Easter Sun Run = Double the Fun

The short:

I figured the Easter Sun Run 10k and 2 mile races would be a great way to get in a long run workout while visiting my parents for Easter. I also hoped to make it onto overall female podiums in both distances to net some prize money. My left piriformis started bugging me a few days before the event, so I almost didn't run at all (I had not pre-registered since I wasn't sure how my 50k recovery would be going) - but I went to the race and started warming up, felt fine enough, and signed up. I ended up doing approximately: 4 miles warm-up, 10k race, 3 miles easy, 2 mile race, 2 mile cool-down for a 17+ mile day, and my piriformis didn't bother me at all when I was running fast. I won 1st overall female in the 10k, 2nd overall female in the 2 mile, and 1st masters in both - they allowed double dipping on masters prize money too. Then I got to spend the weekend with family, so it was truly a win-win-win!

I love these big check photo props, & hadn't 
won one since Run for a Child 2018!

The long:

I have run the Easter Sun run three times before, in 2016, 2017, and 2018. They cancelled the race due to COVID in 2020 and 2021, and I don't recall why I didn't run it in 2019, but it's always on my radar because I love to visit my parents for Easter and the race offers prize money. The downside of the race is that the courses are long, but I'm less bothered by that since I'm aware that's the case in advance, plus I am not in PR form anyway [nor will I ever again be for a 2 mile!].

My piriformis started bugging me after a big workout on April 4, which was possibly done a bit too soon after my March 25 50k - but I really think it was the riding to and from St. Louis and run-cheering on April 1-2 plus a new pair of prototype shoes I'm trialing... (surely not the 50k, lol!). I also got car sick riding to my parents' the day before this race. I went to bed the night before telling my family I wasn't sure what I was going to do and would decide in the morning. 

I felt okay when I woke up on Saturday, but not 100% ready to commit, so I decided to go to the race and jog for 10 minutes, then decide. My piriformis loosened up nicely during my warm up, so I registered for the 10k, making sure I could add the 2 mile for the combo registration fee if I felt up for it. The race organizers were very gracious with me making things complicated! The 10k started at 9:00 and the 2 mile at 11:00, so there was going to be plenty of time between them to change my mind 12 times update my registration. I kept running until a few minutes before the 10k start because it kept my slightly annoying muscle loose.

I was hoping I could win the 10k without running too hard. I figured when it started I'd just feel it out, but was hoping I could go with the first woman, and that wouldn't take much faster about 6:45 pace. As I looked around on the starting line, that seemed reasonable, then a couple of minutes before the gun, Julie, who I ran most of the 2019 Chisholm Trail Marathon with, jumped onto the line. I knew she'd be the one to beat, for both overall and masters. We said hi to each other and talked briefly about working together in the race.

Around 2 miles in

After the race sorted out, Julie and I were side-by-side tied for 2nd OAF. The woman in 1st wasn't too far ahead and I felt very controlled. I told Julie we could reel #1 in and she agreed. We passed the woman around 1.5 miles in, and continued on side-by-side. I felt like I was holding back and got the itch to push, but also kept reminding myself there was no reason to run any faster than I had to to win. The course was marked in kilometers, and I started thinking about when I should try to "go" (8k or 9k?). Our first 3 miles were 6:16, 6:25, 6:25. I didn't look at my watching during the race but if you'd have asked me what pace we were running, I'd have said about 6:40. It's always nice to feel that way - I have also had plenty of days that are the opposite, when 6:30 feels like 6:00! 

This was taken 5 seconds after the
previous photo after we rounded a corner

Around the 5k mark, we passed a man who asked if he could run with us. I said "of course" and encouraged him to latch on and that "it's always easier with others!". He did until mile 4.5 or so. Mile 4 was 6:23. I started thinking "only 2 miles left!" and wondering when I should try to take the lead. I felt really good, but I also very much enjoyed working with Julie and it's always easier and better together.

A different man came up on us from behind at about the 8k, and as he went past I decided I needed to go with him. I knew hanging onto him would make speeding up easier, and I'd rather not leave any race outcomes to a final sprint if I can help it [spoiler: the 2 mile ended up that way and my mind is still recovering]. Mile 5 was 6:18 so I'd picked it up a bit. I put a gap on Julie when I went with that young man, but I doubted I had much of a lead. The man asked me what my goal was for the race, and I said simply "Win!" and it made me really happy that I felt strong enough to put that out there. 

I don't think I'm a very good turner

That man left me behind in the last half mile, but I ran mile 6 in 6:14 and the final 0.4 also at 6:14 pace, which was good enough for the overall female win by 18 seconds. I had to run faster than I'd hoped to (I averaged 6:19), about 10 seconds/mile off of what I think I'd race it all-out right now, but I still felt reasonably good and most importantly my piriformis hadn't hurt one bit during the race. There is something to running more efficiently at faster paces!

My mom found the creepy Easter bunny

Coach Dad

After finishing I talked to Julie and my family, ate half a banana, and told my family my piriformis felt fine when racing but tightened up when I stopped, so maybe I should skip the 2 mile, especially if they gave me both overall and masters money for the 10k. The 10k awards were supposed to be at 10:00 and I spied the large checks for photo ops, so I jogged some but stayed close. As I moved again my piriformis felt better. I came back for the awards ceremony and told Jon I was going to run the 2 mile and would go register after the awards. He was nervous it would be too late, but the website said the 2 mile registration was open until 11:00 and I figured if for some reason I couldn't get in at 10:30 that just meant I shouldn't do it.

The awards happened around 10:15, and I got my first big check of the day, which was super fun! The announcer was great and mentioned my big smile multiple times - my dad's video is here. I also received first place masters prize money, and was pretty excited they let me double dip! There are different opinions on this, but I think if someone in masters runs fast enough to also place overall, they should get both. It's not easy getting old you know [see 2 mile outcome below].

10k awards

Top 2 masters were also top 2 overall

From there, Jon went to sign me up for the 2 mile, which went seamlessly, and I jogged until a few minutes before the 2 mile start. I'd planned to do that anyway to get in a long run, but it ended up that I needed to do it to stay loose. I ran about 3 miles during that time, putting me at over 13 for the day at the start of the 2 mile. I was feeling a bit like I was bonking, so I also took a gel about 10 minutes before the start and did a couple of strides. I wasn't sure what to expect for the 2 mile, but I was hoping I could podium (ideally win), but the problem with place goals is that it all depends on who shows up.

Fan-girling Deb Tornedon before the 2 mile

Unsurprisingly, I was in about 20th female initially, with a lot of young girls and teens out quick. After a couple of minutes I'd moved up to 3rd female, with a middle schooler out front and a fit looking woman in second. I was working quite hard (i.e., there was no way I was moving up at that point), and I focused on staying strong. I passed teenage boys, but by halfway I was pretty confident I was going to take 3rd female. I had no idea how close anyone was behind me so didn't let up.

I saw the 9k marker left from the 10k, and told myself, "only 3:00 left" (even though I was not running 3:00/k pace!). I was gaining on 2nd at that point, and though I felt like I was in cardiac arrest, I also thought I had a chance of moving up. I reeled her in and was ready to pass with about 0.25 left. I really coached myself to pass with authority, and prepared myself to fight with all I had. The pain of a short race and gasping for air is quite different than that of a 50k (or even a 10k!), but I knew I had to push with all I had to make it happen. I was able to do that and came across in 2nd female! My splits were 6:08 and 6:09, so pretty even. I think I could have run 5:45-5:50 had I not already run 13 miles, but this was all I had with the 10k and 13 miles on my legs. The first place woman ran more like 5:35 pace, so there would have been nothing I could do even fresh. It gave me a little blast from the past; I remember when I was in junior high beating adult women in 2 mile races! I looked her up hoping I could say she'd won youth nationals, and found that she was 3rd in kid cross-country nationals five months ago.

After I caught my breath and congratulated the third woman who finished right behind me, I took off to finish my 17 miles for the day, 2.x more. My piriformis hadn't hurt one bit during the 2 mile, but was tight during the cool down, though not any worse than it had been at the start of the day. I then found my family again for the 2 mile awards. 

2 mile awards

I got another big check and nice shout out from the announcer. - my dad's video of that is here. These race organizers were so amazing! The event raises money for a Christian organization, they do BBQ for all of the runners and spectators (e.g., my family had 5 meals at the deal), the announcers have a ton of energy, the volunteers are enthusiastic, and the awards ceremony is such fun. My only complaint about the whole thing is that the 10k course is about 6.4 miles and the 2 mile about 2.1. The race runs on paths through a park, and starts and finishes in the same place, so they do what they can with those limitations (I'd suggest moving the starting line, but that would add a second timing matl). It really didn't matter this year, as I wasn't setting any fast times, but a low-39 in 10k results does look better than a mid-40. I can't think of a better way to get in a long run workout the day before Easter. Every race is a blessing, and being able to start and finish these reminded me of that yet again!

"10k" (6.4 mile) results are here.

"2 mile": (2.1 mile) results are here.

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

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

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.