Summer Sizzler 15k

The Short:

I ran a low-key race on a Colorado trip, and it wasn't fast but I won first overall person! It was the perfect way to get in an effort while traveling and it's always fun to win a race. I am sticking with no goal races at altitude though!

Results are here

My Strava activity is here

The Long:

When I made arrangements to fly to Denver on July 15, I decided to see if there were any races there on Sunday, July 16 - and there was one, the Summer Sizzler! I have done a lot of racecations, where I build a vacation around a race, but this was my first time doing it the other way - planning a trip then inserting a race. I decided I'd run it if possible, but I didn't want to inconvenience anyone and a memorial and family time were top priority, so I didn't register until the morning of the race, after my parents assured me it worked in our schedule. I also did a long run workout on July 14, something which I don't think I've ever done two days before racing, but which made sense with not knowing for sure if I'd race and not wanting to leave my long run to July 16 in an unbeknownst location. I also woke up at 2 a.m. on July 15 and had a power-packed day, so I wasn't exactly rested for this one!

For those reasons, because I wanted to have plenty of energy to vacation post-race, and because I wasn't sure how the altitude would affect me (I've run at altitude on vacation plenty of times, but just easy efforts), I thought running the race at about marathon effort would be good. Because I expected a fairly small event, I was hoping I could win overall female with that effort - but I was also prepared to run faster if that's what it took to compete. I did a couple of miles and strides to warm up, then lined up on the starting line on a concrete running/bike path.

There were 5k, 10k, and 15k distances at the race, but the bib numbers for each race looked the same and the course was the same (5k did one tour of the out-and-back course, 10k two, and 15k three), so I wasn't sure who I was actually racing against. The starting announcer asked for shows of hands ("Who is in the 10k? Who is in the 15k?") and I tried to look around at the women towards the front of the line to see who was in my race. I noted that the men in front of me on the line were all in shorter races.

After the start, I eased out and settled into the moderately hard effort that is marathon effort. I generally race by effort (not pace), but for this one it was extra important with the variables at play (altitude mainly, but also fatigue). A woman was right with me, and I settled in just behind her, feeling like the effort was a smidge too quick for marathon pace but definitely do-able - and like I said I was willing to go faster in order to compete!

I ran right with the woman for the first 2 miles (which ended up being my fastest 2 miles), and then I could feel her slowing down. When I passed her I told her great job and asked which race she was in. She was breathing awfully hard, so I when she answered "5k" it made sense. I was disappointed I wasn't going to have her to run with for any longer - I'd been thinking the ideal situation would be that she was in the 10k so I could run with her for 2 laps but wouldn't have to push too much on my third. I moved into the female lead position for all 3 races, and made my way to the turn-around/finish.

Close to the turn-around/finish

My parents were cheering at the turn-around, and it was fun to come through before any of the 5k women. I saw a couple of men heading back out on the course ahead of me, so I knew they were in either the 10k or 15k. I ran by myself from mile 2 on, but with the 3 race distances going out and back, there were always people around. I pushed like a workout but was thankful I didn't have to push too hard! At the halfway point turn around, I noted the men in front of me and the closest women behind me. I had a pretty significant lead so I felt good about winning overall female in the 15k (though they were actually in the 10k, I'd later learn).

Next I came through the 10k turn around, which I came through before any of the women in the 10k. I didn't think I saw any men going back out from there, but there were so many people going both ways at that point and I was lapping people, so I wasn't sure. On the last lap I started thinking it would be awfully cool if I was ahead of all of the men! At the last turn around (with 1.55ish miles to go), I was pretty sure I was leading the 15k overall. I glided in and when I finished the announcer confirmed my suspicion, saying that I was not only the first 15k female finisher, but I was the first overall finisher in the 15k!

The blue pin on the ribbon says #1 overall,
the gold pin says age group winner

It's always fun to win a race, no matter how small and non-competitive, so I really enjoyed this. I ran pretty steady and my average HR was 159 (marathon effort is about 160, so I did well with that). It was a good effort and a nice way to get in a 13+ mile day on vacation! 

I really don't know how much the altitude affected me, but hopefully at least 20 seconds/mile, because my average pace was 7:08 and I'd sure like to break 3:00 in Chicago! It was in the 70s and sunny, so also pretty warm, plus the dry air had me grabbing water at the hair pin turn at every aid station (surely it's easier than Missouri humidity though!). I had a phase where I'd only race if I thought I could post a good time, but now I really enjoy doing races like this where I know I won't. This and the workout I did a few days later while in the Denver area did solidify my stance that I never want to run a goal race at altitude though!

Branson Firecracker 5000

Sometimes it may be best for me to jump into a race when I don't feel super fit, because it means I don't have high expectations. The older I get the faster I feel like I lose fitness and the slower it comes back, and I am still feeling those 5 weeks of very little running in April and May. But I've also been doing Summer of Speed training with my running buddies so a 5k seemed reasonable enough. Based on my workouts I figured I could run around 6:15 pace.

#jumpingjuly

I drove 30 minutes south to the Branson Firecracker 5000 with two of my running buddies, Paul and Sally. Paul has been running well and recently raced a mile in 5:03, so I expected a 17:30 from him. Sally recently moved to Springfield and she and I have been very close on workouts (see: one of the 25-year-olds I hang with on the track!), so I expected we'd be able to work together in the race. Sally told me she was going to key off of me since I've been pacing us well in workouts. I told her I made no guarantees about hitting a specific pace since I race by effort, but I felt confident I would not go out too fast.

There were a lot of teenagers in the race, so there was a lot of going out too fast happening by others! The race started in the middle of the Branson Landing on cobblestones, which I quickly learned the Vaporfly does not play nice with. After about 0.25 we got off of the cobblestones and into a parking lot. At that point Sally and I were together with about 10 women in front of us. They all looked like teenagers to me, so I felt pretty good about being top masters.

I settled in and looked ahead while staying in the correct effort zone. Sally tucked in right on my shoulder. Nothing too eventful happened for the first half of the race, though we learned where the course actually went (we'd try to run it for our warm up but failed). About halfway in, we really started pulling other women in. It made me push to pass, and Sally came along with me. Between about 1.5 and 2.5, we passed every woman within our sights except for one, and we were right on her tail. There were also a lot of men and boys around, so it wasn't always easy to get by people, especially when we ran on a weird little curvy trail that went behind a strip mall.

After we got off the narrow trail and onto the north Landing parking lot, I passed the woman we'd been near. I wasn't sure what place I was in at that point, but there were no more women in sight so I knew we wouldn't move up between there and the finish. With about 0.25 to go we got back on cobblestones and Sally passed me. I pushed with what I had but couldn't get her back, so she ended up finishing 2 seconds in front of me in second female, making me third. First woman was about a minute ahead of us. I knew I'd won masters but didn't know where I was at overall, and no one watching knew either - including our friend Paul who won male masters or Amy who run spectated and warmed up and cooled down with us.

1st male masters, youngster, 1st female masters

We had run a 4 mile warm up so set off on a 5 mile cool down to make it a 12+ mile day. We had a lot of stops during the cool down: shoe change, drinks, monitoring the awards time, getting awards, walking awards back to the car (that firework got heavy!), taking pictures, etc. The award for 1st masters was the same as 1st overall, which I appreciated. They gave me the masters award since it was better than 3rd overall, but in the results I'm listed as 3rd overall and taken out of masters. Although I still try to contend for overall wins (vs. masters wins), I was proud of myself to be in there with so many young 'uns in a 5k - of the top 9, everyone but me was age 17-25. Plus we all know that my 5k pace is also my 10k pace, which doesn't particularly bode well for the 5k, hah!

This race felt about like a 5k should (i.e., cardiac arrest), I ran about as expected (6:17 average), and I ran pretty even splits. I think I could have run a faster final mile without all of the turns, but of course everyone in the race had to deal with those. My pace was about what I expected and though I wish I'd have been able to pull more out in the final 0.25, I gave what I had. I also wish the course had been more accurate, but I went into the race doubting it would be correct (I was just hoping it would be short so I'd look sharper than I am, haha!).

My Strava activity is here - but Sally and I were right together until the final bit and I think her Garmin splits were more accurate at 6:21, 6:17, 6:21 (then she got me in the final 0.2 with 5:49 pace vs. my 5:56), because I don't think my mile 2 was actually much different than 1 and 3 like my watch read.

Results are here.

Representing rabbit!

We are all on the top of the podium here

Issues

I'm really good at getting weird things wrong with me (see also hip impingement, and I don't have a blog about it but cryptosporidium!). Add lumbopelvic instability to the list, also called pelvic ring instability or pelvic instability.

I got very little sleep April 1-2 and run-cheered at the St Louis Marathon on April 2, so when I woke up with sore glutes on April 3 I figured it was just from fatigue and sitting in the car. Both sides were sore so I didn't really give it a second thought. I ran as scheduled on on April 3 (easy) and 4 (workout) with the soreness, and after the workout I was really feeling it - but it was both sides so I still didn't think it was anything. Then on April 5-6 my right side felt better but the left side was still giving me grief, and I thought it was my piriformis. I began doing all of the piriformis rehab and strength, probably a bit obsessively. Both glutes got sore again and I felt something in my right piriformis and at times in my lower back, but I thought it was just from the extra strength and was thankful my left piriformis felt good.

I ran the Easter Sun run races on April 8 with minor discomfort, and took two days off after them to be cautious. By then the spot that I thought was the issue was fine, so I went back into a normal week of training that included a good workout on April 12 and a 20 miler that I bombed (but did not hurt during) on April 15. April 16, the front of my left hip started hurting during my run, and I immediately started walking because I worried that it was related to my hip impingement. But not long after my hip was fine and some other spot hurt.

A PT friend graciously assessed me that afternoon, and told me that lumbopelvic instability was causing the pain. Pain that moves is often how that presents, and it's weird because nothing is actually injured but those wonky imbalanced ligaments in my pelvis are causing pain. Of course the first things I asked were how to fix it (I have lots of exercises to work on, many of which are just tedious and not even "exercise") and what caused it (mostly genetics). If you Google it you'll find it's often an issue for women after pregnancy [face palm].

It will probably take 6-8 weeks to get through this, and I can run through it as tolerated, but unfortunately the pain levels I'm experiencing aren't allowing me to do more than 4-5 miles at the moment. I also stop anytime I start limping because that can lead to other problems. I have been able to ElliptiGo without pain so I've been subbing that in for most of my running since April 17.

The timing was crappy, but it almost always is. I won't be lining up for the Lincoln Marathon on May 7, but surprisingly that hasn't really bothered me. What has bothered me is not getting my daily endorphins! While I enjoy racing, I am at a point in my life where I'd be perfectly content to just do the training. Plus, often when it rains, it pours, and at the moment I really need to be running. Maybe I'll learn more patience thought this - because I need it, immediately!

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