Running Down the Dream

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Prairie Spirit 2023: A Photo-Documentary

Mile 90 Photograph takes the best photos, so I had to share them all! My Prairie Spirit recap is here.

Prairie Spirit 50k: Third Time's a Charm!

The Short:

I knew a PR was not in the cards for me at the 2023 Prairie Spirit 50k, so I set 3 goals that were challenging yet achievable: 1) win overall female, 2) run the second fastest female time ever run in Kansas, behind my own from last year, and 3) negative split. I am happy to report I accomplished all 3! I finished in 3:46:46, which is my slowest 50k - but it was my best executed one pacing-wise and considering everything, I am pleased! I really enjoy the 50k and hope I can run a faster one in the future, but finishing strong in this one and loving every moment were big victories.

Results are here.

My Strava activity is here.

Top 2023 North American ultra performances are here, and I currently sit at #10.

Top Kansas female ultra times are here (you have to click on 50k).

My mention by IRunFar is here.

Top course times are here.

My dad's video of the finish is here.

My photo documentary is here.

A video of the race highlights is here - I run by at 1:22 and you can see my dad hand me a bottle!

I never know what to do in finishing photos

The Long:

I vacillated back and forth on running this race more times than I can remember, and registered for it 6 days before the event after a coin flip. Lots of stories here, but in short, I didn't have the most planned training cycle. After my last 50k, I noted that I was going to work with a coach for my 2023 50k, but I did the opposite by not even planning my own build! But, I had adequate mileage, plenty of Saturday + Sunday long runs, a training marathon, and a "why not?" attitude. I didn't expect to match my 2022 performance, but I knew the distance wouldn't be a problem and hoped I could win.

I had one recent race under my belt, a 25k that did not go well. I also had a training marathon that felt amazing. My workouts started to come around about a month prior to the race, but I really wasn't sure what to expect. I had two rough marathons in 2022, so more than anything I needed a long race that I finished strong. It made sense to run conservatively, and I had a loose idea of what that would look like, but didn't have a typical OCD-Sara-plan. I was also in coaching-mode, as my friend Colin was running and I knew he was going to break the men's state record.

Pre-race

Race morning brought fabulous weather, though there had been a lot of recent rain, so the trail may have had more "give" than it would have in a perfect scenario. The race was supposed to start at 7:00 but got bumped to 7:15, which annoyed me particularly since I didn't find out until 6:58, but also because I was already going to be pushing it on having time to go back to my hotel to shower after the race. I did get in one more pee break, though!

I was the happiest one here

On the starting line, a man introduced himself to Colin and I, probably because he identified Colin as his competition. He also said something about going out at 6:20 pace and dropping to 6:00. Prior to this, I'd expected Colin to have a pretty easy win (I predicted 6:20 average for him), and I knew he would break the existing state and course records, but then I started thinking it would suck if this guy (Matt) broke them by more! After the gun, Matt was quickly out front, with Colin not far behind. I found myself in 4th overall, just behind Logan, who I'd run about 18 miles of this race with last year.

With race buddy Logan

Logan and I began chatting, and we both noted we planned to start conservatively and work down. It seemed pretty clear that Matt and Colin would be far ahead (which of course I knew about Colin before the race) and also likely that no one else was going to be close behind us. Logan and I settled in together, and soon found out that we had the exact same fueling strategy, a gel every 3 miles. The universe was definitely telling us to run together, and that's what we did! The miles flew by, we chatted, and I felt controlled and strong. A gel every 3 miles is a lot, and I felt like I was constantly eating, but I stayed on it (I got down 8.5 total during this race; couldn't quite manage to finish my last one). Logan was great company and we talked about a lot of topics, including me pointing out that I could be his mother - he is 23! My dad and pacer Andrea were at the first manned aid station at 10.8 miles to crew me, and my first bottle/gel hand off went seamlessly.

As Logan and I neared the south turn around (17.3 miles), I spotted Matt coming back towards us. Colin followed about 1:30 behind. I didn't know Matt, but he looked pretty young and I knew Colin would close strong, so I felt optimistic about Colin winning, which I told him. I very much wanted him to get those records - he would say I cared more about that than he did. When I hit 17.3, I picked up another bottle with gels attached from my dad, and my pacer for the final 13.8.

Smiles at the 23.8 aid station

Logan, Andrea, and I headed back north, and I felt pretty positive about "only" having 13 miles left! I felt strong and pushed the pace down a bit. It was fun to see all of the other runners on their way out and I learned I was leading the women by over 10 minutes. Conversation kept flowing, and I could tell I was feeling better than Logan but I hoped I could pull him along, at least to a marathon PR (I was expecting to come through at 3:10, which I did). Logan dropped off of us around 22. I thought about how there were "only" 9 more miles - single digits! - remaining.

At the marathon I knew I had 5 more good miles in me, which was something I hadn't been able to manage in a 50k before. I knew I had a significant lead on the second female, and I also thought I was on pace to be at least 5 minutes under what was at that time the second fastest women's Kansas time (3:52). As the final miles clipped by and I saw familiar sights, my recurring thought was "I feel SO much better than I did here last year!", "This is SO much better than last time," etc.. When I hit 30 I was ready to be done, but I also knew I was going to stay on pace. In the end, mile 1 was my slowest! My negative split was not large - I averaged 7:15 for the first half and 7:14 for the second - but I did it!

Finishing euphoria

When I came in, the announcer called me out as the first female 50k finisher, and also mentioned that I hold the women's 50k state record. I celebrated, was handed an award, and took advantage of the talented photographer at the finish, while also struggling to stand up. Matt congratulated me before I saw my dad and Colin (they'd been standing at the final turn so took a moment to get back to the finish), and I asked him how he did. I felt a little bad being so happy when he said he was second, but that meant Colin won! I have become more and more invested in the athletes I coach, and Colin's race was far more important to me than mine. He also ran exactly what I told him he could, 6:20 pace, for a 3:16:59. Now Miles from Mentor holds both male and female Kansas open state 50k records and Prairie Spirit 50k course records! We are accepting group sponsorship deals now. ;-)

Colin had been finished long enough to hold
his award right-side-up; I had not

I hope to work my 50k time back down, and net some more sub-3 marathons, but I think this really went about as well as it could have right now. My heart rate (strap) was significantly lower than it has been before in 50ks, at only 150 bpm average, so that probably means I should have pushed harder, but more than anything I needed a long race that didn't go to crap. Next up, a 2:59 attempt...

I think it's clear I am going to need to run
3 more 50ks in Kansas...

I Run Far shout out

Monday, February 27, 2023

Running from Yeti Marathon

The short:

I never thought I'd run a small, hilly marathon called Running from Yeti, but it took place 20 minutes from my house and I was planning to run 26-28 miles on February 25, so it happened! I planned to run no faster than 7:45 pace for most of the race, probably dipping down to 7:30 towards the end, but I ended up quicker, mostly thanks to running with my fast friend Colin who was also running it for 50k training - but I stayed controlled enough that I felt great running 14.4 miles about 20 hours later. I ran 3:09:34 for overall female, and it's really fun to win a marathon, even if it is tiny!

Official results are here.

My Strava activity is here.

Finish smile + holy quad

The long:

There's a bright side to almost everything, and the end of my sub-3 streak meant that I could return to running training marathons without worrying about my times. I used to do this often, but hadn't since 2015 (which was also the last time I won a marathon!). Last year I saw advertisements for the Running from Yeti Marathon in Springfield happening on a day I was doing 26 miles for 50k training. I considered running it for training, but didn't want a non-sub-3 official time. This year my sub-3 streak had already perished, and the timing was the same, with it being 4 weeks before Prairie Spirit, so I was in.

The start

My friend Colin also ran it for 50k training. He is significantly faster than me, but we were planning to run easy together. I told him I wasn't going any faster than 7:45 pace, but it was probably partially my fault that we got out at 7:30. It felt like 8:30! Adrenaline, you know? Pretty quickly after the start, we were in 4th and 5th overall people, 1st female for me.

The race also had a half marathon, a 10k, and a 5k, and with all of the distances together there were 600 people running onto a bike path. The start was on a road, but less than 100 m in it narrowed down. They started the marathon first, then the half a minute later, then the 10k and 5k. I'm not sure how all of that went since we were out of it, but a couple miles into the race my friend Sierra who was racing the half passed us. I expected she was running 6:45ish pace. We were also passed by some men in the half and a couple 10k and 5k people, I think. Then we were running the opposite direction of mobs of runners.

The races went north and back first, then south and back for however far each distance needed. The half and full ran the same 13 mile course to start, then the full did the same course again. Almost all of the course was on a paved running/bike path, and with the out and backs and doing the course twice, there were nearly always people around (a good thing except when I peed by a tree), though Colin was the only one ever running the same pace as me. I've run the trail before and I knew it was extremely hilly, on the south end particularly. I knew what I was in for, but it's still the hilliest marathon I've ever run with 1283 ft of gain, even more than Heart of America. There are a handful of reasons I wouldn't race this marathon, but the elevation is a big one!

Oof

As we came back by the start after the first loop of the course, I had the normal thought of, "I have to do that again?? Should have done the half...". Mostly I wasn't looking forward to the worst of the hills again. But, I also felt like I was on a training run (I have very much dreaded those hills on training runs on that trail too!). We passed a man around mile 16, moving Colin into 3rd overall male, and the turn arounds showed me I was very secure in my position of 1st female.

I felt great on the flats and rolling hills, even though I could feel us getting into a moderate pace zone for me. I knew if I slowed down I'd be running solo, and to me 7:30 alone feels about the same at 7:15 with someone else. There were 6 brutal hills each lap, and on my second lap I counted them down..."just 3 more...only 2 more...last one!" Colin gapped me pretty good on the longest hill around mile 20, and as he pulled away I started wondering if I was slowing down, but I was staying steady - he just dropped to 6:45ish to finish.

First mile smile

I had a huge runner's high going, and not as much fatigue as a normal marathon, so I thoroughly enjoyed those final solo miles and kept thinking, "I'm winning a marathon!" This was obviously not a large or prestigious event, but it still felt really good. When I could see the finish line in the distance, a spectator said, "Great time, first woman - you're at 3:04 now!" I figured I was about 5 minutes out, so then started thinking "Wow, I could break 3:10!", which was not expected; I'd been telling everyone I was going to run in the 3:20s, and I'd only looked at a few of my splits during the race.

As I neared the finish line, I could hear the announcer saying the first female marathoner was coming, and the volunteers at the final couple of turns encouraged me on. I ran through the finish with a huge smile on my face as I was announced as the female overall winner.

Clock shot

My Garmin measured the course as a little short (25.6 miles), and now I can't find anywhere that it was certified, although I swear I saw it written somewhere pre-race. My pace per my watch was 7:24, so still quicker than the 7:45 I'd planned and a good long long run pace for me right now. My heart rate averaged 148, and I've been able to average 158 for my 50ks, so that gave me a little confidence-boost for my upcoming 50k (also the fact that I ran this with no taper during a 94 mile week, and definitely felt like I could have maintained pace for 5 more miles). Even though we may not have run quite a marathon, I think with the elevation it's kind of a wash on times (I saw another runner's GAP on Strava at -9 seconds/mile). Don't use this one for a BQ though, lol!

After I finished, I needed to go get my gloves that I'd dropped on the first lap, about 0.3 from the finish. I asked Colin if he wanted to jog to get them with me, then jog to our cars, and we did. I kind of felt like we were showing off by running more a moment after finishing a marathon, but I wanted to get to 28 miles for the day. After I picked up my gloves, we ducked away from the finish area to complete the cool down. I got in 28.2 miles for the day, then 14.4 miles the next morning.

My friend Sierra won overall female in the half marathon, during her Boston training cycle. Boston hills are going to feel like nothing for her after this!

Sierra and I with the Yeti pre-race

A tiny marathon for fun and training might have been what I needed right now. I felt far better than in last week's Run with the Wind, despite this course being even hillier. I'm thankful for a really fun and strong-feeling effort, and for a 42.6 mile weekend!

It was windy at packet pick-up

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Run with the Wind 25k: Not Ready to Race Edition

The short:

I won a free entry to the Run with the Wind 25k by winning overall female in last year's race, so even though I'd missed nearly a month of workouts due to being sick, was still feeling weak, and felt in no way ready to run a race, I ran it anyway. I had pretty low expectations but was hoping I could manage 6:59 pace or win overall female. I did not do either; I went out with the first female for 6 miles, then paid for it for 9.5 miles. I finished second overall female in 1:51:37 (7:07 pace), and got a baseline for the season. I definitely should have started slower but in my mind I am still a little fast, and I am always a lot competitive.

My Strava activity is here.

Fast friends post-race

The long:

I almost didn't go to this race. I had a virus in late January to early February, and missed over 3 weeks of workouts because of how weak I was (once I tried and managed only 7:20ish pace). This was after I'd missed several early January workouts due to hamstring pain after my 6-hour race, which I ran a month after having COVID...it sounds worse all written out like this, lol! I'd been running quite a bit still, but just easy, and also no doubles. I had a lot of easy runs that were much harder than they should have been, and I felt pretty puny for quite awhile. In the 8 days leading up to this race, though, I started to perk back up and had a decent workout that also felt really great. I wouldn't had paid to run the race with not being ready, but since I had a free entry and my friends Amy and Colin were running, I decided to do it. I would be running long that day anyway!

Then the day before the race I was very nauseous most of the day and could barely eat. I also had a low grade fever when I got home from work. Those things lasted only about 8 hours, but my resting heart rate was super high and I was about to resign not going to the race, but after I forced down dinner around 7:30 p.m. I felt close normal again. It was really odd. I may have just eaten something that didn't agree with me, but whatever it was wasn't a confidence boost to my already deflated ego.

Not the jump you want to see the day before a race

Like last year, Amy and I rode together to meet Colin at the finish line. Amy and I left bags in Colin's car, which stayed there, and Colin rode with us to the starting line. Also like last year, the race ran from Sarcoxie to Carthage. In theory, it runs the direction that gives you a tailwind, but in reality there is usually a headwind for part and a tailwind for part since it runs two different directions. This year we ran against the wind going west and had a tailwind going north. It was nice going north but pretty demoralizing going west, especially at the end!

I didn't know what I could do or how I'd feel, so I decided I'd go out with the first woman if it seemed reasonable, and see if I could compete for the win. The race director sent out a race manual that contained a little summary of "the contestants", so I knew that the woman who'd gotten second behind me last year was running it. She hadn't been very far behind me, and though I'd tried to use the race as a workout last year, it had turned out that my 50k goal pace was pretty all-out on this race course without a taper. I knew I wasn't in the same place this year, but thought I'd shoot my shot for the win as long as she didn't go out blazing fast. The state record for my age was 1:48:38, so I also thought maybe she'd help drag me to that (I ran 1:45:37 in 2022, though the other 3 times I've run it I did not break 1:50).

Pre-race

I ended up running with the eventual female winner for the first 6 miles, at around 6:45 pace. She was friendly and kind, and I wish I could have hung on longer but I didn't have it. It kind of ended up being 6 miles of racing plus 9.5 miles of struggling. It was weird though, because I knew I was slowing down and absolutely didn't have it in me to speed up, but I still felt strong to keep running. Strong but not fast - as compared to the weak and not fast feeling I'd had during and right after my recent bad virus - so a step.

I remembered the course well from last year, so it was nice knowing where I was. I counted down the miles and never looked at my watch. Once I lost contact with the female leader I was completely alone for the rest of the race. I did all of the positive self-talk I could, and I enjoyed myself even though I wasn't running well. I took a gel with caffeine about halfway and it made me feel like a million bucks for a bit, though you can't tell from my splits. The hills were tough as I remembered, and the headwind for the first 6 miles and especially the final 3 miles was not my favorite. When I heard my watch beep mile 15 and realized I had another half mile against the wind uphill to the finish, I lost some optimism, but ran through the finish as best I could.

The moment I'd been waiting for!

I ended up finishing in 1:51:37, exactly 6:00 slower than last year. I didn't pace well, but even if I'd looked at my watch I really wouldn't have known where to start at because of all of the recent variables in my running and life. I have learned that I am very good at pacing by feel when I'm feeling normal, but very bad at it when I'm sick or weak (refer to my 2022 marathons)! Colin had started his cool down after he'd finished in 1:38 for the male overall win (he was going to run his 50k goal pace but ended up quicker), and when I finished we jogged to his car so I could grab a few things. We then jogged back out to see Amy come in. She finished in 2:01 and set a new state record for age 51!

Like last year, the cool down was a death march (during the race I'd promised myself I wasn't running a cool down, but ended up doing 2 miles my friends anyway). We then enjoyed some soup and socializing while waiting for the awards. They age and gender graded everyone to equalize competition, so although I was 2nd overall female and 1st masters female, I was 4th age graded in the entire field. Amy edged me with 3rd age graded, but I got Colin, who was 5th age graded. After we drove back to the start to get my car, Amy and I found a great little breakfast-all-day restaurant and had breakfast...at 2:30 p.m.! The race started at 9:00 and they didn't do the awards until the last runner was in and age-calculated, so although this race is close to home it's nearly an all-day affair.

The best meal ever

I am toying around with the idea of running the Prairie Spirit 50k in March again. I haven't been following a training schedule but I've been doing lots of back-to-back long runs (I just love running long on both Saturday and Sunday!), my mileage is sufficient, and I'm jogging a marathon on February 25 - so I'd be ready enough. This race showed me that endurance and distance are no problem for me right now, but holding a pace is. Last year I ran 6:44 for this race and 6:57 for Prairie Spirit, so maybe 7:07 would translate to a 7:20 pace 50k? I don't know that I'd be thrilled with that considering my history, but at the same time it seems really hard right now. If I could do it, it would give me the second fastest women's 50k ever run in Kansas, behind my own from last year. I am going to see what the forecast looks like! There is also Frisco as a 50k option...

So...we will see! Being uncertain about how I'm going to feel makes it difficult for me to decide what to do both training-wise and race-wise, but it's easy to go run every day, usually a long way, because I love and need that part more than ever.

Saturday, December 31, 2022

2022 Reads

I read a lot more pages than I ran miles! What I read in 2022:

This Is the Night Our House Will Catch Fire by Nick Flynn (Goodreads counted this for 2021)
Unthinkable by Brad Parks
Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman
Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict
Apples Never Fall by Liana Moriaty
Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook by Nancy Clark
The Devil Wears Black by L.J. Shen
Win at All Costs: Inside Nike Running and Its Culture of Deception by Matt Hart
Say Nothing by Brad Parks
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
The Science of Running by Steve Magness
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell
Interference by Brad Parks
Daniel's Running Formula by Jack Daniels
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah
No Exit by Taylor Adams
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell
Luster by Raven Leilani
Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni
How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Katy Milkman
A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Thin Ice (Alaska Wild #1) by Paige Shelton
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Whispers by Heidi Perks
The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart
Cold Wind (Alaska Wild #2) by Paige Shelton
Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens
Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Book Lover by Emily Henry
Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Honor by Thrity Umrigar
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
The Kids Are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony
November 9 by Colleen Hoover
The Last Time I Saw You but Elizabeth Berg
The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
Confess by Colleen Hoover
Count the Nights by Stars by Michelle Shocklee
Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
The Sanatorium by Sara Pearse
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
In Bloom by Fern Michaels
Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
When She Dreams by Amanda Quick
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
The Maid by Nita Prose
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini
Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon
We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride
More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
A Star is Bored by Byron Lane
The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
The Love of My Life by Rose Walsh
Nothing More To Tell by Karen M. McManus
The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle
Overdue: Reckoning with the Public Library by Amanda Oliver
Without Merit by Colleen Hoover
The Dinner List by Rebeccal Serle
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Pretty Little Liars #2: Flawless by Sarah Shepard
One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
Gilt by Jamie Brenner
The Counselors by Jessica Goodman
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
Divergent by Veronica Rogth
Geekerella by Ashley Poston
The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz
Legend by Marie Lu
What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Running Man by Charlie Engle
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
Bringing Out the Best in People by Aubrey C. Daniels
The Lies We Tell by Katie Zhao
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad
The Amazing Adventures of Mr. Tinker: A Time Travel Novel by Paul Ibbetson
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune

I also read half the Bible; I'm doing a 2-year reading plan. I've read it in 1 year before but it felt a little rushed.

I counted one in 2022 that Goodreads
counted for 2021 (started it in 2021,
finished in 2022)

The average book length surprised me

2022 Running Year in Review

Quick stats:

Miles run: 4,241.7
Teams/Support: rabbitELITE, UCAN, Nike, Miles from Mentor
Races run: 14
Races won (OA female): 8
Races won (masters female): 12
PRs:

6 hour - 42.575 miles (13 x 3.275 mile loops)
Longest training run at 30.2 miles
Yearly mileage at 4,241.7 (just 73.5 more than last year)
Weekly mileage at 116.5

Records:

Missouri state road racing record for 20k for females age 41
Missouri state road racing record for 25k for females age 41
Kansas state road racing record for 50k overall female
Prairie Spirit 50k female course record
Missouri state road racing record for 10k for females age 41

Highlights:

Being inducted into the OMRR Hall of Fame
11th fastest North American female in the 50k in 2022
6th best North American female performance in the 6 hour in 2022
Running in the professional field at the Boston Marathon
Zero injuries!

I ran this race sick because I won't
ever have this opportunity again!

Longer impression:

My running evolves every year, and I'm not sure how to concisely sum this one up! Consistency in training was my strong suit, and I continued to enjoy masters running. I really appreciate having masters records and titles to chase, though in most races I enter I'm still hunting an overall female win.

I was happy enough with all of my races considering the circumstances, except for my marathons. While disappointing to have two rough marathons this year, I am still thankful for the experiences and I know that if/when I run another good marathon I will appreciate it more. I am definitely more amazed at all of the good or just slightly off marathons I had before this year now. I had good shorter races and good ultras, so I can't really blame the distance or the pace for my marathon bombs.

I treasure all of my training with my local group, Miles from Mentor. Really every workout is a memorable one with them! I did the big 10 miles at MP+1:00 then 10 miles at MP workout that I've heard about for a couple of years for the first time this year, though I did 4 more miles after the 10 at MP for 24 on the day. My 4 hour training run was also pretty memorable, since I've never done that before! Even the speed workouts and track reps that aren't my forte were extremely fun this year. The every day easy runs always include inside jokes, fun facts, laughs, a lot of randomness, and a ton of endorphins. Running friends truly enhance my life.

I continued coaching several of my running buddies this year, and I love seeing their break throughs! Casey ran a long-awaited huge half PR at Bass Pro (1:21:58, also breaking my age 38 state record) and moved her marathon PR down a notch in Chicago (2:50:59). Colin blazed a 2:41:20 in the Des Moines marathon, even running most of it solo. Amy knocked out super impressive mileage and an age 50 state record in the 25k. Ann ran her second fastest marathon a week after having COVID, and we know she has a faster one in her, because a week off COVID! Spencer PRed with 2:58:24 at GO St Louis and was ready to run a 1:18ish half at Bass Pro but was derailed by illness. Sierra is now training for Boston, Sarah is conquering PA school, and Elise is practicing having two children, with the arrival of a new baby boy on Dec. 22!

I love running just as much as, or maybe more than, ever before. I don't know if I'll ever improve my current PRs, but that doesn't really change anything; I'll be running just as much, because performances are not what get me out there every day. I genuinely love every bit of training, and my marathons especially this year reminded me how valuable training is to me - I loved the process more than I can express, even though I was highly disappointed in my marathons. You'll find me running a ton and giving my all - and whatever that gets me on race day I will try to be happy with...even if I just know I have a better one in me, haha!

Many of the Miles from Mentor regulars

You can read my race recaps here:

2/12/22 - Cabin Fever Reliever 20K
2/19/22 - Run with the Wind 25K
3/12/22 - Running of the Squirrels 5K
3/19-20/22 - Havin' a Crappie Weekend Challenge (3 races)
3/27/22 - Prairie Spirit 50K
4/18/22 - Boston Marathon
5/21/22 - Bill Snyder Highway Half
7/23/22 - Heat Advisory 5k (time trial)
8/13/22 - Riverside 5000
9/11/22 - Plaza 10k
10/2/22 - Twin Cities Marathon
11/6/22 - CMC Recycling (Bass Pro) 5k
12/17/22 - Run for the Ranch 6 hour

Post-50k endorphins

You can read my monthly recaps here:

Casey & Rebecca gave the best speeches at the
OMRR Hall of Fame induction

You can read my previous yearly recaps here:

Twin Cities Pro treatment

Monday, December 19, 2022

Run for the Ranch 6 hour: The Aftermath

The short version with links to the other detail posts is here.

I had checked the North America ultra standings prior to the race so knew if I hit my goal of 13 laps I'd be #5 overall - but oh-so-close to #3 and #4 so I wished partial laps could count. I have since learned that most time-based races like this switch to a small loop for the final hour or so, so that people can get the most of the time allotted (noted for future reference!). Another woman ran 44 miles on the same day I ran mine, so I ended up #6. I liked the course for my race but it wasn't flat, and the powerful wind really did not help things. As per usual when I accomplish a goal, I am thrilled with it, but I know I have a better one in me!

I plan to stick with the marathon and 50k for now though. I would like to run a 50 miler when I turn 50 (October 2030), and of course this race made me think very strongly about doing it sooner...because "it's only 7.4 more miles!". I could have run 7.4 slow miles after those 42.6, and I didn't really specifically train for this race. I have made a lot of running claims that didn't come to fruition, including "I'm never running an ultra" and "I'm never going farther than a 50k" (there was also "Once I break 3:00 in the marathon I'll be happy with that time forever." - we all know how well that worked out!) - so no promises.

The biggest surprise for me was that the end miles felt just like the end of a positive split marathon. I thought I'd be going to some new places, but it all felt awfully familiar. I knew I could keep going, but that the pace wasn't going to be what I'd been running. I fully expected to slow down in this race, and because of that it wasn't bothersome when it was happening - unlike in marathons when I slow down I am very bothered! I was a little disheartened that I slowed down before 30 miles, since I'd finished my 30 mile training run so strong, but maybe that day was just a bit better than race day.

I didn't do an actual training cycle for this race, but rather mostly figured I'd piggy back upon years of mileage and marathon builds. I'd been running speed work with my friend who won the Run for the Ranch 1 mile, so my workouts were very not ultra-specific, hah! I'm guessing those things caused me to slow down sooner than I would have if I'd had more focus on this race, but I also greatly enjoyed the feeling of doing "whatever".

The other surprise was that the next day I just felt like I'd run a marathon - actually I was much less sore than I have been after many of my marathons. I thought that my 50ks didn't beat me up too much because they were on rails to trails crushed gravel, but this race was on the road and it didn't beat me up any more. I credit the Alphaflys for a lot of that, but I also think I respond better to long runs and mileage than most. In a marathon it's not the distance that gets me, it's the pace over the distance - even when I have run crappy marathons I knew I'd finish them, just slower than I wanted. A big reason I ran this race to begin with was that running for 6 hours at a relatively slow pace seemed easier than running a fast marathon at the moment.

I already mentioned that I had zero chaffing, courtesy of great rabbit attire. I got two relatively minor blisters under my toes, but that happens to me in marathons too. My body was tired but I didn't feel any unusual or uneven pain. One reason I thought this specific race was the best to dip my toe into the 6 hour world at was because I didn't think I'd have any trouble stopping if I had any unusual pain, since I had very little invested (it was about 7 miles from my house - I have run the race course on long runs)! Fortunately, that didn't happen, but I would have called it if I'd thought I was getting injured at any point. If I travel to a race or invest a lot in some other manner I don't see pulling out happening, even when it probably should.

I think I did okay with my nutrition. I took in 1000 calories, which wouldn't fuel for every mile over 20 but with the slower pace I wasn't burning as much glycogen. Maybe it wasn't enough, but I was pushing what my stomach was used to already so I think much more would have caused other issues. If I had planned this further in advance, I'd have trained my stomach to handle more and to handle some real food. What I took settled well and I had no stomach or GI issues. I took either a bottle or a gel at the end of every lap. I had 2 bottles of UCAN energy + protein (90 calories each), 2 bottles of coconut water (45 calories each, with electrolytes), 6 UCAN Edge gels (70 calories each, all superstarch), 1 SIS gel (210 calories, sugary, tastes awful), and 1 Maurten gel (100 calories, sugary). I didn't take any caffeine, which is atypical for me, but with a 10:00 a.m. start time most of the race was in the afternoon and I knew it would wreck my sleep if I used any.

To sum it up: I am thankful that God gave me this opportunity to try something new and to push my limits! Now the hardest part: some days off.

But it hurts so good!

Run for the Ranch 6 hour: Laps 9-13

The short version is here, and laps 1-8 are described in detail here.

Lap 9 - After a little dip during lap 8, I was doing okay again. I felt like I needed to back off the effort some in order to make it 5 more laps, and running solo probably helped me at that point because I could go with my own ebb and flow. I knew I'd be at 29.5 when I finished lap 9, so even though I'd been having some doubts I knew I was going to keep going because I was sure not willing to run "only" 29.5 at 50 seconds/mile slower than my 50k pace. I was probably feeling my lack of an actual training cycle for this event - remember, I did 20 miles 3 weeks out and 30 miles 2 weeks out, but I hadn't done a whole slew of 20+ milers since my Twin Cities training cycle, or back-to-back long runs since early 2022 (plus I was doing track workouts during the 5 weeks leading up to this race, lol!). Julie was out running the course, and found me walking up the little hill about a mile out from the finish area and ran back with me. I asked her about Eric, and unfortunately he'd called it for the day due to stomach issues. From mile 29 on, my miles were all 8:37-9:25 and averaged about 9:00; I wasn't moving quickly but I never stopped plugging away.

Funny fact: driving to race I heard the song Save Your Tears on the radio, and while many songs cycled through my head when I was running solo, the lyric I sang to myself most often was "Save your tears for another day..." Not an encouraging one, but I never really felt discouraged. I didn't ever feel like I was knocking it out of the park, but I did always feel like I was doing it.

Just keep runnin'!

Lap 10 - Throughout lap 10 I was excited because I knew when I finished it I'd have a new mileage PR. The course marshals at the corner where Missy and Rebecca were cheering started getting into the race and saying something to me each lap, such as asking what the farthest I'd run before then was. My friends cheering was also amazing, and it was so kind of them to come out for a couple of hours in the brutal weather. I was so pumped up by my new PR when I came through lap 10, I thought that 9.9 more miles seemed completely reasonable. I had points in the race where I thought "Geez, I hope I make 32", "36 would be fine", and "39.3 is a marathon plus a half, that would be really good!", but I was always in a good place when I passed the finish area so never truly considered stopping. I was monitoring the course clock at each lap, and I still had about 1:36:20 left when I finished lap 10, so I knew even if I averaged 10 minute pace for the last 3 laps I'd get them in.

We ran through this and could see the elapsed
time at the end of each lap

Lap 11 - The course was really thinning out by this point, with most of the marathoners finished. I was doing well considering. I think laps 9-10 were my most difficult, then 11-13 were a little slower but felt better. I walked up the little hill during laps 9 and 10, but never needed to after that. I started thinking about how I felt better at that point than I did with 10 miles to go in Boston, so that was comforting since I knew I'd gritted through worse. The wind was extremely annoying but expected each lap. The aid station volunteers and course marshals felt like old friends at that point. I found humor in the teenagers chasing each other, the other kids who didn't know what gels were, the amazing volunteer at the 180* turn with two puffs on her hat, and the aid station that was scraping ice off their table with a windshield ice scraper. When I passed the clock I had well over an hour left, so I knew I was going to make my 13 lap goal.

Lap 12 - On this lap I mostly kept thinking "I'm doing it!!!" I felt confident about completing 6 more miles, then 5, then 4. I was very insistent that I was not stopping at 39.3. I knew I would not have time for 3 more laps, so I didn't push because it was going to be 42.6 miles either way. I mostly felt like I was in the final 10k of a marathon that I was bonking - and I've had plenty of practice with that over the years! It's a feeling I'm familiar with; I can't run fast, but I can keep running.

Lap 13 - I knew I was going to do it, so this was kind of a victory lap. I also knew I had plenty of time to complete the last lap so didn't strain. I passed each volunteer and aid station for the final time. I thanked each of them profusely, and remarked that it was a really, really long time to stand outside. I updated the OMRR members who asked my distance. I lapped another woman who was in the 6 hour, and she said, "You are absolutely remarkable". I called back, "You are remarkable; you are running for 6 hours!" (she went on to be the second female finisher). About halfway through the lap, I suddenly had to pee pretty badly. I hadn't gone since lap 4. I went back and forth about whether or not to stop, and decided to hit the porta potty at the final aid station that was just a step off the road. I knew I had enough time cushion, and also that there was no way I'd have time for a 14th lap, so I went ahead and stopped to go. I was worried that I'd pee myself when I stopped running if I didn't!

Not actually the finish because the
photograph didn't stay all 6 hours

The finish - In my head this was a huge deal, but in reality it was anticlimactic. Well, I did see two marathoners heading into the finish ahead of me and decided I was going to outkick them, which I did - even though it counted for nothing except feeding my competitive spirit. Colin was waiting along with his friend Amy, and he was the only one around who knew how far I'd run. He ran the same distance, but faster - not fast enough to have time for a 14th lap either though. He and I won overall male and female, but no one really knew that either. The spectators had pretty much all gone home and even the timing guy was inside his trailer. I was bursting with endorphins but also started getting cold in the bitter wind real quick.

Colin and I grabbed our aid station supplies and headed to the indoor area. What I wanted most was to take off my shoes! I did so, and also went to the bathroom to take off my sweaty sports bra and inner layer shirt. I raced in last years rabbitELITE jacket because it's the warmest rabbit top I have, with this years thin tech short sleeve under it. I had ZERO chaffing anywhere from my clothing, which seems like a major accomplishment. I scrubbed my hands that were sticky from gels and milky from UCAN. I put on a sweatshirt, but then thought I needed my rabbit uniform on for photos, so I put my rabbit thin long sleeve on over the sweatshirt. It looked kind of ridiculous.

After I changed I wasn't sure what came next. What do people do after running for 6 hours?? Colin was also standing around aimlessly, and we both said we weren't sure what to do. I tried some leg swings halfheartedly, and drank some chicken broth with a few noodles in it. Once we got our awards, I made Colin take photos with me, which continued to feed my excitement. I couldn't really believe we'd done it - we'd run 42.6 miles! This wasn't a goal I even had until about a month ago, but it sure felt good to accomplish it, though it's kind of still sinking in. I'm starting to understand why this ultra thing is addicting!

This is how it started

The progression

He humored me

This one is my favorite!

The story continues here.