius - Green Monster Trail 50k on August 27th 2016

Goal: 4:30s and first female

Result: first overall in 4:17:27, women's course record

     I think this is the quickest I've ever written a race report after a race but I want to get this down while it's fresh in my memory. I learned a lot about running a trail 50k yesterday and I don't want to forget! 

     A few quick observations on the race and the course. This is a small race put on by Steve Godale (yes, that Steve Godale) and is staged at the Sunny Lake Park picnic shelter. Runners navigate through five 10k loops that roughly loop around the lake on single track trails, cross country-type grass paths and some paved bike path. I've heard nothing but good things about the race and Steve let me know that it was a fast course. He estimated about 20 minutes faster than the Buckeye Trail 50k. So my goal was to run about a 4:30. I thought I might be able to average around 8:30s on a very good day, which would put me in the 4:20s. 

     This week's mileage goal was 90. Because I did my long run of 22 miles on Sunday (7:20 average) I would be putting in 111 miles in 7 days after completing this race on Saturday. I wasn't worried about mileage fatigue during a 50k though. The effort is not hard, simply long lasting and I knew as long as I didn't push the first 20 miles that I would feel strong to the finish. That is if I kept up on my nutrition! What it comes down to is I can run 8:30 pace for a long, long time as long as I feed myself. I'm not even sure how long I could go but by the end of this race I knew I could have kept going for another loop if I needed to. The day before the race as I was getting through my busy day of work, practice and taking care of my kidlets, I was so excited to wake up the next day and go race this. I swam a mile at Lake Medina in the a.m. with Todd and then ran a 6 mile recovery run with drills and strides and felt amaze. 

     I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and had my usual pre-race meal of cold cereal (raisin bran this time) and half a cup of coffee. I got on the road by 5:15 and arrived at Sunny Lake by 6:15. Did a quick 2 mile warmup, talked with a few people and then headed to the starting line.

Do we all look properly chill? Photo credit: Dawn Harrison-Drasner

     I immediately zeroed in on the veterans in the field and built my race plan around pacing with them for as long as possible. Mike Ryan and Mike Epp are local ultra legends with many 50 and 100 mile top finishes and Mike Ryan has run one of the fastest times on this course (4:10 in 2015). He recently ran 35 minutes for a track 10k at the master's championships so I knew he was in good shape. The race started and I fell into step with "the Mikes." Another rookie ultra runner named Andy went with us. Starting fast and far ahead of us was Brian, who put 10 minutes on us by the second loop. 

Loop 1: 8:28 7:49 8:08 9:22 (aid station) 8:38 7:43

We had a nice little group with the four of us and we started talking about running, goals for running, past running adventures...ha what would you expect? I mentioned that I was very curious to see how the fast start for the lead male would turn out. The Mikes didn't know him, and that is usually a sign that someone is a rookie. We made our way through the single track, the grass path around the pond and then into the wooded roller coaster path that I love. My least favorite section is the grass path after the roller coaster. It was hot in this section and I felt like I had to push as if I was in a cross country race. We took turns leading throughout this loop. At the middle aid station at mile 3.5 I drank one cup of Gatorade and one cup of water. I did not carry a handheld for this race.

Loop 2: 9:23 (aid station) 8:22 8:10 9:33 (aid station) 8:15 7:26

At the start/finish aid station our group was still tight. We all waited for everyone to finish getting their nutrition. I drank one small cup of Gatorade and a cup of ice water, water over my neck and face. I realized during this loop that I felt good. We were maintaining a pretty ridiculous pace for a trail 50k and yet I felt relaxed and easy. Mike Ryan dropped back during this loop and I was sad to see our group lose a person. Mike Epp led most of this loop and I paid attention to where he placed his feet on the path in case I lost him soon. I thought that I would be the one to drop back next but I was still fast through the rollercoaster. At the middle aid station I ate a small fig newton, one cup of Gatorade, one cup of water and water over my neck and face. During the last stretch of grass before the loop ends, I realized that the soft grass was a relief to my feet and I decided to embrace the grass sections as places to relax and rest my feet. Not easy when your mindset is "race the cross country course!"

Loop 3: 9:21 (aid station) 8:25 8:16 10:16 (long aid station, waited for Mike) 8:33 7:39

Start/finish aid station: Gatorade, ice water, grabbed a Powerbar gel for later. Our group was still together and I commented that I was afraid I was going too fast. The splits were so much faster than Buckeye trail. But this makes sense. There is no place where walking is needed. The course is very gently rolling and the hills are so short that you can tip toe up them quite quickly. Andy took over the lead during this loop and Mike began to drop back from me. I realized that we might not be able to stay together for too much longer. The middle aid station took a while because Mike had to get extra nutrition and I waited for him. I took the gel and washed it down with two cups of water. Mike stayed right behind me all the way to the following loop. We lapped a bunch of people during this loop and they were all great, moving to the right so we could pass and yelling "nice job!" 

Loop 4: 9:31 (aid station) 7:46 8:15 9:08 (aid station) 8:25 7:46

More Gatorade, water and ice in my sports bra at start/finish aid station. Grabbed a gel for later. I can't remember if Mike left this aid station with me but I was pretty much alone as I got into this loop. At about mile 19 I realized that I felt really good. I felt much better than I had on the previous loop. I decided to go with it and pick up the pace. During the 7:46 20th mile I caught Andy and he commented that I was really moving. I let him know I was going to pick up the pace for a while but he didn't go with me. I rolled into the aid station in straight up marathon mode, inhaling my gel and washing it down with two cups of water. I still felt good all the way through the sun-exposed bike path and grass sections. I relished the grass now that my feet were feeling a bit bruised. All through this loop I told myself I would only see these places once more. I made a pact with myself that I would not walk once during the final loop.

Loop 5: 8:44 (aid station) 8:32 8:28 9:30 (aid station) 8:42 7:39

I decided to not get any more gel and stick with Gatorade for the final loop. More ice water and ice in my sports bra. There was no one in sight in front or behind. I found out later that Brian still had eight minutes on me heading into the final loop. As I approached each landmark I told them goodbye. Some sections I was sad about, but that awful grass section was hotter than ever and I was glad I wasn't coming through there again! I did not second guess my energy and let myself keep the pace strong. I was not going to bonk. I felt fine and had plenty of energy. As I came into the last aid station I was shocked to see Brian, the male lead runner, leaving. I grabbed half a cup of coke, Gatorade and water and booked it after him. I think I also told this aid station that they were the best. I passed him in the next few minutes. "Try to stay with me, less than three miles," I shouted to him. "No way! I'm done for," he replied. I felt bad that he was struggling so much but I didn't slow down. At this point I was in full on finish mode. I get very focused and pretty much nothing is going to stop my relentless drive to be done. As I came into the final grass section a mile from the finish I started to push pretty hard. My last mile was 7:39 and my last stretch to the finish was at 6:38 pace. I felt good! There was definitely more in the tank but I was happy to be done. It was getting hot. The first thing I said when I finished was "I broke 4:20!"

Incredulous at the time. Photo credit: Dawn Harrison-Drasner

     I waited for Andy (just two minutes behind me), Brian and Mike to come in and then went to my car to get dry clothes on. I was a little in shock at what I had just done. I had no idea I was physically capable of being this strong in a 50k. My overwhelming sense though was that this was the type of race I belong in. I loved every step, even when I was feeling tired. Every time I entered the single track trail I felt like I was going home. Apparently if you win this race you get comped entries for life, so it looks like I'll be running it again!

Check out this unique finisher's token! Absolutely love.